You are 99.9999999% Empty Space (and other good news at the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science)

Risky Conversations with Jamie Lee

Risky Conversations with Jamie Lee
You are 99.9999999% Empty Space (and other good news at the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science)
Feb 05, 2026
Jamie Lee

Many people think I'm a negotiation coach, but I'm really a practitioner of change working at the intersection of ancient Eastern philosophy and modern Western neuroscience.

The Science: Quantum physicists like David Bohm and Zen masters in the mountains agree: Everything you think is "solid" (your desk, your body, your obstacles) is actually 99.9999999% empty space. Similarly, neuroscientists like Michael Gazzaniga have found that there is no singular, fixed "I" in your brain. You are a "Society of Mind," an aggregate of different parts negotiating conflicting and inherently empty impulses in real-time. 

The Philosophy: In Zen, this is encapsulated in a single character: Mu (無). It often gets translated as “empty,” but it can also reference a kind of boundlessness.

The Intersection: When you realize matter is mostly space, the "solid" walls in your mind begin to soften. You realize you are not your self-talk, the very thoughts that lie at the root of professional stress. 

Instead, you are the boundless potential behind the action. 

What you'll learn in this episode: 

02:15 – The Humble, Good News: Why you don’t need a PhD or to become a monk to benefit from these fundamental truths

04:30 – Your "Society of Mind": How the illusion of being a fixed, singular "I" is dismantled by both modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom. 

06:50 – Tyranny of Self-Talk: Getting to the root of all professional stress when external circumstances don't seem to go your way. 

07:45 – The Liberation of "Mu": What becomes possible when new perspectives enable new ways of thinking, feeling, and responding to circumstance beyond our control. 

09:30 – The 3 Stages of Change: A roadmap through Dissolution (of negative self-talk), Mental Rehearsal, and Embodied Brave Action.

11:00 – The Fortress of Trust: Why true trust comes from realizing your "self" is not a fragile, solid thing that can be broken.

12:15 – Creator & Masterpiece: When tangible results like getting promoted and better paid are the byproduct of accessing a deeper truth of who you really are. 

To learn more about working with me 1:1, come on over to https://www.jamieleecoach.com/apply 

Text me your thoughts on this episode!

Enjoy the show?

Connect with me

  • Book a free hour-long consultation with me. You'll leave with your custom blueprint to confidence, and we'll ensure it's a slam-dunk fit for you before you commit to working with me 1:1.
  • Connect with me on LinkedIn
  • Email me at jamie@jamieleecoach.com


Episode Artwork You are 99.9999999% Empty Space (and other good news at the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science) 19:44 Episode Artwork When the Goalposts Keep Moving: A Conversation on Systemic Exclusion with Dr. Cristina Alcalde and Jamie Lee 51:23 Episode Artwork Feminist Coaching: Overcoming Otherization and Systemic Bias at Work 27:59 Episode Artwork Job Security in the Era of AI Frenzy: How to Discern Signal from the Noise 21:22 Episode Artwork No More Ferrari on a Golf Course: Finding Your Race Track in the Year of the Fire Horse 10:50 Episode Artwork How to Turn Anger and Joy into Power with Poet and Speaker Neelam Patel and Executive Coach Jamie Lee 57:55 Episode Artwork Dropping the Rope: A New Kind of Power Move for Women of Color Leaders 24:08 Episode Artwork 10-Minute Boundary Reset: How to Protect Your Energy from Office Drama (Without Shutting Down) 16:08 Episode Artwork Self-Compassion & Social Change with Dr. SD Shanti and Jamie Lee 45:50 Episode Artwork How Neurodiversity Drives Innovation: Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech 35:36 Episode Artwork Unlocking Wealth & Big Thinking: TRUST Framework for Women Entrepreneurs with Andrea Liebross 53:55 Episode Artwork How to Say No to Glue Work Without Losing Your Cool or Your Values 45:19 Episode Artwork Promotion Playbook Series Part 6: Ageism and Career Pivots 13:18 Episode Artwork Promotion Playbook Series Part 5: Avoiding the Burnout Boomerang 11:02 Episode Artwork Promotion Playbook Series Part 4: "How do I price myself as a new coach?" 9:54 Episode Artwork Promotion Playbook Series Part 3: Informing, Not Bragging, a Success Story 10:24 Episode Artwork Promotion Playbook Series Part 2: The Three Votes Framework 14:53 Episode Artwork Promotion Playbook Series Part 1: The Struggles Smart Women Face 18:58 Episode Artwork Impostor Syndrome is a System, Not You with Sara Dean 49:09 Episode Artwork Neuroscience-based Trance: Three Brain Alignment for Leaders 16:05 Episode Artwork Defying Death and Rewriting the Script: Menopause, Power, and Publishing with Rachael Eckles 1:03:11 Episode Artwork How to Use AI in Your Job Search Without Losing the Human Touch with Rosey Singh 48:50 Episode Artwork Sisterhood Sorcery and Business Barbie in Korea: Beth Nichols and SJ Crawford of Podcast Miss Informed 48:56 Episode Artwork How La Creme de la STEM is Empowering Female Founders with Marion Siboni 40:55 Episode Artwork Reproducible Research, Irreproducible Lives: A Conversation with OILS Researchers Harini Lakshminarayanan and Madita Determann 34:39