Waylon Lewis.

Founder: Elephant Journal, host: Walk the Talk Show. Author of two books.

Biography:

Waylon Lewis is the founder of Elephant Journal, the world’s largest mindfulness community with 13 million social fans and many millions of online readers, now publishing independently in its 22nd year. Host of the award-winning podcast and video series Walk the Talk Show, he’s the author of two books, the best-selling Things I would like to do with You, and now It’s Never too Late to Fall in Love with your Life. For more: DM on Elephant, or Instagram.

~

 

Waylon Lewis is the founder of Elephant Journal and author of “Things I would like to do with You” and “It’s Never too Late to Fall in Love with your Life.”

Born and raised in a Buddhist community in a crazy little town called Boulder, Colorado, he attended St. Johnsbury Academy (Vermont) & Boston University (journalism), worked at Shambhala Pubs (& got fired) & (Boston’s) Trident Cafe & Booksellers (& got fired), learned business 101 at Shambhala/Drala Mountain Center, wrote and meditated up a storm at Naropa, then started Elephant (at the time, a magazine) now 20 years ago.

Growing into the world’s largest mindfulness publication, Elephant Journal has reached millions of readers a month & has 13+ million fans across social media. Its central message: get off social media, be kind to self & others & animals & our planet, bring your own coffee mug, & meditate for 3 minutes each morning. Additionally, he founded Elephant Academy, which teaches meditation and writing to thousands; and hosts the award-winning Walk the Talk Show video series & podcast.

A 1st generation American Buddhist “Dharma Brat,” grumpy environmentalist, hopeful activist, mediocre climber, lazy yogi, & 365-day bicycle commuter, Waylon dearly misses Redford, his half-hound, all-trouble best pal.

Next up: he’s working on a children’s book.

 

Waylon Lewis has appeared at…

Slow Money, Natural Products Expos, Outdoor Retailer, Sundance, SXSW, Wanderlust Festival, Bioneers, Naropa University, Toronto Yoga Conference, Hanuman, Yoga Journal Conferences, Telluride Yoga Festival

as a 1) teacher of meditation in fun, yet fundamentally serious manner 2) speaker, 3) panelist 4) talk show host (featured entertainment programming for your event that results in Walk the Talk Show videos on youtube (5 million views), elephantjournal.com (millions of readers/month), our social media (twitter, Instagram, Facebook, combined 13+ million fans).

About his books:

So I just published my second book. It’s #3 bestseller at Boulder Book Store, and just getting started. It’s selling well through my big site, Elephant Journal (a site with 13 million plus social media fans on twitter, facebook, instagram; with millions of readers; it’s been around for 20 years). My first book, “Things I would like to do with you,” about the Buddhist view of relationships and love, has sold 27,000+, 99% of that through Elephant directly, at $35/now $40 each. It’s still selling steadily.

Speaking fee:

His speaking fee is [inquire]/day and up (negotiable if you’re a sponsor of elephantjournal.com, or a non-profit or good cause, or benefits to Elephant or Waylon’s books) plus travel, expenses (non-negotiable). Appearances include bonus value: his featured coverage via twitter (10s of 1000s of fans on six accounts), Facebook (12 million total fans on 60+ pages), Instagram (5 channels, 830K followers), front page feature on elephantjournal.com (millions of unique readers)—a platform that is worth 10 speakers without such a “microphone.” He has appeared at dozens of events, festivals, fundraisers and programs.

Some awards.

Voted #1 in US for #green on twitter 2 years running: Shorty Awards. Waylon Lewis has been named: Treehugger’s “Eco Ambassador in Culture & Celebrity,” “Changemaker,” Discovery Network’s Planet Green “Green Hero” & “Prominent Buddhist” in Shambhala Sun, plus “Top 10 US Green Video Series” by MNN; “Greatist” 25 Health & Wellness in the US, and has won two Westword Webbies.

Press/Publicity Photos

For more images and information, visit our general press page. For high-resolution print quality photos, contact us.

 

2023 Photos:

Older Photos:

 

Biography:

Full Version:

Waylon Lewis is the founder of elephant magazine, elephantjournal.com (named Top 10 in US for Green) and host of “Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis” (named “Top 10 green video in US” by MNN). Born in Boulder, Colorado, Waylon graduated from Boston University’s top-ranked magazine journalism school, was named Naturally Boulder entrepreneur of the year in ’07, Top Denver-area Single by 5280, “Green Hero” by Discovery Network’s Planet Green and “Changemaker” by Treehugger, “Prominent Buddhist” by Shambhala Sun magazine, and #1 on twitter in the US for #Green content (Shorty Awards). Recently, Waylon was named Treehugger’s “Best of Green” Reader’s Choice Eco Ambassador in Culture & Celebrity for 2010. A featured columnist for Huffington Post, Waylon is a 365-day bike commuter, mediocre and lazy yogi who aspires to help change the world for the better (and get filthy rich), have 12 children (and only one wife), run for President (and lose), and have fun all along the way.

For more: elephantjournal.com | facebook.com/elephantjournal | twitter.com/elephantjournal

Short Version:

Waylon Lewis is the founder of Elephant Journal, the world’s largest mindfulness community, & host of Walk the Talk Show, an award-winning video series and podcast. A first generation American Buddhist or “Dharma Brat,” he’s been named #1 in U.S. on twitter for #green content twice, Treehugger’s Changemaker & Eco Ambassador in Culture & Celebrity, Discovery Network’s Planet Green: Green Hero, “Greatist” 25 in Health & Wellness in the US, & Prominent Buddhist by Lion’s Roar, & host of “Top 10 Green Video Series” by MNN. A mediocre climber, lazy yogi & 365-day bicycle commuter, Waylon aspires to help change the world for the better, and have some fun along the way.  

 

 

Sample Retreat:

Join Waylon H. Lewis, founder of Elephant Journal and author of “Things I would like to do with You” and “It’s Never too Late to Fall in Love with your Life,” on the path of maitri: making friends with all of your sweet self, the good, the bad, the ugly. We’ll do so through finding our voice through writing, meditation, community, hikes around beautiful X, yoga, and wholesome food. Waylon has taught Elephant Academy for 12 years and counting—one of the world’s most established mindful writing courses. Trained in Buddhism since he was young, he’s an experienced writer and mediocre meditator.

Maitri has been the most helpful path in my life: making friends with all of myself. It’s accessible to anyone, though it’s not easy. Through meditation, nature, working with our habitual patterns, and empathy, we can live the life we love—even if it looks different than we imagined.

Writing. Sharing. Workshopping and peer editing that writing. Meditation. Meditation talks and discussion. Yoga. Mindful eating. Hikes, plus a field trip.

Morning meditation (optional)
Morning yoga (optional)
Breakfast
Morning Lecture, discussion
Meditation
Writing, workshop, discussion
Lunch
Break
Slow Hike
Discussion, Lecture
Dinner
Free time/celebration/evening activity (optional)

Join Waylon H. Lewis, founder of Elephant Journal and author of “Things I would like to do with You” and “It’s Never too Late to Fall in Love with your Life,” on the path of maitri: making friends with all of your sweet self, the good, the bad, the ugly. Maitri informs our environmental and social activism. Our relationships, families and careers. We’ll walk the path of maitri through finding our voice through writing, meditation, community, slow hikes around beautiful X, yoga, and wholesome food. Waylon has taught Elephant Academy for 12 years and counting—one of the world’s most established mindful writing courses. Trained in Buddhism since he was young, he’s an experienced writer and mediocre meditator.
I am actively practicing vulnerability, showing up, genuine communication and humbleness every day. I have engaged in anti-racism work (and interviews with leading authorities, articles) for years.
We host Elephant Academy, which trains our students in much the same as above. Typically attendance is 100 online. Programs cost $500-1000–not cheap for online, and last 1.5 months – 3 months. Our audience, including social, is well over 13 million (60 pages on Facebook, alone, from Elephant Meditation to Mindful Travel to Enlightened Society to Equal Rights for All). Our site itself has many millions of readers a year. We have a huge newsletter, as well.
50-100.

My site, Elephant Journal, has over 13 million social fans and millions of readers. We have led hundreds of online and in person events, though not normally for days at a time. When younger, before Elephant, I have participated / helped lead/staff dozens of Buddhist retreats for up to 1 – 3 months in length, though normally for a weekend. Mostly at urban centers, but including Drala Mountain Center and Karme Choling.