The B.rad Podcast

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.

I enjoyed an excellent article on the Medium.com titled, “How Technology is Hijacking Your Mind — from a Magician and Google Design Ethicist”, written by Tristan Harris. His bio says: Co-founder, Center for Humane Technology, Ex-Google Design Ethicist, CEO of Apture (acquired by Google), Philosopher, Entrepreneur, Friend, Human.  Quoting from the article, “Tristan was a Product Philosopher at Google until 2016 where he studied how technology affects a billion people’s attention, wellbeing and behavior. Started a Center for Humane Technology and the movement called Time Well Spent.   The article identifies 10 ways in which technology is hijacking our minds and quite likely ruining our lives, along with ways we can identify these issues and take corrective action. Tristan starts out making the astute observation that we usually only reference the positive attributes technology (e.g., “Google Maps gives you precise verbal and map directions for wherever you want to go; Yelp give you restaurant reviews”), instead of how this stuff things might be potentially harmful (e.g., using GPS technology compromises your natural sense of direction). Harris compares app design to how a magician operates, since both seek to exploit our “blind spots, edges, vulnerabilities and limits of people’s perception.” That’s a nasty accusation, but you will learn how accurate it is when we proceed through these 10, gnarly, scary and highly disturbing ways in which tech hijacks your mind. Briefly, the list is  The illusion of free choice: “technology hijacks the way we perceive our choices and replaces them with new ones.” Harris says they may not align with our true needs. A simple example, the bike shop is having a sale. You don’t need any gear but you are enticed to shop because of the sale.   The slot machine concept of intermittent variable rewards: Slots are highly addictive, as are mobile devices, because we are getting fresh and surprising stimulation each time we engage. Could this be the same for abusive relationship dynamics where you keep coming back for more abuse hoping that maybe today will be a good day?  FOKU (fear of keeping up. Foku too!), FOMO (Fear of missing out), FOMSI (Fear of missing something important). This is why we don’t unsubscribe from boring stuff (might miss a sale!) or turn off boring athletic events on TV (might miss a comeback). It’s also why we suffer from disastrous consequences of consumerism mentality and keeping up with the Joneses. Check the book Affluenze for more on this.   Social Approval: We like when we get more followers and when people accept our friend requests. “So when Marc tags me, he’s actually responding to Facebook’s suggestion, not making an independent choice. But through design choices like this, Facebook controls the multiplier for how often millions of people experience their social approval online." Social Reciprocity (Tit-for-tat): Quoting from the article, “You do me a favor — I owe you one next time. You say, “thank you”— I have to say “you’re welcome.” You send me an email— it’s rude not to get back to you.”  Bottomless bowls, Infinite Feeds, and Autoplay: Remember when you could go to YouTube and play the video of your choice and be done with it? Not any more. Ditto for Netflix. Bottomless bowls refers to a famous experiment where people ate more soup when the bowl had a secret trap door to auto-refill it from the bottom.  Instant Interruption vs. “Respectful” Delivery: App makers like to, “heighten the feeling of urgency and social reciprocity. Harris says this is, "maximizing interruptions in the name of business creates a tragedy of the commons, ruining global attention spans and causing billions of unnecessary interruptions each day.” His Time Well Spent movement addresses the issue by demanding better design features with social media.    Bundling Your Reasons with Their Reasons: Harris observes that the top two reasons for visiting the grocery store are to buy milk and visit pharmacy. Hence, this stuff is typically located in the back of the store, so you pass buying options. Ditto for the registration desk in casino hotels.   Inconvenient Choices: Harris describes just how difficult it is to cancel a New York Times subscription. Ever tried to delete a Facebook account? Many hoops to jump through.   Forecasting errors and “Foot in the Door” strategies: The apps and social media sites have assorted devious ways to lure you in and keep you there for a long time. Think of the clickbait that accompanies so many innocent Internet articles.  Harris explains that this is why he offers an “estimated reading time” at the start of all his articles. He is respecting your valuable time as a reader and says, “In a Time Well Spent internet, choices could be framed in terms of projected cost and benefit, so people were empowered to make informed choices by default, not by doing extra work.”  This tech hijacking is a serious matter demanding your serious attention and discipline. Hopefully, the show, this written summary, Harris’s original article on The Medium, and the humanetech.com website will help you fight a valiant battle against tech hijacking your life.   TIMESTAMPS:  Brad is trying to increase awareness of our behavior patterns and addiction to technology. [00.33]  We're always focused on the benefits of what the APP does. [06:44]  Magicians start by looking for blind spots, edges, vulnerabilities, and limits of people's perception so they can influence what people do without them even realizing it. [08:09]  Free Choice is an illusion you think you have. [09:39]  We easily become addicted to intermittent variable rewards. [10:32]  We are afraid of mission out. [12:41]  Social approval and social reciprocity are fundamental human drives. [15:04]  The concept of bottomless bowls, infinite feeds, and autoplay is another way they get you. [17:17]  Companies know that messages that interrupt people immediately are more persuasive. [19:29]  Another way apps hijack you is by taking your reasons for visiting the APP just like grocers or casinos do. [20:43]  Giving you inconvenient choices is another trick to hijack you. [21:59]  People don't intuitively forecast the true cost of a click when it's presented to them. [23:00]  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.

Get ready to have your mind blown with an in-depth exploration into one of the most intriguing dietary strategies we’ve heard about in many years: the carnivore diet. Yes, the strategy is legit, and Dr. Saladino makes one of the most compelling and scientifically supported arguments imaginable. This show moves at lightning speed and will slap you in the face with direct challenges to your long-standing beliefs about colorful, high antioxidant vegetables being the centerpiece of a healthy diet. If you are from the vegan/vegetarian world, watch out because the pillars of your belief system are going to get shattered. What if agriculture was no better than feedlot animals for the carbon footprint on the environment? What if even the most hardcore vegan still actually consumes plenty of animal matter, especially from the soil? What if broccoli and kale offered little or no health benefits, aside from being hormetic stressors – a brief exposure to toxins prompting an antioxidant defense response? And, it follows, that eating them every day can lead to chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions – part of the chronic stressors that are destroying human health today?   Essentially, Dr. Saladino is proposing that our devotion to eating colorful plants promotes chronic inflammation, which is especially destructive to the brain. For those who avoid animal products on moral, ethical or sustainability high ground, your high ground just got a flood warning. Watch Dr. Paul get into the mix with vegan advocate Rich Roll on the Minimalist Podcast! Dr. Paul Saladino is a classically trained psychiatrist and functional medicine practitioner obsessed with getting to the source of chronic health problems instead of just treating the symptoms. He has noted incredibly rapid and dramatic improvements in psychiatric conditions from carnivore diet interventions.   Dr. Saladino takes us through the compelling arguments against eating plants and in favor of a carnivore focus in an impassioned but logical manner, and ends with instructions for how to go about carnivore the right way. This diet is not about the old-time bodybuilder strategy of slamming steaks and hamburgers every day. Overall, our dietary emphasis on lean animal muscle meats these days is not nearly as effective as a nose-to-tail strategy. Here are some favorite foods and important checkpoints to hit when you try carnivore:   Nose to tail meat, with liver being the #1 most nutrient-dense food to emphasize. Also, transition the many other organ meats into your dietary centerpiece.   Extra fats: Cooking with animal fats will deliver those essential fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K.  Connective tissue: Delivers collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and other nutritious agents that are not found in muscle meat.  Organ meat.  Calcium: Eggshells or supplemental bone meal.  Iodine: Great sources are pastured eggs and Dr. Paul’s favorite, salmon roe.  This is a good time to plug the premier show sponsor Ancestral Supplements, as they encapsulate the 100% pasture raised/grass-fed organ meats sourced from New Zealand, free from any additives or impurities. Ancestral Supplements allows you to obtain nose-to-tail nutrition, even if you haven’t been doing a perfect job cooking up your liver, brains, and kidneys recently. Get started with their Beef Organs that might possibly blow doors off a whole cabinet full of synthetic vitamin supplements. Also check out Tania Tesckhe’s The Bordeaux Kitchen, a masterpiece on French food, wine, and culture. You’ll get many beautiful recipes and an intensive education for how to get organ meats back into central dietary position.  Dr. Paul also advocates for going all-in with the experiment so you can really assess how any inflammation, gut microbiome conditions, and cognitive conditions might improve from the carnivore diet. After listening to Dr. Saladino’s great interview on Ben Greenfield Fitness, he took up residence in my head every day and every meal for six weeks. I started trending more and more to carnivore, as did my primal and keto sidekick Brian McAndrew (we are working on two cookbooks just for cool dudes like us, coming in winter 2019-2020.) I told my friends privately I was pretty much following a C&C diet (carnivore and chocolate). Every time I consumed something from the plant world, I felt a negative emotional charge—a sense of uneasiness like I was doing something counter to my health instead of supporting my health! Dang son, the carnivore done got hold of my mind!  After this interview with Dr. Paul, I am convinced that it’s certainly worth the experiment to avoid plant antigens completely for a reasonable length of time such as 30 days, and see how you feel. Dr. Saladino said you can start adding foods back into the mix as your experiment continues. Whether you are like me: free from major inflammatory or autoimmune complaints at this time and just interested in living a better life, or someone who has some issues going on right now that can potentially benefit from dietary intervention, this show will give you plenty of confidence and guidance to try something that could deliver a breakthrough.  The success stories are piling up – check out meatheals.com for the profound impact the carnivore diet has had on sufferers of autoimmunity, inflammation, and all manner of cognitive and mood disorders. If holding onto fixed beliefs is more important than pursuing higher levels of health, go ahead and dismiss carnivore. I know I did when Danny Vega first uttered the term to me in August of 2017. Dr. Paul says “Live a Radical Life” and adopt a “Beginner’s Mindset” when exposed to new information. Ready for some fun? Enjoy the show!  TIMESTAMPS: The carnivore diet movement challenges almost every single long held belief. In medicine.  [07:30] The plant agriculture is essentially even more damaging in terms of greenhouse gases than animal agriculture.  [11:14] You put blood and bone from animals into the soil to add organic nutrients to the soil. [13:51] Saladino says it’s wrong that, as Vegans imagine, that plant based diets are saving the planet. [15:25] The argument about being kind to animals  in order to be a good steward of the environment vs. vegetables are bad for you is blurred. [17:03] Here is a good mind experiment: What would be the optimal thing for a human to eat?  [21:21] How much Omega 3 should we be getting? [25:30] There is genetic individuality.  [28:44] Getting away from the standard American diet as a starting point is beneficial [32:41] Is broccoli good for us or bad for us? [36:22] You're eating the plants for macro nutrients, not for micronutrients. [44:03] The essence of it here is that we're eating something that creates a stress response in the body. [45:27] One can only eat so many calories in a day. [49:29] Plants are using us with fruit. [52:49] Plants are really not that beneficial. You're not doing yourself any benefit by eating them. [56:30] Functional medicine is root cause medicine. It asks “why?” [01:03:57] How dramatic was his transition to carnivore diet? [01:12:25] What about the caution we hear about excessive protein? [01:14:25] Restricting protein is a bad idea for all kinds of things. I would argue for longevity from the standpoint of muscular health, bone health, we know that lean muscle mass is correlated with longevity and robustness. [01:21:25] Nose to tail consumption is eating the whole animal like our ancestors did.  [01:27:28]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 hit the record button and hit Mia Moore with a surprise question: why are you so chill? As we know from the mechanizations of the three components of the stress response (stimulus-perception-response), it’s not what we are faced with as much as how we respond to it that determines our ability to cope with hectic daily life. We agree that today we have opportunities, as well as the propensity to multi-task, and that we must do our best to regulate our attention optimally. When the stakes are low (like talking on phone while raking leaves), it’s pretty harmless, but if we are stressed and overburdened, sometimes it’s best to not talk and maybe just try giving your partner some space accordingly.   Mia is asked if she was born chill or can it be a cultivated skill, and you can be the judge of how you might up benefit from regulating your emotions and responses if you have a tendency to be reactive. Mia admits that even while growing up, she was always pretty mellow and even-keeled. However, that’s not to say she hasn’t had her moments – because some relationships unfortunately cause both parties to bring out the worst in each other. Aside from a few past incidents, Mia has managed to stay pretty much consistently chill – and despite her having an innately mellow disposition, it’s also a conscious decision she makes every single day to not react or behave in a negative way. Mia talks about what she learned from her dad, who worked as an accountant in the evenings after coming home from his regular 8 to 5 work day. Mia herself is the same, balancing a day job with real estate on the side!  Office environments can certainly be stressful, but since Mia learned long ago the importance of not being reactive, she has been able to help her colleagues foster effective communication and coping skills by empowering them to see things through a new perspective and think through their plan for action before they actually act. As Mia explains,   “It’s who I am...maybe that’s why I was so drawn to the book The 4 Agreements...because it is kind of how I live my life already, and maybe that’s why I am so chill. I don’t take things personally – that’s one of the things that people do that causes them not to be chill....”  How does Mia suggest other people cultivate and maintain their chill? By, “not taking it personally, not making assumptions, and knowing that other people are always doing their best. I’m not going to be like, ‘oh this person should have done this, or this person...’ I can’t do that, because they are doing their best with the tools they’ve been given.”  Do yourself a favor and see how your life changes when you are able to both cultivate and maintain a chill attitude. Don’t let yourself get too stressed about the inevitable distractions of daily life. Don’t take things personally. Make an effort to form true connections with people, and disconnect yourself from all the unimportant stuff. Do the best you can. We’re all trying to do the same, every day. But you can make it easier for yourself to do the best you can by adopting a non-reactive, chill mindset.   TIMESTAMPS:  Brad thinks Mia is “chill”. She doesn’t think so. How do their perspectives differ? [03:02]  It is important in relationship or workplace to listen before you react. [08:59]  One of the things people do is take things personally and that causes them not to be chill. [11:21]  If you can’t do anything about a situation, just chill! [13:00}  Try not to get too stressed about the inevitable distractions of daily life. [14:52] 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.

What a tremendous honor to connect with mega-bestselling author and award-winning podcast host Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen writes about habits, happiness, and human nature. She is the author of The New York Times’ bestsellers The Happiness Project, Happier at Home, Better Than Before, 4 Tendencies, and her most recent book, Outer Order Inner Calm.   I know there’s no way I am alone when I say I found The Four Tendencies to be a life changing book. A big takeaway is the importance of understanding yourself – understanding what your greatest values are, but also how to understand others and play to them.   First, we talk about Gretchen’s latest book, Outer Order Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make Room for Happiness. Gretchen has found that most people feel that when they have more control over all their possessions, they have more control over their life. Funnily enough, Gretchen’s sister is one of the rarer types who just doesn’t get bothered by clutter. But those who get very stressed out by messiness are often guilty of “procrasticlearing.” Gretchen coined this term to describe the act of procrastination by way of “productivity” – you decide to do a seemingly productive task, like cleaning out your pantry or your closet, vacuuming the floor, organizing your cookbooks in alphabetical order....instead of just doing the real, pressing, important task you’ve just been trying your hardest to avoid. I am sure you can recall a time or two (or ten!) in your past where you’ve chosen to do something that you could justify as   “productive” a form of procrastination from the true tasks you’ve had at hand.   Once you become aware of the hidden costs that come with having consistent clutter around, then it’s hard not to wonder how on earth people (including yourself) are ok with living like this. Gretchen’s book will help you decrease the stress in your life by decluttering your home and strictly sorting through your possessions. That might sound scary and overwhelming, especially if you’re a nostalgic person (or just suffering from hoarding tendencies), but Gretchen makes it easy: ask yourself three simple questions as you go through each item:   Do I need it?   Do I use it?   Do I love it? This will help you quickly and efficiently eliminate the items you do not need (the very same items adding onto your piles of mess, therefore increasing your stress). Most people’s days are jam-packed – work, hobbies, family and friends, and clearing clutter can easily wind up being the last item on your never-ending to-do list. Once you’ve managed to catch up with clearing up, you’ve got to stay consistent with keeping up. It’s so much easier to keep up a clean environment than tackle huge piles that need to be seriously sorted through. It’s the difference between waiting for weeks to do all your laundry versus doing a little bit each week. By doing small things to keep your environment clutter-free, keeping up will become habit: you will find yourself automatically putting books, dishes, shoes, various household items, all back in their rightful place, because you’ve ingrained this habit of keeping up into your daily practice.   At one point I ask Gretchen, ‘what should I do about my tendency?’ only to discover that I am not the first person to ask her about this. Gretchen says a lot of people actually wish they were in another tendency category – obligers wanting to behave more like rebels, upholders dreaming of acting more like a questioner. However, that is what The Four Tendencies is all about. We are all equipped with our own unique gifts – our own style of doing things and communicating ideas, and that is where your strength lies: in the fact that no one is you. Your power is rooted in your unique abilities. A rebel is never going to act like an upholder, but you wouldn’t want them to anyways! A rebel has their own specific gifts to offer, just as an upholder or an obliger does as well. To expect either of them to act like the other would be unrealistic. You can only be yourself, and as Gretchen points out during our discussion about what the key to happiness is, everyone is different.   People are inspired by and satisfied by different things, and the definition of “happiness” depends on the individual defining it. Like Gretchen said, happiness means something different for everyone, and some people (like her sister) don’t get affected the same way other people are by clutter! Reading Outer Order Inner Calm will give you the tools you need to recognize, and then eliminate what is no longer serving you in your life, and The Four Tendencies will help you identify specific elements of your innate personality so you can play to your strengths and learn how to work with your weaknesses. It’s all about empowering yourself through self-awareness of how well you truly understand your innate nature (your tendency). As Gretchen says, “Is it possible to really change your inborn, hardwired genetically programmed personality? I don’t think so, or if it is – it is very, very difficult. But it is very easy to change your circumstances.” Gretchen’s advice for anyone struggling with any aspect of their tendency is not to try to be like another tendency, but to do it things your own way. If you’re a rebel, you’re going to have difficulty following schedules and rules, but if you need to do something that involves some strict limitations, then work with those constraints in your signature, rebel way. We all have our own unique gifts, and Gretchen’s teachings help you thrive and live your best life through empowering self-awareness.  TIMESTAMPS:  There is disproportionate yields to the art of tidying up. [07:32] People differ in what their idea of good order is. [10:00] Is procratic clearing getting in your way to what really needs to be done? [14:53] Changing venues is a good strategy to avoid procrastination. [17:18]  Is there a key to happiness? [22:28] The kinds of things that make one person happy might not make another happy. [25:58] It's very risky for parents to overly intervene in children's career choices. [29:31]  The first step to cluttering is getting rid of stuff that really doesn’t need to be there.  [33:21]  The one-minute rule is a good one to follow.  Can I do this in one minute instead of postponing it? [35:44]  There are some simplifying routines that can help if clutter bothers you. [38:40]  We need to think about whether it is our own problem or someone else’s. If it belongs to you, you take care of it. [40:21]  The four tendencies are upholders, questioners, obligers, and rebels. [45:42]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.

(Breather) Once you grab what Dr. Peter Attia calls the “low hanging fruit” of healthy eating, movement, physical fitness and sleeping habits, it’s time to progress further with health, happiness, and longevity by developing emotional control/emotional self-stability (Thank you Kris Gage on Medium.com!), by implementing effective relationship communication strategies (tips from John Gottman, Harville Hendricks, Esther Perel, and Mia Moore, aka the “Big Four” relationship experts). First things first: stress management. Everyone deals with stress, but learning how to manage your stress and the way you react will change your life.  Your first priority should be emotional control. Self-stability is the number one relationship attribute and the number one psychological health attribute. Be aware of how your emotions can either help or hinder you in your life. Now, it may be easy for you to say: ‘Well, I’m a Type-A personality, this is just how I am.’ Well did you know the term ‘Type-A’ originated as a heart attack risk category?! Do you really want to be in ANY of those categories? Didn’t think so....so slow down, it’s going be okay.   Another factor in stress management lies in the fact that downtime is missing: social time is seriously MIA, having been crowded out by digital stimulation. Longevity superstars, the Okinawa in Japan, have social groups as the centerpiece of culture (“Ikigai”) but in our world, people really struggle with disconnecting. My advice? To turn that $#!% OFF. Escape tech addiction and hyperstimulation by taking a low-stress approach to a total lifestyle transformation, yet with discipline and focus to your natural full potential.  As Mia Moore says, don’t waste time sweating the small stuff! Make sure to carve out time for the important things, like taking care of yourself. How much time do you devote to self-care? Have you been too busy taking care of your kids? I contend ANYONE has time since we’re all checking our phones 150 times a day and gazing at screens for hours a day. Now, if you’re stuck in a pattern of prolonged stillness, then you’re used to having low to no energy, nor any motivation to go outside and do things. And because of this, it’s crucial that we keep moving. The good news? The more you move, the more energy you have!  One thing that takes time and energy are relationships. Whether familial, friendly, or professional, platonic or romantic, interacting with other people and handling the dynamics that can emerge between two different and distinct personalities is never easy. But your personal relationship should never be a source of stress in your life. As John Gottman says, when it comes to partnerships, you’re either a team, or you’re not a team – at all times, and within every interaction. It’s that simple – don’t be nit-picky or passive aggressive with your partner, and watch your words. Be mindful about the dialogue you create with your partner, and how much negativity is present in your words versus positivity, because keeping your positive comments to negative comments at a 20:1 ratio, as the Gottman Institute’s research has clearly proven, is key to a healthy, happy, lasting partnership.  Speaking of healthy and happy, Harville Hendrix has three rules to live by for successful communication in relationships. Number one is safety, number two is maintaining a zero-negativity policy, and number three is making constant affirmations to your partner. As Esther Perel says, “treat your partner like you would a great client.” Truthfully, we all deal with fear and anxiety, but it only harms your relationship when you let whatever is going on with you affect your partner in a negative way. When I had Dave Rossi on the show, we discussed fear and anxiety, and the importance of re-directing your mind and those negative, fearful thoughts over to your values and vision. Anxiety and fear are frequent visitors in daily life for most people, so instead of getting tripped up by every appearance they make, why don’t you just focus on your values, instead of trying to find the quickest way to make the pain go away? Unfortunately, in our stressful modern world, people can lose track of this. We all heard of the college admissions scandal earlier this year. All those parents who “just wanted the best for their children” are probably finding the more than likely prospect of jail time to be far more stressful than the college admissions process! Sure, hindsight is illuminating, but the point is not to have regrets, but to harness the right perspective, so you don’t react to life by coming from a place of fear and anxiety, but rather from a positive and confident mindset.  TIMESTAMPS:  Brad gives a quick summary of Basic Life Changing Insights breather show part one. {02:38]  Part of stress management is getting your romantic relationship under control. [05:51]  Relationship priority is emotional control and emotional self-stability. [06:51]  We have to always balance this quest for peak performance with downtime and optimal stress-rest-balance. [09:47]  Humans crave social connection.  Interact in a live manner, rather than a digital manner. [11:14]  When you continually do things that don’t bring you joy and energy, a sense of wellbeing and peace of mind, you’re going to drift away from those. [14:30]  Carbohydrates have addictive properties. Sugar is addictive.  [16:28]  Gluttony and sloth are not causes of obesity; they are symptoms of obesity; [19:06]  Try out some time restricted feeding and intermittent fasting. [21:51]  Your relationship is either a team or not a team at all times.. [23:54]  Try for a 5 positive to 1 negative ratio when communicating your needs. [26:10]  Fear and anxiety come up for all of us. [30:24] Safety, zero negativity, and constant affirmations are the foundations of a healthy relationship. [37:26]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 caught up with one of the most extraordinary athletes on the planet, the ultimate waterman of the universe and author of a new book called Life Rider. As a longtime very casual recreational surfer (I like my waves 18-24….inches), I have long been fascinated by Laird’s continued pushing of the outer limits of human performance in the water. Laird is best known as a big-wave surfer and innovator in the world of action water sports. Laird is credited with being the driving force behind tow-in-surfing (behind a jet ski, so one can ride larger waves than paddling in), stand-up paddle boarding and hydrofoil boarding.   One of my favorite Laird experiences came a couple of days apart during an epic storm pattern in Southern California. With record-sized waves pumping, Laird made it onto YouTube when he “shot” the Malibu Pier on a standup paddleboard. This is the extremely challenging and dangerous act of riding a wave all the way into the pier, passing through the huge wooden pylons underneath, then emerging out the other side. Considering you are traveling some 20mph on a big wave, if you hit a pylon you are likely toast. A video arriving two days later beautifully framed with a big picture of Laird. At the same Malibu Pier, a foolish body surfer became trapped in an undertow and was about to drown. Who jumps in to quickly save him but Laird. So you have the extreme athlete pulling off epic feats for the brah’s to marvel at, and then switching into his lifeguard hat to risk his own safety to save a Barney. Watch the video and look at Laird’s demeanor…  Laird seems to touch things and have them turn to gold. His Laird Superfood coffee creamer and related products have been a smash hit, as was his innovative GolfBoard that allows golfers to get a surfing-like experience on grass instead of a lame golf cart. Laird, along with Gabby, are pioneers in underwater strength training. TIMESTAMPS:  When surfing, you can tell what’s happening behind you by looking in front of you. [08:12]  Nurture the body and you’ll stimulate the brain and get it to work even better. [10:25]  It's a human responsibility to get out and, and live and experience life. Take risks.  [13:02]  There are three ways to approach dangerous things. [21:29]  Are we born to do certain things like extreme sports? [23:34]  Subconscious programming takes place from age zero to six. [25:30]  Some high performing people in all fields a lot of times come from some sort of shit in their background that was tough and, and challenge them. [27:36]  How does one juggle life in the big city with communing with nature? [31:05]  If you want to keep learning you have to seek out information. [36:14]  This younger generation doesn’t know how to have fun. [38:13]  If you stop having dreams, then you stop having hope.. [40:30]  We are each our own greatest restrictors. [44:34]  What did it take for Laird to learn to be more aggressive? [48:22] 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.

This episode is all about how we need to devote some time and energy in order to get more time and energy. Shopping one evening at Whole Foods in my hometown led to a chance encounter with a friend from high school, Mindy. It’s been 36 years - oh my gosh! Yes, time flies, and we quickly progress from young, carefree and taking health for granted to having to deal with real life stuff such as aging. I promise Mindy I will cough up some basic step-by-step tips to implement some healthy lifestyle practices, and hence the inspiration for a two-part show. Part 1 is about getting your mindset right and recognizing its time to make some changes against the unhealthy forces of modern life.  Speaking with Mindy really got me thinking about the aging process. I noticed she had a tattoo that read, “Love ya more than life,” which she explained to me was done in memory of her beloved, lifelong pet who she recently had to put down. It is so fortunate that with our pets, we are to be able to decide when it is time to end their suffering....too bad it doesn’t work like that in real life! When you hit your 40s and 50s, you realize it is never too early to start making the right choices for your health. Thankfully, the little changes are the ones that make the biggest difference, which leads me to the compressed morbidity theory. Introduced in 1980 by Dr. James Fries of Stanford University’s School of Medicine, compressed morbidity means delaying the onset of debilitating illness for as long as possible, such that whatever hits will arrive around the time you might be expected to die anyway! I have long promoted a similar concept, albeit with a little spicier description: “Live Long, Drop Dead!”   The number one change you have to make first is with your MIND. Yeah, there are great advantages to modern life, but it’s also trouble: your body has to deal with hypoconnectivity, EMF, processed foods, sedentary patterns, how light affects your system after dark, constant stimulation (and constant stimulation of stress hormones). Next, get your energy levels up by changing your DIET. Clean out 70% junk (grains, sugars, oils) and just eat colorful, wholesome, nutritious foods. Meals are a celebration and relaxed, calm, and slow, not rushed and gobbled down in a manner of minutes. The parasympathetic system is also referred to as “rest and digest” for a reason. The goal here is to escape carb dependency and get fat adapted. Can you skip a meal and feel great?  Then, you gotta MOVE. Moving isn’t the same as working out, which can be time-consuming, stressful, and exhausting. But frequent movement helps fat burning, brain function, and stress hormones. It’s not about calories because “metabolic compensation theory” suggests as you burn more, you eat more, and get lazier. The right kind of EXERCISE is integral. Life can be so sedentary, making it easy to avoid scheduling workouts. Primal keeps it easy with 3 laws: 1. Lift Heavy Things 2. Run Really Fast Every Once in A While and 3. Move Frequently at a Slow Pace. No matter what, be sure to avoid chronic exercise: it is crucial to respect your body’s natural fight or flight response and consider recovery pie slice. The harder you train, the harder you recover. And finally, SLEEP. Sleep deficiency will throw you back to carb dependency. We are so locked in these artificially lengthened days and it puts us in a sugar craving, fat storing mode because of our genetic hardwiring. Make choices that improve your sleeping patterns: Minimize light and stimulation after dark. Try making your sleeping environment your personal sanctuary: Mellow, simple, cool, and totally dark. Being awakened by direct sunlight, versus your phone, also helps.  Finally, consider how comfortable you are with being uncomfortable. The body actually likes being stressed and challenged (in an appropriate manner). I heard an interesting idea on a cold exposure show recently: Basically, when we constantly keep ourselves at a comfortable temperature, we are eliminating that hormetic stressor on the body, which compressed our longevity accordingly. Dr. Art DeVany is a big proponent of healthy hormetic stressors as they send a “renewal” signal to your genes. Doing a cold plunge, going to the gym or the sauna, all result in hormetic stressors: brief, positive, natural stressors that promote health and longevity by sending a renewal signal to your genes. Making the decision to turn the handle all the way to ‘COLD’ in the last few minutes of your shower isn’t easy, but it is really, really good for you, and once you change your mindset, it’s easy to choose the option that gives you longevity and good health over the so-called “easy” road. Pay now, or pay later: it’s your decision, but these basic life-changing insights are here to empower you to make the right choices so you enjoy your life, instead of experiencing a steady decline once you hit your 50s or 60s!   TIMESTAMPS:  Don't tell people they need anything or they will be immediately closed off rather than open. [02:41]  Compressed morbidity means delaying the onset of debilitating illness for as long as possible. [08:04]  We want to get unstuck and be aware of all the health challenges in daily life. [10:13]   When we constantly keep ourselves temperature comfortable, we are eliminating the hormetic stressor upon the body. [13:59]  We don't have to go to excess to receive the joy and the pleasures of modern life. [15:27]  Clean up your diet. [17:29]  JUST MOVE!! [21:02]  We want to keep things comfortable with our cardiovascular exercise for the most part. [22:58]  If you cannot hit the bare minimum standards in a mile run, or pushups, you have a very high increased mortality risk. [26:58]  Don’t forget sprint workouts. [28:45]  Sleep in a dark, quiet room is a priority. [30:03]  Brad summarizes the points for basic longevity. [35:06] 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.

Enjoy this wide-ranging and deep conversation with international fitness celebrity, supermodel, and former professional beach volleyball player, Gabrielle Reece.  Gabby is a former women’s beach volleyball star, television host, supermodel, fitness expert, and author, columnist, and podcast host. She was named one of the “20 Most Influential Women in Sports,” by Women’s Sports and Fitness, and one of the top five most beautiful women in the world by Elle magazine.  Gabby and her husband Laird Hamilton have been celebrated as America’s fittest couple and have spent many years in the public eye as innovative fitness leaders.   What Gabby is perhaps most appreciated for is being the real deal – a breath of fresh air in the celebrity world of manufactured image and branding. While lunching with my main man Mark Sisson in Malibu, I have enjoyed meeting Gabby and Laird on a few occasions over the years. What struck me each time was how open and authentic and fun-loving Gabby is in real life. We chatted only briefly, but she offered up some deep reflections about athletes dealing with injuries and adjusting competitive goals over time and dealing with hectic modern life and her various roles of mother, celebrity, athlete, and coach.   After our first meeting, I was drawn to Gabby’s 2013 book titled, My Foot Is Too Big For the Glass Slipper: A Guide To A Less Than Perfect Life. She was raw, vulnerable, very funny, and very thoughtful. The book description sets the tone nicely: “With hilarious stories, wise insights, and concrete takeaways on topics ranging from navigating relationship issues to aging gracefully to getting smart about food, My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper is the brutally honest, wickedly funny, and deeply helpful portrait of the humor, grace, and humility it takes to survive the happily ever after.  I think you will absolutely love this interview with a peak performer who knows how to enjoy life, strive to keep things in balance, not take herself too seriously, and especially become a better person every day! TIMESTAMPS: Gabby is a very accomplished woman and well known in her field. She talks about finding a balance between fame and her real self. [09:33] Does Gabby's 6’3” height affect how she thinks she's perceived? [13:52] Once we forgo living up to others’ expectations, it is liberating. [16:09] How do you parent your kids to deal with having such well-known parents with well-known friends?  [18:18] Kids need to learn to navigate this world on their own. [22:26] People need a place to express themselves…who they are. [26:04] Gabby’s background wasn’t free and easy and she wasn’t groomed to be successful. [30:13] It’s important to put the past behind you and move on. [32:34] There’s a lot of beauty if life. You have to be willing to recognize it.  [37:55] Create a system that helps you navigate life. [43:19] When in disagreement, even if you are “right,” it is important to listen to the other person’s point. [47:16] Think about how you can be better today and you can be in charge of that. [49:21] If you are ‘triggered,” figure out why you are triggered. [51:39] As a parent, it is difficult not to put your crap on the kids. [55:24] It’s really powerful as a parent to give space to the child. [56:57] How does fitness commitment help achieve balance your life? [1:01:23] In a relationship, you bring both independent commitment and then nurture that in the partnership as well. [1:04:43]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 my great interview with Seth, I offer some further reflections about the breakthrough insights in his recent book, This Is Marketing. This show is a bit of a departure from the podcast theme of health, fitness, peak performance, happiness, and longevity subject matter, but it can provide valuable insights for how you can best make an economic contribution in most careers, and how to be a healthy, strategic consumer instead of succumbing to marketing manipulation. Seth’s premise is that we are in the middle of a shift from the dated old-time marketing-driven economy to a market-driven economy. In the old-time vertical economy, consumers had few choices (only 3 TV channels, the comparatively few books on the shelf at the bookstore, the morning newspaper or weekly news magazine, etc.) The corporate giants of old subjected us to aggressive, manipulative marketing messages trying to get us to buy their offerings. Today, consumers have massive choice and freedom and are one click away from a lower price and better service. Seth says the “race to the bottom” (who can be more aggressive, slick and clever to extract a purchase) was worth winning in the old days, but not anymore. Today we are obligated to listen to the hopes and needs and dreams of the market we wish to serve—a market-driven economy. Instead of trying for bigger numbers and broader territories, Seth argues persuasively that you are better off focusing on the “smallest viable audience.” Offer them a breakthrough product or service that establishes you as the single best resource to meet your customer’s hopes and dreams.  I offer examples of the changing dynamics of the real estate broker, who used to provide privileged information as their main value. Today, with Zillow and the rest giving everyone the same information, realtors are obligated to raise their game to something different. They must meet the emotional needs of the client by engaging their hopes and dreams. Seth calls this the “difficult work we signed up for.” He distinguishes it from the hustle of trying to fill a market niche, which will leave you constantly in fear, driven by scarcity, looking in the rear-view mirror at the competition. Relatedly, touting your honest, reliable, high-quality product or service is pretty much ridiculous these days, because these things are assumed and expected.   TIMESTAMPS:  Seth Godin’s book This is Marketing transforms our thinking about marketing. [04:05]  There are five steps to effective marketing. [07:24]  We must understand the irrational forces that drive us. [09:03]  When in doubt, assume people will act according to their current irrational urges. [11:24]  Serve the smallest viable market. [16:55]  With a new marketplace with tremendous consumer choice and freedom, we must be different. [20:09] Authenticity is overrated. [22:56] 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.