Carlos Mendiola

JP Sears: How To Be Ultra-Spiritual

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with JP Spears, author of the new book, How to Be Ultra-Spiritual.

On today’s episode, we have the ultra-spiritual, JP Sears. JP is an emotional healing coach, a viral YouTuber, author, international teacher and speaker, and is releasing a book called,

How To Be Ultra-Spiritual: 12 ½ Steps to a Spiritual Superiority

. JP uses humor and satire, to poke fun at “being spiritual” in the modern world. The Awaken With JP YouTube channel has accumulated over a hundred million views and as I’m sure you can imagine JP is fun, hilarious, and full of jokes. But don’t be too quick to judge his flowery exterior. JP is extremely thoughtful, perceptive, has a sincere depth of understanding about these topics and wants to help people lead their most fulfilling life. On today’s show, we talk about fear, failure, embracing shame and ultimately living a more authentic spiritual life. Take a listen! (It really is ultra-spiritual).

Show Notes

  • From fitness to healing: Discover how JP got into coaching. [3:47]

  • How JP’s desire to feel life again got him into the world of emotional healing. [7:06]

  • Where does the body end and the mind begin? [08:07]

  • Understand how to let go and embody the idea of surrender. [10:15]

  • Why JP started making comedy videos and the benefits of taking a big risk. [14:34]

  • Turning fear into action; How to use fear to your advantage instead of letting it debilitate you. [18:55]

  • The importance of not letting failure define us. [22:23]

  • Comedy isn’t the goal: The deeper meaning behind JP’s videos. [24:53]

  • Why we shouldn’t be hiding our judgments. [27:00]

  • Embracing shame. [29:27]

  • How JP moved from making videos to writing a book. [34:44]

  • Getting into the raw sewage of human life. [38:08]

  • Find out what living an authentic life means to JP. [40:50]

More About JP Sears

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Olivia Goldhill: Existentialism and Authenticity

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with Olivia Goldhill, Harvard educated philosophy student and writer for Quartz. 

Today on the podcast we have Olivia Goldhill joining us. Olivia is a weekend writer for Quartz, with a focus on philosophy and psychology. Quartz is a digitally native news outlet, for business people in the new global economy. Quartz’s founding team includes veterans of some of the world’s highest-quality news organizations who have reported in 115 countries and speak 19 languages. Quartz publishes bracingly creative and intelligent journalism with a broad worldview, creating a really well rounded new site. It’s not just your average story and from there, I discovered Olivia.Olivia is a Harvard educated philosophy student and is interested in several subjects but one of them is authenticity, which is exactly what this podcast is all about. Olivia previously worked at The Daily Telegraph in the UK, first as part of their graduate scheme — which sent her to Media Wales and Press Association — then as a business reporter, and finally as a features writer. She reached out to me to come onto the show and we did more of a deep dive into authenticity from a philosophy as essentialism and what it means. Hope you like today’s show.

Show Notes

  • Capturing the essence of stoicism and meditation philosophies, and what they mean for our lives. [4:58]

  • Learn how to find the balance between the philosophy and the practical value of meditation. [9:11]

  • Understand why people today have become mistrustful of the word “authenticity”. [11:18]

  • Find out how Maslow’s Hierarchy and self-actualization play a role in your authenticity. [12:48]

  • Why the act of deciding who you are and what you do, makes you that person in the end.[18:01]

  • Knowing how to align your acts with your authenticity, doing everything in good faith. [25:26]

  • Learn how to grapple with competing realities and the anxieties that come along with them. [27:25]

  • Understand how to articulate your emotions and the importance of grounding them in something value. [29:21]

More About Olivia

Olivia Goldhill — https://qz.com/author/ogoldhillqz/

Olivia on Twitter — https://twitter.com/oliviagoldhill

Quartz — https://qz.com/

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Can A Single Act of Compassion Make a Difference? The Answer is Yes

Do you ever hear about this idea that each one of us matters in our everyday life, that each one of us is like a droplet in the ocean, a part of a wave and there's a universal energy? I think about these things and it sounds so nice and so abstract, but in the real world you wonder how is that possible. Can my actions actually impact others? Is there a ripple effect or do my actions make very little difference?

Jason Silva, host of Brain Games, explains how our brains respond to a single act of compassion when we are angry and desire revenge.

by Carlos Mendiola

Jaimal Yogis: All Our Water Are Water

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with Jaimal Yogis, award-winning author, teacher, and outdoorsman. 

Today on the show we have Jaimal Yogis. Jaimal is an outdoorsman, award-winning writer, and frequent teacher. He is the author of

Saltwater Buddha

, a humorous coming-of-age memoir about running away to Hawaii at sixteen to surf, nearly becoming a Zen monk, and eventually winding up at Columbia Journalism School. The book was named a Best Summer Read by E! and turned into a

feature documentary film

. Jaimal’s follow up to that book,

All Our Waves Are Water

, comes out this July from Harper Collins and it’s about the risks we’re willing to take in our journey to get there. Jaimal’s writing has also appeared in

The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Men

’

s Health, ESPN Magazine, The Surfers Journal, The Daily Beast

, and many others. His journalism has won a Maggie Award for Best Feature and he is also the author of

The Fear Project,

In today’s episode, he shares with us his story, how this new book is really a memoir, how it is based on his journey, a very compelling story with lots of life lessons that we go through in this just really deep, interesting and personal conversation.Check out Jaimal live on his book tour! http://www.jaimalyogis.com/events-2/

Show Notes

  • Jaimal tells us what the title of his book, All our Waves are Water, means to him. [2:55]

  • Hear why Jaimal wrote a memoir, Saltwater Budha, at this point in his life. [5:52]

  • Find out whether the book was a journey to Jaimal finding himself. [10:27]

  • Learn what theory Jaimal tested through All our Waves are Water.[13:48]

  • Understand why Jaimal equates joy and struggle. [18:20]

  • Discover why surfing is such an obsession. [20:29]

  • Hear Jaimal’s story of his visit to Bali and how he had to change his approach. [22:34]

  • Learn in what context Jaimal talks about celebrating. [26:50]

  • Jaimal talks about never giving up but at the same time questioning your approach. [29:33]

  • Understand what an authentic life means to Jaimal. [35:12]

  • Discover how you need to unplug to be able to listen. [37:40]

  • And much more!

More About Jaimal

Jaimal Yogis — http://www.jaimalyogis.com/

Jaimal on Twitter — https://twitter.com/jaimalyogisJaimal’s book, All our Waves Are Water —https://www.amazon.com/All-Our-Waves-Water-Enlightenment/dp/0062405179/Jaimal’s book, Saltwater Buddha —https://www.amazon.com/Saltwater-Buddha-Surfers-Quest-Find/dp/0861715357/Jaimal’s book, The Fear Project — https://www.amazon.com/Fear-Project-Emotion-Survival-Success/dp/1609611756The Lion’s Roar Magazine — https://www.lionsroar.com/

Louis CK Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/za/title/80161109

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Replace the Highs and Lows of Life with More Joy

Today I wanted to chat with you about a conversation I was having with a client. He was telling me that he was feeling really good. Here's what happened:He's said, "I just feel really good." And I said, "Great! Why?" And I was excited to hear the news, and he said, "Well, I'm not suffering anymore. I don't know what to tell you." And I thought, Hmm? I'm not sure that that's what I was hoping to hear. I was hoping to hear about maybe a breakthrough or just that his week had gone well.He began to describe that by letting go of pain and pleasure, he was able to start to even out, lose the highs and lows of life and live a lot more in a space of contentment. With that change, he felt his suffering diminished. But he found himself feeling at odds with this sense of calm because it wasn't the norm.Re-establishing a baseline of contentment as the norm is work when you've live in a state of overwhelm or chasing pleasure, running from pain and seeking approvals.

by Carlos Mendiola

Emily Ann Peterson on Bravery

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with Emily Ann Peterson on Bravery.

On today’s show, we welcome singer/songwriter, teaching artist, creative entrepreneur, host of the podcast Bare Naked Bravery, and cellist, Emily Ann Peterson. At the age of 17, Emily was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological hand tremor, the very thing she needed to continue doing what she loved. When this happened, Emily decided to focus on what does it take to overcome these insurmountable obstacles in the face of something that keeps you from doing what you are really passionate about. She talks about the idea of bravery.

So tune in today to find out about this other side of the conversation that we rarely talk about. What happens if you follow your dream and something real happens that gets in the way, like a hand tremor when you are playing the cello, right? It does not get more real than that. So how do you overcome a topic like that? Emily turned this obstacle into an amazing transformation of character, and in-depth discussion about bravery. She shares with us about the three layers that she believes helps a person move from insurmountable difficulties to finding meaning in your life in a whole new way.

Show Notes

  • Hear how Emily fosters a persons innovation, growth, and progress by not deleting them as a person but guiding their worth in the right direction. [4:01]

  • Find out what how Emily’s diagnosis and journey brought her to be really curious about bravery. [07:25]

  • Learn how it took Emily years of different iterations of that same realization that her success can look different from other people’s. [09:56]

  • Understand how Emily values her success based on connection and resonance. [10:58]

  • Hear as Emily explains bravery occurring on three different levels with three different ingredients involved, namely internal, external and resonant bravery. [14:23]

  • How vulnerability, imagination, and improvisation are the three ingredients that set the line between bravery and false pride. [15:56]

  • Learn how bravery is when vulnerability and imagination and improvisation which includes your power of choice, overlap. [18:37]

  • Emily shares her story of what she went through and how everyone’s version of bravery requires a different ratio of those three ingredients. [20:07]

  • Find out why vulnerability is a necessary ingredient and how it can make it different from being an asshole versus just doing something that is meaningful and has integrity to it. [20:47]

  • Hear how Imagination as the second ingredient, is the thing that helps you see beyond the possibility of rejection. [22:26]

  • Understand why Emily advocates to feel the fear and don’t just do it anyways, but feel the fear and use the fear. [25:08]

  • How bravery is definitely a core part of what Emily is doing in the world. [26:30]

  • Hear how Emily defines an authentic life as knowing how you define your success, being tuned into your unique definition of it, your values and your bravery. [28:30]

More About Emily

Emily Ann Peterson - http://emilyannpeterson.com/

Bare Naked Bravery - https://www.barenakedbravery.com/

Emily on Twitter - https://twitter.com/emilyapeterson

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Feeling Behind? Wonderwoman May Have the Answer

Have you seen the Movie Wonderwoman? In the movie, Wonderwoman has lived on an island without any clocks, watches, or even the use of time. When introduced to the concept, she finds it funny that we bound ourselves to this concept so tightly.Most of us feel behind. This was a great opportunity to visit the idea of time, what our relationship to time looks like and how we can get a better handle on it!Thank you for listening.

by Carlos Mendiola

Akshay Nanavati: Fearvana

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I chatted with Akshay Nanavati, Marine Corp Vet, adventurer, and entrepreneur.

Today we have Akshay Nanavati joining us. He is a marine corp veteran, he is also an adventurer and an entrepreneur. This guy has an incredible story. He overcame a drug addiction. He was in the Iraqi war, suffered from PTSD and had a serious battle with alcohol and drug abuse, which left him at the brink of suicide.In today’s episode, Akshay shares this, his story, and how he turned these life challenges into his new book, 

F

earvana:

The revolutionary science on how to turn fear into health, wealth, and happiness

. Fearvana explores the science of how to transform the seemingly negative forces of fear, stress and anxiety into health, wealth and happiness. Weaving together inspiring stories, in-depth research, practical insight and actionable strategies, "Fearvana" helps readers turn their greatest obstacles into their most powerful allies. Jack Canfield, the coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul Series and The Success Principles said “Fearvana is without a doubt, one of the few books that really does stand out as a must read book.”Akshay has explored the most hostile environments on the planet, started a nonprofit, and built a global business helping people live limitless lifestyles. Combining years of research in science and spirituality with his life experience.

Show Notes

  • Hear more of Akshay’s backstory and how the movie Black Hawk Down shifted his life towards joining the Marines. [2:56]

  • Why Akshay enlisted in the US Army, despite being a citizen of India and having a rare blood disease. [4:42]

  • How a diagnosis with PTSD after returning from Iraq and uncontrollable drinking led Akshay to the thought of taking his own life. [6:20]

  • The biggest lesson that Akshay has learned was that although he falls many times, the key is getting back up. [8:13]

  • Find out what inspired Akshay to write his book, Fearvana: The revolutionary science on how to turn fear into health, wealth, and happiness. [9:27]

  • Recognizing that 95% of cognition happens in the subconscious brain and that we are pretty much a product of our past behaviors. [14:56]

  • Understand how to stop yourself from going down the spiral of negative thinking, by recognizing the patterns. [18:00]

  • How to deal with depression by preparing for obstacles you know will show up, using Akshay’s LMNOP method. [22:14]

  • Akshay shares the combination of strategies he used to quit drinking overnight, which starts by labeling your emotions. [26:34]

  • Hear as Akshay shares what an authentic life looks like for him, and what it means to pursue worthy struggle. [36:17]

More About Akshay

Akshay Nanavati — https://twitter.com/existing2livingFearvana — http://fearvana.com/Black Hawk Down — http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/Man’s Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl — https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X/

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Zach Benson: An Artist's Life

In this episode of Art of Authenticity, I had a thoughtful conversation with Zach Benson 

Today we have a completely different show for you. We’ve got Zach Benson joining us. He is a TEDx speaker, full-time entrepreneur, and dancer and he has been a round four finalist on the hit show, So You Think You Can Dance.

What’s so cool about today’s show is that I’m always talking to people who have a certain level of success in their life, they hit a turning point, they recognize, “I have to think about what success means, what does it mean on my terms?” We’ve talked about all this ideas, we have had incredible people on, but here is somebody who out of the gate just went for it. Zach followed his dreams, hit a lot of road blocks, didn’t give up and kept persevering. It is really fun to listen to someone who had the courage, managed the fear, dealt with the rejection, and just kept going. Really interesting conversation, so I hope you enjoy it

Thanks for Listening

Again, thank you so much for your support! Please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already!

Show Notes

  • Hear has Zach shares his story of how he found dance at the age of 15, and how it really opened up a lot of doors for him. [2:19]
  • Find out why Zach’s parents encouraged him to study hard, but to also pursue his dreams of dance at the same time. [4:44]
  • Zach shares exactly what allowed him to preserver, especially after facing countless “no’s” and not walking into instant success. [6:47]
  • Discover why Zach decided to quit dance, and how he was able to find his passion again to pursue his dance dreams. [7:15]
  • Find out how Zach had to face the brutal facts of reality, being rejected from So You Think You Can Dance multiple times. [9:42]
  • Understand why it is more important that people tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. [10:52]
  • Discover more about Zach’s life, as he dances around the world in different countries, creating awesome memories with his students. [11:47]
  • Find out how Zach decides where to travel to next, by simply typing a destination into Google. [12:36]
  • Learn more about Zach’s experience on the show So You Think You Can Dance and the behind the scenes events. [15:45]
  • Understand what an authentic life means to Zach, and his daily habits that helps him keep aligned. [18:41]
  • Find out why Zach’s biggest piece of advice is to remember that happiness is a choice, and that mentors in your life are the key to your growth. [22:40]

More About Zach

Zach Benson — http://www.zachbenson.co/Zach’s TEDx Talk — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aVNY8PIoFASo You Think You Can Dance — http://www.fox.com/so-you-think-you-can-danceZach on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/zach.benson.33Zach’s email — [email protected]

Downloads:

by Carlos Mendiola

Miguel Ruiz: Mastery of Love

What is it that you are working to master? Is there something in your life that you are currently, actively, in the pursuit of mastering? Are you trying to run a marathon? Are you working really on in an instrument?  Are you asking your child to try to master anything; sports, music, math? Are you trying to become a great leader? Are you working on priorities, project management? Are you trying to rethink how you keep things organized in your life? What is it that you're currently really fixated on? Really organized towards mastering? Is it your relationship, in your relationship dynamics?I’ve have been totally preoccupied with this book, The Mastery of Love, by Miguel Ruiz.  And I quote, “To become masters of love, we have to practice love. The art of relationship is also a whole mastery and the only way to reach mastery is with practice.”  Practice Love? Tune in to hear more!  

by Carlos Mendiola