Undercurrents with Benji Block

Is certainty really the goal of faith?In this video, I share my personal journey from growing up as a missionary kid and building a church… to questioning the role certainty played in my identity.For years, I believed stronger faith meant stronger certainty.But when my prayers began to feel like they were “hitting the ceiling,” I started asking harder questions about belief, doubt, religion, and what it means to pursue truth honestly.This isn’t an attack on Christianity or religion.It’s a reflection on how defending beliefs can sometimes limit curiosity — and how letting go of certainty made me feel lighter, more open, and more alive.If you’re wrestling with deconstruction, faith transitions, doubt, or rethinking your worldview, this conversation is for you.⸻In This Video: • Growing up as a missionary kid and becoming a “professional Christian” • The moment my certainty started to crack • Why defending beliefs felt personal • The psychology of in-groups and identity • Thousands of religions… what are the odds? • The butterfly metaphor (and why pinning it down kills it) • The elephant in the dark room • Why curiosity might be more powerful than certainty • Letting go of certainty without losing sincerityIf this resonates with you, comment below — where are you in your journey with faith, doubt, or certainty?And if you want more conversations about belief, identity, meaning, and the deeper undercurrents shaping culture, subscribe and join the community.

This video is a reaction to a recent Rich Roll Podcast episode featuring performance coach and author Brad Stulberg (The Way of Excellence).In that conversation, they discuss Kobe Bryant’s mindset — and one idea in particular stood out to me: why playing to “learn” instead of playing to win might be the key to long-term resilience.It got me thinking about something deeper:Why does ambition — the very thing that drives success — often make us psychologically fragile?In this video, I react to key moments from the Rich Roll episode and explore:• Why high performers often tie their identity and self-worth to one outcome• The hidden connection between ambition and burnout• How over-identifying with your career, success, body, or belief system creates instability• What Kobe Bryant understood about curiosity and mental toughness• Why building your entire life around one “room” can lead to identity collapseIf you’ve ever built your identity around your job, your success, your faith, your reputation, or your performance — this conversation is for you.This isn’t anti-ambition.It’s about building ambition on something stronger.Topics covered: ambition, identity, burnout, high performance psychology, Kobe Bryant mindset, Rich Roll Podcast reaction, Brad Stulberg, mental resilience, personal development, and building a meaningful life.

Benji and Dave close the Rediscover mini-series with a powerful exploration of curiosity through the lives of eight remarkable people who followed their questions and changed the world.From the Indian “Mountain Man” who carved a road through stone, to Marie Curie’s relentless pursuit of discovery, to a 16-year-old cleaning the world’s oceans... each story is a window into what happens when wonder meets persistence.What starts as storytelling becomes an invitation: to notice where curiosity might be calling you next, to live more open-handedly, and to remember that it’s never too late to begin again.We explore:• How curiosity transforms pain into purpose• The surprising link between grief, play, and innovation• Why great change often begins with a single “what if?”• What divergent thinking looks like in real life• The universal invitation to rediscover goodness⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? Try the 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters:https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-d⸻Support the ShowIf this series spoke to you, subscribe, share it with a curious friend, and stay tuned — more conversations are on the way.As always, it’s a good world out there. Stay curious.

Dave guides Benji through a creative coaching session on divergent thinking, communication, and the subtle ways shame shapes our ability to express ourselves honestly. What begins as a playful exercise in “thinking differently” turns into a revealing look at how creativity, relationships, and emotional safety intersect. From unpacking passive-aggressive patterns at home to discovering how curiosity dissolves shame, this conversation explores what it really means to strengthen your “divergent thinking muscle.”It’s an invitation to experiment with how you think, speak, and show up — not perfectly, but courageously.We explore:• Why creativity isn’t a gift, it’s a muscle you can train• How shame shuts down imagination (and how to quiet it)• Divergent thinking exercises you can practice anytime• How play and presence open new paths in communication• The link between emotional safety and creative freedom• Why the best ideas start with permission to be wrong⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com/⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters:https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-d…⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share it with a curious friend.

In this episode of the Rediscover mini-series, Benji coaches Dave through values alignment, regret, and the continuum of motivation—from punishment and reward to deeply held values.What begins as a reflective exercise unfolds into a vulnerable, honest exploration of how internal clarity shapes external decisions. From Dave’s early journey launching the Center for Play & Exploration to Benji’s personal story of rediscovery after depression, this conversation invites you to ask: What’s really driving you? And what kind of life are you actually building?This is a session about reconnecting with what matters most and realizing that alignment doesn’t have to wait 10 years, it can start today.We explore:• The 4-stage continuum of motivation (and where most people get stuck)• Why values are a more sustainable driver than goals• How regret reveals what we truly value• The power of lightness, presence, and curiosity• What it means to live a “whole” life• How to create a metaphorical big table—and invite others to it⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching email: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com/⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters:https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-d…⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with a curious friend.

In this episode of the Rediscover mini-series, Benji and Dave sit down with pediatric physician and educator Dr. Andy McCormick to explore how play, divergent thinking, and freedom to fail are reshaping what it means to be a professional, especially in high-stakes fields like medicine.From the firehose of medical training to the hidden rules of expertise, Andy shares how physicians are formed into siloed thinkers—and why rediscovering exploration, slowing down, and thinking together changes everything. This isn’t about being unserious. It’s about unlocking better care, healthier teams, and more human leadership.We explore:• Why expertise can unintentionally narrow how we think• The tension between performance, precision, and presence• How “freedom to fail” actually improves outcomes• What happens when teams use divergent thinking to solve problems• The surprising power of rest, curiosity, and outside voices• How play builds connection, safety, and collective intelligence⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching email: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com/⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters:👉 https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-d…⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with a curious friend.

In the fourth episode of this Rediscover mini-series, Benji and Dave dive into how play, fun, and work have been misdefined and how reclaiming their true meaning can restore your energy, creativity, and purpose. From playground rules to performance culture, this episode is both philosophical and practical, asking: What if play was never the opposite of work, but the foundation of it?We explore:• The cultural myths we inherited about play and fun• Why adult life often feels like a performance trap• The surprising difference between fun and play• The link between play and purposeful work⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching email: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com/⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters:👉 https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-d...⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with a curious friend.⸻Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Rules, Rebellion, and Redefinition04:17 What Is Play—Really?07:45 The Distortion of Fun in Adult Life11:06 Why Work and Play Got Separated14:44 Performative Culture and Earning Your Worth19:02 Curiosity as Resistance24:35 Redefining Success Through Play30:28 Play as a Path to Presence35:51 The Cost of a Life Without Play40:16 How to Reclaim Play (Without Quitting Your Job)46:29 Final Reflections and Encouragement⸻Resources Mentioned:• Finite and Infinite Games by James Carse• The Power of Play by David Elkind• The Rediscovery Journal: https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-d...

In the third episode of this Rediscover mini-series, Benji and Dave tackle the big question: Is the world fundamentally good? And share why how you answer that question colors everything else in your life. This honest and layered conversation navigates existential doubt, quiet despair, and the strange comfort of choosing to see life as meaningful, even in the midst of adversity. We explore:• What it means to ask “Is goodness running things?”• Why despair is so quietly normalized• The difference between optimism and hope• How to stay grounded when the world feels like it’s burning• Why the choice to trust goodness is radical• What full restoration really means• Why this question might shape your whole life⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching email: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters:https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-day-rediscovery-journal-6ro0⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with a curious friend.⸻Timestamps:00:00 – Opening: Is Goodness Running Things?04:45 – Living in a Burning Building09:32 – Cosmic Hope vs. Comfortable Numbness14:05 – The Background Hum of Despair18:47 – What Gen Z Is Feeling (and Asking)24:14 – Dancing Through Doubt and Despair30:10 – The Role of Imagination in Resistance36:50 – Is Justice Just Punishment?

“You Don’t Grow Out of Curiosity—You’re Educated Out of It.”In the second episode of this Rediscover mini-series, Benji and Dave take a deep dive into how school, shame, and the inner critic shape our relationship to curiosity, risk-taking, and divergent thinking. You’ll hear stories about childhood embarrassment, fake Social Security numbers, monsters under the bed, and the atrophied muscles of adult imagination.We explore: • Why your inner critic might sound like a fourth-grade teacher • How school can accidentally kill innovation • Why most adults stop asking questions • The truth behind Sir Ken Robinson’s research on 5-year-old geniuses • How to train the muscle of divergent thinking • Why mocking the voice of shame might be the secret to boldness⸻About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or for coaching email: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: https://www.playandexploration.com/⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters: https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-day-rediscovery-journal-6ro0⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with a curious friend.⸻Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Facing Your Inner Critic00:06 The Impact of Early Experiences00:50 Personal Stories of Embarrassment and Growth08:21 The Role of Education in Shaping Curiosity08:56 Understanding Divergent Thinking00:06 The Muscle of Curiosity and Innovation18:31 Overcoming the Inner Critic26:20 Understanding Resistance26:45 The Power of Taking Action27:35 Facing the Monster Under the Bed28:14 Naming and Embracing the Monster30:03 The Importance of Honesty and Vulnerability33:44 The Value of Admitting Ignorance37:54 Transforming Fear into Curiosity48:52 Exploring Regrets and Inner Critic52:15 Final Thoughts and Encouragement⸻Resources Mentioned • Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk: Do Schools Kill Creativity? • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield • The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink

This is the first episode in the "Rediscover" mini-series! Our goal for this inaugural conversation is to bring a rapid-fire series of surprising ideas, images, stories, reflections... all designed to wake you up to the wonder already embedded in the world around (and within) you.If you’re in a creative rut, in the middle of a major life pivot, or looking for a shot of curiosity, this episode is a reminder: the world is good, packed with hidden goodness, and worth rediscovering.⸻ In this episode: • Curiosity as a spiritual practice • Art that causes riots, and desserts that defy logic • Why beetles made Dave angry (and then transformed his life) • The mystery of a caterpillar that turns into a snake • The power of the effort paradox and beautiful limits • Why rediscovery isn’t about adding more, it’s about seeing differently⸻👋 About the Hosts:Benji Block helps people rediscover their core values and build lives of clarity and meaning.Connect on LinkedIn or email: [email protected] Bindewald is the founder of The Center for Play & Exploration, helping teams and individuals reawaken creativity and divergent thinking.Connect at: www.playandexploration.com/⸻Grab the Rediscovery JournalWant to go deeper? We created a 5-day reflection journal to spark curiosity and rediscover what matters: https://www.myundercurrents.com/p/5-day-rediscovery-journal-6ro0⸻Support the ShowIf this conversation sparked something for you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment, and share this with a curious friend.⸻TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Rediscovering Curiosity02:15 – “Each of these could be a dissertation”04:30 – The Real Voyage of Discovery: New Eyes06:15 – Losing sight of the shore (Andre Gide quote)08:25 – For creatives in a rut (why wonder matters)10:48 – Beetles, anger, and awe15:55 – The Aggravation Beetle18:40 – Desert bloom: unnecessary beauty in Chile22:20 – Mariana Trench & terrifying threadtails26:55 – Lakes inside oceans: brine pools explained30:18 – Why this wonder actually matters34:30 – Curiosity as internal + external practice37:45 – Tardigrades, mushrooms & mind-bending organisms42:10 – From architecture to desserts: art as play44:15 – Long-shot filmmaking & creative limits48:25 – Live comet footage & awe in space51:40 – A secret cave with its own weather system56:00 – Hidden goodness vs performative beauty58:30 – Alan Watts on dancing through life1:02:10 – Steph Curry and the Effort Paradox1:05:00 – Michelin stars & curiosity in cuisine1:07:30 – Snake-mimic caterpillar (WHAT IS THAT?)1:09:40 – Quantum entanglement + entangled humans?1:13:10 – The big invitation: Rediscovering the wonder you forgot