The CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, Bob Roth, shares his insights on the role of Transcendental Meditation (TM) in tackling chronic stress and improving health outcomes. Filmmaker David Lynch and Bob Roth co-founded the foundation in 2005.
Roth highlights the devastating impact of toxic stress, which has evolved into a global crisis. Chronic stress, he explains, is distinct from everyday pressures and challenges; it overwhelms the nervous system, triggering a persistent "fight or flight" response that depletes physical and mental health.
This ancient, evidence-based meditation technique is simple, natural, and effortless — accessible to anyone from schoolchildren to corporate executives.
Roth notes that through regular practice, individuals experience profound relaxation that can reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and alleviate anxiety and depression.
We explore a range of angles, from TM's impact on stress levels and health to reducing healthcare costs and helping corporates improve their bottom line.
Roth highlights that stress-related conditions are the leading cause of death for firefighters, police officers, and healthcare professionals—populations who are now benefitting from TM programs delivered by the foundation.
Roth underscores the importance of integrating TM into mainstream healthcare systems, which he argues can transform public health outcomes at scale.
He notes that TM’s accessibility — it requires no belief system, takes just 20 minutes twice a day, and delivers immediate benefits — has contributed to its widespread adoption. The foundation’s global footprint now spans 35 countries and TM is endorsed by figures like Ray Dalio, Hugh Jackman, and Jerry Seinfeld, who actively support the foundation’s mission.
About Bob Roth
Bob Roth is Chief Executive Officer of the David Lynch Foundation and a teacher of Transcendental Meditation (TM).
Bob Roth is one of the most experienced and sought-after meditation teachers in America. Over the past 50 years, Bob has taught Transcendental Meditation (TM) to many thousands of people and is the author of the definitive book on the subject, the New York Times bestseller “Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation" (Simon and Schuster, 2018).
Bob serves as the CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which addresses the epidemic of toxic stress and trauma in under-resourced populations. To date, the Foundation has provided TM scholarships for over one million urban youth, veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress, women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and healthcare workers on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bob also directs the Center for Resilience, a nonprofit organization, which is bringing the meditation to Fortune 100 companies, government and military organizations, and other community service organizations. Bob is the host of the iHeartRadio podcast, “Stay Calm with Bob Roth” and the SiriusXM radio show, "Success Without Stress. He has spoken about the science of meditation to industry leaders at such gatherings as Google Zeitgeist, Aspen Ideas Festival, Wisdom2.0, Summit, Global Wellness Summit, and CURA’s Unite To Cure at The Vatican.