The B.rad Podcast

As I discussed in the previous breather show, Dr. Lipton asserts that we spend 95-99% in daily life operating from subconscious programming. This show is going to get a little science-y as it’s extremely important to understand just how your thoughts are directing your genetic and cellular function. Each of our cells has extremely thin membranes with receptors that extend from the inside to the outside of the membrane. These receptors process signals from the environment and influence cellular and genetic function. I offer up my favorite example of a traffic jam, where you can perceive the experience to be miserable, thereby triggering a protection response and flooding the bloodstream with stress hormones; or alternatively taking the opportunity to relax, listen to a good podcast, or squirt nearby cars with window washer water. This show will help you make the important connection between your thoughts and your cellular function, and the extreme urgency to become conscious as often as possible so you are not a victim of your flawed and negative subconscious programming.   This is contrary to flawed and dated notions that the nucleus and the genetic coding contained inside the nucleus are the “brains” of the cell, with the membrane as a passive bystander enlisted to merely contain cellular material. Rather, the membrane and its receptors are the true brains of the cell. As Lipton explains, “The cell membrane is an organic information processor. It senses the environment and converts that awareness into ‘information’ that can influence the activity of protein pathways and control the expression of genes.”  If the perception switches in your cell membranes detect that you are having a lousy day (like being the victim of a traffic jam or having a mean boss), then they will consult the blueprint’s instructions for making stress hormones and tears of anguish, and gene transcription factors will manifest your tearful reality. But if your perception switches detect that you are taking the opportunity of a traffic jam to engage in deep, diaphragmatic breathing and listen to a great audio book, good vibes will literally permeate your being. You will instead produce mood-elevating hormones like serotonin and dopamine, along with a smile and a lightness in your step when you finally arrive at your destination. Lifting a simple insight from Einstein’s general theory of relativity, your perception of time itself will alter such that the hour in traffic either flew by or dragged along, and you will be literally correct in both cases. And while the fancy atomic clock at the military base can measure one hour perfectly as 60 minutes of 60 seconds each, time has no significance without a perception from the individual.   As Lipton explains, we have three fundamental categories of perceptions:   1) Those that promote a growth response (moving toward a stimulus)  2) Those that promote a protection response (moving away from a stimulus)  3) Those that do not trigger any response (Lipton calls these perceptions, “elevator music”)  Love is the most powerful trigger of the growth response, while fear is the most powerful trigger of the protection response. The HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis carries out both growth and protection responses in the body. When threatening environmental stimulus hits the hypothalamus (the brain’s control tower for assorted hormonal and metabolic functions) it signals the pituitary gland (the master gland coordinating activity in trillions of cells) to mount a protective fight or flight response, including directing the adrenal glands to flood the bloodstream with stress hormones. As you have already learned in depth, repeated and prolonged stimulation of the fight or flight response wears you down and accelerates aging. Cells are either in growth mode, protection mode, or listening to elevator music — they can’t multitask.  Hence, when our perception switches trigger the protective response on account of a traffic jam, mean boss, argument with a loved one, or fearful thought about your own cancer prospects as you depart from visiting a stricken relative in the hospital, it literally has life or death repercussions. In The Primal Prescription, co-author Dr. Doug McGuff references research published in the Annals of Family Medicine in 2013 about women who receive false-positive results on mammograms and have to sit in fear for a while until the accurate diagnosis comes through. These women experienced the same level of psychosocial harm as those with cancer for a full six months after they were cleared. Furthermore, negative health repercussions traced to the ordeal continued for three years. They don’t call it a cancer scare for nothing!  Whatever the circumstances that generate our negative thoughts, we might as well have a tiger chasing us for the level of destruction it causes to our “renewal” potential. The Biology of Belief  is not only a fascinating and highly compelling read, but most importantly it will change your life when you have such an in-depth understanding of just how powerful your thoughts are.  TIMESTAMPS:  Our thoughts can manifest a new reality. [04:26]  Environmental signals of all kinds affect genetic function. [[06:32]  We have three fundamental categories of our perceptions.  [12:14]  If you get a negative report regarding your health, the repercussion lasts for years. [17:17]  Your thoughts are the source of all your pain, not what's happened to you, but your thoughts about what's happened to you. [19:40]  Learn from other shows how to come to your relationship with an open heart. [20:45] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Larry and his friends attend the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy and have a great time. Larry goes on an Olympic spectating binge with ’08 Beijing summer, ’10 Vancouver winter, ’12 London summer, and ’14 Sochi winter. Meanwhile, he and his brother Big George have a fun excursion at a “sliding school” in Salt Lake City, where participants can learn to ride the skeleton on the Olympic race course. The Skeleton is that newer Olympic event where you race headfirst down the track in a manner similar to the bobsleds and the luge (feet first) competitors. Yes, you are sliding down the twisty-turny icy track at 85 miles per hour! This was the genesis of Larry’s Olympic dream, where he literally emerged from the crowd to pursue a longshot opportunity to represent the great nation of Israel in the Skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.   Never mind that Larry is in his mid-40s at the time; he went all-in with this odyssey where he traveled the world to compete at the various international competitions where one accumulates points and angles for a precious few spots in World Cup events and eventually the Olympic field. This conversation will get you inspired to dream big and go for it! Regarding his age, Larry decided to turn this to his advantage, stating that he wanted it to become an inspiration to others rather than a handicap. While he fell short of his stated goal of competing in the Olympics, you will gain a deep appreciation for the true value of chasing one’s dreams, namely the self-satisfaction that comes from doing your best and inspiring peak performance in others. Larry relates an exciting anecdote about a breakthrough performance where he enjoyed what can only be called a “third place victory.” What’s more, a member of Larry’s Israeli Skeleton crew became the first athlete to represent that country in any sliding sport. Larry’s devotion to the Israeli program earned him a spot as a team assistant coach for the 2018 PyeongChang, Korea games. Enjoy this great show about pursuing peak performance goals throughout life and appreciate the most important lessons of the competitive experience.   TIMESTAMPS:  We find how Larry discovered, at an advanced age, his passion for the sport of Skeleton in the Winter Games and how this applies to all sport endeavors. [04:11]  What is it like to go downhill Skeleton style? [17:20]  He made the Israeli Olympic team. How does one qualify? [22:24]  On the different teams, are you helping each other or competing against one another? [38:05]  While teams are in training, the competitive nature can cause problems. [41:42]  One of the biggest parts of the Olympics is competing for something bigger than yourself. [47:02]  Age is not a reason to fail. [53:07]  Skeleton is the slowest of the three speeds: Luge, Bobsled, and skeleton. [01:02:33]  What was the process of Larry qualifying for the team? [01:03:20]  The dream happened. [01:09:08]  The lessons learned of giving 100% to get back 100% apply in all walks of life. [01:14:11] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that having a morning routine has wonderful benefits like kicking you into pro-active mindset. Performing your routine each and every morning locks this pattern into place and keeps you on track when you have tendency to fade amidst the barrage of stimulation and distraction later in the day! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode one of these potentially life-changing Breather shows, I talk about insights from Dr. Bruce Lipton’s transformative book called The Biology Of Belief. Here is the foundational premise that will blow your mind: By age 35, 95-99% of your thoughts and actions originate from the habitual programming of the subconscious mind, mostly happening from ages 0-6 when we absorb our environmental happenings like a sponge. This is a combination of memorized behaviors, emotional reactions, beliefs and perceptions, that run in the background like an app on your smartphone. Brain scientists report that we think between 12,000-60,000 thoughts per day, that 98% of them are identical to yesterday’s thoughts, and that 80% of your subconscious thoughts are negative.   Are you pleased to hear this insight? Personally, I was pretty disturbed, because I prefer to think of myself as a mindful, conscious person. Actually, we are literally sleepwalking through life, reacting and getting stuck in patterns. It’s time to change, and it takes only a couple Breather shows! This book is a groundbreaking work in the field of new biology, and it will forever change how you think about thinking. Through the research of Dr. Lipton and other leading-edge scientists, stunning new discoveries have been made about the interaction between your mind and body and the processes by which cells receive information. It shows that genes and DNA do not control our biology, that instead DNA is controlled by signals from outside the cell, including the energetic messages emanating from our thoughts. Dr. Lipton explains that we spend 95-99% in daily life operating from subconscious programming. This programming happens when we’re “open” (ages 0-6). At that age, we are like sponges, absorbing every little bit of information from our environments: yes, all the family dysfunction, teachers scolding and criticizing, but we retain the good things too. By 6, we are fully programmed, and as we live and age, we continue to engage in behaviors aligned with our subconscious programming from ages 0 to 6. When we’re told we are not good enough, we play that out with 95 to 99% of our behaviors controlled by the subconscious mind, which is fully programmed by the time we’re 6 years old (something I touched on when I discussed parenting in part 2 of my show with Gitta Sivander). So what happens when you’re out of the super sensitive, sponge-absorbing-everything stage? You’re an adult, past programming, and like everyone else, working on sorting through and unloading all the baggage you’re still carrying around from childhood...and maybe you go to therapy to try to work it out. One important thing to note about therapy, though: Dr. Lipton believes that when you repeat and relive these traumatic stories in therapy, your physiology is reliving them as well, which is why he offers alternative ways to heal from these traumas. To understand Dr. Lipton’s book, it’s crucial to understand that genes are controlled by epigenetic influences that are mediated by our perception of these environmental influences. A good example is a traffic jam: I can easily sink into the mentality of: “Oh no, I hate traffic jams, what a F@^&$G waste of my time, I am SO mad!,” I can be honking my horn angrily, anxiously looking over at the next lane to see if I can squeeze myself in there and save an extra 12 seconds...or I can be like, “Well, ok, it looks like I’m stuck in a traffic jam, and I’m going to be a little behind schedule…” and I can take a deep breath, go with the flow, put on some classic music or a podcast, relax, and just go with it. The difference between these two outlooks is huge, and there is a massively different impact on your genetic health, your biology, and your hormones when you are completely in control of your thoughts in reaction to your environment. I have a future show coming up with Dr. Ron Sinha where he talks about how his practice is really focusing in on how rumination is a disease that manifests with all kinds of physical problems. The moment you go into rumination you start worrying about the past or the future, and then you are operating from the  subconscious mind — and that does not support you — not when 80% of our ruminating thoughts are negative. You have to learn how to interact with your thoughts and change them in real time, by becoming mindful, and by taking control — this is especially important during a time when people so easily say, “you triggered me.” This is something I discussed on the show with Mia Moore. It’s easy to be triggered - but where does that leave you? Powerless. Take control when you feel yourself reacting to something negatively. Then you activate the conscious to reprogram your subconscious. Unfortunately, life is way too hectic to allow us to do so, and our minds are too full to sit in quiet reflection and realize the significance of our thoughts and our subconscious programming, so Lipton suggestions these methods to become more conscious: Meditation Clinical hypnosis Plant medicine trip Energy psychology using EMDR (this helps us change self-limiting beliefs by slowing down our thoughts) So, what is one area of life that reprogramming your beliefs will directly affect? LONGEVITY. Mental flexibility is one of the four pillars of longevity (to be explained further in the Keto Longevity book coming Fall 2019!). The 5 communities that are home to longevity superstars? Okinawa, Japan.
 Loma Linda, California.
 Costa Rica's isolated Nicoya Peninsula.
 Ikaria, an isolated Greek island.
 The Italian island of Sardinia.
 What do all these people have in common? A youthful psychological age. There are significant scientific studies that support the idea that we have not one, but three relevant ages toward our longevity: Chronological age (the year you were born) Psychological age (how old you feel) Biological age (the state of your physical health) We make so many associations and attachments to chronological age that don’t serve us, and the reality is that science has revealed that your biological age and psychological age are vastly more important to your longevity prospects. This is something Deepak Chopra has discussed - how cultivating a youthful spirit, and the accordant beliefs that support it, can be manifested into reality on a quantum physical level. In Dr. Chopra’s landmark 1993 book, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, he corrects our flawed layman’s notion that we are physical beings separate from the world around us. What we perceive as our physical body — head, shoulders, knees and toes — is literally a swirling mass of atoms that are constantly dying and renewing based on signals received from the environment. This means that we have the power, at all times, to influence gene expression and cellular function through the thoughts that we think, the foods we eat, the movement we engage in, and so forth. In The Biology of Belief, Dr. Lipton says,  “The function of the mind is to create coherence between our beliefs and the reality we experience. Your mind will adjust the body’s biology and behavior to fit your beliefs. If the perception in your mind is reflected in the chemistry of your body, and if your nervous system reads and interprets the environment and then controls the blood’s chemistry, then you can literally change the fate of your cells by altering your thoughts.”    However, most of us are way too maxed out with stressing, obsessing, ruminating, and complaining to even begin to ponder evolved concepts like influencing cellular function with our thoughts. The Biology of Belief makes you realize that your swirling mass of atoms is literally floating through hectic modern life in a daze, but only if you let this happen. Like Dr. Lipton said, you can literally change the fate of your cells by altering your thoughts. Another great quote from the book: “The subconscious mind has the tendency to interfere with our conscious desires by programming undesirable thoughts and behaviors, which could lead to a great deal of stress and turmoil in our lives.” As dysfunctional childhood programming takes plays out, we adopt an assortment of narrow, flawed, and self-limiting beliefs. It’s common to believe that our genes are fixed heritable traits from our parents, and that they will largely determine our health destiny. You may have a family history of heart disease, obesity, breast cancer, depression, an impatient temperament, flat feet, or whatever else: yes, you are bestowed with these curses from your similarly-endowed parents and grandparents, and can’t do much to alter your course. Of course this stuff is relevant and important, but never forget that you have all the power. Otherwise, having a destructive, fixed mindset is the quickest way to ensure it WILL come true. This book reinforces that idea that your destiny is in your hands. The glass half empty saying has literal significance — this line of thinking is known as genetic determinism, whereby genes are erroneously believed to be self-actualizing. As Dr. Lipton explains in The Biology of Belief, the concept of genetic determinism has been completely refuted by recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics — the study of how environment influences gene expression. In the reality we create with mental flexibility, virtually every genetic and hormonal function that influences health and longevity is a product of environmental signals combined with your perception of those signals.   We all know senior citizens who are cranky and lonely, as well as those who are vibrant and happy. This is not random distribution of genetic good fortune, but rather a product of intention and execution. Dr. Chopra describes this as, “expectations determining the outcome.”  Granted, some people really are blessed with genetic variations (known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, or “SNiPs) that promote enhanced cellular repair. One study revealed that a group of centenarians aged 100-107 had higher levels of two specific DNA repair enzymes than a group of random seniors aged 69-75.  The less fortunate may have ordinary genes, and more destructive beliefs and traumatic life experiences to overcome in order to embrace new possibilities. However, regardless of the cards you have been dealt, a grand new vision for your life journey is within your reach, starting with the formulation of empowering new beliefs.  Here are Dr. Chopra’s marching orders accordingly: “By cultivating the habit of thinking of your body as a field of energy, transformation, and intelligence, you will begin to experience it as a flexible, dynamic bundle of consciousness, rather than a fixed, material thing.”  But it is also important to note Dr. Lipton’s argument that believing that genes are self-actualizing is akin to thinking you can take an architect’s set of blueprints, toss them into the dirt on your empty lot, and expect the blueprints to build your dream house by themselves. Stretching the metaphor further for a moment, if you toss your precious blueprints into the dirt of your magnificent lakefront lot and sit back and wait, they will eventually get destroyed by mud, rain, sleet, and snow. Similarly, sitting around all day while your genes expect and desperately crave movement, or staying up late into the night when your genes crave darkness and sleep, will result in the destruction of healthy cells. One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to practice mindfulness, especially with your thoughts, and The Biology of Belief is an amazing tool you can use to truly understand how you can work with your mind-body connection to empower yourself to take control of your life by being in control of your beliefs. TIMESTAMPS: We spend 95 to 99% of our time in daily life operating from subconscious programming. [04:41] Programming happens between ages 0 to 6. [05:50] You can interact with your thoughts and change them in real time by becoming mindful. You can reprogram yourself. [10:36] How does the mind affect longevity? [14:56] The function of the mind is to create coherence between our beliefs and the reality that we experience. [22:00] Genes don’t determine our destiny, but rather our behaviors. [26:24]Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela is the founder of Tribali Foods, makers of organic frozen burger patties of assorted creative flavors. The story of her entrepreneurial journey will inspire you to persevere through adversity and stay focused and resilient in pursuit of your dreams. Several years ago, Angela found herself a divorced mother of three young children, compelled to immediately switch from stay at home mom to breadwinner. She also was coming off a 35-year stint as a vegetarian and endurance athlete and experiencing what she described as a “hard drive crash.” In search of improved health and vitality, she cooked up a steak, took her first bite of meat in decades and loved it (condolences to those vegetarians who say the return to meat and are grossed out). This meal was the catalyst for Angela to transform her diet and dive deep into the primal/paleo scene, and also set the stage for her eventual entrepreneurial adventure.   She started buying quality meats at Whole Foods, getting a meat grinder off Amazon, and experimenting at home with assorted exotic burger patties. After all, her family is in the restaurant business and she spent decades working at her father’s hamburger stands in Southern California. Soon, her friends were begging for more and the butchers at Whole Foods were wondering what she was doing with all of her purchases! This led to a meeting with national Whole Foods buyers, who loved her samples and concept, and told her that if she could go start a business and get a product to market, they would place a big order. How’s that for marching orders?!  Angela immersed herself into this project, has enjoyed great initial success, and is eager to continue growing. However, we all know how difficult it is to maintain balance in modern life, and Angela has had some awakenings and recalibrations along the way that are valuable to reflect upon. She conveys that with the company’s destiny riding on her shoulders, she has to be in top physical and mental form, well rested and refreshed at all times. Witness her participation in pitch contests, where she endures a Shark Tank-like interrogation to attract potential investors. For this reason, she has established winning patterns and routines, such as making time for a daily walk, along with regular outings with her kids away from the frenzy of the office. She is committed to taking care of herself from the inside-out, and hearing about how she is making it work will inspire you to do the same. Angela’s journey will remind you that while the road to success isn’t easy, there is no doubt that it is always worth taking a leap of faith to pursue your passions...and hey, while you’re hard at work, super busy chasing your dreams, why not order a couple of Tribali burgers to keep in your freezer, so you can ensure that you are keeping yourself nourished, energized, and healthy!  TIMESTAMPS: Angela Mavridis was a vegetarian until she started her successful business. [05:25] Where did the name Tribali come from? [09:39] She did not have any digestive issues when she switched after 35 of vegetarianism. [11:05] After her making patties in her own kitchen, she was discovered by Whole Foods. [14:33] Being a single mother, she has learned about balance. [22:56] We are strongly influenced by the behaviors of people around us. [29:34] Angela compares her life in Greece with her life in U.S. Big Difference! [31:33] Angela had a good awakening when she discovered how much she was spending her time in her business rather than with family.[38:08} Brad and Angela point out the importance of meditation. [41:40] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first super short, super sweet blip show is all about L-O-V-E as I share the most important practices and advice you can utilize (along with your partner) to build and sustain a successful relationship. Starting with John Gottman’s great statement, “You’re either a team or not a team, at all times,” I focus on his most helpful quotes, as well as some from Harville Hendrix and Esther Perel. Probably one of the most important arguments Gottman makes is that most marital arguments cannot be resolved, and this is because couples waste time trying to change the other’s mind, which usually can’t be done. This is because most disagreements couples have stem from fundamental differences in lifestyle, personality, or values. So, sure, you can fight all you want, but that just leads to wasting time and harming your relationship. Another crucial piece of advice: “Friendship fuels the flames of romance because it offers the best protection against feeling adversarial toward your spouse.” This show will open your eyes and change your perspective when it comes to healthy communication in a partnership, and make it easier for you to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of your relationships by empowering you to approach them from a radical, completely different mindset.  ____________  “Thus, the critical dimension in understanding whether a marriage will work or not, becomes the extent to which the male can accept the influence of the woman he loves and become socialized in emotional communication.”   “But in their day-to-day lives, they have hit upon a dynamic that keeps their negative thoughts and feelings about each other (which all couples have) from overwhelming their positive ones. They have what I call an emotionally intelligent marriage.”   “The point is that neuroses don’t have to ruin a marriage. If you can accommodate each other’s “crazy” side and handle it with caring, affection, and respect, your marriage can thrive.”  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no doubt that having healthy, productive morning habits is good for you. Having the “perfect” morning routine is often touted as a great solution to so many problems, the clear, unobstructed pathway to a better life: all you have to do is wake up, meditate for 22 minutes, have your wheatgrass shot and make your superfood smoothie (10 minutes), get dressed and ready for your day (15 minutes), then write in your gratitude journal for 7 minutes, then you’re out the door with 5 minutes to spare and ready to conquer the world!   OK, so we can agree that all that is a little stressful, right? Especially with social media these days! It can be overwhelming when you’re scrolling through Instagram and you see someone detailing their very specific, impressive, fancy morning routine, and you’re like wait – what? Should I be adding some of that into my coffee? What else am I missing out on? The answer is nothing.... While some people may thrive off having a perfectly regimented, planned out schedule where every 3 minutes is dotted in, the most important component of a good morning routine is that it includes what works specifically for you. A good morning routine means something different for everyone, but, if you want to get inspiration from a seriously impressive one, then check out my show with Dave Kobrine – The Morning Routine King, who starts his day at 4am with a two-hour meditation!   It’s no secret that I love a cold plunge, and it’s my favorite way to start the day, but if that doesn’t seem like it could be your thing, at least check out the video I made giving you the brief low down on the benefits, which are impressive and may tempt you into taking the plunge: our hormonal/nervous system responds to brief cold-water exposure with a reset effect that energizes your body at the cellular level, boosting your immune function and stimulating a spike in adaptive hormones like testosterone.  The most important takeaway is that your routine consists of proactive, deliberate behaviors that you repeat day after day until it becomes habit. I have a morning flexibility/mobility ritual for injury prevention that I do every morning immediately after waking up, without fail. It’s become such an ingrained part of my morning that if I skip it for whatever reason, I have to loop back and complete the sequence of exercises or I feel off/out of sorts – the absence of this habit is noticeable, and that’s what it’s all about: you want these proactive, deliberate behaviors to become an ingrained part of your morning, as simple as brushing your teeth – it really is that simple. But it’s the repetition that will get you there - the key words are deliberate and proactive for a reason. And don’t forget to get sufficient sleep – after all, how are you supposed to have a productive morning if you don’t have any energy to run on? A good morning routine is important, so think about works for you, and work at implementing it every day, until it settles into the kind of habitual behavior that you don’t even need to think about anymore! TIMESTAMPS: Start the day with this routine. [[01:28] Many sources have ideas they promote. You need to do your own thing. [04:40] There are wonderful hormonal benefits for the cold therapy. [07:09] Establish a routine of proactive, deliberate behavior that you repeat day after day. [09:18] Get sufficient sleep. [10:24] Movement is number 2 on the list of routine suggestions. [14:13] Exposure to cold is number three. [15:28] Hydration is extremely important. [17:44] What will be on your to-do list? [19:29] Meditation or enjoying the family are important morning rituals. [21:50]  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two action-packed shows, Christopher and I focus on the amazing sport of Speedgolf and deliver some entertaining peak performance insights that can translate into many other pursuits…in case you are not interested in Speedgolf, which you should be by now. Christopher is a Guinness World Record holder in Speedgolf for best 18-hole round, set when he shot a 65 in 44 minutes in Chicago. Christopher describes the zen-like “flow” state that happens when you play Speedgolf, when you get out of the over-analytical and tense golfer mindset and just go with the flow.     He describes how our brains operate better with “ballpark” concepts rather than precision, such as a quick estimate of yardage or how a putt will curve on the green. He makes the interesting analogy of how we exhibit automatic, instinctive, graceful behavior when we drive our car to the market. We’re not thinking, “Don’t hit that car, don’t hit that telephone pole!” and other negative, fearful thoughts when we are driving, nor are we scrutinizing the angle of our wrists when we turn the wheel. But we do this type of stupid shit when we play golf every time!    However, since the rapid pace of Speedgolf means you don’t have time to ruminate on striking the perfect shot, you are able to unleash your natural athletic ability and intuitive skills to achieve peak performance. How else can you explain Christopher’s YouTube video at Bandon Dunes, where – on the very day when a sophisticated production crew shows up to film him for a Speedgolf promo video – he delivers an otherworldly performance? I recall Reggie Jackson in the 1985 World Series against the LA Dodgers hitting three home runs on the first pitch each time. Three swings of the bat, three home runs, on the grandest stage of baseball. These are supernatural feats that don’t happen when you are tense or up in your head, worried about results or making mistakes. Another time, Christopher was by himself on a rainy day at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, and went out for a late-afternoon round of Speedgolf. At the first green, he realized he forgot his putter. Instead, he decided to putt with whatever club he hit into the green. He proceeded to make five birdies in a row, using hybrids, wedges, and 8-irons on the green. Crazy. Amazing. And indicative of the magic of Speedgolf.     Speedgolf also helps you forget bad shots since you have to hit another one pretty quickly. In general, when it comes to bad shots, Christopher says you should expect them (pros hit bad shots all the time, but we rarely see them on TV!) and be more compassionate about your mistakes. Along those lines, Christopher says, “You should stop ‘should-ing’ on yourself.” Don’t stress about your score, enjoy your walk in the park, and maybe – just maybe – you will access the peak performance state naturally. Again, with carryover into all manner of real-life challenges, Christopher suggests you “Adjust, Adapt, and Move On” as a coping strategy and remember, “stop trying to be so perfect....it does not help.” This isn’t just folksy wisdom; Christopher quotes numerous leaders in brain science and cutting-edge athletic performance.     The problem with the modern game of golf is that it takes too long, costs too much, and is too hard. When you try to get help, the focus on technical instruction misses the point entirely. Consider Christopher’s message to strive for peak performance in a more holistic manner, relax and have a little fun, get over yourself, and perhaps try your hand at Speedgolf!  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I cite some great ideas from peak performance leaders like “4 Hour” author and podcast host Tim Ferriss, the late “7 Habits” author Stephen Covey, and “Good to Great” author Jim Collins. These topics have become of central importance to me lately, because I feel like the world is getting more distractible and hyperconnected every day. We are losing our collective attention span to our great detriment! I quote Ferriss about prioritizing starting your workday and avoiding “indiscriminate constant action.” Begin your day with fresh air and sunlight by taking a walk outside, then continue with productive action: sit down with a pen and paper and write a list of 3-5 things that are making you feel uncomfortable. Watch what comes up on that list – they’re likely to be the tasks you’ve been avoiding, the things that have the most chance of bringing up rejection and conflict into your day. But ask yourself this: if you accomplished only the tasks on this list – would you feel satisfied after? It’s all about letting the less important stuff slide, and making the decision to prioritize the things that you know must been done. This ties into the iconic 4 Quadrants from Stephen Covey, and the idea that you should spend most of your time in the planning, reflecting, and prioritizing mode instead of in the reactive, distracted mode. The 4 Quadrants are broken down like this:  1st Quadrant: Urgent + Important  2nd Quadrant: Urgent + Not Important  3rd Quadrant: Not Urgent + Not Important  4th Quadrant: Not Urgent + Important  Covey recommended spending most of your time in the 4th quadrant – this means planning, analyzing your to-do list, listing your priorities in order, and doing all the practical things you need to do to in order to get the most done – things that don’t seem urgent, but are actually integral to focus and productivity. Best-selling author Jim Collins is a great example of putting in the work into making sure you’re spending your time as efficiently as possible: he’s set a goal to spend half his working time in “creative productivity mode” and charts his time out on a spreadsheet everyday – talk about getting things done! He’s got the 4 Quadrants down and it certainly shows.  It’s all too easy to become numb to this state of constant hyperconnectivity, and this show will help you identify the ways in which you can avoid falling prey to this, and work with the reality of our highly distracting world to create behavioral patterns that best serve you, allowing you to focus and prioritize your daily life to your benefit.   TIMESTAMPS: I talk about my cold therapy plunge and deep breathing. [03:18]  Distractibility and hyper-connectivity are hindering us all from productivity. [05:19] Step back and get more rest. Be open to feedback.  [08:03] There is difference between efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness.  [09:59] Start your day with some sort of physical exercise before you get to your screen. [11:52] Next sit down with pencil and paper. [12:39] Learn to use the Covey Quadrant.  [13:43] If you lose focus, a nap is a good idea. Or get up and move! [17:37] Being busy is a form of laziness. [20:36]  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I welcome my frequent podcast guest from the Primal Endurance show, Debbie Potts of Bellevue, WA. Debbie is a coach, podcast host, and personal trainer who operates an evolved personal training facility in her town. She is a former elite level amateur ironman triathlete who destroyed her health from an overly ambitious approach to extreme endurance training. Since abruptly leaving the race course back in 2013, Debbie has been on a passionate quest to regain her health, lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and share her carefully considered approach with others. She is a devoted student of evolved athletic training methods, advanced recovery techniques, and the worlds of functional nutrition and holistic healing. Debbie delivers an extremely important message, having been there and done that with burning the candle at both ends in life. The WHOLEistic method helps you expand your horizons from the ill-fated Type AAA approach to life to increase attention to sleep, rest, recovery, downtime, stress management, healthy eating, and a sensible approach to exercise.   In this fast-moving show, we give you a general exposure to some of the particulars in the WHOLEistic method, setting Debbie up for future appearances to help you go deeper into potentially life-changing practices and habit modifications. You’ll learn about the healthy balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system function. Today we are extremely out of balance with sympathetic stimulation such that we are either wired on adrenaline (racing through a hectic day running on fumes and not sleeping well) or experiencing a burnout situation where you are exhausted, craving sugar, storing fat, and experiencing poor immune function.   In this show, we focus on three elements of the WHOLEistic method:   Sleep: power down your cell phone, disable those dings and alerts and get some sleep! Napping and restorative activities activate the parasympathetic system. Important to switch on and off during hectic days!  Focus: Avoid multitasking, as this increases stress and reduces productivity. Correct your tendencies to respond constantly to emails, navigate between a zillion windows on your screen, or even talk on the phone while making a recipe or rushing out of the house for a busy day.  Eat: We talk plenty about which foods and healthy and which aren’t, but creating a calm, relaxing, low-stress mealtime is critical as well. It’s critical to be in a relaxed, parasympathetic state to allow your stomach acids to work efficiently. If you get gas, bloating, cramping or other issues during meals, make a better effort to enjoy relaxing and leisurely meals.   TIMESTAMPS: Debbie has a history that includes Ironman competition and then having to learn a hard lesson about not paying attention to the stress on her body. [03:33] Everyone in the society is dealing similar problems of trying to improve performance and risking burnout. [11:05] The world of functional nutrition presents some differences from some information that is out there. [13:45] From champion world athlete, Debbie crashed!! What happened? [17:27] There are a lot of times thinking the athletic experience is a stress relief from the other forms of stress in life. [20:25] It's tough to embrace the idea that doing less work can and will make you faster. [23:11] Can you still be in the Ironman community if you are not racing yourself? [25:18] It is truly the most dangerous state to be in because we don't have any awareness that we're burning the candle at both ends until the flame burns out. [28:38] How do we reset and reboot? [30:17] What are the symptoms you might see with clients who are stressed? [32:43] If you are engaging deep diaphragmatic breath, it is physically impossible for you to be stressed. [35:30] It’s important to learn to manage your competitive personality. [38:54] Today we have constant distractions, multitasking and addiction to buisiness that we have lost the ability to slow down, be present, focus and enjoy the moment. [42:09] Sleep is so important. You must limit your computer and phone use. [44:27] The use of phones can make or break your life balance. [48:02] Are you relaxed so you can support your digestion system? [52:57] If your HRV score is high, it is not necessarily an indication of health. [01:01:03] Multitasking causes stress. Better make to do list and put things out of sight. [1:04:13] Rather than take medication, look for the root cause of your health problem. [1:11;05] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-get-over-yourself-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.