Align Podcast

Do you wonder how your sex life can improve our relationships– with others and with yourself–either in a monogamous, a polyamory, or an open relationship? In this conversation with Whitney Miller, we talk about the dynamics of monogamous vs. polyamory relationship, we go deep into details of sexuality within relationships and we discuss a very interesting pleasure exploration technique of the vulva: the vulva mapping. In her past polyamory experience, she shares what she learned about herself to be able to thrive in it, namely understand why she got jealous, why she got sad, and how she was able to cultivate meaningful relationships with women by having to constantly have vulnerable conversations which allowed her to truly love the other women.  Often, relationships help us to open up a part of ourselves that needs to be exposed in order to heal and to know ourselves better: our thought processes, our patterns, and how we respond to challenges. Whitney tells us how deeply transformative this process was in her open relationship with Audrey Marcus and how that forced her to profoundly dive into herself. She shares with us intimate details of her preferences with candid honesty, so if you are dating or looking to date women this could be a key to understanding what might arouse and please a woman before and during sex. And it’s not at all just about sex: asking the other person meaningful questions is likely to be a skill that enables them to open up. Whitney also tells us what are her own favourites questions, what she finds attractive in a man, and how playfulness is so important. Whitney is a love, sex, and relationship coach: an expert in the realm of union between partners and sexuality. Former Miss United States and sports anchor Whitney Miller has found her true calling helping individuals and couples. Her experiential journey to self-mastery started 5 years ago with her well-publicized open relationship with her fiancé, Aubrey Marcus. Whitney has since joined forces with some of the leading scientists and researchers in the field, and now hosts talks and workshops around the world.  What we discuss: [00:04:47] Letting go of how Whitney thought life should be has been making her more open to change. [00:05:50] Where Whitney's need for protecting herself comes from. [00:07:09] What permitted the sensation of safety to let people in Whitney's life. [00:08:34] Why the relationship with Aubrey was fundamental to Whitney's self-discovery. [00:09:09] How we receive superpowers and faults from our parents and our relationships. [00:10:42] Why Whitney thinks there is usefulness in suppressing emotions. [00:11:48] Whitney's latest Ayuashca experience showed her to go over one fear in particular. [00:14:39] Making it through life instead of living life: "If you let out what is within you, it will heal you. If you hold it in, it will destroy you". [00:15:57] Qualities in a man that are attractive to Whitney. [00:17:18] What was attractive in Aubry from Whitney's perspective. [00:19:06] Why Whitney and Aubrey were sincere about the constraints of their polyamorous relationship. [00:20:31] What Whitney feel she learned from her experience in a polyamorous relationship [00:21:39] Is polyamory sustainable and does it have longevity? [00:24:27] Whitney's present terms of relationship preferences. [00:29:38] How does a man show he holds the qualities of stability and safety? [00:32:11] Is it possible to hold a certainty about the relationship course? [00:33:21] What is the process of stepping back and re-access in a relationship? [00:35:59] Whitney's experience in relationships in which one partner goes through change and the other isn't [00:38:07] What good sex

Relationships are complicated, no matter what kind of relationship you are in–whether it's with your partner, your family, your friends, or your co-workers. The biggest issues that arise within relationships stem from our attachment to needing others to validate us and make us feel whole, our inability to communicate what we are feeling and holding onto attachment, and struggling to stay deeply connected in a society that is built to pull us apart.  In this episode of the Align Podcast, I'm joined by the beautiful and dynamic couple, Miki Agrawal and Andrew Horn, who share insight into navigating through these issues and how they personally keep their relationship alive, happy, and healthy. This episode is somewhat of a couples counseling session that Andrew guides us through and I'm simply just a fly on the wall.  Miki is a social entrepreneur who uses creativity and disruptive innovation to challenge the status quo and change culture. She is the founder of several acclaimed social enterprises: WILD, THINX & TUSHY (collectively valued at over $200 million). Andrew Horn is a also serial social entrepreneur, speaker and writer based in Brooklyn, NY who is a frequent contributor to media outlets like MindBodyGreen, HuffPo and TheMuse. He focuses his writing on “The Art of Meaningful Conversation” – How to overcome anxiety, ask better questions and connect with anyone. Find more from Miki: Website: www.mikiagrawal.com Instagram: @mikiagrawal Find more from Andrew: Website: www.itsandrewhorn.com Instagram: @itsandrewhorn

Did you know nitric oxide plays a fundamental role in the optimal functioning of your body? Nitric oxide not only has an anti-microbial effect (it kills bacteria and viruses), but also has a series of preventive functions, such as hypertension, inflammation, and coronary-artery disease and heart attack. Dr. Louis Ignarro is the 1998 Nobel Peace price winner in Physiology Medicine for discovering nitric oxide acts as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system. And in this episode, he shares the knowledge he has cultivated from his 50 years of research on the topic. So how can we boost this important molecule in our bodies? It’s surprisingly easy: by intaking antioxidants from fruits and vegetables and breathing through our nose! As Dr Louis said, inhaling has been thought of for thousands of years as being important, especially by yogis, but only about 15-18 years ago the physiological significance was discovered: as we breathe through our nose Nitric Oxide is carried to the lungs. What we dicuss: [00:05:52] Dr. Louis Ignarro’s diet [00:07:17] Dr. Louis Ignarro’s academic and professional background [00:10:21] The background story on NO, what it is and how it works  [00:11:56] Functions of NO [00:12:59] Why NO is the most important molecule in the body for cardiovascular health [00:13:50] Boosting NO by eating antioxidants in fruits and vegetables [00:15:18] Viagra works by increasing NO in erectile tissues [00:16:15] How NO is made in the body   [00:17:55] How different ways of breathing impact the production of NO [00:21:31] Antimicrobial effects of NO and how it’s relevant to the Coronavirus treatment  [00:42:43] What types of salt are good for us [00:24:22] NO in our nasal cavities - the importance of inhaling through the nose [00:26:17] Does wearing masks constantly affect our health?    [00:28:30] Why we should listen to science during COVID times [00:30:13] Do our bodies produce enough NO? COVID cases [00:33:12] Dr. Louis Ignarro’s story about his Nobel Prize Find more from Dr. Louis Ignarro Website: http://www.drignarro.com/ Instagram: @dr.louisignarro Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrIgnarro

Have you ever heard the term ‘humiliatrix’? It might ring a bell and you can probably guess in which industry this profession belongs to. But the contours of it might surprise you! In this episode, guest Ceara Lynch discusses her career: a niche in men’s fantasies and needs. She calls herself a Humiliatrix where she humiliates men, by request, in the most different ways. During her career she has worked with all sorts of men and perhaps contrary to what many would think, there isn’t exactly an obvious pattern of men who seek to be professionally humiliated, which led her to gain a non-judgmental view of people. We also talk about Ceara plans for the future as a means to fulfillment and learning and how achieving life goals can have us spin into existential crises. Overall, this was a fascinating conversation about the intricacies of being human. Ceara Lynch works as a humiliatrix and had a curious start in the industry at only 17 years old. She is also the host of the Standard Deviation Podcast and an executive producer and actress on the fictional documentary ‘Use Me’. What we discuss: [00:03:01] What a Humiliatrix is [00:04:31] How Ceara got into this line of work     [00:08:20] Is there a type of man that seeks this service?     [00:09:23] Do certain kinks come from trauma? [00:11:21] How does usually one online session go?    [00:13:10] A client's fetish that surprised Ceara  [00:17:11] What Ceara has learned from her work that she applies to her daily life  [00:19:38] How Ceara sees her future     [00:21:41] How reaching one big goal led Ceara to a small-scale existential crisis  [00:23:18] Is the sensation of helping people the solution to an existential crisis driven by having enough money?     [00:24:20] Is Ceara's work in the line of pornography?  [00:25:12] What are Ceara's friends like?    [00:25:52] Are the common stereotypes about pornstars true?     [00:26:48] Ceara's talks about her documentary 'Use Me'   [00:27:27] How is the internet changing things for pornstars?     [00:29:05] Is Ceara an entrepreneur?    [00:30:02] How Ceara started to manage money differently throughout her career      [00:32:23] The key to be successful in the industry      [00:34:10] What Ceara's parents think about her profession  [00:35:50] Is Ceara's job an issue to her relationships?    [00:37:13] Is it fair to expect monogamy from most people?    [00:39:04] Standard Deviation: Ceara's podcast     

Is the lymphatic system the missing link in your healing? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Perry Nickleston guides us through the vital role of the lymphatic system in the functioning of our entire body. In western medicine, we often use a bandaid to cover the symptoms that possibility are trying to make us aware of a larger, underlying issue. And by treating symptoms in isolation, without considering the entire system as a whole, it often results in long-term chronic pain and fatigue, a compromised immune system, and cancer. Plus, Dr. Nickleston discusses our mental and lymphatic health in-depth, why he thinks of the human body as an aquarium, and the correlation of the body-mind relationship by showing how trauma and physical and emotional stress can manifest in our health Perry Nickelston, DC, NKT, FMS, SFMA, is a Chiropractic Physician with a primary focus on Performance Enhancement, Corrective Exercise, and Metabolic Fitness Nutrition He is the author of the “Stop Chasing Pain” program, combining his expertise in myofascial, orthopedic, medical and trigger point soft tissue therapy. He uses programs designed to find your source of painful dysfunction.  He is an absolute wizard on functional medicine, functional movement, and the works of the lymphatic system. What we discuss: [00:05:25] What is the lymphatic system and how it’s connected to the other systems in the human body [00:06:21] How the immune system is connected to chronic pain and inflammation [00:12:23] The body as an aquarium: drainage precedes supply [00:22:48] The two main ways to move the fluid in the body [00:23:50] Can a person self-diagnose? Practices and symptoms  [00:28:13] Why the abdomen is the primary region where there is more congestion leading to more pain [00:30:04] When training becomes too stressful and how to keep it under control [00:32:50] Is inflammation always bad? [00:35:48] Understanding why certain emotional states are likely to manifest in physical pain [00:37:31] How stress affects our posture and its broad consequences [00:42:05] Why psychology and physiology can’t be separated [00:50:13] The relationship between skin, brain and gut [00:59:56] How can emotional pain be physically released [01:05:58] Why a mental breakdown was key for Dr. Perry’s healing Find more from Dr Perry Nickelston: Website: https://www.stopchasingpain.com Instagram: @stopchasingpain  

Are you ready for anything life throws your way? In this episode of the Align Podcast, guest Kelly Starrett discusses how putting ourselves in physically stressful situations prepares us for the mentally stressful situations life throws our way. The example he shares is how the risk he emersed himself in doing high-level white water kayaking mentally prepared him for the risk he took to start his own business. We dive into why taking risks and breaking ourselves against our fear doesn't make us more reckless, but actually makes us more responsible in the decisions we make in our lives.  Kelly is a physical therapist, author of Becoming a Supple Leopard, the founder of The Ready State, and to be honest, my preferred human of choice. Kelly has had a profound impact on me personally, and I'm excited to have him back on the podcast in hopes of having a profound impact on you as well. What we discuss: 02:25 - How does your bike affect your spine? 05:05 - How to implement biking into your life? 10:45 - What's actively challenging you in your life? 15:20 - Acknowledge bad behaviours and taking action  16:40 - The relationship between trying and doing 19:30 - The pressure of quarantine and it's social impact 22:10 - The value of experiences of being poor vs having too much abundance 27:00 - The relationship with tribalism. 32:45 - Breaking yourself against your fear  36:35 - How fear teaches you how to be in your body 40:50 - Why we seek dangerous behaviours 47:00 - The connection between physical risk and mental risk. 51:00 - Normal Accidents Theory 53:00 - Why it's easier to add to your diet than to subtract from it Find more from Kelly:  thereadystate.com

Most of us are nutrition and supplement obsessed when it comes to increasing cognitive health, although exercise is at the top of the list for preventing cognitive decline, yet it's the least utilized. In this episode, guest Ryan Glatt breaks down how we can properly use exercise as a means to boost our brain health.    Ryan also does a deep dive into what the heck the brain is in the first place, how it is deeply interconnected to the rest of the systems throughout your body, how exercise affects it, how to prevent cognitive decline and depression, and many other fascinating topics in relation to neuroscience.    Ryan Glatt is a psychometrist and Brain Health Coach at the Brain Health Center in the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. With a strong background in exercise science and human health, Ryan develops curricula specifically targeted towards developing optimal brain health.   Ryan is an amazing friend with a similar background, which means we get pretty silly.    What we discuss:    3:30 - What is the brain? 4:30 - How movement affects the brain 8:00 - Micro, Macro and Behavioral effects 9:30 - The effects of exercise duration, intensity, and modality 11:40 - Bloodflow, angiogenesis, BDNF 15:00 - Forced exercise vs. voluntarily exercise 18:00 - Nutrition and cognitive health 21:50 - Skill-based exercise 23:15 - Why not all exercise should be cognitive demanding 26:00 - Motor units within the muscles 33:45 - How movement modifies our expression and personality

Do you predominately move and live in a supplemented, linear way?   I personally believe the large majority of us aren’t actually living life. We are living a broken version of what we are taught life should be. At some point, we were taught it’s not mature to play. But, it’s so important for both our physical and mental health that we do shit that naturally engages our muscles.    Your muscles and the way you move them work as an endocrine organ that releases hormones and various different proteins, all things that affect the way you think and the way you feel. Therefore, your exercise routines, postural patterns, sleeping patterns, and lifestyle choices affect the chemistry of your body which directly affects the way you experience your life.    In this episode, which is audio pulled from my episode on the Mind Pump Podcast, I share ways we can stack variables in our lives to ensure we avoid making ourselves sick.   Listen to the original episode on the Mind Pump Podcast here.  

Do you predominately move and live in a supplemented, linear way?   I personally believe the large majority of us aren’t actually living life. We are living a broken version of what we are taught life should be. At some point, we were taught it’s not mature to play. But, it’s so important for both our physical and mental health that we do shit that naturally engages our muscles.    Your muscles and the way you move them work as an endocrine organ that releases hormones and various different proteins, all things that affect the way you think and the way you feel. Therefore, your exercise routines, postural patterns, sleeping patterns, and lifestyle choices affect the chemistry of your body which directly affects the way you experience your life.    In this episode, which is audio pulled from my episode on the Mind Pump Podcast, I share ways we can stack variables in our lives to ensure we avoid making ourselves sick.   Listen to the original episode on the Mind Pump Podcast here.    

Should cannabis be illegal? Is cannabis simply an escape? Does smoking it frequently makes us a “dud”? Should there be guilt and shame around using it? Or is cannabis a healing mechanism that allows you the opportunity to go deeper within yourself and become more in tune with the world around you?   In this episode, gust Eben Britton shares the history of cannabis, the truth behind cannabis, and how we can use it with the right intentions to seek a higher perspective and return to our true self.    Eben is a former American football offensive tackle who played six seasons in the NFL. His football career provided him with an in-depth, firsthand experience of dealing with immense pain and trauma which led him to learn and cultivate practices that allowed him to heal and restore. This is what led him to cannabis and since then he has become an expert on the topic. Cannabis has allowed him to seek hidden truths and bring him back to himself.     What we discuss: 4:30 - How Eben became a cannabis advocate  9:00 - Why cannabis is one of the most misunderstood plants 10:00 - Cannabis history, war on drugs, it's useful effects. 20:00 - The endocannabinoid system in our bodies 23:45 - The history of weed 27:00 - Propaganda and demonizing cannabis, why hemp farming was shut down, and the underworld that was created.  35:00 - Cannabis mythology 41:00 - My experience with cannabis vs. alcohol  43:00 - How cannabis is a mirror showing you a reflection of yourself 46:00 - Why cannabis isn’t always an escape 48:00 - How cannabis associates you with what’s truly real  55:00 - The Bible as a psychedelic experience 57:00 - Cannabis as the first step into plant medicine 1:01:00 - How and why Eben started with cannabis     Find more from Eben:  Instagram: @edsbritton Website: ebenbritton.com Podcast: The Eben Flow