Alle afleveringen
1.026 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
-
ROLL ON: Owning Your Story
25 juni 2020 · 1 uur 37 min
Welcome to the second installment of our newly-minted 'ask me anything' themed series, 'Roll On:' -- a twist on my usual format in which I share my thoughts on select topics and answer audience questions.
Serving up co-host duties is Adam Skolnick, an activist and veteran journalist perhaps best known as David Goggins' Can't Hurt Me co-author. Adam has written about adventure sports, environmental issues and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, Men’s Health and many others; and he is the author of One Breath, which chronicles the life and death of Nick Mevoli, America's greatest freediver.
Today's conversation begins with a few thoughts on the current protests and a review of recent podcast feedback.
We also discuss the intersectionality of food insecurity and social justice. And we examine the importance of healing our food deserts -- a featured theme in next week's episode with filmmaker John Lewis and NBA legend John Salley.
The podcast then pivots to answer five relatively philosophical questions submitted by audience members on our Facebook Group page: Lees meerHow do we move past the stories that hold us back?
When do you remain open and when do you stand your ground?
How do you deal with imposter syndrome?
How do you deal with conflict? And
How do you discern truth from fiction in the era of fake news?
It's about reclaiming your truth. Breaking down negative feedback loops. And crafting a gentler, more objectively honest narrative about who you are and what you're capable of.
The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
This series (and recent episodes) is an experiment in venturing out of my comfort zone. An effort to grow. And a commitment to evolve the show. I appreciate you taking the leap with me. I hope you find the content valuable -- and in service to forging a stronger RRP community.
Peace + Plants,
Rich
Learn more a… -
Knox Robinson on The Divided States of America
22 juni 2020 · 2 uur 13 min
Against the backdrop of a global pandemic has emerged the most powerful civil rights movement of our lifetime -- an irrefutably historic moment that will indelibly shape the economic, political, and social fabric of our country for decades to come.
To help us untangle the rhetoric behind our country's supercharged division, today Knox Robinson joins the podcast.
Returning for his second appearance on the show (RRP #394 rests among my all time favorite episodes), Knox is a writer, athlete, national caliber runner, eponymous curator of running culture, and an astute student of black history, art, literature, music and poetry. Formally commencing under the tutelage Poet Laureate Maya Angelou at Wake Forest University, Knox's education has continued throughout the many chapters of his life. As a spoken word artist and music manager. As editor-in-chief of Fader magazine. And more recently as co-founder and captain of Black Roses NYC -- a diverse collective of running enthusiasts who routinely gather to hammer out intervals across Brooklyn & downtown Manhattan.
Put plainly, urban culture is Knox's lifeblood.
One of the most interesting and multi-faceted humans I have ever met, today Knox shares an important perspective on America's crossroads.
This is an investigation into the culture shifts caused by the pandemic and protests alike.
It's a conversation about the intersection of sport, politics and civil rights. Black American representation in athletics. And where we go from here.
It's also about virtue signaling. Performative allyship. And why reading White Fragility simply isn’t enough.
But more than anything, this is a conversation about the power and poetics of running. Running as metaphor. Running as an act of rebellion — and the disturbing symbolism behind Ahmaud Arbery’s murder.
I left this exchange better for having had it.
The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Sp… Lees meer -
This Is America: Byron Davis & Phil Allen, Jr.
15 juni 2020 · 2 uur 9 min
Mass demonstrations continue to spread across the nation — and now, the world — for the 20th day and counting.
For many, this has been a wake-up call. An uncomfortable reckoning with the vast extent to which misuse of power, police abuse, and racism (both overt and covert) are baked into the very fabric of our nation.
But for black people, African Americans and people of color, that pain, violence, and fear is an everyday reality.
On a personal note, I’m determined to better understanding this unfortunate dynamic. The history that led to it. The systemic nature of it. The institutions that perpetuate it. And the solutions required for its long-overdue undoing.
Part of that commitment is sharing an increased diversity voices.
Towards that end, today I reconnect with my friend Byron Davis, alongside Pastor Phil Allen, Jr.
An O.G. podcast guest dating back to early 2013 (RRP #14), Byron is a former USA Swimming National Team member, American Record holder, UCLA All-American, and Ironman who holds the distinction of falling just three-tenths of a second shy of becoming the first African-American to make the USA Olympic Men's Swimming Team.
Phil is a pastor, teacher, poet, and the filmmaker behind Open Wounds, a powerful documentary that delves into the reality of intergenerational trauma through the story of his grandfather’s murder and the police’s subsequent refusal to investigate it (now available on Vimeo on demand).
Today Byron and Phil share their perspective on the protests. The BLM movement as a whole. And its potential to catalyze significant structural change.
Bluntly put, this is an important conversation about what it means to be black in America.
It’s about the economic history of slavery in the United States.
It’s about the extent to which racism is perpetuated systemically — by way of policy, law, economics, politics & generations of socialization.
It’s about the ways in which white supremacy is embedded into the bedrock of our institutions — from religi… Lees meer -
Roll On: America's Overdue (R)Evolution
11 juni 2020 · 1 uur 33 min
It feels wrong to talk about anything other than this current historic moment.
So let's address it, head on.
The first in what I anticipate will be an ongoing series of ask-me-anything themed episodes we're calling 'Roll On:', I'm joined today by Adam Skolnick to discuss all things Black Lives Matter.
Best known as the co-author of David Goggins' juggernaut memoir, Can't Hurt Me, Adam is an activist and veteran adventure journalist who has traveled the world writing for The New York Times, Playboy, Outside, ESPN, BBC, Men’s Health, and many other prominent publications. You may recall his outstanding reporting on Colin O'Brady's historic solo Antarctica traverse in 2018 for The New York Times. And long-time listeners will fondly remember his 2016 appearance on the podcast (RRP #218), in which we discussed One Breath — his poetic biography of Nicholas Mevoli, America’s greatest freediver.
Shifting roles from host to guest, today I share a perspective on race in America. Civil rights and social unrest. White privilege. And how I'm actively seeking to better myself — and this podcast as a whole.
The RRP is not a news program. And it's not a political talk show. But it is a show about what is important. It's about having conversations that matter. And right now, no conversation matters more than redressing racial injustice.
This is an exchange about our collective responsibility to act. To speak up for what is right. And to finally dismantle the systemic ills that have contributed to unspeakable harms that can no longer go unchecked.
It's also a discussion about the history and mission of this podcast. My vision for the future. And goals set to broaden the inclusivity of my advocacy.
But more than anything, this is a dissection of the untold history of racism in America. And the unprecedented opportunity this unique moment presents to evolve and heal. As individuals. As a nation. And as a global community.
Note: This is the simply the first of many conversations to com… Lees meer -
Doug Evans On Food Inequality, The Power of Sprouts & Lessons Learned from Failure
8 juni 2020 · 2 uur 29 min
A recurring theme of this show is deconstructing peak performance. Over the years, I've shared the success equations of. Olympic champions, entrepreneurs, actors, artists and spiritual masters -- all roadmaps to better guide our collective trajectories.
But failure is the crucible for wisdom. And the litmus test of character.
What happens when you give every ounce of yourself to a creation, only to see it crumble?
Destruction can be our greatest teacher. How we move forward tells us who we are.
After an epic public defeat, Doug Evans was confronted with this challenge. Not only did he survive, he emerged better for it.
A serial health food entrepreneur, you may recall Doug as the Silicon Valley, juice-slinging mogul behind Juicero -- -- the infamous and futuristic wifi-connected, cold-press juicer start-up that raised $120 million from technology’s most high-powered VC’s before famously imploding in 2017.
What you may not know is that Doug has always been a natural food industry pioneer. He co-founded O.G. New York City juice bar chain Organic Avenue, one of the first exclusively plant-based retail chains in the country. Now writing his next chapter, Doug recently released The Sprout Book, a primer on the power of sprouts as an ultra-food for health, weight loss, and optimum nutrition.
Four years from our first conversation (RRP 221), today Doug returns to the podcast to share the valuable lessons learned from his Juicero experience -- and his new focus on getting people excited about the planet's most nutritious foods.
Admittedly somewhat asynchronous with the current news cycle, this is nonetheless a conversation about a root cause of socio-economic disparity -- and how to redress systemic food insecurity across impoverished food deserts nationwide.
It's about the importance of taking your health and nutrition to the next level -- critical in the age of coronavirus.
It's a show-and-tell on the unheralded, superfood benefits of sprouts. The ease and affordability … Lees meer -
Become An Idea Machine With James Altucher: Create, Experiment & Adapt
1 juni 2020 · 2 uur 3 min
The dystopia is here.
Chaos, confusion, fear and anger. Horrific racism. Generations of pain fueling rioting and violence. Death and illness. Faltering systems and leadership failures. Market crashes and jobs lost.
Communities are divided. Home lives are disrupted. Meanwhile, cities all across America are literally on fire.
How we can right the ship? Deal with these cataclysmic shifts? And move forward productively?
We can crash and burn. Or we can adapt -- a remaking of society that begins with personal reinvention.
James Altucher is a virtuoso of this process.
A prodigious intellect and abundantly talented polymath, James is a comic, chess master, entrepreneur, investor and prolific writer with over twenty books to his name, including the Wall Street Journal bestseller Choose Yourself. He's also a fellow podcaster and an unconventional thinker with an idiosyncratic lens on pretty much everything from creativity to finances.
James and his writing have appeared in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New York Observer, Techcrunch, and The Financial Times. His blog, JamesAltucher.com, has attracted more than 20 million readers since its launch in 2010. And The James Altucher Show regularly appears in the top 100 podcasts on iTunes.
On the subject of self-experimentation, James' latest unconventional move was releasing his latest self-published book, Think Like a Billionaire, on Scribd.
Most compelling is James' relentless devotion to constant reinvention. Making his fourth appearance on the podcast, today we explore the importance of this trait and the habits that enable you to adapt and thrive in rapidly changing times — more critical now than ever.
Recorded pre-pandemic in mid-February, this conversation is the last in my stash of episodes banked before quarantine.
Nonetheless, I suspect you will find our discourse highly applicable to our current moment -- packed with tactics and strategies you can deploy to better acc… Lees meer -
How Not To Diet With Michael Greger, MD
28 mei 2020 · 1 uur 48 min
When it comes to reliable nutrition information, the internet is a warn-torn, metastasizing mushroom cloud of toxic half-truths and misinformation.
How do we sort through the tribal wars? How do we separate fact from fiction?
Let's start with seeking out the experts. And the best, most objective science available.
This is the life’s work of today’s guest and my friend, Dr. Michael Greger.
Long time listeners are well acquainted with Dr. Greger, one of my very first guests back in 2012 (RRP #007). But it's been almost five years since his second appearance in 2015 (RRP #199). So let's put matters to rights.
A graduate of Cornell and Tufts University School of Medicine as well as a founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Greger is a nutrition science wizard who with a library of scientific journal publications to his name. He has testified before Congress; lectured at countless symposiums and institutions; and was an expert witness in the infamous Oprah Winfrey meat defamation lawsuit.
Appearing everywhere from the Dr. Oz show to The Colbert Report, his books: How Not to Die, the How Not To Die Cookbook, and How Not To Diet — the focus of today's conversation — all became instant New York Times Best Sellers.
When Dr. Greger isn’t speaking, crafting high-level policy initiatives or penning bestsellers, he scours thousands of medical journals in search of the world’s best, most objective nutrition research to bring you free videos and articles every single day at NutritionFacts.org — the world’s most authoritative, non-profit, science-based public service destination for all things nutrition, health and disease prevention.
Finally, it’s worth noting that 100% of all fees and proceeds he receives from speaking and book sales are donated to charity — his effort to avoid all conflicts of interest.
Today’s conversation pivots on the optimal criteria to enable weight loss — and the actionable steps required to create and sustain healthy… Lees meer -
Remembering David Clark
25 mei 2020 · 2 uur 31 min
On May 21, 2020, the world lost a treasure.
A beloved, 2-time RRP alumni, David Clark was one of the most courageous, resilient and authentic human beings I've ever met. A force for positive change. A model of service. The epitome of transformation, embodied. A loyal friend to many. And a man blessed with a preternatural gift for igniting the best in everyone he touched.
Succumbing after complications incident to a herniated disc surgery, a chapter ends far too soon. But the story behind this accomplished ultra-endurance athlete, bestselling author, and father of three is a legend that will continue to be told -- and will never be forgotten.
Today we honor the life and legacy of Dave Clark.
Dave's steel was forged from hardship -- periodic homelessness and a poverty both financial and educational. Adulthood found him descending into the firm grip of alcoholism. He ate recklessly. He drank and drugged himself into oblivion. And continued his downward spiral until he was utterly lost. Completely alone. And hopeless.
Tipping the scales at 320 pounds, Dave finally met his breaking point. Summing a will of superhuman proportions, he ushered the courage to finally face his demons. Hence began a process of implausible personal transformation. It's a staggering journey that would ultimately lead to breathtaking feats that defy possibility. And a laudable call to service that rivals anyone I've ever met.
Dave didn’t just drop 150 pounds on a plant-based diet. Nor did he celebrate with a simple marathon. Instead, Dave would go on to on to crush a relentless list of the world's most challenging ultra-marathons, from Badwater to Leadville. He ran the Boston Marathon course four times without stopping. And he even ran across the entire United States.
With uncompromising vulnerability, Dave recounts his inconceivable arc in his first book, Out There. In Broken Open, he faces the dark side of taking athleticism too far. Released just two weeks ago, Eat Sh*t And Die boldly tackles… Lees meer -
Good Grief: Guru Singh On Death & Loss
21 mei 2020 · 1 uur 26 min
Welcome back to another edition of Guru Multiverse — the latest in my ongoing series of spiritual deep dives with Guru Singh, my treasured friend and favorite wizard of all things mystical.
For those newer to the show, imagine a modern-day Gandalf who rocks like Hendrix while dropping pearls of wisdom that beautifully fuse Eastern mysticism with Western pragmatism.
A celebrated third-generation Sikh yogi, master spiritual teacher, author, and family man, for the past 40 years Guru Singh has been studying and teaching Kundalini Yoga. He is the author of several books, a powerful lecturer, and behind-the-scenes guide to many a luminary, including Fortune 500 CEOs, athletes, and artists.
A peer of rock legends like Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead, Guru Singh is also a talented musician who began his recording career on Warner Bros’ Reprise label in the 1960s. When he isn’t recording tracks with people like Seal, he’s bringing down the house on the daily at Yoga West, his Los Angeles home base.
As the pandemic has reminded us, the human body is delicate — a fragile soul vessel susceptible to a host of diseases and disasters. And it simply does not last forever — no matter how much we endeavor to deny or repress this universal truth.
Today we explore the experience of being left behind. The emotions that follow. And the powerful lessons contained therein.
Marking his 10th appearance on the show, this is a deconstruction of grief and loss. The potency it contains to both create and destroy. And the potential energy it holds for grace, gratitude and transformation.
We talk about our relationships with our bodies. How to master our physical containers while also practicing non-attachment. We get raw about losing those we love. Owning our pain. And rejoicing in grief.
Although this exchange was recorded well in advance of the pandemic (back in August 2020), Guru’s wisdom is timeless, easily digested and more pertinent now than ever.
You can watch it all go down on YouTub… Lees meer -
For Colin O'Brady, Infinite Love Fuels Human Potential
18 mei 2020 · 2 uur 43 min
Returning for his fourth appearance on the podcast, Colin O'Brady is here to elaborate.
Longtime listeners are well acquainted with Colin's story from burn victim to boundary eclipsing adventurer. Even if you're new to the podcast, chances are stumbled across his story by way of his appearances everywhere, from the Today show to the Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.
If you missed our previous conversations (RRP#207, RRP#235 and RRP#439), they're an excavation of Colin's origin story growing up on a commune. How he survived an almost lethal burn accident that left him unlikely to walk again. His phoenix-like transformation into a professional ITU triathlete and Olympic hopeful. And how he morphed into a mountaineer with the audacity to attempt such incomprehensible feats of adventure athleticism is well worth the time invested.
Today we pick up where our ongoing series last left off.
Note: we recorded this conversation many months ago on January 18. My initial plan was to share this episode on February 9. However, on February 2, National Geographic published an article entitled The Problem With Colin O’Brady - a 7,000 word take down that accuses Colin of embellishing his accomplishments.
It’s an upsetting piece that left me confused. I’ve known Colin for many years. I’ve spent quite a bit of time with him and his wife Jenna. I consider him a good friend. And myself a decent judge of character. However, in light of this development, it also felt tone deaf to release the podcast as scheduled. So I put a pin it.
Two weeks later, Colin published a thorough, 16-page point-by-point refutation of the National Geographic article.
I thought it only fair to provide Colin an opportunity to comment on the allegations. So, on March 8 (still pre-pandemic), we sat down again for a subsequent conversation to discuss the controversy particulars.
Today I share both conversations. First, the original interview we conducted in January. It's an exploration the hows and whys behind The Imp… Lees meer -
Trans Athlete Chris Mosier On Making History (+ Nadia)
11 mei 2020 · 2 uur 42 min
Meet Chris Mosier — arguably the most prominent and accomplished transgender athlete working to progress cultural perceptions and activate legislative change.
You may recognize Chris from the viral Nike commercial that aired during the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition to being the first transgender athlete to be sponsored by Nike, Chris holds the distinction of being the first trans athlete ever to be featured in the ESPN Body Issue.
Among his many accomplishments, Chris is a hall of fame triathlete, All-American duathlete, 2-time National Champion, and a 6-time member of Team USA. In 2015 he became the first known transgender man to represent the United States in international competition.
As an activist, Chris has spent years at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, paving a more inclusive path for future trans athletes. In 2015, he was the catalyst for changing the International Olympic Committee’s policy on transgender athletes to provide such individuals with the right to represent their country at the Olympic Games. And in 2016, Chris drove further policy change within the IOC, expanding the rights of transgender athletes to take part in the Olympic Games without the previously required necessity of gender reassignment surgery.
Profiled everywhere from Rolling Stone to the New York Times, Chris is also the founder of Transathlete.com, a resource for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion in athletics at various levels of play. He has mentored transgender athletes around the globe, from high school and recreational to the professional levels, and helped teams, leagues, and professional sports leagues create gender-inclusive policies.
Aside from his physical prowess, what impresses me most about Chris is his courage. He had the option to stay silent — to make the most of his passing privilege without enduring the scrutiny that accompanies a public coming out. But he did so to set precedent. To change publi… Lees meer -
Dr. David Katz: The Choreography of Contagion Interdiction
7 mei 2020 · 1 uur 46 min
The media fervor currently swirling the pandemic is a fever of conflicting data and performative politics. Black and white, it's either sequester ad infinitum or back to work now — a conversation devoid of nuance.
How to discern fact from fiction? Separate opinion from data? Politics from perspective?
Like me, I suspect you're frustrated — yearning for evidence-based answers over conjecture; considered strategy over confusion; and objectivity over punditry.
I can’t tell you when this alternate reality (which has morphed into a distorted normality) will cease. What I can offer is the experience and perception of one of the best and brightest in public health and preventive medicine.
Meet David L. Katz, MD, MPH FACPM, FACP, FACLM.
A pioneering voice in functional lifestyle medicine, David is a graduate of Dartmouth, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine & Yale School of Public Health. In addition, he is the founding director of Yale University’s Yale-Griffen Prevention Research Center, a past-president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and the founder & president of the True Health Initiative, a non-profit coalition of more than 500 world-renowned physicians, scientists, and nutrition experts (including myself, the least qualified member of this coalition) committed to establishing and communicating a growing scientific consensus on the optimal diet for human beings and the planet.
The recipient of 3 honorary doctorates, David was also a James Beard Award nominee in 2019 for health journalism, has contributed countless articles to top medical journals along with op-eds in The New York Times and other magazines, and somehow found the time to write 17 books, including his latest, How To Eat, which he co-authored with the great Mark Bittman.
Although David has been a prominent voice in nutrition science and lifestyle medicine for many years, the pandemic has suddenly foisted him into a very bright spotlight.
Currently making the major media rounds, you mi… Lees meer -
Ingrid Newkirk Is Animal Rights’ Provocateur In Chief
4 mei 2020 · 1 uur 52 min
A true force of nature, today's guest needs little introduction. Meet Ingrid Newkirk.
The original doyenne of animal activism, Ingrid is the legendary and infamous co-founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a non-profit she personally shepherded into the largest animal rights organization in the world, currently boasting more than 6.5 million members and supporters.
Under Ingrid's stewardship, PETA quite literally put animal welfare on the map. Operating under the principle that animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way, PETA has a storied and often controversial history of exposing countless acts of gruesome and horrifying animal abuse, with it's media-savvy provocateur in chief grabbing headlines and creating significant awareness, policy changes and legal protections along the way.
Named a top businessperson of the year by Forbes, Ingrid has been profiled in countless publications -- including twice by The New Yorker -- and has appeared in seemingly every prominent media outlet including the Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King, Politically Incorrect, Crossfire, Nightline, and 60 Minutes.
Irrespective of your opinions about PETA, Ingrid is someone who has dedicated every breath to what she believes in. Combating injustice. Taking action to change what many of us simply want to deny or avoid. Looking suffering straight in the eye. And doing something about it.
That level of purpose -- the courage to speak truth to power, tenacity to weather persistent criticism and stay the course for change -- is rare. It's impressive and laudable.
Behind it all, there is an undeniable sincerity to Ingrid. A fascinating, complex, and charismatic character, she’s also deeply sensitive. Quite self-aware. And surprisingly funny. Today Ingrid shares her story.
Note: This conversation was recorded pre-pandemic on February 18, 2020. Therefore there is no coronavirus discussion. However, I … Lees meer -
Kamal Ravikant On Why Self-Love Is Everything
27 april 2020 · 2 uur
I've got nothing but love for stories of personal metamorphosis, perhaps the most predominant theme of this show.
We call it the hero’s journey.
Archetypal and totemic, it’s a most powerful narrative that unites, connecting with something indelible and universal within us all.
Over the years, I’ve hosted many flavors of physical triumph. From Olympic medalists to arctic explorers, I celebrate the arc of the athletic warrior.
But life’s greatest passage isn’t physical. It’s not free-soloing El Capitan, crossing Antarctica, or running ultramarathons in Patagonia.
Our most challenging voyage is learning how to love ourselves.
No one embodies this genus of the hero’s journey better than Kamal Ravikant.
To be clear, Kamal has more than earned his spot as a respected adventurer living beyond convention. From modest beginnings, he’s trekked to one of the highest base camps in the Himalayas, earned his US Army Infantry patch, walked 550 miles across Spain, and meditated with Tibetan monks in the Dalai Lama’s monastery.
Professionally, he’s done it all too, founding a company with the guy who wrote the first browser. From launching startups to managing venture capital funds, Kamal has spent the better part of his career working alongside some of the smartest investors and engineers in Silicon Valley, writing books in his free time.
But Kamal's most transformative experience has been the simple act of learning how to love himself.
Why is it so hard for us?
I first heard about Kamal by way of his frequent appearances on our mutual and beloved friend James Altucher’s podcast.
Compelled by his honesty and vulnerability, I felt myself holding space with someone who embodied an important wisdom. A wisdom I lacked. Reflexively, I picked up Kamal's latest book, Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It.
Spiritual and emotional growth is my jam and yer I never thought much about self-love. So I freely admit I met Kamal's book with a healthy dose of initial skepticism.
However, the … Lees meer -
Chris Hauth: Tactics For The Quarantined Athlete (+ Mishka!)
23 april 2020 · 1 uur 37 min
Coronavirus has canceled more than just school, work, and social outings. It’s also canceled sports. The Olympics. And even that race you've been training for -- gone.
The world has huge problems right now. To lament your cancelled marathon, ultra or Ironman is feels tone deaf; insensitive to the countless people across the world currently suffering in unimaginable ways.
And yet for the athlete, the disappointment is still real. It's not shameful to experience the emotions that accompany a let down. Just don't linger there.
In this precarious moment, we can't afford to dwell on a future that will no longer be. And events beyond our control.
Instead, let us pull focus on creative solutions for maintaining our enthusiasm for fitness. Strategies to engage with our physical selves. And tactics to ensure adherence to a daily routine with staying power.
To dive deeper into the hows and whys of staying fit during quarantine, I'm joined today by Chris Hauth -- my friend and trusted sensei of of all matters strength and endurance.
A two-time Olympian, former professional triathlete, Ironman champion, Age Group Ironman World Champion, and accomplished ultra-athlete, Chris is one of the world’s most respected endurance coaches — and the star act in my recurring Coach's Corner edition of the podcast.
A remarkable coach and lifelong athlete, Chris has honed his craft unlike any other sports professional I have ever met.
But my favorite thing about Chris is his attitude. A fount of soothing positivity, he values experience and fun over podiums.
This is a conversation about adapting our fitness routines to quarantine. How to maintain healthy home habits in this hectic time. How to reimagine goals. And craft personal adventures in lieu of canceled races.
Finally, Chris provides copious tangible takeaways to stay sane for those whose training life has been turned upside down.
And for something new & different: An appetizer to precede today's main course, we also briefly check in wi… Lees meer -
Shane Parrish: A Former Spy On How To Think Smarter
20 april 2020 · 2 uur 1 min
Every single day you make about 35,000 decisions.
Our lives truly are the sum of our decisions compounded. What we do and what we decide quite literally defines who we are.
In this destabilizing moment of fear and uncertainty -- when lives quite literally hang in the balance -- the nature and quality of our decision making is paramount.
It is thus incumbent upon us all, now more than ever, to optimize our decision making skills.
So how precisely do we do this?
It’s a question that became an obsession for Shane Parrish, a former computer scientist and spy who began to ply his curiosity and copious analytical aptitude to create a canonical roadmap to drive better judgment, better decisions, and ultimately better life outcomes for himself and others.
According to Shane, the key is expanding our mental models, the frameworks we craft and rely upon to simplify complexity and understand the world. Prioritizing objective reasoning, mental models help to better frame the decision-making process, putting us in a better position to create relevancy and succeed in life.
One of the biggest influencers across Wall Street, Silicon Valley and professional sports, Shane is a former cybersecurity expert for Canada’s version of the NSA and the founder of Farnam Street — a curated collection of research and musings to sharpen your mind, help you make smarter decisions, and ultimately live better.
Featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and The Economist, Shane also hosts The Knowledge Project podcast (always high in my personal rotation), pens the Brain Food weekly newsletter and is the author of The Great Mental Models Vol. 1: General Thinking Concepts and The Great Mental Models, Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology — the first two releases in a series of books designed to improve your decision making, productivity, and how clearly you see the world.
We begin today's exchange with Shane’s prior career at Canada’s top intelligence agency. His take on cyb… Lees meer -
What Nick Butter Learned Running A Marathon In Every Single Country
13 april 2020 · 1 uur 59 min
Completing a marathon is a noble accomplishment.
How about completing a marathon on every continent? A feat of a lifetime.
Now imagine completing a marathon in every single country in the world. Impossible?
Meet Nick Butter — an enterprising young Brit who recently reframed human potential, becoming the first person in history to crush 196 marathons in all 196 countries.
A world-record setting feat noteworthy for daunting financial and logistical challenges that often dwarfed those athletic, it took Nick and his team two years to plan and 674 days to complete — an astounding accomplishment that entailed running 3 marathons, in 3 new countries a week, every week, for 96 weeks, blowing through 10 passports and 455 flights along the way.
More Jason Bourne than Forrest Gump, Nick ran through 15 war zones and endured several Argo-esque border crossings. He was mugged twice and repeatedly attacked by dogs, even going so far as to run 335 laps around a car park on the Marshall Islands to avoid that country’s overrun population of rabid canines. He had his luggage stolen. He ran in extreme cold and unbearable heat, oftentimes starting marathons at two or three in the morning to avoid 140-degree weather. He repeatedly succumbed to food poisoning and kidney infections. This list goes on.
But ultimately, Nick prevailed -- and learned a few things about life along the way.
What drives a man to attempt such a feat? In Nick’s case, it wasn’t fame. It wasn't notoriety. It was something far greater.
In 2016, while enduring Marathon des Sables deep in the Moroccan desert, Nick struck up a friendship with fellow ultrarunner Kevin Webber — a man given just two years to live, courtesy of incurable advanced prostate cancer.
Kevin’s courageous life embrace inspired Nick to rethink his career path in finance. Empowered him to tackle an impossible goal. And motivated him to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer solutions along the way.
This is a conversation about the physical, me… Lees meer -
Charles Eisenstein On The Coronation
9 april 2020 · 1 uur 38 min
One of the deepest integrative thinkers active today, today's guest is a voice both crucial and integral to this conversation.
Meet Charles Eisenstein.
A speaker, writer, and social philosopher focusing on themes of human cultural evolution, economics and consciousness, Charles is the author of several books, including Climate - A New Story, Sacred Economics, The More Beautiful World our Hearts Know is Possible, and The Ascent of Humanity.
A graduate of Yale University, where he acquired degrees in both mathematics and philosophy, Charles is a counter-culture intellectual and proponent of alternative political and economic narratives that combine ecology, biology, philosophy & spirituality to challenge our current system. You can find his essays, videos, courses and podcasts at charleseisenstein.org.
Recognizing the delicacy of this moment, I’ve been very careful about who I invite on the show to discuss it.
The pandemic has cast a cosmic panic I am not interested in amplifying. Nor do I feel it appropriate to deliver an empty dose of conjectural optimism.
I don’t hold myself out as knowing what exactly is happening. I don’t think any of us do.
I can’t give you a prediction or a prescription.
What I can offer is perception. Some perspective. And a broader aperture to reckon with the many ramifications of this most unusual global event.
Last week I devoured a recent essay by Charles entitled The Coronation. I found it to be one of the most insightful and well-considered long reads on how to think expansively about our current moment. It’s a piece that has stayed with me -- and the motivation behind today's exchange.
In the vein of my exchanges with Dr. Zach Bush, this is a thoughtful and at times metaphysical conversation about completely redefining our definition of normal.
It's about the potential energy of this shared experience to unite humanity around reinventing society wholesale.
It’s about asking questions. It’s about challenging the dominant narrative. Taki… Lees meer -
Leah Garcés On Turning Adversaries Into Allies — Leveraging Empathy To Change Animal Agriculture
6 april 2020 · 2 uur 7 min
Today Leah Garcés joins the podcast with a public service announcement: everything you think you know about chicken is wrong.
The new president of the international non-profit Mercy for Animals, Leah Garcés has spent her life on the frontlines of the animal welfare movement exposing what actually transpires inside industrial chicken farms. Devoted to improving conditions for factory-farmed animals, she has made significant progress not through a traditional strategy of antagonism, but instead by pursuit of cooperation, working alongside some of the largest food and agriculture companies in the world -- including Perdue, Popeye’s, Panera & Chipotle -- to produce positive change.
In her new book, Leah chronicles her experience teaming up with whistleblowers in the megafarm industry. Part memoir, part investigative thriller, Grilled: Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry is a great read that not only elucidates the ills of our broken food system, but also casts an optimistic lens on a better future for food, animals, and humans.
Most impressive is Leah's profound empathy. Not just for the animals, but for the people most animal rights folks consider the enemy: the factory-farmers; the slaughterhouse workers; and the corporate executives that control animal intensive farming.
Rather than fight against these people, Leah adopted a different approach, working with them instead.
It's a tactic that might strike the hardened animal rights activist as anathema. Controversial and perhaps even unacceptable. But the cornerstone of the vegan movement is compassion. And lasting change can only come from directing that emotion not just to the animals, but to all — including the people behind the animals.
Today we unpack all of it.
It's a conversation about the insidious reality of industrial chicken farming. An exploration of the modern-day farmer's plight as an indentured servant. And the industrial complex that entrenches our broken and undeniable cruel … Lees meer -
IN-Q Wants You To Inquire Within
30 maart 2020 · 2 uur 2 min
As we navigate this perilous moment, may we find some sliver of grace. May we embrace beauty. Choose curiosity over rigidity. Compassion and fullness of heart over closed mindedness. And social connection over geographic isolation -- even if it be temporarily virtual.
Difficult times across history have always resulted in explosions of creative expression. Art as a means of better understanding our shared human condition.
Few people embody this ethos more thoroughly than today’s guest, one of my very favorite people breathing air on planet Earth.
Generous, present and deeply curious, he goes by the moniker IN-Q.
Long-time listeners will fondly recall our two previous sit-downs (RRP #81 & #118 back in 2014) and his appearance at our more recent live event (RRP #473). For those new to the show, prepare to be amazed.
IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam Champion, award-winning poet, spoken word artist and multi-platinum songwriter who has shared the stage with everyone from Barack Obama to Eminem. Named to Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 list of the world’s most influential thought leaders, IN-Q is the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque Du Soleil and has been featured on A&E, ESPN, and HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.
Inspiring audiences around the world through his live performances and amazing storytelling workshops, his poetry videos have a habit of going viral, clocking over 70 million views to date.
Following in the tradition of some of the world’s great poets, IN-Q crafts verse that not only entertains, but challenges listeners to take a deep look inward, and consider their place in the world, their impact on the environment, and to recognize the threads of loss, forgiveness, transformation, and belief that are woven into all of our lives.
Today he shares his story, wisdom, and unique gifts.
The occasion for this particular conversation is Inquire Within, IN-Q’s long-awaited, wholly original, deeply authentic and inspiring new book.
Hitting shelves everywhere this week, the b… Lees meer -
Zach Bush, MD On A Pandemic Of Possibility
26 maart 2020 · 1 uur 52 min
The pandemic presents an opportune time to get re-acquainted with Zach Bush, MD.
A triple board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care, today's guest is an internationally recognized educator, speaker and authority on all facets of well-being.
Focused on the relationship between the microbiome, disease and food production systems, Zach is the founder of Seraphic Group, an organization devoted to developing root-cause solutions for human and ecological health in the sectors of big farming, big pharma, and Western Medicine at large
He is also the founder of Farmers Footprint, a non-profit coalition of farmers, educators, doctors, scientists, and business leaders aiming to expose the deleterious human and environmental impacts of chemical farming and pesticide reliance -- while simultaneously offering a path forward through regenerative agricultural practices to rebuild living biodiversity and ultimately reverse climate change.
To me, Zach is a master healer. A man I call friend. And a critical voice in the conversation we need to have in this unprecedented moment of global calamity.
Without minimizing the profound severity of our current situation, I cannot overstate the unique opportunity we are being gifted.
Like an addict’s moment of clarity, the pandemic presents a singular occasion to break the chains of denial that imprison us. A moment to objectively examine that which no longer serves us. The behaviors that repeatedly lead us astray. An economic system that demands constant growth at the cost of the collective good. A political system that preys on fear to divide. A conglomerated food apparatus that foments disease. A pharmaceutical complex that relies upon that disease to create dependency. And and ultimately a collective obsession with ego, power, money, and material consumption that is rapidly eroding our biosphere, degrading our integrity -- and separating us from others, ourselves and our innate divinity.
I … Lees meer -
Michael Klaper, MD Is Educating The Next Generation of Doctors
23 maart 2020 · 1 uur 51 min
Today we honor this long-standing tradition with one of my favorite medical minds.
Meet Michael Klaper, MD.
For the past 40 years, Dr. Klaper has distinguished himself as a gifted general practitioner, internationally recognized teacher, and sought-after speaker on diet, health, applied plant-based nutrition and integrative medicine.
I became acquainted with Dr. Klaper during his eight-year term at the TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. A nutrition-based medical clinic specializing in therapeutic fasting and health improvement through a whole-food, plant-based diet, TrueNorth is renowned for successfully navigating people to better well-being through non-intervention lifestyle protocols.
In addition, Dr. Klaper served as an advisor to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) project on nutrition for long-term space colonists on the moon and Mars. He was also a member of the Nutrition Task Force of the American Medical Student Association and served as the Director of the non-profit Institute of Nutrition Education and Research.
Diet is key to reversing many of the most feared degenerative diseases known to medicine. And yet, applied nutrition is not typically integral to medical school curriculums. To solve this problem, Dr. Klaper partnered with PlantPure Communities to form Moving Medicine Forward, a medical school nutrition education initiative designed to change the way future doctors treat their patients through improved nutrition and lifestyle education. The most important work of his career, Dr. Klaper lectures at medical schools nationwide, educating students on using plant-predominant nutrition and positive lifestyle changes to truly heal their patients -- and ultimately improve the health of future generations.
Early in his career, Dr. Klaper realized that many of the diseases his patients brought to his office were made worse, or actually caused by the high-fat, high sugar, overly processed Standard American Diet.
When he … Lees meer -
Taking Care In The Time of Coronavirus
19 maart 2020 · 1 uur 10 min
A diversion from my typical format, today I sit down with my wife Julie Piatt to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.
For those unfamiliar, Julie is an accomplished yogi, healer, musician, and mom to our four children. She is the author of three bestselling vegan cookbooks and hosts both the For The Life of Me podcast and Water Tiger, her online spiritual community. In addition, she is the founder and ‘Mother Arc’ of SriMu, her recently launched plant-based cheese start-up.
This is a conversation about exercising care and self-care as we delicately wade through these most unprecedented waters.
It's about replacing fear, anxiety and uncertainty with acceptance. Surrender. Creativity. Faith. And self-inquiry.
It's about navigating calamity with grace. Finding the opportunity in crisis.
It's about leaning into what is to reflect more deeply on our lives. And mindful response over reflexive reaction.
And finally, it's about seizing sequestration to contemplate a better path forward for ourselves, future generations, and the planet.
Without minimizing the severity of what is and what is to come, may we come together now -- in this virtual space -- to grow.
Because we’re in this together. And together we are stronger.
As always, subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
May you find comfort in this exchange.
Peace + Plants,
Rich
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Lees meer -
Dan Peres: From Opiod Slave To Sober Salvation
16 maart 2020 · 2 uur 17 min
Today I share one man’s journey into the depths of opioid addiction despair -- what happened, what it was like, and how he ultimately found a way out.
His name is Dan Peres -- and it’s quite the story.
Hardly a born media insider, Dan was an awkward, magic-obsessed adolescent. But his gift for the written word and shrewd eye for culture catapulted him to premature heights in the fast-paced world of glossy magazine publishing. At 24, he was covering catwalks in Paris as the European editor for W magazine. A few short years later he landed the coveted editor gig at Details magazine, the arbiter of all things cool and zeitgeist -- a post he held for 15 years.
Along the way Dan nurtured a secret, seeking refuge in opioids to a salve profound imposter syndrome as he navigated the high-voltage netherworld of fashion designers, celebrities and media moguls.
Like so many, it’s a relationship that began with a back injury and a prescription. A love affair that escalated to 60 pills a day, betrayal soon followed. A best friend that turned dark. And an addiction that took him places he never thought he would go, produced more instances of incomprehensible demoralization than he cares to remember, and eroded the moral fabric of his life.
By a power greater than himself, Dan found a way out. Now 12 years sober, he recollects the vivid details of his experience in As Needed For A Pain -- a harrowing and at times humorous coming-of-age tale that offers a rare glimpse into New York media’s past (a time when print magazines mattered), dissects a life teetering on the edge of destruction, and chronicles what it took to pull back from the brink of an addiction that very nearly killed him.
Today Dan shares his powerful tale from depravity to salvation.
Even if the opioid epidemic hasn’t affected you directly, chances are someone in your life suffers. May this conversation open your eyes. Help you better understand the cunning, baffling and powerful nature of this disease. And provide … Lees meer -
Dan Buettner On The Secrets For Living Long & Well
9 maart 2020 · 1 uur 48 min
Chances are you've heard the term Blue Zones, coined in reference to five hidden slivers of the world that boast the highest per capita populations of centenarians — people who thrive to 100 and beyond.
Places where people forgot to die.
This is the work of Dan Buettner.
A true renaissance man, Dan is a National Geographic Fellow, longevity expert and world explorer with 3 endurance cycling world records to his name. A multiple New York Times bestselling author, he's a seemingly constant presence on the TODAY show, has appeared on Oprah twice and has been profiled on every respected global media outlet, from CNN to David Letterman.
Over the last decade Dan has delivered more than 500 keynotes, including speeches for Bill Clinton’s Health Matters Initiative, Google Zeitgeist, and TEDMED. His TED Talk “How to live to be 100+” has been viewed over 4 million times.
The Blue Zones Kitchen is Dan's latest New York Times bestseller. Technically a cookbook with over 100 recipes inspired by decades of research studying Blue Zones cultures, Dan elevates the genre with extraordinary photography and an anthropologist's lens on the specific foods, cooking methods and lifestyle practices proven to increase longevity, wellness, and mental health.
In addition, Dan is the founder of Blue Zones Project, a community well-being improvement initiative designed to help people live longer and better through community transformation programs that lower healthcare costs, improve productivity, and boost national recognition as great places to live, work, and play.
Long time listeners will remember Dan's podcast debut (RRP #139), where we explored Dan's adventurous backstory, his fascination with longevity and the research behind all things Blue Zones.
Our second conversation (RRP #323) focused on the nature of not only living long, but living well — a dissection of the habits and practices that produce that which we seek most — happiness.
Today we synthesize all of it in a primer on how to … Lees meer -
Lessons Learned & Empathy Earned: The Story Behind The Story
5 maart 2020 · 52 min
Now for something a little bit different.
What it was like. What happened. And what it's like now.
Moments shared. Lessons learned. And the growth that remains.
For those new to me, 13 years ago found me utterly disconnected from my higher self. After many years lost in the throes of alcohol, I had managed the sober road to happy destiny for nearly a decade. And yet, on the cusp of turning 40, I awoke to find myself in an existential crisis. Stuck in a career that never served me. Unhealthy. Overweight. And totally blind to the path forward.
Through a grace more powerful than myself, I found a way out. It's a journey that began with nutrition. Evolved through fitness. Matured through service. And ultimately has taken me to heights I previously thought unimaginable. It could be said that I reinvented myself wholesale. And transformed others' lives in the process.
Along the way, I've experienced success and failure. High highs. Low lows. And growth at the cost of more missteps than I care to admit.
Today I am greatly privileged to live a life beyond my wildest imagination. And yet I am often oblivious to this fact, lost in myopia about the work that remains. The stones yet unturned. The character defects that continue to arise. And the past mistakes left uncorrected.
I need to be reminded that on occasion it’s important to stop. Honor the path you have blazed. And express gratitude for those in your life that have supported you.
Because nobody achieves dreams alone.
When Outside Magazine reached out to me last fall to express interest in featuring me on the cover of their January issue, I was convinced I misheard. Unlike so many of my heroes who have graced the cover of this iconic publication, I’m not an Olympic champion or world-class adventurer. I’ve never won a big race. None of my books have ever made a bestseller list. And my podcast is hardly the largest.
As surreal as it continues to sound, somehow I did end up on that cover. I could feign 'low key'. But the … Lees meer -
Mel Urie On Conquering The Impossible: How To Live A 'No Excuse' Life
2 maart 2020 · 1 uur 42 min
Over the last few months, I've had the privilege of hosting conversations with an impressive litany of powerhouse women breaking paradigms across a wide swath of disciplines.
Mel Urie has more than earned her spot amongst these powerful boundary crushers. And I for one am here to celebrate her.
Devoted listeners will recall Mel’s first appearance on the show (along with fellow endurance fiend Danielle Grabol) a little over a year ago (RRP 421) wherein these two badass athletes discussed becoming the first two females to ever complete EPIC5 — a race I helped pioneer that involves completing 5 Ironmans on the 5 Hawaiian Islands in just 5 days.
But then Mel had to go and just completely outdo herself (and embarrass the rest of us) by becoming the first female to not only attempt but to actually complete the fatally absurd ultra-endurance fever dream known as Uberman -- a 556-mile self-supported freak fest Outside magazine dubbed “The World’s Hardest Endurance Race”.
Kicking off with a brutal 21-mile swim from the island of Catalina to the Southern California mainland -- a feat most swimmers can only dream of accomplishing -- athletes then endure a 2-day, 400-mile bike ride from Los Angeles to the edge of a barren desert, climbing 20,000-feet before descending into Badwater Basin, the hottest and lowest point in North America.
Ready to kick up your feet and crack a cold one? Not so fast. The celebration comes only after lacing up the running shoes and facing down the Badwater 135 course. Considered the world's most difficult footrace, it entails a quick 135-mile run across Death Valley and up a good portion of Mt. Whitney.
Mel didn’t just survive this endeavor. She absolutely crushed it, completing the course in stunning fashion under 136 hours.
This is a conversation about Uberman of course — why Mel wanted it, what happened and what she learned doing it.
But more than anything, this is a master class on mental toughness.
It’s about putting limiting beliefs in the gra… Lees meer -
Sadie Lincoln Is Rewriting The Fitness Story -- Thoughts On Movement, Community, Risk & Vulnerability
24 februari 2020 · 2 uur 7 min
The alarm goes off and from that moment forward, life is a harried rush. Commuting, coffee, e-mails, meetings and take out. Getting Jenny to soccer practice and Billy back from theatre. When you finally land home, you're too beat to move. So you crash on the couch and doze off with a pint. Rinse and repeat.
We all do the best we can. But the pressures of daily life can leave us stressed and exhausted. Sedentary and stiff, our shoulders slump. Our spine rounds and our stance is lopsided. Without corrective action, we can't function properly. And everything we do -- including exercise -- only exacerbates the problem.
Let's just say Sadie Lincoln can relate. When her career with a global fitness brand almost broke her, she knew something had to change.
Sadie and her husband Chris quit their jobs and downsized their lives to pursue an idea most said was bat shit crazy.
Hence was born barre3, a fitness company focused not on weight loss but rather on body positivity and personal empowerment.
What started out as a workout Sadie devised to help restore personal equanimity blossomed into a daily practice embraced by millions that focuses not on weight loss but rather on body positivity and personal empowerment. Since its 2008 inception, barre3 has grown to more than 140 franchise studios powered by female entrepreneurs, plus an online-workout streaming-subscriber base in 98+ countries.
Sadie is on Inc. magazine's Female Founders 100 list, has been featured on NPR's How I Built This, and speaks regularly on the topics of mindful leadership, the power of body wisdom and the movement to redefine what success in fitness means.
Today she shares her story.
If you enjoyed my conversation with WeWork co founder Miguel McKelvey from July 2019 (RRP #452), then you may recall Miguel's untraditional upbringing -- collectively raised by his mom and her small group of friends he called ‘aunties’.
Sadie also grew up in that very same communal dynamic community. Although not genetically r… Lees meer -
John Joseph & Mishka Shubaly Are My Reservoir Dogs
20 februari 2020 · 2 uur 28 min
500 EPISODES.
Over seven years ago, I sat down in a damp and echo-y warehouse on the north shore of Kauai and hit record for the very first time.
There was no agenda. No commitment to even record a second episode. And certainly zero idea that what began as a fun experiment would evolve into both a passion and a vocation.
And yet here we are. Without fail, beginning in late 2012, I have uploaded at least one episode every single week, amassing over 1000 hours of conversation and a global audience that downloads this show more than 3 million times a month — in total, over 70 million streams and counting.
The numbers are great, but they fail to capture what is truly meaningful: the opportunity to go deep and unfiltered with some of the most amazing people currently walking planet Earth; and in turn share their incredible wisdom with all of you.
Today I give thanks for taking this journey with me -- a calling and a service I consider the best job in the world. It's been a privilege -- a great honor and a profound responsibility I don’t take lightly.
I believe in celebrating milestones. So today we do just that. And we do it in style with two of my most most beloved brothers from other mothers.
Enter John Joseph and Mishka Shubaly.
Between these two gentlemen, I count 14 total previous appearances on the show, including one vivid episode five years past (RRP #95) that involved the three of us huddled on a small bed in a cramped New York City hotel room.
Today we fertilize our bromance, reprising those sweet sweet punk rock, Algonquin table vibes with another turntable spin on plants & punk. On running and writing. And on addiction & sobriety.
This one is all over the place. No point in even trying to describe it other than that Mishka showed up with a bottle of Pepto Bismol. Kinda says it all.
Heads Up: This conversation is packed with expletives. It might even hold the RRP f-bomb record. As many of you know, these laddies simply can’t be muzzled, nor would you want the… Lees meer -
Cyrus Khambatta, PhD & Robby Barbaro, MPH Are Mastering Diabetes
17 februari 2020 · 2 uur 18 min
A full blown epidemic in the developed world, diabetes currently afflicts an astonishing 30 million people in the US alone, despite the fact that 1 out of 4 don’t even know they have it.
Even more bewildering, over one-third of all U.S. adults have prediabetes. That's more than 84 million people, 90% of whom are unaware of their condition.
Not enough? Over the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed has more than doubled, with no end in sight.
For purposes of clarity, 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes are the Type 2 form. The good news is that Type 2 isn’t just treatable, it’s actually reversible -- often to the point of undetectability. And for those suffering from Type 1, certain diet and lifestyle changes render the illness more manageable than ever.
To learn more about the nature of diabetes, how to avoid it and the many things you can do if you have it, I sat down with Cyrus Khambatta, PhD and Robby Barbaro MPH -- the team behind Mastering Diabetes, an online coaching platform for people living with all forms of diabetes that focuses on low-fat, plant-based, whole-food nutrition.
Living with Type 1 diabetes since 2002, Cyrus received a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a PhD in nutritional biochemistry from UC Berkeley. In addition, he has co-authored many peer-reviewed scientific publications. Robbie has a master's degree in public health from American Public University, spent six years helping build Forks Over Knives, and has been living with type 1 diabetes since 2000.
Experts in the science of insulin resistance, together they have successfully helped thousands prevent, navigate and reverse diabetes not by way of medication, but rather through simple changes in diet and lifestyle -- all principles beautifully chronicled in their new book, aptly titled Mastering Diabetes -- hitting bookstores February 18.
Current medical dogma urges a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet for anyone suffering from diabetes or prediab… Lees meer -
Rewind Your Clock: David Sinclair, PhD Wants To 'Cure' Aging
10 februari 2020 · 2 uur 16 min
Aging is inevitable. Everybody grows old. Everyone dies.
We accept these statements as fact.
But what if they're just stories based on history and our current understanding of biology?
What if everything we think we know about aging is about to change?
Across the globe, scientists are working on treatments and therapies that are designed to extend healthy human lifespans well beyond what we know today.
At the bleeding edge of such breakthroughs you will find David Sinclair, PhD, one of the world’s leading scientific authorities on longevity, aging and how to slow its effects.
Returning for his second appearance on the podcast, David is a professor in the Department of Genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School. He obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics at the University of New South Wales, Sydney in 1995 and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at M.I.T. where, among other things, he co-discovered the cause of aging for yeast.
The co-founder of several biotechnology companies, David is also co-founder and co-chief editor of the journal Aging. His work has been featured in a variety of books, documentaries, and media, including 60 Minutes, Nightline and NOVA. He is an inventor on 35 patents, has been lauded as one of the Top 100 Australian Innovators, and made TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In addition, David is the author of Lifespan: The Revolutionary Science of Why We Age -- and Why We Don't Have To -- a New York Times bestseller that proposes a radical new theory of aging. As he writes: “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.”
Last year I convened my first conversation with David (RRP #436), a scintillating and science-heavy primer on all things human lifespan, aging and longevity. It was a runaway hit with the listeners -- and left me wanting to know more.
So today we pick up where we last left off, diving deeper into the physiological mechanisms tha… Lees meer -
Gregg Renfrew Leads The Clean Beauty Movement
6 februari 2020 · 1 uur 45 min
You might be surprised to learn that approximately 84,000 chemicals currently find their way into commercial products -- with over 1,500 new chemicals released annually. Despite evidence of health harms, most of these chemicals have not been adequately tested for their impact on humans. Nonetheless, many of them find their way into a vast and problematic array of skincare, beauty and cleaning products.
Moreover, due to laws that haven’t been updated in 80 years, I was shocked to discover that the Food and Drug Administration -- the regulatory authority charged with ensuring the safety of such products -- doesn't necessarily screen product ingredients for safety. In fact, it provides very little oversight when it comes to what ends up in beauty products. Worse yet, the FDA has zero authority to recall products even in the event of a proven harm.
When entrepreneur Gregg Renfrew learned that the US has not passed any major legislation about the safety of ingredients in personal care products since 1939, she became determined to make the business of beauty better. Hence was born Beautycounter -- a market disrupting, direct-to-consumer line of cleaner, safer skincare products and cosmetics that made Fast Company’s 2019 list of the 50 most innovative companies.
Gregg's been at the helm of Beautycounter since its 2011 inception, driven by a desire to provide toxic-free fare and greater economic opportunity for women. In addition to overseeing 150 employees and 40,000 consultants, Gregg is also a ferocious fixture on Capitol Hill, where she lobbies relentlessly for cosmetic industry reform. And she somehow does it all while remaining a present and involved mom to three of the most incredible kids I have ever met.
Her ultimate goal? Overhauling the archaic laws that currently govern her industry -- so we can all be beautifully clean.
Similar to a handful of past podcast guests, I struck up a friendship with Gregg in 2018 at The Nantucket Project. Over the last year and a ha… Lees meer -
Chef Iliana Regan Is A Boss: Thoughts On Sobriety, Literary Acclaim & Foraging
3 februari 2020 · 2 uur 19 min
Meet Iliana Regan.
A self-taught chef and author, Iliana has faced and overcome a litany of obstacles from substance abuse to sexual discrimination, ultimately prevailing to experience a special moment right now -- celebrated for both her culinary and literary accomplishments.
At 15 Iliana landed her first restaurant gig washing dishes and never looked back. Leaning on the rustic experiences of her Midwestern upbringing (she was making mushroom tea long before Four Sigmatic was a thing), Iliana pioneered a unique locavore style of cooking dubbed 'new gatherer', plied daily at her Chicago restaurant Elizabeth -- notable for its homestead aesthetic, emphasis on foraged foods and deep connection to the natural surroundings.
It's an approach that landed her a coveted Michelin star six years in a row. Jeff Gordinier, food and drinks editor for Esquire magazine (and former podcast guest), included Elizabeth on his recent list of the last decade’s 40 most important restaurants. Noma's René Redzepi, arguably the world's greatest chef, counts himself a fan. And David Chang dubs Iliana one of the best chefs he has ever known.
This past summer Iliana published Burn The Place. A singular, powerfully expressive debut memoir, her story is raw like that first bite of wild onion, alive with startling imagery, and told with uncommon emotional power. The New York Times describes the book as, “perhaps the definitive Midwestern drunken-lesbian food memoir.” The New Yorker echoes this sentiment, calling it "brutal and luminous"; and “a thrilling, disquieting memoir of addiction and coming of age.” Oh yeah, it's also the first food book to be long-listed for the National Book Award since Julia Child in 1980.
Now 10 years sober, Iliana’s passion has made an unlikely turn. Focused not in the predictable direction of building a culinary empire, her sights are instead set on a remote corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Deep in the Hiawatha National Forest, Iliana, alongside her wife Anna … Lees meer -
The Poet Laureate Of Running: Rickey Gates On Endurance & Empathy
27 januari 2020 · 2 uur 2 min
Meet Rickey Gates.
Both idiosyncratic and extraordinary, you may know Rickey as a distinguished ultra-runner. But peer just beneath the surface of his many athletic accomplishments and you will discover a thoughtful, deeply empathetic and uniquely expressive human.
After nearly a decade competing on the national and international mountain, trail and ultra running circuits, Rickey took his love for endurance, storytelling, photography and design -- and fused them together to create an ongoing series of project-based, performance art adventures.
Deemed "the rambling poet of the running world" by Outside magazine, Rickey is a true conceptual artist -- leveraging numerous mediums to communicate a personal and humanist perspective on the inner workings of society, self, nature and human potential.
Notable ventures include his solo, unsupported run across America. The upcoming, exquisite and arresting feature film Transamericana that chronicles it. And his debut book Cross Country that travels inside Rickey's 3,700 mile journey through over 200 photographs, stories of individuals and ultimately the innermost depths of his own mind. Hitting shelves April 14, 2020, the book is available for pre-order now.
In addition, and the project he is perhaps best known for, in 2018 Rickey ran every single street in the city of San Francisco. A feat as logistically challenging as it was athletic, the 1,300 mile undertaking involved running 30 miles every day for 46 days, along the way logging 150,000 feet of elevation gain and meeting countless fascinating people along the way. A master stroke of creative movement, it's a feat that grabbed headlines around the world. Underscored the importance of human connection. Symbolized the value of community. Celebrated human potential. And in turn, inspired countless people to mimic in their own respective cities.
I implore all of you to check out Every Single Street, a beautiful short film produced by Salomon that perfectly captures the spirit… Lees meer -
Lindsay Crouse Is Changing The Game For Women's Sports
23 januari 2020 · 1 uur 38 min
A perfect companion piece to my recent conversation with Lauren Fleshman -- and in furtherance of better understanding the issues that swirl around gender, sport and fairness -- today I sit down with an investigative journalist breaking some of the biggest stories in women's sports.
Meet Lindsay Crouse. Lees meerA graduate of Harvard University, where she competed in both cross country and track and field, Lindsay is a senior staff editor and senior OpDocs producer at The New York Times. If you’ve been paying any attention to running news (or just big headlines in general) then you are already familiar with Lindsay’s work. At the epicenter of the conversation that surrounds sports and power, Lindsay is behind some of the biggest sports stories and opinion pieces in recent memory, with a particular focus on the role and state of women's distance running.
Some of Lindsay's most popular pieces include How The 'Shalane Flanagan Effect' Works, which examined the former podcast guest and New York City Marathon victor's elevating impact on other women; she broke the story on Nike's refusal to guarantee female athletes' salaries during or immediately post-pregnancy; and she produced the piece in which Allyson Felix told her story around Nike and pregnancy.
Lindsay also worked with last week’s guest Lauren Fleshman on her powerful November Op-Ed, I Changed My Body For My Sport. No Girl Should and is responsible for the bombshell opinion piece about the emotional abuse suffered by Mary Cain under her former coach, Alberto Salazar. I Was The Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike created such a stir, it went on to become the 42nd most read New York Times piece for all of 2019.I first came across Lindsay by way of her recurring cameos in my friend (and RRP guest from episodes 73, 144, & 174) Casey Neistat's wildly popular vlog. So in 2015, I began following Lindsay's career. As I watched her work mature and profile grow, I eagerly awaited each new article -- and anticipated a…
-
Lauren Fleshman Is Empowering Women Athletes
20 januari 2020 · 2 uur 13 min
Meet Lauren Fleshman.
One of the greatest middle-distance runners in American history, Lauren has a storied history of breaking both records and paradigms. After collecting state championships as a standout high school runner, she matriculated to Stanford, where she garnered 5 NCAA titles, 15 All-American honors, and a spot in the Hall of Fame.
As a professional, her accolades include two USA Championships and five World Championship berths for Team USA.
Nonetheless, Lauren’s career was also marked with devastating setbacks. She holds the painful distinction of most likely being the best American distance runner never to make an Olympic team, her competitive career repeatedly impaired by injuries that had her on crutches at the wrong four-year intervals.
It's the hows and whys behind Lauren's hard knocks that interest me the most. Because it's these very misfortunes that underscore her philosophic perspective on running. Her take on human potential. Her belief in transformation. And, perhaps most poignant, her passion for advancing the power and prominence of women in sport.
Now retired from professional competition, Lauren wears many hats. A prolific and talented writer, she is co-author of the Believe Training Journal series and shares her perspectives on her wildly popular Ask Lauren Fleshman blog -- plus a book in the works.
As an entrepreneur, Lauren hosts the Wilder Running & Writing Retreats. She's the co-founder of performance nutrition company Picky Bars alongside her professional triathlete husband Jesse Thomas, who graced episode 442 of the podcast. And together they host the Work, Play, Love Podcast.
In addition, Lauren serves up coaching duties to the elite women runners of Oiselle’s Littlewing Athletics. And she is the very definition of an active mom of two.
Most compelling is Lauren's committed, stalwart advocacy for female equality, empowerment and advancement in sport.
Today we cover it all. From the doping scandals swirling around the Nike Oregon… Lees meer -
Balancing Your Hormones With Neal Barnard, MD
13 januari 2020 · 1 uur 46 min
A predominant theme of this podcast is the profound impact of nutrition on long-term well-being.
Less discussed is the importance of hormonal health. Most would be surprised to learn that certain maladies -- including infertility, menstrual cramps, weight gain, hair loss, breast and prostate cancer, hot flashes, and many others -- have one thing in common: they are fueled or influenced by hormones hiding in everyday foods.
The good (and surprising) news is that proper nutrition can also help restore endocrine balance, often with benefits that rival popular medications.
To provide insight on how hormones wreak havoc on the body, and how specific diet and lifestyle changes can help alleviate years of stress, pain and illness, I'm joined today by my friend Neal Barnard, MD.
Making this third appearance on the podcast (check episodes #242 / #296), Dr. Barnard is a pre-eminent authority on diet, nutrition and its impact on illnesses such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s. In addition, he is the founder & president of The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), where he leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
Dr. Barnard is also an adjunct associate professor of medicine at George Washington University and has authored over 70 scientific publications as well as 18 books, including Power Foods for the Brain, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart, Dr. Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes and The Cheese Trap.
Hitting bookstores February 4 and currently available for pre-order, Dr. Barnard's latest offering -- and the focus of today's discussion -- is entitled, Your Body in Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health. A powerful step-by-step guide to better understand what you can do to feel better fast, it covers the important hows and whys of striking hormonal balance for optimal wellness.
Today we dive deep to better understand the mechanisms of optimizing hormonal … Lees meer -
Kelly McGonigal Wants You To Fall In Love With Movement
9 januari 2020 · 2 uur 6 min
We equate the new year with potential energy. It's an opportunity to re-evaluate one's trajectory. A permission grant to chart a new course of self-discovery.
In truth, every moment presents a window for reinvention. But January always provides heightened urgency to inventory how we spend our precious time, focus our intention and deploy our energy.
Extrapolating on themes explored with Chadd Wright, today we balance out the warrior alpha-male vibe with some feminine wisdom, courtesy of Kelly McGonigal, PhD.
A health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University who specializes in understanding the mind-body connection, Kelly is a pioneer in the field of 'science-help,' translating insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and community connection.
There’s a decent chance you caught her amazing 2013 TED Talk, How To Make Stress Your Friend. A viral hit with over 21 million views, Kelly makes the case that social connection is both a natural instinct and a source of resilience in times of stress.
Or perhaps you’ve read one of her many amazing books, The Upside of Stress, The Willpower Instinct, or The Science of Compassion -- all of which are based on classes Kelly has previously taught at Stanford.
Fresh off the press and the framework for today’s conversation is her latest work, The Joy of Movement. A love letter to physicality (motivated in part by the dance, yoga, and group exercise classes she has been teaching for two decades), it's an evidence-based primer on how movement can serve as an antidote to depression, anxiety, and loneliness -- the modern epidemics of our time.
Although we touch a bit on willpower and stress (the subjects explored in her previous books), this conversation focuses on what exactly happens when we move our bodies.
But movement isn't just about fitness. It's not about the treadmill or StairMaster. And it has nothing to do with weight loss or six-pack abs.
Instead, movement is… Lees meer -
Chadd Wright: Don’t Give Pain A Voice
6 januari 2020 · 2 uur 2 min
Meet Chadd Wright.
Reared in the mountains of rural northwest Georgia, Chadd grew up obsessed with becoming a SEAL. But when the Navy discovered a rare but asymptomatic cyst on his heart, he was disqualified from entering BUDS. Undaunted, Chadd refused to give up, ultimately tracking down a surgeon willing to perform a procedure deemed too risky by every cardiologist he previously petitioned.
Cyst successfully removed, Chadd went on to realize his SEAL dream, serving over the next decade as a Team Leader on multiple deployments to conflict zones across the world.
He became a SEAL instructor. A Master Training Specialist. Chadd even served a stint as President Obama’s bodyguard. Along the way, he battled PTSD and traumatic brain injury. He faced his wife’s substance abuse issues. And he found God -- a faith in part born from a paranormal experience he shares in riveting detail today.
Now retired from the military, Chadd has found new life as an elite ultramarathoner -- a spiritual quest for self-knowledge and mind-body mastery that has compelled him to tackle some of the world’s most insane endurance slogs like The Revenant -- a 118-mile footrace across south New Zealand with over 52,000 feet of elevation gain that not one person has ever successfully completed.
This conversation begins with Chad's unique upbringing. His SEAL dream. And the heart condition that nearly derailed it.
We discuss the day-to-day reality of the elite warrior. The supernatural experience and visions that embolden his faith. And the role Christianity plays in his spiritual equation.
We talk about the perils of civilian re-entry. The allure of ultrarunning. His training regimen. The mental strategies deployed to venture beyond his limits. And a project he launched with his brother called 3-of-7.
Chadd shares his perspective on the importance of breaking down big goals into bite size chunks. Why some people quit their dreams. Why others don’t. And what exactly separates the two.
Finally, we ta… Lees meer -
The Best Of 2019: Part II
30 december 2019 · 2 uur 34 min
Welcome to Part II of our 7th annual Best of the RRP Anthology — our way of taking a moment to reflect on the past twelve months by revisiting the year's most compelling podcast guests.
It's been an honor to engage with so many extraordinary people over the course of 2019. Reviewing the year in conversation brought powerful new insights -- a reminder that these evergreen exchanges continue to inspire and inform.
For long-time listeners, my intention is to launch you into 2020 with renewed vigor. If you're new to the show, my hope is that this anthology will stir you to peruse the back catalog and check out episodes you may have missed.
Links to the full episodes excerpted in this anthology are listed in the below show notes.
Thank you for taking this journey with me. I appreciate you. I love you.
You can also watch it all go down on YouTube.
Here's to an extraordinary 2020. Join me, and let's do this thing together.
Peace + Plants,
Rich
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Lees meer -
The Best Of 2019: Part I
26 december 2019 · 2 uur 24 min
Welcome to the 7th annual Best of the RRP Anthology — our way of taking a moment to reflect on the year, express gratitude and give thanks for taking this journey with us.
To be honest, I didn’t think we could top 2018 -- but we did. It’s been an incredible year. I'm deeply indebted to all my extraordinary guests. And unbelievably proud of the library we dedicated ourselves to creating over the last twelve months.
To prepare for the year ahead, it’s critical to pause. To reflect back. Celebrate the victories. Take inventory of the missteps. And visualize the goals you wish to self-actualize in the months ahead. I believe in this process. And I feel strongly that 2020 holds the potential energy manifest your aspirations.
It is in this spirit that we created a tradition of closing each year with a look in the rear view with a 2-episode compilation of clips excerpted from many of year's best guests.
Consider these next two shows as a love letter. My way of saying thank you. I see you. I believe in you. And I believe in the power we all have to do, be and live better. To step into our best, most authentic selves. And in turn, share freely what we have learned in service of others.
For long-time listeners, the next two episodes are intended to launch you into 2020 with renewed vigor and intention. Lean in to the wisdom. Leverage it to clarify your 2020 goals.
If you're newer to the show, my hope is that this anthology will prime you to peruse the back catalog and check out episodes you may have missed.
Links to the full episodes excerpted in this anthology can be found in the below show notes.
You can watch it all go down on YouTube (with the exception of the Gemma Newman, Jack Dorsey and Kevin Smith excerpts, episodes that we did not film)
Here's to an extraordinary 2020. Join me, and let's make it the best year ever -- together.
Enjoy!
Rich
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Lees meer -
Kendra Little Is Becoming More: Broadening The Gender Identity Conversation
23 december 2019 · 1 uur 51 min
Growing up in the late 1970's there was no conversation around gender identity. You were either male or female. Period, end of discussion.
Times have changed. The way we currently think about gender has evolved. Each day brings greater mainstream awareness to its non-binary nature -- and the innate fluidity of gender roles and identity.
Take a moment to imagine the experience of being intersex -- a condition in which an individual is born with genetic variations on conventional sex characteristics.
Now imagine trying to navigate the world from this non-binary biological disposition.
This is the story of Kendra Little.
Raised as a girl, at age 12 Kendra learned that she was born with something called androgen insensitivity syndrome, a variation of intersex that affects between 2 to 5 out of 100,000 people. The news prompted Kendra to isolate. Adopting a hormone protocol on the advice of her doctors, she remained a ‘girl’, proceeded to never discuss her condition with anybody and dove headlong into sports -- a place where she excelled and felt at home.
But eventually the emotional dissonance between her true self and that which she held out to the world became too much to bear, prompting her to walk away from a promising career as a professional golfer. But that disconnect ultimately catalyzed an amazing journey of self-discovery -- and eventually wholeness.
Now able to fully embrace her own unique identity (very recently I might add), Kendra is publicly sharing her story -- with both courage and pride. The intention isn't self-serving, but motivated by a genuine desire to change the way we think about non-binary gender constructs. To bring comfort to those ashamed of how they were born. And to openly permit sharing the many forms of loneliness, pain and shame so many of us keep hidden.
This past July, Kendra tweeted me a video entitled Becoming More -- her story in mini-doc form created by Uninterrupted, LeBron James’ production company.
I click play. Instantly, I’m… Lees meer -
Rangan Chatterjee, MD On Quelling Stress, Cultivating Intimacy & Reinventing Health Care
16 december 2019 · 2 uur 50 min
Today we’re going to talk about stress.
In proper doses it’s actually beneficial, promoting resilience -- both physical and mental.
This week’s guest has seen the perils of chronic stress first hand. A UK-based medical doctor, he found himself increasingly treating patients suffering from the downstream implications of living with this malevolence. It prompted him to ask, why is this happening?
His name is Rangan Chatterjee, MD. He decided to find answers to this question -- and do something about it.
If that name sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because you caught him on the BBC, starring in Doctor in the House. Perhaps you read his bestselling book, The Four Pillar Plan, released in the United States under the title How To Make Disease Disappear. Or maybe, just maybe, you caught RRP 376, our popular first conversation from July of 2018 that launched our friendship.
For those unfamiliar, Dr. Chatterjee is a pioneer in the field of progressive, functional medicine. Widely regarded as one of the most influential doctors in the UK, he is double board certified in internal medicine and family medicine and holds an honors degree in immunology. An in-demand lecturer, he created the very first “Prescribing Lifestyle Medicine” course accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners in London.
In addition, he hosts the popular Feel Better, Live More podcast (which I’ve appeared on twice) and has been widely featured on an array of prominent media outlets like the The New York Times, BBC, Forbes, The Guardian, The Financial Times, and many others.
The focus of today’s conversation is also the subject of Rangan’s latest book, The Stress Solution -- an important primer on how chronic stress can lead to disease, along with strategies, tools and lifestyle changes proven to protect against and reverse its toxic effects.
This is a conversation about the very nature of stress. What creates it. The health implications it produces. The many simple things you can do to alleviate… Lees meer -
Julie Piatt: Seeing The Divinity In Everything
12 december 2019 · 1 uur 46 min
Welcome to the latest installment in my ongoing series of mind melds with my wife and in-house spiritual guru, the wise and ethereal Julie Piatt, aka SriMati.
Longtime listeners are well acquainted with my better half. For those newer to the show, Julie is very good at many things. In addition to being an accomplished yogi, healer, musician, and mom to four children, she's also the bestselling author of three vegan cookbooks. She hosts the For The Life of Me podcast. She lords over Water Tiger, her online spiritual community. And she's the founder and 'Mother Arc' of SriMu, her recently launched plant-based cheese start-up.
This conversation opens with an update on SriMu. How Julie manifested her vision to create the absolute best artisanal vegan cheese on the market. Start-up founder life behind-the scenes. The values she is building into her food and work culture. And the broader mission she holds for the future.
We discuss the hows and whys behind my decision to take my first ever extended work sabbatical (don't worry the podcast will continue as scheduled).
And we explore strategies for navigating the perilous emotional and financial land mines that accompany the holiday season.
Finally, we close with thoughts on weathering the judgment of others. Maintaining a growth mindset. Approaching others with humility. And the benefits of choosing to see the divinity in all things.
The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the divine offering.
Peace + Plants,
Rich
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Lees meer -
Breaking Boston: Scott Fauble Is Leading American Marathoners Into The Olympics
9 december 2019 · 1 uur 55 min
For the vast majority of us, besting our 26.2 personal record by 3+ minutes would be considered fine. Something to be celebrated, but hardly a mind-bending breakthrough.
At the highest level of distance running however, the distinction is vast. It's the canyon that separates a very good marathon runner from the greats.
This is the story of Scott Fauble.
Historically a very accomplished cross country & 10K runner (at the 2016 Olympic Trials he finished 4th in the 10,000 meters), Scott was unproven at the marathon. That is, until he ran 2:12 in Frankfurt in 2017 and matched that time the following year in New York.
These performances certainly established Scott as a very good marathoner. But nobody, aside from Scott himself and perhaps his coach and close circle, was prepared for his stunning performance at the 2019 Boston Marathon. Not only did he surprise the world by leading the race for extended stretches, he accomplished what is almost unheard of at his level -- besting his marathon PR by almost 3 and a half minutes to complete the course in 2:09:09 as the top American and 7th overall.
It was a performance that foisted him into the mainstream spotlight. Anointed him as the leading American going into the 2020 Olympic men's marathon. And established him as one of the world’s very best at the 26.2 discipline.
Just as interesting are Faub's pursuits when the running shoes come off. Alongside coach Ben Rosario he penned Inside a Marathon: An All-Access Pass to a Top-10 Finish at NYC. Documenting the entire four-month journey to Scott’s 7th place finish at the 2018 New York City Marathon, it's a rare, candid (and very funny at times) behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional marathoner. A chronicle of grit and mental fortitude, it's a must read book for anyone committed to mastery.
This conversation runs the gamut. We begin with Scott's young running career. Track his evolution to Boston. And his maturation into Olympic contender.
We discuss life in Flagst… Lees meer -
Ryland Engelhart’s Philosophy Is Gratitude: Thoughts On Soil, Sacred Commerce & Sustainability
2 december 2019 · 2 uur 14 min
Last week we explored the world of regenerative farming, soil health and biodiversity as critical levers to improve human health. Consolidate food security. Drawdown carbon. And backpedal climate change.
Today we expound on that theme with entrepreneur, restauranteur and social activist Ryland Engelhart.
Ryland is the ‘Mission Fulfillment Officer' and co-owner of Café Gratitude and Gracias Madre, a family owned group of legendary plant-based restaurants. The epicenter of California vegan cuisine & culture, it's a platform he uses to not only feed people amazing food but to cultivate community — and most importantly, inspire more gratitude into our lives and culture.
In addition, Ryland is a speaker and passionate advocate for sacred commerce, community building and regenerative farming principles, which he supports as co-founder of Kiss The Ground, a non-profit that provides education regarding the connection between soil, human, and planetary health. Among its board of advisors are former podcast guests Paul Hawken, Dr. Zach Bush and David Bronner. Lees meerIf you enjoyed those conversations, or last week's exchange with John & Molly Chester, then you're in for a treat with Ryland.
This is a conversation about the importance of soil regeneration and its impact on everything from food security and climate change reversal to improving human health.
We open with Ryland’s hippie upbringing. How he learned early the philosophy of using business as a force for good — something he calls sacred commerce.
We discuss how doing good — adding value to people’s lives — is not only always the right thing to do, but also the best long-term path to profits.
We explore the origins, trajectory and intentionality behind his family's incredible group of restaurants — Cafe Gratitude, Gracias Madre and his sister’s Sage Plant-Based Bistros — which together form the cornerstone of plant-based dining in Los Angeles and beyond.
Then we dive into the principles of conscious capitalism, the importa… -
Soil Is Everything: John & Molly Chester’s Biggest Little Farm
25 november 2019 · 2 uur 29 min
Biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture. Ecological sustainability. Carbon drawdown. Climate change reversal.
These are popular themes that recur regularly on this show. But in practical terms, what do they actually mean?
I wanted to better understand these subjects. Not from the perspective of an academic, scientific researcher or political pundit but rather from the direct experience of actual practitioners — people who live and practice it every single day — farmers.
Nine years ago, personal chef Molly Chester and her filmmaker husband John Chester traded their life in urban Santa Monica for 200 acres of infertile land nestled in the foothills of Ventura County — an arid and desolate plot called Apricot Lane Farms.
Hence began a journey to build a new life from scratch. The vision? An organic, biodiverse farm based upon regenerative principles, thriving in harmony with nature. It began with repairing the draught-laden, nutrient deplete soil, followed by planting 10,000 orchard trees. Rooting over 200 crops. Introducing a myriad of animals. Managing the chaos that ensued. And patiently stewarding the farm from inert to irascible and ultimately into what it is today — an awe-inspiring symphonic ecosystem in vibrant, sustainable co-existence with nature’s rhythms.
Along the way, John chronicled every daunting, obstacle-fraught step, plying his storytelling skills and masterful wildlife cinematography to produce The Biggest Little Farm — an extraordinary documentary that evidences the planet's innate power to heal itself in synchronous partnership with humans devoted to restoring its precious biodiversity. Uplifting and wildly entertaining, it dispenses with the dystopia common among ecological fare, instead leaving audiences uplifted — and in love with the hard-earned possibility of positive change.
I was quite moved by this film. Compelled to know more, me and my team spent a day touring Apricot Lane — an educational and eye-opening experience that left me with a d… Lees meer -
Awareness Is A Superpower
21 november 2019 · 1 uur 29 min
Making his 9th appearance on the podcast, today marks another mind-bending deep dive into the multiverse with Guru Singh, my treasured friend and favorite wizard of all things mystical.
For those newer to the show, imagine a modern-day Gandalf who rocks like Hendrix while dropping pearls of wisdom that beautifully fuse Eastern mysticism with Western pragmatism.
A celebrated third-generation Sikh yogi, master spiritual teacher, author, and family man, for the past 40 years Guru Singh has been studying and teaching Kundalini Yoga. He is the author of several books, a powerful lecturer, and behind-the-scenes guide to many a luminary, including Fortune 500 CEOs, athletes, and artists.
Guru Singh is also a talented musician who rocked alongside Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead in the 1960s. When he isn’t recording tracks with people like Seal, he’s bringing down the house on the daily at Yoga West, his Los Angeles home base. Lees meerThe focus of today's discourse? Awareness.
We talk about the importance of self care, crucial as we near the pressures that accompany the holiday season.
We discuss cancel culture. The critical distinction between awareness and judgment. And empathy versus endorsement.
And we dive into the incredible power of awareness to cultivate an objectivity about ourselves, others and the world we inhabit.
As always, Guru Singh takes us out with a song, so make sure to stick around to the end.
You can watch it all go down on YouTube.
Enjoy!
Peace + Plants,
Rich
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
He Ran Across America — On Plants
18 november 2019 · 2 uur 8 min
Imagine running an ultramarathon. It’s a huge undertaking for anyone. And a bucket list dream for many.
Now imagine running an ultramarathon every day. A minimum of 40 miles, 75 days in a row. Starting in Los Angeles. Finishing in New York. A 3,200 mile transcontinental run.
This is the story of Robbie Balenger.
Just 6 years ago, Robbie laced up his first pair of running shoes to alleviate the stress he was experiencing managing a restaurant. A small act, that first run set in motion a chain of events that led to a passion for running long distances, followed by a purpose-driven mission promote a message — the power of a plant-based diet to fuel athletic performance. Prevent and reverse certain lifestyle maladies. Ameliorate suffering. And redress climate change.
What Robbie didn't expect? The many extraordinary ways running creates community. Unites people across the economic divide. And bridges the political differences that drive us apart. Lees meerI was unfamiliar with Robbie until an e-mail hit my inbox courtesy of my friend and former podcast guest, Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch (RRP 355). Her non-profit Switch4Good was sponsoring Robbie's attempt to cross the United States by foot. Would I be interested in helping to support their efforts? I jumped at the opportunity.
On March 16, I showed up at dawn in Huntington Beach to meet Robbie for the first time and help kick off his momentous attempt.
Running the first several miles alongside Robbie and a small crew of supporters, I immediately took to his earnest yet humble disposition. His passion for promoting the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. And his determination to reach New York a mere 75 days later.
We struck up a friendship that day. I kept keen tabs on his progress over the following months. And made him a promise:
Finish the run and you earn a seat at the podcast table.
All heart, he indeed finished it. Today I honor that promise. And it’s a great story, well told.
You can watch it all go down on YouTube.
… -
Edward Norton: Thoughts On Ego, Taking Big Swings & Speaking Truth To Power
11 november 2019 · 1 uur 50 min
One of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, today Edward Norton graces the podcast to discuss his fascinating life and perspective on filmmaking, culture, politics and the nature of power.
Over the course of his extraordinary career, Edward has reaped 3 Academy Award nominations starring in some of the greatest films of our era — Primal Fear, American History X, Fight Club, Birdman, and 25th Hour among them.
The occasion for this conversation is Motherless Brooklyn — a long-gestating passion project Edward wrote, directed, produced and headlines. A period crime noir that confronts the shadowy malevolence of power in 1950's New York City, Edward stars as a twitchy tourettic detective determined to find his boss' killer. Evocative of Chinatown, it’s a towering achievement and terrific watch I implore all of you to immediately see in the theatre.
Unfamiliar to most are Edward’s many off-screen interests and achievements as an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and environmentalist.
In 2010, he co-founded CrowdRise, a crowdfunding platform which has raised over $500M for non-profits which later sold to GoFundMe. He is the co-founder of an advanced data science company called EDO which provides audience analytics to media companies. In addition, Edward is an avid pilot and founding board president of the Masai Wilderness Conservation Trust, a Kenyan conservation and community development organization. To raise awareness for the organization, in 2009 he ran the New York Marathon alongside a group of Masai, completing the race in 3:28.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this hyper-intelligent polymath. Lees meerA famously private person, Edward has been uncharacteristically public as of late — making the mainstream media and podcast rounds to promote Motherless Brooklyn.
If you caught his appearance on Marc Maron, Ezra Klein, Preet Bharara, Joe Rogan, Dax Shepard or Alec Baldwin’s respective podcasts (all great in their own right) — this conversat…