Upbuild

Sharing emotion can deepen connection, but only when it is offered with care. Raw vulnerability unloads. Processed vulnerability reveals what is true in a grounded way. That alignment is what builds trust.

Do you donate money to charity so that you feel less guilty about your life, to receive praise, or to get a tax benefit? Should you try to get really rich and then give your money away in order to do the most good?
Rasanath and Michael discuss the motivations behind our charitable giving and how to differentiate between egoic and pure motivations. They address what they do when they receive requests to donate to causes that they don’t feel strongly about, the power of thinking about charity as a state of mind rather than a specific act, and a definition of charity which is much broader than giving financial aid to those in need.

The full podcast episode can be found here:
https://www.upbuild.com/podcast/charity

REMEMBERING WHO WE ARE

A weekly community gathering (online)

Every Wednesday, 12-12:45 pm (U.S. Eastern Time)

REGISTER HERE: www.upbuild.com/remembering-who-we-are

The ego convinces us that peace comes from getting what we want and avoiding what we dislike. The Bhagavad Gita teaches the opposite. Peace comes from not being ruled by these impulses.

https://www.upbuild.com/remembering-who-we-are

Have you ever wondered what really happens on bonus day at an investment bank?
Hari Prasada interviews Michael about his article, Goldman Sachs Bonus Day and the Entitled Ego, and his intense experiences around receiving a bonus during his time at Goldman. They discuss the posturing that went into bonus day, the flimsiness of using compensation as a measure of self-worth, the suffering that comes from not feeling enough, and the key question, “Who would I be if I lost my money, job title, and status?” They conclude by offering concrete ways to go beyond the insecurities of the ego to become less reliant on extrinsic measures of self-worth and more in touch with our real selves.

The full podcast episode can be found here:
https://www.upbuild.com/podcast/bonus-day

The ego offers quick hits of comfort. Control, validation, self pity. Each one reinforces the very patterns that keep us anxious and insecure. Seeing the addiction is the first step. It opens space for humility and presence.

Hari Prasada, Michael, and Rasanath discuss the three sources of introversion and share the different gifts and challenges faced by introverts depending on where the introversion comes from. When we discover the reasons for our introversion, we have greater access to self-understanding and self-empathy. It allows us to live with greater intentionality and to stretch our borders without disrespecting them. The team also debunks the often unconsciously held view that extroverts are better than introverts.

The full podcast episode can be found here:
https://www.upbuild.com/podcast/introversion

ENNEAGRAM 101

October 3-4, 2026

Our flagship Enneagram workshop (online): This workshop gives us a framework to better understand ourselves as well as the many people in our lives.

REGISTER NOW: www.upbuild.com/enneagram101

Many teams and families end up in a loop of low trust and ego driven behavior. The cycle can be broken through a single vulnerable act. When one person lowers their guard, others often feel safe enough to follow.

Are you a person who changes your beliefs or behaviors in order to please others or to succeed? Do you think this is a positive characteristic?

Vipin, Michael, and Rasanath break down what it means to be a chameleon and why many of us go through life feeling pleased with ourselves for being this way. They share real life examples of how they were chameleons in their younger years, how to tell the difference between adaptability and chameleonism, the costs of being chameleonic, and concrete ways to become more adaptable and less chameleonic.

The full podcast episode can be found here:
https://www.upbuild.com/podcast/chameleon