The Spiritual Perspective

My Intent is a simple yet powerful initiative started by Chris Pan, and we are joined by Chris on the podcast today to talk about his journey and the steps in his path that led to starting this organization and what inspired his choices. With My Intent, Chris aims to create connection and alignment for people by identifying a specific intention and word which is then etched into a bracelet. It can be a reminder or motivation to stick to one's commitment or goal, or just a reinforcement of something to focus on. The bracelet is thus much more than just jewelry or a hip way to display your character, although since the business has grown in the last few years, it has definitely found some mainstream appeal! We hear from Chris about some of the difficulties of his younger years, moving around a lot and being alone for most of his time. He talks about his college years and how he embraced student leadership and community work in order to connect and build his resume, and from there we talk about his forays into business. Chris stands as a testament to the power of being able to bounce back as many of his initial projects and goals did not quite work out.  It was only through an ongoing curiosity and determination that he was able to get closer to his calling and find his lane. We talk about the common threads through the years, what led him to leave a position at Facebook, and the chance encounters and serendipity that allowed him to dive into the My Intent project. So for this special story from a special friend, join us on the show today!Key Points From This Episode:Chris' favorite childhood toys and how he would occupy himself by playing alone. The move from Taipei to the US and Chris' mental and emotional state at the time. Taking up the opportunity to become a student leader during college.Abandoning medical school and enrolling in business school classes.The failure of Chris' first business and then taking up a job at McKinsey. Moving from New York to Shanghai and taking up a position at PepsiCo.Some tough times in Shanghai looking for new work after another failed startup.  Chris' move to Palo Alto and taking up a position in product marketing at Facebook!Leaving San Fransisco and the encounter that inspired the beginnings of My Intent. Hosting the first SpiritLab events in Los Angeles and connecting with new people.Momentum starting around the bracelets that Chris was making. The bracelets that Chris made for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kanye West.A trip to Bali for yoga that did not go as planned and the Kanye TIME cover!The My Intent feature on The Today Show and the immediate spike in sales as a result.A special story about a 'Courage' bracelet and what it meant to someone going into surgery. Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

The High Line is now one of New York City's most iconic landmarks. But there was a time when some considered it to be an eyesore.  Rising above street level, the park is an accessible and beautiful space that has regenerated a historic and forgotten place for locals and visitors alike. Joining us on the show is one of the forces behind this amazing project, Robert Hammond. Robert has always had a number of things on the go in his life at any given time. He admits that it seems to suit him to not focus solely on one avenue and rather juggle a bunch of projects. We hear from Robert about his upbringing, his unconventional home life, and his mother's artistic and unusual activities. Robert maps out how this led into the later parts of his life; a teenage fascination with Russia, business ambitions with reservations, and a lively social life! We hear from our guest about his somewhat serendipitous connection to the 'the high line' and the seeds that became his big passion project. Join us to hear it all!Key Points From This Episode:Robert's unconventional early childhood experiences and activities.The feelings that Robert went through realizing how he and his mother were a bit different. Robert's obsession with Russia and his visits during his teen years.Aspirations for business and banking and the struggles that Robert faced finding a job after college. Life in New York City, finding a community of gay friends, and partying a lot.Resigning from Ernst & Young; considering business school and finding work at a startup.How Robert found some meaning in his sales work and how these lessons applied to his social life.  Depression, anxiety, and therapy; Robert's coping mechanisms during his late 20s.  Robert's work for The Body and his desire to paint in the evenings as an outlet.How Robert heard about the looming demolishment of The High Line and started thinking about it.The part that Robert's determination and drive played in seeing through his interest in the project. Falling in love with the High Line project and getting serious about seeing it through.  The continuous array of jobs and projects that Robert liked to do simultaneously.  Robert's partnership with Josh and how they stayed committed to the project through doubtful times.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Our guest today, Lauren Singer has an amazing story to tell, growing three separate projects and businesses out of her desire for discomfort and the need for a better world! Lauren is the brains behind Trash is for Tossers, Simply Co., and Package Free, three different prongs of the same idea; to reduce human waste and to build a healthier environment and brighter future. Lauren shares very honestly about her own journey and really digs deep on what it means to properly stand for a cause. She makes it her mission to get away from the hypocrisy of activism without a foundation of aligned action, and rather than preaching about it, uses her critical eye to keep improving her own practices and those of her business. Lauren believes that a sustainable future is a human right, a vision she has been molding and refining since her early years playing alone in the forest! We chat about her younger years, what it was like moving around a lot, and the different phases she went through during her time at school. We cover her college years and the way she fell in love with environmental science and how that soon aligned with the activist spirit she always seemed to possess. These formative years culminated with her founding the zero waste project, Trash is for Tossers and then subsequently, her business Simply Co., through which she sells items she was already making for herself. The success of these initiatives was a surprise to Lauren and she has not lost sight of her original goal of a world with truly sustainable and good products. For an insightful, honest, and inspiring chat with a great guest, make sure to join us today!Key Points From This Episode:Lauren's favorite childhood activities; playing alone outside in the woods. Moving around a lot from a young age and the adaptability this instilled in Lauren.Lauren's life at school and how her abilities grew into more practical applications.The activist spirit in Lauren; early memories of the feelings that inspired it.Experiences of depression and the connection between these feelings and the practice of painting. Lauren's early fundraisers and how she managed to fund her adventures and activism.Mixed feelings over college and the benefits that Lauren did accrue through these years. Falling in love with environmental science class and the group of people Lauren connected with. The first practices that Lauren changed as she became involved in grassroots activism.  Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Joining us on the show today is Jeff Krasno, bluegrass enthusiast and the founder of One Commune and the Wanderlust Festival! Jeff's story is truly inspiring; from the many phases and seasons, he has lived through to the movements he has helped propel, Jeff has continued on his path with curiosity and passion at every turn. We hear from Jeff about the central role that music has played in much of his life as well as the formative experiences he had growing up all over the world! Jeff also unpacks the unlikely road building a new type of festival with Wanderlust, bridging the gaps between yoga, wellness and music. He takes us all the way through to his work currently and the Commune project that now takes up most of his time. Jeff is a wonderful storyteller and this lends itself to this longer form episode, jam-packed with twists and turns and the fruition of seeds planted much earlier. Our guest's story is such a strong example of how events that can seem random, often contribute to our outlook in important ways that are only apparent in hindsight. We hear about how his mission has evolved, from craving acceptance and connection to building a shared experience and lasting impact. For this fantastic and deep conversation, listen in with us today!Key Points From This Episode:Jeff's childhood fascination with Batman while moving around a lot. Global citizenship from a young age, learning languages and pastoral life in Europe and South America. Childhood difficulties in Brazil and Jeff's experiences of being teased and ostracized. Jeff's sympathetic nature and how this relates to a desire to connect and belong.The tumor that Jeff developed at the age of 13 and his experiences in Sloan Kettering. The aftermath of losing weight and the changes Jeff experienced at a new high school. Music in Jeff's life growing up; family roots and developing an ear for sound.Jeff's pursuit of his future wife, Skyla, during his time at college.Radio djing, banjo playing and organizing bluegrass shows with some big acts.How Jeff juggled his budding career in music and his college commitments.Jeff's work as a hip hop producer in the 1990s and producing Soulive.Making use of the Starbucks market and helping Sonya Kitchell get discovered.Life after 911, Skyla's new yoga studio and the beauty of community and compassion during crisis.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Our most meaningful acts often involve giving something away, especially when you’re helping those that most need it. Today’s guest is LaRayia Gaston, someone who has devoted herself to improving the lives of the homeless. As the founder of Lunch on Me, an L.A nonprofit that feeds the homeless of Skid Row, LaRayia shows that you can give without reason. Before diving into her work, we chat about her childhood and LaRayia talks about how influential art has been in her life. She discusses her wonderfully mixed heritage and how her church background showed her the importance of tithing as a form of giving back to the community. We talk about LaRayia’s career as a dancer and model and her aversion to drugs and alcohol. She opens up about the people in her life who have been through hardship and how she learned the importance of showing love in helping people overcome their struggles. LaRayia then shares her experiences of moving to Los Angeles and discovering Skid Row; an area with a long-established homeless population. After volunteering for nonprofits and becoming disillusioned with their inefficiencies, LaRayia details how she set up Lunch on Me. As a part of her goal to humanize the homeless, her organization only serves healthy food and not the table scraps that are often given to the homeless. We ask LaRayia about the lessons that she learned from spending 43 days living in Skid Row and she shares a heartwarming story about receiving help when she needed it the most.LaRayia’s journey is as inspiring as it is empowering. Tune in to learn more about LaRayia and hear why she thinks there’s no excuse for not giving back to your community. Key Points From This Episode:How LaRayia’s love of drawing and books helped her escape a sense of confinement in her youth.The lessons that LaRayia learned from reading about exceptional artists that looked like her. Hear about LaRayia’s childhood and how she was exposed to many different cultures. Despite having a wonderfully varied heritage, how LaRayia came to identify as black. The number one thing that LaRayia got from church; we have to give to one another.How LaRayia’s grandmother often filled the role of being her mother.Questions that LaRayia asked about church and the bible; “Are we praying to the same God?”LaRayia tells the story of how she made her life-long best friend as a kid. Not liking to ask for money, 12-year-old LaRayia got a job working in her uncle’s restaurant.LaRayia’s first encounter with an angel when giving a homeless person food. Wanting to create and LaRayia’s strong connection with art. How LaRayia took the idea of tithing to the streets and began feeding the homeless. LaRayia’s work as a dancer and her transition into modeling for music videos.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today we speak about meditation, facing fear, and reaching your dreams with Jesse Israel, the creator of The Big Quiet, a collective that hosts mass meditations at the most iconic places in the world! Jesse shares his growth story with us today, taking us right from his early childhood through moments of darkness and the role meditation played in all the amazing projects he built leading up to The Big Quiet. We hear about his early love for storytelling and his gift for leadership that got quelled by a disciplining event when he was still in school, leading to his first experiences of anxiety and self-doubt. He takes us through to being a student at New York University, starting a record label and managing a fledgling MGMT, and the massive strain he underwent around this time. This was the point in his life where he found meditation and he talks about how it led him to rediscover his gifts for leadership that were buried inside him for so long. Jesse sketches out the projects he started to create, all driven by his need for community – a mass bike club called The Cyclone and thereafter Med Club, a guided meditation event. We hear from Jesse how around this point he quit his record label business and the role that meditation played in helping him take the plunge and start afresh. This is an inspirational episode about the way meditation helps say yes in the face of doubt and fears so make sure not to miss it! Key Points From This Episode:Jesse’s childhood, relationship with his parents, and love for making animations.The beginning of Jesse’s struggle with mental health after getting in trouble at school.Therapy and Jesse’s transformation at school from a troublemaker to a prefect.How Jesse got into music, radio show hosting, and started a record label after going to NYU.The story of Jesse and his friends meeting MGMT and managing their early career.Mental health and body stress issues Jesse experienced at 23 due to life challenges.Jesse’s first panic attack and recourse he took at a time this was not spoken about.How Jesse began experimenting with meditation after learning about Buddhism from his dad.The meditation Jesse learned from Shambhala and how he later discovered Vedic meditation from Light.How Jesse began to face old fears and own his leadership after practicing Vedic meditation.All the students Light got through Jesse spreading the word about how meditation was helping him.Transitioning from tech and music into leadership, a side of Jesse he suppressed for long.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

When Ajay Relan battled with mental health, his therapist gave him two options: medicate, or volunteer. He chose to volunteer, and after a few mishaps, he found himself making sandwiches and love notes for hungry people one Christmas morning in Los Angeles. And thus, #hashtaglunchbag was formed. In this interview, Ajay reflects on his younger years as a 6-year-old entrepreneur, his rocky relationship with his mother, and what it meant to grow up with a single parent who was often busy and stressed out. Ajay also takes us through his college years, the small businesses he started, and the difficult emotional state in which he found himself at the end of his 20s. We also discuss meeting his father for the first time, feelings of loss, and bouts of depression — it was only through giving that Ajay was able to really address some of these issues and manage his life in a more positive manner. For an amazing story with a person with lots of stories about not quitting, please be sure to listen to this episode!Key Points From This Episode:The kinds of activities that Ajay gravitated towards at a young age.Lessons in hard work from Ajay's mother and her entrepreneurial endeavors.The evolution of Ajay's mother's business and his role in helping her run it. Ajay's family history and the part that his Indian heritage has played in his life. Hustling during college; how Ajay sold Nike Air Jordans our of his boot! Mixed feelings after college and the emotional state that Ajay found himself in during his 20s.  The wall that Ajay hit towards the end of his 20s and the decision he made in response.Generational trauma and the legacy of depression; Ajay's mother's struggles and medication.The steps that Ajay took to confront his own struggles and looking to volunteering. How Ajay connected with his father and the three questions he wanted to be answered.The lasting impacts of this meeting in the context of other difficult life events.Ajay's first experience of volunteering in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving.The inspiration came from an old friend and led to making packed lunches to hand out.   Growing a small, experimental practice into something bigger that spread all over the world. How Ajay's entrepreneurial experience contributed to the success of HanhtagLunchbag. Exercising the generosity and gratitude muscles — the journey that Ajay is still on!The components of HashtagLunchbag and the experience of working with them.Ajay's advice for those hoping to create similarly impactful projects. The motivation behind Hilltop Cafe, Ajay's coffee shop in LA. Click here for full transcript and show notes.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Adoption and the emotional journey of parents and children can be a complex one. This dynamic can be enlarged when combined with the added dimension of race. Our guest today, April Dinwoodie, is the brains and heart behind the non-profit, AdoptMent, and she is here to share her story as a black person adopted by white parents and how this fact influenced her work and personal path in the world. During our conversation, we cover the lessons she learned in these areas and about the individual nature of these learnings.Click here for the full transcript and show notes.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Today on At the End of the Tunnel we are joined by an especially inspiring guest! Robert Eggers has lived a life full of helping others and following his dreams at the same time. From an early age, Robert was entranced by the idea of moving and getting around, his first memories of riding bikes and skating through the neighborhood have a magical quality, something that would stick with him for the rest of his life. A California native, who relocated to Washington DC as a young teenager, Robert developed a strong desire to own a nightclub to bring people together through the power of music. It was while he was working towards that dream, bartending around the city that he started to volunteer for an organization that fed local homeless people. This kickstarted his desire to help feed more people and he came up with a plan to provide work, food, and opportunities for the down and out, using his passion, network, and determination! Click here for full transcript and show notes.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!

Show Notes:Life's unexpected twists and turns can take us to places we might never have imagined and our guest today, Tiffany Persons is such a wonderful example of riding this wave to a true calling. Her story exemplifies the idea of making a change in the world that starts with the self and this episode is all about her amazing journey to her current place as a powerful woman and change-maker. She talks to us about the nature of liberation and how it all starts on an individual level; the freedom we want for others ultimately is tied to our own! Tiffany was born in Detroit and has since spread her wings, moving to Los Angeles and subsequently working in Sierra Leone! She has traversed different industries but found her passion in helping those less fortunate than herself, building schools and investing in local businesses in her newly adopted home! Click here for full transcript and show notes.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!