618: Return to Real: How To Live Authentically In The Digital World with Ryan Levesque

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Dec 31, 2025

Ryan Levesque, a renowned entrepreneur and author of the ASK Method, dives into the 'Return to Real' movement, challenging the disconnect brought on by rapid digital advancements. He emphasizes the importance of intentional living and outlines three transformative shifts for finding fulfillment in the age of AI. Discover why meaningful experiences can't be scaled, how to prioritize oxytocin for deeper connections, and the healing benefits of nature. Ryan’s journey from city life to a regenerative farm serves as an inspiring backdrop for these vital discussions.

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INSIGHT

A Singular Moment Demands Intentional Living

Three forces—economic cycles, the great carbon pulse, and AI's existential threat—are colliding to create a singular historical moment.
Return to Real is the counter-revolution recognizing this unsustainable path and craving grounded, intentional living.

ANECDOTE

From Tent To Full-Scale Farm

Ryan moved his family from Austin to Vermont after an immersive permaculture stay and quickly committed to farming.
They now produce nearly all protein and sweeteners and planted hundreds of perennial food trees and bushes.

INSIGHT

Not Everything Should Scale

The best things in life—hugs, sunsets, handcrafted work—don't scale and lose value when optimized for growth.
Ryan argues businesses also have a 'right size' and scaling beyond that shifts regenerative systems into extractive ones.

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As the digital world of AI accelerates faster than ever, it's tempting to automate, optimize, and outsource nearly every part of our lives. But what if the path we're on is, ironically, pulling us further away from a meaningful life and genuine happiness?

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my good friend Ryan Levesque to explore a powerful, yet contrarian concept he calls Return to Real—and why it may be the thing we need most when AI is making us feel more disconnected than ever before.

Ryan is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and creator of the ASK Method, who has built and scaled several successful companies. His perspective weaves together business strategies, neuroscience, ecology, and spirituality to challenge how we've come to define success and what leads to true happiness and fulfillment.

In our conversation, Ryan breaks down three (3) transformative shifts for living well in the age of AI. He explains why the best things in life don't scale, why optimizing for oxytocin is more important than chasing dopamine, and why reconnecting with nature restores clarity, creativity, and purpose.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed or disconnected in the digital world that's changing faster than ever, this episode is an invitation to return to what's real.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What "Return to Real" Really Means
Three Forces That Are Colliding & Reshaping Humanity
What History Tells Us About the Future with AI
Ryan's Journey to Living Intentionally On a Farm
Three Shifts That Challenge Mainstream Advice
The Best Things in Life Don't Scale
Optimize Your Life for Oxytocin, Not Dopamine
How Efficiency Squeezes Oxytocin Out of Your Life
A Very Simple Way To Increase Oxytocin Levels
Prioritizing Time In Nature, Not Manmade Things
The Benefit of Touching Earth Before Touching A Screen
How To Connect With Ryan and Get His Book

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