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Send us Fan Mail MAIM TIME hit 10,000 podcast downloads on March 1, 2026! Thank you! March 31, 2026 marks 2 years since I moved back to the States, to San Diego, California. I have a very special important meaningful episode for you. Recently, I’ve been going through a personal spiritual journey into the super existential rabbit hole that is Near Death Experiences. What if I told you... it doesn’t matter what culture, race, ethnic group you identify as. It doesn’t matter what you even believe. Because when you die, your true ultimate identity is infinite pure Love. You are loved past present and future forever and ever beyond infinite time and space. What would you do? How would you live your life? What would that mean to you? Sources, References, Near Death Experience Content  -- so much out there, this is just a somewhat arbitrary sampler I put together Near-Death Experience Expert Dr. Jeffrey Long w/ Theo VonNeuro Surgeon Dies; Gets Shown Truth...A Neurosurgeon's Journey Into the Afterlife...Man Dies In Crash; Discovers Truth About Guilt And Forgiveness...Man Dies & Learns We Have It Completely Backwards! She Died and Realized We Have "Human Names"...Air Force Veteran Dies...Air Force Cadet Dies...Woman Dies; Gets Shown Other Planets...Paramedic Is Electrocuted...Clinically Dead 14 Minutes...Blade Runner - Final scene, "Tears in Rain" Monologue (HD)Wikipedia - Tears in Rain MonologueFaust - Augenblick (Moment)BONUS: Exploring Pre-Birth Experiences with Christian Sundberg PRE-BIRTH EXPERIENCE, Why Life IS SO HARD & YOUR Life BEFORE Incarnation!@37:00 We’re here to experience all the things that love can mean.Alchemizing Fear and the Significance of Coming to EarthABSOLUTE BEST Q & A on AFTERLIFE, so worth watchingPre-birth Experience | Why Souls Come to EarthSome Theme Songs for this Episode that Hit Me Super Hard: Tears In Rain - VangelisWaiting For The End - Linkin ParkSkyline - Andy WaldeckAlways With Me - The MovementSupport the show

Send us Fan Mail The TL;DR, or the TL;DL for today is this: it doesn’t matter what your identity is or what your struggle is, what your past is, as long as you become a person who embraces the virtues of humility, gratitude, and kindness. So be humble, grateful, and kind. Kind to yourself, kind to others. When you’re kind to yourself, you can love yourself. You can be free to love yourself, free to love others. And live your best life. All the wealth and power, grandest accomplishments and exploits, mean nothing if you don't have kindness to yourself and others. If you want to hear more, just keep listening to the soothing sounds of this MAIM TIME monologue. "That kindness is invincible, provided it's sincere--not ironic or an act. What can even the most vicious person do if you keep treating him with kindness and gently set him straight--if you get the chance--correcting him cheerfully at the exact moment that he's trying to do you harm. 'No, no, my friend. That isn't what we're here for. It isn't me who's harmed by that. It's you.' And show him, gently and without pointing fingers, that it's so. That bees don't behave like this--or any other animals with a sense of community. Don't do it sardonically or meanly, but affectionately--with no hatred in your heart. And not ex cathedra or to impress third parties, but speaking directly. Even if there are other people around." - Marcus Aurelius Episodes mentioned: #83: Using Humility and Gratitude to Cheat the Game of Life #80: A Prayer to the Ancestors, for Future Generations #77: Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations: The Ancient Solution to Your Identity Struggle Support the show

Send us Fan Mail HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL! I totally forgot to talk about the fundamental idea of Thanksgiving in this episode, what a missed opportunity! Be grateful for all that we have, in spite of all the f'd up origins and backstories of our past. No matter what our life circumstances are. You have everything you need deep down inside! There's no other way to cheat and get away with it in life than to be grateful. "For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." - Matthew 13:12 Gratitude is the only way to win. It's what gives meaning to life and will help you in any situation! This combined with the ideals of Marcus Aurelius' Stoicism will make you impervious and unstoppable in mind and spirit. Thank you! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail SOLVE ALL YOUR LIFE'S PROBLEMS BY BEING BORED. You can't solve your life's problems if you don't know what your problems are. You can't know what your problems are if you don't give yourself time to be with your own thoughts and just THINK. Also, take a break from caffeine too to improve your quality of sleep and mental power. YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED INSIDE. YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING EXTERNAL. ALL THE ANSWERS ARE WITHIN! If you just sit still and listen. Self-Reliance Essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson YouTube links: Harvard Business Review - You Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.Veritasium - Why Boredom is Good For You​Vince Del Monte - Why I Quit Caffeine (& what happened after 9 months of ZERO …Building Success - 5 Changes I Noticed After Quitting 30 Years of Coffee Addict…Life & DIY - Most People Go Back… 10 Months Off CoffeeKristen Such - Quitting Caffeine Changed My Life: Gut Health, Hormones, & H…Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This conversation is with a special guest, my karate sensei: Sogyel Lhungay. He has 2 decades of Kyokushin Karate experience. His is a story that bridges heritage, identity, and the martial arts way. We talk about his life story and where his family comes from, his relationship with his Tibetan roots, and how he thinks about identity as an Asian American today. Sogyel shares how he first got into martial arts, why Kyokushin became his passion, and what he believes its greatest value is both inside and outside the dojo. Our conversation opens up to bigger questions: what we want to get out of life, how to live meaningfully in light of the heritage we’ve inherited, and how to make the most of the opportunities we have today. We also share a message for other Tibetan and Asian minority brothers and sisters who may feel lost in their journey—offering perspective, encouragement, and the fighting spirit to keep moving forward. Osu! Come train at San Diego Kyokushin, the best Kyokushin Karate Dojo in San Diego! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a meditation and a prayer — to the Ancestors who came before us, on behalf of the future generations who will carry on after we are gone. Drawing from the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic ideal of living a virtuous life in service to others, I reflect on impermanence, legacy, and what truly matters. Wealth, fame, and status fade like vapor, but kindness, generosity, and love endure across time. I share the story of “Auntie Jay,” a remarkable Korean woman whose life was shaped by an act of compassion decades ago — a reminder that what lasts is not our possessions, but the invisible thread of kindness passed down from generation to generation. The episode closes with a prayer to the Ancestors: gratitude for their struggles, guidance for the present, and the hope that we may leave behind a better world for our children, and their children. 🎹 Theme Song for this episode: Shelter by Porter Robinson & Madeon (Official Piano Version) - for more context, listen to the lyrics in the original. One of my favorite tracks in recent years. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail 🎆 Coronado Island, San Diego 🌇 July 4, 2025  🇺🇸 FREEDOM IS A STATE OF MIND Today's my birthday. I’m a Korean-American immigrant born on Independence Day, so let’s talk about freedom. MURKA. We’re going from political to philosophical to spiritual. From July 4, 1776 to Marcus Aurelius, Viktor Frankl, and Nelson Mandela. From the Founding Fathers to the gulag. From Emerson to Epictetus. From empire to inner peace. Because true liberty isn’t just doing what you want—it’s being free from what controls you. Governments can’t give that to you. Neither can money, power, or passports. Freedom doesn’t start with the state. It starts with your state of mind. This episode is a meditation on what freedom really means in our lives today. Can you be free even in prison? Can you feel trapped with millions in the bank? Can you escape the trauma of past events and grievances you have towards others? Can you escape the mental cages you've built for yourself? We dig into the roots of the phrase “freedom is a state of mind,” and how it echoes across Stoicism, Buddhism, Christianity, and modern history. You’ll hear quotes, questions, and reflections from across time—and I hope they challenge you to ask: Where in your life do you still feel shackled? And what would it feel like to finally be free? 💭 Because at the end of the day, no empire can set you free. No past event or person is keeping you in shackles. Real freedom is in your own mind. #FreedomIsAStateOfMind #MaimTime #AsianDiaspora #July4 #Stoicism #IdentityStruggle #NelsonMandela #MarcusAurelius #SpiritualFreedom #PhilosophyPodcast #AsianAmerican #SelfMastery Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Watch the video conversation on YouTube here! In this soul-stirring episode of MAIM TIME, we dive into the transformative journey of voice, identity, and liberation with none other than Gavin Masumiya—vocal confidence coach, spoken word artist, and founder of FlowFam. Gavin is not just a coach—he’s a movement. He works with professionals, leaders, and everyday introverts alike to unlock the voice that’s been buried deep inside us, stifled by shame, expectations, and generations of silence. Together, we explore what it means to be Asian American in today’s world—not just in appearance or heritage, but in voice, posture, and soul. What does it mean to be free? To speak freely? To own your identity unapologetically? For anyone who’s ever felt like the quiet one in the room, this episode is for you. Connect with Gavin Masumiya 🌐 Website: gavinmasumiya.com 📸 Instagram: @gavinmasumiya 🎧 SoundCloud: Gavin Masumiya 📺 YouTube: fabolousaznboi 🎙️ Featured on: Heroes of Reality Podcast _________ MAIM TIME is the podcast for the global Asian soul reclaiming its story. Hosted by Maim, another dude just trying to figure himself out and sharing the journey. This show explores identity, creativity, healing, and purpose through deep conversations with thinkers, artists, hustlers, healers, and rebels. Every episode is a chance to unlearn the scripts we inherited—and write new ones together. Follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.  Leave a rating, review, and most importantly—share this with someone whose voice is still waiting to be heard. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail “The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson You ever feel like you’re stuck between worlds? Too Asian for America, but too American for your Asian family? Like your face tells one story, but your heart is somewhere else entirely? I know that feeling. If you’re part of the Asian diaspora — whether you grew up in NYC, Sydney, London, or somewhere in the Midwest — you’ve probably felt it too. Not quite at home in your skin. Not quite at peace with your place. But what if I told you that a Roman emperor from 2,000 years ago already understood this struggle — and had answers for it? In this episode, I share how Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations — the personal journal of one of history’s greatest philosopher-kings — offers timeless wisdom for the modern identity crisis. Especially for Asian diaspora youth navigating inherited trauma, cultural confusion, and feelings of not belonging. Marcus ruled an empire, buried children, endured plagues, and still chose humility, compassion, and self-discipline. And through it all, he came back to this: Live in accordance with Nature. Do your duty. Be good. Do good. That’s enough. As members of the diaspora, we’ve inherited so much — the good, the bad, the beautiful, the broken. But we don’t have to throw away our heritage to belong. We don’t have to hide our pain to be strong. We get to shape our identity with purpose and virtue. Whether you’re lost, angry, disconnected, or searching — this is for you. TL;DR - Delve into the rabbit hole of Stoic philosophy so it can change your life and help you reframe your Asian identity (struggle) in a positive meaningful way. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO START: Why You Need to Read Meditations by Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius - Meditations narrated by Vox StoicaABSOLUTE GOLDEN LECTURE: Marcus Aurelius' Meditations: The Stoic IdealSupport the show

Send us Fan Mail This podcast is about dealing with your identity struggle as part of the Asian diaspora. I share personal stories and sometimes interview others to promote healthy, honest conversations about what it means to carry trauma, resentment, and confusion—and how we move toward peace, joy, and self-love. I don’t have all the answers. This is an ongoing conversation. But today, I have a solution: learn martial arts. If you’re a young, lost kid struggling with your identity like I was, this can change your life. It might not solve everything, but it will transform you—physically, mentally, emotionally. Go find a dojo. Book a class. If it’s not the right fit, find another. Keep showing up. That’s the secret: consistency. On this show, I talk a lot about accepting your cultural identity—learning to forgive your family, let go of resentment toward your mother culture, and finally accept yourself. But maybe I’ve been overthinking it. Maybe you just need to get your ass kicked… and then learn how to kick ass. Even if you’re not into martial arts yet, it’ll still help. You’ll gain strength, confidence, discipline—and most importantly, you’ll start respecting yourself. That’s what I would’ve told my 15-year-old depressed, awkward, gooning, video game–addicted self. I’d throw him into a dojo and watch that flabby blob turn into a diamond stud. Now I’m 32. I’m in the best shape of my life. I go to the gym five days a week. I box. I just tried muay thai for the first time (shoutout to Byron). I’m a blue belt in Kyokushin karate with three years of training, and I wish I had started at 15. (Big shoutout to San Diego Kyokushin Karate and Sogyel Sensei—thank you!) Were you into Dragon Ball Z, Bruce Lee, Tekken, or Final Fantasy? I’m telling you: lean into your Main Character Syndrome. Become the hero of your own story. Martial arts will get you fit, teach you how to protect yourself, and give you the energy that says “I’m not someone to mess with.” You’ll walk taller. You’ll carry yourself with quiet, calm confidence. You won’t be stuck in your head all the time. You’ll be punching, kicking, sweating, growing. And yeah, if you’re stronger and more confident, your dating life improves. If you’re more disciplined, your work improves. Because how you do one thing is how you do everything. Martial arts makes you a better person. And if you’re Asian, it connects you to a deep, ancient legacy. If you’re not Asian, you’re still joining a global tradition. The Ancestors will smile on you. Channel your pain—rage, sadness, neglect, confusion—into one clean punch of pure positive intent. A kamehameha wave from your soul. Change your life. Then change the world. Here’s the twist: there is no solution to the identity struggle. Because it was never a problem. It only has power when you obsess over it. Once you move differently, live with strength and purpose, that struggle starts to fade. You’ve just proven to yourself that you’re capable. That you can do pushups, throw a kick, protect your loved ones, and make a difference. Do it for 15-year-old you. Do it for your future self. Do it for the ones you love. Do it for your ancestors.  Do it for love. Fantastic video if you want to get started in martial arts: DAY ONE | What I'd Do If I Was Starting From Scratch Bruce Lee: Be like water (Inspirational) Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Rewrite your immigrant family history by HEALING INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA and by EMBRACING YOUR CULTURAL ETHNIC IDENTITY! In this powerful and deeply personal episode of MAIM TIME, we dive headfirst into one of the most painful, complex, and transformative experiences shared by many children of immigrants: intergenerational trauma. Growing up with parents who came from third-world countries—who survived war, poverty, and unimaginable hardship—can often mean growing up in households filled with dysfunction, unprocessed trauma, and emotional neglect. As children, we just wanted love and safety. Instead, we got confusion, silence, shame, maybe even violence. And many of us did the only thing we could do to survive: we disassociated. We rejected our heritage, our language, our roots—because to us, our culture was the source of pain. It’s an all-too-common story: children of immigrants abandoning their ancestral identity to assimilate and survive in Western societies, only to grow up with a lingering sense of emptiness, isolation, and identity crisis. But what if that pain wasn’t the end of the story?  What if the true glow-up—the real redemption arc—isn’t found in running away, but in returning? In this episode, I talk about the double tragedy of denying your heritage: first because your parents hurt you, and second because you later choose to reject your roots, not realizing that doing so only deepens the wound. Healing begins with a radical act: reclaiming the parts of ourselves we were taught to hate, and learning to forgive—not to excuse, but to free ourselves from being chained to the past. I speak directly to those who’ve ever said, “I wish I wasn’t Asian.” To those who’ve felt lost between cultures. To those who never felt heard or seen by their own family. You are not alone. And you are not broken. Mother Asia is waiting for you. The Ancestors are waiting for you. The Dragon inside you—the Superconsciousness—is waiting for you to awaken. You are the continuation of generations of struggle and love. You are a living bridge between the past and the future. And when you choose to heal, forgive, and embrace your cultural identity, you are doing what your ancestors dreamed of. You’re creating space for peace and power, not just for yourself—but for all of us. This is the episode for anyone who’s ever felt like a stranger in their own skin. For anyone who’s ever been ashamed of their last name, their parents’ accent, their “ethnic” lunch at school. This is the call to come home to yourself. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Here's my cheesy ass episode description courtesy of ChatGPT: Yo, what’s good my people? MAIM TIME is BACK. After a long hiatus, I’m back on the mic to celebrate a major milestone—five years since I first started this podcast. February 2020, right before the world flipped upside down, I put out my first episode. Now, five years later, I’m back in America, starting over, and it’s time to catch y’all up on everything. Where have I been? For the past 11 years, I built a life in Korea. It was the best decision I ever made, and it shaped me into the person I am today. But at some point, what was once an adventure started to feel like a cage. I needed a change. So in March 2024, I left Korea and moved to San Diego, California—America’s Finest City, and arguably, America’s Most Expensive City. Now, I’m navigating reverse culture shock, adapting to a new life, and figuring out what’s next. Starting Over in My 30s Who does this? Who spends their 20s in a foreign country, only to return to their homeland and start over again in their 30s? A bum like me, apparently. In the past year, I’ve had to: ✔ Get a driver’s license ✔ Start working in the family business ✔ Adjust to American life after a decade abroad ✔ Cut out distractions to focus more on personal growth ✔ Just get used to life in America Everything is different. In Seoul, I could hop on a bus or train anytime, anywhere. In San Diego, you need a car. In Korea, people keep to themselves in public. In America, strangers smile and say hi on the street. It’s weird, but in a lot of ways, I missed this. What’s Next for MAIM TIME? I don’t always know where to take this podcast, but I always find myself coming back to it. This is for me. This is for you. If you’re an Asian diaspora kid trying to figure out who you are, how to self-actualize, how to navigate the in-between of two worlds, this podcast is for us. This episode is raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart. It’s a stream of consciousness update on my life, my struggles, and what it means to take responsibility for your future—even when you don’t have all the answers. Lessons from Rock Bottom You haven’t really lived until you’ve hit rock bottom. Until you’ve tried to cry but no tears come out. Until you’ve wanted to scream but just stare at the ceiling instead. And even then? You get up. You move forward. I could be homeless. I could be struggling just to survive. But I’m lucky. I have my family, my health, and the opportunity to build something. And if I have to survive, why not thrive? The Bigger Picture What would my Asian Ancestors do? What would the Founding Fathers do? What would you do if you had to start over from nothing? People risk everything to get here. Some walk through deserts. Some smuggle themselves across oceans. Me? I had the privilege of choice. That humbles me. That makes me grateful. And that makes me want to do more. So here I am. Back in America. A new chapter begins. Hit play, let’s talk about it. How I Budget to Live in the Most Expensive City in the U.S. Video: Migrants cross into San Diego amid surge in Chinese nationals | Morning in America 🚀 If this episode resonated with you, hit me up! Follow me on Instagram @maimtime and share this with someone who needs to hear it. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Happy Birthday America, and Happy Birthday to ME! What’s good? This is your annual MAIM TIME birthday episode special where I reiterate all my usual sheeeeiiiit about identity, coming to accept and love all of your identity, self-actualization, being the bridge between the East and West, spirituality, and more. One juicy indulgent hour of stream of consciousness, I know you need it hard. And I missed you. Hard. YOU ARE THE FUTURE. YOU ARE THE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION FOR THE EAST AND WEST. JETSET AROUND THE WORLD BUILDING EMPIRES. YOU CAN WORK F*****G MIRACLES. RAISE THE DEAD, HEAL THE SICK, MAKE THE BLIND SEE. USE AI TO TURN FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD TO FEED TENS OF THOUSANDS. YOU CAN BRING HEALING TO THE NATIONS. OUR ANCESTORS ARE WATCHING OVER US. LET’S MAKE THEM PROUD AND BRING THEM GREAT HONOR Don’t let any m**********r ever tell you you’re not worthy, you’re not capable, you’re not good for anything, you’ll never amount to anything. PROVE THEM WRONG. You can prove them wrong because I AM A MIRACLE. I SHOULDN'T BE HERE. I HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS SHIT AND MAKE THIS GOOFY ASS PODCAST TO MEET YOU ONE DAY AND TELL YOU: YOU ARE WORTHY. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. So one day, we can meet on a f*****g island retreat one day and celebrate in the never-ending journey to excellence, greatness, and glory. WE'RE MUTHAFOOKIN GAWWWWDZ M8! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail YOUR DEAD ANCIENT ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN WAITING THOUSANDS OF YEARS FOR YOU TO REALIZE THERE IS A SLEEPING DRAGON INSIDE OF YOU YOU NEED TO BE THE ONE TO AWAKEN IT TODAY #072: I usually describe this podcast as a show about Asian diaspora overcoming identity struggle to become the best versions of ourselves. The tagline is something I’ve revised over the past several years. But I realize, there needs to be a purpose or a vision. This is my current vision: The ultimate self-actualization of all Asian diaspora brothers and sisters worldwide, to raise the level of consciousness of the peoples of Asia, and thus consciousness for all humanity. We want one million Asian diaspora to dedicate themselves to improvement in every human metric, be it physical, financial, mental, cultural, creative, and so on. At least one million. It starts with you, one. Then there are 10 of us, then1 00, then 1000, then 10,000 and then 100,000. It’ll just take TIME. MAIM TIME. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail LISTEN TO THE GREATEST MOST MIND-BLOWING MAIM TIME EPISODE SO FAR THIS YEAR! 🤯🔥 #071. Listen to episodes of MAIM TIME on your podcast player of choice, or on YouTube. KILL AND EAT YOU MUST COMPETE Jesus is not enough for you to become the strongest most capable competitive version of yourself. Only you are. HAPPY NEW YEAR! I went to Jubilee Church in Seoul for New Years to listen to yet another solid sermon given by Pastor David Hwang. Like for the Christmas episode, I summarize his message and then give my own cheeky heretical twist to it. Acts 10:9-16 Pastor David Hwang 2023: Communion This episode will be taken into 3 parts: •Some domain knowledge about Christianity for those of you who didn't grow up in this shit like I did •The sermon content given by the pastor for the New Year service at Jubilee Church, his theme being Communion •My exposition upon Christianity and Pastor David's sermon, compounding the theme of Communion with Competition You're in competition with the entire world. The best communion is one with likeminded competitive people who will challenge each other to become better. Support the show