The Unreasonable Art of Living

This week is just a short little update from Miami, where my co-founder and I are having a kick-off bootcamp for our new startup. And you will get a dark chocolate review for Ghirardelli 86% Intense Dark. Apologies for the shitty quality, I recorded this episode from my MacBook using my AirPods. The UAL dark chocolate ranking so far:* J.D. Gross 85% Mild* Lindt 85% Extra Dark* Lindt 90% Mild* Lindt 85% Mild* Vivani 71% Dark ChocolateThanks for listening! If this resonated or inspired you, leave a comment or share it to support my work <3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

You can listen to this episode on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.In this episode, I talk about the subtle way THIS makes your life feel worse and your thinking less original, and how THIS quietly contributes to the slow death of reading, and what you lose when you stop immersing yourself in books.And I review TWO new dark chocolates: * J.D. Gross 85% Mild* Vivani 71% Dark ChocolateListen to find out how they perform against the Lindt-trio from last week ;)The UAL dark chocolate ranking so far:* Lindt 85% Rich Dark* Lindt 90% Mild “Edelbitter”* Lindt 85% Mild “Edelbitter”Thanks for listening! If this resonated or inspired you, leave a comment or share it to support my work <3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

You can listen to this episode on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.I made the unreasonable decision to eat dark chocolate for breakfast and do a proper dark chocolate review.I also share how I think people will come together online in the future, and why we’re moving toward micro-networks curated by humans instead of algorithms.Dark chocolate ranking:* Lindt 85% Rich Dark* Lindt 90% Mild “Edelbitter”* Lindt 85% Mild “Edelbitter”Do you have a dark chocolate brand I should try? Let me know in the comments!Thanks for listening!If this resonated or inspired you, leave a comment or share it to support my work <3or This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

You can listen to this episode on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.In this episode, I unpack how I reshaped my relationship with money over the last 5–6 years, from shame, dependence, and hype-investing to seeing money as a tool for freedom, time, and peace of mind. I share the simplest habit you can start today to grow your wealth long-term, why your saving rate matters more than your income, and how wealth is more about psychology than spreadsheets. I also talk about letting money work for you without trading every hour for it, the mistakes I made along the way (hello, crypto hype 🙃), why women have been historically excluded from financial literacy, and how a few key books and conversations completely changed my mindset.Books that helped me redefine my psychology of money:* “The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness” by Morgan Housel* “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki* “One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market” by Peter Lynch* “The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life“ by Alice SchroederPodcasts: * Own it. The female finance podcast (German)* Finance & Feelings (German)What is your relationship with money? And how has it evolved? Drop a comment!If you found this episode useful, share it with someone <3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

I finished a really cool book called “The General and the Genius: Groves and Oppenheimer – The Unlikely Partnership that Built the Atom Bomb” and was fascinated by the partnership between General Groves and Dr. Oppenheimer. There are so many valuable lessons in it about management, hiring, and choosing the right kind of people for the right kind of job.Last week, I also reflected a lot on the concept of comfortable stagnation and how it relates to aliveness. How aliveness is like a fluid source of energy, and if you’re not careful, that fluid can turn rigid when you stay too long in comfortable stagnation. It’s a reminder that there is a beginning, middle, and end to everything – a constant cycle of creation and dissolution. The impermanence that is.Make sure to listen to episode #4 as well if you want to learn more about my friend Timothy. Enjoy <3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

I’m rebooting The Unreasonable Art of Living for the next six weeks, and I’m genuinely excited about it. Expect (again) a new episode every week, plus the occasional long-form reflection on Substack.This week: why you shouldn’t be worried about AI, and why I believe it will actually help us rediscover what makes us human.AI will keep getting better at rational, predictable work. Our job is to deepen the parts of being human that it can’t replicate: embodied intuition, emotional truth, and the courage to remain original.Quote for you:“Differentiation is survival and the world wants you to be typical. In what ways does the world pull at you and attempt to make you normal? How much work does it take for you to maintain your distinctiveness, to keep alive the things that make you special? We all know that distinctiveness, also known as originality, is valuable. We are taught to be yourself. What I’m really asking you to do is to embrace and be realistic about how much energy it takes to maintain that distinctiveness. The world wants you to be typical in 1000 ways. It pulls at you. Don’t let it happen. You have to pay a price for your distinctiveness and it’s worth it. The fairy tale version of Be Yourself is that all the pain stops as soon as you allow your distinctiveness to shine. That version is misleading. Being yourself is worth it, but don’t expect it to be easy or free. You’ll have to put energy into it continuously. To all of you and he just ends with excellent advice. Be kind, be original, create more than you consume, and never never, never let the universe smooth you into your surroundings. “ - Jeff Bezos This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

Like everything in life, there’s a beginning, a middle, and an end.After over two years working on my lumii, the time has come to close this chapter.This was not an easy episode to record, but I felt my lumii and all the people who walked with us deserved a final honoring of this incredible journey.Whether you were an early customer, tester, newsletter reader, or simply someone who believed in what lumii stood for. Your support helped many people explore their emotions, find clarity, and walk through life with a little more ease & joy. Thank you for being part of this story. The spirit of lumii, emotional growth, connection, and curiosity, will live on through all of you who believed in it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

Ok, back from New York.And today I want to share why New York is not the city that never sleeps (believe me, she gets a good night’s sleep).I’ve been thinking about bringing the podcast back on a weekly basis, because honestly, some of my fondest memories are just sitting here and sharing something with you. So if you’re still here listening… wow. Thank you. You’re amazing.This week I want to leave you with two questions:* Have you ever really tuned into your intuition and followed it wholeheartedly?* And do you believe in past lives, and the life after?I’d love to hear from you.Sending love, wherever you are right now.ps. also a cool video on consciousness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

Limiting beliefs are cunning - they often hide in plain sight.They quietly shape how you see the world, and who you believe you are (or aren’t).The environments you step into, and the people you surround yourself with, play a big role in creating and reinforcing these beliefs.So let me ask you: what limiting beliefs are holding you back right now?- GM This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

“There’s lots of ways to be, as a person. And some people express their deep appreciation in different ways. But one of the ways that I believe people express their appreciation to the rest of humanity is to make something wonderful and put it out there. And you never meet the people. You never shake their hands. You never hear their story or tell yours. But somehow, in the act of making something with a great deal of care and love, something’s transmitted there. And it’s a way of expressing to the rest of our species our deep appreciation. So we need to be true to who we are and remember what’s really important to us.” —Steve, 2007 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

Have you ever found yourself in an endless loop, trying to decide what to do when it comes to a big life decision? Do you feel like you're not in control of your life? Or do you wish you knew how to make authentic decisions with confidence?These kinds of decisions rarely have a clear answer; take courage, confidence, and the right kind of methods to tap into your body wisdom.Today, I will share with you a method that changed my life + business!Have a good day, Gerhardps. Derek Sivers’ article on There are always more than two options This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

”I’ve seen too many people shrink their lives into something that no longer fits, if it ever did. They're haunted by dreams they shelved for the sake of being taken seriously. Being realistic. What a waste. We weren’t meant to be reasonable.The world tries to sedate you with schedules and mortgage rates, with efficiency goals and parking validations. It will ask you to trade your purpose for something manageable plans. To hand over your creativity in exchange for predictable returns. And if you’re not careful, you’ll wake up with a nice lawn, a white picket fence, and no idea where your joy ran off to.There’s still something in you that is untamed. It's wild. Something that wants to open your heart to love that surprises you, to take the long route for no damn reason, to stay up too late under a starlit sky. That part of you isn’t childish. No matter what they say. It’s holy. And you’d do well to answer it before it goes quiet for good.Don’t let the world crush you into a résumé. Don’t become one of those hollowed out souls who only know how to talk about real estate and weather. Go out singing. Go out stained with the runoff of whatever you love too much. You won’t regret that you dared. You'll regret that you didn't.Let the wild back in. Say yes like it’s a liturgy. Say no like it’s a spell. Whatever you do, don’t settle for a second hand life that never truly cared for who you are.Because damnit...this is your life. This. It's the one you've got. Use it.” - RAINIER WYLDE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

realising that thus far, it was the search for our mountain.a mountain that is ambitious enough and worthy of climbing.a high enough to build a beacon of light at the top.feeling the relief of finding this mountain after years of searching.the humbleness for the journey ahead.the patience to reach the top.the understanding of the many learnings that await.the readiness to endure many failed attempts.the excitement and thrill of climbing it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

Today, I’m sharing reflections on the last few days—days filled with the wild fire of anger, frustration, and the kind of raw emotions that leave you reeling and searching for clarity. Inspired by The Dark Knight Rises, I’ll explore how fear, much like Bruce Wayne’s climb “without the rope,” can drive us to create, focus, and push forward.On a sweeter note, I also talk about my newfound obsession with cocoa—hot chocolate, dark chocolate, all of it! Turns out, the act of savoring something as simple as a piece of chocolate has been a grounding ritual amidst the uncertainty and fear of bootstrapping my lumii.If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of emotions or struggled to channel fear and frustration into clarity and action, this episode is for you. Let’s dive into the sweetness and fire of life together.Join us here if you want to turn emotional struggles into clarity and growth:* Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Emotional_Healing/* Discord: https://discord.gg/fUxdg7BwZY* Download my lumii early access on Apple: https://testflight.apple.com/join/4kdHjgwd* Download my lumii early access on Android:* Join on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.lumii.app* Join on the Web: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/io.lumii.app This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

I’m BACK with a hot episode before this crazy year comes to an end! :) I told you I wasn’t gone—this is The Unreasonable Art of Living podcast, after all.Today, I’m sharing my experience in Silicon Valley. It was truly life-changing, and I’ll be talking about why unlocking or tapping into the wisdom of your emotions might just be the MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do in your life. If you’re interested in joining a community of like-minded people who are eager to better understand themselves and learn how to tap into the wisdom of their emotions for:* Deeper connections with yourself and others, instead of disconnection and numbness* Living a life true to yourself, instead of one dictated by others* Aliveness, instead of mere survival* Truth, instead of illusionThen join us here:* Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Emotional_Healing/ * Discord: https://discord.gg/fUxdg7BwZY * Download my lumii early access on Apple: https://testflight.apple.com/join/4kdHjgwd* Download my lumii early access on Android:* Join on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.lumii.app* Join on the Web: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/io.lumii.appSee you on the other side! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

In this episode, I dive into the exciting and rapidly changing world of AI, exploring how it's transforming the future of my startup, my lumii, and the broader tech landscape. I reflect on the journey of evolving my lumii into an AI-driven platform that turns emotions into stories, and how intuition guides me through this unpredictable path. With a move to San Francisco on the horizon, I'm embracing the uncertainties of startup life and the powerful, transformative potential of AI.JOIN THE MY LUMII WAITLINSTFeedback, questions, or wanna simply say hi? Leave a comment on howtounrasonable.com, or contact me at gerhard@lumii.io or on Instagram @avocadohooman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

I am BACK! This week’s episode recaptures the last four weeks, filled with beautiful experiences and learnings. I am sharing more about the lumii BootCamp, the plant medicines I attended, and our mission to spend this Fall/Winter in Silicon Valley.Feedback, questions, or wanna simply say hi? Leave a comment on howtounrasonable.com, or contact me at gerhard@lumii.io or on Instagram @avocadohooman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

I will be on a little break for two weeks!Exciting stuff happening:* lumii boot camp with my team* Two plant medicine ceremoniesI am looking forward to sharing more with you soon.Until then, have a wonderful summer <3 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

…the race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself. ― Baz LuhrmannResources:* Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free To Wear SunscreenJoin the my lumii early-access* Emotional Wisdom PodcastFeedback, questions, or wanna simply say hi? Leave a comment on howtounrasonable.com, or contact me at gerhard@lumii.io or on Instagram @avocadohooman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com

“The environment you choose to live in defines what will be enabled or disabled in you. It is the average of a subset of the collective, each with its focus point and experiment. Some souls are born in the right environment for their learning; some souls are born in the wrong environment, and it is their responsibility to become aware of this learning. Seek out the environment that vibrates with your soul's core. Don’t settle for less, but also don’t judge any environment for what it is. Each environment exists for a reason—neither good nor bad—they just are, fulfilling their existence by enabling or disabling certain parts within us.” - G. M.Resources:* Join the my lumii early-access* Emotional Wisdom PodcastFeedback, questions, or wanna simply say hi? Leave a comment on howtounrasonable.com, or contact me at gerhard@lumii.io or on Instagram @avocadohooman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.howtounreasonable.com