Know Thyself

Dr. Mei Rui is a Yale-trained molecular biophysicist, concert pianist, and clinical researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she runs trials on the measurable effects of music on the human body. In this conversation, we explore what actually happens in the brain the moment music enters it, why the auditory system is the first sense to develop in the womb and the last to go when we die, and how something as accessible as a curated playlist can outperform FDA-approved pharmaceuticals in reducing cortisol.What We Dive Into:1. Music is not a supplement to healing. In the right context, it is the intervention.2. The brain responds differently when you actually show up for the music.3. A longitudinal study in twins showed that three to four years of musical training reduced the risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline by 64%, an effect size found in no other single activity.THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:Oneskin — Code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off - Limited time only!https://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELFBASED Body Works — Code KNOWTHYSELF for 20% and a free toiletry bag!https://www.basedbodyworks.com___________00:00 Introduction: Dr. Mei Rui01:44 A Life Between Music and Science05:26 What Happens When Music Enters the Brain07:26 How the Brain Processes Sound and Music11:32 Why Minor Keys Feel Sad: The Science of Tonality14:37 Live Piano Demo: Matching Music to Mood19:06 Music in the Operating Room27:41 Music as Medicine: Clinical Applications29:10 The 32% Cortisol Study31:19 The 16 Compositional Elements of Healing Music35:11 Oxytocin, Familiarity, and the Parasympathetic Response36:18 Timbre and the Cello's Resemblance to a Mother's Voice42:31 Cymatics: Sound Made Visible45:16 The Ancient Roots of Music as Healing47:09 Listening vs. Playing an Instrument55:33 The Musician's Brain: Structural Differences57:46 Music Training and Protection Against Alzheimer's59:44 Music, Empathy, and Neural Synchrony1:01:36 The EEG Experiment: Reading André's Brain Live1:18:21 What the EEG Data Revealed1:22:26 Music, Flow State, and the Disappearance of Self1:26:55 Music as Spiritual Medicine1:30:23 How to Listen More Intentionally___________MORE FROM MEI✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@meiruipianoMORE FROM KNOW THYSELF🎙️Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9l🎧Apple: https://apple.co/4iATICX✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/🎬TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andreduqum👥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowthyselfbyandreduqum/🌐https://knowthyselfpodcast.com/MORE FROM ANDRÉ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@andreduqum💼Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/know-thyself-podcast📚Book recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list

Arthur Brooks is a Harvard professor, social scientist, and three-time New York Times bestselling author whose life's work centers on a single, urgent question: what actually makes a human life feel meaningful? In this conversation, we explore why depression and anxiety have surged since 2008, how technology has hijacked the part of the brain responsible for wonder and meaning, and what it looks like to live, as Arthur puts it, like his great-grandfather Leroy, present, bored at times, and genuinely alive.What moved me most in this conversation is how Arthur bridges the ancient and the scientific without losing either. We get into the three components of meaning, coherence, purpose, and significance, as well as the dangers of extrinsic reward, the psychology of calling, and why the formula most of us are running on is just slightly off. His answer to the meaning crisis is not complicated. Use things, love people, worship the divine. But getting there requires honest self-examination, and this conversation is a strong beginning.MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfBiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleephttps://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyselfUse code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkoutAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Introduction: Arthur Brooks01:54 The Modern Meaning Crisis02:47 Coherence, Purpose, and Significance06:17 Why Meaning Collapsed After 200814:19 The Doom Loop of Technology20:22 The Death of Boredom25:13 Ad: Mudwtr26:34 Living Like Leroy: The Case for Real Life30:05 Six Practices for the Right Hemisphere36:22 The Morning Routine and Brahma Mahurta43:35 Ad: LMNT44:39 Ad: BiOptimizers45:47 Breaking Free from Your Phone49:07 Romantic Love and the Paradox of Choice54:59 Finding Your Calling1:01:29 Progress, Arrival Fallacy, and Living Now1:17:22 Enjoyment, Satisfaction, and Meaning1:19:36 The External Scoreboard and Love Is Not Earned1:25:10 The Four Idols1:29:49 Self-Transcendence and the Divine1:37:40 Marriage, Adoption, and Walking to Heaven1:45:03 Suffering, Beauty, and Meaning1:53:59 Use Things, Love People, Worship the Divine___________Episode Resources: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Paul Conti is a psychiatrist, trauma specialist, and author whose work centers on one deceptively simple idea: that understanding yourself is the most powerful thing you can do for your mental health. In this conversation, we explore how the unconscious mind quietly sets the boundaries for how we think, feel, and move through life, and how much of what we assume is just "who we are" was actually formed long before we had the words for it.What struck me most in this conversation is Paul's insistence that looking inward doesn't have to be frightening. He introduces the concept of the generative drive, the part of us that moves toward creativity, altruism, and genuine contribution, and makes a compelling case that this is what separates a life that feels full from one that simply accumulates. We also get into the myths we build from isolated facts, why the traditional psychiatric model falls short, and what it actually means to bring compassionate curiosity to yourself.BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleephttps://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyselfUse code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkoutTry LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro02:05 Assessing Mental Health Like Physical Health03:04 The Unconscious Mind and Its Hidden Influence06:30 How Identity Forms in Early Childhood08:23 Compassionate Curiosity as a Practice11:02 Empowerment, Agency, and the Healthy Self15:34 The Assertion, Pleasure, and Generative Drives24:26 What Humility Actually Means27:09 Ad: BiOptimizers28:18 Shame, Feelings, and the Lessons We Carry35:10 How Memories Build the Myth of Self42:32 Ad: LMNT43:41 Waking Up vs. Growing Up48:10 The Limits of Diagnosis-Driven Psychiatry51:07 What We're Really Striving For58:18 Self-Worth and External Achievement1:02:12 Anxiety as Adaptive and Maladaptive1:09:52 Defense Mechanisms and How They Shape Us1:16:51 Tools for Self-Inquiry and Lasting Change1:25:52 Repeated Patterns and Relational Wounds1:29:45 Hard-Won Growth and Gratitude1:32:12 Paul's Personal Story: Loss and the Path to Medicine1:37:17 Presence, Suffering, and the Art of Helping1:41:35 Closing Message: Your Mind Is Your Friend___________Episode Resources: https://www.drpaulconti.com/https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-Right-Powerful-Optimizing/dp/1538776049https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Emily McDonald holds two degrees in neuroscience and has become one of the fastest-growing science communicators on social media. In this conversation, we explore how the brain constructs reality from the inside out — not as a passive receiver of the world, but as a constant prediction machine shaped by memory, belief, emotion, and past experience. From color vision to the kitten experiment, Emily brings the science to life in a way that makes you ask: where am I the kitten in my own life?What I love about this conversation is that it doesn't stop at the intellectual. Emily shares how understanding neuroplasticity moved her from skeptic to someone who radically rewired her relationship with identity, money, and what it means to pursue something with passion. We get into the difference between harmonious and obsessive passion, how identity sets a ceiling on what we're willing to receive, and why processing time — the unstructured silence we've largely lost — may be one of the most important things we can reclaim.Oneskin - Use code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% offhttp://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELFLimited time only!BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleephttps://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyselfUse code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkoutAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro02:14 How the Brain Constructs Reality13:50 Rewiring Beliefs Around Abundance20:12 The Brain as a Prediction Machine21:35 The Default Mode Network and Self-Concept24:15 Science and Spirituality as Complementary Lenses27:09 Ad: One Skin30:19 Identity Beyond the Thinking Mind41:44 Ad: BiOptimizers42:52 Identity as the Set Point of Your Life45:39 The Neuroscience of Habit Change47:39 Desire, Fear, and the Energy Behind Goals1:07:03 Living from Feeling States, Not Outcomes1:13:58 Purpose Beyond the Self1:24:21 Nervous System Regulation as a Foundation1:27:52 Discipline as Self-Trust1:33:51 The Three M's Morning Routine1:39:05 Environment, Association, and Chemo Signals1:42:20 The Necessity of Processing Time___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/emonthebrain/https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Roman Yampolskiy joins me to explore one of the most urgent and uncomfortable questions of our time: what happens when we create intelligence that surpasses our own? We unpack the difference between the AI tools we use today and the emergence of artificial general intelligence, and why the transition from narrow systems to self-improving intelligence may mark a point where human control is no longer possible. Roman shares why even the people building these systems do not fully understand how they work, and why that gap in understanding becomes exponentially more dangerous as capabilities increase.In this conversation, we explore the limits of control, prediction, and safety in a world where intelligence can recursively improve itself beyond human comprehension. Roman lays out why the problem of AI alignment may be fundamentally unsolvable, what timelines experts are realistically considering, and why even a single mistake at that level could have irreversible consequences. This episode invites a deeper reflection on what we are creating, what we assume we can control, and whether humanity is prepared for the intelligence it is bringing into existence.BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleephttp://bioptimizers.com/knowthyselfUse code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkoutBASED Body WorksUse code KNOWTHYSELF for a free toiletry bag when buying a set!https://www.basedbodyworks.comAndrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:25 What Is AGI and Why Should We Be Scared?05:17 Roman's Journey: From Optimism to Impossibility09:07 The High Risk, Zero Reward Equation13:01 Why Superintelligence Is Uncontrollable, Unexplainable, and Unverifiable18:00 How Long Do We Have? The AGI Timeline21:24 How Superintelligence Could Actually Kill Us23:28 Are We Living in a Simulation?28:21 Can AI Become Conscious?31:28 Ad: BiOptimizers32:41 The Possible Timelines: Terminator, the Matrix, or the Zoo42:24 I-Risk, X-Risk, and S-Risk: Three Ways It Goes Wrong46:31 The Human Meaning Crisis: Jobs, Purpose, and What's Left49:02 Ad: Based Bodyworks50:20 What Empowers Us as Individuals Right Now59:37 The Race to Doom: Who's Building It and Why They Won't Stop1:07:41 Can AI Be Conscious — and Does It Already Have Internal Experiences?1:12:41 Hacking the Simulation: Quantum, DMT, and Escaping the Code1:18:30 Simulation Theory, Religion, and the Same Ancient Map1:29:34 The Deal Roman Would Offer Altman, Dario, and Elon1:39:44 What Is Humor? A Computer Scientist's Theory1:43:03 What Comes After: Singularity, Death, and Knowing Thyself___________Episode Resources: https://www.romanyampolskiy.com/https://www.amazon.com/Unexplainable-Unpredictable-Uncontrollable-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/103257626Xhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.comListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Joe Hudson returns to explore a deeper layer of the inner work, and why peace alone is not the full picture of being human. We unpack the distinction between awakening in the mind and awakening in the heart, and how many people use meditation and awareness as a way to find calm, while still avoiding the emotional depth that brings real connection, intimacy, and joy. Joe shares how positive emotions can actually feel more threatening than negative ones, and why the capacity to feel love is directly tied to our willingness to feel everything else.In this conversation, we walk through Joe’s personal journey from early childhood patterns of shame, emotional suppression, and disconnection into years of seeking awakening through meditation. He shares how peace became accessible, but something was still missing until he began to open emotionally and develop the capacity to feel fully. This episode is an invitation to move beyond detachment and into a more complete experience of being human, where joy, intimacy, and love emerge through welcoming every part of ourselves.MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]The Way App - Know Thyself listeners get 30 free sessions with Henry ShukmanJust go to http://thewayapp.com/knowthyself to get begin your journey.Andrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:17 Peace vs. Joy: Two Different Awakenings06:42 Joe's Story: Rebellion, Wounds, and the Stories We Make11:34 The Meditation Obsession and the Awakening That Changed Everything20:00 From Peace to Fully Human: The Heart Journey Begins27:24 When Peace Becomes Bypassing: The Call to Feel28:27 Ad: Mud/Wtr29:46 The Smoke Signals of Emotional Suppression38:23 Overthinking, Fear, and the Emotions Behind Every Decision43:39 Commitment, the Self-Reliant Pattern, and Relationship Dynamics49:38 Ad: The Way App50:58 The Chasing and Being Chased Dynamic in Love1:00:35 Joy Is the Matriarch — and Anger Is a Child Too1:03:18 Turning Toward the World as the Real Path of Growth1:10:33 What Are We Really Searching For?1:14:02 Living Your Calling: Purpose, Surrender, and Doing What You Love1:25:03 AI, Societal Transformation, and the Edge of Wisdom1:31:25 Vagal Authority and the Emotional Order of Operations1:40:46 Joe Coaches André Live: Perfectionism, Self-Reliance, and Vulnerability1:55:26 Dropping the Identity of Being Spiritual1:59:11 We All Want to Be Seen___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/joehudson_aoa/https://www.artofaccomplishment.com/abouthttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Wim Hof joins me to explore the deeper story behind his work, from profound personal loss to discovering a direct path back into the body through breath and cold exposure. We unpack how modern life pulls us out of feeling and into constant mental noise, and how reconnecting with the breath can bring us back into a state of presence, strength, and clarity. Wim shares how a single moment stepping into freezing water at 17 opened something fundamental within him, quieting the mind and reconnecting him to his heart.In this conversation, we explore the science behind his methods and what it means to consciously influence the nervous system and immune response. Wim explains how breathwork can reduce inflammation, strengthen the body, and restore balance, and why this ability is not unique to him but available to anyone willing to practice. This episode is an invitation to reclaim autonomy over your body and mind, and to remember a deeper connection to nature that modern life often pulls us away from.Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/knowthyself or use gift code KNOWTHYSELF25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:27 A Life Shaped by Purpose04:00 The Science of Breath and Inflammation09:20 Music, Cold, and the Opening of the Heart12:31 Becoming a Missionary for Human Healing22:10 Freedom, Autonomy, and the Power Within25:15 Trust as the True Superpower29:52 Ad: Function Health31:04 The Years of Searching, Love, and Loss37:16 Grief, Rage, and the Call to Change the World47:14 It’s Time for the Soul52:10 Returning to the Body Through Breath and Cold53:31 Ad: LMNT54:39 The Wim Hof Method in Practice1:07:17 What the Cold Really Teaches1:10:33 A Message for Humanity1:12:45 Choosing Stress Before Stress Chooses You1:19:11 The Forgotten Power of the Breath1:24:08 Consciousness, Soul, and the Search for Meaning1:33:18 Becoming an Agent of Change___________For a free Wim Hof Method Mini Class:https://www.wimhofmethod.com/free-mini-classEpisode Resources: https://www.wimhofmethod.comhttps://www.instagram.com/iceman_hofhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Emad Mostaque joins me to explore one of the most confronting questions of our time: what happens when human intelligence is no longer economically valuable? We unpack how rapidly advancing AI is moving toward a world where cognitive labor becomes obsolete, and why this shift may happen much sooner than most people expect. Emad shares how we’ve already built systems that can replicate human thinking, decision-making, and creativity, and how the next phase is not about new breakthroughs but simply scaling what already exists.In this conversation, we explore what this means for identity, purpose, and the future of society. If so much of our sense of self is tied to what we do, what happens when that disappears? Emad lays out the possible paths forward, from centralized control of intelligence to more open and collaborative systems, and why the stories we choose to believe in now may determine whether we move toward collapse or abundance. This episode is an invitation to rethink work, meaning, and what it truly means to be human in a world where intelligence is no longer scarce.BASED Body WorksUse code KNOWTHYSELF for a free toiletry bag when buying a set!https://www.basedbodyworks.comTry Boncharge & 15% off their red light deviceshttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyselfAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________0:00 Intro01:17 The Last Economy02:03 The Race Toward AGI and Human Obsolescence07:50 Why AI Will Reshape Work Within 800 Days14:36 The Collapse of Work as Identity18:22 How Far Ahead Private AI Really Is21:24 The Three Futures of AI32:52 When the Economic Loop Breaks37:38 Ad: Based Body Works38:07 What AI Changes About Intelligence40:50 When AI Replaces Human Worth48:44 Ad: BON CHARGE48:46 Industrializing Self-Deception55:55 When AI Knows You Better Than You Do1:08:23 What Utopia Could Still Look Like1:20:20 How to Use AI Without Losing Yourself1:30:59 Can AI Become Conscious?1:46:29 What Makes Us Human?1:57:08 Longevity, Transhumanism, and the Future of the Body2:03:51 The Practical AI Tools to Start Using Now2:14:43 The End of Human-Only Discovery2:17:22 What Parents Should Teach Their Kids Now2:23:39 Happiness, Agency, and the Final Message___________Episode Resources: https://x.com/EMostaquehttps://x.com/ii_postshttps://ii.inc/webEmad's Book: http://thelasteconomy.comhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.comListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Shi Heng Yi joins me to explore the path of self-mastery through the lens of the Shaolin tradition, and why, despite having more comfort and convenience than ever before, so many people still feel a deep sense of inner lack. We unpack the idea that external success, wealth, and achievement cannot replace a missing sense of inner stability, and how the constant search outside of ourselves often leads us further away from what we are truly looking for.In this conversation, we explore the relationship between mind, body, and energy, and why true mastery begins with learning how to regulate and understand oneself rather than trying to control the external world. Shi Heng Yi shares how thoughts shape reality, why discipline and consistency are essential for growth, and what it means to become “transparent” by letting go of identity and the need to be someone. This episode is an invitation to shift from reacting to life toward consciously creating it from within.Oneskin - Use code KNOW THYSELF for 15% offhttp://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELFLimited time only!MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________0:00 Intro1:11 The Root of Suffering: Becoming Someone1:50 Why Comfort Doesn’t Create Peace4:56 The Inner Void Beneath External Success9:16 The Path of Self-Mastery16:04 Mastering the Mind, Not the World21:07 Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows27:21 Ad: OneSkin28:43 The Essence of the Shaolin Spirit36:29 Living with Intention and Integrity44:14 Service Beyond the Self46:34 The Freedom of Being No One57:14 Ad: Mud/Wtr58:56 Trust, Discipline, and the Inner Path1:05:24 Strength Without Suppression1:10:20 The Middle Way of Emotion1:13:11 Structure as the Gateway to Freedom1:19:00 Returning to the Body1:35:36 The Body as a Tool for Awareness1:42:32 Breath as the Bridge to Presence1:46:38 Seeing Clearly: The End of Suffering1:54:31 From Endless Seeking to Direct Experience1:59:27 The Mind’s Five Obstacles2:08:07 Turning Awareness Inward2:11:20 Beyond the Illusion of Separation2:14:25 Nothing to Gain, Nothing to Lose2:15:30 Closing Thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.shihengyi.online/https://www.instagram.com/shihengyi.onlinehttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Nicole LePera joins me to explore how our childhood experiences shape the nervous system, emotional patterns, and identities we carry into adulthood. We unpack how many of the reactions, habits, and relationship dynamics that feel automatic today were once adaptations we developed to maintain connection and safety early in life. Nicole explains how emotional attunement in childhood forms the internal “home base” we return to, often recreating familiar patterns even when they no longer serve us.In this conversation, we explore attachment styles, people-pleasing, parentification, and the unconscious roles we adopt in order to belong. Nicole also introduces the practice of reparenting—learning how to meet our own emotional needs through awareness, nervous system regulation, and body-based practices. This episode offers a grounded path toward understanding where our patterns come from and how we can begin to create a deeper sense of safety and home within ourselves.Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfMUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro03:30 Unearthing What We Buried to Survive09:12 The Childhood Roots of Our Coping Strategies15:59 The Importance of Emotional Attunement19:52 Understanding Attachment Styles28:33 Ad: LMNT30:35 From Seeking Love to Finding Home Within34:54 Meeting Needs With Compassion41:06 Ad: Mudwtr42:29 The Impact of Status-Oriented Parenting51:34 The Body as the Foundation of Healing1:04:19 Simple Practices for Nervous System Regulation1:12:07 Growing When Your Partner Isn't1:26:07 Vulnerability as the Path to Connection1:42:15 Healing the Need to Be Perfect1:50:55 The Power of Inner Child Awareness___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/the.holistic.psychologisthttps://theholisticpsychologist.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Zen teacher and author Henry Shukman offers a clear and grounded introduction to the heart of Zen practice. We explore how awakening is not an escape from life, but a deeper participation in it — a realization that dissolves the illusion of separation and reveals a boundless field of awareness and love.Henry shares his own spontaneous awakening experience at 19, the profound insight that life is not divided between self and world, and the difficult healing journey that followed. From mindfulness and meditation to flow states, jhanas, koans, and the role of trauma in spiritual growth, this conversation maps out a path that integrates awakening with emotional healing.Download SAILY in your app store and use our code KNOWTHYSELF at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/knowthyself Go to https://thewayapp.com/knowthyself to begin your journey with 30 free meditation sessionsAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:26 An Introduction to Zen13:10 The Premise of Original Love17:14 Training the Mind Like the Body20:54 Freedom From Identification With Thought27:50 What Are the Jhanas?32:50 Ad: Saily33:54 Tasting Awakening for Yourself45:17 Awakening vs Psychological Healing50:17 Awakening as an Ongoing Path54:54 The Distinct Path of Zen59:13 Koans as a Path to Insight1:13:53 The Enlightenment of the Mundane1:20:07 The Freedom of Emptiness1:26:16 The Necessity of Meditation Practice1:34:32 Sweeping the Yard (A Zen Poem)1:43:33 Beauty, Ethics, and Interconnection1:47:33 The Journey to a Whole Heart (A Poem on Heartbreak)2:02:58 Original Love in a Fragmented World___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/henryshukman/https://www.instagram.com/theway_app/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Sue Morter returns to explore what it truly means to awaken — not as a concept, but as a lived, embodied experience. Beneath our protective personality and performance-driven identity lies a deeper intelligence — an electromagnetic master system that governs healing, perception, and consciousness itself.In this conversation, we explore how nervous system regulation opens the doorway to higher awareness, why triggers are invitations to reclaim lost parts of ourselves, and how building energetic circuitry transforms reactive patterns into creative power. From subtle anatomy and the Shoshumna channel to the relationship between consciousness and matter, this episode bridges science and spirituality in a grounded, practical way.Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfTry Boncharge & 15% off their red light deviceshttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyselfKnow Thyself Community Event Waitlist: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/liveAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro5:48 The Illusion of Inherent Brokenness11:37 The Fuel Behind Achievement17:21 The Protective Personality31:21 Ad: LMNT32:46 The Return to Second Innocence47:04 Ad: BON CHARGE48:13 Expanding the Space Between Stimulus and Response1:04:06 The Science of Subtle Anatomy1:29:24 The Limits of Spiritual Language1:43:07 Embodiment of Expanded Awareness1:49:02 Moving From Joy Instead of Lack1:54:16 The Transformative Power of Immersive Experience2:15:22 Surrendering Fully Into Feeling2:25:42 A Message to the Heart of Humanity___________Episode Resources: Dr. Sue Morter's book: https://nt113.isrefer.com/go/HYHYL-Book/KnowThyself/https://www.instagram.com/drsuemorterhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.comListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Nir Eyal joins the podcast to explore one of the most foundational forces shaping our lives: belief. What if the way you see reality isn’t reality itself, but a simulation filtered through prior assumptions, expectations, and unconscious scripts?In this conversation, we unpack the difference between fact, faith, and belief—and why most of our suffering stems from confusing the three. Nir shares powerful research on predictive processing, placebo and nocebo effects, learned helplessness, and how our expectations literally alter what we see, feel, and experience in our bodies.From secular prayer and gratitude practices to Byron Katie’s turnaround method, this episode is a deep dive into how to move from limiting beliefs to liberating ones. If beliefs are tools, then the real question becomes: are the ones you’re using serving you?EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/knowthyselfTry it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee3/10 Book release: http://geni.us/beyondbeliefAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:35 The Difference Between Fact, Faith, and Belief05:36 Illusions of Reality07:29 The Core of Our Perception15:52 Where to Start Enacting Change on Your Life19:53 Beliefs as Tools, Not Truths25:28 Ad: Nord VPN26:32 The Cosmic Slot Machine37:39 Spotting Your Limiting Beliefs46:39 The Prison of Our Own Making51:33 Why We Perceive Threats Everywhere1:00:18 Becoming Indistractable1:12:57 What Attention Means Today versus the Past1:26:44 The Motivation Triangle1:32:00 Closing Thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/neyal99https://nir.substack.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Swami Sarvapriyananda unpacks the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and its central claim: you are not the body, not the mind, not even your thoughts — you are pure consciousness itself. Through rigorous reasoning rather than blind belief, he guides us step by step into a direct inquiry of who we truly are.We explore the limits of faith-based religion, the pitfalls of mystical experience, the distinction between intelligence and consciousness in the age of AI, and the profound implications of non-duality. This conversation is not about adopting a belief system — it is about dismantling false identities until only the undeniable remains.FREE electrolyte sample pack with any purchase @ https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfBON CHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally usehttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:18 What Is Advaita Vedanta06:44 The Promise Freedom From Suffering10:16 Liberation While Living15:09 The Three Spiritual Paths23:38 The Path of Knowledge Jnana Yoga28:42 Discovering Our Ignorance29:49 Descartes and the Indubitable Self32:36 Ad: LMNT34:50 Deconstructing the Self37:18 Are You the Body42:09 From Body to Breath to Mind47:30 AI and the Difference Between Intelligence and Consciousness49:12 Consciousness in Deep Sleep52:23 If Not Body or Mind What Are You53:23 Pure Consciousness Explained55:04 Dualism vs Non Dualism57:42 The Dream Analogy59:17 Maya and the Appearance of the Universe01:00:28 Ocean and Wave Analogy01:01:13 Ad: BON CHARGE01:03:35 The Shift From Person to Awareness01:10:00 Awareness as the Ground of Reality01:18:00 The Root of Suffering01:26:00 Ego Attachment and Fear01:34:00 Living as Pure Awareness01:42:00 Practical Self Inquiry01:50:00 Free Will Karma and Responsibility02:02:00 The Illusion of Individuality02:14:00 Consciousness and Modern Science02:26:00 Death Rebirth and Liberation02:38:00 What Enlightenment Really Means02:50:00 Final Clarifications on Non Duality02:55:00 Closing Reflections___________https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Joscha Bach explores the nature of consciousness, free will, and reality through the lens of computation, cognitive science, and philosophy. Rather than treating the mind as a mystical entity, Joscha frames consciousness as a constructed dream—a model generated by the brain to make sense of the world and coordinate behavior.We examine why beliefs should remain provisional, how the self functions as a useful fiction, and why suffering emerges when internal learning signals misfire. Joscha explains why free will feels real even if decisions arise before awareness, how meaning exists beyond the individual ego, and why wisdom is not simply knowledge but the ability to orient oneself within larger systems of value.BON CHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally usehttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro: Josha Bach04:24 Agnosticism, Evidence, and Logical Alternatives11:20 Reality as a Mental Simulation13:00 What Physicalism Actually Claims16:55 Telepathy, Rituals, and Distributed Minds19:45 Consciousness Does Not Make Decisions22:55 Free Will as a Post-Hoc Story24:00 Consciousness as a Trance State26:00 Meditation and the Illusion of Self29:10 Out-of-Body Experiences Explained31:07 Ad: BON CHARGE36:30 Why the Brain Fills in Missing Reality39:50 Dreams, Selves, and Narrative Identity43:20 Intelligence, Models, and World-Building47:10 Why Reality Feels Stable51:00 Meaning, Agency, and Mental Compression55:10 Why Consciousness Feels Central (But Isn’t)59:30 The Psychological World vs Physical Reality1:04:10 Intelligence Without Awareness1:08:45 The Cost of Believing the Self Is Real1:13:30 Waking Up From the Narrative1:18:40 What a Cognitive Science View Really Implies1:23:30 Final Thoughts: Living Inside the Dream___________Episode Resources: https://www.cimc.ai/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

In this conversation, David Ghiyam shares the spiritual framework that has guided his life for over 25 years—one rooted in the idea that reality operates according to universal spiritual laws, just as it does physical ones. Drawing from Kabbalistic wisdom and lived experience, David explains how the soul’s purpose is not comfort, but transformation, and how life’s challenges are designed to reconnect us with a deeper source of fulfillment.We explore the concept of the “light of the Creator,” the idea of spiritual baggage carried across lifetimes, and why pain, relationships, and adversity act as mirrors for inner growth. David reflects on periods of profound darkness in his own life—financial collapse, loss, doubt—and how a shift from victimhood to responsibility opened the door to unexpected clarity, healing, and abundance.MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro - David Ghiyam04:57 The light of the Creator08:25 External teaching vs internal understanding12:36 Kabbalah in the life of David18:39 What is the source of consciousness?26:50 The trap of “needing” energy31:00 Ad: Mudwtr32:21 Does everything happen for a reason?39:43 The magnetic quality of being whole52:51 The role of business in our spiritual paths59:55 Protecting the seed1:09:08 How to practice trust in your intuition1:18:18 One spiritual law people violate daily1:29:26 Closing thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/davidghiyamhttps://www.davidghiyam.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

In this conversation, Reggie Watts explores creativity not as a skill reserved for a few, but as the fundamental way human beings relate to reality itself. From comedy and music to improvisation, paradox, and play, Reggie reflects on how we’re constantly creating our experience of life—often without realizing it.We talk about absurdity as a doorway to truth, humor as a form of instantaneous awakening, and why laughter momentarily dissolves identity, ideology, and certainty. Reggie shares how improvisation shapes his philosophy of living, why structure exists to be transcended, and how playfulness restores a sense of freedom in a world that often feels rigid and over-defined.BON CHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally usehttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro - Reggie Watts04:54 The absurdity of being human07:21 The insight gained through self-reflection11:34 The philosophy of improv19:06 Realizing the artist in you24:27 Ad: BON CHARGE25:44 Reggie’s form of death meditation38:14 Altered states as a reference point46:09 Not all transpersonal experiences are equal52:43 Reframing anxiety after altered states1:03:25 It’s all an illusion1:12:44 Service to self vs service to others1:19:28 Building community1:23:15 Closing thoughts___________Episode Resources:https://www.reggie-watts.com/https://www.instagram.com/reggiewattshttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

In this conversation, Jesse Michels joins me to explore a question that’s becoming harder to dismiss: what if the phenomenon we call UFOs points to something real—and we don’t yet know what it is? Rather than arguing for belief or disbelief, this episode is an invitation to curiosity, careful inquiry, and intellectual honesty about the limits of our current understanding.We examine historical UFO encounters near nuclear sites, government secrecy, and the growing body of anomalies that don’t sit comfortably within a purely materialist worldview. This is a conversation about staying grounded while remaining open. About asking better questions. And about whether phenomena like UFOs, non-human intelligence, or something we haven’t yet named might be nudging us to expand how we think about reality, consciousness, and our place in the universe.Momentous: Best Creatine in the gamehttps://livemomentous.com[Use code KNOWTHYSELF for up to 35% off]BONCHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally usehttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro06:36 Questioning the Nature of Reality09:18 A Timeline of Non-Human Intelligence Evidence23:37 Why Nuclear Sites Attract Attention31:55 Extraordinary Claims, Extraordinary Evidence40:29 Ad: Momentous41:51 Letting Go of Human-Centric Thinking47:49 Studying Claims Without Dismissing People58:58 Non-Human Biologics and Physical Evidence1:06:10 Ad: Boncharge1:07:25 What May Have Been Quietly Explored1:18:55 The Hidden Branch of Physics1:26:38 Reframing Aliens Through Consciousness1:33:33 Grays, Nordics, and Reptilians Explained1:40:10 Why We Don’t See Reality Directly1:53:58 Glimpses Outside Linear Time1:58:44 Why Aliens Look Strangely Human2:07:32 Shared Phenomena in Altered States2:15:32 Jesse’s Personal UFO Experiences2:23:35 The Monolith as a Metaphor2:29:07 The Problem With Visual Proof2:35:24 What Is Actually Happening?2:46:47 Voices Worth Listening To2:51:22 What Would You Ask an Alien?2:53:19 Closing Thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.youtube.com/Jessemichelshttps://www.instagram.com/jessemichelsofficial/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

This final episode of the year is a special compilation reflecting on the lessons, reminders, and moments that shaped 2025. It’s a curated journey through insights from across the year—designed to help you slow down, take stock, and step into 2026 with greater clarity, presence, and intention.This episode is less about doing more and more about listening—reflecting on the growth, challenges, relationships, and inner shifts that defined the past year. It’s an invitation to notice what wants to be released, what wants to be integrated, and what seeds you’re ready to water moving forward. Sometimes all it takes is a one-degree change in direction to alter the entire path ahead.Momentous: Best Creatine in the gamehttps://livemomentous.com[Use code KNOWTHYSELF for up to 35% off]2025/2026 Reflections and Intentions: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/yearinreviewAndrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00:00 Intro00:01:37 Review 2025 Instead of Planning 2026 (E166 – Tim Ferriss) 00:05:27 The Most Important Practice of 2026 (E152 – Mark Manson) 00:10:11 There Is No Wealth Without Health (E128 – Mindy Pelz) 00:12:26 The Importance of a Bedtime Routine (E143 – Michael Beckwith) 00:17:59 How To Grasp The Opportunity of Life (E119 – Marianne Williamson) 00:25:16 The Power of Entrainment (E145 – Dr. Theresa Bullard) 00:31:01 Be Careful With What You Desire (E160 – Aaron Abke) 00:35:18 Explore Your Relationship With Money (E140 – Lewis Howes) 00:41:59 Ad – Momentous 00:43:14 Happiness is an Inside Job (E149 – Dr. Thema Bryant) 00:48:16 The Unique Opportunity of Our Times (E154 – Sadhguru) 00:53:25 How To Discover Your Dharma (E155 – Dr. K) 01:01:11 Living The Moment You're Meant To Live (E164 – Dr. John Demartini) 01:07:53 The Problem With Manifestation (E118 – Aaron Doughty) 01:13:29 Finding Stability in Surrender (E135 – Yung Pueblo) 01:16:23 Relaxing Into Instability (E146 – Cory Muscara) 01:20:42 Looking Back To Plan Ahead (E158 – Tom Campbell) 01:24:35 A Different Perspective of the Future (E165 – Dr. Iain McGilchrist) 01:29:04 The Unlimited Potential of Being Human (E134 – Peter Crone)___________Watch the Full EpisodesTim Ferriss: https://youtu.be/NxmUCGuapNwMark Manson: https://youtu.be/to-APJvffFQMindy Pelz: https://youtu.be/pgWnbRg5-cgMichael Beckwith: https://youtu.be/r3wrUmE1L3wMarianne Williamson: https://youtu.be/AQzKagUJGvIDr. Theresa Bullard: https://youtu.be/mrKiH4J0_5UAaron Abke: https://youtu.be/zXMKj8fNnYQLewis Howes: https://youtu.be/PTPjCtF9es4Dr. Thema Bryant: https://youtu.be/ItRCT_L2kpASadhguru: https://youtu.be/FMoXXb-wKE8Dr. K: https://youtu.be/zj40FT631P4Dr. John DeMartini: https://youtu.be/dVR01alAe8oAaron Doughty: https://youtu.be/79INohJ7KTwYung Pueblo: https://youtu.be/bwom9Y6ybcgCory Muscara: https://youtu.be/IrxFMkYUBFgTom Campbell: https://youtu.be/IoGSWLuH2JsDr. Iain McGilchrist: https://youtu.be/LZ5C11mlTH4Peter Crone: https://youtu.be/VCi93m9lloMEpisode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Mindy Pelz returns to explore the deeper meaning of aging, menopause, and the profound psychological and neurological transformations women undergo as they grow older. Drawing from neuroscience, anthropology, mythology, and personal experience, Mindy reframes menopause not as a decline—but as an initiation into wisdom, sovereignty, and inner authority.We discuss the concept of the “second innocence,” the pruning and rewiring of the female brain across hormonal transitions, the grandmother hypothesis, and why modern culture fears aging women. Mindy shares how trauma, grief, solitude, and uncertainty can become gateways to resilience, neuroplasticity, and self-discovery—especially when women stop outsourcing their worth and begin listening inward.Boost your hydration with Pique Life Tea (20% off here):https://www.piquelife.com/knowthyselfAndrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro - Dr. Mindy Pelz03:39 The return to the second innocence08:18 What’s the purpose of menopause?16:09 Where the shift begins23:04 Supporting others without abandoning yourself31:57 Being considerate vs owning others’ emotions34:14 Ad: Pique Life35:55 The power of solitude43:26 Letting go52:48 From power over to power within56:48 The brain architecture of wisdom1:02:24 Transformation: From a caterpillar to a butterfly1:19:58 Fasting during menopause1:26:35 Knowing when and how to detox1:32:31 Healing through breathwork, EMDR, psilocybin1:45:12 Lacking a support system1:49:07 Closing thoughts___________Episode Resources: Her new book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/age-like-a-girl-why-the-brain-changes-that-happen-after-40-set-you-up-for-your-best-life-yet-dr-mindy-pelz/1d7c0fe95ab52c4f?ean=9781401975562&next=thttps://www.instagram.com/dr.mindypelzhttps://www.drmindypelz.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com