Founder Meditations

Why should intellectuals care about Manifestation? As Stanford professor Dr. Jim Doty shared on this episode of Founder Meditations, manifestation is not pseudoscience and goes beyond the claims made by The Secret and the Law of Attraction. Dr. James Doty is a neurosurgeon, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. He is a professor of neurosurgery at Stanford and the founder of The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), of which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. Dr. Doty is a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and NY Times bestselling author with two books: Into the Magic Shop, and Mind Magic. We dive into the science of manifestation, contrasting it with pseudoscience, and discuss the ethical obligations of wealth and leadership in tech entrepreneurship. Learn about the impact of collective intentions, the essence of true success, and how a balanced approach to life can lead to profound personal and societal change. Featuring insights from global spiritual leaders, this episode invites you to rethink conventional views on wealth, purpose, and community service. Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into the journey and teachings of Dr. James Doty, a Stanford neurosurgeon and best-selling author. Discover his inspiring story of overcoming poverty and personal struggles to become a renowned figure in neurosurgery, mindfulness, and humanitarian efforts.  00:00 Introducing Dr. James Doty02:44 Dr. Doty’s Early Life and Challenges03:38 Into the Magic Shop08:24 Visualization Techniques  11:00 Neuroscience Behind Manifestation13:23 Hedonic vs Eudaimonic Happiness22:47 From Self-Centered to Service-Oriented30:07 Losing Everything and Gaining Spiritual Wealth37:12 The Alphabet of the Heart41:31 Story of the Compassion Beads44:14 Meeting Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu46:05 Manifesting vs. Overachieving48:50 The Toxic Nature of Venture Capital01:04:13 Creating a Compassionate Work Environment01:06:01 The Importance of Collective Manifestation01:13:57 Contrarian Views on Manifestation01:22:54 Advice for Founders

Ryan Vaughn is a three-time startup founder turned executive coach at Inside Out Leadership. Ryan discusses the challenges tech people face in accessing spiritual concepts and introduces tools to understand the psychological development process. He shares his journey from aspiring basketball player to founder, his battles with addiction, and the profound identity crisis that led to his exploration of spirituality. Ryan talks about his meditative practices, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and practical advice for founders looking to integrate mindfulness into their hectic lives. Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or a curious beginner, this conversation offers insights into aligning personal growth with professional success. 00:00 Intro01:47 Ryan's Journey from Startup Founder to Coach05:44 The Challenges and Transformations of a CEO07:53 Transitioning to a New Identity and Career11:18 Coaching Founders Through Their Journey15:01 Exploring Spiritual Practices and Psychedelics21:22 Interweaving Spirituality with Foundership32:46 Integrating Meditation into Daily Life37:02 Meditation as a Tool for Organizational Change41:18 Resources for Meditation and Mindfulness46:04 Authenticity in Leadership51:29 Balancing Ego and Vulnerability53:02 Practical Meditation Techniques for Founders57:34 Final Thoughts and Advice for Busy Founders

Stephen Zerfas is the co-founder & CEO of Jhourney, a tech startup scaling life-changing meditation with a data-driven approach.  Jhourney's mission is fascinating. The company helps novices experience "Jhana", a life-changing meditative state akin to MDMA without the drug, in under a week.  Stephen shares his personal journey from a struggling moment in life to mastering Jhanas, and explains how his company aims to make these profound states accessible to millions. Learn about the science, methodology, and real-life impacts of Jhourney’s retreats, which combine modern technology with ancient practices. 00:00 Introduction to Jhourney03:06 Stephen's journey and Jhana experiences17:33 Starting Jhourney22:47 Retreat structure and techniques27:38 Future vision and technological integration31:33 Jhourney retreats vs others 33:21 Life-changing experiences and benefits33:53 Working smart in meditation36:40 Personal transformation stories40:37 Fun anecdotes from retreats45:06 Secularizing meditation practices54:27 Non-Duality 56:30 Advice for founders 

Henry Shukman and Jack Shukman are the co-founders of The Way (thewayapp.com), a meditation app designed for those seeking a deeper meditation experience.Henry Shukman is an authorized Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage. Jack Shukman is the co-founder and CEO of The Way. Together, they embarked on a unique journey to create an app that offers a much more in-depth meditation practice than what is currently available. What happens when a Zen Master starts a tech startup? That’s exactly what Henry Shukman did. Together with his nephew, Jack, they launched The Way, an app that integrates Zen philosophy into its core. In this episode, we delve into the intersection of tech and meditation. Henry and Jack share how they infused Zen principles into their startup, discuss how a Zen Master would pitch to Silicon Valley VCs, and explore the importance of awakening for knowledge workers in tech. I also had the chance to ask Henry about his views on manifestation. I’m very grateful for this episode, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as well. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro04:00 - Why a Zen Master wants to start a meditation app10:12 - The founding story of ‘The Way’ meditation app17:15 - Awakening and non-duality23:00 - “Sales pitch” for Awakening: Why should founders meditate?32:00 - Is Awakening for everyone?41:32 - The Way’s four zones54:45 - Inside “The Way” the startup01:00:30 - Mission & metrics01:07:34 - TAM of meditation apps01:15:18 - Awakening and its impact on entrepreneurs01:36:34 - Manifestation and wealth: A Zen perspective01:39:01 - Advice for busy startup founders on meditation

Evgeny Shadchnev is a founder coach and the founder & ex-CEO of Makers Academy. Evgeny is also the author of Startup CEO Succession: A Founder's Guide to Leadership Transition.  In this Founder Meditations episode, Evgeny shares his work coaching founders to end suffering in the context of a busy startup life. The discussion touches on Evgeny's failed Vipassana retreats, his wild story on psychedelics, and the role of mindfulness in personal well-being and professional development. Evgeny emphasizes the power of taking full responsibility for one's internal state for achieving happiness and well-being. 00:00 Intro01:43 Evgeny's journey as a founder 05:03 1st failed Vipassana retreat 10:01 Evgeny's spiritual journey 16:19 Transitioning from CEO to founder coach21:57 Wild psychedelics story 25:40 Recommended spiritual teachers & resources for founders 31:08 Applying meditation in founder coaching37:06 Insights into startup CEO succession 46:43 Evgeny's biggest insight 48:00 Coaching Elon Musk 51:36 Lightning round 57:23 Final thoughts on meditation and advice for founders