BRN #78 Paula Snow ❖ Off the Grid, Into Recovery

What happens when nature becomes part of our recovery practice?In this episode of the Buddhist Recovery Network Podcast, Beth speaks with Paula Snow, Program Director of Off-Grid Retreats, about recovery, Buddhist practice, community, and the healing possibilities of spending intentional time in nature.Paula shares how meditation and recovery have shaped her life and work. She describes the care that goes into creating retreats where people can step away from everyday demands, slow down, and reconnect with themselves, their communities, and the natural world.Beth and Paula also discuss the mission of Off-Grid Retreats, a sponsor of the 2026 Buddhist Recovery Summit. This nonprofit, nomadic retreat center creates opportunities for people to experience mindfulness, movement, and community in nature.Paula will also be presenting at the Summit. Together with Karson Koshin, she will lead Writing as Recovery Practice: Mindful Journaling, Inventory, and Reflection. This experiential workshop will use journaling, gratitude, personal inventory, and Buddhist teachings to support insight, accountability, and compassionate self-understanding.IN THIS EPISODEPaula’s journey through recovery and Buddhist practiceHow meditation has influenced her personal and professional lifeThe healing possibilities of spending intentional time in natureThe vision and mission of Off-Grid RetreatsCreating welcoming and accessible retreat experiencesThe role of thoughtful hospitality in helping people feel safe and supportedWhy connection and community are essential to recoveryBringing mindfulness into everyday activitiesWriting, gratitude, and reflection as recovery practicesPaula’s upcoming workshop at the 2026 Buddhist Recovery SummitOff-Grid Retreats’ sponsorship of this year’s SummitPAULA’S SUMMIT WORKSHOPWriting as Recovery Practice: Mindful Journaling, Inventory, and ReflectionPresented by Paula Snow and Karson KoshinThis experiential workshop explores writing as a recovery and spiritual practice. Participants will work with mindful journaling, gratitude, personal inventory, and reflections on the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path.The workshop will offer practical ways to use writing for greater insight, accountability, emotional awareness, and compassionate self-understanding.ABOUT PAULA SNOWPaula Snow is the Program Director of Off-Grid Retreats. She brings extensive hospitality experience and more than a decade of meditation practice to her work creating thoughtful and transformative experiences in nature.Paula is a graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Her practice is grounded in Buddhist teachings, recovery, compassionate action, personal accountability, and a deep love of the natural world.ABOUT OFF-GRID RETREATSOff-Grid Retreats is a nonprofit, nomadic retreat center that creates opportunities for individuals and communities to gather and practice in nature.Through nature retreats, gear support, sliding-scale pricing, and partnerships with teachers and land stewards, Off-Grid Retreats works to make nature-based mindfulness experiences more welcoming and accessible.The Buddhist Recovery Network is grateful to Off-Grid Retreats for sponsoring the 2026 Buddhist Recovery Summit.LEARN MOREOff-Grid Retreats:https://offgridretreats.org/2026 Buddhist Recovery Summit:https://buddhistrecoverysummit.org/Join us October 2–4, 2026, at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland for the Buddhist Recovery Summit: Radical Kindness in the Face of Addiction.