In this episode of The Optimist, I sit down with James Beshara; serial entrepreneur, investor, founder of Magic Mind, and host of Daily Vedanta, for a powerful conversation about what really drives us.

We explore:

- The hidden worldviews that shape every decision we make

- Why ambition without peace leads to burnout

- How ancient philosophy helped James recover after selling his company in

a fire sale

- The dangers of chasing success to prove your worth

- And what it means to truly find your dharma — and build a life around it

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & how this episode came together

03:00 – James’ story of building Magic Mind & going caffeine-free

05:00 – The intersection of masculinity, entrepreneurship, and philosophy

06:30 – What is Vedanta? The philosophy of non-duality explained

08:00 – How your worldview shapes everything (even if you don’t know it)

12:00 – Peace vs. Prosperity: the two things we’re all chasing

15:15 – Growing up with meditation, Descartes, and entrepreneurship

19:00 – Building a $400M company—and what happened after it collapsed

21:00 – The breaking point: depression, identity crisis, and ego death

23:00 – Discovering Alan Watts and the philosophy that changed everything

28:00 – Why most of us never articulate our worldview

31:00 – Vedanta’s 3 internal tools: body, mind, and intellect

34:30 – The “virus” of attachment — and how to overcome it

36:10 – The one book James recommends to every founder

38:00 – How to build emotional resilience through daily practice

40:00 – Exposure therapy, knowing your level, and startup lessons

44:00 – Don’t chase excitement — how to stay grounded

47:00 – The danger of building from a place of proving yourself

50:00 – How to find your dharma: what the world is asking of you

53:00 – Why life really begins at 40 (and everything before is just research)

57:00 – Dharma, individuation, and the key to real belonging

1:00:00 – Your talent is what feels *easy* to you — don’t overlook it

1:02:00 – Albatrosses, surfers, and the beauty of doing what comes naturally

1:03:00 – Where to find James and what he’s building now

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✨ Whether you’re building a company, rebuilding yourself, or just trying to stay present, this episode will move you.