Future Chi
A daoist and a designer explore design, technology, health and wellbeing, and the future of everything. Join Jost Sauer (author, rebel therapist, daoist and expert in traditional Chinese medicine) and Leon Fitzpatrick (industrial and experience designer, educator and futurist), as they discuss health, daoism, design, cars, martial arts, the search for purpose, and the meaning of life. Unplanned, off the cuff, and spontaneous. Welcome to the Future Chi podcast! For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/ For more about Leon: https://www.futurethingy.com/
Episodes
3 days ago
3 days ago
What will the future bring? What was once an exciting, optimistic and limitless concept has now become something to be anxious about, fear and even criticise. But the future is a journey, not a destination, and while science fiction stories, movies and the design of everyday things often gives us a glimpse of what’s on the horizon, it’s still always tethered to the past. So how do we detach ourselves from outdated modalities and conditioning, ditch the negative baggage and get aboard the future train?
While we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, in this week’s episode Jost and Leon talk about all things past, present and future, and how we all need to play a roll in the redesign of everything - especially ourselves. After a muddy experience with his Mini, Jost gets into the reality of levitation, teleportation and telekinesis which even Western research says is within us all. He also talks about the new paradigms that are needed for us to see what’s already there, the timeless origins of Tai Chi, the need to disconnect from the old and tap into new sources of chi, and the importance of feeling good to create good design from the inside out. Leon discusses the late, great automotive designer Marcello Gandini, how futuristic design is still a reflection of the past, the optimism of the space age, and how we should no longer ask the audience’s opinion on anything.
Jost and Leon also chat about Asimov’s 3 laws of robotics, hoverboards, soul awakenings and the next spiritual revolution, the future of education, the challenges with being a creator, and the dark truth about Star Trek’s teleporters.
If we expect the future to resemble the past we’ll miss opportunities to create the new that’s desperately needed in the world. We can’t overthink it either, we have to just get out there, do it, and feel our way forward. Don’t fear the future, be the future.
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
The more we attempt to make sense of the world at the moment, the more confusing everything becomes. Up is down, left is right, and it’s feeling a lot like the inmates are running the asylum. But in a mad world is being crazy simply a matter of perspective? What do the words mad, crazy, or insane even mean?
With aspects of physical reality colliding left, right and centre, Jost and Leon get onboard the crazy train to try and decode not just what’s happening, but what we can do about it. Jost discusses his ‘mad’ past as a drug user, smuggler, hippy and outcast and the baffling recent developments in Germany as they simultaneously enter into a ‘pre-war’ phase and legalise marijuana. He also gets into the need to combine Eastern internal energy development with external Western strength training, how the focus on materiality moves us away from both the self and ultimately the soul, and the power of fear as a catalyst for evolution. Leon talks about the thin line between creativity and craziness, and the importance of being yourself when it comes to cultivating and sharing your passion with the world. Jost and Leon also talk about the superpowers of D3, Rupert Sheldrake and the morphogenetic field, Navy SEALs, and the surprising connection between spirituality and survival skills.
The more crazy and unstable things become the more fear and uncertainty increase, but these things are necessary for us to discover who we really are and what we’re capable of. We can’t have an incredible gift without a corresponding weakness or liability, so it’s our job to dig deep, face our fears, and become ourselves.
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
In this episode, Jost and Leon chew the fat on all things food - from agriculture, permaculture and industrial food production, to superfoods, alcohol, porridge and the mystery and misunderstandings around the topic of dieting.
The conversation kicks off on the topic of our unhealthy and unsustainable system of food production, the current uprising of farmers around the world, and how we must find a way forward that unifies technology, spirituality and our own intelligence. Monocultures and processed food are bad for the ecosystem and bad for our health, but there’s a deeper, internal issue that has to be addressed when it comes to food. Beyond just what we eat, the physical and mental state we’re in when we eat have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing.
Jost talks about the metabolic syndrome epidemic affecting 90% of the world, and how the underlying factor is not just poor food choices but stress and a lack of purpose. Jost also discusses the need to target emotionality before diet, how to see the body as its own permaculture system, the concept of happy foods, and his clinical observations of where vegan and raw diets can lead. Leon chats about the problems with one-size-fits-all solutions and the importance of doing what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Jost and Leon trade their very different experiences with alcohol and have an in-depth chat about what ‘good food’ really is. They also get into the indestructible cars of the 80’s, the correlation between road rage and sandwiches, Jost’s fruit loops breakfast recipe, belly fat, bottled air, and how the beginning of your day dictates the end.
Eating is about unification, not isolation, so it may be time to rethink your relationship with food. Don’t worry, eat happy!
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Why do some people see through lies while others go along with them? What makes us either blindly follow the rules or challenge the prevailing narrative? What makes us feel safe, helps us make decisions, and allows us to freely and truthfully express ourselves? Turns out these things are all related and are affiliated with the small and humble amygdala. But what happens when it becomes damaged? What happens when we can’t regulate emotions like fear and anxiety? Inexplicable actions and downright chaos ensues, and this means there may very well be a biological basis for the bizarre behaviour over the past few years.
This week's episode tackles the heady topic of the human brain, with a special focus on the amygdala, which, according to the latest research, has lost its protective layers and is in sharp decline. But in true Future Chi fashion we don’t stay in the head; the rest of the body, mind, and spirit comes along for the ride too.
Jost and Leon discuss not only the insanity of recent years, but the path leading up to it, and how nutrient deficient foods, sedentary lifestyles and mental weakness left many exposed and susceptible to manipulation. Jost talks about the energy Organs in Chinese medicine and how they must work in concert, the need to upgrade our hardware (body) to deal with life’s challenges, and how Earth is the hardest planet in the multiverse to exist on. Leon talks about cerebral warfare, mental immunity, pushovers, and how to avoid internalising the industrial process.
Jost and Leon also talk the repetitive cycle of the broken political system and the imperative for personal responsibility and preparedness when dealing with societal challenges. True unity and the evolution of humankind hinge on our actions, rather than faith in a new leader. They also chat about jazz, James Dean, zombie hordes, mass formation phenomenon, fringe living, invisible amygdala monsters and the brain eating chimera from The Relic movie.
It’s now more important than ever to defend against the fear and negativity that others are spreading, by strengthening your energy armour through how you live: breath work, nutrition, and connecting to the cosmic chi grid. Keep the defences strong, fight off the energy vampires and mindless mobs, and guard your internal world from external chaos. May the chi be with you!
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Welcome to Future Chi, where once again we’re broadcasting from a log cabin, on a nature preserve, somewhere in the hills of Queensland, Australia. Off the bat this leads to a reflection on living in isolation, living free of critique, and how to break through the sheath that surrounds our true selves. This reflection on self reliance leads Jost and Leon to get into the topic of true power; where it comes from, how to cultivate it, and how to tell the difference between imitation and authenticity.
Jost discusses our vital essence - or ’Jing’ - in Chinese medicine and its critical role in the foundation of life itself; from fertility, energy, and longevity, to its impact on our impulses and sex drive. Jost also talks about the 3 stages of spiritual practice (and their correlating dimensions), the 5 elements, the 12 meridians, and how this relates to the pyramids, DaVinci’s Vitriuvian Man, Chinese Medicine, gold, and Alexander Shulgin (the godfather of Ecstasy). Leon talks about working things out internally before expressing them externally, the dangers of asking focus groups for advice, and how the open-ended loop of mass manufacturing is a slippery slope into downcycling. He also talks about the emptiness of trying to obtain power by proxy instead of doing the hard work.
Jost and Leon wonder if our physical reality just a prototype, if the Spiritual Hierarchy is considering discontinuing this model, and if so, what comes next? They chat about Elvis, Stalin, and what happens when you're surrounded by yes men, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, global unrest, and cryptocurrency. They also call bullsh*t on the ‘junk DNA’ theory and expose the lack of real power possessed by the ruling class.
Jost and Leon both share their experiences of the last few years and acknowledge all the reasons to be angry, but emphasise the need to ‘hang up the phone’ and move forward. They also discuss the importance of mourning the loss of the old world and allowing grief to take us to a new starting point; discovering our own power. If you have internal power you will always see a solution, you always have options, and you always know what to do. The people trying to manipulate us want us stupid, weak, and unhealthy, but their power is built on false foundations. It’s time to take the power back by taking charge of ourselves and becoming active participants in forging the future.
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
We’re amidst one of the biggest transitions and most rapid shifts in consciousness we’ve ever seen. Time feels like it’s speeding up (according to quantum physics it’s more than a feeling), and it’s hard to know what to let go of, what to hold on to, and where it’s all headed. It’s time to acknowledge that the old ways are dying and a new reality is emerging.
This week’s episode kicks off amidst the serenity of a nature preserve where Jost and Leon - Inspired by their surroundings - take a moment question the essence of life and society in response to changing times, with the usual Taoist/designer twist. They discuss the perception of time and consciousness across dimensions, peak periods of awakening from Newton’s apple, to the dawn of quantum physics, to the spiritual movement of the 70’s, right up to the current awakening we find ourselves in now. Jost gets into the crossover between quantum physics and Taoism, and how tai chi, meditation, and acupuncture offer an ability to transcend time and space. He also talks about the world’s first jet fighter, the importance of pushing the envelope, and the cosmic mystery of ideas and their origins. Leon talks about the forgotten ages of innovation, the emerald tablets, the Black Knight satellite and the return of supersonic flight.
Jost and Leon also chat about encounters with snakes and kangaroos, Vladimir Putin, Niels Bohr, rebel communities, ancient civilisations and the idea that Atlantis wasn’t a city, but an age. Humanity is in a next-level awakening phase, so it’s time to disrupt manipulative narratives and advocate for the creation of a new reality. With every new idea, paradigm shift, advancement, and breakthrough, there always comes resistance from established structures. Our job is to not be stopped by this, but to break through it. It's not the time to get caught up amongst the fear and frenzy of the old world, but take a huge leap forward into a new one.
View the Episode Sketch here: https://futurethingy.com/episode-46-quantum-leap
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
Everything is becoming condensed and compressed; between an information overload, rapid increase in stressors and a looming cloud of uncertainty, it feels more and more like something has to give. But in these dark and heavy times it's important to remember that both darkness and heaviness must always give way to light.
In this week’s episode, Leon and Jost light up the dark with a luminous discussion on how to keep the flame lit, and how to use density, compression and adversity to our advantage instead of letting it weigh us down. The heavier things get the more difficult life can become, and if we don’t have a daily plan in place to carve ourselves out and tap into our inner luminosity we’ll get dragged along..and down..by the mundane world. Leon talks in depth about the life of Nikola Tesla and how the trials, tribulations, pain and struggle of invention were necessary for us to reach new levels of innovation and technology. He also talks about the hidden aspects of design, engineering and creativity and the invisible efforts that go into shaping the world around us, the origins of the Audi TT, Yoda’s perspective on Zen Buddhism, and how the film Constantine dealt with the battle of light against dark. Jost connects these themes to Chinese medicine and Taoism, and talks about the magic and effort of forging a bond with your soulmate, the downward spiral of seeking external validation, and the importance of maximising our time in the physical realm so that we can return to the spirit world with something worthwhile. He also talks about his experiences with the emptiness of Hollywood, training under a master in Malaysia, how to maintain a connection to the source through spiritual practice, and how to not care about what people think about you.
Jost and Leon also get into fame, influencers and ego, alchemy, Joan of Arc, the Taoist art of drunkenness, the myth of the 8 hour sleep cycle, the surprising connection between electrical engineering and spirit forces, and Pontiac Firebirds.
In dark, dense and unpredictable times, stay connected to the spirit source, stay creative and remember that the hottest fire forges the strongest steel.
View the Episode Sketch here: https://futurethingy.com/episode-45-illumination
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
Saturday Feb 03, 2024
It feels like we’re sailing further and further out into an ocean of weirdness, uncertainty and instability, with positivity and optimism in short supply. In dark times, when the horizon is hard to see, it's easy to lose hope and become entangled in anger, cynicism and negativity. But dwelling in the dark is not what we’re here to do. We’re here to learn, evolve, and grow, and to do that we need to be excited and inspired about the future.
In this episode, Jost and Leon shine a light into the dark with an inspiring chat about the challenging times we find ourselves in, and how the end of one age is the dawn of a new one. Jost talks about the 30th anniversary of his first clinic, the Osiris Health Care Centre, and how his bold leap into the unknown - that coincided with the boom of the Mind Body Spirit festival movement - opened up a new cosmic reality to countless people. He also talks about the Hippy era, the New Age, the cycles of boom, commercialisation and dispersion that these movements go through, and how each pulse wave of change reaches a peak before making way for the something better. Jost also chats about the critical importance of tapping into the source of inspiration and excitement which enters us via the Heart, and how now more than ever creativity, optimism and bravery are the vital tools we need to light the path ahead. Leon chats about the benefits of popular culture and its role in introducing meaning if you’re willing to go beneath the surface, and the undeniable spirit that is conveyed in martial arts films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. He also talks about the over-academisation of design education and the problems of teaching without knowing, and why analysts are the last people we should trust to guide us into the future.
Jost and Leon also talk about tapping into the pulsating rhythm of the universe, Deepak Chopra vs. Jimmy Barnes, blacksmithing, Bashar and the 5th dimension, Nirvana (the band not the Buddhist concept), hippy surf brands, and the Age of Aquarius. They also talk about how to ride the waves of instability, deal with negative institutions, news and people, and the difference between positive thinking and positive doing.
The body is an instrument of the soul to execute its mission here on earth, so by participating in the physical world we in turn evolve the soul. That participation comes with trials, tribulations and difficult, dark times. Our job is to not be trapped by this, but to boldly go beyond and help bring forth the next age.
View the Episode Sketch here: https://futurethingy.com/episode-44-uptimism
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Where do we go when we’ve gone too far? After a tumultuous few years have we hit peak weird, peak ideology, peak excess and peak division? Are we at peak civilisation? All signs suggest we’re near a tipping point and a massive shift in consciousness. But every ending brings a new beginning, and pushing the boundaries has been the mainstay of doers, fighters, creatives, philosophers, leaders and agents of change for thousands of years. The inflection point we’re experiencing now - the tip from Yin to Yang - is an opportunity to be architects of the future, not prisoners of the past.
In this episode Jost and Leon reach new heights as they discuss the apex era, peak everything, and paradigm shifts by drawing parallels between design and taoism, technology and spirituality, traditional Chinese Medicine and the future of everything…in typical Future Chi fashion.
Leon delves into the history of automotive design and wonders if the Tesla Cybertruck is the dawn of a new era of design or the death of traditional beauty (or both), how this compares to the gorgeous Citroën DS, and how both are outward expressions of radical innovation in very different ways. He also talks about the past, present, and future of electric vehicles, and what to do now that we have technology that can not only create - but exceed - our vision. Jost joins the dots and discusses how the spark to create comes from the Tao, the ability to create is regulated by Yin and Yang, and how we must always be in the dot of the Yin and Yang - not the mass or mainstream - because this is where the world changing work happens. He also chats about discovering what’s right by doing what’s wrong, the importance of focusing on the inner and not fixating on the outer, how copying success doesn’t work, and how we’re here to act on our ideas - not someone else’s. Jost and Leon also talk about Banksy, Bowie, Zappa and Kraftwerk, the social media recession, how to counteract anti-human and cynical attitudes with creativity and self expression, and the beauty of editing.
The peak we have reached is a chance to see further, to seek danger and to take risks. Be the change you want to see in the world and most importantly, be the dot!
View the Episode Sketch here: https://futurethingy.com/episode-43-apex-era
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
We’re in the midst of a rising mental health crisis, but is there also a crisis of incorrect treatment? What happens when the focus remains on the mental and not holistic aspects of health? A combination of weak guidance, poor quality food, sedentary lifestyles and overuse of medication, minus a constructive, structured, confidence building physical regimen is sending people on a downward spiral. This has devastating ramifications for the future.
But never fear, Jost and Leon are here with a positive mentality on mental health! Jost talks about his recent, baffling experiences with modern mental health professionals, the completely backwards state of ‘inclusive’ treatment, how the western approach to mental health has changed for the worse, and his decades of experience treating the mind through the body. He also talks about the importance of group dynamics, following the critical path of yin and yang, and how a focus on synergy and holism - not isolationism - is crucial to good mental health. Leon wonders about the connection between the second industrial revolution and the emergence of western psychology in the mid 19th century, and the coining of the term mental health in the early 20th century. Jost and Leon also talk about the pros and cons of analogue technology, the inanity of dieting, the right way to cook oats, how to classify coca cola as a substance (and how this relates to James Bond), and the difference between drives and and intent.
If we don’t know how to master our own health, the road ahead will be a rocky one. There’s too many choices and too much stimuli designed to make us unhealthy and take us further away from ourselves. A weak body leads to a weak mind that is susceptible to lies, manipulation, and fear, and now is not the time for any of that. Strong body = strong mind.
View the Episode Sketch here: https://www.futurethingy.com/episode-42-mentality
For more about Jost: https://jostsauer.com/
For more about Leon: https://futurethingy.com/
Jost Sauer
Jost is a healthy lifestyle expert. He is an author, acupuncturist, and has been a therapist since the 80s.
Jost Sauer was also an ex-addict, dealer and deserter who kickstarted a recovery revolution with his groundbreaking rehab program. Jost pioneered lifestyle medicine for addiction and then adapted this for everyone as the Chi Cycle lifestyle; a health-boosting, fat-burning feel-good day plan.
Jost has treated tens of thousands of people including celebrities, CEOs and athletes, with his Chi Cycle Health System, and offers training and retreats. His passion is to show everyone how to make every day medicinal and magical…
Leon Fitzpatrick
Leon is an industrial, interaction, and experience designer, futurist, illustrator, storyteller, and educator. Leon operates Futurethingy - a design consultancy and change agency that envisions future states - such as products, transportation, cities, and systems - through design and narrative. This future is ethical, sustainable, and optimistic.
Leon studied industrial design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. At Motorola Inc. in Chicago he designed products and concepts, produced videos, and was an eco-design lead. At design consultancy MINIMAL Leon designed products and concepts, produced videos, and art directed for clients such as Microsoft, Xbox, Nike, and Dell. Leon has extensive international experience as an independent consultant, working with the US automotive industry for several years on rapid prototyping, empirical research and vision projects for electric and autonomous vehicles, and the future of mobility.