Unmapped with Mike Kelly

In this insightful episode of Unmapped, Mike and Jock delve into resilience, self-belief, the intense personal journey of an all-in entrepreneur and Jock's new project, Community VC. Jock discusses his philosophy of integrating work with life and his unshakable internal motivation, sharing personal stories of overcoming adversity and rebuilding confidence over six years. We explore the innovative model of Community VC, which focuses on collaborative due diligence and advisor support for early-stage startups. Jock also talks about his commitment to helping overlooked 'diamonds in the rough,' the importance of diversity and long-term support, and his strategies for staying grounded amid challenges. The episode concludes with Jock's vision for the future, his approach to investing, and his unwavering dedication to fostering successful founders and impactful businesses globally. 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 01:25 Work Ethic and Internal Motivation 02:59 Community VC and Personal Philosophy 05:13 Daily Routine and Self-Awareness 10:22 Creativity and Analytical Thinking 14:06 Failures and Lessons Learned 27:59 Rebuilding Confidence and Incremental Growth 42:51 The Journey to Community VC 47:31 The Open Due Diligence Experiment 49:48 Revolutionizing Early Stage Engagement 01:16:46 Personal Reflections and Future Vision 01:26:40 Final Thoughts

WATCH KAUSHIK'S TEDx TALK HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpl5ahX1gpU In this episode, neuroscientist and author Dr. Kaushik Ram shares his extraordinary journey from surviving a near-death experience to living in a cave in Thailand. Dr. Ram's experiences forged a unique perspective on the importance of instinct and humanity's disconnect from nature's rhythms. The discussion covers his TEDx talk where he argues that technology threatens our instinctual behaviors, leading to profound implications for mental health and societal structures. The episode also touches on the censorship of his TEDx talk and its implications for free speech and open discourse. Finally, the episode emphasizes reconnecting with nature as a vital part of understanding our instinctual selves. 00:00 Introduction 04:13 The Start of the Conversation 05:41 The Coding Neuroscientist 09:44 The Near-Death Experience 16:35 Writing 'Hidden World' in a Cave 22:59 Living in Communion with Nature 29:19 Exploring Instincts and Technology 41:09 The Argument of the TEDx Talk 47:13 Transhumanism as an Ethical & Spiritual Dilemma 48:54 Ethical and Moral Implications 56:29 The Deployment of Technology 01:02:36 Censorship of the TEDx Talk 01:14:23 Reflections and Future Conversations

I guarantee you: this episode of Unmapped will make you a better partner, friend and lover. On Unmapped this week, I have the honour and privilege of speaking with Jess Koncz, who has been - along with one of my best friends - my life’s most influential teacher on relationships. She’s the Founder of The Open Circle and FAR (Festival of Alternative Relationships) and predictably, this episode is an honest and vulnerable deep dive into the world of polyamory, open relationships and Jess’ journey to ethical non-monogamy (ENM). What’s less predictable is the immense value this conversation has for those of us in traditional relationships. Jess is an incredibly wise woman. Here’s what I loved about this episode: When people think of open relationships, they think of sex. At no stage was sex the primary topic of conversation in this episode.When a trigger is causing you discomfort, go deeper to work through it. When it’s causing you extreme pain, ease up - perhaps this isn’t for you.If you really love someone unconditionally, the role they play in your life won’t matterThinking scarcely about opportunities to connect with someone (this might be my only chance!) actually creates disconnection Enjoy this one folks. In the future, Jess is going to be one of the world’s thought leaders on creating meaningful, loving and beautiful connections. For those of us already in her circle, she already is. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - 16:40 - Intro, Letting go of the Entrepreneurial Identity, Giving Yourself Space to Breathe 16:40 - 35:13 - The Journey to Non-Monogamy, Polyamory & Love, Polyamory vs Open 35:13 - 49:03 - Co-Creating Gorgeous Relationships & Relational Structures, The Importance of Security, Thresholds for Jealousy 49:03 - 59:24 - Pain vs. Discomfort, Unconditional Love in Evolving Connections 59:24 - 1:13:04 - Principles of ENM 1:13:04 - 1:27:58 - Communication in Relationships, Abundance & Scarcity 1:27:58 - 1:42:40 - The Open Circle & FAR 1:42:40 - 1:56:45 - Creating Safe, Connection-first Spaces 1:56:45 - 2:06:07 - FAR Tickets & Outro

This week Unmapped brings the spiritual and health-conscious of us an absolute treat. We’re speaking with David Goulet; one of the world’s most experienced practitioners of yoga. No, seriously. After studying with the revered Swami Gitananda in the early 70s, David has maintained an hours-long, daily practice of yoga for FIFTY-FIVE years. To put that in perspective: at the chronological age of 78, he had his DNA tested to tell him his biological age: 48 years old. Yep. This guy has been doing yoga for longer than his own cells think his body has been alive. David now lives on Ko Phan Gan, where he runs Chakra Yoga, one of the world’s most extensive teacher training programs for would-be yoga instructors. The depths of our human and universal existence can be examined at levels barely believable to the naked, over-stimulated human senses. David takes us on a deep journey through the human body and into the cosmos, detailing with precision realities Eastern contemplative practices have known for centuries; realities science is beginning to (loosely) comprehend. This one is a banger. Scarcely believable at times, but for those willing to approach it with an open mind, a treasure trove of universal wisdom. TIMECODES 00:00 - 12:00 Intro, Strawberry Fields & Journey to Yoga 12:00 - 14:50 - Yoga & Youth 14:50 - 24:30 - Telomere Testing & The Power of Breath 24:30 - 30:30 - Breath and the Interconnected Body 30:30 - 44:57 Yoga, Vipassana, Quantum Physics & Universal Creation 44:57 - 50:40 - Swami Gita Nanda, Four Months of Yoga 50:40 - 58:08 - Pilgrimage with the Sadhu’s, Beyond The Body 58:08 - 1:04:17 - Mike on Ayahuasca 1:04:17 - 1:14:42 - Chakras & The Media’s Negative Bias 1:14:42 - 1:18:01 - Navigating the World Post-Awakening 1:18:01 - 1:34:37 - Hindu Gods, Chakras & their Relevance to the Human Universe

What happens when we are able to superimpose our preferences onto our perception of reality, in real time? Unmapped is back, and rather than hitting the ground running, we've gone for the phasing instantaneously through time, space & the occasional dimension route. Craig Swann is hands down one of my favourite human beings to talk to. As co-founder and director of Southstart, Craig has curated a cherished, unforgettable, community-driven and distinctly human experience centred around startups and the future of technology (and therefore humanity). Southstart is a kaleidoscope of ideas, innovation, people and nature of the sort which sucks you into an annual orbit in which Adelaide becomes an unescapable truth the first week of March. As a human-centred creative technologist and futurist, he threads a paradoxical needle, holding equally a piercing eye for the future and the necessity of protecting what is innately human from the inexorable march of technology. Being able to balance this dichotomy makes Craig an important voice in the conversation of our future. As an artist, Craig has always been at the edge, pushing the limits of creative possibilities. In the 90s, he founded LoopLabs, the world's first software decentralising and democratising the creative process, allowing people from all over the world to create and collaborate on making music. This. Was. Before. Google. In time, Steve Jobs demo'd LoopLabs in the launch of the Safari browser alongside ESPN and The New York Times (wtf) and SXSW came knocking with awards for his groundbreaking creative work with Adobe Flash. Craig shot to a form of creative nirvana, working with the world's biggest brands and speaking globally on all things creativity and technology. He's now drilling into the latent potential of AI, pushing the limits of what's possible using creative engines such as Midjourney and others. We get into this throughout this incredible interview, split over two parts. Part two drops next week. Prepare for your mind to be opened and then blown as we take a wild walk down memory lane; and into the tapestry of our future. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - 00:03:46 - Introduction 00:03:46 - 00:14:21 - Growing up with Computers 00:14:21 - 00:25:05 - Creators vs Consumers, Creators as Curators & The Dead Internet Theory 00:25:05 - 00:36:06 - Infra/Social/Super Structures, The Fight of the Social Structure & The Ideology of the Internet 00:36:06 - 00:45:40 - Digital & AI Natives, The Information Apocalypse & a Post-Truth Age 00:45:40 - 00:54:53 - Power, Spirituality & The Purpose of Technology 00:54:53 - 01:07:02 - Being in Tech in the 90s, Self-Resourcing in the Wild West, The Exponential Growth of Tech 01:07:02 - 01:16:09 - The Rabbit Hole of Endless Curiosity, Technology as a Joy-enabler 01:16:09 - 01:23:08 - What is Art and Who Gets to Do Art? 01:23:08 - 01:31:27 - Reality Filters & Neuralink 01:31:27 - 01:38:23 - The Impacts of Disparate Synthesis via AI & Your New Best Friend 01:38:23 - END - Why Humans Act Differently Online vs Real Life

This week on Unmapped, I speak with Nikki Tugano, the Founder of SeenCulture. Nikki is on a mission is ensure every human being in every organisation is seen and valued irrespective of who they are, what they look like or which role they perform in the organisation. Nikki is also positive psychologist with a passion for helping employees within organisations find optimal performance and wellbeing. We go deep into: The challenges of startup life and whether anyone can be a founderThe science of wellbeing and performance & the importance of purpose in workWhat keeps Nikki going when everything is !@#$edThe bottleneck in getting funding to Founders of under-represented communitiesSeenCulture’s global mission to ensure everyone feels… well, seen! I really enjoyed this conversation. I found Nikki to be articulate and considered. It’s always a joy to speak to someone with real expertise in their field and I learnt a lot from the jam we have on positive psychology & finding meaning in our work. Ask a positive psychologist and founder what they do when they have one of those really horrible months only a founder can understand - the ones where everything goes wrong and the world constantly feels like it’s ending - was illuminating. I bet you can imagine what the answer was! Enjoy the episode folks!

Well, I promised a doozie and here it is. Cris is a rockstar in my books: an ethicist who dedicates her life to helping individuals and organisations think about how they make decisions for better ethical outcomes - a task that is by no means simple given the incentives at the root of our society. She manages it with a smile, having never given in to the negative slant that we are forever mired in a world ran by bad actors. In fact, Cris holds a nuanced and hopeful outlook on the future, focusing on the opportunities whilst being mindful of the monumental challenges humanity faces. As a Director of The Ethics Centre, Cris leads The Ethics Alliance and the Banking and Finance Oath, two initiatives aimed at improving ethical frameworks and decision making in the corporate sphere. This conversation came for me at the perfect time: I had been grappling with feeling jaded about the world and about the inherent biases toward inequality written into our systems. Cris' is a level head in the room, able to see the good, acknowledge improvement and hope for the future provided an excellent counterbalance and valuable insight for me on an ever-deepening journey into understand the systems which govern humanity. Of course, we go deep on AI. We discuss what ethics really means, and how really, ethics boil down to the choices we make. We explore the propensity for humanity to be really good at correcting course just in the nick of time, what an ethics first society would look like and the importance of love and intelligence as fundamental pillars of human good. Cris is an incredible human with a brilliant mind. It was such an honour to have this conversation. I hope you enjoy it.

Oli Nold is the quintessential digital nomad and a serial entrepreneur. He ran one of the world's largest digital nomad communities & is currently the Co-Founder of North Resolutions, a digital marketing agency he runs with his fiancé, Lisa. I've been chasing Oli for nearly three years for this interview, and you're about to find out why. Oli is a multi-faceted force of nature: he thrives at the frontier, spots opportunity with the eyes of a hawk & lives unapologetically in his lane. We explore his journey thus far from Switzerland around the world, doing nomad life and business with your soulmate, making 7 figures, losing 7 figures, the challenges of mental health and addiction and much more. I loved everything about this conversation: Oli is a true maverick; an inspiration to anyone who dares to dream & someone who you can count on for unrelenting honesty and a commitment to be their authentic self, no matter the time, place or context. -- TIMINGS 00:00 - 2:12 - Intro 2:12 - 8:45 - The Way we Met, Respecting & Fearing Human Beings & Good at Community, Bad at Customer Service 8:45 - 17:50 - Oli's Origin Story, Heavy Burnout, The Third Way 17:50 - 25:10 - Being Sustainable as a Digital Nomad, Meeting your Soulmate 25:10 - 38:35 - Life & Work with your Soulmate, The Reality of the Hustle 38:35 - 53:00 - NomadX & COVID, Being Ready to Lose it All, Losing it All, 53:00 - 1:02:40 - Making it Back with Projectors, A Second Exit 1:02:40 - 1:16:50 - North Resolutions, The Customer Journey, Marketing to the Young 1:16:50 - 1:35:00 - Depression & Addiction & The Culture of Alcohol 1:35:00 - 1:41:40 - The Move to Ibiza, Full Circle, Changing Your Mind 1:41:40 - xx - Oli's Future, Too Old to Die Young, The Journey, Life is Rock'n'Roll

I've tried to come up with a catch-call label for Caitlin, and I honestly couldn't. One of the most fascinating people I've met in a long time, Caitlin is deeply human, defiantly feminine & unapologetically embodied. Trained as a Doula, Caitlin's life took a turn when she was called to stripping. Having taken this career around the world, she now teaches women how to strip as a portal to return them to their embodied, feminine essence - to regain a confidence in their womanhood many have lost in a patriarchal world. This is a must-listen for all - man, woman or anyone in between. The way Caitlin speaks of the female body helps us grasp the near incomprehensible magic of giving birth, something I feel we all need to stop and drop into at times. Caitlin's work begins at feminine empowerment and ends as a celebration of life and the beautiful bodies which nurture it into existence. Her perspective on birth & the ramifications of our societies denial of the female body & feminity is a perspective I have never heard before. It rocked me. Her life & reflections left an impression on me. As is often the case, I left this conversation with a new close friend - a maverick who constantly inspires me - and a deep appreciation for the sacred feminine. FIND CAITLIN www.caitlinerica.com IG - @caitlinerica https://www.caitlinerica.com/strip-her (An 8 week embodiment and sensual dance course - use UNMAPPED code for $100 off) https://www.caitlinerica.com/strip-her-the-pop-up (Pop up event in Sydney - UNMAPPED10 for 10% off) TIMINGS 00:00 - 2:16 - Intro 2:16 - 4:40 - The Mystery if the Feminine 4:40 - 10:49 - A Doula Explained, The Lessons of Stripping & Voices from the Otherside (8 mins some breathing I could cut out) 10:49 - 18:40 - Permission (clip 14:15) (clip 15:05) 16:00 clip) 18:40 - 23:23 - Spirit's Guidance & Courage in the Face of Fear (21:00ish and 22:00ish - could cut a part out) 23:23 - 35:00 - s3x work, Body Sovereignty, The Soul's Journey (clip here somewhere approx 25-30 mark) 35:00 - 37:00 - Seeking, Learning & Growing 37:00 - 42:57 - the Magic of Birth, the Malignation of the Female Body, Sensual Dance as a Way Back (40:45 clip around here, 38:52 that's an issue clip, 41:20 clip) 42:57 - 51:47 - Celebrate Her & Caitlin's Work 51:47 - 58:00 - Cracked Open 58:00 - 1:07:30 - The Journey is the Way I Tell it, Taking a Leap of Faith, Interconnectedness 1:07:30 - 1:10:03 - Outro

Hailing from Hawaii, Jonathan de Potter is the Founder of Behold Retreats (www.behold-retreats.com). In a past life as a strategy consultant, Jonathan's considerable talent, drive & intelligence took him around the world. From New Zealand to Hong Kong, Jonathan had everything a young, ambitious consultant could want. A big team. Big deals. Respect. Influence. Money. Travel. And yet, something felt as though it was missing. On a travelling sabbatical, he found himself sitting in ceremony with Ayahuasca in Peru; an experience difficult and transformational in equal measure. A deep journey with plant medicines, meditation & yoga into the nature of consciousness ensured and over a number of years, Jonathan's eyes slowly opened. Residing in Ko Phan Gan in Thailand, Jonathan got to work on Behold, which has become the culmination of the total re-integration of his soul into existence. Passionate about making this rebirth available to all, Jonathan focuses on making plant medicine available to Western - and specifically corporate - audiences with tailored coaching both before and after to help with preparation and integration. TIME STAMPS 00:00 - 02:25 - Intro 2:25 - 4:25 - Psychedelic Education 4:25 - 10:18 - Perception, The Subjective Nature of Reality & Sovereignty 10:18 - 24:35 - Jonathan's Origin Story, Management Consulting & The Power & Money System 24:35 - 31:09 - Plant Medicine Intro & Jonathan's First Experience 31.09 - 39.21 - Integration, Experience & Unlimited Human Potential 39.21 - 43.43 - Retreats & Revival 43.43 - 47.30 - What Caused Jonathan to do Ayahuasca 47.30 - 1.00.10 - Behold Retreats, The Why., Interdimensional Challenges 1.00.09 -1.09.36 - Personal Spiritual Blocks 1.09.36 - End - The Paths of Life & Paradise on Earth

Celina Chien (@celinaxchien) is a multi-hyphenate (read: does many things and is incredible at all of them) environmentalist local to London. You’ll often find her snapping shots of rare birds in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta ranges of Colombia, or Leopards in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. When she’s not doing that, she’s busy being a finalist (and now judge) of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year by the Natural History Museum of London for documenting Orangutans in captivity. When she’s not doing that, she’s swinging around her considerable (and growing) clout to bring Dolce & Gabbana to the conservation table, inspiring them to donate a part of their profits from their sales of leopard print products during her exhibition with them to conserving the habitats of.. yep, you guessed it, leopards. Oh, and sitting on the board of Panthera & Girls Who Click plus the Council of Reserva: The Youth Land Trust. Before she did any of those things, she was at university studying a Masters of Tropical Forest Ecology. Before that? Oh, not much. Just a TEDx talk at 17. Now, she’s delving into her love of acting and looking to take her career from behind the camera and onto the screen: acting and presenting. So… wait. If she’s a scientist, environmentalist & conservationist, savvy corporate influencer, wildlife photographer, public speaker, actor and presenter, isn’t she like… the next David Attenborough? At just 24 and with a long career ahead of her, the smart money’s on yes. -- SHOW NOTES: Celina Chien home page - www.celinachien.com LEOPARD: Honouring the Muse -https://www.celinachien.com/leopard Instagram & Twitter Handle - @celinaxchien

As a Filipina growing up right by Sydney's famed Bondi Beach, its no wonder Karina grew up to have a love for the water and environment more broadly. As a passionate conservationist and more broadly interested in International Development, Karina has travelled the world contributing to projects protecting both the environment and welfare of marginalised communities wherever she goes. That journey brought her to become the Co-Founder of the Centre for Sustainability Philippines, a Not For Profit organisation focused on protecting what little is left of the Philippines biodiverse rainforests. Her efforts have started in the archipelago of Palawan - commonly referred to as the most beautiful island destination on the planet - where after years of effort, she has successfully lobbied to have a part of the province's forests declared as legally protected. Hers is a story of never giving up nor giving in, complete with the type of sliding doors moment that solidifies both the human spirit and the magical powers of this universe to deliver for those who deserve it.

When a toxic relationship turned life-threatening, Mila's life changed dramatically. No longer able to justify living the life she was living and with suicide knocking, Mila put herself on a plane to India at the advice of her clairvoyant and behest of her family. The journey that follows offers up a beautiful and inspirational reminder of what the human mind can achieve and how the human soul can heal when given the opportunity to embark on a conscious pilgrimage. Trips through Asia and Europe created space for Mila to not only survive and thrive but find her true purpose: to use ink and tattoo body art to heal through traditional hand poke methods. The study and development of her craft spanned years and continents. As a result, Mila offers much more than an avenue to express oneself through body art. She uses spiritual tools and modalities she has learnt around the world to create and hold space for her clients, offering them a chance to heal their wounds as they rewrite the stories which have held them back from realising their true human potential. Trigger Warning: themes of mental health, suicide, and violent, toxic relationships are discussed. Please, please, please contact Lifeline (Australia) at 13 11 14 if you feel triggered to the extent you fear for your safety. If you're safe and would like to chat, feel free to reach out to either Mike or Mila. We've been there. We hear you. We love you. Purchase Mila's book, The Way of the Fire Tiger, here. Try the meditation Mila discusses in the episode here.