The Smoke Trail: Episode 9: "Dropping Stones, Finding Paths" with Steve Hershberger
Season 1, Episode 9
Episode 9: "Dropping Stones, Finding Paths" with Steve Hershberger
Guest: Steve Hershberger – Serial entrepreneur, writer at The Chosen Path Substack, and founder of Amplify Flow (amplifyflow.co), whose four near-death experiences reshaped his journey from victimhood to purpose. A decades-long friend of Smoke from their dot-com days.
Setting: Smoke in Sedona’s radiant calm, Steve beaming in from his space—old pals syncing up for a soul-deep chat.
Summary
Smoke welcomes Steve with brotherly warmth, their entrepreneurial roots setting the stage for a raw exploration of transformation. Steve, a veteran of the dot-com boom like Smoke, unpacks his shift from chasing material wins to embracing a higher calling, catalyzed by four brushes with death—most vividly a hit-and-run truck crash that flatlined him for two minutes. That NDE, guided by a mysterious figure (Black Horse or Dark Horse), gifted him a cosmic map of consciousness, from tar-like victimhood to buoyant joy. Together, they riff on shedding ego’s burdens—Smoke’s “emotional hairballs,” Steve’s “stones”—to reveal the innate light within. Gratitude emerges as their anchor, a practice Steve hones via Substack and Smoke lives through this podcast, amplifying positive energy in a noisy world. Check out Steve’s reflections at The Chosen Path and his work at amplifyflow.co.
Learnings
Drop the Stones: Steve’s NDE vision—releasing burdens into a stream—echoes Smoke’s trauma-clearing process. Let go of what weighs you down; peace lies on the other side.
Gratitude as Fuel: Both tout gratitude as the vibe that lifts you—Steve’s daily stance, Smoke’s gateway to clarity. Start small, watch it grow.
Listen, Don’t Judge: Smoke’s shift to active listening—seeking essence over rebuttal—pairs with Steve’s openness to synchronicity. Drop judgment, unlock insight.
Stack the Journey: Smoke adapts Scott Adams’ talent stack to spirituality—layer practices (meditation, reading, reflection) until an avalanche of awareness hits.
Universal Truths
Consciousness is Innate: Steve’s map and Smoke’s tar metaphor agree—what’s divine isn’t found; it’s uncovered by chipping away ego’s clutter, à la Michelangelo’s David.
Energy Amplifyies: Higher states (love, joy) dwarf lower ones (fear, shame) in power—Steve’s radio station analogy aligns with Smoke’s log-10 scale. One uplifted soul shifts the field.
Trauma’s Scale is Relative: Smoke’s EMDR insight and Steve’s 148 strangers reveal—big or small, perceived pain sticks until released. It’s not the event, it’s the holding.
Time Hides Progress: Steve’s season-shift take and Smoke’s snowflake avalanche affirm—growth’s subtle until it’s undeniable. Trust the process.
Examples
Truck NDE: Steve’s hit-and-run—broken neck, back, skull—brought a meadow vision and a choice from Black Horse. Dropping stones fast-tracked his recovery, defying medical odds.
Nepal Prayer: Smoke’s electric jolt at Buddha’s birthplace, asking for peace, mirrors Steve’s dream-led pivot—both sought help, got cosmic downloads.
Coffee Shop Wake-Up: A stranger’s plea—“If I’m worth it, don’t stop writing”—reignited Steve’s Substack, proving small acts ripple, like Smoke’s podcast intent.
Gravel Race Grit: Steve’s 156-mile Unbound prep, shedding victimhood, set him up to survive the crash—Smoke ties it to his own shedding of tar via plant medicine.
Smoke Trail Threads
Episode 9 builds on Episode 7’s forgiveness (Luke’s enemies, Smoke’s past) with Steve’s stone-dropping release, and Episode 8’s presence (Liv’s human medicine) via their shared listening evolution. Smoke’s Nepal epiphany (Ep. 8) and Luke’s star-gazing (Ep. 7) echo in Steve’s NDE meadow, reinforcing serendipity’s pull. Sedona’s vibe hums again, grounding tools like gratitude and awareness—core to Smoke’s mission of lighting paths for seekers.
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The Smoke Trail - Episode 9 Pre-Show Q&A with Steve Hershberger
Introduction
The Smoke Trail explores life, spirituality, and enlightenment amid the material world’s challenges. Through these talks, I dive into each guest’s journey—how you’ve found what matters, faced shadows, and uncovered lessons to inspire others. It’s about sharing deeply, a true gift. Leadership is a core thread, especially how personal growth and spiritual insights shape your approach. Below, Steve Hershberger answers pre-show questions, offering a glimpse into our Episode 9 chat, “Dropping Stones, Finding Paths.” These will spark thought for listeners. Catch Steve’s work at The Chosen Path and amplifyflow.co.
Bio
Steve Hershberger is a dynamic entrepreneur who’s led multiple tech and analytics startups, holding 11 USPTO patents in IoT, AI services, and decision management. His expertise spans Decision Science, Retail Tech, Data Strategy, Product Development, Marketing, Customer Engagement, and Operational Flow (Growth, Alignment, Performance Optimization). A longtime endurance athlete, Steve’s tackled grueling gravel cycling races across North America and Iceland. He’s dodged death four times—diving, surfing, and twice cycling, with the latest hit-and-run flattening him before Unbound 200. That NDE, amid a broken back, neck, and more, revealed a new chapter. Now, he shares lessons: Are life’s worst moments here to destroy or liberate us?
Journey of Self-Discovery
Q: Please share a pivotal moment or experience in your life that shaped your understanding of what truly matters. When you realized what truly mattered to you, did it challenge or conflict with how you were living at the time? How did you reconcile that?
A: It unfolded over years. After selling SteadServ amid a shareholder fallout, I hit rock bottom. The climb back—capped by my accident—clarified what matters. Everyday reality omits more than it includes; that epic journey was my entry to understanding my true self and purpose. It clashed with my old script—playing a role not mine. I reconciled it by embracing authenticity, letting the universe guide me to what’s real.
Overcoming Shadows
Q: What internal challenges or fears have you faced, and how did overcoming them shape your personal philosophy or leadership style? What’s one shadow or fear that still lingers for you today? How do you confront it, and what does it teach you about yourself?
A: I spent decades reading a script not my own, a character actor forgetting who I was. Authenticity’s tough—society doesn’t always reward it—but losing it costs more. Headwinds signal adjustment; I’ve learned to heed them. A lingering shadow? Slipping back into that role. I confront it by staying true, reminding myself those winds aren’t resistance—they’re the universe saying, “Pay attention.” It’s taught me resilience and trust in my core.
Spiritual Awakening
Q: How has your understanding of spirituality evolved? How have you integrated this understanding into your life? Have you ever faced skepticism or criticism for incorporating spirituality into your leadership? How do(did) you stay true to yourself in the face of that?
A: We grasp a sliver of “What Is,” yet act like we’ve got it all figured out. Synchronicities, encounters, and an NDE glimpse showed me the beyond. I explore the unknown with a beginner’s mind—no longer fearing the future, control, or death. Death’s a mirage, not what culture sells. I weave this into life by letting go, trusting influence over control. Skeptics? Sure, but I stay true—change flows like water, unstoppable, and I ride it.
Balancing Material and Spiritual Life
Q: How do you navigate the tension between pursuing material success and staying aligned with your spiritual or personal values? Was there a time when you felt trapped by the pursuit of material success? What did it take to break free, and what advice would you give others in the same position?
A: Simple: gratitude. Lead with it, follow the universe’s tailwinds—headwinds aren’t mine to fight. Success—money, enlightenment, freedom—flows from alignment. I was trapped once, chasing the script’s prizes. Breaking free took letting go, focusing where my heart leads. Advice? Visualize impact, not control. Opportunity comes in all forms—chase what fits your soul.
Leadership and Enlightenment
Q: What does enlightened leadership mean to you, and can you share an example of how you’ve practiced it in your work? Have you ever made a leadership decision that, in hindsight, went against your personal values? What did you learn from that moment?
A: It’s spotting doubt’s roots and freeing people to release it—doubt turns to burden, stifling growth. I’ve led by giving teams space to shed that weight. Once, I stuck to a scripted call against my gut; it flopped. The values weren’t mine—borrowed from a role. I learned to ditch the costume, write my script. Stay true to your mission; the right crew follows, the rest don’t belong.
Lessons from Adversity
Q: What is the most significant lesson you’ve learned from a failure or challenging period, and how has it influenced your approach to life and leadership? During your darkest moments, what thought or belief kept you going? If you could speak to yourself in that moment now, what would you say? Have you ever taken a stand on an issue that was deeply personal but controversial? How did you navigate the fallout, and what lessons did you draw from the experience?
A: Fear’s a ghost—worries about “what if” haunt us, but when the worst hits, it liberates, not destroys. My lows taught me who I am; hard times were the entry fee. “Keep going” drove me then—I’d say now, “You’re right, it’s worth it.” I’ve stood firm on authenticity, ruffling feathers. Fallout? Some drift off, but it’s the universe sorting paths. Low-frequency judgers don’t match my climb—let them go.
Unusual or Supernatural Experiences
Q: Many of us have had unusual or supernatural experiences but never talk about them. Sometimes we call these synchronicities. Can or will you share such an experience you’ve never shared publicly before? Or would you elaborate on one you have shared?
A: My spirit guide—Black Horse or Dark Horse—met me in dreams, then through blue jays and talismans before my accident, and again in the NDE. He’s near still, teaching everything’s connected, conscious. I draw strength from that web—nature, signs, all whispering wisdom if I listen.
Influence and Impact
Q: Who or what has had the most profound influence on your journey, and how has it shaped your understanding of life and leadership?
A: Two anchors: CC Harold, a South Georgia Cracker with raw wisdom—more on him in our talk—and the Universe/Source, with its spirits and guides. They’ve shown me purpose threads everything. Life’s more than schedules; it’s surfing realities, weaving inspiration. Leadership? Influence, not control—lift others by seeing the bigger tapestry.
Practices for Inner Peace
Q: What practices or habits keep you grounded and aligned with your purpose amidst the pressures of leadership? When life feels chaotic, what’s the one non-negotiable practice or belief that brings you back to clarity? Why does it work for you?
A: Journaling, riding (meditation on wheels), writing (beyond journaling), and talks with awake souls. Nature’s my reset—pines, blue jays, crows, water’s strength. Non-negotiable? Meditation to “Cloudland,” a tangible in-between realm (see my Substack). It centers me by bridging here and there, calming the noise.
Mentorship and Guidance
Q: Who do you turn to for advice or mentorship, and how have they helped you navigate personal and professional growth? Have you ever had to let go of a mentor or influence that no longer aligned with your growth? What did that process teach you about evolving relationships?
A: Past mentors fit the old script—few were awake. Now, Source guides me; I feel what’s right, pivot when off. I’ve walked alone often, shedding asleep peers—oblivious bumpers or energy vampires. My circle’s shrunk to high-frequency allies past the needle’s eye. It’s taught me to seek sparks, not soot, and help others rise.
Legacy and Wisdom Sharing
Q: What wisdom or advice would you pass on to the next generation of leaders about integrating life’s deeper lessons with leadership? What’s a decision or action you’ve taken that you’re most proud of, and how do you hope it will shape your legacy or impact the lives of others?
A: Be authentic. Focus on growth, not endpoints. Speak truth, act it. Don’t chase wealth or power—they’re illusions. Stay curious, vulnerable, kind. Trust your heart over your head—it sees black and white, not gray lies. Watch who surrounds you—they’re not always what they seem. I’m proudest of sharing this via writing—hoping it lights paths, shifts frequencies.
Bonus Questions
Q: Comment or share your understanding on any or all of the following: "Free-will," "Evil," "Synchronistic occurrences," "Intuition," "Death," "True happiness"
A:
Evil: Exists so we (and God, per Hindus) know light through dark—joy needs sadness, good needs evil.
Synchronistic occurrences: They’re constant—tune in to catch them, sleep through to miss.
Intuition: Our quantum dial into shared consciousness, collapsing waves into reality.
Death: Daily—cells renew every 7-10 years. Flatlining’s just shedding a coat; we’re more than flesh.
Free Form
Q: Anything you’d like to elaborate on or discuss further not covered above?
A: Are these talks synchronicities? You, me, Rainn Wilson, Rick Rubin—is this rising now? Why? Are we nodes or a network? Building or uncovering Indra’s Net? Manifesting an evolved reality? How do we bridge the mundane box and the vast outside—expand it, connect it, tear down walls to let the real in and out?
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