Two years ago, I hit publish on a podcast episode announcing that I was leaving the meditation company I co-founded and starting my own thing. I was excited. But also terrified.
My team and I started with the germ of an idea: Could we create a next-generation meditation company that built not only an audience but also a community?
We launched with a modest offering, mostly via Substack. But, as a result of the extraordinary support we received from all of you, check out what we’ve been able to do:
Launch a meditation app to provide a clean, simple way to access everything we’re doing
Provide ad-free access to the 10% Happier podcast for all subscribers
Add well over 100 guided meditations to our growing library
Establish weekly live meditation and Q&A sessions, featuring me and a rotating cast of teachers who are (and I say this without exaggeration) among the best on the planet
Run three meditation challenges with teachers such as Joseph Goldstein and Sebene Selassie
Pull off an eight-week live video series with Sharon Salzberg on the Eightfold Path, our first attempt at a structured program to make Buddhism more accessible
And (this might be the part I am most proud of) provide more than 5,000 free subscriptions to people who can’t afford one
I’m especially heartened because none of it has been funded by a venture capitalist or other investor. It has been funded by you. (Okay, also initially by me and by podcast advertising revenue, but largely by you.) Your contributions go directly to paying teachers and improving our product as fast as we’re able.
Which brings me to this fall, because we’ve got a ton of cool stuff coming up. Here’s a preview:
September: A “Reset” challenge led by Diana Winston, the director of mindfulness at UCLA. As the summer ends and we resume our normal routines, Diana will drop a series of meditations designed to help you reset in key moments—like when you get hijacked by anger or wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep. (Also in September, we will be dropping some longer meditations for those of you who have been asking.)
October: A new course from legendary Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg. With the US elections almost upon us, this course is designed to help you stay sane amidst a guaranteed-to-be-bonkers news cycle. Sharon‘s essential thesis is: you need to take care of your own mind first. It’s not self-indulgent. It’s a community service. (Also in October, another batch of longer meditations, this time designed for sleep.)
November: Fan favorite Vinny Ferraro returns as teacher of the month. (Speaking of Vinny, he’s also working on a new course for us on the Brahma Viharas. That will come out whenever my next book does. Which, I know, never seems to happen!)
January: We are in progress on an exciting New Years Challenge that is a bit different than what we have done in the past. There will be special guests. More soon.
February: By popular demand, Oren Jay Sofer will be your teacher of the month, and he’s working on some sleep gems.
We’re in conversations right now with some extraordinary teachers about courses and live series. We’re also talking to developers who think they can help us improve the app and add many of the features you have been requesting.
So: thank you. Sincerely. I am extraordinarily grateful that your support allows me to keep working with my team, meeting all of you, interviewing experts, and pestering dharma teachers. Thank you for showing up. For listening, for reading, for practicing even when you really don’t want to.
To those of you with a paid app subscription: an extra thank you. You didn’t just buy a product, you funded an experiment. One that I think can improve our lives and, by extension, the world.
xx
Dan
As always, if you have any questions about the app, please reach out to Roy at support@danharris.com. He’s a real person and he’s really awesome.
If you’re not in the app yet, the door’s always open. Live sits, courses, challenges, guided practices, the ad-free podcast, and a supportive community. Sign up for a free 14-day trial here.
If you’re a paid Substack subscriber that hasn’t moved over to the app yet, you already have access at your current subscription rate! Hit up Roy at support@danharris.com and he’ll get you going!
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