The Rich Roll Podcast

Leveraging Plant-Based Nutrition to Treat, Prevent & Reverse Disease

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of being a keynote speaker & instructor on the Holistic Holiday at Sea — 1500 people cohabiting for 7 days on a Caribbean cruise ship for the specific purpose of learning more about health. How to eat better. And live more fully. When I agreed to participate, I had no idea the magnitude of this event. The incredible scale of this thing. I’m not a cruise ship kind of guy. Quite honestly, I prefer a shack on a deserted beach to a floating mall housing 2200. I was leery. In the aftermath, I can't say the experience converted me to cruising as a lifestyle. But I will say it ended up being an extraordinary experience — an event I highly recommend to those out there looking for something different to kick things into a new gear. I got to meet and spend time with some of the leading minds in the plant-based wellness Universe. Some I already knew, like legends T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study* and Whole* (podcast coming soon!), PCRM founder Neal Barnard, Chef AJ ( RRP Episode 56 ), bodybuilder Robert Cheeke, fitness impresario Koya Webb and many others. But what made the experience so memorable was meeting and spending time with people I had never before met. Presenters like today's guest of course, but mostly just normal people interested in learning more about getting better — and sharing their intimate stories. And so – despite my preconceived notions of what this experience would hold – I left rather inspired. By the lives and experiences and struggles and obstacles people face. And the success stories of overcoming everything from obesity to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, food addictions and more to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Leeriness transformed. A win-win. Today’s guest is one of the guys I met on the cruise. I guy who I’ve admired from afar for some time, but had yet to meet. Dr. Michael Klaper. A rare bird this one. A physician who actually really cares about the patient. Before you get angry and defensive about docs — I’m not saying that doctors don’t care about their patients. I am saying that this insane institutionalized system of medicine we have created basically forces well intentioned docs from getting too invested in their patients. They just can’t. Economics prevents this kind of time and emotional investment. Well, Dr. Klaper is a guy who got fed up with that system – like Peter Finch’s epic famous lament in Paddy Chayefsky’s Network — I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore! – and started treating patients the way he felt they should be treated. It wasn’t exactly the best business plan – there was the time he went broke trying to make it work. It’s that hard to do. But his story, his message. and how he now makes it all work, is educational. And inspirational. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Chubby Kid to Plantpowered, Marathon Running Host of Australian Idol

I'm told that Osher Gunsberg is quite the thing Down Under. Under former stage name Andrew G he lit up Australian airwaves as host of the popular Channel V– the Oz version of MTV's TRL– and went on to host Australian Idol, Live to Dance here in US with Paula Abdul, and more recently was the guy giving out roses back in his homeland on The Bachelor. That stuff is cool I suppose. Good on ya mate. But that's not how I know Osher. In fact, I've never seen him once on television and didn't even know about any of that stuff until we had hung out several times. Moreover, it really has nothing to do with why I wanted to sit down and bend his ear. I know Osher just as a good friend. We met about a year ago and he has become one of my closer friends over this period of time. I guy I can call up, and with whom I can talk life things through — because he has endured and overcome similar challenges and always has a wise word or two that helps me navigate whatever I happen to be going through. A guy who knows how to really appreciate a good long trail run. And a guy I can share stories with on a cycling excursion in my local Santa Monica Mountains. Of course you like this guy – he’s the spitting image of you! What is this, some kind of weird self-love thing? Yeah, yeah. If you see the photo that accompanies this episode it is kind of weird. Like my twin brother or something – the resemblance in that image is admittedly a bit comical. Same glasses, stubble, t-shirt, hair, etc. Yeah that’s funny. I like to joke that he is my doppelgänger. In truth we actually don’t look all that much alike in person – it's just how that particular photo came out. Trust me, Osher is much more handsome and charming than me, as you will soon see. But I guess there is some truth to the dopplegänger idea below the surface. Like me, Osher is a plant-based guy. Distance runner. Recent cycling convert (I'm cajoling him into signing up for his first triathlon). Not to mention a guy who has weathered divorce (although not sure you can characterize what I went through back in '96 as really much of a “marriage” or a “divorce” – if you read my book, you'll get my meaning). If you are a long time listener to the show then you'll remember I had Osher on back in May ( Episode 30 ) to interview me as a fun turning of the tables to correspond with the paperback release of Finding Ultra*. Because he is such a broadcasting pro at all of this he was the logical choice — and it was a ton of fun. But the more I got to know him, the more I realized he has a compelling story in his own right that I really wanted to help tell. Like some of our previous guests, a guy who has struggled with many relatable things in life we can connect with emotionally. A chubby kid and junk food addict determined to find a way out of his situation, he found success and improved self-esteem by way of a plant-based diet and learning how to run. A journey that now finds him enjoying marathons and cycling. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why You Should Choose Yourself

I love people who ask questions other people aren't asking. See trends others don't see. Have the courage to try a new approach. Risk the illusion of security. Think differently. Jump into the abyss with nothing but faith and their own resolve in search of answers. And refuse to wait for permission to simply do. In a certain sense, this dictate can be boiled down to a singular principle — people who Choose Themselves. And this is what today's guest is all about. Enter James Altucher. Where to even begin with this multi-talented hyphenate. Hedge fund manager, investor & serial entrepreneur, James has founded or co-founded over 20 companies; chess master; inspirational public speaker, radio, television and successful podcast host ( his show debuted at #1 on all of iTunes a few months back); bestselling author with 11 books to his name, both self-published and with the biggest publishing houses; husband, and father. I first stumbled upon the world of James Altucher about a year ago through his prolific, always humorous discernments on his The Altucher Confidential Blog and have counted myself a rabid fan ever since. What keeps me coming back isn't just his keen perceptions and invaluable insights, but the honesty, authenticity and total transparency as a vehicle to deliver his perceptions. A self-deprecating style that astutely mines his many fears and failures with a profound degree of relatability that threads a fabric of deep emotional connection with his readership. An expert in navigating rejection and colossal failure with as much enthusiasm and authority as his lays out — brick-by-brick — the many principles he has honed and freely shares to achieve greater health, perspective, life satisfaction and prosperity. We live in precarious times. A fear-based, quickly changing world pulling the thinly veiled curtain on the illusion of security. To crib a few ideas from James, markets have crashed. The traditional idea of jobs are disappearing. Everything we thought was “safe,” no longer is: College. Employment. Retirement. Government. In every part of society, the middlemen are being pushed out of the picture. No longer is someone coming to hire you, to invest in your company, to sign you, to pick you. More than ever, it falls on the individual to create a sustainable future. Scary stuff. We can look at this as a crisis. Or we can change perspective and see it as a moment of great opportunity. As always, destruction begets renewal. The truth is that we live in an amazing, unprecedented time of opportunity. A time of fantastical technology that in many ways has simply eradicated the seat once occupied by what we call the gatekeepers. With the advent of mind-blowing software and social media, new tools and economic forces are emerging that make it more possible than ever for individuals to create, thrive and change the world without “help” from the finicky sometimes not so permissive hand traditionally relied upon to feed us. This is the idea behind what James would call the Choose Yourself* era. It's also the title of his most recent book, a roadmap primer on transcending the decaying the master/servant paradigm of our economic system of employment and a call to action on how to configure a more meaningful life liberated from the so-called gatekeepers. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leveraging Mindfulness to Change Your Life

Jonathan Fields is a super popular guy. There is a good reason for that, which I'm going to get into in a minute. Before I do, I wanted to check in with you in a bit about what we do over here at the RRP. I have the feeling that Jonathan's appeal will attract some cool new people to the audience (welcome!), so I wanted to take a quick moment to recap the mission. Yes, I am a plant-based endurance athlete. And yes, I do have many plant-based enthusiasts on this show. But this is hardly a narrowly defined “fitness” or “vegan” themed podcast. It's far more about inspiration. I cast a very broad net. When thinking about guests, my litmus test is finding fascinating people and personalities that span a variety of disciplines. People who push boundaries. Live extraordinary lives. Think different. Blaze their own path. Question the status quo. And live large and on their own terms – in service not just to themselves, but in devotion to others, catalyzing life changing improvement in the quality of people's lives, and overall simply raising the bar on what is possible. I deliver these conversations with the sole intention of providing you with a stocked tool-box of education, information, motivation and inspiration to help you take the quality of your life to the next level. The goal? To assist in helping you unlock and unleash your best most authentic self. That's it. Pure and simple. Last week I published an article entitled, “Why You Should Stop Lifehacking and Invest in the Journey” (also up on Medium ). I wrote it because I have been thinking a lot lately about self-improvement. More specifically our shortcutting, lifehacking, biohacking obsessed culture. This meme-fueled drive to circumvent process and expedite results. In and of itself fine. I’m all about efficiencies. But there is something that really bothers me about this trend because on a certain some level it downgrades the inherent value of process. Disrespect for the journey. And the blood, sweat, tears and joy from simply showing up and suiting up for the full commitment. To me, the journey is everything. That is where the value lies. It’s a sentiment that was echoed in last weeks podcast episode with Casey Neistat – a guy who overcame tremendous obstacles with nothing but faith, will, belief and total commitment to process. And it's an ethos that really captures what today’s guest is all about. All in all, a guy who understands the long-term value of the journey over the temporary thrill of the #lifehack. Jonathan Fields. Dad. Husband, serial-entrepreneur, award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, A-list blogger, web-show host, and mindful innovation strategist who has been profiled in pretty much every prestigious publication there is, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, FastCompany, and Forbes. A guy I have been following with great enthusiasm to my tremendous benefit for years. On a personal level, Jonathan is guy I can deeply relate to – a guy (like me) who decided to leave the gilded protective hallways of the corporate law firm existence and risk everything in search of a life path of greater meaning for himself and others. Well Jonathan found it — in spades. His mission? To humanize and empower the process of creation. To help people and organizations conceive and build better, more conscious businesses, art, and lives in less time, with more joy and less effort. What gives Jonathan's particular brand of entrepreneurship such resonance with me personally is his inherent focus on process over results. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Making It Count and How To Do More

Simple yet profound words from this week's guest, a man in full embrace of the ethos of living an impactful, creative, authentic life in overdrive. Uncompromising. Unapologetic. Filmmaker, photographer, builder, father, humanitarian, athlete. But most of all, an artist leveraging his boundless creative energy to tell personal stories that inspire all of us to find the adventure in life. To invest in experience. To be bold. And to do more — both for yourself and for others. I first became aware of Casey around 2010 when his show “The Neistat Brothers” aired on HBO and was immediately captivated by Casey's DIY sensibility. His fearlessness. His acute ability to find the wonder in the seemingly banal. And his refusal to await permission from the gatekeepers to create. I've been a fan ever since, eagerly anticipating each new upload to his wildly popular YouTube channel – 82 movies he refuses to monetize; a network that enjoys a quarter of a million rabid subscribers; and dozens of viral sensations with 50+ million views. At this point, many of you have likely seen his remarkable “Make It Count”. If you somehow missed it, please watch it now for context before listening to the episode (I've watched it at least 20 times and never get tired of it). Hired by Nike to create an advertisement to promote the Fuel Band, Casey audaciously ignored the agreed upon commercial treatment and instead brashly spent the entire budget traveling the world, all the while documenting his incredible adventure until the money just flat ran out. 34,000 miles, three continents, 13 countries, 16 cities and 10 million views later, the rest is history. This past December, Casey raised the bar. Contacted by 20th Century Fox to create a movie to help promote “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, Casey agreed, with one caveat: permission to donate the entire commercial budget to typhoon victims in the Philippines. Tying creative expression to service, “What Would You Do with $25,000?” became an instant viral hit, trending on Twitter to over 3 million views. Then just one day after we sat down for this conversation, Casey headed out in a blizzard to “Snowboard NYC”– a sponsor-less lark he posted within 24 hours of shooting that clocked 5 million views in it's first five days. In the words of Wired Magazine, “Casey Neistat’s bite-size Internet movies have so much viral potential they make influenza jealous.” But what is it that makes Casey and his work so irresistible? Sure, the movies are fun. Irreverant. Visually captivating with great music and personal storylines that always star Casey himself as the ever-appealing protagonist. But in my opinion, what makes Casey stand out, what gives his work permanent residence in my consciousness, is his devotion to authenticity — an axiom of conviction that infuses every single frame of every single work he produces — and the predominant over-arching theme of this podcast. Read more HERE... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breaking the Shackles of Apartheid in Medicine

We need more doctors in the world like Dr. Frank Lipman. Western medicine is astounding when it comes to treating acute, isolated conditions — a catastrophic injury, an arterial blockage or a serious infection, for example. But how does it fare when it comes to preventing disease, particularly chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and countless other conditions sweeping the globe like a modern day plague? Well, not so well. On this I think we can all agree. On that note, when was the last time your doctor focused his inquiry on things like increasing energy levels and general vitality, elevating mood, sustaining optimal body weight, or enhancing mental acuity and focus? Not recently I would imagine, if ever. He or she might advise you to reduce the stress in your life, “eat better” and/or “start taking care of yourself” — but these proclamations are rarely combined with an actual specific protocol to implement. And that, my friends is a shame. Dr. Lipman is working to break this paradigm. Early in his medical career, he began to see that the polarization between western modalities and other healing philosophies merely negated positive attributes of both. He began to see that true healing lay in a blend between the two. He now practices his unique method of what he calls “Good Medicine”, which merges the best of the west with many traditions more eastern or alternative in origin — a holistic form of medicine that is truly unique and integrative in its approach to patients. It's for this reason he has become the go-to, in-demand doctor for the celebrated — people like Donna Karan, Kevin Bacon, Gwenyth Paltrow, Peter Sarsgaard & Maggie Gyllenhaal. If pharmaceuticals are truly in order to rectify an acute medical issue, he is happy to prescribe. But disease management isn't what gets him out of bed every morning excited about life. Instead, it's taking the time to evaluate each patient as a complex web of interdependent systems, with a keen lens focused on disease prevention. The idea is to optimize the quality of his patients' lives through implementing techniques such as acupuncture; Chinese, herbal & functional medicine; nutrition; biofeedback; meditation; and yoga. When was the last time your doctor prescribed you to go to yoga? It's never happened to me, and I live in LA. In short, Dr. Lipman's ultimate goal for all his patients is simple: sustained, long-term, optimal wellness. Sustained, long-term, optimal wellness. If you know me, then you know I'm all about this subject. So it was an honor and a treat to sit down with Dr. Lipman in his office at Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in the Flatiron District of Manhattan — with its soothing meditation retreat / yoga studio vibe — where he generously offered up his perspective on medicine & the medical profession, nutrition & food allergies, and the types of things we can and should all focus on more intently if we want to maximize our “wellness” in the truest sense of this all-too often over-hyped word. I hope you enjoy the enlightening conversation. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. And don't forget to give Tyler — my trusty podcast producer and stepson — a nice shoutout for all his hard work not just putting today's show together, but for all his amazing original music compositions that accompany the interview. Thanks Ty!Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How Adam Transformed His Life, Dropped 50 lbs & Became the 1st Person to Run the 163 Mile Pan-Mass Challenge

Straight up, this conversation encapsulates every aspiration I ever had for the show when I embarked upon this podcast journey a little over a year ago: inspiration, in the form of a relatable everyman guest sharing his personal story openly and honestly with absolute humility and a vulnerability that is rare in today's panoply of admirable role models. We get emotional. We get real. We get authentic. There's even a few tears. If you're not moved by Adam' story, then check yourself for a pulse. ” Adam Scully-Power ? Never heard of him.” I get it. Adam certainly isn't a household name. But that’s a shame, because we need more guys like Adam. So I'm doing my part to help change that, because Adam's story is extraordinary. And one that needs to be more widely heard. I'll start off with this — talking to Adam was like staring in a mirror. Not because we look alike – we don't. But I have never met anyone with a story that so closely tracks the facts and emotions my own experience. In fact, it's downright eerie. So let's break it down. Much like me, Adam is a happily married family man and father of four. Much like me, Adam had a denial-snapping middle-aged come-to-Jesus moment of reckoning catalyzed by his ever-expanding waistline, quickly deteriorating energy levels and dissatisfaction with his overworked, all-too-sedentary corporate lifestyle. Much like me, Adam turned to his health-conscious wife for a little guidance, who at the time had been experimenting — and finding success — with a plant-based way of eating. Much like me, and with nothing to lose, Adam decided to give this insane idea of just eating plants a whirl. Here's the Cliff Notes on what happens next: Adam's energy levels explode. Almost overnight, the extra pounds around Adam's waist melt away, seemingly without effort. With a vitality he could not previously recall, and for the first time in years, Adam resumes a modest fitness program to burn off all the extra energy coursing through his veins. But incapable of contentedness with “the occasional jog” Adam instead sets his sights higher. So high, in fact, he becomes determined to achieve his own personal impossible. Overwhelmed by the tragedy of last year's Boston Marathon, driven by an undeniable primal urge to test the outer limits of his physical, mental, emotional and spiritual limits, and propelled by a series of eerie, impossibly synchronistic and equally improbable events — including an image texted to him by his friend David Green from the Boston Marathon finish line that led to the capture of bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev — last summer Adam lined up to attempt the unimaginable. An unprecedented 163-mile run across the entire state of Massachusetts. Adam accomplished this feat. Not in spite of his plant-based diet, but because of his plant-based diet. A feat made all the more remarkable because it occurred only one year subsequent to his epiphanic, life-changing moment of reckoning. To be sure, Adam Scully-Power's story of life transformation is nothing short of miraculous. An extraordinary journey that didn't just repair his health and resolve his waistline dilemma, but instead resulted in astonishing heights of accomplishment he could have never previously imagined in his wildest fantasy. A story of such dramatic life transformation you will be left in tears — and beyond inspired. Of course, not all of us have the desire to test ourselves as ultrarunners. That's not the point. What's important is the power that resides within all of us to change, achieve and be so much more than we think we can. Inside all of us resides a better, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Spirituality of Peak Athletic & Life Performance

American Ninja Warrior. Calisthenics freak. Battlebar champion. Muscle Beach staple. Parkour artist. Spiritual crusader. Social entrepreneur. These are just a few labels we can attach to the badass known as Travis Brewer. But what is truly inspiring about this airborne athlete with a conscience is his mission to live life to the fullest. Catalyzing positive impact through movement to make the world a better place. And inspire others to become more of who they are. For Travis, it's an inside job. His ability to walk through fear, break barriers, push past physical, mental and emotional plateaus to perform the impossible with death-defying body movement begins and ends with one thing – his devotion to spirituality & meditation. Today Julie and I sit down with Travis to explore the boundaries of human potential – both athletic and beyond the monkey bars; what it truly means to unlock the best of who you are; the crucial extent to which devotion, spirituality and meditation play into his holistic health and peak performance equation; and how he pursues happiness and life satisfaction through service to others. Travis is a fascinating, insightful, considerate and contemplative young man with big dreams for the future of youth, health, movement and entrepreneurship. It was an honor to have him spend an evening with our family, and I'm thrilled to share this conversation with you. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Running Across America For A GMO-Free USA

What do you do when your twelve-year-old son announces he’s going to run across America? That's the dilemma Brett & Kris Wilcox faced, hoping that in time their son David would simply forget about his crazy idea — “it's a phase….he'll grow out of this fantasy eventually……right?” Well, David refused to let up. In fact, he doubled down. On the heels of becoming the fastest freshman cross country runner in his region of Alaska, David became more determined than ever to become the 2nd 15-year old ever to complete a transcontinental run. Needless to say, his parents had a decision to make – quash their son's dream, or dig deep to help make it happen. I am happy to say they chose the latter. And on January 18, 2014, David and his father — supported by his mother Kris and 13-year old sister Olivia — began their coast-to-coast attempt, launching from Huntington Beach, CA en route to Washington, D.C. David has his motivations. But in order to run alongside his son, Brett needed his own. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Brett has spent his career helping people heal from the poison and pain they’ve endured at the hands of bullies and batterers. Now, he's turned his attention to global bullies—bullies like the giant chemical companies that poison the Earth, our political processes and our agricultural system. The author of We're Monsanto: Feeding the World Lie After Lie*, Brett knows a thing or two about GMO's, the ills of factory farming, the depletion of our soil, and the future of food. So Brett — and David — are running across America to say enough is enough. And during the course of our conversation we dig deep into these issues — what exactly these companies are doing to our food system, why we should care, and what we can do about it. It's a fascinating conversation and one I am proud to share with you. What this humble family has set out to accomplish is extraordinary. But they can't do it alone. Every great accomplishment requires the support of a great team. They need all the help they can get. So let's be that team for them. Towards that end, I implore you to visit their Indiegogo fundraising page and — if it feels right to you — consider contributing to their mission and advocacy — a cause that affects us all, irrespective of dietary preference, geographical location or political prediliction. I hope you enjoy the conversation! Rich NOTE: Unfortunately we did experience some audio quality issues with the recording. Just when I think I have this whole thing figured out! Something about my mic being too hot and the others lower. I don't know. Tyler worked really hard to clean it up, but it's not perfect. Hope it's not too distracting, and all I can say is that I will continue to try harder, learn and do better. Give Tyler a shoutout in the comments below, he's doing a great job as my producer. And all the music cues are his own original compositions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plantpowered Dietitian & Author on Blue Zones, BigFood, Straight Edge Punk & Eating For Ultra-Endurance Performance

Matt is a cool dude. Can't believe it took the podcast for us to finally meet in person. Not only do we have plenty of common points of interest and intersection — plant-based nutrition, eating for performance and ultra-endurance athletics topping the list — Matt knows from whence he comes. With a Nutritional Science degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Public Health Nutrition degree from Loma Linda University (yes – that “Blue Zone*” Loma Linda where everyone eats plants and lives like forever – don't worry we get into this), as well as certification as a Registered Dietitian ( the only professional nutrition credential available ), Matt has distinguished himself as a leading expert in the field of vegan nutrition. In addition to working one-on-one with clients and athletes, Matt is the Past-Chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , and co-authored both the No Meat Athlete book with RRP #54 guest Matt Frazier and the best-selling cookbook Appetite for Reduction* with Isa Moskowitz. In his spare time, Matt is an accomplished athlete who races marathons, iron-man triathlons, 200+ mile cycling events and 24-hour races (see full athletic resume ). During the course of our conversation we dig into all of it – the paleo vs. vegan “debate”, how to eat for ultra-endurance performance, modern advocacy in the world of our broken food system, and how corporate interests use marketing to obfuscate fact, undermine informed consent and confuse consumer choice. But quite possibly the most impressive thing about Matt? He lives in Southern California yet refuses to own a car. Now that is commitment. Listen with an open mind, and may the conversation raise the vibration & inspire your best self.  Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Sobriety, Prison & His Quest to Become The Fastest Human To Run Across The United States

People ask me all the time, “Who inspires you, Rich?” For the most part, the people that inspire me are people you've never heard of. Everyman guys like Josh LaJaunie who toil tirelessly yet essentially anonymously to actualize profound personal change. The single dad working two jobs that still finds a way to lose 50 pounds, get off his statin medication and run his first 10K. Or the soldier stationed in the Middle East doing his best to eat plant-based despite confronting tremendous daily obstacles. Then there are guys like Charlie. The story of Charlie Engle first found it's way into my consciousness back around 2006 or 2007. I still vividly recall hearing Charlie relate the facts of his experience in a radio interview he did with a host I cannot recall. What I do recall is just how moved I was by his journey. A story that didn't just click with me, but one I related to with every fiber of who I am. Addict. Alcoholic. Sober. Ultrarunner. Father. Felon. Inspiration. Charlie is a man of very high highs and very low lows. A man with addiction and athletic stories of Gilgamesh proportions that make Finding Ultra sound like pre-school recess. An alcoholic crack addict essentially living out of his car, it took gunshots in his Toyota 4-Runner and the birth of his son in 1992 to finally get sober. Ultrarunning became the focus of his affections, an affair that took him to stunning heights and accolades, the nadir being an unprecedented 111-day run across the Sahara Desert with compadres Ray Zahab and Kevin Lin — a feat chronicled in the Matt Damon narrated documentary entitled Running the Sahara. Life was pretty good. Certainly not entirely balanced, but hey, nobody's perfect. He had done some amazing things. Maybe he had a shot at some modicum of happiness after all. Then came quite possibly the most improbable, unpredictable challenge he could ever imagine facing. A saga with all the trappings of a bad B-movie. An obsessed local IRS agent illogically hell-bent on justice. Wire taps. Garbage probes. And the requisite wily female dispatched to enchant and entrap. A saga culminating in a federal conviction for mortgage fraud for misstating income on so-called “liar loan” documents (something hundreds of thousands of people did), Charlie heads to Beckley Federal Prison in West Virginia. A poster child for everything awry with the mortgage backed security crisis and fallout of recent years, Charlie serves 16 months. How do you survive something like that? And yet Charlie comes out the other side not just intact, but quite possibly more whole than when he entered. A man changed by the experience, but maybe more attuned to what really matters. And a man running better than ever. Just one year after his release, Charlie returned to the Badwater 135 to clock a 5th place finish and break the master's world record by over 3 hours. Next up? Aside from getting married this weekend, Charlie will attempt to run across the United States faster than any human being ever has previously. A feat he calls Run 2 Boston, Charlie and wheelchair athlete extraordinaire André Kajlic will line up at the LA Marathon on March 9, complete the 26.2 miles and then just keep going. And going. Until they reach Boston, where they will run that marathon. All in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the victim's of last year... Read more HERE. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

[EXPLICIT] The Punk Iconoclast on GMO’s, The “V” Word & Expanding Consciousness

S$#*t's about to get raw. Authentic. And real. Back by popular demand, Cro-Mags' frontman John Joseph– aka “Bloodclot” — returns to the podcast today to do what he does best – light fires, blow stuff up and burn the house down. All for the sake of getting people to wake up, expand consciousness and take control of our lives. Weaned from the ailing womb of Scorsese's Mean Streets, JJ is a true American original. Lower East Side thief, abuse survivor, drug dealer & brawling gutter rat reborn as spiritual warrior. CBGB Street Poet. Punk-ass Robin Hood. Plantpowered Ironman. Spiritual evangelist. A life story so astounding it echoes some demented amalgam of Bukowski, Hugh Selby, Jr., Jerry Stahl, Eckhart Tolle & Paramahansa Yogananda. Plus he can write. His tale of survival is so vividly depicted in his autobiography Evolution of a Cro-Magnon, it's currently being adapted into a movie. And July 2014 brings Harper Collins' wide release of his previously self-published (and currently out-of-print) cult hit Meat is For Pussies*– with a foreword by yours truly. But more anything, this boy can spin a yarn. JJ's first appearance on the podcast was a massive hit, and we barely scratched the surface of John's ability to opine and pontificate on a vast array of subjects — life on the streets, GMO's, Monsanto, the strange history of Aspartame, the power of meditation, the importance of expanding consciousness, the problems with the “V” word, what it means to be truly punk in this post-millenia era, and why meat really is for pussies. If you're new to the show, be sure to check out JJ's previous appearance in RRP 41. It's like a bomb exploding in an elevator. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Chasing Dreams & His New Book “Beat The Devil”

Third time's a charm. Show favorite Mishka Shubaly returns to the podcast today for round 3 to chat about addiction, sobriety, rock ‘n roll, ultrarunning, relationships, writing, creativity and his fantastic new Kindle Single, Beat The Devil. But mostly we talk about chasing dreams. The inherent force, value & gestalt of a dream. How much you are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of a dream, even when it constantly deludes and eludes you, undermining, derailing and even destroying other important aspects of your life. How to know whether the dream you seek is the right dream. And when — and if — it ever makes sense to abandon a dream that persistently fails to materialize. Mishka and I have a shorthand. A large percentage of our friendship has taken place on microphone, but there is a palpable sense that we have always been friends. And that's because — although our life experiences are very different — our mental & emotional points of reference share powerful common turf. Indeed, Mishka is my brother-from-another-mother; and once again it comes through undeniably in this exchange. Our bond aside, I feel an imperative to share his palpable creative voice. A master of humility, self-deprecation, frailty and fear, his evocative prose is a dagger into the heart we all share — our common condition as human. It's an important voice, worthy of notice and praise. An opinion I harbor not in isolation, but one shared by the literati, including a top editor at The Atlantic who goes so far as to say Mishka is “the voice of our generation”. That phrase gets bandied about all too commonly, but in Mishka's case it's truth. With 4 consecutive Amazon #1 bestsellers ( Shipwrecked*, The Long Run*, Are You Lonesome Tonight?* and Bachelor Number One* ) he is a true master of the short narrative. Now he's back at it. Beat The Devil*– his newest offering — just hit #1 in Amazon's Kindle Singles category yesterday. A deep dive into the downtown New York rock ‘n roll club scene, Beat The Devil* is Mishka's first-hand account of battling ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Best of 2013 Anthology Episode

Now for something a little different. In celebration of our 1st year anniversary and the quickly approaching new year, I thought it would be fun to compile a “Best Of” edition of the show, with excerpts from some of the more popular interviews over the course of the past twelve months to create a year-end mashup episode. So Tyler, my son and esteemed podcast producer, audio engineer and musician (he writes, produces and arranges all the music for the show as well) rolled up his sleeves and went to work, spending hours culling through the best and the brightest of 2013 to create today's show – a full-length compendium of awesome, it's a veritable grab-bag cornucopia of amazing conversational clips edited together to create a complete show. Excerpted interviews include the following past guests, in chronological order: THE BEST OF THE RRP – 2013 * NutritionFacts.org Founder Dr. Michael Greger ( Episode 7 ) * Julie Piatt on New Year's Resolutions ( Episode 9 ) * Ironman World Champion Chris “Macca” McCormack ( Episode 24 ) * Fruitarian Ultra-Runner Michael Arnstein ( Episode 26 ) * Writer & Ultra-Runner Mishka Shubaly ( Episode 27 ) * Australian Television, Radio & Podcast Host Osher Günsberg ( Episode 30 ) * PlantPowered Ironman, Author and Cro-Mags' Frontman John Joseph ( Episode 41 ) * PlantPowered Ironman & Weight Loss Surgeon Dr. Garth Davis ( Episode 50 ) * Olympic Cyclist & Motivational Life Coach Dr. Jeff Spencer ( Episode 57 ) * SunLife Organics Founder Khalil Rafati ( Episode 61 ) For show notes and to learn more about these guests, click the corresponding episode hyperlinks, above. Also, we didn't want to include too much from very recent shows (even though some of them have been incredibly popular), as they are still so fresh. For this reason, and because we have so many new subscribers who most likely have only listened to the most recent shows, we decided to focus on the early guests. If you're miffed because I left your personal favorite out, I get it. So many amazing guests over the year it was almost impossible to make a selection — it's like trying to figure out who's going to be your groomsmen at your wedding. But we had to pick 10. Not the definitive last word on the best of the best by any means – just good mix nonetheless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How One Man Overcame Incredible Obstacles, Lost 200 lbs & Transformed His Life Wholesale

This interview is like nothing you have heard before on this show. It will move you. It will inspire you. It will erase whatever obstacles and excuses you rely on that perpetuate bad habits, keep you stuck, and reinforce denial. By listening, my hope is that you will realize that no matter what your circumstances or environment, we all have the power to implement profound personal change beyond our collective imagination in miraculous and fantastic ways. A couple weeks ago, a guy called Josh LaJaunie tweeted me his before and after pictures, thanking me for helping him along his journey of total transformation. Bear in mind, I get many such images sent to me. I absolutely love this stuff – It's why I do what I do. But something about this post was different. The change was so astounding, my first thought was, “Can this be real?” The 400+ pound guy on the left bore almost no resemblance to the guy on the right, a super fit, super handsome young man running with a big smile on his face. And yet when I looked closely, I could indeed determine that it was in fact the same person. I was stunned. Chris Farley had morphed into Bradley Cooper. But how? I had to find out. I reached out to him, and we exchanged a few e-mails. Then he sent me a document, with a title that says it all. “FREE JOSH LAJAUNIE” A manifesto on life transformation, it's the detailed personal account of how Josh accomplished what some would deem impossible, dropping over 200 pounds and a life-long addiction to unhealthy foods & lifestyle habits to discover a passion for running. A journey that led him to completing a half-marathon and preparing for his first marathon. He didn't just lose weight — he became an athlete. But what truly struck me wasn't just the weight loss or his discovered passion for running. It was the story of how he faced, battled and overcame astounding, impossibly entrenched cultural obstacles to change everything about how he lives his life. A gift he now freely shares, transforming the lives not just of his family members, but his beloved community at large. At that moment, I knew I needed to share his story with you. Born & bred in southern Louisiana, Josh is a 100% genuine, authentic, self-avowed “swamp dweller” from Bayou Lafourche. Someone who shirks at the label “cajun” as too highfalutin, and “proud to sound like a coonass”. A big kid surrounded by a loving nuclear and extended family united by their shared love of food — a regional imperative — Josh was a standout high school football player, recruited to play college ball. But disillusioned by college life in Arkansas, he dropped out of school, only to return home, aimless and unmoored. He found work in the family construction business, but lived for the weekend – time spent hunting, fishing, cheering for his beloved New Orleans Saints, feasting on his favorite local delicacies — po boys, jambalaya & barbeque. And partying. Lots of partying. It's just what you do down in Bayou Lafourche. The weight escalated. As did the despair. His embarrassment and shame escalating in equal measure to his declining self-esteem. Not to mention an almost certain future of diabetes and heart disease. Then something happened. In 2010, Josh's beloved Saints achieved the impossible, winning the Super Bowl. It seems a small thing. But to Josh it was everything. Forever altering his perception of what is possible, he began to question the limits he imposed upon himself. Read more HERE... Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meatonomics: How the Bizarre, Rigged Economics of the Meat and Dairy Industries Co-Opt Consumer Choice

Sometimes I feel like some kind of fringe conspiracy theorist. I didn't used to be this way, I promise. But the more I delve into how things work — truly work — the more amazed I am by what I discover. I don't care if you are vegan, locavore, pescatarian, paleo, primal, high-carb, low-carb, or slow-carb. Everyone deserves to be optimally informed when it comes to how our food is harvested, distributed and marketed. And yet, quite unfortunately, most consumers lack even a basic awareness of the dynamics at play, let alone a working understanding of the formidable economic protocols that function behind the production of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. It is incumbent upon all of us to take personal responsibility for educating ourselves about the economic machinations that dominate and drive our food system. Why? Because these forces affect all of us, irrespective of dietary preference. And because informed choice is power.  Today on the show I am pleased to introduce David Robinson Simon, attorney, advocate for sustainable consumption, and author of the newly released Meatonomics* — an important, groundbreaking and astoundingly revelatory deep dive into the potent economic, marketing, regulatory & legislative forces that support the meat and dairy industries' masterful ability to influence and downright undermine informed consumer awareness and decision making when it comes to what — and how much — to eat. David's thesis is that such consumer decisions aren't just misplaced, but in fact manipulated and compelled — often on an unconscious level — by the behemoth animal food producers who effectively co-opt consumers’ buying choices with artificially-low prices fueled by out-of-whack farm subsidies; ubiquitous, powerful but misleading marketing campaigns; and heavy control over legislation and regulatory policy at the highest echelons of government. Over the course of our conversation, David provides vital insight into how the economics of institutional animal food production hold sway over our spending, eating, health, prosperity, economy, environment and longevity. A perfect storm of almost conspiratorial circumstances that serve — in the macro — to exponentially increase (among other things): * Annual US taxpayer dollars spent to subsidize meat & dairy; * The rapid depletion of our forests & soil; * The level of greenhouse gas emissions that catalyze irrevocable climate change;  * The collapsing of wild fisheries; * The proliferation of “farmed” fisheries; * US dietary cholesterol intake; * The incidence of cancer, diabetes and heart disease related to meat and dairy consumption * Healthcare costs allocated to treat US cases of diseases related to meat and dairy consumption For a quick source-supported primer, check out David's Meatonomics Index– 40 facts and figures that paint a picture of how our meat and dairy intake has spiraled out of control since 1935. Food for thought. Thanks for checking out this post and the episode, and I hope you enjoy the conversation. Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Addiction, Recovery & Achieving Happiness Through Service

If you know my story, you know it involves a descent into alcoholism, followed by a hard fought battle to achieve and maintain sobriety. Recovery saved my life, straight up, no exaggeration. To this day it remains — and will always remain — my number one priority. I don't talk it about it often on the podcast, but I think it's an important subject to raise and discuss, particularly as we head into the holidays — an acutely perilous time for the millions who, alone, isolated and ashamed, privately battle these demons. Meet Khalil Rafati, founder of Sunlife Organics– friend, fellow recovery warrior and amazing living example of the profound resiliency of the human body, mind and spirit. Not only has Khalil overcome unimaginable obstacles to survive, he has defied all odds and miraculously repaired his life wholesale. A soul now devoted to the service of others, his primary focus on giving back what was so freely given him. Prepare to have your mind blown. Khalil's tale is nothing short of astounding. From the depths of absolute despair, homeless & hopelessly gripped by heroin addiction, Khalil was hell bent on dying. And yet somehow, by way of a grace outside himself, Khalil came out the other side. Not just intact, but repaired. He didn't just find sobriety. He found his true life purpose. Today I am so proud to share my friend's journey. Behind all the raw intensity and earnest honesty and vulnerability, it is a story I think we can all celebrate. A story of the impossible. And at its heart, the story of true redemptive power of the human condition. Open your mind and heart and let Khalil inspire you. I can guarantee that after listening to this profound and at times extremely intense conversation, you will understand that all the illusory excuses that imprison and prevent you from growth, health and self-actualization will seem trivial. For those that are suffering, this one's for you. Please know that all is not lost. There is a solution. And there is hope. Always hope. NOTE: In addition to the extreme intensity of the subject matter discussed, this episode also contains a few instances of explicit language. So if you're listening with the wee ones or at work, pop in the ear buds. Nothing to crazy, just a head's up for the more sensitive members of the audience. And should you find yourself in Los Angeles, do me a solid. Drop by one of Khalil's Sunlife Organics juice bars (on Pt. Dume in Malibu and in Thousand Oaks at The Lakes), order a green juice (or the Wolverine smoothie — my favorite) and give Khalil a high five. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show. I'm really proud of this one. Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Maintain Healthy Nutrition & Optimal Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Health During The Holidays

I've got news for you people. Like it or not, the holiday season is upon us. That special time of year when we tend to overeat, overspend and simply overindulge in everything across the board, all in the name of celebratory merriment. When we're not charging it on the card or spread paper thin desperately trying to fulfill all the expectations presented, we find ourselves weathering an unnatural battery of social engagements, not to mention the myriad of emotionally hyper-charged landmines presented by extended family get togethers. The result? A massive and unnatural outpouring of energy that leaves us utterly depleted — spit out the other side physically and emotionally exhausted to the core, all too often overweight and riddled with unnecessary debt. What if we could approach and experience the holiday season differently? What if we could revel in the pure joy of the season and emerge in January not just intact but truly enriched — optimistic, feeling great and energized for all the challenges and adventures presented with the birth of a new year? Today on the show, Julie and I sit down to hash out all things holiday season with a focus on providing helpful, experience-based strategies to assist in managing the financial pitfalls, dietary challenges, precarious social environments and heightened emotional states presented by this unique time of year. In my experience, these are issues common to us all. And yet issues we go to great lengths to avoid dealing with internally, let alone discussing outwardly — typically out of fear, shame or simply a profound need to keep up appearances — all of which ultimately leaves us feeling alone and isolated in what for many can become a state of true emotional crisis. In truth, the exact opposite of what the holidays should be all about. So rather than deny or repress, let's talk about it. Get it all out in the open. And work on a strategy for a different, positive and uplifting experience. On today's agenda: * How to avoid spending money you don't have; * How to maintain a healthy PlantPowered Diet throughout the season; * How to experience gift giving with children in a different way; * How to navigate and avoid emotional landmines with extended family; * How to say “No” to certain social obligations; and * How to nuture and preserve your physical, emotional & spiritual well being under pressure. Enjoy the show! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nutrition, Fitness, Online Entrepreneurism, Homeschooling & What Happened When He Trained for an Ironman on a Low Carb / High Fat Ketosis Diet

For fans of Ben Greenfield, this is Ben like you've never heard him before. For longtime listeners and fans of health & fitness podcasts, Ben Greenfield needs no introduction. Self-avowed training guinea pig, ardent nutrition student, accomplished multisport athlete, podcast host, blogger and health entrepreneur at Ben Greenfield Fitness and all around good dude. Ben and I have been acquainted for some years — but only through the internet. He was an early guest on this show ( RRP #11 ), I have guested on his podcast as well as his Endurance Planet podcast ( HERE ), we did a nutrition-oriented Spreecast with Vinnie Tortorich back in February ( HERE ) and he has written about my exploits a bit as well ( HERE ). And yet surprisingly, we had never met in person. So it was a pleasure to finally sit down with the guy one-on-one so we could dig a bit deeper. Skype interviews are great, but there is just no substitute for sitting across from someone when you want to have a proper chat. And this interview gets it done in spades. Today on the show we talk about a multitude of things, including: * How he turned his passion for health and fitness into a thriving online business * Some keys for entrepreneurial online success; * His experience training for and racing an Ironman on a high fat / low carb ketogenic diet; * His plan for putting on 30lbs of muscle during the upcoming winter months; * Our experiences interviewing Durianrider; * What the lifestyle “hack” (as in #lifehack or #biohack) actually means; * His experience as a homeschooled child and how he homeschools his children; * How his dietary regimen is often misunderstood, his passion for plants & his vegetable garden; and * Ben's Upcoming Human Performance Course on CreativeLive. Like many of my guests, I don't agree with all points & issues raised. But I truly like and respect Ben, particularly his willingness to engage in all forms of self-experimentation and his transparency when it comes to openly sharing his results. I hope you enjoy the conversation! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Godmother of Wellness On Pioneering Healing and the Future Health of the Planet

After listening to this interview, you will never again rely on advancing age as an excuse for anything. Meet the unique force of nature known as Deborah Szekely — in so many ways, the Godmother of the Wellness Revolution, but also a tireless activist, philanthropist, writer, and friend of Presidents and Hollywood elite. At 91 years young, Deborah exudes the energy of someone 60 years her junior. In fact, I have met few people in my life that could match the drive, vision, commitment and boundless vitality she persistently demonstrates when it comes to improving the health and wellness of people across the globe. Let me paint the picture. Without Deborah, there is no Jack LaLanne. No 24-Hour Fitness, Gold's Gym, Equinox or Soul Cycle, let alone Canyon Ranch or Burke Williams day spas. In many ways, so much of what we take for granted as part of our daily health and fitness lifestyle experience can be specifically tracked back to the work Deborah and her husband Edmond started in the tiny village of Tecate, Mexico in 1940. Hailing from Brooklyn by way of Eastern Europe, Deborah's mother was a progressive raw foodist fruitarian and vice president of the New York Vegetarian Society. When the Great Depression hit, Deborah's garment business father moved the family to Tahiti, the land of abundant fruit, to live closer to nature — and persistently ahead of the curve. It's there that they met Edmond Szekely, a prophetic, highly educated and charismatic professor and author of Hungarian origin (then Transylvania) & Jewish heritage prone to long pontifications on the virtues of living in close connection with one's natural environment. In her late teens, Deborah became Edmond's secretary and ultimately his bride. They later settled in Los Angeles, but with World War II on the horizon and Edmond fearing deportation back to Eastern Europe due to citizenship issues, they decamped to Tecate, about an hour's drive from San Diego just over the Mexican border. Domiciled in a tiny cabin on a vast parcel of land at the base of a gorgeous mountain, in 1940 Edmond and Deborah opened their doors to the outside world — a summer camp they called Rancho La Puerta where visitors could convene for $17.50 per week, provided they brought their own tent. During the summer months, Edmond would lecture to groups on a number of topics, including the philosophy of The Essenes ; something he dubbed Biogenic Living; the ills of smoking (revolutionary at the time); and the virtues of a healthy diet, exercise and living close to nature. Bear in mind, this was decades before any of these subjects were in vogue. Not to beat a dead horse, but to say Edmond and Deborah were a step ahead is an understatement. Not enough? In his downtime, Edmond wrote books — over 80 titles all told — and printed them with his own printing press. Word got out about the interesting happenings of Rancho La Puerta. Hollywood took notice, and soon people like Burt Lancaster, Kim Novak, William Holden, and even Aldous Huxley could be found spending time at the Ranch. The Ranch quickly grew, and in later years, Rancho has hosted the likes of Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Streisand, Martha Stewart and Arianna Huffington. The rest is history. In it's 73rd year, Rancho La Puerta set the stage for every wellness trend, spa and movement that would follow. Today the center boasts some of the best wellness programs, most beautiful facilities, finest food and appointed terrain in the world, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Achieving Prolific Peak Performance & Optimizing Your Best Self With The Champions Blueprint

Success isn't an accident – it happens by design. Today on the show I am pleased to host Dr. Jeff Spencer – life coach to Olympic champions and entrepreneurs and architect of a methodology he calls The Champions Blueprint – the good doctor's well researched and proven “crystal ball” process to unlock your internal personal power and unleash — and more importantly sustain — prolific peak performance, not to mention your best self. Break out your Moleskins people, because you are going to want to take copious notes. Class is in session! Whether on the playing field or in the board room, we often marvel at those few who seem able to effortlessly achieve — and again sustain — incredible results. I'm talking about people like Michael Jordan. Michael Phelps. Oprah Winfrey. And Richard Branson. Freaks of nature, right? Once in a lifetime talents that deserve our reverence, but simply cannot be emulated, let alone replicated. We all want this right? And yet it seems so elusive. A struggle that can seem impossible for the average Joe to realize. Why? Well. according to Dr. Spencer, this is because we lack one simple thing — a proper roadmap. In other words, beyond sheer talent there's a distinct, consistent method behind the innate gifts of the heroes we are so quick to worship that leads inextricably to achievement and keeps them on top. A method that indeed can be identified and repeated in everyone's life. A method that can set you up for long-term success in not only the goal you seek, but more importantly the legacy that is your life. Born from the pain he experienced watching his genius artist father die homeless, his work unrecognized, Dr. Spencer began to ask himself: why did this happen, and how can I help others avoid this peril? Informed by his prolific athletic career as a member of the 1972 US Olympic Team in track cycling and buttressed by his copious experience mentoring world class athletes as a 9-time Tour De France team doctor (chiropractor), Jeff came to truly understand and appreciate that no person succeeds without proper mentors and a supportive team. Thus he began to identify patterns of predictable human behavior, and how certain predictable behaviors can indeed be harnessed to achieve previously unimaginable heights of achievement. In turn, this ultimately led him to identify the 7 steps of what would become the foundation of The Champions Blueprint protocol – a curriculum he has used to help many achieve unparalleled, sustained legacy-worthy success. Here are those steps, which we discuss at length in today's episode: * Legacy: Start with the End in Mind * Mindset: View the world through the lens of your Legacy * Base: Get the Team, Equipment, Financing and Tangibles in Place * Climb the Wall: 1. Patience 2. Grind | Reach Break Out Performance * Elevation: Shift your Break out Performance to your Daily Program * Adaptation: Can you deal with the pressure of performing at the top? * Ride the Wave: Leaving a Complete Legacy as an Example for Others I am very proud of this conversation. Surely, one of my favorite interviews to date, and an exchange that becomes quite emotional at times. An episode worthy of more than one listen. Thank you Jeff for showing up and demonstrating the courage to be vulnerable. Wallow in the wisdom people! Finally – enjoying the music cues on the show? Thanks my 18-year old son Tyler Piatt — not only did he produce and edit today's show, he wrote, arranged and performed all the music as well. Thanks Tyler! Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Junk Food Vegan to Whole Food Plant-Based Chef

Let me be clear. Just because you are vegan does not mean you are eating a healthy diet. Today Julie and I sit down with the wonderful Chef AJ to talk about the enormous difference between a simple “animal product free” diet and a whole food plant-based diet. I knew AJ was an amazing plant-based chef. What I didn't know was her inspiring story of personal transformation. The story of an overweight, junk food vegan on the brink of serious health calamity who found salvation in the whole food plant-based lifestyle. Tune in and let her tell you how she overcame her food addictions to become the health advocate she is today. Her responses might surprise you. AJ is a kick in the pants. It was tons of fun chatting with her. I sincerely hope you enjoy the interview. And if you are in California and happen to stop in a Sharky's restaurant, ask for the AJ Burrito! Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

White House Presidential Innovation Fellow on Leveraging Technology to Disrupt Healthcare

Now for something a little different. Meet Adam Dole- a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow currently studying the various ways technology can improve our healthcare system. Adam leverages an expertise in human behavior and sociology to help technology improve lives. A rare and specific skill set that landed him a coveted gig at NASA problem solving Mars mission human transport issues and subsequently led to various entrepreneurial stints at Silicon Valley start ups. A developing interest in health and wellness then found Adam spearheading technology innovation for the Mayo Clinic, more specifically a project he conceptualized called Blue Button — a healthcare software application empowering consumer access to healthcare and medical record information. The White House took notice. And before he knew it, Adam found himself in Washington as part of the prestigious Presidential Innovation Fellow program. Under the direction of White House CTO Todd Park, Adam spends his days (at least before the government shutdown!) studying the intersection of technology and our health care system with the purpose of identifying opportunities for cooperative collaboration between healthcare executives, government bureaucrats and technology entrepreneurs to identify and execute systemic, functional healthcare improvements for the benefit of the consumer. Adam is an energetic and fun guy. His enthusiasm and passion for his work is infectious. Work that is and will improve lives – no question. Adam gives me hope and optimism that we can conquer the challenges faced by healthcare. I truly enjoyed our conversation and think you will too. For a really nice feel for where Adam is coming from, check out this piece he co-authored for Fast Company Magazine: “Empathize Like A Doctor, Design Like An Entrepreneur” Now, put your earbuds in and enjoy the episode! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The No Meat Athlete On How He Runs on Plants

All hail the running carrot! Today on the show I'm joined by my pal Matt Frazier, the guy behind the wildly successful NoMeatAthlete.com– website, podcast and roadmap series of downloadable tools — an absolute go to resource chock-a-block with information for runners and triathletes of all abilities looking to take their athletic & nutrition game to the next level. Matt founded NoMeatAthlete in 2009, about the same time he went vegetarian. Six months later, Matt qualified for the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:09:59 at the Wineglass Marathon, over 100 minutes faster than his first marathon time seven years prior. In June 2010, Matt ran his first 50-mile ultramarathon, recently completed his first 100-mile race and has run several more ultras and marathons each year since. What's great about Matt is his sincerity, authenticity, transparency and relatability. He's not a world-class athlete, just a friendly, smart and resourceful guy who started experimenting with running and diet and wanted to share what he was learning. A site that started out as little more than a personal document of his experiment in food and fitness, NoMeatAthlete has morphed over the last few years into one of the web's leading resources when it comes to information relating to the intersection of running and plant-based lifestyle. The best part? Matt is genuinely a really nice guy. A guy you just want to see win. Like Rudy — a comparison that will put a smile of irony on your face when you hear our parting words at the end of the interview. Now Matt has taken all he has learned, and synthesized it into a new Book: No Meat Athlete: Run on Plants and Discover Your Fittest, Fastest, Happiest Self* — do yourself a favor and check it out. Let's support this guy! Finally – a note of thanks. Just a few days ago we surpassed ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS of the podcast. That's right. A cool million. That just blows my mind wide open. Does not compute. Surreal. It's all because of you. So thank you – for everything. There have been ups. There have been downs. And more recently, controversy (see comments on Episode 53 with Durianrider- holy smokes). I appreciate you for sticking around. I am truly humbled and more energized than ever to continue the mission. So much great stuff to come. I hope you enjoy the show! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to Thrive & Perform Athletically on a High-Carb, Low-Fat Vegan Diet

Ask and ye shall receive. Today is Durianrider day on the podcast. And he has a message for you: Carb the f$%@ up! Aka Harley Johnstone, “Durianrider” is a self-avowed health vigilante committed to increasing public awareness of the benefits of a high carbohydrate, low-fat whole food plant-based lifestyle. A lifestyle modeled upon Doug Graham's book The 80/10/10 Diet*, or what is more commonly referred to as fruitarian — a dietary protocol based predominantly upon eating copious amounts of fruit. Let's just say it's not uncommon for Harley to proudly devour upwards of 70 bananas a day. In this regard, Harley is not alone. Although still on the fringe in terms of mainstream awareness and popularity, the 80/10/10 program is one that is gaining popularity (check out my podcast interviews with Michael Arnstein and Mac Danzig for more). But what distinguishes Harley from fellow healthy lifestyle advocates is his unique, personal style. Outspoken and unequivocal, Harley doesn't mince words. At times acerbic, and often on the perimeter of completely outlandish, Harley is a lightning rod for controversy — a role he relishes. Proponents of “fad diets” hawking unhealthy and unethical programs or snake oil products get called out. Taken to the mat. And on occasion, name-calling is involved. And don't even get him started on how he feels about the currently über-popular low-carb / no-carb / ketosis-based diets pushing high protein and copious amounts of fat. His fans are passionate. His critics equally so. But make no mistake — behind the larger-than-life personality, Harley is in many ways a regular guy leading a simple and active life, committed to helping people feel as good as he does, primarily via his YouTube channel. A guy frustrated by all the confusing and misleading health, diet and fitness information penetrating the internet, he's like Howard Beale (Peter Finch) in the 1976 movie “Network” screaming, “I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!” Durianrider may not be everyone's cup of tea. I get it. So does he. And he's fine with that. But regardless of any preconceived opinions you may harbor, I implore you to listen with an open mind. His message is powerful. And for the record – I like the guy. I hope you enjoy the show! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fastest Ironman on North American Soil & What it Takes to Win Ironman Zurich 7 Years In a Row

Ronnie Schildknecht may not be a household name. But he should be. Why? because nobody in history has logged a faster Ironman on the soil of this continent faster than Ronnie. This is a guy who won Ironman Florida in 2011 in 7 hours and 59 minutes. An Ironman in under 8 hours! Just how fast is that? After swimming 2.4 miles in the ocean in 51 minutes, imagine getting on your bike and riding 112 miles at an average pace of almost 26mph for 4 hours and 19 minutes straight. Then imagine getting off your bike and running a steady 6 minute to 6:15 pace to clock a blazing 2:43 marathon. Not enough for you? When Ronnie won Ironman Zurich this summer, he became the only athlete to have won a single Ironman race seven years in a row consecutively. Beyond his incomprehensible athletic achievements, Ronnie is a man of soft-spoken disposition and considerate nature. A guy more comfortable letting others bask in the limelight while allowing his race results speak on his behalf. Refreshing. What I found most compelling is how Ronnie's training has evolved over the last few years to a protocol that dispenses with the knee-jerk conventional wisdom of high volume and places more emphasis on high intensity quality work; recovery; mental preparation & visualization; and a protracted taper beyond his previous comfort zone. Ronnie's evolution into the elite athlete he is today has required developing a greater understanding of — and confidence in — what specifically works for him — irrespective of the opinions of others, recommended training protocols, or the flavor of the month diet or training plan. What works for him.  Powerful. And simple. Yet something that nonetheless can be so elusive and difficult to embrace. For Ronnie, it didn't come easy at first — his sub-par Kona performances since his blazing 4th place in 2008 attributable to overtraining and not listening to what his body was telling him. Why? Because trusting one's instincts can prove incredibly difficult without extreme personal confidence and practiced mental discipline. A strong internal compass capable of muting the outside world. Healthy boundaries. And a profound sense of self. Whether you are an athlete yourself or just a fan, Ronnie's message of personal responsibility and self-awareness is powerful — principles that transcend sport — applicable to life wherever you find yourself. And I have no doubt that after listening to this interview, like me you'll be a Ronnie fan, ready to cheer him on to Ironman victory in Kona. I hope you enjoy the show! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unschooling Homeschool Method

The lovely and powerful Julie Piatt– my sometime co-host and all-time wife — returns to the show today to share some interesting perspectives on children's education — more specifically, homeschooling. And even more specifically, the Unschooling method of homeschooling. I know. It's controversial. I get it. But the subject also brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from one of the brightest minds of Victorian England – scientist, philosopher and theologian Herbert Spencer. It appears in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and goes like this: “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” Translation – listen with an open mind. Because growth, change and expansion cannot occur without doing so. Other topics on today's episode agenda include: My recent speaking engagements in Toronto and Tucson ; My increased involvement in an exciting new documentary project entitled Game Changers about plant-based athletes, currently in production — produced by former podcast guest James Wilks ( Episode 16 ) and some of the people that brought you Forks Over Knives ; Witnessing Patrik Baboumian's world record-setting strongman lift & carry in Toronto; My impending visits to Karachi, Bahrain and Casablanca to spread the PlantPower message; Creating a PlantPower Halloween Movement; and Beyond Meat's quest to disrupt Big Food with its perfect plant-based chicken and beef alternatives. During our conversation, Julie references Sir Ken Robinson and his opinions about our education system. I can't urge you strongly enough to take a few minutes to watch his powerful TED Talk on how schools kill creativity. There is a reason it's the most watched TED Talk of all time (almost 18 million views), so please take the time to open your mind to this: And here's my view through my trusty GoPro of Vegan Strongman Patrik Baboumian carrying 1216 pounds for 10 meters, breaking a Guinness Book of World Record for most weight ever lifted by a human being – ever. Enjoy! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weight Loss Surgeon Turned PlantPower Crusader

Today on the show I have the great pleasure of conversing with Dr. Garth Davis — a veteran weight loss surgeon who took it upon himself to determine exactly why so many people are plagued by obesity; a quest that led him down a deep research hole to identify the ultimate human diet to maximize health — both for himself and his patients. About 6 years ago, the good doctor became his own patient. At the time, he was suffering from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a fatty liver. In short, he was pretty sick. Not surprising given the demanding hours of the surgeon lifestyle, lack of exercise, a preference for salty, fatty foods, and the convenience of fast food options in the hospital cafeteria. In fact, there was a Wendy's in the University of Michigan hospital where Garth did his internship and residency, resulting in a daily dose of double cheeseburgers – a habit he maintained for years. Let's just say that I can relate. Conventional dogma in his field is that overweight patients should eat nothing but protein — hop on board the low carb ketosis bandwagon. Without inquiring further, Garth simply bought into this idea as truth. He even wrote a book in 2007 advocating this approach to food, called The Experts Guide To Weight Loss Surgery*. The only problem? This approach to diet failed him and many other friends, colleagues and patients. He knew there had to be a better solution. And his patients needed help beyond knee-jerk surgery. Finally ready for a personal change, he took it upon himself to research — truly research — nutrition for the first time, quite ironically given his profession as a weight loss surgeon. Astoundingly, nutrition just wasn't on the medical school curriculum, and almost never came up as all that relevant in the countless weight loss surgery symposiums he regularly attended. His inquiry went deep. And the more he delved into the peer reviewed research, the more convinced he became that there is absolutely no science to back the long-term health claims surrounding the strongly held belief that if we want to be thin and healthy we should eat a high protein low carbohydrate diet. What did he find? First and foremost, that Western Medicine has been failing us when it comes to the most crucial aspect of maintaining health — nutrition. And that if we want to achieve ideal weight management, optimal health and long-term wellness, we need to turn conventional wisdom on it's head and embrace the idea that humans are herbivores.  That's right. Herbivores.  Sound far-fetched? Before you balk, understand that adopting this way of eating absolutely revolutionized Garth's health beyond what he could have imagined. Not only did he drop the weight that plagued him for years, all of his blood markers suddenly and quite magically normalized. His allergies vanished. His sleep improved, his energy levels skyrocketed and he got off his statin medications. In short, he finally began to walk his talk. As his life began to turn around, he wanted to be an example to his patients. For the first time in his life, he began exercising. Then he did the extraordinary. Despite never having been an athlete, in 2011 he nonetheless completed Ironman Texas in 12 hours and 6 minutes. His personal results nothing short of extraordinary, Garth has now become somewhat of a crusader to teach people real nutrition. How to read scientific literature, and how the internet pseudo-experts are manipulating the science to push high protein diet. And now he's in the midst of writing a book on the subject.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Holding Your Breath for 7 Minutes & Swimming 218 Meters Without Coming Up for Air

Sure, you've seen him on shows like CSI and Gilmore Girls. But today's guest isn't just another actor. He can do some amazing things you can't. Very specific things, albeit obscure. Like hold his breath for a full seven minutes. Or swim 218 meters underwater along the bottom of a pool without coming up for air — not a single breath. Welcome to the mind-blowing world of Freediving, explained through the lens of one of the best in the sport — Australian National Record Holding Champion Tanc Sade. One of the things I love about the podcast is the excuse to meet compelling people doing amazing things outside the mainstream — things I would ordinarily never come across in my daily life and yet find utterly compelling. Freediving certainly fits the bill — a sport that couldn't be more different from endurance athletics and yet in certain respects still shares a commonality. Although the pursuit of excellence in any sport (as in life) require a strong mental game, Freediving requires unparallelled mental & emotional preparation. Learning to control the flexibility of not just your body or your thoughts but even your metabolic process through advanced meditation techniques. Getting there is the fascinating part, and Tanc shows us how he does it, and why. And that's just the beginning. No spoilers. Just sit back. Listen. And let Tanc blow your mind. In the interim — and to just paint the picture for you about what we are talking about here — have a look at Tanc's 218-meter Australian national record-setting effort – an event called “Dynamic Apnea”: NOTE: Tanc is a professional. You are not. So no matter how inspired you may be by this interview, please DO NOT attempt your own half-baked unsupervised freediving experiment at home — any type of breath hold work unsupervised can cause death. If you are interested in learning more about the sport, research freediving courses and/or clubs in your locale and undertake proper instruction from someone skilled in this discipline. And if you have additional questions, reach out Tanc on Facebook and he would be happy to advise and guide you in the right direction. Thanks! Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How He Dropped 75lbs on a Plant-Based Diet and Became an Ironman

Today on the show I chat with Thad Beatty, guitarist for the multi-platinum country duo Sugarland. In so many ways, Thad's story closely mirrors mine. The details are distinct, but no matter — the journey is all too familiar. I first came across Thad's story on Ironman.com and — struck by the similarities in our journeys — knew I had to have him on the show. Just a few years ago, Thad tipped the scales at 230 lbs. Overweight with raging blood pressure and alarmingly elevated cholesterol, the touring musician lifestyle had him headed in the direction of irrevocable health problems in his mid-30's. His decision to turn his life around snapped into focus the day he found out his mother had been diagnosed with colon cancer. In support and solidarity with mom, both Thad and his brother decided to clean up their act. It started simple — ditch the lousy processed foods and start eating more fruits & vegetables. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, Thad found himself a convert to the PlantPower lifestyle. Not long thereafter, Thad shed the weight – 75lbs in all — down to a trim 165 lbs. Life was good. But then came another moment of clarity. Sugarland's guitar tech was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma. MusiCares came to his aid, but it was too late. Kevin Quigley unfortunately passed away in March 2012. It was at this moment that Thad decided to focus on service — giving back to his beloved profession. So was borne his dream of completing an Ironman. Not for himself, but to raise money for the foundation that had come to his friend's aid. Thad achieved his dream, finishing the Arizona Ironman last November, raising funds along the way. But that was just the beginning. Thad decided to take his service game to the next level, ultimately establishing his own foundation — Music That Moves– dedicated to improving the holistic health and fitness of his fellow musicians beyond the stage through various means, including sharing the lifestyle principles that changed his own life. And this October he's taking his game to the main stage — this time not as a musician but as an athlete — lining up in Kona to compete at the Ironman World Championships as part of Ironman's Kona Inspired program. I'm hoping we'll all catch a glimpse of Thad and his story when NBC airs the race broadcast. I hope you enjoy the conversation! Rich NOTE: There are audio quality issues with this Skype-recorded conversation. Apologies. Just when I think I have it all figured out, technology rears it's ugly head once again. The good news is the quality improves after the initial 30 minutes of the conversation. I did my best to clean it up, but it is what it is. As always, I promise to continually improve, but these things happen. Go easy on me. Here's a little video from Thad from the Kona Inspired site to get you pumped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices