On today’s show we are joined by Andrew Taggart. Andrew is a practical philosopher and entrepreneur who I happened to discover in an article in Quartz Magazine. Andrew teaches executives, leaders, artists and entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley, and around the world, to bring philosophy to business and to their lives. Andrew teaches individuals and organizations how to inquire into the things that matter most: like how to live life and how to find that deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose?

In this episode we learn more about the unique approach Andrew has cultivated into what he calls practical philosophy. With a PhD in philosophy Andrew is able to bring all sorts of different philosophical schools of thought to the table but most of all, he’s just really interested in helping people live the greatest life that they can. What is a good life, how do you cultivate that, what does it mean to have a life with inquiry, what does that mean for each and every person? These are the questions of questions and if you’re interested to know how we can incorporate philosophy into our modern, every day lives, take a listen!

Most of us, if we’ve spent any time, anywhere, in any modern city have heard about the idea of ‘mindfulness.’

About the idea of being present, about the idea of how important it is to live our life in the moment. To not miss the moments. To not be distracted by your iPad, your iTouch, your Android, the news, the endless news cycle, the stimulation that is everywhere. That we need to take time out to be in our thoughts when we’re having a conversation with our friends.

We want to be present in that moment. We even talk about mindfulness and presence and eating and walking and sleeping. But the reality is that most of us are not achieving that goal. Most of us are anxious, most of us are medicating.

On today’s show we are joined by Andrew Taggart. Andrew is a practical philosopher and entrepreneur who I happened to discover in an article in Quartz Magazine. Andrew teaches executives, leaders, artists and entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley, and around the world, to bring philosophy to business and to their lives. Andrew teaches individuals and organizations how to inquire into the things that matter most: like how to live life and how to find that deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose?

In this episode we learn more about the unique approach Andrew has cultivated into what he calls practical philosophy. With a PhD in philosophy Andrew is able to bring all sorts of different philosophical schools of thought to the table but most of all, he’s just really interested in helping people live the greatest life that they can. What is a good life, how do you cultivate that, what does it mean to have a life with inquiry, what does that mean for each and every person? These are the questions of questions and if you’re interested to know how we can incorporate philosophy into our modern, every day lives, take a listen!

Today, we’re going to chat about perception. Here’s something that I have been thinking about for a really long time and I wanted to share with you guys. I am just completely fixated on this question of perception.

Of what it is that I’m experiencing, what you're experiencing in any given moment and how can there be any truth when my experience and your experience don’t line up? This is what’s been on my mind. Has it really ever fully dawned on you guys? Because it’s really on my mind lately that when I’m in a discussion with somebody about politics, about in a relationship with somebody who we don’t agree – if you’ve been in a marriage for a long time, there’s certainly a lot of times when you just see things really differently?

Has it really dawned on you? Because it’s starting to dawn on me that the person who you're speaking to has a 100% as much interest in what they’re saying as you have about what you’re saying. Meaning, if I am right now focused on articulating a point to you, right now, I am 100% focused on trying to get this idea out to everybody listening.

Today on the show we have Mark Lunkach. Mark is the author of international bestseller, My Lovely Wife in the Psyche Ward: a vulnerable personal story inspired by his wife Julia. Mark and Julia fell madly in love at 18, they got married and started living their dream in San Francisco. But some years later, Julia unexpectedly had a psychotic break, which landed her in a psyche ward for nearly a month and over the next few years, they both struggled with what was bipolar, depression, suicide and a lot of uncertainty and difficulty in their life and in their marriage.

Mark managed his feelings by writing this book, My Lovely Wife in the Psyche Ward and above all, it is a conversation about loyalty, love, commitment and how to handle the challenges of mental illness, which many people struggle to talk about. In today’s episode mark shares his authentic story; delving deep into the gift of vulnerability, the resentments of caregiving, and ultimately the perseverance of love. Take a listen to this compelling conversation.

We’ve been highlighting some of the guests and small riffs that has been most enjoyed by you guys. We wanted to replay them because we just think they’re just that good.

I guess you do too because the downloads have been amazing. Thank you again for all your support, it’s because of everybody out there who has continued to listen that this show can continue on. If I could ask you a quick question, favor, from me to you. If you could hop over to iTunes, leave a review. Every little bit counts, this is free, the only way that this continues is people like you supporting the show.

If you don’t mind, hop over to iTunes, quickly write a little review, it really helps the ratings of the show and gets us out to more people. Thank you again and on with the show.

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).

Are you afraid of being rejected? When you’re talking with someone, do you appease to their every whim? Do people think you’re nice? Maybe a little too nice? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we’ve got a problem. On this rebroadcast, we talk about it.

Gretchen Rubin is the author of Better Than Before, and has written about almost everything - from JFK to Happiness. But, she’s been obsessed with the question of our time: Why do we do the things we don’t want to do? Why are we unhappy? Essentially: why can’t we stop playing Candy Crush? The journey she took, as well as the answers, will surprise you.

For years, I did the wrong thing. Everyday, I worked, worked, and worked some more, but something was off. On this rebroadcast, I talk about why what I was doing was wrong, and how connecting to your truth and your actions, is a more surprising process than you think.