One Thousand Gurus Podcast

J.R. Yonocruz

Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a software project manager, self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, dancer, stand-up comedian, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. All links & socials https://bio.site/onethousandgurus

  1. 3d ago

    #102: Deyo Forteza - Rediscovering Artistic Passion, Building Discipline with Calisthenics, and Embracing Community in the Acting World

    Reconnecting with Deyo Forteza: Kaba Modern Memories, Authentic Artistry, and the Ring Muscle-Up Journey Host J.R. Yonocruz reconnects with Deyo Forteza—actor, filmmaker, and sound mixer/boom operator—to reflect on their Kaba Modern years and the dance lessons and work ethic that shaped them. They talk about rediscovering joy in music and dancing sober for self-expression, plus how community and collaboration influence creative careers. Deyo shares his fitness focus, including an eight-to-nine-month coached journey to achieve a ring muscle-up and what discipline taught him about staying ready as an artist. He also covers his musical family roots, his path into acting, and his emphasis on authenticity and empathy in performance, ending with favorite media recommendations. 00:00 Show Intro and Guest 04:34 Kaba Modern Memories & Dance Advice 09:41 Leading by Example 12:38 Movie Set Stunts 18:05 Costume Change Chaos 26:02 Work Ethic and Getting Buff 34:20 Sober Dance Revival, Dancing & Club Vibes 47:15 Weed Team Memories 58:37 Fitness Goals & Ring Muscle Up Journey 01:05:19 Coaching Progressions And Payoff 01:15:15 Origins and Influences 01:25:14 Good Guys vs Villains 01:35:07 Authenticity as Actor 01:39:34 Staying Ready Always 01:52:39 Community Over Competition 02:00:39 Rapid Fire Questions 02:07:27 Unconditional Love Lessons 02:12:47 Defining Real Success 02:17:57 Hot Takes And Spider-Man 02:22:47 Favorite Books And Movies 02:28:31 Gratitude And Final Advice Guest bio: Actor and stubborn filmmaker. Crew-wise came from PA’ing, to camera department, to G&E, even dabbled with some Art PA, and finally landed in sound department as a sound mixer and boom operator. Instagram: @introducingdeyo / https://www.instagram.com/introducingdeyo/imdb.me/deyofortezaresumes.actorsaccess.com/deyofortezawww.introducingdeyo.comLinks/resources: 2010 Body Rock - Kaba Modern (dance video - YouTube)2010 EnKore - Kaba Modern (J.R.’s flip over Shawn - YouTube)2011 Prelude NorCal - Kaba Modern (“Movie set” - YouTube)@fernandez_calisthenics (fitness trainer)The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (book summary)Atomic Habits by James Clear (book summary)Oh, Mary! (comedy play - Wikipedia)Dog Day Afternoon (play - Wikipedia)Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  2. Oct 12

    #101: Andrew Simbol - Kaizen, Kintsugi, Moving Forward from Loss, and Balancing the Art and Science of Creativity

    Andrew Simbol on Kaizen, Kintsugi, and Reclaiming Joy Through Dance, Music, and Community Host J.R. Yonocruz reconnects with Andrew Simbol—former Culture Shock LA/KM Legacy dancer turned senior digital marketing leader and musician with Second Wave. Simbol shares his dance origin story, his pivot from accounting to marketing, and how he grew into a senior leadership role balancing creative strategy with data and performance. They explore Kaizen (continuous improvement) and Kintsugi (repairing what’s broken) through Simbol’s experiences with grief, sober healing, and rebuilding identity. They also discuss why house music feels universal across dance styles and close with what’s next in Simbol’s pursuit of joy and community. 00:00 Show Intro Guest Setup 01:49 Reconnecting Through Dance & Life Updates 07:28 Origin Story DDR to Crews 11:20 From Accounting to Marketing & Career Growth 20:25 Advice for Aspiring Marketers 25:42 Kaizen Continuous Improvement 32:09 Kaizen In Leadership & Intentional Career Growth 35:31 Kintsugi, Grief, and Healing Without Escapes 40:20 Three-Year Rebuild 46:32 Gold Cracks and Finding Community 49:05 Why House Music 54:08 Rapid Fire Round 59:47 Gratitude And Wrap Up Guest bio: Meet Andrew Simbol — former dancer, director, coach, choreographer, and instructor with deep roots in the KM Kollective family (Kaba Kids, Kaba Modern, KM Legacy), Culture Shock Los Angeles, Tustin High School Dance Team, and Jimmie DeFore Dance Center. Senior digital marketing leader by day, serial hobbyist at night — musician, sound explorer, plant daddy, Marketplace maven, and hospitable homeowner fluent in memes & puns. You can find him making music with his band Secondwave, supporting the Reclaim & Rise community, or somewhere on the dance floor around South OC. Instagram: @simbology / https://www.instagram.com/simbology/Links/resources: 2009 Kaba Modern HHI “Breathe” (dance video - YouTube)“Kaizen” (concept - Wikipedia)“Kintsugi” (concept - Wikipedia)@wordofmouthprojectoc (Instagram)@humanedesignglobal (Instagram)@beu_collective (Instagram)Inside Out 1 & 2 (movies - Wikipedia)Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  3. Oct 5

    #100 - Season 10 Recap - Favorite Takeaways from Episodes 91–99

    One Thousand Gurus Episode 100: Season 10 Recap — Lessons from Sleep, Storytelling, Leadership, and Commitment Host J.R. Yonocruz marks Episode 100 of One Thousand Gurus with a Season 10 recap and reflects on progress toward his 10-year/500-episode commitment. He revisits key lessons from episodes 91–99, including prioritizing sleep, letting friendships evolve naturally, and using storytelling to transform perspective and deepen cultural identity. The recap also highlights leadership through succession planning, creative career crossover lessons from nursing and dance, and personal insights on detachment and managing expectations. J.R. closes by expressing gratitude to listeners and excitement for the next 100 episodes. 00:00 Welcome and Episode 100 01:25 #91 - Why We Sleep Book Highlights 02:55 #92 - Yerson Ochoa on Friendship 04:00 #93 - Bani Logrono and Bayani Spirit 05:20 #94 - Arnel Calvario on Leadership 06:37 #95 - Loren Segovia on Resume Advice 07:47 #96 - 35 Lessons at 35 09:13 #97 - Rohit Murhty on Routines and Goals 10:30 #98 - Lorenzo Aromin on Wellness, Wealth, Worship 11:46 #99 - Subtle Art Book Highlights 12:59 Season 10 Wrap Up Links/resources: #91: Book Highlights — Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker#92: Yerson Ochoa — Teaching, Friendships, Ego, and Building Safe Dance Communities#93: Bani Logroño — Awakening the Bayani Spirit, Pursuing Filmmaking, and the Power of Storytelling#94: Dr. Arnel Calvario Ripkens — Dance Legacies, Head Judging for IDL, Mentorship, Succession Plans, Identity, and Preparing for Fatherhood#95: Loren Segovia — KM to Critical Care, Dancing at Disney, Trolling Students as a Professor, and Becoming a Nursing Director#96: 35 Lessons for 35 Years — Wisdom from a Lifetime of Learning#97: Rohit Murthy — Daily Routines, Vacation Hacks, 60 Beers to 12K Steps, AI in Pharma, and Family-Centric Goals#98: Lorenzo Aromin — A Mastermind in the 3Ws: Wellness, Wealth, and Worship#99: Book Highlights — The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark MansonSend us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  4. Sep 28

    #99: Book Highlights - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

    Book Highlight: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck — Choosing What Matters, Embracing Pain, and Owning Your Response Host J.R. Yonocruz highlights Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k, a book he rated 4.5/5 that helped him stop wasting energy on trivial anxieties and refocus on what matters. He explains Manson’s core message: life includes unavoidable pain, and happiness comes from choosing better problems to solve rather than trying to eliminate suffering. Key themes include rejecting entitlement and the “tyranny of exceptionalism,” adopting reality-based values, separating responsibility from fault, and getting comfortable with being wrong. He also covers taking action before motivation, learning through failure, saying no and committing deeply, and using mortality as a lens to clarify priorities and build something bigger than yourself. 00:41 Why This Book Matters 01:24 Part One - Don't Try 02:39 Part Two - Happiness Problem 03:30 Part Three - Not Special 04:08 Part Four - Value Suffering 05:09 Part Five - Always Choosing 05:56 Part Six - Embrace Wrongness 06:54 Part Seven - Failure Forward 07:38 Part Eight - Saying No 08:26 Part Nine - Mortality Meaning 09:06 Key Ideas Recap 09:33 Takeaways and Personal Close 11:31 Outro and Resources Links/resources: 📖 Full blog post notes (book summary)🎧 Audiobook on Audible (affiliate link)📝 Episode overview (PDF)📺 Slides presentation (Gamma)Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  5. Sep 21

    #98: Lorenzo Aromin - A Mastermind in the 3Ws: Wellness, Wealth, and Worship

    Wellness, Wealth & Worship with Lorenzo Aromin (Part 2): Fatherhood, Fitness, and Personal Brand J.R. Yonocruz hosts an in-studio part 2 with Lorenzo Aromin, covering his pillars of wellness, wealth, and worship. Lorenzo shares updates on new fatherhood, then details his recent cut—emphasizing caloric deficit, steps, hydration, and flexible “treat meals”—and discusses TRT, peptides, and GLP-style tools, stressing bloodwork and staying in healthy ranges. They shift to business, outlining offer creation through lead magnets, communities, and tiered products, and argue that marketing and personal brand create reach and make sales easier. Lorenzo also explains using polarizing, values-driven content to attract committed clients. The episode closes with a faith-centered message about Christians being set apart, avoiding distractions and vices, and men leading with discipline in health, finances, and family. 01:13 In-Studio Reunion & New Dad Life 05:56 Fitness Cut Update 08:49 Peptides And GLPs 11:22 Fat Loss Fundamentals & Getting Shredded 15:58 Wealth Through Fitness 19:02 Brand, Offers, and Lead Magnet Funnel 21:23 Selling Insight & High Value Coaching 24:37 Marketing Makes Millions 27:43 Polarizing For Reach 30:09 Qualifying Better Clients 31:53 American Christianity Critique 35:38 Set Apart Standards 40:50 Final Wake Up Call 43:40 Gratitude And Plugs Guest bio: Lorenzo Aromin is a follower of Christ, US Air Force Veteran turned entrepreneur, multi-business owner, Certified Fitness Consultant via National Academy of Sports Medicine, & Chief Executive Officer of a marketing & media content agency ZK LIVE MEDIA. He has scaled their companies collectively from 0 - $500K in 24 months organically. Instagram: @zo.aromin / https://www.instagram.com/zo.aromin/Links/resources: #66: Lorenzo Aromin - USAF Vet Turned Entrepreneur, Faith, Fitness, and Scaling to $500kThe Fit-Hack Playbook (free guide) Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  6. Sep 14

    #97: Rohit Murthy - Daily Routines, Vacation Hacks, 60 Beers to 12K Steps, AI in Pharma, and Family-Centric Goals

    Rohit Murthy Returns: Routines, France, Fitness Data, AI in Pharma, and Building a Family Lifestyle Business J.R. Yonocruz welcomes back Rohit Murthy from Boston to discuss routines, travel, and life updates since his last appearance. Rohit shares highlights from a nine-day South of France trip (Marseille, Provence, Ardèche, Lyon) and how he used generative AI tools to help plan logistics. They dive into married life, social drinking culture, and Rohit’s data-driven fitness reset—cutting alcohol, prioritizing steps/cardio, and aligning health goals with family planning. The conversation also covers pharma industry transformation, realistic AI impacts on work, and entrepreneurship as a path to time freedom and keeping family closer. 02:05 Life Updates & Why Routines Matter 08:16 South of France Trip 10:33 Planning With AI Tools 16:17 Language Travel Etiquette & India Culture 22:59 Married Life Reflections 25:20 Alcohol Tracking Fitness Reset 32:41 Steps Cardio Fat Loss & Embracing Discomfort 40:07 Running, Walking Motivations, and Tracking Data 50:03 Social Tradeoffs 57:28 Pharma Industry AI Shifts 01:04:23 Futureproof Career Advice 01:06:52 AI Hype Versus Reality, Specialized AI, and Policy 01:14:40 Entrepreneurship For Freedom & Lifestyle Business Mindset 01:21:01 Hobbies And Skill Building 01:27:39 Family Culture And Moving Home 01:30:38 Wrap Up And Gratitude Guest bio: A strategic leader who knows how to get things done, Rohit has a unique career path that's both a story of climbing the corporate ladder and building things from the ground up. He started on the manufacturing floor, literally making the product, before moving into a role where he was a founding member of an innovation hub at a major biotech company. He's not just a big picture guy, but someone who understands every step of the process. On top of all that, he's a true entrepreneur, having founded and co-founded several startups. Whether he's optimizing a multi-million dollar manufacturing process or building a new company from scratch, he brings a rare mix of hands-on expertise and strategic vision. He is a person who understands how to turn an idea into a reality—and that's something we can all learn from. Socials/Links: Instagram: @brownkidrohit / https://www.instagram.com/brownkidrohit/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-murthyWebsite: https://belfioreherbal.com/Instagram: @belfioreherbal / https://www.instagram.com/belfioreherbal/OTG #58: Rohit Murthy - Innovation in Corporate, Entrepreneurial Pivots, Comparison Culture, Health-Time Freedom, and MoreComfort Crisis by Michael Easter (book summary)Endure by Cameron Hanes (book summary)Built to Move by Kelly & Juliet Starrett (book summary)“Why Is So Much AI Tech Useless?” (HMDK - YouTube)Ali Abdaal (YouTuber)Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  7. Sep 7

    #96: 35 Lessons for 35 Years: Wisdom from a Lifetime of Learning

    35 Lessons for 35 Years: J.R.’s Milestone Episode J.R. celebrates turning 35 with a solo milestone episode sharing 35 favorite life lessons, drawn from a decade of year-in-review posts and a self-interview. He organizes the lessons into eight categories: body and energy, productivity and systems, career, money and freedom, love and relationships, travel and perspective, faith and meaning, and self-awareness and identity. Key themes include prioritizing sleep and recovery, building systems for consistent progress, tracking value at work, avoiding financial ruin while buying freedom, and strengthening relationships through boundaries, listening, and acknowledging feelings. He also reflects on detachment, managing expectations, naming emotions precisely, and not comparing timelines.  A free companion PDF with all 35 lessons and source links is available in the show notes. 00:00 Milestone Intro 01:32 Body And Energy 03:50 Productivity Systems 10:40 Career Lessons 13:51 Money And Freedom 17:07 Love And Relationships 21:22 Travel Perspective 22:52 Faith And Meaning 25:39 Identity And Detachment 29:57 Closing Reflections Links/resources (also collected in the companion PDF): 📘 Companion PDF — 35 Lessons from 35 Years: 35_Lessons_from_35_Years_Handout.pdf2025 Life Lessons: Love, Health, and SuccessA Year in Review: 20252022 Life Lessons: Health, Happiness, and Leadership2019 Year in Review: Self-Discovery, Life Lessons & Dating InsightsMoney Mastery: 10+ Years of Personal Finance Wisdom Distilled From 3 Essential BooksBook Notes: The Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselBook Notes: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins10 Personal Finance Truths I Wish I Learned in My 20sBook Notes: Why We Sleep by Matthew WalkerBook Notes: Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg & Steve MagnessMake Time by Jake Knapp and John ZeratskyBook Notes: Make Your Bed by William McRavenBook Notes: The Comfort Crisis by Michael EasterBook Notes: Built to Move by Kelly and Juliet StarrettBook Notes: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie KondoBook Notes: Goodbye, Things by Fumio SasakiBook Notes: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniBook Notes: Boundaries by Henry Cloud & John TownsendBook Notes: 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna WiestBook Notes: Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton & HeenBook Notes: Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-ZinnBook Notes: Awareness by Anthony de MelloBook Notes: Solve for Happy by Mo GawdatBook Notes: Atlas of the Heart by Brené BrownOTG Podcast #21: Dr. Arnel CalvarioOTG Podcast #37: Clark H. FieldingOTG Podcast #68: Rani BungayOTG Podcast #78: Random Show with Julie HuynhOTG Podcast #79: Kenta Thomas NaoiOTG Podcast #87: Ramy SidhomOTG Podcast #89: Andrew TranSend us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

  8. Aug 31

    #95: Loren Segovia - KM to Critical Care, Dancing at Disney, Trolling Students as a Professor, and Becoming a Nursing Director

    From B-Boy to Burn ICU Director: Loren Segovia on Dance, Disney, and Nursing Leadership J.R. Yonocruz talks with Loren Segovia, a b-boy and former Disney performer who became a registered nurse and ICU nursing director specializing in burn care. Loren shares his dance journey through Kaba Modern, Super Galactic Beat Manipulators, and recent community performances, plus what he learned from the San Diego dance scene. He breaks down how he pivoted from pharmacy to an accelerated nursing program, passed the NCLEX, and landed a burn ICU role by standing out in interviews. They discuss what makes a great nurse, the realities of bedside care and COVID, and why protecting your license matters. Loren also explains his path into teaching and nursing administration through leadership experience, a master’s degree, and networking. 00:00 Introduction 01:59 Interview Start 03:40 Kaba Modern Origins & Soju Dance Battle Story 08:32 Dance Journey TLDR 12:10 Super Galactic San Diego Scene & Dancing Today 17:56 Disney Cast Member Life 23:08 Why Nursing and School Path 28:18 Standing Out in Nursing Interviews 33:02 Traits of Great Nurses 36:18 Social Media and License Risks 39:35 Hardest Nursing Moments & Best Parts 44:36 Surviving Nursing School 48:39 Teaching Future Nurses 54:14 Life In ICU Leadership 58:08 Landing Admin Roles 01:01:47 Rapid Fire Reflections 01:17:20 Gratitude And Signoff Guest bio: Loren Segovia is a registered nurse specializing in burn care and currently serves as the Nursing Director of an ICU. He is a former Disney dancer, a B-Boy, and his crew affiliations include: Kreative Movement, Kaba Modern, KM Legacy, SGBM, BBA, Groovement, Cast Members Only, Sanity, Reclaim and Rise. He proclaims he is "fulfilling the typical Filipino stereotype." Socials/Links: Instagram: @hiimloren / https://www.instagram.com/hiimloren/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nurseloren?si=4X4leWkiQ2LWzCPKLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorensegovia/Teach You a Lesson (K-Drama - Wikipedia)Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast: Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. 💻 Website: www.onethousandgurus.com🔗 All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus📧 The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter📚 Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

Trailer

About

Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a software project manager, self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, dancer, stand-up comedian, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. All links & socials https://bio.site/onethousandgurus

You Might Also Like