What does it really mean to be a samurai today?

In this grounded, practical conversation, I sit down with Zen Takai—a 16th-generation samurai—to unpack how ancient warrior wisdom translates into modern life: avoiding conflict, cultivating balance, training intuition, regulating emotion, and leading with stillness and service.

We explore:

• Why “fight is very, very final decision” and how samurai first work to avoid the fight by keeping a silent mind and balance. “First of all… how to keep silent mind and balance.” 

• The Five Elements (ground, water, fire, wind, sky)—the order, the meaning, and applying them daily. “Yes, there’s an order. First element is a ground element… last one… sky element.” 

• Water = flexibility = possibility; Fire = emotion and a method to organize emotions through strict order (tea ceremony). “Flexibility equal possibility… Fire element is strong emotion… focus your order: number one, number two, number three…” 

• Training intuition with blind meditation and reducing over-reliance on sight to feel sound, smell, skin. “Sometimes we go to the mountain side… blind meditation… if you feel something, you just block.” 

• Reading the body’s signals (“Body is very honesty. You cannot lie to the body.”) and using breathing and the tanden (lower belly) to regulate the “inside of the body.” 

• Leadership as balance: silent leadership, yin/yang, and why you cultivate feminine energy first, then masculine. “Samurai leadership is different. Sometimes using a silent… lead the people.” / “First… female energy… after that, control masculine energy.” 

Whether you lead a team, a family, or yourself, this episode offers a practical playbook to move through life with calm strength, clarity, and presence.

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⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

01:01:26 – 🎙️ Welcome, Zen’s lineage, and “what is a samurai today” 

01:03:24 – 🧭 “Fight is the final decision” and the primacy of balance 

01:04:36 – 🧱 The Five Elements order: ground → water → fire → wind → sky 

01:05:36 – 💧 Water: flexibility equals possibility 

01:06:14 – ☁️ Sky: emptiness, meditation, and finding your own answer 

01:07:06 – 🔁 Mind–body loop: control one via the other 

01:07:26 – 👁️‍🗨️ Blind meditation drill: training intuition without sight 

01:08:50 – 🔥 Fire is emotion: how to organize feelings through order 

01:09:04 – 🍵 Tea ceremony method for cooling strong emotion 

01:11:06 – 🫀 The body is honest: reading posture and tension 

01:13:20 – 🌬️ Breathing and the tanden: regulating the “inside of the body” 

01:15:15 – 🤲 Finger elements + pinky grip grounding practice 

01:17:49 – 📖 Samurai wisdom as poetic instruction for daily life 

01:20:49 – 🌬️ Post-COVID “wind generation” and re-grounding 

01:22:18 – 🧑‍💼 Applying elements to teams and companies 

01:23:45 – 🧘 Silent leadership: leading with stillness and presence 

01:26:45 – ⚖️ Yin and yang: feminine first, then masculine 

01:31:04 – 👩 Women and samurai: non-competitive, harmonized learning 

01:35:08 – 🫶 Intuition comes from the tanden (gut), not the heart or head 

01:37:26 – 🧘 Guided practice: hands on tanden, breath, widen ey

What does it really mean to live longer—and better?In this deep and inspiring conversation, I sit down with Dr. Jack Kreindler, a physician, physiologist, and performance scientist who’s worked with elite athletes, founders, and some of the world’s most high-performing individuals. As the founder of Well Founded, Dr. Jack blends cutting-edge science with soulful insight to explore what makes us thrive—not just survive.We talk about:• 🧬 The real science behind longevity and healthspan• 🛌 Why sleep is still the best “regenerative medicine” on the planet• 🧠 The power of “firsts,” novelty, and challenge in slowing down time• 💊 Why sex, drugs, and rock & roll are key to well-being (yes, really)• 🦾 How to train for 90 like it’s your Everest—starting now• 🧘‍♂️ The role of eudaimonia (human flourishing) in modern medicine• 🔬 How Dr. Jack works with both ultra-high performers and people facing the end of life• 🏔️ Why discomfort, nature, and awe may be the real biohacksChapters:00:00:00 🎙️ Welcome and who is Dr Jack00:00:42 🧠 Medicine and physiology bodies when right wrong00:01:09 🏔️ Explorer mountains extremes and learning in the wild00:01:53 🎸 Sex drugs and rock n roll longevity idea00:04:06 🤝 Human connection oxytocin feeling loved00:05:21 🎯 Dopamine purpose goals ikigai drive to live00:07:33 ✨ Awe serotonin you cant infuse this live it00:09:39 📌 80 20 request practical longevity00:10:25 ⌚️ Wearables vs ICU when data actually helps00:12:15 🧭 Learn your own signals intuition over constant tracking00:14:10 🛠️ Use tech wisely dont miss silent killers00:14:50 🛏️ Your bed is the clinic sleep as regenerative medicine00:15:40 🛏️🏃‍♂️🥗😮‍💨 The big four sleep movement nutrition stress00:16:51 🎂 Aim 90 years old with a 60 year old physiology00:18:57 🧩 The five domains strength endurance aerobic Zone 2 balance mobility00:21:16 🧪 VO2 and strength greater than aging clocks Buck Institute00:22:50 🥗 Eat real food avoid ultra processed calories00:23:37 🧬 Biology vs willpower GLP 1 and appetite circuits00:24:34 📝 Mind tools gratitude and simple daily practices00:26:19 🌱 Beyond no disease team connectedness motivation00:29:59 🌟 Eudaimonia human flourishing definition and practice00:31:40 🔢 Why numeric goals 120 years 1B miss the point00:35:06 ❤️‍🩹 Serving 150 days vs 150 years care at both ends00:39:00 ⏳ Time is uncertain align goals with real risks00:44:23 🎯 Where do you want to be at 90 Alexs answer00:50:35 💪 150 percent physiology now 60 at 90 performance framing00:51:43 🧗 Experiential medicine discomfort appreciation00:53:27 ⚡ Can I challenge that The debate begins01:00:02 🎾 Tennis match intrinsic motivation vs entropy01:07:06 🏁 Cadence you cant redline all the time01:08:17 🔁 Do a lot then recover a lot the wave01:15:25 🌊 Life length amplitude of the wave not just time01:16:52 🆕 Create more firsts to slow time and deepen life01:20:39 🙏 Gratitude close lets go create some firstsFrom the physics of entropy to the neuroscience of joy, this episode will shift how you think about health, aging, and the deeper meaning of living well.Whether you’re a founder, a health geek, or just curious about how to stay vital into your 90s and beyond—this is the conversation for you.👉 Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/👉 Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

How do you go from a kid in Detroit with a box of tools to building the iPod, co-creating the iPhone, and selling your company Nest to Google for $3.2 billion?In this rare, deeply personal conversation, I sit down with Tony Fadell—legendary builder, investor, and author of Build—to unpack the true mindset behind innovation, the real price of success, and why he walked away from Apple and nine figures to start over.We explore:• Why failure—not success—is the best teacher (and why it took Tony 15 years to succeed)• The behind-the-scenes of building the iPod, iPhone, and Nest—and why they almost didn’t happen• The emotional toll of success, and why he chose to walk away at the peak• Tony’s playbook for rebooting your identity after massive success• How to know which ideas are worth pursuing (and which ones are just noise)• Mentorship, parenting, legacy, and what it means to “die with zero”This episode is part blueprint for bold creation, part cautionary tale, and part soulful reflection on what actually matters once you’ve “made it.”Whether you’re a builder, founder, or simply figuring out your next chapter, this conversation will challenge how you see success, failure, and your own potential.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: iPod inventor, iPhone co-creator, Nest founder00:01:12 – 💡 From birdhouses to Silicon Valley: Tony’s early tinkering00:04:40 – 💥 Why he left Michigan for a “leap of faith”00:07:55 – 🧠 The problem with our education system and punishing failure00:11:10 – 🛠️ Creating his own world after moving schools 12 times00:13:33 – 🚪 Getting into General Magic—the original iPhone, too early00:17:10 – 🔥 Ego death after $800M failure at age 2500:20:48 – 📉 Why the first two iPods were total failures00:24:10 – 📈 Staying humble when the iPhone finally changed the world00:27:30 – 💼 Walking away from Apple and nine figures00:30:15 – 😩 Burnout, politics, and why he needed to “reboot Tony 4.0”00:33:10 – 🚴 18 months off, soul-searching, and rediscovering purpose00:36:22 – 🌡️ The thermostat idea that stalked him for 10 years (Nest origin)00:40:05 – 🔍 Validating the idea before building: 9-month business blueprint00:44:30 – 🤝 How to pick the right co-founder (like marriage)00:47:45 – 💬 Why mentorship is everything—and how to know when you become the mentor00:51:30 – 🧠 Parenting vs babysitting: giving risk to help others grow00:54:20 – 🧘 Redefining success: from building to mentoring, from earning to giving00:59:45 – 💸 Why Tony (and others in SV) are planning to die with zero01:02:20 – 🧬 Designing a life exit strategy—not just a business one01:04:44 – 📱 Why Apple refused to sell porn—and what values should guide tech01:09:12 – 🤖 What scares Tony about AI & the mindset of young founders01:13:00 – 🔁 Final thoughts on legacy, intention, and using your life force well👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow Alex: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/👉 Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

Why are we so afraid to feel? To cry, to scream, to get ugly?In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, I sit down with Luuk Melisse—former professional dancer and co-founder of Sanctum, a global movement experience blending ancient spiritual practices with modern sound, ritual, and raw expression.We talk about:• Why we’ve been conditioned to suppress our emotions—and how that creates disconnection• How to heal through movement, sound, and somatic release• The science and soul behind Sanctum’s 3-body method: Physical, Emotional & Energetic• Creating collective rituals to break through isolation and loneliness• Embracing the ugly, the shadow, and the full spectrum of what it means to be human• Rewiring survival patterns and learning to surrender• Love, impermanence, and being a channel for something greater than yourselfFilmed high in the mountains of Switzerland, this conversation is part soul talk, part masterclass in somatic intelligence—and a reminder that the most powerful healing doesn’t happen through perfection… but through presence.If you’ve ever felt lost, disconnected, or unsure how to fully express yourself, this episode will speak to your soul.CHAPTERS: 00:00 – 🎙️ Welcome to the mountaintop with Luuk from Sanctum00:01:22 – 🧭 How Sanctum began (and why Luuk didn’t create it)00:03:19 – ❤️ The epidemic of loneliness and how movement heals00:05:20 – 🎧 Why Sanctum uses headphones, sound, and spiritual immersion00:07:17 – 🎬 How Luuk designs every class like a movie00:09:00 – 🧘‍♂️ The “3 Body” method: physical, emotional, energetic00:12:22 – 🌊 How to raise your frequency (without spiritual bypassing)00:15:01 – 🧠 Addiction to survival mode and rewiring the brain00:17:03 – 🧘‍♂️ Meditation, detachment, and befriending the mind00:18:30 – 🌑 Embracing your shadow—anger, grief, shame, and all00:21:04 – 👂 Why we don’t express our full selves (and how to start)00:25:02 – 🎭 Make it ugly: how imperfection becomes sacred00:27:27 – 🎉 Ritual, collectivity, and the magic of shared emotion00:29:59 – 🌬️ How to self-regulate through movement and breath00:33:46 – 🌱 Why true transformation begins in the body00:36:00 – 📱 The digital evolution of Sanctum00:38:13 – 🪞 Love, attachment, and impermanence00:41:00 – 💫 Living in service & becoming a vessel for something bigger00:45:08 – 💗 Final thoughts on gratitude, death, and being fully alive👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/👉 Created with: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

What does it take to scale a health startup from $10M to over $600M in annual revenue? In this deep-dive conversation, I sit down with Jon Corne former Chief Marketing Officer at AG1 (Athletic Greens)—to unpack the real story behind the rise of one of the most recognised brands in wellness today.Jon shares:• How he went from barista and accountant to executive leader in one of the fastest-growing supplement companies• The creator economy secrets that fuelled AG1’s explosive growth• How to scale from 10 to 90 employees and keep performance high• Real talk about LTV, CAC, and making smart bets in uncertain markets• The behind-the-scenes of working with creators like Tim Ferriss and Andrew Huberman• How to win in saturated markets by thinking long-term and obsessing over the customer• Tactical insights for tracking podcast performance, pricing creator deals, and optimising attributionWhether you’re an entrepreneur, operator, or creator—this episode is a blueprint for exponential growth, data-driven strategy, and building a team that scales.From spreadsheets to story-telling, Jon’s approach is part startup hustle, part brand genius, and 100% actionable.📌 This is a must-watch if you’re building a DTC brand or scaling anything in the creator economy.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – 🎙️ Introduction to Jon and AG1’s $600M journey00:01:15 – ☕ From barista & accountant to growth leader at AG100:02:30 – 📈 How Jon helped scale from $10M to $600M00:06:00 – 🔍 Discovering AG1’s biggest growth levers00:09:25 – 🎧 The podcast arbitrage opportunity00:13:00 – 💡 Why being the customer gave him an edge00:18:10 – 🧠 Turning insights into repeatable systems00:22:40 – 📊 Building a media attribution engine from scratch00:26:50 – 🎯 How to pitch ideas internally and get funding00:30:30 – 📉 The 3-part creator portfolio strategy (Index, Stock Pick, Crypto)00:34:55 – 🔄 Negotiating long-term creator deals00:41:20 – 🧬 What made Andrew Huberman say “I’ll work with you”00:47:15 – 🛠️ How to track ROI on podcast and influencer campaigns00:54:45 – 🔥 The “Jenga tower vs. compounding machine” mindset01:02:10 – 🛍️ GPT as the next major recommendation engine01:07:30 – 🌱 What’s next: building in health, tech, and impact👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/👉 Created with: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

What really separates the ultra-wealthy from everyone else? Is it luck, timing, or something deeper—an unshakable way of seeing the world?In this fascinating and candid conversation, I sit down with Steve Varsano—founder of The Jet Business, the world’s first street-level showroom for private jets, and a man who has spent decades advising and negotiating with some of the most successful entrepreneurs, executives, and industry leaders on the planet.We talk about: • The defining traits and mindsets of today’s top performers (and how they differ from past generations) • Why passion—not money—drives the most enduring success stories • The role of resilience, relationships, and reading energy in business • Steve’s harrowing first jet sale that ended with a gun to his head—and the life lessons he carried from it • How to create your own “lucky breaks” by being out in the world and taking bold action • The importance of vision, adaptability, and staying true to your values, even in high-stakes dealsFrom life-or-death moments to behind-the-scenes insights on billionaires’ decision-making, this episode is part masterclass in entrepreneurship, part survival story, and part blueprint for building a life and business on your own terms.Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned founder, or simply curious about the hidden mindsets of the ultra-successful, this conversation will shift how you see risk, relationships, and the meaning of success itself.

00:00 – 🎙️ Introduction to Steve Varsano and The Jet Business00:01:15 – 🛩️ How Steve became known as “the jet guy”00:02:03 – 🌍 The global shift in private jet ownership and clientele00:03:22 – 💡 The evolving mindset of the ultra-wealthy over the past 25 years00:05:05 – ❤️ Why passion—not money—is the real driver of lasting success00:07:48 – 🚫 Never taking no for an answer and overcoming negativity00:09:10 – 🤝 Building trust and relationships with elite clients00:12:05 – 🏢 Creating the world’s first jet showroom in London00:15:18 – 👀 The power of face-to-face connection in business00:18:44 – 🔫 The dramatic story of Steve’s first jet sale and a gunpoint threat00:24:12 – 💪 Acting on instinct in high-stakes situations00:27:00 – 📋 The importance of keeping your word and delivering on promises00:29:18 – ✈️ Lessons from a career spanning aviation, private equity, and luxury sales00:32:42 – 🗺️ Why having a clear “flight plan” matters for life and business00:36:10 – 🎯 Writing down your 10–20 year vision00:39:28 – 🍀 How to “get hit by the lucky bus” through relentless action00:43:15 – 🌐 The value of getting out in the world vs. working from home00:46:28 – 🎟️ Creating your own opportunities by showing up00:49:50 – 💼 How Steve landed his first major job through persistence00:53:42 – 🔍 Finding creative solutions when clients want the impossible00:57:05 – 🧠 The role of positive thinking in making deals happen01:00:14 – 🙏 The importance of appreciation, even at the top01:04:00 – 💬 Final reflections on resilience, relationships, and opportunity

👉 Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/👉 Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

In this deeply moving episode of The Intelligent Change Podcast, I sit down with the extraordinary chef, activist, and warrior spirit Asma Khan—founder of London’s iconic Darjeeling Express and star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table.Born the “second daughter” in a society that mourned her existence, Asma shares how rejection, patriarchal norms, and early trauma became the fuel for her unstoppable rise. With raw vulnerability and poetic power, she reveals how she turned pain into purpose, silence into a roar, and exclusion into a legacy of radical inclusion.We talk about: • How to find strength in your scars • Turning marginalisation into a mission • Building a business with soul (and an all-women kitchen) • Her relationship with gratitude, legacy, and self-love • The spiritual poetry and ancestral strength that shaped her💥 Whether you’ve ever felt unseen, underestimated, or unworthy—this episode will remind you of the fire that lives within.⸻✨ Quotes to Remember:“If there’s no seat for you at the table, pull up a chair.”“You are the only one who can break out of the chains you tied yourself.”“I don’t want to break the glass ceiling. I want to bring the whole building down.”⸻🔔 Subscribe for more soulful conversations with world-changers.💬 Drop a comment and let me know what part of this conversation moved you most.❤️ If you believe in legacy through love, share this episode.

00:01:24 – 🌸 The Second Daughter – Growing up feeling unwanted

00:03:40 – 👑 Warrior Princess – Sister’s love and empowerment

00:07:00 – 💔 Childhood Wounds – Turning pain into strength

00:08:45 – 🏏 Street Cricket & Justice – Fighting back against unfairness

00:10:37 – 🔥 Becoming Unbreakable – Inner power over external judgement

00:13:06 – 🚢 Captain of Your Ship – Steering your own life

00:14:11 – 🌊 The River Legacy – Nourishing others for the future

00:16:28 – 🍲 Women in the Kitchen – Claiming respect in hospitality

00:17:55 – ✨ Sharing the Light – How her sister’s kindness shaped her

00:19:27 – 👨‍👧 Fathers & Daughters – Teaching true power

00:21:02 – 🌟 Believing in Yourself – Igniting inner worth

00:23:07 – 🌱 The Seed Story – Breaking through darkness to grow

00:25:13 – 🛡 Radiating Strength – Compassion over arrogance

00:27:48 – 🏛 Breaking the Building – Beyond the glass ceiling

00:28:49 – 🤝 Level Playing Field – Uplifting others to equality

00:29:31 – 🌩 Walk Alone – The anthem that fuels her journey

00:31:21 – 🪷 Modern Enlightenment – Redefining success & cleansing the soul

00:32:20 – 🍂 Autumn Lessons – Trusting in the coming spring

00:33:40 – 💖 Nurturing Self-Love – Belief despite criticism

00:47:51 – 🔥 Through the Fire – Emerging victorious against all odds

00:48:23 – 🏔 Business is the Hardest Race – Endurance through challenges

00:49:43 – 🤍 Becoming Who I Needed – Building a legacy for others

00:50:17 – 🪦 Burial at the Gates – A message for women to never be crushed

👉 Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

What happens when two people build an entire life together—businesses, a family, a global following—and still choose to separate?

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Mimi and I sit down for the first time since our conscious uncoupling to talk about the truth behind our separation after 16 years together. From meeting as young dreamers in Toronto, to building a multi-million dollar business, becoming parents, and navigating the unraveling of a romantic relationship—we share it all.

This is not a story of failure. It’s a story of love evolving, of choosing honesty over comfort, and of honoring growth over illusion.

If you’ve ever questioned the meaning of love, struggled with letting go, or wondered how to stay connected even when the form of the relationship changes—this conversation is for you.

🔸 Why we separated

🔸 The impact of parenting on our relationship

🔸 How our values shifted over time

🔸 What conscious uncoupling really looks like

🔸 How we continue to love and lead as co-parents and business partners

This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve ever had. Thank you for witnessing it.

👉 Subscribe here: @alexikonnpodcast

👉 Follow me on Instagram: @alexikonn

Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/to...

Why Comfort Is Killing You | Joe De Sena, founder of Spartan Race In this powerful episode of Intelligent Change, I sit down with Joe De Sena, founder of Spartan Race and Tough Mudder, to uncover what it truly takes to build grit, resilience, and a purpose‑driven life in a world obsessed with comfort.We recorded this right after doing 100 burpees and 100 flights of stairs in Zermatt, Switzerland—and Joe showed up with the same intensity that has inspired millions to do hard things and transform their lives.💥 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:✅ Why modern society (and especially men) are becoming soft—and how to reverse it✅ How subtracting comforts creates deeper happiness and gratitude✅ The power of Fire. Ready. Aim. and why action beats planning every time✅ How Joe raised his kids to be strong, resilient, and grateful✅ The mindset shifts that took him from Wall Street to building a global movement✅ Why you need a date on your calendar that scares you—and how that creates real changeJoe’s philosophy is simple but not easy:👉 If you have everything, you appreciate nothing.👉 If you have nothing, you appreciate everything.Whether you’re a parent, entrepreneur, or someone feeling stuck in comfort, this conversation will push you to embrace discomfort, build your own calluses, and design a life that actually feels alive.🔥 Watch, share, and let me know in the comments: What hard thing will YOU commit to this week?✨ If you enjoyed this, don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes on building a life with purpose, gratitude, and intelligent change.👉 Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow Joe De Sena: https://www.instagram.com/realjoedesena/👉 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b

What if the only thing holding you back isn’t the world around you… but the stories you’ve been telling yourself?

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, I sit down with Peter Crone—the globally renowned “Mind Architect”—to explore how we can break free from the unconscious patterns that shape our stress, limit our potential, and quietly sabotage our success.

Peter shares how to:

✅ Let go of the past and stop living in old programming

✅ Dissolve stress by accepting life as it is

✅ Stop performing for love and start living as your true self

✅ Transform limiting beliefs into freedom and clarity

✅ Redefine success beyond fear, hustle, and burnout

“You can’t create a new future while dragging the baggage of your old identity.” – Peter Crone

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or someone who knows they’re capable of more, this episode will challenge the way you think, expand what you believe is possible, and help you step into a life of deeper peace and purpose.