How do you peel an apple? How do you brush your teeth? How do you soap yourself in the shower? We all have a set of “rules for achieving an outcome” that underlie absolutely everything we do, and yet, we are rarely conscious of those rules. By bringing consciousness to our rules, we have the freedom to embrace them or change them in a way that will better serve us and the people in our lives. In this episode, Vipin, Michael, and Hari Prasada share their learnings from Dave Parke’s ”rules for achieving an outcome” framework, which has been instrumental in their coaching and for their own growth. They share personal examples of how they apply the framework and how the ego fits into the story. They give us actionable steps for how we can become more aware of our rules to better our relationships, follow through on our goals, and find more satisfaction in our lives.Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

Listening is a skill that is foundational to life and to relationships, which is also why it has become the foundational skill for the Upbuild Coaching Training program. In this episode, Mary, our new co-host who designed and helped launch the coaching training program, along with Vipin, explore the importance of listening and introduce us to the concept of the “four listening channels.” They give tips on how to become a better listener, what’s at stake if we don’t work on our listening skills, and how to use our innate curiosity to drive connection and help develop other people. Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

Dive into the ego vs. self dilemma, explore spiritual growth and shared souls, tackle ego obstacles, and learn about balancing ego with soul work. Discover sacred practices for inner transformation and nurturing the self like tending a garden.

Do you work on problems that are comfortable to work on? Are you aware that your focus on these problems might be getting in the way of working on problems that will make a real difference in your life? Michael, Vipin, and Hari Prasada introduce us to safe vs. quality problems, a framework that was introduced to the Upbuild team ten years ago by a coach named Dave Parke and has become central to our work at Upbuild. The team shares how to differentiate safe from quality problems, examples from their personal and professional lives, and the key questions we need to ask ourselves in order to be our best selves.  Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

What does it take to make the decision to live in a monastery and dedicate your life to service? What happens inside a monastery? What is the daily schedule? In this episode, Rasanath shares the intimate details of what it was like during his years as a monk in NYC. He gives insight into the challenges that came with relinquishing his identities, why he chose to give up everything to be fully committed to a life of service, what his daily schedule looked like, the experience of living with 20 other monks, and much more. Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

Have you ever thought, “There is a part of me that feels this way, and there is a part of me that feels that way.”?  If so, you are already starting to do Parts Work, also called Internal Family Systems (IFS). In this episode, Vipin interviews Michael about Parts Work and the year-long course they recently completed with Guthrie Sayen. They share their takeaways and learnings from the course, how it has helped them further understand their inner worlds, and how they use it in their coaching practices. Michael also shares the intimate details about his relationship with Johnny Anger, one of his many parts that he catalogs in an excel sheet.Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

This is your damn life. What are you doing about it?In this episode, Vipin and Hari Prasada break down what gets in the way of approaching life with the seriousness it deserves and the reasons why taking our lives seriously is imperative to reaching our full potential. They look at the topic through the lens of a coaching relationship, inspired by Vipin’s article by the same name. They also discuss how contemplating death can be a portal to true aliveness, why it’s beneficial to “expect miracles,” and actionable steps to help us take our lives more seriously and be our best selves.  Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

Do you feel like you need something different than your present circumstances in order to feel happy and free? Maybe you just need a different job, to get that promotion, to move to a bigger place, or to get more time doing what you really love? Maybe once you get that, you’ll be able to enjoy life. In this episode, Hari Prasada and Michael introduce us to the idea of the freedom fantasy, a concept coined by Michael in his article by the same name. They explore the way we all go about searching for happiness and what it actually means to be free. Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

What is the difference between real humility and the projection of humility? Do you desire to be truly humble or do you desire what humility can give you? Michael and Rasanath break down the “The Paradox of Humility” and do a deep dive into what real humility looks like, what’s at stake if we don’t become humble, and the role that humiliation plays in helping us become humble.Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild

The phrase “There I go again” is one of the most simple yet powerful framings that you can use to work on yourself and to help you become who you truly are. Michael, Hari Prasada, and Rasanath break down how they use this phrase by giving real-life examples and share how it can help you separate your real self from your ego. They discuss the paradox of acceptance, the reasons why we are never satisfied when we try to be someone that we are not, and how to balance being kind to ourselves without shirking responsibility.Links:Upbuild Coaching Training (six-month program, starts October 19th)Enneagram Workshop (October 4-5, 2025) Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnycFacebook: UpbuildLinkedIn: Upbuild