Dual Cultivation: Dr Robert Hoffman on Integrating Identity + Profession in Times of Change

This episode features Dr. Robert Hoffman, President and CEO of Yo San University, in conversation with host 39GEN Emily. Dr. Hoffman shares his remarkable transition from a high-stakes, 30-year career in the music industry—where he worked as a producer and engineer for icons like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Quincy Jones—to becoming a leader in the field of Chinese medicine.He discusses how the lifestyle of the music business and a transformational relief trip to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami led him to pursue acupuncture at age 40. Throughout the interview, Dr. Hoffman explores the parallels between being a music producer and a medical practitioner, the importance of surrounding oneself with a talented team, and how Daoist philosophy (specifically the concepts of Xing and Ming) guides his approach to leadership and personal destiny.