RUNGA Radio

In this episode, Joseph Anew and Richard Blake break down what really matters in health and fitness—cutting through hype, misinformation, and overcomplication. They dive into authenticity in fitness advice, exploring whether figures like RFK Jr. and Greg Glassman truly “walk the walk” and exploring how rhetoric can overshadow truth. A deep discussion on the Huberman Lab interview with Pavel Tsatsouline sparks debate over a misunderstood recommendation about running with a unilateral load—leading to a breakdown of energy systems, metabolic pathways, and why so many people are aerobically deficient.The conversation also explores longevity, stress, and why some Blue Zones research may be misleading. They unpack the “Midwit” meme—showing how fitness advice often gets needlessly complex—and highlight the power of community, the mental benefits of strength training, and the history of kettlebell training.You’ll Learn:The real impact of creatine on energy and performance.Why authenticity matters in fitness advice.How energy systems fuel your workouts—and why most people ignore aerobic health.Why fitness advice often gets overcomplicated.The surprising mental benefits of strength training—especially back squats.The origins of kettlebell training and what RKC & Strong First got right.Support the show

Emilía Rún joins Richard Blake and Joseph Anew this week to share her personal journey with Kundalini Yoga—a practice that profoundly shaped her life. In the wake of HBO’s documentary series Breath of Fire, which exposed the darker side of Kundalini Yoga and some of its most well-known teachers, Emilía offers a fresh perspective. Rather than discarding the practice entirely, she explores how we can hold onto beneficial spiritual practices by approaching them with discernment, integrity, and a deeper understanding of our own vulnerabilities.Drawing from her firsthand experiences—including time spent practicing at RA MA Institute in LA, a central focus of the documentary—Emilía unpacks the transformative power of Kundalini Yoga, the risks involved, and the fine line between spiritual devotion and cult-like dynamics. This conversation delves into the importance of critical thinking in spiritual spaces, the disenchantment that she believes is inevitable on a spiritual path, and how that disenchantment might actually be a necessary part of the journey. What You'll LearnTransformational Potential and Risks: Learn about the powerful practice of Kundalini Yoga, its potential for emotional release and the risks associated with such intense practices. Because any spiritual practice requires an element of surrender, it is so important to be aware of our vulnerabilities, especially when our mind is altered from breathwork, yoga, or psychedelics. Emilia recounts her deep involvement with Kundalini Yoga in England, Texas and California, including the intoxicating atmosphere of Sat Nam Fest in Joshua Tree.The HBO Documentary “Breath of Fire”: Hear insider insight behind the recent documentary about Kundalini Yoga and RA MA Institute, where Emilia and Joseph primarily practiced. The hosts explore whether Kundalini Yoga can be classified as a cult, red flags in spiritual communities, and the responsibility of spiritual teachers to be trauma-informed.The Inevitable Disenchantment on a Spiritual Path: Emilía believes that anyone on a spiritual path is guaranteed to become disenchanted, and how the practice of seeing clearly, as taught in mindfulness, can set you free by separating the practice from the package of the teacher. If you don’t learn to expect their humanness, you will always be disappointed that spiritual people are not meeting your expectations.False Gurus, Projection & Attachment to Spiritual Identity: Emilía shares the why we tend to project idealized qualities onto spiritual teachers, citing the deep human desire of wanting to believe that such goodness exists. Learn why insecurity can cause people to construct an identity around spirituality, and become more vulnerable to power-seeking teachers.The "U-Turn" in Mindfulness: Emilía explains the mindfulness concept of the "U-turn," emphasizing the importance of turning back to oneself and one's own inner wisdom rather than blaming others for our own experience and wanting others to change, or outsourcing power to teachers.The Finger Pointing to the Moon: The parable of the finger pointing to the moon is invoked as a reminder that any teacher or practice is simply a guide pointing to a greater truth, not the ultimate truth itself.The Future of Kundalini Yoga: Is it time for a big comeback in Kundalini Yoga? Emilía is optimistic about the future of this powerful practice, with practitioners now approaching it with more grounded perspectives, fewer expectations, and less attachment to teacher identities.Support the show

Joseph Anew and Dr. Richard Blake interview Adam Ludwin, a successful entrepreneur who achieved a $100 million exit before the age of 35 and is now the founder of the breathwork app FivePointFive. In this insightful conversation, Adam shares the story behind his early entrepreneurial ventures, the key decisions and strategies that contributed to his success, and his personal journey into the world of breathwork and its transformative impact on his life and business. He also discusses the development of his wellness app, FivePointFive, and his vision for the future of breathwork.What You'll Learn:Early Entrepreneurial Journey: Adam recounts his experiences from a young age, including washing cars, selling sweets at school (and getting suspended for flour bomb stress balls), which instilled in him a mindset that there were no limits to making money.Key Lessons in Business: He highlights the importance of not relying on one partner or marketing channel for business success. He also learned the value of work-life balance early in his career. Starting his entrepreneurial journey young helped him build resilience to the inevitable challenges of running a business.Developing a Growth Mindset: Adam realized he thought differently from others, driven by common sense, determination, and urgency. He shares an example of taking a six-person office on day one of a new venture, demonstrating his forward-thinking approach.The Motivation Behind FivePointFive: Observing the increasing wellness challenges among Gen Z and millennials in his previous company motivated Adam to create a tool to tackle stress, anxiety, and poor health at scale. FivePointFive aims to make wellness fun, incorporate data and technology for personalized recommendations, and provide measurable results.The Future of Breathwork: Adam envisions a future where breathwork sequences are tailored to an individual's unique needs, goals, and biometrics. He also emphasizes the importance of measurability in wellness apps.Key Features of the FivePointFive App: The app combines short (3-5 minute) breathwork sessions with mainstream music, visual guidance from coaches, personalized recommendations based on wearable data (mind, body, sleep scores), and progress tracking.Support the show

In the first episode of the new RUNGA Radio, Joseph Anew introduces Dr. Richard Blake as the podcast’s new co-host. Richard—a PhD in Psychology, former Men’s Health model, and expert in Conscious Connected Breathwork—shares his personal journey through fitness, mental health struggles, psychedelics, and ultimately, breathwork as the missing link to real transformation.Too many people are chasing the next biohack, the next breakthrough, the next psychedelic retreat—only to find themselves stuck in the same patterns. This episode challenges the status quo, offering a raw, honest look at what actually creates lasting change.This episode covers:Conscious Connected Breathwork – Richard shares insights from his PhD research, revealing how this style of breathwork downregulates the prefrontal cortex, allowing deep-seated emotions to surface for true processing. He explains why breathwork has effects comparable to psilocybin and why it may be the most accessible and sustainable tool for transformation.Why Most Self-Development Doesn’t Work – From CrossFit to psychedelics to therapy, Richard has tested countless approaches to health and healing. He and Joseph discuss why so many self-development modalities fall short, the risks of self-obsession, and how to break free from the cycle of seeking without integrating.The Real Goal of Optimization – Self-improvement is not just about feeling better or performing better—it’s about becoming a stable, reliable force in the world. Richard shares why true transformation isn’t just about personal growth but about building resilience and showing up for others.Breaking the Cycle of Fitness and Mental Health Struggles – Richard opens up about how his early fitness obsession—driven by the belief that a Men’s Health cover would bring happiness—ultimately led to years of disordered eating and depression. He and Joseph explore how the wellness industry often reinforces unhealthy cycles under the guise of optimization.The Missing Link Between Biohacking and Real Change – Many people dive into biohacking as a quick fix, but without the right foundation, the results rarely last. Richard and Joseph discuss why breathwork, community, and intentionality are the key to making sustainable changes rather than endlessly chasing the next breakthrough.Support the show

Dr. Kirk Parsley is a physician, sleep expert, and former Navy SEAL who is dedicated to helping high performers optimize their health, particularly through better sleep. This episode takes a deep dive into why Dr. Parsley believes sleep is the most misunderstood and underutilized tool for optimizing health.This episode covers:The Importance of Sleep: Learn how sleep impacts everything from performance to longevity, and why sleep is the ultimate elixir for health and well-being.Sleep Deprivation in the Military: Learn why military culture does not value sleep, and how the negative impact of chronic sleep deprivation leads to a diminished capacity for repair, affecting concentration, motivation, focus, emotional control, and physical performance.The Impact of Trauma: Trauma significantly affects the ability to sleep and develop a stable nervous system. Learn how the brain categorizes emotional memories during REM sleep, and how a lack of sleep can lead to inappropriately categorized emotions, often causing anxiety and frenetic thoughts.The Fight or Flight Response: Dr. Parsley details the fight or flight response, where the body mobilizes resources to deal with a perceived threat. He describes how chronic sleep deprivation leads to a downward spiral of increasing stress hormones.The Brain Never Stops: Learn how the brain never truly sleeps, but rather transitions its focus. During deep sleep, the body flushes out waste products and restores the body, preparing it for the next day. In REM sleep, the brain categorises new information and attaches it to old information. If sleep is not sufficient, the body increases stress hormones to get through the day.Learned Responses to Stress: Experienced Seals can lower their heart rate and increase their heart rate variability before going into combat, indicating a learned response to stress, and conversely, some combat veterans can be stressed in environments that lack stimulation.Psychedelics & Purpose: Psychedelic treatments can decrease the amygdala's activity, which reduces anxiety and helps individuals visualize a future they want, and then take steps towards that future.The Sleep Remedy Formula: The sleep remedy product was created to provide the body with the nutrients it needs to initiate and maintain sleep processes. It includes tryptophan, 5-HTP, vitamin D3, magnesium,  phosphatidylserine (to help reduce cortisol production), a small dose of melatonin, GABA, and L-Theanine. The product is designed to support natural sleep processes by providing the necessary building blocks, rather than forcing sleep.Support the show

Lauren Berlingeri is the co-founder of HigherDOSE, a biohacker, entrepreneur, and former health coach. She is passionate about helping people feel their best through accessible science-backed wellness tools. Lauren is an innovator in health and wellness who is on a mission to bring what was once considered elite therapies to everyone. This episode covers the evolution of fitness, using your intuition for biohacking, the benefits of PEMF and Infrared technology, and the importance of self-worth.Support the show

Robby Sansom is the co-founder and CEO of Force of Nature Meats, a regeneratively sourced meat company based in Austin, Texas. He has spent the last decade studying regenerative agriculture and building a global supply network with land stewards and ranchers. This episode explores the benefits of regenerative farming, misleading terms in the food industry, and the myths surrounding conventional and plant-based meats.Support the show

After a short hiatus, we're back with a bang. Joseph is joined by breathwork experts Richard L. Blake (aka The Breath Geek) and Taylor Somerville, founder and CEO of Symmetry, to discuss everything you need to know about breathwork.If you’re curious about the transformative and healing power of breathwork, you’re in the right place, as Richard and Taylor bring their unique perspectives to this comprehensive discussion. They explore the physiological, mental, and emotional benefits, and share essential techniques like CO2 tolerance and nasal and diaphragmatic breathing.Plus, they debunk common myths and caution against the dangers of unregulated breathwork coaching, offering the sage advice: “beware of the guru.”Key takeaways from this episode:[04:57] The Science and Benefits of Breath Work Explained[17:07] Deep Dive into CO2 Tolerance and Its Impact on Health[28:26] The Magic of Nasal Breathing and Its Benefits[39:01] The Interplay Between Breath, Posture, and Emotional Well-being[48:45] Breathwork as a Foundation for Physical Strength and Stability[01:01:19] Harnessing Breathwork for Emotional Regulation and Reactivity Control[01:22:19] Debunking Myths and Navigating the Breathwork SpaceQuotes from Episode:“What I love about breathwork is that it acts like a rudder on your ship. Many people feel like they are a ship in a storm, being tossed around by life's waves. Breathwork helps you steer. If you need to relax, you can use your breath. If you need more energy for a workout, you can use your breath for that too.”“As a breathwork practitioner, people often project their admiration onto you, thinking you're amazing. That power is so easily corruptible and that's why you get so many terrible life coaches, shamans and breathworkers.” Today's episode is brought to you by:RUNGA’s Momentum Coaching - 60 days to embody a state of thriving while building sustainable systems around your goals.Liposomal Glutathione by Quick Silver Scientific: Use code RUNGA10 to save 15% off your order.Links from Episode: Joseph’s TEDx Talk: BREATHE.Richard’s WebsiteRichard’s Medium ArticlesSymmetry’s InstagramSymmetry’s Website Taylor’s previous Intuitive Warrior appearance: 204 | Live from RUNGA Taylor’s previous Intuitive Warrior appearance: 161 | Taylor Somerville - 2021 Cold Plunge Tank Reviews, Breathwork, & Dumbbell Pool WorkoutsJoseph’s appearance on the Laughing Through The Pain podcastSupport the show

Dr. Tania Dempsey is an expert in chronic disease, autoimmune disorders, and mast cell activation syndrome. She is sought after internationally for her knowledge of chronic immune dysregulation and uses integrative medicine to get to the patient's root causes of their illness. Her purpose is to understand why people get sick and to help patients understand their body and why it fails them when it does. Joseph sat down with Dr. Dempsey to explore her long history working with “mystery diseases” and sheds light on the reasons they can go undiagnosed for so long.This episode covers:The mystery and detective work of diseases. There are various approaches that doctors can take to understand a patient’s symptoms and help them look deeper at underlying causes. Dr. Dempsey explains the complexities of Lyme disease and the importance of understanding the immune system's response to infections.Mast cells are critical to optimal health, but often overlooked as an underlying cause of disease. Mast cells are everywhere throughout our body, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a condition where mast cells release chemicals that cause inflammation in response to infections, stress, or other factors.MCAS affects a significant portion of the population, but awareness and understanding among doctors is limited. MCAS can manifest in a wide range of symptoms affecting various body systems, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. The marketing industry has had a significant influence on diet recommendations, often prioritizing profitability over health. In today’s dietary landscape, the most important general guidelines are prioritizing protein and reducing sugar.Support the show

Raja Dhir is the co-founder of Seed, a company at the forefront of utilizing bacteria to revolutionize human health and planetary well being. In this episode, Joseph and Raja discuss the importance of the microbiome in children's health. They also discuss the presence of environmental contaminants such as microplastics in our water and food supply, and what you can do to reduce your exposure and maintain optimal gut health.How do we promote children’s health? The microbiome plays an important role in children’s health. Raja highlighted the importance of a diverse diet and the impact of certain factors like antibiotics, breastfeeding, and vaginal birth on the development of a healthy microbiome in infants.What’s the science behind probiotic use in children, and their potential effects on issues such as constipation? Raja unveils some of the promising research and results of PDS-08®, their pediatric probiotic, for childhood health.How microplastics in the environment are impacting gut health. Raja elaborates on the presence of microplastics in food and the potential risks they pose to human health, and the steps that we can take to minimize our exposure to contaminants.Your microbiome influences metabolism and weight, and the keys to a healthier lifestyle. Raja explained how certain bacteria in the microbiome can affect energy harvest and metabolism, potentially contributing to obesity. He emphasized the need for a balanced diet, exercise, and stress management to maintain a healthy microbiome and overall well-being.LinksSeed Daily Synbiotic DS-01®Seed Pediatric Daily Synbiotic PDS-08®Sponsored BySeedSeed’s DS-01® Daily Synbiotic is a broad-spectrum probiotic and prebiotic formulated with 24 clinically and scientifically studied strains for whole-body benefits including gut, skin, and heart health. Engineered to survive digestion, their patented 2-in-1 capsule-in-capsule technology ensures that 100% of the probiotic starting dose ends up in your colon.Save 25% on your first order with code RUNGA25.Support the show