In this crossover episode of The Living Conversation and The Way Between Podcast, co-hosts Anthony Wright and Adam Dietz continue their conversation with Dr. Nick Egan, exploring what AI means from Buddhist and philosophical perspectives. Starting from the very contemporary anxiety around “AI as threat or opportunity,” they return to a classic theme: how human beings have always had to integrate new technologies—from fire and the wheel to radio, TV, and the internet—through something like a middle way.

Adam brings in Confucian and Buddhist language to ask how we might “harmonize” AI rather than demonize or worship it, suggesting that our real task is to cultivate ourselves so we use the tool without letting it use us. Nick takes up Anthony’s koan-like question—“Does AI have Buddha nature?”—and responds from Tibetan Buddhist philosophy: why inanimate systems, however powerful, still lack sentience and will, and why consciousness arises from a stream of previous moments of consciousness rather than from mere complexity of code. Along the way they touch on nature spirits, projection (does the tree really “speak” to us?), and the limits of the human mind in grasping exponential change.

From there, the conversation widens into the nature of mind itself. Adam describes the danger of attaching even to “non-attachment,” and the need to let desires, ambitions, and identities settle so that the “true self” can emerge and be integrated in everyday life. Nick contrasts Zen’s stripped-down focus on realizing the nature of mind with Tibetan Buddhism’s vast toolbox of tantric cycles and practices, warning about spiritual materialism and the reification of emptiness itself. The episode closes with Adam introducing The Way Between Podcast as a space for deeper, longer-form explorations of philosophy East and West, and with all three sharing how listeners can stay connected to their work.

In this special crossover episode, we launch The Way Between Podcast from within The Living Conversation.

Adam introduces The Way Between as a more flexible, long-form space to explore East–West philosophy in a story-driven way: how thinkers like Socrates, Confucius, Laozi, and Hui Neng emerged, how their ideas shaped cultures, and how their influence still reaches our lives today.

From there, Adam, Anthony, and guest Dr. Nick Egan dive into:

• Socrates’ image of the wise sea captain and why philosophy is the “art of navigation” in life
• How Adam’s Philosophy 101 class planted the seed that led him to change his major and devote his life to this work
• The Tibetan Buddhist framework of view, path, and result—and how “view” quietly shapes everything we do
• Dr. Yi Wu’s integral life philosophy and his triangle of reality, practice, and theory
• Zen stories of Hui Neng and how a single exchange between teacher and student can become the most important moment in the universe
• Nick’s experience of a Zen Roshi responding, “This is Nirvana,” and how that answer cracked ordinary thinking
• Tibetan pointing-out instructions on the nature of mind, and why we may glimpse it many times without recognizing it
• How our “story” about reality locks us into patterns—and how Socratic questions can loosen that story
• Adam’s time teaching freshman philosophy, planting the first seeds of “examining your life” in students who may not even know what philosophy is yet
• Jung’s sense of the hero’s journey and the challenge to actually cultivate the soul in ordinary life

Along the way, they explore Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism, and Western philosophy as different ways of pointing toward the same question:

How should I live?

And they return again and again to the idea that philosophy is not just a subject—but a daily practice of view, conversation, and self-cultivation.

Connect with our guest:

• Dr. Nick Egan – nickeganphd.com
• Shift Leadership Group – shiftleadership.group

Connect with the hosts:

• Adam Dietz – “The Way Between” on Substack (search: The Way Between Substack)
• Email Adam: [email protected]
• Anthony Wright – theonaut.com

If this conversation resonates, you can follow The Way Between Podcast on your favorite podcast app and keep listening to The Living Conversation on 'Attunement' on KWMR and wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of The Living Conversation, Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright sit down with members of the Sonoma State University Philosophy Club to explore how philosophy lives through real experience.

From Lao Tzu’s image of muddy water settling into clarity, to personal stories of anxiety, creativity, and healing, the discussion ranges from Daoism to Buddhism to Socratic thought; all grounded in lived experience. Together with Colette, Haley, and Andrew, they examine how logic and emotion, feeling and reason, art and philosophy, all belong to the same search for wisdom.

Themes: anxiety and awareness, Daoist clarity, creativity and emotion, the Middle Way, the Eightfold Path, philosophy as a living practice.

🎓 Featuring the Sonoma State University Philosophy Club.

🌿 Hosted by Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright.

What happens when philosophy students turn their attention to emotion, technology, and mindfulness? In this episode of The Living Conversation, hosts Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright sit down with Colette, Andrew, and Haley from the Sonoma State University Philosophy Club to explore how social media shapes emotion, how grounding and Qigong restore balance, and how ancient wisdom, Confucian, Daoist, and Zen, meets modern anxiety.

Together they ask: How do we stay present in a distracted world? How can we cultivate the mind as a living practice?

philosophy, mindfulness, emotion, grounding, Tai Chi, Qigong, Confucianism, Zen, Sonoma State Philosophy Club, Adam Dietz, Anthony Wright, The Way Between, student conversation, presence, social media and mental health, living philosophy

In this episode of The Living Conversation, Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright speak with Nick Egan PhD, a philosopher, traveler, and executive coach who bridges the worlds of Tibetan wisdom and modern leadership.

Nick shares stories from his years in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, and the lessons learned from living among monasteries rather than merely studying them. Together, they explore Milarepa’s idea that “leaving home is half the dharma,” the value of discomfort, and how authentic practice shows up in daily life; whether in a Himalayan village or a corporate boardroom.

🧭 Topics include:

• Zen and Tibetan approaches to practice and presence
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• How “leaving home” transforms perspective
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• Integrating spirituality and leadership
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• Why everything, in the end, might be “all right”

Conversation Highlights:

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• (00:02:00) Nick’s first journey through India, Japan, and Nepal
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• (00:04:30) Adam & Anthony reflect on Japan, Taiwan, and lived philosophy
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• (00:06:10) Milarepa’s teaching: “Leaving home is half the Dharma”
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• (00:08:50) How Tibetan culture honors serious practitioners
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• (00:09:56) Advice for finding a teacher and staying present in daily life
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• (00:11:00) The joy of teaching and shared awakening

About the Guest:

Nick Egan, PhD, is an executive coach and leadership consultant whose background in Eastern philosophy and years of fieldwork in the Himalayas inform his work with global leaders. He is the founder of Shift Leadership Group and the author of Shift: The Art of Transforming Limitations.

🔗 www.nickeganphd.com | LinkedIn

Connect:

🎧 The Living Conversation is hosted by Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright.

📬 Contact Anthony at Theonaut.com

Adam at [email protected] or visit thewaybetween.substack.com

#TheLivingConversation #NickEgan #Philosophy #Leadership #Tibet #Mindfulness #Dharma #Coaching #LivedPhilosophy

In this episode of Attunement and The Living Conversation, hosts Anthony Wright and Adam Dietz welcome guest Nick Egan, PhD; a leadership coach and scholar with a background in positive psychology and Asian philosophy. Together, they explore the crossroads of philosophy and psychology, diving into themes of authority and authenticity in coaching, flourishing and positive psychology, Buddhist and Daoist perspectives on consciousness, and the unity of wisdom across traditions.

The conversation ranges from Martin Seligman’s call for a psychology of flourishing, to James Hillman’s critique of psychotherapy, to Tibetan Buddhism, Zen practice, and Daoist teachings; all pointing toward the timeless question: how do we live and flourish in a “crazy world”?

Nick reflects on coaching as mirror-work, the dangers of “Deadwood Zen,” and why wisdom traditions across East and West ultimately converge on the same mystical truth. Adam and Anthony bring in insights from Dr. Yi Wu, William James, Deepak Chopra, Alan Watts, and B. Alan Wallace, weaving a dialogue between science, psychology, and spirituality.

Connect with our guest: nickeganphd.com | shiftleadership.group

Connect with us: Adam — The Way Between on Substack | Anthony — theonaut.com

Apologies for the technical difficulties. It has been fixed but the episode, we felt, was well worth posting for the content.

In this episode, philosopher and leadership coach Nick Egan, PhD joins Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright to explore Buddhism, meditation, and what it means to practice wisdom in everyday life.

We dive into:

• Shamatha vs Vipassana — the two classic forms of Buddhist meditation.
• The American Dharma experiment — how U.S. practitioners engage Zen, Dzogchen, and Taoism in unique ways.
• The paradox of non-attachment and the trap of spiritual bypassing.
• The tetra lemma and Buddhist insights into emptiness.
• How ancient wisdom applies to business, leadership, and coaching today

⚠️ Note on audio: Due to technical issues, Nick’s and Adam’s voices are not as clear in this recording (Anthony’s audio came through clean). Thanks for your patience — the conversation is rich, and we’re working to ensure future episodes meet a higher sound quality.

📌 Connect with us:

• Adam Dietz → The Way Between on Substack
• Anthony Wright → theonaut.com
• Nick Egan → nickeganphd.com

What does it mean for a leader to let go?

In this episode of Attunement and the Living Conversation, Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright sit down with Nick Egan, PhD – an executive coach, scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, and student of Daoist leadership – to explore how Buddhist and Daoist wisdom can transform modern work and life.

Nick shares his journey from studying Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, including time in Nepal and training under Tibetan teachers, to coaching founders and executives in Silicon Valley. Along the way, we talk about:

• Lojong (Buddhist mind training): shifting mindset as the heart of leadership
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• Daoist leadership principles: wu wei, delegation, and “effortless effort”
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• Letting go in business and life: why clinging undermines leadership
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• Meeting the Dalai Lama: and how presence itself can be transformative
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• Meditation in modern coaching: shamatha (calm abiding), vipashyana (insight), and daily practice

Nick weaves together Buddhist philosophy, Daoist wisdom, and positive psychology to show how leaders can face uncertainty, let go of attachment, and create conditions where others thrive.

🎧 Whether you’re a leader, a seeker, or simply curious about how ancient practices apply today, this conversation offers practical insights into the art of living, and leading, with clarity and compassion.

Resources & Links:

• Nick Egan, PhD → shiftleadership.group
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• Adam Dietz → The Way Between Substack
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• Anthony Wright → Theonaut.com

In this Along the Way installment of our interview series, Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright speak with Drea — Sober Herbalist — about recovery, illness, and finding a new path through plants, wellness, and spiritual practice.

Drea shares how she challenged the herbal world’s dismissal of non-alcoholic medicine, developing new ways to prepare remedies without alcohol. We explore her journey through sobriety, chronic illness, and research, and how traditions like Ayurveda, Buddhism, and Taoism shaped her approach to healing.

The conversation also dives into the world of Noah Levine (Dharma Punks, Against the Stream), punk rock Buddhism, the Esalen Institute, and the commercialization of wellness. Drea reflects on two-spirit healers in indigenous traditions and offers a deeply embodied practice: conscious bathing, massage, and even “touching your pain” as ways to reconnect with self and heal trauma.

✨ Topics in this episode:

– Sobriety as spiritual practice and renunciation

– Creating strong, alcohol-free herbal medicine

– Buckminster Fuller’s challenge: building new systems

– Fungi, indigenous wisdom, and plant consciousness

– Noah Levine, Dharma Punks & punk rock spirituality

– The Esalen Institute and the wellness industry

– Two-spirit healers and non-binary traditions

– Embodiment, trauma, and healing through touch

📬 Essays & reflections: https://thewaybetween.substack.com

🌿 Learn more about Drea’s work: https://soberherbalist.com

The primary focus of this discourse revolves around the transformative journey of Drea, the sober herbalist, who recounts her profound personal experiences that led to her current vocation. Drea elucidates the significant challenges she faced, particularly her battle with Lyme disease, which catalyzed her exploration of alternative healing practices after conventional medical avenues proved insufficient. In her narrative, she details the pivotal moment in an herb garden where a connection with the natural world prompted a reconsideration of her path, ultimately leading her to embrace herbalism without reliance on alcohol-based tinctures. This episode serves not only as a testimony of resilience and recovery but also as an invitation to contemplate the intricate relationship between healing, nature, and sobriety. Through Drea's insights, we are encouraged to reflect on our own journeys and the myriad forms of healing that exist beyond traditional frameworks.

Takeaways:

• Drea's journey to becoming a sober herbalist was catalyzed by her profound experiences with Lyme disease, which necessitated an exploration beyond conventional medicine.
• As a newly sober individual, Drea faced significant health challenges that traditional doctors struggled to diagnose and address effectively.
• The pivotal moment in Drea's healing came when she encountered Ayurvedic practitioners who offered her compassionate care and alternative remedies.
• Despite her struggles, Drea discovered that herbalism could be integrated into her sobriety, leading to a unique approach to healing without alcohol.
• Drea's transformative experience in the herb garden highlighted the profound connection she felt with the plant beings, emphasizing their supportive role in her healing journey.
• The conversation shed light on the importance of understanding addiction within holistic practices, underscoring the need for awareness among herbalists and practitioners.

Links referenced in this episode:

• theonotnau t.com
• [email protected]
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• soberherbalist.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Ayurveda
• Rosemary Gladstar
• Sober Herbalist