In this insightful episode of Unmapped, Mike and Jock delve into resilience, self-belief, the intense personal journey of an all-in entrepreneur and Jock's new project, Community VC. Jock discusses his philosophy of integrating work with life and his unshakable internal motivation, sharing personal stories of overcoming adversity and rebuilding confidence over six years.

We explore the innovative model of Community VC, which focuses on collaborative due diligence and advisor support for early-stage startups. Jock also talks about his commitment to helping overlooked 'diamonds in the rough,' the importance of diversity and long-term support, and his strategies for staying grounded amid challenges.

The episode concludes with Jock's vision for the future, his approach to investing, and his unwavering dedication to fostering successful founders and impactful businesses globally.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

01:25 Work Ethic and Internal Motivation

02:59 Community VC and Personal Philosophy

05:13 Daily Routine and Self-Awareness

10:22 Creativity and Analytical Thinking

14:06 Failures and Lessons Learned

27:59 Rebuilding Confidence and Incremental Growth

42:51 The Journey to Community VC

47:31 The Open Due Diligence Experiment

49:48 Revolutionizing Early Stage Engagement

01:16:46 Personal Reflections and Future Vision

01:26:40 Final Thoughts

Jack Shukman is the co-founder and CEO of The Way, a pioneering meditation app designed to lead users on a structured journey of awakening and self-discovery. Having spent a decade in the corporate world of investment banking and strategy consulting, Jack experienced firsthand the high-paced, high-stress environments of top-tier consulting firms. Motivated by a desire for deeper meaning and fulfillment, he transitioned out of the corporate sphere and into the world of meditation.

Guided by his uncle, Henry Shukman, an esteemed Zen master and meditation teacher, Jack has began a deep journey of self-discovery into the nature of self, and the process of awakening. Together, they launched The Way with a mission to make the profound benefits of deep meditation practices accessible to everyone, regardless of their experience level.

Jack's journey from the boardrooms of London to the serene spaces of meditation underscores the transformative power of mindfulness and the pursuit of awakening. With The Way, Jack and Henry aim to provide a supportive, accessible, and enriching experience for all who seek to explore the depths of their own consciousness. This is an epic conversation - quite deep into the process of meditation and awakening. For anyone curious about their place in this universe, this one’s for you.

Download The Way from Apple or Google Play stores, and check out more details here: www.thewayapp.com

Your first 30 meditations are free - and I cannot recommend this app enough.

TIMECODES

00:00 Introduction and Initial Greetings

08:27 Jack's Background and The Journey to Meditation

15:08 Corporate Life and Mental Health

25:26 Designing Life for Work-Life Balance

30:25 Meditation Insights and Practices

36:50 Zen Master Henry Shukman

48:21 Understanding the Self & Life Through Meditation

53:12 Is Bolivia Real?

55:11 Exploring Awakening

59:50 Introducing 'The Way'

01:01:25 The Vision Behind 'The Way'

01:04:59 Building 'The Way': A Structured Path to Awakening

01:06:21 Mike’s Love of ‘The Way’

01:16:46 The Four Elements in Meditation

01:25:43 The Origin Story of ‘The Way’

01:29:47 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

WATCH KAUSHIK'S TEDx TALK HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpl5ahX1gpU

In this episode, neuroscientist and author Dr. Kaushik Ram shares his extraordinary journey from surviving a near-death experience to living in a cave in Thailand. Dr. Ram's experiences forged a unique perspective on the importance of instinct and humanity's disconnect from nature's rhythms. The discussion covers his TEDx talk where he argues that technology threatens our instinctual behaviors, leading to profound implications for mental health and societal structures. The episode also touches on the censorship of his TEDx talk and its implications for free speech and open discourse. Finally, the episode emphasizes reconnecting with nature as a vital part of understanding our instinctual selves.

00:00 Introduction

04:13 The Start of the Conversation

05:41 The Coding Neuroscientist

09:44 The Near-Death Experience

16:35 Writing 'Hidden World' in a Cave

22:59 Living in Communion with Nature

29:19 Exploring Instincts and Technology

41:09 The Argument of the TEDx Talk

47:13 Transhumanism as an Ethical & Spiritual Dilemma

48:54 Ethical and Moral Implications

56:29 The Deployment of Technology

01:02:36 Censorship of the TEDx Talk

01:14:23 Reflections and Future Conversations