Sincerely, Niño

On this episode of Where’s the Nuance? Hosted by ​⁠@eldivinenino I’m joined by @kojiaikendnb is a drum and bass artist from North Vancouver, British Columbia. An artist for life, he has dedicated himself to the pursuit of authentic expression, personal growth, and artistic freedom. The creator of Kumo studios, an incredible event company throwing the best electronic music parties in the west coast, he is a hustler who understands the value of rest, balance, and a nuanced approach to life. Koji Aiken: "Where’s the Nuance?" Podcast 00:00 We begin Koji's artistic journey 03:11 Koji discusses his journey into music, starting with discovering drum and bass music after high school and then getting into DJing and producing. He talks about the excitement and challenges of being a young artist, including navigating the distractions of the party/entertainment lifestyle. Overcoming obstacles and pivoting 11:49 Koji shares the biggest challenges he has faced as an artist, including plateaus in his progress and the need to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, collaborating with others, and being willing to pivot in order to keep growing as an artist. The role of social media and content creation 17:04 Koji discusses the double-edged nature of social media and content creation for musicians. While it provides opportunities for discovery and connection, it also adds pressure for artists to become "influencers" in addition to focusing on their music. Philosophical approach to life and art 33:27 Koji shares the core philosophies that guide his approach to life and art, including the importance of doing what makes you happy, having patience, and giving 100% effort. He emphasizes the need to find contentment and balance, rather than being driven solely by ambition or a fear of failure. Advice and future plans 50:26 Koji discusses his current projects and future plans, including releasing new music, booking shows, and exploring the artist route. He also shares his wish that he could give people the ability to discover what they truly love to do in life.

have you woken up yet?

What do you want when you stop acting like a saint?  When you admit to yourself you don’t just want world peace & equality for all… When the idea of being perceived by other people drops. There is no one here to judge whether your desires are noble or selfish. We’re here to bare our naked souls- at least I am… We're all human, and we all have a shadow.  The more we can understand and integrate ours, the freer and more authentic our lives can become. As Jung himself said, "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." This journey into the darkness is not just about facing our fears but about finding our true selves in the process. I encourage you to reflect on these ideas.  Embracing our shadow can be the key to unlocking a life of authenticity and freedom. It's not a journey for the faint-hearted, but it's one worth taking for those brave enough to face their inner world.

Why do we connect with some people we meet, but not with others? Why do we seek love & the feeling of love? What is the SECRET to HEALTHY LOVE? What is the KEY to A LONG-TERM MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIP? This episode features Colombian actress & lover, Valentina Betancourt, whose beautiful expression in the world contemplates love & the ways it shows up in our lives.. Together, we discuss all things love, sex, relationships, connection, & how our own life experience has shaped how we express, feel, & receive love. A beautifully inspiring & transparent conversation about the search for love when we hold parental wounds, the light of growing awareness, & what we can do to manage love & authenticity in the modern world.

I am here, in this brief shared existence with you, to bare my naked soul. 2023 was the year I decided to live, because I'd finally had a moment of wanting to die. This episode is a reflection of the moment & decision I made to live my life this year, sparked from a tragic loss in my family.

How getting ghosted revealed my own projections & areas to continue practicing non attachment. A personal journey to widen my understanding of love, relationships, & integrating spiritual philosophy within the realities of being a young man in the modern world. Sharing insights & perspectives from books like Thomas Moore's "Soul Mates" that reminded me about the value of 'loving the distance' between each of us...and what the heck that means All on this episode of "Where's the Nuance?" with Niño

A reflection on my first time co-hosting a retreat, with Obsidian Retreats, as the ONLY MAN; my hesitations, fears, & experience being the breath work facilitator. In this solo episode/reflection I touch upon: -holding space as a male facilitator among women -The power of the breath work-the clearing of energetic blockages and the releases I witnessed  -feeling the pain of others as a beautiful reflection of the common humanity -suffering as a potential bonding agent -the idea of ‘if you share you story of pain more than 3 times you’re not looking for solutions you’re looking for attention’ -the silent day, meditation + VISION of the future -Why silent day was so powerful, no doing just being -Working with the divine feminine- connecting to my own feminine while being grounded in the masculine -Dream analyses: ‘my mommy issues in relationships ;)’ 

Answering one of your questions regarding how the Zen concept of meaning in meaningless shows up in my life. AKA how does dropping purpose and meaning provide my life meaning & purpose? Nuanced...I know

Todays episode is brought to you by the stars...because it's all about astrology! @Saturnrevolution (instagram) joins me for a conversation about the nature of astrology, how it may not be for everyone, the current energy of Venus being retrograde in Leo, & what the hell 'retrograde' even means.. An insightful conversation for anyone curious to learn more about astrology from an astrologist, Larisa Vasile, & what you could learn from the stars

Reflections after a day to explore the Warsaw Caves reminded me that there doesn't have to be a 'reason' for anything. The Zen wisdom of purposelessness & how to live life through the present moment to be happy, fulfilled & ultimately free of the paradox of choice. When we worry about whether or not we're making the right choice, we waste the only thing we ever have, time, to simply make A CHOICE. Recognizing the deeper truth I talk about frees us to the truth of what we are. 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Questioning the Purpose 01:59 Living a Spiritual Life 02:35 Being Present in the Moment 03:14 Embodying Purposelessness 03:43 The Language of the Universe 04:27 Savoring the Present Moment 05:12 The Freedom of Having No Reason 06:05 Navigating Life without a Grand Purpose 06:47 Creating a Life Aligned with Desires 08:55 Bringing Desired Emotions into Everyday Life 09:38 Recommendation: Becoming Supernatural 10:22 Living in the Present Moment 12:47 The Meaninglessness of Life 14:32 The Magic of Surrendering to the Present Moment