Jason Tan is the founder and executive chairman of Sift, a unicorn YC startup. Despite Sift's rocketship growth, Jason, as CEO, was secretly battling depression.
In this episode of Founder Meditations, Jason shares candidly about struggling with depression, the pressure of success, and how psychedelics and spiritual practices helped him rediscover happiness and purpose. Jason also shares his unique approach to love-based leadership and creating a mindful, positive company culture.
Whether you're a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of mental health, spirituality, and business, this conversation offers plenty of insights and inspiration.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:45 Jason’s Journey: From Immigrant to Entrepreneur
02:18 Early Career Struggles and Finding Success at Zillow
04:40 Building Sift: Challenges and Triumphs
06:24 Battling Depression
16:49 Psychedelics and Healing: LSD, MDMA, and Ayahuasca
22:44 Lessons from Jason's Psychedelic Experiences
28:40 Advice for Founders Interested in PsychedelicsÂ
35:53 Healing Trauma Through PsychedelicsÂ
38:12 Spiritual Insights from Psychedelics
41:49 Burning Man
43:41 Love-Based vs. Fear-Based Leadership
52:30 Balancing Work and Rest
59:26 Rethinking Capitalism: A More Loving Future
01:01:43 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
