Fun fact about me:

I’ve never been drunk.

Part of it is because I’m chinese and get the “Asian Flush” (aka I feel terrible after one drink)

But the other part is because I really have never had any desire to actually get drunk.

Psychedelics, on the other hand, have a slightly different story for me.

I’ve never done psychedelics, but I am incredibly curious about them.

Tons of my friends and podcast guests have had deeply transformational and spiritual experiences with them… but I’ve never felt a strong desire to actually pull the trigger on an experience.

Enter breathwork.

I kept hearing about this thing called "breathwork" from people I deeply respect (including people who've done serious medicine journeys with ayahuasca, bufo, and other powerful psychedelics) and repeatedly heard them tell me how breathwork can be just as profound, if not more profound than psychedelics.

And the crazy part is it’s literally all through how you breathe.

Then, one of my friends, Collin, introduced me to a world-class breathwork practitioner, Kurtis Lee Thomas.

My first breathwork experience with Kurtis was profound.

I had a cathartic emotional release unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life. Wild bodily sensations. Profound visions. Spiritual tools gifted to me…

I was so blown away that I immediately purchased Kurtis's breathwork membership, and it's now something I'm doing every week… and sharing with everyone I can.

In this episode, we dive into…

What breathwork actually is and why deep diaphragmatic breathwork can create experiences as profound (or more profound) than psychedelic medicine
How to identify and remove your own "energy clots" and why doing so could unlock breakthroughs across every area of your life.
Kurtis's journey from running an alcohol company and identifying as not-spiritual… to having his entire worldview cracked open after his brother was murdered in a homicide

This modality has been profound for me, and if you’re at all curious how to expand your consciousness by using your breath, you’ll want to check this one out!

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Kurtis Lee Thomas. Brandon Fong introduces breathwork practitioner Kurtis Lee Thomas by sharing his own transformative experiences with deep diaphragmatic breathwork. Before the conversation even begins, Brandon explains how a single breathwork session produced what he describes as psychedelic-level emotional breakthroughs, setting the stage for an exploration of healing, consciousness, spirituality, and the unseen dimensions of human potential.

00:00 – Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Kurtis Lee Thomas.

Brandon shares why this conversation is unlike any previous episode, recounting his own life-changing experiences with breathwork and previewing an exploration of healing, emotional release, spirituality, and consciousness.

05:24 – Brandon plays an unfiltered voice memo recorded immediately after his first full breathwork session.

Fresh from the experience, Brandon describes intense physical sensations including locked hands, involuntary body movements, emotional catharsis, profound crying, and an overwhelming feeling of release as he asks Kurtis to explain what actually happened inside his body.

11:12 – Kurtis explains the science and energetics behind deep diaphragmatic breathwork.

Kurtis unpacks why the body experiences tetany, shaking, emotional purging, and physical releases during breathwork, describing the body as a living library that stores unresolved emotional experiences until the breath creates the conditions for them to finally leave.

17:00 – Comparing breathwork to meditation and psychedelic experiences.

Brandon reflects on how breathwork rapidly transported him into altered states that previously required long meditation sessions, while Kurtis compares breathwork with ayahuasca and other psychedelic ceremonies, explaining why he believes breathwork can be equally profound while remaining accessible and substance-free.

20:56 – The breathwork session that completely changed Kurtis's life.

After years of chronic stomach issues, countless doctors, and extensive healing modalities around the world, Kurtis shares how a single breathwork session eliminated the energetic blockage that traditional medicine couldn't identify, ultimately leading him to dedicate his life to teaching the practice.

32:00 – Kurtis recounts his own first breathwork breakthrough.

He vividly remembers watching strangers around him begin crying before unexpectedly experiencing his own powerful emotional release. Days later, he realized longstanding physical symptoms had vanished, his clarity had dramatically improved, and his entire outlook on life had shifted.

35:29 – The origin of "Energy Clots."

Kurtis introduces his concept of "energy clots," explaining how unresolved emotional energy can silently affect every area of life—from health and creativity to finances and relationships—and shares how the idea became the foundation of his TED Talk.

36:43 – The tragic loss of Kurtis's brother sparks a profound spiritual awakening.

Kurtis recounts the shocking encounter with a spirit medium who claimed his deceased brother wanted to speak with him, launching a journey that challenged everything he previously believed about consciousness and life after death.

40:00 – The moment skepticism gave way to certainty.

As the medium reveals deeply personal details that only Kurtis and his late brother could have known—including information later confirmed by law enforcement—Kurtis describes the experience that permanently transformed his worldview and opened him to exploring spirituality.

47:53 – Developing an insatiable curiosity for the unknown.

Following his awakening, Kurtis explains how he became fascinated with consciousness, shamanic traditions, healing practices, synchronicities, intuition, and humanity's deeper origins, embracing an entirely new relationship with curiosity.

50:35 – A conversation about extraterrestrial life, expanded consciousness, and humanity's future.

Brandon pushes into unfamiliar territory as Kurtis shares his perspective on extraterrestrial civilizations, consciousness beyond Earth, why many people resist these ideas, and why he believes humanity is approaching a period of greater disclosure and expanded awareness.

56:02 – Human-initiated contact and Kurtis's personal CE-5 experiences.

Kurtis describes participating in contact protocols designed to initiate peaceful interactions with non-human intelligences, sharing why these firsthand experiences convinced him humanity is not alone and discussing what those experiences meant for his own understanding of reality.

Links & Resources

Breathwork Detox – Kurtis Lee Thomas's official website, featuring live breathwork sessions, training programs, and resources.
Breathwork Detox
Breath Club – Kurtis's guided online breathwork membership and community (available through Breathwork Detox).
Breath Club & Live Events
Breathwork Detox Teacher Certification – Information about Kurtis's Breathwork Detox facilitator training program.
Breathwork Detox Teacher Training
Kurtis Lee Thomas on Instagram (@manfromthestars) – Follow Kurtis for breathwork education, spiritual insights, and upcoming events.
@manfromthestars
Breathwork Detox: How to Thrive in the Age of Anxiety – Kurtis's book on using breathwork to reduce stress, anxiety, and improve well-being.
Breathwork Detox (Book)