Ryan Vaughn is a three-time startup founder turned executive coach at Inside Out Leadership. Ryan discusses the challenges tech people face in accessing spiritual concepts and introduces tools to understand the psychological development process. He shares his journey from aspiring basketball player to founder, his battles with addiction, and the profound identity crisis that led to his exploration of spirituality. Ryan talks about his meditative practices, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and practical advice for founders looking to integrate mindfulness into their hectic lives. Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or a curious beginner, this conversation offers insights into aligning personal growth with professional success. 00:00 Intro01:47 Ryan's Journey from Startup Founder to Coach05:44 The Challenges and Transformations of a CEO07:53 Transitioning to a New Identity and Career11:18 Coaching Founders Through Their Journey15:01 Exploring Spiritual Practices and Psychedelics21:22 Interweaving Spirituality with Foundership32:46 Integrating Meditation into Daily Life37:02 Meditation as a Tool for Organizational Change41:18 Resources for Meditation and Mindfulness46:04 Authenticity in Leadership51:29 Balancing Ego and Vulnerability53:02 Practical Meditation Techniques for Founders57:34 Final Thoughts and Advice for Busy Founders

Stephen Zerfas is the co-founder & CEO of Jhourney, a tech startup scaling life-changing meditation with a data-driven approach.  Jhourney's mission is fascinating. The company helps novices experience "Jhana", a life-changing meditative state akin to MDMA without the drug, in under a week.  Stephen shares his personal journey from a struggling moment in life to mastering Jhanas, and explains how his company aims to make these profound states accessible to millions. Learn about the science, methodology, and real-life impacts of Jhourney’s retreats, which combine modern technology with ancient practices. 00:00 Introduction to Jhourney03:06 Stephen's journey and Jhana experiences17:33 Starting Jhourney22:47 Retreat structure and techniques27:38 Future vision and technological integration31:33 Jhourney retreats vs others 33:21 Life-changing experiences and benefits33:53 Working smart in meditation36:40 Personal transformation stories40:37 Fun anecdotes from retreats45:06 Secularizing meditation practices54:27 Non-Duality 56:30 Advice for founders

Henry Shukman and Jack Shukman are the co-founders of The Way (thewayapp.com), a meditation app designed for those seeking a deeper meditation experience.Henry Shukman is an authorized Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage. Jack Shukman is the co-founder and CEO of The Way. Together, they embarked on a unique journey to create an app that offers a much more in-depth meditation practice than what is currently available. What happens when a Zen Master starts a tech startup? That’s exactly what Henry Shukman did. Together with his nephew, Jack, they launched The Way, an app that integrates Zen philosophy into its core. In this episode, we delve into the intersection of tech and meditation. Henry and Jack share how they infused Zen principles into their startup, discuss how a Zen Master would pitch to Silicon Valley VCs, and explore the importance of awakening for knowledge workers in tech. I also had the chance to ask Henry about his views on manifestation. I’m very grateful for this episode, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as well. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro04:00 - Why a Zen Master wants to start a meditation app10:12 - The founding story of ‘The Way’ meditation app17:15 - Awakening and non-duality23:00 - “Sales pitch” for Awakening: Why should founders meditate?32:00 - Is Awakening for everyone?41:32 - The Way’s four zones54:45 - Inside “The Way” the startup01:00:30 - Mission & metrics01:07:34 - TAM of meditation apps01:15:18 - Awakening and its impact on entrepreneurs01:36:34 - Manifestation and wealth: A Zen perspective01:39:01 - Advice for busy startup founders on meditation

Evgeny Shadchnev is a founder coach and the founder & ex-CEO of Makers Academy. Evgeny is also the author of Startup CEO Succession: A Founder's Guide to Leadership Transition.  In this Founder Meditations episode, Evgeny shares his work coaching founders to end suffering in the context of a busy startup life. The discussion touches on Evgeny's failed Vipassana retreats, his wild story on psychedelics, and the role of mindfulness in personal well-being and professional development. Evgeny emphasizes the power of taking full responsibility for one's internal state for achieving happiness and well-being. 00:00 Intro01:43 Evgeny's journey as a founder 05:03 1st failed Vipassana retreat 10:01 Evgeny's spiritual journey 16:19 Transitioning from CEO to founder coach21:57 Wild psychedelics story 25:40 Recommended spiritual teachers & resources for founders 31:08 Applying meditation in founder coaching37:06 Insights into startup CEO succession 46:43 Evgeny's biggest insight 48:00 Coaching Elon Musk 51:36 Lightning round 57:23 Final thoughts on meditation and advice for founders

James Hu is the co-founder and CEO of Jobscan, a profitable, globally distributed startup. In this episode, James discusses the pressure of startup culture and how this led to a moment of reckoning about what truly matters in life. James’s turning point came with a one-year sabbatical from his own company (!) and a transformative 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, radically changing his approach to life, work, and leadership. James offers insights into the power of meditation, the importance of letting go of fear-based motivations, and how ancient wisdom can guide modern entrepreneurs toward a more peaceful and purpose-driven life. (00:00) Introduction (01:00) James’ First Startup (06:06) Founding Story of Jobscan (09:08) James’ 1-year Sabbatical (15:54) Discovering Meditation: A Journey to Inner Peace (18:52) The Profound Impact of a 10-Day Vipassana Meditation Retreat (26:41) Exploring the Depths of Pain and Equanimity (29:45) Diet and Sensory Changes Post-Retreat (32:35) Impact on Business and Management Style (33:51) Maintaining Meditation Practice and Its Benefits (35:36) Incorporating Meditation into Leadership and Decision-Making (42:23) Personal Growth and the Shift in Motivation (48:40) Finding Balance: Health as a New KPI (51:34) Advice for Founders (57:08) Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts

Chandan Lodha is the co-founder of CoinTracker, a top YC company with a $1.3B valuation.  Chandan is a startup founder who exemplifies how incorporating mindfulness practices can lead to significant worldly success. In this episode of Founder Meditations, Chandan delves into his journey through a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, highlighting the pivotal role his mindfulness practice has played in scaling CoinTracker to its status as a unicorn company. (00:00) Introduction  (01:33) Chandan’s Early Years  (08:02) Founding Story of CoinTracker (10:47) First Meditation Experience with Headspace  (14:43) Psychedelics: A Life-Changing Experience  (22:20) Chandan’s 10-Day Vipassana Retreat  (27:35) Applying Vipassana Learnings to Daily Life & Business  (30:09) Maintaining a Meditation Practice Post-Retreat (33:36) Recommendations for Startup Founders (34:18) Integrating Mindfulness into Startup Culture and Leadership (38:23) The Impact of Meditation on Decision-Making and Compassion (42:20) Meditation, Hiring Practices, and Team Dynamics (45:02) Correlation Between Meditation and Performance (50:24) Personal Growth and Startup Motivation Through Mindfulness (54:10) Founders losing motivation after deep meditation experiences  (58:09) Lightning Round

Michael Shuffett is the founder & CEO of Compose AI, an AI startup backed by Y Combinator, Sequoia, and Craft Ventures. In this episode of Founder Meditations, Michael shares his multifaceted journey from academia and martial arts to the entrepreneurial world, emphasizing how meditation, lucid dreaming, and spirituality profoundly influence his personal and professional life. *Alert* This can be a fairly esoteric episode, as Michael & Weiting, being scientifically minded tech founders, discuss lucid dreaming and out-of-body experiences. (00:00 Introduction (05:00) Michael’s Early Career and Projects (07:25) How Michael Started Compose AI (12:15) Michael’s Spiritual Journey (16:35) Exploring Lucid Dreaming and Out-of-Body Experiences (33:51) Understanding Ego and Self-Identity (49:42) Understanding Ego and Identity (50:30) Experiencing Egolessness (52:46) The Power of Fluid Identity (54:05) The Dangers of Misaligned Identity (56:28) Exploring the State of Non-Duality (56:56) The Concept of Self in Meditation (01:00:56) The Human Mind as a Language Model (01:08:25) The Impact of Meditation on Entrepreneurship (01:11:33) The Role of Morality in a Simulated Universe (01:18:40) The Importance of Meditation for Founders (01:29:49) Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Yura Riphyak is the founder of YouTeam and Heart. Yura is a Y Combinator alum and serial entrepreneur who has founded 4 companies since 2010.  In this episode of Founder Meditations, Weiting & Yura discussed the integration of mindful practices into their day-to-day operations and decision-making as founders, investigating how this shifts viewpoints on success, fulfillment, and how they approach challenges.  (00:00) Introduction(01:50) Yura's Entrepreneurial Journey(12:11) Competition and Collaboration(21:41) War of Ukraine(33:16) Exploration of AI and Its Potential(45:18) Meditation and Its Role in Life(50:33) The Human Condition and Happiness(52:03) Mindfulness and Meditation(54:58) Sam Harris' Waking Up App (59:55) Role of Culture and Religion in Mindfulness(01:04:11) Intersection of Mindfulness and Startups(01:08:30) Impact of Mindfulness on Decision-Making(01:29:17) Role of Mindfulness in Leadership and Hiring(01:33:26) Reflecting on Yura's Personal Growth from Mindfulness

This is the inaugural episode of Founder Meditations, featuring Weiting the host himself! The purpose of the podcast is to interview startup founders and explore the intersection between entrepreneurship, mindfulness, and spirituality. Weiting shares his own spiritual journey, including his experiences with meditation and the impact it has had on his life. Weiting is a startup founder and spiritual finder.  (00:04) Introduction(01:41) Weiting's Spiritual Journey(02:05) Ray Dalio got me started(04:47) Benefits of Meditation(06:17) Suffering(07:10) Life-changing Books: Anthony de Mello's Awareness & Sam Harris' Waking Up(13:03) 10-day Vipassana Retreat(18:03) 1st Taste of Shift in Consciousness(20:47) Spiritual Teachers: Angelo Dillulo & Michael Taft (24:13) Quarterly Retreats (25:27) 2023 Summer Trips with Family (26:52) Life-Changing Trip back to SF  (29:04) Spontaneity, Surrendering, Synchronicity (35:07) Free Will(37:22) Spirituality x Entrepreneurship