Fit Soul Chapter 18 - Hope

BenGreenfieldFitness.com/recapturerapture My guest on today's podcast, Jamie Wheal, first joined me on the podcast episode: "Recapture the Rapture: Biohacking Sex, Tantric Breathwork, Plant Medicines For Orgasmic Enhancement & Much More!", for which the title is pretty self-explanatory regarding the wildly stimulating topics we covered on that show.  Today Jamie, a so-called "neuroanthropologist" is back, describing exciting elements from his new book Recapture the Rapture: Rethinking God, Sex, and Death in a World That's Lost Its Mind - a book in which he maps out a revolutionary new practice—Hedonic Engineering—that combines neuroscience and optimal psychology. It’s an intensive program of breathing, movement, and sexuality that mends trauma, heightens inspiration and tightens connections—helping us wake up, grow up, and show up for a world that needs us all. This is a book about a big idea. And the idea is this: Slowly over the past few decades, and now suddenly, all at once, we’re suffering from a collapse in Meaning. Fundamentalism and nihilism are filling that vacuum, with consequences that affect us all. In a world that needs us at our best, diseases of despair, tribalism, and disaster fatigue are leaving us at our worst. It’s vital that we regain control of the stories we’re telling because they are shaping the future we’re creating. To do that, we have to remember our deepest inspiration, heal our pain and apathy, and connect to each other like never before. If we can do that, we’ve got a shot at solving the big problems we face. And if we can’t?  Well, the dustbin of history has swallowed civilizations older and fancier than ours. This book is divided into three parts. The first, Choose Your Own Apocalypse, takes a look at our current Meaning Crisis--where we are today, why it’s so hard to make sense of the world, what might be coming next, and what to do about it. It also makes a case that many of our efforts to cope, whether anxiety and denial, or tribalism and identity politics, are likely making things worse. The middle section, The Alchemist Cookbook,  applies the creative firm IDEO’s design thinking to the Meaning Crisis. This is where the book gets hands on--taking a look at the strongest evolutionary drivers that can bring about inspiration, healing, and connection. From breathing, to movement, sexuality, music, and substances--these are the everyday tools to help us wake up, grow up, and show up. AKA--how to blow yourself sky high with household materials. The final third of the book, Ethical Cult Building, focuses on the tricky nature of putting these kinds of experiences into gear and into culture—because, anytime in the past when we’ve figured out combinations of peak states and deep healing, we’ve almost always ended up with problematic culty communities. Playing with fire has left a lot of people burned. This section lays out a roadmap for sparking a thousand fires around the world--each one unique and tailored to the needs and values of its participants. Think of it as an open-source toolkit for building ethical culture. In Recapture the Rapture, Jamie takes radical research out of the extremes and applying it to the mainstream to the broader social problem of healing, believing, and belonging. It’s providing answers to the questions we face: how to replace blind faith with direct experience, how to move from broken to whole, and how to cure isolation with connection. Said even more plainly, it shows us how to revitalize our bodies, boost our creativity, rekindle our relationships, and answer once and for all the questions of why we are here and what do we do now? Jamie is also the author of Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work and the founder of the Flow Genome Project, an international organization dedicated to the research and training of human performance. His work and ideas have been covered in The New York Times, Financial Times, Wired, Entrepreneur, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc., and TED. He has spoken at Stanford University, MIT, the Harvard Club, Imperial College, Singularity University, the U.S. Naval War College and Special Operations Command, Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, the Bohemian Club, and the United Nations. He lives high in the Rocky Mountains in an off-grid cabin with his partner, Julie; two children, Lucas and Emma; and their golden retrievers, Aslan and Calliope. When not writing, he can be found mountain biking, kitesurfing, and backcountry skiing. During our discussion, you'll discover: -What the heck is a "neuroanthropologist?"...07:34 -What does it mean to "recapture the rapture?"...15:15 -A contrarian view of the end times...23:56 -Jamie's creative writing process...31:55 -How prostate massages bring one to a new level of consciousness...43:25 -The 5 big techniques for achieving a peak state of flow...48:35 -Why sex, drugs, rock and roll mark the beginning of civilization, not the end...1:00:44 -About circular breathing...1:05:00 -Meduna's Mixture...1:10:12 -How to use breath to "steer" your psyche...1:23:40 -How to work directly with Jamie...1:28:05 -And much more! Episode sponsors: -The Boundless Cookbook  -Kion Aminos -JOOVV -Clearlight Saunas -Paleo Valley Beef Sticks BenGreenfieldFitness.com/recaptureraptureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Jul 20211h 31min

BenGreenfieldFitness.com/runnershigh I recently read the book Runner's High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes Is Changing the Science of Sports. As kind of a mash-up of Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind and Christopher McDougall's Born to Run  this immersive, investigative look at the hidden culture of cannabis use among elite athletes (as well as weekend warriors) reveals the surprising emerging science behind the elusive, exhilarating "runner's high" they all seek. Author of the book and my guest on today's podcast - Josiah Hesse - believes that "pot makes exercise fun", or at least, easier or more productive. The link between performance enhancement and cannabis has actually been an open secret for many years, so much so that with the wide-sweeping national legalization of cannabis, combining weed and working out has become the hottest new wellness trend. Why, then, is there still a skewed perception around this leafy substance that it only produces the lazy, red-eyed stoner laid out on a couch somewhere, munching on junk food? In fact, scientists have conducted extensive research that uncovers the power of the "runner's high" - the true holy grail of aerobic activity that was long believed to be caused by endorphins. In an extraordinary reversal, scientists believe marijuana may actually be the key to getting more Americans off their phones and on to their feet. In Runner's High and in this podcast, Josiah takes you on a journey through the secret world of stoned athletes, describing astounding, cannabis-inspired physical and mental transformations, just like he experienced. From the economics of the $20 billion CBD market to the inherent inequalities in the enforcement of marijuana prohibition; from the mind-body connection behind the "runner's high" to the best way to make your own cannabis-infused power bars; Runner's High takes this groundbreaking science out of the lab and onto the trail, court, field, and pitch, fundamentally changing the way we think about exercise, recovery, and cannabis. Josiah is an author and journalist from Denver, Colorado, whose work has appeared in Vice, Esquire, Politico, and The Guardian. Hesse casts a wide net in his journalistic curiosities, covering everything from science, crime and politics, to pop culture, the arts, sex and drugs. After a decade of covering the slow-burn legalization of marijuana, Hesse finally wrote the book we discuss today. In this episode, you'll discover: -How the "420 games" inspired Josiah's book...07:15 -Josiah's history w/ cannabis prior to the 420 games...12:20 -An ultra-marathoner that has taken edibles during his runs for years...17:15 -What to expect in cannabis-inspired fitness classes and events...21:20 -How prevalent is cannabis use in professional sports...25:30 -How, when and why cannabis became "persona non grata" among natural herbs...34:15 -What is the best dosage to increase the efficacy of exercise...50:25 -Does cannabis help altitude performance?...59:55 -Is cannabis a true performance enhancing drug?...1:04:00 -Is cannabis a crutch for Ben Greenfield?...1:11:05 -And much more... Episode sponsors: -Kion Lean -Paleo Valley Organ Complex -Seed Daily Synbiotic -Beekeeper's Naturals https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/runnershighSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jul 20211h 11min

Hey, what's up. It's Ben Greenfield. You may have heard that I wrote a new book. It's free at fitsoulbook.com as a digital download. You can also get the physical version for next to nothing. I'm not making any money off this book. I'm just covering my shipping and handling and printing costs. I just want you to experience some of the things I've written within the pages. Now, because of that, I'm also recording the audio book version, and I want to give you a bit of a taste of that audio book version.  If you like it all the resources and everything for what you're about to hear are at fitsoulbook.com/resources. So I hope you enjoy this chapter and you can always find me on social media at Ben Greenfield Fitness on most social media platforms. And perhaps there you can just let me know what you think.  So without further ado, here we go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Jul 202117min

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Jul 202148min

BenGreenfieldFitness.com/donnamills You've no doubt heard me talk on podcasts before about my epic massages. We're talking essential oils, carefully selected musical tracks for healing the body, an acoustic sound healing table, a pulsed electromagnetic field mat, and a variety of specific plant medicine compounds and supplements for relaxing the body and turning a massage into a full body, mind and spiritual reboot and cleansing. But I haven't talked much about the wizard (wizardess, I should say) behind-the-scenes. Her name is Donna Mills, and she is my massage therapist, the most unique and talented therapist I've ever worked with, and my guest on this podcast. Donna lives in the aesthetically stunning Pacific Northwest, specifically in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She is a woman committed to all things that elevate human consciousness. She is a practitioner of the healing arts, an advocate for civil conversations, and a community educator. Donna is the founder of HumanWell Integrative Healing where she sees private clients healing through trauma and grief. On the community consulting side of HumanWell, Donna designs integrative workplace wellness programs for large and small businesses. The name HumanWell was created out of her unwavering need to know “How do we human well? We can see where we are missing the mark in society, but where and how are we getting it right?” Donna is a social healing practitioner, a narrative disruptor, and a cultural change agent. She is here to invite society into a deeper conversation about civility and connectivity. She believes that, “and justice for all” means just that. For all. She is a fierce advocate for a new narrative of economic justice that elevates our collective human wellness and ability to thrive. Donna is a Lay Pastoral Minister through the Unitarian Universalist Association and is ordained to perform many celebrations of life, from partner unions to end of life doula services. In this work she gently guides humans through the sacred journey of living and dying. She is often called upon to share her insightful wisdom on the divine, and serves this world with a deep commitment to humanity. Donna aligns and connects to Source Spirit as High Priestess in her Pagan faith. She also describes herself as a mystic, a tarot reader, an intuitive healer, and a conscious thought leader for these changing times. She practices a very intentful and cyclical lifestyle that includes loads of joy, playful exploration, good food, and always, always, more beautiful humans. She excels at growing food and wild foraging, loves to be on the water, is a collector of smiles, and can be found spending teatime with her favorite feline, Professor Moosey Softpaws. During this discussion, you'll discover: -How Donna developed her unique therapeutic approach…14:00 -Donna’s self-work routine...17:35 -Donna’s unique massage practices...19:25 -About Donna’s coursework programs...34:00 -How Donna healed Ben’s very injured toe...38:00 -Why massage sometimes brings up emotions or trauma release...43:55 -Supplements, products and technology Ben and Donna use during massage treatments...49:50 -How to work with Donna...1:10:40 -And much more…   Episode sponsors: -The Boundless Cookbook -Kion -Four Sigmatic -JOOVV -Water and Wellness Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Donna or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com/donnamills and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Jul 20211h 14min

Hey, what's up. It's Ben Greenfield. You may have heard that I wrote a new book. It's free at fitsoulbook.com as a digital download. You can also get the physical version for next to nothing. I'm not making any money off this book. I'm just covering my shipping and handling and printing costs. I just want you to experience some of the things I've written within the pages. Now, because of that, I'm also recording the audio book version, and I want to give you a bit of a taste of that audio book version.  If you like it all the resources and everything for what you're about to hear are at fitsoulbook.com/resources. So I hope you enjoy this chapter and you can always find me on social media at Ben Greenfield Fitness on most social media platforms. And perhaps there you can just let me know what you think.  So without further ado, here we go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Jun 202121min

BenGreenfieldFitness.com/katalystpodcast In a recent weekly roundup, I reported on what I called "Possibly The World's Most Efficient (New) Workout: The "Katalyst", and told you to get ready for the next frontier of electrical muscle stimulation. In my Boundless book, on my podcast, and elsewhere, I've talked in the past about how I use electrical muscle stimulation, also known as “EMS,” ...but with all other forms of EMS I've used in the past, although getting great results for injury rehab, muscle growth, targeted muscle "re-training" and more, I've also had to deal with all sorts of wires, time-consuming electrode attachment, confusing user interfaces, and a pretty clunky experience that takes up a lot of time. But this brand new electrical muscle stimulation suit called the “Katalyst” is a total game-changer. You literally just pull on the suit and select from any of the workouts on the app and a personal trainer not only walks you through the entire workout, which involves functional fitness moves like squats, side lunges, presses, cardiovascular and power movements, and a whole lot more… …but the intensity is automatically adjusted by your trainer as you go, and so it also creates a highly customized workout. This is one of the coolest time hacks for exercise that I've discovered in a long time and—coming from a guy who has done a lot of different workouts—I can tell you that this thing is not some gimmicky “As Seen On TV” technology that you use to get a six-pack while you're sitting on the couch eating Twinkies. Instead, I think this technology is going to take the fitness world by storm. Pro athletes can train muscles they've never used before and retrain injured muscles while complete exercise beginners or those in rehab can lift weights without excess stress on the joints. Again, the Katalyst suit is a total game-changer, and this thing is flying off the shelves now as folks discover the magic of EMS. Here's where you can get the Katalyst suit today (that link gives you "early access" to getting a unit for yourself). But I also wanted to get the Founder and CEO of Katalyst - Bjoern Woltermann - on the show to take a deep dive into exactly how this new technology works.  Bjoern is the Founder and CEO of Katalyst, a revolutionary home fitness product that can actually improve your fitness through every phase of life. Using proven Full-Body EMS (Electro Muscle Stimulation) technology, Katalyst removes common barriers to fitness like time, ability and motivation, and replaces them with a 20-minute, full-body workout that works with your body rather than against it. Because there are no weights and no joint impact, Katalyst empowers all people to live longer, healthier and happier lives. A startup veteran and economist by trade, Bjoern was introduced to Full-Body EMS as a way to fit strength training into his busy travel schedule and to rehabilitate a back injury. After training every Monday for six weeks, Bjoern was amazed to find himself both pain-free and in better physical shape than he had been in years. He soon realized that this technology had the potential to significantly improve millions of lives. Driven by an innate desire to serve people, Bjoern founded Katalyst in 2015 to bring Full-Body EMS to the United States. Aside from Katalyst, Bjoern is a devoted husband and uncle who loves to travel the world and is committed to a healthy lifestyle. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How Bjoern got interested in EMS...8:54 2012, had a corporate job flying all over the world This resulted in chronic back pain Advised to strengthen core and lower back, otherwise serious injury would be incurred Introduced to an EMS clinic (20 minute treatment is too good to be true) Two different reactions: horribly uncomfortable or relatively manageable Breathwork is important for the comfort level After 6 weeks, he was pain free, no pain meds, etc. Body Street studio EMS EMS is far more popular in Germany than the U.S. -Brief history of EMS training...15:10 BGF podcast w/ Jay Schroeder (old, may not be available) Science discovered by Russians in the 60's TENS treatment is a different treatment than EMS Early 2000's, body transformer was a more efficient means of delivering EMS First commercial device was around 2007 Used by elite soccer teams (athletes signed NDA's because of it worked so well) -The science that backs up the efficacy of EMS...19:10 FDA-regulated category Hurdles too high for manufacturer's to expand in the U.S. Some European universities carry out 2-3 full-blown studies on EMS per year Hockey players 1.5% faster after EMS New way to activate muscles; easier to target specific muscle fibers -Why EMS induces a high amount of soreness...23:20 Previously unused and dormant muscles "No muscle left behind" Much more complete muscle activation Increasing the recruitment of muscle fibers in each rep Get to exhaustive state of the muscle faster Activate more muscle fibers at the same time - subconsciously this is how it's supposed to feel Need extreme loads to activate fast-twitch muscle fibers or very quick movements w/ conventional weight training Cardio mode causes the muscle to be active, transform energy into motion Aerodyne bike is the ultimate EMS workout -Why does the body get so hot in an EMS suit?...34:05 How much muscle activation is going on at a given time A workout that takes over one hour is condensed into 20 minutes Body simply needs to cool off Water provides adequate conductivity -Why different ranges of motion are used in EMS...37:00 No shortened muscle No tension One of Ben's training clients had knee pain disappear after using the Catalyst for a couple of sessiosn Unused muscles are in a tight state, protective measure Previously injured areas become loosened Relax the muscle, get back to a natural function -About the recovery setting on the Katalyst...40:45 Promotes blood flow Very low frequency Pumping effect to the muscles -How EMS may affect longevity and anti-aging...42:20 Study of 100 women over age of 75 Two of the women dropped out, not because it was too stringent Gained muscle mass, reversed atrophy Increased walking speed 10-20% Walking speed, grip strength and ability to get off the floor are good metrics for longevity Gained bone density -How to mix the regimens to get the most out of EMS...45:20 Do strength/power one day; followed by 10 minutes of cardio Day 2, cardio only Day 3-4, do strength again -Topicals or cold packs that can improve the efficacy of EMS...47:30 BGF podcast w/ Jeff Spencer Vasper machine -How the EMS routines are conducted in real time...50:20 Things are in the works to do EMS detached from the current system Trainers are actually getting the treatment while the user does Roles of customer and trainer are very different Immersive experience for the customer The system learns over time Levels are always individual to a person -How to access the Katalyst and skip the waitlist...58:30 -And much more! Resources from this episode: -The Katalyst Full Body EMS Suit (click here for early access) Episode sponsors: -The Boundless Cookbook -Kion Refer a Friend -Organifi Green Juice -Therabody -Butcher Box BenGreenfieldFitness.com/katalystpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

26 Jun 202158min

bengreenfieldfitness.com/430 News Flashes – Follow Ben on Twitter for more… -Most people's "bad knees" don't really need surgery to get fixed...10:35 -What *really* works for weight loss:  (the theme of "continuous monitoring" is what really stands out - what gets measured gets managed, folks)...21:00 -This artificial intelligence energy expenditure/calorie intake app is, based on their research and algorithms, one of the most accurate means out there to figure out how many calories per day you're burning/should be eating...26:30 -Want to maintain strength, endurance, muscle size and more in LIMITED time with minimal effective dose? Here's how: (and I'll be addressing a podcast in detail to spill all the beans for you)...27:45 Upcoming events: Ben will be speaking at the Ancestral Health Summit in L.A. on August 12-14, 2021 Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar Special Announcements... -The Boundless Cookbook: Optimize your physical and mental performance with nutritious and delicious Greenfield family recipes. This is your roadmap to a culinary journey that includes ancient food and wild game preparation tactics, biohacked smoothies, meat rubs, cocktails, desserts, and beyond—without any restrictive diet, limited ingredients, or tasteless “health foods”! Pre-order yours today here! Check out Ben on Instagram for epic posts and photos about his morning, day, and evening routines, recipes, and much more! Follow Ben on Twitter for daily news flashes and the latest health, fitness, and anti-aging research. Join Ben's Facebook page for conversations with listeners and even more useful information, posts, and support! This podcast is brought to you by: -Kion Dark Coffee -Paleo Valley Beef Sticks -Ra Optics -Butcher Box Listener Q&A: How to increase NAD & NAD salvage pathways...38:20 How can female endurance athletes not be skinny-fat...47:10 How to create your own workout routine...58:20 bengreenfieldfitness.com/430See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Jun 20211h 7min