Finding Zen with Michael Pottern

Tyler Martin is a thinker, father, and emerging psychotherapist whose work centers on lived experience, emotional growth, and personal transformation. Shaped by profound challenges within his family, he brings a deeply honest perspective on trust, faith, imagination, and how we evolve through real life.

What does it actually mean to have faith and trust?

In this conversation, Tyler Martin explores trust not as certainty, but as something we live through moment by moment.

We talk about faith as alignment rather than belief. Imagination as something often shaped and limited by our past. And the quiet realization that many of the systems we rely on, both personal and collective, are starting to break down.

From relationships to identity to the way we build our lives, this episode asks a simple question that is not always easy to sit with:

Can you trust what is happening, even when it is not what you expected?

This is a conversation about letting go of control, staying with uncertainty, and learning how to meet life as it is.

7 Key Takeaways

• Trust is not about certainty. It is about engaging with what is in front of you

• You can trust where you are, even when it reflects your current limits

• Faith shows up in how you act, not what you claim to believe

• Imagination is often shaped by past experiences and fear

• Trying to control outcomes creates tension and anxiety

• Old patterns and systems eventually stop working

• Growth begins when you stop avoiding the present and start getting curious about it

Closing Note

Somewhere between what you expected and what actually happened, there is something worth paying attention to. Not something to fix. Not something to escape. Something to meet.

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t what you don’t know—but what you’re avoiding?

In this episode, Michael Pottern sits down with executive coach Robert McNaughton to explore the hidden cost of inaction. From difficult conversations to leadership under pressure, Robert shares why the time between decision and action is the most expensive gap in business—and in life.

They unpack the tension between “being” and “becoming,” how avoidance shows up in CEOs and teenagers alike, and why presence isn’t passive—it’s the foundation for real change.

This conversation weaves together personal story, leadership insight, and a deeper look at how we confront (or avoid) what matters most.

If there’s something you’ve been putting off… this episode might be your invitation.

7 Key Takeaways

• The awareness–action gap is where most people get stuck Knowing what to do isn’t the problem—doing it is.

• The most expensive mistake is delay Time between decision and action directly impacts outcomes.

• Difficult conversations are unavoidable—and essential Avoidance compounds problems across relationships and systems.

• Presence is not passive—it’s transformative Being fully present creates clarity, connection, and better decisions.

• Leadership requires emotional courage Growth often means confronting discomfort, not bypassing it.

• Attachment is foundational to healing Whether in CEOs or teenagers, connection drives change.

• Integration matters more than insight Insight without action doesn’t create transformation.

This conversation is an invitation. Not to do more, but to notice more. To recognize where you already know the next step, and gently move toward it. Presence isn’t an escape from action, it’s what makes action possible.

What if everything you’re searching for about yourself could be distilled into just one word?

In this deeply reflective conversation, Michael Pottern sits down with Erin Weed to explore the process of uncovering your most authentic self. Not by adding more, but by remembering what’s already there.

From personal loss to purpose-driven work, Erin shares how her journey led to creating The Dig, a method that reveals a single word that acts as your life’s operating system. Together, they explore resonance, truth, grief, and the subtle ways we drift from ourselves and how to return.

This episode is about slowing down, listening deeper, and trusting the quiet signals that point you back home.

Devon Kerns is an entrepreneur-turned-guide in conscious exploration, blending years of business-building with a deep commitment to inner work. After navigating the volatility of entrepreneurship from a young age, he shifted his path toward service and support for others through meditation, intuitive insight, and expansive dialogue. Through his work on Insight Timer and beyond, Devon explores the intersection of technology, consciousness, and human potential, inviting people to access deeper intelligence beyond the thinking mind.What if AI isn’t just a tool, but a mirror?In this episode, Michael sits down with Devon Kerns to explore how artificial intelligence can deepen self-awareness, unlock creativity, and expand consciousness—if approached with curiosity instead of control.They discuss:Why “play” is the most powerful way to engage with AIHow asking better questions matters more than getting answersThe difference between thinking and accessing deeper intelligenceUsing AI to create meaningful, emotional experiences (like music and storytelling)How technology might actually give us more presence, not lessThis conversation moves beyond productivity and into something more essential: how we relate to the unknown.If you’ve been curious about AI, but unsure how it fits into a meaningful life, this episode offers a grounded, human perspective.7 Key Takeaways• Curiosity is more powerful than certainty. The future belongs not to those with answers, but to those who ask potent questions.• AI works best when approached through play. Treating AI like a space to explore, not perform, reveals more about yourself than the tool itself.• You are not limited to your intellect. Insight often arises when you step out of “trying to be smart” and into presence.• Creativity is collaborative, even with technology. AI can help translate personal stories into meaningful expressions, expanding access to creative output.• Presence begins in the body, not the mind. The simplest question—“What do I need right now?”—is often the hardest to answer.• Fulfillment is deeper than happiness. Happiness is fleeting; fulfillment comes from fully engaging with what is. • Technology can return us to what matters if used consciously. By removing friction in “doing,” AI has the potential to create more space for being.This episode is less about understanding AI and more about understanding ourselves in relation to it. If there’s one invitation to carry forward, it’s this: slow down, ask better questions, and allow space for what you don’t yet understand. Because in that space, something deeper begins to speak.

What if singing isn’t about performance, but about regulation, connection, and coming back to yourself?

In this episode, Orange Peel explores how voice, play, and novelty can shift our nervous systems and open access to joy in ways that feel both simple and profound. Through singing and shared experience, we begin to move out of rigid patterns and into something more alive, responsive, and connected.

The conversation moves through the science and felt experience of emotional memory, the role of novelty in breaking predictive loops, and how collective singing creates a sense of belonging that many people are quietly craving. It’s not about becoming a better singer—it’s about remembering how to feel.

If you’ve been stuck in routine, disconnected from joy, or curious about how creativity and the body intersect, this episode offers a grounded and refreshing way back.

7 Key Takeaways

• Singing is a form of nervous system regulation. It engages the body in ways that promote safety, calm, and connection.

• Play isn’t optional—it’s biological. It supports neuroplasticity and helps us break out of rigid, repetitive patterns.

• Novelty interrupts prediction. When we introduce new experiences, we create space for change and new emotional pathways.

• Emotionally charged experiences become lasting memories. The more we feel, the more deeply something stays with us.

• Collective singing creates belonging. Shared voice synchronizes people, building trust and connection quickly.

• Joy can be practiced, not just experienced. It’s something we can access through intentional engagement, not just circumstance.

• Your voice is not about performance. It’s a tool for expression, regulation, and coming back into a relationship with yourself.

There’s something quietly radical about choosing play in a world that rewards control. This episode doesn’t ask you to become someone new—it invites you to remember what’s already available. Through voice, presence, and shared experience, joy stops being something distant and becomes something you can return to, again and again.

In this episode of Finding Zen, Michael sits down with relational coach and tea ceremony practitioner Bu Nan Brown to explore the deeper art of connection in an increasingly distracted and disconnected world.

Together, they discuss how modern life often pulls us away from genuine relational presence and why many of our struggles stem not from a lack of knowledge, but from a lack of attunement to ourselves and the people around us. Through reflections on emotional safety, vulnerability, ritual, grief, and relational intelligence, Bu Nan shares how slowing down and listening more deeply can open the doorway to real transformation.

From tea ceremony and nervous system awareness to the courage required for authentic relationships, this conversation reveals how connection isn’t something we manufacture or force, but something that naturally emerges when we create the conditions for presence.

A thoughtful and grounding exploration for anyone seeking deeper relationships, emotional clarity, and a more human way of living in a fast-moving world.

7 Key Takeaways

1. Connection begins with presence. When we slow down enough to truly listen, relationships naturally deepen.
2. Many struggles in modern life stem from disconnection rather than lack of knowledge or self-improvement.
3. Emotional safety is the foundation for vulnerability, and vulnerability is the doorway to authentic connection.
4. Rituals like tea ceremony help create environments where presence and relational awareness can emerge.
5. Real connection requires courage because it asks us to show up without the armor of performance or control.
6. Grief and life transitions often reveal how deeply we rely on relationships for meaning and support.
7. Healing and growth often begin not by fixing ourselves, but by rediscovering our capacity to be fully present with others.

This episode is not about improving your relationships through better strategies or communication techniques. It’s about remembering that connection begins with presence. When we slow down enough to listen, to feel, and to be seen without armor, the conditions for real relationship naturally appear.

Connect with Bu Nan Brown:

Website: ⁠bunanbrown.com⁠

Instagram: @bunanbrown

Connect with Michael Pottern:

Website: ⁠denverzenden.com

Instagram: @denverzenden

What does peace really mean to someone who grew up under the threat of war? In this powerful episode of Finding Zen, Michael Potter sits down with Yovel Peretz — Israeli special forces veteran and founder of Let’s Do Podcast — for a raw conversation about resilience, legacy, and redefining success.

From learning how to wear a gas mask in kindergarten to building a purpose-driven media company in the United States, Yovel shares how discipline, devotion, and community have shaped his path. This episode is for anyone navigating adversity, chasing a bigger mission, or seeking calm in a chaotic world.

If you've ever wondered how to find your zen after loss, uncertainty, or reinvention — this conversation will move you.

Main Topics Covered

1. Growing up in Israel under constant security threats
2. Military service, war, and the psychology of peace
3. Identity, resilience, and refusing to be changed by others
4. Entrepreneurship with purpose over profit
5. Legacy: empowering future generations
6. Fatherhood, role models, and generational pride
7. Men’s mental health and acknowledgment
8. The ripple effect of storytelling and podcasting
9. Finding daily moments of zen in chaos

Key Takeaways

1. Peace isn’t abstract — for some, it simply means safety.
2. True legacy isn’t money left behind — it’s values and empowerment passed forward.
3. Success without purpose feels empty; impact creates fulfillment.
4. Men need acknowledgment and emotional validation more than advice.
5. One conversation, one piece of advice, can change — or save — a life.

Connect with Yovel Peretz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWayOfThe1Percent
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0JS0G4mOQiKemBkou4VgTf?si=10231f3693f544f4
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yovelperetzz/
Let’s Do Podcast: https://letsdopodcast.com/
LDP YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LetsDoPodcast
LDP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsdo_podcast/

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Presence spreads when shared.
Move a little slower. Listen a little deeper. And keep finding your zen.

In this episode of Finding Zen, Michael sits down with Dr. Christine Smith, a holistic physician with backgrounds in neuroscience, chiropractic, psychology, and functional medicine, to explore what it truly means to regulate the nervous system in a hyper-stimulated world.

Together, they unpack how modern life keeps us locked in survival states, why you can’t out-supplement a stressed nervous system, and how healing follows an order of operations that begins with safety, coherence, and embodiment. From brainwave states and subconscious repatterning to trauma release, biohacking, psychedelics, and integration, this conversation reframes wellness as a state-based process rather than a checklist of fixes.

This episode reveals a powerful truth: regulation isn’t about slowing down for its own sake, it’s about creating the internal conditions that allow the body, mind, and life to reorganize naturally. A grounded, insightful listen for anyone seeking sustainable healing, clarity, and resilience in a fast-moving world.

7 Key Takeaways

1. Healing begins with nervous system regulation, not with supplements, protocols, or performance goals.

2. Modern life keeps many people locked in high-beta survival states without realizing it.

3. Brainwave states shape what kind of learning, healing, and change are actually possible.

4. You cannot out-supplement, out-biohack, or out-optimize a dysregulated nervous system.

5. The body heals in an order of operations: safety, stress regulation, gut health, immune balance, then performance.

6. Tools like meditation, bodywork, psychedelics, and biohacking are catalysts, not solutions, integration is where change happens.

   7. Slowness, boundaries, and rest are not indulgences, they are skills that retrain the nervous system for resilience.

Connect with the Guest – Dr. Christine Smith

Website / Community: https://wellnessevolutioncommunity.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchristinesmithdc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristinesmith/?hl=en

This episode is not about doing more or fixing yourself. It’s about regulation, restoring safety, and remembering that when the nervous system finds balance, clarity, healing, and transformation follow naturally.

They explore how alignment influences leadership, decision-making, relationships, and growth. Drawing from Jason’s experiences coaching executives and navigating high-risk environments like paragliding, aviation, and whitewater rafting, the conversation reveals how grounded presence and intuition guide wise action—even in uncertainty.

1. Jason Gore is a CEO coach who has worked with hundreds of CEOs and thousands of executives.

2. He is an international paraglider, ranked in the top 100 in the U.S. and top 1,000 worldwide.

3. He is a professional rafting guide who leads multi-day expeditions, including trips of up to 23 days through the Grand Canyon.

4. He is a licensed pilot who rebuilt and flew an antique wooden, open-cockpit aircraft for more than 160 hours.

Living an Aligned Life

1. Living an aligned life means all parts of us agree on what we want to accomplish and how we want to be.

2. Many people experience tension between the ambitious “doing” self and the part that seeks rest, nourishment, and care.

3. Alignment comes from listening to intuition and embodied wisdom rather than forcing decisions intellectually.

Leadership, Presence, and Communication

1. Leadership applies to everyone—not just executives—but to how we lead our lives, families, and communities.

2. Approximately 90% of leadership is communication, something we practice daily.

3. Aligned living shows up in how we communicate with others.

4. Effective communication comes from values and inner knowing, not from image or performance.

Direction & Decision-Making (From Startups to the Sky)

1. A CEO’s primary role is ensuring the team is aligned and moving in the right direction.

2. A common startup mistake is assuming direction is clear when the team experiences confusion.

3. In paragliding, long flights depend on finding invisible patterns of rising air.

4. Leadership paths, like flight paths, are rarely straight and often require zigzagging.

5. Strong leaders hold a long-term vision while running short-term experiments to learn and adapt.

Feedback, Growth, and Taking Your Seat

1. A growth mindset is developed by trusting yourself to seek and receive feedback.

2. Feedback often triggers defensiveness instead of curiosity, especially in close relationships.

3. Younger CEOs frequently struggle to lead older, more experienced teams or manage forceful boards.

4. The key is for leaders to “take their seat at the table” and trust they are qualified because they are in the role.

5. Like a pilot in command, leaders must trust their training and instincts—even when the correct action feels counterintuitive.

Modern Life, Success, and What Matters Most

1. Modern life is complex and overwhelming, leading many people to disengage or check out.

2. The only person who can improve your life is you, through choices aligned with your values.

3. Success must be defined individually, not by cultural standards or material markers.

4. At the end of life, people measure success by how they loved and were loved—not by accomplishments.

5. There is deep irony in chasing wealth while sacrificing relationships and personal well-being.

Conflict and Negotiation

1. Conflict can be a powerful tool when approached intentionally.

2. People often focus on the 20% they disagree on instead of building from the 80% they share.

3. Difficult conversations require slowing the pace and intentionally setting the stage.

4. The goal of negotiation is co-creation, not persuasion—finding shared motivation rather than forcing outcomes.

Urgency, Risk, and Grounded Action

1. In urgent situations, clear thinking is rare; training and presence matter more than analysis.

2. Breath and awareness are critical anchors during moments of crisis.

3. Panic narrows perception, while acceptance restores clarity and presence.

4. Growth requires taking centered, grounded action even amid uncertainty.

5. Progress is often made through small, deliberate steps rather than perfect clarity.