091 - Keep Calm and Practice On: Buddhist Lessons on Performance (with Stephen Batchelor)

The holiday season brings with it many traditions, two of which we're covering in today's episode: Navigating contentious conversations or disagreements with family members and incessant reminders to practice gratitude. Both of those can be difficult, so today we talk through strategies for knowing when to engage in disagreement and when to walk away, the surprising phrase that might help change someone's mind, and ways to practice and think about gratitude that are actually useful. Plus: a quick rundown on our favorite and least favorite Thanksgiving dishes.00:00 Introduction and Thanksgiving Greetings00:43 Voicemail Question: Handling Family Disagreements03:13 Strategies for Civil Conversations23:42 The Role of Gratitude in Our Lives38:22 Thanksgiving Dishes: Best and Worst42:10 Closing Remarks and Holiday WishesIf you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 Nov 202444min

In conjunction with this week's Growth Equation newsletter, we're diving deep into the deteriorating state of public health in America. As the wellness industry continues to boom, our country's collective health continues to decline. Something is wrong. Today, we try to diagnose how we got here and where we might go next. Topics discussed include how to combat misinformation; why health grifting has gotten so bad; the increasingly problematic ways in which "studies" and "research" are used; what's wrong with cold tubs, supplement stacks, and demonizing single ingredients; what personal and societal level behaviors might help to improve the situation individually and collectively; lessons we can learn from Europe; common myths and mistakes about health and fitness; how to deepen physical literacy and overall health in our education system; and more.00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:37 The Health Crisis in America01:40 Misguided Health Movements03:00 Systemic Issues and Public Health08:42 Social Determinants of Health18:25 Practical Health Solutions26:11 Navigating Health Information28:56 The Cold Plunge Craze: A Case Study30:09 The Flaws in Cold Plunge Research30:59 The Influence of Social Media and Influencers31:42 The Kernel of Truth in Health Trends41:18 The Role of Physical Education in Health48:32 Policy and Health: The Bigger Picture51:01 Practical Health Advice and ConclusionJoin The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Nov 202454min

Today's episode draws on conversations with an Olympic gold medalist, an ultrarunner, and a Buddhist author to discuss a potential way to think about achievement that might help you focus on the process rather than the outcome—particularly if you're someone who is forever chasing the next thing.Join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 Nov 202415min

On this episode of The Coach Up, you'll learn how the Pareto Principle can be used to help you get clarity on what's most essential in your life — from work to exercise to diet to relationships — in order to keep you feeling and performing your best. This will be particularly helpful if you're feeling stuck in your life or struggling to make a change or get started on a new habit or practice, or if you're feeling overwhelmed, like you have too much to do and need to figure out how to pare back.Join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 Nov 202410min

Today, Clay asks Steve to answer all of your most pressing marathon questions: what to know before signing up; what he thinks the Boston Marathon should do about qualifying standards, how to think about setting a reasonable and achievable goal; breaking down the physiological and psychological importance of building an aerobic base; how to think about building out a plan; how to incorporate speed work; how to find your marathon pace; what novices can learn and use from an elite runner's training block; a simplified way to think about threshold and tempo workouts; how to think about skipping or cutting short workouts. All that and more to get you ready to run 26.2 miles, whether it's your first time or your fiftieth. Join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503, (We're offering a $5 Venmo for anyone who leaves a message that makes it into the show!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Nov 202458min

In his 1990 book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi laid out the ideas that would give birth to the idea of the "flow state." In the years since, the flow state has long been sought after by all manner of people—athletes, artists, performers—who are hoping to increase their productivity and happiness by losing themselves in an activity or getting "in the zone." Today, you'll learn the eight factors that Csikszentmihalyi found most reliably led to optimal experiences and how you can better organize the activities in your life such that you might lose yourself in flow.Join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503, (We're offering a $5 Venmo for anyone who leaves a message that makes it into the show!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Nov 202414min

We are, each of us, getting older every moment. (Scary, we know!) So how should we think about adjusting our training as we age, particularly if we're still hoping to perform at a high level? That's the question we address today. Steve, Clay, and Brad talk about how to constructively use life's constraints, how to think about approaching progressive overload as one gets older, and why the wisdom that comes with experience—including a better understanding of one's fatigue—can help offset physical decline. Join The Growth Equation Academy today. 40% off for a limited time!https://the-growtheq-academy.mn.co/If you are enjoying FAREWELL, do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks!iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPocketCastsGot a question, feedback, or ideas for the show? Email clay.growtheq@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (646) 893-9503 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Okt 202441min