Inner Skilled

(Ai assist:) Leadership expert James Robbins shares his journey (recorded in Oct 2025) from shy ranch kid and reluctant minister to global speaker, revealing how authentic leaders succeed by prioritizing people work over task overload (using the chilling Eastern Airlines crash as a metaphor). He breaks down storytelling as a "Trojan horse" for transformation, offers practical public speaking/podcasting tips (e.g., one-goal practice, empathy mindset), and tackles AI's disruptive future—urging leaders to evolve personally while upskilling teams. A motivational fable excerpt ties it all to climbing life's "wrong path" mountains.Key Takeaways: Balance tasks with human connection; stories unlock potential; AI amplifies (don't replace) leaders; wise reflection builds mastery.Tone: Practical, storytelling-driven, optimistic yet realistic.Audience: Leaders, speakers, podcasters, career changers.https://www.jamesrobbins.comBooks:The Call to Climb: https://iwillclimb.comNine Minutes on Monday: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nine+minutes+on+monday&crid=3AHPGSCVYB3ZA&sprefix=nine+min%2Caps%2C395&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_3_8Socials:Instagram: @James.r.robbinsYouTube: www.youtube.com/@james.r.robbinsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesrobbins97/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@james.r.robbins

If you only have a chance to listen to this podcast or meditate, please meditate

(Ai assist:) Meet Jaime Schwarz. He's a brand therapist and innovator with a deep background in advertising and psychology. Jaime shares his journey from creative director in ad agencies to founding Brand Therapy, a discipline that helps brands develop a "voice of conscience" aligned with their true purpose. We explore the hypocrisy in traditional storytelling, the evolution of branding in the digital age, and the importance of separating personal identity from the brand. Jaime discusses his nonprofit work with Pro4Bono, ethical considerations in business, and the shift toward human-centric AI through initiatives like the Team Flow Institute. The discussion delves into the IP economy, decentralized ownership, and his project Mrkd DJ, which uses NFTs and blockchain to empower creators with digital rights and royalties. Jaime emphasizes Prosumerism – producing and adding value as consumers – as a path to escaping consumerism and building a legacy in an AI-driven world. This episode blends practical branding advice with philosophical insights on innovation, ethics, and the future of creativity.[partial chapter markers:]0:00 The Power of Personal Brands1:41 Background in Advertising & Brand Therapy4:01 From Mad Men to Hypocrisy in Storytelling7:47 Crash Course in Branding: Why, How, What13:00 Humanizing Brands & Building Relationships19:03 Brand Therapy & AI Integration21:42 Birthing a Brand: Cutting the Umbilical Cord23:39 Tools for Brand Building: Ikigai & Success Stacks26:53 Strategy Origins & Moving Beyond Consumerism29:40 Nonprofits Meet Business: Pro4Bono, Purpose32:59 Activating Resistance35:33 Vetting Ethics41:06 Infinite Games & Long-Term43:18 Humanizing Companies48:59 AI in the Loop: Human-Centric Corporations51:03 Team Flow: Parameters for Collective Success55:28 Collective Intelligence Tools59:32 Collectivism vs. Individualism1:06:49 Reclaiming Ownership: IP ID, the IP Economy1:12:10 Sovereign Media and Enforceable Rights1:18:00 IP Economy to Reward Creators1:20:40 Micro Payments and Automated Royalties1:23:41 Sampling, Fair Use, Co-Creation1:26:53 Decoupling Music from Objects: NFTs, Physical Media1:29:50 From Streaming to Ownership: Thousand True Fans1:32:02 Outro: The IP Economy Book and Prosumerismhttps://brandtherapy.coachhttps://jaimeschwarz.comhttps://teamflow.institutehttps://mrkd.dj and https://mrkddj.comxrsi.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeschwarzparallelworlds.ushttps://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action@AndrewismM-PesaSpeed of Trust

(Ai assist:) Guru Yogi Shivan (affectionately called Guruji) is a master healer and modern mystic rooted in ancient Indian traditions, particularly Siddha and Kundalini Yoga lineages.Guruji shares his remarkable life story: born a hyperactive child in Kerala, India, he was channeled into Kalaripayattu (the ancient mother of martial arts like kung fu and karate), later becoming a third-degree black belt in karate, a state boxing champion, and a skilled healer using marma (energy points) activation. Working in Oman in the late 1980s as a popular healer for the elite, he witnessed the limits of money, power, and modern medicine against disease and death. This realization sparked a deep existential crisis, leading him to abandon worldly life, don saffron robes, search India for a true guru, and receive initiation into authentic Siddha/Kundalini yoga.He spent 4.5 years in forest seclusion, practicing advanced techniques—including controlled pranayama (breath retention/kumbhaka) to induce near-death/out-of-body experiences consciously. He describes exiting the body, viewing it from outside, and realizing consciousness as formless, infinite energy beyond physical limits. His guru advised balancing inner realization with societal engagement rather than full Himalayan retreat, leading him to establish a healing center focused on three-dimensional health: physical, mental, and spiritual.The discussion explores deep topics: transcending the mind through meditation (chitta vritti nirodha), the illusion of eternalism vs. nihilism (true eternity is formless, beyond mind's finite forms), pranayama's role in controlling hormones/glands/autonomic functions, distinctions between compulsive enjoyment (bhogi), troubled living (rogi), and conscious joyful living (yogi), and managing modern stress/anxiety as poor "body machine" maintenance—addressed via breath awareness, instinct-intellect union, and trusting nature's design.Guruji emphasizes practical healing: conscious breath extends life force (prana), quiets the mind, dissolves worries, and unlocks inner potential for self-healing. He contrasts artificial intoxication (drugs) with constructive meditation for higher states. Animals instinctively fast and self-medicate; humans, over-reliant on intellect/information, lose this.He promotes self-love, daily meditation (even 20-25 minutes), and trusting nature's protection. Contact via indimasi.com (his healing village/center), and the free "Yogi Speaks" live Q&A group (every few days). Final message: Nothing is permanent—pleasure or pain leads to ease. Focus inward, think infinity, become as strong as it.A deeply inspiring dialogue blending personal transformation, ancient science, and timeless wisdom for wholeness and freedom.(Partial:)00:18 - What Does "Guru" Really Mean? A Guide to Inner Exploration03:36 - Bruce Lee Inspiration, Boxing Champion, and Discovering Silence Through Movement04:46 - Healing with Marma Points: "Magic Fingers" in the Middle East06:16 - The Limits of Power: Facing Disease, Death, and the Turning Point07:36 - Becoming a Monk: Saffron Robes, Searching for a Guru, and Siddha/Kundalini Initiation08:14 - 4.5 Years in Forest Seclusion: Creating Near-Death Experiences Consciously14:41 - Breath Retention & Out-of-Body Realization: Beyond Body Limitations19:50 - Eternalism vs. Nihilism: True Infinity as Formless Energy29:53 - The Fear of Endless Rebirth: A Way Out & Intention in Practice38:03 - Yogi, Bhogi, Rogi: Conscious Enjoyment vs. Compulsive Life (Mango Analogy)45:32 - Breath as Hormone Control: Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Glands51:26 - Prana Explained: Beyond Air, Spontaneous Practices (Bastrika, etc.)57:38 - Trusting Mother Nature & Destiny: No Worries, Inner Potentialhttps://indimasi.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@IndimasiHealingVillagehttps://www.facebook.com/indimasihealingvillagehttps://www.instagram.com/indimasi.healingvillagehttps://www.instagram.com/yogi.shivanhttps://yogispeaks.my.canva.site

[Note: Apologies for the few moments of echo](Ai assist:) As a teenager, Laura Bratton was diagnosed with a rare, still-unnamed eye disease that left her completely blind. What followed was intense grief, depression, panic attacks, and the terrifying question: “How do I keep going?”In this raw and uplifting conversation Laura shares how she refused to let blindness define or defeat her. She reveals the turning points that rebuilt her life:  - Permission to grieve for a lifetime while still moving forward  - The unexpected power of family, friends, and community who treated her exactly the same  - Discovering mindfulness and learning to observe (not fuse with) painful thoughts  - Cultivating genuine gratitude—not for blindness itself, but for the tools that helped her navigate it  - Redefining “grit” as acknowledging emotions and choosing courage anyway0:00 Introduction & Welcome – Meet Laura Bratton0:12 Who Is Laura? Speaker, Coach, Author on Grit & Gratitude0:55 Laura's Story: Becoming Totally Blind as a Teenager1:49 The Undiagnosed Rare Eye Disease – Initial Reactions2:18 From Denial → Intense Grief, Depression & Panic Attacks4:02 The Lifelong Grieving Process – Permission to Grieve Forever5:20 Grieving & Moving Forward Can Coexist7:31 Support Systems: Actions Over Words (Parents, Brother, Community)9:53 Healthy Interdependence vs. Independence in Grief11:22 Common Misconceptions & Funny Reactions to Blindness12:36 Discovering Mindfulness – Resistance to Transformation14:18 Game-Changer: Observing Thoughts Without Becoming Them15:52 Body Scan, Tension Release & Listening to the Body19:00 Breath Awareness – Diaphragmatic Breathing for Anxiety20:19 Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Life (Slow Reminders)21:09 Eyes Closed vs. Open in Meditation – Inner vs. Outer World24:19 Daily Gratitude Practice – Starting Small & Stubbornly26:03 Cultivating Gratitude Mindset (Not Gratitude for the Pain)27:52 Reframing: Grateful for Resources to Navigate Difficulty29:24 Authenticity in Affirmations – Aspiration Over Delusion31:23 Defining Grit: Courage to Feel & Keep Going Anyway33:54 Acknowledging Pain Without Judgment – Self-Compassion Practice36:57 Extending Compassion to Others After Giving It to Yourself39:13 We're Not Alone – Universal Human Emotions Connect Us41:15 Peaks & Valleys of Life – Nothing Lasts Forever42:10 Where to Find Laura: Website, Book & Speaking43:03 Book Spotlight: Harnessing Courage – Story + Tools for Adversity44:56 Final Message: You Are Enough – Harnessing Courage Every DayAuthor of Harnessing Courage and a sought-after speaker and coach, Laura now teaches organizations and individuals how to face massive change with grit and gratitude. Her message is universal: no matter what life takes from you, you are still enough—and you can keep going.A deeply human episode about loss, resilience, mindfulness, and the courage to feel it all.LauraBratton.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bratton-speaking

(ai assist:) Melissa Monty shares her raw journey from a charmed life to rock bottom: sexual assault, suicide loss, dad's death, bulimia, party drugs, and a felony arrest tied to her con-man boyfriend's meth-fueled jewelry theft ring. What started as luxury lies ended in courtroom devastation—but became her greatest gift.Discover how Melissa broke free through narrative rewriting:Drama Triangle Traps: Victim, rescuer, persecutor shifts.Self-Deception Exposed: Law of reflection & red-flag addiction.Spiral Growth: Matt Kahn's staircase vs. hamster wheel.Religious Deconstruction: Hell myths, Eleusinian mystery schools, Gnostic texts.Science of Story: Narrative identity (Dan McAdams) + epiphany bridge marketing.ADHD as Superpower & miscarriage healing without victimhood.The Game-Changer: Melissa's 7-Step Framework (Hero's Journey on steroids):Algorithm: Unpack your subconscious loop.Disruption: The shock that breaks it.Awakening: See the pattern clearly.Resistance: Face fears & sabotage.Choice: Commit to change.Embodiment: Live the new you.Gold: Extract wisdom to serve others.Perfect for trauma survivors, coaches, podcasters, or anyone stuck repeating cycles. Melissa reveals how to consciously create vs. unconsciously repeat—turning pain into purpose, business, or awakening.Key Takeaway: "You are always creating. Choose conscious intention over default algorithms."https://MindLove.comhttps://instagram.com/mindlovemelissahttps://tiktok.com/@mindlovemelissa0:00 Welcome & Melissa's Intro0:32 Charmed Life to Trauma Spiral1:03 Sexual Assault, Suicide, Dad's Death1:39 Party Girl Mask & Self-Destruction2:45 Numbing with Alcohol, Bulimia, Drugs3:06 Luxury Lies: Meeting the Con Man3:50 Meth Addiction & Hawaii Escape4:05 Arrest: Stolen Jewelry Bust5:04 Courtroom Victims & Felony Plea6:42 Turning Point: Seeing the Algorithm7:20 Rewriting Your Narrative (Core Work)7:45 Drama Triangle: Victim, Rescuer, Persecutor9:29 Self-Deception & Law of Reflection11:50 LA Stalking & False Healing Trap13:27 Spiral Growth vs. Hamster Wheel15:29 View vs. Narrative: Agency in Perspective16:40 Controlling the Narrative (Power Structures)18:16 Internet Marketing Win & VP Rise20:18 Purpose Inquiry: What Lights You Up?22:31 ADHD as Superpower23:51 Religious Deconstruction & Hell Myth25:54 Eleusinian Mysteries: Story as Tech27:17 Narrative Identity Science28:28 Epiphany Bridge: Sell Transformation29:10 Buddhist Mind: Words Shape Reality31:50 Letting Go of Narrative? (À La Carte Living)34:01 Labels as Cages: Evolve Your Story36:49 Miscarriage Trauma: Choosing Meaning40:31 7-Step Framework Overview42:09 Step 1: The Algorithm (Your Loop)43:39 Step 2: Disruption (The Shock)44:15 Step 3: Awakening (Fog Lifts)44:47 Step 4: Resistance (Fear Phase)45:35 Step 5: Choice (Commit to Change)46:01 Step 6: Embodiment (Live It)47:11 Step 7: The Gold (Extract Wisdom)48:25 Real Results: Coaches & Transformations49:07 Thanks & Contact: MindLove.com50:39 Final Message: Create Consciously53:00 Closing Blessings

(Ai assist:) David Deighton and I explore the intersection of art, politics, and human connection. David shares his journey as an abstract artist who engages strangers in public spaces to discuss sometimes taboo topics like politics. We get into the limitations of free speech zones, the importance of active listening, and the transformative power of art in fostering dialogue while also touching on disillusionment with traditional politics, the role of AI in communication, and the future of human interaction in a digital age.00:00 Introduction to David Deighton and His Work02:28 Exploring the Concept of Free Speech Zones06:41 Engaging in Political Conversations with Strangers11:50 The Power of Listening and Finding Common Ground17:54 Transformative Experiences in Conversations24:00 Reflections on the Current State of Politics30:02 Artistic Practices and Personal Growth30:54 Transformational Listening and Self-Discovery32:02 Disillusionment and the Search for Meaning34:44 The Impact of Digital Communication37:38 The Power of Direct Human Interaction39:00 The Role of AI in Modern Communication41:42 The Future of Political Engagement45:52 The Dangers of AI and Authenticity49:40 The Importance of Compassion and Community52:27 The Power of Personal Connection55:34 Closing Thoughts and Future EndeavorsTakeaways:David Deighton is an abstract artist focused on fostering conversations about politics.He engages with strangers in public spaces to discuss taboo topics non-confrontationally.Free speech zones are often limited and can restrict genuine dialogue.Listening actively is crucial for meaningful conversations and finding common ground.Art can serve as a medium to facilitate discussions on difficult subjects.Disillusionment with politics can lead to a search for alternative solutions.AI's role in communication raises concerns about authenticity and human connection.The importance of face-to-face interactions in a digital age is emphasized.Transformative experiences can arise from engaging with others on sensitive topics.Small acts of political engagement can have a significant impact on society."Let's do the hardest one.""Free speech should be anywhere, right?""Courage and kindness are core values."https://youtube.com/@triptych-dialoguehttps://www.instagram.com/triptych_dialogue

Note: I appreciate Jennifer taking and responding well to some hard and heavier questions(Ai assist:) This thoughtful and wide-ranging talk features Jennifer Edwards, founder and CEO of Breakthrough Financial Wellness. We explore the deeper emotional, psychological, and philosophical dimensions of our relationship with money, moving far beyond basic financial literacy.Jennifer defines true financial health not as hitting specific savings goals, but as living with awareness, mindfulness, and alignment—free from constant regret and conscious of the external forces shaping our financial lives. We discuss money as a "store of energy" that should flow (currency), the role of generosity, childhood money beliefs, and the illusion of ultimate security in a trust-based fiat system.The discussion expands into broader societal issues: the history of currency, fractional reserve banking, the fragility of modern financial systems, building real security through community rather than just wealth accumulation, ethical living, consumerism as numbing, and even touches on non-violence, fear-driven geopolitics, and living in alignment with core values. Jennifer emphasizes her 7-layer framework for financial wellness and the importance of conscious choices within an imperfect system.The episode ends on an uplifting note about personal contribution, cumulative positive impact, and accepting limitations while striving to live skillfully.**Key Themes**: Mindful money relationship, money as energy, systemic flaws in finance, security vs. illusion, generosity, ethical living, consciousness over accumulation.https://breakthroughfinancialwellness.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-edwards-cfp0:00 Introduction and Welcome0:17 Who Is Jennifer Edwards? Founder of Breakthrough Financial Wellness0:36 Healing Your Relationship with Money: Beyond Just Literacy1:46 What Does True Financial Health Look Like?2:06 Living Mindfully: Awareness, Consciousness, and Alignment with Money3:20 Money as Energy: A Store of Value That Needs to Flow5:22 Generosity, Circulation, and Why Money Isn't the Root of Happiness8:45 Childhood Beliefs About Money and Writing Your Own Obituary10:19 The Origins of Currency: From Barter to Fiat Money12:32 Building Real Security in an Unpredictable System15:03 Retirement, Nest Eggs, and the Illusion of Total Independence17:20 Community vs. Monetary Resources: Preparing for Collapse Scenarios19:23 Off-Grid Living, Homesteading, and the Limits of "Exiting" the System22:04 Land Ownership, Taxes, and Historical Trust Issues24:44 Cultural Values: Independence vs. Family Support in Old Age26:06 Caregiving, Struggle, and Why Humans Need Challenge (Anti-Fragility)29:33 Amassing Wealth for Big Projects Without Traditional Debt31:48 Private Equity, Accredited Investors, and Crowdfunding Alternatives36:15 Freedom vs. Security: The Eternal Human Tension38:23 Fear, Trust, and the Cycle of Exploitation in Society40:11 Non-Violence, Conscience, and Living by Your Values44:22 Ethical Dilemmas: WWII Lessons and the 2008 Financial Crisis46:58 Future of Money: Crypto, AI, Cashless Society, and Trust Again48:37 Adding Consciousness to Your Money Relationship (7-Layer Framework)50:08 Closing Thoughts: Your Unique Contribution and Cumulative Impact51:21 Where to Find Jennifer: Breakthrough Financial Wellness Programs