Stephen Ritz On Transforming The Bronx & Generations of Kids By Turning His Classroom Into A Farm

We are here to grow. We are here to transform. This is our birthright. This is our purpose. As the year ends, I want to honor this truth by sharing wisdom gleaned from some of the brightest minds on the podcast this year. I’ve engaged with so many extraordinary changemakers throughout 2023. Reviewing the year in conversation brought powerful new insights—a reminder that these evergreen exchanges continue to inspire and inform. I have so much gratitude for all the guests who shared their wisdom openly, for my incredible team, for the enormous growth of the show over the last 12 months, and for the sponsors who keep this podcast going. But more than anything I am grateful for you, the listener. I don’t take your attention and support for granted. Thank you for taking this journey of growth alongside me. Here’s to an extraordinary 2024. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Squarespace: Squarespace.com/RICHROLL AG1: DrinkAg1.com/RICHROLL Indeed: Indeed.com/RICHROLL Athletic Brewing: AthleticBrewing.com On: On.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

28 Dec 20232h 14min

It's time to reflect. Share gratitude. And indulge in tradition. Each year we close things out with our ‘Best Of’ series, a 2-part compilation of the most enlightening excerpts from the previous 12 months of the show. 2023 was packed with an astonishing array of guests—we learned from scientists and doctors conducting cutting-edge research in the fields of nutrition, longevity, and disease prevention. Artists and actors showed us the power of living a creative life. Athletes reported back from the outer edges of human capability. And individuals who experienced phoenix-like transformations gave us actionable advice on what it takes to truly change your life wholesale. For our devoted podcast fans, think of these next two episodes as a recap, a way to remind yourself of the most impactful lessons from your favorite guests. And for those newer to the show, may this episode entice you to mine through the catalog and dial-up conversations you may have missed or skipped. I believe in the power we all have to do, be, and live better. To step into our best, most authentic selves. And in turn, contribute positively to a greater world. May this episode inspire you to believe the same. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/RICHROLL AG1: DrinkAG1.com/RICHROLL Athletic Brewing: AthleticBrewing.com Inside Tracker: InsideTracker.com/RICHROLL Birch Living: BirchLiving.com/RICHROLL On: On.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

25 Dec 20232h 18min

Storytelling is our most powerful device to better understand the human condition. The creativity required to craft and share a story well told is both an art and a way of being. Joel Kinnaman is one such being. A star ascendant on screens big and small whose Hollywood career was born with his incendiary turn in 2011's The Killing, kickstarting leading roles in films like The Suicide Squad and RoboCop, and television shows like House of Cards, Hanna, and For All Mankind. The occasion for this conversation is Silent Night. Featuring Joel as a grief-stricken father hell-bent on revenge, it's an absolutely unhinged, John Woo-helmed vigilante actioner with a unique twist: zero dialogue—a conceit that showcases Joel's physicality as a performer. This conversation canvasses Joel's unique path from a wayward youth in Stockholm to one of Hollywood's most in-demand leading men. It's about his creative process, the importance of authenticity, and how his relationship with fear frames the success he enjoys today. Plus: an insane Nicholas Cage story and more. This is a fun hang—I hope you enjoy it. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: LMNT: DrinkLMNT.com/RICHROLL AG1: DrinkAg1.com/RICHROLL Faherty: FahertyBrand.com/RICHROLL Timeline: Timeline.com/RICHROLL Squarespace: Squarespace.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

18 Dec 20231h 51min

We love to celebrate professional athletes as superheroes. But even world champions are human. Just 18 months after giving birth, in 2022 Chelsea Sodaro became the first American woman in 25 years to win the Ironman World Championship and the first Kona-crowned rookie since Chrissie Wellington’s victory in 2007. It was a new-mom-Cinderella story that travelled beyond the endurance press to the mainstream, positioning her as a powerful and inspiring voice for female athletes and young moms all across the world. But just as she reached the highest echelon of success, Chelsea began to face a challenge far more difficult than Kona. The periodic bouts with mental health that had visited her in the past came roaring back in the form of an acute anxiety disorder that made it difficult for her to leave the house, left her bereft, unable to train, and prone to suicidal ideation. Refusing to accept debilitation, Chelsea sought help for a problem her champion mindset alone simply couldn't solve. Today Chelsea shares her story with laudable openness and vulnerability. In this conversation we discuss the tools Chelsea relies upon to confront and manage her mental health struggles, why she decided to reach out for help, and why sharing her experience publicly has been and continues to be integral to her recovery.  In addition, we discuss Chelsea’s journey to triathlon, the current state of gender equity in the sport, and how we can better support female athletes and make sport more accessible to all. Chelsea also shares the mindset that has propelled her success and why she actively makes decisions based on love, joy, and possibility rather than fear. Note: Today we discuss mental health issues some might find confronting. If you are struggling, please raise your hand and reach out for help. You can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP and if you are experiencing suicidal ideation, know you’re not alone. I encourage you to call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1(800) 273-TALK. I have so much respect for Chelsea’s strength, courage, and vulnerability. Chelsea’s story is powerful. I’m proud to help amplify it. And our shared hope is that it helps those in need and serves to further normalize the discourse around mental health. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Peak Design: PeakDesign.com/RICHROLL AG1: DrinkAg1.com/RICHROLL On: On.com/RICHROLL Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/RICHROLL Seed: Seed.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

14 Dec 20231h 55min

Even in your darkest moments, the potential for redemption lays in wait. Mark Cavendish is a living illumination of this truth—a man who bounced back from career-ending setbacks and a protracted battle with mental health to become the greatest sprinter in cycling history. Over the course of his storied career, Mark has taken home 55 Grand Tour stage victories, 162 professional victories, and has won an astonishing 34 stages of the Tour de France, tying a previously thought impossible-to-match record set almost 50 years ago by Eddy Merckx. At the pinnacle of his career, Mark suffered a debilitating crash, began to battle seemingly insurmountable health obstacles—a debilitating crash, disordered eating, depression, and Epstein-Barr—that took him out of elite performance contention for nearly five years. But instead of ending his career, Mark fought back. In an extraordinary comeback Tour de France in 2021, Mark won four stages and the green jersey nearly a decade after he had last won it—a meteoric rise, fall, and resurrection beautifully portrayed in the recent Netflix documentary, Mark Cavendish: Never Enough. This is a powerful and revealing conversation about grit, commitment, mental health, and the hard-wrought journey to success. In addition to discussing his new Netflix documentary, we recount the highs and lows of Mark’s incredible career, his battle with mental health, and his unique relationship with cognitive performance strategist Dr. David Spindler. Mark also shares his new relationship with goals, and how he manages the pressure to eclipse Eddie Merckx’s historic record by winning his 35th stage at the 2024 Tour de France, where he will compete against riders nearly half his age. I found Mark to be humble and grateful—a gentle champion with a firm grasp on what is truly important and why. My hope is that Mark’s story serves as a powerful reminder that taking responsibility for your mental health is crucial, and that no matter how far you’ve fallen, there is always hope to build a better future for yourself and others. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: AG1: drinkAG1.com/RICHROLL Birch: BirchLiving.com/RICHROLL Babbel: Babbel.com/RICHROLL BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/RICHROLL Whoop: Whoop.com/RICHROLL Indeed: Indeed.com/RICHROLL Roka: Roka.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

11 Dec 20231h 11min

There is nothing more powerful than a story well told. Woven into the very fabric of what makes us human, story fuels connection. It fosters empathy. And it holds the power to impact not just the individual but humanity at large. Few understand this better than Brian Grazer—a man devoted to the idea that when curiosity and conversation combine, great art is made. One of Hollywood’s most prolific film producers, Brian and his Imagine Entertainment partner Ron Howard are responsible for a litany of critically acclaimed, box-office hit films and television shows including Apollo 13, 8 Mile, Splash, Arrested Development, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, and many more. His productions have been honored with numerous awards including an astounding 10 Oscar wins, 50 Emmys, and 11 Golden Globes. Today we explore Brian's unique approach to storytelling, why he believes questions are more important than answers, and why curiosity has been the “superpower” that fueled his rise as one of Hollywood’s leading producers and visionaries. Curiosity is so central to Brian’s success in fact that he wrote a book about it entitled, A Curious Mind, which he has recently expanded upon in a newly released version. It was a thrill to sit down with a man that I deeply respect and admire. This conversation left me with a newfound appreciation of curiosity not only as an art form, but as a powerful driver of human happiness. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Seed: Seed.com/RICHROLL Squarespace: Squarespace.com/RICHROLL Indeed: Indeed.com/RICHROLL Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/RICHROLL On: On.com/RICHROLL Birch: BirchLiving.com/RICHROLL Inside Tracker: InsideTracker.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

4 Dec 20231h 10min

I love being a dad. It’s been the greatest gift of my lifetime. But too often I grade myself in comparison to others and set myself against an idealized projection of what I imagine a perfect dad to be. While I do my best not to repeat yesterday’s mistakes and interrupt the misguided patterns I’ve inherited from past generations, I still wonder… How can I be the best parent I can be? This is the inquiry explored in today’s masterclass investigation, where I synthesize my thoughts with the most impactful and actionable advice from the parenting experts, psychologists, therapists, educators, and doctors who have graced the show over the years. If you are a wrangler of young humans trying to make the right moves or just want to better understand why kids think and behave as they do, then this deep dive is appointment listening. If the voices you hear speak to you, please consider going back to the original episodes to gain further insights from these amazing teachers. Many of the guests speaking about parenting have written valuable books that amplify their perspectives and philosophies. You can check out their respective episodes in the show notes. While I can’t offer you a prescription for perfect parenting, I hope this primer has given you some perspective on how to parent more consciously. My hope is that it serves you on your parenting journey. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: LMNT: DrinkLMNT.com/RICHROLL FAHERTY BRAND: Fahertybrand.com/RICHROLL Timeline Nutrition: TimelineNutrition.com/RICHROLL ON: On.com/RICHROLL Roka: Roka.com/RICHROLL Babbel: Babbel.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

30 Nov 20231h 11min

There’s nothing I love more than tales of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. But nobody who achieves the extraordinary is ordinary—and while upon first glimpse this real-life Forrest Gump may present as an everyman, he is anything but. Not only did today’s guest dare to best one of the world’s most impressive endurance records, he downright decimated it—and somehow made it all look ‘easy’. In 2021, the Iron Cowboy James Lawrence completed 101 iron-distance triathlons in 101 consecutive days—a record I both witnessed and couldn’t fathom being broken in my lifetime. And yet not too long after, Sean Conway, a dad of two young kids from a small town in Wales by way of Zimbabwe, proceeded to complete 105 consecutive iron-distance triathlons, claims he could have kept going, and believes he could have done 200. In case you don’t quite grasp the enormity of this feat: Sean swam 2.4 miles, then proceeded to ride 112 miles on his bike, then ran a full marathon—26.2 miles, repeating this routine every day without missing a single day, for 105 days in a row. Moreover, Sean didn’t even begin his endurance career until age 30—a career in which he has quietly eclipsed more records than most realize. Today we unpack Sean’s extraordinary accomplishments, his 'terrier mindset', the 'ten pillars of endurance’, why he doesn't celebrate small wins, his unique lens on failure, and his reasoning for never, ever having a backup plan.   Sean is quirky, totally authentic, and chock-full of ludicrous stories lifted from a life that prioritizes adventure over security.  My hope is that his example inspires you to transcend self-imposed limitations and craft a challenge that is meaningful to you. Because we’re all capable of transforming our lives from ordinary to extraordinary. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/RICHROLL Peak Design: PeakDesign.com/RICHROLL Timeline Nutrition: TimelineNutrition.com/RICHROLL Roka: Roka.com/RICHROLL AG1: drinkAG1.com/RICHROLL BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/RICHROLL Indeed: Indeed.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

27 Nov 20232h 37min