Andy Puddicombe

Andy Puddicombe, born in 1972, is recognized as an author, public speaker, and instructor in meditation and mindfulness. He is widely known as the co-founder of Headspace, a digital company that offers guided meditation and mindfulness resources. Puddicombe's background includes a period as a Buddhist monk, a path he embarked on after leaving his sports science studies. His monastic training spanned various countries in Asia and culminated in ordination in India. Following his monastic commitments, he returned to the UK, pursued studies in Circus Arts, and began developing his own meditation practice with the aim of making mindfulness widely accessible. He later transitioned into a career as a meditation consultant, which led to the collaboration with Rich Pierson that resulted in the launch of Headspace in 2010. Puddicombe has since stepped back from the company.

Puddicombe's journey into mindfulness and meditation began with a significant shift in his life. In 1994, he departed from his sports science studies to travel to Asia, where he trained as a Buddhist monk. This decision was partly influenced by a desire to cope with personal grief. His extensive meditation training took him through India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, and Russia, eventually leading to full ordination in a Tibetan monastery in India. After completing a year-long retreat in Scotland, he returned to Russia to teach meditation for four years. Upon his return to the UK in 2004, Puddicombe studied Circus Arts while simultaneously establishing a private meditation practice. His stated goal was to make meditation and mindfulness beneficial and accessible to a broad audience. This period also marked the beginning of his professional work as a meditation consultant, adapting his learned techniques and language for wider application. It was during this time he met Rich Pierson, who would become his co-founder in the venture that would become Headspace.

Andy Puddicombe has authored several books focused on mindfulness and its practical applications. His notable works include 'Get Some Headspace' (2011), an extensive guide to the Headspace techniques, also published as 'Meditation and Mindfulness'. He also authored 'The Headspace Diet' (2013), which explores using mindfulness for weight management, and 'The Headspace Guide to...a Mindful Pregnancy' (2015), aimed at helping couples navigate pregnancy with mindfulness. Beyond his books, Puddicombe is a frequent contributor to publications such as The Guardian, The Times, Five Books, and the Huffington Post, where he writes about the advantages of mindfulness. His expertise has also been featured in various media formats, including the BBC science documentary 'Horizon', where the Headspace app's efficacy was examined. He has also appeared on BBC News and BBC Radio, discussing meditation, mindfulness, and mental well-being, as well as making appearances on shows like Dr. Oz and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.