227 | Therapy vs. Exercise: What’s the Real Antidote to Mental Health Struggles?

In this episode, Dr. Richard Blake (@the_breath_geek) and Joseph Anew (@TheRUNGAGuy) go deeper than the usual therapy vs. fitness debate — questioning whether traditional therapy is even the best first-line treatment for many people.

We explore:

– Why SSRIs might not be the magic bullet we were promised
– How exercise could act as the “missing ingredient” in emotional healing
– The dangers of weaponizing “intention vs. impact” culture
– How plastic surgery affects mental health
– The real reason social connection predicts longevity
– Why men’s mental health needs movement, not just talking circles

With honest reflections, real studies, and no sacred cows, this conversation is a much-needed reality check for anyone navigating modern mental health culture.

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Facelifts: The new PED for biohackers?
04:17 – Plastic surgery and its unpredictable impact on mental health
06:56 – Why your perception shapes your reality more than you think
08:32 – How outrage culture is making us miserable
13:05 – Does therapy really work? A harsh look at the evidence
19:45 – The dangers of therapy if you don’t actually need it
24:15 – Exercise, SSRIs, and therapy: Which one wins for mental health?
37:31 – Why men might need exercise even more than women
43:34 – Longevity and friendship: It’s not what you think
48:10 – New Age spirituality and narcissism: a slippery slope
55:06 – SSRIs: The dirty secrets no one talks about
01:08:04 – Why therapy needs to integrate sleep, food, sunlight, and fitness

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