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Chiwi Journal

Chiwi Journal

By Camellia Yang

Conversations between global citizens on culture observation, digital transformation and self-actualisation.

Host Camellia Yang, a Chinese New Zealander, interviews people she met on her digital nomad journey who are on a unique path to creating a better future and shares the lessons and tips they learned.

Season One (1 - 111 episodes) is in Chinese.
Season Two (112 episodes - current) is in English.
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#148: Proof of Spiritual Phenomena, Psychedelic & Supernatural Experiences and Parapsychology with Mona Sobhani, PhD

Chiwi JournalSep 26, 2023

00:00
01:06:18
#148: Proof of Spiritual Phenomena, Psychedelic & Supernatural Experiences and Parapsychology with Mona Sobhani, PhD

#148: Proof of Spiritual Phenomena, Psychedelic & Supernatural Experiences and Parapsychology with Mona Sobhani, PhD

My guest today is Mona Sobhani. She is a distinguished cognitive neuroscientist, researcher, and accomplished author with a rich and diverse professional background spanning over 15 years. Her wide-ranging interests have led her to explore the intersections of science, technology, spirituality, and human behaviour.

In today’s episode, we talked about…

  1. Mona's remarkable transformation from a scientific materialist to a spiritual seeker.
  2. Key moments and experiences that triggered this worldview shift.
  3. Extraordinary insights and revelations from Mona's research and conversations with mystics, intuitives, and scientists.
  4. Unveiling supernatural and unexplainable events.
  5. Understanding parapsychology (psi) phenomena and key findings that suggest their existence.
  6. The challenge of mainstream acceptance for mysterious experiences and strategies to bridge the gap between science and spirituality effectively.
  7. Exploring Mona's psychedelic experiences and their influence on her perspective on reality and spirituality.
  8. Mona's research on past lives and karma, shedding light on these spiritual phenomena and their influence on our lives.
  9. How individuals inclined toward a purely scientific approach can incorporate elements of spirituality into their worldview.
  10. The impact of sound, light, and breathwork on human consciousness.
  11. Comparing attitudes toward spirituality in the East and West.
  12. Exploring potential directions for future research in the realm of human experience and expanding our understanding of consciousness and spirituality.
  13. Mona shares her exciting upcoming projects and areas of passionate research.
  14. Mona's hope for what readers and listeners will take away from her book and her perspective on the interplay between science and spirituality in understanding life's meaning.

Books/links mentioned in this episode


Sep 26, 202301:06:18
SPECIAL EPISODE: At Put_it_on_Lisbon Cafe with Tereza

SPECIAL EPISODE: At Put_it_on_Lisbon Cafe with Tereza

My guest today is Tereza. She's the owner of a trendy cafe called "Put_it_on_Lisbon" in my neighborhood. That's where I first met her and became a regular customer at her cool little shop. Tereza is originally from the Czech Republic and has lived in the Netherlands, Australia, and Portugal for many years.

In today’s episode, we talked about…

  1. What inspired Tereza to open "Put_it_on_Lisbon" in Lisbon?
  2. "Put_it_on_Lisbon" is not just a cafe; it's a community hub. What is Tereza’s vision behind creating a space where people can come together and connect?
  3. What types of events and activities have been done at the cafe to encourage social interaction and make it a welcoming place for locals and travellers?
  4. Loneliness is a common issue among expats and digital nomads. How Tereza’s cafe help address this challenge and provide a sense of belonging to those who visit?
  5. What role does art or creative expression play in the ambience of the Cafe?
  6. In what ways does Tereza incorporate a creative mind into her cafe experience to appeal to customers?
  7. How does Tereza source the ingredients for her cafe? Highlights some local local and unique suppliers.
  8. For our listeners who may be considering a visit, what are some must-try items on the menu?
  9. What are your future plans for "Put_it_on_Lisbon"?

"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who is a part of my journey, even if I didn’t mention you in this episode. I genuinely appreciate you from the bottom of my heart, and I want to say thank you, as always!"

— Tereza ❤️


Sep 21, 202330:50
#146: Online Writing, English Literature, Ernest Hemingway and Essayful with Dylan O'Sullivan

#146: Online Writing, English Literature, Ernest Hemingway and Essayful with Dylan O'Sullivan

My guest today is Dylan O'Sullivan. Dylan is a media specialist at OSV, guest lecturer at Write of Passage, columnist at a few major media outlets and the creator behind a writing-focused brand Essayful.


In today’s episode, we talked about…

  • How does Write of Passage help us embark on our online writing journey?
  • Exploring our initial love for reading and writing, and our earliest memories of writing.
  • Contrasting experiences of studying English Literature in different countries.
  • A friendly conversation between a Manchester United and Manchester City fan.
  • Delving into the life and works of Ernest Hemingway.
  • Examining the process of online writing and the beauty of writing on paper.
  • What tricks and traits have writers made or used to achieve their writing goals?
  • The influence of weather and surroundings on the work of writers.
  • Reflecting on the most fulfilling aspects of being a writer.


Books/links mentioned in this episode

Jul 09, 202356:38
#145: Self-actualization, SpiritDAO, Societal Transformation, and Unexplainable Experiences with Ron Rivers

#145: Self-actualization, SpiritDAO, Societal Transformation, and Unexplainable Experiences with Ron Rivers

My guest today is Ron Rivers. He is the author of Self-actualization in the Age of Crisis and a member of SpiritDAO. In today's episode, we discussed the following:


  1. What inspired Ron to write a book about "Self-Actualization in the Age of Crisis"? And how do we define self-actualization in today's setting?
  2. How does the pursuit of self-actualization differ during times of crisis compared to more stable periods? Additionally, how do spiritual and societal hierarchies impact the evolution of human beings?
  3. The concept of "Systemic Actualization" and how individuals can contribute to the larger process of societal transformation and actualization?
  4. How did Ron develop the Eight Dignities that encompass various aspects of human life?
  5. What is SpiritDAO, what problem is it aiming to solve, and how is it different from other web3 communities?
  6. Can we reinvent 20th-century Paris to attract people from diverse backgrounds and make a positive change?
  7. Individual heroes vs collective thoughts.
  8. The idea of an "authentic imposter"—Ron shares some practical tips and personal experiences for individuals who may be struggling to find their true authentic self while navigating societal expectations and norms.
  9. How can visualization and psychedelic experiences impact personal growth and self-actualization?
  10. How do we cope with the world not making sense, such as encountering supernatural phenomena and numerous spiritual experiences?

Links/books mentioned in this episode:

Jun 13, 202301:25:12
#144: Talent Protocol, web3 in Lisbon, HR/Ed-tech, DeNites with Pedro Oliveira

#144: Talent Protocol, web3 in Lisbon, HR/Ed-tech, DeNites with Pedro Oliveira

My guest today is Pedro Oliveira. Pedro is the Co-founder and CEO of Talent Protocol, a web3 professional platform where builders and creators can create their on-chain resumes and find the meaningful connections and support they need to succeed. I met Pedro in person when I moved to Lisbon and participated in many web3-related events and conferences organised by him and his company.


In today's episode, we discussed the following:

  1. Many people are sceptical about Web3. What is Pedro's opinion on the concept of Web3, and how does Talent Protocol fit into this new paradigm of decentralised technologies?
  2. How does Talent Protocol assist builders and creators in starting their journey in web3, and what problems does it aim to solve in the professional networking space?
  3. Why is taking a sabbatical necessary for founders?
  4. Will AI take over our jobs and replace human resources?
  5. How did Portugal become a tech hub and attract talent from all around the world?
  6. How does Pedro structure his team and find co-founders in Talent Protocol? Additionally, why does he plan to step down as Talent Protocol's CEO in the foreseeable future?
  7. How does Talent House help young talents in their careers and projects? Some success stories here to share.
  8. How to face the crypto winter and make tough decisions?
  9. What is the vision for the future of Talent Protocol? What is the difference between Talent Protocol and traditional professional social sites like LinkedIn?
  10. What is DeNites, and how does it work to connect local Portuguese web3 projects and people together?
  11. What advice does Pedro have for someone who wants to enter the web3 world?
  12. What is Pedro's one big lesson to pass on to the next generation?

Links mentioned in this episode:

May 15, 202357:34
#143: Founders Podcast, Single-person Billion-dollar Business, Lessons Learned from Athletes, Quentin Tarantino with David Senra

#143: Founders Podcast, Single-person Billion-dollar Business, Lessons Learned from Athletes, Quentin Tarantino with David Senra

My guest today is David Senra. David is the returning guest of Chiwi Journal (episode #131). He hosts the Founders podcast, where listeners can learn lessons from historical and modern figures based on David's selection of a biography of an entrepreneur.

Last time, we focused on the top lessons previous founders can teach current founders and the most inspiring stories among 200+ stories David read. This time, we discussed:

  1. David’s top highlight of 2022 (the sixth year since he ran the podcast) and the reason behind joining the Colossus® network.
  2. What is the concept of a single-person billion-dollar company? How has a podcast host or a game developer set an example of this business model?
  3. How does David stay motivated and engaged in his work as the show grows when there may be more distractions?
  4. David's approach to reading and re-reading biographies, and what we can learn from founders outside the American market?
  5. Founders Podcast has covered many deceased entrepreneurs whose stories have stood the test of time. Which living founders would David like to have a conversation with?
  6. Some stories of how the Founders Podcast has directly impacted or supported the growth and success of its listeners.
  7. What does sportsmanship mean to David, and how does he incorporate the spirit of sportsmanship into his daily life and professional career?
  8. Talk about our favourite director Quentin Tarantino. What are some traits that make him stand out in the movie industry? What current content creators can learn from him to achieve success?
  9. What is the Founder Podcast's role in supporting aspiring entrepreneurs?
  10. How to cultivate children's reading habits?

Books/links mentioned in this episode:


Jan 08, 202301:17:29
#142: Sovereign Individual, The Network State, Media Literacy, Writing Newsletter, Remote Worker and Geopolitics Impact with Doug Antin

#142: Sovereign Individual, The Network State, Media Literacy, Writing Newsletter, Remote Worker and Geopolitics Impact with Doug Antin

My guest today is Doug Antin, the Founder and Author of TSI Global Media, who writes The Sovereign Individual Weekly Newsletter, picking up where The Sovereign Individual left off and exploring the digital transformation in real-time.

Doug is the return guest of my podcast. Last time, we discussed how to become a sovereign individual, digital transformation trends, cultivating multiple income streams and writing a newsletter. In today’s episode, we discussed the following:

  1. A quick review of the past year from a sovereign individual's perspective.
  2. Has the concept of a "Sovereign Individual" evolved in the face of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain?
  3. How can one find the right community as a sovereign individual?
  4. A brief review of The Network State, a book by Balaji Srinivasan.
  5. How is technology empowering individuals and changing the way we live and work?
  6. How can individuals stay updated with the latest technological and digital transformation developments?
  7. The process of writing The Sovereign Individual Weekly newsletter and the discussion on free and paid content as a creator.
  8. How can we cultivate media literacy in today's abundant information and potential misinformation world?
  9. The current global affairs and how the role of government is evolving in a world where individuals have more power and control over their lives through technology?
  10. How can governments address the increasing conflict between remote workers and local residents?
  11. Two trends to look for in a remote worker who adapts to an asynchronous way of working.

Books and links mentioned in this episode:

Jan 04, 202358:23
#141: Build_Cities, The Network State and Startup Cities Ecosystem with Angelo Alessio

#141: Build_Cities, The Network State and Startup Cities Ecosystem with Angelo Alessio

My guest today is Angelo Alessio. He is the co-founder and protocol architect at buildcities.network, which allows anyone in web3 to overlay their digital communities on top of existing cities.

We discussed:

  1. What is the build_cities? What are the four phases of building this protocol for startup cities?  ****
  2. How build_cities can facilitate an online community for meetups and crowdfunding IRL?
  3. What are the three types of startup cities?
  4. In build_cities, why keep the current city maps rather than disrupt the old ones to build something from scratch?
  5. How does Angelo meet his co-founders and work remotely building this project?
  6. What is the biggest lesson Angelo learned from his US army time?
  7. How do we define an MVC (Minimum Viable City)? Is there a city blueprint IRL build_cities would like to follow?
  8. Share some other projects in the Network State dashboard
  9. The biggest roadblock that prevents building build_cities.
  10. How can people get involved in build_cities?

Links mentioned in this episode:

Nov 11, 202249:15
#140: AI 2041, Sci-fi Writers in Web3, Chaoshan Culture and Chinese Philosophy & Metaphysics with Chen Qiufan

#140: AI 2041, Sci-fi Writers in Web3, Chaoshan Culture and Chinese Philosophy & Metaphysics with Chen Qiufan

My guest today is Chen Qiufan, also known as Stanley Chan. He is an award-winning Chinese science fiction writer, columnist, and scriptwriter. Chen's fiction, described as "science fiction realism", focuses on individuals' internal struggles during times of accelerated change. And recently, he collaborated with Kai-Fu Lee to co-write and publish a novel called AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future.

We discussed:

  1. How did Qiufan and Kai-fu come up with the idea to co-write a sci-fi book, and what are some AI-related technologies mentioned in the book?
  2. How can we prepare for the future facing God-like AI technology such as DeepFake?
  3. What moral and ethical code should we consider when we can bring dead people “alive” using AI tools?
  4. What are some concerns about using AI arts creations tools like MidJourney?
  5. Should artists and writers be worried that AI will replace them in the future?
  6. How writers can embrace new technologies and build a new way to communicate with readers?
  7. What’s Chen Qiufan’s philosophy regarding creating his sci-fi stories compared with Liu Cixin (Three Body Problems)?
  8. A brief introduction to Chinese Chaoshan culture and Chinese New Year rituals.
  9. Do Chinese people have religions? What’s the relationship between religion and science?
  10. How ancient Chinese books and schools of thought inspired sci-fi creation?
  11. Briefly discuss psychedelic and human consciousness.
  12. What’s the meaning of life from a sci-fi writer’s perspective?

Books and Links mentioned in this episode:

Oct 18, 202201:03:02
SPECIAL EPISODE: Eric Jorgenson with 1729writers on Writing Almanack Series and Building Leverage

SPECIAL EPISODE: Eric Jorgenson with 1729writers on Writing Almanack Series and Building Leverage

This is the special episode featured a guest speaker Eric Jorgenson at 1729writers Cohort 2.

1729writers is a group of writers inside of the 1729 online community. We explore issues related to the Network State, seek truth, wealth and health and share our ideas and thoughts in public.

It’s a great pleasure to have Eric attend one of our weekly community calls and discuss his process of writing the Almanack of Naval Ravikant and the Almanack of Balaji Srinivasan, the framework of leverage and productizing oneself, followed by the Q&A sessions with the community members.

I hope you enjoy the show.

Topic covered:

  • The behind scene story of writing the Almanack of Naval Ravikant and Almanack of Balaji Srinivasan
  • How to overcome the different types of writers’ block?
  • What’s the leverage framework, and why is it so important?
  • How to gain insane leverage from advanced delegation?
  • How to achieve peak performance with an ultralworking framework?
  • How to balance using Twitter to add value to your life and career?
  • How to stay motivated to be a high-agency person?

Books/links mentioned in this episode:

Aug 15, 202201:07:10
#138: Jordan Peterson, Myth & Metaphor, Embodiment Cognition and Fitness Landscape with Tom Morgan

#138: Jordan Peterson, Myth & Metaphor, Embodiment Cognition and Fitness Landscape with Tom Morgan

My guest today is Tom Morgan. Tom is the return guest, and we discussed Joseph Cambell, Carl Jung, Jorden Peterson and Iain McGilchrist in episode #129.

Today, we talked about…

  1. Commentary on David Fuller's article about Jordan Peterson from two people who are relatively familiar with JP's works.
  2. Revisit the Hero Journey coined by Joseph Campbell.
  3. Why is it dangerous to apply pattern recognition skills to things we don't fully understand?
  4. How shall we deconstruct myth and live between myth and metaphor?
  5. How to improve embodiment cognition to make sense of ourselves and the world?
  6. Why is the fitness landscape essential, and how can we use that to achieve our human potential?
  7. How to get along with the monologue of the voice within your head?
  8. How can we leverage the force from the heart to follow our bliss?
  9. The importance of setting up family interviews and getting memories on papers or tapes.
  10. Anecdotes about Sir John Morgan

"I would not give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity."  

- Oliver W. Holmes

Books and links mentioned in today’s episode

Aug 06, 202201:14:51
#137: Breaking Rules, Solitary Socialite, Future Possibility Folders, Daydreaming and How to Live with Derek Sivers

#137: Breaking Rules, Solitary Socialite, Future Possibility Folders, Daydreaming and How to Live with Derek Sivers

Kia Ora, Nihao and hello! Welcome to the Chiwi Journal Podcast. I’m your host Camellia Yang.

My guest today is Derek Sivers.  Derek has been a musician, producer, circus performerentrepreneurTED speaker, and book publisher. He’s an author of four books, Anything You Want, Your Music and People, Hell Yeah or No, and How to Live.

In today’s episode, we talked about…

  • The benefit of keep moving across the world and breaking the rules.
  • How do different cities shape one’s identity and expand one’s worldview?
  • How to say goodbye to old identities that no longer serve you?
  • The pros and cons of being a solitary socialite.
  • Why shouldn’t you wait for inspiration to come?
  • How to be a considerate content creator?
  • The good side of daydreaming and building future possibility folders
  • How to approach our life?
  • How do physical locations matter to your morale?
  • Why do people like to use stereotypes to pre-judge others, and why is it so hard to break?
  • Learning Mandarin and Portuguese.
Books/links mentioned in this episode


Check out Derek Sivers' website and introduce yourself :) 

Jul 27, 202254:51
#136: Bilingual Content Creator, Picking English Names, Publish Consistent Content and Live A Productive Life with Bear Liu

#136: Bilingual Content Creator, Picking English Names, Publish Consistent Content and Live A Productive Life with Bear Liu

My guest today is Bear Liu. Bear is a product designer and design mentor. He hosts an award-winning podcast show called BearTalk, focused on sharing his learnings and ideas in design and personal experiences in reading and parenting.

In this episode, we talked about:

  1. How do Chinese people pick up their English names?
  2. From working at a ‘tier 18’ city in China as a designer and building a business in web2 to migrant to New Zealand to raise a family —- Bear’s story as an immigrant.
  3. How to navigate life while moving to a new country, finding a new job and welcoming a newborn at the same time?
  4. Why is it essential to have a role model to learn and mimic, especially in difficult life moments?
  5. What does it feel like to start a tech podcast in 2012 and win an award from Apple?
  6. What motivates Chinese speakers to create content in English? What emotional journey did we go through?
  7. How create content online can change people’s life?
  8. Two tips on being a productive content creator that can keep publishing content consistently.
  9. What tools do we use as bilingual content creators? How to find our audiences, and how to measure success?
  10. How to start a content creator journey while still working full-time and having a family to look after?
  11. What’s the NO.1 lesson to pass on to the next generation?

Books/links and creators tools mentioned in this episode:

Jun 23, 202201:05:04
#135: Global Natives, Nomad Passport,  Subscription Living and Plumia Country with Lauren Razavi

#135: Global Natives, Nomad Passport, Subscription Living and Plumia Country with Lauren Razavi

My guest today is Lauren Razavi. Lauren is a writer, speaker and strategist working at the intersection of technology, business, policy, and human behaviour. She is the author of the book Global Natives and writes the Counterflows newsletter about borderless living. Lauren was an early adopter of remote work and has lived as a digital nomad since 2013. Currently, she is Executive Director of Plumia, the mission to build an internet country for digital nomads, at the Y Combinator alumni company