The world of professional athletes is completely foreign to most of us. The concept of your body as your business and your performance being directly linked to your paycheck is completely outside of anything most of us have ever experienced as knowledge workers. For most of us, we wake up to a todo list of tasks, and it’s unclear if we’re winning o…

Transcendental meditation is arguably the most popular meditation technique in the world, and the TM organization has funded the bulk of published literature on meditation worldwide. This is in no small part due to its celebrity clients like the Beatles, David Lynch, and Jerry Seinfeld, but also because people find the practice extremely practical …

Fungi have played an important role both in culinary and medicinal traditions for thousands of years, but these magical living organisms are often overlooked - for both good and bad reasons - when it comes to the future of our health and planet. What if a new heat-loving fungus takes over? What if a fungus holds the key to an anti-cancer vaccinatio…

When I was eleven years old, my grandmother predicted the demise of the personal computer. “Staring at the screen will ruin your eyes,” she proclaimed. The same story is repeated with all new technology: initially it’s met with resistance and fear, and later becomes so important in our lives that we cannot imagine life without it. In recent years, …

Technology is accelerating at a blistering pace with obvious innovations in the devices we have in our pockets, in our homes, and in our cars. Less visible are the changes that are happening in love, sex, and relationships that are potentially reorganizing society in subtle, and not too subtle ways. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet an anthropolo…

One of the biggest challenges that comes with aging is cognitive decline. You lose your keys, you can’t remember the neighbor’s name, and your brain seems to putter along instead of humming like it used to. From conversations with listeners over the past year, concerns over brain health are top of the list, so I’ve invited a neuroscientist onto the…

Bob Ross was a popular PBS painting instructor in the 80s and 90s, but little did he know that decades later, he’d develop a cult following of people who simply wanted to hear his voice. Why? Because it triggers an autonomous sensory meridian response, known as ASMR. ASMR is a well-studied phenomenon that creates a pleasant tingling sensation on th…

Kane Tanaka of Japan died in 2022 at the age of 119. Lucile Randon of France died in 2023 at 118. Jiroemon Kimura of Japan died in 2023 at 116, the oldest male ever. What did these people have in common? Were they biohackers? Did they do CrossFit? Did they take NAD supplements or run marathons? Nope. Like almost all centenarians they lived exceptio…

Finland has been dubbed the happiest country in the world, but in reality Finns are content, not overwhelmed with joy. They have a high GDP per capita, good healthcare, low corruption, and a decent amount of personal freedom - all great things, but not necessarily a recipe for joy and happiness. Most people claim their biggest aspiration in life is…

If you’re struggling with chronic pain and trying to find help, you’ve probably noticed that the pain management industry is a big minefield with hardcore drugs on one end of the spectrum and questionable potions and placebos on the other. In an ideal world, pain is adaptive and part of our body’s defense mechanisms, but all too often it can become…

In the 1980s, Nancy Reagan coined the term, “Just say no!” and spearheaded the social aspect of the so-called war on drugs. It didn’t work, nor have any of the dozens of public, private, and international efforts to curb the disease of despair. Things have become so much worse that today, almost every single person listening has a friend or family …

Injuries can derail your best healthy lifestyle plans, and if you’re not careful, they can lead to deconditioning and loss of function. But here’s what you need to understand and accept: everyone with an active life gets injured - everyone. So rather than feeling guilt or regret about your aches and pains, it’s a much smarter approach to swiftly mo…

Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and we need good sleep quality as well, which means cycling through light, deep, and REM phases. While sleeping is the most natural of all human behaviors, many of us continue to struggle for a variety of reasons, including stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, and more. On this week’s podcast, …

In regenerative medicine and longevity, it’s difficult to separate signal from noise. The search for the fountain of youth is a story as old as humanity, and while we’re all clearly aging, there are some technologies that hold real promise, particularly when it comes to things like joints and skin. On this week’s podcast we’ll discuss stem cells, s…

If you’re interested in meditation and have downloaded an app or purchased a book, yet fail to consistently follow through, this week’s podcast is for you. We’ll discuss meditation for average people living in the real world with recurring guest, Ann Swanson. Listen and learn: Meditation practice vs. meditative practices How to manage rumination Wh…

The quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our relationships. While most people would probably agree with that statement, they would also admit that their relationships are often troubled. From a psychological perspective, attachment theory can be a helpful frame for understanding our patterns of emotional connection and strife, and i…

Health education is lacking in most school systems, to the extent that most high school graduates can’t name 10 muscles in their own bodies. Anatomical learning has historically been seen as boring, complex, and difficult to make relevant. Today, things have changed, thanks to 3D software, inexpensive models, and cadaver dissections freely availabl…

I’m an introvert. In my private life, I don’t talk much and am mostly in my head. But since the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve come to re-appreciate the power of community. Every single health goal I have becomes so much easier when I’m around positive, supportive people. So once a week, I force myself to practice yoga, take a run,…

There is no such thing as a perfect human diet because we are all unique and have unique objectives. The bodybuilder eats to build mass, the dieter plans meals to lose weight, while others use food to manage their mental health. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a metabolic psychiatrist who takes a food-first approach in her work with clients. Li…

“I don’t know the meaning of life, but I know the purpose of life: to survive and procreate.” This quote was from a biologist on the podcast eight years ago, and it stuck with me because if he’s right, I’ve achieved my biological imperative and I’m now on borrowed time. While that may sound soulless and even nihilistic, it’s also a helpful frame (f…

You’ve got a bum knee or wonky hip. Your doctor says you’re a candidate for a joint replacement, and your insurance has approved the procedure - but you’re not sure if you’re ready for that. You know that joint replacement success rates are extremely high. But you also know this is a major surgery with long-term effects, and you’d like to dig your …

Osteoarthritis, the wear and tear inflammation of your joints, is so common that some research suggests half of us over the age of 65 will be affected. You’ve probably heard that movement is medicine, but how much movement? And while ibuprofen helps, is long-term use safe? What about all the weird and expensive treatment options? On this week’s pod…

The top New Year's resolutions involve weight loss and fitness. In my industry, January is boom time and February is gloom time as most people have given up on their New Year energy by Valentine’s Day. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a non-dogmatic weight loss coach who takes a sustainable, forever approach to sane weight management. You’ll lea…

Alcohol is involved in 28 percent of all fatal car accidents, 37 percent of all violent crime, and is responsible for an unknown number of mental and emotional health challenges. On the flip side, it also has a rich tradition of craftsmanship and cuisine, culture and celebration. In moderation, alcohol has pro-social benefits, lowers social anxiety…