We spend so much of our lives chasing approval — from family, friends, co-workers, even strangers online. Sometimes it comes sharp, in the form of criticism, and sometimes it’s imagined, a chorus of voices we rehearse in our own heads. Either way, the weight of other people’s opinions can bend us away from our own path.
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we look at why approval-seeking takes such a toll, where those voices really come from, and how Taoist practice can help us hear them without carrying them. You’ll learn how to notice the difference between truth and noise, how to retrain the reflex to seek validation, and how to walk your path without apology.
Because freedom doesn’t come from getting everyone to clap — it comes from not needing the applause in the first place.
In this second AMA, I’m answering your questions head-on. We talk about how Taoism meets the weight of grief, where to find guidance when you don’t have a mentor, and the very real challenge of telling your boss “no” without burning the bridge. These aren’t abstract concepts, they’re the kinds of moments that test us in everyday life.
No script, no filter — just an open conversation about how Taoist practice shows up when life gets heavy, complicated, or unfair.
Listen in, and maybe you’ll hear a piece of your own question in the mix.
Artificial intelligence and robotics are no longer science fiction—they’re part of our everyday lives. But how do we meet this new world without fear or fantasy? In this episode, we explore the Taoist perspective on technology: how to remain human in a time of machines, how to adapt without losing balance, and how to practice Wu Wei—effortless alignment—even when the pace of change feels overwhelming.
We’ll look at the difference between working with the flow of innovation versus being consumed by it, and how to ground yourself in Taoist practice while navigating the reality of automation, algorithms, and artificial companions. This isn’t about resisting the future or blindly embracing it—it’s about walking the middle path, where wisdom and presence shape how we live with AI and robots.
The holidays can feel like celebration and stress at the same time. In this episode, we look at Taoist ways to navigate the season with perspective — noticing what nourishes you, letting go of what drains you, and finding presence in the middle of it all.
Competition is everywhere—at work, in school, in sports, even in how we measure our own worth. But what does Taoism really say about competing with others? In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we explore how competition shapes our lives and why the Tao offers a very different perspective.
We’ll look at the ways rivalry can drain us, how comparison steals clarity, and why forcing ourselves to “win” often leads us away from balance. More importantly, we’ll dig into how Taoist practice invites us to move without striving, to improve without obsessing, and to find strength without turning life into a constant contest.
This is not about rejecting achievement—it’s about shifting the lens. Taoism shows us how to step out of endless competition and step into flow, presence, and alignment with the Tao itself.
In this special Ask Me Anything episode of The Modern Taoist, we set aside themes and verses to answer your questions directly. From the simple to the mysterious, from daily practice to the afterlife, Taoism has room for it all.
In this bonus conversation, I take on questions like:
🌿 What does a Taoist daily practice look like for a beginner?
🌿 How do you find Tao in the middle of a city of concrete?
🌿 Do Taoists believe in destiny, or is it all chance and choice?
🌿 What does Taoism say about the afterlife?
🌿 Do Taoists fast—and if so, why?
🌿 Who created the yin–yang symbol, and why does it appear in so many traditions?
Taoism doesn’t always give neat, final answers—but it offers ways to live into the questions. My hope is that in hearing these, you’ll discover your own questions echoed, and maybe even sparked anew.
Negativity has a way of digging in deep. It can become a habit, a lens, even an identity—and when that happens, it colors everything around us. In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we explore what it means to live with “chronic negative” energy, how it takes root, and why Taoist practice offers a different way forward.
Instead of fighting darkness with more darkness, Taoism teaches us how to step aside, to create distance, and to let light in without force. We’ll look at real-world situations, everyday habits, and practical Taoist tools to break the cycle—without falling into toxic positivity or denial.
This is an episode about clarity, compassion, and reclaiming your own presence.
There’s a low sound many of us live with — not in our ears, but in our lives. A restlessness that hums beneath the surface. It’s not quite fear, not quite anger, not quite exhaustion. It’s that steady unease that keeps us scrolling, keeps us moving, keeps us from ever really settling.
In this episode, we explore what Taoism has to say about that hum. Where it comes from. How modern life amplifies it. And most importantly, how Taoist practice — breath, balance, and clarity — can help you quiet it without forcing it away.
This isn’t about ignoring the world. It’s about moving differently within it. Because the hum doesn’t disappear when you pretend it isn’t there. It softens when you learn to flow with the Tao.
👉 Listen now and join the practice: https://linktr.ee/daoananda
Are There Taoist Superheroes?
A listener asked a playful but serious question: “Are there any Taoist superheroes?”
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we dive into ancient Chinese legends, modern comic book icons, and the Tao itself to explore what heroism really means. From Zhong Kui the demon-queller to Doctor Strange on the big screen, we ask: what does Taoism teach us about strength, restraint, and clarity in a world obsessed with domination?
You might not find a Taoist in a cape, but you will find a different vision of heroism — one rooted in balance, humility, and compassion. And maybe, you’ll see that Taoist superheroes aren’t just in myths or movies… they can live in the choices you make every day.
🌐 Listen here: https://linktr.ee/daoananda
Hate is loud. It shows up in politics, in online arguments, in family conversations, and in the quiet ways people carry bitterness in daily life. The question is: how do we live alongside that energy without letting it become ours?
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we explore Taoist ways of meeting hate with clarity instead of fear, and with balance instead of absorption. We’ll talk about the difference between compassion and approval, why distance is not weakness, and how to walk away without shame when the world demands you fight every battle.
This isn’t about pretending hate doesn’t exist. It’s about remembering that hate belongs to the one who carries it — and you don’t have to pick it up.
In this listener-requested episode, Kit Mann explores Chapter 6 of the Tao Te Ching — the verse of the “valley spirit” and “mysterious female.” At first glance, Laozi’s words may sound mystical or abstract, but they carry profound relevance in a modern world obsessed with hustle, scarcity, and endless growth.
Together, we look at how the valley spirit offers a model for renewal, steadiness, and quiet power — not just in personal life, but in relationships, work, and society itself. From handling exhaustion and uncertainty to resisting our culture’s obsession with peaks, Kit shows how Taoist wisdom can guide us toward balance that never runs dry
What does it mean to live without forcing? In this episode of The Modern Taoist Podcast, we explore the Taoist principle of wu wei — often translated as “non-doing,” but better understood as the art of effortless action.
From its roots in the Tao Te Ching to what it looks like in daily life, we’ll talk about how wu wei can shift the way you approach stress, success, relationships, even technology. Along the way, we’ll explore the idea of becoming a Wu-Wei Warrior — someone who meets challenges with strength, calm, and adaptability rather than struggle and control.
This isn’t philosophy locked in the past. It’s wisdom you can practice today — in traffic, at work, at home, and in the way you move through the world.
🌿 The river already knows the way. The art is learning to trust it.
In this episode of The Modern Taoist Podcast, we explore one of Laozi’s most challenging but liberating teachings: “In pursuit of the Tao, every day something is dropped.”
What if the way forward isn’t about adding more — more apps, more systems, more goals — but about letting go? We’ll talk about the Taoist paradox of less: why subtraction creates space, how to simplify without retreating from life, and how living with less opens the door to more presence, more breath, and more joy.
If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, this conversation will remind you that the Way isn’t about chasing — it’s about returning.
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we take a hard look at how the West has repackaged Taoism, Buddhism, yoga, and meditation into bite-sized products. From Taoist quotes on coffee mugs, to yoga as a workout routine, to karma turned into a cosmic scoreboard, these traditions often get flattened into something marketable but shallow.
We dig into what gets lost in translation — how the real teachings point us toward balance, awareness, and transformation, not slogans or quick fixes. And we explore practical ways you can cut through the noise, sidestep the marketing, and bring these practices into your life in a way that’s honest, grounded, and real.
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we take on a question people ask again and again: Does the Tao allow that? From alcohol to tattoos, from meat to horror movies and punk rock, we explore how Taoism approaches life’s choices without commandments or dogma. The Tao doesn’t hand down rules — it reflects patterns. What brings balance? What drags us out of harmony? Join us as we break down misconceptions, cut through superstition, and look at what it really means to live in step with the Way.
We all know the Matrix — or at least, we think we do. But what if it isn’t robots and green code? What if it’s the everyday patterns you don’t even realize you’re stuck in?
In this episode, I explore the “real” Matrix: the invisible net of routines, expectations, and autopilot thinking that can quietly swallow whole years of your life. I share the story of the first time I realized I was trapped in it, how Taoist practice gave me the tools to see it clearly, and why noticing is the first step toward freedom.
You don’t have to quit your job, burn your belongings, or run off to the mountains to escape. You just need to start paying attention. Awareness itself is rebellion.
Highlights from this episode:
The everyday routines that reveal you’re living on autopilot.
My personal “wake-up” moment at a job I didn’t even like.
The Taoist perspective on seeing patterns without judgment.
Practical “Matrix tests” you can try this week.
Why small choices add up to real freedom.
In the debut episode, Kit introduces the podcast and lays out what listeners can expect. He shares why Taoism matters to him, how it shaped his life, and why these ancient ideas still work in modern chaos. This first episode acts as a roadmap: personal stories, Taoist wisdom, and practical experiments anyone can test — without the robes, incense, or preaching.
