The Rich Roll Podcast

Last week we went deep with an actual monk. Today we extend this exploration with a former monk -- a renounced renunciant who returned to relate the wisdom gleaned for the betterment of all.

Meet Jay Shetty.

If that name rings a bell, it's likely due to his social media omnipresence. With a global following in excess of 20 million people, Jay has a knack for creating what he calls viral wisdom -- snackable videos based on ancient tenets that have surpassed 7 billion views -- making him one of the most viewed people on the internet.

A graduate of Cass Business school with an honors degree in Behavioral Science, Jay has been named one of Forbes magazine’s 30-under-30. He's been invited to keynote at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. He is the host of the popular On Purpose podcast. And the occasion for today’s conversation is Jay’s new book, Think Like A Monk --- a distillation of the timeless wisdom learned during his ascetic days on an ashram into practical tools we can all use to live a less anxious, more meaningful life.

Today the man Russell Brand (RRP 448) calls 'a cat-eyed mystic' shares his story.

This is a conversation about Jay's most unusual journey. His decision to shirk the predictable post-college path and instead move to India. The three-year exploration of austerity that indelibly changed his worldview. His decision to return home, fueled by a desire to make an impact. And the most remarkable path that followed.

We discuss the insights he gleaned along the way -- and the many tools freely available to underscore our lives with greater meaning and purpose.

Among many other subjects, we explore the plausibility of conscious capitalism. The double-edged sword of social media. And how to use commerce and attention for good. To spread love. Encourage laughter. And arouse souls from the waking dream that defines the lives of far too many.

Note: This was taped pre-pandemic over 6 months ago, when the world was a very different place. Coronavirus delayed the original release of Jay’s book from Spring to Fall, so I agreed to hold on publishing this episode until now.

You can watch it all go down (in my original home studio) on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This conversation is more than just whimsical ramblings. Jay’s methods for mindfulness and self-actualization are evidence-based and platitude-free. Just perceptions and practical takeaways you can adopt right now that will positively reconfigure your reality.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

As a reminder that we are spiritual beings inhabiting a material world -- wandering this rotating orb as it hurls across the multiverse — it's time to once again transcend the mortal coil to connect with all things ethereal.

Our guide for today's celestial adventure is the candescent Radhanath Swami.

A New York Times best-selling author, monk, philanthropist, activist and teacher, his Holiness Radhanath Swami is a man that radiates love, compassion and grace with a sweet and joyous disposition that has immeasurably impacted millions of souls across the world.

Born Richard Slavin to middle-class parents in Chicago, he came of age amidst the strife and upheaval of the 1960s. A social activist, he slowly became disillusioned with the structural mandates of the western civilized way of life. So, still in his late teens, he left Chicago behind in search of greater meaning. After hitchhiking across the world, he felt called to India. There he met his spiritual teacher, catalyzing his transformation into the mystic he is today.

Along the way, Radhanath Swami has founded multiple spiritual communities throughout the world, the most prominent of which is the Radha-Gopinath Ashram located in Mumbai, India. Under his inspiration and guidance, the project has grown to include hospitals, orphanages, a UN-awarded eco-friendly farm, schools, temples, emergency relief programs, and a food distribution program that feeds more than 300,000 children in India every single day. 

In addition, he teaches Eastern philosophy and spiritually throughout Europe, Asia, and America. His wisdom has reached over 100,000,000 views on social media in the last year. He has been featured as a guest speaker at Oxford, Cambridge, Princeton, Harvard, Columbia and Stanford, and at corporations such as HSBC, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Intel and Oracle. Along the way he has met with many a world leader, including Barak Obama and former Prime ministers Tony Blair, David Cameron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Today he shares his story.

This conversation is fueled by my concern for cultural cohesion -- a desire to help mend the vitriolic division and existential tension that is tearing us apart.

Therefore, beyond exploring Radhanath Swami's story of origin, we spend the gravamen of our exchange examining what he calls 'the light'. It's about how to embody the space within ourselves that brims with compassion and empathy -- and why a committed spiritual practice is more important now than ever.

I understand that some may recoil when it comes to topics spiritual. But this is not about religion. And it's not about dogma. Simply put, it's about why love is the answer.

So look past the robe. Set aside preconceived opinions. Open your heart a crack. And be present to receive what this evolved human has to share. If you do, I think this powerful conversation will leave you feeling nourished, more hopeful and immensely more positive about our global predicament. 

Today's mind meld is viewable (via Zoom) on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I hope you enjoy today's episode in the spirit in which it is offered -- with radiant love.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Hot on the heels of Down To Earth -- the #1 hit Netflix series in which he co-stars alongside Zac Efron -- today my superfood hunting, brother-from-another-mother Darin Olien returns for his 4th appearance on the podcast to blow minds and drop wisdom on all things nutrition, hydration, ecological preservation, longevity, and living a high-vibration life.

One of my most popular guests to date, Darin’s biography reads like a Hemingway adventure novel. Devoted to advancing human health, ecological preservation and sustainability, he's spent the better part of the last 20 years embedded in remote farming communities across the Himalayas, South Pacific, Latin America and Asia, scavenging for the most nutritionally potent plants, nuts, and seeds on the planet.

His most recent obsession is Barùkas (aka the baru nut) -- an incredibly nutrient-rich superfood known to the indigenous tribes of the Brazilian Cerrado for millennia, yet virtually unheard of anywhere else. This discovery led to Darin to an epiphany: he could help preserve the Cerrado (which is a tropical savanna ecoregion three times the size of Texas) by employing its indigenous communities to harvest the native baru and importing them to North America. A win-win to preserve precious environmental resources, support indigenous communities, and simultaneously introduce North America to the healthiest nut on the planet.

Everything Darin has learned over the decades is laid bare on the pages of Superlife, his New York Times bestselling primer on all things health and well-being. His 121Tribe.com app will put you on a 21-day lifestyle-changing diet and exercise program. And his recently launched podcast, The Darin Olien Show, is already killing the game.

Down To Earth introduced to a broad, mainstream audience what I've always known about this incredible human:

A man who truly walks his talk, Darin is the real deal.

Picking up where we left off two years ago in RRP 382, Darin and I discuss all things Down To Earth. The show's origins. What it was like collaborating with a global superstar.

May this conversation leave you understanding why Darin is the first person I turn to for advice not just on nutrition and fitness -- but on all manner of subjects related to living my best authentic life.

For those new to me and Big D, we’ve logged about 6 hours of extraordinary back catalog conversation over the years. I highly suggest you visit those archived episodes, which you can find here: RRP 382, RRP 268, and RRP 153.

The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

It is with pride, love and gratitude that I share the wisdom of my friend and mentor with you today.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

When you hear the word ‘addiction’, our attention typically turns to mind-altering substances -- illicit drugs, alcohol, and prescription medications.

Typically overlooked in this conversation? Food.

But food addiction isn't just real, it just might be our biggest problem. In fact, the hyper-industrialized western world is firmly entrenched in an epidemic of dysfunctional eating, fueled by an outsized appetite for an ever-increasing array of highly processed foods that are scientifically designed -- with just the right amount of sugar, salt and fat -- to hijack our nervous system. Enslave us to compulsive habits that lead to illness. And ultimately render us wards of the pharmaceutical industry.

So how does one effectively transition to a healthy diet sustained over time? 

According to Dr. Alan Goldhamer, a great place to start is by fasting. 

I'm not talking about a couple days of drinking juice. I'm talking about nothing but water for upwards of 40 days.

Even with strict medical supervision it sounds like scary quackery. But over the last few decades, Dr. Goldhamer has successfully supervised over 20,000 patient fasts. Along the way, he has seen lives transformed wholesale. Unhealthy eating habit addictions broken. Medications ditched. And countless illnesses overcome.

An iconoclastic pioneer in his field, Dr. Goldhamer is the founder of True North Health Center, one of the first (and largest) facilities in the world that specializes in medically supervised water-only fasting, along with medical and chiropractic services, psychotherapy and counseling, and more.

Today he joins the podcast to walk us through all things fasting, food addiction, and the power of a whole plant diet to prevent and reverse the many chronic lifestyle ailments that unnecessarily impair millions of people across the world.

We explore all things water fasting, from it's origins dating back thousands of years across many cultures and religious traditions to the protocol Dr. Goldhamer administers today.

We discuss how fasting can create the foundation to transition to a sustainable, healthy whole food plant diet.

And we explore why he advocates an 'SOS' (very low salt oil and sugar) version of that diet.

But more than anything, this is a powerful discourse on our uncomfortable relationship with food. How most of us don’t realize we are killing ourselves with our fork and knife. How our food, and our food culture, is making us fat, sick, and frankly miserable. And how almost all of us, despite weight and health, use food as an emotional crutch. 

I'm well aware that Dr. Goldhamer is controversial in certain circles. His approach represents a radical departure from our traditional western medical paradigm. But he also makes a lot of sense. And his results speak for themselves (I have several personal friends who have undergone his protocol).

Final Note: Under no circumstances should anyone undertake a water fast of any length without the medical supervision of a trained professional. In other words, please do not try this at home.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

My hope is that Dr. Goldhamer will inspire you to think more deeply about the body's profound ability to heal itself when treated properly. That food freedom is possible. And that none of us need fall prey to chronic food-borne illness.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Welcome to another edition of Roll On—my bi-monthly deep dive into (semi) current events, topics of audience interest, and of course answers to your questions.

Once again serving up co-host duties is hype man 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, and Men’s Health. He is also the author of One Breath, which chronicles the life and death of America's greatest freediver, and is currently hard at work on a novel.

Some of the many topics explored in today's conversation include:

• Heart rate zones, aerobic training, functional strength & dynamic workouts
• The Beirut explosion, Rich's experiences in Beirut & how you can help 
• The politicization of USPS & compromised integrity of our forthcoming election
• Finding mentors in our every day lives
• Bureo Hat & Net Positiva -- products from recycled fishing nets
• The 30 Day No Single Use Plastic Challenge
• What is going on with QAnon
• LeBron James & Patrick Mahomes tackle voter suppression

In addition, we answer the following listener questions:

• How is creative expression related to well-being?
• How does one move forward post-breakup?
• If there is a through-line of sobriety, diet, and endurance, what is the universal truth that threads them together?
• And my thoughts on Joe Rogan moving from LA to Texas, and the mass exodus of digital workers in this age of work from home. 

Thank you to Camille from Illinois, Gabriel from Puerto Rico, Josh from North Carolina, and John for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page, or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626.  

This is one of my increasingly rare audio-only podcasts — you can find it streaming wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of conversing with many an Olympian, each with a uniquely impressive journey from obscurity to heights most can’t fathom.

But what happens after the medal ceremony wraps, the klieg lights shutter, and the career comes to a close? When your entire life is centered on a moment now passed, how do you then shift overnight from podium to pedestrian? 

One would presume the many skills learned as an athlete -- mindset, focus, discipline, and teamwork -- would translate to seemless success in the civilian world. Ironically, that presumption would be misplaced. In truth, this transition is fraught, and has felled some the greatest competitors among us.

We love to celebrate our Olympic heroes. We relish in the dissection of their habits, wrapt in what makes them tick; what makes them great; and what distinguishes the very best from everyone else -- all in service to that sliver of inspiration and applicability to our own lives.

From private mental health struggles to debt, loss of identity and a lack of opportunities in retirement, the systems sending our athletes to the Olympics aren’t supporting them well in the long haul. And it’s gotta change.

That change begins now, starting with the recently released HBO documentary, The Weight of Gold.

Expanding upon a recurring theme of this podcast, the film presents a potent look at the mental health challenges our Olympians often face from their lived perspective. Executive produced and narrated by Michael Phelps, the world’s most athletically accomplished mental health advocate, it features a myriad of celebrated athletes, including today's guest.

Meet Apolo Ohno, here to help untangle this dark thread that connects those who have stood in the spotlight.

An eight-time Olympic medalist in short track speed skating, Apolo is the most decorated American Olympian at the Winter Olympics, and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019. He is a Twelve-time U.S. champion, a three-time overall World Cup champion and in 2008 he was Overall World Championship gold medalist.

Despite his post-athlete career successes, Apolo knows well the mental perils of elite athleticism. Raised by a single dad, Apolo took his dream all the way to the very top. When it was over he didn't just face what might come next. For the first time he had to discover who he was off the rink--and reimagine his life wholesale.

This is a conversation about what it’s like to have a passion with a shelf life. The mental health repercussions of Olympic pursuit. And the pitfalls of prodigious success at a young age.

More broadly, it's a dialog about why we sabotage ourselves, and how to break this bad habit.

And it’s about deconstructing those preconditioned beliefs we all have about who we are and what we are capable of achieving.

Today, one of history's all-time great Olympians provides a master class in mindset and intention: how to use it to our advantage, and what it takes to break the mold of what is possible. 

My hope is that this conversation will help you form a more holistic idea of who you are and what you seek to offer the world. I hope it encourages you to see the strength in vulnerability and the power in asking for help. 

But more than anything, I hope it breaks whatever illusion you have about what an Olympic athlete is and what an Olympic athlete is not.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May you receive Apolo with an open heart.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

We are living in a moment of compounding collective stress---personal, pandemic, economic, civic, and political. This trauma and tumult comes with side effects both physical and psychological. 

How do we take care of our bodies during this incredibly stressful moment? Furthermore, how do we buttress our immune system to combat the virus?

The answer, we are increasingly coming to understand, begins with the microbiome. In fact, you might be surprised to learn, the gut is home to 70% of our immune system.

To glean a better understanding of what that means, I convened with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a lauded gastroenterologist & gut health guru whose life’s work is devoted to better comprehending the microbiome and the crucial role it plays in all facets of health, from brain function and hormone balance to weight management and everything in between.

Affectionately known as 'Dr. B', Will is a graduate of Georgetown School of Medicine and a former chief medical resident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and chief gastroenterology fellow at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. In addition, he received his Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) from Northwestern University and a certificate in nutrition from Cornell University. He's authored more than twenty articles in the top American gastroenterology journals and his New York Times bestselling book, Fiber Fueled: The Plant Based Gut Health Program For Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome, is a must-read primer on why gut health is so crucial--and everything you need to know to optimize it.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve lamented the mainstream media's lack of attention to caring for our immune system. So today we dive in.

This is a conversation about all things microbiome and gut health. The mechanisms behind it and latest research findings.

We discuss our epidemic of dysbiosis (lack of gut biome balance) and its relation to a litany of chronic diseases that unnecessarily plague too many. 

We explore the gut-brain connection. The paramount need to increase the biodiversity in our bodies and our environments. And (sorry carnivores) why fiber is king.

In addition, in this time of excessive sterilization and sequestration, Dr. B provides practical takeaways on how we can improve our gut flora and optimize our immune system, without putting ourselves and others at risk.

And finally, we talk fecal transplants. Because, let's face it, I can’t have a gastroenterologist on the show and not ask about that.

It was an honor to to converse with Dr. B--a fresh, new mind making big waves on the plant-based, microbiome scene. Passionate, empathetic and whip-smart, I enjoyed every minute. And I promise you will walk away from this episode armed to take your health to the next level.

Note: I first came across Dr. B's work by way of his many appearances on my friend Simon Hill's wonderful Plant Proof Podcast (which you should all check out). The pandemic prevented an in-person exchange, so this conversation was recorded remotely a few months ago. Apologies in advance for any audio issues. We did the best we could.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Welcome to another edition of Roll On—my bi-weekly deep dive into (semi) current events, topics of audience interest, and of course answers to your questions.

Once again 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, and Men’s Health. He is also the author of One Breath, which chronicles the life and death of America's greatest freediver, and is currently hard at work on a novel.

Some of the many topics explored in today's conversation include:

• An update on ultrarunner Tommy Rivs' battle with lymphoma;
• Endurance training first principles;
• Why building a Zone 2 base is critical;
• DHS failures & overreach;
• Cancel culture: the Harper's Letter & Bari Weiss;
• Gear review show & tell; and
• Wins of the week: Kai Lenny & Valarie Allman

In addition we answer the following listener questions:

• How to live with an angry & abusive alcoholic?
• The paralyzing perils of self-help addiction
• Daily habits to thrive
• What changes should be made to public education?
• Is it worth writing and sharing your story?
• How to effectively work with your spouse or partner

Thank you to Jake from Kansas City, Jackson from Wyoming, Adam from Alberta, Canada, Jeremy in Sant Michael, Minnesota, and Henry in Los Angeles for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page, or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626.  

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,

Rich

When you hear the words “professional runner” what image pops into your head?

Most likely it's some version of a skinny white male in tiny shorts.

Let’s just say Mirna Valerio is here to smash that stereotype — and completely redefine what it means to be an accomplished endurance athlete.

She's not White. She's not a dude. And she isn't skinny.

She is a total badass of her own design.

Back for a long-awaited sequel to RRP #340, Mirna is back to drop truth bombs left and right on all things body inclusion, identity, and diversity in the outdoors.

For those new to Mirna, aka the force of nature affectionately known as The Mirnavator, she is one of the most inspirational athletes I have ever met — a true ambassador of sport on a mission to empower humans of all shapes, sizes, colors and genders to proudly embrace their bodies, expand their horizons, and own their personal truth.

Today’s conversation picks up where we last left off, spanning her evolution into a full-time sponsored running professional to her work as as a diversity and inclusion educator.

We talk about identity, and the way in which we see ourselves as the lens through which we interpret the world.

We discuss the difference between body inclusion versus body positivity and acceptance.

We talk about everyday racism in the outdoor world and industry--and the work required to assess and overcome our own internalized unconscious beliefs.

And it's about defining your values and embodying them in your actions--day in and day out.

Mirna’s joyful self-acceptance is both real and rare. It’s authentic and bold. And it's as infectious as it is inclusive. She is totally unapologetic, far from sheepish, and 100% herself.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I must confess: after almost 130 days in relative quarantine, melancholy has crept up on me. But there is something about Mirna’s gleeful demeanor that cheered me up.

I think she will cheer you up as well. Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,

Rich

In the words of today's guest, "we are in a moment of acute collective suffering."

I couldn't agree more.

From our nation’s current civil rights struggles to a metastasizing global pandemic, the pain is real, exacerbated by acurrent political system that seems hardwired to exacerbate problems, yet rather inept at actually solving them.

Fomenting a collective sense of existential dread is the dark beast of climate change, an accelerating background hum that can leave even the most optimistic among us feeling powerless. Because we are not nearing the edge of a cliff. We have already flung ourselves off.

Hitting the brakes isn't enough. We need to jam the engine into reverse. We need an immediate call to action. We need a 'Manhattan Project' scale approach to reckon with the objective truth of our dire predicament.

Margaret Klein Salamon, PhD is here to guide us. 

A Harvard graduate and self-dubbed “climate psychologist,” Margaret is the founder and executive director of The Climate Mobilization, a volunteer organization dedicated to initiating a transformation of the economy, politics, and society to respond to the climate emergency. She is also the author of  Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth, an emotional guide to processing our impending apocalypse, and the subject of today's exchange.

Recorded remotely in early June, this is a conversation about our emotional response to climate change, and tools for contributing to the positive change required of us.

It's about the intersectionality of the climate crisis--it’s ties to the pandemic as well as the protests.

It’s about the inherent conflict between capitalism and environmentalism--and how we must de-couple corporate self-interest from the public good. 

And it’s about how to deal with weaponized media and the way in which we are being spoon-fed lies by conglomerated industry over-invested in maintaining the status quo.

But more than anything, this is a discourse about effective altruism--and the actionable steps we can take now to backtrack from the global suicide we are nearing.

It's normal to feel disheartened. Action seems futile. And 2020 has maxed out our collective bandwidth when it comes to crises and revolutions. But embracing the truth and finding a way to contribute to positive change is not only mandatory -- it’s a path to hope. To girding your life with more meaning, inclusion and empathy.

This is one of my increasingly rare audio-only podcasts. You can find the is streaming wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Margaret’s ideologies have totally reframed how I perceive, address, and talk about the climate crisis. My hope is that her words offer you a perspective that is honest and hopeful.

But more than anything, my hope is that it inspires you to do something.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Welcome to another edition of Roll On—my bi-weekly deep dive into (semi) current events, topics of audience interest, and of course answers to your questions.

Serving up hype-man 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, and Men’s Health. He is the author of One Breath, which chronicles the life and death of America's greatest freediver, and is currently hard at work on a novel.

Today's conversation begins with a quick update on my forthcoming book Voicing Change and the subscription offering we are currently building.

We then pivot to ruminations on goal setting based upon my personal experience and that of my many past guests.

We talk about the latest coverage of the coronavirus, spikes across the country, the mask-authoritarianism debate, and the current constitutional crisis occurring in Portland.

We honor the legacy of John Lewis, exploring his history and many accomplishments, including his pivotal role in the civil rights movement.

We shoutout my friends Utkarsh Ambudkar and Darin Olien and their respective Netflix offerings: We Are Freestyle Love Supreme and Down to Earth--both mandatory quarantine viewing. We discuss the KFC-Beyond Chicken collaboration debut. And we send some love to legendary ultra runner Tommy Rivs — a beloved athlete and friend currently in the ICU (now in a coma since recording) suffering from undiagnosed COVID-like symptoms and severe respiratory distress. If you're able, please consider a donation to Tommy's GoFundMe to ameliorate medical expenses. A little goes a long way.

And finally, we switch gears to answer a few questions submitted by audience members on our Facebook Group page and voicemail.

• How can we best ration our time between consumption and creation?
• What can we do to abate feelings of powerlessness and fatalism about the future of humanity and the planet?
• How do you maintain sanity while both working and being a parent and part-time teacher during this unique time in history? And
• How do you ease into running?

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Thank you to Patrick Dean, Bel Rumi, Joe from Pittsburgh, Bill Lawrence and Julie from Minnesota for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page, or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626. 

I'm digging this new format. I hope you find it equal parts entertaining and informative.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Past the ripe age of 25, we are fully cooked; calcified in our ways. So dispense with the idea of learning a new language, skill, or thought pattern—it’s just not happening.

But what if that idea is simply false?

What if I told you that you actually have the power to change your brain and reprogram your perception, irrespective of age?

This is the life’s work of today’s guest, Andrew Huberman, Ph.D.

A neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine, Andrew specializes in neuroplasticity--the brain's ability to reorganize and repair itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. In addition, his work in the Huberman Lab at Stanford has been featured on the pages of Science, Discover, Scientific American, Time, and the New York Times, not to mention countless peer-reviewed journals.

First and foremost, this is a conversation about what it really takes to shift our thought patterns.

A master class on all things neuroplasticity, Dr. Huberman walks us through the brain's inherent ability to modify itself based on experience and how we can advantageously leverage this process--through focus, mindfulness and restorative sleep--to not only learn new skills but also improve all essential aspects of well-being.

We cover his research in self-motivation, and how we can hijack our dopamine systems and optimize stress to move forward in difficult situations. 

We discuss the inner workings of our nervous systems and how we can use our physical bodies—our diaphragms and visual systems—to access and optimize certain states of mind.

And we also explore Dr. Huberman’s personal transformation. How he transcended family dysfunction and his days as a punk rock skater truant. And the most unlikely path he blazed to becoming the celebrated scientist he is today.

Andrew teaches us that to shift the way that you function, changing your behavior is the first step. 

I just see it as the science backing my favorite mantra -- mood follows action.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Appetizer: People seemed to enjoy my previous brief check-in segments with Mishka Shubaly and Nadia Bolz-Weber so I thought I’d do it again. Today’s main course warm-up comes courtesy of my friend Utkarsh Ambudkar, the linguistically dexterous musician, actor and rapper longtime listeners will recall from RRP #373. The occasion is the release of We Are Freestyle Love Supreme--a must see documentary that chronicles a tribe of über-talented artists--including UTK and one Lin-Manuel Miranda--from humble beginnings to Broadway superstardom. I love this film. Check it immediately on Hulu (and no, this is not a sponsored thing).

I am super impressed by Andrew, his story and the crucial work he is doing. And grateful for the practical tools graciously shared today.

May this exchange serve to expand your perception, capabilities, and worldview.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

A powerful primer on all matters pandemic pertinent, today Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM returns for his fourth appearance on the podcast to answer all your coronavirus queries and more.

A graduate of Cornell University and Tufts University School of Medicine as well as a founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Greger is the nutrition science wizard behind NutritionFacts.org — the world’s most authoritative, non-profit, science-based public service destination for all things nutrition, health and disease prevention.

His massively popular books, including How Not to Die, How Not To Diet, and their cookbook analogues, all became instant New York Times Best Sellers and crowned Dr. Greger a media darling, his excitable face popping up everywhere from The Dr. Oz Show to The Colbert Report.

Less well known is the fact that, prior to his focus on nutrition, Dr. Greger had an entire career as an internationally-recognized expert on public health. A specialist in emerging infectious diseases, he's been sounding the pandemic alarm for over a decade.

Back then, nobody was listening. Now they are. To wit, Dr. Greger's latest release, How To Survive A Pandemic, now available in audiobook and kindle with a paperback version hitting the shelves August 18, forms the basis of today's conversation.

Today's exchange is hyper focused on the public and political health disaster that is the novel coronavirus. The even more deadly impending H7N9 bird flu. And the common thread between these and other zoonotic diseases: humanity's broken relationship with animals.

In general terms, I seize the opportunity to ask Dr. Greger his expert opinion on all my (and perhaps your) lingering questions about what exactly is happening. Where it started. Where it's going. How we prevent future pandemics. And how we survive this one.

And perhaps the most fundamental question of all, how can we stop the emergence of pandemics in the first place?

The answer begins with the dismantling of our industrialized factory farming infrastructure.

Not only are America’s factory farms vile for the animals and the workers that slaughter them, but they are essentially breeding grounds for future pandemics. This is a call for the eradication of these systems--a moral imperative if we want to preserve not only our environment but the long-term viability of our species.

This is an important, alarming, and downright terrifying moment of truth. So pay attention.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you're new to the show and interested in exploring Dr. Greger's work in nutrition, jump back to RRP #7, #199, and #522.

It’s scary out there folks, but Dr. G, ever the enthusiastic optimist, remains hopeful. That gives me hope. And hopefully gives you a little. hope too.

In the meantime, be kind.

Peace + Plants,

Rich Roll

Welcome to the third installment of Roll On—my bi-weekly deep dive into (semi) current events, topics of audience interest, and of course answers to your questions.

Serving up co-host duties is Adam Skolnick, an activist and veteran journalist is 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 exciting announcements: an update on a new book I'm close to completing and a premium subscription offering I am currently contemplating.

We then pivot to ruminations on a few noteworthy current events. Adam and I share thoughts on everything from writer’s block and cancel culture to the conspiratorial bent that is shifting the character of certain swaths of the wellness community.

We talk Kanye, including my experience attending his Sunday Service.

We explore the manner in which people become manipulated by the vicissitudes of the YouTube algorithm—and why we should all be on high alert when it comes to the quality of our media diet.

And we each share a few tidbits of good news.

We then switch gears to answer a handful of questions submitted by audience members on our Facebook Group page:

• How do you find purpose?
• What are the secrets to maintaining goals?
• How can we be more mindful? 
• What is the nature of cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias?

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Finally, I would love your feedback to help inform my thinking on a premium subscription offering (don't worry the podcast will always be free). Let me know your thoughts in the survey pinned to the top of our Facebook Group Page, where you can also submit questions for future episodes. We're also going to create a voicemail for future questions to be read on air.

I'm having fun with this new format. I hope you find it equal parts entertaining and informative. 

In the words of Guru Singh, right now more than ever we all need less emotion and more devotion.

I challenge you to embody this.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Over the last several episodes, I’ve endeavored to shoulder healthy and thoughtful conversations about what matters most right now — the pandemic, racial injustice, systemic racism, police brutality and food injustice.

Today we shift from that somber gear for an interlude of reprieve.

Enter entertainment’s ultimate plant-based father-daughter duo: Kevin Smith and Harley Quinn Smith.

For the few unfamiliar among us, Kevin is an indie film making legend, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author and early podcast pioneer — a voice I credit as a huge influence on my personal career behind a microphone.

In 1994, Kevin burst into prominence with his hyper low-budget comedy Clerks, a film he wrote, directed, co-produced, and filmed in the convenience store where he worked. Premiering at Sundance, it was fêted with the festival’s highest award before going on to become an indie cult classic.

In addition to countless appearances in both movies and television, Kevin has created a litany of films, affectionately and collectively referred to by his many rabid fans as the View Askewiverse, a nod to Kevin’s production shingle, View Askew Productions.

Returning to his roots (did he ever leave?), Kevin toured his latest film, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (featuring names like Chris Hemsworth and Ben Affleck) to roadshow box office success, promoting it with pre-pandemic live events in over 60 cities across North America.

An iconic and beloved character amongst indie film fans and comic book nerds, Kevin has always been immediately recognizable and famous for his hockey jerseys, backward hat and well, his weight.  But in February of 2018, Kevin had a near-fatal heart attack.

A lifestyle change was needed. Desperately. Enter Harley.

An actress, animal rights activist and bass player for the bubblegum punk band, The Tenth, Harley suggested —some might say coerced—Kevin to adopt her plant-based ways. Kevin obliged. In short, he dropped 50 pounds and kept the weight off. His blood work normalized. And the rest is history.

Together they recently launched Vegan Abattoir—a daddy daughter podcast affair that provides plant-based answers to the vegan-curious questions they get from a meat-eating and dairy-drinking audience. Dare you enter? If so you can catch yours truly in episode 2.

Picking up where I left off with Kevin in last year’s barnburner 2.5 hour Vulcan mind meld (RRP #433), Today’s discussion centers primarily on veganism and animal rights. What led Harley to adopt this lifestyle, the way it has transformed her life, and that of her Dad. 

It’s about the many projects these two have up their sleeve, from restaurants to non-profits, to upcoming films.

It’s a peek into the life of a Hollywood family, and the complicated dynamics of the movie biz and stardom — including a touching remembrance of Stan Lee and the story behind Harley landing a Manson girl part in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

The gleeful banter between Harley and Kevin is infectious. And while this conversation is light, I promise there is much to be gleaned — especially if you are new to the vegan world or perhaps contemplating a more-plant based approach to your plate and life.

I’ve interviewed a lot of people. Few are as skilled as Kevin in the art of conversation. And Harley just made it all so much better. Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,

Rich

Today I reconnect with my friends John Salley & John Lewis to discuss the black experience, race in America, food injustice, and where we go from here.

A legit living legend, John Salley is the first basketball player in history to win four NBA championships with three different teams -- the Pistons, Bulls & Lakers -- in three different decades.

A long-time vegan, Salley is also a passionate animal rights and healthy nutrition advocate (which we discussed in RRP 180). In addition, he’s an absolutely relentless entrepreneur, involved in a myriad of enterprises from vegan wine to cannabis.

A prominent, ultra-positive voice in the vegan movement, John Lewis -- aka The Badass Vegan -- is a public speaker, personal trainer, and entrepreneur who can now add filmmaker to the resume. In partnership with mutual friend Keegan Kuhn (RRP 91, 176, 278, & 397), the co-director behind Cowspiracy, What The Health, and Running For Good, John is inching towards completion of They’re Trying To Kill Us -- a powerful upcoming documentary that examines the impact of food & health injustice on disenfranchised African American communities (a subject I first explored with John in RRP 260).

Today we break bread. Black Lives Matter. Police misconduct. The pernicious nature of systemic racism. How religious institutions embed white supremacy.

We also discuss the importance of black leadership and entrepreneurship. And we close with thoughts on food injustice -- how our broken food system negatively and disproportionately impacts communities of color.

But most of all, this is a conversation about what is necessary to make things right. What black and brown communities need from white allies. And the ways in which we can grow, change, and do better -- together.

Note: Check out the recently released and incredibly compelling trailer for They're Trying To Kill Us. Then visit the film's Indiegogo campaign to learn how you can support the film.

Language Advisory: This one is packed with expletives, so pop on the earbuds if you got kiddos in the backseat.

Finally, I suspect this will be an uncomfortable conversation for some; maybe for many. I invite you to listen or watch with an open mind and heart. 

Notwithstanding, these guys are a total blast. I love them both. I'm grateful for their friendship -- and their honesty.

The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  

Strap in.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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:

1. How do we move past the stories that hold us back?
2. When do you remain open and when do you stand your ground?
3. How do you deal with imposter syndrome?
4. How do you deal with conflict? And
5. 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

 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 Spotify.

This is a special conversation. I'm better for having had it. I hope you will be similarly impacted.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 religious and political to educational and judicial.

And it’s about confronting the pernicious manner in which racism lives, breathes, and persists — often completely unconsciously — within ourselves.

This country has arrived at a critical crossroads. A choice to implode or heal. The higher path demands responsibility. The awakening requires we examine history from a different perspective. It demands we define our personal and national values. And it dictates that we align those values with action. To dismantle what is broken. To rebuild our institutions. To reframe our relationships -- and ourselves.

I’m grateful to Byron & Phil for their openness, patience & vulnerability. For sharing their perspective on race, personal encounters with racism, and stories of pain.

The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I truly believe that conversations like this are crucial if we want to finally transcend our past, learn, grow, and lead by example.

To echo Cornel West, what we don’t need are lukewarm folk. We don’t need 'summer soldiers’. 

What we need are all season love warriors.

It is this spirit that I offer today's conversation. May you receive it with an open heart.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 come on the theme of race. Over the upcoming weeks I will be sharing impactful conversations with a variety of people of color, including Byron Davis, Phil Allen, Jr., Knox Robinson, John Lewis (aka 'Badass Vegan'), John Salley, Shaka Senghor, Neil Phillips and many others. In the interim, I encourage you to explore the many copious resources listed in the show notes below. Read. Listen. Challenge yourself. Get active. Donate if you're able.

The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

To coin Cornel West's phrase, what we need right now is 'all season love warriors.'

It is in that spirit that I offer this exchange -- with gratitude and respect for all my brothers and sisters.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 of growing your own at home. And the power of this practice to economically revolutionize your relationship with nutrition.

In addition, we of course discuss all things Juicero. What happened. What can be gleaned from its demise. And the lessons Doug learned to better inform the decisions faced by every entrepreneur and business owner.

Note: My first in-person interview since the start of the pandemic, this conversation (recorded on June 1 after conducting on site antibody tests) preceded my ability to timely schedule African American community leaders to directly converse on the historic events of the current moment. That said, I can assure you that I will be conducting several conversations with such leaders over the coming weeks.

The visually inclined can watch our conversation on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

If your familiarity with Doug is limited to hyperbolic Juicero headlines, I ask that you set aside whatever pre-conceived notions you may harbor -- and prepare to be delighted. 

A dear friend for many years, Doug is a beautiful man. A wonderful character unlike any human I have ever met. And a true example of selfless service to others.

May you be equal parts entertained and enlightened by our exchange.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 acclimate to the rapidly changing circumstances that face us all.

It's about how to make better decisions. And ultimately, how to create opportunity out of calamity.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

James is one of my most favorite people. He’s a natural and gifted conversationalist, his ideas are easily deciphered, and packed with the perfect amount of humor and data-backed insight.

To some degree, we are all being called to reinvent ourselves right now. May this conversation help serve that process.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 lifestyle practices.

In addition, we explore how commercial influence corrodes nutrition science. How to parse the incredibly conflicting information we are spoon-fed daily by the media and celebrities alike.

And finally, it’s about separating evidence-based science from confirmation bias.

Note: This conversation was recorded in February, so it's coronavirus free zone. For Dr. G’s take on our current state of affairs, check out his new audiobook released this week, How To Survive A Pandemic — a breakdown on the origins of zoonotic disease, how to protect ourselves, and what we must rectify to reduce the likelihood of future catastrophes.

Dr. Greger is truly one of the most delightful, relentless, passionate, and service-minded humans I have ever met.

It's an honor to share this conversation. My hope is that it catalyzes a new perspective on nutrition for yourself and your loved ones.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 food addiction head on.

I can't bring Dave back. Nor can I begin to measure his positive impact on myself and countless others. What I can do is honor his life and legacy. So today, RRP alums Mishka Shubaly and Josh LaJaunie -- both close friends of Dave -- join me to eulogize him, followed by a re-release of my first conversation with Dave, recorded in November, 2014 (RRP #113).

More Dave Clark: If Dave's message resonates with you, check out RRP #290, my 2nd podcast with him published almost exactly three years ago. It's a banger.

Dave was a sober warrior unlike any other. He wrung every last drop out of life. He was deeply loved and will be terribly missed.

Let his story be a beacon. A reminder that when the body, mind and spirit align with faith, human potential is truly boundless.

Run free, my friend. Run free.

Peace + Plants,

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 YouTube. And as always, the conversation streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

If you've experienced loss and the grief that accompanies it, may Guru Singh's gentle and loving energy, soothing words, and new perceptions guide you through your difficulties.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 Impossible Row. The intention behind his new book and the process of birthing it. And a deep dive into human potential and the infinite love that fuels his.

Immediately following this initial exchange is an additional 30-minute discourse specific to the National Geographic scuffle appended to the audio version of the podcast and viewable as a stand-alone piece here & below.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube -- where we separated the main podcast conversation and Colin’s thoughts in response to the article into two distinct videos. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

As Colin and I are both fond of repeating, we all sit atop mountains of untapped potential. May this conversation help you tap yours.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 public perception. And stand as a beacon of hope and possibility for those who will come after him.

This is a conversation about Chris’s unique life. His transition. His trials. And his tribulations.

It’s about the privileges of gender, race, and class.

It’s about what it’s like having your very existence up for debate, and how our country is treating so many of her citizens as non-humans.

For context, consider that 41% of trans youth attempt suicide. Horrific and unacceptable, it's a statistic that must change. Together we can do better. So it is with pride that I share Chris’ story, bravery, and vulnerability with you today.

Note: This conversation was recorded pre-pandemic, thus there is no mention of the coronavirus. May this episode provide a significant and thoughtful reprieve from your 24/7 pandemic news feed.

And for something new & different: Today's appetizer to the main course is Nadia Bolz-Weber -- my favorite heavily tattooed Lutheran pastor from RRP #428 -- who drops in to talk quarantine, 'grace for fuckups' and her fabulous new podcast, The Confessional.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I sincerely hope you find this exchange as revealing and enlightening as I did.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 might have caught one of his recent appearances on Real Time With Bill Maher, CNN or Fox News, where he's been advocating for a more data-driven, targeted public health response to coronavirus.

It's a strategy he calls vertical interdiction. It's (strangely) controversial. And it's the focus of today’s conversation — a nuanced discourse on improving how we consider and navigate the landmines of this unique global predicament.

I appreciate David's thoughtful perspective and his commitment to service (including treating COVID-19 patients on the outbreak frontlines in the Bronx). He’s eloquent and data-driven. Evidence-based and no-nonsense. And quite charming to boot.

To anyone suffering from the virus or the effects of it, my heart goes out to you. This pandemic is hurting us all, some in more catastrophic ways than others. I hope Dr. Katz’s words bring you comfort — he gets as close as he can to providing us with the answers we are all so desperately seeking.

The visually inclined can watch it go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

It’s an honor to share his perspective with all of you today. May you receive it with an open mind and heart.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 think Ingrid's message is profoundly of the moment given the undeniable role animal agriculture plays in fomenting disease.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In this moment of forced repose, my hope is that we reflect on humanity's misguided entitlement to dominion over all things. Our intelligence is not the gauge of the animal kingdom. And our relationship with the living beings with whom we share this imperiled planet is broken.

Ingrid is here to recalibrate that relationship.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 read ignited a realization that I continue to harbor unhealed wounds. Simple, straightforward and profound, I discovered practices not just helpful, but truly transformative. I wanted to know more.

Today we unpack Kamal's heroic journey of the heart.

It’s a conversation about his trials and his triumphs. His divine moment. The path of self-discovery that followed. And what he learned surviving a recent near death experience.

It’s about how he learned to love himself. The simple routine he deploys to maintain it. And why this practice is essential to living an examined, self-actualized life of presence, purpose and contentment.

For the stoics and skeptics, I implore you to set aside whatever resistance you may be feeling right now. And give this one a shot with an open mind and heart.

Note: This conversation was recorded pre-pandemic (February 12, 2020), thus there is no coronavirus reference. Nonetheless, Kamal's wisdom is timeless. Moreover, the practices we discuss are powerful tools of self-discovery than can prove transformative as we navigate this challenging time.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Kamal’s vulnerability is refreshing. I love this conversation and the friendship it has birthed. I hope it serves you as it did me.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 with the RRP's favorite lap dog Mishka Shubaly. To get a little taste for his flavor of quarantine. To celebrate the 7th anniversary of our bromance. And because my self-deprecating, gravelly voiced brother from another mother has a new must-listen Audible Original called Cold Turkey: How To Quit Drinking By Not Drinking.

May these exchanges lift your spirits in this bizarre moment we are collectively experiencing.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 cybersecurity in a post 9-11 world. And the lessons he learned from his time as a spy.

It's a conversation about the importance of reading and deep learning— training yourself to remember everything you read and how to apply it to your life.

And it’s about developing your mind and thought processes to create a competitive advantage.

But more than anything, this is a conversation about distilling wisdom into teachable formulae for living a better, more fulfilling, more wholesome life.

Because how we decide is how we live.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Note: this conversation was recorded on February 11, 2020 -- weeks prior to the alternate reality we find ourselves in today. Therefore, there is no talk about the pandemic. Nonetheless, Shane's wisdom and experience is both timeless and timely. I suspect you will find this exchange instructive and helpful in navigating the perils of our current situation.

If you are interested in Shane's pandemic related thoughts, he recently penned an excellent piece on Farnam Street entitled What You Truly Value.

I’m grateful for this exchange and am better for it. My hope is that you find Shane as dynamic and helpful as I did.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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, mental, and emotional strength it took to conquer a challenge of breathtaking magnitude.

It’s about the obstacles faced and overcome. The lessons learned. And the importance of giving back.

It’s about audacious dreams. Unbridled adventure. And the courage required to jump into the unknown without a safety net.

But more than anything, this is a conversation about this fleeting, shared experience we call life — and what we can all learn from Nick's example about ourselves and our place in the world.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Note: This podcast was recorded pre-pandemic (on January 28, 2020).

Reminder: I recently created a Facebook Group for fans of the show to to congregate. Click here to join.

I think you're going to fall in love with Nick. I sure did.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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. Taking a hard look at our institutional failures. And the systems that perpetuate them. 

But more than anything, this a conversation about standing in our fear. As we delicately wade through the muddy waters of media calamity, conspiracy theories, and fake news, it's about learning how to listen. How to feel. And how to excite the senses around the quiet call that change is actualizing. 

Without minimizing the severity of what is and what is to come, this truly is our opportunity to cast a new world.

May Charles Eisenstein be our gentle steward.

Audio Note: This podcast was recorded remotely. Therefore, please excuse the audio quality, a somewhat eroded version of what you’ve come to expect.

Facebook Group: I have been remiss in not previously announcing that I recently created a Facebook Group for fans of the show to to congregate. Click here to join.

I'm honored to host today's discourse. May it leave you better than you were before.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 system of food production.

But ultimately, this is a conversation about empathy. It’s about practicing what you preach. And the strategies required to create sustainable change to forge a better world for all.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Note: For those who shut down at the mere mention of animal rights, I ask only that you set aside your preconceived judgments. Because this conversation isn’t just about the suffering of animals. It’s about the suffering of people. And it’s about a system that is hoodwinking us all, including the chicken farmer with his boots in the ground.

Final Note: this conversation was recorded pre-pandemic on January 31, 2020. Our world has since changed. But given what we are learning about the relationship between large-scale intensive animal farming and the propagation of disease, Leah's message, experience and wisdom is more relevant now than ever

I am grateful for Leah's advocacy and passion. May you find this conversation as impactful as I did.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 book — and this conversation — is a contemplation of universal issues: love, loss, forgiveness, transformation, and belief.

This conversation was recorded pre-pandemic. However, the wisdom is timeless. Shining a light on the shared human condition, IN-Q provides a dynamic lens through which to think about ourselves and the world -- something we need now more than ever.

Today I shine that light on him. And what a glorious exchange it is.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. In addition to the two poems performed during the podcast, we also filmed a third poetic performance post-podcast which you can view here. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Provocative, entertaining and refreshingly honest, IN-Q is unlike any other.

May his presence, wisdom, experience, and poetry help you reimagine your truth.

Peace + Plants,

Rich Roll

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 aspire that we emerge from this planetary wake up call not as victims, but empowered -- armed with greater clarity to reimagine and actualize a better, more sustainable, purposeful, intentional and fulfilling life experience for ourselves, our loved ones, future generations and frankly the world at large.

I can think of few people better equipped to traverse this terrain than Zach, alongside me for his fourth appearance on the show.

Well worth your undivided attention, today he shares his unique perspective on the coronavirus epidemic in a conversation that goes behind what is happening. How to best navigate it. And what the pandemic signifies for humanity and the future of planetary ecology.

Audio Note: This podcast was recorded remotely. My first since the earliest days of the podcast, I admit a severe allergy to this dynamic. Being physically present with my guest is crucial to providing an optimal listening experience. However, sequestration demands I adapt. So this is my fairly reluctant attempt to do just that. Therefore, please excuse the audio quality, a somewhat eroded version of what you’ve come to expect. Sub-par bandwidth and latency issues impeded our ability to converse as naturally as I would have preferred -- more staccato back and forth than my hallmark organic flow.

Zach has a knack for landing our podcasts with unmatched profundity. And today he delivers a master class in thinking both deeply and broadly about this unique situation we are collectively experiencing.

I love this man. I’m grateful for his wisdom. And I’m proud to share it with you today.

May you find it equal parts instructive, enlightening and moving -- especially the end.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 began treating his patients not with pharmaceuticals and surgical interventions but instead with diet and lifestyle protocols -- specifically a whole-food, plant-based diet and active lifestyle -- he started getting unprecedented results.

Over time, he observed his patients miraculously reverse a litany of chronic ailments, including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, hypertension, obesity, adult onset diabetes, and even some forms of arthritis, asthma, and autoimmune disease.

Today Dr. Klaper shares his wisdom and experience, picking up where we left off in our first podcast conversation, published six years ago to the day (RRP #77).

We discuss his mission to help empower the next generation of doctors to better heal their patients.

And we explore his dream of eradicating the chronic lifestyle epidemics that unnecessarily afflict millions of people every single year.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The most energetic and youthful 72-year old I've ever met, I aspire to this beautiful and gentle man's enthusiasm for life and commitment to service.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange.

In the meantime, stay safe everyone. We're in this together.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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

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 hope to those that currently suffer -- because there is a solution.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

If you need help, seek out an A.A. meeting in your area here. Or call the Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Thanks to my friends Amy Dresner (RRP #341) and Jeff Gordinier (RRP #453) for introducing me to Dan. And thank you to Dan for being so open and vulnerable. This conversation is a doozie. I'm better for having it. May it impact you similarly.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 live a long and fulfilling life.

Not surprisingly, it begins with food. It extends to building better communities. It's underscored by finding purpose. And sharing what you've learned for the betterment of others.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Hero, friend and mentor, Dan is a true visionary whose life and work has positively, permanently and quite unequivocally improved the well being of millions.

I love this man. I aspire to his level of impact. And it's an honor to share his powerful message with you today. May you take his wisdom to heart.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 honest truth is that it was a very proud moment. An honor I receive with gratitude. A symbol for the many difficult choices I have made. And the faith I was compelled to endure with a whopping dose of humility.

Alongside this honor was the opportunity to be a guest on the Outside Podcast. It's an interview conducted by Peter Vigneron (who penned my Outside cover profile) that was in turn beautifully produced, written, and edited by Michael Roberts with music by Robbie Carver.

Over the years, I’ve had the honor to guest on many of the world's top podcasts. I’ve been on Joe Rogan twice (JRE #642 & #266) and other great programs like Impact Theory, Good Life Project, School of Greatness, Gary Vee, Adam Carolla, Chase Jarvis, James Altucher and many others.

I’ve never repurposed any of those experiences on this feed.

But this conversation distinguishes itself. A beautiful meditation that best captures how I think about the path I've blazed. And what can be gleaned from lessons learned for the benefit of others.

So I’m doing what I’ve never done before, resharing that conversation with you here today.

Thank you Michael, Peter and everyone at Outside for sharing my story. And special thanks to photographer Beau Grealy for his cover image and the wonderful portraits that accompanied that article and this episode. All of it means means more than you know.

If you’re stuck in your version of my past and can’t see the way forward, my hope is that this conversation will help spark a shift in perspective that will inspire you to think more openly about possibility. Embolden you to embark upon your version of what I have been blessed to experience. And bring life to the more self-actualized, authentic self within.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 grave.

And it’s about what it means to live a 'No Excuse' life.

This conversation isn’t just for women. And it’s not just for athletes or those interested in exploring the world of mind-bending endurance sports.

This one is for anyone and everyone looking to break the glass ceiling on human potential.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This stubbornly courageous woman deserves far more credit for her accomplishments than the media has delivered to date. I feel an obligation to change that.

May her testimony leave you inspired to finally put your excuses in the rearview. Because the time is now to create the aspirational life you deserve.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 related, Sadie and Miguel nonetheless consider themselves brother and sister.

So, we talk about that.

We discuss how Sadie's love of motion, creativity and teaching informs her particular strain of entrepreneurship and activism.

We talk about what it means to not just create a business -- but a movement. The importance of serendipity in the world of fitness. And why physical balance also requires spiritual balance.

Finally, we explore Sadie's commitment to empowering women. To cultivating their voices. And sharing their stories.

But more than anything, this is a conversation about the importance of defining your values. Staying true no matter what. And creating the change you want to see in yourself and the world -- even if it requires risking everything.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

If you enjoyed my conversation with Kelly McGonigal, you’re going to love Sadie.

May you find this conversation as enlightening and transformative as I did.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 them to be. So just an alert that this episode is neither family friendly nor workplace approved. So pop on the earbuds if you got kiddos in the backseat. And If you’re easily offended, perhaps this one isn’t your cup of tea.

500 episodes. It feels good. So good, I wore a coat and tie to mark the occasion, which you can of course watch on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Here's to celebrating with those you love dearly.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 prediabetes.

But is this actually true?

Today Cyrus & Robby put this paradigm to the test.

While it is true that a low carb approach may improve short-term blood glucose control, such a diet also increases the long-term risk for an array of chronic diseases.

Although it may sound counter-intuitive, perhaps even radical, the hard science is ironically quite clear: eating a high carbohydrate, low fat, plant-based whole-food diet rich in fruit (yes, fruit) and vegetables is actually the most powerful way to reverse insulin resistance in all types of diabetes -- while also simultaneously preventing a litany of chronic disorders typically linked to today's popular low-carb approach.

Whether or not you have diabetes, chances are you care for someone who does. For those who fall into this category, I truly believe that this conversation is potentially life-saving.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I appreciate the work these two young men are doing to positively impact a disease that unnecessarily debilitates millions. It's an honor to share their message. And . I sincerely hope you take it to heart.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 that contribute to biological degeneration. And we go further into the current state of research to better understand what contributes to aging and what can be done to counteract it.

Call him a dreamer, but David believes living to 200+ is a plausible reality. If you could double your lifespan, how would this impact how you choose to live? What would it mean for the future of humanity? And for the ecological stability of the planet? The implications are profound.

Equal parts philosophic and scientific, this conversation will forever change the way you think about why you age and what you can do about it. And it will leave you armed simple lifestyle practices you can deploy -- intermittent fasting, cold exposure, exercising with the right intensity, and eating less meat -- that will help you live younger and healthier for longer.

Brilliant and lovely, it’s an honor to once again share this man's wisdom with you today. So break out that pen and paper, because you're going to want to take notes on this one.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the episode.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 half, I've had the privilege of observing her in action -- at work, on stage, and at home. Let's just say it's all very impressive.

Today she shares her story.

It's a conversation about an entrepreneurial journey that humbly began with cleaning houses before founding Wedding List -- a company she built and later sold, leading to lessons learned working tricky stretches under powerful women like Martha Stewart and Susie Hilfiger.

It's about the experience that motivated her to start Beautycounter, and the unorthodox decisions that followed. Like the 1,500 potentially harmful ingredients that she vowed never to use in her products. And eschewing retail for a direct-to-consumer business model driven by a network of independent consultants.

But more than anything, this is a powerful primer on the perils of conventional beauty products that will leave you completely rethinking what you put on your body (and your children's bodies) -- and well armed to make more educated decisions about the companies and products you patronize going forward.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Gregg is a true force of nature. And this conversation is a gift. May you receive it with gratitude.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 and three dogs, has converted a cabin on 150 acres into Milkweed Inn -- a bed and breakfast where she serves up her trademark 'new gatherer' cuisine to small groups of just 10 people over weekends between May and October.

Today Iliana shares her story.

It's a deeply personal conversation about her love of food, foraging and the great outdoors.

It’s about identity and sexual politics. How a little girl who longed to be a boy navigated childhood growing up gay in an intolerant community.

It’s about alcoholism and what comes with it. The usual stuff. Like running away from cops in handcuffs. Having sex in bar bathrooms. And using car keys to bump cocaine.

And it's about sobriety. How Iliana ultimately transformed into a phenom of knife and pen. Celebrated for both her literary and culinary talents. And a woman who has made an indelible mark as a pioneer of ‘new gatherer’ cuisine in an industry dominated by men.

Final note of gratitude to Jeff Gordinier for introducing me to Iliana. Love you my friend.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May you be as delighted by this exchange as I am.

Peace + Plants,

Rich

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 of this endeavor.

In between his feats of artistic and endurance grandeur, Rickey hosts adventure running retreats called Bus Run Bus and Hut Run Hut, with a trail run adventure retreat in Japan scheduled for September 2020.

What strikes me most is Rickey's profound empathy for people. His curiosity about the world. His poetic lens on the human condition. And his multi-disciplinarian vision for a better more unified world.

Running's Jack Kerouac, it's not often you encounter a human as present, thoughtful, and creative as Rickey. A man who reminds me that we can all connect more profoundly with our natural environments and communities. Express ourselves more authentically. And love more deeply.

Today, Rickey shares his story. And it is an absolute gift.

I encourage you to watch it all go down on YouTube, as we weave in footage from Rickey's cross-country run and the upcoming film Transamericana. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

My hope is that this conversation will leave you deeply touched -- and better than before.

Peace + Plants,

Rich