Stop shrinking. Stop rushing. It’s time to inhabit your authority.
In this episode, Jennifer Jefferies sits down with writer, emotion coach, and self-described “Stillness Ninja,” Dr. Alice Mackinnon. As the co-creator of the Wise Woman in Residence program, Alice is on a mission to help women move from the exhausting performance of “doing it all” to the quiet, unshakable power of being.
We dive deep into why mindfulness is actually a martial art—a discipline of groundedness that allows you to hold your center even when the world is in chaos. We explore how to stop shrinking and start leading from a place of quiet authority, using our stories as medicine and “compassionate badassery” as the fuel for the modern matriarch.
This isn’t just an interview; it’s a rally cry for every woman ready to rise strong and refuse to disappear quietly.
Links & References:
Connect With Alice Mackinnon
Website: https://www.aliceionamackinnon.com.au
Substack: https://alice803.substack.com/
The Wise Woman In Residence: https://jenniferjefferies.com/wwir/
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Show Note:
Jennifer introduces Alice as a writer, emotional coach, and “compassionate badass” who has spent decades helping people find their center. They discuss their co-creation of the Wise Woman in Residence program, which aims to help women stop shrinking and start leading from a place of quiet, unshakable authority.
Mindfulness as a martial art @ 4:23
Alice explains her concept of “mindfulness as a martial art” – the discipline and commitment required to continually return to a state of groundedness and centeredness, even amidst chaos. She emphasizes that mindfulness is not a destination but an ongoing practice.
The power of calm presence @ 7:02
Jennifer and Alice discuss the importance of embodying calm presence, especially as women age, and how this calm presence can be contagious and have a ripple effect on those around them. They contrast this with the tendency to try to “perform” authority rather than simply being it.
Accessing ancestral wisdom @ 11:01
Alice shares how she connects with the wisdom of her ancestors and the natural world around her, and how slowing down and being present allows her to align with this ancient pattern language of wisdom.
Regulating the nervous system @ 12:46
Jennifer and Alice explain the importance of regulating the nervous system to maintain calm presence, and share practical tools like breathing, feeling the feet on the ground, and squeezing the fingernails to help anchor oneself in the present moment.
Embodying wisdom versus performing it @ 23:48
The discussion explores the difference between trying to “perform” wisdom versus simply embodying it, and how the latter allows one’s true presence and authority to shine through without effort.
The importance of the wise woman’s voice @ 51:33
Jennifer and Alice emphasize the critical need for the voices and wisdom of elder women to be heard and respected in society, and how their absence leaves a void that impacts the entire community.
Invitation to the Wise Woman in Residence program @ 1:12:00
In closing, Jennifer and Alice invite listeners to join their Wise Woman in Residence program, which is designed to support women in transitioning into the next phase of life with grace, presence, and the reclamation of their innate wisdom.