Podcast Summary: "We're Out of Time" – Ted Dhanik: “I Found My True Self By Being Authentic Online & Offline”

Host: Richard Taite
Guest: Ted Dhanik (entrepreneur, former MySpace and adtech exec)
Date: September 16, 2025

Overview:

In this candid, engaging episode, host Richard Taite sits down with Ted Dhanik—serial entrepreneur, MySpace veteran, and advocate for authenticity—to discuss his journey through Silicon Valley, the adtech boom, influencer marketing, and, ultimately, self-discovery. Together, they tackle deep topics like mental health, drug culture in tech, spiritual well-being, and the necessity of aligning your offline and online selves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ted’s Origin Story, Cultural Identity & MySpace Era

• Indian-American Journey: Ted reflects on Indian cultural perceptions in the US, humorously noting how “Indians are trending now” ([01:16]), and how he “spent 35, 40 years trying to figure out if Indians were actually cool or not” ([01:27]).
• Early Tech Career: Ted’s background in Silicon Valley and work at NextTag (a LendingTree competitor), leading to his key role at MySpace as VP of Strategic Marketing (“VP of Fun”) ([02:53]).
• MySpace & Iconic Moments: Stories from the MySpace days, including insights on the company’s sale to News Corp and the cultural zeitgeist of that era ([04:34]–[05:39]).
• Networking & Industry Friendships: Anecdotes about Tom Anderson (“MySpace Tom”), Rich Rosenblatt, and the tight-knit dot-com founders’ network ([05:27]–[12:36]).

Quote:
“I was head of strategic marketing. My title is the VP of Fun.”
— Ted Dhanik ([02:53])

2. Tech Boom, Dot-Com Culture & Drug Scene

• Dot-Com Culture: The 1990s tech boom—a mix of rapid scaling, wild office parties, drugs, and “entitlement” in Silicon Valley ([07:52]–[11:43]).
• Substance Use: Candid discussion about the prevalence of drug use in the scene (“the parties were insane in the office... This is before the whole MeToo movement. So there’s like crazy happening everywhere.” ([08:34]), and how Ted himself abstained ([08:25])).
• Mental Health: The dangers of substances like meth and the importance of early intervention ([10:21]–[11:01]).

Quote:
“There was so much ecstasy out there...and then there was a study that said MDMA created black holes in your brain, but recently they said it was actually meth, not MDMA.”
— Ted Dhanik ([09:28]–[10:21])

3. AdTech Entrepreneurship, IPOs, and “Tall Poppy Syndrome”

• LowerMyBills, Engage:BDR, and Iconic Reach: Ted shares the business evolution from lead gen for personal finance to building and scaling ad-exchanges and influencer marketplaces ([11:44]–[32:49]).
• Bootstrapping to IPO: Building Engage:BDR from scratch to $1M/month revenue in 30 days, rolling up companies for an IPO—done “selling a dream” ([14:17]–[17:32]).
• Australia’s “Tall Poppy Syndrome”: Facing culture shock after taking his company public in Australia—a society where standing out leads to criticism, impacting even his personal life (“they literally call it Tall Poppy...their mission is to take you down.” ([19:47]–[21:28])).

Quote:
“I bought a Bugatti...and the next day I get smashed. The stock would get smashed because they write a story about me...In Australia, they have this thing called Tall Poppy. It’s a syndrome. They want to chop down everyone who stands out.”
— Ted Dhanik ([19:47])

4. Burnout, Identity, and the Power of Authenticity

• Losing and Reclaiming Identity: Ted discusses how the grind and public-company pressures caused him to lose touch with his own sense of self, leading to a three-year sabbatical focused on critical thinking, spiritual renewal, and wellness ([21:29]–[23:22]).
• Purpose-Driven Work: Contrasts earlier startups (which “added huge value for everyone”) versus later ventures where purpose was unclear, emphasizing the importance of making a positive impact ([24:08]–[25:35]).
• Defining Authenticity:
  • The “clear sign” you’re not living authentically is if people say, “You’re so different than I thought you’d be” when meeting offline after seeing you online.
  • Ted’s transformation: “I am just one person now. My identity is clear. I am not associated or affiliated with any other identities or with any other group.” ([55:37]–[56:29])

Quote:
“What defines me back then was different than what defines me now. Now, strip away everything...in your last moments, what value did I bring to anyone else in this world?”
— Ted Dhanik ([54:07]–[54:29])

5. Trends & Realities in Influencer Marketing

• Evolution of Influencer Campaigns: Brand spending shifts from mega-influencer endorsements to user-generated content (UGC), often from micro-influencers or even everyday consumers ([26:05]–[29:26]).
• Affiliate Models Rise: Brands increasingly use cost-per-acquisition deals with content creators, giving “stay at home moms” affiliate links and a cut of sales ([29:27]–[30:42]).
• Self-Serve Marketplaces: Challenges of getting influencers to adopt self-serve platforms—most still want full service ([30:59]–[32:21]).

6. Wellness & Spiritual Self-Care Journey

• The Five Pillars of Ted's Self-Care:

  1. Wellness
  2. Fitness
  3. Health
  4. Spirituality
  5. Sleep ([33:07])

• Transcendental Meditation:

  • Deep personal commitment to TM, learning from Denny Goodman (Santa Monica TM Center), and gifting the practice to others ([34:17]–[39:01]).
  • Letting mental “noise” flow rather than resisting it—a lesson in acceptance ([39:01]–[39:38]).

Quote:
“TM is so different...they literally tell you, let the noise be loud. Who cares? Let it roll. If you don’t, you’ll be clogged up.”
— Ted Dhanik ([38:00]–[39:01])

• Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy:

  • Experiences with ketamine therapy and microdosing psilocybin mushrooms for emotional reset, identity clarity, and mental wellness ([40:34]–[43:10]).
  • Ted’s ownership of a microdosing mushroom company (Asante).

• Biohacking:

  • Hormone optimization, strict sleep hygiene (“Eight hours is good, but timing matters—circadian rhythm can’t be changed.” ([44:54]–[45:26])), and detailed lab tracking every 45 days ([48:08]–[49:31]).
  • Nutrition focus—mostly carnivore, avoiding inflammatory foods (lectins/oxalates), and emphasizing simple, whole foods ([46:07]–[47:08]).

• Emphasis on Spirituality Over Religion:

  • Raised Hindu but identifies as spiritual, not religious.
  • “Hinduism...says all the gods are within us...The answers are here, not outside.” ([50:26]–[52:20])

7. The Defining Trait—True Consistency Between Online & Offline Selves

Ted’s final insight: lasting value and fulfillment come from authenticity, from being one integrated person, and delivering value to others.

Quote:
“You just need to be who you really need to be. And when this happens, you really start to highlight the differences between you and the rest of the world.”
— Ted Dhanik ([56:28])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “I want to be able to add value that changes or improves someone's life...the only fulfillment we truly get is by doing things for other people.” — Ted Dhanik ([25:19])
• “I lost a big part of myself during all of that...the purpose was the business, unfortunately.” ([23:03]–[23:06])
• “What happened before was that my identity was a collective identity...I needed three years to recalibrate and refine, re-identify who I am.” ([22:58])
• “I am one person now. So my identity is clear.” ([56:18])

Notable Timestamps

• [00:04]: Ted on inauthenticity & the drive to be truly himself
• [02:53]: MySpace memories, VP of Fun
• [07:29]: Silicon Valley stories & early lead-gen business
• [09:28]: The Bay Area's house music & drug scene
• [14:17]: Building Engage:BDR & the “selling a dream” acquisitions
• [19:47]: Tall Poppy Syndrome and Australian culture shock
• [21:29]: On burnout, recalibration, and sabbatical
• [24:08]: What makes work fulfilling (& what doesn’t)
• [26:05]: Macro trends in influencer marketing
• [33:07]: Ted’s “Five Pillars” of self-care
• [34:17]: Meditation practice—TM and its impact
• [40:34]: Ketamine therapy and psychedelics for wellness
• [46:11]: Nutrition philosophy—carnivore, whole foods, avoiding lectins/oxalates
• [50:26]: Spirituality, religion, and embracing an internal locus
• [55:37]: The test of authenticity: “You’re so different than I thought you’d be”
• [56:18]: “I am one person now. So my identity is clear.”

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers an honest look at the rollercoaster of tech entrepreneurship, the cost of chasing external goals, and the liberating power of living as your authentic self—on and offline. Ted Dhanik’s openness about his journey from outward success to inner alignment offers a blueprint for fulfillment, blending business acumen, self-examination, and spiritual wellness.

Where to Find Ted

• Instagram: @Tedskilla (T E D S K I L L A) ([56:52])

This summary omits advertisements and non-substantive intro/outro sections, focusing exclusively on the rich, candid, and practical content of the conversation.