The tsunami didn’t just flood our home. It wiped away every excuse I had left.

December 26, 2004.

I was in bed. My wife was yelling, “Run!”

The ocean had already crossed the shore.

By the time I stood up, the water was inside the house—rushing toward us.

I couldn’t swim. I had drowned once before.

And now, I was trying to escape with my two-year-old son on my shoulder.

That day, the Indian Ocean tsunami took nearly 300,000 lives.

It spared mine—but took something else:

My illusions about safety, status, and time.

In this first solo episode, I share:

• What that day stripped away from my identity

• Why I finally left an 18-year career on Wall Street

• Three questions I want you to ask yourself today—before life forces your hand

This isn’t motivation. It’s clarity.

And if you’ve been circling a decision, it might meet you where you are.

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📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – December 26, 2004: The tsunami hits

04:40 – What survival taught me about illusion

07:20 – Leaving Morgan Stanley

10:10 – What “being stuck” really means

12:00 – 3 questions that changed my life

14:30 – Closing thoughts & what’s next

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📌 Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe for weekly insights on conscious leadership, purposeful work, and personal transformation.

💡 **Let’s connect:**

- Website: https://rajupanjwani.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajupanjwani/

- Podcast: https://boldconsciousconnections.captivate.fm/listen

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Join us on this bold journey to elevate your work and life!

My Guest: Yugen (Omer Korat) — AI Expert, Stanford PhD, Cognitive Scientist

Episode Summary:

In this eye-opening episode, Raju Panjwani sits down with Yugen -- an AI expert, product designer, and entrepreneur — to explore the intersection of AI, consciousness, and human evolution. From Stanford research labs to Tel Aviv startups, Yugen’s journey dives deep into why our inner awareness and external technological progress are more connected than we think.

Yugen shares why consciousness isn’t magical, how AI changes our daily existence, and why education needs a revolutionary shift if humanity is to thrive alongside technology.

Key Takeaways:

Self without Self:

Yugen explains how his identity reflects the Japanese concept of “Yugen” — profound awareness beyond words.

AI as Extension of Mind:

How AI now acts as a secondary channel for human thought and productivity.

Jobs of the Future:

Coding, content creation, and customer support are evolving; new AI-driven roles are emerging.

Education Reimagined:

Why teaching reasoning and self-reflection — not rote learning — is crucial for the next generation.

Inner Awareness vs. Productivity:

How understanding “nothingness” paradoxically fuels meaningful action.

Evolutionary Complexity:

Why building stable, scalable complexity (in thought and society) is our next quantum leap.

Scientific Thinking for Emotions:

Applying the scientific method not just to tech — but to our own emotional lives.

Notable Quotes:

🎤 We are a symphony of waves dancing between nothings.

🎤 AI hasn’t made me lonelier. It has evolved me.

🎤 The scientific method must be applied not just to technology, but to our own emotions and beliefs.

🎤 Evolutionary complexity, not human-centric morality, should guide our next leap.

🕒 Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction

01:00 - Who is Yugen?

04:00 - Consciousness as a global phenomenon

06:00 - The Future of AI: Code, Images, and Business Automation

10:00 - How AI changed Yugen’s daily life

14:00 - Meaning in a Post-AI World

18:00 - Resistance to AI Adoption in Business

22:00 - Consciousness, Inner Awareness, and Bold Action

30:00 - Rethinking Education and Expanding Human Potential

38:00 - Rapid Fire: Desert vs Ocean, Lab vs Meditation

43:00 - Reflections: Meaning, Paradoxes, and the Future.

How to reach Yugen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yugen-omer-korat/

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If you enjoyed this chat, please Download this episode, and SUBSCRIBE to this Show, so you do not miss any new conversations with my amazing guests!

If you want to support the show, go to https://boldconsciousconnections.captivate.fm/support and you can either become a member, or leave a one off donation!

If you have a burning desire to be an entrepreneur, and you feel like you are at the end of your corporate career, reach out for a quick chat with me at:

https://calendly.com/rhp1955/discovery-call-with-raju-panjwani

What happens when life brings everything you've built to a full stop? Surabhi Shenoy is a two-time founder who built and sold a multi-million-dollar business. But none of that prepared her for the sudden, tragic loss of her husband—who was also her business partner.

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Surabhi shares how grief shattered the version of success she once chased—and led her to a more conscious, intentional way of living, leading, and building. She reveals how she rebuilt her identity twice: first after losing her husband, and again after selling her business.

From being an introverted engineer to managing two successful companies simultaneously, Surabhi's journey showcases the power of presence, vulnerability, and intentional systems. Now, through her Founders Freedom Blueprint Course, she helps other entrepreneurs escape operational traps and create businesses that serve their freedom rather than consuming it.

🎤 Grief reshapes you. It forces a reckoning with everything that no longer fits—especially the identity wrapped around achievement.

🎤 Delegation is emotional. Letting go of control isn't about task management—it's about surrendering who you think you have to be.

🎤 You can't outsource your energy. True freedom begins when you reclaim your time, your nervous system, and your presence.

🎤 Letting go isn't giving up: It's a conscious choice to create space for what matters most.

🎤 Success ≠ alignment. Scaling fast doesn't mean you're scaling the right thing.

🎤 Stillness is strategic. Creating space—mentally and emotionally—is what allows clarity and vision to return.

🎤 "I would term myself as somebody who's present. Present to life, present to opportunity, present to performance."

🎤 "Everything today that you see is a rebuilding exercise, still work in progress."

🎤 "I've been journaling every day since 2012 for last 12+ years. It's like a time capsule."

🎤 "The advice of letting go doesn't really work. I have to know it will be done."

🎤 "If it isn't fun, I'm not doing it - that was my tagline and I stand by that."

Surabhi Shenoy is a serial entrepreneur who built and sold a fitness business and a technology company serving India's top private sector banks. After navigating the sudden loss of her husband in 2017, she continued to lead her company before ultimately deciding to exit. Now, she coaches founders and CEOs through her course, Founders Freedom Blueprint, helping them scale their businesses while reclaiming their time and freedom.

🌐 Surabhi's website: https://surabhishenoy.com/

🎓 Founder's Freedom Blueprint: https://learn.surabhishenoy.com/Course

✅ Founders navigating growth, burnout, scale or even grief!

✅ Leaders looking to redefine how they show up

✅ Entrepreneurs stuck in the day-to-day grind

✅ Conscious professionals seeking clarity and next steps

✅ Coaches, creators & CEOs building businesses that align with life

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If you enjoyed this chat, please Download this episode, and SUBSCRIBE to this Show, so you do not miss any new conversations with my amazing guests!

If you want to support the show, go to https://boldconsciousconnections.captivate.fm/support and you can either become a member, or leave a one off donation!

If you have a burning desire to be an...