In this episode of The Living Conversation, Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright sit down with members of the Sonoma State University Philosophy Club to explore how philosophy lives through real experience.

From Lao Tzu’s image of muddy water settling into clarity, to personal stories of anxiety, creativity, and healing, the discussion ranges from Daoism to Buddhism to Socratic thought; all grounded in lived experience. Together with Colette, Haley, and Andrew, they examine how logic and emotion, feeling and reason, art and philosophy, all belong to the same search for wisdom.

Themes: anxiety and awareness, Daoist clarity, creativity and emotion, the Middle Way, the Eightfold Path, philosophy as a living practice.

🎓 Featuring the Sonoma State University Philosophy Club.

🌿 Hosted by Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright.

What happens when philosophy students turn their attention to emotion, technology, and mindfulness? In this episode of The Living Conversation, hosts Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright sit down with Colette, Andrew, and Haley from the Sonoma State University Philosophy Club to explore how social media shapes emotion, how grounding and Qigong restore balance, and how ancient wisdom, Confucian, Daoist, and Zen, meets modern anxiety.

Together they ask: How do we stay present in a distracted world? How can we cultivate the mind as a living practice?

philosophy, mindfulness, emotion, grounding, Tai Chi, Qigong, Confucianism, Zen, Sonoma State Philosophy Club, Adam Dietz, Anthony Wright, The Way Between, student conversation, presence, social media and mental health, living philosophy

In this episode of The Living Conversation, Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright speak with Nick Egan PhD, a philosopher, traveler, and executive coach who bridges the worlds of Tibetan wisdom and modern leadership.

Nick shares stories from his years in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, and the lessons learned from living among monasteries rather than merely studying them. Together, they explore Milarepa’s idea that “leaving home is half the dharma,” the value of discomfort, and how authentic practice shows up in daily life; whether in a Himalayan village or a corporate boardroom.

🧭 Topics include:

• Zen and Tibetan approaches to practice and presence
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• How “leaving home” transforms perspective
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• Integrating spirituality and leadership
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• Why everything, in the end, might be “all right”

Conversation Highlights:

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• (00:02:00) Nick’s first journey through India, Japan, and Nepal
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• (00:04:30) Adam & Anthony reflect on Japan, Taiwan, and lived philosophy
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• (00:06:10) Milarepa’s teaching: “Leaving home is half the Dharma”
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• (00:08:50) How Tibetan culture honors serious practitioners
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• (00:09:56) Advice for finding a teacher and staying present in daily life
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• (00:11:00) The joy of teaching and shared awakening

About the Guest:

Nick Egan, PhD, is an executive coach and leadership consultant whose background in Eastern philosophy and years of fieldwork in the Himalayas inform his work with global leaders. He is the founder of Shift Leadership Group and the author of Shift: The Art of Transforming Limitations.

🔗 www.nickeganphd.com | LinkedIn

Connect:

🎧 The Living Conversation is hosted by Adam Dietz and Anthony Wright.

📬 Contact Anthony at Theonaut.com

Adam at dietzadam@gmail.com or visit thewaybetween.substack.com

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