The Primal Kitchen Podcast

How much are we like our mammalian cousins in the animal kingdom? And what can they teach us about our mental and emotional lives? Elle Russ tackles these questions in a riveting interview with Dr. Loretta Breuning, blogger, former professor, and founder of The Inner Mammal Institute, which studies how our neurochemical makeup guides our feelings and behaviors in similar ways to our non-human relatives. Dr. Breuning began studying the brain chemistry of animals because she was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. When she learned that our happy brain chemicals trigger survival behaviors in animals, she retired from her career as Professor of Management at California State University, East Bay to connect the dots. Now, her books and resources have helped thousands of people worldwide to make peace with their inner mammal. Her books include Beyond Cynical: Transcend Your Mammalian Negativity; I, Mammal: Why Your Brain Links Status and Happiness; and the forthcoming Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, & Endorphin.  Her blog, Your Neurochemical Self, is hosted at PsychologyToday.com   So tune into today’s show to learn more about how you can improve your mental and emotional wellbeing through reworking the mammalian neural networks that comprise your brain!   

Computers, laptops, tablets, phones, iWhatever, big screen T.V.s, portable players – not to mention the infinite libraries of apps, Netflix, Hulu and (of course) the Internets. Let’s face it. All those Baby Einstein DVDs seem quaint compared to everything a kid could do on a smart phone these days. With their phones, computers, T.V.s and other gadgets, teenagers’ tech use might be well over eleven hours a day of screen time, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. The average 8-year-old isn’t far behind with eight hours of screen usage. (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)

I recently linked to a couple of research articles that connected typical childhood activities (for adults) with health benefits. (Just when our parents thought we were wasting time or getting into trouble…) As we head into the final weeks of summer, I thought it was a good opportunity to talk about how acting like we did all those years (or decades ago) can take our Primal living and inclusive health to a new level. (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)  

Host Brad Kearns joins Chuck Hixson, CEO of AVAcore Technologies in Michigan, exclusive manufacturers of a phenomenal recovery product known as the RTX (Rapid Thermal Exchange) cooling glove. The product was developed in consultation with Stanford University researchers who made a stunning discovery in the laboratory related to improving peak performance—dramatically—by quickly cooling body temperature.     The glove works by quickly cooling the brain, vital organs and muscles by applying cool circulating water and a slight vacuuming effect to the temperature sensitive AVAs—a network of veins in the palms of your hands that regulate body temperature with a highly variable blood flow based on environmental temperatures. Physical performance is strongly associated with body temperature. When you get hot, you slow down—key enzymes change shape and malfunction when overheated, stopping cellular metabolic processes. If you are able to cool off during a workout (say, with a 3-minute session wearing the glove), you can keep going. Using the glove post workout will facilitate fast recovery by reducing the inflammatory cytokines that cause muscle damage. Listen to Chuck detail the technology and the practical application of this product that is now available for commercial use.     Visit AVAcore.com and click on the INDIEGOGO icon to participate in their limited time promotion to pre-order the RTX glove at a discounted price of $249. The offer expires on September 10th, 2015 so enjoy the podcast and then order your glove!  

Announcing the opportunity for three hard-working, passionate individuals to receive a FULL SCHOLARSHIP to the The Primal Blueprint Expert Certification program. To apply, write up a 250 word or less essay on how you think The Primal Blueprint Expert Certification would change your life and why you are deserving of a scholarship. Submit it by August 25th by using the form on MarksDailyApple.com. We’ll look over all the submissions and reach out to our picks to grant them their full scholarship access to the program. And even if you don’t get the scholarship, we’ve made it easier than ever to join, with only $1 down and $89 a month for 12 months. (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)

While resting heart rate has long been the gold standard to measure an athlete’s general state of stress and recovery, heart rate variability (HRV) takes biofeedback to the next level by delivering more nuanced readings that accurately reveal conditions like hyper-arousal or burnout.I’m so enthusiastic about promoting the concept of HRV that I partnered with the industry leaders at Sweetbeat Life LLC to create a customized iPhone app called PrimalBeat HRV. (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)

Conventional wisdom demands skepticism. Whether it’s the official stance on high-fat diets (“they’ll give you heart disease, don’t work, or do work but not for long!”), exercise (“you must jog at a moderate pace for an hour a day, four days a week!”), organic food (“it’s nutritionally identical to conventionally-grown food!”), or sun exposure (“you must always wear sunblock!”), I always question conventional wisdom. And when it’s lacking (as is often the case), I rightly skewer it. (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)

Host Brad Kearns welcomes Dave and Romy Dollé to the Malibu studios, all the way from their home in Switzerland, during their West Coast vacation. This couple is a wealth of insight and inspiration on all matters of health and fitness. Romy is the author of an exciting forthcoming book from Primal Blueprint Publishing called Fruit Belly, originally published in German as Früchtewampe. Dave is a leading fitness trainer and coach who operates two training centers in the Zurich area. This show discusses the curious condition of Fruit Belly, where health conscious eaters can experience intestinal bloating and pain from eating too much of the good stuff: fruits, raw vegetables and other natural foods. Dave and Romy venture into an assortment of other health and fitness topics during this lively show. So you won’t want to miss it!

If you’ve been keeping up with Mark’s Daily Apple, you know that standup paddling is a longtime favorite pastime of mine. And though I was into it before it was “cool,” I’m certainly not the first. Fishermen have been paddling their water vessels from a standing position for thousands of years and pre-contact Hawaiian surfers employed long paddles to reach the best waves on their 3-5 meter-long boards. In the mid-20th century, Oahu surf instructors would lead classes atop longboards with paddles, but it wasn’t until Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama started standup paddling (and being filmed doing it) that the sport gained broad “sport” status and board makers began producing dedicated SUP boards. So, a lot of people have asked: why do I love paddle boarding so much? (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)

I've got another sweet deal for you from Thrive Market: become a new member and get a free full-sized jar of Primal Kitchen™ Mayo. Just pay S&H of $1.95. If you’re an existing member, don’t worry. I wheel and dealed a perk out of Thrive Market for you too. Click here and you’ll get an extra 10% off your next order. (This Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson, and is narrated by Brock Armstrong)