How often do YOU hold eye contact? Why or why not? If you’re like Ted and Lisa of the Monster Baby Podcast, there’s a lot there—for both mindfulness and improv—within the world and practice of eye contact. After a short improvisational riff on raccoons (1:32), Ted introduces his reasons for wanting to explore the topic (3:08). In that, he mentions the awkwardness of following the no-eye-contact rule on silent retreat (4:36) and what differendes show up when meditating with eyes closed or not (8:54). Ted also wonders about the impact of what we put in our visual field (10:27) before Lisa revisits her accidental experience at someone else’s silent retreat (11:06). Per usual on the Monster Baby podcast, Ted and Lisa step into the realm of paradox, first noting the vulnerability of eye contact (15:34) and then exploring the intensity and power of it (21:55). Ted introduces the difference between making eye contact and receiving it (24:52) and Lisa explains how in improv, sometimes it helps NOT to make eye contact (27:40). The pair explores what happens when we make eye contact—or don’t—with strangers (28:56) and then how much we “see” when we’re making stuff up during improv (33:41). Lisa mentions how eyes can communicate intention on stage—and what that implies for connecting on Zoom (38:45). Ted notes how eye contact can help him out of tricky situations on stage (41:30) and Lisa wonders about what it means to really see clearly (43:20). In that, she describes her larger effort to slow down in the world (46:42) and what it’s like to do improv without vision (51:56). The show wraps up with a few last musings about who we do or don’t make eye contact with (52:49) and officially closes with some reflective Outro thoughts (56:38). As always, we so appreciate your listening in. If you’re inspired by what you hear and you’d like to let us know about it, please send a note to Ted and Lisa at  [email protected]. Or let others know about by leaving a quick review on your favorite podcast platform. To subscribe so you receive immediate notice of future Monster Baby releases, head over to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com. If you’d like a bit of Monster-Baby-inspired holiday shopping, visit www.playfulmindfulness.info to pick up a copy of Ted’s book Playful Mindfulness: a joyful journey to everyday confidence, calm, and connection.(Ted will surely sign it for you if you like!)         San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.