An Update From Dan

0:04This is the 10 % Happier Podcast. I'm Dan Harris.

0:19Hello, everybody. How we doing? I've got a quick solo episode for you today because I've got a big announcement, or at least big to me. As you may remember, last September, so about 15 months ago, I announced that I was leaving the meditation app that I co-founded and launching a new sub stack. I really did not know what I was doing at the time, to be completely honest. I was a little bit shaken up about the parting of ways from my old app and casting around for what to do next. My sub stack really began basically as a stripped down newsletter. What was really cool and heartening was that it quickly grew into a thriving community and a pretty expansive offering featuring weekly live meditation and Q &A sessions, a bustling chat, a growing library of guided meditations, access to the ad-free version of this podcast, plus special meditation challenges and events.

1:13Pretty cool. However, as we grew, we were spending a lot of time listening to you, our listeners and subscribers, to learn more about what you really wanted. And what quickly became clear was that while you liked what we were doing over on Substack, what you really wanted was an app, a neat and tidy spot where you could access all the stuff we're doing. So we have now built you one. It just launched. It's called 10 % with Dan Harris. For legal reasons, we can't yet call it 10 % happier, but you can expect the name to likely change in the next 18 months or so. Anyway, this is yet another significant plot twist in my life and career.

1:54I never thought I would do another meditation app. First, because there are already so many of them out there. And second, because I was more than a little bit burned by my first experience in the app game. But what I've come to see again through listening to you is that my team and I have an opportunity now to create a next generation meditation app. Most of the existing offerings out there are one-way content libraries. And again, what you're telling us is that you want more than that. Yes, you want a place where you can easily access guided meditations from your favorite teachers, but you also want to engage with those teachers and engage with me and engage with one another.

2:31Just to say this instinct toward connection is deeply wise. For millennia, meditation was practiced in community. However, in our tech-drenched, hyper-individualized, extremely lonely culture, meditation has too often become a solo pursuit. I suspect this is why so many people buy subscriptions to meditation apps, but quickly fall off the wagon. Habit formation is much harder when you lack what the researchers call social support. So we're now aiming to change this very unhelpful dynamic, because as I often say, life is better in the carpool lane. Having said all of that, I do want to be super clear that if you're an introvert or you don't like doing things in groups, don't worry.

3:14We're not going to force you to do trust falls with a bunch of weird strangers. You can skip all the community stuff or just join the group meditations with your camera off. So what else is on the app? There are five broad categories. First, a library of guided meditations from the world's best teachers designed to help with stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, self-compassion, dealing with annoying people, and more. Second, weekly live events. I mentioned these events already, but just so you know, every Tuesday at 4 Eastern, you can meditate with me and with the group and with our teachers, and then you can ask questions, and replays are available if you can't make it live.

3:51Third, this podcast without the ads. Every new episode comes with a transcript plus a summary featuring timestamped highlights. The app will also include all of my prior episodes stretching back over 10 years. Lots of stuff there. Fourth, community. You can join discussions, share your reflections, your updates on your practice. You can also just lurk, no pressure. And fifth, special events, including meditation challenges. In fact, we've got a big one coming up that I'm going to tell you about in a minute. First, though, let me tell you how you can sign up for this thing. If you're already a paid subscriber over on danharris.com, then you are already subscribed to the app.

4:30No additional cost. We will put a link in the show notes for this episode with step-by-step instructions for downloading the app and getting started. Let me say that again. If you're already a paid subscriber to danharris.com, you are already subscribed to the app. You don't have to pay us any more money. You're good. If you have any questions, you can hit us up at support at danharris.com. That's support at danharris.com. There's a real live person there taking your questions. His name is Roy. He's very nice. If you're not a paid subscriber, you can download the app wherever you get your apps, or you can get it by going over to danharris.com.

5:06And now really is a great time to sign up because we're offering a 30-day free trial so you can try before you buy. That 30-day free trial also includes something I'm very excited about, a seven-day New Year's meditation challenge led by the amazing Joseph Goldstein. That will kick off on Monday, January 5th, 2026. So if you sign up right now, your 30 days of free access to the app will cover the meditation challenge. I have to tell you, Joseph has created something really amazing. I think of these seven progressive guided meditations that will be included in the challenge. I think of them cumulatively as the ultimate on-ramp to Buddhist meditation.

5:49It's good for beginners. It's also good for experienced practitioners. I was in the room with Joseph as he recorded the meditations, and I learned an enormous amount, and I've been studying with this guy for years. It really is a master class in dealing with thoughts, emotions, and the general insanity of being alive these days. Let me finish this brief pod by saying thank you. This really is just the beginning. This new app is a living organism that will continue to grow based on your feedback. I'm really grateful for the feedback and I'm really grateful to all of you who have stuck with me if you've traveled from the old app and then to Substack and now to this new app I'm especially grateful and if you've never used a meditation app before I do hope you'll give our new endeavor a try and again please keep telling us what is working and what is not working we are listening see you soon over on the new app

6:48Thank you.