Faces of AWNY: Meet Joh Jarvis

Faces of AWNY: Joh Jarvis

After more than two decades as a senior journalist and executive at the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), Joh Jarvis did something bold. At 49, she sold her Sydney home, left her career, and moved alone to New York City—a lifelong dream she’d been holding onto since her teens. Nearly a decade later, Joh has built a new life as a Vedic Meditation teacher and founder of The Light Inside, a non-profit bringing meditation into the U.S. prison system. From her Gramercy apartment, Joh reflects on finding calm amid the chaos of New York life, the power of starting over, and the joy of creating a second act on her own terms.

Where are you from in Aus/NZ?

I grew up in Adelaide but have lived in lots of places—Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin, Alice Springs, Warrnambool, and Whyalla.

What did you do in Aus/NZ?

I worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for 23 years as a journalist, producer, and executive. I managed ABC NewsRadio and held senior editorial roles in Melbourne, Sydney, and Darwin.

Why did you move to NYC?

I’d wanted to live in New York since I was a teenager. When I turned 49, I thought, it’s now or never. I left my career, sold my Sydney home, and moved to Brooklyn on my own. I barely knew anyone—it was terrifying—but I thrived. I was nervous about starting over, but I never truly felt lonely.

“Moving to New York at 49 was scary, but it turned out to be the most liberating thing I’ve ever done.”

Do you ever feel homesick?

Not really! I love Australia and miss the food, the coffee, and of course my family and friends—but I don’t feel homesick. FaceTime makes it easy to stay connected. Building friendships here took time, but I now have a lovely community in NYC.

What do you do in NYC?

When I first arrived, I freelanced as a journalist and taught meditation. I started meditating about 16 years ago after developing anxiety and depression. I loved it so much that in 2013 I trained to become a Vedic Meditation teacher.

Eventually, I left journalism to teach full-time. I now run meditation courses in Manhattan and have taught everyone from lawyers and business owners to fashion designers, athletes, and incarcerated people.

In 2021, I founded The Light Inside, a non-profit that takes meditation into U.S. prisons. We have ongoing programs at Rikers Island in New York and in North Dakota prisons. I’ve now taught hundreds of incarcerated people and corrections officers. It’s a huge shift from my old career—but the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.

“Teaching meditation in prisons is the most meaningful work of my life.”

Where do you live and what do you love about your neighbourhood?

I live in Gramercy now. It’s peaceful but close to everything—Union Square, great restaurants, beautiful old buildings, and Stuyvesant Park where I walk my dog. I tried Bushwick, Downtown Brooklyn, and Hell’s Kitchen first, but Gramercy feels like home.

What were your first impressions of NYC?

I first visited in 1991 on a road trip from San Francisco to New Orleans, then up to NYC. Back then it was gritty, wild, and full of life—especially the West Village, which was the heart of gay culture.

When I finally moved here in 2015, I was struck by how vibrant and alive it still felt. I loved walking the streets, exploring neighbourhoods, and soaking up the architecture.

My first apartment was in Bushwick, opposite Brooklyn’s waste management depot—I didn’t realise until the first night when trucks full of garbage arrived! It was noisy, smelly, and the real estate agent disappeared. I cried that night, but it’s one of those classic “New York baptism” moments.

What do you love most about NYC?

The intensity and energy. I love how connected you feel living among so many people, and how supportive New Yorkers are when you’re doing something new. You can start a random idea like a prison meditation foundation and people say, “That’s amazing—how can I help?”

And what don’t you love?

The crowds, delayed subway trains late at night in the freezing cold—and honestly, the coffee still doesn’t compare to Australia’s!

How is working in NYC different from Australia?

Stress is stress—whether you’re in Sydney or New York. But people here are definitely more tightly wound. The themes are the same though: everyone wants to feel happier and less overwhelmed.

Best advice you’ve received about living or working here?

Reach out to people and ask them for coffee. New Yorkers are incredibly open to sharing advice and connections.

Your advice for professionals in NYC?

Someone once told me, “The shine of New York wears off after three years—it’s too tough.” Nine years later, I love it more than ever. Meditation helps me stay grounded.

If meditation isn’t your thing, find something that calms your nervous system. The city’s amazing, but it’s intense. You can’t just power through forever—you have to rest too.

Have you kept in touch with other Aussies in NYC?

A few. One of my closest friends here is tennis legend Rennae Stubbs. We met in 2016 when I invited her to speak at a Marriage Equality event. She’s hilarious, smart, and we have that easy Aussie shorthand that makes friendship feel effortless.

What’s one big difference between home and NYC?

Fresh produce! Australia’s fruit and vegetables are just better. And the coffee—definitely the coffee.

Your NYC favourites

Brunch spot: ABC Kitchen, East 19th Street
Coffee: Café Maud, East Village
Top tips for visitors:

  1. Take the subway—you’ll see the real New York.
  2. Walk everywhere—use self-guided tour apps.
  3. Choose three neighbourhoods and explore them deeply. Don’t rush to “see it all.”

Only in New York moment

Four months after moving, I was walking through the Lower East Side on a freezing January night when a man opened his coat and said, “Ma’am, would you like to buy my dog?” Inside was a tiny Yorkshire Terrier. He was about to start a short sentence in Rikers Island. I couldn’t leave the dog with him, so I took it home—and that little dog changed my life.

Your biggest challenge and achievement in NYC

Making lasting friendships was harder than I expected without a traditional workplace. It made me realise how I’d taken friendships in Australia for granted.

My proudest achievement is creating a completely new career and life here—building The Light Inside from scratch and bringing meditation into prisons.

And personally, meeting my wife Susan soon after arriving in 2016—that’s the best thing of all.

Connect with Joh

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