The Metagame

Alex Zhu is a math olympian and researcher exploring the convergence of analytical rationality and religion. He’s also the co-founder of AlphaSheets. He’s currently working on a rigorous framework for bridging AI alignment and mysticism.Romeo Stevens is one of co-founders of the Qualia Research Institute and the founder of Mealsquares. He writes extensively about buddhism, pedagogy, skill development and psychotherapeutic modalities. You can find his work on his blog, Lesswrong and Twitter.In this episode, Alex and Romeo explore their disagreement around perennialism. The idea that all the world’s major religions are pointing to the same thing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Pranab Sachi is the co-founder of Attention Copilot, a service that blends meditation and therapy techniques with real-time productivity support. He applies non-dual teachings, IFS, somatic awareness, and emotional processing to help people experience deep work on demand. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Max Shen is a pain researcher with a background in computational cognitive science and degrees from MIT. After developing severe RSI in grad school, he devoted himself to understanding pain from the inside out. Remarkably, his pain was cut in half just from reading Dr. John Sarno's Healing Back Pain.Max’s work blends active inference, non-dual teaching, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy to create practical, self-guided tools for lasting pain relief. He’s also the creator of DebugYourPain.org.Resources:* Max Shen’s Substack (Debug Your Pain)'* To find out about Max’s coaching, see here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Connirae Andreas is a living legend in the world of personal development and NLP. She’s best known for creating Core Transformation, a parts-work modality that follows troubling feelings to discover what they ultimately want for you. This leads to “core states” like peace or wholeness and allows change to unfold naturally without effort or control.YouTube:Resources:* Core Transformation* The Wholeness Work* Related Episode: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Michael Stroe (@Plus3Happiness) is a phenomenologist and “happiness concierge.” Through a combination of the Buddhist Fetters & somatic practices, he’s allegedly reduced his suffering by ~90%. He claims to consistently live at 9/10 life satisfaction and has skillfully guided others into similar transformations. Today we demystify his journey and discuss concrete practices for oneshotting procrastination, reducing reactivity and permanently raising the floor of your happiness (seriously).Watch on YouTube:Transcript — Michael Stroe​[00:00:00] Daniel Kazandjian: Michael Stroe, welcome to the Metagame.Michael Stroe: Well, thank you for having me. How you doing?Daniel Kazandjian: I’m doing great. I’m really excited for this conversation. You famously, through a combination of Buddhist practices and somatic practices reduced your suffering by around 90%, whichMichael Stroe: Even more these days.Daniel Kazandjian: And now you’re teaching other people how to do that, which is fantastic. How did you figure that out? Like what, what’s the story there?Michael Stroe: As many great things happened by mistake, it’s a total mistake. I was on a more or less sabbatical in like 2023 in Barcelona. Uh, not in a great place in life, honestly.Daniel Kazandjian: Hmm.Michael Stroe: and towards the end of the trip, someone actually, someone that, someone being Frank Yang, which you might be familiar with,Daniel Kazandjian: Mm-hmm.[00:01:00] Michael Stroe: Shared, Kevin Schanilec’s website, which I’ve messaged, and he was very succinct as like, “try Liberation Unleashed” being a Liberation Unleashed being this forum for, for these practicesDaniel Kazandjian: Can you say that again? LiberationMichael Stroe: unleashed. Yes,Daniel Kazandjian: Unleashed. Yeah.Michael Stroe: Yes. And very quickly realize that the way they’re doing it is one practice at a time and it’s months of work. My ADHD Mind, uh, was like, yeah, but what if we do everything all at once? Um, instead of doing one practice at a time, I basically did eight of them daily for a couple of hours.’cause that’s how you do it. Uh, in a bunch of days I had a perceptual shift, which was very interesting, and a bit of a honeymoon for like two days. Uh, that was something that I found funny that um, some people speak of these, uh, awakenings or whatever in terms of like, oh, months of bliss. And I just had two days and on the second day I was in an airport delayed for like five hours, which I was chill about.[00:02:00] But that wasn’t necessarily like, whoa, I’m so alive. They’re like, yeah, that’s not happening. It was a bit better than usual. That perception shift coincided with a bit of a, what should I put it? Less? Uh, stress, let’s call it initially. ‘cause I didn’t know what was happening. Just less stress, less, uh, overthinking, less, chatter.And actually one of the, one of the few things that I found really interesting somehow coincided with great sleep. I don’t know how to explain it seconds to sleep.Daniel Kazandjian: Wow.Michael Stroe: I found it very interesting because I used to get like one hour, two hours, three hours to get to sleep. And I just have ideas and sit in bed for just 30 seconds. I was out and I’m like, okay, this is an interesting benefit. Not gonna lie. Uh, I don’t even care about all these benefits, I’m sleeping. Like that’s, that’s enough. And from then on I sort of returned to simply the scene, the, the initial website where I was guided, uh, to Liberation Unleashed.And I’ve done the practices on attachment and version. Okay.[00:03:00] And I should mention that immediately after stream entry, which would be the first shift that I had where it kind of, you notice that there’s just the body mind, there’s no little guy driving this, uh, body around. Um, you start to be aware of the fact that you kind of don’t like a lot of the things that are happening.You’re trying to pull out experience to such an extent. And, I had 10, 15 years of anxiety and other things on and off. Um, when I started looking at them, uh, I sort of noticed that I had a sort of a version towards so many things even after the first shift in like two more weeks had another one where, oh, like I, my, my, like that was the point where anxiety got reduced both in size and intensity and that was a big deal, even more of a big deal than the first one. ‘cause the first one is, like I said, it was nice, I was sleeping better, but also realizing how much you hate your experience,[00:04:00] let’s call it, put it into a certain perspective and realize that from whatever anxiety I used to have or whatever intensity, it went down by like 60, 70%, at least in duration.Michael Stroe: One of the things I’ve noticed is actually, I used to have anxiety for days and weeks at a time about some stupid thing, or in general, like a generalized anxiety. And I realized that I couldn’t. Get anxiety going for more than 30 minutes. As in, if someone distracted me, I forgot I had anxiety, and I’m like, huh, do

Alex Zhu is a math olympian and researcher exploring the convergence of analytical rationality and religion. He’s also the co-founder of AlphaSheets. He’s currently working on a rigorous framework for bridging AI alignment and mysticism. In this conversation we explore about how he got into spirituality without sacrificing his rigorous epistemics.Resources* Alex’s Twitter and Substack* C. Langan – An Introduction to the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (2002) YouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Justin is the Chief Quant & Director of Analytics at MathAcademy.com (the best way to learn math). He optimizes learning efficiency in students’ brains with cutting edge cognitive psychology. He’s written extensively and passionately about “serious upskilling” and how to increase agency to benefit yourself and the world.Resources:* Justin’s Twitter and Website* That Paul Graham article on Identity* www.mathacademy.com* The Romeo Stevens conversationYouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Ever met someone whose presence is so clean and luminous it changes the energy of the room? That’s today’s guest.Jeff Lieberman is an artist, musician, MIT-trained scientist, and former host of Time Warp on Discovery Channel. His current work is on how human beings can find genuine freedom through emotional fluidity, consciousness, and connection. He co-founded Sleepawake, a transformational program that helps people break out of isolation by cultivating authentic, heart-centered relationships.Resources:* theopensource.life* sleepawake.camp* Jeff’s websiteYoutube:Jeff’s Map of Consciousness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

This is the first in person Metagame episode! Be sure to check out the video.Jonny Miller is a writer, nervous system coach and podcaster. We met at Edge Esmerelda where he facilitated a surprisingly psychoactive breathwork session. This episode is about the practicalities of feeling your feelings and unlatching patterns that have been governing your personality since childhood.Resources:* www.jonnymiller.co* www.nsmastery.com* “Secure attachment with reality”* Mike Johnson’s Latch TheoryYouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Chris Barber is an entrepreneur/researcher. He co-founded an executive coaching marketplace for startups, and a place for engineers to discover good startups to join. His primary focus is AI preparation & emotional regulation. He’s the inventor of a simple but highly effective method for processing emotions called Resonance. It’s a way of speaking that helps others regulate their emotions and feel better. In this episode he teaches us how to do it.Resources:* Chris Barber’s twitter (DMs encouraged!)* A guide to ResonanceYouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Dr. Tucker Peck is a meditation teacher, clinical psychologist, and bestselling author. He studied meditation with Sharon Salzberg and Upasaka Culadasa (John Yates). Tucker’s first book, Sanity and Sainthood, debuted as a #1 bestseller in 2025. A former professor, he is the founding director of the scholarship fund Open Dharma Foundation, and co-host of the podcast Teaching Meditation. He lives in Alameda, California, an island in the San Francisco Bay. You can read more about Tucker here.Resources:* Sanity and Sainthood: Integrating Meditation and Psychotherapy* Tucker’s TwitterYouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Daniel Thorson spent 5 years in residential training at The Monastic Academy with 2 years in cumulative silent retreat. He has decades of deep engagement with contemplative practice, systems theory, and transformative work. He’s also the beloved host of The Emerge Podcast and writes at The Intimate Mirror, where he’s exploring how people can develop a secure attachment with reality.Resources:* Spirituality is Secure Attachment with Reality* AI for Emotional Unfolding* Steve March on Self-Improvement vs Self-unfoldment* https://x.com/dthorsonYouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Rich Bartlett helps people grow high-trust communities & decentralized organizations. He’s the co-founder the community building network Microsolidarity, and non-hierarchical management consultancy The Hum. He also co-runs Fight Wise an online course about developing courage in your relationships, standing up for yourself, skillfully navigating conflicts, and asking for what you want.Resources:* Improvise for Real* Keith Jarret* Fight Wise: Find Your Backbone* People mentioned: Guy (RivalVoices), Visakan, Romeo Stevens, Vivid VoidYouTube: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Brooke Bowman is the founder of Vibecamp. She also runs events to help foster connection and social cohesion such as Ms. Bowman's School for the Socially Inept, and The Network Society Camp. For nearly a decade before that, she was in an affair with heroin. Her mental and physical health declined slowly at first, then plummeted, leaving her sleeping on the streets of Los Angeles for two and a half years. Then came a series of insights that led her to essentially rewire her own brain. Resources:* Brooke’s Twitter* vibe.camp* Brooke’s talk at The Network State Conference* Bowman’s School for the Socially Inept This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Romeo Stevens is one of co-founders of the Qualia Research Institute and the founder of Mealsquares. He writes extensively about buddhism, pedagogy, skill development and psychotherapeutic modalities. You can find his work on his blog, Lesswrong and Twitter.Resources:* Romeo’s Twitter* Neurotic Gradient Descent (Romeo’s blog)* Math Academy * Practiceopedia (out of print music practice book)YouTube link 👇 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Dr. Tataryn is a long-time meditator (47+ years) and founder of the Bio-Emotive Framework. He conducts seminars in integral theory, sports psychology, and the integration of psychology and spirituality. He also hosts emotional clearing workshops intensives around North America. His is presently working with advanced meditators and spiritual teachers on balancing life after enlightenment, using his own version of the Four Facets (integral) Model of Human Transformation.Resources:* The Bio-emotive Framework* Doug’s viral pinned Tweet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Stephen Zerfas is the CEO and cofounder of Jhourney — a startup that targets specific meditative states known as jhanas using novel teaching methods and technology. Their first product is a week-long meditation retreat that’s won hyperbolic testimonials from tech executives and engineers (e.g. OpenAI, DeepMind). Most participants learn to enter states previously thought to require thousands of hours of practice in under 40 hours.Resources:* jhourney.io This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Soryu Forall is an ordained Zen Buddhist monk and the guiding teacher at the Monastic Academy for the Preservation of Life on Earth (MAPLE) in Vermont. With over two decades of intensive monastic training, Forall was ordained in 1998 by Zen Master Shodo Harada at Sogen Temple in Japan. He has since trained in monasteries across India, Tibet, and China, and draws on various spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, Native American practices, and Quaker teachings.Resources:* The Monk Who Thinks the World is Ending - The Atlantic* Buddhism for AI Course* monasticacademy.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Andrés is the Co-founder and President of the Qualia Research Institute (QRI). He has a Master’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in computational models from Stanford and a professional background in graph theory, statistics, and affective science. His work at QRI ranges from algorithm design, to psychedelic theory, to neurotechnology development, to mapping and studying the computational properties of consciousness. Andrés blogs at qualiacomputing.com.Resources:* qri.org* Andrés on Twitter* 4D Rotation Visualizer* Chanca Piedra for kidney stones* Arthur Juliani’s research* Mike Johnson’s Vasocomputation Paper This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Michael Edward Johnson is a philosopher, neuroscientist and entrepreneur. He’s the author of Principia Qualia and the co-founder of the Qualia Research Institute. He’s done pioneering work at the intersection of mathematics and consciousness studies, seeking to systematically map and measure subjective experiences. He writes at opentheory.net.Resources:* Principles of Vasocomputation: A Unification of Buddhist Phenomenology, Active Inference, and Physical Reflex* Thread on Wittgenstein, Normies and Wordcels* Quick model of jhana This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Dr. Marc Gafni has been described as a world philosopher, integrating wisdom from across multiple disciplines into what he has called a New Story of Value. He is the president of the Center for World Philosophy and Religion and has authored twelve books including Your Unique Self: The Radical Path to Personal Enlightenment. Today we talk about his latest book First Principles and First Values.Resources:* Amazon page for First Principles and First Values* Download Chapters 1-5 of First Principles First Values* Marc's Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Michael Edward Johnson is a philosopher, neuroscientist and entrepreneur. He’s the author of Principia Qualia and the co-founder of the Qualia Research Institute. He’s done pioneering work at the intersection of mathematics and consciousness studies, seeking to systematically map and measure subjective experiences.Resources:* Principles of Vasocomputation: A Unification of Buddhist Phenomenology, Active Inference, and Physical Reflex* Autism as a disorder of dimensionality* Qualia Formalism and a Symmetry Theory of Valence This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Steve Schlafman is a recovering venture capitalist and professional transition coach. In 2017 he made partner at a multi-billion dollar VC firm and then promptly walked away from it all. Now he helps high performers in midlife discover and manifest their next calling. He draws upon a range of disciplines and brings a very sensitive, compassionate approach to the question of how to live well. Steve is also a writer, podcaster and father.Resources* Where The Road Bends (Steve’s Substack)* www.schlaf.co* Steve’s Twitter* The Mind Illuminated* Jhourney (a startup that’s biohacking the jhanas) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Malcolm Ocean is a multitude-containing, wildman systems design expert who founded the productivity app Intend.do. It’s a tool that prioritizes intentionality over task management and provides a compelling counterpoint to David Allen’s Getting Things Done method. Malcolm also writes extensively about goal crafting, trust dynamics and group coordination. He’s great at combining big picture galaxy-brain thinking with uncompromising practicality.You can learn more about Malcolm on his website or follow him on Twitter.Resources:* Malcolm’s article on “Goal Allowing”* “Feral free agent chat” withvisakan veerasamyand others* Malcolm’s thread on the “do nothing” meditation This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Howard Bloom is an author and polymath. He was also a publicist in the 70s and 80s, running the biggest PR firm in the music industry. He helped build or sustain the careers of Michael Jackson, Prince, Bob Marley, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Queen, Kiss, Run DMC, ZZ Top, Joan Jett, Chaka Khan and 100 more. What’s his deal? He’s a student of ecstatic experiences. You can learn more about Howard on his website. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Today I talk to Wolf Tivy, the founder of Palladium Magazine. It’s a San Francisco-based publication that’s low-key coordinating the next generation of elites to do great things.Skip this episode if you don’t want to quit your job.Topics include:* Why you should quit your job.* Why civilization suffers from philosophical problems — not technical ones.* Why American technology basically stopped advancing in 1973.* “Pre-rational commitments” and how they rule your world.* Why today’s elites are uncoordinated and what that means for citizens.* Why psychedelics are haram.* What it takes to live your convictions and be a live player.Resources:* Quit Your Job This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Khe Hy is the Founder and CEO of RadReads, an online education company that helps professionals lead productive, examined and joyful lives. He used to be one of the youngest managing directors at Blackrock, outperforming other teams by teaching his analysts GTD. Now he teaches the popular cohort-based course Supercharge Your Productivity, using productivity as a trojan horse for existential inquiry.Khe is enchantingly candid and conspicuously kind. In this conversation, his presence gave me the permission to be more honest with myself. It will likely do the same for you.Topics include:* How Khe went from high-powered Wall Street MD to professional blogger, teacher and online creator* How “fuck it” moments tend to improve people’s lives (e.g. quitting your job)* How Khe’s team at Blackrock outperformed others because he taught them GTD* Why being a “tinkerer” is an insane competitive advantage* How having kids has radical effects on your experience of time* How samskaras (persistent emotional patterns) dictate your life and what to do about them* How to use the Enneagram test to identify your childhood wounds* Why “emotional solvency” is the real obstacle to financial freedom* Golden handcuffs and the fragility of never seeing your bank account go downCheck out Khe’s blog RadReads.co, his Twitter and his course Supercharge Your Productivity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

“The flinch is your real opponent, and information won't help you fight it. It's behind every unhappy relationship, every hesitation in your business life, every missed opportunity, and every regret you ever had." - Julien SmithJulien Smith is a serial tech entrepreneur and NYT best-selling author of the books Trust Agents and The Flinch. In 2012 he founded Breather a flexible real-estate company that raised over $150M. His latest venture is Practice, a tool for solopreneurs funded by a16z and Tony Robbins.In this episode we discuss Julien’s life and his highly practical, courage-inducing, stimulant-of-a-book The Flinch. Topics include:* On courage and The Big Life* Why people don’t do the things they claim they want to do* What is “the flinch” and how is it robbing you of our dreams?* How Seth Godin challenged Julien to create something he’d be in awe of (and how it made him mad)* The relationship between art and suffering* The primary quality that defines exceptional founders* Silicon Valley’s executive coaching secret* How to choose successful long-term projects and make big bets* How accepting discomfort engenders vitalityCheck out Julien’s Twitter and his company Practice.do. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Daniele Bolelli is martial artist, writer, professor, and host of History On Fire and The Drunken Taoist podcasts. He’s the author of several books on philosophy and he’s disarmingly down to earth.He also has a cool name and very smooth Italian accent.Topics include:* Real Philosophers vs Academic Philosophers.* The story of Ikkyu Sojun. An enlightened monk that loved sake and women.* How to deal with tragedy.* Foundational insights on parenting and being a good spouse.* What is sacred and what is profane? * How rituals can maintain sacredness.* Why kindness is the best measure of one’s philosophy.* Speculations on Nietzsche and his perspective on Love.* On being “life-affirming.” Why is it so important and why is it so hard?* The defiant power of gallows humour. Check out Daniele’s website and his Twitter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

This is probably the most inspiring conversation I’ve had all year.Fen de Villiers turns blocks of stone into powerful art. Just look at this. He willed it out of stone. With. His. Hands.Fen studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. He’s on a mission to reinvigorate sculpture to its most vital and energetic form. Maybe you’ll be reinvigorated too.Topics include:* How do you even become a fine art sculptor?* What makes art energizing? Why is most contemporary art the opposite?* Cultural vitality and it’s relationship to physical vitality* Modernism, art deco, futurism and vorticism* How western culture forgot how to celebrate life (and became a death cult)* Why now is the best time to create a new artistic movement* The revolutionary act of simply making things* How Fen has been shunned by the current art scene* Why Duchamp’s Urinal was legitimate art at the time (but wouldn’t be today)* How Fen stays motivated to wake up every day and make thingsResources:* Fen’s Manifesto for Aesthetic Invigoration This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Political philosopher and sociologist Daniel Görtz is a leader of "the Nordic school" of metamodernism. He co-authored The Listening Society and The Nordic Ideology under the pseudonym Hanzi Freinacht. Today we discuss his new “self-help” book with the working title “12 Better Rules for Life (and beyond).”Topics include:* The subtle art of sublime mediocrity* Why Rule #2 is “Fuck like a beast”* Why Jesus was right and how secular people can learn from that* What is post-postmodernism?* The life-changing practice of Rogerian listening* A necessary steelman of critical race theory and modern feminism* Why feminist forums descend into language-policing* How to improve your default levels of contentment (from a 7 to an 8)* Where Jordan Peterson went wrong with post-modernism* Why playfulness is essential* A big spoiler on the book (and a key secret to living well)Resources:* https://metamoderna.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

A personal hero. David Allen needs no introduction.He’s the undisputed father of modern productivity. He literally created the category with his world-renowned book Getting Things Done: The art of Stress-Free Productivity. This method has already influenced your world by shaping Silicon Valley’s design ethos and products. GTD is also used by Jeff Beszos, Oprah Winfrey, Howard Stern, Robert Downey Jr and others.Topics include:* What David Allen learned from coaching the world’s top performers.* Why you’re probably addicted to ambient anxiety.* A smooth introduction to the 5 steps of GTD.* How Daniel re-discovered GTD when taking 6.4g of psychedelic mushrooms.* Why it’s so important to incorporate input from your subconscious mind.* Why GTD is not actually about getting things done…* How to apply GTD to teams (and David’s upcoming book on the topic).* How David get’s back to GTD when he’s “fallen off.”* The relationship between GTD and mindfulness meditation.* How productivity relates to embodied intuition.* David Allen’s life purpose.Resources:* Want to master GTD? Book a call with Daniel here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Rebecca Fox is a ritualist and artist. She re-enchants modern people through embodied psycho-spiritual practices that level up their lives. She also used to be a literal witch. Then she studied Critical Thinking™️ and dabbled in Atheism. Now she’s something else entirely... Perhaps a shaman for the modern age.Topics include:* What happens when an Atheist takes Ayahuasca?* Rebecca’s journey from Wiccan to Skeptic to Radical Agnostic.* Why radical agnosticism is the best foundation for personal transformation.* What even is a “liminal space?”* What is a ritual? Why are they needed?* Unlocking your creativity be encountering the divine (without beliefs).* More practices for building your will.* Dreams! What to do with them.* Daniel does a somewhat embarrassing live ritual (YouTube version only).Resources:* Book a ritual consultation with Rebecca* A Ritual to Banish Demons (the one we did live) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Sebastian Marshall brings the mentality of an athlete to knowledge work.He’s a cutting edge productivity expert and the CEO of Ultraworking — a company obsessed with making the nature of work better.Topics include:* Why you probably need “weird” practices to live the life you want.* The power of tracking everything you do with your time (and how to do it).* More evidence that everyone needs a gang.* Why religion might be the biggest productivity hack.* Death and its clarifying effects on your to do list.* Sebastian’s near death experiences and how they changed his life.* Why consciously designing your environment is mandatory in modernity.* How to improve the yield of philosophy.Resources:* ultraworking.com* On Heroes, Hero-Worship, & the Heroic in History - Thomas Carlyle* Daniel’s favourite Ultraworking tool for tracking practices This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Zak Stein. Is a writer, educator and futurist. He’s working to bring a greater sense of sanity and justice to education.He has a background in philosophy, educational neuroscience, human development, and the philosophy of education. While a student at Harvard, he co-founded what would become Lectica, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to the research-based, justice-oriented reform of large-scale standardized testing in K-12, higher-education, and business.Topics include:* Why the current moment demands a new kind of civilization.* Why love is an ontological truth and not just random chemicals firing in your brain.* What even is metaphysics? How is it directly related to your daily, personal life?* Why Nick Land, Sam Harris and Yuval Noah Harari are deeply confused.* “Would you teach this to your child?” as a litmus test for true beliefs.* Eros and vitality.* The missing piece of the prisoner’s dilemma.* The major advantage angels always have over demons.Resources:* Love In A Time Between Worlds: On the Metamodern “Return” to a Metaphysics of ErosListen on Spotify or Apple. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Listen on Spotify or Apple.A blistering white-pill of a conversation.Uberboyo is an Irish storyteller and YouTuber who’s “finishing what Nietzsche started.” He’s also a highly practical Jungian who’s operationalized the most actionable insights from Carl’s works on individuation. Topics include:* “The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.” - Thucydides* Practical steps for Jungian individuation.* Building your life around your fears to get unlimited motivation.* A Nietzschean understanding of Andrew Tate and why he’s the most infamous man of 2022.* The burgeoning warrior class of biohacking artists that will reclaim Western culture.* Exhilarating white-pills on the future of humanity.Resources:* Uberboyo’s YouTube Channel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Listen on Spotify or Apple.Cadell Last is a mensch. An extra-academic PhD philosopher with the mentality of an athlete. He takes embodied integrity seriously and teaches in a disarmingly practical, personal manner. He’ll rarely share a philosophical idea without describing how it personally changed his life.He also has a formal background in anthropology, history and psychoanalysis. He’s on a deep spiritual and analytical inquiry, which includes psychoanalysis, men’s work, circling, and the realization of how sexual energy informs knowing. Topics include:* Why “the personal is universal” and also the best way to learn philosophy.* Why you should never trust a thought you have indoors.* How sexual energy informs knowing.* What Nietzsche meant by The Last Man, why he’s arrived and why you now must take cold showers.* What it means to be an Overman/Übermensch.* Psychoanalytic descriptions of masculinity and femininity. * The Phallus. Wat means? Why is modernity a challenge to phallic energy?* Why the most important thing anyone can do is come to terms with their own death. Right now.* The deep, psychoanalytic similarities between Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson.Resources:* Philosophy Portal. ← Cadell’s online school.* Cadell’s YouTube channel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Pure magic. This conversation completely re-enchanted my life.Bonnitta Roy is an organizational futurist, meta-modern philosopher and horse whisperer. She teaches insight practices for individuals who are developing meta-cognitive skills. She also served as the President of the National Qigong Association and has lived with horses for the last 30 years.Her teachings highlight the embodied, affective and perceptual aspects of the core self, and the non-egoic potentials from which subtle sensing, intuition and insight emerge.Topics include:* Why the meaning crisis is actually the disembodiment crisis.* The major blindspot common to western philosophy, Buddhism and new-age spirituality.* The spatial metaphors that hold us back from seeing reality for what it is.* Why Nietzsche was right about the body and the “dead-end” of western philosophy.* Why you don’t need to worry about free will.* How thought is actually the animation of the body.* A simple, hopeful solution to the metacrisis.* B’s experience with Qigong and communicating with horses.* How horses can “read your mind.”* The REAL reason why Nietzsche had psychotic break and hugged a horse.Resources* Bonnitta’s Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

The tendency to hedge is a modern disease. This rich discussion re-inspired me to go all-in with my life.Daniel Thorson is dedicated to monastic practices and lives at The Monastic Academy in Vermont — a wisdom institution that trains trustworthy people. At the start of the 2020 pandemic, he became an overnight focus of media attention after he emerged from a silent retreat and tweeted, “I’m back from 75 days in silence. Did I miss anything?” His unique experience was featured by The New York Times. He’s also the host of The Emerge Podcast.This is a conversation about sacrifice, wisdom, dedication, and practice.Topics include:* Why the most important thing everyone can do right now is come to terms with death.* What it takes to create a trustworthy person.* The MAPLE practice model of Wisdom, Love and Power.* Why pure mindfulness practice might lead to “equanimity induced apathy.”* How to change your friendships for life in 30 seconds (a practical exercise).* The critical need for a vibrant network of wisdom institutions.* Why you should be getting emotionally triggered regularly (and what to when it happens).* Where “masculinity” might fit in with wisdom institutions.* The uncomfortable importance of Hierarchy.* Why we need new archetypes to inspire transformation. Philosopher kings and warriors instead of quiet monks.* The significance of going all-in. Stop hedging. Fuck optionality.Resources:* Daniel Thorson’s Twitter. Reach out to him if you’re interested in The Monastic Academy.* The Monastic Academy (aka MAPLE) in Vermont. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Layman Pascal used to be a meditation and yoga teacher — but he’s feeling better now. He’s a post-metaphysical spiritual philosopher. That means he has the ability to re-enchant your experience of the world without triggering your inner skeptic. He also philosophizes about metamodernism, Integral Theory, nonduality, theology, shamanism, existential risk and politics.Topics include:* Layman’s extended peak experience that began at a bus stop* How to train your will with dreams, art and synchronicities* Shamanism and the harnessing of subconscious intelligence* The 3 proto-skills needed for an effective life of practice* How to generate a wisdom tradition (hint: you need art)* Why “self-discipline” is a misleading idea and what to do instead* How serving others is the best strategy for building self-esteem* How Andrew Huberman is inadvertently promoting a wisdom tradition* Adi Da’s “motivational hack”* Why so many experienced meditators seem soulless, un-vital and passive* Lucid dreaming* Layman’s daily practices* How to get started on this stuff even though it’s overwhelmingResources:* Layman Pascal’s Substack* The Practice Problem This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Alex Ebert is a Golden Globe-winning singer-songwriter and composer. He is best known for being the lead singer and songwriter for the bands Ima Robot and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. He is also a philosopher, exploring ideas around death, self-hood, creativity, media, status anxiety and coolness.Topics include:* Alex’s creative process (i.e. meeting the daemon)* Why memes have made everyone into philosophers* That time when Alex got too meta for Bono and Robert Redford* The perils of success and how it tempts you to be formulaic* Status anxiety and the philosophy of cool* Why “selling out” stopped being a thing around the year 2000* Death initiations and managing death anxiety* Why you need a gang with a shared mission* Why society is perfectly primed for virtue to become cool* How wokeness acts as a shield for capitalism* The benefits of having a stoic conversation partner* Alex’s anxiety-inducing ritual before going on stageResources:* The dancing man at Sasquatch Festival* Alex Ebert’s Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Guy Sengstock is the founder and creator of the Circling™ Method. He has been facilitating transformation for individuals, groups and corporations internationally for more than 20 years. You can learn more about him at the Circling Institute and on his YouTube channel.Topics include:* What Circling is and how it came to be* How psychedelics down-regulate culture* How Circling engenders psychedelic states while sober* What it means to be “seen”* Why “intimacy is a function of your ability to tolerate anxiety”* A mini Circling practice to try yourself* Guy’s response to Curtis Yarvin spicy critique of circling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

This conversation broke me open.Andrew is a Practical Philosopher and Zen Buddhist who teaches people how to inquire into the things that matter most. This is a luminous, heartfelt journey about the deepest questions.Topics include:* why Andrew meditates for 6-10hrs a day* the hard limits of philosophy * what even is The Tao* Andrew’s taxonomy for the different flavours of meditation* misconceptions about the self and freewill* why tantra isn’t about sexual gymnastics* the fundamental reason why we all suffer (and what to do about it)* why enlightened gurus still do bad things* what it means to "open your heart" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

John Vervaeke is an award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto in Psychology, Cognitive Science and Buddhist Psychology. His academic interests include wisdom, mindfulness, the meaning crisis, relevance realization, general intelligence and rationality.Topics include:* why going meta can be bad for intimacy* why Love is more important than Reason* what even is Wisdom? * the 4 types of knowing* how to get Gen Zs less addicted to Instagram (and more interested in becoming wise) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com