2% With Michael Easter

Michael is an author known for his book, The Comfort Crisis, which ignited the rucking trend. In this discussion, he delves into how rucking burns calories efficiently and promotes a SUPERMEDIUM physique. He emphasizes the benefits for women and compares injury rates to running. Michael shares tips on ideal weight for beginners, the differences between using a weight vest versus a backpack, and whether carrying a child counts as rucking. Listeners will find practical advice and insights into how to maximize their rucking experience.

This discussion dives into fascinating health insights, revealing a trick to boost your workouts by 77%. Explore the surprising strength of 80-year-olds and the critical role of sleep in overall wellness. The conversation touches on childhood nutrition challenges, linking it to larger societal issues. Learn how competition can fuel fitness and examine the deeper reasons behind Scandinavian happiness. Uncover why problems can present opportunities, alongside a clever perspective on smartphones and the gambling industry.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.comToday we’re covering a breathing trick that will improve your endurance. It’s simple—it’s effective. The breathing technique originated with one of the fiercest Native American tribes.This tribe was known to drive their enemies into exhaustion with their “almost superhuman stamina,” as one historian put it. Call it the best d*mn endurance breathing trick on the planet. When Michael started doing it, his endurance in all workouts improved. He could cover more miles running and rucking and recover quicker between rounds of intense workouts like Burn The Ships.Try it. It’s not easy at first. It takes some getting used to. But you’ll thank us when: * Your run times drop.* You’re able to cover more ground * You’re less beat down after a run.* Your resting heart rate improves.

Dive into the fascinating world of nasal breathing and discover how it can enhance heart health, fitness, and sleep. The discussion reveals the science behind why we should favor nasal over mouth breathing, debunking common myths. Get practical tips for incorporating nasal breathing into your workouts, whether lifting weights or doing cardio. Learn about the experiences of a UFC fighter and the impact of breathing techniques on performance, especially during challenging times. It's a no-nonsense guide to optimize your health!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.comIt’s the second Friday of the month, so it’s time for our monthly Gear Not Stuff episode—the internet’s no-BS dive into gear. Today’s Gear Not Stuff will help you not die.We’re covering 11 pieces of gear that can save your life. You should keep them at home, in your car, and take them with you while traveling (even into places you think are safe). Don’t overlook these items. When traveling abroad, gear can determine whether you get home in the plane’s cabin in seat 27C or its cargo belly in a bodybag. Even at home and in cities we believe are secure, having the right gear and using it well can prevent assaults, home and hotel break ins, and more. Have fun, don’t die, buy gear, not stuff.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.comDuring the 2008 Olympics, many outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post reported that Michael Phelps was eating 12,000 calories a day.The problem: It wasn’t true. But it highlights one of the largest problems in nutrition, which is that we suck at knowing how much we ate. Today we’re providing a solution. We’ll cover:* The science of how incorrect we are when we estimate what and how much we ate.* Who is most likely to be most wrong in their eating estimates.* The three reasons we tend to get food estimates wrong.* Why knowing your intake matters.* A skill you can use to know what you really ate.* How to use the information so you can lose weight, gain it, maintain your current weight, or fuel a workout.Become a Member to access the entire episode and get access to the entire Two Percent universe.

Michael spent years covering the Olympics for Men’s Health. Olympian nutrition was always one of the most fascinating parts. This episode covers:* The surprisingly wacky diets of the athletes at the Paris Olympics.* Why unpacking why Olympians eat the way they do can help us understand:* How to eat to fuel different levels of exercise/activity.* When to eat junk food and how much of it to eat based on your activity level.* A fundamental underlying cause of metabolic diseases.* Why overly restrictive and finicky diets can backfire.Have fun, don’t die, become a Member of Two Percent at TWOPCT.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twopct.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.comTwo Percent is holding its second Don’t Die retreat in Las Vegas on November 2nd and 3rd. This month’s Burn the Ships workout is inspired by some of the fitness tactics we cover and practice at the Don’t Die retreat. It’s a hard-and-fast practicum of training in a way that makes us perform better and remain resilient if our goal is to … yeah … not die.* It builds the physical skills needed to survive an emergency at home or abroad.* It’ll help you perform at your peak on trips deep into the wilderness.* It’ll improve your day-to-day life by boosting your healthspan.And it’s not what you might expect. Typical fitness programs get this type of fitness totally wrong.We’ll cover the workout and explain why doing one tough workout a week is important for health, VO2 max, and more.Become a Member to access the full podcast, get video of all the exercises, and see the workout in written form.

A captivating journey of 5,011 miles unfolds lessons learned from long drives. Travel gear insights reveal essential items for road trips. Nutrition takes center stage, questioning the Paleo diet’s downsides. Tips for combating back pain and maintaining mobility during long hours in the car are shared. There’s a poignant reflection on the loss of meaningful travel experiences. The importance of reclaiming attention in a tech-heavy world is emphasized, along with unique strategies for eating on the go and improving relationships. Plus, valuable advice for traveling with dogs!

Michael recently spoke with Tim Mak. Tim runs The Counteroffensive, a publication on Substack that covers the war in Ukraine in ways you won’t see in mainstream media. Tim landed in Kyiv right as the war started and has (mostly) been there ever since. In today’s episode, Tim and I discussed:* The wild story about how Tim ended up covering the War in Ukraine.* What war can teach us about meaning and how we spend our time.* What failing out of the Green Beret pipeline taught Tim about strength and intelligence.* Safety skills that every person should have. They’re critical for war zones and home.* How Tim approaches fitness in a war zone.* My thoughts on putting together an exercise routine when you have limited time and equipment.* How a hilarious insult from a Ukrainian doctor led Tim to change his nutrition habits in the Ukraine.* My thoughts on alcohol and health, whether moderate drinking is healthy, and how that can guide our decisions around other “bad” habits.* The gear Tim brings with him when he’s reporting stories on the frontlines.* The gear I bring with me when I’m reporting stories in austere environments.* What motivates me to publish Two Percent.* My response to Tim challenging the thesis behind Two Percent.* What Tim and I do to get a break from work.To get full access to all Two Percent episodes, become a Member at TWOPCT.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twopct.com/subscribe