This week on Universal Man, Grego sits down with Pricey to unpack what it really means to encounter the heart; that deeper place of purpose, spirit and meaning that keeps you grounded when life pulls you into constant doing and thinking.
They explore how silence, rhythm and simple rituals can bring you back to your authentic self. Ignore this space and you risk drifting, reacting and feeling disconnected from who you are. But when you take time to slow down, simplify and create still moments, your heart becomes alive again; guiding you with clarity, presence and a renewed sense of flow.
In this episode we talk about:
How to reconnect with your heart to restore purpose and life flow.
Daily rhythms and rituals that bring stillness, silence and inner presence.
Distinguishing true spirituality from institutional religion and external rules.
Practical ways to slow down, simplify and counter modern overstimulation, and
Teaching children stillness, connection and heart-centred living through nature and ritual.
“Everyone is their own spiritual guru in their own particular way. That’s what it’s all about, finding your way to find the spirit within you that gives you life, that gives you a sparkle in the eye.”
Key points in the episode
Understanding the Heart; Meaning, Spirit and the Driver of who you are
Pricey explains the heart as the spiritual centre; the place where purpose, meaning, values and true identity live, forming the bridge between the head and the hands. It’s the inner engine room that guides who you are rather than what you do.
The heart shapes life flow; when you operate from that place, you move through the world with ease, clarity and alignment rather than just performing tasks or chasing labels that don’t speak to your deeper self.
A hardened heart reflects disconnection; when someone loses touch with purpose and meaning, the spirit energy drains out of their lives and you can feel the absence of joy, spark and presence.
Heart vs Religion; Distinguishing spirit from institutional faith
Pricey clarifies that spirituality is universal; it’s the human search for meaning, love, hope and identity, and it shows up in life’s big thresholds like birth, death, commitment, joy, grief and deep connection.
Religion is simply the expression of that spirituality; the rituals, symbols, sacred texts and communal practices are meant to serve the heart, not replace it or become ends in themselves.
When rituals lose touch with spirit, institutions become rigid; Pricey reflects on how many people walk away from faith communities because rules overshadow compassion and the lived reality of the heart.
True religious expression deepens the heart; when done well, it gives the heart language, story, rhythm and a sense of communal meaning, allowing spirit to take form without being constrained.
Encountering the heart in a busy, modern world
Grego shares the feeling of becoming stretched and disconnected under peak busyness; it’s that sense of drifting from self, losing inner stillness and craving a reset to re-centre.
Pricey explains the imbalance of being pulled into head or hands; the modern world pushes constant thinking, problem-solving and doing, making the heart the missing anchor unless we carve out deliberate space for it.
Heart time doesn’t happen by accident; you need intentional rhythms, whether it’s morning pauses, long walks, quiet reflection, creative practices or time in nature that allow spirit to come alive again.
Stillness, silence and listening to the deep inner voice
Stillness is essential; Pricey reflects on the practice of centring prayer, noticing the monkey mind and gently returning to a sacred word as a way to drop into silence and presence.
In real silence, inner ears grow; when the noise falls away, subtle whispers emerge from the deepest you, offering guidance, wisdom, clarity and truth you can’t hear in a hectic, overstimulated environment.
Grego highlights the power of simplifying life; removing news, social media and relentless audio input created more creativity, calm and space for insights to surface naturally.
Establishing daily, weekly and annual rhythms for the heart
Pricey shares his personal morning ritual; waking early, making a coffee, sitting in silence in his small chapel and simply being present to spirit without effort or performance.
Movement as heart practice; his afternoon walk resets the day, brings him into the present moment and reconnects him with nature, beauty and physical grounding.
Weekly and yearly practices matter; taking one full day to potter, rest or do nothing and having an annual break or retreat creates long-term rhythms that keep the heart spacious and alive.
The power of ritual, nature and fire in human connection
Grego describes the transformative impact of his family’s new fireplace; the kids naturally gather, slow down and read for long stretches, revealing how powerful simple, ancient elements are for calm and connection.
Pricey highlights humanity’s long history around fire; storytelling, ritual, dance and shared silence have always helped people drop into heart space and reconnect with spirit and community.
Each person needs their own expression; whether it’s surfing, hiking, fishing, sitting by a fire or walking a trail, heart practices must be personal and rooted in what brings you to life.
Teaching children stillness, silence and heart awareness
Pricey urges dads to intentionally teach silence; camping, fishing, sitting quietly on a hill or pausing to take in a vista helps kids develop inner calm and connection to their own hearts.
It’s about small moments; not forcing meditation but naturally introducing stillness through shared activities that allow presence, awe, and quiet reflection to emerge.
By modelling stillness, you shape lifelong habits; kids who learn to encounter their hearts early grow into adults with stronger inner worlds, resilience and emotional grounding.
