People unconsciously imitate the desires of others—and therefore they value jobs, spouses, brands, viewpoints, and even themselves according to what others around them desire. In his latest book Wanting, my next guest, author, educator and former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Luke Burgis spotlights a theoretical framework to answer why we want what we want and provides antidotes to chasing what leaves you unfulfilled. Luke uses mimetic theory to explore how our technology, relationships, politics, economics, education, and other ecosystems affect what we want and how to change our own desires so that they bring lasting and enduring satisfaction, meaningfulness and love. After living in Italy for 3 years studying classical philosophy and theology, Luke confesses that “He couldn’t continue to start businesses and chase dreams without understanding the truth about the human condition—and myself.”

With keen emotional intelligence, sagacity and courage, Luke brilliantly attempts to explain why our modern world leaves so many feeling restless, unmoored and in a perpetual chase for happiness. I’m so very glad he's shared his ideas with the world in Wanting and this next conversation will leave you contemplating and inspired for days if not years. 

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About Luke:

Luke Burgis has co-created and led four companies in wellness, consumer products, and technology. He’s currently Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Director of Programs at the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship where he also teaches business at The Catholic University of America. Luke has helped form and serves on the board of several new K-12 education initiatives and writes and speaks regularly about the education of desire. He studied business at NYU Stern and philosophy and theology at a pontifical university in Rome. He’s Managing Partner of Fourth Wall Ventures, an incubator that he started to build, train, and invest in people and companies that contribute to a healthy human ecology. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Claire, and her crazy New Orleans cat Clotille.

Follow  Luke:

His Latest Book on Amazon: Wanting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukeburgis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lukeburgis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukeburgis/?hl=en

Web: https://lukeburgis.com/

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More on this Podcast: https://www.calmandfreepodcast.com/

For more from Host Pooja Mottl:  https://www.poojamottl.com/

Podcast Producer: https://www.go-toproductions.com/

Twitter @PoojaMottl: https://twitter.com/poojamottl

Instagram: 

@TheCalmandFreePodcast https://www.instagram.com/thecalmandfreepodcast/

and @PoojaMottl https://www.instagram.com/poojamottl/

LinkedIn: @PoojaMottl  https://www.linkedin.com/in/poojamottl/

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Special Thanks : 

Kris Kosach of the TPR Podcast for lending her VO for our Podcast Intro: https://www.sites.google.com/view/textproserocknroll/home

Jessica Panian https://www.jessicapanian.com/ for her help with our graphic design: https://www.jessicapanian.com/