In this episode of The Fearless Artist Podcast, Michelle welcomes cellist, mindfulness teacher, and author Ruth Phillips to discuss her new book, Beauty at the Edge of Catastrophe. Ruth shares her personal journey from injury and debilitating stage fright to finding freedom, joy, and connection in performance. She explains that mindfulness is not about stopping thoughts or forcing positivity, but about meeting our thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences with kindness and curiosity.

Together, Michelle and Ruth explore how musicians often learn through criticism, pressure, and fear, and how a more embodied, compassionate approach can lead to healthier practice and deeper artistry. Ruth emphasizes grounding, listening to the whole body, and paying attention to the “orientation of the heart” in practice and performance. They also discuss the relationship between performer and audience, reframing performance not as proving oneself, but as sharing a human experience through music.

Ruth encourages listeners to ask themselves: “What is my intention here? Is it kind?”

🔗 CONNECT WITH RUTH PHILLIPS

Website: https://ruthphillips.com

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🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Michelle Lynne

📽️ Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC