600+ Questionable Ingredients In Your "Healthy" Packaged Products? Is Beef Tallow Actually Safe (Surprising Answer!) & How To Save Money On Good Groceries, With Thrive Market's Nick Green.

Prepare for your mind to be blown by today's podcast guest. Mine certainly was. My guest is Steve Sisler, and today's episode, he tears me completely apart, absolutely amazes me as he "psychoanalyzes" me, and during the entire process, you're going to learn a ton about yourself and your behavior. If you've ever wanted to know what makes you tick... Exactly why you think the way you do... What drives you personally when you exercise or race... How you interact with people and relationships (and how you can make this work for or against you)... And why you behave the way you behave... This episode is a must-listen for you... Steve is author of the book: The Four People Types: And What Drives Them, a behavioral profiler and lead behavioral analyst at The Behavioral Resource Group. He works with clients in more than 18 nations, gathering behavioral, emotional, and attitudinal information on individuals within corporate and personal settings. Then he develops strategies for leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurial or career success. Steve is widely considered as the “go to” source for behavioral and attitudinal issues within the framework of both business and family (he's been doing this stuff since the shocking age of twelve!). He is considered a true anomaly within the world of behavioral analysis. During our fascinating discussion, you'll discover: -How Steven developed the crazy skill of being able to "read people" extremely accurately from the young age of twelve... -The one unique attitude Steven found me to possess - an attitude that only 2% of people on the face of the planet can match... -Why people perceive me to be aloof and arrogant based on my high level of no-nonsense, black-and-white thinking... -Why Steven observes that I could be either a very good assassin or a sniper... -How when I am in work mode I become a complete perfectionistic machine and check my emotions at the door... -Why I score very high on alternative ideas, unconventional thoughts and thinking outside-the-box... -The reason Steven thinks I'm not competitive, but rather simply an artist, discoverer and educator... -I don't compete and race and spend time in the gym because I'm competitive, but rather because I am, what Steven describes as a "body artist"... -Why I score extremely high on individualism, innovation, uniqueness, autonomy, freedom (and hate teleprompters)... -The reason I'm very comfortable not necessarily being the person in charge... -Why I am a rule-breaker and why I have a negative, cautious bias when it comes to following rules...... -The reason some people can perceive that I don't "care", and why I tend to care the most about people who are making an effort to help themselves... -What it means to have an itchy brain, and why some people will change direction very quickly in life and let go of non-effective ideas easily... -Why my score is crystal clear when it comes to how my choices affect those around me, and why it's extremely important to me that any decision I make not hurt anyone around me... -Why I'm extremely demanding and critical of myself... -The personality that makes me relentless, want to never give up, keep striving to get better and better, and have a perception nobody can stop me... -Why I'm very clear about who I am... -And much more! Steve is offering a significant discount on the exact behavioral analysis we do in this episode. Details below!   Resources: Steven's Full Behavioral Analysis - save $50 with this link and code "ben"   Steven's Full Executive Summary (what I did and what we discuss in this episode) - save $100 with this link and code "ben" Steve's Book (link includes free audio of first chapter)   Below are my own results, which Steven and I discuss in this episode.   [embeddoc url="http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Greenfield_Ben_Executive_Summary_-_General.pdf" download="all"]   [embeddoc url="http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Greenfield_Ben_Behavioral_Analysis_and_Motivators.pdf" download="all"]   Do you have questions, comments or feedback for me or Steven about behavioral analysis or anything else we discuss in today's episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Helmi 20161h 3min

Imagine a stadium full of screaming fans. Zoom in on the contestants. They're sweating from the intensity of the competition. What could it be? Boxing? MMA? Basketball? Tennis? American ninja warrior? Nope. It's electronic sports, also known as eSports, and the "athletes" are headset-wearing, energy-drink-guzzling, smart-drug-popping gamers. And this sport is booming.  Top eSports tournaments now draw audiences that rival the biggest traditional sporting events, and live streams online routinely attract more than 100,000 viewers. Companies like Coke, Nissan and   Red Bull sponsor tournaments, and last year alone, over 205 million people watched or played eSports. As a matter of fact, today's eSports tournaments rival practically any big sporting event. The League of Legends Championship sold out Staples Center in 2013, then sold out the 40,000-seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul a year later while drawing an online audience of 27 million -- more than the TV viewership for the final round of the Masters. Videos of these online gaming sports has more YouTube followers than news, movies and education combined. There's money in this too. Check out the graphic below from ESPN: ESPN.com illustration But eSports isn't just online fun and money. There are some serious health risks involved with this sport. There's drugs. There's drug testing.  There is the potential physiological effects of having your senses constantly bombarded by blue light, blue tooth and Wi-Fi. So, in today's podcast, were going to take a deep dive into the crazy world of eSports. My guest today is Zach Burks, founder of a nootropic and smart drug company called NuSups. Zach started his career serving the USA in the Army, then moved to business with the knowledge he gained, and now specializes in enhancing mental and physical performance in gamers. In today's episode, you're going to discover: -How the exploding world of eSports works behind the scenes... -The physical fitness demands of playing eSports... -The health and sleep implications of the constant exposure to Wi-Fi, bluelight, Bluetooth and the other electronic assailants eSports athletes face... -The "under-the-radar" kind of smart drugs or supplements these athletes are using... -The difference between supplements used as stimulants and supplements used for calming effects... -How drug testing in eSports works... -The best smart drug and nootropic stacks being used in gaming... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Zach's website NuSups (use discount code is "brainyben1" for 10% and free shipping on any order) -The movie "Gamer" -Ben's liver cleansing stack: MPX100 + glutathione + n-acetylcysteine + chlorella + Alphabrain -Blue light blocking glasses -Notes from Zach's recommended stacks (all available from NuSups - use discount code is "brainyben1" for 10% and free shipping on any order)   Every stack needs 1 Choline Source, and 1 Synaptic Booster, at minimum! (real hardcore stackers like to include fish oils, and other vitamins as a requirement, but this isn't necessary for a basic stack). Listed below are some common nootropics/smart drugs and their category + effect. Synaptic Boosters: Piracetam - Increased Memory Improved Learning Greater Focus Heightened Sensory Function Reduced Anxiety/Depression Improved Vasodilation Reduced Brain Trauma Aniracetam - Improved Memory Increased Learning Ability Improved Cognitive Processing Heightened Reflexes Heightened Perception Reduced Anxiety Reduced Depression Oxiracetam - Increase in Memory Enhanced Learning Ability Better Sensory Perception Advance Technical Thinking Improved Focus Noopept - Powerful Racetam Boosts Acetylcholine production The best Nootropic for creating and recalling memories, and learning. Increases Neuron Growth Neuroprotective - helps restore damaged parts of the brain Phenlypiracetam - Helps consolidate memory Facilitates learning processes Enhances Alertness & Focus Improves Physical Performance Improves Mood Pramairacetam - Overall Improved Cognition Higher Sensory Perception Improved Working/Long-Term Memory Increased Learning Enhanced Focus Advanced Logical/Technical Thinking Unlocked Areas of Thought Adrafinil - Improved short term memory Improved attention and concentration Enhanced clarity of thought Normalization of sleep patterns Less mental fatigue Higher quality of self-awareness Raised levels of optimism and enthusiasm for day to day life Freedom from depression Alpha GPC - Increased learning Improved memory Heightened sensory perception Increased focus Improved motor skills Pyritinol - Improved memory Faster Reaction time Promotes Dopamine growth Increased learning Improved problem-solving skills Enhanced sensory perception ALCAR - Powerful Anti-Oxidant Boosts Acetylcholine production Increases Learning, Mood, Clarity of Thought Neuroprotective Cognitive protectants below... Centrophenoxine - Choline Source Fights Brain decline Increases Learning, Mood, Clarity of Thought Neuroprotective and boost Neuroplasticity One of the safest supplements we sell Citicoline - Powerful Choline Source Boosts Acetylcholine production Increases Learning, Mood, and Clear Thoughts Neuroprotective/Fights Brain Decline L-Theanine - Natural Nootropic Boosts Alpha Brain waves Boosts Neurotransmitters Alleviates anxiety and stress Neuroprotective/Fights Brain Decline Noopept - Powerful Racetam Boosts Acetylcholine production The best Nootropic for creating and recalling memories, and learning Increases Neuron Growth Neuroprotective - helps restore damaged parts of the brain Piracetam - Increased Memory Improved Learning Greater Focus Heightened Sensory Function Reduced Anxiety/Depression Improved Vasodilation Reduced Brain Trauma Phenibut - Anxiety reduction Relaxation Sleep induction Reduced stress Improved mood Pyritinol - Improved memory Faster Reaction time Promotes Dopamine growth Increased learning Improved problem-solving skills Enhanced sensory perception Choline sources Alpha GPC - Increased learning Improved memory Heightened sensory perception Increased focus Improved motor skills ALCAR - Powerful Anti-Oxidant Boosts Acetylcholine production Increases Learning, Mood, Clarity of Thought Neuroprotective A few example stacks with some average results listed below. Feel free to use this stack is you'd like the results listed. Busy Mode: 20mg x Noopept 200mg x Phenylpiracetam 1gram x ALCAR 250mg x Adrafinil This stack is something you will DEFINITELY feel. I call this the busy mode stack for one reason. The combination of Racetams and Adrafinil allow for complete focus as well as potential time dilation effects. You could tweak the amount of Adrafinil or Phenylpiracetam if this stack is too much for you: just lower the amounts by 50mgs. Capital C(reativity) stack: 500mg x Aniracetam 150mg x Phenylpiracetam 300mg x Pyritinol 20mg x Noopept 150mg x L-Theanine This stack is great for any artist or creative person who needs an extra boost for a project. This stack honestly bothers me sometimes because what happens to me is that I'll have 5 to 7 songs get stuck in my head a day: songs I haven't heard in years! Now obviously, this is highly personal and won't happen to everyone. But it's just a nice little way to explain the creative boost you'll get. Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the exploding world of eSports,  or anything else Zach and I discussed in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either Zach or I will reply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Helmi 201654min

Mark Sisson is my guest on today's podcast. Mark is the de-facto leader of the primal and paleo lifestyle movement, and unlike the many instant and self-anointed experts who have descended upon the endurance scene in recent years, Mark boasts a rich history in endurance sports. He's run a 2:18 marathon, has a 4th place Hawaii Ironman finish to his credit, has spearheaded triathlon’s global anti-doping program for the International Triathlon Union, and has coached and advised leading professional athletes, including Olympic triathlon gold and silver medalist Simon Whitfield and Tour de France cyclist Dave Zabriskie. Mark just put the finishing touches on a new book called "Primal Endurance" - a book that shakes up the status quo and challenges the overly stressful, ineffective conventional approach to endurance training. While marathons and triathlons are wildly popular and bring much gratification and camaraderie to the participants, the majority of athletes are too slow, continually tired, and carry too much body fat respective to the time they devote to training. The prevailing “chronic cardio” approach promotes carbohydrate dependency, overly stressful lifestyle patterns, and ultimately burnout. To overcome this conundrum, Primal Endurance applies an all-encompassing approach to endurance training that includes primal-aligned eating to escape carbohydrate dependency and enhance fat metabolism, building an aerobic base with comfortably paced workouts, strategically introducing high intensity strength and sprint workouts, emphasizing rest, recovery, and an annual periodization, and finally cultivating an intuitive approach to training instead of the usual robotic approach of fixed weekly workout schedules. I delve into these concepts in today's podcast with Mark. During our discussion, you'll discover: -What Mark's "perfect day" looks like... -Mark's history as a pro triathlete... -Why endurance athletes can actually get fat from training... -Why it can be a myth that you have exercise for long periods of time at that intensity to get very good endurance results... -How to do something called "maximum sustained power training"... -Why a ketogenic endurance athlete can recover faster from stressful training... -Why Mark doesn't use heart rate variability (HRV) measurements... -And much more... Resources for this episode: -Primal Mayonnaise -Focal Upright desk -Mark's recent podcast with Joe Rogan -DNAFit genetic testing -Book: Primal Endurance: Escape chronic cardio and carbohydrate dependency and become a fat burning beast! Do you have questions, comments or feedback for me or Mark about today's episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and be sure to check out Mark's new book... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Helmi 20161h 3min

February 3, 2016 Podcast: 345: How To Burn Calories Without Exercising, Chocolate's Effect On Your Skin, Eliminating Muscle Imbalances & More! Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right (or go to SpeakPipe), use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, or use the “Ask Ben” form at the bottom of this page. ----------------------------------------------------- News Flashes: You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Instagram.com/BenGreenfieldFitness, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+. 24 weeks of chocolate in a row *about 100 calories a day worth* works wonders for your skin. (and our podcast on healthiest chocolate choices!) Here's the REAL truth about how supplements "kill people". What do you think? Would you “microdose” with LSD? ----------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: This podcast is brought to you by: -Kimera Koffee: here's today's recipe (and use code BEN for 10% off at KimeraKoffee.com) Gorilla Coffee -20 oz brewed Kimera Koffee (Hot) -3 tablespoon of organic coconut oil -2 tablespoon of raw almond butter -1 tablespoon of maca root -1 pinch of stevia to taste -Blend and get ready for a ride. -Nuts.com - Get 4 FREE samples (choose from over 50 options!), that’s a $15 value, when you go Nuts.com, click on the mic and enter the code “FITNESS”.   -Casper Matresses: Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting Casper.com/BEN and using promo code 'BEN' -GreenfieldFitnessSystems "surprise gift box" - 50% discount on instant access to a box shipped to your front doorstep and full of the latest cutting-edge biohacking gear, nutrients, smart drugs and more, handpicked and curated by Ben. -Here's how to join Ben's free VIPTextClub: just text the word FITNESS + to 411247! Did you miss the weekend podcast episode with Joanna Penn? It was a must-listen - titled "How To Banish Forearm and Elbow Pain, Burn Calories, Build Endurance& Maintain Muscle While Writing." Click here to listen now or download for later! New course from Ben! The 7 Day Full Body Reboot Program To Get Strong And Fit. Optimal fitness and health are closer than you think. In just one week, you can set yourself up for a strong, long, lean and healthy body. May 27-29, 2016: Ben is speaking at PaleoFX 2016 in Austin, Texas. This is the The Who’s Who gathering of the Paleo movement, with world-class speakers including New York Times bestselling authors, leading physicians, scientists, health entrepreneurs, professional athletes, fitness professionals, activists, bloggers, biohackers, and more. And you DON’T need to be Paleo to be able to get a ton of benefit and fun out of this one! Also, one day prior, on May 26 is Health Entrepreneurs f(x) - a full day of deep discussion on marketing, business development, and entrepreneurship for health and wellness people, featuring Mark Sisson, Robb Wolf, Melissa Hartwig, Sarah Ballantyne, Mike Bledsoe, Abel James, and a bunch of other speakers in small group coaching sessions. Nov 17-18, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Biohacker's Summit in Helsinki, Finland. Discover the latest in wearables, internet of things, digital health, and mobile apps to increase performance, be healthier, stay fit, and get more done. Learn about taking food, preparation, cooking, and eating to the next level with the latest science and kitchen chemistry. Even delve into implanted chips, gene therapy, bionic arms, biometric shirts, robotic assistants, and virtual reality. Two days with an amazing crowd and a closing party with upgraded DJs to talk about. Click here to get in now at a 40% discount. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - click here to leave your review for a chance to win some! ----------------------------------------------------- Listener Q&A: As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Rachel Browne, the NEW Podcast Sidekick. How To Get Ready For A Hot Race Sarah says: She's a new triathlete looking to complete her first 70.3.  She's from Adelaide is a really dry heat, but the race is in Cairns, which is known for it's humidity and wet, tropical heat. How does she prepare herself for a humid 70.3 ironman, in a dry place like Adelaide. She currently doesn't have access to a sauna - any other ideas? In my response, I recommend: -A heat suit How To Fix Muscle Imbalances Kyle says: His question is a muscle and body imbalances. He used to road race motorcycles professionally and had a dislocated left hip, left ACL replacement and many other injuries on his left side. He's been racing triathlon's for the last few years and at this point he's completed an ironman distance, but feels his imbalances on his left side are having an affect on his training and efficiency. He currently uses globus electro-stimulation, eats more fat and fewer cards, and uses cold therapy and curcumin, colostrum all based on your advice, but he's wondering if you have any ideas on how to help his imbalance? In my response, I recommend: -“Becoming A Supple Leopard” -An inversion table, a giant band, and a decent traction website or book. -NatureFlex -Ben's Fabulous Four: plank, clamshell, external rotation, row -Z-Health podcast How To Burn Calories Without Exercising Anna says: She's in college student studying human health and performance. What might be some bio-hacks you would have for a college student, who's sitting, has limited time for workouts etc. In my response, I recommend: -Coolfatburner -Compex or MarcPro ($32 discount at http://www.MarcPro.com with discount code “Ben”) -PowerLung How To Lower Your Sperm Count Randy says: Is there any substance that's been actually proven to reduce one's sperm count. His son is looking to have his sperm count lowered and he's wondering if there are supplements or anything he could eat or reduce the chances of anything life-changing happening. In my response, I recommend: -Chasteberry Hey, have you guys heard the latest from Dr. Drew’s podcast? He’s been working out your mind with talk about philosophy, comedy and more in the last couple weeks. Philosophy can work its way into fitness through the power of mind & body, so check it out now at PodcastOne.com or on iTunes. -----------------------------------------------------See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Helmi 20161h 19min

Last year, I posted an article entitled "How To Turn Your Desk Into A Calorie Decimating Workstation", and created the video "How Should You Stand At A Standing Desk?"  In both those resources, and on many podcasts (including this one on "How To Burn More Fat At Work), I've talked about and featured a special kind of treadmill called a "TrueForm" treadmill. See, when I set about to modify my standing workstation into a treadmill desk, I ran into a two big problems, namely... 1. Treadmills Have Motors. Treadmills with motors – the kind you’d normally need for running, and the kind typically used at treadmill workstations – are not only big and bulky, but produce enormous amounts of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and “dirty electricity”, which has been linked to brain fog, altered cellular metabolism, cancer risk, and much more. In addition, a treadmill belt that runs on a motor allows you to walk and run while leaning slightly backwards and engaging in a full-on heel strike, which alters your running and walking gait, destroys your biomechanics and can actually turn you into a worse runner or a sloppy walker. 2. Manual Treadmills Are Too Slow For Running. So a non-motorized treadmill (also known as a manual treadmill) is a good solution compared to a motorized treadmill. But the problem is that most manual treadmills only reach a maximum speed of 3.5-4.0 miles per hour, and this means that you can never use a manual treadmill for running. Since I wanted to intersperse short fitness and metabolism boosting sprints into my walking workday, (e.g. stopping every hour to do a brief 2 minute sprint, or doing a bit of jogging in between consults and phone calls) this means I’d have to buy and find space for two separate treadmills – one for walking and one for running! So over several months, I searched high and low for a treadmill that is A) a manual treadmill without a motor; B) compact enough to fit under my standing desk; and C) didn’t produce electrical pollution and D) could operate at both casual walking paces, light jogs and high running speeds. --------------------- The solution that I eventually found is something called a “TrueForm treadmill” made by Samsara Fitness. The unique looking TrueForm has several extremely unique characteristics that set it apart from any treadmill on the face of the planet, and is unlike any treadmill you’ve ever tried. First, there is no motor and there are no buttons. The treadmill is entirely manual and is powered by you, which means that you are not only exposing yourself to zero electrical pollution and saving 100% on electrical costs, but also moving far more naturally due to the non-motorized belt design. When you walk on a TrueForm treadmill, you burn more calories, get better balance (especially if you don’t use the rails) and build stronger leg and core muscles, since you’re doing the work instead of a treadmill motor. And the faster you move, the faster the treadmill goes, just like when you walk, jog or sprint outside. But it gets even better, because the TrueForm treadmill is the first and only treadmill to actually teach you the skill of running. This is because the only way to really get the belt moving is to lean slightly forward, strike with your mid to front-forefoot, and maintain a high cadence, which means your body learns to run exactly like the most elite runners on the face of the planet run. This honestly took me a little bit of getting used to, because I’m used to being able to “lean back” and be lazy on a treadmill, and frankly, this treadmill instead forces you to move with pristine form. Finally, the rails are removable. And although TrueForm is legally required to send you the treadmill with the rails attached, you can take them off for the ultimate balance-enhancing experience as you walk, jog and run.   ------------------------------ So that's great and all, but can this thing really teach you how to run with proper biomechanics? On today's audio podcast, I get Jeff Vernon the owner of SamsaraFitness on the show and we address this question and much more. You'll discover: -How the Trueform actually works, and why it is shaped the way it is... -How to use a manual treadmill properly... -Specific drills you can do on a manual treadmill to enhance your running form... -What a standard running treadmill won't work on a stand-up desk... -The difference between the different Trueform models (the low-rider, the enduro and the performance)... -Why the Trueform is different than other manual treadmills, and why it's "built like a tank"... -And much more! Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Jeff or me? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply! And click here to use code BEN for a 10% discount on your Trueform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Helmi 201638min

Have you ever dealt with frustrating wrist pain or carpal tunnel or tennis elbow or golfer's elbow or climber's elbow - pain that is aggravated by typing and computer work? Have you ever wished you could walk one, five or ten miles while still being able to work on a book, a project, or a paper? Have you ever wished you could simply talk your thoughts into existence, and have them appear in your emails, documents, books and more? Then today's podcast episode is for you. -------------------- Before jumping into today's episode, let's take a look at folks who have abandoned traditional methods of simply sitting down to produce, create and be productive. The list of historical figures who have used standing desks is veritable “who’s who”. Here is just a brief snapshot of famous folks, writers, and inventors who leveraged the standing desk’s benefits throughout history. For example, Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa while he stood at his standing desk. Da Vinci also stood at his desk while sketching new inventions, including parachutes, flying machines, and armored vehicles. The standing desk also made its appearance in one of the world’s oldest colleges, the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209. Standing desks were first recorded as being used in the library in 1626, and the idea of writing while standing was placed at the epicenter of intellectual thought. Napoléon Bonaparte also used a standing desk and found it conducive to quick thinking and strategizing for battle. Thomas Jefferson also used the standing desk while composing documents, including the Declaration of Independence (he actually developed a six-legged adjustable standing desk, and was one of the first known people to use an adjustable standing desk). Charles Dickens' workspace where he penned such timeless classics as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and A Tale of Two Cities. is described as having “books all round, up to the ceiling and down to the ground; a standing-desk at which he writes; and all manner of comfortable easy chairs.” Winston Churchill was often seen writing at his standing desk. Ernest Hemingway’s fashioned a standing desk out of a bookcase near his bed. Honest Abe Lincoln was never too far from his trusty standing desk. He used it to deliver the Emancipation Proclamation and is famously quoted as saying 'Verily, 'tis my standing desk that gave me the inspiration to end this wicked and iniquitous trade.' In addition to standing while writing, both dictating while writing is also something famous authors have done. For example, in her book The Productive Author's Guide to Dictation: Speak Your Way to Higher (and Healthier!) Word Counts, author Cindy Grigg reports: “Leo Tolstoy received one of the earliest dictaphone prototypes. To this he replied that the “Ediphone” was impressive but “too dreadfully exciting” for his methods. Instead, he seemed to favor dictating to his daughter Alexandra or even house guests. Fyodor Dostoyevsky reportedly struck a bargain with his publisher to pay off his and/or his brother’s debts. The deal required that the author submit his manuscript for The Gambler in short order. To do so, he employed stenographer Anna Grigorievna, who gave him collaborative feedback as well. He finished the manuscript in four weeks then married Anna. “Thomas Hardy dictated his wife Florence Hardy’s ‘biography’ about himself to her, seemingly to retain control of the account. Like many authors, Hardy also dictated once he became ill. Stricken with pleurisy, he spoke his last poem to his wife Florence. John Milton was blind when he created Paradise Lost, dictating the epic poetical work to his several daughters. This inspired paintings of him and his daughters by artists George Romney, Delacroix, and others. Alexander Dumas was rumored to never touch up his drafts, having served as a historian, which had given him practice in thinking about what he wanted to say before he dictated it. Michel de Montaigne , an acclaimed 16th-century essayist, dictated his journal and possibly other writings. Henry James referred to his hired transcriptionists as amanuenses, needing to contract such help at least partially due to rheumatism in his wrist. One of them, Theodora Bosanquet, recorded in her diary, “Indeed, at the time when I began to work for him, he had reached a stage at which the click of the Remington machine acted as a positive spur. He found it more difficult to compose to the music of any other make. During a fortnight when the Remington was out of order he dictated to an Oliver typewriter with evident discomfort, and he found it almost disconcerting to speak to something that made no responsive sound at all.” William Wordsworth was a kindred spirit to mobile writers such as myself. He ‘wrote’ Tintern Abbey mentally on a “ramble of four or five days…Not a line of it was altered, and not any part of it written down till I reached Bristol.'' Thanks to transcriptionist Isabella Fenwick, he also dictated The Fenwick Notes commentary about his poetry. Of his long poem The Excursion, Wordsworth mentions, “Something must now be said of this poem, but chiefly, as has been done through the whole of these notes, with reference to my personal friends, and especially to her who has perseveringly taken them down from my dictation.” Charles Dickens was rumored to act his characters out in front of a mirror, giving vocal dramatizations of dialogue and text. In 1882, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle published an interview with someone who claimed to be Dickens’ amanuensis, describing him this way: “‘Yes, I did shorthand work for Mr. Dickens for eighteen months. I did not take dictation for any of his novels, only his fugitive pieces…Most people seem to think Dickens was a ready writer. This is by no means the case. He used to come into his office in St. Catherine Street about eight o’clock in the morning and begin dictating. He would walk up and down the floor several times after dictating a sentence or a paragraph and ask me to read it. I would do so, and he would, in nine cases out of ten, order me to strike out certain words and insert others. He was generally tired out by eleven o’clock, and went down to his club on the Strand. A singular thing was that he never dictated the closing paragraphs of his story. He always finished it himself. I used to look in the paper for it, and find that he had changed it very greatly from what he had dictated to me. Dickens had a very odd habit of combing his hair. He would comb it a hundred times in a day. He seemed never to tire of it. The first thing he did on coming into the office was to comb his hair. I have seen him dictate a sentence or two, and then begin combing. When he got through he dictated another sentence.” Bram Stoker was himself a secretary and director of London's Lyceum Theatre, as well as a manager for Henry Irving. His own experiences may have influenced how several chapters of Dracula are dedicated to asylum director Dr. Seward recording dictations on a phonograph, to the chagrin of Mina Harker, who typed them up as soon as possible, believing the veracity and emotion of the audio to be too much for other readers to bear. “I have copied the words on my typewriter, and none other need now hear your heart beat, as I did.” Dictation is also mentioned in Stoker’s The Jewel of Seven Stars. Stendhal (the pen name for Marie-Henri Beyle) dictated The Charterhouse of Parma in seven weeks, 52 consecutive days--another kindred spirit to Marcel Proust dictated the Death of Bergotte to Celeste Albaret on his death bed, even though it was already finished, saying it needed to be written a second time. He supposedly explained, “I didn’t yet know what it’s like to die when I wrote it. I know it more now.” James Joyce found inspiration in a random happening while dictating Finnegan's Wake. While recording the story, Joyce was interrupted when someone came to the door and was welcomed with a phrase like, “Come in,” which Joyce thought worked well in the manuscript so he left it in his draft. Thomas Aquinas was apparently so skilled at dictation that he gave observers the impression he could speak on several topics at once to multiple scribes and even to dictate in his sleep.” In today's podcast, we're going to delve into how you too can be more productive, build endurance, maintain muscle, and burn more calories, all while writing from a standing desk and / or while dictating. ----------------------- My guest, author J.F.Penn, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers on the edge, as well as bestselling non-fiction for authors published under Joanna Penn. Joanna’s site for writers, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted one of the Top 10 sites for writers three years running. She is a professional speaker on creative entrepreneurship, digital publishing and internet marketing, and was voted one of The Guardian UK Top 100 creative professionals 2013. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How Joanna developed chronic repetitive motion injuries in her wrist, and why ergonomic keyboards and an ergonomic computer mouse weren't working for her... -Why Joanna decided to go way above and beyond simply using a standing workstation or treadmill desk... -How Joanna is simultaneously working on multiple books while also training for an ultramarathon... -Whether you can really, truly be creative while standing or walking, and why it's a myth that you need to sit to write effectively... -The exact tools, microphones and software that Joanna has found to work very well for dictation... -A book that will teach you exactly how to dictate quickly and effectively... -How to  "train" your computer to recognize your voice and accent... -How to enhance productivity with ambient noise and focus apps... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Joanna Penn's Amazon book page -The Productive Author's Guide to Dictation: Speak Your Way to Higher (and Healthier!) Word Counts -Dictate Your Book: How To Write Your Book Faster, Better, and Smarter (Growth Hacking For Storytellers) -Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone -Dragon Dictate software for dictating -Dragon Anywhere cloud software -Scrivener software for writing/organizing books -Rode lav mic -Kevin J. Anderson (an author who dictates while walking 4+ hours per day) -Ben Greenfield's fiction book "The Forest" -Varidesk -ArmAid -The Focal Upright Website (this is a place where you can also get the "Mogo" stool or the Locus seat we talk about) -The Kybounder balance deskmat -The Topo mat -The TrueForm treadmill -Yoga For The Upright Desk article -Brain.FM -Noisely.com Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Joanna or I? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Tammi 201646min

I get diet books in the mail all the time. No, I don't have some kind of online shopping fetish for diet books. People just send them to me. Unsolicited. As a matter of fact, it's a well-known fact in the health and nutrition industry that one of the fastest ways to "make a buck" is to write and sell a diet book. It plays on the psychology that people are constantly looking for next answer to the diet that's not currently working for them. Or they're bored. Or have grass-is-always-greener syndrome. Anyhow, as you can imagine, I was quite pleased when I received an undieting book in the mail last week. UnDiet: Eat Your Way To Vibrant Health, which includes a plan for an 8-week transformation and more than 35 delicious gluten-free, plant-based recipes. Meghan Telpner, the author of UnDiet is a Toronto-based author, speaker, and nutritionist. She used to have Crohn's disease, but after throwing up her hands in frustration at the way the modern medical system was trying to heal her, and instead embarking upon her own path of healing, she's fixed her gut, and learned quite a bit about food, exercise, and psychology along the way. If you find yourself constantly caught up in new diets... ....or you deal with stress constantly damaging your gut... ...or you have Crohn's or some other kind of gut issue... ...or you look good on the outside but feel like crap on the inside... ...then this episode is a must-listen for you. In it, you'll discover: -The exact steps Meghan used (after nearly having her colon removed from debilitating Crohn's disease) healed her entire gut in just 4 weeks... -Why you should learn to cook, even if you have someone or some service who can do all the healthy cooking for you... -What to do when you see a food, or a workout, or some other activity and it just doesn't "feel right"... -Why Meghan thinks yoga is harder than a stairclimber or a high-intensity workout... -Why a cute outfit doesn't mean much if you feel like total crappola... -How you can get around the awkwardness of questioning paradigms, and being "that person" at a dinner party who perhaps doesn't use a microwave or drinks green smoothies... -In the end, the most important question to ask yourself when it comes to "undieting"... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Book Ben mentions early in episode: The Hidden Half of Nature: Microbial Roots Of Life & Health -Another book Ben mentions: Reclaiming Conversation Do you have questions, comments or feedback about how to quit dieting? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either Meghan or I will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Tammi 201658min

A couple years ago, at the Ancestral Health Symposium, I presented a poster entitled  "Biohacking The Hazards of Sitting". As you can see in the video below, I actually thought I was being quite witty to present a poster on the dangers of sitting while sitting with poor posture in a folding chair. It's actually been over five years since I've adopted the habit of frequently alternating positions throughout my work day, a strategy I highlight in detail my video "How Should You Stand At A Standing Desk“ and also in last week's podcast "Standing Desks, Memory Foam & The Science Of Walking Barefoot In Shoes." My office is actually like a tiny playground, littered with kettlebells, a pull-up bar, a boxing heavy bag, this treadmill workstation, and a variety of standing surfaces, including my latest foot acupressure therapy invention, a Bulletproof Sleep Induction mat wrapped around a Kybounder mat. But I just can't get enough of this stuff. So in a few weeks, I'm interviewing a fiction author about how she writes fiction while standing and walking to train for an ultramarathon, and in today's podcast, I'm interviewing a guy named Josh Kerst, who mans the helm of one of the most innovative standing workstation companies on the face of the planet: Focal Upright. Josh is executive vice president of Focal Upright Furniture Inc. He holds a BSE (U of Michigan) in Industrial Engineering and is a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), Certified Industrial Ergonomist (CIE) and is a Member of the ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 Office Seating committee. During our discussion, you'll discover: -What it means to be an "active couch potato"... -The shocking results of a study on athletes that found they can actually be more sedentary than the average office worker... -Workplace positions that trigger a gene which restricts your ability to recover and drops your HDL... -How long you would need to be sitting for the dangers of sitting to begin kicking in... -How a dangerous response called the "compensation effect" can kick in if you exercise at the beginning of the day, and what you can do about it... -Why a standing workstation can actually hurt your shoulders, elbows and wrists and how to set up proper ergonomics at a standing workstation... -Ideas for creative positions you can work in aside from standing, walking or sitting... -Why you should a "stool" to your standing workstation setup... -The brand new heart rate variability research coming out soon on standing mats for everything from balance to strengthening and stretching your feet while you are working... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -The Focal Upright Website (this is a place where you can also get the "Mogo" stool or the Locus seat we talk about) -The Kybounder balance deskmat -The Topo mat -The TrueForm treadmill -Yoga For The Upright Desk article -The Lighting Science "Awake & Alert" Bulbs -The Human Charger in-ear phototherapy device -Study: Sedentary behaviour among elite professional footballers: health and performance implications -Study: Identification of hemostatic genes expressed in human and rat leg muscles and a novel gene (LPP1/PAP2A) suppressed during prolonged physical inactivity (sitting) -Study: Research on "the compensation effect" -12 different apps that will remind you to take a break Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Daniel Yellin or I? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Tammi 201653min