Align Podcast

To live your most optimized life, prioritizing meditation for at least ten minutes a day is essential.  Countless people come to me saying “meditating is impossible” and I understand it’s a difficult practice, but I believe people make it much more difficult than it needs to be.    In the episode of the Align Podcast, I break down three common mistakes you’re probably making when meditating that are preventing you from growing your practice. I truly believe, when these mistakes are addressed, meditation will not only become more tolerable, it will become extremely enjoyable.    I also share three of my all-time favorite mindful quotes, and explain what each one means to me and how it relates to a mindfulness practice.    Need help getting started with mediation? I share a simple meditation with you in this YouTube video.

In this episode of the Align podcast, I chat with world-renowned boxer, Tony Jeffries. Tony was the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, 7 time national champion, and an undefeated professional boxer. Today, Tony remains active in the fitness industry, traveling the world as an international trainer, honing the skills of professional athletes, including UFC fighters, and sculpting the bodies of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.   I believe Tony is the kindest, most open-hearted human, especially for being such a bad ass, and know you’re going to enjoy our grounded and authentic conversation on what it’s like to have an Olympic mindset. Tony gets vulnerable, sharing the mental struggles he faced, the mental shifts he needed to make, and the affect his mentality has on his life now. Tony believes mental preparation needs to come before all else, and claims the game completely changed once he made it his number one priority.   Find more from Tony:  @tony_jeffries

Apparently there is a perception that I don’t have a ton of stress in my life. And to be honest, that is ridiculous! I experience stress almost every day. Although I have a handful of practices I prioritize that have helped lessen the impact stress has on me. When practiced, it gives me the opportunity to release built-up stress, and prevent more from building up within me.   In this episode, I share my best tips for managing and reducing stress in your life. I don’t believe it’s possible to completely eliminate stress, but I believe by incorporating specific practices and activities into your daily life, it’s possible to lessen the control it has over your health and happiness. 

We’ve gotten so far from what is central to us being human, making it essential for us to find our center again. Much of this has to do with letting go of our ego, discovering the practices that bring us silence within, and aligning our actions with our true selves.   In this episode of the Align podcast, Micheal Trainer and I chat on a wide array of topics that ultimately boil down to how  living authentically leads us to experiencing the greatest contentment, purpose and success in our lives. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who is serious about leveling up in their lives.    Micheal helps you recognize the different ways in which you are living now and how they are pulling you out of alignment of who you are at your core. Plus, he gives you clear guidance on how to make the necessary shifts for aligning with your authentic self, as well as his formula on how to experience true success and contentment in your life.    Michael is a social entrepreneur focused on building movements for social impact. As a Fulbright Scholar he studied community-building strategies in Sri Lanka, where he lived and researched for two years. As a member of the Board of Directors of Sarvodaya USA Michael worked intimately with Sri Lanka's largest social movement and NGO, Sarvodaya, serving 11 million people across 15,000 villages. Since that time he has traveled and worked to build global movements.   What else we discuss:  Ancient tools we need to return to utilizing  The difference between having vs. being The problems that lie within the ego Why your actions must align with who you are Asking others for their aligned actions Why it’s important to connecti with the right people The power of volunteering Why commitment is essential  What’s holding you back from experience true happiness and success How to return to your center Rights of passage    Hear more from Micheal by checking out his podcast: Peak Mind 

In this episode of the Align podcast, I give you a step-by-step guide on how I prepare for every single one of my podcast interviews. Plus, I give you a full breakdown of all the equipment I use for recording.   No matter what kind of interview you are conducting, I believe it’s beyond important to follow the guidelines I share with you to make your guests feel comfortable, respected, and prepared to give you their best knowledge. Whether you’re podcast interviewing, or simply having a conversation, using these tactics will improve your communication skills and ensure you get the most out of the person you are speaking with.    If you have any questions on purchasing equipment, getting it set up, or on how I conduct my interviews, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram, @alignpodcast.    The equipment I use:  Blue Yeti USB Mic Audio-Technica BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset Zoom H6 Six-Track Portable Recorder Behringer Microamp HA400 Ultra-Compact 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier

In this episode of the Align podcast, I have a not so conventional conversation with Dr. Joel Kahn on plant-based nutrition. At his core, Dr. Joel Kahn believes that plant-based nutrition is the most powerful source of preventative medicine on the planet. Although, the two of us dive into the precautions vegans need to take when eliminating animal products from their diet long-term.    Having practiced traditional cardiology since 1983, it was only after Dr. Kahn’s own commitment to a plant based vegan diet that he truly began to delve into the realm of non-traditional diagnostic tools, prevention tactics and nutrition-based recovery protocols. These ideologies led him to change his approach and focus on being a holistic cardiologist. Sharing many of these ideologies in this episode, Dr. Kahn educates us on plant-based nutrition in a refreshingly non-biased light.    What you’ll learn:  Vitamin deficiencies in a plant-based diet Breaking the myth of protein deficiency How meat is degenerative for the body Environmental affects of vegetables vs. meat Biochemical affects of a plant-based diet  How studies vegan and non-vegan diets are skewed How to recognize whether or not a specific diet is right for you A new syndrome: Red Meat allergy  Getting ketotic on plants only  Keto-friendly beans  How your microbiome changes when you take meat out of your diet Effects of plaque build-up in the body  The type of exercise the human body is built for   

In this episode of the Align podcast, I break down what my daily diet looks like, the beliefs I hold around nutrition, and my best advice for deciding what diet and nutrition practices are right fro you.    This is a subject I typically stay away from, as I feel dietary dogmas are just like religious dogmas, and prefer to respect people's decision on what to put inside their bodies. But, enough listeners and followers have asked for an episode on what my diet looks like, so here it is!    What I discuss:  My diet My meal timing The benefits of Intermittent fasting The importance of diversity Other sources of nutrition outside of food  Cooking practices for best nutrient absorption and digestion  Foods I believe should be avoided My thoughts on the keto diet  How to decide what diet is best for you Find more from me:  @alignpodcast alignpodcast.com  

In this episode of the Align podcast, Natalie MacNeil and I have a real, raw, and completely uncensored conversation based on her newest book, The Rituals.   Having visited over 100 countries and exposed to countless different cultures, Natalie brings a compilation of rituals for experiencing more joy, activating our highest selves, releasing our emotional blocks, and cultivating wellbeing. Natalie discusses how the integration of these practices will allow us to experience a deeper connection with ourselves and true intimacy with our partners.    Not only is Natalie one of my dearest friends, she is also an Emmy Award-winning media entrepreneur, bestselling author. She’s also the creator of SheTakesOnTheWorld.com, which is recognized by Forbes as one of the top sites on the planet for entrepreneurial women. Natalie is frequently quoted and interviewed in the media and has appeared in top media outlets like Glamour, TIME, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Entrepreneur.com, and more.   What You’ll Learn: Breath work for releasing emotional blocks Finding movement through the inner wisdom of your body The power of opening your energy centers How to explore your sensuality  Sex rituals for a deeper connection with your partner Plus more of Natalies life-changing rituals Find more from Natalie:  Website: shetakesontheworld.com    Instagram: @

If you’re someone who is striving to be proactive with their health, tune into this episode of the Align Podcast to learn more about floor sitting – one of the simplest things you can do to increase your vitality and longevity. Our hips, ankles, knees, spines, and the fluids throughout our body have been built upon movement, necessitated by getting up and down off the ground. Although in western societies, floor sitting is not a staple in our lifestyle. So here is where the problem lies…our body is like a home.  If we make good use of the space, squatters will take over. Inside the body, the squatters will look like adhesions, calcifications, and inflammation. But, when we move our body through its full range of motion regularly, in ways it’s intended to be moved, we prevent the “squatters” from taking over.  And when our knees, ankles, and hips can smoothly move through their full range of motion, it’s a clear indication of the vitality of the rest of our body.   In this episode I discuss:  How floor sitting will improve your life Studies backing up the benefits of floor sitting The affect floor sitting has had on different cultures  How to include more floor sitting in your daily life  How to sit on the floor properly How much time should be spent on the floor daily to reap the benefits Find more from me:  @alignpodcast alignpodcast.com

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Perlmutter, world-renowned, board-certified neurologist and four-time New York Times bestselling author. The two of us dive into one of the most important topics we could discuss in this day and age: detoxing our mind.    With the amount of technology, social media, and toxic foods we are exposed to daily, and our lack of exposure to nature, our minds are constantly being manipulated. All these pose serious risks to our physical and mental health, relationships, and even our ability to control our own thoughts. Plus, we find ourselves more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before.    Dr. Perlmutter refers to this as disconnection syndrome, which is caused by our modern lives pushing us into separating from our wellness, health and joy. Dr. Perlmutter walks us through the different elements associated with this syndrome and provides us with practical ways to break the cycle. To learn more, be sure to check out his new book, Brain Wash.    What you’ll learn:  The negative effects of technology and social media have on your brain and happiness How lack of sleep negatively effects your decision making and causes unwanted weight gain Scientific evidence proving the power of meditation  The importance of nature and simple hacks for incorporating more into your life The importance of re-evaluating your priorities and how you spend your time A step-by-step guide for making your time spend online a healthy experience How processed foods rewires are brain effects our decision making The basics rules of eating for detoxify your mind    Highlights from Dr. Perlmutter:  “Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life, and has the information, but the problem lies in making the choice to live a healthy life. The ability to make that choice has been taken from us. It’s widely known that our eyeballs are being manipulated when we are online but what’s not as clear is how our diets have been manipulated. The addition of sugar, salt, and low-quality fat makes these foods more addictive by literally rewiring our brain. This rewiring affects our decision making, which locks us into making the decision to continue to consume these foods over and over again.”   “Stress is a sure-fire way to lock yourself into your amygdala, the “fear-based” center of your brain, and block you from the pre-frontal cortex, the part of your brain that allows you to make better decisions, experience empathy, participate in life and plan for the future. So what’s the opposite of stress?