Unmapped with Mike Kelly

In this insightful episode of Unmapped, Mike and Jock delve into resilience, self-belief, the intense personal journey of an all-in entrepreneur and Jock's new project, Community VC. Jock discusses his philosophy of integrating work with life and his unshakable internal motivation, sharing personal stories of overcoming adversity and rebuilding confidence over six years.

We explore the innovative model of Community VC, which focuses on collaborative due diligence and advisor support for early-stage startups. Jock also talks about his commitment to helping overlooked 'diamonds in the rough,' the importance of diversity and long-term support, and his strategies for staying grounded amid challenges.

The episode concludes with Jock's vision for the future, his approach to investing, and his unwavering dedication to fostering successful founders and impactful businesses globally.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

01:25 Work Ethic and Internal Motivation

02:59 Community VC and Personal Philosophy

05:13 Daily Routine and Self-Awareness

10:22 Creativity and Analytical Thinking

14:06 Failures and Lessons Learned

27:59 Rebuilding Confidence and Incremental Growth

42:51 The Journey to Community VC

47:31 The Open Due Diligence Experiment

49:48 Revolutionizing Early Stage Engagement

01:16:46 Personal Reflections and Future Vision

01:26:40 Final Thoughts

Jack Shukman is the co-founder and CEO of The Way, a pioneering meditation app designed to lead users on a structured journey of awakening and self-discovery. Having spent a decade in the corporate world of investment banking and strategy consulting, Jack experienced firsthand the high-paced, high-stress environments of top-tier consulting firms. Motivated by a desire for deeper meaning and fulfillment, he transitioned out of the corporate sphere and into the world of meditation.

Guided by his uncle, Henry Shukman, an esteemed Zen master and meditation teacher, Jack has began a deep journey of self-discovery into the nature of self, and the process of awakening. Together, they launched The Way with a mission to make the profound benefits of deep meditation practices accessible to everyone, regardless of their experience level.

Jack's journey from the boardrooms of London to the serene spaces of meditation underscores the transformative power of mindfulness and the pursuit of awakening. With The Way, Jack and Henry aim to provide a supportive, accessible, and enriching experience for all who seek to explore the depths of their own consciousness. This is an epic conversation - quite deep into the process of meditation and awakening. For anyone curious about their place in this universe, this one’s for you. 

Download The Way from Apple or Google Play stores, and check out more details here: www.thewayapp.com

Your first 30 meditations are free - and I cannot recommend this app enough.

TIMECODES

00:00 Introduction and Initial Greetings

08:27 Jack's Background and The Journey to Meditation

15:08 Corporate Life and Mental Health

25:26 Designing Life for Work-Life Balance

30:25 Meditation Insights and Practices

36:50 Zen Master Henry Shukman

48:21 Understanding the Self & Life Through Meditation

53:12 Is Bolivia Real?

55:11 Exploring Awakening

59:50 Introducing 'The Way' 

01:01:25 The Vision Behind 'The Way'

01:04:59 Building 'The Way': A Structured Path to Awakening

01:06:21 Mike’s Love of ‘The Way’

01:16:46 The Four Elements in Meditation

01:25:43 The Origin Story of ‘The Way’

01:29:47 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

WATCH KAUSHIK'S TEDx TALK HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpl5ahX1gpU

In this episode, neuroscientist and author Dr. Kaushik Ram shares his extraordinary journey from surviving a near-death experience to living in a cave in Thailand. Dr. Ram's experiences forged a unique perspective on the importance of instinct and humanity's disconnect from nature's rhythms. The discussion covers his TEDx talk where he argues that technology threatens our instinctual behaviors, leading to profound implications for mental health and societal structures. The episode also touches on the censorship of his TEDx talk and its implications for free speech and open discourse. Finally, the episode emphasizes reconnecting with nature as a vital part of understanding our instinctual selves.

00:00 Introduction

04:13 The Start of the Conversation

05:41 The Coding Neuroscientist

09:44 The Near-Death Experience

16:35 Writing 'Hidden World' in a Cave

22:59 Living in Communion with Nature

29:19 Exploring Instincts and Technology

41:09 The Argument of the TEDx Talk

47:13 Transhumanism as an Ethical & Spiritual Dilemma

48:54 Ethical and Moral Implications

56:29 The Deployment of Technology

01:02:36 Censorship of the TEDx Talk

01:14:23 Reflections and Future Conversations

As Co-Founders of Shinsei Galverse, Devin Mancuso & Jack Baldwin take us deep on an adventure through the world of creativity, anime and NFTs. You'll notice the artwork this week is of fictional characters - these are Devin and Jack's characters in THEIR OWN ANIME. SO. COOL.

I'm an anime nerd, so getting to have this chat was PRIMO. YEW.

You can check out their amazing project here: www.galverse.art or on IG - @shinsei.galverse

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - 10:56 - Intro, VTubers & Doxxing

10:56 - 18:36 - NFTs & The Galverse NFTs, Web3 Community

18:36 - 23:01 - Web3 Communities & Co-Creation

23:01 - 31:16 - Galverse Origin Story

31:16 - 43:44 - Selling out a Multi-Million Dollar NFT Project

43:44 - 49:06 - NFTs in Japan & NFT Scene’s Evolution

49:06 - 1:07:52 - NFT Royalties & Tech’s Race to the Bottom

1:07:52 - 1:30:46 - The Future of NFTs & Interoperability

1:30:46 - Outro - Recommended Anime’s & End

I guarantee you: this episode of Unmapped will make you a better partner, friend and lover.

On Unmapped this week, I have the honour and privilege of speaking with Jess Koncz, who has been - along with one of my best friends - my life’s most influential teacher on relationships. She’s the Founder of The Open Circle and FAR (Festival of Alternative Relationships) and predictably, this episode is an honest and vulnerable deep dive into the world of polyamory, open relationships and Jess’ journey to ethical non-monogamy (ENM). 

What’s less predictable is the immense value this conversation has for those of us in traditional relationships. Jess is an incredibly wise woman.

Here’s what I loved about this episode:

• When people think of open relationships, they think of sex. At no stage was sex the primary topic of conversation in this episode.
• When a trigger is causing you discomfort, go deeper to work through it. When it’s causing you extreme pain, ease up - perhaps this isn’t for you.
• If you really love someone unconditionally, the role they play in your life won’t matter
• Thinking scarcely about opportunities to connect with someone (this might be my only chance!) actually creates disconnection

Enjoy this one folks. In the future, Jess is going to be one of the world’s thought leaders on creating meaningful, loving and beautiful connections. For those of us already in her circle, she already is.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - 16:40 - Intro, Letting go of the Entrepreneurial Identity, Giving Yourself Space to Breathe

16:40 - 35:13 - The Journey to Non-Monogamy, Polyamory & Love, Polyamory vs Open 

35:13 - 49:03 - Co-Creating Gorgeous Relationships & Relational Structures, The Importance of Security, Thresholds for Jealousy

49:03 - 59:24 - Pain vs. Discomfort, Unconditional Love in Evolving Connections

59:24 - 1:13:04 - Principles of ENM

1:13:04 - 1:27:58 - Communication in Relationships, Abundance & Scarcity

1:27:58 - 1:42:40 - The Open Circle & FAR

1:42:40 - 1:56:45 - Creating Safe, Connection-first Spaces 

1:56:45 - 2:06:07 - FAR Tickets & Outro

I’m going to put it simply: I think Jess Walker is one of the most brilliant, savvy, wise, beautiful and kind human beings I have ever met. She’s one of those humans who sprinkles gold dust. I had been planning to interview Jess for years because I have always marvelled at how she lives her life. She operates at such a high level in her career and away from it exhibits a kind heart, listens incredibly well, knows how to have fun and can’t help but make you smile. She’s an incredible friend - it’s a privilege to be in her world.

We explore Jess’ journey to her current role at AirTree and dive into her mindset. Here’s a few talking points I really enjoyed:

• Processing 10,000% growth in a business in 48 hours
• Doing a stand up comedy course to become more comfortable with public speaking 
• The similarities between setting up a fund and starting a business
• Some tech entrepreneurs really did sell chocolates on the school bus

Jess was a candid and insightful guest - detailing her process when learning to exit her first business, dealing with a co-founder betrayal and how determination and resilience are founder superpowers are examples of where this conversation becomes a goldmine to anyone in startups or thinking about starting their own business.

Enjoy this one folks: Jess is a superstar and deserves all of your ears.

TIMECODES

00:00 - 08:50 - Intro & Jess’ Origin Story

08:50 - 21:02 - Exiting a Business, Moving to Australia

21:02 - 24:32 - A Co-Founder’s Betrayal

24:32 - 30:22 - Black Nova & AirTree

30:22 - 34:44 - Fishburner’s Board Role, Steep Learning Curves and Comedy Reliefs

34:44 - 41:11 - Facing Your Fears, 10000% growth in 48 hours

41:11 - 48:41 - The hyphen?, Coping with Burnout & The Value of Determination

48:41 - 50:37 - The Billboard & Outro

This week Unmapped brings the spiritual and health-conscious of us an absolute treat. We’re speaking with David Goulet; one of the world’s most experienced practitioners of yoga. No, seriously. After studying with the revered Swami Gitananda in the early 70s, David has maintained an hours-long, daily practice of yoga for FIFTY-FIVE years.

To put that in perspective: at the chronological age of 78, he had his DNA tested to tell him his biological age: 48 years old. Yep. This guy has been doing yoga for longer than his own cells think his body has been alive.

David now lives on Ko Phan Gan, where he runs Chakra Yoga, one of the world’s most extensive teacher training programs for would-be yoga instructors.

The depths of our human and universal existence can be examined at levels barely believable to the naked, over-stimulated human senses. David takes us on a deep journey through the human body and into the cosmos, detailing with precision realities Eastern contemplative practices have known for centuries; realities science is beginning to (loosely) comprehend.

This one is a banger. Scarcely believable at times, but for those willing to approach it with an open mind, a treasure trove of universal wisdom.

TIMECODES

00:00 - 12:00 Intro, Strawberry Fields & Journey to Yoga

12:00 - 14:50 - Yoga & Youth

14:50 - 24:30 - Telomere Testing & The Power of Breath

24:30 - 30:30 - Breath and the Interconnected Body

30:30 - 44:57 Yoga, Vipassana, Quantum Physics & Universal Creation

44:57 - 50:40 - Swami Gita Nanda, Four Months of Yoga

50:40 - 58:08 - Pilgrimage with the Sadhu’s, Beyond The Body

58:08 - 1:04:17 - Mike on Ayahuasca

1:04:17 - 1:14:42 - Chakras & The Media’s Negative Bias

1:14:42 - 1:18:01 - Navigating the World Post-Awakening

1:18:01 - 1:34:37 - Hindu Gods, Chakras & their Relevance to the Human Universe

As _SOUTHSTART comes to a close, it's only fitting we drop the second part of this interview with Craig Swann.

Off air, any conversation Craig and I have will tend to veer wildly between discussing technology and the future through to exploring the more grounded elements of human experience: nature, community, connection, creativity.

This episode focuses on how we live as human beings. Riffing on the creative process, the beauty of jamming.

What happens when we are able to superimpose our preferences onto our perception of reality, in real time?

Unmapped is back, and rather than hitting the ground running, we've gone for the phasing instantaneously through time, space & the occasional dimension route.

Craig Swann is hands down one of my favourite human beings to talk to. As co-founder and director of Southstart, Craig has curated a cherished, unforgettable, community-driven and distinctly human experience centred around startups and the future of technology (and therefore humanity). Southstart is a kaleidoscope of ideas, innovation, people and nature of the sort which sucks you into an annual orbit in which Adelaide becomes an unescapable truth the first week of March.

As a human-centred creative technologist and futurist, he threads a paradoxical needle, holding equally a piercing eye for the future and the necessity of protecting what is innately human from the inexorable march of technology. Being able to balance this dichotomy makes Craig an important voice in the conversation of our future.

As an artist, Craig has always been at the edge, pushing the limits of creative possibilities. In the 90s, he founded LoopLabs, the world's first software decentralising and democratising the creative process, allowing people from all over the world to create and collaborate on making music.

This. Was. Before. Google.

In time, Steve Jobs demo'd LoopLabs in the launch of the Safari browser alongside ESPN and The New York Times (wtf) and SXSW came knocking with awards for his groundbreaking creative work with Adobe Flash. Craig shot to a form of creative nirvana, working with the world's biggest brands and speaking globally on all things creativity and technology.

He's now drilling into the latent potential of AI, pushing the limits of what's possible using creative engines such as Midjourney and others. We get into this throughout this incredible interview, split over two parts. Part two drops next week.

Prepare for your mind to be opened and then blown as we take a wild walk down memory lane; and into the tapestry of our future.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - 00:03:46 - Introduction

00:03:46 - 00:14:21 - Growing up with Computers

00:14:21 - 00:25:05 - Creators vs Consumers, Creators as Curators & The Dead Internet Theory

00:25:05 - 00:36:06 - Infra/Social/Super Structures, The Fight of the Social Structure & The Ideology of the Internet

00:36:06 - 00:45:40 - Digital & AI Natives, The Information Apocalypse & a Post-Truth Age

00:45:40 - 00:54:53 - Power, Spirituality & The Purpose of Technology

00:54:53 - 01:07:02 - Being in Tech in the 90s, Self-Resourcing in the Wild West, The Exponential Growth of Tech

01:07:02 - 01:16:09 - The Rabbit Hole of Endless Curiosity, Technology as a Joy-enabler

01:16:09 - 01:23:08 - What is Art and Who Gets to Do Art?

01:23:08 - 01:31:27 - Reality Filters & Neuralink

01:31:27 - 01:38:23 - The Impacts of Disparate Synthesis via AI & Your New Best Friend

01:38:23 - END - Why Humans Act Differently Online vs Real Life

Note: This episode is most definitely not safe for work.

Roxy Fox is a sex educator & coach, yoga and tantra teacher, writer, artist, traveller and rebel at heart. She came into my world as my coach in this dimension and because of the impact she’s had on my life, this was a special conversation. It is a raw, honest, vulnerable, explicit and empowering journey into sex: a topic that has for so long been taboo.

Roxy is one of the deepest and most philosophical thinkers I have had the pleasure of speaking to. She is one of those rare human beings that has fallen deeply into her purpose, mastering a craft by way of exploration and experimentation. By mastering her craft, I don’t mean her aptitude in a bedroom. I mean that she has experienced sex at such a depth that it has become the portal through which she experiences the full force of life’s rich tapestry, and in return is afforded a level of connection and fusion with that dimension of her life that is spiritual in nature.

Roxy discusses the work she does and how she got there: her first recollections of orgasm, her foray into sex work (and why she does not recommend it), her experiences as a professional dominatrix, dealing with the projection of shame from others, exploring tantra and realising sexual fantasies. In order to explore how Roxy’s work helps, we also use my own experience: why I ended up looking for a coach like Roxy and how her work helped me. I have never shared something so vulnerable on Unmapped before. I’m a little scared to release this, if I’m honest.

Listening to her, you get the sense she is a human being in total alignment with a purpose she was destined to fulfil. 

It is an honour to bring you this episode. Enjoy it, folks.

00:00 - 4:00 - Intro

4:00 - 08:00 - Roxy’s Relationship to Sex, Masturbating to Cope with Trauma

08:53 - 12:41 - The Female Orgasm

12:41 - 18:20 - Women, Sex & Shame, Sex and Mindfulness

18:20 - 30:30 - Sex in Society, A Gangbang’s Aftermath

30:30 - 39:20 - The Negatives of Sex Work, Making our Sex Lives Conscious

39:20 - 48:30 - Roxy’s Journey to Sex Education, Working Towards Soul & Purpose, Healthy vs Unhealthy Fetishes

48:30 - 1:04:08 - Mike’s Journey & Roxy’s Work

1:04:08 - 1:07:30 - When to Try Tantra

1:07:30 - END - Mastering a Craft and Outro