Jason Tan is the founder and executive chairman of Sift, a unicorn YC startup. Despite Sift's rocketship growth, Jason, as CEO, was secretly battling depression.

In this episode of Founder Meditations, Jason shares candidly about struggling with depression, the pressure of success, and how psychedelics and spiritual practices helped him rediscover happiness and purpose. Jason also shares his unique approach to love-based leadership and creating a mindful, positive company culture.

Whether you're a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of mental health, spirituality, and business, this conversation offers plenty of insights and inspiration.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:45 Jason’s Journey: From Immigrant to Entrepreneur

02:18 Early Career Struggles and Finding Success at Zillow

04:40 Building Sift: Challenges and Triumphs

06:24 Battling Depression

16:49 Psychedelics and Healing: LSD, MDMA, and Ayahuasca

22:44 Lessons from Jason's Psychedelic Experiences

28:40 Advice for Founders Interested in Psychedelics

35:53 Healing Trauma Through Psychedelics

38:12 Spiritual Insights from Psychedelics

41:49 Burning Man

43:41 Love-Based vs. Fear-Based Leadership

52:30 Balancing Work and Rest

59:26 Rethinking Capitalism: A More Loving Future

01:01:43 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Why should intellectuals care about Manifestation? As Stanford professor Dr. Jim Doty shared on this episode of Founder Meditations, manifestation is not pseudoscience and goes beyond the claims made by The Secret and the Law of Attraction.

Dr. James Doty is a neurosurgeon, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. He is a professor of neurosurgery at Stanford and the founder of The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), of which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. Dr. Doty is a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and NY Times bestselling author with two books: Into the Magic Shop, and Mind Magic.

We dive into the science of manifestation, contrasting it with pseudoscience, and discuss the ethical obligations of wealth and leadership in tech entrepreneurship. Learn about the impact of collective intentions, the essence of true success, and how a balanced approach to life can lead to profound personal and societal change. Featuring insights from global spiritual leaders, this episode invites you to rethink conventional views on wealth, purpose, and community service.

Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into the journey and teachings of Dr. James Doty, a Stanford neurosurgeon and best-selling author. Discover his inspiring story of overcoming poverty and personal struggles to become a renowned figure in neurosurgery, mindfulness, and humanitarian efforts.

00:00 Introducing Dr. James Doty
02:44 Dr. Doty’s Early Life and Challenges
03:38 Into the Magic Shop
08:24 Visualization Techniques
11:00 Neuroscience Behind Manifestation
13:23 Hedonic vs Eudaimonic Happiness
22:47 From Self-Centered to Service-Oriented
30:07 Losing Everything and Gaining Spiritual Wealth
37:12 The Alphabet of the Heart
41:31 Story of the Compassion Beads
44:14 Meeting Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
46:05 Manifesting vs. Overachieving
48:50 The Toxic Nature of Venture Capital
01:04:13 Creating a Compassionate Work Environment
01:06:01 The Importance of Collective Manifestation
01:13:57 Contrarian Views on Manifestation
01:22:54 Advice for Founders

Ryan Vaughn is a three-time startup founder turned executive coach at Inside Out Leadership.

Ryan discusses the challenges tech people face in accessing spiritual concepts and introduces tools to understand the psychological development process. He shares his journey from aspiring basketball player to founder, his battles with addiction, and the profound identity crisis that led to his exploration of spirituality.

Ryan talks about his meditative practices, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and practical advice for founders looking to integrate mindfulness into their hectic lives.

Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or a curious beginner, this conversation offers insights into aligning personal growth with professional success.

00:00 Intro
01:47 Ryan's Journey from Startup Founder to Coach
05:44 The Challenges and Transformations of a CEO
07:53 Transitioning to a New Identity and Career
11:18 Coaching Founders Through Their Journey
15:01 Exploring Spiritual Practices and Psychedelics
21:22 Interweaving Spirituality with Foundership
32:46 Integrating Meditation into Daily Life
37:02 Meditation as a Tool for Organizational Change
41:18 Resources for Meditation and Mindfulness
46:04 Authenticity in Leadership
51:29 Balancing Ego and Vulnerability
53:02 Practical Meditation Techniques for Founders
57:34 Final Thoughts and Advice for Busy Founders