2% With Michael Easter

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.comMichael recently drove across the country, which required a lot of sitting.During stops, he'd do a quick movement routine and four specifically-tailored stretches.The routine is quick, simple, not embarrassing to do in public—and effective. You can use it to offset the downsides of sitting, stay limber, and live, feel, and perform better. The data suggest it can help you avoid pain and injury and maybe even add some time to your life.Check out the post at TWOPCT.com for videos of all the exercises. Have fun, don't die, don't let your chair kill you.

Michael covers the surprising benefits of cycling and mountain biking. Topics include:* Why cycling has unique benefits over other endurance sports, and why mountain biking is especially powerful.* The metabolic upsides of cycling and why it often trumps running for metabolic health and fat burning.* Why biking compliments rucking and running.* The fascinating cognitive benefits of mountain biking.* The connection between mountain biking and meditation.* Why mountain biking is safer than road cycling.* For those not interested in biking, we’ll cover how you can get the same powerful effects from other activities. * The most effective advice for your first rides.This podcast episode is free to all subscribers of Two Percent. Become a Member to get all of our episodes, full access to the Two Percent community, and all the perks of Membership. 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.comToday's AMA covers an important question from a Member of the Two Percent community. The question is: How do I move well and not feel stiff as I age? The good news is that the answer is wonderfully simple and practical—and it has a huge return on your time invested.This matters because:* Movement quality is at an all-time low—we all face movement issues as we age. And yet ...* Maintaining good movement is critical for longevity.* Good movement is important for exercise performance.* Solid mobility also reduces your risk of injuries.* Mobility is life saving during an emergency.We'll also cover a few things people get wrong about mobility. Have fun, don't die. Members, set up your podcast in the button below. It’s best to do this on your phone.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.comToday we're covering the science of job satisfaction and how any job can be fulfilling with the right mindset tactics. You'll learn:* The counterintuitive, surprising relationship between work and happiness. Much of this material comes from what Michael learned living at a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico.* Why roughly half of all people are unsatisfied with their jobs.* How being the half of “extremely satisfied” workers is mostly determined by your mindset about your job.* How any job can be fulfilling and rewarding if you learn the right mindset tactics.* Then we'll explore three ways you can build the right mindset around your work, including:* What scholars get wrong about modern jobs and how any job can be fulfilling.* A framework for viewing your career that’ll leave you happier and healthier.* The surprising science of happiness and retirement and what we can learn from it.Thanks for listening!

Big news: Two Percent is returning to Substack. Michael will explain why. Topics include:* Why we left Substack.* What happened after we left.* The power of the Two Percent community. * The plan Substack created to bring Two Percent back.* Big new things happening at Two Percent.* How you can steer the future of Two Percent.Become a Member at TWOPCT.com to get full access to all of our upcoming posts, podcasts, and videos filled with information that will help you live a happier, healthier life. If you’re a new Member, here’s how to set up your podcast:P.S. As a welcome back, we’re running an Annual Membership discount. It’ll last for 48 hours. Sign up now and get 15% off an annual Membership. We rarely run discounts. So take advantage while it lasts. Have fun, don’t die, and get excited—because we’re putting the band back together …Thanks to our sponsors:* Momentous Nutrition: The company that made me feel good about supplements again. The US Military and most pro sports teams trust it.* GORUCK: Maker of the best rucking gear (not stuff).* Maui Nui Venison: Provider of the world’s healthiest meat (the research, linked here, is insane).* Use discount code EASTER for all brands. 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.com**Member Episode** Become a Member at TWOPCT.comThe Expedition is a journey into thoughts, opinions, ideas, observations, studies, facts, figures, etc.Good ones, bad ones, insightful ones, dumb ones, and ones you can use to live better.It’s a roundup of all the worthwhile stuff I’ve encountered in the last month. The Expedition is a bit of an island of misfit toys. But, hey, the greatest journeys are winding.This month, we’re covering:Numbers on:Who commits suicide and why.The amount of pushups that reduces heart disease risk.Money, marriage, and happiness.Who wins marathons.How changing the speed of videos impacts information retention.The truth about expensive treadmills.How much time we spend online.A wild and clever three-part challenge.A fun read about ChatGPT and its propensity for b******t.A thought-provoking read on a surprising source of a hidden health threat.How to survive—and thrive—this Godforsaken heatwave.A wild map on weight changes.A tough, fantastic workout I did while traveling recently.An important parting quote.An even more important parting question.For full access, become a Member at TWOPCT.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.com**Member Episode** For full access to this episode, become a Member at TWOPCT.com. We save you more time and money than the monthly cost. Michael recently gave a talk on mental toughness. Today, he's covering some points from that talk including:The conflicting and ambiguous research on mental toughness.How I think about mental toughness in a way I and others have found useful.Three of my favorite fundamentals of mental toughness and how to build it.The result: You'll be able to accomplish more and perform better—all with less stress.Read the full post at TWOPCT.com 

We are a culture awash in hacks to optimize our way to wellness. But the data shows quick fixes aren't working—we’re actually not getting happier or healthier.Taking the hard road of mastering something new and difficult—no matter your age—is more likely to improve your health and happiness. It can even add years to your life.This is the core of the 2% philosophy and at the center of a fantastic new book I recommend, called NOT TOO LATE.The book's author, Gwendolyn Bounds, went from a desk-bound exec glued to her computer to a competitive obstacle course racer starting in her late 40s. And she got good at it. Very goodIn today's episode, she explains why we should all strive to try new, challenging things—and get really good at them. It's especially important for people over 40.Have fun, don't die. 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.com*Member episode* // Become a Member at TWOPCT.com This month's Gear Not Stuff reveals 15 of Michael's favorite travel items. They've kept him alive and made his journeys better from Baghdad to Brussels. We'll start by exploring the difference between gear and stuff. Remember:Stuff is a possession for the sake of it. Gear, on the other hand, has a clear purpose of helping us achieve a higher purpose. Gear is a tool we can use to have better experiences that make us healthier and give our lives meaning.Then we'll dive into the 15 travel gear items.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.twopct.com*Member Episode* Become a Member at TWOPCT.com Being more authentic is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. More authentic people have better mental health, reach their goals, are more satisfied with life, and even better at sales. That's why it pays (literally) to be more authentic. Today, we're revealing a test you can take to measure how you fare in each of the components of authenticity.Once you have your individual results, we'll explain four ways to improve. The results: You can begin living true to yourself—better and freer.For full access to this episode, become a Member at TWOPCT.com