The Modern Taoist

Kit Mann
  • 4.8 (6)
  • SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Modern Taoist Podcast explores how Taoist wisdom lives in today’s world. Hosted by Kit Mann of Dao Ananda, each weekly episode brings Taoism out of the abstract and into daily practice — one step, one breath at a time. From Qigong and meditation to the challenges of modern life, this podcast offers a grounded look at modern Taoism in America. It’s not about passive philosophy — it’s about clarity, balance, and the small practices that shape a meaningful life. 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday morning. 👉 Learn more: https://www.daoananda.org/the-modern-taoist

  1. Mondays, Am I Right?

    3D AGO

    Mondays, Am I Right?

    Why do you keep needing Monday to start over? Every week follows the same pattern.You come in strong. Clear. Focused. Ready to finally lock things in. And then somewhere in the middle… it slips. Not all at once. Quietly. A delay here. A push to later. A small break in continuity that turns into distance. By the end of the week, you’re already telling yourself the same story: “Next week will be different.” But nothing reset. In this episode, we break down the real issue. It’s not discipline. It’s not effort. It’s your inability to continue once things stop feeling clean. Through a Taoist lens, this isn’t about starting stronger. It’s about staying in motion when conditions aren’t ideal. Learning how to move from where your feet actually are, not where you wish they were. Because the moment you step out, you create the need for a reset.And the moment you stop stepping out, the cycle disappears. This episode is about continuity.About staying connected to the work.And about removing the illusion that you ever needed a fresh start in the first place.

    45 min
  2. Dealing With Family Roles in a Taoist Way

    MAR 31

    Dealing With Family Roles in a Taoist Way

    Why do family relationships feel stuck… even when everyone has changed? In this episode, we explore why roles inside families don’t update, and how that creates tension between parents, adult children, and even the next generation. If you’ve ever felt like you revert to an older version of yourself around your parents, or noticed yourself repeating the same patterns with your own kids, this episode breaks down what’s really happening. Learn how outdated roles shape guilt, behavior, and identity… and what it looks like to move out of those patterns without damaging the relationship.

    54 min
  3. Do Positive Vibes Matter?

    MAR 24

    Do Positive Vibes Matter?

    “Positive vibes only” sounds good… until it starts costing you something. In this episode, we take a hard look at what people actually mean when they say it and why it often turns into avoidance, surface-level interactions, and a quiet fear of friction. This isn’t about being negative. It’s about understanding the difference between chasing a feeling and staying grounded in reality. You’ll see why calm and centered has nothing to do with staying “positive,” how trying to control the tone of every situation weakens your footing, and what it looks like to move cleanly when things aren’t smooth. Because real steadiness isn’t built on how things feel. It’s built on how you respond when they don’t. Listen on Spotify and all major platforms: https://linktr.ee/daoananda

    43 min
  4. What Does "Be Present" Actually Mean?

    MAR 17

    What Does "Be Present" Actually Mean?

    Everyone says “be present.”Meditation teachers say it. Therapists say it. Spiritual books repeat it constantly. But if someone stopped you right now and said, “Okay… be present,” what would you actually do? In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we break down one of the most repeated but least explained ideas in mindfulness and spirituality. What does being present actually mean in real life? Why is it so difficult for people to stay in the moment? And what does presence look like outside of meditation, in conversations, work, relationships, or even on the golf course? Drawing from Taoist philosophy, Buddhist insight, and everyday experience, this episode explores the difference between attention and presence, why the mind constantly drifts into the past and future, and how simple practices like breath, awareness, and movement help bring us back to the moment where life is actually happening. You’ll learn: • Why “being present” is often misunderstood• The difference between attention and true presence• Why the mind constantly leaves the moment• What presence actually looks like in everyday life• Simple ways to return to the present when your mind drifts Presence isn’t a mystical state or a spiritual achievement. It’s something much simpler. It’s the moment when your awareness returns to the place where your life is actually unfolding. Listen now to explore what being present really means. Follow or subscribe so you never miss a new episode of The Modern Taoist. https://linktr.ee/daoananda

    50 min
  5. The Taoist Cure for Imposter Syndrome

    MAR 10

    The Taoist Cure for Imposter Syndrome

    "Imposter syndrome” has become one of the most common ways people describe self-doubt. You hear it from entrepreneurs, creators, leaders, and professionals who feel like they don’t truly belong in the roles they’ve stepped into. But from a Taoist perspective, the problem may not be the feeling itself. The problem may be how we interpret it. In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we take a deeper look at what people really mean when they say they feel like an imposter. Why that feeling often appears right before real competence begins to develop. And how modern culture’s obsession with identity can make normal growth feel like fraud. This conversation goes beyond career or professional success. Imposter syndrome shows up in relationships, parenting, spiritual practice, and even in the moment when we begin making bigger decisions about our lives. Using Taoist philosophy as a guide, we explore a different way of understanding the experience and how to move through it without shrinking back from growth. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite belong in the life you’re stepping into, this episode will help you see that feeling from an entirely new perspective. Listen now and join the conversation. For more episodes and Taoist insights for modern life, visit:https://linktr.ee/daoananda

    43 min
  6. Over-Stimulated and Under-Clear

    MAR 3

    Over-Stimulated and Under-Clear

    We live in an age of constant input. Opinions, analysis, hot takes, advice, urgency. All day. Every day. And yet, despite having more access to information than ever before, many people feel less clear about their own lives. In this episode, we explore what overstimulation is actually doing to your thinking, your nervous system, and your ability to make decisions. Why big choices start to feel existential. Why every move can feel heavier than it should. And why more advice is rarely the solution. This isn’t about unplugging from society or escaping responsibility. It’s about restoring proportion. You’ll learn what clarity actually feels like, how to recognize when you’re deciding from a braced state, and practical ways to recalibrate before making important moves. If you’ve been circling a decision, second-guessing yourself, or feeling mentally saturated, this episode will help you slow the tempo and return to center. Clarity is not loud. It’s quiet. And it’s available. Listen now.

    49 min
  7. Why You Are Always Frustrated

    FEB 24

    Why You Are Always Frustrated

    It shows up when progress is slow. When outcomes don’t arrive on your timeline. When reality refuses to cooperate with your expectations. Most people accept frustration as a normal and necessary part of being engaged with life. But what if frustration isn’t caused by circumstances at all? What if frustration is the result of resistance, loss of control, and a conditioned pattern inside the nervous system? In this episode, you’ll learn why frustration does not improve clarity, performance, or outcomes and why it often makes situations worse. More importantly, you’ll discover how Taoist practice approaches frustration differently. Not by suppressing emotion, but by removing the internal resistance that creates instability in the first place. You’ll learn: • Why frustration is resistance to reality, not a property of reality itself• How loss of control destabilizes the nervous system• Why frustration feels automatic but is actually conditioned• How frustration reduces intelligence, perception, and effectiveness• The Taoist method for remaining clear, stable, and effective under any condition This episode will change how you understand one of the most common emotional states in modern life and show you how to stop participating in it. Listen now and learn how alignment with the Tao removes frustration at its source.

    49 min
  8. Your Mood is Not Your Boss

    FEB 17

    Your Mood is Not Your Boss

    Most people live with a quiet assumption: that their moods are delivered to them by the world. A message arrives. Someone speaks the wrong way. The news turns darker. And suddenly the feeling appears, heavy and undeniable. It feels obvious to say, this is why I feel this way. But Taoism asks a more uncomfortable and liberating question: what happens inside you between the event and the mood? In this episode, we explore the hidden space most people never examine. The silent translator inside the nervous system. The reflex to blame. The protective stories the mind creates to avoid meeting discomfort directly. And the moment where responsibility quietly returns, not as guilt, but as power. You’ll learn why moods are not commands, but signals. Why blame provides temporary relief while quietly giving away influence. And how a simple shift in awareness can return the steering wheel to your hands without denying the reality of the world around you. This is not about suppressing emotion. It is about understanding it. Meeting it honestly. And remembering that while you cannot control every circumstance, you can always choose how you participate in what happens next. If you’ve ever felt controlled by your moods, stuck inside reactions you didn’t consciously choose, or frustrated by how quickly blame appears, this conversation will help you see what has always been within your reach. Follow The Modern Taoist and share this episode with someone learning to stand steady in the middle of feeling human.

    51 min
See All (40)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Modern Taoist Podcast explores how Taoist wisdom lives in today’s world. Hosted by Kit Mann of Dao Ananda, each weekly episode brings Taoism out of the abstract and into daily practice — one step, one breath at a time. From Qigong and meditation to the challenges of modern life, this podcast offers a grounded look at modern Taoism in America. It’s not about passive philosophy — it’s about clarity, balance, and the small practices that shape a meaningful life. 🎙 New episodes every Tuesday morning. 👉 Learn more: https://www.daoananda.org/the-modern-taoist

Information

  • Creator
    Kit Mann
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kit Mann
  • Show Website
    The Modern Taoist

You Might Also Like