In this transformative episode, Eric Infanti, author of The Dragon Within: Yin Yoga – The Dragon Series, invites you on a deeply personal and experiential journey into the heart of emotional regulation through the powerful practice of Yin Yoga. Drawing from excerpts of his acclaimed book, this episode explores how the Dragon Series of Yin poses—intense, grounding, and meditative—serves as a gateway to mastering emotional awareness, building resiliency, and cultivating self-compassion.

This isn’t just yoga philosophy—it’s embodied wisdom.

Eric begins by sharing his prologue from the book, reflecting on the yoga mat as a sacred mirror, a place where we confront the raw truth of our inner selves. As the world swells with existential crises, societal division, and personal disconnection, this episode asks a timely question: What if transformation doesn't require more action—but more presence?

Through evocative narration and thoughtful guidance, you’ll explore:

• The triad of emotional regulation, resiliency, and self-compassion as essential tools not just for practice, but for life.
• How the Dragon poses serve as a metaphorical and literal edge, helping you confront emotional intensity with grace rather than avoidance.
• Why stillness, rather than being passive, is a courageous act of deep listening, and how Yin Yoga teaches us to find peace not through escape, but through surrender.
• Practical ways to integrate these lessons into your life—on and off the mat—through breath, mindfulness, and gentle curiosity.

Eric beautifully blends yogic insight with poetic inquiry, offering listeners space to reflect: How do I meet myself in discomfort? What emotions arise when I am still? Can I befriend intensity instead of resisting it?

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi, a beginner navigating emotional overwhelm, or a curious soul seeking deeper meaning in your practice, this episode offers a profound invitation: to meet your dragons not with fear, but with breath, presence, and compassion.

This is more than a podcast—it’s a meditative experience, a call to presence, and a gentle reminder that within each of us lies the power to transform.

🎧 Grab your mat, your journal, or just a quiet space—and tune in. Your inner stillness awaits.

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Step into the crucible of courage and transformation with How Mindfulness Rewires the Veteran Brain - Part 1, a soul-stirring episode that channels the indomitable spirit of Eric Infanti, Marine Corps veteran and mindfulness trailblazer. Pulled straight from the pages of his revolutionary book, About Face: The Untapped Potential of Mindfulness for Veterans, this installment—rooted in Chapters 2 and 3—ignites a beacon of hope for warriors seeking solace beyond the battlefield. Hosted by podcast Human by Design, this is not just a podcast—it’s a rallying cry, a testament to the untapped power within every veteran, and a bold declaration that healing is not a dream, but a destiny within reach.

This episode storms the gates of history and science, forging an unbreakable link between ancient wisdom and modern warfare. In Chapter 2, "Mindfulness Unearthed: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Warfare," Infanti takes us on an epic voyage—from the serene meditation halls of Buddhist monks to the gritty trenches of today’s combat zones. Here, mindfulness emerges not as a relic, but as a weapon of resilience, wielded by warriors across time—samurai, knights, and tribal fighters—to conquer the chaos within. Now, it’s retooled for the veterans of our era, a lifeline for those battling the invisible landmines of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Infanti’s voice thunders through the narrative, urging veterans to seize this timeless practice as an active force for mental readiness and recovery—a call to arms to reclaim their lives with unrelenting strength.

Then, the spotlight blazes onto Chapter 3, "The Science of Healing: How Mindfulness Rewires the Veteran Brain," where the raw power of neuroscience meets the human spirit head-on. This is no gentle reflection—it’s a full-frontal assault on despair, armed with cutting-edge research that unveils the brain’s extraordinary neuroplasticity. Infanti lays bare the evidence: mindfulness doesn’t just soothe—it rewires. The amygdala’s fear-fueled fury is subdued, serotonin and dopamine surge to banish the shadows, and the prefrontal cortex rises like a fortress of clarity and command. This is the veteran brain, not bound by the wounds of war, but liberated by the practice of presence. Through vivid case studies and Infanti’s own hard-won revelations, we witness a science-backed revolution that turns trauma into triumph.

At its core, this episode pulses with Infanti’s personal odyssey—a Marine’s unflinching account of trading stoic endurance for mindful awakening. From his first skeptical encounter with mindfulness, sparked by a friend’s transformation, to the slow, seismic shifts that restored his peace, his story is a visceral anthem of grit and grace. We’ll walk with him through the unseen battlefields of civilian life—where a loud noise or a quiet memory can strike like an ambush—and feel the weight lift as practices like focused breathing, body scans, and mindful observation become his battle-tested tools. This is no passive retreat; it’s an active stand, a warrior’s reclamation of control, and a blueprint for every veteran to forge their own path to wholeness.

Prepare to be moved, challenged, and inspired. *How Mindfulness Rewires the Veteran Brain - Part 1* is more than a podcast—it’s a movement. It’s the sound of resilience rising, the spark of science igniting hope, and the voice of a Marine calling his brothers and sisters in arms to harness mindfulness as their greatest ally. Tune in, and join the fight for healing, strength, and a future redefined by the power of now.

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What if the greatest cybersecurity threat isn’t a line of malicious code—but the design of your system itself?

In this groundbreaking episode of The Human Firewall, Marine Corps veteran, UX strategist, and cybersecurity innovator Eric Infanti reveals why the future of digital defense isn’t more firewalls or stricter protocols—it’s design that understands people.

Drawing from his transformative book, The Human Firewall: Bridging UX and Cybersecurity to Maximize Cyber Resilience, Eric dismantles the outdated myth that usability and security are at odds. He takes us on a powerful journey through real-world case studies, human psychology, and design failures that have led to some of the most catastrophic data breaches in history—all rooted not in weak code, but in human error born of poor UX design.

But this isn’t a story of blame. It’s a call to action.

With clarity, conviction, and compassion, Eric explores:

• Why 95% of cyber breaches are caused by design—not stupidity.
• How hackers exploit psychology more than software.
• What it really means to turn users from the "weakest link" into your first line of defense.
• How security and usability can work together to empower, educate, and protect.

At the heart of this conversation lies the ancient symbol of the Ouroboros—a serpent eating its own tail—representing the eternal cycle of creation and destruction. For Eric, it’s a metaphor for the dynamic, self-renewing dance between UX and cybersecurity. Together, they don’t compete—they complete one another.

Whether you're a designer, developer, CISO, or product leader, this episode will rewire how you think about security and design. It will challenge you to step into a new paradigm—one where humans aren't liabilities, but the heart of every secure system.

Because the future of cybersecurity isn't just technological—it's human.

It’s time to build the human firewall.

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The Future of Dark Mode in UX Design – Part 1

Based on the book: DARK MODE: The Psychology of Dark Mode in UX Design by Eric Infanti

Podcast Description:

We’ve entered a new era of user experience—one where interface design is no longer just about aesthetics, but about psychology, cognition, and how deeply we engage with technology. In this electrifying first installment of The Future of Dark Mode in UX Design, author, Marine Corps veteran, and visionary UX strategist Eric Infanti dives headfirst into the science, strategy, and soul behind one of the most transformative shifts in digital design: dark mode.

Dark mode isn’t a trend—it’s a revolution. It’s the story of how the black-on-green code screens of the '60s evolved into sleek, modern interfaces powering your smartphone, your car, your health app, and beyond. It’s about more than saving battery or “looking cool.” It’s about emotional connection, accessibility, attention, and inclusivity.

From the CRT monitors of computing’s early days to the OLED innovations of today, this episode traces the evolution of dark mode and reveals why it has become a default expectation in modern UX. Eric unpacks the hidden psychology of dark mode: why it reduces cognitive load, how it impacts mood and engagement, and why it can just as easily alienate users when done poorly.

We confront the hard questions:

• Does dark mode truly reduce eye strain?
• What does neuroscience say about reading and retention in dark interfaces?
• Why are companies like Apple, Google, and Netflix pushing it so hard?
• And most importantly—how can you, as a UX designer, do it right?

This episode is for designers, developers, product leads, and digital visionaries who believe that design is about intention, not just inversion. It's for those ready to move beyond trends and lead the next evolution in user-first, psychology-backed, ethically sound interface design.

💡 Get ready to challenge assumptions.
🎯 Get ready to think like a futurist.
🔥 Get ready to design with purpose.

This is The Future of Dark Mode in UX Design – Part 1. And this is just the beginning.

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Step onto the legendary yellow footprints and into the heart of transformation.

In this gripping episode of Marine on the Mat, Marine Corps veteran and advanced yoga teacher Eric Infanti shares the raw, riveting story behind his journey from Parris Island recruit to spiritual seeker—from fear and fatigue under the watchful eyes of drill instructors to clarity and self-mastery through the ancient path of Yoga.

“Get on My Yellow Footprints” isn’t just about Marine Corps boot camp. It’s a metaphor for all of life’s defining thresholds—those sacred moments where we leave behind everything we thought we were to become who we’re truly meant to be.

Eric takes listeners deep into the emotional and mental gauntlet of Marine training and then draws a profound parallel with the yogic principle of Niyama—the inner observances that guide personal transformation. Through the fires of discipline, humility, and devotion, we discover the shared roots between military resilience and yogic virtue. This is where self-reflection becomes a battlefield and the mat becomes a proving ground.

Prepare to be moved, challenged, and inspired as Eric shares how standing on those yellow footprints was the beginning of a lifelong practice—a sacred union of mind, body, and spirit forged in grit, brotherhood, and grace.

Whether you’re a veteran, a yogi, a seeker, or someone navigating your own path of growth, this episode offers a mirror for the soul—and a call to courage.

"We better ourselves better when we better others."
Let that be your next step forward.

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What happens when ancient wisdom meets modern design? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the transformative intersection between User Experience (UX) Design and the timeless teachings of the Buddha.

Drawing from the chapter “Inception of Harmonious Design,” this conversation unpacks how the Eightfold Path—right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration—can serve as a powerful framework for creating more ethical, empathetic, and mindful digital experiences.

We dive into questions like:

• Can UX design be a spiritual practice?
• How do concepts like detachment and compassion reshape user-centricity?
• Is it possible to align innovation and ethical responsibility?

Whether you're a designer, technologist, or spiritual seeker, this episode invites you to reimagine your role in shaping the digital world—not just for utility and efficiency, but for well-being, awareness, and deeper human connection. This is more than a design discussion—it’s a journey toward conscious creation in the digital age.

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In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Eric Infanti opens the door to one of the most overlooked battlegrounds veterans face: the inner war that begins after service ends.

About Face, “The War Within: Veterans Unraveling the Struggle” explores the psychological, emotional, and spiritual transition from military life to civilian identity. This isn’t just a story about PTSD or post-service adjustment—it’s about the raw, layered truth of rediscovering purpose, rebuilding connection, and navigating a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar.

Eric shares his own post-deployment journey, from losing his sense of identity after taking off the uniform, to wrestling with invisible wounds, and finding solace in mindfulness, breathwork, and the healing power of presence. You’ll hear how the strict routines of military life clash with the unstructured nature of civilian society—and how this disconnect often breeds isolation, anxiety, and a silent cry for meaning.

We also dive into:

• The hidden psychological scars veterans carry (PTSD, depression, anxiety)
• Reintegration challenges with family, friends, and society
• The weight of silence and stigma around mental health
• The search for a new mission and sense of direction after service
• How mindfulness, journaling, and somatic practices become tools for healing

This episode is a call to veterans, wellness seekers, and nonprofit leaders alike: whether you're building resilience or inner strength—understanding the human experience is essential. Eric brings the edge of the battlefield into everyday conversation with empathy, grit, and grounded wisdom.

Featuring:

• Mindfulness for trauma recovery
• Practical breathwork + journaling exercises for veterans
• Reflections on masculinity, vulnerability, and purpose
• A roadmap for veterans and civilians navigating change, stress, and reintegration

If you’re a veteran struggling with your post-service identity or a leader seeking to understand resilience from the inside out—this episode is for you.

💥 Subscribe, share, and connect. Because healing isn’t linear—but it starts with telling the truth.

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