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Align Podcast

Welcome to the Align Podcast, hosted by me, Aaron Alexander. This is a place where we focus on optimizing your mind, body, and movement through exploring unconventional approaches and unique viewpoints on all things health, wellness, and life. I'm joined by top wellness experts and world-renowned thought-leaders, including Byron Katie, Bruce Lipton, Aubrey Marcus, Jim Kwik, Marriane Williamson, Ben Greenfield, Robb Wolf, Shawn Stevenson, Abel James, Mark Sisson, Wim Hof, James Clear, Zach Bush, Gabby Reece, and many more. Get ready for deep conversations that open you up to new perspectives and ways of life that will ultimately take your mental, physical, and emotional wellness to the next level. If you love this podcast, I would love for you to connect with me on Instagram, @alignpodcast.
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Now displaying: January, 2020
My Strategy for Having Better Conversation and the Podcast Equipment I Use 0
Jan 30, 2020

In this episode of the Align podcast, I give you a step-by-step guide on how I prepare for every single one of my podcast interviews. Plus, I give you a full breakdown of all the equipment I use for recording.

 

No matter what kind of interview you are conducting, I believe it’s beyond important to follow the guidelines I share with you to make your guests feel comfortable, respected, and prepared to give you their best knowledge. Whether you’re podcast interviewing, or simply having a conversation, using these tactics will improve your communication skills and ensure you get the most out of the person you are speaking with. 

 

If you have any questions on purchasing equipment, getting it set up, or on how I conduct my interviews, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram, @alignpodcast. 

 

The equipment I use: 

Blue Yeti USB Mic

Audio-Technica BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset

Zoom H6 Six-Track Portable Recorder

Behringer Microamp HA400 Ultra-Compact 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier



Plant-Based vs. Animal-Based Diets with Dr. Joel Kahn 0
Jan 27, 2020
In this episode of the Align podcast, I have a not so conventional conversation with Dr. Joel Kahn on plant-based nutrition. At his core, Dr. Joel Kahn believes that plant-based nutrition is the most powerful source of preventative medicine on the planet. Although, the two of us dive into the precautions vegans need to take when eliminating animal products from their diet long-term. 
 
Having practiced traditional cardiology since 1983, it was only after Dr. Kahn’s own commitment to a plant based vegan diet that he truly began to delve into the realm of non-traditional diagnostic tools, prevention tactics and nutrition-based recovery protocols. These ideologies led him to change his approach and focus on being a holistic cardiologist. Sharing many of these ideologies in this episode, Dr. Kahn educates us on plant-based nutrition in a refreshingly non-biased light. 
 
What you’ll learn: 
  • Vitamin deficiencies in a plant-based diet
  • Breaking the myth of protein deficiency
  • How meat is degenerative for the body
  • Environmental affects of vegetables vs. meat
  • Biochemical affects of a plant-based diet 
  • How studies vegan and non-vegan diets are skewed
  • How to recognize whether or not a specific diet is right for you
  • A new syndrome: Red Meat allergy 
  • Getting ketotic on plants only 
  • Keto-friendly beans 
  • How your microbiome changes when you take meat out of your diet
  • Effects of plaque build-up in the body 
  • The type of exercise the human body is built for 
 
Find more from Dr. Joel Kahn
 
Website: https://www.drjoelkahn.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjkahn
My Diet and Outlook on Nutrition 0
Jan 23, 2020
In this episode of the Align podcast, I break down what my daily diet looks like, the beliefs I hold around nutrition, and my best advice for deciding what diet and nutrition practices are right fro you. 
 
This is a subject I typically stay away from, as I feel dietary dogmas are just like religious dogmas, and prefer to respect people's decision on what to put inside their bodies. But, enough listeners and followers have asked for an episode on what my diet looks like, so here it is! 
 
What I discuss: 
  • My diet
  • My meal timing
  • The benefits of Intermittent fasting
  • The importance of diversity
  • Other sources of nutrition outside of food 
  • Cooking practices for best nutrient absorption and digestion 
  • Foods I believe should be avoided
  • My thoughts on the keto diet 
  • How to decide what diet is best for you

Find more from me: 

@alignpodcast

alignpodcast.com

 
Rituals for Connecting Deeper with Yourself and Your Partner with Natalie MacNeil 0
Jan 20, 2020
In this episode of the Align podcast, Natalie MacNeil and I have a real, raw, and completely uncensored conversation based on her newest book, The Rituals.
 
Having visited over 100 countries and exposed to countless different cultures, Natalie brings a compilation of rituals for experiencing more joy, activating our highest selves, releasing our emotional blocks, and cultivating wellbeing. Natalie discusses how the integration of these practices will allow us to experience a deeper connection with ourselves and true intimacy with our partners. 
 
Not only is Natalie one of my dearest friends, she is also an Emmy Award-winning media entrepreneur, bestselling author. She’s also the creator of SheTakesOnTheWorld.com, which is recognized by Forbes as one of the top sites on the planet for entrepreneurial women. Natalie is frequently quoted and interviewed in the media and has appeared in top media outlets like Glamour, TIME, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Entrepreneur.com, and more.
 
What You’ll Learn:
  • Breath work for releasing emotional blocks
  • Finding movement through the inner wisdom of your body
  • The power of opening your energy centers
  • How to explore your sensuality 
  • Sex rituals for a deeper connection with your partner
  • Plus more of Natalies life-changing rituals

Find more from Natalie: 

Website: shetakesontheworld.com 
 
Instagram: @nataliemacneil
 
Book: The Rituals: Simple Practices to Cultivate Well-Being, Deepen Relationships, and Discover Your True Purpose
 

Find more from me: 

@alignpodcast

alignpodcast.com

 
 
Benefits of Sitting on the Floor and How to Do It Properly 0
Jan 16, 2020

If you’re someone who is striving to be proactive with their health, tune into this episode of the Align Podcast to learn more about floor sitting – one of the simplest things you can do to increase your vitality and longevity.

Our hips, ankles, knees, spines, and the fluids throughout our body have been built upon movement, necessitated by getting up and down off the ground. Although in western societies, floor sitting is not a staple in our lifestyle.

So here is where the problem lies…our body is like a home.  If we make good use of the space, squatters will take over. Inside the body, the squatters will look like adhesions, calcifications, and inflammation. But, when we move our body through its full range of motion regularly, in ways it’s intended to be moved, we prevent the “squatters” from taking over.  And when our knees, ankles, and hips can smoothly move through their full range of motion, it’s a clear indication of the vitality of the rest of our body.  

In this episode I discuss: 

  • How floor sitting will improve your life
  • Studies backing up the benefits of floor sitting
  • The affect floor sitting has had on different cultures 
  • How to include more floor sitting in your daily life 
  • How to sit on the floor properly
  • How much time should be spent on the floor daily to reap the benefits

Find more from me: 

@alignpodcast

alignpodcast.com

Dr. Perlmutter: Detoxing Your Mind for Better Decision Making, Lasting Happiness and Weight Loss 0
Jan 13, 2020
In this episode of the Align Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Perlmutter, world-renowned, board-certified neurologist and four-time New York Times bestselling author. The two of us dive into one of the most important topics we could discuss in this day and age: detoxing our mind. 
 
With the amount of technology, social media, and toxic foods we are exposed to daily, and our lack of exposure to nature, our minds are constantly being manipulated. All these pose serious risks to our physical and mental health, relationships, and even our ability to control our own thoughts. Plus, we find ourselves more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before. 
 
Dr. Perlmutter refers to this as disconnection syndrome, which is caused by our modern lives pushing us into separating from our wellness, health and joy. Dr. Perlmutter walks us through the different elements associated with this syndrome and provides us with practical ways to break the cycle. To learn more, be sure to check out his new book, Brain Wash. 
 
What you’ll learn: 
  • The negative effects of technology and social media have on your brain and happiness
  • How lack of sleep negatively effects your decision making and causes unwanted weight gain
  • Scientific evidence proving the power of meditation 
  • The importance of nature and simple hacks for incorporating more into your life
  • The importance of re-evaluating your priorities and how you spend your time
  • A step-by-step guide for making your time spend online a healthy experience
  • How processed foods rewires are brain effects our decision making
  • The basics rules of eating for detoxify your mind 
 
Highlights from Dr. Perlmutter: 
  • “Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life, and has the information, but the problem lies in making the choice to live a healthy life. The ability to make that choice has been taken from us. It’s widely known that our eyeballs are being manipulated when we are online but what’s not as clear is how our diets have been manipulated. The addition of sugar, salt, and low-quality fat makes these foods more addictive by literally rewiring our brain. This rewiring affects our decision making, which locks us into making the decision to continue to consume these foods over and over again.”

 

  • “Stress is a sure-fire way to lock yourself into your amygdala, the “fear-based” center of your brain, and block you from the pre-frontal cortex, the part of your brain that allows you to make better decisions, experience empathy, participate in life and plan for the future. So what’s the opposite of stress? No stress. And how do you make that happen? It’s simple: Meditation. If you look at functional MRI scans of those who meditate, you’ll find that their prefrontal cortex is lit up like a Christmas tree. Plus, that activity continues to persist, even when you are done meditating for the day. And that is exactly what we are trying to accomplish.” 
 
  • “One night of not getting enough sleep drastically effects decision making the following day, triggering us to be more impulsive and make the wrong decisions with food. If you draw that out over time, you will find people who routinely do not get enough restorative sleep, consume as much as 350 extra calories a day, without equally increasing the energy expenditure. Which means, 10 days of under sleeping equals one pound of gained body fat. Play that out over a few years and no wonder people get into trouble.”
 
Find more from Dr. Perlmutter: 
 
Instagram: @davidperlmutter
Facebook: @davidperlmutter
Book: Brain Wash
 

Find more from me: 

@alignpodcast

alignpodcast.com

Reduce Driving and Travel Stress with Therapeutic Movement 0
Jan 9, 2020
Do you become a crockpot of stress when stuck when driving or traveling? I’m guessing your answer is yes, and that’s why in this episode of the Align podcast, I break down my bullet proof principles for ameliorating these situations. You’ll learn how to align your travel to become healthier and more optimized when sitting in a car, airplane, bus, or train. I know when you apply these principles, you will successfully turn commute and travel into opportunities rather than a way of martyring yourself to get form place to place.
 
It’s fascinating how deeply associated our physical patterns are with the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we perceive ourselves. When we are in the correct mechanical posture, it translates to how we act in the world. Since we spend so much of our time driving and traveling, it’s essential to improve our travel experience. 
 
What you’ll learn: 
  • The negative affects of driving and travel on your mind and body
  • Correct posture for sitting in the car
  • Quick adjustments to make to your car 
  • How to do isometric workouts 
  • The power of 5 minutes of movement 
  • Random hacks for easing the pain of airplanes

Find more from me: 

@alignpodcast

alignpodcast.com

 

JP Sears: Drastically Change the Way You Live through Breath, Posture and Playfulness 0
Jan 6, 2020

We live our lives in boxes–going from our box house, to our box car, to our box office, just to go back to our box house. The boxes our society and culture have created for us cause us to live with such seriousness. Rarely do we move our bodies naturally and rarely do we allow ourselves to just be silly. It’s this seriousness and lack of natural movement that robs us of our health and happiness, and decreases the quality of our lives.

In this episode of the Align Podcast, JP Spears and I have a conversation about how making simple changes like correcting our posture, being more playful and paying attention to our breath is the secret to our healing.

JP Sears is a YouTuber, comedian, emotional healing coach, author, speaker, world traveler, and curious student of life.  He is dedicated to empowering people to live more meaningful lives, as well as encouraging healing and growth through his humorous and entertainingly informative videos.

Tune into the full episode for our deep thoughts, actionable advice and life-changing tips. 

 

What you’ll learn:

  • Breathing techniques
  • How posture has a direct effect on mental health
  • What happens to your body when you don’t use it to its fullest 
  • How to perfect your posture and mobilize your body
  • Why babies have perfect posture and what happens to it over time
  • Why you need to be in relation to gravity and not fight it
  • The effect playfulness has on your nervous system
  • The different types of playfulness and how you can incorporate each one into your life
  • How to get to the root cause of your seriousness
  • How living more like a kid will change your life 

 

Find more from JP: 

Instagram: @awakenwithjp

Twitter: @awakenwithjp

Youtube: Awaken with JP

Website: awakenwithjp.com

 

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