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Exploring the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern life, Kevin Rose sits down with celebrated Zen teacher Henry Shukman to explore the depths of meditation practice, the nature of awakening, and the universal human capacity for transformation. From practical meditation advice to fascinating Zen stories and the relationship between different spiritual traditions, this wide-ranging discussion offers both practical guidance for beginners and deep insights for experienced practitioners.

Show Notes

Notable Quotes

* "Between stimulus and response, there is a gap. Everything is in that gap." - Viktor Frankl (referenced)

* "The way that can be spoken of is not the true way" - Tao Te Ching

* "No coffee, no Pat" - Pat Hawk Roshi

* "We're all made of the universe" - Henry Shukman

The Way App and Meditation Practice

* Discussion of The Way meditation app's approach

* The challenge of user retention in meditation apps

* Focus on building durable meditation habits

* A different approach from other meditation apps - emphasis on long-term practice

Building a Meditation Practice

* Optimal meditation duration?

* What is the best time to meditate?

* Importance of daily consistency over longer sporadic sessions

* Discussion of gradual progression from shorter to longer sits

Understanding Different Types of Meditation Benefits

* Mindfulness and basic awareness

* Recognition of thoughts and feelings

* Development of self-compassion

* The space between stimulus and response

Awakening Experiences

* Nature of awakening experiences

* Discussion of "person of no rank" concept

* Relationship between time, space, and consciousness

* Different cultural interpretations of similar experiences

Religious Traditions and Meditation

* Comparison of different meditation traditions

* Discussion of reincarnation beliefs

* The Cloud of Unknowing and Christian Mysticism

* Universal aspects of spiritual experiences across traditions

Practical Guidance

* Role of caffeine in meditation practice

* Building a sustainable practice

* Integration with daily life

* Balancing spiritual pursuit with everyday responsibilities

Key Stories and Examples

* Bodhidharma and the origin of tea

* Story of the plum blossom awakening

* Mount Athos experiences

* Various Zen teaching stories

Resources Mentioned

* The Way App - Henry’s meditation app (iOS/Android)

* "Original Love" - Henry’s new book

* "The Cloud of Unknowing" - Anonymous

* "Buddhism Without Beliefs" by Stephen Batchelor

* Mountain Cloud Zendo

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Be well,

Friends,

I recently sat down with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, CEO of Pendulum Therapeutics, for a discussion about probiotics, metabolism, and a potential natural alternative to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Here's why I'm excited to share this with you...

The Backstory

A month ago, I ran into a friend who had slimmed down and was looking fit. These days, I’ve had a good dozen or so friends lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, so I was surprised when she told me it wasn’t Ozempic but Pendulum's new GLP-1 probiotic. Her chocolate cravings (her usual downfall) had changed entirely. Instead of demolishing a whole bar, she could have one bite and walk away satisfied.

I've known Pendulum for years (we invested at True), and I've personally used their glucose control product with great success. However, I had lost touch with Colleen and didn’t realize they had a new GLP-1 product — so I asked her to come on the podcast and discuss it.

Note: Peter Attia did a much longer and more thorough deep-dive with Colleen, found here

What Makes This Different?

In my interview with Colleen, she explained how their probiotic actually helps your body produce its own GLP-1 hormone naturally. The science is fascinating – they've identified specific strains of bacteria that, when delivered to your gut's distal colon, help stimulate natural GLP-1 production. No shots, no prescription.

The results are pretty impressive; 91% of users reported reduced food cravings after six weeks*, and the higher the initial cravings, the more significant the improvement.

Why This Matters

Over the last year+, I've watched friends scramble to find GLP-1 prescriptions, hitting up sketchy compounding pharmacies, or paying astronomical prices when their insurance won't cover them. It's wild out there.But obesity isn't just about weight – it's tied to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and even cognitive decline (some scientists are calling Alzheimer's "Type 3 diabetes"). We need better solutions that are both accessible and backed by science.

Join Our Mini-Trial

Sadly, the trial is now closed — thanks to all who participated!

What's Next?

We'll be collecting data throughout the trial and sharing the results with participants. Stay tuned for updates on how the community is progressing.

Exciting stuff ahead! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences if you decide to participate.

Until next time, be well,

*based on a consumer survey of 274 people

This is the podcast of the full article found here.