Know Thyself

André Duqum
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Know Thyself is a community supporting you to KNOW the true nature of yourself and the world around you, THRIVE in your health, wealth, and relationships – ultimately empowering you to CREATE and share your true self with the world. Each week André Duqum interviews experts in their field; ranging from spiritual educators to cutting edge scientists, heart-led creatives & more on topics such as the true nature of ‘Self’, “what is reality?,” and exploring the fundamental pillars we all need to unlock our fullest potential. Contributing to birthing a more beautiful world, one episode at a time.

  1. E196 - Dr. Vasant Lad: The Doctor From India: The Forgotten 5,000-Year-Old Science of the Human Body (Ayurveda

    5 days ago

    E196 - Dr. Vasant Lad: The Doctor From India: The Forgotten 5,000-Year-Old Science of the Human Body (Ayurveda

    Dr. Vasant Lad is the founder of the Ayurvedic Institute and the man most responsible for bringing Ayurveda to the West. He has spent over 40 years teaching this 5,000-year-old science of life to practitioners across the world, and in this conversation, we sat down together at SoHum Mountain Healing Center in Asheville, North Carolina, where I had just completed a week-long Panchakarma. What unfolded was one of the most quietly profound conversations I have had on this show. What We Dive Into: ​ Why unprocessed emotions don’t simply pass — and how grief settles in the heart, anger in the liver, and fear in the kidneys until they’re physically released.​ How your tongue, pulse, and face reveal what’s happening inside your body, often before any symptom appears.​ Why your original constitution (prakruti) shapes everything from your digestion to your temperament — and how modern life pulls you away from it.​ The gap between two breaths, and why Dr. Lad calls it an ocean of awareness available to anyone willing to sit in it. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: https://sohumhealing.com/panchakarma-retreat/ Code AndrePK2026 for $500 off your Panchakarma https://www.functionhealth.com/KNOWTHYSELF Code KNOWTHYSELF25 for $25 off membership ___________ 00:00 Intro 01:58 What Ayurveda Actually Means 02:40 The Five Elements, Three Doshas, and the Body 06:18 Prakruti, Vikruti, and the Root of Disease 08:00 The Sankhya Philosophy Behind Ayurveda 13:33 The Goal of Ayurveda 15:26 Dr. Lad's Path: Guru, Calling, and Coming West 18:06 Where Western Medicine Falls Short 22:05 Ama, Agni, and the Ayurvedic View of Disease 25:56 Pulse, Tongue, and Face: The Art of Diagnosis 34:29 Reading Psychological Nature Through the Pulse 39:00 The Gap Between Breaths: Awareness and Mysticism 44:37 How Repressed Emotions Crystallize in the Body 47:39 Panchakarma: Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Cleansing 51:52 Ojas, Tejas, and Prana: The Vital Essences 56:18 Sexual Energy, Celibacy, and the Cultivation of Ojas 1:00:07 Life as Meditation: The Unified Field 1:06:00 The Ayurvedic View of Death and Dying 1:14:56 Dinacharya: The Daily Routine as Spiritual Practice 1:18:48 The Doshic Clock and the Yugas 1:25:22 Relationship, Self-Knowledge, and the Closing Message ___________ MORE FROM DR. VASANT ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvasantlad 🌐https://ayurveda.com/about-vasant-lad/ MORE FROM KNOW THYSELF 🎙️Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9l 🎧Apple: https://apple.co/4iATICX ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ 🎬TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andreduqum 👥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowthyselfbyandreduqum/ 🌐https://knowthyselfpodcast.com/ MORE FROM ANDRÉ ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@andreduqum 💼Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/know-thyself-podcast 📚Book recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list

    1hr 31min
  2. E195 - Dr. Mei Rui: The Science of Sound & Music as Medicine

    19 May

    E195 - Dr. Mei Rui: The Science of Sound & Music as Medicine

    Dr. Mei Rui is a Yale-trained molecular biophysicist, concert pianist, and clinical researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she runs trials on the measurable effects of music on the human body. In this conversation, we explore what actually happens in the brain the moment music enters it, why the auditory system is the first sense to develop in the womb and the last to go when we die, and how something as accessible as a curated playlist can outperform FDA-approved pharmaceuticals in reducing cortisol. What We Dive Into: 1. Music is not a supplement to healing. In the right context, it is the intervention. 2. The brain responds differently when you actually show up for the music. 3. A longitudinal study in twins showed that three to four years of musical training reduced the risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline by 64%, an effect size found in no other single activity. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Oneskin — Code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off - Limited time only! https://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELF BASED Body Works — Code KNOWTHYSELF for 20% and a free toiletry bag! https://www.basedbodyworks.com ___________ 00:00 Introduction: Dr. Mei Rui 01:44 A Life Between Music and Science 05:26 What Happens When Music Enters the Brain 07:26 How the Brain Processes Sound and Music 11:32 Why Minor Keys Feel Sad: The Science of Tonality 14:37 Live Piano Demo: Matching Music to Mood 19:06 Music in the Operating Room 27:41 Music as Medicine: Clinical Applications 29:10 The 32% Cortisol Study 31:19 The 16 Compositional Elements of Healing Music 35:11 Oxytocin, Familiarity, and the Parasympathetic Response 36:18 Timbre and the Cello's Resemblance to a Mother's Voice 42:31 Cymatics: Sound Made Visible 45:16 The Ancient Roots of Music as Healing 47:09 Listening vs. Playing an Instrument 55:33 The Musician's Brain: Structural Differences 57:46 Music Training and Protection Against Alzheimer's 59:44 Music, Empathy, and Neural Synchrony 1:01:36 The EEG Experiment: Reading André's Brain Live 1:18:21 What the EEG Data Revealed 1:22:26 Music, Flow State, and the Disappearance of Self 1:26:55 Music as Spiritual Medicine 1:30:23 How to Listen More Intentionally ___________ MORE FROM MEI ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@meiruipiano MORE FROM KNOW THYSELF 🎙️Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9l 🎧Apple: https://apple.co/4iATICX ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ 🎬TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andreduqum 👥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowthyselfbyandreduqum/ 🌐https://knowthyselfpodcast.com/ MORE FROM ANDRÉ ✨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@andreduqum 💼Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/know-thyself-podcast 📚Book recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list

    1hr 35min
  3. E194 - Arthur Brooks: How To Find The Meaning of Your Life

    12 May

    E194 - Arthur Brooks: How To Find The Meaning of Your Life

    Arthur Brooks is a Harvard professor, social scientist, and three-time New York Times bestselling author whose life's work centers on a single, urgent question: what actually makes a human life feel meaningful? In this conversation, we explore why depression and anxiety have surged since 2008, how technology has hijacked the part of the brain responsible for wonder and meaning, and what it looks like to live, as Arthur puts it, like his great-grandfather Leroy, present, bored at times, and genuinely alive. What moved me most in this conversation is how Arthur bridges the ancient and the scientific without losing either. We get into the three components of meaning, coherence, purpose, and significance, as well as the dangers of extrinsic reward, the psychology of calling, and why the formula most of us are running on is just slightly off. His answer to the meaning crisis is not complicated. Use things, love people, worship the divine. But getting there requires honest self-examination, and this conversation is a strong beginning. MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!) https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself [Code: KNOWTHYSELF] Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyself BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleep https://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyself Use code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkout André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list ___________ 00:00 Introduction: Arthur Brooks 01:54 The Modern Meaning Crisis 02:47 Coherence, Purpose, and Significance 06:17 Why Meaning Collapsed After 2008 14:19 The Doom Loop of Technology 20:22 The Death of Boredom 25:13 Ad: Mudwtr 26:34 Living Like Leroy: The Case for Real Life 30:05 Six Practices for the Right Hemisphere 36:22 The Morning Routine and Brahma Mahurta 43:35 Ad: LMNT 44:39 Ad: BiOptimizers 45:47 Breaking Free from Your Phone 49:07 Romantic Love and the Paradox of Choice 54:59 Finding Your Calling 1:01:29 Progress, Arrival Fallacy, and Living Now 1:17:22 Enjoyment, Satisfaction, and Meaning 1:19:36 The External Scoreboard and Love Is Not Earned 1:25:10 The Four Idols 1:29:49 Self-Transcendence and the Divine 1:37:40 Marriage, Adoption, and Walking to Heaven 1:45:03 Suffering, Beauty, and Meaning 1:53:59 Use Things, Love People, Worship the Divine ___________ Episode Resources: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/ https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/ https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

    1hr 59min
  4. E193 - Dr. Paul Conti: A Psychiatrist's Guide to Understanding Your Mind

    5 May

    E193 - Dr. Paul Conti: A Psychiatrist's Guide to Understanding Your Mind

    Dr. Paul Conti is a psychiatrist, trauma specialist, and author whose work centers on one deceptively simple idea: that understanding yourself is the most powerful thing you can do for your mental health. In this conversation, we explore how the unconscious mind quietly sets the boundaries for how we think, feel, and move through life, and how much of what we assume is just "who we are" was actually formed long before we had the words for it. What struck me most in this conversation is Paul's insistence that looking inward doesn't have to be frightening. He introduces the concept of the generative drive, the part of us that moves toward creativity, altruism, and genuine contribution, and makes a compelling case that this is what separates a life that feels full from one that simply accumulates. We also get into the myths we build from isolated facts, why the traditional psychiatric model falls short, and what it actually means to bring compassionate curiosity to yourself. BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleep https://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyself Use code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkout Try LMNT & get a free sample pack https://drinkLMNT.com/KnowThyself André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list ___________ 00:00 Intro 02:05 Assessing Mental Health Like Physical Health 03:04 The Unconscious Mind and Its Hidden Influence 06:30 How Identity Forms in Early Childhood 08:23 Compassionate Curiosity as a Practice 11:02 Empowerment, Agency, and the Healthy Self 15:34 The Assertion, Pleasure, and Generative Drives 24:26 What Humility Actually Means 27:09 Ad: BiOptimizers 28:18 Shame, Feelings, and the Lessons We Carry 35:10 How Memories Build the Myth of Self 42:32 Ad: LMNT 43:41 Waking Up vs. Growing Up 48:10 The Limits of Diagnosis-Driven Psychiatry 51:07 What We're Really Striving For 58:18 Self-Worth and External Achievement 1:02:12 Anxiety as Adaptive and Maladaptive 1:09:52 Defense Mechanisms and How They Shape Us 1:16:51 Tools for Self-Inquiry and Lasting Change 1:25:52 Repeated Patterns and Relational Wounds 1:29:45 Hard-Won Growth and Gratitude 1:32:12 Paul's Personal Story: Loss and the Path to Medicine 1:37:17 Presence, Suffering, and the Art of Helping 1:41:35 Closing Message: Your Mind Is Your Friend ___________ Episode Resources: https://www.drpaulconti.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Going-Right-Powerful-Optimizing/dp/1538776049 https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

    1hr 45min
  5. E192 - Emily McDonald: The Neuroscience of Transforming Yourself

    28 Apr

    E192 - Emily McDonald: The Neuroscience of Transforming Yourself

    Emily McDonald holds two degrees in neuroscience and has become one of the fastest-growing science communicators on social media. In this conversation, we explore how the brain constructs reality from the inside out — not as a passive receiver of the world, but as a constant prediction machine shaped by memory, belief, emotion, and past experience. From color vision to the kitten experiment, Emily brings the science to life in a way that makes you ask: where am I the kitten in my own life? What I love about this conversation is that it doesn't stop at the intellectual. Emily shares how understanding neuroplasticity moved her from skeptic to someone who radically rewired her relationship with identity, money, and what it means to pursue something with passion. We get into the difference between harmonious and obsessive passion, how identity sets a ceiling on what we're willing to receive, and why processing time — the unstructured silence we've largely lost — may be one of the most important things we can reclaim. Oneskin - Use code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off http://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELF Limited time only! BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleep https://www.bioptimizers.com/knowthyself Use code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkout André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list ___________ 00:00 Intro 02:14 How the Brain Constructs Reality 13:50 Rewiring Beliefs Around Abundance 20:12 The Brain as a Prediction Machine 21:35 The Default Mode Network and Self-Concept 24:15 Science and Spirituality as Complementary Lenses 27:09 Ad: One Skin 30:19 Identity Beyond the Thinking Mind 41:44 Ad: BiOptimizers 42:52 Identity as the Set Point of Your Life 45:39 The Neuroscience of Habit Change 47:39 Desire, Fear, and the Energy Behind Goals 1:07:03 Living from Feeling States, Not Outcomes 1:13:58 Purpose Beyond the Self 1:24:21 Nervous System Regulation as a Foundation 1:27:52 Discipline as Self-Trust 1:33:51 The Three M's Morning Routine 1:39:05 Environment, Association, and Chemo Signals 1:42:20 The Necessity of Processing Time ___________ Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/emonthebrain/ https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

    1hr 48min
  6. E191 - Roman Yampolskiy: The Man Who Proved We Can't Control AI (And What That Means for Humanity)

    21 Apr

    E191 - Roman Yampolskiy: The Man Who Proved We Can't Control AI (And What That Means for Humanity)

    Dr. Roman Yampolskiy joins me to explore one of the most urgent and uncomfortable questions of our time: what happens when we create intelligence that surpasses our own? We unpack the difference between the AI tools we use today and the emergence of artificial general intelligence, and why the transition from narrow systems to self-improving intelligence may mark a point where human control is no longer possible. Roman shares why even the people building these systems do not fully understand how they work, and why that gap in understanding becomes exponentially more dangerous as capabilities increase. In this conversation, we explore the limits of control, prediction, and safety in a world where intelligence can recursively improve itself beyond human comprehension. Roman lays out why the problem of AI alignment may be fundamentally unsolvable, what timelines experts are realistically considering, and why even a single mistake at that level could have irreversible consequences. This episode invites a deeper reflection on what we are creating, what we assume we can control, and whether humanity is prepared for the intelligence it is bringing into existence. BiOptimizers - Best magnesium to enhance your sleep http://bioptimizers.com/knowthyself Use code KNOWTHYSELF for 15% off at checkout BASED Body Works Use code KNOWTHYSELF for a free toiletry bag when buying a set! https://www.basedbodyworks.com Andrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list ___________ 00:00 Intro 01:25 What Is AGI and Why Should We Be Scared? 05:17 Roman's Journey: From Optimism to Impossibility 09:07 The High Risk, Zero Reward Equation 13:01 Why Superintelligence Is Uncontrollable, Unexplainable, and Unverifiable 18:00 How Long Do We Have? The AGI Timeline 21:24 How Superintelligence Could Actually Kill Us 23:28 Are We Living in a Simulation? 28:21 Can AI Become Conscious? 31:28 Ad: BiOptimizers 32:41 The Possible Timelines: Terminator, the Matrix, or the Zoo 42:24 I-Risk, X-Risk, and S-Risk: Three Ways It Goes Wrong 46:31 The Human Meaning Crisis: Jobs, Purpose, and What's Left 49:02 Ad: Based Bodyworks 50:20 What Empowers Us as Individuals Right Now 59:37 The Race to Doom: Who's Building It and Why They Won't Stop 1:07:41 Can AI Be Conscious — and Does It Already Have Internal Experiences? 1:12:41 Hacking the Simulation: Quantum, DMT, and Escaping the Code 1:18:30 Simulation Theory, Religion, and the Same Ancient Map 1:29:34 The Deal Roman Would Offer Altman, Dario, and Elon 1:39:44 What Is Humor? A Computer Scientist's Theory 1:43:03 What Comes After: Singularity, Death, and Knowing Thyself ___________ Episode Resources: https://www.romanyampolskiy.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Unexplainable-Unpredictable-Uncontrollable-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/103257626X https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com Listen to the show: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9l Apple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

    1hr 49min
  7. E188 - Emad Mostaque: AI Expert: “We Have 800 Days Left”

    31 Mar

    E188 - Emad Mostaque: AI Expert: “We Have 800 Days Left”

    Emad Mostaque joins me to explore one of the most confronting questions of our time: what happens when human intelligence is no longer economically valuable? We unpack how rapidly advancing AI is moving toward a world where cognitive labor becomes obsolete, and why this shift may happen much sooner than most people expect. Emad shares how we’ve already built systems that can replicate human thinking, decision-making, and creativity, and how the next phase is not about new breakthroughs but simply scaling what already exists. In this conversation, we explore what this means for identity, purpose, and the future of society. If so much of our sense of self is tied to what we do, what happens when that disappears? Emad lays out the possible paths forward, from centralized control of intelligence to more open and collaborative systems, and why the stories we choose to believe in now may determine whether we move toward collapse or abundance. This episode is an invitation to rethink work, meaning, and what it truly means to be human in a world where intelligence is no longer scarce. BASED Body Works Use code KNOWTHYSELF for a free toiletry bag when buying a set! https://www.basedbodyworks.com Try Boncharge & 15% off their red light devices https://www.boncharge.com/knowthyself André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list ___________ 0:00 Intro 01:17 The Last Economy 02:03 The Race Toward AGI and Human Obsolescence 07:50 Why AI Will Reshape Work Within 800 Days 14:36 The Collapse of Work as Identity 18:22 How Far Ahead Private AI Really Is 21:24 The Three Futures of AI 32:52 When the Economic Loop Breaks 37:38 Ad: Based Body Works 38:07 What AI Changes About Intelligence 40:50 When AI Replaces Human Worth 48:44 Ad: BON CHARGE 48:46 Industrializing Self-Deception 55:55 When AI Knows You Better Than You Do 1:08:23 What Utopia Could Still Look Like 1:20:20 How to Use AI Without Losing Yourself 1:30:59 Can AI Become Conscious? 1:46:29 What Makes Us Human? 1:57:08 Longevity, Transhumanism, and the Future of the Body 2:03:51 The Practical AI Tools to Start Using Now 2:14:43 The End of Human-Only Discovery 2:17:22 What Parents Should Teach Their Kids Now 2:23:39 Happiness, Agency, and the Final Message ___________ Episode Resources: https://x.com/EMostaque https://x.com/ii_posts https://ii.inc/web Emad's Book: http://thelasteconomy.com https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com Listen to the show: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9l Apple: https://apple.co/4iATICX

    2h 27m
  8. E187 - Shi Heng Yi: Shaolin Master’s Guide to Self-Mastery & Inner Stability

    24 Mar

    E187 - Shi Heng Yi: Shaolin Master’s Guide to Self-Mastery & Inner Stability

    Shi Heng Yi joins me to explore the path of self-mastery through the lens of the Shaolin tradition, and why, despite having more comfort and convenience than ever before, so many people still feel a deep sense of inner lack. We unpack the idea that external success, wealth, and achievement cannot replace a missing sense of inner stability, and how the constant search outside of ourselves often leads us further away from what we are truly looking for. In this conversation, we explore the relationship between mind, body, and energy, and why true mastery begins with learning how to regulate and understand oneself rather than trying to control the external world. Shi Heng Yi shares how thoughts shape reality, why discipline and consistency are essential for growth, and what it means to become “transparent” by letting go of identity and the need to be someone. This episode is an invitation to shift from reacting to life toward consciously creating it from within. Oneskin - Use code KNOW THYSELF for 15% off http://oneskin.co/KNOWTHYSELF Limited time only! MUDWTR - Up to 43% off sitewide (and a free frother!) https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself [Code: KNOWTHYSELF] André's Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list ___________ 0:00 Intro 1:11 The Root of Suffering: Becoming Someone 1:50 Why Comfort Doesn’t Create Peace 4:56 The Inner Void Beneath External Success 9:16 The Path of Self-Mastery 16:04 Mastering the Mind, Not the World 21:07 Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows 27:21 Ad: OneSkin 28:43 The Essence of the Shaolin Spirit 36:29 Living with Intention and Integrity 44:14 Service Beyond the Self 46:34 The Freedom of Being No One 57:14 Ad: Mud/Wtr 58:56 Trust, Discipline, and the Inner Path 1:05:24 Strength Without Suppression 1:10:20 The Middle Way of Emotion 1:13:11 Structure as the Gateway to Freedom 1:19:00 Returning to the Body 1:35:36 The Body as a Tool for Awareness 1:42:32 Breath as the Bridge to Presence 1:46:38 Seeing Clearly: The End of Suffering 1:54:31 From Endless Seeking to Direct Experience 1:59:27 The Mind’s Five Obstacles 2:08:07 Turning Awareness Inward 2:11:20 Beyond the Illusion of Separation 2:14:25 Nothing to Gain, Nothing to Lose 2:15:30 Closing Thoughts ___________ Episode Resources: https://www.shihengyi.online/ https://www.instagram.com/shihengyi.online https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/ https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

    2h 18m
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Hosts & Guests

About

Know Thyself is a community supporting you to KNOW the true nature of yourself and the world around you, THRIVE in your health, wealth, and relationships – ultimately empowering you to CREATE and share your true self with the world. Each week André Duqum interviews experts in their field; ranging from spiritual educators to cutting edge scientists, heart-led creatives & more on topics such as the true nature of ‘Self’, “what is reality?,” and exploring the fundamental pillars we all need to unlock our fullest potential. Contributing to birthing a more beautiful world, one episode at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    André Duqum
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    196
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © André Duqum
  • Show Website
    Know Thyself

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