Upbuilding The Self

Upbuild
  • 5.0 (51)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Two former monks, a former startup founder/CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.

  1. 12/18/2025

    Our New Podcast: The Upbuild Enneagram Library

    We are excited to share that we launched a new podcast called "The Upbuild Enneagram Library." It offers a deep and practical exploration of the Enneagram and how it supports the journey from ego to the true self. If you have enjoyed Upbuilding the Self, you will love what you hear on this new podcast. You will hear from the same Upbuild team, Rasanath, Hari, Vipin, and Michael, and it will carry the same heart as the conversations on this feed. We are pausing new episodes here for now so we can focus our creative energy on the new show. You can listen to The Upbuild Enneagram Library wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you subscribe and join us there. Podcast link: https://www.upbuild.com/enneagram-podcast Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    2 min

  2. 08/18/2025

    The Ego Trap of Parenting

    Carl Jung famously stated, "The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of its parents." In this episode, Michael, Rasanath, and Vipin explore the connection between ego and parenting, and how unresolved ambitions, unmet needs, and unconscious identities quietly influence the way we raise our children. These inner dynamics lead us to place invisible expectations on our kids, hoping they will achieve or become what we have not yet faced in ourselves. They discuss how the desire to be seen in a certain way can subtly shape, and even strain, our relationships with our children. Through stories of homeschooling struggles, moments of public embarrassment, and the ever-present feeling of envy, they reflect on how personal growth can create the space for our children to live their own lives more freely. They also dive into how parenting, at its best, becomes a spiritual practice. It reveals what we need to work on within ourselves and invites us to grow in ways we might otherwise avoid. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    45 min

  3. 07/29/2025

    [Part 2] Book Distribution: Timeless Lessons Learned By Two Monks on the Streets and Subways of New York City

    In Part 2, Hari Prasada and Rasanath vividly share what it was like in the heat of the moment distributing books in the streets and subways of New York City. They open up more about pivotal struggles they faced, including feeling humiliation and imposter syndrome, and how letting go in the spirit of service made room for the transformation we all crave deep down. Beyond being a most vital practice of compassion by outreach, book distribution also became a mirror that reflected their concocted identities, resistance to change, and something of the true self that lies beneath all these coverings. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    1h 2m

  4. 07/09/2025

    [Part 1] Book Distribution: Timeless Lessons Learned By Two Monks on the Streets and Subways of New York City

    If you’ve spent time in New York City, or many other cities around the world, you’ve likely seen monks on street corners or in subways, holding out books and trying to spark conversations. This sacred practice is known as Book Distribution. In this episode, Hari Prasada and Rasanath share what it was like to engage in this practice during their early days in a New York City monastery. They tell stories, some funny, some more serious, and speak about the deeper purpose behind Book Distribution. With honesty and reflection, they reveal how the experience challenged their egos, tested their intentions, and opened them to unexpected moments of grace. Without having to walk the streets of New York book in hand (though we hope one day you will!), they give you a taste of the experience and accompanying lessons. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    47 min

  5. 06/17/2025

    Self-Preservation, Sexual, or Social: Which Instinct Drives You? Unlocking a Key Piece of the Personality Puzzle Through the Enneagram

    Each of us is wired with a specific hierarchy of three core instinctual drives, shaping how we move through the world. The Instincts (sometimes referred to as Instinctual Variants) is part of the Enneagram framework and plays a powerful role in how our personalities form. One Instinct tends to dominate and demands most of our attention, a second supports it, while a third gets neglected and becomes a Blind Spot. In this episode, Michael, Hari, and Rasanath unpack the three Instincts—Self-Preservation, Sexual, and Social—and how they show up in our daily lives. They explore the energy behind each, how these Instincts function at their healthiest, and how they can create suffering. By understanding your “Instinctual Stack,” you can begin to shift from automatic patterns to conscious integration, creating space for real growth and movement toward the best version of yourself. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    1h 20m

  6. 05/22/2025

    Is Compartmentalization Really a Good Thing?

    Many of us pride ourselves on our ability to compartmentalize. We like to keep our personal and professional lives separate, push aside difficult emotions, and stay productive in the face of whatever comes our way. But what if this “skill” we value so highly is quietly cutting us off from our own hearts? In this episode, Hari Prasada, Rasanath, and Vipin examine why compartmentalization seems helpful but ultimately prevents us from being our best self. They distinguish between presence and suppression, explore how disconnection from the heart affects our relationships, and discuss what it takes to return to the emotions we've long set aside. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    48 min

  7. 05/05/2025

    Why Feedback Fails…and How to Make It Work

    Most of us are terrible at feedback. It’s awkward, forced, or worse, completely ineffective. In this episode, Michael, Hari, and Vipin break down why that is and how to fix it. They draw from their own journeys at places like McKinsey, MTV, Goldman Sachs, and Upbuild to show how feedback can be an act of ego…or a gateway to growth, trust, and real connection. They unpack what makes feedback land (or fall flat), why intention matters more than anything else, and how to make feedback human again. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    1h 9m

  8. 04/16/2025

    Blame: Our Addiction To It and What To Do Instead

    Why do we blame even when we know it’s harmful? It’s a behavior so woven into our daily experience that most of us hardly notice it, let alone question it. In this episode, Michael and Hari Prasada unpack the inner workings of blame, exploring how it arises from the ego's desire to control and enjoy. They examine its seductive emotional appeal, the false sense of order it provides, and the ways it damages our relationships and cultures. With real-life examples and practical tools, they highlight how we can shift from reactive blame to conscious accountability. Links The Call to Awaken. Our flagship program on spirituality. Starts March, 2026. Open for registration. Limited spots available. Enneagram Library Live: Join our bi-weekly conversations and teachings on the Enneagram to help you see yourself, others, and the human condition more clearly. Thursdays at 6pm ET on Zoom. Upbuild Coaching Certification Training. Starts in October. Upbuild Website Instagram: @upbuildnyc Facebook: Upbuild LinkedIn: Upbuild

    58 min
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About

Two former monks, a former startup founder/CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.

Information

  • Creator
    Upbuild
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Upbuilding The Self
  • Show Website
    Upbuilding The Self

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