Year Of The Opposite - Travis Stoliker's Substack Podcast

Year Of The Opposite•www.yearoftheopposite.com

How I lost 62 lbs, cured my depression, fixed my high blood pressure, & became a better human by living a #YearOfTheOpposite. I'll share what I learned, how I did it, & the science behind it. A Newsletter for people that don't subscribe to Newsletters.

www.yearoftheopposite.com

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Episodes

Hurray! No More Poop Showers

I spent the week at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island as my wife, Laken’s, plus one. It’s been about 20 years since I’ve spent considerable time on the Island and I really enjoyed it. If you’re not familiar, Mackinac Island is between the upper and lower peninsula in Michigan. It’s unique in several ways but one of the ways it stands out is that it doesn’t allow any cars on the Island. It kinda feels like you are transported back in time before some of the modern conveniences tha...

Jun 05, 2023•5 min

Active Optimism vs. Passive Optimism: The Driving Force of Progress and Freedom

Happy Memorial Day! This week my 4 year old and I have been reading The United States Constitution. I read it for the first time in its entirety only last year. I was pretty ashamed of myself for it taking 41 years for me to read one of the best and most important works in modern history. It also made me sad to learn that only 10-25% of Americans have ever read the document in its entirety depending upon which study you believe. An informal survey of my friends suggests the figure could be even ...

May 29, 2023•6 min

In 13 Months I cut My Risk of Dying In Half

Sunday marked an exciting milestone in my personal fitness journey. For the first time, my Vo2 Max—a measure of my cardiovascular fitness—reached the 'High' category. A remarkable leap from being 'below average' to 'High' in just 13 months. In April of 2022 my VO2 Max as measured by my Apple Watch was 31.5 which put me right on the borderline between “Below Average” and “low” cardio fitness. 13 months later my reading is 47.1 climbing 15.6 points and putting me in the “high” category. I went fro...

May 24, 2023•9 min

Fear, Anxiety, & Imposter Syndrome from Starting a New Company

My second Year Of The Opposite is dedicated to Building and Creating. This newsletter/ podcast that you are reading or listening to is one such creation. Last week I launched another. I launched a new startup this past Friday with my good friend Chris Strandt. I’m filled with excitement about it. Today I want to share an often unspoken aspect of starting a business: fear, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. MyVilla is not my first startup and by many measures I’m in a safer position to start this co...

May 15, 2023•9 min

Unlock the Power of Nightly Journaling

"We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired? Our vices will abate of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift." - Seneca, "Moral Letters to Lucilius," Letter 83. "At the end of the day, you should always be able to ask yourself: What weakness did I overcome today? What virtue did I acquire?" - Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations," Book 5, Section 9 (paraphrased). Three year...

May 08, 2023•17 min

Turning Off The News & Politics

On March 7, 2022 I realized that I was addicted to the news. The dark days of the pandemic had mostly faded into the past, but instead of taking a moment to rejoice, our collective focus shifted without missing a beat to the next looming disaster—the war in Ukraine. Like many Americans, even though I couldn't pinpoint Ukraine on a map, I jumped into research mode, eager to form an opinion on this fresh conflict. It wasn't enough for me to simply know "where I stood" on the issue. I needed to pos...

May 01, 2023•14 min

Uplift Weekly: Explosive 4/20 SpaceX Starship Launch: Testing Success, Heralding Interplanetary Human Future Despite Media's Misguided Narrative

Elon Musk's SpaceX launched the first-ever integrated Starship rocket on April 20, 2023, from the Starbase facility at Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. Boca Chica Village, a remote Texas outpost, lies at the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Gulf of Mexico, where the Earths glory coexists with the awe-inspiring silhouettes of SpaceX's Starship rockets, symbolizing the union of natures beauty and human ambition. Year Of The Opposite - Travis Stoliker's Substack is a reader-supported publicatio...

Apr 25, 2023•14 min

How Loss & Grief Turned Into The Year Of The Opposite

"Why Did You Abandon Me!!!" This heart-wrenching message was written by a child struggling with the grief after the death of a loved one. It was displayed on the wall of Ele’s Place alongside other devastating notes: * "I am still loveable even though death has touched me" * "I hate you 4 dying," * "Mom, out of everybody you chose me to die on," * "love is watching someone die." When I saw these notes, I knew that I had to join their Board. Ele's Place is a non-profit organization committed to e...

Apr 21, 2023•20 min

How I Lost 62 lbs & built a habit of working out everyday.

The most sought-after article for The Year Of The Opposite has been "How did you lose all the weight!?" So, let's dive right in, shall we? In just one year of living oppositely, I shed a whopping 37lbs, but that's only part of the story. Since hitting my peak weight in 2018, I've lost a grand total of 62lbs. Now, I can almost hear your thoughts: "Losing 40lbs in one year isn't healthy! He must've used weight loss drugs or surgery, lost a ton of muscle mass, and it's probably unsustainable." Trus...

Apr 14, 2023•18 min

How to Start A Year Of The Opposite. #YearOfTheOpposite

I've been pondering over the approach I should take for this newsletter. Should I pen it down from a personal viewpoint, narrating my story in first person? Or would it be better to focus less on me and more on the practical steps and tools others can incorporate into their lives? I'd truly appreciate your thoughts on this matter, so feel free to email me (just hit reply) or leave a comment with your suggestions. For the time being, I've chosen to blend both approaches when appropriate. Initiall...

Apr 02, 2023•22 min

Audio Podcast - The Claude McCollum Wrongful Conviction with Judge Hugh Clarke Jr.

Sorry for the multiple emails. I’m still learning. Apparently the Video Hosting at Substack isn’t that robust yet and people were having trouble with the video. In addition, it didn’t get added to the podcast feed. This post is just the audio version. You can also view the v ideo version on the Year Of The Opposite Youtube Channel . Get full access to Year Of The Opposite - Travis Stoliker's Substack at www.yearoftheopposite.com/subscribe...

Mar 27, 2023•2 hr 14 min

A Disclaimer About The Year Of The Opposite Interviews

The Year of The Opposite Newsletter and Podcast is centered around three primary goals: * Share the outcomes of my Year of The Opposite journey, detailing the process and the lessons learned. * Feature inspiring and uplifting stories that showcase Humans Being Awesome. * Present engaging video and audio podcast interviews with fascinating individuals discussing topics that will pique your interest. You may wonder how uplifting weekly stories and video interviews relate to living a Year of The Op...

Mar 26, 2023•3 min

How The Year Of The Opposite Started.

Get full access to Year Of The Opposite - Travis Stoliker's Substack at www.yearoftheopposite.com/subscribe

Mar 21, 2023•9 min

How The Year Of The Opposite Started.

Last year, at the age of 41, I faced the heart-wrenching loss of three close friends within a mere five-month span. They were all between the ages of 41 and 44. The overwhelming grief I experienced plunged me into a profound depression for the first time in my life. Many of you are my friends, while others have yet to make my acquaintance. So it’s probably a good idea if I start with a brief introduction. I'm a tech and marketing professional who helped build a web hosting company, LiquidWeb, al...

Mar 21, 2023•9 min

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