Podcast: Episode 138: Oneika Mays: Bringing Presence to Prisons
April 3, 2026
On this episode, Laura speaks with author, yoga instructor, and meditation teacher Oneika Mays. They are talking about her new book, Sit with Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation.
Oneika spent nearly 15 years teaching meditation in yoga studios, hospitals, and correctional facilities, including at Rikers Island. As a queer Black teacher, she emphasizes that meditation isn’t just for those who have it all figured out—it’s for all of us: the anxious, the heartbroken, the angry, the lost, and those who have been marginalized or overlooked.
Pull up a cushion and settle in for this candid conversation on meditation, identity, and showing up as you are. Learn more about Oneika at oneikamays.com.
