Start With Stoke

Hello Friends! Experimenting here with a new format where I share a story from my own life along with some reflections and lessons learned in a bit size episode (20 min).

I look at this as a way to combine my journaling and podcasting practices in fun way, that also allows me to stay connected with the friends and family.

This month I hav a crazy story to share! Had a freak backyard accident over July 4th that almost cost me an eye, but ultimately led to a whole new perspective in life. Figured this would be a great way to kick off the new practice.

Hope you enjoy!

Feedback Request: Would love to hear what you think of this new format! Please let me know with a comment, a text, call, or whatever form of communication you prefer.

The ritualistic pause before the leap of faith.

In this episode, Michael sits down with his brother, Edward, and future sister-in-law, Eryan, for a reflective send-off before they leave San Francisco to travel through South America for an extended period of time.

Together, they unpack what it means to close a chapter intentionally — saying goodbye their stable careers and beloved community — and step into uncertainty with purpose. Edward and Eryan share the origin story of their journey, from the fast-paced Western work culture to a deeper pull toward cultural immersion, slowing down, and re-examining how they want to live.

The conversation weaves through identity, partnership, heritage, personality frameworks like the Enneagram, and the courage it takes to step out of the “caterpillar game” of conventional success. This episode is a snapshot in time — a ritualized before-moment — capturing intention, vulnerability, and excitement just before everything changes.

Please note: This episode was actually recorded in March 2025, just 2 weeks before they originally were supposed to leave for this trip. Finally got around to publishing - better late than never! :)

Hope you enjoy the lookback!

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Shane to explore the emerging world of “vibe coding” and how AI is radically lowering the barrier between ideas and reality. Shane shares from his own inspiring journey of discovering vibe coding, how it helped him pivot into his dream role, and how he’s used it to create real impact both at work and in personal pursuits. Along the way, we dive into live demos (via screen share!), practical takeaways, and a broader reflections on how leaning into curiosity, creativity, and stoke can help us ride this wave of change into a brighter future.  

In this episode, Shane and I share some reflections and experiences from our 6 year journey with Vipassana meditation. It’s a practice we both love and have gotten much value from, so we figured we’d pay it forward and share our stoke around it! Whether you’re actively experimenting with meditation, or are just curious to hear what Vipassana is like (albeit from a student’s perspective), this one’s for you. 

I’d like to give special thanks to our teacher S.N. Goenka, and the long line of teachers who kept the practice alive from the time of The Buddha to now. Your contributions mean the world to me, and have changed my life for the better 🙏

Summary: After getting laid off, Shane turned uncertainty into opportunity — rebuilding his life around purpose, discipline, and stoke. We talk about how he made a career pivot that aligns with what he loves (nature and friends), built powerful daily practices (cold plunges, meditation, and more) to help him through dark periods of unemployment, and is now using AI as a tool to grow, create, and stay inspired - both at work and in life!

Chapters

00:00 – Heartfelt Introduction

03:20 – Career Pivot: From Data to OceanTech

Shane shares how he turned unemployment into opportunity — reflecting on self-doubt, re-evaluation, and following curiosity toward work that aligns with his love for nature and purpose.

Subtopics: Finding direction after a layoff · Doing what you love · Cultivating energy and fulfillment through aligned work

24:20 – Personal Practice: Discipline, Cold Plunges & Meditation

A deep dive into Shane’s powerful morning routine — 5 a.m. wake-ups, stretching, cold plunges, Vipassana meditation — and how doing hard things daily builds calm, focus, and self-trust.

Subtopics: Discipline as freedom · Transforming discomfort into growth · Vipassana and cultivating equanimity

54:20 – Artificial Intelligence & Expansion

Shane shares how embracing AI has amplified his creativity, accelerated his career pivot, and opened new ways to solve problems — including projects that helped him land his dream job and innovate at work.

Subtopics: Seeing AI as a partner, not a threat · Using AI to learn, create, and level up personally and professionally

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Please support our continued growth with your valuable input. In the episode we touch on many different topics. I already know we’ll do a few follow ups to dive deeper into specific topics we’re both interested in - like our journey, reflections, and experiences on Vipassana meditation, deep dive on his work at SoFar (OceanTech startup making big impact on the world), and AI - but I’d also like to hear from listeners on what they’d like to hear more about. Please use the poll feature of Spotify, or comment on your podcast platform of choice to let us know!  

Edward shares his ongoing South American travel journey after quitting his job to pursue a slower lifestyle centered around personal growth, cultural immersion, and farm experiences. He reflects on the highs and lows of traveling, working on farms, building resilience, learning Spanish, overcoming fears, and discovering joy in children, animals, and new ways of living.

In this soulful episode of Start With Stoke, Mike sits down with close friends Adib and Arie to explore the timeless power of archetypes through the lenses of psychology, spirituality, and personal growth. What begins as a curiosity around Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes evolves into a rich discussion on individuation, emotional integration, and the lifelong dance between the archetypal energies within us all. Through vulnerable storytelling and reflections on life, love, shame, and purpose, the trio navigates how these patterns show up in modern life — and how they can help us grow into more balanced, whole versions of ourselves. Whether you're new to archetypes or knee-deep in your inner work, this episode offers heart, depth, and practical insight.

In this special episode of Start with Stoke, I sit down with my brothers, Edward and Paul, for a fun, candid, and surprisingly deep conversation about growing up together and how we’ve each carved our own paths. We dive into everything from childhood antics and sibling rivalries to personal growth and life lessons. Along the way, we swap stories, call each other out (lovingly, of course!), and reflect on what makes our brotherhood so special. It’s a mix of nostalgia, self-discovery, and plenty of laughs—hope you enjoy!

Topics include:

DISCLAIMER: This was one of the first episodes I recorded (back in September 2024). I will admit the quality of recording wasn’t great, and the questions I asked could certainly use some cleaning up, and it’s definitely a long form, conversational tone / pace BUT despite all that, I still felt compelled to post and share. If you can look past all of that, and fancy a glimpse into the minds of the Neuberger boys, it’s certainly worth a listen. 

In this episode of Start with Stoke, Mike chats with August Koster (“Aug”), a dynamic entrepreneur who took a leap of faith in leaving the high-stress world of investment banking to build his own cosmetics brand, Narrative Cosmetics. August shares his journey from Southern California to the corporate grind and, ultimately, to the makeup industry, driven by his passion for creating and building. We dive into how he stumbled upon an opportunity in special effects makeup, the difficulties of navigating the industry, and how e-commerce shifted the landscape. Along the way, August opens up about the challenges of following his passion, the doubts he faced, and how the tough road led him to a deeper understanding of himself. A conversation about growth, resilience, and the creative spirit that fuels entrepreneurial ventures.

In this reflective podcast episode, Michael, Adib, and Nikhil come together to discuss their experiences in 2024, exploring themes of personal growth, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Each speaker offers deeply personal anecdotes about the hurdles they faced, the discomforts they sought, and the habits they aim to build for the future.