On August 7th, I had a session with my friend Keith Hodge where he supported me in connecting deeper with my vision and future self.

In that session, a new awareness came through:

To step into the next level of my vision and impact, I would need to shift my relationship with judgement.

(I’ll explain more what I mean by this in a second)

A day or so later after that session, I stumbled across a podcast interview from someone I didn’t know at the time: Dr. Steven Young.

I almost skipped it. The message could’ve easily gotten buried in 50+ WhatsApp notifications.

But something nudged me to listen.

…And I’m SO glad I did.

What I heard in that episode hit me like a cosmic 2x4 — in the most beautiful way.

I counted five synchronicities between what Steven shared and the exact thoughts, questions, and awarenesses that had been bubbling up for me.

Most of them were things I hadn’t shared with anyone. It was like he was reading my mind 😆

One of the biggest synchronicities was the fact that he has worked to consciously remove judgement language from his vocabulary, specifically:

• Good / Bad
• Right / Wrong
• Positive / Negative

I went through the course and was BLOWN away, and also was so grateful that he agreed to come on the show.

This conversation is packed with deep wisdom about how we shape our reality, often without realizing it.

In this episode with Dr. Steven Young, we explore:

• Why the traditional SMART goal framework might actually limit growth — and how to guarantee better results by doing what Dr. Young calls, “Approaching Life Obliquely”
• How you can increase awareness of the unconscious language you’re using that may be inhibiting your growth… including removing judgement language.
• 3 Fundamental Shifts in How You View Reality: Why your perception of time, your awareness of context, and your ability to zoom between dual and non-dual perspectives might be unconsciously shaping your entire life — and how learning to shift these frameworks gives you new tools to navigate reality with greater clarity and power.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Dr. Steven Young

Brandon opens by welcoming listeners and sharing the synchronistic story of how he discovered Dr. Steven Young, whose teachings on dissolving judgment and shifting perception deeply resonated with him. Brandon also previews three mind-expanding themes listeners can expect in the episode: why SMART goals may limit growth, the power of upgrading unconscious language, and transformative shifts in perceiving reality.

00:04:41 - Who is Dr. Steven Young?

Brandon introduces Dr. Steven Young’s profound body of work, highlighting his 36 years of research into harmonizing mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Young has launched five businesses, treated 9,000+ patients holistically, and now helps others craft a reality based on harmony, not separation.

00:06:09 - The story behind a viral Shaolin monk photo and a dream come true

Dr. Young recounts how a dream about actor Zachary Quinto came true years later when he was invited to appear with him on a show analyzing the energy physiology of a Shaolin monk. He shares surprising scientific findings from the shoot and how the experience connected back to themes of intention and spiritual manifestation.

00:11:10 - Dissolving comparison and hierarchy through spiritual practice

Dr. Young discusses his three-year practice devoted to ending comparison and hierarchy. He explains how asking different questions—even to his children—helps reframe conversations and avoid subconscious ranking of people or experiences.

00:14:15 - Real-time examples of noticing comparison and transforming it

Brandon prompts Dr. Young to unpack how he dissolves moments of comparison in real time. Dr. Young shares how he views perceived status differences (like meeting Zachary Quinto) as cues to examine internal attachments, guiding listeners to recognize projection as an opportunity for self-awareness.

00:17:27 - The paradox of being “worthless and everything”

Dr. Young introduces the Hermetic principle of polarity, explaining how embracing both ends of a polarity (like being worthless and divine) allows for true non-dual awareness. Brandon and Dr. Young explore how the language we use (e.g., “worthless”) holds deeper power when held with sacred awareness.

00:19:00 - Dual and non-dual perspectives: The quantum paradox of reality

Dr. Young explains how we are simultaneously separate (particles) and unified (waves), and why discerning whether we are operating in dual or non-dual reality is key to personal growth. He illustrates how confusion often arises when people try to solve problems without recognizing the context they’re in.

00:21:15 - A passport disaster and how perspective changes everything

Dr. Young uses a real-life passport mishap before a spiritual mission to illustrate how obstacles are interpreted differently in dual vs. non-dual frames. In duality, it might be “the other team” interfering; in non-duality, it's an opportunity to notice inner attachments and trust the unfolding.

00:25:54 - The language of polarity and why “unfavorable” matters

Dr. Young shares why he intentionally avoids words like “good” or “bad” and opts for neutral terms like “unfavorable” to allow space for deeper understanding. He explains how judgmental language often halts introspection, whereas conscious language invites expansion.

00:29:35 - Language as energetic geometry: The LEGO visualization

Dr. Young describes a powerful vision he had during meditation where words form energetic LEGO blocks, colored by our emotions, which build our reality. This vision was later confirmed by synesthetic friends who literally see geometric shapes when people speak.

00:33:15 - Hidden contexts: The Russian nesting dolls of reality

Brandon and Dr. Young explore how problems often exist within unexamined contexts. Dr. Young describes using “Russian nesting dolls” as a metaphor for zooming out to find the larger container that’s shaping the issue—and why solving problems at the wrong level limits transformation.

00:35:59 - Rewriting reality through conscious word choice in business

Dr. Young shares a story of advising a high-end eco-community project in Panama, challenging the use of the word “luxury” in their brochure. He explains how replacing a single word can alter the entire energetic intention behind a project, urging listeners to examine their vocabulary carefully.

00:44:13 - How matching frequencies create synchronicities

Brandon shares the surreal story of how he found Dr. Young’s work after a deep visioning session about judgment. Dr. Young explains how language creates frequencies that align people through resonance, not coincidence, offering scientific and metaphysical insights.

00:47:29 - Letting go of desire to live as pure energy

Dr. Young outlines why trying to manifest synchronicities can backfire and shares how simply embodying the frequency of the divine leads to effortless magic. He explains how duality demands honoring both human limitation and divine possibility as one.

00:51:00 - Why SMART goals may be limiting your potential

Dr. Young critiques traditional goal setting frameworks, explaining how setting rigid goals narrows vision and blocks miracles. He shares the Hermetic approach of “approaching life obliquely,” where one focuses on energy, awareness, and process rather than outcomes.

00:55:40 - Process vs. outcome goals and the concept of omni-benefit

Dr. Young introduces the concept of “omni-benefit”—a lens through which every action benefits all involved. He shares how shifting from transactional goals to energy-aligned actions leads to more sustainable and life-serving outcomes.

01:00:37 - A year of no goals that created miraculous results

Dr. Young shares how, in 2024, he abandoned all personal business pursuits to serve the Pachamama Alliance and its mission to prevent human extinction. That year, without any set goals, became the most synchronistic and miraculous of his life—including spontaneous equity offers from mission-aligned businesses.

01:03:03 - Finding balance: The pendulum of goals and presence

In a moment of humility and transparency, Dr. Young shares that he doesn’t intend to stay goalless forever. Instead, he trusts the pendulum will swing back to center. Listeners are invited to trust their own cycles and remain curious as they find balance between intention and surrender.

Links & Resources:

• Check our Dr. Steven Young's Youtube Channel
• Dr. Steven Young’s Hermetic Teachings Course – Explore the 7 Hermetic principles and how to dissolve judgment, shift language, and live from a place of wholeness.
• Pachamama Alliance – The organization devoted to awakening the dream of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence.
• Curiosity Island™ – Brandon’s community and evolving vision that inspired the podcast’s theme of dissolving judgment.