Chapter 45: Rich Roll on wrestling with recovery and running to redemption

3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover the 1000 most formative books in the world. Each chapter is hosted live and in-person at the guest's preferred location by Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. Each chapter of 3 Books uncovers and discusses the three most formative books from one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Chris Anderson of TED, and the world's greatest Uber driver. Each of the 333 chapters is dropped on the exact minute of every new moon and full moon until September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show as well as the world's only podcast by and for book lovers, writers, makers, sellers... and librarians. For more info check out: www.3books.co

A graduate of Stanford University and Cornell Law School. Rich Roll is a 53-year old, accomplished vegan ultra-endurance athlete, wellness advocate, bestselling author and host of the Rich Roll Podcast. A former entertainment attorney turned full-time wellness & plant-based nutrition advocate, popular public speaker, husband, father of 4 and inspiration to people worldwide as a transformative example of courageous and healthy living. His inspirational memoir FINDING ULTRA became a bestseller upon it's release in 2012 and THE PLANTPOWER WAY cookbook graces kitchens across the world. Along with his wife and four children, Rich resides in Malibu Canyon outside of Los Angeles.

Chapter Description:

Today we are headed West, perched atop the hills of Calabasas, California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

I’d love for you to be my guest for an incredible conversation with the one and only Rich Roll.

Who is Rich Roll?

Well, Rich was introduced to me by Jonathan Fields, our guest in Chapter 24 and host of the Goodlife Project. Jonathan told me Rich was one of his favorite people and he soon became one of my favorite people. I love his mind, his words, his outlook, and his incredible podcast … and was thrilled to have a chance to ask him which 3 books most shaped his life.

Rich went to Stanford and Cornell and was a national athlete at Stanford in swimming, but his career was cut short by a decade-long struggle with drugs and alcohol, eventually landing him in jail and rehab. On the eve of his 40th birthday, as he walked up the stairs he was left totally winded… and decided it was time to make a change.

The next day Rich overhauled his life. He switched to a 100% vegan, plant-based diet, grabbed his running shoes, jumped back into the pool, and two years later, fueled only by plants and after losing 50 pounds, he became the first vegan to ever compete in the 320-mile ultra-marathon and finished as the 3rd fastest American in the race.

Are you kidding me??

He then went on to complete five Ironman Triathlons on five islands of Hawaii in one week!

In 2012, he wrote his inspirational memoir FINDING ULTRA: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself, which became a bestseller upon its release and is still ranking highly to this day. It’s a fantastic book and memoir. I’ve read it. I loved it and can’t recommend it enough.

In 2013, he launched the Rich Roll Podcast. An incredible podcast, often ranking in the top 50 on iTunes, he does a deep exploration and mindmeld with people such as Russell Brand, Kevin Smith, Lance Armstrong, and Edward Norton. He calls it a two-hour experience, where he covers huge themes around fitness, creativity, and the human condition.

I was very lucky to link my mind with Rich in Chapter 45 of 3 Books.

Let’s go!

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

How do you decide which once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to do?
How far should you lean into your art?
What are some tools that help you be fully present and available?
How do you build a successful podcast?
How do you overcome deep addiction?

Leave us a voicemail. Your message may be included in a future episode: 1-833-READ-A-LOT.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/45