Spirit Tech: The Brave New World of Consciousness Hacking and Enlightenment Engineering
I recently read a book entitled Spirit Tech: The Brave New World of Consciousness Hacking and Enlightenment Engineering by Kate J. Stockly and Wesley J. Wildman. It was a thrilling read on the merging of biohacking technologies, spirituality, neurotheology, and much more. Technology now has the ability to modify and control the spiritual experience. This book is a journey through the high-tech aids for psychological growth that are changing the world while exploring safety, authenticity, and ethics. Of course, technology is already helping to manage health, sleep, relationships, and finances, so it’s no surprise that technological aids for the spiritual journey would be the next frontier. From apps that help you pray or meditate, to cybernauts seeking the fast track, to nirvana through magnetic brain stimulation, this is the brink of the most transformative revolution in the practice of religion: an era in which the power of “spirit tech” can be harnessed to deepen your experience of the divine. Spirit tech products are rapidly improving in sophistication and power, and ordinary people need a trustworthy guide. Through their research and insider access to the top innovators and early adopters, Kate Stockly and Wesley Wildman take you deep inside an evolving world with Spirit Tech. The book is the definitive guide to the fascinating world of innovations for personal transformation, spiritual growth, and pushing the boundaries of human nature. When you read Spirit Tech, you'll... ...find out how increasingly popular “wearables” work on your brain, promising a shortcut to transformative meditative states... ...meet the inventor of the “God Helmet,” who developed a tool to increase psychic skills and overcome fear, sadness, and anger... ...visit churches that use ayahuasca as their sacrament and explore the booming industry of psychedelic tourism... ...journey to a mansion in the heart of Silicon Valley where a group of scientists and entrepreneurs are working feverishly to bring brain-based spirit tech applications to the masses, and... ...discover a research team who achieved brain-to-brain communication between individuals thousands of miles apart, harnessing neurofeedback techniques to sync and share emotions among group members. Kate Stockly is an academic researcher specializing in the scientific study of religion and women’s studies in religion. Kate’s first book, High On God: How Megachurches Won the Heart of America (co-authored with James K. Wellman, Jr. and Katie Corcoran; Oxford 2020), looks closely at the affective and emotional dynamics animating evangelical megachurches. Spirit Tech: The Brave New World of Consciousness Hacking and Engineering Enlightenment is Kate's second book. Kate also analyzes gender dynamics in religion and spirituality from a bio-psycho-social perspective. Putting the critical humanities—especially feminist materialism and affect theory—into conversation with the biological sciences, she theorizes how gender and sex interact with spiritual and religious expression and experience. Episode sponsors: -Ketone IQ by HVMN: Use code BENG for 10% off any purchase of Ketone-IQ️ an exclusive offer for podcast listeners. -JOOVV: Use promo code BEN for an exclusive discount on your first order. -ARX: Go to arxfit.com/ben to look at the Alpha or the Omni for the most effective and safest form of resistance exercise in the world. -Kion Aminos: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more. -Lucy Nicotine Gum: If you are looking for a cleaner and tastier alternative to other nicotine products, this product is for you. To save 20% on any order, just use discount code BEN20.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 Aug 202258min
Everything You Need To Know About Healing Your Gut, Mood, Energy, Libido & Sleep With A Little Known Bacterial Strain (& An Amazing DIY Yogurt Recipe!)
I first became familiar with the brilliant Dr. William Davis and his impressive body of work when I interviewed him for an episode about heart attacks way back in 2009. Later, he joined me for a podcast about his book Wheat Belly, in which we discussed why you're not eating the same kind of wheat your ancestors ate, whether wheat bread is really better than white bread, if wheat is ever OK to eat and if so, when, and good substitutes and alternatives for wheat. Today, Dr. William Davis is back to discuss his new book Super Gut: A Four-Week Plan to Reprogram Your Microbiome, Restore Health, and Lose Weight. In Super Gut, Dr. Davis takes his research and findings a step further and shows that because of our highly processed diet, pesticides, and overuse of antibiotics, our guts are is now missing so many of the good bacteria required to be healthy. As a result, many of us have lost control over health, weight, mood, even behavior. The ancient bacteria that keep our gut in alignment and our digestion easy have been dying off, replaced by harmful microbes that don’t serve to keep us physically healthy and mentally fit. With cutting-edge research, Dr. Davis has connected the dots between gut health and modern ailments and complaints. There are entire species of microbes that have disappeared, creating health issues that were uncommon one hundred, or even fifty, years ago. A major consequence is SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), a silent and profound epidemic, which affects one out of three people and is responsible for an astounding range of human health conditions. Super Gut shows how to eliminate bad bacteria and bring back the missing “good” bacteria with a four-week plan to reprogram your microbiome based on research and techniques that not only get to the root of many diseases but improve levels of oxytocin (the bonding/happy hormone), brain health, and promote anti-aging, weight loss, mental clarity, and more restful sleep. Super Gut explains the science clearly and includes more than forty recipes, a diet plan, and resources so you can pinpoint your gut issues, correct them, and maintain your long-term health and well-being. Dr. Davis provides solutions to health problems by addressing the microbiome, massively disrupted in modern people. He shows readers in his Super Gut book, for instance, how to restore important lost microbes lost such as Lactobacillus reuteri, restored by using a unique method of yogurt fermentation that smooths skin and reduces wrinkles, restores youthful muscle and strength, deepens sleep, reduces appetite and provides many other youth-preserving and anti-aging effects. In Super Gut, he provides additional do-it-yourself-at-home strategies for benefits such as improved mood, improved athletic performance, better sleep, heightened immunity, and improved body composition. Dr. William Davis is also responsible for exposing the incredible nutritional blunder made by "official" health agencies: Eat more "healthy whole grains." The wheat of today is different from the wheat of 1960, thanks to extensive genetics manipulations introduced to increase yield-per-acre. Eliminating wheat yields results beyond everyone's expectations: substantial weight loss, correction of cholesterol abnormalities, relief from inflammatory diseases like arthritis, better mood, reduced blood sugar with many type 2 diabetics being freed of insulin and other drugs, all articulated through his Wheat Belly series of books. He is also a champion of individual self-directed health, as discussed in his Undoctoredbook. Episode sponsors: BIOPTIMIZERS (MAG): Simply take two capsules before you go to bed and you’ll be amazed by how much better you sleep. And how much more rested you feel when you wake up! Save up to 42 percent on Magnesium Breakthrough. ORGANIFI (RED): Recharge your mind and body with a delicious superfood berry blend of premium, organic superfoods that contain potent adaptogens, antioxidants and a clinical dose of cordyceps. Go to organifi.com/Ben for 20% off your order. JOYMODE: Want to spice things up in the bedroom and boost your sexual performance? Go to usejoymode.com/GREENFIELD or enter GREENFIELD at checkout for 20% off your first order. HVMN: Avoid the insulin spikes, caffeine jitters, and mid-afternoon energy crashes—start fueling with Ketone-IQ️ and feel the difference for yourself. Visit hvmn.me/BenG and use code BENG for 10% off any purchase of Ketone-IQ️ an exclusive offer for podcast listeners. RUNGA: It’s an invitation to come hang out with me and my family for the ONE weekend I look forward to every year, way more than any vacation, or event, or trip I have planned. You can claim your spot at RUNGA today at https://bengreenfieldlife.com/runga. It’s in Austin, TX (and who doesn’t love Austin?) from October 13-15th. Inside Tracker: Created by leading scientists in aging, genetics, and biometrics, Inside Tracker analyzes your blood, DNA, and fitness tracking data to identify where you’re optimized—and where you’re not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4 Aug 20221h 2min
Endure Chapter 15: Prayer
My new book, Endure, is now available! I’ll gift you the first three chapters of Endure as an instantly downloadable e-book and I'll also give you a sweet discount on the exact journal my family and I developed and use each day, The Spiritual Disciplines Journal. Visit https://getendure.com for all the details!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Jul 202217min
Sleep Genetics (& 3 Ways To Crush A Good Night Of Sleep), Why You Get Depressed When You Get Bored, Personalized Exercise & Diet Based on Genetics & Much More With Kashif Khan Of The DNA Company.
A lot of new science, research and testing protocols have emerged lately in the field of genetic testing, so I decided it was high time I interviewed a DNA expert on sleep genetic types, parenting, personality types, mood, behavior, cancer, the fountain of "youth" and so much more. My guest for this episode, Kashif Khan, is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The DNA Company, where personalized medicine is being pioneered through unique insights into the human genome. With the largest study of its kind globally, The DNA Company has developed a functional approach to genomic interpretation overlaying environment, nutrition, and lifestyle on the genetic blueprint to create personalized and deterministic health outcomes. Growing up in Vancouver, Canada in an immigrant household, Kashif developed an industrious entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. Prior to his tenure at The DNA Company, Kashif advised a number of high-growth start-ups in a variety of industries including luxury retail, technology, finance, fine arts, healthcare, tourism and real estate. He participated in over $300 million in revenue in his own retail business prior to launching consulting services to help others thrive. As Kashif dived into the field of functional genomics as the CEO of The DNA Company, it was revealed that his neural wiring was actually genetically designed to be entrepreneurial. However, his genes also revealed a particular sensitivity to pollutants. This inspired The DNA Company to develop a custom nutrient supplement to enhance this suboptimal detoxification pathway, enabling Kashif’s body to deal with pollutants and chemicals, while reducing his risk of long-term illness. Now seeing his health from a new lens Kashif dove further and started to see the genetic pathways that led to his own family’s challenges, and the opportunities to reverse chronic disease. He has since made it his mission to build The DNA Company into a business that has an impact and whose success is measured not in dollars earned, but in lives improved. In this episode, you'll discover: How Kashif got involved with The DNA Company Kashif’s Genetic Playbook, the actionable steps to utilizing your Genetic code for informed daily life decisions. Mood and behavior / How genes impact things like depression Optimizing sleep/ sleep genetic types Applying genetics to parenting and personalization Episode sponsors: -Essentia: Organic mattresses, the only mattress to score best on eliminating all sleep-interrupting stimulants. -Timeline Nutrition: Timeline is offering 10% off your first order of Mitopure. Go to timelinenutrition.com/BEN and use code BEN to get 10% off your order. -Kion Aminos: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more. -Traeger: 6-in1 versatility, perfected by decades of mastering the craft of wood-fired cooking, a Traeger grill will transform the way you cook, giving you consistent results - every single time. Do you have questions, comments or feedback for me or Kashif Khan about today's episode? Leave a comment below, and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 Jul 20221h 40min
Q&A 444: The Latest Tricks For Cognitive Performance, Ketosis Confusion, Muscle Cramping Fixes, Peeing At Night, Microdosing & More!
In today's episode, Dr. Jay Wiles connect on all things Cognitive performance, ketones and ketone esters, the real fix to muscle cramping, the potential threat I find with micro dosing, and at the end, we take on your questions! We'll touch on how the power of the breath and how it can actually increase physical performance, endurance and recovery. Cognition decline performance, what it is, signs it's starting and practices we've had first hand experience with in combating the effects of subjective cognition decline; through photocoagulation with red light therapy it's been found to have remarkable results on promoting brain health and function. Also we review the immediate effects and benefits of HIIT and essentially using it as "Exercise that gets you smart". Through extensive research it's been shown that HIIT is a great way to fight off what is called "Aggregates" a type of protein that acts as "plaque" to the brain, which has been linked to Alzheimer's Disease. Plus, we do some good old debunking on the old "carbs after the gym, bro", what ketone esters are, how they assist us in generating more substantial energy and there effect is has on our brain. The studies that have been condoned to monitor athlete's performance utilizing ketones, ketone esters as well as the effect when applied when a carbohydrate diet. We'll touch a bit on what causes muscle cramps and how the "pickle juice" method really works with our neurochemistry more than it does anything else. Common belief is linked to dehydration and electro light deficiency and while that is true there is quite a bit more to it than just that. Today you'll get the real reason why cramps happen to athletes and what measures can me taken to start to prevent it. Diving even deeper into the concept you'll learn the 3 common "weakest links" within athletes and how to fix them. You'll get my two cents on why I've tuned it down on plant medicine, what trend I am starting to see take place and what inevitable consequences I see unfolding for those that experiment with ignorance. Believe it or not - You're opening yourself up to a spiritual realm far beyond our human experience which should not be provoked with inexperienced travelers. Not to get it wrong with the positive benefits it does offer but to bring awareness and education to those whom may be dabbling too far down the rabbit hole. Have a question you'd like Ben to answer on the podcast? Click here, or use the 'contact' button in the free Ben Greenfield Life app. Prior to asking your question, do a search in the upper right-hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Life! Episode sponsors: –Lucy Nicotine Gum: If you are looking for a cleaner and tastier alternative to other nicotine products, this product is for you. To save 20% on any order, just use discount code BEN20. –Butcher Box: Delivers healthy 100% grass-fed and finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork directly to your door monthly. All their products are humanely raised and never given antibiotics or hormones. -Chili Technologies: ChiliSleep makes both the chiliPAD and OOLER, innovative options that fit over the top of your mattress and use water to control the temperature of your bed and help lower your core body temperature to trigger deep, relaxing sleep. -Inside Tracker: Created by leading scientists in aging, genetics, and biometrics, Inside Tracker analyzes your blood, DNA, and fitness tracking data to identify where you’re optimized—and where you’re not. -Kion Aminos: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Jul 20221h 15min
Endure Chapter 14: Bookends
My new book, Endure, is now available! I’ll gift you the first three chapters of Endure as an instantly downloadable e-book and I'll also give you a sweet discount on the exact journal my family and I developed and use each day, The Spiritual Disciplines Journal. Visit https://getendure.com for all the details!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Jul 202216min
How To Operate On The Cutting Edge Of Physical & Mental Performance With Ryan "Birdman" Parrott Of The Human Performance Project.
BenGreenfieldLife.com/humanperformanceproject A few weeks ago, a guy named Ryan "Birdman" Parrott contacted me. In a nutshell, he said... "My sniper partner in the SEAL Teams took his life 3 years ago and I am tired of it. I know for a fact that there are plenty of brain treatment centers around the country but the military, first responder communities’ leadership don’t seem to care about their health, nutrition and sleep, so we are going to work with physicians, sports physiologists, and mental health experts to develop a simplistic manual that will showcase: 1) turning the ignition on so that kids who are starting to get athletic can understand how to create a baseline of correct fitness and how to get back to homeostasis (this also goes for brand new military members and first responders because they don’t get taught human performance); 2) restarting the engine for the war fighter, career fire fighter and law enforcement, so that they can come out of their careers unfractured. This manual should and will discuss what to do on the flip side to reboot. I am not going to sit back and watch another war fighter take their own life because they are not being tended to after devoting everything that God has given to them to national security. I have run a successful non-profit for burn survivors called 'Sons of the Flag' for the past ten years and am now making this my number one focus to do my part... ...it's called The Human Performance Project... ...and I would love your advice on nutrition and supplementation as we begin this training and as we analyze our blood to give us all a better understanding of what it truly making us better. These are all war fighters on the team that will be training to pull this off and I am the youngest guy on the team, so we have our work cut out for us." So I decided to get Ryan on the show so that you can be educated on how to truly optimize performance, especially when you need to be on the physical and mental cutting edge. Ryan's Human Performance Project is designed to gain outcomes on human performance by testing supplements while training and looking deep into the DNA, physiology, and human spirit to create a docuseries along with a manual that supports all data-driven findings and proof of concept. Essentially pressing the reset button on a 20-year military veteran or first responder and starting the engine for the next generation to train, eat, sleep, diet, and live well. Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, is an Author, Public Speaker, Former Navy SEAL, Patent Holder, Action Sports Athlete, and Founder of two non- profits benefitting Veterans and First Responders is originally from Detroit, Michigan. Birdman enlisted in the Navy after watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11 and served eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL attached to SEAL Team SEVEN, completing three combat tours to Iraq before being assigned to Advanced Training Command as an Instructor. In 2005, while serving in Iraq, Birdman was riding atop a Humvee manning the gun turret in enemy territory, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), causing a detonation and throwing him from the Humvee. Birdman regained composure with his face and hands burned and witnessed his fellow team members suffer devastating burn and blast injuries. While Birdman’s burns were only first and second degree, his teammates suffered lifelong injuries. In 2012, Birdman established Sons of the Flag to help burn survivors and their families find the help and medical attention they truly deserve. Now a sponsored athlete in the extreme sports arena, he has founded The Human Performance Project taking a deeper dive into health and wellness giving our next generation a better understanding on taking proper care of their bodies through physical, mental, emotional and spiritual guidance from world renowned experts in their fields. More info on the Human Performance Project is here. During our discussion, you'll discover: -Ryan's personal journey to the present day, and how he got the name "Birdman"... -Addressing a severely underserved segment of combat-sustained injuries through Sons of the Flag... -The Human Performance Project: what it is and who it serves... -The first 3 things someone should do when they want to take control of their health and fitness... -The first thing to do when you realize you're broken physically, spiritually and emotionally... -How one will feel when they attempt a hard-core cleanse... -Improving the overall sleep experience... -The system in the body that needs the most attention, and how to address it... -To what extent will improving your physical game improve your mental game?... -And much more! Resources from this episode: Episode sponsors: -Kion Aminos -Masszymes -Inside Tracker -Organifi Green Juice -Ketone IQ by HVMN BenGreenfieldLife.com/humanperformanceprojectSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23 Jul 20221h 5min
Why I Am No Longer Going To Be Using "Plant Medicines": Part 2
https://bengreenfieldlife.com/plantmed2 Last week, in this already somewhat controversial article, I gave you a thorough explanation and argument behind my newest conviction that when it comes to the ever-expanding and increasingly popular world of plant medicines, not only do the "cons outweigh the pros," but when you're partaking of these type of compounds and chemicals that significantly alter your state of consciousness (particularly in a recreational setting), you are opening yourself up to influence from a spiritual world that threatens to land you in a very dark place indeed. In other words, when it comes to plant medicines, we aren't just talking about the equivalent of drinking too much coffee or having a bit too much pre-workout kratom or chomping on an extra piece of nicotine gum or socially lubricating an evening with an extra glass of wine. Instead, substances such as LSD, psilocybin, peyote, mescaline, or any other highly effective and typically hallucinogenic or psychedelic consciousness-altering compound that I named in Part 1 have great potential to open you up to a deep, dark, spiritual world in which there is a battle for your very soul. So if you didn't yet read Part 1, please, please do. Of course, there are several unanswered questions and considerations that I need to address here in Part 2, namely: microdosing with plant medicines, the "responsible" use of marijuana, the bigger, glaring issue that many of these types of vices bring up, and a special project I'll be working on that I'd like to invite you to be a part of. So, let's dive in. In this episode, you'll hear: -What about microdosing?...06:45 -What about marijuana?...15:30 -The "bigger issue"...26:00 -Summary, and what comes next: "Viceless"...35:02 Episode sponsors: Joy Mode Clearlight Saunas Vuori Thrive Market Kion Aminos The entire text and links to all resources mentioned in today's episode can be found at https://bengreenfieldlife.com/plantmedpart2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21 Jul 202235min
