We Preserve Living Wisdom - Ancient and Modern - So We Can Grow With It.
“At L36, our mission is to preserve and share living wisdom—ancient and modern—so that together we protect what the world cannot afford to lose, while finding belonging, purpose, and personal growth in the process.” – Steven Pearce MD
The Meaning of L36
“L” represents life’s journey, while “36” comes from Kabbalistic tradition, at any given time there are 36 righteous souls who sustain the world through their virtue. These unknown individuals inspire communities and elevate humanity to its highest potential. We seek to learn from and emulate them.
Meet Dr. Steven Pearce
Dr. Steven Pearce, a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, as well as certified in Spiritual Psychology and Kolb’s Experiential Learning. He embarked on a journey to reignite joy in his life and heal himself from caregiver burnout, anxiety, and depression. He traveled the world, immersing himself in different cultures, applying a scientific mind to his personal search for a meaningful and joy-filled life. This multicultural journey connected him with neuroscientists, theologians, philosophers, psychologists, and ordinary people around the world, capturing their stories in the award-winning documentary film LOVE|EVOL(ved).
Understanding The 9 Pillars of Personal Growth
The foundational principles, discovered and codified during the journey of creating our first documentary, LOVE|EVOL(ved), that guide our continued work.
Original Innocence
Rediscover childlike wonder, joy, and playfulness. This pillar encourages approaching life with curiosity and openness, letting go of self-consciousness to embrace pure experiences.
Grit
Develop perseverance, resilience, and courage in the face of challenges. This pillar is about pushing through obstacles with determination, knowing that growth comes through effort and endurance.
Gratitude
Cultivate appreciation for life’s gifts, big and small. This pillar teaches us that shifting focus from scarcity to abundance fosters emotional resilience, deepens relationships, and enhances overall well-being.
Grace
Surrender to life’s flow with humility and trust. This pillar is about navigating uncertainty with inner calm, faith, and resilience, allowing challenges to transform rather than hinder.
Forgiveness
Release resentment and heal past wounds. By exploring forgiveness across cultures, this pillar reveals profound insights into emotional freedom and the ability to move forward with peace and compassion.
Authentic Self
Live in alignment with your truest identity, free from societal expectations. This pillar encourages deep introspection and personal integrity, fostering a sense of purpose and self-acceptance.
Purpose
Align actions with a deeper mission. This pillar is the guiding force that brings meaning to life, helping individuals contribute to something greater than themselves while living with intention and fulfillment.
Creativity
Unlock self-expression and new possibilities. This pillar fuels exploration, innovation, problem-solving, and the ability to see the world—and ourselves—in new ways.
Service
Use your gifts to uplift others and make a lasting impact. Service fosters a sense of interconnectedness and purpose, reinforcing the idea that true fulfillment comes from contributing to the well-being of others.
Our Team
Dedicated individuals passionate about personal growth.
We’re hiring:
Join the mission
Can you envision yourself contributing to our community?
Steven Pearce, MD, Founder & CEO
Dr. Steven Pearce is a gastroenterologist, filmmaker, and founder of L36, a transformative personal growth platform dedicated to adventurous self-discovery, cultural immersion, and wisdom exploration through storytelling. Based in Austin, Texas, Steven combines his deep medical expertise with an unwavering passion for film and storytelling, creating powerful experiences that inspire meaningful personal transformation. Steven's journey uniquely bridges the analytical rigor of medicine with the intuitive artistry of filmmaking. His projects often weave together diverse cultural wisdom, scientific insights, and spiritual traditions, bringing to life compelling stories that resonate deeply with his audience. Under his guidance, L36 has become a vibrant community where members grow together through experiential learning, global expeditions, and heartfelt conversations. Committed to nurturing authenticity and creativity, Steven has pioneered innovative program including immersive retreats, thought-provoking podcasts, and captivating documentaries filmed in culturally rich locations worldwide. Each initiative reflects his profound belief in the transformative power of stories and their ability to connect us more deeply to ourselves and the world around us. At the heart of Steven’s work is the pursuit of wisdom, wonder, and community—a dedication to empowering individuals to embrace their adventurous spirit and contribute meaningfully to the collective journey toward growth, understanding, and joy.
Nina Winstead, Development Director
Nina Eng Winstead is the Development Director of L36 Media. She is driven to share stories that foster community and improve mental health. With a background in business development, people development, and fundraising, Nina has a unique perspective on connecting with others and sharing their stories. Prior to founding L36 Media, Nina served as the Director of Development for an education-focused, poverty prevention non-profit. There she was responsible for building an advisory council and leading fundraising efforts with an increase in funding by 7x over her 5-year tenure. Additionally, she led student-facing projects that gave young people a voice in the work of their organization. It was this experience that solidified her belief that when given the opportunity, everyday people have powerful stories to share with the world. Prior to her nonprofit career, Nina was the Founder and CEO of a contracted sales company, which she successfully grew to 60 employees over 6 years before it was privately acquired. She resides in Austin, TX and graduated from the University of California Davis in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Neurobiology Physiology and Behavior. Always a community builder, she is driven to connect people to solve complex problems.
Jonny Roman, Head Coach
Jonny Roman is a Life and Leadership coach who serves clients around the world, helping them reduce stress, increase motivation, create positive accountability, and find more fulfillment. His greatest joy is helping clients uncover the creative solutions they already have inside of them. Jonny has a passion for travel and has lived abroad extensively. He spent 7 years living and working throughout Latin America, where he developed his leadership skills and Spanish fluency as the Director of Global Programs and Regional Director of Latin America for an international social enterprise. He has led and managed hundreds of group-based international retreats and loves the transformational opportunities that come from travel. Jonny has been a passionate pursuer of all things personal development for the past 20+ years. Coaching training through the Robbins-Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention, a graduate of Anthony Robbins’ Mastery University, the year-long Authentic Leadership Academy, Dale Carnegie Leadership Training, and Master’s Degrees in both Spiritual Psychology and Global Public Health, Jonny draws from a wide-range of personal and professional development tools and strategies to create real, tangible results for his clients. His passion for coaching began with a deep need to help himself. Having overcome severe depression and anxiety, he now uses his experience to help others create lives they truly love. Jonny is the father of 2 young girls who he raises with his wonderful wife in snowy Minnesota.
Join our community dedicated to personal growth through cultural exploration and experiential learning.
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