Philosophy Fridays (Live Q&A)

What if everything you’ve been chasing - success, money, status, certainty - was never “out there” to begin with? In this Philosophy Friday conversation, we dive deep into Vedanta, non-duality, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, desireless action, and why even “good” actions can still be rooted in ego. We explore the difference between selfish, unselfish, and selfless action, the role of stillness in a hyper-productive world, why attachment to spirituality can be more dangerous than attachment to money, and how ancient wisdom applies directly to modern life, leadership, creativity, and AI. This conversation challenges how you think about purpose, fulfillment, and what it actually means to live well.

Join us at Lighthouse Venice for a unique “Philosophy Friday” discussion with a Q&A with James Beshara, creator of Magic Mind, host of the Venice Vedanta Club, and the host of the podcasts "Yoga for Your Intellect" and “The Daily Vedantic” — two podcasts inspired by the “perennial philosophy” (as Aldous Huxley called it) of Vedanta, which means “end of the Vedas”. In a world full of spaces to discuss careers, relationships, and hobbies, this philosophy club offers a rare chance to engage with the intellectual side of philosophy, spirituality, and foundational worldviews. Rooted in 8,000+ year old wisdom contained in the Vedas, Vedanta provides timeless wisdom in practical life without religious doctrines, without rites or rituals, and without shoulds or should nots. Just thought-provoking ideas for anyone to reflect on during their morning routine. And this space is built to spark philosophical discussion across any historical or modern philosophical notions, from Socrates to Kant, from Augustine to Carl Jung. So join us for stimulating conversation on a Friday morning, where timeless philosophy provides practical modern-day insights.

Reserve your spot and sign up now to be part of this engaging Friday morning conversation: https://forms.gle/QaRSWndLbyvKeF1j8

The Daily Vedantic is a daily podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to the timeless wisdom of the Upanishads (https://thedailyvedantic.com/). Dating back to over 5,000 years ago, the source of nearly all Eastern Philosophy, and loved by Western giants from Emerson to Thoreau to Carl Jung and Alan Watts, studied daily by Joseph Campbell to Aldous Huxley to Arthur Schopenhauer and countless others, The Daily Vedantic aims to make this ancient philosophy as modern and accessible as it is simple, practical — and profound.

James Beshara is a creator (Magic Mind, Apt, Tilt, acquired by Airbnb), podcaster (Yoga For Your Intellect, The Daily Vedantic), angel investor in over 150 companies (Gusto, Mercury, OpenAI), musician (openstate_), and encourager living in Malibu, California with his wife, 3 young daughters, their dachshund named Wendell, and their hamster named Smokey.

James also co-hosts Yoga For Your Intellect (https://www.YFYI.co), a biweekly long-form conversational podcast with his teacher Joseph Emmett ( https://www.instagram.com/yogaforyourintellect )

James is a student of Swami Parthasarathy, the acclaimed author of Vedanta Treatise (Vedanta Treatise – The Eternities)  and teacher at Vedanta Academy in Malavli, India. As James says often, when you’re ready for the real thing, Swami’s daily lectures are where the true wisdom and systematic discovery of the world’s oldest continually studied philosophy resides: https://www.vedantaworld.org