Today, Commander Divine talks to Brian Johnson about creating heroic technology to build a more virtuous world.  Brian Johnson is the creator of Optimize and the Founder + CE? of Heroic. He's spent half of the last twenty-five years as a Founder/CEO and the other half as a Philosopher. As a Founder/CEO, he's raised $20M+ and built and sold two market-leading social platforms.  Key Takeaways: Our paths are not always obvious, but they can be found by following our bliss--however bliss is not to be confused with hedonism. If the path is too comfortable, you're not on your path; you're following someone else's.  Hero means protector in ancient Greek. Heroes are not born--they are created from the practice of showing up and choosing to act from a place of love and courage.  The challenge we face today between hedonistic happiness and a true fulfilling journey is not a new challenge. Humans have faced these same struggles for thousands of years. The addition of technology has only amplified this battle, as well as increased temptation exponentially.  The most crucial element involved in a hero's journey is courage.Courage feeds all other virtues. It takes courage to show up every day, and show.up.every.day you must!  Heroic technology is the antithesis of inhumane technology. It is an application of technology that empowers users to lead disciplined, focused lives, and show up for the important practices that feed their virtuous selves. Links Optimize Me Instagram  LinkedIn

Brian Johnson: Creating a Hero’s Journey

Mark Divine is the founder of SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind. Mark is a Retired Navy SEAL Commander, NYT Best Selling author, speaker and entrepreneur. The podcast deals with a wide variety of subjects, from philosophical, emotional and meta-physical to self defense, fitness and elite physical performance. They all form a part of Mark's 5 mountain training path to develop your Mental, Physical, Emotional, Intuitive, and Kokoro (Heart) self.  Find out more at unbeatablemind.com.

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Josh Dech is a holistic nutritionist and gut health expert whose career began uniquely—as a paramedic in rural Newfoundland. Witnessing the limitations of conventional medicine in fostering genuine health improvement led him to transition into personal training and ultimately to specialize in holistic nutrition. Josh's deep dive into the complexities of gut health has positioned him as a leading voice in understanding its critical role in overall well-being, immune function, and mental health. Through his popular podcast, "Reversible: The Ultimate Gut Health Podcast," he shares cutting-edge insights and practical advice, empowering listeners to take control of their health through the lens of gut wellness.   Key Takeaways:     The Critical Role of Gut Health: Gut health is pivotal for overall well-being, influencing everything from mental health to immune function, and is central to managing physical and psychological conditions effectively.   Role of Inflammation: Inflammation acts as both a protective and a harmful physiological process within the body, and its dual role in both helping the body heal and potentially leading to chronic health issues when uncontrolled.   Gut Bacteria and Mental Health: Gut bacteria and mental health are connected. Imbalances in gut microbiota can affect mental health conditions like anxiety and depression due to neurotransmitter interactions.   The Impact of Lifestyle on Gut Health: Your lifestyle choices impact your gut health. Diet, exercise, and exposure to different environments, can support or hinder gut microbiome balance.    Understanding Beneficial Bacteria: Probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics have different roles and impacts in maintaining a balanced gut ecosystem. It’s important to foster beneficial bacterial activities for health.      Sponsors and Promotions:   DUER: To experience the ultimate blend of style, comfort, and performance in your denim, head to shopduer.com/DIVINE and get 20% off sitewide on DUER's revolutionary stretch jeans and apparel.   Lumen:  Unlock your metabolic potential with Lumen, the world's first handheld metabolic coach; visit lumen.me and use code DIVINE to get $100 off. Start optimizing your health today   SealFit ElectroGreens: Fuel your body and conquer your limits with SealFit ElectroGreens - a USDA organic superfood packed with over 25 organic fruits, vegetables, and electrolytes. Head to Amazon, search for "SealFit ElectroGreens," and use code SEALGREENS25 at checkout for 25% off your order.    Links for Josh Dech:  Website Instagram YouTube  LinkedIn  

How to Heal Your Gut & Fix Your Microbiome with Holistic Nutritionist and Gut Health Expert Josh Dech

Marc Lesser is a speaker, facilitator, workshop leader, and executive coach. He is known for his engaging, experiential presentations that integrate mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices and training. He is the author of 5 books, including Finding Clarity: How Compassionate Accountability Builds Vibrant Relationships, Thriving Workplaces, and Meaningful Lives, and CEO of ZBA Associates, an executive development and leadership consulting company. His podcast Zen Bones: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times features cutting-edge interviews, supportive tools for creating more meaningful work, and potent mindfulness practices to develop yourself, influence your organization, and change the world.    Key Takeaways:     The Power of Zen for Leadership and Personal Growth: Zen practice and meditation offer valuable tools for developing concentration, mindfulness, and compassion, which are essential for effective leadership and personal growth.   Mindfulness-Based EQ: Integrating mindfulness-based emotional intelligence with meditation practices can enhance communication, trust, and alignment within organizations.   Shedding Mental Barriers: Recognizing and letting go of resistance and unhelpful mental models is crucial for personal and professional growth.   Balancing Compassion and Accountability: Compassionate accountability, which balances performance and results with trust and empathy, is a key concept for creating effective and harmonious workplaces.   Nurturing Inner Growth: Cultivating self-awareness, curiosity, and the willingness to face difficulties head-on is essential for personal and professional development.     Sponsors and Promotions:   Momentus: Designed by the world's best experts, used by the world's best teams and athletes, and made for all of us.   https://www.livemomentous.com, and use code DIVINE for 20% off your first order.   SealFit ElectroGreens: Fuel your body and conquer your limits with SealFit ElectroGreens - a USDA organic superfood packed with over 25 organic fruits, vegetables, and electrolytes. Head to Amazon, search for "SealFit ElectroGreens," and use code SEALGREENS25 at checkout for 25% off your order.    Links for Marc Lesser: Website  Instagram  Facebook Twitter   

How To Master Mindful Leadership with Zen Practitioner Marc Lesser

Through embodiment practices and trauma education, you can reconnect your body and mind, heal from trauma, manage stress, and enhance overall well-being, while tailoring these practices to your unique needs and experiences. Mark Walsh, known as "Mr. Embodiment," is an author, podcaster, and founder of the Embodied Facilitator Course. He has trained over 2000 embodiment coaches in more than 40 countries and recently established saneukraine.org, a charity providing trauma and embodiment training in Ukraine. With a background in psychology, martial arts, yoga, and various other disciplines, Mark has taught in diverse settings, from corporate environments to war zones, and has entertained audiences of all ages.   Key Takeaways:     Embodiment for Trauma Healing: Embodiment practices, such as trauma education and trauma first aid techniques, are crucial for healing trauma, particularly in war-torn areas like Ukraine.   The Importance of Movement and Body Awareness: Moving the body, especially with awareness through practices like yoga, conscious dance, and martial arts, is essential for stress management, emotional intelligence, and overall well-being.   Trauma's Impact on the Body: Trauma can cause a disconnection between the body and mind, leading to chronic stress, health issues, and reduced empathy. Embodiment practices help reconnect the body and mind.   Tailoring Embodiment Practices: Embodiment practices should be tailored to an individual's needs, experiences, and goals, whether they are a soldier, business person, or yoga practitioner, to maximize their effectiveness.   The Accessibility of Wisdom: Despite the challenges in the world, we live in a unique time where wisdom traditions and practices are more accessible than ever through podcasts, books, and online resources.     Sponsors and Promotions: DUER: To experience the ultimate blend of style, comfort, and performance in your denim, head to shopduer.com/DIVINE and get 20% off sitewide on DUER's revolutionary stretch jeans and apparel.    SealFit ElectroGreens: Fuel your body and conquer your limits with SealFit ElectroGreens - a USDA organic superfood packed with over 25 organic fruits, vegetables, and electrolytes. Head to Amazon, search for "SealFit ElectroGreens," and use code SEALGREENS25 at checkout for 25% off your order.    Links for Mark Walsh: Website Instagram YouTube

Embodiment Expert Reveals Secrets to Overcoming Stress & Trauma (with Mark Walsh)

Meta-Ideological Politics can help people with different beliefs understand each other better and work together to solve problems in new ways. Ryan Nakade is a trained mediator and facilitator who works with various organizations to bridge divides and build resilient communities. He serves as a facilitator for the Department of Human Services family decision cases, Board Vice President of the Oregon Mediation Association, and an advisory committee member for the Beaverton Center for Mediation and Dialogue. In his spare time, he studies politics, philosophy, and complex systems, and is developing a new style of politics called Meta-Ideological Politics to transcend polarization and partisanship.   Key Takeaways:   Extremism Defined: Extremism is an ideology predicated on taking hostile action or violence towards any group that you don't like, not just believing in certain ideas.   The Spread of Contagious Violence: Contagious violence spreads through cycles of retaliation, with social media amplifying polarization by promoting inflammatory content.   Applying Integral Theory to Ideological Perspectives: Integral theory and stage development models provide a framework for understanding different ideological perspectives and fostering more inclusive discussions.   The Promise of Meta-Ideological Politics: Meta-Ideological Politics encourages reflection on ideologies from a meta-perspective, integrating diverse viewpoints and transcending limitations of traditional political thinking.   Reinterpreting Old Ideas Through New Frameworks: Reinterpreting and rereading old ideas through new frameworks, such as complexity science, can lead to novel insights and solutions to societal challenges.     Sponsors and Promotions: Momentus: Designed by the world's best experts, used by the world's best teams and athletes, and made for all of us. https://www.livemomentous.com, and use code DIVINE for 20% off your first order.   NeuroHacker: To feel in your prime WAY longer than you ever thought possible, try Qualia Senolytic up to 50% off right now at neurohacker.com/md15, and code MD15 at checkout will score you an additional 15% off.    Zbiotics: Go to zbiotics.com/DIVINE to get 15% off your first order when you use DIVINE at checkout. ZBiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee so if you’re unsatisfied for any reason, they’ll refund your money, no questions asked.    Links for Ryan Nakade: Website Medium Twitter/X LinkedIn  

The Antidote to Extremism: Meta-Ideological Politics (with Ryan Nakade)

Psychedelics, when used responsibly and in the right context, have the potential to catalyze profound healing and personal transformation by quieting the default mode network, allowing new neural connections to form, and providing fresh perspectives on entrenched patterns of thought and behavior.   Matt Zemon, MSc, is a passionate advocate for the responsible use of psychedelics, drawing on his Master's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King's College London. As an entrepreneur and author of the Amazon Best-Seller "Psychedelics for Everyone," Matt has co-founded various companies in the wellbeing sector, including HAPPŸŸ, Psychable, and Take2Minutes, all aimed at helping individuals navigate the challenging terrain of psychedelic experiences and improve their mental health and wellbeing. Key Takeaways:     Quieting the Default Mode Network: Psychedelics can quiet the default mode network, reducing anxiety and rumination, while allowing new neural connections to form. This enables fresh perspectives and the release of limiting patterns.   Set, Setting, and Source: Set, setting, and source are critical - your mindset, the environment, and the quality/purity of the medicine. An experienced facilitator and a safe, supportive container are essential.   Properties of Different Psychedelics: Different psychedelics have unique properties - MDMA is heart-opening and good for processing trauma, psilocybin fosters a sense of interconnectedness, and 5-MeO-DMT can induce a transcendent non-dual experience.   Progressive Psychedelic Journeys: Multi-day, multi-medicine retreats allow for a progressive journey, with time for preparation and integration. The medical and ceremonial approaches each have valuable aspects to incorporate.   Catalyzing Healing and Transformation: While not without risks, when used responsibly, psychedelics show great promise for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction and end-of-life distress by catalyzing lasting healing and transformation.      Sponsors and Promotions:   Momentus: Designed by the world's best experts, used by the world's best teams and athletes, and made for all of us. https://www.livemomentous.com, and use code DIVINE for 20% off your first order. Wild Health: Wild Health is generously extending Mark Divine Show listeners 20% off the cost of membership.   https://www.WildHealth.com/UNBEATABLE and use code UNBEATABLE at checkout.      Links for Matt Zemon: Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Brian Johnson: Creating a Hero’s Journey

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