Don’t miss Part 2 of this episode where we touch on how diets can lead to almost religious dogma, how lifestyle and diets affect relationships, as well as genetics as it relates to food. We pick up where the conversation left off in episode 16! Key Takeaways [:09] Tony sets up Part 2 of the discussion on the complexities of food knowledge and how America’s relationship to food has evolved into lifestyles. Food Religion [1:17] What if you become so rigid about food that it defines how you live yo...
Mar 18, 2021•26 min•Ep. 17
Why do we need to know so much to even begin to scratch the surface of how to eat properly? How did we lose our bearings when it comes to the one aspect of our lives that is the highest predictor of our overall health? This discussion focuses on how powerful lobbies and constantly evolving science have led national guidelines to promote a diet that has made America the number-one unhealthiest country. From food “blue zones” where people live longer to fad diets, recipes, and individual factors, ...
Mar 03, 2021•44 min•Ep. 16
Today’s show is a guided exercise in mindfulness by Zen Master Genpo Roshi; tune in to hear how you may have been poorly instructed, if at all, on how to meditate as well as what the long-term benefits of the practice are. Meditation may not be the negation of the thinking mind that you think it is… It is rather an act of setting the thinking mind free, knowing it will quiet down. Key Takeaways Genpo speaks to Ron’s thinking mind [1:13] When you try to meditate, what does the thinking mind do? I...
Jan 28, 2021•29 min•Ep. 15
Have you ever wished you wish you could pacify certain warring parts of yourself? We all live with the struggle of internal opposites: knowing you should do something (exercise? eat healthily? meditate?) but still procrastinating, knowing you’re performing well enough but still being stressed, needing to make a big decision but still being fearful… Big Mind is a profoundly interesting tool that enables individuals to identify aspects of themselves and work through the relationships they entertai...
Jan 14, 2021•28 min•Ep. 14
We are fortunate to ring in the new year with a discussion with Genpo Roshi, one of my Zen Masters and the creator of Big Mind. Today’s episode is a dive into deeper ideas ranging from human purpose to the meaning of life — no less! All of these discussions stem from an important realization in the tech community that healthy habits like eating well and exercising only address one aspect of human life. It has become clear that tending to the health and balance of your mind is an integral part of...
Jan 07, 2021•30 min•Ep. 13
I recently did my first (8-hour!) myofascial release session with my guest Meki Blackwell and it revealed a deeper perspective on how the body’s connective tissues work — I mean beyond what we all understand as “rolling out.” Are we taught how to move? Are we taught how to stand? We all know the answer to that, and it all leads to pain and premature aging. Joins me today for an interesting dive into what it means to understand the mechanistic body as a holistic system. Key Takeaways From MeatHea...
Nov 20, 2020•37 min•Ep. 12
Last week, Andrea joined the show for an experiment on mindset and performance. The results were clear: if you’re looking to create a frame of mind that makes hard activities seem enjoyable, this is the key! Listen in for the Big Mind session I did with Andrea and if you feel like you might use some one-on-one coaching, follow the link and fill out the form here . Key Takeaways Body scan [7:24] Andrea — out of breath — from her first training experiment starts a body scan with Tony. Big Mind [10...
Nov 06, 2020•25 min•Ep. 11
Do you really have to crush, grind, and power through to perform? Does it have to be that difficult? Today’s episode is a practical experiment on the neuroscience principles that underpin neuroplasticity and the way humans learn in general. If you want Tony to coach you, follow the link and fill out the form here . Dr. Andrew Huberman has been making the podcast rounds lately, talking about the fine balance that needs to be struck between agitation and relaxed focus — sympathetic/parasympathetic...
Oct 21, 2020•37 min•Ep. 10
While a car metaphor may be a bit dated, it does seem to hit the nail on the head… Usually, we’re attracted to the shiny exterior, but when we look under the hood, the excitement may fall away. Would the reverse be possible then? Look under the hood, get excited, and then get attracted to the exterior? Are men and women different on that front? Join Tony, Ron, and Andrea as they tackle all of those questions, almost naming names, always brutally honest, and often skirting the lines of what’s acc...
Sep 04, 2020•56 min•Ep. 9
The trend of looking for real meaningful experiences has been around for a while now, but COVID changed the game: the immediate starkness of lockdown made us miss the simple things in life, real human connection. This awkward moment in history is just the one Tony picked to start online dating! In order to make a bit of sense of his own experiences and women more broadly, Tony interviews three beautiful (we’re not kidding), successful, smart L.A. women, in search of some answers on what makes a ...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 8
The last two episodes covered the competitive, one-sided, optimized-for-profit nature of the tech industry and the tools it produced to perpetuate its own wealth, as well as the rise in popularity of meditation, which has the side-effect of enabling the possibility of peaceful opposing beliefs, and shrinking the divide between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Today’s topic is on the sense of self, who we think we are versus the perception others have of us and where, within those often opposing concepts, lies t...
Jul 16, 2020•50 min•Ep. 7
A basic realization that comes from any somewhat serious meditation practice is that your mind is naturally multifaceted, wonderful, flawed, and idiosyncratic. Another insight quickly follows that all other humans have equally non-binary, wonderful, flawed, and idiosyncratic minds. Meditation has the natural side-effect of enabling the possibility of peaceful opposing beliefs, and shrinking the divide between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Last episode, we discussed the competitive, one-sided, optimized-for-p...
Jun 26, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 6
The first step to tackling a systemic problem is to become aware of its mechanisms of action as well as its influence on you. Today’s episode is a discussion with Ron Williams on the nature of the rigged system we’re living in. We touch on how the system traces its modern roots to tech, the way it operates to generate wealth for an increasing few, its inherently discriminatory nature as well as some ways forward. Dive into Part 1 of this series that will explore the rare opportunity we currently...
Jun 15, 2020•55 min•Ep. 5
Stephen Marcus from Riot VC is the founder of six hardware + software companies and an investor in dozens of others. He manages a pre-seed and seed portfolio of companies that have a combined enterprise value of $15 billion and generated revenue of more than $600 million in 2018. He joins Tony and Ron to share his insight on how startups are dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and what issues they face. How do you onboard strangers? What about managing a workforce reduction? What do you do with emp...
May 29, 2020•58 min•Ep. 4
Today’s episode attempts to decrypt the ins and outs of good communication. Tony and Ron are joined by industry veteran Jose Caballer whose knowledge and skill in both team leadership as well as interpersonal one-on-one communication have given him a pretty good perspective on how communication tools and practices have evolved in the tech industry. Tune in for serious insight on how Agile can streamline and improve remote team management, how to address difficult conversations, and what the futu...
May 15, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 2
Today’s episode is all about being physically, mentally, and emotionally fit in tech. Steve Mescon — former gaming industry professional — now experiments with, invests in, and supports a wide range of performance-enhancing products and companies; he joins the show to talk about optimizing performance. From stem cells to psychedelics, follow us down the rabbit hole… Welcome to the Tony Wong podcast! IMPORTANT NOTE: This interview and associated content are in no way an endorsement or recommendat...
Apr 24, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 2
Startups are a strange beast and the people that navigate them lead interesting professional lives and tackle unique challenges, to say the least. Join us for deep dives into what goes on in the heads and hearts of people starting tech businesses, hoping for the unicorn. Joining us in our inaugural dive into everything startups is Ron Williams, VPO at Subspace. Welcome to the Tony Wong podcast! Key Takeaways [7:05] Ron went from teaching himself to program at 12 years old in the ’80s, to combat ...
Mar 31, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 1
