The DPO Project

This week Vindesh and Master Zi discuss the scientific view behind the buddhist brain.  Now that there are more studies confirming the validation of ancient philosophies and medicines, we realize that the brain controls more of our reactions and responses than we thought.  Zi talks about how the brain creates neuromaps, which you can think of as our own programming code.  They share different stra...

This week we welcome guest Marianna Newsam, founder of MNO Therapy, who is a Pediatric Physical Therapist.  Master Zi and Vindesh have fun asking about her experience of working with young children and seek to understand what happens in those early years of development.  Marianna and Zi both share their opinions of brain development in the child and adult mind.  They offer tools and resources to h...

This week Master Zi and Vindesh explore the different ways of measuring intelligence.   Zi discusses I.Q. versus E.Q. and why being empathetic is missing in today's society.  Zi and Vindesh refer to the words of Buddha as they navigate what modern day intelligence really looks like and ways to cultivate it in our daily life.    

We're back on track here at the studio! Today Zi and Vindesh explore what happens when you're "disappointed."  Sharing from their own experiences, Zi describes how he navigates disappointment and what he's learned from working with clients.  Vindesh asks Zi for his advice on handling challenging relationships.  

This week Zi and Vindesh explore the meaning behind life milestones.  Our millenial guests Jonta Hall and Rob Stone join the conversation by asking what rights of passage look like during this era.  Zi and Vindesh discuss their coming of age experiences and how those moments shaped their character and relationships.

This week Zi and Vindesh talk about control and how we deal with tendencies to want to control every aspect of life.  There's an upside to planning, but then there is fate.  Zi gives control freaks advice on how to break these patterns and go with the flow.

This week Zi and Vindesh explore the phenomenon of "buffering" and how it hinders flow.  Vindesh has recently been working on a creative project and has found it challenging to tap into that flow state.  Zi breaks down what happens when we think too much and why the brain can't feel.  

This week we welcome Rob Hoffman, a longtime friend and student of Zi's to the podcast.  The guys continue the conversation about why we are living in a time where it's hard to tell truth from fiction.  As Masters of Tai Chi, both Zi and Rob have incorporated the philosophy and scripts connected to their practice.  They believe that in times of chaos, those drills and that understanding has helped...

This week Zi and Vindesh continue the conversation about the rise of the anti-hero theme.  They explore why it's hard to do the right thing.  Zi mentions the science behind breaking bad habits.  One of his clients had a poor diet, and when he started working more with people he started to notice patterns of miseducation regarding nutrition.  They wonder what it takes for people to become a steward...

Happy New Year! This week Zi and Vindesh reflect on the past year.  Something that Zi and Vindesh continue to observe is the praise of the anti-hero archetype.  The influencer, politician, and celebrity voices are heard louder than scientists and scholars.  Zi and Vindesh discuss how this plays out in every arena in life and how being a "follower" impacts your health.  

This week Zi and Vindesh exchange views on how scapegoating started and why it's so readily embraced in today's culture.  We see it happen all the time in the media landscape.  Journalists are quick to apply blame, but never explore both sides.  Zi describes the process of breaking down the reasoning behind why we scapegoat, while Vindesh ponders what happens if we don't break free from these limi...

Continuing their conversation about confirmation bias, Zi and Vindesh look into why people seek   personal validation and how it hinders personal growth.  Zi is inspired by Khalil Gibran and explains why gratitude will carry you through the storms in life.  

This week Zi and Vindesh exchange views on confirmation bias and why people have a hard time tolerating information that conflicts with their personal beliefs.  Zi points out that humans are unique in that we can choose our evolution.  We can also initiate our own devolution.  By choosing to consume information that supports our perspective, it limits our growth.  Zi and Vindesh examine the ego an...

This week Zi and Vindesh explore the many facets of making and nurturing connections.  Zi discusses how the energy you put in should be reciprocated.  Many times in our lives we have been hit with an event that has blinded sided us.  The connections we have can either help sustain us or deplete us.  Zi and Vindesh share their experiences of what makes a healthy connection.  As always, Zi leaves us...

This week we continue the discussion related to Investigation.  Zi and Vindesh take it a step further and discuss why they believe investigating the self is worth the effort.  As Zi describes, the path to enlightenment starts with the question, "Who am I."  In indigenous cultures, often times children aren't named before they are born, instead they are granted a name upon birth or even a year afte...

This week we are presenting a two-part series.  In part one, Master Zi and Vindesh invite a guest back to the podcast.  Dave Amis is a private investigator and has a background in police enforcement and teaching self-defense.  Using current events, they explore why in our society, it is easier to trust a rumor rather than research for facts.  Dave shares his experiences from the cases he's worked...

This week Master Zi and Vindesh discuss the visceral loop and the cycle of information we need to frame our reality.  In order to have a full experience, all of the senses must be present.   As Zi always like to say, "Nature abhors a vacuum."  The brain also fills in any voids in communication with misinformation.  An example of this is when we jump to conclusions without knowing all of the truth....

This week Zi and Vindesh explore what it means to build character.  How we face our challenges tells us a lot about who we are.  Zi explains that the obstacles we overcome shape and add color to our lives.  Vindesh wonders why it takes these pivotal moments in our lives to make the necessary changes.  Zi shares an exercise that will ultimately help both parties develop better boundaries, but it ca...

This week Zi and Vindesh exchange views on what the purpose of truth is and how it is often a hard pill to swallow.  Zi shares his insight from the Vedas and offers a contemporary meaning from the classical point of view.  They go into personal experiences of moments of when the truth was bitter but ultimately liberating.  Zi discusses how ignoring the truth can not only be detrimental to your men...

This week Master Zi and Vindesh discuss how valuable expression is in the human experience.  Vindesh opens up about how important Master Zi was in his process.  Vindesh recently wrote and performed a spoken word album, and with the support his coach, Donald Lacy, was really able to breakthrough barriers he once thought were in place.  Master Zi describes the Taoist principles behind expression and...

This week Master Zi and Vindesh talk about gaining a different perspective.  After a day of flying a plane with a good friend, Master Zi was literally able to see from above how the pandemic is changing the social landscape.  Shopping centers were packed, but the parks were empty.  Master Zi and Vindesh discuss this trend and how provide tools on how to navigate all of the clustering.

This week Master Zi and Vindesh discuss what happens after the Kali Yuga.  Zi shares stories from his life that have helped have a better understanding of the human condition.  He describes exercises that have worked from him and the benefits of being a dispassionate observer.  

This week Zi and Vindesh continue their conversation about the Age of Kali.  In this episode, they focus more on how to navigate the onset of challenges this cycle brings.  It's an intense time for humanity.  We are facing  polarizing shifts in every area of life; however, the Vedas have left us clues and breadcrumbs as to how evolve through this era.  Zi explains which strategies have worked well...

This week Zi and Vindesh discuss the Kali Yuga, which is the 4th cycle of humanity as predicted by Lord Krsna.  In this cycle, we are the furthest away from the center of the universe.  We can look out our windows and see mass political unrest, the earth on fire, and influencers are seen as experts.  Nothing really makes sense. However, we have been here before.  Zi describes the signs of the Age...

Has someone ever tried to sell you something that's too good to be true? This week Zi and Vindesh explore how the Ponzi scheme formula applies to all facets of life.  In order to have a healthy relationship, there needs to be a mutual benefit.  All too often, we invest our time and energy to situations that deplete us rather than sustain us.  We do this based on the hope that we will get what we i...