Beyond Curious ™

What if your life took you from performing in a circus at age ten…

…to delivering medical supplies in war-torn Ukraine…

… to leading nonprofit projects with indigenous communities in the Amazon jungle?

Today’s guest this week is Noah Chon Lee, whose life is pretty much the definition of Beyond Curious.

I’m talking…

• 🎪 Growing Up in the Circus: How being a third-generation circus performer ignited Noah’s adventurous spirit.
• 🌍 Global Adventures: His travels around the world, including living with indigenous communities in the Amazon jungle and intentionally facing poverty.
• 🏥 Frontline Courage: Delivering critical medical supplies in Ukraine and the profound moments he experienced with families in bomb shelters.
• 🛠️ Building Communities: The vision behind his company, viaPrize, and how he’s empowering communities to come together and support one another.
• 🧠 Curiosity and Purpose: How his relentless curiosity drives him to explore, learn, and make a tangible impact.

Noah’s story is a testament to the power of going Beyond Curious, embracing uncertainty, and making a difference wherever you go.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Noah Chan Lee

In this episode of Beyond Curious, host Brandon Fong introduces his audience to the remarkable Noah Chan Lee, a true explorer whose journey spans continents, ideologies, and challenges. Noah, co-founder of VIAPRISE, has taken on everything from delivering medical supplies in war zones to juggling as a third-generation circus performer, and is building innovative communities. With a spirit fueled by curiosity and service, Noah’s work aims to connect people and foster resilience in ways that are often overlooked in modern society. This episode dives into Noah’s diverse experiences and the powerful lessons they bring.

Show Notes

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and Noah Chan Lee

• Brandon introduces the show and today's guest, Noah Chan Lee, sharing a brief but intense glimpse into Noah’s life-threatening experience in Ukraine delivering medical supplies amidst bombings.

01:52 - Meet Noah: Circus Performer, Marine Corps Trainee, and Community Builder

• Brandon highlights Noah’s adventurous life story, from growing up in a family of circus performers to leading projects with indigenous communities and working in AI startups.

02:41 - Noah's Philosophy on Curiosity and Community-Building

• The discussion shifts to how Noah’s life aligns with his deep curiosity, from his nonprofit work in the Amazon to experiences in war zones, ultimately shaping his vision of community through his startup, VIAPRISE.

05:13 - Inside Ukraine: Bombs, Families, and Community Resilience

• Noah describes an unforgettable night in Ukraine, huddled with a family in Kyiv during a bombing. He reflects on the vulnerability of the family, especially their young son, and the stark juxtaposition of innocence and war.

08:16 - Community Healing and the Power of Belonging

• Noah explains his inspiration from Tribe by Sebastian Junger and how the need for community and shared purpose can support healing and resilience in traumatized societies.

10:34 - A Frontline Journey with Victoria the Combat Medic

• Noah recounts meeting Victoria, a former banker turned combat medic in Ukraine, and her bravery despite intense challenges. This encounter helped shape his view on humanity’s courage under pressure.

12:33 - A Teen’s Early Quest to Understand Humanity’s Darkest Corners

• Noah shares his journey beginning at age 14, driven by his religious upbringing to explore humanity’s harsh realities and understand suffering. This path led him to global travels and philosophical shifts.

16:22 - Breaking Boundaries and Building Resilience: Street Performing and Self-Sufficiency

• Noah recalls his teenage solo travels, where he supported himself through street performing in Hong Kong and became comfortable with uncertainty, frugality, and self-sufficiency.

18:02 - Training with Martial Arts Masters and Defying Boundaries in Asia

• Noah shares stories of his intensive training with a Muay Thai Olympian and others across Asia, pushing his limits and learning from unique encounters that strengthened his resilience.

24:39 - Life Lessons from Juggling: Learning to Balance Skills and Curiosity

• Both Brandon and Noah discuss how foundational skills like juggling taught them discipline, adaptability, and the ability to tackle new challenges with a creative mindset.

26:06 - A Humble Meal in Chile: Finding Hope in the Face of Adversity

• In Chile, Noah shares a dinner of a single piece of bread with a group of street performers, a moment that deeply impacted him, showing the strength of human connection even in hardship.

31:30 - Finding Family in Ecuador: Noah's Story of Connection and Belonging

• Noah recounts his serendipitous connection with a family in Ecuador who became like kin to him, and how their values inspired his work on community-based projects in South America.

36:59 - The Odd Jobs That Kept Noah Moving: From Circus to Personal Assistant

• Noah details the various jobs he took on, including an unusual stint as an assistant to a mathematician and, briefly, to an adult film star—each experience bringing its own unique insights.

42:21 - The Pop-Up Villages of Zuzalu: Noah’s Vision for Intentional Communities

• Inspired by his time at Zuzalu in Montenegro, Noah discusses these temporary communities that create a space for tech innovators and community-driven experiments, fueling his aspirations for future community projects.

47:21 - Imagining New Ways of Living: Network States and Dunbarian Civilizations

• Noah explains his vision for a “Dunbarian civilization,” inspired by the concept of network states and the human need for close-knit, value-based communities, and how it aligns with his work at VIAPRISE.

52:21 - Building VIAPRISE: The Next Steps in Noah’s Community-Centric Vision

• Noah shares his goals with VIAPRISE, a venture that aims to empower communities to meet their own needs and foster collaboration, building a future of supportive, self-sustaining societies.

Links & Resources

We’re back at it again with another Beyond Curious “time machine” episode!

In this format, we pull clips from past episodes around one topic an entire episode out of it.

For this episode, we dug through the archives for my FAVORITE personal development strategies that I’ve consistently implemented since I learned them.

With this being episode #213, there have been SO many things I’ve implemented, but these are some of the standouts.

Today, you’ll learn:

• How you can BEAT THE SNOOZE button: Learn Hal Elrod’s simple framework for starting your day off strong by waking up right when your alarm goes off.
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• How To Beat Distraction: Learn Nir Eyal’s “10 minute rule” that will help you stay focused and avoid the endless wave of distractions preventing you from getting meaningful work done.
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• How To Leverage An Alter Ego To Achieve Peak Performance: Learn how Todd Herman uses totems, rituals, and alter egos to gain an unfair mental advantage when you’re required to perform at high levels.az3

Hal and Nir’s tips are SIMPLE, offer INSTANT results, and can be implemented TODAY.

Todd’s alter ego strategy does take a bit more deep dives and implementation, but has been instrumental for me as I’ve intentionally designed an identity that has helped me evolve.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and Today’s Guests: Hal Elrod, Nir Eyal, and Todd Herman

In this special "Beyond Curious Time Machine" episode, host Brandon Fong revisits transformative lessons from three influential guests whose ideas have profoundly shaped his life and work. Brandon shares actionable insights from Hal Elrod, Nir Eyal, and Todd Herman, highlighting three practical strategies that have improved his focus, resilience, and performance. Each guest brings unique expertise in self-improvement, from mastering the morning routine to creating a secret identity for peak performance.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 - Episode Kickoff

Brandon introduces this special episode format, explaining how he has curated three of his favorite transformative ideas from past guests. He notes that these strategies have had a lasting impact on his daily life.

00:55 - Time Machine Format Overview

Explaining the format, Brandon shares how he condenses impactful moments from previous episodes, offering listeners the chance to sample insights and dive deeper if they choose.

02:15 - Guest Introduction: Hal Elrod

Brandon introduces Hal Elrod, best-selling author of The Miracle Morning, whose philosophy centers on using morning routines to elevate focus and productivity. Hal’s journey, including near-death experiences, fuels his mission to “elevate the consciousness of humanity.”

03:53 - Hal Elrod on Beating the Snooze Button

Hal shares how conquering the snooze button is crucial to a productive day. Hitting snooze, he explains, delays life’s first task—waking up—and sets a procrastination tone for the day.

04:41 - The Miracle Morning and Morning Rituals

Hal emphasizes the transformative power of morning rituals in enhancing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual states, which, in turn, improve all aspects of life.

05:30 - The 5-Step Snooze-Proof Strategy

Hal details his strategy to overcome the snooze button, starting with setting a positive intention before bed and moving the alarm clock across the room to require getting up. Other steps include brushing teeth, hydrating, and changing clothes to establish wakefulness.

10:52 - Guest Introduction: Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal, a behavioral psychologist and author of Indistractable and Hooked, joins the conversation. Known as the “habits guy,” Nir delves into creating technology and habits that promote well-being and productivity.

13:00 - Nir Eyal’s 10-Minute Rule for Reducing Distractions

Nir introduces the “10-Minute Rule,” which allows the mind to delay acting on distractions for 10 minutes, a method rooted in psychology that decreases the urge to procrastinate and increases focus.

16:05 - Disarming Psychological Reactance

Nir explains how giving oneself the option to indulge in distractions after a brief wait reduces the compulsion to act impulsively. This technique enhances self-control, allowing the 10 minutes to extend gradually.

18:06 - Guest Introduction: Todd Herman

Todd Herman, a peak performance coach and author of The Alter Ego Effect, is introduced. Todd’s work with elite athletes and leaders emphasizes using “alter egos” to unlock hidden potential and excel in high-stakes situations.

19:38 - Todd Herman on Totems and Alter Egos

Todd discusses the concept of a “totem” or physical object that serves as an anchor for an alter ego. Wearing or holding this object can transform one’s mindset and bring out qualities like confidence or courage.

20:30 - Enclothed Cognition and the Power of Identity

Using studies like the Stroop Test, Todd illustrates how objects (like a lab coat) can alter perception and enhance performance by embodying attributes associated with the item.

24:16 - Brandon’s Use of a Memento Mori Coin

Brandon shares his personal experience using a Memento Mori coin as a totem for channeling focus and intentionality before challenging tasks, inspired by Todd’s teachings.

27:06 - Rituals as a Performance Strategy

Todd explains the importance of rituals for mental and emotional readiness, emphasizing their role in focusing energy and maintaining consistency, especially in high-pressure environments.

31:32 - The Legacy of Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality”

Todd recounts his work with Kobe Bryant, sharing how Kobe’s commitment to embodying the “Black Mamba” persona exemplifies the power of intentional identity-building for sustained peak performance.

32:45 - Closing and Reflections on the Power of Ideas

Brandon concludes the episode, encouraging listeners to explore implementing these life-changing techniques and share the episode with friends who may benefit from these insights.

Links & Resources:

Imagine standing on the icy shores of Lake Michigan, contemplating ending it all because life seems utterly hopeless.

That’s where Paul Peters found himself—jobless, homeless, and feeling completely alone.

But in that darkest moment, he heard a voice: “Don’t do it. I’ve got a plan for your life.”

From there, the magic that unfolded is beyond inspiring. Since then, Paul…

• Founded Covenant Case Management Services, which provides support to individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, and substance abuse issues in North Carolina.
• Established The Nehemiah Project Covenant of Love, a nonprofit serving the homeless, veterans, senior citizens, those struggling with addiction, mental health and developmental disabilities, at-risk kids, and abused women in North Carolina and Central America.
• Launched a Mentoring Center for At-Risk Youth, offering guidance and support to help young men and women discover their purpose and improve their lives.
• Authored 3 Bestselling Books and Hosts a Television Show, “On Purpose with Paul,” reaching millions and inspiring people to live intentionally and embrace their purpose.

Paul believes that his life purpose is to help other people find their life purpose… and that is EXACTLY what we dive into in today’s episode.

Paul’s story is a testament to the incredible transformations that can happen when you confront your pain, embrace forgiveness, and step into your purpose.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Paul Peters

In this powerful episode of Beyond Curious, host Brandon Fong welcomes Paul Peters, a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and author with a remarkable background. Paul’s journey has taken him from a challenging childhood to transformative service as a military officer, jail chaplain, and founder of impactful organizations supporting at-risk individuals, veterans, and those with disabilities. He currently leads Covenant Case Management Services and the Nehemiah Project, a nonprofit addressing homelessness, addiction, and youth mentorship both locally and internationally. His story is one of resilience, driven by faith, purpose, and an unshakable commitment to making a positive impact.

Throughout the episode, Brandon and Paul dive into deep reflections on overcoming personal trauma, the discovery of purpose, and the importance of forgiveness and self-compassion. Join them for an inspiring conversation that reveals how to transform pain into purpose and support others in their journeys.

Show Notes

00:00 - Introduction To Paul

• Brandon introduces the episode and guest, Paul Peters, and shares a shout-out to Mark Fujiwara for connecting him with Paul.

04:35 - Paul’s Life-Changing Moment

• Paul recounts a moving story from his past when he considered ending his life. He shares how, in a moment of despair, he felt a calling that convinced him to keep going, which marked a turning point toward his life’s mission.

06:30 - The Nehemiah Project and International Work

• Paul explains the mission of the Nehemiah Project and his work providing resources, mentorship, and hope in Central America and beyond.

08:54 - Overcoming Early Challenges

• Paul reflects on his tumultuous childhood, including being abducted by his father and dealing with parental violence. He describes how these early challenges shaped his journey toward purpose.

10:16 - Rediscovering Faith and Purpose

• Paul discusses his journey into faith, which gave him the father figure he lacked and provided a foundation for his growth and service to others.

13:36 - Reflecting on Patterns in Life

• Paul shares insights on finding purpose by recognizing life patterns. He encourages people to look back at their lives for clues about what brings meaning.

16:48 - The Role of Faith in Finding Purpose

• Paul reflects on the importance of faith, noting how his own belief in a higher plan helped him understand and embrace his purpose.

20:09 - Purpose-Driven Journaling

• Paul suggests a journaling exercise to identify personal stories and patterns, which can illuminate purpose.

26:43 - Lifeline EKG Exercise for Finding Purpose

• Brandon introduces the “Lifeline EKG” exercise to help people map positive and negative experiences over their life and identify recurring themes that point to their purpose.

33:23 - The Power of “What If” Thinking

• Brandon and Paul discuss how curiosity and asking “What if?” can help build a life aligned with one’s interests and strengths.

39:05 - Purpose, Mission, and Vision Statements

• Paul explains the importance of creating a purpose statement, vision statement, and mission statement, which together provide clarity and motivation.

42:52 - Distinguishing Authentic Desires

• Paul discusses how to discern authentic desires from societal expectations, often by looking inward and exploring one’s passions.

49:32 - Moving from Fantasy to Reality

• Paul emphasizes the importance of bringing dreams into reality through action and facing fears, rather than leaving them as unfulfilled fantasies.

57:09 - The Importance of Forgiveness

• Paul shares how forgiving his father for past traumas freed him to live a life of purpose and love. He encourages listeners to let go of past pain to stop reliving it and to find peace.

1:00:56 - Paul’s Ongoing Growth and Compassion

• Paul reflects on how understanding his father’s hardships allowed him to forgive and even feel compassion, transforming his personal narrative and capacity for impact.

Links & Resources:

David Ghiyam became a self-made millionaire at 15 years old.

He took money he won from playing poker, invested it into the stock market, and was making — and losing — hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day.

But the thrill was empty.

So when his uncle introduced him to the spiritual teachings of Kabbalah, everything changed.

He gave up everything to become a full-time volunteer and spiritual teacher.

Years later, with no money and no experience, he and his wife, MaryRuth, started a vitamin company from their tiny apartment…

Today, MaryRuth Organics is a billion-dollar brand.

Absolutely. Insane.

I’m BEYOND inspired by David, because he credits the rapid growth of MaryRuth Organics to the application of his spiritual practice.

Raj Jana was sitting in his cubicle when the news hit.

His colleague, Jerry, had died of a heart attack… just a few days away from retirement.

Watching Jerry’s wife clear out the desk — discovering parts of her husband’s life she never knew — shook Raj to the core.

He realized life couldn’t wait.

So he launched a coffee company as a side hustle.

Seven months later, it hit seven figures—all while he worked full-time.

Fast forward to today, and Raj is currently working on a company called Liber8 which develops technology that maps the emotional roots of illness.

Cancer patients are seeing miraculous improvements — just by becoming aware of their hidden traumas.

No drugs. No invasive treatments.

Just awareness as medicine.

Raj is changing the way we think about healing, and there is SO much in this episode about how YOU can transform your triggers into treasures.

If you’re someone that loves “doing the work” and is interested in how processing your emotions can help you live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life, you’ll want to check this episode out!

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Raj Jana

In this episode of Beyond Curious, host Brandon Fong introduces his guest, Raj Jana, a transformative entrepreneur and the founder of JavaPresse and Liber8. Raj has used his passion for wellness and personal development to build a platform that empowers individuals to heal from repressed emotions, trauma, and hidden belief systems. Throughout the episode, Raj shares his personal journey, from experiencing a tragic event that changed his career path to building a million-dollar coffee brand while working a 9-to-5 job, and his deep commitment to helping people achieve emotional and physical well-being through his company Liber8.

Timestamps & Show Notes

00:00 – Brandon welcomes listeners to the Beyond Curious podcast and introduces Raj Jana. He highlights Raj’s accomplishments as a former reservoir engineer turned serial entrepreneur and transformational leader in wellness.

00:58 – Brandon acknowledges Chris Hay for introducing him to Raj and provides Raj’s bio. Raj is described as a 40-under-40 serial entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Liber8, and host of the Stay Grounded podcast. His company JavaPresse reached seven figures in revenue while he was still working his 9-to-5 job.

03:15 – Three key insights to look out for in this episode: (1) how a tragic event pushed Raj to leave the corporate grind and launch JavaPresse; (2) his focus on treating root causes instead of symptoms, particularly in cancer healing; and (3) the concept of awareness as a powerful tool for healing and self-transformation.

04:35 – Raj describes his early career as a petroleum engineer and how reading The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss changed his view on life. He started side hustles and eventually launched JavaPresse, a coffee company that became his first successful business.

07:19 – A tragic story about Raj's cubicle mate, Jerry, who passed away just months before his retirement, sparks a major realization for Raj about the importance of not waiting to pursue one’s dreams. This event motivates Raj to fully commit to his entrepreneurial journey.

10:05 – Raj talks about the significance of keeping death at the forefront of his awareness. This perspective has helped him focus on what truly matters in life and empowered his decisions both personally and professionally.

11:20 – The conversation shifts to how Raj’s engineering background has shaped his success as an entrepreneur, allowing him to approach complex systems and problem-solving from a high-level, visionary perspective.

13:58 – Brandon dives into Raj's "Vivid Vision" and his values for a new world, which include a focus on regenerative rather than extractive principles, a key concept in Raj’s life and work. He explains the shift from addressing symptoms to focusing on root causes, especially in the context of health and societal issues.

17:39 – Raj discusses how trauma and belief systems shape the world we live in and how his mission is to help individuals wake up from unconscious behaviors through inner work, awareness, and emotional healing.

20:37 – Raj shares how Liber8, his human transformation company, uses AI and precision wellness tools to help users track emotional data and trauma, and develop personalized healing protocols.

26:02 – The conversation touches on the intersection of cancer treatment and emotional health. Raj explains how his technology helps cancer patients identify and address emotional triggers that contribute to their illness, producing positive results in health outcomes.

30:32 – Brandon and Raj explore the power of awareness as medicine. By simply becoming conscious of emotional data and hidden triggers, people can activate their body's natural healing abilities, leading to significant improvements in physical health.

36:16 – Raj emphasizes the importance of recognizing emotional triggers in the moment and how turning those triggers into insights can lead to profound personal growth. He offers practical techniques for managing triggers, including reflection, vulnerability, and pattern mapping.

46:13 – Raj reflects on his experience at a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat and how the practice of surrender and stillness has transformed his approach to leadership, patience, and decision-making in both his personal and professional life.

51:00 – Raj shares how curiosity has been a driving force in his life and business, allowing him to evolve and explore deeper levels of consciousness and awareness. He sees curiosity as the foundation of growth and transformation.

52:30 – The episode closes with Brandon inviting listeners to share the episode with a friend, emphasizing the potential life-changing impact of the insights shared by Raj.

Links & Resources: