In this special episode, I decided to share what I found in the recesses of my mind during the 10-Day Silent Vipassana Meditation I attended in January 2025. The topics I cover: 🔸 Some of my unhealthy ways of relating to people 🔸 The struggles created by my mind for years 🔸 Identity Dysmorphia 🔸 My Framework to Tame the Mind (The 4 Quadrants) Pick what resonates with you. Discard the rest! But always....Keep Learning. Keep Optimizing!

In this special podcast episode, my friends Hannah Fish (@hannahfish) and Marina Kay (@sumofallpositive) join me to share and reflect on our experiences from a 10-day Silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat we attended in January 2025. We dive into several key topics, including: 🔸 The format of the retreat 🔸 The day-to-day schedule 🔸 The teachings 🔸 Our individual experiences 🔸 The pros and cons we discovered through the experience We're curious to know what resonates with you. Leave a comment and share this episode with your friends! 🙌🏼 Disclaimer: The opinions shared in this episode are solely our own and reflect our personal experiences and interpretations. They are not representative of the teachings, policies, or official stance of Vipassana or its affiliated organizations. Please approach the content with an open mind, and remember that individual experiences with Vipassana may vary.

In this episode, Dr. Matthew B. James, Owner of Empowerment, Inc. and an expert in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) & personal transformation, shares his insights on purpose-driven actions, self-discovery, and the vital role of human connection for achieving lasting success and fulfillment.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Matt trains thousands of students each year in mastering the four bodies of empowerment, weaving modern technologies with the timeless wisdom of ancient spiritual paths. He emphasizes that true success is about impacting individuals rather than merely certifying them, highlighting the transformative power of mindset and meaningful service.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• What is NLP and how it benefits leaders?
• The importance of aligning actions with a higher purpose for motivation and resilience.
• How self-discovery forms the foundation of personal growth and effective leadership.
• Daily habits like gratitude and connecting with nature to enhance mental well-being.
• The significance of mentorship in shaping our paths and inspiring potential.
• The value of human connection in a technology-driven world.
• Upcoming initiatives including workshops, online learning, and a new book aimed at fostering growth.

Connect and learn more about Dr. Matt James here! https://www.drmatt.com/

Keep Learning, Keep Optimizing!

⬇️ Don't forget to subscribe to my Podcast Stay connected with us on social media:

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In this episode, JJ interviews Stacia Butterfield, an expert in Holotropic Breathwork with over 20 years of experience in personal healing and exploration. She emphasizes the power of accelerated breathing and music to facilitate deep self-exploration and emotional release. Stacia highlights the significance of community during group sessions, fostering connections and shared healing experiences. In this episode, you'll learn about: 🔸 The origins and practices of Holotropic Breathwork 🔸 How music enhances emotional release and alters consciousness 🔸 The importance of community in the healing process 🔸 How to prepare for sessions to maximize their benefits Connect and learn more about Stacia Butterfield Here! https://staciabutterfield.com/ Keep Learning, Keep Optimizing! ⬇️ Don't forget to subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jjruescasofficial Stay connected with us on social media: Web: https://www.jjruescas.com Spotify: https://www.jjruescas.com/spotify Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjruescas/ LinkedIn: https://www.jjruescas.com/linkedin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisjjruescas X: https://www.jjruescas.com/x

Lindsay Briner is a leader in executive coaching and leadership development, specializing in cognitive neuroscience and meditation.

She has created the Stabilized Flow method to help individuals achieve peak performance and balance in their lives. She emphasizes the importance of unlearning limiting beliefs and practicing self-awareness to cultivate a healthy confidence and presence.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How the Stabilized Flow framework combines cognitive neuroscience and meditation
• How to achieve and sustain peak performance while promoting balance and well-being.
• Unlearning limiting beliefs and developing self-awareness
• Levels of consciousness,
• and more!!

Connect and learn more about Lindsay Briner here.

Jonny Miller is someone who clearly leads by experience. His mind is driven by curiosity and he lives by the eagerness to learn, covering a wide range of topics that have the power to make human lives more joyous Jonny is not only the mind and voice behind the Curious Humans podcast, he's also a breathwork facilitator and meditation coach, but above all of that, he is the master of nervous system mastery. He is a renowned person in nervous system education and human performance, showcasing the growing importance of understanding and optimizing our own biology for overall well-being. In this conversation you will learn about: - The nervous system - Human Performance - Breathwork - Exploring one's own inner landscape... and more! #jjruescas #optimizandome #optimizing #podcast #jonnymiller #breathwork #nervoussystem #humanperformance

#45 - Wayo Longoria - Plant-Based Nutrition and The Human Behind "Casa de Luz"

A visionary person with a passion for community and wellness are the perfect words to describe Wayo Longoria. He comes from a Mexican family that specializes in the industry of oil production, but that didn’t hold him to change the course of his life and become a pioneer in the macrobiotic lifestyle and plant-based diet. Today Wayo is the person behind Casa de Luz.

Casa de Luz is a non-profit community wellness center. In the words of Wayo, it can be called: educational – experiential – wellness – community center. Educational because when people attend they’re accustomed to feeding highly processed food and by eating at Casa de Luz they’re learning a new way of living. Experiential because people are learning by doing, as it has a volunteer program. Wellness because everything that happens there results in benefitial for everyone. And lastly, community happens on its own.

Wayo Longoria doesn’t like to be in the spotlight of Casa de Luz, he prefers the well-established difference between him and the center which he claims to have a life of its own. His whole motivation is to share that something so simple and humble can be so powerful and life changing.

His ideas are defined by the wholefood nutrition based in plants. Wayo afirms that the word ‘macrobiotic’ to describe their food,  sounds too science-y. Macrobiotic actually means ‘great life’ and that includes food, but it’s so much more. It means to live every part of your life consciously, therefore be aware of your diet and become one with the plant you eat.

To wrap things up, adopting a plant-based diet can offer numerous health benefits and contribute to a more sustainable and ethical food system. As Wayo Longoria has demonstrated through his inspiring journey, making the switch to a plant-based diet can be both manageable and rewarding. Whether it’s for personal health, animal welfare, or environmental reasons, choosing to eat more plant-based meals is a positive step towards a healthier, happier, and more compassionate lifestyle. So why not give it a try and see how a plant-based diet can transform your life too?

In this conversation, you will learn about:

- Plant-based diet

- Healthy lifestyle

- Macrobiotics

- Lifelong learning

- Nutrition

… and more!

Enjoy the interview!

We all probably know David from the TV Shows Gilmore Girls or Private Practice. He definitely had a successful career as an actor, but one day the shawdow of his own dissatisfaction finally caught him and triggered his shift point.

He thinks that being an actor it’s a very vulnerable profession, because actors are always exposed. But it’s also very liberating once they get to manage the fear of exposure. As a former actor,  he’s the one to point out the fact that we’re always on a role in some way, wearing a mask and always performing. Acting taught him more than anything else about presence, because that’s what the camera reads, presence; and that’s where everything changes.

Today, David Suitcliffe is a facilitator whose mission is to share what he learned from his experiences and preparation, to create, inspire, and contribute toward people healing. He studied many fields related to the human mind and body, such as yoga, breathwork, hypnosis, including shamanism. He even became a certified practicioner, in order to really understand the mind and how emotional blockings affects it.

One of the most powerful ideas he has, is that it’s not only our anger or frustration and pain that is held back, it’s also our love and light. In fact, he reinforces the reality that we all have something unique and powerful to give to the world, and being full awared of our fears and pain can help us fulfill our highest potential.

In this conversation, you will learn about:

• Deep Feeling
• Trauma release
• Core-Energetics
• Healing through Feeling
• Flow State
• Emotional System
• Emotion created by Motion
• … and more!

Enjoy the interview!