This week, I’m joined by Johann Hari, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and speaker, to explore his journey into the world of the new weight loss drug phenomenon: Ozempic. Johann shares his surprising firsthand experience injecting himself weekly with the drug for over a year, leading to dramatic weight loss but also complex side effects. We discuss the staggering potential of these “magic pills” to curb the global obesity epidemic, but also the alarming risks like thyroid cancer, p...
May 23, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Ep 834•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I’m joined by Dan Churchill, a performance chef redefining what it means to thrive in the culinary world. With a Master’s in Exercise Science, Dan is fueling plates and human performance. As executive chef of Osprey in Brooklyn’s 1 Hotel, a former restaurant owner, coach on Chris Hemsworth’s Centr app, and cookbook author—Dan is at the intersection of cuisine, fitness, and content creation. We talk about his unique background growing up in Sydney, how a passion for food connected his ...
May 20, 2024•2 hr 56 min•Ep 833•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Orlando Bloom, renowned actor and spiritual seeker, to discuss the intersection of extreme sports, personal growth, and the art of balance. Orlando shares his profound experiences with wingsuiting, free diving, and rock climbing, revealing the delicate tension between discipline and surrender. He offers candid insights into his upbringing, his mother’s influence, Buddhism’s transformative power, and navigating the complexities of fame. The conversation explores the nuan...
May 13, 2024•2 hr•Ep 832•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by microbiologist Dr. Sarkis Mazmanian, the Luis B. and Nelly Soux Professor at Caltech, to discuss the microbiome's connection to human health—especially the gut-brain axis. Dr. Mazmanian discusses his research evolution from infectious diseases to the microbiome’s role in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, as well as how gut microbes influence neurological health, behavior, and conditions like Parkinson's, autism, and depression. He highlights the human gut microbe ...
May 09, 2024•2 hr 13 min•Ep 831•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Andy Ramage, who co-founded the OneYearNoBeer to discuss the growing alcohol-free lifestyle movement and its impact on individuals, industries, and cultural shifts. We explore the personal journeys of transitioning to an alcohol-free lifestyle, navigating social settings, and the psychological aspects of behavior change. Andy expounds on intrinsic motivation, the stages of the change model, challenging limiting beliefs about alcohol, and the emotional, mental, spiritual...
May 06, 2024•2 hr 54 min•Ep 830•Transcript available on Metacast This week I am joined by Raghunath Cappo, a hardcore punk icon turned modern-day spiritual warrior and Bhakti yoga devotee, to discuss various facets of living a spiritual life. We talk about the transformative principles guiding the path of self-transcendence, examining cultural differences between India and America regarding spirituality and identity. We discuss the vital roles of mentors and the essence of yoga practices like mantra meditation, japa, ritual, kirtan, and devotional dancing as ...
Apr 29, 2024•2 hr 57 min•Ep 829•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Tanya O’Callaghan, a musician, speaker, and activist, to discuss her unconventional journey from Ireland to a globally touring rock musician dedicated to advocacy. She talks about her roots volunteering at an animal shelter, her unexpected rise through LA’s music scene after a chance encounter with Maynard Keenan of Tool, and her commitment to a plant-based lifestyle even while on tour playing alongside legendary acts like Whitesnake, Puscifer, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dicki...
Apr 25, 2024•2 hr 9 min•Ep 828•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Jonathan Haidt, an NYU professor and best-selling author, to discuss the significant negative impact of technology and social media on young people’s mental health and well-being. This phenomenon was catalyzed between 2010 and 2015 when smartphones were introduced and platforms like Instagram and Snapchat rose in popularity. He explains the harmful effects of hyper-connectivity, including loneliness, depression, self-harm, and suicide, as well as the foundational harms ...
Apr 22, 2024•2 hr 2 min•Ep 827•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Scott Galloway, NYU professor, best-selling author, serial entrepreneur, and podcaster, to discuss the multifaceted challenges many young men face today. He underscores the lack of empathy and understanding many experience, attributing it to societal expectations and the impact of technology. Scott emphasizes the winner-take-most economy, which limits opportunities for many young men. Drawing from personal understanding, he stresses the importance of education, support,...
Apr 15, 2024•2 hr•Ep 826•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Dr. Lloyd Minor, the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs at Stanford University. Dean Minor talks about the transformative potential of AI in healthcare delivery, research, and diagnostics. We discuss its nuanced pros and cons, including impacts on accessibility, safety, and efficiency. Dean Minor examines AI's benefits in drug discovery, Precision Health, and early disease detection. He el...
Apr 11, 2024•2 hr 42 min•Ep 825•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I’m joined by Michael O’Brien, a former executive, and father of two who experienced a profound transformation after a life-altering cycling accident. Previously consumed by 65-hour work weeks, his perspective shifted when an SUV collided with him head-on. While being airlifted to medical care, he vowed to relinquish his pursuit of happiness, propelling him toward personal growth. Michael shares his resilience journey post-accident, labeling the day of the incident as “My Last Bad Day...
Apr 08, 2024•3 hr 30 min•Ep 824•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Dr. Daniel Amen, a world-renowned psychiatrist and bestselling author, as we delve into the intricacies of brain health and cognitive decline. From discussing the challenges of managing family health issues to exploring the pivotal role of brain imaging technology in diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Amen provides invaluable insights into fostering mental resilience and well-being. We also examine the impact of lifestyle habits, childhood trauma, genetic and environmental fa...
Apr 01, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Ep 823•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Gisele Bündchen, one of the world’s most recognized faces—a world-renowned supermodel, philanthropist, New York Times bestselling author, and ardent wellness advocate. Gisele shares her personal transformation journey, transitioning from the pressures of the modeling world to prioritizing wellness and mindfulness. She candidly discusses battling anxiety and panic attacks, opting for a disciplined, healthy lifestyle to reclaim her well-being. We explore the significance ...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 822•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I am joined by Kara Goucher. She bravely shares her experiences as an athlete, including injuries, financial struggles, and her time with the Nike Oregon Project. We delve into the weight management pressures and ethical dilemmas she faced regarding doping practices. Kara also opens up about the emotional impact of being assaulted by her coach and the struggle to speak out about it. We also discuss the mistreatment of pregnant athletes by sponsors like Nike and the importance of advoc...
Mar 21, 2024•2 hr 6 min•Ep 821•Transcript available on Metacast This week, I’m joined by Dr. Layne Norton for a deep dive into nutrition, fitness, and the psychology of positive lifestyle changes. Layne tackles health industry misinformation, stressing critical thinking in evaluating scientific claims. We discuss weight management, exercise’s role in appetite regulation, and the impact of dietary choices. Debunking myths on cholesterol, seed oils, and fiber, we touch on protein nuances for plant-based diets and delve into long-term dietary adherence and iden...
Mar 18, 2024•3 hr 28 min•Ep 820•Transcript available on Metacast Menopause, often overlooked yet profoundly impactful, marks a critical juncture in a woman’s life, reshaping the brain for half of the global population. This week I am joined by Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a leading neuroscientist in women's health, who challenges outdated perspectives on menopause, emphasizing its neurological significance and advocating for recognition as a neuroendocrine transition. In this episode, we explore diverse menopausal experiences and factors influencing symptoms and shed li...
Mar 11, 2024•3 hr 33 min•Ep 819•Transcript available on Metacast Roll On is Back! After a 6-month break, my trusty co-pilot Adam Skolnick and I reunite to talk shop and answer your questions. Specific topics include burnout, sabbaticals, the latest in AI, current fitness regimens & favorite movies of 2023 before announcing the release of Voicing Change III and answering listener questions. It’s been too long. We missed you and are delighted to return to your earholes! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Bon Charge: 15% OFF ...
Mar 07, 2024•2 hr 16 min•Ep 818•Transcript available on Metacast Cal Newport, a bestselling author and Computer Science professor at Georgetown University, advocates for a slower approach to productivity that enhances work-life balance and reduces burnout. His philosophy promotes a deliberate and measured approach to work that emphasizes simplicity, autonomy, and thoughtful task engagement. In a world constantly bombarded with communication channels, Cal challenges the idea of constant activity and pseudo-productivity, advocating for a medicinal remedy of del...
Mar 04, 2024•3 hr 30 min•Ep 817•Transcript available on Metacast Don’t forget the struggle, the streets, or your roots, and resist selling out—such is the message from today's guest, Toby Morse. Toby, the frontman of the hardcore punk band H2O and host of the One Life One Chance podcast, is here to dispense a rebellious prescription of Positive Mental Attitude (PMA). Inspired by the 1988 Lower East Side transgressive punk rock scene, Toby formed H2O, synonymous with Straight Edge and PMA communities. Committed to a plant-based, drug, and alcohol-free lifestyl...
Feb 26, 2024•2 hr 32 min•Ep 816•Transcript available on Metacast Conversation matters—but it only matters if you understand the nature of conversation itself. But how can we improve conversation to better connect and solve the problems we face? Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Power of Habit, shares insights on improving communication in his latest work, Supercommunicators. With degrees from Yale and Harvard Business School, Duhigg has contributed to prestigious publications like the Washington Post and the New Yorker. In ...
Feb 22, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Ep 815•Transcript available on Metacast In a world saturated with comforts, overstimulation, and the perpetual allure of convenience, a crisis has quietly emerged. It is the pervasive influence of the “Scarcity Brain” that wires our minds to crave more. Michael Easter, an author, investigative journalist, and UNLV professor, offers insights to rectify the craving mindset in his books, The Comfort Crisis and the New York Times bestseller Scarcity Brain. Michael reveals the driving psychological aspect behind our technological compulsio...
Feb 19, 2024•2 hr 57 min•Ep 814•Transcript available on Metacast Harvard’s renowned “Mother of Mindfulness,” Dr. Ellen Langer offers an insightful assessment: the root cause of global challenges lies in mindlessness. With an illustrious forty-five-year career and the distinction of being the first woman to attain psychology tenure at Harvard. Her extensive work spans diverse topics, including the illusion of control, mindful aging, stress, decision-making, and health, challenging the conventional mind-body dualism in Western medicine.In her latest book, The M...
Feb 12, 2024•2 hr 55 min•Ep 813•Transcript available on Metacast Last fall, Harvey Lewis captured the international spotlight at Big’s Backyard Ultra in rural Tennessee. The high school teacher broke a world record, running an astounding 450 miles in 108 hours—more than the distance from DC to Boston. But—I implore you—don’t let his humility deceive you. Inside Harvey roams a myriad of animalistic tenacity ready to be unleashed. A beloved teacher at Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts, Harvey redefines human capability with 27 years of ultra-ru...
Feb 08, 2024•3 hr 34 min•Ep 812•Transcript available on Metacast Amidst the growing concerns over nutritional safety, there is a pressing need for increased awareness about making informed choices and living in a healthy environment. But how can we guarantee the safety of our food, water, and consumer products? Today, I’m speaking with Ken Cook, the President and co-founder of the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG). We delve into the organization's pioneering role in digital innovation. EWG’s user-friendly, science-driven tools empower American fami...
Feb 05, 2024•2 hr 7 min•Ep 811•Transcript available on Metacast Today we discuss, perhaps, the most audacious goal in the history of humanity and question: is death inevitable? Bryan Johnson is a modern-day explorer who has dedicated significant resources over the last few years to arresting—and possibly even reversing—his biological age. In doing so, he is reframing the zeitgeist and revolting against our culture of self-destructive behaviors. Centered on Project Blueprint and the ambition to halt and potentially reverse biological aging, he challenges cult...
Jan 29, 2024•3 hr 41 min•Ep 810•Transcript available on Metacast As the new year unfolds, resolutions often falter, particularly those related to food habits. Acknowledge this truth with gravitas—most diets fail most of the time. Neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer challenges conventional weight loss wisdom, exposing the myth of willpower from a neuroscience perspective. In his third podcast appearance (RRP episodes 471 and 586), Dr. Brewer, Brown University’s Mindfulness Center director and School of Public Health and Psychiatry professor, delves into his latest b...
Jan 25, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Ep 809•Transcript available on Metacast Obsessive worry about what others think of you may keep you safe—but it will also keep you small. In our evolutionary past, belonging to a tribe was crucial for survival, as rejection posed a near-death peril. Although societal dynamics have evolved, our brains still assess how others perceive us, giving rise to the Fear of People’s Opinions. The crux of the fear hinges on the learned behavior of identifying ourselves as separate selves—masquerading like we are individuals in a social world—rath...
Jan 22, 2024•2 hr 59 min•Ep 808•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when the power goes out? You improvise and turn it into a creative act. At the age of 22, confronted with a leukemia diagnosis amid the tumult beyond her control, Suleika Jaouad made a profound decision to embrace the art of journaling. Deliberately opting to distill insights from her affliction, she endeavored to endure her newfound residency in a Manhattan hospital in a meaningful and aesthetically resonant manner while giving ink to the intricacies that proved profoundly challe...
Jan 15, 2024•2 hr 56 min•Ep 807•Transcript available on Metacast What if we framed midlife not as a crisis but as a transformative chrysalis—a liminal period where profound awakenings unfold? What if we saw it as an opportunity to shed old layers, unfurl our wings, and share the pollen of our wisdom with the world? Guiding us from pupa to butterfly, we have the Monarch himself, Chip Conley. Returning to the show for the second time (Chip first appeared on episode 681), Chip founded the Modern Elder Academy, the pioneering midlife wisdom school dedicated to tr...
Jan 11, 2024•2 hr•Ep 806•Transcript available on Metacast Through the years, I’ve maintained transparency about my journey with alcoholism—a label I’ve embraced in the solitude of self-discovery. However, this characterization doesn’t resonate with most individuals. The majority of drinkers engage in a marginally excessive indulgence in alcohol. While this behavior may not be catastrophic in the traditional sense, it does raise discernible concerns. The persistent hangovers, lethargy, and resulting melancholy it begets become tiresome. The desire to de...
Jan 08, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep 805•Transcript available on Metacast 
