E189 - Wim Hof: Why Your Body Was Built to Heal Itself (And What Stopped It)

Wim Hof joins me to explore the deeper story behind his work, from profound personal loss to discovering a direct path back into the body through breath and cold exposure. We unpack how modern life pulls us out of feeling and into constant mental noise, and how reconnecting with the breath can bring us back into a state of presence, strength, and clarity. Wim shares how a single moment stepping into freezing water at 17 opened something fundamental within him, quieting the mind and reconnecting him to his heart.In this conversation, we explore the science behind his methods and what it means to consciously influence the nervous system and immune response. Wim explains how breathwork can reduce inflammation, strengthen the body, and restore balance, and why this ability is not unique to him but available to anyone willing to practice. This episode is an invitation to reclaim autonomy over your body and mind, and to remember a deeper connection to nature that modern life often pulls us away from.Try Function Health and get $25 off your membership at https://www.functionhealth.com/knowthyselfTry LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:27 A Life Shaped by Purpose04:00 The Science of Breath and Inflammation09:20 Music, Cold, and the Opening of the Heart12:31 Becoming a Missionary for Human Healing22:10 Freedom, Autonomy, and the Power Within25:15 Trust as the True Superpower29:52 Ad: Function Health31:04 The Years of Searching, Love, and Loss37:16 Grief, Rage, and the Call to Change the World47:14 It’s Time for the Soul52:10 Returning to the Body Through Breath and Cold53:31 Ad: LMNT54:39 The Wim Hof Method in Practice1:07:17 What the Cold Really Teaches1:10:33 A Message for Humanity1:12:45 Choosing Stress Before Stress Chooses You1:19:11 The Forgotten Power of the Breath1:24:08 Consciousness, Soul, and the Search for Meaning1:33:18 Becoming an Agent of Change___________For a free Wim Hof Method Mini Class:https://www.wimhofmethod.com/free-mini-classEpisode Resources: https://www.wimhofmethod.comhttps://www.instagram.com/iceman_hofhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Emad Mostaque joins me to explore one of the most confronting questions of our time: what happens when human intelligence is no longer economically valuable? We unpack how rapidly advancing AI is moving toward a world where cognitive labor becomes obsolete, and why this shift may happen much sooner than most people expect. Emad shares how we’ve already built systems that can replicate human thinking, decision-making, and creativity, and how the next phase is not about new breakthroughs but simply scaling what already exists.In this conversation, we explore what this means for identity, purpose, and the future of society. If so much of our sense of self is tied to what we do, what happens when that disappears? Emad lays out the possible paths forward, from centralized control of intelligence to more open and collaborative systems, and why the stories we choose to believe in now may determine whether we move toward collapse or abundance. This episode is an invitation to rethink work, meaning, and what it truly means to be human in a world where intelligence is no longer scarce.BASED Body WorksUse code KNOWTHYSELF for a free toiletry bag when buying a set!https://www.basedbodyworks.comTry Boncharge & 15% off their red light deviceshttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyselfAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________0:00 Intro01:17 The Last Economy02:03 The Race Toward AGI and Human Obsolescence07:50 Why AI Will Reshape Work Within 800 Days14:36 The Collapse of Work as Identity18:22 How Far Ahead Private AI Really Is21:24 The Three Futures of AI32:52 When the Economic Loop Breaks37:38 Ad: Based Body Works38:07 What AI Changes About Intelligence40:50 When AI Replaces Human Worth48:44 Ad: BON CHARGE48:46 Industrializing Self-Deception55:55 When AI Knows You Better Than You Do1:08:23 What Utopia Could Still Look Like1:20:20 How to Use AI Without Losing Yourself1:30:59 Can AI Become Conscious?1:46:29 What Makes Us Human?1:57:08 Longevity, Transhumanism, and the Future of the Body2:03:51 The Practical AI Tools to Start Using Now2:14:43 The End of Human-Only Discovery2:17:22 What Parents Should Teach Their Kids Now2:23:39 Happiness, Agency, and the Final Message___________Episode Resources: https://x.com/EMostaquehttps://x.com/ii_postshttps://ii.inc/webEmad's Book: http://thelasteconomy.comhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.comListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Shi Heng Yi joins me to explore the path of self-mastery through the lens of the Shaolin tradition, and why, despite having more comfort and convenience than ever before, so many people still feel a deep sense of inner lack. We unpack the idea that external success, wealth, and achievement cannot replace a missing sense of inner stability, and how the constant search outside of ourselves often leads us further away from what we are truly looking for.In this conversation, we explore the relationship between mind, body, and energy, and why true mastery begins with learning how to regulate and understand oneself rather than trying to control the external world. Shi Heng Yi shares how thoughts shape reality, why discipline and consistency are essential for growth, and what it means to become “transparent” by letting go of identity and the need to be someone. This episode is an invitation to shift from reacting to life toward consciously creating it from within.Oneskin - Use code KNOW THYSELF for 15% offhttp://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELFLimited time only!MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________0:00 Intro1:11 The Root of Suffering: Becoming Someone1:50 Why Comfort Doesn’t Create Peace4:56 The Inner Void Beneath External Success9:16 The Path of Self-Mastery16:04 Mastering the Mind, Not the World21:07 Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows27:21 Ad: OneSkin28:43 The Essence of the Shaolin Spirit36:29 Living with Intention and Integrity44:14 Service Beyond the Self46:34 The Freedom of Being No One57:14 Ad: Mud/Wtr58:56 Trust, Discipline, and the Inner Path1:05:24 Strength Without Suppression1:10:20 The Middle Way of Emotion1:13:11 Structure as the Gateway to Freedom1:19:00 Returning to the Body1:35:36 The Body as a Tool for Awareness1:42:32 Breath as the Bridge to Presence1:46:38 Seeing Clearly: The End of Suffering1:54:31 From Endless Seeking to Direct Experience1:59:27 The Mind’s Five Obstacles2:08:07 Turning Awareness Inward2:11:20 Beyond the Illusion of Separation2:14:25 Nothing to Gain, Nothing to Lose2:15:30 Closing Thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.shihengyi.online/https://www.instagram.com/shihengyi.onlinehttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Nicole LePera joins me to explore how our childhood experiences shape the nervous system, emotional patterns, and identities we carry into adulthood. We unpack how many of the reactions, habits, and relationship dynamics that feel automatic today were once adaptations we developed to maintain connection and safety early in life. Nicole explains how emotional attunement in childhood forms the internal “home base” we return to, often recreating familiar patterns even when they no longer serve us.In this conversation, we explore attachment styles, people-pleasing, parentification, and the unconscious roles we adopt in order to belong. Nicole also introduces the practice of reparenting—learning how to meet our own emotional needs through awareness, nervous system regulation, and body-based practices. This episode offers a grounded path toward understanding where our patterns come from and how we can begin to create a deeper sense of safety and home within ourselves.Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfMUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro03:30 Unearthing What We Buried to Survive09:12 The Childhood Roots of Our Coping Strategies15:59 The Importance of Emotional Attunement19:52 Understanding Attachment Styles28:33 Ad: LMNT30:35 From Seeking Love to Finding Home Within34:54 Meeting Needs With Compassion41:06 Ad: Mudwtr42:29 The Impact of Status-Oriented Parenting51:34 The Body as the Foundation of Healing1:04:19 Simple Practices for Nervous System Regulation1:12:07 Growing When Your Partner Isn't1:26:07 Vulnerability as the Path to Connection1:42:15 Healing the Need to Be Perfect1:50:55 The Power of Inner Child Awareness___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/the.holistic.psychologisthttps://theholisticpsychologist.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Zen teacher and author Henry Shukman offers a clear and grounded introduction to the heart of Zen practice. We explore how awakening is not an escape from life, but a deeper participation in it — a realization that dissolves the illusion of separation and reveals a boundless field of awareness and love.Henry shares his own spontaneous awakening experience at 19, the profound insight that life is not divided between self and world, and the difficult healing journey that followed. From mindfulness and meditation to flow states, jhanas, koans, and the role of trauma in spiritual growth, this conversation maps out a path that integrates awakening with emotional healing.Download SAILY in your app store and use our code KNOWTHYSELF at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/knowthyself Go to https://thewayapp.com/knowthyself to begin your journey with 30 free meditation sessionsAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:26 An Introduction to Zen13:10 The Premise of Original Love17:14 Training the Mind Like the Body20:54 Freedom From Identification With Thought27:50 What Are the Jhanas?32:50 Ad: Saily33:54 Tasting Awakening for Yourself45:17 Awakening vs Psychological Healing50:17 Awakening as an Ongoing Path54:54 The Distinct Path of Zen59:13 Koans as a Path to Insight1:13:53 The Enlightenment of the Mundane1:20:07 The Freedom of Emptiness1:26:16 The Necessity of Meditation Practice1:34:32 Sweeping the Yard (A Zen Poem)1:43:33 Beauty, Ethics, and Interconnection1:47:33 The Journey to a Whole Heart (A Poem on Heartbreak)2:02:58 Original Love in a Fragmented World___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/henryshukman/https://www.instagram.com/theway_app/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Dr. Sue Morter returns to explore what it truly means to awaken — not as a concept, but as a lived, embodied experience. Beneath our protective personality and performance-driven identity lies a deeper intelligence — an electromagnetic master system that governs healing, perception, and consciousness itself.In this conversation, we explore how nervous system regulation opens the doorway to higher awareness, why triggers are invitations to reclaim lost parts of ourselves, and how building energetic circuitry transforms reactive patterns into creative power. From subtle anatomy and the Shoshumna channel to the relationship between consciousness and matter, this episode bridges science and spirituality in a grounded, practical way.Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfTry Boncharge & 15% off their red light deviceshttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyselfKnow Thyself Community Event Waitlist: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/liveAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro5:48 The Illusion of Inherent Brokenness11:37 The Fuel Behind Achievement17:21 The Protective Personality31:21 Ad: LMNT32:46 The Return to Second Innocence47:04 Ad: BON CHARGE48:13 Expanding the Space Between Stimulus and Response1:04:06 The Science of Subtle Anatomy1:29:24 The Limits of Spiritual Language1:43:07 Embodiment of Expanded Awareness1:49:02 Moving From Joy Instead of Lack1:54:16 The Transformative Power of Immersive Experience2:15:22 Surrendering Fully Into Feeling2:25:42 A Message to the Heart of Humanity___________Episode Resources: Dr. Sue Morter's book: https://nt113.isrefer.com/go/HYHYL-Book/KnowThyself/https://www.instagram.com/drsuemorterhttps://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.comListen to the show:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9lApple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

Nir Eyal joins the podcast to explore one of the most foundational forces shaping our lives: belief. What if the way you see reality isn’t reality itself, but a simulation filtered through prior assumptions, expectations, and unconscious scripts?In this conversation, we unpack the difference between fact, faith, and belief—and why most of our suffering stems from confusing the three. Nir shares powerful research on predictive processing, placebo and nocebo effects, learned helplessness, and how our expectations literally alter what we see, feel, and experience in our bodies.From secular prayer and gratitude practices to Byron Katie’s turnaround method, this episode is a deep dive into how to move from limiting beliefs to liberating ones. If beliefs are tools, then the real question becomes: are the ones you’re using serving you?EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/knowthyselfTry it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee3/10 Book release: http://geni.us/beyondbeliefAndré's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:35 The Difference Between Fact, Faith, and Belief05:36 Illusions of Reality07:29 The Core of Our Perception15:52 Where to Start Enacting Change on Your Life19:53 Beliefs as Tools, Not Truths25:28 Ad: Nord VPN26:32 The Cosmic Slot Machine37:39 Spotting Your Limiting Beliefs46:39 The Prison of Our Own Making51:33 Why We Perceive Threats Everywhere1:00:18 Becoming Indistractable1:12:57 What Attention Means Today versus the Past1:26:44 The Motivation Triangle1:32:00 Closing Thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/neyal99https://nir.substack.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Swami Sarvapriyananda unpacks the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and its central claim: you are not the body, not the mind, not even your thoughts — you are pure consciousness itself. Through rigorous reasoning rather than blind belief, he guides us step by step into a direct inquiry of who we truly are.We explore the limits of faith-based religion, the pitfalls of mystical experience, the distinction between intelligence and consciousness in the age of AI, and the profound implications of non-duality. This conversation is not about adopting a belief system — it is about dismantling false identities until only the undeniable remains.FREE electrolyte sample pack with any purchase @ https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyselfBON CHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally usehttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro01:18 What Is Advaita Vedanta06:44 The Promise Freedom From Suffering10:16 Liberation While Living15:09 The Three Spiritual Paths23:38 The Path of Knowledge Jnana Yoga28:42 Discovering Our Ignorance29:49 Descartes and the Indubitable Self32:36 Ad: LMNT34:50 Deconstructing the Self37:18 Are You the Body42:09 From Body to Breath to Mind47:30 AI and the Difference Between Intelligence and Consciousness49:12 Consciousness in Deep Sleep52:23 If Not Body or Mind What Are You53:23 Pure Consciousness Explained55:04 Dualism vs Non Dualism57:42 The Dream Analogy59:17 Maya and the Appearance of the Universe01:00:28 Ocean and Wave Analogy01:01:13 Ad: BON CHARGE01:03:35 The Shift From Person to Awareness01:10:00 Awareness as the Ground of Reality01:18:00 The Root of Suffering01:26:00 Ego Attachment and Fear01:34:00 Living as Pure Awareness01:42:00 Practical Self Inquiry01:50:00 Free Will Karma and Responsibility02:02:00 The Illusion of Individuality02:14:00 Consciousness and Modern Science02:26:00 Death Rebirth and Liberation02:38:00 What Enlightenment Really Means02:50:00 Final Clarifications on Non Duality02:55:00 Closing Reflections___________https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

Joscha Bach explores the nature of consciousness, free will, and reality through the lens of computation, cognitive science, and philosophy. Rather than treating the mind as a mystical entity, Joscha frames consciousness as a constructed dream—a model generated by the brain to make sense of the world and coordinate behavior.We examine why beliefs should remain provisional, how the self functions as a useful fiction, and why suffering emerges when internal learning signals misfire. Joscha explains why free will feels real even if decisions arise before awareness, how meaning exists beyond the individual ego, and why wisdom is not simply knowledge but the ability to orient oneself within larger systems of value.BON CHARGE - 15% off red light therapy products I personally usehttps://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro: Josha Bach04:24 Agnosticism, Evidence, and Logical Alternatives11:20 Reality as a Mental Simulation13:00 What Physicalism Actually Claims16:55 Telepathy, Rituals, and Distributed Minds19:45 Consciousness Does Not Make Decisions22:55 Free Will as a Post-Hoc Story24:00 Consciousness as a Trance State26:00 Meditation and the Illusion of Self29:10 Out-of-Body Experiences Explained31:07 Ad: BON CHARGE36:30 Why the Brain Fills in Missing Reality39:50 Dreams, Selves, and Narrative Identity43:20 Intelligence, Models, and World-Building47:10 Why Reality Feels Stable51:00 Meaning, Agency, and Mental Compression55:10 Why Consciousness Feels Central (But Isn’t)59:30 The Psychological World vs Physical Reality1:04:10 Intelligence Without Awareness1:08:45 The Cost of Believing the Self Is Real1:13:30 Waking Up From the Narrative1:18:40 What a Cognitive Science View Really Implies1:23:30 Final Thoughts: Living Inside the Dream___________Episode Resources: https://www.cimc.ai/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

In this conversation, David Ghiyam shares the spiritual framework that has guided his life for over 25 years—one rooted in the idea that reality operates according to universal spiritual laws, just as it does physical ones. Drawing from Kabbalistic wisdom and lived experience, David explains how the soul’s purpose is not comfort, but transformation, and how life’s challenges are designed to reconnect us with a deeper source of fulfillment.We explore the concept of the “light of the Creator,” the idea of spiritual baggage carried across lifetimes, and why pain, relationships, and adversity act as mirrors for inner growth. David reflects on periods of profound darkness in his own life—financial collapse, loss, doubt—and how a shift from victimhood to responsibility opened the door to unexpected clarity, healing, and abundance.MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!)https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself[Code: KNOWTHYSELF]André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro - David Ghiyam04:57 The light of the Creator08:25 External teaching vs internal understanding12:36 Kabbalah in the life of David18:39 What is the source of consciousness?26:50 The trap of “needing” energy31:00 Ad: Mudwtr32:21 Does everything happen for a reason?39:43 The magnetic quality of being whole52:51 The role of business in our spiritual paths59:55 Protecting the seed1:09:08 How to practice trust in your intuition1:18:18 One spiritual law people violate daily1:29:26 Closing thoughts___________Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/davidghiyamhttps://www.davidghiyam.com/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com