Before words: How to remember our first language - Michael Perez

This week’s show is with Michael Perez. Michael didn't just learn the standard toolkits – he hit their limits early on (back in the 90s!) and dedicated years to figuring out *what really works* at the deepest levels of the human mind, modeling the true masters like Erickson beyond the textbook explanations.

When the neuroscience revolution hit, he wasn't just an observer; he was actively integrating groundbreaking discoveries about the brain, the unconscious, and trance states into a *unified field theory* of change while mainstream psychology was still catching up. His exploration wasn't just academic; studies in Aikido, Zen, anthropology, and primatology revealed the power of primal states modern life forces us to forget. Then, facing a potentially career-ending physical crisis that left him crippled and in constant pain, he didn't just cope – he *innovated*.

Using his unique synthesis of neuroscience and hypnosis, he developed new techniques *on himself* to overcome the pain and retrain his body, proving the power of the mind-body connection in the most demanding way possible. This crucible forged the core of the "Neuron Code." Decades of international training, coaching C-suite leaders, pioneering remote work, and deep cultural immersion haven't just given him experience; they've given him unparalleled insight into *how humans actually operate* beneath the surface.

In this conversation, Lian is joined by Michael to explore the deeper roots of human communication… not just as a tool of language, but as a primal, somatic inheritance. Together, they trace the evolution of how we’ve spoken, felt, and connected through time - from the open plains of early endurance hunting to the quiet, intuitive knowing between two bodies in a room.

Michael shares captivating insights into our pre-linguistic ways of relating, where emotional resonance, body awareness, and subtle mirroring were our first languages. Lian reflects on childhood memories of communicating wordlessly with other children, inviting listeners to remember a time when connection didn’t rely on words, but on presence, attunement, and instinct. Together, they explore why this deeply embodied intelligence still lives within us… and why we so often forget to listen to it.

As the episode unfolds, they reflect on how language, while powerful, can become a distraction from what’s most true. Listeners are guided through the journey of learning to feel again: how to notice what your body knows, how to ‘reproduce someone else’s inner world’ within yourself, and how to return to the state of flow that lives beneath overthinking. The conversation asks the deeper question: what might happen if we let ourselves communicate as humans… not just as heads on sticks?

We’d love to know what YOU think about this week’s show. Let’s carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• How emotional intelligence and body awareness are the original languages of human connection, long before words came online

• Why your body often “knows” the truth before your mind can explain it, and how to trust that knowing in conversation

• The journey from conscious effort to unconscious competence… and why getting worse at communication might be the sign you’re about to get much better

Resources and stuff spoken about:

• Michael’s Website