Simon Hill On Optimizing Plant-Based Nutrition For Health, Longevity & Athletic Performance

What’s the best way to grow old? Are we over-parenting our kids? And how can I strike the right work-life balance? These are just a few of the questions Ravi Patel was struggling with. So the actor, filmmaker, husband and dad decided to explore how foreign cultures grapple with them. The result is Ravi Patel’s Pursuit of Happiness, a docu-series in which Ravi enlists his friends and family in overseas adventures in search of answers to life’s questions. Perhaps you caught Ravi’s 2014 hit documentary Meet The Patels, a funny and touching first-person family adventure in which Ravi enlists his traditional Indian parents in his search for love, leading him down a rabbit hole into the world of arranged marriages. Streaming on HBO Max, the new show digs even deeper — a poignant and timely deconstruction of American exceptionalism that ventures beyond buddy travelogue tropes. Today Ravi shares his story — and the many lessons learned along the way. Hardly your ordinary actor, this conversation begins with an exploration of Ravi’s unique path. His past life in investment banking. His current interest in health and wellness. His grapple with identity and indoctrination. And his sundry adventures navigating the vicissitudes of Hollywood. We then pivot to the many nuggets of wisdom Ravi has gleaned from his personal journey. And we tug on the questions explored in his Pursuit of Happiness travels to Japan, Denmark, South Korea and Mexico: Why are Americans so unhappy? How can you be a good parent? How do you find work life balance? And how can we responsibly promote inclusion for all? Recorded pre-election, this conversation is equal parts light-hearted and profound — a mix of laughs and uppercase Truths on all things love, partnership, parenting, purpose, and passion. It’s also a friendship origin story. The first of what I anticipate will be more conversations to come. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I love this guy and everything he’s about. And I hope you find this conversation as refreshing and uplifting as I did. Peace + Plants, Rich

16 Nov 20202h 18min

Election week. Healing the national divide. Environmental progress. Weekly wins. And, of course, listener questions. Welcome to another edition of Roll On. Commanding co-host duties as always is my hype man Adam Skolnick, an activist and veteran journalist perhaps best known as David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me co-author. Adam has written about adventure sports, environmental issues and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. He is the author of One Breath and is currently hard at work on a novel. Some of the many topics explored in today’s conversation include: • Recapping our whirlwind election week; • Making sense of the 70 million votes for Trump and the implications this presents; • Understanding Biden and the presidency to come; • Bridging our cultural and political divide as a national imperative; • Rich’s latest Esquire piece and thoughts on the writing process; • Chris Nikic, the first athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman Triathlon; • and Rich’s newest offering, Voicing Change. In addition, we answer the following listener questions: • How do you stay focused on your journey and minimize distractions? • How do you embrace change and take a step into the unknown? • How do you make time for your partner as parents to young children? Thank you to Frank from Southern California, Davin from South Florida, and Michelle from New Jersey for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page, or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Enjoy! Peace + Plants, Rich

12 Nov 20202h 10min

This is the story of an athletic prodigy. It’s also the story of heartbreak. And a hero that became a friend. Meet John Moffet. His journey begins at 11. To keep him out of trouble, John’s parents enroll him in swim lessons. Mere weeks later, it was clear he was special. Within a year, John was obliterating national age group records. By 16 he made his first Olympic Team, becoming the youngest male athlete on the entire U.S.A. squad. But America would boycott the 1980 Moscow Games, robbing John and so many athletes of the opportunity to share their gifts on the world’s largest stage. Four years later, John ascended the starting blocks at 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games as the world record holder and gold medal favorite in his specialty — the 100m breastroke. But a severe groin injury suffered in a preliminary heat would once again crush his dreams of Olympic glory.  It’s a story well told in Bud Greenspan’s Olympic documentary 16 Days of Glory — a legendary filmmaker who would later become John’s mentor in his subsequent career as a storyteller. It’s a career that began humbly in the pioneering days of reality television and would ultimately lead to John taking home three 3 Emmys as an executive producer of The Amazing Race. John’s latest creative pursuit is Sports, Life, Balance —  a new podcast about the many timeless lessons learned through sport and their transformative application to all areas of life. Launching around Thanksgiving, be sure to check it out and subscribe — this one’s worth it. As a daydreaming adolescent swimmer, god-like photos of John ripped from the pages of Swimming World magazine adorned my bedroom wall. So it was utterly surreal when my path delivered me to Stanford. The opportunity for this bright-eyed, 17-year old freshman to call John my teammate was a dream come true. And such began a friendship we have maintained for the last thirty-five years. This is a conversation about what happens when desire meets deeds. It’s about determination and perseverance. The power of storytelling. The importance of reinvention. And the courage to blaze your own unique path. It’s also a rundown of Olympic trials and tribulations — and the conglomerate of raw and historic athleticism that was the hallmark of Stanford in the mid-1980s. Packed with life lessons acquired by dint of John’s extraordinary athletic and professional career, it’s a master class on how to keep pushing when it matters most. When it’s okay to let go. And why aspiration is the master of destination. To read more and listen click here. You can also watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  One of my oldest and dearest friends, I love John and everything he is about. So it’s a long-overdue honor to share his story with you today. May you see in him what I always have. Peace + Plants, Rich

9 Nov 20202h 13min

Although Hakim Tafari defies categorization, a few things are clear. This guy has light. And his journey of personal transformation is nothing short of remarkable. Hakim is a unique and gentle soul of many trades and traits. But fundamentally, he is a seeker. A journeyman of reinvention. An ambassador of running culture & mindfulness. A master of many a martial art from Kung Fu to Tai Chi. An herbalist, massage therapist, a vegan. And an ardent student and practitioner of several spiritual traditions from Buddhism to Daoism. Hakim’s life didn’t come easy. Nor was it delivered overnight. Instead it’s the hard-wrought product of devotion to progressive growth. To being just a little bit better today than yesterday. Today he shares his story. Paved with solid life lessons, this conversation is one man’s hero’s journey. It’s about transformation. It’s about finding peace in failure. Creating a mindfulness-based lifestyle. The call to blaze a spiritual path. And the pangs of growth. But more than anything, this is a dialog about finding freedom — in mind, body, and soul. I’ve had the pleasure of conversing with a diversity of extraordinary humans. But every blue moon I luck into a mind-meld that elevates an exchange into a higher gear. This is one such experience — a connection marked with heart and truth. Vulnerability and authenticity. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Enjoy! Peace + Plants, Rich

2 Nov 20202h 58min

Welcome to another edition of Roll On—my bi-monthly deep dive into (semi) current events, topics of audience interest, and of course answers to your questions. Commanding co-host duties as always is my hype man Adam Skolnick, an activist and veteran journalist perhaps best known as David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me co-author. Adam has written about adventure sports, environmental issues and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. He is the author of One Breath and is currently hard at work on a novel. Some of the many topics explored in today’s conversation include: • The impending U.S. presidential election; • how the coast of Los Angeles was once a legal dumping ground for DDT, and the implications of this oceanic pollution; • the documentary ‘The Perfect Weapon’ and the rise of cyber warfare; • Nina Schick and her investigation into the world of Deepfakes; • thoughts on sustainability, stability, and the power of community; • and Rich's newest offering, 'Voicing Change’. In addition, we answer the following listener questions: How do you manage burnout? How do you live in alignment with your values? How do you navigate body dysmorphia and eating disorders as a man? Thank you to Randall from Nebraska, Robel from Montana, and Evan from Fullerton, CA for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page, or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626.  The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Enjoy! Peace + Plants, Rich

29 Okt 20201h 41min

One of the world's most compelling public figures, today Matthew McConaughey graces the show to share his incredible life story -- a journey laced with timeless wisdom & lessons on authenticity, character, integrity and what it means to be true to one's self. Do I really need to introduce this guy? Dazed And Confused. Dallas Buyers Club. Wolf of Wall Street. Interstellar. True Detective. You've seen them. You love 'em. And you love him. But over yonder -- far afield of the epic screen characters -- resides a mystic cowboy poet. A family man and father prone to ponderings profound. A seeker ever questing for adventure off the beaten path. A Texan on a four-dimensional vision quest, pursuing life in accordance with a homespun code. His is an experience-earned philosophy. Truths both personal and universal that he shares in his utterly unique way.  A way that can only be described as 100% McConaughey. Beyond the make believe, tactile Matthew is an active philanthropist through his Just Keep Livin’ Foundation. He's a professor at the University of Texas in his hometown of Austin, where he also serves up 'Minister of Culture' duties for the UT Athletic Department and the Austin FC Soccer Club, of which he is part owner. Matthew is also quite the writer. Inspired by a lifetime of journaling, his recently released Greenlights is a delightfully earnest self-mythologizing romp. It's also a surprisingly astute and philosophically profound love letter to life -- a beat generation inspired pastiche of journal entries. Hollywood nights. Teenage daydreams. Off-grid plots. Amazonian scraps. Monk-like retreats. And, of course, lessons learned -- all sprinkled with just the right amount of self-help fairy dust. I couldn’t put it down. And that doesn’t happen often. Don't let the hang-dog laconicism fool you. Matthew is a man with a world-class work ethic. Razor sharp focus. Bull-like tenacity. And full commitment to everything he does. A master of perseverance and resilience, Matthew is also one of the most spiritually attuned beings I have ever met. This conversation is an exploration of many things. It's about discernment. Making critical choices. Crafting your future with intention. And the importance of character. It’s about widening our aperture on life. How to effectively and consistently grow, learn and transform. And it's about how to hone intuition to connect (to coin Matthew’s phrase) “the autobahn between your mind and heart.” But overall, this conversation is about my favorite subject -- the hard-wrought journey to authenticity and self-actualization. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I know Matthew is making the legacy media and podcast rounds. But I think (and hope) we took this to a few places others haven't. Either way, this one is super fun -- and chock-a-bloc with timeless life wisdom. It was an honor. I sincerely hope you dig it. Peace + Plants, Rich

26 Okt 20201h 47min

A treat for any and all with a bent for adventure and creative expression, today's guest is one of my very favorite visionaries of images still and moving. Meet Chris Burkard. A true artist in many forms, Chris is a photographer, filmmaker, world explorer, accomplished endurance athlete (last year he set the record for fastest man to circumnavigate Iceland by bike), dirtbag surfer extraordinaire, author, creative director, father, and man of faith.  But first and foremost, Chris is a storyteller --best known for his photojournalistic, humanizing approach to the farthest expanses of the Earth and capturing stories that inspire humans to consider our relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere. Chances are you follow Chris on Instagram — stacked with breathtaking landscapes and tales of adventure, his feed is a unique portal into other worlds that magnetizes 3.6 million people daily. Well established as a leading creative and man of global influence by the ripe age of 32 (now 34), Chris’ visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on global, prominent campaigns with Fortune 500 clients and brands like Apple, The North Face, Patagonia, Microsoft, Burton, Capitol Records, Quiksilver, and REI to name but a few. He’s spoken on the main TED stage, designed product lines, and published a growing collection of gorgeous books including, California Surf Project, At Glacier’s End, Boy Who Spoke To The Earth (children’s book), Distance Shores, and and High Tide: A Surf Odyssey.  Chris' lates offering is Unnar -- a short documentary that tells the story of Chirs’ friend Ellii, an Icelandic photographer, surfer, and kayaker whose perspective changed after surviving a near death experience. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, Unnar is now freely viewable on Chris’ YouTube page. Don't miss it. Today Chris shares his story. I’ve been a huge fan and admirer of Chris for ages. This conversation was long in the making — and does not disappoint.  It’s a conversation about being present in the moment. Making art out of suffering. Taking big risks. And what's behind his love affair with Iceland. It’s also a glimpse into the creative mind of a true artist, laced with potent life lessons that will leave you thinking more broadly about your own path. But most importantly, it is about crusading against the mundane — and living a wanderlust lifestyle. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Chris is a very special human. We need more like him. I greatly appreciate his openness and perspective. And my hope is that this exchange will strengthen your reverence for the outdoors -- and inspire your own impulse for adventure. Peace + Plants, Rich

19 Okt 20202h 33min

Welcome to another edition of Roll On—my bi-monthly deep dive into (semi) current events, topics of audience interest, and of course answers to your questions. Commanding co-host duties as always is my hype man Adam Skolnick, an activist and veteran journalist perhaps best known as David Goggins' Can't Hurt Me co-author. Adam has written about adventure sports, environmental issues and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. He is the author of One Breath and is currently hard at work on a novel. Some of the many topics explored in today's conversation include: Ag-gag laws, animal agriculture surveillance, and media weaponization; the documentary 'A Life On Our Planet' — the legacy of David Attenborough; The problem of moderating social media content veracity & the impending election impact; thoughts on climate consciousness and social entrepreneurship. In addition, we answer the following listener questions: How do you set healthy boundaries with alcohol? How do you navigate your social life alcohol-free? How do you break into endurance sports and create a more adventurous lifestyle? Thank you to Cameron from Oahu, John from London, and Greg from Colorado for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page, or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626.   The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Enjoy! Peace + Plants, Rich

15 Okt 20202h 5min