Jeff Krasno’s personal health transformation—reversing diabetes, shedding 60 pounds, and reclaiming his health at age 50—is a masterclass in what he calls “good stress.” In this episode, we dive into the simple but powerful idea that discomfort might just be the medicine we all need. Jeff, the founder of Commune and host of the Commune podcast, shares how fasting, cold exposure, resistance training, and attention to modern habits helped him regain his energy, build muscle, and thrive.
Together, we discuss how metabolic dysfunction has become the norm, how adaptive stress responses can be harnessed to reverse chronic illness, and why building muscle is not only the antidote to obesity but also a critical factor in longevity. If you’re interested in reclaiming your vitality and learning how to work with—not against—your biology, this episode will speak to you.
We cover:
- Jeff’s story of personal health transformation at midlife
- What “good stress” is and how to harness it to improve health
- Why chronic ease leads to chronic disease
- Cold therapy, fasting, and training as adaptive stressors
- The importance of resistance training for blood sugar control
- How metabolic dysfunction hides in plain sight
- Practical tips to increase non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)
- Building muscle as the path to longevity and disease prevention
Who is Jeff Krasno?
Jeff Krasno is the co-founder and CEO of Commune, a masterclass platform for personal and societal well-being. He hosts the Commune podcast, where he’s interviewed luminaries like Deepak Chopra, Gabor Maté, and Matthew McConaughey. Jeff also writes a weekly personal essay called “Commusings,” delivered to over a million subscribers every Sunday. His new project, Good Stress, is an online course, upcoming book, and developing TV series, built on the wellness strategies that helped him reclaim his health after a diabetes diagnosis. He is also the co-creator of the global wellness event series Wanderlust and was selected for Oprah’s SuperSoul100 in 2016.
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Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Forever Strong Summit Announcement
02:07 – Meet Jeff Krasno
03:26 – Chronic ease and the rise of chronic disease
05:55 – Adaptive stress responses: why we evolved to need discomfort
07:19 – The comfort traps of modern life
08:24 – Sedentary lifestyles and metabolic consequences
10:10 – Stress, cortisol, and modern triggers
14:05 – What is “good stress”?
15:00 – Jeff’s health breakdown and the first signs of metabolic dysfunction
17:32 – Using a CGM to detect prediabetes
19:25 – The shocking blood sugar results
20:31 – Spiritual and cultural influences on Jeff’s diet
23:37 – How Jeff’s body composition changed
24:44 – The shift to a ketotarian diet
30:09 – Fasting, ketones, and metabolic flexibility
32:55 – Intermittent fasting and circadian biology
35:14 – The combination that moved the needle: fasting + cold exposure
41:21 – Cold plunges and thermogenesis
44:39 – Why cold stress melts fat
48:06 – The motivation behind embracing discomfort
52:00 – Building muscle: the final frontier of Jeff’s transformation
53:27 – Resistance training for metabolic health
54:45 – The trap of “chronic cardio”
57:14 – The difference between losing fat and building muscle
59:23 – How Jeff learned the science through self-experimentation
1:01:01 – From bodyweight training to pull-ups and gym sessions
1:04:28 – Why resistance training finally clicked for Jeff
1:07:47 – Jeff’s recommendations: move more, lift often, live intentionally
1:11:45 – NEAT: the underrated tool for metabolic health
1:12:56 – Jeff’s final thoughts: redefining ease and fulfillment
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