Dr. Pedram Shojai

Episode Description:

Dr. Pedram Shojai returns from a week of illness with hard-won lessons about pain, healing, and what happens when a teacher has to drink his own medicine. After battling mast cell activation and histamine overload post-COVID, he found himself lying on the floor at 2am — and instead of running from the discomfort, he leaned in. What followed was an hour of breathwork, deep listening, and what he calls the alchemy of nociception: transforming the lead of physical pain into the gold of self-knowledge. This call is a raw, real-time preview of the upcoming Lights On nociception module, woven together with reflections on sensory fasting, overstimulated nervous systems, and why “do the work” isn’t just a tagline.

Listen to the episode on Spotify here or on your favorite podcast platform and check out the Urban Monk Academy here.

Podcast show notes:

[00:00:00] Pedram opens fresh off a rough week — mast cell activation, histamine overload, and the realization that post-COVID immunity can make ordinary colds hit harder

[00:02:00] From soft mattress to the floor — how back pain from days of bed rest sent him searching for relief and landed him in an unexpected practice

[00:03:00] Introduction to nociception (pain reception) — a preview of the upcoming Lights On module, straight from lived experience at 2am

[00:05:00] The shift from “make it stop” to “what is this telling me?” — catching himself in the old pattern and redirecting toward listening, breathing, and staying with the sensation

[00:07:00] Pain as alchemy — transforming the lead of physical discomfort into gold through awareness; the body as a treasure map

[00:09:00] How Yin, Qigong, and yoga develop this same nociceptive intelligence; where the Lights On course is headed over 52 weeks

[00:10:00] Early results from Lights On students — the raisin meditation, taste saturation, and a silent chef who turned dinner into a multi-channel meditation

[00:12:00] Sensory fasting — the radical idea of giving your eyes, ears, and nervous system a break from information overload

[00:15:00] Vision as the dominant sense and what happens when you simplify your visual field; the case for looking at one leaf for two hours

[00:17:00] Personal context: born in Iran, family still there, and the pull of dopamine-driven news-checking — why Pedram has had to deliberately step away

[00:18:00] A guest session for psychedelic-assisted therapy practitioners — somatic practices that brought a room full of people back into their bodies

[00:20:00] The crutch problem with psychedelics — therapeutic value yes, but don’t hand your introspective power to a plant

[00:21:00] Course update: Lights On is now evergreen and self-paced — new students get modules every 7 days from their start date; Tuesday calls are open Q&A for all

[00:27:00] Don Juan, power naps, and Pedram’s grandfather who learned Spanish at 104 — the value of going to zero

[00:30:00] On course pacing — keep going and layer back; breakthroughs often come through a later puzzle piece

[00:32:00] Illness as a reset — gratitude incubator, first-principles living, and what happens when you’re stripped of energy and agency

[00:35:00] Book club update — Gene Keys was a swing and a miss; new titles coming for a vote

[00:37:00] Open floor for member shares; Pedram wraps early to rest his voice and spend time with his 10-year-old

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Nociception is pain reception — and your pain has something specific to say if you slow down enough to listen
• The instinct to escape discomfort is human, but the real work begins when you shift from “make it stop” to “what is this?”
• Sensory fasting — limiting visual, auditory, and gustatory input — can restore sensitivity and nervous system regulation
• The Lights On course is evergreen and self-paced; new modules drop every 7 days from your start date
• “Do the work” — listening alone won’t transform your life; the practices are the teacher

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Lights On Course — 52-week perceptual awareness program; available in the academy course library (email support@theurbanmonk.com for access)
• Lights On Module: Neuroception — just released; covers polyvagal theory and vagal tone
• Lights On Module: Nociception — coming soon
• Weekly Tuesday Calls — open Q&A, all members welcome regardless of where you are in the course
• Carlos Castaneda — The Teachings of Don Juan — referenced re: power napping and going to zero
• Book Club — new selections coming; vote upcoming (Gene Keys was last month’s pick)

This episode is for educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Consult with qualified healthcare practitioners for personalized guidance.

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