Welcome to V5000, where deep thought meets deep recovery - and the truth hits harder than a rear naked choke. In this episode, Nick and Jesse reflect on the philosophical battlefield of aging, injury, and what it really means to stay in the fight. If you're looking for a quick fix, this isn’t it. This one’s for the thinkers, the grinders, the disciplined few still showing up when the crowd’s gone home.

They dive into the science and soul behind recovery metrics like HRV (heart rate variability), bone density, sleep cycles, overtraining, and the cost of ego lifting. It’s modern health seen through the lens of ancient discipline - with a side of wearable tech and real-world jiu-jitsu.

But it doesn’t stop at the body. The conversation wanders, like any good philosophical journey, into the illusion of scarcity, broken healthcare, wealth inequality, the automation age, and the bureaucratic chokeholds that hold us all back. This is an episode for anyone wrestling with what it means to live well in a rapidly changing world.

Watch, reflect, adapt. Welcome to the evolution.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] Jessa’s NYC training tour & what HRV actually means

[12:47] Ego lifting, lasting injuries & Peter Attia’s hard truths on aging

[24:15] Bone density, DEXA scans & jiu-jitsu longevity

[30:55] Outro + the coming singularity, AI, bureaucracy, and healthcare collapse

Welcome to another deep-dive from Vitruvian 5000 — this episode, "Self-Love, Surfing, and Letting Go," hosted by Nick & Jesse with special guest Jared Watson of The Dirty Heads, is a raw exploration of what it means to truly be present in your life.

Like modern-day philosophers riding the waves of consciousness, the guys dig into self-worth, the emotional alchemy of plant medicine, the healing power of surfing, the psychedelic chaos of modern life, and the art of truly letting go.

Jared opens up about his journey through addiction and self-healing via Iboga, a powerful plant medicine, and the spiritual and physical discipline of martial arts. From the grind of tour life to embracing simplicity and presence, this one’s a ride.

This is a conversation about embracing suffering, escaping hustle culture, and finding peace not through control — but through surrender.

Whether you’re into philosophy, spirituality, surfing, psychedelics, or just trying to make sense of this mad world — this one’s for you.

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] Assassin's Creed, gaming and creativity

[12:47] Storytelling, music, and creating worlds

[24:15] The power of surfing to heal the mind

[30:55] Letting go, psychedelics, and self-acceptance

[47:22] The Iboga experience: ego death and rebirth

[1:12:33] Self-love is the only way out

[1:27:10] Social media, dopamine loops, and digital noise

[1:39:20] Creativity, art, and the next Dirty Heads album

[1:52:45] Outro — surfing, Japan, and future plans

What It Actually Means to Be Free" isn’t just a question - it’s a confrontation. In this deeply introspective episode of Vitruvian 5000, Nick and Jesse pull back the curtain on the programming, trauma, and invisible frameworks that shape how we live, think, and move through the world.

With the soul of modern-day philosophers and the edge of two men who’ve seen behind the curtain, they explore the psyche, spiritual freedom, religious trauma, ego dissolution, and how presence-not productivity-is the key to liberation.

They don’t preach. They provoke.

They don’t hand you answers. They hand you a mirror.

👇 Timestamps

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] The Illusion of Belonging & Religious Programming

[12:47] Psychedelics, Ego Death & the Mirror

[24:15] Presence, Trauma & What Freedom Actually Is

[30:55] Outro & What’s Next