No question about it; a lot of terrible things have happened this year. And Yeah, we could just say 2020 was shit. But was it all that way? Or did it make you have to look at and try connecting with yourself and others a little harder, a little longer, and maybe a little more honestly? Sure. We can say the chaos of 2020 has muddied everything and that we’re just trudging through, or we could say it made certain things a lot more clear. Or we could go with both. It’s probably both.On that note, I was energized and inspired by this conversation in this episode, learning more about our guest, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. He is someone who encourages me to think, and who is endlessly curious. This week I share with you a chat that I was fortunate enough to have had with Yoshino, a visual artist, photographer, and podcaster extraordinaire among other things.I was originally introduced and then re-introduced to Yoshino by an amazing mutual friend of ours, and he graciously let me pick his brain about podcasting early on in my journey with “You Care Too Much.” Somehow we ended up on the topic of empathy and I couldn’t not have him on the show after that.Yoshino hosts the Artist Decoded podcast, which he has been doing for the past five years now. He started it as an exploration of self, as an artist, and explores the inner workings, perspectives, vulnerabilities, and everything in between with other artists and experts - digging into the who and why of some of the most creative folks around. Yoshino is also co-founder of the Los Angeles-based arts collective, NOH/WAVE, which includes an online academy of workshops taught by an arsenal of talented artists. It’s very cool.One of my favorite things about Yoshino, Artist Decoded, and really all that he does is the element of human connection that seems to permeate throughout. It was at the beginning of last week’s episode that I was expressing how much more important connection feels right now, though it’s always been important… And Yoshino gives us insight into his perspective on authenticity, intentionality, and a mindset of honesty when it comes to both ourselves and others; all key ingredients for meaningful connection.Key Talking Points of the Episode:Meet YoshinoBeing present versus phoning it in Having intention for the things that you doEmpathy and masculine dualityArtistic viabilityHuman connection & vulnerabilityInfluences on Yoshino’s lifeKey Milestones of the Episode:[04:30] Meet Yoshino[05:10] Being present vs. phoning it in[9:00] From second-hand values to personal intuition[11:00] Being intentional & Deliberate[14:40] Digging into Artist Decoded[16:19] Effective communication [17:00] Multiple truths & empathy[19:50] Being a lover and a fighter [21:45] Artistic viability as a way of life[27:00] Being a life-long learner[29:18] Dedication[36:00] Yoshino’s mindset; balance, honesty, discipline [39:00] Vulnerability, authenticity, and perspective[44:30] Openness and human connection[51:20] People who have left a lasting impact on Yoshino[56:00] Discussion and healthy relationships[59:500] Something Yoshino is interested in trying[01:05:30] Organizations Yoshino supports Standout Quotes from the Episode:“I think that the more that I started listening to second-hand values of other people, and people’s projections of their internal mental structures on me, that’s when I think I stopped listening to my gut.”“I’m very deliberate about my pursuit of knowledge.”“I find that my happiest times are when I’m able to learn, you know, and whether that’s learn from people or learn from a book.”“I think a lot of times we’re conditioned to chase results, and the journey is actually more important.”“I feel like mindset is about discipline, honesty, balance, and being able to communicate that effectively to people that you love and so on and so forth.”“You’ll learn a lot about humanity by just sitting there and sharing that space.”“What is my contribution to this planet? How can I help