SuperFeast Podcast

What a profound conversation this was—a real unpacking of principles, where the philosophical meets the deeply practical.   The core of this whole thing, as we dug into with Ann Cecil-Sterman, revolves around the true action of herbs, which—from the Taoist lineage we follow—comes down to pure taste, not just some chemical breakdown. It's that deeper "flavor sensing in the stomach." My journey with Superfeast has been about living the great Yin-Yang puzzle: holding the intense contrast between deep Taoist tradition and the necessary reductionist language for Western practitioners. That dance is what yields the "pearls of reciprocity"—the philosophical gifts you get from the endeavor itself.   On a much deeper, personal layer, we dove into the conversation of living one's true blueprint—that invisible path that keeps calling you—and the absolute non-negotiable commitment to staying engaged with your purpose, no matter what external role the world tries to pin on you (like "CEO").   Finally, we hit the essential travel principles. Ann gave a brilliant reminder about how much flying is a test of our fluids. To counter the hyper-dry, sterile air of planes, the trick isn't just plain water (which is a clearer that goes straight through), but what we call slow fluids or wet food (think congees, soups, stews) to ensure that constant, deep hydration. It also requires the mental discipline of non-busyness: cultivating stillness and focusing on your main job rather than jumping into "tourist mode." It's about being a "Fremen flyer" and absorbing the wisdom of a place by simply being still. If you're ready for a reminder to stay engaged with your deepest purpose and learn essential travel health principles, this episode is for you.   Takeaways: [00:00:28] Herbal Action is Taste-Governed: In Classical Chinese Medicine, herbs act mainly through taste and the stomach's "flavor sensing," not chemical constituents alone. [00:03:46] The Yin-Yang Puzzle in Business: Balancing Taoist tradition with Western chemical language creates "pearls of reciprocity"—unexpected philosophical rewards. [00:04:21] Living Your True Blueprint: Stay aligned with your personal purpose and express it in any role, even as a CEO. [00:10:30] Travel's Primary Rule: Hydration: Air travel severely depletes fluids due to dry cabin air, making deep, constant hydration essential. [00:11:02] Mindful Travel: Cultivate Stillness: Avoid over-scheduling; cultivate stillness, meditate, and stay focused on your core purpose while traveling. [00:12:04] Classical Medicine's 30-Year Plan: Three stages—10 years of practice, 10 years of writing, and 10 years of mentoring new teachers. [00:17:11] Water is a "Clearer," Not a "Hydrator": Plain water flushes waste quickly but does not provide deep, lasting hydration. [00:17:55] The Power of Wet Food (Slow Fluids): Soups, congees, and stews support deep hydration through slow digestive absorption.   Practical Engagement: Prioritize Slow Fluids: Especially before and during travel, replace plain water with "slow fluids" or wet foods like congees, porridges, soups, or stews to ensure deep, sustained hydration. Practice Mindful Travel: When you travel, limit your scheduled activities (e.g., "one museum" rule) to cultivate stillness, meditate, and focus on your core purpose rather than jumping into "tourist mode." Sip, Don't Gulp: If drinking plain water on a plane, keep it coming in small sips continuously throughout the flight, not in large, isolated glasses. Cover Your Skin: Treat flying like being a "Fremen flyer." Wear covering clothes to protect your skin and minimize moisture loss in the dry cabin air.   Resources Classical Medicine Academy: anncecilsterman.com Instagram: Follow @anncecilsterman on instagram for updates.  

If you've been here for a while, you know my whole focus is on returning to the roots of a path—an integrated, no-nonsense approach that actually holds up in the modern world. This conversation with Clarissa Gunawan goes straight to the core of a practice we're all doing anyway, every single night: dreaming. We move well beyond the new-age, "superhero powers" version of lucid dreaming I experimented with in my twenties, and land firmly in the grounded, embodied terrain of Daoist dream work. Clarissa lays out why this isn't abstract or esoteric fluff; it's a non-negotiable tool for self-realization, for recalibrating the day, and—ultimately—for preparing for a "good death." We dig into the massive cultural blind spot around dreams and why getting your view right is the most important part of the path. If you're ready to dissolve the imagined split between day and night and start perceiving your inner landscape with real clarity, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways for the Integrated Human [00:00:50] The Power of the Innate Dreaming is as natural as breathing. In Daoism, the best practice is the one you already do—dream. If you think you don't dream, you're just not catching them yet. [00:03:30] The Hun, The Po, and Peter Pan Syndrome We explore the Hun spirit and Po souls in Chinese medicine, and how imagination in the dreamscape creates experiences that are real in their impact, regardless of what science can measure. [00:17:50] The Primacy of "View" Your view of reality—linear and material or circular and interconnected—determines the outcome of your dream practice. Ego-driven views create controlling dreams; Daoist views allow relaxation, non-duality, and true realization. [00:11:37] Beyond Lucid Dreaming Instead of chasing ego-boosting lucid dreams, the Daoist path is about relaxing into the dream to realize your true spirit and self-arising nature. [00:02:45] You Are Your Own Expert The core practice is simply writing your dreams down—every day. This builds your personal dream dictionary and symbolic language unique to you. [00:30:30] Ancestors, Deities, and Symbols Ancestors, sages, and deities often appear as powerful symbols that help you perceive deeper layers of your genetic and evolutionary path. [00:33:00] The Dreamer as Authority Dream work is a shamanic path where you are the ultimate authority. Universal symbols exist, but your consistent dream log becomes the map of your unique cosmology.   Practical Engagement Start a Dream Log: Get a journal and keep it by your bed. Write down the first thing you remember upon waking—a feeling, a color, a single word. Every morning, without fail. This is the simple barrier to entry. Examine Your View: Before you go to sleep, take a moment to reflect on your foundational view of reality. Are you approaching this as a linear, material quest for self-improvement, or as a circular, non-dual path of realization? The intention you set will shape the dream. Prepare the Body: As Clarissa points out, stop eating heavy food late at night (no 11 PM pizza!). Give your organs a rest so your dreams are about spirit and path, not just digesting salami. Resources Facebook Instagram Courses

This episode dives deep with Benny Fergusson, a foundational member of the show, about his journey from marketing to a career focused on connection, particularly with the body. Benny recounts how his early experiences with marketing highlighted a disconnect from himself, leading him to explore inner connection. He emphasizes that true wants come from within, citing the example of herbs like ashwagandha that foster inner connection.   Benny's current work, the Neurosomatic School, is all about understanding the body and its relationship to life. He shares his personal struggles with spinal issues in his 20s, which forced him to slow down and reconnect. He critiques externalized views of the body, like those in sports, where the body is seen as a tool for tasks rather than a source of inner wisdom.   The conversation touches on the modern world's approach to bodywork, with Mason noting the proliferation of practices like weights, yoga, and meditation to keep society from "breaking." Benny introduces his "SAFE" acronym for cultivating awareness: See, Allow, Feel, Embody. He explains that true healing isn't about fixing something broken, but about allowing what is, and creating the environmental circumstances to support the body's natural healing process. He challenges the idea of "letting go" as an act of doing, emphasizing the need to develop internal reference points for states like relaxation.   Benny also discusses the importance of integrating practice into daily life, rather than separating it as a form of escapism or spiritual ego. He advocates for exploring the full spectrum of human experience, from love to hate, to truly embody qualities. He highlights the interrelationship of things in the body, using knee pain as an example where the focus should be on supporting structures like the ankle and hip, rather than just the knee itself.   The discussion then shifts to the Neurosomatic School's approach for practitioners, focusing on bringing humanity back to health and addressing the "wounded healer" dynamic. Benny stresses the importance of personal embodiment for practitioners, as you can only guide others where you've been yourself. He outlines the school's four pillars: connection, breathing, mobility, and cultivation, emphasizing a pragmatic, individualized approach rather than a "one-size-fits-all" methodology. He aims to develop "all-terrain vehicle practitioners" who can adapt their tools to different contexts and individual needs.   Key takeaways from Benny and Mason: [00:00:37] Internal Connection as a Foundation   [00:04:43] Holistic Body Understanding   [00:17:57] Interconnectedness of the Body   [00:17:57] Pragmatic and Individualized Methodology   [00:23:47] The "SAFE" Framework for Awareness   [00:38:02] Integrating Practice into Daily Life   [00:41:48] Practitioner Embodiment and Humanity  Call to Action Alright, so we've just ripped into a deep chat with Benny Fergusson, one of the OG members of the show, about ditching the external hustle and getting real about internal connection. If you're being honest with yourself and you're tired of just throwing bodywork at a problem to keep from 'breaking,' this is your next, essential step.   The Neurosomatic School isn't just theory; it's the pragmatic, individualized approach that moves beyond the spiritual ego and 'unembodied advice.' It's time to truly apply the SAFE Framework and embrace the messy spectrum of human experience. Remember, as Benny says, you can only guide others where you've been yourself.   Dive into the four core pillars: Connection, Breathing, Mobility, and Cultivation. This work is about building real, internal reference points and developing those "all-terrain vehicle" skills.   Ready to get out of the superficial and start living the work? Don't just listen to the wisdom—go embody it.

In this captivating discussion, Mason and Velan dive deep into leadership—moving past old-school hierarchies to a more custodial vibe, seeing an organization as a soul, not just a machine. Velan brings in seership—reading a culture through patient observation and awakened senses, like a mycelial network. They touch on elemental forces (earth, water, fire, air) as leadership teachers—especially water as a memory keeper. Leadership, they say, should be about self-education, letting things flow like living systems, and shedding those colonial mindsets that cut us off from our senses. They also explore the alchemy of recycling energy—turning discomfort and conflict into gold by creating space for the unspoken. Mason even drops some SuperFeast wisdom about how unacknowledged secrets can disrupt harmony, and how tension can spark new paths—like dandelions breaking through concrete. Velan wraps it up by calling for multidisciplinary education—moving from specialists to diverse thinkers—and finding common ground. He reminds Mason about enchantment, opening up new possibilities. His big advice for new leaders? Get real with your core secret—your profound why—the bedrock for any lasting impact. Mason & Velan's Highlights [00:00:37] The Living Question of Leadership [00:01:21] Custodial Leadership vs. Hierarchical Models [00:03:45] Seership and Sensory Perception [00:05:37] Mycelial Intelligence and Elemental Mastery [00:09:28] Decolonizing Leadership and Reclaiming the Senses [00:17:00] Embodiment and the Practice of Discomfort [00:20:15] Alchemizing Conflict and Recycling Energy [00:22:00] The Power of Secrets and the Inner "Why" [00:27:30] Multidisciplinary Leadership and Cultural Enchantment [00:36:40] Embodiment as an Ecosystemic Practice [00:45:15] Leading Through Initiation and Death Cycles [00:51:04] Returning to the Sacred "Why" – Leadership as Prayer Call to Action If something in this conversation stirred something in you—don't rush to make sense of it. Just sit with it. Let it move through your body, your breath, your week. That's where real leadership begins—not in the doing, but in the listening. If you feel called, share this episode with someone walking that same edge of becoming. And if you haven't yet, subscribe or leave a few words in the reviews—it really helps this work find the ones who are ready to hear it. Thank You to Velan A deep bow to Velan—for the generosity of presence, for weaving wisdom that feels less like information and more like initiation. Brother, thank you for reminding us that leadership is ceremony—a remembering of how to walk well with life.

In this very special episode, Mason sits down with his dear friend, the absolute legend Steve Napolitan, for a powerful conversation that's been 10 years in the making. Steve shares his incredible, vulnerable, and deeply honest adventure through a profound health crisis—Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)—and how he navigated the chasm of doubt between conventional and complementary approaches.   This isn't about choosing one path over the other; it's about the deep journey of inner stewardship, health sovereignty, and patient engagement. Steve's story is a masterclass in discerning appropriate support, understanding the body's innate capacity for healing, and finding gratitude amidst immense challenge. You'll hear how tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms became more than just supplements—they were allies in a profound process of regeneration and self-discovery.   Prepare to be inspired by Steve's resilience, his unique approach to healing, and his unwavering belief in the body's ability to regrow and restore. This conversation offers a nuanced perspective on what's possible when we engage with our healing journey with courage, intention, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.   By the end of this episode, you'll feel empowered to approach your own health challenges with a more colorful and responsible perspective, trusting your inner wisdom while seeking external support when truly needed.   Mason & Steven's Highlights [00:00:00] Introducing Steve Napolitan and his 10-year journey with Mason [00:03:22] Steve shares the shocking onset of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in 2021 [00:09:56] The rapid progression of paralysis and his wife's diligent research [00:13:18] The decision to go to the hospital: when holistic efforts meet Western medicine's limits [00:23:24] Steve's spiritual awakening: "Am I dying?" and the clear "No." [00:26:46] The neurologist's crucial insight: the body's ability to regrow myelin with good fats [00:40:14] Embracing pain as a guide: why Steve refused heavy medication [00:57:04] Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich and the power of belief [01:07:10] Why Steve wouldn't take back his paralysis: the man he became [01:24:00] Post-GBS healing: the critical role of good fats, cacao, and targeted herbs   If Steve's story resonated with you, share this episode with someone who needs to hear a message of hope and resilience today. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an inspiring conversation, and visit our website for more resources on supporting your body's incredible healing potential.   About Steve Napolitan   Steven Napolitan is an award-winning producer, brand strategist, and executive coach recognized as a pioneer in new media marketing. He has created viral campaigns generating millions in revenue, worked with global brands like Apple and Intel, and produced content across film, TV, and advertising. Through his coaching, he has trained over 35,000 professionals and entrepreneurs in scaling businesses, boosting sales, and achieving lifestyle freedom. At the core, Steve is passionate about people, storytelling, and helping others align vision, focus, and teamwork to create lasting impact.   Resource Website: stevenapolitan.com Podcast: More Business More Life Podcast