One Thousand Gurus Podcast

Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a software project manager, self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, dancer, stand-up comedian, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. All links & socials https://bio.site/onethousandgurus

One Thousand Gurus Podcast is a education podcast hosted by J.R. Yonocruz, with 93 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

J.R. Yonocruz hosts One Thousand Gurus Podcast, a education show with 93 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #3

  #93: Bani Logroño - Awakening the Bayani Spirit, Pursuing Filmmaking, and the Power of Storytelling

  Aug 17, 20261h 42mS10

  Awakening the Bayani Spirit: Bani Logroño on Storytelling, Filipino Identity, and The Filipino Story Host J.R. Yonocruz interviews Bani Logroño, a Filipino-American writer/director, creative director of The Filipino Story Studio, and creator of The Filipino Story with 1.8M+ followers. Bani shares his background—born in Australia, raised in the Philippines, immigrating to Orange County at age nine—and how b-boying and early video-making led him toward filmmaking. He explains how immigration requirements took him to film school in Cebu, then back to Southern California’s dance community, before returning to the Philippines to direct WWII documentaries and deepen his focus on Filipino history and identity. They discuss storytelling as transformation, the “Bayani” spirit across history and the diaspora, and advice for creatives centered on play, skill-building, rest, and not tying identity solely to career. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 03:03 How We Know Each Other 06:55 Early Life and Immigration 08:53 Discovering Bboying and Film 14:21 Visa Surprise and Film School 19:37 Dance Roots and Mentors 25:46 Style and Aspirations 32:03 Filmmaking Path and Purpose 38:04 Why Stories Matter 45:53 Transformation and Filipino Pride 52:51 Bayani Spirit and WWII Lens 59:26 Modern Bayani OFWs, Ginhawa & Balikbayan Boxes 01:07:05 Filmmaking Career Advice 01:12:02 Overcoming Creative Blocks 01:14:17 Rapid Fire Questions 01:20:46 Purpose Through Creativity 01:24:50 Rethinking Pre-Colonial Labels 01:27:11 Investments And Media Recs 01:34:55 Gratitude And Final Plugs Guest bio: Bani Logroño is a Filipino American writer, director, and the creative director of The Filipino Story Studio. Through award-winning documentaries such as Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerrillas and Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos, as well as his current flagship social media project with over 1.8 million followers, The Filipino Story, Bani has dedicated his career to uncovering and celebrating the beauty, genius, and spirit of the Filipino people. His work has reached millions across social media and continues to inspire young Filipinos around the world to reconnect with their history, embrace core Filipino values like kapwa, bayanihan, and kabutihang-loob, and awaken the bayani spirit within them. Socials/links: Instagram: @banilogrono / https://www.instagram.com/banilogrono/ Instagram: @thefilipinostoryofficial / https://www.instagram.com/thefilipinostoryofficial/ Links/resources: The Filipino Story - Animated Series (YouTube) Unsurrendered 2: The Hunters ROTC Guerrillas (IMDb) Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos (IMDb) Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast : Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. Website: www.onethousandgurus.com All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

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  Episode #2

  #92: Yerson Ochoa - Teaching, Friendships, Ego, and Building Safe Dance Communities

  Aug 10, 202655 minS10

  Host J.R. Yonocruz welcomes back dancer and teacher Yerson Ochoa for his third appearance on One Thousand Gurus. Yerson shares updates from the past year, including learning to say no to sessions, hangouts, and projects to protect his schedule, while continuing to teach and taking a new role at a year-long conservatory that shifted his approach toward stricter fundamentals and measurable student growth. They discuss how friendships can be temporary, the value of low-maintenance, organic connections, and the importance of closing chapters. They also explore creating safe environments by intentionally curating community, how ego and titles/labels affect dance spaces, and differences between choreography/cover mindsets and freestyle creation. Yerson closes with gratitude for patience and being caring toward others. 02:37 Safe Space Friends 03:37 Yearly Life Update & Saying "No" More 11:46 Friends Come and Go 21:20 Closing Old Chapters 29:49 Hobbies Make Friends 32:50 Beginner Mindset, Ego, and Humility 40:15 Dance Sessions Environments & Dynamics 47:08 No Beginner Labels 50:47 Wrap Up Gratitude Guest bio: Yerson is a Peruvian, multi-style dancer, performer, and one of the most sought-after dance instructors in SoCal. He is well-known on social media for being one of the most energetic and inspiring kpop dancers in the community. He currently teaches at various studios in SoCal, including S1L Studio in Irvine, Epicenter Arts + Entertainment in Torrance, YG Dance Studio in San Gabriel, and Movement Lifestyle in Burbank. IG: @yerson.8a / https://www.instagram.com/yerson.8a/ TikTok: @yersonochoacandia8 / https://www.tiktok.com/@yersonochoacandia8 Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast : Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. Website: www.onethousandgurus.com All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

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  Episode #1

  #91: Book Highlights - Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

  Aug 3, 202614 minS10

  Why We Sleep (Matthew Walker) Book Highlights: The Science and Practice of Better Sleep Host J.R. Yonocruz highlights Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, arguing that sleep is the foundational driver of health, affecting the brain and body more than diet or exercise. He explains circadian rhythm and adenosine-based sleep pressure, the stages of sleep (NREM and REM), and how caffeine and alcohol undermine sleep quality. Key points cover memory and performance, emotional regulation, and links between sleep loss and risks like weight gain, hormone disruption, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. He closes with Walker’s modern sleep obstacles and 12 practical tips, emphasizing a consistent eight hours nightly. 00:00 Welcome and Book Intro 02:07 What Sleep Is 03:42 Stages of Sleep Explained 05:09 Sleep and Brain Power 06:35 Emotions and Disease Risk 07:30 Sleep and the Body 08:49 Dreams and REM Benefits 09:34 Why We Sleep Less Today 10:58 12 Tips for Better Sleep 12:21 Final Takeaways and Wrap Up Links/resources: Full blog post notes: https://marloyonocruz.com/2020/04/10/book-notes-why-we-sleep-by-matthew-walker/ Audiobook on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Why-We-Sleep-Audiobook/B0752ZQR33 Slides presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10KN9_FmTsO1rdbgdprEEQ9kzpXvvbXm1/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103742804652080246861&rtpof=true&sd=true Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast : Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. Website: www.onethousandgurus.com All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

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  Episode #10

  #90 - Season 9 Recap - Favorite Takeaways from Episodes 81–89

  Jul 27, 202612 minS9

  Season 9 Recap: Key Lessons from AI, Productivity, Dance, Fitness, Grief, and Comedy Host J.R. Yonocruz delivers an audio-only recap of One Thousand Gurus Season 9, reflecting behind the scenes on episodes 81–89 and inviting listeners to revisit conversations that resonated. He highlights the season’s range—random shows, return guests, a book highlight, and deep one-on-ones—covering topics like AI and the future of work, productivity, fitness, dance, medicine, grief, comedy, and mental health. Key takeaways include distinguishing self-care from indulgence and recognizing “phantom costs” of clutter; AI’s limitations and the value of broad, resilient skill-building; Make Time’s “highlight” framework and distraction awareness; treating sales as being the “CEO of your own life”; prioritizing groove and joy in dance; adaptive nutrition tracking and hobby depth; choosing careers by what daily life looks like; grief as love without a destination; and creative discipline plus a practical mental health routine. 01:16 Season 9 Overview 01:44 Ep 81: Random Show with Aeden Pham 02:49 Ep 82: AI And Work with Alex Hung 04:06 Ep 83: Book Highlight - Make Time 04:57 Ep 84 Faith And Fitness with Richard Hardy 05:54 Ep 85 Joy In Dance with Brian "Lil B" Perez 06:58 Ep 86 Cosplay And Bowling with Travis Trinh 08:06 Ep 87 Medicine And Travel with Ramy Sidhom 09:04 Ep 88 Grief Reframed with Blessie Panopio 10:11 Ep 89 Comedy And Mental Health with Andrew Tran Links/resources: #81: Random Show with Aeden Pham - Self-Care vs. Indulgence, Speaking with Integrity, and Spending Habits #82: Alex Hung - AI Tools, Leading Productive Teams, and Navigating the Changing Workforce #83: Book Highlights - Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky #84: Richard Hardy - Finding Faith, Exploring Fitness, and Seeking Feedback for Success #85: Brian "Lil B" Perez - Winning International Competitions, the Evolution of Locking, Podcasting as Public Therapy, and Finding Joy in Dance #86: Travis Trinh - AX Summer Cut Regimen, Cosplay, Anime Spoilers & Hot Takes, and Bowling Technique Deep Dive #87: Ramy Sidhom - Embracing the Variety of Life, Advice for Medical School, and Being Bold with Solo Travel #88: Blessie Panopio - New Fitness Journey, Reading Habits, Concerts, G.O.A.T. Discussions, and Dealing with Grief #89: Andrew Tran - Art Inspirations, Standup Comedy, Financial Planning, and Prioritizing Mental Health Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast : Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. Website: www.onethousandgurus.com All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

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  Episode #9

  #89: Andrew Tran - Art Inspirations, Standup Comedy, Financial Planning, and Prioritizing Mental Health

  Jul 20, 20261h 20mS9

  Andrew “Trandrew” Tran: From Kaba Modern Breakdancer to Financial Services Manager—Comedy, Mental Health, and Fatherhood Host J.R. Yonocruz reunites with Andrew Tran (Trandrew), a financial services manager and longtime performer with roots in theater, breakdancing, and stand-up comedy, now living in Las Vegas and expecting a baby with his partner, Clarizcel. They reflect on meeting through Kaba Modern, Andrew’s years on the team (2004–2006), and later leadership with Kaba Modern Legacy (2014–2017), including leaving Modern early amid mental health and personal challenges. Andrew shares how he got into stand-up, how he wrote and structured sets, and lessons about taking action despite fear. He also discusses his career shift into financial planning and offers practical takeaways on therapy, exercise, sleep, and emotional self-awareness. Chapters 02:10 Vegas, Baby News, and Kaba Modern 13:08 Origins and Influences 20:48 Theater to Stand-Up 27:27 Writing and Structuring Sets 39:53 What Makes Jokes Work & Lessons on Performing 43:46 Switching Into Finance 48:36 Finding The Right Advisor 52:29 Mental Health Journey 57:56 Personality Highs And Lows 01:03:40 Rapid Fire Questions 01:16:26 Gratitude And Final Signoff Guest bio: Andrew Tran a.k.a. “Trandrew” is currently a financial services manager at a Fortune 100 company. Outside of work, he has a strong background in the performing arts. He grew up doing theatre and even dabbled in stand-up comedy. At age 12, Andrew began breakdancing and is a founding member of Placebo Effect Crew. He also previously served as Executive Director of Kaba Modern Legacy. Currently, he enjoys playing guitar during his free time. He is looking forward to being a first-time parent later this year with his partner, Clarizcel. Socials/links: Instagram: @trandreww_ / https://www.instagram.com/trandreww_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hung-tran/ Links/resources: Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen (Trandrew’s dance choreography) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson (book summary) The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (Amazon - affiliate link) Send us Fan Mail Support the show One Thousand Gurus Podcast : Everyone has a compelling story to tell with insights we can all be inspired by. J.R. Yonocruz is a self-improvement blogger, relationship coach, and serial hobbyist with a passion for learning. He interviews unique guests from various fields to distill the strategies, habits, and mindsets we can use in our own lives. Each “guru” has a chance to give the audience a peek into a new world. Website: www.onethousandgurus.com All links & socials: https://bio.site/onethousandgurus The Weekly Guru newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/c97a350b06d6/newsletter Learning guides: https://stan.store/marloyonocruz

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