Summersoul

Jeremy Chan
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
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Nascent observations, thoughts, and insights into the human condition, errant or otherwise. Some episodes are AI-generated by feeding Jeremy's articles to NotebookLM, and some are article read-throughs with music and additional audio interspersed. summersoul.substack.com

Episodes

  1. JAN 14

    The Value Delusion

    What is at the root of the things we value? Using the "5 Whys" technique and by relating our lives to other things we think are valuable (gold, real estate, art, stocks, crypto, etc), we begin to see that value often lacks objective foundations. Instead, it is a subjective construct manufactured through marketing, cultural conditioning, and perceived scarcity. Ultimately, value depends on shared human beliefs and tribal psychology, serving as a proxy for meaning in an otherwise abstract and uncertain world. Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    24 min

  2. JAN 10

    I'm #Retiring

    This farewell reflection chronicles my departure from a twenty-eight-year career. The article highlights the importance of curiosity and genuine human connections over the pursuit of status or financial gain. It discusses the psychological challenges of entering retirement, advocating for a life lived at a slower, more deliberate pace to resist the pressures of modern society. Finally, the article touches on imposter syndrome and the unique value found in long-term professional trust. Ultimately, the narrative serves as an encouragement to embrace vulnerability and prioritise personal values when making major life transitions. Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min

  3. 07/21/2025

    The Magic of Your First Work Friends

    In-person work has a profound impact on personal development, which has been eroded in the wake of widespread Post-Covid remote work adoption. The spontaneous interaction and relationship-building that physical presence at the office once fostered are now largely gone, removing an important source of self-awareness, personal development, and our sense of belonging. While productivity can be achieved remotely, the deeper human aspects of work — trust, purpose, and self-discovery — are best cultivated through in-person engagement. —————————— Voiceover Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/at-the-hotel License code: OTBWFQLHR7WNFPLQ Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min

  4. 01/19/2025

    The Tyranny of Outcome - Part IV

    As AI automates jobs across sectors, humans will be forced to re-evaluate the role of work. Robots will dominate tasks centered on efficiency and utility, but jobs that emphasize human creativity, emotional intelligence, and connection are likely to remain the domain of humans. This may lead humanity into a world in which curiosity and connection matter more than tangible outputs. Background music for voiceover, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/afternoon-nap License code: NI2UVKIB7WYRNNY4 Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min

  5. 12/29/2024

    The Tyranny of Outcome - Part III

    Society conditions us to prioritize achievement over presence, often at the expense of personal fulfillment. Using anecdotes and reflections from Jim Carrey, Bob Marley, Eckhart Tolle, and others, we discuss the relentless pursuit of success and material goals, which can disconnect us from our source energy. This episode is Part III of the series "The Tyranny of Outcome," and picks up where we left off last time with part II. Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min

  6. 12/18/2024

    The Tyranny of Outcome - Part II

    As we grow up, we trade the effortless joy of childhood play to chase after goals and outcomes. Responsibilities, societal expectations, and the relentless pursuit of achievement erode our capacity for our early, relatively unburdened experiences. This is Part II of the series "The Tyranny of Outcome" Background music for voiceover, from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/afternoon-nap License code: NI2UVKIB7WYRNNY4 Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    14 min

  7. 12/09/2024

    The Tyranny of Outcome - Part I

    Have you ever been frustrated by the advice "focus on process over outcome?" I suspect this is wise counsel. Buddha warns that attachment to desire is the origin of all suffering. Lao Tzu prescribes that the “only path to serenity” is to “do our work, then step back." Two philosophical heavy hitters, no doubt. This is Part I of the series "The Tyranny of Outcome" - Process, outcome, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. License for voiceover background music: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/richard-smithson/cali-sunset License code: 9W9ZTVVINKSW0E3Y Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min

  8. 11/18/2024

    Beyond Compromise

    American democracy is suffering from an unhealthy polarization of values, where both sides engage in unproductive and dishonest rhetoric. A healthy democracy must focus on optimizing competing values rather simply admonishing one in favour of another, which is counterproductive. Our values are simply temporal expressions our individual opinions. We can recalibrate more optimally by promoting and paying attention to honest politicians and analysts instead of blind adherence to our tribe. We can also strive to be well-informed, curious, and humble enough to change our minds in the face of better information. Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    29 min

  9. 11/01/2024

    The Alchemy of Pain

    This is a read-through of the article "The Alchemy of Pain," by Jeremy Chan, with audio clips from J.K. Rowling's Harvard commencement speech, and Danny DeVito's monologue from The Big Kahuna. Seemingly negative experiences like failure, regret, and empathy are not simply obstacles to overcome but rather are an integral part of wisdom, character, and grace. These pairs are fundamentally entwined, and occur everywhere. By embracing the "messy" parts of life, we can ultimately grow and achieve a more complete understanding of ourselves. Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    18 min

  10. 10/15/2024

    No-one Can Teach You Anything

    In a summer in my mid twenties, a buddy and I discovered the Tao Te Jing and it blew our minds wide open. But did we actually learn anything on the first read? Get full access to Summersoul at summersoul.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Nascent observations, thoughts, and insights into the human condition, errant or otherwise. Some episodes are AI-generated by feeding Jeremy's articles to NotebookLM, and some are article read-throughs with music and additional audio interspersed. summersoul.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jeremy Chan
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jeremy Chan
  • Show Website
    Summersoul