The mindbodygreen Podcast

Today's podcast episode is a special recording from our sixth annual revitalize event, which was held in Dove Mountain, Arizona, in June. The insights we learned on the main stage this year were too good not to share, so we're broadcasting them on the podcast over the next few weeks. Today, we'll hear four perspectives on the role of psychedelic drugs in today's wellness world.From the decriminalization of psilocybin in Oakland and Denver to the rise in ayahuasca ceremonies around the world, it feels like psychedelic drugs previously taken in hushed settings are now gaining mainstream appeal. So much so that the rate of use is quickly outpacing the research on how these substances actually affect the body.At this year's revitalize event, we invited four health experts to give their take on what exactly this means. What role, if any, should drugs like THC, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca, and psilocybin play in wellness? Who should be taking them, and how can they do so safely? The panel covered massive questions like these, and, needless to say, not everybody agreed on the answers. And that included me! I jumped into the debate (a revitalize first) to say that after seeing too many friends have too many close calls, I don't believe they have a place in wellness. Tune in to the full podcast episode to dive deeper into this dialogue on when psychedelics expand consciousness—and when they do more harm than good.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lissa Rankin, M.D., and Kelly Turner, Ph.D., have both spent years studying how people use spirituality to overcome illness against all odds. And what they've found is fascinating.Turner, a researcher who has spent time with over 1,500 hospice patients, has identified nine keys to healing—and only two of them are physical. The others, things like releasing suppressed emotions and identifying your reasons for living, may be difficult to write a prescription for, but they provide a potent medicine. Rankin is intimately familiar with these more emotional approaches to healing too, and she has spent the last seven years traveling to lands near and far to study other cultures' sacred healing practices.When Turner and Rankin took to the revitalize stage this year, the topic of trauma inevitably came up. When trauma, no matter how severe, is left unattended to, it can spiral into the types of illnesses that these two New York Times bestselling authors are so intimately familiar with."The more of those 'Big T' and 'Little T' traumas that build up in the system, the greater the risk of disease, especially as we get older," Rankin explained. Luckily, she added, recent science suggests that trauma is completely treatable.Turner agreed, saying, "We have the science now to apply to emotional interventions, and that's the marriage that I'm excited to finally be seeing. It's like, let's not just see what happens when you take this supplement or eat this new diet. What happens when you go through an eight-week forgiveness course? What happens to your body?"Here are four techniques that Turner and Rankin said show promise in getting to the root of trauma and helping us work through it so it doesn't continue to grow and intensify over time.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is a special recording from our sixth annual revitalize event, which was held in Dove Mountain, Arizona, in June. The insights we learned on the main stage this year were too good not to share, so we're broadcasting them on the podcast over the next few weeks. First up: Two legendary functional medicine doctors discuss the science-backed secrets to aging gracefully.Frank Lipman, M.D., and Robert Rountree, M.D., are two of the most trusted voices in functional medicine today. Lipman is a New York Times bestselling author who has been marrying Eastern and Western medicine in a clinical setting since the 1980s, and Rountree's Boulder-based institute seamlessly blends functional nutrition, medical herbalism, and mind-body therapy. It's no surprise that the audience had their notepads out and pens poised when these two took the stage at revitalize 2019 to discuss aging.Over the course of their panel, Lipman and Rountree dove into the lifestyle factors that they believe dictate longevity. "You're not going to stop the aging process," Lipman forewarned, but certain factors can certainly help slow it down.Surprisingly, both doctors came out in strong opposition to some of the "magic pills" on the market today—and they don't recommend trying to biohack your way to a longer life span. Over their combined decades of experience, they've found that small, sustainable habits are far more effective than extreme, short-lived ones in delaying the aging process. Especially when you reach your '60s, Rountree and Lipman say it's important to take a "yang" approach to health: one that's built on plenty of sleep, gentle exercise, and fulfilling relationships."Be kind, be generous, and the other stuff is the icing on the top," Lipman said, prompting Rountree to nod and smile in agreement.Tune in to this 30-minute episode to learn all about the specific longevity-promoting habits they recommend. Along the way, you'll hear them share how they slow aging in their own lives, including methodically restricting calories and taking the right supplements. Enjoy, and be sure to stay tuned until the end so you can hear these renowned experts answer the audience's burning questions in a Q&A.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Mackey, the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods, wasn’t always the leader and innovator that he is today. Believe it or not, John started his career as a busboy. Never did he imagine that he would create a grocery store that would launch a new era of health and wellness—an era in which people felt empowered people to eat well and live better. In this episode of the mindbodygreen podcast—which comes straight to us from the main stage of this year’s revitalize event—John delves deep into what it means to be a conscious leader in today’s world and why it’s important for all of us to be purpose-driven, loving, and authentic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With estimates that around 12,000 million metric tons of plastic will be in landfills or in our environment by 2050, it's easy to feel like this overwhelming issue is out of our control, but the change actually starts with us as the consumers.You may know Bonnie Wright better as Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter films, but she's much more. Bonnie is an environmental activist and advocate for eliminating single-use plastics, a film director, producer, and screenwriter.Colleen Wachob, co-CEO at mindbodygreen, sat down with Bonnie on the mbg podcast to discuss how she became passionate about reducing her impact on the environment and the simple ways she's cut down on plastic in her life.Growing up, Bonnie spent time on the coast of England with her family and came to love the ocean. She gained inspiration from her surroundings and developed an understanding of nature's cycles. Over time she's seen a cultural shift toward convenience and the subsequent negative impact on the environment. As a surfer who spends a lot of time on the water in California, Bonnie sees the amount of plastic pollution floating in the water and on the beaches.With all of this, she's made it a priority to reduce her plastic consumption. Here are some of the strides she's made that you may want to incorporate into your life. Bonnie emphasizes that these changes did not happen overnight and recommends starting with one category such as beauty products or food containers and then moving to the next. "Even if your choice seems so small and insignificant, it does all connect," she explained.If you're feeling stuck with where to begin, she suggests noticing what self-limiting beliefs may be holding you back. Perhaps you feel like you're not good enough to remember to bring your own water bottle? These are normal ways to feel and are merely thought patterns that have been ingrained in us. To break through some of these, acknowledge that they are thoughts you can overcome and you are more than capable of making choices that support you and the environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his early 20s, Chris Kresser, M.S., LAc, sold everything he owned and took off around the world. He wanted to travel and surf and planned to spend two years doing both. But his path took a turn nine months into the trip when he began experiencing symptoms of tropical illness, including vomiting, nausea, and delirium. After taking antibiotics, he was able to keep traveling, but several months later it was clear that this was serious. It didn't make sense—he was eating well and in the best shape of his life, and yet this seemingly small bout of sickness was evolving into a chronic illness. He decided to go home and seek medical help. Over the next five years, Chris saw upward of 50 doctors and practitioners to try to get better. It turns out he had multiple parasites. He spent most days curled up on the floor in pain and thought he wasn't going to have a future. That's when he began to look beyond modern medicine and discovered functional medicine and the paleo diet. By changing his diet and lifestyle, Chris was able to heal.Through this experience and his studies as a licensed acupuncturist, Chris has learned quite a bit about the power of functional medicine and how to keep your gut as healthy as possible. "To me, functional medicine was a perfect model," Chris says. "It synthesized the holistic approach of functional medicine and the perspective of looking at the body as a collection of interdependent systems, but then it also utilized modern diagnostics like blood testing, stool testing, and saliva testing—things that weren't available in Chinese medicine 2,000 years ago that I think can be helpful in determining the source or cause of the problem."To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At mbg, we've long been interested in recovery techniques as part of a well-rounded fitness program and predicted that we’d see an even greater shift toward it in 2019. Lo Roxburgh, best-selling author and expert on fascia and alignment, joins mbg's Chief Content Officer, Olessa Pindak, on the mbgpodcast to talk about how she got started in movement medicine and let us in on the best ways to relieve tension. Growing up, she was an All-American swimmer so understood the importance of taking care of her body. When her mother was diagnosed with Stage 5 breast cancer when she was 16, she took a step back and realized just how important the mind-body connection was. She went on to get degrees in nutrition and physiology and certifications in structural integration, Pilates, and personal training. Now Lo works with clients to help them align their bodies and inner selves. Recovery is a not only a vital part of a fitness routine, it's also become part of our wellness conversation. Join in!To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know lifestyle changes such as better nutrition, more movement, and less stress can make a big difference in our health. No one knows this better than Jason Karp, the chairman, and co-founder of Hu Kitchen and founder and CEO of HumanCo who reversed what was deemed an incurable condition through nutrition. He joined me on the mbgpodcast to talk about his transformative health journey and share what we can do today for better health. At the age of 23, Jason started having double vision, brain fog, and hair loss, and an ophthalmologist told him he would likely go blind from what was diagnosed as a degenerative corneal disease.From there, he went to another doctor that (he credits with saving his life) who tested his blood and found his cortisol levels were some of the highest he’d ever seen. He told Jason he wouldn't live until the age of 40 unless he changed what he was doing.After an elimination diet for three months where he gave up packaged food, caffeine, and alcohol paired with more exercise, much to the doctors surprise they found his degenerative eye disease had reversed.While Jason is much healthier today, he still struggles with autoimmune issues and discovered he’s sensitive to stress and doesn’t detoxify environmental toxins and chemicals in products well. “I find stress to be much more potent of an inflammatory agent than anything else, including sleep and food.” Here are four of the ways that Jason supports his mind and body and recommends to anyone struggling with health conditions or hoping to boost their health.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CDC reports that more than a third of adults in the U.S. are getting less than 7 hours of sleep which, according to their research, is not enough (getting less than 7 hours of sleep has been linked to issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain). While these stats may be enough to keep you up at night, there’s actually a lot we can do to get some better quality sleep. Chris Masterjohn, Ph.D., wellness entrepreneur and researcher, joined co-CEO Jason Wachob on the mbgpodcast to talk about what we can do for better sleep.It comes down to understanding what our bodies need and then putting the right things in. Chris has seen the immense impact nutrition has had on his mental, physical, and emotional health as well as his mother’s. Growing up, he watched his mother heal from fibromyalgia through eating more macrobiotics and doing practices like Tai Chi, and Qigong, and yoga. “I got a very early example to see how powerful diet and lifestyle could be in addressing chronic disease, said Chris.” This philosophy has influenced how he thinks about many common issues humans struggle with, including sleep deprivation. Chris shares his thoughts on how nutrition and small lifestyle tweaks can contribute to better sleep.Chris points out that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s worth trying out a variety of these tips to see what works for you. He recommends starting with basic sleep hygiene but said if you’re still struggling to find a solution or are interested, you could consider getting a comprehensive nutritional screening through your doctor. This could direct you toward which supplements will be best for you so you can get on your way to better sleep.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Consumers are demanding more from brands—authenticity, transparency, and functionality are just a few traits that people are looking for. It often comes down to the values of which the brand is built on and Veronica and Miguel Garza co-founders of Siete Family Foods are an example of a brand created on a strong foundation. The brother and sister team, joined me on the mbgpodcast to talk about how they started a “better-for-you Mexican-American food brand” and why remaining true to their core values is critical as they grow.After Veronica was diagnosed with her first auto-immune condition at the age of 17, which then developed into lupus and Hashimoto’s years later, her brother suggested she try the paleo diet. Eating a healthier diet was just one component of her health puzzle that helped improve her symptoms, but she missed eating the foods she grew up eating like tortillas and chips. This led to her experiment with different grain-free flours. In her childhood, she learned how to make tortillas from her grandmother and decided to give it a try, this time with almond flour.She started sharing these delicious tortillas with her family and found more and more people around her were interested in a grain-free tortillas. “We saw how much it could help people, and realized that the best way to provide this product to people, make it more convenient for them, and have it change their lives the way it changed ours, was to put it out on shelves.”While building this brand, the seven siblings, who all work at Siete, have centered their growth around a list of core values which influence every product they launch and represent their roots as a Mexican-American family from South Texas. These are three that Miguel and Veronica spoke to as integral in creating an iconic brand.Enjoy this episode! Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher, and sign up for our podcast newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices