Living Yoga, Sacred Masculinity, and Men's Work with Alec Vishal Rouben

Can artificial intelligence bring us closer together, or will it accelerate our cultural isolation? How do we navigate technological disruption without falling into doom or blind hype?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce sits down with technology creator, community organizer, and AI educator Aaron Gabriel (AG). Teaching emerging AI technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder and building decentralized tools for human connection, Aaron brings a grounded perspective to how algorithms shape human culture.Together, they explore the commodification of community on social media, the dopamine loop of algorithmic scrolling, how open-weight and local AI models provide an alternative to corporate monopolies, the ethics of simulated machine pain, and why local civic participation restores cultural coherence.Main Topics Covered The Commodification of Belonging: How ad-driven platforms simulate connection while eroding authentic community. The Mechanics of the Scroll: Understanding the dopamine loop that drains well-being and drives digital addiction. Open Weights vs. Closed Frontiers: How local AI models run on personal hardware challenge centralized corporate control. AI Consciousness & Simulated Pain: Research into neural network behavior, alignment dilemmas, and emerging machine ethics. Navigating Exponential Change: Grounding ourselves amidst rapid shifts without falling into doomerism or utopianism. Healing Polarization: Moving past ideological extremes and rediscovering the middle way through local civic action.Key Takeaways Base Well-Being Protects Attention: Algorithms exploit vulnerability; internal presence is your primary defense against digital entrapment. Sovereignty in the AI Age: Open-weight models empower individuals to own their intelligence tools rather than leasing cognitive agency to tech giants. Coherence Starts Locally: National discourse is polarized, but real transformation begins by practicing nuance and relationship in local communities.Connect with the Guest Website: unforced.dev Open Source Project: Open ParachuteConnect with Julian Royce YouTube: @AStateofMindPodcast Spotify: A State of Mind Podcast Website: AStateOfMindTherapy.com Instagram: @julianoceannSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors MyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame) KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCE EMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864 Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

What does it mean to take yoga off the mat and embody it through leadership, relationships, and brotherhood? How do we move from expansive spiritual experiences into grounded, sober integration?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce sits down with entrepreneur, yogi, and men's work leader Alec Vishal Rouben. Having spent over a decade deeply immersed in yoga teacher trainings, academic studies in London, and psychonautic exploration, Alec now channels his energy into leading Brotherhood of the Roots, a Colorado-based men's organization dedicated to sacred masculinity, accountability, and purpose.Together, they explore the transition from formal yoga to living integration, moving from psychedelic medicine states into sober men's circles, navigating hard confrontations, establishing explicit relationship agreements around intimacy and boundaries, and standing up for the protection of women and children in modern culture.Main Topics CoveredLiving Yoga Off the Mat: Transitioning from formal teaching to embodying unification in business and daily life.Authentic Relating to Men's Work: Overcoming early discomfort with eye-gazing to lead deep, sober men's circles.Psychedelics to Sober Integration: Moving from Bufo and psilocybin insights to grounded transformation in brotherhood.Confrontation and Accountability: Facing hard truths, addressing boundary violations, and standing up against predatory behavior.Conscious Relationship Agreements: Creating clear boundaries around pornography, sexual intimacy, and honoring individual sleep needs.Navigating the Dark Triad: Balancing the belief in basic goodness with firm boundaries against manipulation.Key TakeawaysSober Integration is Essential: Deep medicine experiences require grounded, real-world containers like men's work to fully land and transform daily life.Clear Boundaries Create Safety: True intimacy in relationships requires explicit agreements, open confrontation, and deep mutual respect.Confronting Shadow with Integrity: Standing for protection and truth requires active intervention rather than passive avoidance.Connect with the GuestWebsite: brotherhoodoftheroots.comInstagram: @aleclovelife https://www.instagram.com/aleclovelife/Connect with Julian RoyceYouTube: @AStateofMindPodcastSpotify: A State of Mind PodcastWebsite: AStateOfMindTherapy.comInstagram: @julianoceannSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsMyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame)KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEEMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

What happens when your external life looks perfect, but your body and soul are screaming for a change? How do you rebuild when everything collapses?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce sits down with life coach, retreat leader, and entrepreneur Jimmy Huynh. After leaving a lucrative corporate career in Hawaii and facing a sudden life overhaul, Jimmy turned a complete reset into an empowering journey across 10 countries, founding multiple businesses and launching his podcast What If It's Possible.Together, they explore the psychology of identity shifts, breaking free from "golden cages," how downstream behaviors change when you shift core self-beliefs, navigating relationship breakups with conscious maturity, and processing somatic emotions without feeding victim narratives.Main Topics Covered The Hero’s Arc & Compassion: Recognizing how everyone views themselves as the hero in their story and cultivating empathy for opposing viewpoints. Escaping the Golden Cage: Leaving corporate security in Hawaii to heal unexplained stress-induced physical symptoms. The Power of Identity Shifts: Why real behavioral change comes from altering core identity rather than just trying harder. Turning Crisis into Permission: How flipping "I have nothing" into "I have total freedom" opened the door to worldwide travel and purpose. Somatic Listening vs. Mind Narratives: Releasing stored physical emotion by staying present in the body without adding mind-spun stories.Key Takeaways Identity Drives Action: Behavior is downstream from self-definition; changing who you think you are changes what you do. Endings as New Beginnings: Relationship breakups can be conscious, loving transitions rather than destructive collapses. Somatic Processing: True emotional release requires feeling bodily sensations directly without feeding victim narratives.Connect with the Guest Website: fulfilledjourney.com Instagram: @jimmy.serendipityConnect with Julian Royce YouTube: @AStateofMindPodcast Spotify: A State of Mind Podcast Website: AStateOfMindTherapy.com Instagram: @julianoceannSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors MyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame) KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCE EMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864 Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

What happens when we stop treating our thoughts and ego as solid reality? Could true mental freedom lie in embracing emptiness?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce sits down with licensed therapist, Naropa University graduate, and contemplative practitioner Benjamen Duffy. Following a multi-year spiritual journey across Zen centers and India, Benjamen transitioned into psychotherapy to align with the Bodhisattva ideal of service.Together, they explore the intersection of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism with Western therapy, deconstructing the nature of ego, the delusion of lack, how de-reifying our experiences prevents mental health crises, and using Internal Family Systems (IFS) to relate to fear with radical compassion.Main Topics Covered From Seeking to Service: Benjamen’s path from Zen centers and environmental science to Buddhist psychology. The Illusion of Lack: How ego identification creates an artificial sense of separation, greed, and suffering. Maturing Beyond Emptiness: Moving past "getting drunk on emptiness" to actively inhabiting roles and relationships. De-Reifying Mental States: How solidifying thoughts creates psychosis, and how loving-kindness acts as a buffer. Fluidity of Mind: Using applied emptiness and parts work (IFS) to step out of rigid, suffering-inducing dogmas.Key Takeaways Ego is a Contraction: Seeing beyond the separate self releases the compulsion to constantly seek external security. Emptiness is a Skeleton Key: Liberation allows you to fluidly adopt useful roles without becoming trapped in them. Compassion Softens Reality: Meeting difficult thoughts and altered states with kindness prevents suffering loops.Connect with the Guest Website: benjamenduffy.com Instagram: @duffdaddy100Connect with Julian Royce YouTube: @AStateofMindPodcast Spotify: A State of Mind Podcast Website: AStateOfMindTherapy.com Instagram: @julianoceannSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors MyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame) KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCE EMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864 Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

Why is treating trauma much more complex than just dealing with our own reactions?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce sits down with Dr. Eric Wolterstorff, a veteran body-based psychotherapist, sociologist, and core trainer with the Trauma Healing Protocol (TIP).Together, they explore how traumatic memory lives in the autonomic nervous system, how to break down overwhelm using Peter Levine's SIBAM model, expanding your relational "permission space," and why true integration requires addressing the entire "scene of the crime"—including the victim, savior, bystander, and perpetrator roles within us.About Dr. Eric WolterstorffDr. Eric Wolterstorff began studying with Peter Levine in 1993, extending his work into memory systems, transference, and group dynamics. He trained in Hakomi bodywork with Pat Ogden and Worldwork with Max Schupbach and Arnie Mindell, earning a doctorate in group traumatology. He created the TIP trainings and leads Sovereignty First.Eric leads a yearly six-month TIP Transference Training, beginning each October. This year’s training begins October 21, 2026, with a five-day intensive in Greenwood Village, Colorado, followed by five months of live online learning. Registration closes September 30.Learn more: TIP Transference TrainingMain Topics CoveredThe Evolution of Somatic Therapy: Early work with Peter Levine, Hakomi bodywork, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.The SIBAM Model: Deconstructing trauma into basic sensory "letters" to gently process charge through the nervous system.Redefining Trauma as Disruption: Understanding disruptions in safety, attachment, family systems, and community culture.The "Scene of the Crime": Why healing requires integrating every role in our memory, including the bystander and perpetrator.Connect with the GuestWebsite: Sovereignty FirstLinkedIn: Dr. Eric WolterstorffTrauma Protocol: TIP WebsiteConnect with Julian RoyceYouTube: @AStateofMindPodcastSpotify: A State of Mind PodcastWebsite: AStateOfMindTherapy.comInstagram: @julianoceannSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsMyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame)KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEEMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

Is music more than just entertainment? Can sound re-architect our nervous systems and create deep human connection?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce sits down with Murray Hidary, classical composer and creator of the global music project Mind Travel. An early internet pioneer who co-founded EarthWeb and Dice.com in the 1990s, Murray now brings live music and nature together for over 200 silent headphone concert experiences annually.Together, they explore the parallels between coding and classical counterpoint, the neurobiology of sound perception, curating an intentional "auditory diet," and why music acts as a multidimensional language for emotional integration.Main Topics CoveredThe Early Internet & Tech Boom: Building EarthWeb, putting major institutions online, and founding Dice.com.Left-Brain Meets Right-Brain: How Bach's mathematical counterpoint bridges logic and artistic expression.The Physics of Sound: How acoustic vibrations transform into internal emotional experiences within the brain.Curating Your Auditory Diet: Managing noise pollution, silence, and intentional listening for nervous system health.The Multidimensional Language of Music: Why music expresses complex, non-linear emotional states better than spoken words.Key TakeawaysMusic Happens Inside: External sound is just molecular motion; music is an internal creation of human perception.Acoustic Nutrition: What you listen to throughout the day directly impacts your cortisol levels, stress, and mood.Therapeutic Potential: Sound and music therapy offer scientifically validated pathways for reducing anxiety and supporting recovery.Connect with the GuestWebsite: Murray Hidary OfficialMindTravel: MindTravel – Connect, Reflect, and Heal Through MusicInstagram: @murrayhidaryYouTube: @murrayhidaryConnect with Julian RoyceYouTube: @AStateofMindPodcastSpotify: A State of Mind PodcastWebsite: AStateOfMindTherapy.comInstagram: @julianoceannSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsMyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame)KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEEMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

Is it possible that your thoughts, shadow patterns, and digestive health are deeply interconnected?In this episode of A State of Mind, Julian Royce connects with organizational development consultant and meditation practitioner Jonathan Mozenter. After discovering integral philosopher Ken Wilber and studying under Dr. Daniel P. Brown, Jonathan transformed his approach to mind mastery, shadow work, and human flourishing.Together, they explore Western psychology and Eastern traditions, breaking down metacognition, how parts work (IFS) helps resolve chronic health issues like Crohn's and IBS, and why "waking up, cleaning up, and growing up" are essential for human development.Main Topics Covered Integral Theory & Dzogchen: How Ken Wilber and Dr. Daniel P. Brown introduced Jonathan to Mahamudra and Vajrayana Buddhism. Subjective Science of Consciousness: Using meditative traditions as a precise method for investigating internal reality. Metacognition and Parts Work: Stepping out of reactive mental loops with real time self-awareness and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Mind-Body Connection: How digesting emotional childhood trauma helped resolve physical gut issues like Crohn's and IBS. Reframing ADD/ADHD: Understanding attention challenges as mental strategies to avoid intense emotions. Three Maps of Awakening: Navigating meditation stages, from natural state awareness to daily integration.Key Takeaways Emptiness Means Radical Openness: Realizing your perspective is shaped by conditioning opens your heart to other possibilities. You Are Not Your Thoughts: Developing the inner witness allows you to see thoughts as temporary phenomena. Gratitude is an Energy State: Starting your day from appreciation changes how you relate to every experience.Connect with the Guest Website: mozenter.com Instagram: @jonathanmozenterConnect with Julian Royce YouTube: @AStateofMindPodcast Spotify: A State of Mind Podcast Website: AStateOfMindTherapy.com Patreon: patreon.com/astateofmind Instagram: @julianoceann Music: SoundCloudSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors MyFeelium: Get 20% Off MyFeelium (Code: julian20 | Pass: opensesame) KA! Empathogenics: kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCE EMR Tek: emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864 Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian for 20% off)Please leave a review or 5-star rating on Spotify to support the show!

🚨 What actually happens when you sit alone in pitch-black darkness for 49 days?In this episode of A State of Mind, host Julian Royce sits down with somatic psychologist, counselor, and meditation guide Adam Baraz. Growing up as the son of Spirit Rock co-founder James Baraz, Adam has spent a decade exploring human transformation, trauma, and expanded states of consciousness.Together, they dive deep into the world of darkness retreats, from 24-hour unplugs to 49-day solitary journeys. Adam shares the neurochemical shifts of light deprivation (from Melatonin to Pinoline and DMT), navigating extreme dopamine detoxes, working with internal sub-personalities (IFS/Hakomi), and reclaiming the lost art of true solitude in an overstimulated world.If you have ever been curious about extreme meditation practices, mind-body healing, or breaking free from digital addiction, this conversation offers profound insights into meeting yourself in the dark.Main Topics CoveredGrowing Up in the Dharma: What it was like growing up with spirit leaders and how Adam carved his own path in somatic psychology.The Extreme Sport of Meditation: The mechanics, mindset, and experience of undergoing 49-day darkness retreats.The Chemistry of Darkness: Exploring the neurochemical shifts from Melatonin to Pinoline and 5-MeO-DMT during prolonged light deprivation.The Ultimate Dopamine Reset: How complete solitude acts as a powerful detox for phone addiction, comfort, and social validation.Parts Work in the Dark: Using Hakomi and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to dialogue with sub-personalities and shadow archetypes while alone.Reclaiming Chronos vs. Kairos Time: Unplugging from clock time and returning to the natural, organic rhythms of nature and the body.Key TakeawaysSolitude is a Modern Medicine: Stepping away from constant noise and distraction allows your nervous system to reset and bring dormant self-knowledge to the surface.Healing Requires Equanimity: Darkness retreats act as an "equanimity gym", amplifying physical and emotional discomfort so you can learn to meet yourself with compassion.Integration is Key: The real challenge is not just entering the dark, but bringing the insights and ego dissolution back into everyday social life.Connect with the GuestWebsite: samadhibodywork.comPortfolio: adam-baraz.squarespace.comInstagram: @adam_barazConnect with Julian RoyceYouTube: @AStateofMindPodcastSpotify: A State of Mind PodcastWebsite: AStateOfMindTherapy.comPatreon: patreon.com/astateofmindVenmo: @Julian-RoyceInstagram: @julianoceannMusic: SoundCloudSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsMyFeelium (Curated Nootropic & Mushroom Blends):MyFeelium combines ancient medicine with science backed nootropics and adaptogens. Discover their expertly tailored mushroom and herbal products:Get 20% Off MyFeeliumWebsite Password: opensesameDiscount Code for 20% off: julian20KA! Empathogenics (Kanna Blends): kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEEMR Tek (Blue Light Blocking): emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Premium Ural Mountain Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian on the site for 20% off)Please leave a thumbs up, comment, or subscribe on YouTube, and leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Sharing this episode with friends keeps our alternative mental health platform free!

Ever wonder why so many of us feel stuck in our heads, disconnected from our bodies, or trapped in constant overthinking?In this episode of A State of Mind, host Julian Royce sits down with Jason Demchok to explore how Eastern philosophy, Western psychology, and somatic awareness intersect. Together, they dive into the Four Natural Intelligences (Somatic, Emotional, Creative, and Strategic), how to release trapped trauma without over-analyzing it, and why true healing comes from trusting your body's innate wisdom.If you have ever struggled with anxiety, gut issues like IBS, or felt spiritually exhausted by rigid meditation practices, this conversation offers a refreshing, experiential path back to wholeness.Main Topics CoveredThe Four Natural Intelligences: Breaking down Somatic, Emotional, Creative, and Strategic intelligence, and how they work like tuned guitar strings in your daily life.Overcoming Physical & Mental Disconnection: How somatic awareness and posture work can help heal chronic issues like IBS and anxiety.Dzogchen & Tantra in Practice: Why higher Buddhist teachings are about relationship, embodiment, and letting your natural wisdom emerge rather than isolating yourself as a monk.Unlocking Creative Intelligence: Conquering the fear of public speaking, singing, and dancing by stepping into vulnerability and trusting the flow.The Future of Human Connection: Why AI and technology make real human experiences, community, and somatic presence more vital than ever.Key TakeawaysYour Body Has Innate Intelligence: Healing is not about fighting your body or forcing a solution; it is about listening to the wisdom already trying to emerge.Spiritual Growth Happens in Relationships: True practice is not just sitting alone on a meditation cushion; it is tested and embodied in how you connect with the world.Embracing Discomfort Leads to Expansion: Growth happens when you step out of your head and allow yourself to be vulnerable through movement, dance, and authentic expression.Connect with the GuestWebsite: jasondemchok.comInstagram: @jason.demchokLinkedIn: Jason DemchokConnect with Julian RoyceYouTube: @AStateofMindPodcastSpotify: A State of Mind PodcastWebsite: AStateOfMindTherapy.comPatreon: patreon.com/astateofmindVenmo: @Julian-RoyceInstagram: @julianoceannMusic: SoundCloudSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsMyFeelium (Curated Nootropic & Mushroom Blends):MyFeelium combines ancient medicine with science backed nootropics and adaptogens. Discover their expertly tailored mushroom and herbal products:Get 20% Off MyFeeliumWebsite Password: opensesameDiscount Code for 20% off: julian20KA! Empathogenics (Kanna Blends): kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEEMR Tek (Blue Light Blocking): emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Premium Ural Mountain Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian on the site for 20% off)Please leave a thumbs up, comment, or subscribe on YouTube, and leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Sharing this episode with friends keeps our alternative mental health platform free!

Ever wonder why you suddenly shut down or push people away when things get close?In this episode of A State of Mind, host Julian Royce sits down with Reverend Bu Nan Brown: a Rinzai Zen priest, somatic attachment coach, and contemplative tea teacher. Together, they dive deep into how our earliest bonds form the subconscious "architecture of the mind," acting as a blueprint for how we handle love, fear, conflict, and safety.If you have ever found yourself abruptly shutting down during a disagreement, or panicking at the slightest hint of distance from a partner, this episode is a must-listen. Bu Nan breaks down the mechanics of somatic attachment repair, explains why our screens are driving a massive loneliness epidemic, and highlights the powerful intersection between Western attachment theory and Buddhist teachings.Main Topics CoveredThe Architecture of the Mind: How your attachment strategies are downloaded directly into your nervous system before you are two years old.The Daydreaming and Digital Trap: Why checking our phones 220 times a day feeds the left-brain ego while starving our right-brain capacity for true presence.Anxious vs. Avoidant Triggers: What actually happens to your biology during a fight, and why it takes a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes for your kidneys to clear stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.Western Attachment vs. Buddhist Non-Attachment: How secure attachment in the West and non-clinging in the East are actually two sides of the same coin: being fully open and resilient to reality.The Power of Co-Regulation: Why humans are biologically designed to soothe each other's nervous systems, and why the "lone cowboy" archetype is a recipe for chronic dysregulation.Adult Attachment Repair: Practical steps for repatterning early childhood conditioning using somatics, inner parts work, and compassion-based practices.Key TakeawaysIt is Not Your Fault: No one blames a two-year-old for their survival strategies. Recognizing that your relational defenses are automatic, multi-generational downloads is the first step to silencing your inner critic.Healing Changes the Whole System: You do not need your partner or entire family to change first. When just one person in a relational system starts doing attachment repair work, the entire family dynamic naturally begins to shift.True Security is Internal: Secure attachment is not just about finding the perfect partner; it is about cultivating a loving, open-hearted connection with yourself and life itself.Connect with the GuestWebsite: bunanbrown.comThe Tea House: BoulderTeaHut.orgInstagram: @bunan_brownConnect with Julian RoyceYouTube: @AStateofMindPodcastSpotify: A State of Mind PodcastWebsite: AStateOfMindTherapy.comPatreon: patreon.com/astateofmindVenmo: @Julian-RoyceInstagram: @julianoceannMusic: SoundCloudSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsMyFeelium (Curated Nootropic & Mushroom Blends):MyFeelium combines ancient medicine with science backed nootropics and adaptogens. Discover their expertly tailored mushroom and herbal products:Get 20% Off MyFeeliumWebsite Password: opensesameDiscount Code for 20% off: julian20KA! Empathogenics (Kanna Blends): kaempathogenics.com/JULIANROYCEEMR Tek (Blue Light Blocking): emr-tek.com/JULIAN90864Premium Ural Mountain Shilajit: astateofmindpodcast.com (Message Julian on the site for 20% off)Please leave a thumbs up, comment, or subscribe on YouTube, and leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Sharing this episode with friends keeps our alternative mental health platform free!