The Tao of John Middlekauff (#326, 7 July 2025)

In this episode, I review Breath by James Nestor. It has definitely entered my Top 10 list of life changing books.You might think you know how to breathe—after all, it’s what keeps us alive—but chances are, you’re doing it wrong. The way you breathe impacts how you sleep, exercise, meditate, and maintain energy throughout the day. This book dives into ancient breathwork techniques, introduces unconventional "pulmonauts," and offers practical tips for optimal breathing to calm your mind, uplift your spirit, and boost energy for getting things done. I also share my experience from a one-week experiment of taping my mouth shut while sleeping—a practice I’ve now made permanent—and recommend a powerful breathwork technique: coherent breathing. For a deeper dive, you need to buy this book!

Whoa, Psalm 30 rivals Psalm 23 for its transformative power. It's a beacon of life changing light. In this episode, we dive into Psalm 30:4-12, unpacking why these verses pulse with life-giving energy. They remind us that despair can turn to joy, mourning to dancing, and darkness to divine light through faith and gratitude. We’ll explore how the psalmist’s raw honesty about suffering, paired with triumphant praise for deliverance, offers a roadmap for navigating life’s lows with resilience. Let Psalm 30 illuminate your path, transforming your perspective with every step.

The Tao of John Middlekauff shines through in his podcast, where his superpower—raw, unfiltered authenticity—makes him a joy to listen to. It boils down to one thing: He speaks his truth. John seamlessly translates his inner thoughts into his outer takes, delivering insights with zero pretense. This authenticity captivates listeners, builds trust, and keeps it real—no BS, just straight talk.We’ll also explore why people erect their own barriers, hesitate to share their inner selves, and the risks of keeping it all locked inside. Embrace the Tao of John Middlekauff and let his fearless authenticity inspire you to live more openly in your own life.

Last night, I was moved by two profound sentences: "The way out is in. Go home to yourself." These words, shared by Thich Nhat Hanh in his lecture "Breathe as a Free Person, Walk as a Free Person," carry timeless wisdom. In this episode of The RockneCast, we dive into the transformative power of mastering your inner world through meditation and mindfulness. Discover a powerful guided meditation led by Thich Nhat Hanh and explore a real-life application of returning to your true self.With infinite gratitude to the revered bodhisattva, Thich Nhat Hanh, for his enduring teachings radiating from his incandescent soul.

Welcome to a special Sunday edition of The RockneCast! Today, June 29, 2025, I had a lightbulb moment while navigating a tough conversation with my mom. The revelation? We’re both avoidants! Doubling down, I then realized... So is my dad!! We're avoidants.Don't be like me. Avoid avoidance.This hit me hard. So many personal and professional challenges linger because I sidestep them, hoping they’ll magically resolve. Spoiler: they don’t. In this episode, I dive into why we avoid tough issues, unpack how I became an avoidant, and share a practical approach to confront problems head-on.The good news is that this state of being an avoidant is not set in stone. You can address it. It's a skill that can be learned and practiced just like any other skill. I am taking my first steps down that path. Join me for this eye-opening episode, and here’s to a fantastic 4th of July week ahead!

Has a book ever reshaped your entire perspective on what you want from life?Robert Fritz’s The Path of Least Resistance might sound unassuming, but its insights will revolutionize how you view your past and sharpen your focus for the future. In this episode, I dive into one core idea from the book: the contrast between a reactive, problem-solving mindset and a visionary, creative approach.This isn’t another tired formula for “creative solutions.” Fritz offers a clear, practical blueprint to design a life aligned with your deepest vision. A friend recommended this book four years ago, claiming it changed their life. I bought it, only to let it gather dust in a stack of books. Recently, while tidying my room, I rediscovered it—and I’m so glad I did. It’s one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read, rivaling or even surpassing Atomic Habits for its transformative impact.

Recently reread Ryan Holiday's book, "The Obstacle is the Way." In that book, Holiday outlines the power of transforming those ass kicking life events into triumph. It is all you can do. Love what has happened and learn from it. It all comes down from one powerful quote from Marcus Aurelius.See things for what the are.Do what we canEndure and bear what we mustWhat blocked the path is now the pathWhat once impeded action advances action.The Obstacle is the Way.I also include a pithy quote by Nassim Taleb outlining his version of Stoicism.

This is the second episode on the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The book is only 140 pages, but it contains some of the most powerful wisdom on the human condition that I have read.His most powerful insight? Trauma wounds, how they happen, how to identify the source, what happens if left unaddressed, and most importantly, how to heal them. Trauma arises from emotional poison involuntarily injected into our psyche. The poison is injected through words, actions, or deeds, but in most healthy relationships through spiteful words. If unhealed, that emotional poison will manifest in resentment, leading to anger. Deep unresolved anger makes any relationship impossible, leading to unwanted ruptures.To heal the infected wound arising from the poisonous bite, you must release the poison. Ruiz identifies the only way: forgiving the transgressor, even though they may not deserve it, to protect our own wellbeing. Holding onto that poison makes healing the wound almost impossible.This book is one of the most powerful books that I have ever read. It takes two to three hours to read, but its life changing wisdom has the power to heal and transform your relationships.

Just read a tiny, but mighty book by Don Luis Miguel called the Four Agreements. The four agreements are simple in formulation, but powerful in application. They are:1) Be impeccable with your word2) Don't take it personally3) Don't make assumptions4) Always do your bestThese four principles are easy to state, but difficult to apply in the hurly burly of life. Many adverse outcomes flow from the failure to adhere to these principles. Following these principles provides the bedrock for personal transformation and growth.It's not only about keeping positive agreements. It's also about breaking negative agreements too, those agreements that we unwittingly make that keep holding us back. They act as a kind of albatross keeping us from being the best version of ourselves. He teaches us how, by taking little action steps to break the agreement. Actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate. Don't explicate.Loved this book!

When was the last time that you read Proverbs? I mean really read it? If you haven't read it for a while, read it. If you're going through a difficult time or need discernment, that book is waiting right there, full of life changing guidance and power.This episode focuses on Chapter 8, a call to wisdom.It will power the lighthouse of your soul.