Begin Again: Teddi Dean on Identity, Meditation & the Slowing Down | EP21

What's The Rusch

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch shares an expansive and grounding conversation with former professional skateboarder turned artist/mindfulness teacher, Teddi Dean. From a countercultural childhood in 1970s Huntington Beach to riding for the legendary Bones Brigade and eventually embracing Buddhist vows, Teddi’s path is a journey of reinvention and self-discovery. Together, Rebecca and Teddi unpack what it means to pause, to look inward, and to reclaim your identity—beyond titles, accolades, or roles.

This episode explores the transformation that happens when we stop running and start listening. Through personal stories, Buddhist wisdom, and practical tools, Teddi reminds us that stillness isn’t the absence of momentum—it’s the beginning of something deeper. Whether you're in transition, chasing purpose, or simply curious about meditation, this conversation is an invitation to begin again.

In this episode, Rebecca and Teddi explore:

1. How Teddi went from pro skateboarder to mindfulness teacher
2. Identity, reinvention, and the chapters of a lifetime
3. Why community is essential for transformation
4. The importance of pausing in a hyper-productive culture
5. Navigating midlife transitions with grace and curiosity
6. How MEA (Modern Elder Academy) supports mindful aging

Transformative Insights:

1. Identity is fluid; we live many lives within a lifetime
2. Meditation helps us observe and reset—not escape
3. The antidotes to suffering (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity) are tools for realignment
4. Vulnerability is strength—it builds authentic relationships and internal peace
5. You don’t have to “fix” yourself to start healing; just begin

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Rebecca shares how she’s learning to sit still after decades of “moving meditation” as an athlete
2. Teddi reflects on his struggles with addiction, identity loss, and rediscovery through mindfulness
3. They both explore the discomfort—and necessity—of letting go of former versions of ourselves

Practical Wisdom:

1. Why meditation is not about stopping your thoughts
2. How to apply “beginner’s mind” to aging, creativity, and career
3. Creating space for discomfort as a doorway to change
4. The role of ritual and daily practice in emotional hygiene
5. Why we must learn to forgive ourselves first

Personal Growth:

1. Teddi’s evolution from a skateboarding icon to MEA’s Head of Mindfulness
2. Rebecca’s journey from “Queen of Pain” to explorer of the inner landscape
3. How community and storytelling accelerate healing
4. Learning to be a “kook” again—embracing the beginner within

Helpful Links:

1. Teddi Dean’s Website
2. Book Recommendation: Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
3. MEA (Modern Elder Academy)
4. Teddi on Instagram

Sponsor: Momentous

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