In this special Ask Me Anything episode of The Modern Taoist, we set aside themes and verses to answer your questions directly. From the simple to the mysterious, from daily practice to the afterlife, Taoism has room for it all.
In this bonus conversation, I take on questions like:
🌿 What does a Taoist daily practice look like for a beginner?
🌿 How do you find Tao in the middle of a city of concrete?
🌿 Do Taoists believe in destiny, or is it all chance and choice?
🌿 What does Taoism say about the afterlife?
🌿 Do Taoists fast—and if so, why?
🌿 Who created the yin–yang symbol, and why does it appear in so many traditions?
Taoism doesn’t always give neat, final answers—but it offers ways to live into the questions. My hope is that in hearing these, you’ll discover your own questions echoed, and maybe even sparked anew.
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Episode 11 - Living With The Chronic Negative
Negativity has a way of digging in deep. It can become a habit, a lens, even an identity—and when that happens, it colors everything around us. In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we explore what it means to live with “chronic negative” energy, how it takes root, and why Taoist practice offers a different way forward.
Instead of fighting darkness with more darkness, Taoism teaches us how to step aside, to create distance, and to let light in without force. We’ll look at real-world situations, everyday habits, and practical Taoist tools to break the cycle—without falling into toxic positivity or denial.
This is an episode about clarity, compassion, and reclaiming your own presence.
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Episode 10 - Quieting the Hum of Unease
There’s a low sound many of us live with — not in our ears, but in our lives. A restlessness that hums beneath the surface. It’s not quite fear, not quite anger, not quite exhaustion. It’s that steady unease that keeps us scrolling, keeps us moving, keeps us from ever really settling.
In this episode, we explore what Taoism has to say about that hum. Where it comes from. How modern life amplifies it. And most importantly, how Taoist practice — breath, balance, and clarity — can help you quiet it without forcing it away.
This isn’t about ignoring the world. It’s about moving differently within it. Because the hum doesn’t disappear when you pretend it isn’t there. It softens when you learn to flow with the Tao.
👉 Listen now and join the practice: https://linktr.ee/daoananda
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Episode 9 - Are there any Taoist Superheroes?
Are There Taoist Superheroes?
A listener asked a playful but serious question: “Are there any Taoist superheroes?”
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we dive into ancient Chinese legends, modern comic book icons, and the Tao itself to explore what heroism really means. From Zhong Kui the demon-queller to Doctor Strange on the big screen, we ask: what does Taoism teach us about strength, restraint, and clarity in a world obsessed with domination?
You might not find a Taoist in a cape, but you will find a different vision of heroism — one rooted in balance, humility, and compassion. And maybe, you’ll see that Taoist superheroes aren’t just in myths or movies… they can live in the choices you make every day.
🌐 Listen here: https://linktr.ee/daoananda
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Episode 8 - Taoism and Dealing with Hate
Hate is loud. It shows up in politics, in online arguments, in family conversations, and in the quiet ways people carry bitterness in daily life. The question is: how do we live alongside that energy without letting it become ours?
In this episode of The Modern Taoist, we explore Taoist ways of meeting hate with clarity instead of fear, and with balance instead of absorption. We’ll talk about the difference between compassion and approval, why distance is not weakness, and how to walk away without shame when the world demands you fight every battle.
This isn’t about pretending hate doesn’t exist. It’s about remembering that hate belongs to the one who carries it — and you don’t have to pick it up.
Practical Taoist wisdom for a modern world. Hosted by Dao Ananda’s founder, Kit Mann, The Modern Taoist explores Taoism, QiGong, meditation, grounding, and the art of living in alignment with nature — without the fluff. Each episode blends ancient philosophy with real-life application, helping you find balance, clarity, and strength in everyday life.
New Zealand