The COVID-19 pandemic has been a perilous global moment that has indelibly changed all our lives. As we approach the one-year anniversary of societal shut-down, I find it opportune to reflect on how we are reacting, responding and adapting to it—for better or worse. In other words: How is your anxiety level? What habits, good or bad, have you formed in these past 12 months to cope with the insanity and uncertainty of having life upended and placed on indefinite hold? And most importantly—how are...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 586
This is a story of spiritual swindlers. Sober living scammers. Underground insurance fraud. And widespread institutional neglect. In today’s edition of ‘Roll On’, Adam Skolnick and I discuss the rampant corruption incident to unregulated addiction treatment centers—brutal truths brought to light by the new independent film Body Brokers. We share good news and bad. We perform a bit of show and tell. And as always, we answer listener questions. For those new to the podcast, Adam Skolnick is an act...
Mar 04, 2021•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 585
We all experience it. That invisible, self-sabotaging force that lives between you and your most expressed self. Today’s guest calls it ‘Resistance’. He’s cracked how to overcome it—and the process required to birth your best work. Meet author Steven Pressfield—a man who has profoundly impacted my life and how I pursue creative expression. A former Marine, Duke graduate, and journeyman of countless jobs, Steven had been writing in obscurity for three decades before his first published novel beca...
Mar 01, 2021•2 hr 14 min•Ep. 584
Replace ego with the eternal. Trade selfishness for service—and self-absorption for unity. Together, let’s explore the spark of divinity that resides within us all. Meet Raghunath Cappo. Punk rock icon. Spiritual warrior. Bhakti yoga devotee. A teen in search of meaning, Ray Cappo fled his suburban Connecticut enclave for New York City—and found community among the misfits of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He fell in love with punk rock, so he started a band and a record label. Success soon follow...
Feb 25, 2021•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 583
Today we get esoteric on the things that matter most—ego, family, friendship, love, work, death, and the soul. The value of living an examined life. And how sharing our uniqueness gives glimpse into the universal. Returning for his third appearance on the podcast, our cipher for said exploration is one of my very favorite humans—a former social entrepreneur, human rights activist, and lawyer turned world adventurer, magazine publisher & mystic memoirist. Meet Jedidiah Jenkins. Several years ago,...
Feb 22, 2021•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 582
How does one best prepare for a fitness challenge? What is the real value of testing one’s outer limits? And what constitutes true endurance? These are but a few of the questions explored in today’s edition of Roll On, wherein Adam Skolnick and I blather on matters both pertinent and possibly irrelevant. We share good news and bad. We perform some show and tell. And as always, we answer listener questions. For those new to the podcast, Adam Skolnick is an activist and veteran journalist best kno...
Feb 18, 2021•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 581
Meet Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist who specializes in how we can find motivation and meaning in work, and live more generous and creative lives. After graduating from Harvard magna cum laude, Adam completed his master’s degree and Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in just three years. At 28 he became Wharton’s youngest-ever tenured professor, where he has been recognized as the top-rated professor for seven straight years, named one of the world’s 10 most influential management th...
Feb 15, 2021•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 580
What happens when you have two very big but different dreams vying for your focus? Do you choose one? Or do you risk it all to pursue both? This was the dilemma faced by today’s guest—a woman who knows a thing or two about what it takes to execute at the highest level. Meet Alexi Pappas—Olympic athlete. Award-winning writer. Filmmaker. And so much more. An extraordinary runner, Alexi set the Greek national record in the 10,000-meters and competed for Greece at the 2016 Olympic Games. An equally ...
Feb 08, 2021•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 579
Perhaps you thought 2021 might bring some return to normalcy. So far we have the Capitol insurrection, GameStonk and Jewish Laser Beams. We need to talk. After a much-needed break, Roll On returns with my 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 the author ...
Feb 04, 2021•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 578
How might your life be better with less? Not so many years ago, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus were mired in the corporate grind, banking six-figure salaries in pursuit of the American Dream. Expiating for the satisfaction their careers failed to provide, they did what most humans would: They bought stuff. Lots of stuff. When that didn’t work, they bought more. And when that didn’t work, they hit bottom. What came next was a search for meaning that would forever alter the trajectory o...
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 577
In a spark of creativity, cartoonist Matt Furie created an innocent, loving frog he named Pepe. What came next is so insane, it literally bent reality. Filmmakers Arthur Jones & Giorgio Angelini wanted to understand how this sweet and relatively obscure indie comic book character morphed into an infamous symbol of hate—and a meme that changed the world. The result is Feels Good Man—a filmmaking triumph and one of the best documentaries I’ve seen in years. Premiering at last year’s Sundance, wher...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 576
Our bodies are comprised of about ten trillion cells. But only half those cells are human. The remainder comprise our microbiome—a vast and complex ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in or on our bodies. Only now is science beginning to understand the profound impact of these microbes on human health. We choose to believe that we are fully sentient and self-governing, wholly responsible for our health, moods and decisions. But the truth is far different. In fact, to a large exte...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 575
Unlike other land mammals, humans are not natural-born swimmers. Our evolutionary ancestors learned for survival. Now it’s one of the most popular activities in the world. So why do we swim? What is it about water that seduces us despite its dangers? A lifelong swimmer reared by swimming parents, this week’s guest couldn’t shake this question. What she discovered is far more compelling than you might imagine. Bonnie Tsui (@bonnietsui) is an alumnus of Harvard University, where she did not swim b...
Jan 18, 2021•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 574
You can’t grow if you don’t confront that which limits you. So face it. Ask for help. Have the hard conversations. Commit to the work. And I promise, your life will change. I’ve seen it come to pass countless times—in myself and many others. But few have more experience with personal transformation than Karamo Brown—a man who overcame tremendous adversity to enliven the best in others. The ‘culture’ expert on Netflix’s massive hit show Queer Eye, Karamo is a father, former social worker, and psy...
Jan 11, 2021•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 573
Growing surveillance states. Tech intrusions on privacy. Cyber warfare. International dissent. Assassination. In October 2018, beloved Washington Post journalist and Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered and dismembered upon entering his country’s consulate in Istanbul. The perpetrator: the Saudi government. The reason: speaking truth to power. And yet, to this day, the Kingdom has yet to be held accountable for its actions. It’s a story that shocked the world. Filmmaker Bryan Foge...
Jan 07, 2021•2 hr 55 min•Ep. 572
It’s hard to predict success in the real world. But there’s a reason why some people thrive — even when things get hard. But what exactly is that reason? Today’s guest became obsessed with better understanding what differentiates those who prevail from those who fail. What he discovered would forever change the game. Rich Diviney is a former Navy SEAL Commander who served up 13 overseas deployments over 21 years as an active member and officer of the armed forces’ most elite, secretive group. A ...
Jan 04, 2021•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 571
We look skyward for answers. But prophets walk among us. Allow me to indulge this truth with yet more timeless and timely wisdom courtesy of the amazing individuals that grace this third and final installment of my annual yearbook. Once again, it’s been an honor to share my conversations with so many extraordinary people over the course of 2020. Second listens brought new insights—and more reminders that these exchanges continue to both inspire and inform. For long-time listeners, approach this ...
Dec 31, 2020•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 570
Meaningful conversation matters. Now more than ever. Allow me to indulge this truth by introducing Part II of my annual yearbook—a means to reflect on the past twelve months by revisiting some of the year’s most compelling podcast guests. It’s been an honor to share my conversations with so many extraordinary people over the course of 2020. Second listens brought new insights—and more reminders that these evergreen exchanges continue to both inspire and inform. For long-time listeners, approach ...
Dec 28, 2020•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 569
It’s time to pause. Reflect on the past twelve months. Set new aspirations. And visualize the year to come. I think we can all agree it’s been a challenging year. All the more reason to optimize body, mind and soul to tackle 2021 correctly. In furtherance of that end, allow me to introduce what has become a tradition on the RRP—our annual ‘Best Of’ series wherein we reflect upon the previous 12 months with a 3-part compilation of clips excerpted from a handful of the year’s most compelling guest...
Dec 24, 2020•2 hr•Ep. 568
Do hard things. Become unbreakable. Let’s end the year on a high note. It’s time to turn quitters into people who commit, courtesy of one of the toughest people on the planet. Fire ready aim! If the name Joe De Sena strikes a familiar chord, it’s likely because he’s the entrepreneurial mastermind behind Spartan—the obstacle course racing series that became a global phenomenon. Fewer know he’s also the evil genius behind Death Race—perhaps the most absurd sufferfest ever conceived. Under apprecia...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 567
Post-election thoughts. Managing stress and disagreement. Connecting to gratitude. Weekly wins. And, of course, listener questions. Welcome to another edition of Roll On. Commanding co-host duties as always is my 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 the...
Dec 17, 2020•2 hr 21 min•Ep. 566
Becoming an Olympic medalist doesn’t tell the story. It wasn’t until the klieg lights dimmed that she was compelled to meet herself. The inner journey that ensued forged the amazing person she’s now become. Meet Caroline Burckle. Friends call her Burks. A fellow former competitive swimmer, today’s guest is a 23-time All American and 2-time NCAA Champion. In 2008, she was crowned NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year in recognition of breaking Janet Evans’ legendary 500 freestyle NCAA record—a seemingl...
Dec 14, 2020•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 565
Legendary master of the big wave. Waterman god and sun-kissed global icon. Today one of the world’s greatest living athletes drops a master class on the value of pursuing adventure and embracing life as a work of art. Meet Laird Hamilton. Most are well-versed in the lore of today’s guest as perhaps the world’s greatest big wave surfer. Under-appreciated is his impact and legacy as a pioneer of crossover board sports that include tow-in surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and the more recent hydrof...
Dec 07, 2020•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 564
Out of 743 riders on the World Tour, the highest tier of professional road cycling, only 5 are black. Today’s guest is devoted to changing that. I wouldn’t bet against him. Dubbed ‘the most important bike racer you don’t know’, Justin Williams is an 11-time U.S. National Champion and 14-time California State Road and Track Champion. A rare sprinting talent from the get go, Justin was already crushing criteriums across the state as a teen en route to becoming the Jr. Track National Champ and a me...
Nov 30, 2020•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 563
Post-election thoughts. Managing stress and disagreement. Connecting to gratitude. Weekly wins. And, of course, listener questions. Welcome to another edition of Roll On. Commanding co-host duties as always is my 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 the...
Nov 26, 2020•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 562
This is the story of a lifelong seeker. It’s about organizing your life around spiritual principles. Breaking the addiction to external validation. And always having the courage to fail. Meet Blake Mycoskie. Quite the change maker, Blake is most famously known as the founder of the wildly successful shoe company TOMS. He also pioneered the ‘One for One’ business model, donating a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair sold. In turn, he sparked a generation of conscious consumers — and re...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 561
What’s the best way to grow old? Are we over-parenting our kids? And how can I strike the right work-life balance? These are just a few of the questions Ravi Patel was struggling with. So the actor, filmmaker, husband and dad decided to explore how foreign cultures grapple with them. The result is Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness, a docu-series in which Ravi enlists his friends and family in overseas adventures in search of answers to life’s questions. Perhaps you caught Ravi’s 2014 hit documen...
Nov 16, 2020•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 560
Election week. Healing the national divide. Environmental progress. Weekly wins. And, of course, listener questions. Welcome to another edition of Roll On. Commanding co-host duties as always is my 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 the author of One ...
Nov 12, 2020•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 559
This is the story of an athletic prodigy. It’s also the story of heartbreak. And a hero that became a friend. Meet John Moffet. His journey begins at 11. To keep him out of trouble, John’s parents enroll him in swim lessons. Mere weeks later, it was clear he was special. Within a year, John was obliterating national age group records. By 16 he made his first Olympic Team, becoming the youngest male athlete on the entire U.S.A. squad. But America would boycott the 1980 Moscow Games, robbing John ...
Nov 09, 2020•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 558
Although Hakim Tafari defies categorization, a few things are clear. This guy has light. And his journey of personal transformation is nothing short of remarkable. Hakim is a unique and gentle soul of many trades and traits. But fundamentally, he is a seeker. A journeyman of reinvention. An ambassador of running culture & mindfulness. A master of many a martial art from Kung Fu to Tai Chi. An herbalist, massage therapist, a vegan. And an ardent student and practitioner of several spiritual tradi...
Nov 02, 2020•2 hr 59 min•Ep. 557
