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Wellness + Wisdom Podcast
Ryan Duey | The Comfort Crisis: How To Embrace Cold Therapy + Unlock 5 Sides of Your Greatest Potential
Jan 7, 2025
Ryan Duey, Co-founder and CEO of Plunge, shares insights on the explosive trend of cold therapy. He reveals how cold plunging not only enhances mental health but also fosters emotional resilience. The conversation highlights the power of discomfort in personal growth and the importance of community connections. Ryan discusses integrating cold therapy into educational settings to build emotional intelligence and resilience in students, as well as the transformative impact of shared experiences in improving mental well-being.
01:53:50
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Quick takeaways
- Cold exposure enhances emotional resilience and mental health by helping individuals regulate their heart rates and confront discomfort.
- Integrating cold therapy into educational curricula aims to foster emotional intelligence and promote personal growth among students.
- The rise of cold plunging reflects a cultural shift towards community-oriented wellness practices that enhance social connections and support.
- Accessibility and affordability in cold therapy are critical issues; integrating facilities in schools could democratize access for future generations.
Deep dives
Surrendering to the Cold
Cold exposure serves as a powerful tool for emotional regulation and surrendering. The experience challenges individuals to confront discomfort and encourages them to regulate their heart rates, leading to significant improvements in mental health over time. Many people initially approach cold plunging for physical benefits, such as muscle recovery, only to find that its mental health advantages become more pronounced. This transformation underscores the value of cold exposure as a method for fostering emotional resilience.
Embracing Emotional Intelligence
Cold plunges not only promote physical health but also enhance emotional intelligence among users. Ryan Dewey emphasizes the importance of integrating cold therapy into mental health discussions, aiming for its inclusion in educational settings. The vision extends to placing cold plunge facilities in high schools across America as part of an emotional intelligence curriculum. This approach is rooted in the understanding that physical experiences can lead to profound emotional growth.
Explosive Growth in Cold Therapy
Plunge has facilitated between 40 to 45 million cold plunges since its inception, showcasing the widespread adoption of this practice. The demand for cold therapy has surged, with the company evolving alongside it, now expanding into the sauna market. Such growth reflects a larger cultural shift towards recognizing the mental health benefits associated with cold exposure. Ryan notes that this trend has culminated in a community that actively engages with wellness practices and shares their experiences.
The Spiritual Connection
Cold plunging can serve as a spiritual practice, connecting users with a sense of purpose and higher consciousness. Engaging in cold exposure or sauna practices fosters an increased awareness of the mind-body relationship, contributing to one's sense of well-being. Ryan discusses the personal transformations that occur through consistent practice, as individuals learn to push through discomfort and embrace vulnerability. This connection nurtures personal growth and can inspire a deeper spiritual journey.
The Role of Family and Community
Creating a communal environment around cold plunging enhances its benefits, transforming it into a bonding experience. The act of plunging together fosters shared resilience, encouraging participants to support one another on their wellness journeys. This communal practice invokes a sense of belonging, which is essential for mental health. Ryan asserts that the emotional cocktail created during these shared experiences significantly uplifts participants and cultivates meaningful connections.
Barriers to Accessibility
Despite the growing popularity of cold plunging, issues of accessibility and affordability remain prevalent, particularly for lower-income families. The conversation shifts towards integrating cold plunge facilities within schools and community centers to democratize access to this form of therapy. By repurposing funds that currently support unhealthy practices, such as subsidizing junk food, resources can instead be directed toward wellness initiatives. This change could lead to healthier outcomes for future generations.
Navigating Business Challenges
The journey to establishing a thriving cold plunge company was fraught with challenges that tested both personal and professional resolve. Ryan reflects on the mental health struggles he faced while navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of a supportive framework and values alignment. Establishing strong company values fosters accountability within the organization and helps guide decision-making during tough times. This foundation has been crucial for both the growth of the business and the well-being of its employees.
Vision for the Future
Looking forward, the aim is to solidify Plunge's status as a leader in preventative health and become the largest contrast therapy provider globally. This vision encompasses not only business growth but also a commitment to shaping public discourse around holistic health practices. By integrating education on the benefits of hot and cold therapy into broader wellness conversations, Plunge seeks to transform societal attitudes towards mental health. The broader mission is to empower individuals and communities to prioritize their health and well-being.
Wellness + Wisdom | Episode 706
How does cold exposure boost mental health and emotional resilience?
Ryan Duey, Co-Founder and CEO of Plunge, joins Josh Trent on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 706, to share how cold plunging became a global wellness trend, its benefits for mental health and emotional resilience, and the role of community, purpose, and values in building a life and business that inspire transformation.
"The cold plunge is an emotional intelligence and emotional regulation tool. There's just a neuro-cocktail that you get every single time when you get into a cold plunge." - Ryan Duey
Get $150 Off PLUNGE!Plunge's revolutionary Cold Plunge uses powerful cooling, filtration, and sanitation to give you cold, clean water whenever you want it, making it far superior to an ice bath or chest freezer.
“There is nothing I love more to do than to start my day with a cold plunge! Increased energy, metabolism and hormesis FTW. PLUNGE is the best when it comes to the highest quality and the most incredible experience, hands down my favorite.” - Josh Trent, Host Wellness + Wisdom Podcast
$150 off with code "WELLNESSFORCE"
In This Episode, Ryan Duey Uncovers: [01:30] The Era of Cold Plunging- Ryan Duey
- 423 Ryan Duey | Ice Baths: Cold Therapy For Weight Loss, Immunity, Metabolism & Mental/Emotional Health
- What inspired them to develop the Plunge.
- Why people started cold plunging during the pandemic.
- How cold plunging supports mental health.
- Why people usually purchase the Plunge for their physical health but discover it actually helps their mental health.
- How pushing ourselves to do something we don't want to can change our entire day.
- 642 Dr. Craig Koniver | Peptide Masterclass: The Practical, Physical + Spiritual Guide For All You Need To Know About Peptides To THRIVE
- How Josh starts his morning to boost his wellness and inspire his children.
- The benefits of cold plunging.
- Why Ryan doesn't always realize how much his work impacts people's lives.
- How running a business accelerates personal growth.
- Why we need to get back into our body and meet ourselves.
- How having purpose helps Ryan feel good mentally.
- Why he believed football brings people together when he was younger.
- How he never questioned the love he received from his parents.
- Why there are three types of parents.
- What allows people to stick to their purpose.
- Why Ryan feels like he won the lottery in life?
- How he felt about going on Shark Tank with Plunge.
- Shark Tank US | Will Robert Dive Into A Deal With Plunge?
- Why depression and anxiety can't be healed in solitude.
- How being in a community reflects who's doing the work.
- Why entering a new community can be uncomfortable.
- 686 Mark Groves | Your Triggers Are Your Teachers: How To Answer The Call of Self-Mastery In Relationships + Life
- The difference between doing a cold plunge for the ego or for our growth.
- How cold plunging can hurt us if we don't learn how to regulate our heart rate.
- Why people who have a consistent cold plunging practice don't care about the duration or temperature.
- How the five sides of the wellness pentagon feed each other.
- Why spirituality is the most neglected part of Ryan's wellness.
- How checking in with ourselves can help us identify what we need to improve in our lives.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Why building momentum to make things happen is hard.
- How younger people are starting to shift their awareness.
- Why getting in the environment where we want to be is what makes us grow.
- What leads us to prioritize and commit to healthy habits.
- How we can choose to take empowering steps instead of following our family's path.
- Why asking others how they're feeling can allow them to be honest.
- How people in their 20s feel lost.
- Why we're being disconnected from our feelings.
- What drives more and more parents to homeschool their children.
- Why the public school system is not suitable for many children.
- How alternative education systems work.
- Why the educational system is going through a process of change.
- How we may not need the Department of Education.
- How the way that we do one thing is how we do everything.
- Why Florida has a law for cold plunging.
- Jason Wilson
- How Jason Wilson uses cold plunge to teach youth emotional intelligence.
- Why Ryan would like to get the cold plunge to schools and homes.
- How parents who model healthy habits make it normal for their children to live a healthy lifestyle.
- How school lunches contain toxic chemicals.
- Why the educational system should support children in public schools.
- How meritocracy provides opportunity.
- Why the free market is brutal just like nature.
- How Ryan stays accountable for his choices for the company.
- Why he makes decisions based on his values.
- How the company is an entity with its own core values.
- Why PLUNGE built a system to donate money to multiple organizations.
- 548 Dr. Stan Tatkin | Healing Toxic Relationships: What’s The Bite That Fits Each Other’s Wounds?
- Why the first Plunge values weren't deep enough.
- How everyone in the company participates in monthly anonymous scoring.
- Why Ryan hasn't established core values together with his partner yet.
- How Plunge went from small goals to wanting to become the biggest cold plunge company in the world.
- Why Ryan aimed to create a specific culture and environment in the company.
- What the company does to bring value to people.
- Why Ryan's beginning of his plunging journey was rooted in insecurities.
- What challenges Ryan had to face before he became an entrepreneur.
- Why he had to ask people for money to build the business.
- How Ryan is still fascinated with the positive impacts of cold plunging.
- Why cold plunging in a community creates magic.
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Power Quotes From The Show Cold Exposure Makes You Surrender"The cold is one of the greatest surrendering tools that are out there. It will get you to surrender or you'll just stop doing it. There's no other option because if you don't surrenter, it'll ruin your immune and nervous system." - Ryan Duey
Show Your Children How to Do Hard Things"Cold plunging is one of the greatest things you can build with parents and children. A 2-year-old kid that grows up with a dad doing something very hard every single day, first thing in the morning, is eventually going to start joining him at some point. That's how you can get in front of habit stacking, where you don't have to go break the chains because it's put in from day one." - Ryan Duey
Homeostasis"The body has an innate ability to heal. It wants to be in homeostasis. That's how the universe wants to be." - Ryan Duey
Links From Today's Show- Ryan Duey
- 423 Ryan Duey | Ice Baths: Cold Therapy For Weight Loss, Immunity, Metabolism & Mental/Emotional Health
- 642 Dr. Craig Koniver | Peptide Masterclass: The Practical, Physical + Spiritual Guide For All You Need To Know About Peptides To THRIVE
- Shark Tank US | Will Robert Dive Into A Deal With Plunge?
- 686 Mark Groves | Your Triggers Are Your Teachers: How To Answer The Call of Self-Mastery In Relationships + Life
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Jason Wilson
- 548 Dr. Stan Tatkin | Healing Toxic Relationships: What’s The Bite That Fits Each Other’s Wounds?
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Ryan Duey is the co-founder and co-CEO of Plunge, the global leader in cold plunges. With a background in wellness and entrepreneurship, Duey launched Plunge in 2020 with his co-founder Michael Garrett.
His passion for holistic health was influenced by personal experiences, including recovery from a near-death motorcycle accident and extensive travel to better understand the human experience.
Duey’s vision is to make cold therapy accessible to a wider audience, promoting resilience, stress reduction, and recovery. Plunge has gained rapid popularity among athletes, health enthusiasts, and wellness advocates
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