Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis and a journalism professor, shares his journey navigating personal struggles, including a family history of alcoholism. He delves into the 'crisis of comfort' in modern society and highlights the benefits of embracing discomfort for growth. Through tales from an elk hunt, he emphasizes the value of challenging oneself, and he critiques how technology has eroded our engagement and relationship with boredom. Michael argues that true happiness often flourishes in less comfortable environments, fostering resilience and connection.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Ironic Comfort
Peter Attia's wife jokingly criticizes him for recording a podcast about the comfort crisis in an air-conditioned studio.
She suggests they should embrace the heat and record outside or increase the weight penalty for their upcoming ruck.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rucking's Unexpected Payoff
Peter Attia's daughter, Olivia, initially resisted rucking with him but found it beneficial at a challenging sleepaway camp.
She became the fastest hiker, proving the value of rucking for physical preparedness.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Skiing into College
Michael Easter grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and was a mediocre student.
He got into college thanks to a discounted ski pass offered for good grades, highlighting an unconventional motivator.
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In 'The Comfort Crisis,' Michael Easter explores the idea that modern society's emphasis on comfort and convenience has led to various physical and mental health issues. Easter's journey takes him to diverse locations, including the Alaskan backcountry, Bhutan, and the labs of neuroscientists, to uncover the benefits of living at the edges of one's comfort zone. He discusses the concept of 'misogi,' a Japanese practice involving challenges that push individuals to their limits, and how such experiences can enhance creativity, reduce burnout and anxiety, and increase overall well-being. The book is a call to action, encouraging readers to break out of their comfort zones and reconnect with the natural world and their own potential[2][3][4].
Michael Easter is the author of the bestseller, The Comfort Crisis. He’s also a journalist, Professor of Journalism at UNLV, and a leading voice on how humans can integrate modern science and evolutionary wisdom for improved health, meaning, and performance in life and at work. In this episode, Michael first talks about his upbringing, including his parents' struggle with alcoholism, his father leaving when he was young, and how these things impacted Michael's own struggle with alcoholism. He explains what led to his realization that we are in a “crisis of comfort” and how the removal of many of life’s discomforts through advancements in modern society may actually be a leading contributor to many of our most urgent physical and mental health issues. He explains the benefits of challenging oneself and the immense positive carryover which can come from doing things we find difficult. He describes the consequences of technology like smartphones, which have effectively eliminated boredom—a discomfort that comes with many benefits. He tells the story of a profound experience at an elk hunt that changed Michael’s thoughts around life and death, how happiness can thrive in places without all of the modern comforts of the West, and why we’re hardwired for stress and what to do about it. They conclude with a conversation around rucking, an activity with many physical and mental benefits.
We discuss:
The value in doing something difficult [2:30];
Michael’s upbringing with a single parent and alcoholism [5:45];
Michael’s battle with alcoholism and his experience with quitting drinking [10:00];
Origin of the idea that we are in a crisis of comfort [20:30];
The death of boredom in modern society [28:45];
The benefits of boredom [36:00];
The value of disconnecting and being in nature [39:15];
Changing the dynamic of how we think about food and the story of Peter’s daughter’s first hunt [43:45];
How a profound experience at an elk hunt changed Michael’s thoughts about life and death [49:15];
How happiness can thrive in places without all of the modern comforts of the West [57:15];
Why we’re hardwired for stress, and the responsibility that comes with our level of comfort [1:05:30];
How perspective on the timescale of our lives in relation to history can impart positive changes [1:14:00];
The benefit of challenging oneself and the positive carryover it can have [1:19:45];
The many benefits of rucking [1:28:45];
Tips for rucking: ideal load, type of pack, and other considerations [1:38:00];
Parting thoughts on the downside of comfort and benefits of difficult things [1:43:00]; and
The Peter Attia Drive 
