Podcasts about lao tzu

Today's wisdom comes from The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.   If you're loving Heroic Wisdom Daily, be sure to subscribe to the emails at heroic.us/wisdom-daily.   And… Imagine unlocking access to the distilled wisdom form 700+ of the greatest books ever written.   That's what Heroic Premium offers: Unlimited access to every Philosopher's Note. Daily inspiration and actionable tools to optimize your energy, work, and love. Personalized coaching features to help you stay consistent and focused   Upgrade to Heroic Premium →   Know someone who'd love this? Share Heroic Wisdom Daily with them, and let's grow together in 2025!   Share Heroic Wisdom Daily →

What if the fastest way to your next breakthrough wasn't doing more — but doing less? I know it sounds good, and also scary. In today's short but powerful episode, I'm giving you a full-body permission slip to pull back, create space, and let your nervous system breathe. We're talking about why slowing down actually speeds up your manifestations, how to release the guilt around rest, and why creating safety is your ultimate strategy for expansion. This is for the high-achievers, the go-getters, and the spiritual seekers who secretly feel like they can't stop moving or feel burned out in freeze… and deep down know they need to chill to call in what they desire. ✨ Your dreams don't need you to hustle harder or get the right plan — they need you to feel safe enough to receive them.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Professor Kozlowski presents a woefully inadequate look at some key ideas in the political philosophy of China and India, specifically:Lao-Tzu's Tao Te ChingThe Analects of ConfuciusMo-TzuThe Laws of ManuAlong the way we'll talk about the differences between Eastern and Western attitudes toward virtue, rule, and government, as well as how these texts take on a very different perspective from those we've seen in Ancient Greece....and then we won't talk about them again until the 20th century or so. Alas - we still need to make room for all that Marx and Hobbes.I will (one day) upload the document I've produced for my students, which excerpts each of the above texts, to my website, so you may be able to find it there.Additional readings include: Mencius, Sun-Tzu's The Art of War, Intrigues of the Warring States, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Bhagavad-Gita, and Fire Emblem for my gamer fans.If you're interested in Professor Kozlowski's other online projects, check out his website: ⁠⁠⁠professorkozlowski.wordpress.com

Welcome back! You've been told to “trust the Universe” — and while trust is a key part of manifestation, it's not the whole story. In this episode, I break down the difference between true co-creation and spiritual bypassing (a.k.a. waiting for your dreams while... well, waiting) We'll talk about the nervous system freeze state that keeps you stuck, why certain beliefs in the spiritual community are unintentionally keeping you in avoidance mode, and the sneaky ways this shows up in your life, money, health, and business. I share a powerful parable, a behind-the-scenes look at a recent client transformation, and how you can finally bridge the gap between trusting the Universe and actively creating your reality.   This episode will help you stop waiting, start moving, and learn the exact tools to regulate your nervous system so you can receive with ease.   What You'll Learn in This Episode: The spiritual myth that's keeping you from your next level. The difference between trust and passivity in manifestation. The nervous system freeze state — and how to break free from it. What you're secretly avoiding (even if you think you're “doing the work”). A real-life example of how shifting out of freeze changed everything for a client. How to regulate your energy so action feels natural, not forced.  

EVEN MORE about this episode!Step into the mystical with Taoist Master San Qing as we explore how focused intention, ancient wisdom, and spiritual energy can shape your reality. Discover the hidden power of "hopium" and how hope, aligned with purpose, becomes a force for transformation. From miraculous family healings to near-death experiences and the timeless teachings of the Tao Te Ching, this episode uncovers the sacred balance between life and the beyond. Plus, learn how lucid dreaming and breathwork can awaken your true self and unlock unseen realms of healing and insight.Guest Biography:Taoist Master San Qing is a renowned healer, ordained priest, and lineage holder of two ancient Taoist traditions. With over 30 years of experience, he guides people to awaken their true essence—as human, light, and pure being. A master of Qigong and Neigong, San Qing is known for his profound spiritual presence, miraculous healing work, and direct access to the spirit realm. Working with clients worldwide, he channels wisdom from the Tao and the Three Pure Ones, helping others realize that the impossible is truly possible.Episode Chapters:(0:00:01) - The Taoist Path to Create Reality(0:12:26) - Miraculous Healing Stories(0:22:58) - Ancient Wisdom of Lao Tzu(0:27:58) - Exploring Lucid Dreams and Alchemy(0:46:31) - Embarking on a Breathwork Journey➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Español YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Português YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Deutsch YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Français YouTube✏️Ask Julie a Question!

Have you ever felt like no matter what you do, life just keeps putting up roadblocks? From tech glitches to canceled plans to the big dreams that feel just out of reach—resistance can show up in a thousand ways.   This is where we need to learn to discern - Is this resistance here because I'm growing—or because I'm out of alignment? But here's the truth: resistance isn't bad. It's not here to punish you. It's here to guide you. In this episode, I'm breaking down: ✅ What resistance really is (and what it isn't) ✅ Why resistance shows up when you're growing ✅ How to know the difference between a redirection and a challenge you need to move through ✅ My recent real-life resistance story—and the lessons that cracked me open ✅ How to release resistance instantly with a simple, powerful mindset shift If you've been feeling stuck, unclear, or blocked—this conversation will bring you back to trust, flow, and your own power. ✨ Spoiler: Resistance is not the enemy. It's your spiritual assignment. It's your initiation into the version of you that can hold everything you're asking for.   .   Ready for More?

What was it like to learn from Dr. Deming himself -- a decade before his name became legend in U.S. business circles? In this deeply personal episode, William Scherkenbach shares with host Andrew Stotz what it was like to sit in Deming's classroom in 1972, join him for late-night chats at the Cosmos Club, and help ignite transformational change at Ford and GM. Learn how Deming's teachings shaped a lifetime of purpose, and why Scherkenbach, now in his 80th year, is stepping back into the arena with lessons still burning bright. TRANSCRIPT 0:00:02.3 Andrew Stotz: My name is Andrew Stotz, and I'll be your host as we continue our journey into the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Today, I'm here with featured guest William Scherkenbach, and he is known as one of the men who has spent a huge amount of time with Dr. Deming, as he mentioned to me previously, starting from 1972, over a thousand meetings and many other activities that he's been involved in. So, Bill, welcome to the show. Why don't you give us a little background about you?   0:00:39.5 William Scherkenbach: Oh, okay. Good to be here, Andrew. Well, I'm going to start with, since it's about Deming, in '72, I was newly married in April, but had been accepted to NYU Graduate School of Business, and I don't know, I never found out who wrote the course syllabus, but whoever did wrote something that it sounded like a darn interesting course, sampling, manufacturing. I was a protocol officer at the United Nations at the time and was going to night school at the New York University Graduate School of Business. So, I said, this sounds like a good course, interesting course. Had no idea who Dr. Deming was, and I walked into the first class, and there was an old, I'm 26, so he was 72 in 1972, and he was one of the first, one of the only old person who didn't say, I used to be, and I don't want to stereotype all of my peers now that I'm 79, but hopefully I don't fall into the, well, I used to be and what happened. But he did tell, I mean, statistics can be a very technical subject, and the way he taught it, I had courses in some theory of sampling, which was one of his books.   0:02:52.2 William Scherkenbach: He had three, I said three courses. The other course that I took was based on his lectures in Japan in 1950, and in fact, two of them. The third course was an extension of that. So, he was, he would teach the statistics, but he was able to tell the history of the people behind all of the thoughts and the formulas and approaches, and I found that extremely, extremely interesting. And he handed out tons of papers and material, and it was just a very, very good experience. I know he had, and he had, in my opinion, a great sense of humor, but then statisticians, what's our status? Yeah, we're like accountants, in any event. .   0:04:12.2 Andrew Stotz: Why was he teaching? I mean, at 72, most men, you know, maybe women also, but most of us are like, it's the twilight of our years, and we now know he had 30 more years to go, but why was he teaching? And also, what's interesting is when I think about Deming, I think about his overall system of what he's teaching, whereas it's interesting to think about how he taught one relatively narrow subject.   0:04:43.7 William Scherkenbach: I'll get to that as to why I think he was teaching. But yeah, back then there were no 14 Points, no glimmer of Profound Knowledge. It was, not theoretical statistics, but applied statistics with a theory behind it. And he still was really expanding on Shewhart 's work with the difference between enumerative and analytic. He used his own. Now, why he was teaching, years later, probably 1987, so yeah, a bunch of years later, when I was at Ford and I had attended at the time, I attended a senior executive week-long get-together in order to get constancy of purpose or more continuity in the senior executive group. One of the people we brought in was Dr. Peter Kastenbaum. And I found as I attended his lecture in that week-long meeting, he was a student of CI Lewis. And CI Lewis, Deming learned about from Walter Shewhart and his work in the epistemology theory of knowledge. And in any event, Deming, when he was asked, and at the time it was still in the '30s, I think, when he was at the School of Agriculture, or the agriculture department, and bringing in Shewhart, he had tried to get CI Lewis to come talk. And CI said, I would love to, but I have a commitment to my students. And so I can't adjust my schedule.   0:07:33.9 William Scherkenbach: And the students, the people who wanted to learn were sacred. And I think that had a huge impact on Dr. Deming. I mean, he spoke about it a lot. And the way, you know, in a lot of the videos that Clare Crawford-Mason did, lovingly called the old curmudgeon. But for students, he had the greatest empathy and charity for, he just didn't suffer fools gladly. If you showed him that you weren't willing to learn, he took great joy in letting them know where they, where they stood.   0:08:43.1 Andrew Stotz: And one of the things when I went into my first Deming seminar in 1990, so now we're fast forwarding 30 years from when you first met him. It was almost like there was a safe harbor for workers, for young people, for people with open minds. I mean, I didn't, I watched as he didn't suffer fools, but I'm just curious, when you go back to 1972 in those classes, I'm assuming that he was pretty gentle with the students, encouraging them and all that was...   0:09:19.0 William Scherkenbach: Oh, absolutely. In my experience, I mean, if you were by, you know, in a student in graduate school, even though the graduate school of business in New York, down on 90 Church Street, Wall Street area, there were very few people going directly from your bachelor's to the master's program. And so these were people that had probably 10 years experience in business doing stuff. And yet by going to the class, absolutely were willing to learn, listen to different points of view, which is absolutely crucial. As you progress with theory of knowledge to be able to get different perspectives on whatever it is you're trying to look at.   0:10:23.2 Andrew Stotz: I would like to continue on this period of time just because it's a snapshot we don't get that often or that easily. You mentioned CI Lewis, a man who lived from about 1880 to about the year I was born, around 1964-65, and he was known for his understanding and discussion about logic and things like that. But why was CI Lewis someone that was interesting to Dr. Deming? What was the connection from your perspective?   0:10:59.6 William Scherkenbach: Well, my understanding is Shewhart referred to him, and Lewis was a professor at Harvard, and he was in the Peirce, I believe it's called. It looks like Peirce, but it's Peirce School of, or Chair of Philosophy, and Charles Sanders Peirce was a huge, huge influence in epistemology. And so that whole chain of thought or train of thought interested Deming, but it really was, he was introduced to it by Walter Shewhart.    0:11:48.3 Andrew Stotz: There's a famous quote, I believe, by Deming about CI Lewis and his book Mind and the World Order.   0:11:56.0 William Scherkenbach: Mind and the World Order, yeah.   0:11:59.9 Andrew Stotz: Deming said he had to read it six times before he fully understood and could apply its insights. And sometimes I think maybe Dr. Deming was truly inspired by that because when I think about his work, I'm still reading it and rereading it. And just listening to the video that you did many years ago with Tim talking about reduced variation, reduced variation, what he was talking about. Sometimes when we see the big picture, there's many different components of Deming's teachings. But if you had to bring it down to kind of its core, you know, he mentioned on that video that I just watched this morning, he mentioned reduced variation, and that will get you lower costs, happier customers, more jobs. How would you say, after you've looked at it from so many different angles over so many different years, how would you say you would sum up Dr. Deming's message to the world?   0:13:01.5 William Scherkenbach: Well, that's a difficult thing to sum up. Back then, when we did the video, which was in the early '80s, maybe '84, again, he had his 14 Points by then, but he hadn't, it hadn't really, the Profound Knowledge part of that wasn't there. Now, he had used what Shewhart said, and he had read, tried to read CI Lewis, and when he spoke about the connection between theory and questions, that's what he got from Shewhart and, well, and from Lewis, and a bunch of other pragmatist philosophers. So, he, you know, he was influenced by it, and, well, that's all I can say.   0:14:27.5 Andrew Stotz: So, let's go back in time. So, you're sitting in this classroom, you're intrigued, inspired. How did the relationship go at, towards the end of the class, and then as you finished that class, how did you guys keep in touch, and how did the relationship develop?   0:14:51.0 William Scherkenbach: Well, that is an interesting story. I usually am, well, I am introverted. So I had, after I moved from New York, I got a job at Booz Allen and Hamilton in Washington, DC. So in '74, when I got the degree from NYU, we moved to Silver Spring. And obviously, he's lived on Butterworth Place since there was a Butterworth Place. So we were able to, one of the things, and this is, well, I will say it, one of his advice to me, although he gave everyone an A, I later kidded him, he didn't remember that he gave me a B. No, he gave me an A. In any event, but one of his piece of advice was, you really don't need to join ASQC. You know more about quality than any of those inspectors. And so he had learned from the '50s in the past 20 years from the 50s that inspection wasn't going to do it. Well, I didn't take his advice, and I joined ASQC, and I was reading...   0:16:36.1 Andrew Stotz:Which for those who don't know is the American Society for...   0:16:41.6 William Scherkenbach: Quality Control, back then, now it's just the American Society for Quality. I had recommended when we did a big recommendations and forecasts for the year 2000 that quality, it should be the Society for Quality worldwide, but it's ASQ now. Let's see.   0:17:07.7 Andrew Stotz: So he recommended you don't join and you didn't follow his recommendation.    0:17:12.1 William Scherkenbach: I don't join, and I read an article, and it was by a professor in Virginia Tech, and he was showing a c-chart and the data were in control, and his recommendations were to penalize the people that were high and reward the people that were low, which is even back then, Dr. Deming was absolutely on track with that. If your process is in control, it doesn't make any sense to rank order or think that any of them are sufficiently different to reward or penalize. And I had never done this, but it was, I wrote a letter to quality progress. I sent a copy to Dr. Deming, and he said, "By golly, you're right on, that's great." And so I think it probably was '75, yeah, 1975. So I had been a year or so out, and he started inviting me over to his place at Butterworth, and we would go to the Cosmos Club. And that was a logistical challenge because at the time he had, well, his garage was a separate, not attached, it was in the backyard and emptied onto an alley. And he had a huge Lincoln Continental, the ones with the doors that opened from the center.   0:19:29.0 William Scherkenbach: And he would get in and drive and then park it in back of the club and someone would watch over it. But those were some good memories. So that was my introduction to keep contact with him. As I said, I had never done that. I don't think I've written a letter to an editor ever again.   0:20:04.8 Andrew Stotz: And you're mentioning about Butterworth, which is in DC.   0:20:12.6 William Scherkenbach: Butterworth Place, yeah.   0:20:14.7 Andrew Stotz: And Butterworth Place where he had his consulting business, which he ran, I believe, out of his basement.   0:20:18.3 William Scherkenbach: Out of the basement, yep, yep, yep.   0:20:21.2 Andrew Stotz: And just out of curiosity, what was it like when you first went to his home? Here, you had met him as your teacher, you respected him, you'd been away for a little bit, he invited you over. What was that like on your first walk into his home?   0:20:38.5 William Scherkenbach: Well, went down the side, the entrance to the basement was on the side of the house, and Seal had her desk set up right by the door. And then, I don't know if you can see, this is neat compared to his desk. It was filled with books and papers, but he knew where everything was. But it was a very cordial atmosphere.   0:21:25.2 Andrew Stotz: So when you mentioned Cecelia Kilian, is that her name, who was his assistant at the time?   0:21:36.3 William Scherkenbach: Yes, yes.   0:21:38.0 Andrew Stotz: Okay, so you...   0:21:38.8 William Scherkenbach: Yeah. For Jeepers. I don't know how long, but it had to be 50 years or so. So I don't, I mean, back in the '70s, I don't know of any other. He might have had, well, okay. He, yeah.   0:22:01.1 Andrew Stotz: I think it's about 40 or 50 years. So that's an incredible relationship he had with her. And I believe she wrote something. I think I have one of her, a book that she wrote that described his life. I can't remember that one right now but...   0:22:14.2 William Scherkenbach: Yeah. A lot of, yeah, it contained a lot of...   0:22:16.6 Andrew Stotz: The World of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, I think was the name of it, yeah.   0:22:20.6 William Scherkenbach: Okay. It contained a lot of his diaries on a number of his visits to Japan and elsewhere.   0:22:32.1 Andrew Stotz: So for some of us, when we go into our professor's offices, we see it stacked full of papers, but they've been sitting there for years. And we know that the professor just doesn't really do much with it. It's just all sitting there. Why did he have so much stuff on it? Was it incoming stuff that was coming to him? Was it something he was writing? Something he was reading? What was it that was coming in and out of his desk?   0:22:55.7 William Scherkenbach: A combination of stuff. I don't know. I mean, he was constantly writing, dictating to seal, but writing and reading. He got a, I mean, as the decades proceeded out of into the '80s, after '82, the NBC white or the '80, the NBC white paper calls were coming in from all over, all over the world. So yeah, a lot of people sending him stuff.   0:23:35.8 Andrew Stotz: I remember seeing him pulling out little scraps of paper at the seminar where he was taking notes and things like that at '90. So I could imagine he was just prolific at jotting things down. And when you read what he wrote, he really is assembling a lot of the notes and things that he's heard from different people. You can really capture that.   0:23:59.0 William Scherkenbach: Yeah. He didn't have an identic memory, but he took notes and quite, you know, and what he would do at the end of the day before retiring, he'd review the notes and commit them to memory as best he could. So he, yeah, very definitely. I mean, we would, you know, and well, okay. We're still in the early days before Ford and GM, but.   0:24:37.6 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. And I want to, if I shoot forward to '90, '92, when I studied with him, I was impressed with his energy at his age and he was just on a mission. And when I hear about your discussion about the class and at that time, it's like he was forming his, you know, System of Profound Knowledge, his 14 Points. When do you think it really became a mission for him to help, let's say American industry?   0:25:09.0 William Scherkenbach: Oh, well, I think it was a mission when Ford began its relationship with him. The ability of a large corporation, as well, and Ford at the same time Pontiac, the Pontiac division, not the whole GM, but Pontiac, was learning as well. But the attachment to Ford was that you had Don Peterson at the time was president of Ford, and he was intellectually curious, and he and Deming were on the same frequency. Now, I don't want to jump ahead, but if anyone has, well, you've read my second book there, you'll know that I have mentioned that the way to change is physical, logical, and emotional. And when you look at the gurus back then, there was Deming, who was the logical guru. You had Phil Crosby, who was the emotional guru. You go to the flag and the wine and cheese party, and Deming would say, "No," and Joe Juran, who was interested in focusing on the physical organization, you report to me kind of a thing. And so each of these behemoths were passing each other in the night with the greatest respect. But, but, and so they had their constituents. The challenge is to be able to broaden the appeal.    0:27:33.8 Andrew Stotz: So we've gone through '72, and then now '75, you've written your piece, and he's brought you into the fold. You're starting to spend some time with him. I believe it was about 1981 or so when he started working with Ford. And at that time, the quality director, I think, was Larry Moore at the time. And of course, you mentioned Donald Peterson. Maybe you can help us now understand from your own perspective of what you were doing between that time and how you saw that happening.   0:28:13.4 William Scherkenbach: Well, I had, my career was, after Booz Allen, mostly in the quality reliability area. I went from Booz Allen and Hamilton to, I moved to Columbia, Maryland, because I can fondly remember my grandfather in Ironwood, Michigan, worked at the Oliver Mine. There's a lot of iron ore mines up in the UP. ANd he would, and his work, once he got out of the mines later on, was he would cut across the backyard, and his office was right there. And so he would walk home for lunch and take a nap and walk back. And I thought that really was a good style of life. So Columbia, Maryland, was designed by Rouse to be a live-in, work-in community. And so we were gonna, we moved to Columbia, and there was a consulting firm called Hitman Associates, and their specialty was energy and environmental consulting. So did a bunch of that, worked my way up to a vice president. And so, but in '81, Deming said, you know, Ford really is interested. He was convinced, and again, it's déjà vu, he spoke about, when he spoke fondly about his lectures in Japan in 1950 and onward, that he was, he was very concerned that top management needed to be there, because he had seen all the excitement at Stanford during the war, and it died out afterwards, because management wasn't involved.   0:30:42.8 Andrew Stotz: What do you mean by that? What do you mean by the excitement at Stanford? You mean people working together for the efforts of the war, or was there a particular thing that was happening at Stanford?   0:30:51.7 William Scherkenbach: Well, they were, he attributed it to the lack of management support. I mean, they learned SPC. We were able to improve quality of war material or whatever, whoever attended the Stanford courses. But he saw the same thing in Japan and was lucky to, and I'm not sure if it was Ishikawa. I'm just not sure, but he was able to get someone to make the call after a few of the seminars for the engineers to make the call to the top management to attend the next batch. And he was able, he was able to do that. And that he thought was very helpful. I, I, gave them a leg up on whatever steps were next. I'm reminded of a quote from, I think it was Lao Tzu. And he said that someone asked him, "Well, you talk to the king, why or the emperor, why are things so screwed up?" And he said, "Well, I get to talk to him an hour a week and the rest of the time his ears are filled with a bunch of crap." Or whatever the Chinese equivalent of that is. And he said, "Of course the king isn't going to be able to act correctly." Yeah, there are a lot of things that impacted any company that he helped.   0:33:07.6 Andrew Stotz: It's interesting because I believe that, I think it was Kenichi Koyanagi.   0:33:15.8 William Scherkenbach: Koyanagi, yes, it was.   0:33:17.8 Andrew Stotz: And it was in 1950 and he had a series of lectures that he did a series of times. But it's interesting that, you know, that seemed like it should have catapulted him, but then to go to where you met him in 1972 and all that, he still hadn't really made his impact in America. And that's, to me, that's a little bit interesting.   0:33:44.4 William Scherkenbach: Yeah, and quite, my take, I mean, you could tell even in '72 and '3 in classes, he was very frustrated that he wasn't being listened to. I mean, he had, his business was expert testimony in statistical design of surveys. He did road truck, truck transport studies to be able to help the interstate commerce commission. And made periodic trips back to Japan, well known in Japan, but frustrated that no one really knew about him or wasn't listening to him in the US. And that was, I mean, for years, that was my, my aim. And that is to help him be known for turning America around, not just Japan. But it's usually difficult. I mean, we did a great job at Ford and GM and a bunch of companies, but it's all dissipated.   0:35:25.9 Andrew Stotz: It's interesting because it's not like he just went as a guest and gave a couple of guest lectures. He did about 35 lectures in 1950. About 28 or almost 30 of them were to engineers and technical staff. And then about seven of them were to top level executives. And, you know, one of the quotes he said at the time from those lectures was, "the problem is at the top, quality is made in the boardroom." So just going back, that's 1950, then you meet him in 1970, then in '72, then you start to build this relationship. You've talked about Booz Allen Hamilton. Tell us more about how it progressed into working more with him, in particular Ford and that thing that started in, let's say, 1981 with Ford.   0:36:22.0 William Scherkenbach: Well, again, he was very enthusiastic about Ford because Peterson was very receptive to this, his approach. And again, it's, I think the British philosopher Johnson said, "there's nothing like the prospect of being hung in the morning to heighten a man's senses." So he, Ford had lost a couple billion bucks. They hadn't cashed in like Chrysler. GM lost a bunch too, but that, and Japan had lost a war. So does it take a significant emotional, logical, or physical event? For some folks it does. So he was very encouraged about what he was seeing at Ford. And he had recommended that Ford hire someone to be there full time to coordinate, manage, if you will. And I was one of the people he recommended and I was the one that Ford hired. So I came in as Director of Statistical Methods and Process Improvement. And they set it up outside, as Deming said, they set it up outside the quality. Larry Moore was the Director of Quality and I was Director of Statistical Methods. And that's the way it was set up.   0:38:08.0 Andrew Stotz: Were you surprised when you received that call? How did you feel when you got that call to say, "Why don't you go over there and do this job at Ford?"   0:38:18.6 William Scherkenbach: Oh, extremely, extremely happy. Yeah. Yeah.   0:38:23.1 Andrew Stotz: And so did you, did you move to Michigan or what did you do?   0:38:27.7 Andrew Stotz: I'm sorry?   0:38:29.4 Andrew Stotz: Did you move or what happened next as you took that job?   0:38:32.0 William Scherkenbach: Oh yeah, we were living in Columbia. We moved the family to the Detroit area and ended up getting a house in Northville, which is a Northwest suburb of Detroit.   0:38:49.9 Andrew Stotz: And how long were you at Ford?   0:38:53.8 William Scherkenbach: About five and a half years. And I left Ford because Deming thought that GM needed my help. Things were going well. I mean, had a great, great bunch of associates, Pete Chessa, Ed Baker, Narendra Sheth, and a bunch of, a bunch of other folks. Ed Baker took the directorship when I left. That was my, well, I recommended a number of them, but yeah, he followed on. Deming thought that there was a good organization set up. And me being a glutton for punishment went to, well, not really. A bunch of great, great people in GM, but it's, they were, each of the general managers managed a billion dollar business and a lot of, difficult to get the silos to communicate. And it really, there was not much cooperation, a lot of backstabbing.   0:40:25.0 Andrew Stotz: And how did Dr. Deming take this project on? And what was the relationship between him and, you know, let's say Donald Peterson, who was the running the company and all the people that he had involved, like yourself, and you mentioned about Ed Baker and other people, I guess, Sandy Munro and others that were there. And just curious, and Larry Moore, how did he approach that? That's a huge organization and he's coming in right at the top. What was his approach to handling that?   0:41:02.1 S2  Well, my approach was based on his recommendation that the Director of Statistical Methods should report directly to the president or the chairman, the president typically. And so based on that, I figured that what I would, how we would organize the office, my associates would each be assigned to a key vice president to be their alter ego. So we did it in a, on a divisional level. And that worked, I think, very well. The difficulty was trying to match personalities and expertise to the particular vice president. Ed Baker had very good relations with the Latin American organization, and, and he and Harry Hannett, Harold Hannett helped a lot in developing administrative applications as well. And so we sort of came up with a matrix of organization and discipline. We needed someone for finance and engineering and manufacturing, supply chain, and was able to matrix the office associates in to be able to be on site with those people to get stuff, to get stuff done.   0:43:09.5 Andrew Stotz: And what was your message at that time, and what was Dr. Deming's message? Because as we know, his message has come together very strongly after that. But at that point, it's not like he had the 14 Points that he could give them Out of the Crisis or you could give them your books that you had done. So what was like the guiding philosophy or the main things that you guys were trying to get across?   0:43:35.9 William Scherkenbach: Well, I mean, he had given in, I think, Quality, Productivity, Competitive Position back in the late '70s, and he was doing it through George Washington University, even though Myron Tribus at MIT published it. But it was a series of lectures, and he didn't really, even in the later 70s, didn't have the, the, the 14 Points. And so those came a couple years later, his thinking through, and Profound Knowledge didn't come until much later over a number of discussions of folks. But the, I mean, the key, I mean, my opinion of why it all dropped out is we dropped the ball in not working with the board. And at Ford, we didn't, weren't able to influence the Ford family. And so Peterson retires and Red Poling, a finance guy, steps in and, and everything slowly disintegrates. At least not disintegrates, well, yes. I mean, what was important under Peterson was different. But that happens in any company. A new CEO comes on board or is elected, and they've got their priorities based, as Deming would say, on their evaluation system. What's their, how are they compensated?   0:45:46.8 William Scherkenbach: And so we just didn't spend the time there nor at GM with how do you elect or select your next CEO? And so smaller companies have a better, I would think, well, I don't know. I would imagine smaller companies have a better time of that, especially closely held and family held companies. You could, if you can reach the family, you should be able to get some continuity there.   0:46:23.5 Andrew Stotz: So Donald Peterson stepped down early 1995. And when did you guys make or when did you make your transition from Ford to GM?   0:46:38.5 William Scherkenbach: '88.   0:46:39.6 Andrew Stotz: Okay, so you continued at Ford.   0:46:42.1 William Scherkenbach: The end of '88, yeah, and I left GM in '93, the year Dr. Deming died later. But I had left in, in, well, in order to help him better.   0:47:07.8 Andrew Stotz: And let's now talk about the transition over to General Motors that you made. And where did that come from? Was it Dr. Deming that was recommending it or someone from General Motors? Or what...   0:47:21.4 William Scherkenbach: Yeah, Deming spoke with them and spoke with me. And I was a willing worker to be able to go where he thought I could be most helpful.   0:47:41.9 Andrew Stotz: And was he exasperated or frustrated that for the changes that happened in '95 when Peterson stepped down, he started to see the writing on the wall? Or was he still hopeful?   0:47:55.4 William Scherkenbach: No, Deming died in '93, so he didn't see any of that.   0:47:58.9 Andrew Stotz: No, no, what I mean is when Peterson stepped down, it was about '85. And then you remain at Ford until '88.   0:48:08.0 William Scherkenbach: No, Peterson didn't step down in '85. I mean, he was still there when I left.   0:48:14.0 Andrew Stotz: So he was still chairman at the time.   0:48:17.3 William Scherkenbach: Yeah.   0:48:17.6 Andrew Stotz: Maybe I'm meaning he stepped down from president. So my mistake on that.   0:48:20.3 William Scherkenbach: Oh, but he was there.   0:48:24.3 Andrew Stotz: So when did it start...   0:48:25.9 William Scherkenbach: True. I mean, true, he was still there when Deming had died.   0:48:31.3 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, okay. So did the whole team leave Ford and go to GM or was it just you that went?   0:48:39.1 William Scherkenbach: Oh, just me. Just me.   0:48:42.8 Andrew Stotz: Okay. And then.   0:48:44.0 William Scherkenbach: Yeah, because we had set up something that Deming was very pleased with. And so they were, everyone was working together and helping one another.   0:48:59.5 Andrew Stotz: Okay. So then you went to General Motors. What did you do different? What was different in your role? What did you learn from Ford that you now brought to GM? What went right? What went wrong? What was your experience with GM at that time?   0:49:16.5 William Scherkenbach: Well, I've got a, let's see. Remember Bill Hoagland was the person, Hoagland managed Pontiac when Deming helped Pontiac and Ron Moen was involved in the Pontiac. But Bill Hoagland was in one of the reorganizations at GM was head of, he was group, group vice president for Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac. And so I went over and directly reported to him and each of the, I mean, Wendy Coles was in, Gypsy Rainey, although Gypsy was temporary, worked for powertrain and Pontiac and still, but powertrain was where a lot of the expertise was and emphasis was, and then Buick and Cadillac and so, and Oldsmobile. So we, and in addition to that, General Motors had a corporate-wide effort in cooperation with the UAW called the Quality Network. And I was appointed a member of that, of that and, and helped them a lot and as well as the corporate quality office, but focused on Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac.   0:51:18.6 Andrew Stotz: And then tell us about what was your next step in your own personal journey? And then let's now get into how you got more involved with Deming and his teachings and the like.   0:51:32.8 William Scherkenbach: Well, I mean, he would be at GM two and three days a month, and then every quarter he'd be here for, just like Ford, for a four-day seminar. And while at Ford and at GM, I took uh vacation to help him as he gave seminars and met people throughout the world. Even when he was probably 84, 85, I can remember, well, one of the, he always, not always, but he would schedule seminars in England over the Fourth of July because the English don't celebrate that, although he said perhaps they should, but right after the Ascot races. And so he would do four-day seminars. And on one case, we had one series of weeks, the week before Fourth of July, we did a four-day seminar in the US and then went to London to do another four-day seminar. And he went to South Africa for the next four-day seminar with Heero Hacquebord. I didn't go, but I went down to Brazil and I was dragging with that, with that schedule. So he was able to relish and enjoy the helping others. I mean, enjoy triggers a memory. We were at helping powertrain and Gypsy was there, Dr. Gypsy Rainey.    0:53:59.2 William Scherkenbach: And she, we were talking and goofing around and he started being cross at us. And Gypsy said, "Well, aren't we supposed to be having fun?" And Deming said, "I'm having fun." "You guys straighten out." Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, yeah.   0:54:40.6 Andrew Stotz: And for the typical person to imagine a man at the age of 80, 85, traveling around the world. And it's not like you're traveling on vacation in London, you're walking into a room full of people, your energy is up, you're going and it's not like he's giving a keynote speech for an hour, give us a picture of his energy.   0:55:09.5 William Scherkenbach: And over in London, it was brutal because the hotel, I forget what hotel we're in. When he started there, I think it was Dr. Bernard that he wanted to help. And Bernard wasn't available. So he recommended Henry Neave. And so Henry was a good student, a quick learner. So he helped on a few of them. And I can still remember, I mean, the air, it was 4th of July in London and the humidity was there. There's no air conditioning in the hotel. I could remember Henry, please forgive me, but Henry is sitting in his doorway, sitting on a trash can, doing some notes in his skivvies. And it was hot and humid and awful. But so it reminded Deming a lot of the lectures in Japan in 1950, where he was sweating by 8 AM in the morning. So, yeah.   0:56:30.6 Andrew Stotz: What was it that kept him going? Why was he doing this?   0:56:39.5 William Scherkenbach: I think he, again, I don't know. I never asked him that. He was very, to me, he was on a mission. He wanted to be able to help people live better, okay, and take joy in what they do. And so he was, and I think that was the driving thing. And as long as he had the stamina, he was, he was in, in, in heaven.   0:57:21.1 Andrew Stotz: So let's keep progressing now, and let's move forward towards the latter part of Dr. Deming's life, where we're talking about 1990, 1988, 1990, 1992. What changed in your relationship and your involvement with what he was doing, and what changes did you see in the way he was talking about? You had observed him back in 1972, so here he is in 1990, a very, very different man in some ways, but very similar. How did you observe that?   0:57:56.6 William Scherkenbach: Well, toward the end, it was, I mean, it was, it was not, not pleasant to see him up there with oxygen up his nose, and it just, there had to have been a better way. But Nancy Mann was running those seminars, and they did their best to make life comfortable, but there had to have been a better way to, but I don't know what it was. He obviously wanted to continue to do it, and he had help doing it, but I don't know how effective the last year of seminars were.   0:59:01.1 Andrew Stotz: Well, I mean, I would say in some ways they were very effective, because I attended in 1990 and 1992, and I even took a picture, and I had a picture, and in the background of the picture of him is a nurse, and for me, I just was blown away and knocked out. And I think that one of the things for the listeners and the viewers is to ask yourself, we're all busy doing our work, and we're doing a lot of activities, and we're accomplishing things, but for what purpose, for what mission? And I think that that's what I gained from him is that because he had a mission to help, as you said, make the world a better place, make people have a better life in their job, and help people wake up, that mission really drove him.   0:59:57.8 William Scherkenbach: Yeah, and it, it really did. But for me personally, it was just not pleasant to see him suffering.    1:00:09.6 Andrew Stotz: And was he in pain? Was he just exhausted? What was it like behind the scenes when he'd come off stage and take a break?   1:00:18.7 William Scherkenbach: Yeah, yeah.   1:00:20.8 Andrew Stotz: And would he take naps or?   1:00:23.2 William Scherkenbach: In the early days, we'd go to, well, at Ford and GM, we would go out to dinner just about every night and talk and enjoy the conversation. We'd, my wife Mary Ellen, went many, many times. He enjoyed Northville, some of the restaurants there, and enjoyed the Deming martinis after the meetings at the Cosmos Club. So very, very much he enjoyed that, that time off the podium. So, but he couldn't do that in the, in the later years.   1:01:28.7 Andrew Stotz: And let's now try to understand the progression as you progress away from General Motors and did other things. How did your career progress in those years until when you retired or to where you are now? Maybe give us a picture of that.   1:01:51.4 William Scherkenbach: I tried to help. I've developed my view on how to operationalize change, worked for, was vice president of a company in Taiwan, spent a couple of, and before that had helped Dell, and would spend probably ending up a couple of years in PRC and Taiwan, and growing and learning to learn, in my opinion, there's too much generalization of, well, Asians or Chinese or whatever. There are many, many subgroups, and so change has to be bespoke. What will work for one person won't work for another. For instance, trying to talk to a number of Chinese executives saying, drive out fear, and they will, oh, there's no fear here. It's respect. And so, yeah. But that was their sincere belief that what they were doing wasn't instilling fear. But it broadened my perspective on what to do. And then probably 10 years ago, my wife started to come down with Alzheimer's, and while we lived in Austin, Texas, and that I've spent, she died three years ago, but that was pretty much all-consuming. That's where I focused. And now it's been three years. I'm looking, and I'm a year younger than Deming when he started, although he was 79 when he was interviewed for the 1980 White Paper.   1:04:36.3 William Scherkenbach: So I'm in my 80th year. So, and I'm feeling good, and I also would like to help people.   1:04:46.6 Andrew Stotz: And I've noticed on your LinkedIn, you've started bringing out interesting papers and transcripts and so many different things that you've been coming out. What is your goal? What is your mission?   1:05:02.3 William Scherkenbach: Well, I also would like to take the next step and contribute to help the improvement, not just the US, but any organization that shows they're serious for wanting to, wanting to improve. On the hope, and again, it's hope, as Deming said, that to be able to light a few bonfires that would turn into prairie fires that might consume more and more companies. And so you've got to light the match somewhere. And I just don't know. Again, I've been out of it for a number of years, but I just don't know. I know there is no big company besides, well, but even Toyota. I can remember Deming and I were in California and had dinner. Toyoda-san and his wife invited Deming and me to a dinner. And just, I was blown away with what he understood responsibilities were. I don't know, although I do have a Toyota Prius plug-in, which is perfect because I'm getting 99 miles a gallon because during my, doing shopping and whatever here in Pensacola, I never use gas. It goes 50 miles without needing to plug in.   1:07:00.6 William Scherkenbach: And so I do my stuff. But when I drive to Texas or Michigan, Michigan mostly to see the family, it's there. But all over, it's a wonderful vehicle. So maybe they're the only company in the world that, but I don't know. I haven't sat down with their executive.   1:07:26.4 Andrew Stotz: And behind me, I have two of your books, and I just want to talk briefly about them and give some advice for people. The first one is The Deming Route to Quality and Productivity: Roadmaps and Roadblocks, and the second one is Deming's Road to Continual Improvement. Maybe you could just give some context of someone who's not read these books and they're new to the philosophy and all that. How do these books, how can they help them?   1:07:58.8 William Scherkenbach: Well, the first book, Deming asked me to write in, I think it was '84. And I don't remember the first edition, but it might be '85, we got it out. But he asked me to write it, and because he thought I would, I could reach a different audience, and he liked it so much, they handed it out in a number of his seminars for a number of years. So.   1:08:40.7 Andrew Stotz: And there's my original version of it. I'm holding up my...    1:08:47.0 William Scherkenbach: Yeah, that's a later version.   1:08:49.7 Andrew Stotz: And it says the first printing was '86, I think it said, and then I got a 1991 version, which maybe I got it at one of the, I'm sure I got it at one of the seminars, and I've had it, and I've got marks on it and all that. And Deming on the back of it said, "this book will supplement and enhance my own works in teaching. Mr. Scherkenbach's masterful understanding of a system, of a process, of a stable system, and of an unstable system are obvious and effective in his work as well as in his teaching." And I know that on Deming's Road to Continual Improvement, you do a good amount of discussion at the beginning about the difference between a process and a system to try to help people understand those types of things. How should a reader, where should they start?   1:09:42.8 William Scherkenbach: Well, not with chapter six, as in CI Lewis, but well, I don't know what... I don't remember what chapter six is. As I said, the first book, and a lot of people after that did it, is essentially not regurgitating, but saying in a little bit different words about Deming's 14 Points. What I did on the first book is arrange them in the order that I think, and groupings that I think the 14 Points could be understood better. The second book was, the first half was reviewing the Deming philosophy, and the second half is how you would go about and get it done. And that's where the physiological, emotional, and all of my studies on operationalizing anything.   1:10:55.4 Andrew Stotz: And in chapter three on page 98, you talk about physical barriers, and you talk about physical, logical, emotional. You mentioned a little bit of that when you talked about the different gurus out there in quality, but this was a good quote. It says, Dr. Deming writes about the golfer who cannot improve his game because he's already in the state of statistical control. He points out that you have only one chance to train a person. Someone whose skill level is in statistical control will find great difficulty improving his skills.   1:11:32.1 William Scherkenbach: Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean, well, you're old enough to know the Fosbury Flop. I mean, for all high jumpers did the straddle in jumping and made some great records, but many of them had difficulty converting their straddle to the Fosbury Flop to go over backwards head first. And that's what got you better performance. So anything, whether it's golf or any skill, if you've got to change somehow, you've got to be able to change the system, which is whether you're in production or whether it's a skill. If you're in control, that's your opportunity to impact the system to get better.   1:12:40.3 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, and this was Dick Fosbury in 1968, Mexico City Olympics, where he basically went in and blew everybody away by going in and flipping over backwards when everybody else was straddling or scissors or something like that. And this is a great story.   1:12:57.0 William Scherkenbach: You can't do that.   [laughter]   1:12:58.8 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, and it's a great story of something on the outside. An outsider came in and changed the system rather than an existing person within it. And that made me think about when you talked about Ford and having an outsider helping in the different departments. You know, what extent does that reflect the way that we learn? You know, can we learn internally, or do we need outside advice and influence to make the big changes?   1:13:29.7 William Scherkenbach: Yeah. I mean, we had a swim coach, Higgins, at the Naval Academy, and he was known for, again, following in Olympic swimming. And I'm probably going to get the strokes wrong, but there was no such thing as a butterfly stroke. And he used it in swimming the breaststroke, and supposedly the only criteria was recovery had to be underwater with two hands. But I'm screwing up the story, I'm sure, but Higgins rewrote, rewrote the book by doing something a little bit different or drastically different.   1:14:25.4 Andrew Stotz: I'd like to wrap up this fascinating discovery, or journey of discovery of you and your relationship also with Dr. Deming. Let's wrap it up by talking about kind of your final memories of the last days of Dr. Deming and how you kind of put that all in context for your own life. And having this man come in your life and bring you into your life, I'm curious, towards the end of his life, how did you process his passing as well as his contribution to your life?   1:15:08.1 William Scherkenbach: That's, that's difficult and personal. I, he was a great mentor, a great friend, a great teacher, a great person, and with, on a mission with a name and impacted me. I was very, very lucky to be able to, when I look back on it, to recognize, to sign up for his courses, and then the next thing was writing that letter to the editor and fostering that relationship. Very, very, very difficult. But, I mean, he outlived a bunch of folks that he was greatly influenced by, and the mission continues.   1:16:34.1 Andrew Stotz: And if Dr. Deming was looking down from heaven and he saw that you're kind of reentering the fray after, you know, your struggles as you've described with your wife and the loss of your wife, what would he say to you now? What would he say as your teacher over all those years?   1:16:56.3 William Scherkenbach: Do your best.   1:16:59.0 Andrew Stotz: Yeah, wonderful.   1:17:01.4 William Scherkenbach: He knows, but he knows I know what to do. So, you need to know what to do and then to do the best. But I was, I mean, he was very, he received, and I forget the year, but he was at Ford and he got a call from Cel that his wife was not doing well. And so we, I immediately canceled everything and got him to the airport and he got to spend that last night with his wife. And he was very, very appreciative. So I'm sure he was helping, helping me deal with my wife.   1:17:56.4 Andrew Stotz: Yeah. Well, Bill, on behalf of everyone at the Deming Institute and myself personally, I want to thank you for this discussion and opening up you know, your journey with Dr. Deming. I feel like I understand Dr. Deming more, but I also understand you more. And I really appreciate that. And for the listeners out there, remember to go to Deming.org to continue your journey. And also let me give you, the listeners and viewers, the resources. First, we have Bill's book, which you can get online, The Deming Route to Quality and Productivity. We have Deming's Road to Continual Improvement, which Bill wrote. But I think even more importantly is go to his LinkedIn. He's on LinkedIn as William Scherkenbach and his tagline is helping individuals and organizations learn, have fun, and make a difference. So if you want to learn, have fun, and make a difference, send him a message. And I think you'll find that it's incredibly engaging. Are there any final words that you want to share with the listeners and the viewers?   1:19:08.9 William Scherkenbach: I appreciate your questions. In thinking about this interview, we barely scratched the surface. There are a ton of other stories, but we can save that for another time.   1:19:26.1 Andrew Stotz: Something tells me we're going to have some fun and continue to have fun in these discussions. So I really appreciate it and it's great to get to know you. Ladies and gentlemen.   1:19:36.7 William Scherkenbach: Thank you, Andrew.   1:19:37.7 Andrew Stotz: You're welcome. This is your host, Andrew Stotz, and I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Deming, and that is that "people are entitled to joy in work."    

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“What is the sound of one hand clapping?”— Zen KoanLet's start with a confession.Developing the Unified Behavioral Model (UBM) revealed, in many ways, a side quest I didn't expect: Helping large language models (LLMs) navigate the mental spaghetti we humans lovingly call “logic”—which, if followed faithfully, often leads straight to paradox.You know—the deep, crunchy stuff:Body vs. environmentEmotion vs. feelingSkill vs. habitLogic vs. illogicThese aren't just philosophical speed bumps.They're full-blown conceptual cul-de-sacs.Every time the system—human or machine—hits one, it either freezes or splinters into a dozen confident-but-confused directions.What Is Abstract Thought, Anyway?Get it? To “draw away”It's not about sounding smart or solving puzzles.Frankly, it's your one real edge over AI—for now.It's about seeing things and thinking differently, especially when the pieces don't fit.It's Picasso and Pollock pulling apart realism.It's Einstein “riding a beam of light”.It's Lao Tzu explaining how “The soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong.”Abstract thinking is cognitive flexibility —it's a different lens to process, beyond logic.It's the ability to zoom out and remove the frame.To hold logic and contradiction in the same hand, without blowing a fuse.So, we deliberately choose to go back to FUNDAMENTALS.Not to simplify, but to clarify.Not to dumb down, but to dissolve—to draw away from false binaries.Because here's the thing about dichotomies: Most aren't real.They're often tradition wrapped in Latin, handed down like sacred scrolls, passed around in conference halls and research papers.They survive not because they're accurate, but because they're familiar.“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” ~EinsteinAnd that's how the Unified Behavioral Model emerged: Not from divine inspiration, but moderate exasperation.Not from clarity, but from watching both brilliant humans and state-of-the-art LLMs get trapped in mental corners built by… You guessed it: LOGIC.Behaviorally speaking:Is the environment separate from the body?Not really. Both are environmental stimulants.If a headache doesn't change your mood and behavior, just like an idiot screaming at a baseball game, let me know.Are emotions and feelings different?Functionally perhaps? Not elementally. Both relay information.They're conduits—waves influencing your Behavior Echo-System.What about habits and skills?Turns out, they're more alike than different. Both are behaviors shaped through repetition, refined over time until they become automatic. Intentional or not, they're built the same way.How do we reconcile logic and illogic?Reconcile? Even the most “logical” among us do spectacularly irrational things—because we're driven by meaning, by narrative, by the stories we tell ourselves.Logic and illogic aren't separate. They're co-pilots.So if you want to teach a machine how behavior works, we first have to ‘draw away' the various dichotomies logic has constructed.And once those dissolve?The behavior model doesn't need to be built.It simply... emerges.Google: “Why doesn't a unified behavior model exist?”The answer begins with complexity.Complexity created by distinctions (above) that are both very important AND fundamentally (behaviorally speaking), not so important.Like jiggling the old TV antenna for the hundredth time, and suddenly the picture locks in—clear as day, as though it was never scrambled at all.Turns out, it —A UNIFIED BEHAVIOR MODEL—does exist. ☝️It just had to be excavated from under layers of distinctions, logic, and dichotomies.Logic is linear.Behavior, like the human experience, is abstract.This is elemental behavioral literacy. This is the Unified Behavioral Model (UBM)We didn't invent it—we excavated it.It was buried.Habits 2 Goals Premium by Martin Grunburg is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“What is your face before your parents were born?” — Zen KoanBecause while machines crunch data, humans connect dots.While models can simulate logic, you can sit with uncertainty.When you can envision a bigger picture, the frames dissolve.“Reflection” (Man Sitting) M. Grunburg 1987Elemental behavioral science shouldn't be reserved for labs and lectures. We teach adolescents the ABCs and 123s —elemental math and grammar. We can, and should, teach elemental behavior. Maybe abstract thinking will come along for the ride.“Experience and knowledge don't arrive with labels, silos, or departments—we create those. Sometimes those distinctions are incredibly useful (like language itself). And sometimes—also like language—they make problem-solving harder than it needs to be.”

Welcome back! What if the manifestation journey wasn't just about vision boards and affirmations… but about deep personal transformation — with a sprinkle of fairy dust? In today's episode, I'm breaking down what manifestation really is: the process of becoming the version of you who can hold and receive the life you desire. This isn't about bypassing the work—it's about aligning with it, growing through it, and allowing the Universe to meet you there. We'll talk about: Why manifestation = personal growth, healing, and action The truth about how money, health, and love manifest Why your embodiment matters more than your mindset How the "fairy dust" shows up when you start aligning Real-life examples of how to grow your way into what you want If you've been manifesting but feel like something's missing—this is your missing piece. Ready for More Support? >> 2025 1:1 Mentorship — DM me to connect → EMAIL or INSTAGRAM >> The Awakening Retreat Limited spaces open for this in-person experience! Join us Sept 2025! >> The Path App – your space for sacred scrolling, meditations, daily practices, and self growth. >> On The Path, the membership space for education and ongoing learning for seekers devoted to self growth and living in soul alignment. >> Talia's Books https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0DV17N8VD

Send us a textEpisode 210Imagine a voice—calm, curious, playful—asking you whether you are the universe pretending to be a person.In the chaotic swirl of 20th-century thought, where science clashed with religion and the East met the West in coffeehouses and lecture halls, one man emerged not with answers, but with questions that made the answers irrelevant. He wore tweed jackets, quoted Lao Tzu with a cigarette in hand, and turned philosophy into a performance. He spoke of Zen, Tao, the ego, and illusion—not as abstract concepts, but as tools to dismantle the walls of the self.A priest who stopped believing in the pulpit. A philosopher who laughed at philosophy. A mystic who didn't quite believe in mysticism. For some, he was a prophet. For others, a dropout with charm. But for millions of listeners then and now, his words cracked open a space in the mind.This is the story of a man who didn't claim to know the way—because he said there was no way to know.This is a short history of... the man who made the West think again.Support the showInsta@justpassingthroughpodcastContact:justpassingthroughpodcast@gmail.com

In this podcast we will talk about 4 ways to rise your vibrations from the philosophy of Taoism. Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher who is known to be the founder of Taoism and the writer of Taoism's most sacred text, the Tao Te Ching. So with that in mind, here are 4 ways to rise your vibrations from the philosophy of Taoism. 01. Understand the three treasures of taoism 02. Practice The 3 Jewels of Taoism 03. Practice Feng Shui 04. Slow down We hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope this video, from the philosophy of Lao Tzu, helps you rise your vibrations. Taoism is a Chinese philosophy attributed to Lao Tzu which contributed to the folk religion of the people primarily in the rural areas of China and became the official religion of the country under the Tang Dynasty. Taoism is therefore both a philosophy and a religion. Taoism teaches to embrace wonder and the joy in living gracefully with style. Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer who is known to be the founder of Taoism. He is also credited as the writer of Taoism's most sacred text, the Tao Te Ching and his words can apply to people all over the world. 

WELCOME BACK! We hear it all the time: “Show up for yourself.” But what does that really mean? In today's episode, I'm diving into one of the most powerful — and overlooked — forms of healing: learning to consistently show up for you. Because healing isn't just about forgiving the past or raising your vibe. It's about how you act when no one's watching. It's how you love yourself in real-time — emotionally, physically, energetically, and spiritually… and how this changes everything in your manifestation journey, your soul's growth, and your ability to actually hold the life you're calling in. This is real. This is raw. And this is your spiritual assignment.

Welcome back! You don't need more affirmations. You need to understand your energy. In today's episode, I'm sharing why energetic mastery is the real secret behind manifestation, clarity, alignment, and feeling truly magnetic. I'll be real with you— I recently had to learn this lesson all over again when burnout crept in… even though I was “doing all the right things.” We're going beyond the surface today and diving into: Why manifestation doesn't work when you're dis-regulated How your nervous system affects your frequency Why energy comes before everything What “energetic mastery” really means in real life The shift from performing high-vibe to actually living aligned The burnout trap I just got pulled into (and how I'm coming back from it) How to start making your energy your #1 priority Ready to go deeper? Inside On The Path, July is all about Energetic Mastery: ✨ Nervous system support ✨ Vibration & daily alignment ✨ Empath energy practices ✨ Manifestation from your body, not just your mind Join Us for the 3-Day Energetic Reset Challenge

“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”― Lao Tzu, Tao Te ChingThis Week: Anchor into what you have released and are ready to step into. We are invited to deepen our relationship with ourselves via 'rite' action and the expression of free will. Simplify. Listen. Rest in the Void.Questions:Where are you ready to step into 'Rite Action'?How can you respect and express self and others?How would you like to express your Free Will?Weekly talks are an offering to assist you in diving deeper into a spiritual practice, exploring your inner landscape, and cultivating inner peace.Time Stamps: Dharma 0:00 | Meditation 28:30 | Sound 52:00 | Outro 1:31:00Music‘Fields of Flowers' by Cadre ScottPurchase River Single  HereProduction brought to you by OmToro Wellness + MediaMind Training: 8 Limbs Yoga Session: Weekly Writings and Well BeingHumanity + Earth Friendly Goodies:SuperfeastLiving TeaKindSpringFormula FlawlessZinZino Balance Oil  Balance + Focus Quick LinkOra CacoaBook: SunPlayHoney Bee Hippie

Welcome to this deeply calming guided transcendence meditation, inspired by the timeless wisdom of Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching:"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."This meditation is designed to help you release limitations, free yourself from old identities, and create space for growth and transformation.So often, we hold onto ideas about who we are or who we should be. But true freedom comes when we allow ourselves to evolve, expand, and step into new possibilities.Using sound as an anchor, this meditation helps you move beyond limiting beliefs, beyond overthinking, into deep stillness and inner openness.✨ What You'll Experience in This Meditation:✔ Wisdom Reflection: Explore Taoist teachings on letting go and personal transformation✔ Releasing Practice: Free yourself from rigid identities and limiting beliefs✔ Sound as Anchor: A steady guide to return to presence and clarity✔ Transcendence Practice: Move beyond thought and reconnect with your deepest, most peaceful self

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.Before we start, though, we talk about graduation speeches...and share the graduation speech we wish we'd heard.Next, we journey from Western literature back to ancient China to explore two timeless texts: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (c. 500 B.C.) and Sun Tzu's The Art of War (c. 400 B.C.), roughly contemporary with Confucius and Plato. After a lukewarm experience with Confucius' Analects in Week 4, we adjusted our approach to these aphoristic works, splitting each into five parts and interleaving them daily. While this didn't make reading easier, it encouraged comparisons between the two.The Tao Te Ching offers a serene philosophy of “the Way,” advocating a life of detachment and flow, like a leaf on a stream. Key insights include prioritizing essence over form (e.g., the space within walls over the walls themselves), embracing hands-off leadership, and avoiding rules or weapons that may incite vice or war. But it's passive: retreating rather than advancing in the face of evil feels challenging, especially compared to active resistance like Gandhi's. The Tao's detachment felt isolating, distinct from the interconnected self-emptying of the Dhammapada or Boethius' Christian-Stoic blend.In contrast, The Art of War is a ruthless manual of military strategy. Sun Tzu, who famously beheaded two concubines to prove his methods to King Ho Lu, emphasizes deception, swift victory, and avoiding prolonged conflict. Key takeaways: defensive measures prevent defeat but don't ensure victory; desperate soldiers fight hardest; and spies are a humane, cost-effective tool. We ponder the status of Sun's soldiers (free or enslaved?), recalling Herodotus' Spartan-Persian debates on free men's ferocity. The texts seem to clash: the Tao's passivity versus Sun's calculated control, though Sun's strategic setups might align with the Tao's inevitable flow.We noted a cultural contrast: Chinese texts lack the narrative epics of Western heroes like Odysseus or Gilgamesh, hinting at differing worldviews. Unlike Confucius' moral focus, neither text emphasizes goodness, which surprised us. Our Tao edition (Stephen Miller's) felt overly modernized, while our unannotated Art of War was dry but tactically insightful, especially for business or military studies. Pairing it with Herodotus or Machiavelli could be illuminating.Don't skip the music! Three albums each from the Beatles and The Rolling Stones...when was the last time you listened to one all the way through?Next week, we return to narrative with Apuleius' Golden Ass, explore Scott Joplin's ragtime, and admire van Gogh's art. LINKTed Gioia/The Honest Broker's 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)CONNECTTo read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ LISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bdApple Podcasts -

Your highest self is enjoying their life! You don't need to be perfect. You  just want to feel alive. In this episode, I am here to remind you of what actually makes you magnetic — and it's not high vibes 24/7, flawless routines, or spiritual perfection. It's your aliveness. If you've felt disconnected, heavy, or like the glow has dimmed, this conversation is your gentle (but powerful) reset. I'm sharing personally what I've been going through —navigating burnout, starseed overwhelm, and trying to create a sustainable life that actually feels good. This isn't about doing more. It's about reconnecting to your own life force.

In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, I'm breaking down the myth that your “why” has to be deep, spiritual, or selfless to be valid. We've all heard that you need a meaningful “why” in order to create lasting change — but what if the desire to be rich, to be hot, or to prove something to yourself is enough? We explore how embracing your shadow — those “unacceptable” reasons we tend to hide  can actually be the fuel that drives you forward.

"The wise never try to hold on to things. The more you do for others, the more you have. The more you give to others, the greater your abundance. The Tao of heaven is sharp but does no harm. The Tao of the wise is to work without effort."― Lao Tzu, Tao Te ChingThis Week: Summer and Winter have officially arrived with this new moon. We are straddling the full potency of FIRE and WATER. With great courage, we step into the depths of our hearts and the sacred chambers of the sacra...the cosmic womb. The sacred waters hold us all in stillness and possibility. Rather than being distracted by the outer world, La Luna reflects to you, from the cosmic mother, that it is time to shake it off and calibrate with your eternal state of being. We shall explore what it means to be in flow and resonance with self and all of us. As inspired, take a few moments to listen, be, and receive. Simply. Listen. Rest in the Void.The New Moon, reach(ed) the full potency on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 3:31 AM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)Questions:As you sweep away the inner trickster, what within you is ready to come into harmony?What efforts will you need to make on a daily basis to recalibrate with self.What are you ready to serve with this freedom and awareness?Weekly talks are an offering to assist you in diving deeper into a spiritual practice, exploring your inner landscape, and cultivating inner peace.Time Stamps: Dharma 0:00 | Meditation 25:00 | Sound 48:45 | Outro 1:27:45Music‘Fields of Flowers' by Cadre ScottPurchase River Single  HereProduction brought to you by OmToro Wellness + MediaMind Training: 8 Limbs Yoga Session: Weekly Writings and Well BeingHumanity + Earth Friendly Goodies:SuperfeastLiving TeaKindSpringFormula FlawlessZinZino Balance Oil  Balance + Focus Quick LinkOra CacoaBook: SunPlayHoney Bee Hippie

In 2003, when the author James Frey published his first book, A Million Little Pieces—a gut-punch account of his experience with addiction and rehab—nobody could have expected what would come next. Thanks to an Oprah Book Club endorsement, A Million Little Pieces was instantly catapulted to bestseller status, but soon blew up in scandal after Frey admitted to having falsified certain portions of the book, which had been marketed as a memoir. The drama that ensued sparked a media controversy—one that now, around 20 years later, feels petty and misplaced, especially in the context of today's cancel-culture climate. More than 10 million copies of A Million Little Pieces have sold since, and Frey is still at it, writing, publishing, and pushing the boundaries of his art. His latest novel, Next to Heaven, is a rollicking, raunchy, absurd-yet-not satire about money, murder, and the all-too-human desires for power, pleasure, and greed. On the episode—our Season 11 finale, in which Frey sat lotus for the entire duration—he reflects on the A Million Little Pieces saga; his long-term study of Taoism; writing as a gateway to vulnerability; and why love, for him, is the greatest drug there is.Special thanks to our Season 11 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes:James Frey[5:08] “Tao Te Ching”[5:08] Lao Tzu[5:08] Stephen Mitchell[5:08] Taoism[8:51] Cubism[13:11] “A Million Little Pieces” (2003)[14:16] “Next To Heaven” (2025)[14:16] New Canaan, Connecticut[17:14] Jackie Collins[17:14] “Hollywood Wives” (1983)[17:14] Danielle Steel[21:35] Honoré de Balzac[29:37] “Katerina” (2018) [29:37] “Full Fathom Five” (1947) by Jackson Pollock[37:14] “Larry King Live” (2006)[39:09] “Tropic of Cancer” (1971)[42:24] “Up to Me” (1985)[44:20] “Kissing a Fool” (1998)[52:22] “My Friend Leonard” (2005)[52:22] “Bright Shiny Morning” (2008)[52:22] “The Final Testament” (2011)[58:56] “Author Is Kicked Out of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club”[58:56] “James Frey: ‘I Always Wanted to Be the Outlaw'”[01:03:18] Bret Easton Ellis[01:03:18] Jay McInerney[01:03:18] Norman Mailer[01:10:54] Rashid Johnson[01:10:54] HBO's “Native Son” (2019)

In this episode, my son Jack joins me to examine The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, a Roman scholar living just after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE. A renaissance man before the Renaissance, Boethius translated Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato, served as a trusted aide to the Gothic king Theodoric in Ravenna, and was a mathematician, astronomer, and family man whose sons became consuls in their early 20s. Despite his Christian faith, tensions with the Arian Theodoric led to his imprisonment and brutal execution at 44. This tragedy tarnished Theodoric's rule, but Boethius' legacy shaped medieval thought, preserving Greek philosophy and influencing giants like Chaucer, Dante, Aquinas, and Shakespeare.Written in a cell awaiting death, The Consolation of Philosophy is a profound dialogue between Boethius and Lady Philosophy. Divided into five books, it blends prose (prosa) and poetry (metrea), offering wisdom through a narrative arc. Book One introduces Boethius' despair; Book Two explores Fortune's fickleness; Book Three seeks the highest Good; Book Four tackles the problem of evil; and Book Five reconciles divine foreknowledge with free will. The poems, rich with mythological and Biblical imagery, provide emotional breaks and reinforce the prose's insights. As C.S. Lewis noted, this work was beloved by educated Europeans for centuries.Boethius weaves Neoplatonism, Stoicism, and Aristotelian ideas into a Christian framework. Lady Philosophy echoes Plato's belief in innate knowledge, urging Boethius to “dream of your origin,” and champions philosopher-kings. Stoic themes emerge as she declares the mind free despite bodily exile, while Aristotle's Unmoved Mover aligns with Boethius' God. The concept of exile as a spiritual crisis resonates, connecting Boethius to figures like Odysseus and Dante.Jack and I discuss whether this is a satire, and how much both of us love Boethius as a character in his own novel.The Ignatius Press edition, translated by Scott Goins and Barbara Wyman, shines with clear prose, excellent footnotes, and quality paper—perfect for annotating. This book demands a reread and sparks a reading list including Chaucer, Milton, and C.S. Lewis' The Discarded Image. Join us! I think this book is for everyone, but even if you think, "Maybe not for me," you'll know what it's about and why it matters.This is a year-long challenge! Join me next week for Sun Tzu's The Art of War and The Tao Te Ching from Lao Tzu.LINKTed Gioia/The Honest Broker's 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)CONNECTTo read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ LISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bdApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 Captivate -

In this episode, I'm diving into a potent truth: manifestation doesn't begin with desire—it begins with decision. I'll share what the word decide actually means (spoiler: it's more powerful than you think), how indecision leaks your energy, and why making a soul-aligned decision is often the turning point to clarity, momentum, and manifestation. We'll explore the energetic shift that happens when you stop waiting and fully claim what you want, plus how to align your identity, actions, and intuition with the version of you who already has it. This is about walking through the door and closing it behind you—fully choosing your next level. This episode is here to activate something deep within you… It's time to choose.

If you're feeling burnt out, wired but tired, or like manifestation just isn't working lately — this episode is for you.  Today, I'm diving into the real cost of being stuck in chronic fight or flight — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. . Join The Retreat – limited spots open!! Sept 19-22nd, 2025. . In this episode we'll explore how this stress response quietly runs the show in your life, why it's the #1 block to intuitive guidance and manifestation, and most importantly — what you can do about it.

You're doing everything right, staying productive, chasing growth, keeping up. But what if the discomfort you feel isn't a sign that you need to do more, but a signal to let go? In this episode, Charlie Gilkey and I explore the Tao Te Ching, which is one of my favorite books of all time, but not as a relic from the past, but as a guide for navigating the speed and complexities of modern life, including the rise of AI.We talk about how ancient wisdom can live side by side with new technology and how presence, simplicity, and inner alignment still matter, now more than ever,The Tao Te Ching is one of those books I keep coming back to. Ancient wisdom, wrapped in poetry, that somehow feels more relevant every year. Like this line: “If you look to others for happiness, you will never be happy. If your well-being depends on money, you will never be content.“Simple. Clear. Actually useful.I've teamed up with Rebind.ai to create an interactive edition of the Tao—forty essential verses, translated into plain, everyday language, with space to reflect, explore, and ask questions. It's like having a conversation not just with the Tao, but with me too. If you're looking for more clarity, calm, or direction, come check it out here.Key Takeaways:Discussion of the Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese text attributed to Lao Tzu.Application of Tao Te Ching, teachings to modern life and contemporary challenges.Exploration of themes such as presence, simplicity, and inner alignment.The balance between engagement and busyness in daily life.The metaphor of feeding the “good wolf” within us and acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of our nature.The significance of flexibility and adaptability in navigating life's changes.The importance of mental health and accessibility to support systems.Reflection on the “Three Treasures” of the Tao Te Ching: simplicity, compassion, and patience.The role of philosophy in fostering human connection and understanding.Encouragement to embrace the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, for personal growth and fulfillment.If you enjoyed this conversation with Charlie Gilkey, check out these other episodes:How to Get Things Done with Charlie GilkeyEmbrace the Chaos: Finding Clarity Through Meditation with Henry Shukman (Part 1)For full show notes, click here!Connect with the show:Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPodSubscribe on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyFollow us on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to the Awakening Her Podcast! ✨ In today's episode, we're getting real and grounded about manifestation. There's so much noise in the online space telling you it's all about thoughts, mindset, or visualizing perfectly… but the truth is, manifestation is energetic and physical. It's about who you're being and what you're actually doing in your life. We're diving into:

In Part 2 of our exploration of The Ages, we move from cosmic timescales to the deeply personal experience of transformation. Opening with a powerful quote from Lao Tzu that could have been written yesterday, we examine how ancient wisdom speaks directly to our current "hysterical, impulsive" cultural moment and what it means to find patterns beneath the chaos. The conversation explores the difference between cosmetic change and genuine transformation - whether in organizations, relationships, or personal growth. We discuss why so many attempts at change fail when they only address surface issues while leaving the underlying "note" or frequency unchanged. Real transformation requires going through what's called "crossing the burning ground" - a process that demands both courage and patience. We examine the transition from masculine-dominated leadership to a more balanced integration of both masculine and feminine principles within individuals and organizations. This isn't about replacing one gender with another, but about learning to embody both the capacity to plant seeds (masculine) and create fertile space for growth (feminine). The episode explores what this integration looks like practically in leadership, relationships, and personal development. The discussion culminates with the powerful metaphor of humanity as caterpillars facing the choice between "gluing wings on our backs" or having the courage to enter the chrysalis stage of genuine transformation. For anyone navigating major life changes or feeling called to deeper authenticity, this episode offers both wisdom and encouragement for the journey through uncertainty to emergence. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace. In today's episode, Brian asks, "What is one way you can focus more on the present moment today, and how might it bring you a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment?" Enjoy Episode 21 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Hey beautiful soul, and welcome back to the Awakening Her Podcast! Nature… is one of the most powerful teachers we have.  So today I'm sharing 5 deep soul lessons from nature — wisdom that  I have received by witnessing how everything is already so perfectly designed. Mentioned in this episode:

Transcendence Meditation for Inner Wisdom & Deep ClarityWelcome to this powerful guided transcendence meditation designed to help you tune into your inner wisdom, release self-doubt, and uncover the deep clarity that already exists within you.

In today's episode, we're exploring something that's often overlooked in the world of manifestation, goal-setting, and soul growth — the pause. If you've been focused on your dreams, doing the work, expanding your self-awareness, and still feeling like something's calling you to slow down… this message is for you. Pausing isn't weakness — it's wisdom. It's not a break from your growth — it is the growth. In this conversation, I'm sharing a spiritual and practical perspective on why intentional rest and recalibration are vital parts of your success path. And how to build that pause right into your plan — so your manifestation process becomes more grounded, present, and powerful. This isn't about burnout. It's about balance. It's about honouring your body, your energy, and your soul's pace. Inside this episode: Why even aligned, inspired goals can still lead to fatigue if we don't pause How to build rest, ease, and flow into your manifestation and business plan The spiritual role of the pause in intuitive alignment Journal prompts to reflect and integrate your next level with more grace Prompts: Where in my life or business could a sacred pause create more space for clarity, ease, and joy? How can I honour both the desire to grow and the need to be present with what already is?  

Welcome back! This is a healing conversation on how to notice when you're acting from fear, control, or survival — and how to gently shift back to your truth. In this episode, I'm guiding you into a deeper understanding of the difference between the habits of your highest self and the habits that are actually rooted in trauma responses. It's not always obvious — sometimes the things that look spiritual, productive, or “healthy” are actually coming from fear, control, or survival energy. We'll explore: The energetic signature behind your habits How to identify when you're leading from truth vs. fear Real-life examples that bring this into focus Gentle, powerful questions to help you shift This conversation is a soft landing and a wake-up call — not from shame, but from sovereignty. If you've ever felt like you're “doing the work” but still stuck, or like your actions don't always match your inner alignment, this episode is your mirror and your medicine. I Talk About: The core differences between trauma-response habits and highest self habits How fear can disguise itself as productivity, healing, or service Why the energy behind the habit matters more than the habit itself Real examples from daily life where we unknowingly act from survival How to shift gently back into alignment Questions to help you discern your true motivation MENTIONED...

Send us a textEpisode Title: Start Your Week Like the Tide: Flow, Don't Force | Monday MotivationEpisode Description: Welcome to another Monday Motivation on The Keith Brown Show! This week, Keith shares a simple but powerful mindset shift to help you ease into your week without stress or resistance. Inspired by the natural rhythm of ocean tides, Keith encourages you to flow, don't force — working with your energy instead of against it.Learn how to honor your own pace, balance productivity with rest, and ride the waves of your week with calm and intention. Plus, Keith shares inspiring quotes from Lao Tzu and Eckhart Tolle to remind you that life is meant to flow naturally.If you're ready to start your week with ease and power, this episode is for you.What You'll Learn:Why forcing your week only creates resistanceHow to embrace your natural energy rhythms like the tideSimple practices to check in with yourself before planning your weekInspirational wisdom to help you flow through challengesHow flowing can lead to lasting, gentle transformationResources & Links:Check out Keith's coaching program Beach Vibe Life to unplug, unwind, and realign with your rhythm: Beach Vibe LifeQuote sources: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Eckhart Tolle's The Power of NowConnect With Keith:  Email: office@keithbrowncoaching.comSupport the showAdditional Direct Links: Free Facebook Group-"Beach Vibe Crew" Check out The "Beach Vibe Life" Method- Courses For 1-1 Life Coaching (Multitude of Topics) Visit Here. Digital Products-"Towardations" Flash Cards & Digital Courses Keith's Books Disclaimers: I am not a licensed therapist nor medical professional and do not diagnose. Also, the views expressed on this podcast are either those of myself or my guests and should be consider as such. The views expressed by the guest may or may not reflect my own. This podcast is for information only.

Selected verses from the "Hua Hu Ching" by Lao Tzu. The Hua Hu Ching is a book containing later teachings attributed to Lao Tzu, the author of the Tao Te Ching. It is also known as "The Educate the Barbarians Sutra". While the Tao Te Ching is widely known and revered, the Hua Hu Ching's teachings are believed to be of equal importance. The Hua Hu Ching's teachings focus on attaining enlightenment and mastery through a path similar to the Tao Te Ching. They offer a practical guide to living a virtuous life, embracing the present moment, and discovering one's true self. The Hua Hu Ching's history is somewhat mysterious. While the original text was discovered in the Mogao Caves, it was also banned and ordered to be burned during a time of political turmoil in the 14th century. As a result, there are few complete and accurate manuscripts today, but the teachings have been preserved through oral transmission by Taoist masters.

Always excited when Ethan Indigo Smith joins me to share his innovative ideas that connect East and West, Hermes and Lao Tzu. In this heresy, let's discover how fundamental geometric structures relate to understanding subtle energy, the universe's architecture, and meditation practice. We'll also explore a framework for self-development, guiding you toward individuation and connection with universal energies. There will be plenty of Hermeticism, Taoism, and other anarchist spirituality for your liberation. Check out his book, The Geometry of Energy: How to Meditate. More on Ethan: https://geometryofenergy.weebly.com/ Get his book: https://amzn.to/43uIMR5 Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288Stream All Astro Gnosis Conferences for the price of one: https://thegodabovegod.com/replay-sophia/

Verse 79 is TTC's main place where Lao Tzu frames “score-keeping” with “faith-keeping”. So in this verse we look at the various ways we injure ourselves (and our futures) with strict accounting of alleged slights we see someone giving us. The resentments build until one of two things happen: A complete breakdown of communication, or, the moment when someone stops practicing keeping-score and instead practices keeping-faith. We're almost finished with this podcast. But please, keep your podcast feed open, for bonus episodes, announcements, and for questions that come up from the class. My email is mmullinax@mhu.edu. We have a new podclass about to begin: Chandler Schroeder and I are conspiring (which means to breathe together) on a new schedule of a series of related podcasts on religion, the ideas of religion, faith, and how the imagination fuels these. The pods we have begun to work on are based uponChandler's career as a counselor, and my 30-year teaching career in New York City, Asheville, NC, and Seoul, Korea. We have already a YouTube channel called TheTechnicolor Dreamcoat of Religion“ where you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on howreligions get made. (https:www.youtube.com@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)You can also keep this podcast feed - Power for the Peaceful - open, and you'll get all the introductory updates.

In this episode, I'm bringing you a permission slip - you're allowed to outgrow your life, your relationships, your habits, your career, and the version of you that got you here. We talk about how outgrowing isn't "bad", it's a sign of growth. I share what happens as your vibration naturally rises through healing, alignment, and perspective shifts — and how that creates friction with lower-vibe patterns or people that no longer resonate. If you've been feeling like certain things just don't fit anymore, this episode will help you trust your process, your frequency, and your future.

Today's episode is your divine invitation back to the only place your transformation can truly begin: the present moment. If you've been feeling disconnected, waiting for something to click, or wondering how to speed up your manifestations — this conversation is the reset your soul has been craving. Inside this sacred transmission, Talia Joy guides you into a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully present—not just conceptually, but embodied, activated, and open to receiving everything that is already here for you. This is more than a reminder. This is a spiritual key. And when you integrate it, your path becomes clearer, your nervous system calms, and your manifestations begin to accelerate with ease. In this episode, we talk about... ✨ Why the present moment is the only portal to the Divine, intuition, and manifestation ✨ How the quantum field responds to your energy in the now (not the future) ✨ The spiritual assignment behind every desire: can you find it within before it arrives? ✨ A powerful nervous system reframe that brings you into calm and groundedness ✨ How presence magnetizes abundance, health, love, and peace—without chasing ✨ A gentle five senses practice to help you anchor into the now and regulate your energy

Mitch Jeserich reads excerpts from the classic writings The Way of Chuang Tzu translated by Thomas Merton. Thomas Merton composed a series of his own versions of the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu, the most spiritual of Chinese philosophers. Chuang Tzu, who wrote in the fourth and third centuries B.C., is the chief authentic historical spokesperson for Taoism and its founder Lao Tzu (a legendary character known largely through Chuang Tzu's writings). Indeed it was because of Chuang Tzu and the other Taoist sages that Indian Buddhism was transformed, in China, into the unique vehicle we now call by its Japanese name―Zen.   Excerpts from THE WAY OF CHUANG TZU by Thomas Merton, copyright ©1965 by The Abbey of Gethsemani. Reproduced by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp. The post The Taoist & Christian: The Way of Chuang Tzu appeared first on KPFA.

Welcome back! Today we are talking about THE GAP between when we know something and when we start living it. You've read the books, taken the courses, uncovered your patterns, and developed incredible self-awareness. But here's the question... are you living it? In this episode, we're diving into the in-between phase on the path of transformation: the gap between knowing and living. This is where real change happens — not in the head, but in the heart, in the body, in the choices you make daily. We explore: Why you might be stuck in the cycle of "I already know that" How fear, identity, and nervous system disregulation keep you from stepping into your next level The real reason it's easier to gather information than it is to act on it How to close the gap and start embodying your truth now — even if you don't feel ready Supportive Journal Prompts: What do I know but still struggle to live? Where am I waiting to feel “ready” before I act? What would my highest self choose today? Keep Walking Your Path: Want to go deeper into embodiment, energy mastery, and next-level alignment? Join us inside On The Path , my membership space for spiritually led women devoted to living in soul alignment. Join for Rooted & Rich Month!   

Welcome back! Today's episode is a powerful one — because we're going deep into the trinity within us: the Ego, the Inner Child, and the Higher Self. We'll start from a spiritual perspective — zooming way out to remember why we are designed this way as souls choosing to evolve through our human experience. Each part of us is purposeful. Sacred. Designed for our growth. Then, I'll guide you through the distinct role each part plays: ✨ The Inner Child — innocence, emotion, and unmet needs

Send us a textLove doves and Tao turtles! Sending rejuvenating vibes out to everyone in the audiosphere. Thank you for dropping in and sharing head space. Now is all we got!This ep I break down the energetic blueprints for the days of the week from my perspective, referencing the origins of the day's names as the jumping off point. In my opinion it's a good idea to shake up our notions of time, days and calendars from time to time. I also read from the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoism, attributed to the ancient sage Lao Tzu. Every day we portalin!! Spinnin in space y'all. un amor,lr kerkawwwwTRACKLIST why this ? - matcha lemonadeVaporwave fm - Dreamwave JourneyDull Roar - Session 018 (Soundcloud) Cardi B - WAP EditSupport the showTip me in Solana:Address: 9XPHpqH7GawTGtPgZAzfXFU6oPWTpSua1QXwRYAWVh9y Find me on IG: barbarian_noetics Direct Donate on PayPal @barbarian.noetics@proton.me Cash App@ $BarbarianRavenbuymeacoffee.com/noetics.Spread the word and tell a friend. Remember to set the BNP on Auto Download after you subscribe. I appreciate you all. Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 allows for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research.

In today's episode, I'm diving into something we all go through on the path: repeating patterns. You know the ones — the emotional triggers, the stuck habits, the way we shrink or spin out even though we know better. I've been there too, and I want to walk you through what's really going on under the surface when you keep looping back into the old. We're talking about the deeper energetic and spiritual layers of why we repeat things — and how to break through them once and for all. These are the kinds of perspective shifts that light a fire in your soul. In this episode, I'm sharing: Why it's not your fault that the same patterns repeat How our nervous system and identity can keep us locked in loops What's really going on from a soul perspective when you keep getting the same lesson The deeper reason your growth feels hard sometimes How to create safety to evolve into your next-level self What it means to embody change, not just know what to do   A few journal prompts for you to explore after listening: What's one pattern that keeps showing up for you right now? How is it protecting you in some way, even if it doesn't feel good? What would it look like to meet that part of you with compassion—and then choose differently? Ready to go deeper? Come join me On The Path for Rooted & Rich Month! This private membership space for soul-led seekers rising into alignment, abundance and power. You don't have to do this alone. Retreat: September 19–22, 2025 — Pacific Northwest Join us for 3 sacred days of soul connection, deep rest, and full activation.

What happens when the afterlife doesn't want you — yet? In this unforgettable installment of The Journey Beyond Death, we dive into three riveting near-death experiences that challenge our assumptions about free will, divinity, and soul purpose. Part 17 is also the seventh entry in our transformative eight-part series featuring firsthand NDE accounts. We begin with Peter Bedard, whose moped crash at age 17 launched him out of his body and into a realm of unspeakable beauty. There, he met a luminous being with an energy reminiscent of Lao Tzu, who told him — bluntly — that his arrival was a cosmic mistake. Bedard's tale, both humorous and heartfelt, explores the shock of being "kicked out of heaven" and the deep yearning that follows such an experience. We're also joined by Peter Vittar, who lends his own reflections on soul contracts, the pain of reincarnating against one's will, and the subtle comedy woven into cosmic design. Psychic medium Karyn Reece reveals a multidimensional journey involving departed loved ones and lush celestial landscapes, while Howard Storm recounts his harrowing descent into a dark realm — and his unexpected rescue by a radiant being of light that transformed his atheism into lifelong spiritual devotion. This episode explores moral responsibility, spiritual awakening, the concept of multidimensional lives, and why death may be the most honest mirror we ever face. It's raw, revelatory, and at times, surprisingly funny. --------------------------------- Featuring in order of appearance: 02:00 – NDE Survivor Peter Bedard 19:20 – NDE Survivor & Psychic Medium Karyn Reece 28:26 – NDE Survivor Howard Storm --------------------------------- Peter Bedard Peter Bedard is an NDE survivor, author, and healing expert who integrates science and spirituality to help people overcome trauma, anxiety, and chronic pain. After a near-death experience in his youth, Peter developed a unique approach to wellness called "Convergence Healing," which focuses on addressing emotional root causes. He is also a trained hypnotherapist and frequent guest speaker on mind-body healing. Website: www.ConvergenceHealing.com Karyn Reece Karyn Reece is a psychic medium and NDE survivor known for her vivid insights into the afterlife and her ability to deliver highly detailed and accurate readings. With over 20 years of experience and numerous television appearances, Karyn has brought comfort and validation to thousands of individuals seeking connection with loved ones who have passed. Her work is often described as compassionate, precise, and life-changing. Website: www.KarynReece.com Howard Storm Howard Storm is an artist, former atheist, and internationally known NDE survivor whose powerful near-death experience led to a complete spiritual transformation. Following his journey, he became a Christian pastor and has since shared his story worldwide, emphasizing love, service, and the reality of the afterlife. His book My Descent Into Death has been endorsed by numerous spiritual thought leaders. Website: www.HowardStorm.com

Have you ever felt a nudge from your intuition, only to second-guess it a moment later?You're not alone. In today's episode, I'm diving into the real reason why so many of us struggle to trust our intuition — even when it's clearly speaking to us. We'll explore what intuition actually is, how to distinguish it from ego or regular thoughts, and why it often feels subtle or quiet.   ✨ Inside this episode: What intuition really is (and how to recognize it) Why ego is loud and intuition is quiet How to develop your intuitive abilities The real reason you second-guess yourself Tools to start building deeper self-trust today Plus, I'll share a few key practices to strengthen your connection with your inner knowing and break free from doubt.   Mentioned In This Episode:

The Journey Beyond Death continues with Part 16 of its compelling 18-part series and marks the sixth installment in the eight-part segment focused on individuals who have had near-death experiences (NDEs). In this episode, we spotlight three extraordinary guests—Peter Bedard, Karyn Reece, and Howard Storm—each of whom crossed the threshold of life and death and returned with transformative insights that challenge everything we think we know about existence. Peter Bedard was just a teenager when a devastating accident flung him out of his body and into a realm of pure awareness. What he found there—a tunnel of spinning light, a mysterious guide resembling Lao Tzu, and a sense of overwhelming peace—shaped his life's mission. Today, Peter helps others heal emotional wounds through his method, Convergence Healing. Karyn Reece, a gifted psychic medium, shares her emotionally rich near-death experience involving a vibrant, otherworldly meadow and a reunion with passed loved ones. Despite her longing to remain in the afterlife, she was told she had more work to do. Her story touches on soul contracts, multidimensional awareness, and the thin veil between the living and the dead. Howard Storm's account is perhaps the most jarring. A former atheist, Howard describes a terrifying descent into darkness where hostile beings tormented him—until a desperate prayer summoned a radiant presence he identifies as Jesus. Rescued, shown a life review, and filled with divine love, Howard's journey became a spiritual reckoning that altered his path forever. --------------------------------- Featuring in order of appearance: 02:00 – NDE Survivor Peter Bedard 19:20 – NDE Survivor & Psychic Medium Karyn Reece 28:26 – NDE Survivor Howard Storm --------------------------------- Peter Bedard Peter Bedard is an NDE survivor, author, and healing expert who integrates science and spirituality to help people overcome trauma, anxiety, and chronic pain. After a near-death experience in his youth, Peter developed a unique approach to wellness called "Convergence Healing," which focuses on addressing emotional root causes. He is also a trained hypnotherapist and frequent guest speaker on mind-body healing. Website: --------------------------------- Karyn Reece Karyn Reece is a psychic medium and NDE survivor known for her vivid insights into the afterlife and her ability to deliver highly detailed and accurate readings. With over 20 years of experience and numerous television appearances, Karyn has brought comfort and validation to thousands of individuals seeking connection with loved ones who have passed. Her work is often described as compassionate, precise, and life-changing. Website: --------------------------------- Howard Storm Howard Storm is an artist, former atheist, and internationally known NDE survivor whose powerful near-death experience led to a complete spiritual transformation. Following his journey, he became a Christian pastor and has since shared his story worldwide, emphasizing love, service, and the reality of the afterlife. His book My Descent Into Death has been endorsed by numerous spiritual thought leaders. Website:

Welcome back!! In this episode, I'm bringing you a truth that most people skip over on the journey of growth and expansion… and it's this: If you're here to rise big, you need to root deep. We live in a world that glamorizes fast growth, quantum leaps, and next-level everything—but what's often missing is the sacred preparation that happens beneath the surface. True transformation isn't just about going higher—it's about grounding deeper into who you are. I share the power of anchoring your energy, what it actually means to “root,” and why this season of slowing down or breaking down may not mean you're off track—it may mean you're being prepared for more than you can even imagine. If you're calling in more clarity, income, impact, or alignment, this episode will help you understand why the foundation you create now is what will hold and sustain everything you're building. This is one of those episodes that will bring you back home to yourself, again and again. In this episode, I talk about: Why deep roots are essential to rise higher The energetic & spiritual truth behind “slow” seasons What bamboo, palm trees, and real growth have in common How to know if you're in a rooting season (and why it's sacred) Why your nervous system and environment matter more than ever The real work behind sustainable expansion Practical ways to ground, stabilize, and create safety within Soul preparation vs. punishment—and why the void is powerful   Reflection Questions: Where am I being invited to slow down and ground more deeply? What am I trying to leap toward without first creating safety and stability? What foundational practices or support do I need to sustain my next level? What roots am I being asked to deepen so I can truly rise?   If you loved this episode: ✨ Share it with a sister who's in a season of preparation or transition. ✨ Tag me on Instagram so I can celebrate your breakthroughs. ✨ Leave a review—it means the world and helps more women find this medicine. You are not behind. You are being rooted. And your rise is inevitable.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3559: Keith Wilson explores the overlooked power of stillness in a world that celebrates hustle, achievement, and noise. Through timeless wisdom and modern-day relevance, he illustrates how cultivating inner peace can unlock clarity, strength, and a more meaningful life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/change-becomes-you/seeking-stillness-2765447bba6a Quotes to ponder: "Stillness is not about inactivity, it's about presence." "It's in stillness that we can hear the whispers of wisdom, truth, and clarity." "We are always reacting, always on, always responding. But stillness invites us to observe before we act." Episode references: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Penguin-Classics-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0140449337 The Daily Stoic: https://dailystoic.com Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1590305469 Stillness Is the Key: https://www.amazon.com/Stillness-Key-Ryan-Holiday/dp/0525538585 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices