Conversations with Kimen
Conversations with Kimen is about inspiration, life lessons, and wisdom. Your host, Kimen Petersen, shares his personal stories to inspire you to live a more soulful and illuminated life. Inspired by his personal life lessons and conversations with delightful people, Kimen hopes to encourage you to be guided by life so the whole journey is more manageable. All wisdom shared are Kimen’s personal opinions, not his professional opinions
Episodes

Saturday Mar 22, 2025
Saturday Mar 22, 2025
Episode 63: Fearlessly Embracing the Good Times
In this episode, the speaker shares the importance of fearlessly embracing the good times in life. Often, people hesitate to acknowledge their happiness due to the fear of jinxing it or anticipating future troubles. Through personal anecdotes and practical techniques like anchoring, the speaker encourages listeners to fully experience and appreciate joyful moments. Additionally, the episode highlights the significance of showing gratitude to supportive people and the benefits of allowing others to contribute to us, thereby enhancing mutual joy and connection.
Introduction - Importance of Embracing Good Times
Fear of Embracing Good Times
Practical Techniques - Anchoring
Personal Anecdotes - Overcoming Low Points
Life as an Onion - Layers of Growth
Shifting Focus to Positive
Acceptance and Allowance
Expressing Gratitude
Encouragement to Embrace Good Times Fully

Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Episode 62: Using Focus, Optimism, Hope and Positivity as a form of Rebellion
In this episode, the speaker reflects on the turbulent events in the United States and the fear permeating through communities. Emphasizing the power of positivity and peaceful defiance, they draw inspiration from Mother Teresa and Buddhist teachings, advocating for a rebellious spirit fueled by optimism, community support, and proactive engagement. Listeners are encouraged to focus on being candles of light and to support their communities through positive actions and mindfulness, rather than succumbing to fear and anger. 00:00 Reflecting on Recent Events in America
01:15 The Power of Positivity and Light
02:00 Mother Teresa's Philosophy
03:19 The Impact of Resistance
05:00 Finding Solutions and Reassurance
08:06 Community and Individual Actions
19:08 Lessons from Buddhism and Karma
25:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
26:55 Outro and Podcast Information

Friday Mar 14, 2025
Friday Mar 14, 2025
Episode 61 Reframing Life: What if it was all just a Game
In this thought-provoking episode, Kimen explores the idea of viewing life as a game, particularly for those burdened with anxiety and worry. Drawing from personal experiences, including a high-stress job that led to a pivotal moment in a cardiac ward, Kimen discusses the importance of finding joy, genuine connections, and aligning one's life with personal values. Emphasizing an effort-based approach and the concept of giving 100% of what one has available each day, this episode encourages listeners to enjoy the process, collaborate, and maintain a balance between responsibilities and happiness.
00:00 Introduction: Life as a Game
01:55 The Seriousness of Life and Its Consequences
02:42 A Personal Story of Stress and Realization
07:09 Finding the Right Game 10:28 Effort-Based Living
12:24 The Power of Community and Fun
13:34 The Secret to Happiness
17:00 Conclusion: Playing the Game of Life
24:16 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Wednesday Mar 12, 2025
Wednesday Mar 12, 2025
In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of pain perception and management, discussing how our brain interprets and modulates pain signals. We explore the importance of focusing on how pain or discomfort changes over time, and how this shift in perspective can aid in the healing process. Real-life examples from the author's experience with patients and personal insights highlight the resilience and healing potential of the human body. Introduction
Case Study: Ankylosing Spondylitis
The Brain's Perception of Pain
Real-Life Experiences and Patient Stories
The Science Behind Pain and Noceptors
Focusing on How It's Different
Practical Advice and Techniques
Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Episode 59: Embrace the Extraordinary: The Power of Setting Goals
In this episode of 'Conversations with Kimen,' the focus is on the importance of setting goals to lead an extraordinary life. Kimen shares personal experiences of overcoming perfectionism and the fear of failure, emphasizing how life can become monotonous without ambitious objectives. The narrative highlights the transformation from a mundane existence to a life of inspiration through the setting of incremental, moderate, and long-term goals. Kimen underlines the significance of vocalizing big dreams and surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. The episode culminates with insights on how to write effective goals, the impact of striving towards them, and the ultimate value in who one becomes in the process. Listeners are encouraged to challenge complacency and pursue their dreams actively.
00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Setting Goals
01:17 Perfectionism and Its Impact on Goal Setting
04:03 The Turning Point: Realizing the Value of Goals
07:00 The Power of Partial Success
09:18 Athletes and the Struggle with Goals
11:41 The Role of Community and Support
20:25 Practical Steps to Setting Effective Goals
26:58 Living an Inspired Life
31:46 Conclusion: Embrace Your Goals

Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
Episode 58: Leaning into Discomfort
In this episode, the speaker explores the concept of leaning into discomfort and discusses their personal experiences with overcoming social anxiety, self-hate, and finding purpose. The speaker uses examples from their teenage years and adult life to illustrate how facing discomfort can lead to personal growth and fulfillment.
Introduction
The Nature of Discomfort
Personal Struggles
Transformative Moments
Adopting New Practices
Helping Others
Revisiting Old Habits
Turning Points
Finding Purpose
Conclusion

Friday Feb 28, 2025
Friday Feb 28, 2025
Resilience and Purpose: Navigating Life's Toughest Challenges
In this episode, the speaker explores the concept of resilience through personal anecdotes and famous quotes, emphasizing the importance of persistence during difficult times. The essence of the message is that life must be lived forward but can only be understood in hindsight. It acknowledges the pain of current struggles while offering a hopeful perspective that all challenges are finite and can lead to personal growth. The episode encourages embracing and fully experiencing emotions, reinterpreting personal narratives, and shifting mindsets to focus on positive outcomes and health. With reflections on self-acceptance, the importance of continual effort, and the inspiration drawn from others, the speaker underscores that each person's unique journey can lead to profound achievements and meaning. 00:00 Keep Going Through Tough Times
01:28 Understanding Healing and Progress
02:36 The Backstory of Amazing People
03:23 Living a Life on Purpose
04:12 Embracing and Overcoming Challenges
05:48 The Power of Perspective
09:18 Focus on Positivity and Health
13:26 Self-Actualization and Acceptance
23:37 Reflecting on Life's Journey
26:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Episode 56: Overcoming Limitations: The Role of Ego and Self-Belief
In this episode, the host delves into the concept of what holds us back in life, focusing on how our internal dialogue, or ego, can both help and hinder us. The discussion covers the evolution of human cognition, the protective nature of our internal sense of identity, and the limitations it imposes. The host shares personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the importance of challenging negative self-beliefs and nurturing a strong suspicion about one's potential. The episode concludes with a call to embrace fear, set audacious goals, and live boldly to unlock one's true capabilities.
00:00 Introduction: What Holds Us Back?
01:29 The Power of Internal Dialogue
02:03 Evolution of the Ego 04:23 Personal Anecdotes and Lessons
05:45 Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs
12:54 Embracing Uncertainty and Potential
16:10 Marianne Williamson's Inspirational Poem
19:32 Challenge Your Beliefs and Set Unreasonable Goals
22:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
23:40 Outro and Podcast Information

Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Episode 55: Trust and Resilience in Uncertain Times
In this episode of 'Conversations with Kimen,' the focus is on the concept of trust, especially in times of uncertainty. Kimen discusses how trust, much like faith, involves believing in the unknown and intangible. The episode touches on current fears around global issues, reflecting on historical events like 9/11 to emphasize that uncertainty has always been part of life. Kimen explores the human capacity for resilience, adaptability, and overcoming challenges, stressing that facing significant difficulties often signifies a greater purpose. He encourages listeners to practice trust, lean into community support, and focus on positive outcomes. Finally, he highlights the importance of shifting focus from fighting against negatives to striving for positives, reinforcing that even a small amount of trust can illuminate the darkest times.
00:00 Introduction to Trust
00:38 Facing Uncertainty in Life
02:54 Lessons from Past Challenges
04:13 Human Resilience and Adaptability
08:32 The Power of Community and Support
12:22 Embracing and Expressing Emotions
16:59 The Journey of Self-Discovery
23:06 Focusing on Positivity and Trust
27:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Tuesday Feb 18, 2025
Episode 54: It will all Work Out
Embracing Life's Challenges: Trusting the Journey and Finding Purpose
In this deeply reflective episode, Kimen discusses the journey of overcoming life's challenges and the perspective shifts that come with time. Emphasizing the importance of trusting the process, Kimen shares personal stories and insights on how difficulties often lead to unforeseen positive outcomes. Through anecdotes of personal setbacks and inspirational stories of others, the episode explores themes of patience, resilience, and the belief that we are guided towards our life's purpose. Kimen also offers advice on dealing with current struggles, focusing on how everything eventually works out, even if not in the expected way. 00:00 Introduction: It All Works Out
00:48 Reflecting on Past Problems
01:58 Embracing Emotions and Retrospect
02:55 The Irony of Life and Creating Meaning
04:54 Personal Journey: Career and Growth
07:53 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose
08:59 Stories of Resilience and Recovery
10:18 The Power of the Present Moment
12:10 Life's Unexpected Paths
13:57 Believing in a Greater Purpose
17:26 Helping Others Through Personal Experience
23:45 Finding Love and Personal Growth
26:27 Conclusion: Everything Works Out
28:05 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information