In 'Can't Hurt Me,' David Goggins shares his astonishing life story, from a childhood marred by poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse to becoming a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The book reveals Goggins' philosophy, known as the '40% Rule,' which suggests that most people only tap into 40% of their capabilities. He provides a wealth of practical strategies and principles for personal development, emphasizing self-discipline, accountability, and the necessity of embracing discomfort to unlock personal transformation. Goggins' story and advice serve as a blueprint for readers to push past their perceived limits, confront their fears, and unleash their full potential.
Set in 1917 at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Scotland, 'Regeneration' follows the story of army psychiatrist William Rivers as he treats shell-shocked soldiers, including the poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and the fictional character Billy Prior. The novel delves into the psychological and emotional traumas inflicted by the war, highlighting the complexities of identity, masculinity, and social structure. It contrasts humane and inhumane treatments of war trauma, reflecting on the broader impact of the war on individuals and society[3][4][5].
In this book, Leakey and Lewin discuss how human activities are leading to a catastrophic reduction in the number of plant and animal species on Earth. They argue that humans have become the primary cause of this sixth extinction, similar to the five major extinctions documented in the fossil record. The authors emphasize the need for humans to recognize their impact on the global ecosystem and to take conscious actions to mitigate this destruction.
The Fighters by C.J. Chivers offers an unvarnished look at modern warfare, focusing on the experiences of six combatants: a fighter pilot, a corpsman, a scout helicopter pilot, a grunt, an infantry officer, and a Special Forces sergeant. The book captures their courage, commitment, and the emotional toll of war, providing a critical perspective on American military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chivers' narrative is both a tribute to the soldiers and a critique of the policies that led to these conflicts.
The Forever Swim delves into Antonio Argüelles' inner thoughts, vision, loves, worries, and challenges as he recounts his journey to achieve the Oceans Seven. The book provides an intimate look at his life, from his early days swimming in his grandfather's pool to his remarkable achievements in open water swimming. It also explores the lessons he has learned throughout his life, highlighting the transformative power of swimming.
Melting ice caps. Raging wildfires. Record-breaking heat waves. The climate crisis is here, and we’re not doing enough about it.
Suffice to say, no wonder Greta Thunberg is so pissed off.
Aside from discussing burgeoning climate disasters, in today’s edition of ‘Roll On’ Adam Skolnick and I pontificate on the positives and pitfalls of perfectionism, arctic swimming, laundry done right and more, all rounded out with a cameo from renowned yoga instructor, endurance coach, and friend Ted McDonald.
For those new to this segment of the podcast, aside from being my bi-weekly sidekick hype beast, Adam Skolnick is a waterman, writer, activist, and veteran journalist best known as David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me, co-author. Adam writes 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 and is currently using the ‘new dad’ excuse to avoid working on his novel.
Other topics covered in this episode include:
- lessons on productivity & workflow learned after Rich’s trip to Telluride;
- endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh’s 10km swim around Greenland;
- the chaos ensuing in Afghanistan & the arrogance and destruction of imperialism;
- takeaways from The International Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) recent climate report; and
- why sustainable land management, regenerative agriculture, and reforestation are critical to saving the planet.
In addition, we answer the following questions:
- What do you do when your self-care routine starts to feel stale?
- How do you find the right coach when training for an endurance race?
- As an athlete, how important is it to maintain a yoga practice?
Thank you to Nate from Colorado and Heidi from Northern California for your questions, and Ted McDonald for your help answering them—including one of my own. 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 our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Peace + Plants,
Rich
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The Rich Roll Podcast 
