Finding Well-Being Without Escaping Yourself—Dean Patrick | Ep 255

In this episode of Relatable Wisdom, I sit down with Dean Patrick, a writer and author of God Money: Lost and Found in the Crypto Wilderness. Dean shares a quote from Luke 17:21: “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you,” and reflects on how it points to the possibility of experiencing peace, presence, and well-being in this life—not someday, not somewhere else, but right here. Dean opens up about arriving at Stanford in 2014, launching a cryptocurrency hedge fund, and struggling with addiction during that season of his life. He shares how meditation and Zen spirituality helped him reconnect with stillness, clarity, and a deeper sense of spiritual well-being. Our conversation moves into the roots of addiction, the difference between treating symptoms and healing the deeper issue, and why many people reach for substances, food, phones, or other habits as emotional responses to pain, fear, or insecurity. What I loved about this conversation is how honestly Dean connects recovery, perception, spirituality, and everyday habits. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how much of our suffering can come from the patterns we build—and how presence, self-awareness, and healthier responses can help us begin to live differently. This episode is a thoughtful reminder that healing often starts by looking within. Every episode has more to it than what you hear. Join the Relatable Wisdom newsletter to get thoughtful reflections, behind-the-scenes extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show. It’s a calm space to stay inspired between listens. Sign up here: https://relatablewisdom.com/join CONNECT WITH Dean Patrick Website: https://www.deanpatrickauthor.com/ Book: God Money: Lost and Found in the Crypto Wilderness CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction And Welcome 00:22 Meet Dean Patrick 00:36 The Quote That Has Been Sticking With Dean 01:04 Heaven As A Place On Earth 01:36 Dean’s Story, Stanford, Crypto, And Addiction 02:20 Meditation, Zen Spirituality, And Well-Being 03:00 Why People Fear A Better Life 04:12 Familiar Hell Versus Unfamiliar Heaven 04:25 What Happiness Requires 05:29 Understanding Well-Being 06:11 Physical, Psychological, And Spiritual Well-Being 07:13 Addiction As A Symptom Of Something Deeper 08:21 Hidden Addictions Beyond Drugs And Alcohol 08:47 Relatable Wisdom Newsletter Break 09:24 Phone Addiction, Food Addiction, And Emotional Eating 11:09 Addiction, Fear, And The Fear Of Not Fully Living 12:20 Treating Symptoms Versus Healing The Root 12:46 Physical Recovery And Spiritual Recovery 13:46 Addiction As An Emotional Attachment 15:13 What We Pay Attention To 16:58 The Habitual Mind And Rewiring Patterns 18:09 Replacing Habits Instead Of Creating A Vacuum 19:44 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Catching Thought Patterns 20:45 Final Reflections On The Mind And Recovery 21:16 Where To Find Dean Patrick 21:37 Closing Thoughts