Diego Perez, widely known by his pen name Yung Pueblo, joins Forrest to explore how we can deepen our personal practice, refine the mind, break old patterns, relax the self, and feel lighter than we were before.

This was one of my absolute favorite conversations I’ve had on the podcast, and being with Diego was a real pleasure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

About our Guest: Diego Perez is a poet, meditator, and New York Times bestselling author widely known through his pen name Yung Pueblo. His writing focuses on how we can grow and change for the better, create healthy relationships, and come to truly know ourselves. His newest book is Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future.

Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

0:55: Why the name Yung Pueblo?

2:35: What holds most people back from growth

4:35: Habits Diego struggled with and the logical basis of coping mechanisms

9:15: Moments of insight in learning Vipassana Meditation

11:40: Finding stability in the gradual separation from the ‘self’

20:30: Stories others have told us about ourselves

26:50: What has helped Diego find a flexible sense of identity?

28:55: Relationships as a process not a person

31:20: Diego’s personal meditation and creative practice

34:15: The benefits of a pen name and healthy detachment from your work

40:00: Benefits and pitfalls of social media

42:50: Forrest’s meditation practice, and the positive aspects of difficult emotions

48:25: What Diego would tell his younger self.

50:30: Recap

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