This week, we’re diving into a story about transformation—the kind that sneaks up on you in the middle of real life.
Our guest, Dr. Pete Economou, went from New York nightlife to Zen mindfulness, from pouring shots to helping people pour back into themselves. His journey proves that peace isn’t found in perfection; it’s found in presence.
📅 This episode drops Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 3 AM ET From Bartender to Zen Psychologist: Dr. Pete on Mindfulness, Healing & Mental Health
Before he was a Rutgers professor and Board-Certified Psychologist, Dr. Pete was serving cocktails in one of the most famous nightclubs in the world. Now, he’s on the sidelines with Division I athletes, teaching them to breathe through pressure and turn performance into purpose.
This episode is raw, reflective, and deeply human—an invitation to stop performing peace and start living it.
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🔥 Special Shout-Out: Women Supporting Women
🌟 Meet Angie Hawkins
Angie Hawkins is an Inner Glow Coach who helps high-achieving women stop dimming their light to be loved—and learn to love themselves so deeply the world can’t help but reflect it back.
She’s also the author of Running in Slippers, a vulnerable memoir about resilience after emotional rock bottom.
✨ Ready to find your glow? Book a free Find Your Glow session or join her next Unshakable You masterclass to start shining from the inside out. 🔗 https://www.runninginslippers.com/
💬 Mental Health Quote of the Week
“Mindfulness isn’t about escaping life—it’s about learning to live it fully.” — Dr. Pete Economou
What happens when the life you’ve built starts feeling too small for who you’re becoming?
Dr. Pete Economou knows that story well. Before becoming a psychologist and Zen teacher, he was bartending at one of New York’s most iconic nightclubs—Marquee—living a fast-paced life surrounded by flashing lights, high energy, and fleeting highs. From the outside, it looked like fun. Inside, something was missing.
One night, a friend told him, “You’re great at helping people. Why not make that your career?” That spark changed everything.
Dr. Pete went back to school, earning a master’s and doctorate in psychology, merging his fascination with neuroscience, performance, and mindfulness. Over the years, he’s worked with professional and collegiate athletes, helping them navigate the mental side of elite performance—pressure, injury, identity, and purpose.
But what truly defines Dr. Pete isn’t the resume; it’s his humanity. He talks openly about growing up in a family of overachievers, how Zen training taught him to be still, and why he believes our culture has made mental health more complicated than it needs to be.
From the chaos of nightlife to the stillness of meditation, Dr. Pete’s journey reminds us that balance isn’t about standing perfectly still—it’s about learning to move with awareness.
This conversation is equal parts science and soul. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to heal from the inside out, this one will hit home.
💡 3 Takeaways from “From Bartender to Zen Psychologist”
1️⃣ You don’t have to start over to start healing—you just have to start noticing. 2️⃣ Boundaries are the bridge between compassion and burnout. 3️⃣ The mind isn’t the enemy; it’s the doorway to awareness.
🧩 From the Conversation
💬 The heartbeat of this episode
Mindfulness isn’t a trend—it’s a tool for being fully alive. It’s not about clearing your mind; it’s about clearing space for what matters.
🫂 A quote that stuck with us
“Mental health isn’t weakness—it’s being human. And the more we talk about it, the more normal it becomes.” — Dr. Pete Economou
🎙️ Real Talk from Us
“When Dr. Pete said he works with athletes who are strong enough to cry, it gave me chills. That’s the world I want to live in—where power and vulnerability walk side by side.” — G-Rex “He reminded me that peace isn’t passive. It’s the practice of coming back to yourself, again and again.” — Dirty Skittles
📓 Reflection Prompts to Sit With
• What part of your life is asking for more presence? • How can you bring mindfulness into something ordinary—like washing dishes or driving? • When was the last time you felt truly grounded in your body?
🌱 Gentle Reminder
You don’t have to be perfectly calm to be at peace. You just have to be willing to notice what’s here.
👨🏫 Meet Our Guest — Dr. Peter J. Economou, Ph.D., ABPP
Dr. Pete Economou is a Board-Certified Cognitive Behavioral Psychologist, Zen teacher, author, and professor at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, where he directs the Master of Applied Psychology program.
As a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), he’s spent over 15 years helping athletes—from college teams to professionals—navigate the intersection of performance, purpose, and peace. His approach blends neuropsychology, mindfulness, and Eastern philosophy to help people cultivate awareness and compassion in high-pressure environments.
Dr. Pete’s formal Zen training under the White Plum lineage has shaped both his personal and professional life. He credits his 92-year-old Zen master for teaching him that meditation isn’t about sitting still—it’s about showing up for your life.
He’s the author of Mindfulness Workbook for Beginners and Meditation Journal for Anxiety, and co-host of the podcast When East Meets West, where he explores the intersection of modern therapy and ancient wisdom.
When he’s not teaching, writing, or guiding athletes, you’ll find him with his wife (a Chinese medicine practitioner), enjoying mindful meals, and practicing the art of presence—one breath at a time.
1️⃣ Begin your day with three intentional breaths before reaching for your phone. 2️⃣ Spend one meal this week fully present—no screens, no distractions. 3️⃣ Practice saying “no” with kindness and confidence. 4️⃣ Reflect on one thing you’ve outgrown and honor how far you’ve come. 5️⃣ End your day with gratitude—not as a list, but as a feeling in your body.
💬 Listener Engagement
What part of Dr. Pete’s story made you pause—or exhale? Reply to this email or tag us on Instagram @grex_and_dirtyskittles with your favorite takeaway. We read every message. Always. 💛
⭐ Subscribe, Rate & Review
If Dr. Pete’s story reminded you that strength and stillness can exist in the same breath, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the show on your favorite platform. Your words help new listeners find us and keep this community growing.
❤️ Closing Remarks
Some stories make you laugh. Some make you cry. And then there are stories like Dr. Pete’s—quiet revolutions that remind you peace isn’t something you chase; it’s something you remember.
He traded the noise of the bar for the rhythm of the breath, the rush of adrenaline for the calm of awareness. And in that stillness, he found what so many of us are searching for: presence, purpose, and the courage to live awake.
Wherever you are reading this—from a crowded commute to a quiet morning coffee—pause. Take one deep breath. Feel it fill your chest. That’s your reminder that peace is already here, waiting for you to notice.
We’re proud of you for doing the work—just by showing up. And we’re honored to walk this messy, beautiful journey right beside you.
With so much love, G-Rex & Dirty Skittles Changing the way we talk about mental health, one real convo at a time.
G-Rex & Dirty Skittles
It's ok to be not ok, just make sure you're talking to someone
