On this episode, the host, Ying Deng, interviews Born I / Ofosu Jones-Quartey, a meditation teacher, hip hop artist, and author whose work blends music, mindfulness, and radical self-compassion, including his album Komorebi and book Lyrical Dharma. Discussing how he’s meeting the current moment, Ofosu describes shifting emotions—sadness, rage, hope—and frames them within a Buddhist view of relative and absolute reality and the “great freedom” of experience, which helps him avoid despair and return to equanimity. He explains self-compassion as cultivating a “wise friend inside,” which was slowly developed while dealing with OCD and depression, with the help of therapy & medication, and overcoming cultural stigma. For engaged practice, he focuses on making contemplative art and encouraging self-love, and he highlights hope in authentic self-expression, allyship, and intergenerational community. He shares upcoming Hip Hop Sound Bath tour dates and the inaugural Neurospicy Retreat with Jeff Warren, and closes with a brief self-compassion meditation practice.
Listen now on Apple Podcast and Spotify
Timestamp:
00:00 Welcome & Guest Intro
03:21 Great Freedom Explained
06:47 Self Compassion Practices
11:29 Building the Inner Friend
12:12 OCD and Healing Tools
19:11 Engaged Practice Through Art & Community
24:19 Hope in Community
29:01 Upcoming Tour and Neurospicy Retreat
31:36 Guided Self Compassion Practice
35:19 Gratitude and Closing
Find this episode’s transcript here.
Resources:
- Booking a free coaching discovery call with Ying, an award winning ADHD coach & meditation teacher featured on Self Magazine
- Download a free ADHD emotional regulation menu
Guest’s Bio:
Born I / Ofosu Jones-Quartey is a meditation teacher, hip hop artist and author whose work sits at the intersection of music, mindfulness, and radical self-compassion. As a teacher was more than two decades of practice. He blends mindfulness with contemporary creative expression to make inner healing accessible to all. His latest projects include the contemplative hiphop album, Komorebi, and the book Lyrical Dharma, Hip-Hop as Mindfulness. Across retreats, performances, and community gatherings, Born I supports people in remembering their inherent worth and living with presence and courage.
Find Ofosu on Instagram @bornimusic
Check out the Neurospicy retreat happening in July 2026, led by Ofosu and Jeff Warren
Check out Ofosu’s book, album, and upcoming tours here.
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