A lot of people think consciousness work is just a way to feel better.  With this perspective, the connection between inner work and external results is tenuous. Maybe having a better temperament will make you a better leader or manager and more easily able to avoid burnout, but that’s about it.  This is an incredibly limited perspective that misses the big picture. Until you work on your consciousness, you’re mostly just operating life through a set of inherited patterns you didn’t choose. This would be fine if they were all helpful, but most people’s unconscious patterns are oriented around avoiding harm and using the external world to get love. So they perceive the world through the narrow lens of their patterns which direct all their activities.  This is why entrepreneurs raise money before they should, stay in businesses they don’t care about, and pursue opportunities that aren’t actually aligned with the needs of the business. I was thrilled to meet another entrepreneur who sees this clearly and recognizes the challenges this can create in our current version of capitalism.   Dave Hersh is serial entrepreneur, founding CEO of Jive (NASD: JIVE), partner at Metamorph Partners, and author of the new book Reignition.  In this conversation, we discuss how inner transformation can change the trajectory of your career and company. For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast

Kyle Kowalski, founder of SLOWW, dives into synthesizing spiritual wisdom through an interdisciplinary lens. He discusses the depth versus breadth of spiritual exploration and how focusing deeply can lead to profound transformation. The conversation highlights his personal journey from corporate life to spiritual entrepreneurship, emphasizing the concept of 'Ikigai' beyond monetary pursuits. Kyle also introduces the idea of a synthesizing mind, revealing how emotional awareness and mindfulness can enrich personal and societal development.

In software development there’s a popular idea that there are 10X engineers.  A 10x engineer is capable of producing the impact of 10 engineers. In my consciousness journey, I’ve realized there are 10X healers. These people are capable of facilitating exceptional transformation and healing. Although I believe we are always the ones doing the healing, it does seem like certain beings have an outsized capacity to help us. Today’s guest Michael Leberknight is someone I consider a 10x healer. He has helped create some profound shifts in my life and I wanted to have him on the show to discuss the healing arts. Michael’s healing journey began at what he calls a magic school. Traditionally, mystery (or magic) schools have been places dedicated to the study and practice of esoteric teachings that are often kept outside the public eye. They’ve existed throughout history across various cultures and typically emphasize the development of consciousness, spiritual awakening, and metaphysical concepts. For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast

I love hosting a podcast. It’s an amazing way to explore interesting topics and learn from the wisdom of others. A lot of these conversations provide information about emerging topics like subtle energy, the nature of reality, or self healing. As interesting as these are, I’ll be the first to admit they can be a bit disconnected from the things that most people struggle with on a day to day basis. Challenges like changing habits, finding new friends, and being kind to yourself. Today’s conversation is an exploration of the REAL with my dear friend Alex Hardy.  Alex and I are kindred spirits. We both chased the tech entrepreneurship dream and fast living New York City lifestyle only to be underwhelmed by where it all led.  After selling his last startup to Docusign, Alex turned his attention inward to find deeper meaning and fulfillment. He’s spent the past few years exploring many facets of self discovery that have resulted in major transformations. With these inner shifts, his life has had to shift too which can be incredibly challenging.  For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast

Major shifts in consciousness can turn your life upside down. Once the veil has been lifted from your eyes, you can’t unsee something. Katie Deming was a leading radiation oncologist (cancer doctor) who for all intensive purposes was at the top of her field.  She studied at Duke, practiced for 16 years, and spent many years as leader in the broader healthcare system designing cancer programs in the Northwestern United States.  In 2020, her life shifted in a dramatic way when she had a shared death experience (SDE). I had never heard of an SDE until connecting with Katie, but apparently it can be more common for people in the healthcare field.  A shared death experience is a phenomenon where a person who is not dying reports experiencing some aspects of the death process along with a person who is actually dying. In our conversation, Katie shares what happened during this experience and how it changed her in ways she never anticipated. She realized that she could no longer practice western oncology (cancer treatment) and that the western medical system had many things wrong. This is a pretty big deal considering she had spent many years studying, establishing herself, and creating a certain lifestyle. Her decision created lots of dramatic upheaval that we discuss in our conversation. For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast

The conversation explores the backstory of ODYSSEY, the first legal psilocybin retreat center in the United States, and the personal journeys of Gabe and Aaron in entering the field of mental health and psychedelics. It delves into the legislative landscape, the challenges of state-by-state legalization, and the limitations and opportunities within the current framework. The discussion also addresses the role of conventional mental health practitioners in facilitating psychedelic experiences and the unique considerations involved. The conversation explores the intersection of Western therapeutic frameworks and psychedelic facilitation, highlighting the shift from directive to non-directive methods. It delves into the clash of paradigms between traditional medical training and psychedelic facilitation, emphasizing the importance of space, time, and integration in the psychedelic experience. The discussion also touches on the excitement and potential of the emerging psychedelic industry. For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast

Maverick Kuhn, Founder of Thyself.ai, discusses how AI technology can support emotional healing and growth, enhance self-awareness through human-bot interactions, and integrate AI tools in therapy for personal growth. The podcast explores self-guided practices, utilizing AI for emotional work, and offers listeners a free trial to explore Thyself.ai for self-therapy options.

In the United States, it feels like most people associate shamanism and using plant medicine to access altered states of consciousness with indigenous cultures in central and south America. The more I learn, the more it seems like this practice has existed in ancient cultures all over the world. Recently I learned about the lost history of Iranian Mysticism from my friend Dr. Shauheen Etminan.  Before Zoroastrianism developed, there were groups of people in present day Iran called the Magi. The Magi were wise men known for their spiritual ministry and practices related to astronomy, astrology, and interpretation of dreams. Apparently, the Magi used a substance called Haoma to access the collective unconscious and bring back the information to Kings and patrons. I wanted to have Shauheen on the show to discuss what he’s learned about the Magi and their practices that can be applied to support us in modern times. Shauheen is the founder of Ancestral Magi and VCENNA, a drug discovery company. Through his own healing journey, he became fascinated by psychedelics. His background in chemical engineering and being born in Iran, pushed him to study the role of these substances in ancient Iranian mysticism and eventually create a company that provides access to similar experiences.  For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast

It can be a very humbling experience to feel like you “did everything right” in your life, but you still don’t feel how you want to feel.  I know this feeling intimately. It can be quite disorienting and can cause a lot of anger.  Today’s guest is also familiar with this experience.  Brandon Evans is a serial entrepreneur and CEO, & Co-founder of 1Heart. 1Heart is considered the gold standard ayahuasca experience and community for heart centered leaders that are seeking more fulfilling and purpose driven lives. Before starting 1Heart, Brandon had built multiple successful tech startups. Despite checking many of the boxes that society told him would make him happy, he felt a void in his life. This sent him on a multi-year self discovery odyssey before eventually finding deeper meaning in starting 1Heart.  For full show notes: https://blog.scottbritton.me/s/evolutionfm-podcast  

In this conversation with Josh Schrei, a writer and mythology enthusiast, the power of storytelling takes center stage. They discuss how narratives shape our identities and perceptions, especially in today's information overload. Josh emphasizes the need for discerning between supportive and destructive stories. The duo explores the role of rituals in finding harmony with nature and how they lead to meaningful transformation. They also critique modern materialism while advocating for consistent spiritual practices that connect us with deeper traditions.