The Buddhist AF Podcast

Tonight...I put labels on things.I make music.I wear flip flops with socks.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafMy Music YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@YonKuosivMusicBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I go to RochesterI buy a SteamdeckI Google the Balearic IslandsLinks:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I watched the fubol.I talk the fubol.I am the futbol?Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Episode 4: The HorizonWhat does it mean to be a good father?In the final episode of our Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month special, I reflect on fatherhood, time, vulnerability, and the lessons we pass down to our children. From chasing paychecks to realizing my son doesn’t want more things—he wants more of me—this episode asks a question many men quietly carry:Am I building a life, or am I missing it while I’m busy building it?We talk about fathers, sons, the pressure to provide, the importance of teaching our kids that it’s okay to lose, fall, cry, feel frustrated, and ask for help. Because strength isn’t silence. Strength is knowing we don’t have to suffer alone.This episode is about the horizon—the reminder that the storm is not the whole sky, and that there is still life beyond the weight we carry.If you are in crisis, please call or text 988.  Do it for the #1 Laotian Podcast...in New Hampshire.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I drank a beerI rant about MotorolaI forget my lines.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

When was the last time you made a brand-new friend?For many men, the answer is harder than we'd like to admit.In this Father's Day special, I reflect on childhood, friendship, Legos, GoldenEye, stuffed animals, and the quiet lessons my son has taught me about wonder, imagination, and what it really means to find your tribe.Maybe growing older isn't just about learning new things.Maybe it's also about remembering the things we accidentally left behind.This isn't just an episode about friendship.It's an open Father's Day letter to every man who's ever wondered where that little boy inside him went.Happy Father's Day.If you are in crisis, please call or text 988.  Do it for the #1 Laotian Podcast...in New Hampshire.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight..I watch the World Cup.I talk about Left Handed People.I'm glad I didn't have Social Media in my 20's.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

After overcoming addiction, I thought the hardest part was behind me. I was wrong.In this episode, I share how professional wrestling became an unexpected outlet for my grief, fear, and self-doubt through my alter ego, Alex Mikado. From conquering a lifelong fear of heights to surviving a Grade 3 concussion and stepping into the world of MMA, this isn't a story about fighting—it's a story about survival.We talk about the difference between distractions and healthy outlets, why so many men carry their struggles in silence, and how finding the right outlet can keep you alive long enough to heal.If you've ever found yourself sitting alone in your car, replaying conversations or carrying a weight you couldn't explain, this episode is for you.Because sometimes healing doesn't begin with talking.Sometimes it begins with finding somewhere to put the weight.If you are in crisis, please call or text 988.  Do it for the #1 Laotian Podcast...in New Hampshire.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I talk about the best bowl of Chili I've ever had.I reminice about a Subaru.I talk about small trees.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Trigger Warning  I talk about suicide in this episode.  If this isn't for you, I'll understand.Tonight...Men needing alone time.The silence the kills.I write new chapters.If you are in crisis, please call or text 988.  Do it for the #1 Laotian Podcast...in New Hampshire.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I wake up from a nap.I bury the hatchet with Koreans.I make Ramen.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight… we talk about the pressure to look okay when you’re absolutely exhausted inside… why so many of us are walking around emotionally overloaded… and what a bulletproof vest can teach us about mental health.In this Mental Health Awareness Month special, we dive into stress, isolation, addiction, emotional armor, and the quiet weight people carry every single day without anyone noticing.Because maybe strength isn’t about becoming untouchable.Maybe it’s about learning how to survive the hit… without letting it destroy you.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I bought some pens.I bought a watch.I have an excuse.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I turned 45!I found my birthyear watch!I drank a lot of coffee!Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I celebrate the misery of others.I walked a total of 100K steps in 4 days.And I need a camera up my bottom.Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I introduce myself to a whole new audience.I talk about my depression this time of year.I wrote a book (Link Below!)Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…After the warnings,After the machines,After the futures we feared…we ask one final question: what makes a life worth living?Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBuy my book Stories From a Life on Fire: https://a.co/d/03Mhy7ZJBuy my book The Grove: https://a.co/d/0hmdxeGmTip Me: buymeacoffee.com/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…Survival starts to look like suspicion,Safety becomes something you can buy,And the law begins to forget who it was meant to protect.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I get a new phone,I put down my new phone,I have too many phones.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…Nothing goes unseen,Privacy becomes a memory,And freedom slowly dissolves under perfect observation.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...Alex rides a subway,I play some video games,And I also eat alone.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…The machines keep producing,The systems stop needing us,And the meaning of a human life drifts away from labor.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…Reality becomes optional,Escape feels like mercy,And the most comfortable prison is the one we log into willingly.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight...I finally finish The VeilguardI inspired someoneI heard cowsSocials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…The air becomes something you can’t trust,Nature turns into a memory instead of a home,And the future arrives wearing the consequences we tried not to see.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight..I don't see my shadow,I am a Metal Rooster,And that makes me a Hard Co...Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…The future stops changing our world and starts changing us,Enhancement becomes expectation,And the line between human and machine begins to disappear.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…War loses its uniforms,Conflict stops announcing itself,And the most dangerous battles happen where you’re not allowed to look.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

I'm sad to announce that my cohost Barbara the Snake Plant has passes away.  Thoughts and prayers are welcome.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…The future doesn’t arrive with explosions,Control doesn’t need villains,And artificial intelligence stops feeling futuristic — and starts feeling normal.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We mistake warnings for aesthetics,We confuse the future with fashion,And we ask why cyberpunk feels less like science fiction and more like a weather report.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…I build a brand-new computer and realize I no longer understand the box I’m building.I remember when a 13-inch television was peak human achievement and nobody questioned it.And I turn 45—discovering that it’s equal parts terrifying, liberating, and strangely freeing to stop pretending you’re young and start enjoying being experienced.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…I realize that 2026 means I’m turning 45—and that number hits a little harder than I expected.I talk about drifting through life, choosing focus over distraction, and why one big game at a time suddenly makes a lot of sense.And I discover that the best moments aren’t the loud ones, but the quiet ones—like singing in the car with Alex.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’m home by myself.I take a look back at 2025—what it gave me, what it took, and what it taught me.And then, because it feels appropriate,I talk about what I’d do if I won the lottery.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…I fall for the lie that Toys R Us is back.I bring my son to what I thought would be a core memory.And I find out that my childhood was charged $14.99 by a calendar store. A reflection on nostalgia, rebranding our past, and why it’s better to let memories rest—and make new ones instead.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafThank you to my good friend Tim Howell once again.  You can find Tim at these various socials.Instagram - @junkiegamer4Youtube - @junkiegamerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We talk about having too many games to play—why we used to run old games into the ground, even when they weren’t great,and how having endless options isn’t always a good thing.I also check in after a small health scare earlier this week.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We talk about why this year hasn’t felt quite as magical as Christmases past.I introduce you to my new co-host, Barbara.We reunite with our monkey.And somehow, along the way, we connect pro wrestling, J.K. Rowling,and porn.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We talk about Thanksgiving—what it means to a lot of us,how it lands differently as the years go by,and why Black Friday just isn’t what it used to be.Also, I’m starting to think my friend in the Russia may have gone missing.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We’re back.Thank you to everyone who stuck around while we were gone.And a special hello to my friend in the Russian Federationand my new friend in Iraq.It’s good to be back.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…Just popping in to say I’m still alive.We’ve been busy packing for the move, which means recording had to take a back seat for a bit.I’m still waiting to hear back from my Russian friend,and I’ll be off the air until next month while we get settled.I’ll see you then.As always—Baw Phen Ngyung.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…I attempt to explain how to start a podcast.It goes about as well as you’d expect.There are tangents, lost thoughts,and a surprise shout-out to a listener in Russia.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…Just a quick update—I’m tired. Very tired.We’ve signed a new lease, which means we won’t be in this awful place much longer.Will I miss it?Somewhat. There are a lot of memories tied to these walls.Oh—and somewhere in all of this, I became a published author.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…There’s a lot of good news to catch up on—new developments, new momentum, and more projects on the horizon to keep me busy.I finally finished Hogwarts Legacy…and then there’s the small matter of living in Derry, New Hampshire.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…I check in on what I’ve been up to—still playing Hogwarts Legacy (no Quidditch, sadly),and reading about the mysterious Bridgewater Triangle.The main conversation, though, is about separation—not from my wife, don’t worry—but from the podcast itself.I talk through the idea of breaking it into clearer lanes for stories, history, and mythology,and what that might look like going forward.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…I’m recovering from last week’s breakdown.Alex is back in school, I’m fighting off a cold,and we ease back in with talk of my new favorite gameand just how many copies of one game I apparently own.Healing, routine, and comfort topics.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We start out light—a new phone and my thoughts on subscription software.Then the conversation takes a darker turn,as I talk honestly about a downward spiral I didn’t see coming.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We dive into the world of at-home DNA testing kits—from 23andMe to AncestryDNA.What these tests actually reveal, how your genetic data is used,and the ethical questions around privacy and consent that don’t get talked about enough.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We explore the often-missed signs of male depression—the ones that don’t always look like sadness,but still cut just as deep.Anger, withdrawal, silence, and the things that get overlooked when we don’t know what to look for. Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…We ask a hard question: why is it so difficult for men to talk about mental health?This episode unpacks the quiet pressures of masculinity, the hidden cost of emotional repression,and how those patterns take a toll over time.Whether you’re struggling yourself or trying to better understand the men in your life,this is a conversation worth having.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.

Tonight…After a brief life update, we talk about how different cultures approach child sleep.Scandinavian outdoor sleeping, Japanese co-sleeping,and what these traditions say about comfort, safety, and trust.Socials and Links: https://linktr.ee/buddhistafBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-buddhist-af-podcast--6119082/support.