During COVID, there was one “game night” that changed my life.
We were sitting down to learn a new game, when my wife, Leah, made a comment:
“It’s so funny and a bit frustrating playing board games with you, because you’re too good at figuring out how to win at them.”
(Though the last two nights, Leah has kicked my ass in DC Deck Building)
Anyways…
For some reason, Leah’s comment eventually triggered a question in my mind:
“If I’m so good at figuring out how to win at new games, what would it look like if I designed a game for myself (as a player) to play?”
This SINGULAR question changed my life.
More on that another day, but that’s why I’m SO excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Yu-Kai Chou.
Yu-Kai JUST released a brand new book called “10,000 Hours of Play: Unlock Your Real-Life Legendary Success”
TLDR: It’s the ultimate manual for turning your life into a game that you’ll never want to stop playing.
If you’ve never heard of Yu-Kai, I’ve been a fan of his work for over a year now.
Yu-Kai…
Today we go DEEP into his work on gamification, focusing specifically on his new book.
If you’re someone that wants to (1) create the biggest impact you’re capable of making and (2) have TONS of fun in the process of doing so…
This is an episode you will NOT want to miss!
00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Yu-Kai Chou
Brandon welcomes listeners and introduces Yu-Kai Chou, a globally recognized expert on gamification and behavioral design. He sets the stage for a fun and impactful episode, noting Yu-Kai’s influence on over 1.5 billion user experiences and hinting at stories ranging from gamifying war recovery to noble knighthood.
00:01:39 - From "total loser" to Duke: Yu-Kai’s epic transformation through gamification
Brandon teases three episode highlights, including Yu-Kai’s personal transformation story, the six steps to turn life into a game, and how gamification applies to family life. He also spotlights Yu-Kai’s impressive credentials, including his pioneering Octalysis framework, bestselling books, and recent consulting for President Zelensky’s office in Ukraine.
00:10:41 - The story behind Yu-Kai’s knighthood (and upgrade to Duke)
Brandon and Yu-Kai dive into the whimsical and real story of his knighthood—later promoted to Duke—by the royal family of the defunct Joseon Empire of Korea, which now operates as a digital nation. Yu-Kai explains the crypto-nation-building initiative and why he modestly still refers to himself as a knight.
00:16:14 - From "game-addicted loser" to real-life legend: Yu-Kai’s origin story
Yu-Kai shares a pivotal moment as a high schooler when years of in-game progress were erased as friends moved on. This triggered a life-changing question: what if he played real life like a game? That idea sparked his lifelong pursuit of gamification and making life itself the most rewarding game.
00:22:16 - Life as a game: designing, playing, and thriving
Brandon reflects on his own transformation using game-thinking and how creating a character-player split gave him deeper self-awareness. Yu-Kai expands on this, explaining how real-life "games" lack obvious goals and constraints—so we must design and define them ourselves to play meaningfully.
00:28:01 - The 10K HP framework: six steps to design your legendary life
Yu-Kai introduces the “10K HP” framework—short for 10,000 Hours of Play—offering six gamified steps to build a fulfilling life. He breaks down each step: Choose your game, Know your attributes, Select your role, Enhance your skills, Build your alliance, and Achieve your quest.
00:36:16 - Yu-Kai’s personal game and how he plays it
Yu-Kai shares how his personal game started with three missions: pioneer a new industry, make a global impact, and help others succeed. With playful intensity and a 100-hour workweek (timed in 15-minute increments!), he pursued his goals joyfully—driven not by discipline, but passion for his “game.”
00:43:04 - Blending big vision with family life through gamification
Yu-Kai discusses the powerful mindset shift of including his family in his life’s game. He gamifies parenting with his twin daughters and young son, seeing challenges as engaging design problems. He also redefines success as meeting personal expectations—not society’s—and builds family into that definition.
00:47:48 - Why having kids is a profound part of the game
Yu-Kai opens up about the deep emotional impact of parenting. For him, raising children is like mentoring a younger version of himself. This connection makes the challenges of parenting profoundly meaningful—reinforcing why it’s a central quest in his life’s game.
00:51:08 - Understanding the Strength Triangle: Know your attributes (Step 2)
Yu-Kai explains his "strength triangle," detailing how to identify and rank innate talents. He shares his top attributes—like associative thinking and empathetic intelligence—and shows how aligning activities with your strengths allows you to thrive. He also shares how school once punished his top trait!
00:57:58 - How unique talents evolve through experience and design
Yu-Kai reflects on his early strengths—chess, chemistry, and economics—and how they all stemmed from one shared attribute: visual model creation. Recognizing and doubling down on this gave rise to his signature Octalysis framework and global success in gamification.
Links & Resources:
Here were the thoughts that ran through my mind the first time I met today’s guest, Jennifer Payeur at an event:
“She’s like a tree.”
I don’t know what it was.
Maybe it was her green dress… her grounding and wise presence… Whatever it was, I was like “I must talk to this incredible human.”
Sure enough, at dinner the first night I found myself right at her table, and we immediately hit it off.
She’s got a CRAZY story, and my intuition was right… She IS like a tree!
Jenn used to be a high flying corporate executive, and her life reflected it.
20 hour days… constant travel… AND was raising four children.
Eventually this high stress lifestyle led to severe health issues, including chronic fatigue, pneumonia, and ultimately, stage 4 cancer.
Through a crazy series of events, Jenn was introduced to a little-known therapy in the United States called gemmotherapy — plant stem cell therapy.
These plant stem cells played a significant role in her full recovery, and today she owns a company, Nature Provides, that is helping people all over the world to improve their health.
AND she’s even released a new book called Ancient Plant Wisdom that goes deep into how to resolve over 100 of our most common chronic and degenerative health conditions… including heart disease and cancer.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
Can’t wait for you to listen!
00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Jennifer Payeur
Brandon opens with a warm welcome and shares his excitement about today’s guest, Jennifer Payeur. He recounts their serendipitous meeting at an event in Turks and Caicos, describing Jen as having the wisdom and groundedness of a tree. Brandon previews three exciting themes from the episode: Jennifer’s battle with stage four cancer and plant stem cell healing, her studies with the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, and the incredible process behind her plant stem cell company, Nature Provides.
08:33 - Chronic fatigue, pneumonia, and a cascade of health crises from corporate burnout
Jen opens up about her unsustainable lifestyle in 2008: twenty-hour workdays, constant travel, and raising four kids. Ignoring serious symptoms until collapsing at work, she finally seeks medical help and receives a life-altering wake-up call from her doctor.
13:52 - A book falls off a shelf and leads Jennifer to Barbara Brennan’s healing school
In a moment of synchronicity, the book Hands of Light falls on Jen’s head, introducing her to Barbara Brennan. She embarks on a four-year intensive training in energy healing, learning how illness originates in the energetic field before manifesting in the physical body.
17:56 - The mystery of energy transitions and what Barbara Brennan witnessed in hospice
Jen shares insights about the soul’s transition after death, the disintegration of certain energy centers, and the preservation of others. She discusses how this knowledge helped her understand and process her mother’s recent passing.
24:20 - Meeting and studying with the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
Jennifer recounts how she found the Grandmothers through one of them, Grandmother Flordemayo. She explains the mission of the Council—to protect nature and restore peace for seven generations forward and back—and how it shaped her understanding of stewardship, not ownership.
30:00 - Embracing stewardship and honoring sacred land and plants
Jen reflects on the concept of being a steward rather than an owner, especially in relation to the Earth and plant life. This teaching from the grandmothers deeply shifts her worldview and becomes a guiding philosophy in her work.
30:51 - A lightning-bolt moment: discovering plant stem cells in Dallas
While visiting Dr. Michael Einsoen, Jen is introduced to embryonic plant stem cells and experiences an intuitive lightning strike—she knows this is her path. She later buys the company producing the tinctures, after confirming their effectiveness in her own healing journey.
38:47 - What are plant stem cells and why are they powerful?
Jen explains gemmotherapy—the use of plant stem cells from buds—and how they carry vitality, peptides, amino acids, and light. Unlike adult plants, these early-stage cells offer regenerative benefits and help restore the body's blueprint for health.
41:24 - How plant stem cells work differently from essential oils and dried herbs
Brandon and Jen compare the multifaceted effects of plant stem cells with the limited, single-function nature of adult plant extracts. Jen explains how these stem cells communicate with the body to regenerate and detox at a cellular level.
44:15 - Wild harvesting in the Italian Alps: nature’s most pristine pharmacy
Jennifer reveals the incredible harvesting process: botanists climb the Italian Alps during a narrow 3-month window to hand-pick buds at the perfect moment. She shares how the plants are spiralized over 1,000 times a day and processed with sacred intentionality.
50:55 - Understanding single plant remedies vs. plant complexes
Jen breaks down how to approach plant stem cell remedies: beginners can start with complexes targeting issues like sleep or digestion, while advanced users and practitioners may customize single-plant regimens based on individual needs.
54:38 - What is health coherence and how do plants help restore it?
Jennifer emphasizes the importance of aligning the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic layers of health. She highlights that plant stem cells work holistically, helping bring coherence back into the body’s systems—not just targeting symptoms.
57:44 - The magic of nature and rediscovering intuitive connection
Quoting Dr. Zach Bush, Jen shares how plants and nature anticipate our return home before we arrive. She discusses the role of intuition, disconnection from nature, and the concept of “nature deficit disorder” as described in the book Last Child in the Woods.
59:54 - How to begin listening to your body and raising awareness
Brandon and Jen explore the power of stillness, listening, and noticing. Jen shares simple practices like grounding, checking in with the body, and questioning physical discomfort instead of immediately masking it with medication.
Links & Resources:
Whenever I meet someone “in the wild” and they ask me what I do, I struggle with what to say.
Because in reality, my business is to gather world class humans on imaginary “Curiosity Island” to play and solve big problems.
I’m guessing today’s guest, has a similar struggle, because here are a few things that are a part of her “world”
In other words:
Samantha is not only beyond curious… but she’s also built a life and career that is 100000% unapologetically her.
So cool.
I can’t wait for you to listen.
00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Samantha Tauber (VNCCII)
Brandon Fong introduces today’s guest, Samantha Tauber, also known as VNCCII. A multidisciplinary artist, musician, and storyteller, VNCCII is pioneering next-gen metaverse art and blending music, tech, and storytelling to uplift collective consciousness. Her sci-fi novel is even being sent to the moon!
00:42 - Manifesting reality through imagination
Samantha shares a surreal moment—her novel, which features a scene on the moon, is actually being sent there via NASA’s Astrobotic Griffin Lander mission. She explores the idea of how imagination can shape reality over time.
02:04 - VNCCII’s mission and alter ego
Brandon explains VNCCII’s background as a digital avatar twin and stage persona. Samantha’s work embodies futurism, AI, and artistic innovation. Her book’s lunar mission is a testament to her vision of storytelling as a way to uplift humanity.
04:27 - How did Samantha’s book end up on the moon?
Samantha shares the incredible story of how her novel is being sent to the moon using NanoFiche technology, a highly durable space-age archival method. She explains her connection with Bruce Ha, who owns the patents for NanoFiche, and how the Interstellar Foundation made this dream a reality.
06:55 - The power of storytelling and intention in manifesting opportunities
Brandon asks whether Samantha had always intended to send her book to the moon. She reflects on the synchronicities between her imagination and the real-world manifestation of her ideas.
10:14 - The tuning fork as a tool for transformation
VNCCI, Samantha’s alter ego, wields a tuning fork as a symbol of attunement and alignment with one’s higher self. She discusses how frequencies and sound healing have shaped her journey and how tuning forks became central to her storytelling.
14:22 - The psychology of alter egos and personal transformation
Samantha explores how VNCCII as an alter ego has helped her grow. Referencing the “Proteus Effect,” she explains how embodying a character influences real-life behaviors. VNCCII has allowed her to level up and step into a higher version of herself.
18:08 - From music producer to sci-fi world builder
Samantha details her transition from music production to storytelling, metaverse creation, and novel writing. She shares how learning Unreal Engine and motion capture technology helped bring VNCCII to life.
24:18 - Speaking at A360 and Peter Diamandis' radar
Samantha recounts how she went from reading futurist books like Abundance by Peter Diamandis and The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil to actually speaking at A360. She describes the serendipitous moment when she was asked to open the Great AI Debate—while Elon Musk was watching via FaceTime.
32:27 - The creative process: From vision to reality
Brandon and Samantha dive into her creative process. She explains how she channels ideas through visualization, music production, and world-building techniques. She also shares how her experiences with sound healing and Tibetan singing bowls inspired VNCCII’s story.
38:40 - World-building and immersive storytelling
Samantha introduces Galacta.i.ssance and the VNCCII Awakening, her upcoming sci-fi novel. She explains the “floaters, swimmers, and divers” model for audience immersion and how she envisions her world as an expansive, participatory experience.
42:36 - The power of world-building for entrepreneurs and creators
Brandon connects the concept of world-building to entrepreneurship, sharing how creating immersive brands and communities fosters deeper engagement. They discuss how identity-building in storytelling parallels community-building in real life.
51:56 - AI, consciousness, and the future of humanity
Samantha shares her thoughts on AI, human evolution, and how embracing love over fear will determine our trajectory as a species. She discusses the importance of integrating AI positively rather than resisting it.
55:27 - The Fortnite experience: Bringing VNCCII to life in gaming
Samantha announces that VNCCII will be a Fortnite character! She discusses how Unreal Engine and user-generated content (UGC) are revolutionizing gaming and storytelling.
1:02:09 - Final thoughts and where to find VNCCII
Samantha reflects on her journey and offers words of inspiration for anyone looking to align with their highest frequency. She encourages listeners to explore her world through her website and social media.
Muhammad Ali. Lebron James. Tom Brady. Britney Spears. The Kardashians…
… he’s photographed them all.
As today’s guest, Marc Serota says, “It’s easier to say who I haven’t shot than it is to say who I have.”
I’m grateful to say that I actually first met today’s guest in person in beautiful Turks & Caicos at our buddy Al-B Hannemann’s event.
After spending several days snorkeling and sharing meals together, I quickly became enraptured by this man.
He’s TRULY lived a Beyond Curious life and has the wildest stories.
I’m talking things like:
If you want to see his insane portfolio, you can check out his site right here:
I just found hours slipping by as we sat together and he shared mind blowing story after mind blowing story…
So of course, I had to bring him on the podcast ;)
I can’t wait for you to listen!
Brandon introduces the episode with excitement, teasing incredible stories from the legendary photographer Marc Serota, who has captured some of the most iconic figures in sports and entertainment. From photographing Muhammad Ali, LeBron James, and Britney Spears to covering historic Super Bowls and Olympic events, Marc's career is nothing short of extraordinary.
Brandon shares how he met Marc at an event hosted by former pro beach volleyball player Albie Hanneman. Their conversations in Turks and Caicos left Brandon captivated by Marc’s storytelling and legendary career.
A deep dive into Marc’s impressive bio—his work with Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and major leagues like the NBA, NFL, and NHL. He has covered four NBA Finals, two World Series championships, and numerous historic sporting events.
Marc shares an incredible story about how he captured a defining shot of John Elway’s Super Bowl victory, which later became a Sports Illustrated cover. He breaks down how he positioned himself in a unique way, separate from other photographers, to capture a legendary moment.
Marc explains why he always seeks unique perspectives in his work. He shares how legendary photographers inspired him to go against the crowd and be in places where no one else was to capture iconic shots.
Marc tells the gripping story of how he hustled his way into an internship at the Miami Herald by sneaking into a wrestling event, capturing a dynamic shot of Hulk Hogan vs. Macho Man Randy Savage, and proving himself under pressure.
Just when Marc thought he had lost his shot at the Miami Herald internship, he gets an unexpected call that puts his career on a whole new trajectory. A powerful lesson in perseverance.
Marc describes the nerves and excitement of shooting Eddie Murphy for Rolling Stone magazine. He shares how he discovered he was photographing the comedy legend only after hearing his iconic laugh.
Marc reveals his techniques for making high-profile figures feel at ease, emphasizing confidence, authenticity, and building trust through openness.
A behind-the-scenes look at a Sports Illustrated shoot with golfer Camilo Villegas, who initially refused to cooperate. Marc explains how he used strategy and psychology to get the perfect shot.
Marc shares the surreal experience of photographing Muhammad Ali at the historic Miami Beach Convention Center, where Ali fought Sonny Liston. Ali’s charisma and showmanship made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This episode is packed with legendary stories, invaluable lessons in photography, and insights into how to navigate high-pressure environments. Don't miss it!
Here’s a small taste of some of the crazy adventures discussed in today’s episode:
OH…
And that doesn’t even include the crazy adventures he’s created for his community, including doing things like:
OH…
And he’s also the founder of Domino.one which is an impact incubator and accelerator with clients representing the Pope and the United Nations.
I think that’s all.
(Just kidding, there’s still more).
Paul Kirchoff has a life that doesn’t seem even remotely possible (or real).
Add that to the fact that he literally lives in a bus traveling with his wife and, as he says, “moves his front door every 120 days or so”.
This is a wild one. I can’t wait for you to listen.
Host Brandon Fong introduces Paul Kirchoff, also known as "Kirch," a serial entrepreneur, investor, humanitarian, and global adventurer. Paul has built and led multiple companies, including EPX—a next-generation business and social network for superachievers. He has pioneered billion-dollar ventures, advised leading companies, and even co-founded efforts to combat COVID-19. This episode is packed with thrilling stories, entrepreneurial wisdom, and personal growth insights.
Paul recounts an unforgettable moment early in his career at Dell. Just days into the job, he unknowingly critiques Dell’s operations to a fellow employee—who turns out to be Michael Dell himself! This sets the stage for Paul’s remarkable journey within the company.
Brandon shares Paul’s impressive track record, from taking Dell’s Inspiron division from $0 to $1.5 billion in sales in 11 months to founding multiple companies in impact innovation, digital marketing, and business incubation.
Paul shares a powerful story of how he facilitated a life-changing conversation between Martin Luther King III and Professor Alan Trattner, bridging environmental sustainability and social justice in a profound way.
Brandon and Paul discuss how seemingly small introductions can lead to monumental impact, and how thinking outside traditional value exchanges can help anyone build meaningful connections.
Paul opens up about how he struggled to land his first job despite attending a prestigious business school at an exceptionally young age. After multiple rejections, he finally gets a foot in the door at Dell, leading to his meteoric rise in the company.
Paul explains how a contrarian bet on large-screen laptops helped Dell dominate the market. While competitors focused on smaller devices, he realized that most users weren’t actually traveling. This counterintuitive move led to one of Dell’s biggest product successes.
Paul shares one of Michael Dell’s key lessons: Always operate with healthy paranoia. He explains how it pushed Dell to innovate aggressively and why he later left the company when it couldn't adapt to the rising internet boom.
Despite being ranked the #1 employee out of 30,000 at Dell, Paul chooses to leave, rejecting millions in unvested stock. He shares the internal struggles, reflections, and realizations that led him to prioritize freedom and innovation over financial security.
Paul and Brandon dive into how entrepreneurs can recognize and neutralize deep-seated fears and limiting beliefs. They discuss how simple mindset shifts—like expressing gratitude in frustrating moments—can dramatically change one’s trajectory.
Paul recalls the exact moment he decided to create a global network of high achievers. Sitting alone on New Year's Eve, he realizes how much he had isolated himself through work. This moment of introspection leads to a spontaneous trip to Iceland, which sets off a chain reaction that ultimately results in the creation of EPX.
Paul describes how EPX started with simple adventures—riding with Mongolian eagle hunters, crossing the Sahara, and climbing the inside of the Great Pyramids. Over time, it evolved into a business ecosystem for elite performers, blending entrepreneurship, adventure, and personal development.
Brandon and Paul discuss what it takes to build a strong, engaged community. Paul shares insights on curating the right first members, setting cultural norms, and fostering an environment of mutual admiration between entrepreneurs, athletes, and explorers.
Paul shares why he and his wife choose to live in a mobile home, changing their front door every 20 days. Despite leading major ventures in AI and business networking, he prioritizes simplicity, adventure, and alignment with his true self.