Episode 246

The Urban Monk with Dr. Pedram Shojai | Win the Day
July 22, 2025
Dr. Pedram Shojai—known as the Urban Monk—is a former Taoist monk, doctor of Oriental medicine, and New York Times bestselling author.
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In this episode of Win the Day:

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” — Lao Tzu

Why is it so hard to change—even when we know exactly what we need to do?

Why do we keep falling into the same patterns, habits, and distractions—even when they’re hurting us or the people we love?

Dr. Pedram Shojai is a former Taoist monk, doctor of Oriental medicine, and Qigong master. As founder of The Urban Monk, he helps people reclaim their focus, vitality, and purpose.

Pedram is a New York Times bestselling author with eight books translated into 30+ languages, including The Urban Monk, Focus, and The Art of Stopping Time. He’s also the filmmaker behind powerful documentaries that are changing the conversation around conscious health and healing.

Blending ancient wisdom with real-world tools, Pedram is here to help you stop chasing symptoms, heal at the root, and step into your personal power.

In this episode:
• Why we resist change (even when we say we want it).
• The truth about anxiety, burnout, and symptom-chasing.
• Daily habits that actually make a difference.
• How you can start living with more clarity, energy, and purpose.

Let’s WIN THE DAY with Dr. Pedram Shojai!

Timestamps

00:00 Who is Dr. Pedram Shojai
1:27 Interview starts
2:18 Your next best decision is in front of you
3:43 Becoming a medical student
5:10 Who do I choose to be?
6:22 The most important question to ask yourself every day
8:10 The biggest turning point in Pedram Shojai’s life
11:03 Lessons from a kung fu master
15:47 Focus on your priorities (stop watering the weeds)
20:13 Becoming the Urban Monk
23:02 Download your FREE Win the Day Action Plan
23:53 How to stop thinking “the grass is greener”
25:10 How the medical systems keeps us sick
31:08 Fix the root cause to optimize your health
34:55 Is Ozempic bad for you?
37:31 How to overcome anxiety forever
41:15 Why breath is the best thing for your health
42:41 Why so many people sabotage their growth and healing
44:36 How to raise successful kids
52:42 Pedram Shojai morning routine
55:29 How to handle a bad day (or snap out of negative energy)
59:55 The first step in living a healthy, energetic life
1:01:14 Affirmation
1:01:50 Rocket Round

 

Resources / links mentioned:

🎯 Download your FREE Win the Day action plan

📷 Dr. Pedram Shojai Instagram

⚡ Dr. Pedram Shojai website

📝 Dr. Pedram Shojai Facebook

📚 ‘The Urban Monk’ by Dr. Pedram Shojai

🎬 Subscribe to Win the Day YouTube channel

💚 Give the Win the Day podcast a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts

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💕 Win the Day Facebook group

📝 Win the Day newsletter [weekly LinkedIn exclusive]

Inspiring quotes in this episode:
  • "Your next best decision is in front of you." — Pedram Shojai
  • "I was mentoring under just a miserable doctor who was just not a good person and all these things. And it just made me pump my brakes and say, 'Wow. I'm looking down the barrel of following this guy's life.'" — Pedram Shojai
  • "The number one question we should ask ourselves every single day is, 'Who am I?'" — Pedram Shojai
  • "The hardest job I've ever had is being a parent." — Pedram Shojai
  • "At the end of the day, the buck stops with you." — Pedram Shojai
  • "It's a lot easier to give people what they want than show them what they need." — Pedram Shojai
  • "I ask my body what I need and then give it what it tells me it needs." — Pedram Shojai
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