Rodney King (Video); Being Human, Mindfulness, and the Cost of Modern Success

Dr. Rodney King joins David Jones and Dr. Naomi Murphy to trace the arc of a life shaped by poverty, violence, reading, martial arts, and a search for meaning. The conversation moves from embodied mindfulness and leadership to philosophical counselling, chronic illness, and why he is sceptical of the idea that individual effort alone explains success.

In this episode, Rodney shares how surviving Johannesburg’s government housing, homelessness, and an abusive home led him toward martial arts, military service, and eventually doctoral research. We also discuss his book, Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be, and the case for slowing down, breathing, and choosing a more humane way of living.

https://www.coachingphilosophia.org/coach-king

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachrodneyking/

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Rodney King and his journey from Johannesburg to mindfulness research

01:10 - Growing up tough in government housing and learning to survive

02:53 - Why appearing weak was dangerous in his environment

05:28 - The thread connecting martial arts, leadership, and philosophical counselling

06:15 - Homelessness at 17 and finding meaning through reading

07:42 - Military service as a turning point for leadership and self belief

10:03 - Fatherhood, support, and the role of being in his sons’ corner

13:01 - Taking his children back to the area where he grew up

14:35 - His aunt, early mindfulness ideas, and the importance of a champion

17:14 - How Thailand and Muay Thai shaped his understanding of mindfulness

18:37 - Designing PhD research around mindfulness and leadership performance

21:47 - Why martial arts offered a better model for mindfulness under pressure

24:06 - Breath, stress, and a practical drill used with airline cabin crew

28:26 - Short breathing, overload, and the calming effect of the exhale

29:33 - What philosophical counselling is and how it differs from therapy

31:53 - A second PhD on the meaning crisis and philosophical counselling

32:16 - Why Rodney is skeptical of modern success narratives and optimization culture

39:30 - AI advice, accessibility, and why human relationships still matter in therapy

43:05 - Why Rodney stepped back from organizational work

46:04 - The premise of Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be

49:30 - The “walk to nowhere” as a practical antidote to optimization

52:30 - Connection, loneliness, and the loss of community

Notable quotes

“You have always been good enough.”

“The breath tethers you to the present moment.”

“Whatever modernity tells you to do, do the opposite.”