Optimal Performance

I’ll spare you the sensationalized, click-bait headline about how spirulina and chlorella are the missing nutrient in your diet that are 1000X more powerful than fruits and vegetables.    But, technically speaking, one gram of algae – the amount in a single tablet – contains the nutritional equivalent of 1,000 grams of fruits and vegetables. So make no mistake about it, these nutrient dense blue green algae, Spirulina (a bacteria) and Chlorella (a plant) are true superfoods.   Spirulina contains 2.5X more protein per ounce than steak and 2-5X more antioxidants per ounce than leading fruits and vegetables.   A mere 30 gram serving of chlorella has 5X the chlorophyll content of kale and contains more iron than liver.   They’re also the most potent source of plant-based omega-3’s and Vitamin B12 - making them a powerful supplement for non-meat eaters.   These nutrient powerhouses may be the most nutrient dense foods on the planet and Catharine Arnston of Energy Bits is on the OPP to share the details of how we can upgrade our diet with a 30-calorie snack that can:   support our mitochondria  boost ATP enhance antioxidant capacity buffer and remove lactic acid speed recovery remove heavy metals (detoxify body) and possibly fight cancer* These superfoods also contain 18,000-24,000 I.U.s per serving of the little known antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) that is 3500X more powerful than Vitamin C.  Tune to learn more about the nutrient density of this powerhouse superfood, and how to get more of it into your diet. Catherine also advises us on the 7 questions we need to ask when choosing our green supplements, including the source, how was the cell wall cracked, how is it processed, how is it packaged - find out the rest (and why these matter) on the show.

The most polarizing topic in medicine, the OPP vaccine debate did not disappoint. We invited Yale Director of Public Health Dr. David Katz and the Paleo Cardiologist Dr. Jack Wolfson on to explore both sides of the vaccines conversation...what happened shocked me. Our debate quickly turned into a 1-sided conversation as Dr. Katz excused himself from the recording. As a health professional with a position likely funded by - and certainly supported by - the medical orthodoxy, I understand Dr. Katz’s reluctance to “pretend there is a legitimate debate” about the safety of vaccines.    However, the pro-vaccine contingency’s strategy to "ignore the debate so the public will think there isn’t one” is more of a red flag than they realize. I, like many others feel like - if there is nothing to hide, we should be able to have an open, honest, transparent discussion about the safety of the public.   Despite our loss of the pro-vaccine argument in this debate, I tried to present you an unbiased episode that is digging for answers. Admittedly, it’s hard to remain slant-free when one side is running TOWARD you with information and the other side is running AWAY from you.   It seems the more and deeper we dig, the more confusing and frustrating this topic gets.   This episode is packed with information and thought-provoking details… Among the anti-vaccine information in this episode is the story presented in the Vaxxed Documentary where a CDC whistle-blower and co-author (William Thompson) on the “vaccines not linked to autism” study claims they fraudulently manipulated the data to deliver the outcome desired by the CDC and Big Pharma. Tune in and let us know your thoughts.

Our guest on the OPP today is Eric Remensperger. Eric was diagnosed with inoperable Stage IV, metastatic Prostate Cancer - and survived. Instead of radiation or chemotherapy, Eric used oxygen, light, fasting, ketosis, sleep and functional foods to improve mitochondrial, cellular, and immune function to defeat his cancer. (Disclaimer: This is not medical advice.) This is the story of one cancer survivor - and his mission to share the information that saved his life. On this information-packed, inspiring episode of the OPP you’ll hear: Why Eric says we’re all "cancering" ←→ healing on a spectrum at all times and what this means for our immune system and odds of developing cancer (the noun/condition we know) How fasting induces autophagy and promotes a stronger immune system - helping Eric fight off his cancerous growths How Eric used oxygen therapy to reduce lactic acid, and clear metabolic waste from cancer cells to stop their proliferation Learn the single 30-day cycle of medicine Eric used in his treatment (and why) Why morning sunlight plays a crucial in optimal health and wellbeing Ketosis: nutritional vs. therapeutic and how it impacts cancer Why Oxidative stress is beneficial and how it plays into balancing our electron transport system A self-professed health nut BEFORE his diagnosis, learn the single biggest mistake that Eric says led to his development of cancer Why Eric ditched his daily 48-ingredient superfood shake when he was diagnosed with cancer - and what he’s doing instead Hear how Eric’s daily routine is designed today in an effort to keep him healthy, cancer-free, and thriving Thanks to Eric for sharing his story with us. 

Listener Request Episode - the Jet Lag and Travel Hacks episode of the OPP: The 9 Best Travel Tips to Reduce Jet Lag We love travel. But flying is tough on our bodies and immune systems. If you’ve ever had to fly long distances, you’ve felt the effects of jet lag on your ability to function optimally. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, you probably want to feel and perform at your best - get the 9 best travel tips to reduce jet-lag, the science behind them and practical strategies for how to implement them. (It’s the OPP - strategies to implement the knowledge base is what we do!) Discover the best way to eat when traveling: Fasting? Ketosis? How to use light therapy in your pocket to reset your circadian rhythm Immune-boosting tips to help safeguard against recirculated air and germs Can compression socks and pants reduce jet lag? A tip from Mark Sisson on when to reset your watch and why How to use grounding - on the plane and off it - to enhance cellular function What to drink in airports to maximize your immune system Hacking posture, sitting and exercise to reduce jet lag We’ve got you covered on these and more. Let us know your favorite - or send us your jet lag hack if we missed it.

The New York Times calls it the $325,000 burger. National Geographic calls it the petri-dish burger. Impossible Foods calls their plant-based "meat" the Impossible Burger. On this very special episode of the OPP, I chat with Chris Davis, Director of Research and Development at Impossible Foods to discuss their meat alternative - the Impossible Burger and it's impact (or lack thereof) on feeding the world, fixing the broken factory farming industry, and decreasing our massive food waste problem. As the Impossible Foods website states: "The world loves meat. But relying on cows to make meat is land-hungry, water-thirsty, and pollution-heavy. That’s why we set out to do the impossible: make delicious meats that are good for people and the planet." It's a great marketing message for the general public. It that all it is? Just an empty marketing message? To the discerning Optimizer, or anyone who has given thought to the issue of feeding the world, there are gaps in the Impossible Foods mission (as you'll hear). I'm grateful for Rosie and Chris's willingness to set this up and allow me to press them deeper on this conversation about the future of the world's food supply. It's clear to me that I'm at a different point on the purist-pragmatist spectrum than Chris and Impossible Foods. I'd like to think I'm not a naive idealist...you be your own judge. A taste of what we uncovered: What's actually IN the "burger"? (Tune in to hear for yourself.) Are the plants used produced by the same government subsidized, industrial agricultural complex that we're trying to change? (I found out the answer is...wait for it, YES!) Does it contain any of the healthy fats or proteins that we get from grass-fed animals like CLA, omega-3's, and collagen? (No, but it is "cholesterol-free"...HAH, did we transport back in time to 1985?) Production of the impossible burger requires 1/20 of the land resources that a cow requires...what is being done with the other 19/20th of lands? ("Nothing, not our responsibility.") Is this meat alternative making a positive impact on the lives of food insecure people in impoverished nations? (No - it's being sold at 33 hipster burger joints in LA and Austin for $14/burger) Chris and I do agree on few key points: We waste too much food. Globally, as much as 50% of edible food is wasted. See blog post for statistics and a great video from John Oliver on HBO's Last Week Tonight. The factory farming model for animals is seriously flawed, inefficient and harmful to the environment. We need to have this conversation about course-correcting and exploring alternatives sooner rather than later.

Mind Pump Media meets Optimal Performance Podcast. Adam, Justin and Sal from Mind Pump sit down with me on the OPP (or am I on Mind Pump Media?) for an epic 2 hour conversation of "podcasting magic" that is being released simultaneously on both of our shows. These guys are brilliant, funny, and ready to sling science at every topic that came up. This conversation ranges far and wide, including: podcasting, the pros and cons of technology, dopamine, movement, blue zones, meditation, suffer-fests, how, why, and when to use HIIT training... A few of the specific topics we dive into during this conversation: Why 24 hour was the first billion dollar fitness club Impact of Social media, on psychology life and business  The exact moment each of us learned to question everything  Why technology has decentralized power How podcasting is a revolution equal to the printed word The problem with high intensity and low frequency training methods Bodybuilding, steroids and testosterone problems The rise of "Suffer Fests" - why society is seeking, even paying premiums for suffering and relaxation And so much more. I realize this is the longest OPP we've put out yet - I don't plan to make shows of this length a regular occurrence, but for special "talk and record" moments moments like this, it has to be done. Break it up into several workouts or commutes - whatever you need to do, but enjoy this gem!

Ben Greenfield is back on the OPP to discuss his newest project, gratitude journaling. Ben explain his own gratitude rituals - answering 3 simple questions first thing each morning while he measures his HRV in bed (don't worry, I get Ben to explain his HRV routine as well.) We dive deep into the science of gratitude and reveal the 5 ways gratitude practices change our brain - including increased physical health, mental health, improved resiliency, better sleep, and enhanced activation of the brain regions that control serotonin and dopamine. Since no conversation with Ben would be complete without his latest biohacks and experiments, we also cover: Oxytocin injections Live O2 for hyper and hypo-oxygenation to boost mitochondria function Red Light Therapy Telomere protection Ben's Top 3 tips to fight aging And much more...

At the risk being accused of hyperbole, this is one of the most powerful episodes of the OPP yet.    The ever passionate Todd White (Dry Farm Wines) reveals his Profit and Peace Manifesto: how focusing on gratitude and abundance rather than financial results has helped Dry Farm Wines build the fastest growing club in the world - one that features 6 hour work days, daily team meditations and affirmations, and 100X growth last year. (We don't even mention wine until the 37 min mark.)   I visited the Dry Farm Wines team in Napa Valley to participate in their daily pre-work ritual of meditation, affirmation and gratitude. What I experienced was beyond my expectations.   The transformative power of their energy, light, and love revealed much about their success as individuals and as a team. Todd shares how we can build these habits into our lives along with the deeper impact of living in a world filled with love and support.   As Todd reminds us, "Darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. Likewise, our doubts and fears cannot exist in a world of love, gratitude and abundance."   We explore practical ways to implement these concepts, along with minimalism, creating rockstars, setting boundaries between work and personal life, and leaning into - or striving for - a particular goal is the last thing you want to do.   Replace expectation with appreciation and you'll find peace.   Tune in - and share this episode with your friends, family, and co-workers (I dare you!) to create this fail-proof family environment in your community.

Endurance runner, biohacker, father and husband Todd Shipman will be featured in September's Men's Health magazine for a day in the life of a biohacker. We've got him on the OPP first, sharing his 6 most cost effective biohacks and an epic conversation about promoting health, wellness, nutrition and movement. We discuss: Why Men's Health chose Todd for their "A Day In The Life of Biohacker" feature Is The AHA a terrorist organization? How do we spread our message of health and optimization without turning people off like we're door-to-door evangelists. The phenomenon of Horizontal Hatred: Stopping the in-fighting within our health niches (keto, primal, Crossfit, Vegan, etc) to focus on promoting better living to people currently outside the health community The importance of celebrating every small victory along the journey Todd's best FREE biohacks: breathing, cold exposure, and going barefoot Todd's Top 3 "best bang for your buck" biohacks: Red Light, HRV, and neurofeedback MoveNat - Natural movement How Todd Shipman spans the niches of primal, quantum, bulletproof, and much more...  

Dr. Michael Breus, also known as The Sleep Doctor is the author of The Power of When - the book that explains the best time for you to do everything, based on your individual biological clock. Dr. Breus has identified 4 chronotypes or "sleep animals": bears, lions, dolphins, and wolves. Understanding our natural tendencies allows us to find the optimal time to do anything and everything - from sex and sleep, to workouts, highly productive work and everything in between. Understand why most studies and health recommendations are wrong for 40-50% of the population Discover why 90% of people are having sex at the wrong time of day Learn how the PER3 gene is one of 80 genes  that determine your sleep drive and your unique biological clock How cancer cells multiply faster when we're sleep deprived Why "The Power of When" can improve your relationships at home and at work How light changes metabolism, sleep, and sexual arousal And much more... Tune in to learn your chronotype and what it says about you.