Start With Stoke

The ritualistic pause before the leap of faith. In this episode, Michael sits down with his brother, Edward, and future sister-in-law, Eryan, for a reflective send-off before they leave San Francisco to travel through South America for an extended period of time. Together, they unpack what it means to close a chapter intentionally — saying goodbye their stable careers and beloved community — and s...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Shane to explore the emerging world of “vibe coding” and how AI is radically lowering the barrier between ideas and reality. Shane shares from his own inspiring journey of discovering vibe coding, how it helped him pivot into his dream role, and how he’s used it to create real impact both at work and in personal pursuits. Along the way, we dive into live...

In this episode, Shane and I share some reflections and experiences from our 6 year journey with Vipassana meditation. It’s a practice we both love and have gotten much value from, so we figured we’d pay it forward and share our stoke around it! Whether you’re actively experimenting with meditation, or are just curious to hear what Vipassana is like (albeit from a student’s perspective), this one’...

Summary : After getting laid off, Shane turned uncertainty into opportunity — rebuilding his life around purpose, discipline, and stoke. We talk about how he made a career pivot that aligns with what he loves (nature and friends), built powerful daily practices (cold plunges, meditation, and more) to help him through dark periods of unemployment, and is now using AI as a tool to grow, create, and...

Edward shares his ongoing South American travel journey after quitting his job to pursue a slower lifestyle centered around personal growth, cultural immersion, and farm experiences. He reflects on the highs and lows of traveling, working on farms, building resilience, learning Spanish, overcoming fears, and discovering joy in children, animals, and new ways of living.

In this soulful episode of Start With Stoke , Mike sits down with close friends Adib and Arie to explore the timeless power of archetypes through the lenses of psychology, spirituality, and personal growth. What begins as a curiosity around Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes evolves into a rich discussion on individuation, emotional integration, and the lifelong dance between the archetypal energie...

In this special episode of Start with Stoke , I sit down with my brothers, Edward and Paul, for a fun, candid, and surprisingly deep conversation about growing up together and how we’ve each carved our own paths. We dive into everything from childhood antics and sibling rivalries to personal growth and life lessons. Along the way, we swap stories, call each other out (lovingly, of course!), and re...

In this episode of Start with Stoke , Mike chats with August Koster (“Aug”), a dynamic entrepreneur who took a leap of faith in leaving the high-stress world of investment banking to build his own cosmetics brand, Narrative Cosmetics. August shares his journey from Southern California to the corporate grind and, ultimately, to the makeup industry, driven by his passion for creating and building. W...

In this reflective podcast episode, Michael, Adib, and Nikhil come together to discuss their experiences in 2024, exploring themes of personal growth, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Each speaker offers deeply personal anecdotes about the hurdles they faced, the discomforts they sought, and the habits they aim to build for the future.  

In this episode I sit down with Boris Gamazaychikov for an engaging discussion around sustainability, and finding balance between technological advancement and environmental impact in today’s modern world. Along the way, we touch on quite a few topics, including: Understanding Sustainability and Environmentalism – Exploring the key differences and what they mean for our future. The Intersection of...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Shailesh Chaudhry, a recently retired executive from a Fortune 100 company, to explore the powerful concept of conscious leadership. Shailesh shares profound insights from his personal and professional journey, highlighting the importance of developing self-awareness, discovering your own truth, and leading with authenticity. Whether you're an indivi...

This year I had the pleasure of attending Burning Man for the first time, with an amazing group of people, and it was an INCREDIBLE experience. It felt like a dream you want to hold onto, but despite every effort, it fades away with time. In an attempt to keep the magic alive, my friends and I got together after The Burn to reminisce and reflect on our experience. We shared stories of adventure, g...

Brief introduction to the podcast and what we're all about!