#1 Phone A Friend: "Astronauts for Inner Space" with Raed Khawaja
Jul 26, 2023
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Raed Khawaja, CEO and Co-founder of Open, is a passionate advocate for mindfulness and wellness practices. He shares insights on the evolving concept of 'inner-space' and the importance of community in meditation. The conversation dives into the delicate balance between fear and excitement in personal growth, and Raed explores how traditional coping methods are being replaced with modern wellness strategies. Their hybrid approach blends technology with ancient practices, making mindfulness accessible to all.
The integration of mindfulness practices like meditation and breathwork signifies a cultural shift towards healthier lifestyles among younger generations.
Transforming fear into excitement is crucial for personal growth, highlighting the need to understand and manage one's emotions effectively.
Deep dives
The Shift in San Francisco's Landscape
The conversation highlights a notable transformation in San Francisco, particularly in Hayes Valley, which has been rebranded as 'Cerebral Valley.' This area has seen a resurgence of activity, with emerging AI companies and a vibrant hacking culture reminiscent of earlier tech booms. Changes such as outdoor dining being established year-round contribute to a revitalized community atmosphere. The hosts discuss hosting AI events and how the influx of tech talent has created a bustling environment that reflects both excitement and chaos.
The Relationship Between Fear and Excitement
A key insight from the discussion revolves around the connection between fear and excitement, where both emotions can elicit similar physiological responses. Through meditation experiences, it was suggested that fear often holds people back, whereas confronting it can lead to exciting opportunities. The speakers agree that transforming fear into excitement is essential for personal growth. This idea reiterates the importance of understanding and managing fear to navigate life's challenges effectively.
Well-Being as the New Mainstream
The conversation delves into the potential for mindfulness and wellness practices to replace the traditional dominance of industries like alcohol and cigarettes among younger generations. Despite a decline in interest in these old norms, the innate human desire for community and wellness remains strong. The hosts envision a future where practices like meditation and breathwork become mainstream, particularly as younger generations seek healthier alternatives. By focusing on high-quality experiences and effective storytelling, they believe these practices can gain widespread acceptance.
Overcoming Stigmas in Wellness Practices
Addressing the skepticism surrounding holistic wellness practices, the hosts discuss how negative associations can stem from poorly represented modalities as well as a lack of science-backed approaches. They emphasize the significance of offering high-quality, reliable experiences to mitigate doubts. Encouragingly, many people can experience profound changes from their initial exposure to wellness practices, making it essential to ease newcomers into these environments. By sharing personal testimonials and fostering community, the hosts aim to reshape the narrative around these practices and expand their reach.
Morgan Beller calls up Raed Khawaja - CEO & Co-Founder at Open - to catch up and talk about the current movement around one's 'inner-space'. Open is a social space for meditation, movement, and practice — on and offline, who’s raised close to $15M to help friends be present together. They blend old and new to bring you to the here and now on their app, in person at their Venice Beach studio, and even in the sky on JetBlue airlines. Their hybrid method strengthens the mind-body connection. NFX operates as a pre-seed and seed stage VC that is transforming how true innovators are funded - subscribe, share, and stay tuned for more episodes of 'Phone a Friend' with General Partner Morgan Beller.
Morgan Beller calls up Raed Khawaja - CEO & Co-Founder at Open - to catch up and talk about the current movement around one's 'inner-space'.
Open is a social space for meditation, movement, and practice — on and offline, who’s raised close to $15M to help friends be present together. They blend old and new to bring you to the here and now on their app, in person at their Venice Beach studio, and even in the sky on JetBlue airlines. Their hybrid method strengthens the mind-body connection.
NFX operates as a pre-seed and seed stage VC that is transforming how true innovators are funded - subscribe, share, and stay tuned for more episodes of 'Phone a Friend' with General Partner Morgan Beller.
(0:00) Introduction and welcome to the podcast
(2:39) Topic: The Power of Friendships and Networking
(4:41) Topic: Open Office Experiment at NFX
(7:33) Topic: The Impact of Meditation and Mindfulness Practices
(13:14) Topic: Destigmatization and Critical Mass of Wulu Practices
(18:24) Topic: Scaling the Magic of In-Person Experiences
(23:10) Topic: Market Size and Potential Audience for Wellness Practices
(26:08) Topic: Role of Breathwork in Wellness and Decision Making
(32:02) Topic: Current Obsessions in the Wellness Space
(33:47) Topic: Introduction to Death Meditation
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