What's the difference between a fighter and a true martial artist? How does an MMA champion deal with a career-ending diagnosis?
In this episode, I'm joined by International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Champion and Professional MMA Fighter Rafael Lovato Jr. We talk about the events leading to his brain disorder diagnosis and how it propelled him to power through what he calls the "pinnacle challenge" of his martial arts journey.
Here, he reveals more details on his disorder, his secrets to defeating his opponents, what separates a martial artist from a fighter, and why we shouldn't train only to win but to continuously learn. Also, we reflect on the meaning of success and death and how martial arts teaches us the art of letting go – a skill that will save us from life’s most difficult moments.
What we discuss:
00:00 - Introduction to Rafael Lovato Jr.
1:00 - His childhood, first losses, first wins, & what success means
4:00 - The life-changing diagnosis
10:40 - How he used his diagnosis to fuel his drive to win
16:00 - What martial arts can teach us about the power of letting go
21:30 - What retirement taught him about life & relationships
26:00 - How to win a fight by detaching yourself from your emotions
30:00 - The marks of a true martial artist
35:00 - Rafael reacts to Morihei Ueshiba quotes
48:00 - Secrets to becoming a world champion & a better human being
53:00 - Why you should practice martial arts
Learn more from Rafael Lovato Jr.:
Website: https://okbjj.com/
Instagram: @lovatojrbjj
Related Links:
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www.organifi.com/align and use ALIGN during checkout to receive 20%
By 18, he had 3 surgical knee alterations and decided to quit basketball. Driven to heal himself naturally, Ben experimented with unorthodox methods and was introduced to Charles Poliquin's "knees over toes" training techniques - something prohibited in college sports. Despite criticisms, Ben kept doing his training and regained his athleticism. At 21, he was offered a full-ride basketball scholarship and transformed his basketball career. Not long after, Ben needed to let go of a full-ride D1 scholarship because of NCAA eligibility rules. Not to mention his strength coach then was against his knees over toes training, too.
Now in his 30s, Ben has a record-breaking 42-inch vertical jump even elite NBA players find hard to top. On a mission to educate people and alleviate the epidemic of knee surgeries, he spends countless hours producing free content and designing programs based on the knees over toes approach. Ben's methods focus on transforming one's athleticism by strengthening the body from the ground up, which means re-integrating the toes, feet, ankles, and the anterior tibialis. He explains why we need to practice walking backward and reveals the secrets to pain-free knees by doing backward sled drags and split squats.
Our conversation gets more personal as Ben reveals the driving force behind his epic wins and how he deals with pain and failures. He also looks back on his battle with depression and painkiller addiction and shares the most important lesson he learned from it.
What we discuss:
00:00 - Introduction to Ben Patrick
4:00 - What does "knees over toes" training mean?
8:50 - Reversing pain through manual therapy
13:00 - Exercises to banish your knee pain & reveal your weak spots
16:20 - What split squats are for & why you need to work on your anterior tibialis
18:15 - How to drastically improve your vertical leap & dunk like the world's top jumpers
20:00 - How to relieve tight hip flexors + Glute workout that’s perfect for the elderly
22:20 - No-nonsense tips to staying driven & motivated
27:00 - The "Sled" Metaphor: How to find light in your life's darkest moments
31:00 - Debunking popular myths about movement & sports training
33:50 - Why you need both strength & flexibility in sports & life
36:20 - Training advice for athletes & sports enthusiasts
Learn more from Ben Patrick:
Website: www.atgonlinecoaching.com/
Youtube: TheKneesovertoesguy
Instagram: @kneesovertoesguy
Book: “ATG For Life” by Ben Patrick
Related Links:
The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!
Pre-order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook
.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE
magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10%.
neurohacker.com/qualia-mind and use AARON during checkout to save 15%
"What goes on your skin goes into your body," Katie says as she explains how you can nourish your body by from the outside in by being extra conscious of what you put on your skin and hair. There are always better options than the overmarketed products you’re manipulated to buy, and she shares where and how you can naturally source them.
Our conversation gets vulnerable as Katie opens up about her issues with weight and body image that stem from a deep emotional trauma. She claims that successfully losing 100lbs in 6 months isn't just about sticking to a workout routine; it's about revisiting her past wounds and choosing to heal from them, no matter what it takes.
Katie Wells is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and a mom of six. She’s the host of the podcast “Wellness Mama” and the founder and CEO of Wellnesse. With her background in research, journalism, and nutrition, she teams up with medical advisors to find answers to essential health problems and help women and moms live a healthier life.
If want to live a more eco-conscious and purposeful life for you and your family but can’t commit to it, this episode will make you realize it’s easier than you think.
What we discuss:
0:00 – Introduction to Katie Wells
3:00 – On learning comedy: "It's like playing a mental chess"
5:00 – The endocrine-disruptors lurking everywhere in your home
12:05 – Simple tips for minimizing plastic use and toxin exposure
17:00 – How your skin and hair products affect your overall health
24:00 – Why keeping your microbiome healthy isn’t as expensive as you expect
30:00 – Why weight loss involves trauma work
35:00 – The root of her body and weight issues + how she overcame them
44:00 – Practical tips for becoming a healthier human
53:00 – Katie’s advice: Be your own primary healthcare provider; take responsibility for your own health.
Learn more from Katie Wells:
Websites: wellnessmama.com wellnesse.com
Instagram: @wellnessmama
Katie Wells’ books: wellnessmama.com/books
Related Links:
The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!
Pre-order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook
.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE
magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10%.
neurohacker.com/qualia-mind and use AARON during checkout to save 15%
What does it mean to train like a woman? How does women’s menstrual cycle affect athletic training and performance?
In this episode of the Align Podcast, I’m honored to host one of the world’s leading experts in female physiology and sports nutrition, Dr. Stacy Sims. We have an awakening conversation on the power of tracking women’s menstrual cycles not only for optimal sports training and performance, but also for a deeper understanding of what women have to consistently go through.
Arguing that sports and fitness science is designed from a cis-male’s perspective, Dr. Stacy lays out the complexities of female physiology and why it merits a whole different approach. She explains how to track menstrual cycles so women can plan their own training based on their cycle metrics. Knowing these patterns allows women and coaches to leverage hormonal changes and identify the best days for steady-state work, high-intensity session, and recovery period.
Plus, Dr. Stacy shares what trainings can be done during high-hormone and low-hormone phases, the best food to eat during each phase, and essential training advice for young girls. She also debunks popular myths around menstrual cycles: Does ovulation predispose women to ACL injuries? Is having sex really a no-no during red days?
Dr. Stacy Sims is an Environmental Exercise Physiologist and Nutrition Scientist specializing in gender differences. She’s also an innovator, entrepreneur, and author.
What we discuss:
0:00 – Introduction to Dr. Stacy Sims
6:00 – Gender bias in sports training & other reasons she studied female physiology
10:00 – What causes menstrual cycles?
18:00 – Low-hormone phase + why women need more protein than men
23:10 – Ovulation + why women crave carbohydrates on their period
30:00 – Most important lessons from her years of research & experience
32:30 – Debunking myths: Are women more likely to tear their ACL on their period?
44:30 – Training recommendation during the luteal phase
47:30 – Debunking myths: can women have sex on their period?
50:00 – How sexual contraception affects athletic training & performance
58:00 – Dealing with irregular cycles & amenorrhea among athletes
Learn more from Dr. Stacy Sims:
Website: www.drstacysims.com
Instagram: @drstacysims
Books: www.drstacysims.com/booksandmore
Related links:
The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!
Pre-order here: https://www.alignpodcast.com/alignbook.
As the new year unfolds, do you feel more pressure to fully live your purpose? But what if your purpose remains unclear to you?
In this episode of the Align Podcast, I'm joined by Youtuber, Podcaster, and polymath Chris Williamson. He's the creator and host of "Modern Wisdom" where he interviews some of the brightest minds on the planet to explore different topics on human nature, philosophy, health, fitness, and many more.
Chris admits feeling like an outsider his whole life, which helped forge his exceptional perceptive qualities that led to his huge commercial success as a club promoter. But, for Chris, we're more than what we do. He goes on to discuss the key to finding your purpose, how to make sense of your suffering, and one of the most bewildering topics of all…modern dating. He explains why more men and women struggle to find a partner nowadays and how balancing the feminine and masculine energies can solve it.
What we discuss:
0:00 – Introduction to Chris Williamson
2:30 – How dogs can help you live longer
7:09 – Intrinsic focus Vs. Extrinsic focus
13:30 – Is there a cheat code to finding love?
17:30 – How to reframe your negative experiences
21:40 – Why curiosity is also a desire to be understood
32:00 – How to transcend your suffering
38:40 – Finding and questioning your purpose
42:00 – The most attractive quality in a person
46:00 – Is a high-agency partner good for you?
55:00 – On modern dating: Problematic relationship advice you need to rethink
1:02:00 – Balancing the feminine and masculine energies to solve the chaos of modern dating
Learn more from Chris Williamson:
Website: https://chriswillx.com/
Instagram: @chriswillx
Did you know that your body needs movement as much as you need food?
In this episode of the Align Podcast, biomechanist and movement guru Katy Bowman explains what human movement truly means, why it affects your quality of life, and how to get yourself to move more often and effectively in a sedentary world that offers limitless reasons to sit on hours.
What's really interesting to know is that it's not enough that you exercise or move your body once in a while; Katy says you should be moving in ways that optimize ALL parts of your body. Yes, there's actually a "dosage" of movement required for different body parts. It seems complex, but it's totally achievable if you introduce even small changes in your routine.
Whether you're working in front of the computer or glued to the TV screen, there are easy ways you can secure that daily dose of healthy movement. Learn more as Katy and I delve deep into that in this educational talk.
Aside from writing the best-selling "Move Your DNA" along with 7 other books, multi-awarded leader Katy Bowman teaches movement globally through her movement education company, Nutritious Movement. Her work has been featured in diverse media including The Today Show, CBC Radio One, The Seattle Times, and Good Housekeeping. She’s one of the most influential thinkers whose work continues to amaze and inspire me.
What we discuss:
2:50 – What is movement, and how to know if you're "under moved"
8:00 – Pelvic Floor biomechanics, and the “movement dosage” your body parts need
13:40 – How to incorporate movement even if you’re just sitting
16:50 – Why you need to go out more often and look at things from a distance
24:00 – Katy’s book reco: The Wizard and the Prophet
36:15 – “The body is a renewable resource through movement.”
41:00 – Tensegrity beyond the skeletal system: How your perception of the world shapes your body and life
46:11 – How to be more active individuals in a sedentary world
49:00 – Movement as Nutrition: Why "Move Your DNA" is worth the read
Learn more from Katy Bowman:
Website: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/
Instagram: @nutritiousmovement
Related Link:
Katy Bownman’s books: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/product-category/bookstore/
In this episode of the Align Podcast, top ultra marathoner and world-record holder Michele Graglia shares empowering insights that will get you off the couch and start running towards your highest dreams.
His unimaginable wins are plastered in various websites but, in this rare interview, Michele reveals why competition ruins the essence of ultra running, what sets his mindset apart from other ultramarathoners, and how to overcome your ego-centric tendencies that keep you from growing into a better version of yourself.
From getting high on the addictive supermodel lifestyle at age 24 to feeling the unbearable existential void at 27, Michele found an escape in the world's most inhospitable places: ice mountains and torrid deserts. His pivot from the limelight set him off to epic adventures that test the limits of human potential. Giving his all to run extreme distances in extreme conditions, he has conquered both the scalding canyons of Death Valley and the sub-zero Yukon region. Amid the COVID pandemic, he won the 2020 Moab 240 Endurance Run, a death-defying 240-mile foot race through some of Utah’s most challenging terrains.
It seems insane to give up fame, fortune, and comfort for intense mental and physical pain, suffering, and despair, but Michele believes it’s necessary. “We can all transcend our perceived limitations to grow as a person,” he remarks. If you feel trapped in your current situation and struggling to break free from your comfort zone, this episode is perfect for you.
What we discuss:
3:15 - What made him leave the luxurious modeling world for ultra running?
6:00 - Why ultra running is about self-exploration, not competition
8:30 - On beating world-renowned ultramarathoner David Goggins in a race
13:50 - What mind and body transcendence is, and why running a race is an spiritual pursuit
20:08 - How your ego keeps you from achieving greatness
22:35 - Michele's realizations after his confrontation with David Goggins
38:04 - How your ego makes you do stupid things
45:00 - Why life is an endless pursuit of self-discovery
51:50 - Tips to preparing for a big race
57:15 – Ultra Running Diet: Optimized Fat Metabolism (OFM) diet, ketosis, or veganism?
Learn more from Michele Graglia:
Website: https://michelegraglia.com/
Instagram: @mickeygraglia
Related Link:
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drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE
www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.
Leave a review of the podcast and get a chance to win exciting prizes!
Is there such a thing as breathing too much? Yes! And if you’re doing it through your mouth, that’s much worse.
In this latest episode of the Align Podcast, world-renowned breathing expert Patrick McKeown explains why you should stop breathing through your mouth and start taking slow, light breaths through your nose. One huge reason for this is that nasal breathing will drastically improve your sleep, attention and memory, calm your mind, and reduce your stress almost instantly.
Do you notice how anxiety makes your breathing fast and shallow, which only reinforces your suffering? That's mostly because of dysfunctional breathing patterns you’re not even aware of.
Here, Patrick gives tips on how to stay calm and collected in stressful situations by controlling our breath. His focus is not in deep breaths but in the gaps between those breaths. Also, we cover the healing effects of nasal breathing on COVID and asthma patients, the dangers of mouth breathing in kids, and how tongue posture affects your gait and appearance.
Patrick McKeown is a best-selling author and leading expert on the topic of optimal breathing for improved health and fitness. He has written 8 books, including top sellers "Close Your Mouth" and "Asthma Free Naturally". His latest book, "Atomic Focus,” is packed with science-proven breathing techniques that help people achieve the highest level of focus they need to succeed.
What we discuss:
6:00 - The secret to staying calm in stressful situations lies in your breath
12:30 - The harmful effects of mouth breathing in children
23:00 - Why solving the mental health crisis starts with addressing sleep disordered breathing
30:00 - Stimulate your vagus nerve through this breathing technique
35:30 - 6 Tongue Exercises to boost brain function
44:15 - Why you should start breathing less and slow, not fast and shallow
50:43 - How nasal breathing improves your focus and memory
53:40 - Self-actualization begins with deep sleep and correct breathing patterns
56:00 - Microcosmic Orbit: Harnessing strength and energy from your tongue
59:00 - How are your tongue position, gait, and posture related?
Learn more from Patrick McKeown:
Websites:
Instagram: @oxygenadvantage, @buteykoclinic
Related Link:
Patrick Mckeown’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-McKeown/e/B006X1OD3U%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Ever wonder how you can show up better in your relationships? Your dog has the answers!
On this episode of the Align Podcast, Tamar Geller shares how she believes that our dogs are in our life to teach us how to show up for a relationship. In other words, she considers them to be our training wheels as we learn how to develop better relationships in our lives with ourselves and others.
Tamar Geller is a New York Times bestselling author and as OPRAH says “A Life Coach for Dogs and their People”. Known for her mindful, fun, innovative and effective methods, her enthusiasm revolutionized the way dog training is done. She doesn’t believe in giving commands to a dog, instead she prefers to teach them the life skills that allow them to self-regulate and make better decisions.
To learn more about Tamar:
Website: theloveddog.com
Instagram: @theloveddog
Related links:
www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent
www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.
Leave a review of the podcast and get a chance to win exciting prizes from Eaton Hemp and BiOptimizers!
Having trouble connecting with your partner sexually and emotionally? Sex expert Jaiya Ma says it can be because of your unprocessed traumas and lack of self-love.
In this wildly vulnerable episode of the Align Podcast, world-renowned sexologist Jaiya Ma and her partner Ian Ferguson reveal the top secrets to having the best sex of your life. Hint: Great sex isn't about what you do; it's about who you are.
Jaiya and Ian talk about the importance of taking on "masks" or personas to fully express your erotic self without the conditioned feeling of shame. In this rare instance, Jaiya also openly shares her struggle with an incurable Complex Post-traumatic Disorder (CPTSD) and how it interfered with her relationship with Ian and herself, leading her to test the healing wonders of Psychedelics.
Highlighting the naked truth that humans are wired for pleasure, this power couple aims to put an end to the institutionalized shame around sexuality. If you want to get over that shame and optimize your sexual life, this episode is for you.
Jaiya is an award-winning author and Somatic Sexologist with over two decades of clinical research and client observation under her belt. She is the creator of The Erotic Blueprints and writer of best-selling books “Red Hot Touch” and “Cuffed, Tied & Satisfied.” She and Ian are contributors to the hit Netflix show, “Love, Sex, and Goop.”
What we discuss:
3:30 - How self-love affects your sex life
4:36 - The Attachment Theory: Why you feel unsafe in a relationship
6:40 - Coping with Complex Post-traumatic Disorder (CTPSD)
17:30 - Jaiya's experience of MDMA/Ecstasy as treatment for CTPSD
25:00 - What taking on erotic personas really mean
28:26 - Empowered Erotic Persona Work: Identities you can try with your partner
35:20 - How to deal with sexual shame
38:20 - How to activate your pleasure hormones through paradoxical breathing
1:00:00 - Sex, death, and orgasm
1:06:00 - The secret to falling in love with yourself and your partner again
Learn more from their website: https://missjaiya.com/
Related links:
www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent
www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.
Today’s science & technology allows us to cross planets and modify genes, yet chronic diseases still shoot us down. If our systems are so advanced, why are we still the sickest nation in history?
That’s a question addressed by Shawn Stevenson in this eye-opening episode. Here, Shawn unveils the faults in our healthcare system and the role of the government and media in perpetuating fear among us. He explains that the fear that helps us spot a threat is the same fear that makes us commit bad decisions for ourselves and others.
While fear serves as our mechanism for survival, Shawn argues it has also been a tool that corporations, politicians, and capitalists use as a form of control…and a source of billon-dollar profits! As long as we’re afraid to take charge of our own lives, they will continue to feed on us, and we will continue to grapple with the crisis of fear.
From the hyperbolic COVID-19 media coverage to flawed FDA processes and the opioid crisis brought by pharmaceutical giants, Shawn fearlessly points out how we're being manipulated by the very systems we created. And then he shares 3 things we can do to make a change now.
Shawn Stevenson is a nutritionist, keynote speaker, and the author of best-selling books "Eat Smarter" and "Sleep Smarter". He is the creator and host of “The Model Health Show” where he convenes with the world’s brightest experts to discuss topics on health, fitness, nutrition, personal development, and more.
What we discuss:
7:05 - Why we're still a lost world despite our advances in science & technology
17:20 - You are the product of the little moments in your life
22:00 - Can we hack our brain to change our feelings and thoughts?
34:30 - How fear affects our immune system
46:00 - The darkest secrets of our healthcare system
53:50 - What happens when you compromise your ethics for the greater good
57:25 - Why do people have a thirst for power?
1:04:00 - How big pharmaceutical companies contribute to the opioid crisis
1:14:00 - "Be awake, not woke"
1:17:20 - How can we help fix a broken healthcare, political, and education system?
1:25:00 - "Be so good that you're undeniable"
Learn more from Shawn Stevenson:
Website: https://themodelhealthshow.com/
Instagram: @shawnmodel
Related Links:
www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent
www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.
Leave a review of the podcast and get a chance to win exciting prizes from Eaton Hemp and BiOptimizers!
All health starts in your mouth because it’s the gateway to your entire body. How can you guard it better?
In this episode of the Align Podcast, Biological Dentist Dr. Dominik Nischwitz delves into the profound connection of oral health to our overall health and well-being.
With scientific studies proving the origins of chronic diseases in the mouth, Dr. Dome challenges the claims of conventional dentistry that the teeth are separate from the body and explains why the traditional "drill, fill, and bill" dental practice can make things worse. For him, today's world requires a new approach to oral healthcare that fuses advanced technology and natural medicine.
If you want to know what causes tooth decay and how to avoid it, how your mouth is connected to the rest of your body, why root canals and amalgam fillings are deadly, and when you should see a biological dentist, this episode is for you!
Dr. Dominik Nischwitz is a dentist and naturopath, a world specialist in biological dentistry and ceramic implants, and the president of the International Society of Metal Free Implantology (ISMI). In 2015, he co-founded DNA Health and Aesthetics, Center for Biological Dentistry with his father in Tubingen, Germany. His book, “It All Starts in Your Mouth,” explores the impact of oral health on whole body wellness.
What we discuss:
6:00 - What causes cavitation?
11:35 - How the mouth serves as the window into the microbiome
12:58 - What does "chew your water" mean?
17:25 - How are the teeth connected to the central nervous system?
21:20 - What your teeth reveals about your health
23:16 - Why flossing can do more harm than good, and what prevents tooth decay
30:00 - What causes bad breath?
39:20 - How breastfeeding helps the baby's jaw development
43:30 - The relationship of your bite to your spinal posture
1:06:20 - The key to optimal oral health requires a return to nature and ancient strategies
1:09:00 - Why all dentists should be biological dentists
Learn more from Dr. Dominik:
Instagram: @drdome1
Related Links:
www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent
www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.
Are you in search of the Divine? Do you struggle to lead a spiritual life in our secular world? If yes, this episode is for you!
"People who live without a deep connection to spirit, to soul, to consciousness, to love, to truth are not living happy lives," said this week's guest, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.
Sadhvi is a world-renowned spiritual leader and best-selling author based in India. Twenty-five years ago, she left America carrying loads of childhood trauma and wounds to seek freedom. In a weird but magical way, she found it on the banks of Ganga River. Here, she shares how a leisure trip to India became a story of coming home not only to herself but to God.
For her, spiritual awakening doesn't mean that we stop being fallible humans. It means experiencing the fullness of our humanity with freedom and power over things that enslave us: technology, hobbies, relationships, beliefs, and even our own thoughts. With that beautiful philosophy, she gives tips and practices to tap into our inner voice and regain trust in the perfect universe. Ultimately, she explains why finding God isn’t an external quest but an inward journey we can choose to embark on right now.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is a multi-awarded changemaker with a Ph.D in Psychology. She teaches meditation, provides spiritual counseling, and leads humanitarian projects while also serving on United Nations Faith Advisory Council on Religion, among others. Her book, "Hollywood to the Himalayas," recounts her journey toward divine enlightenment and offers guidance to our own spiritual rebirth.
What we discuss:
2:20 - Dealing with childhood trauma and eating disorder
8:00 - The trip that changed her life forever
11:42 - How moments of enlightenment become a way of life
18:00 - If we are not our body, who and what are we?
23:00 - Why spirituality doesn't require transcendence from our human experience
34:00 - Are people born as empty slates? Do we have a set destiny?
39:08 - Why we CAN'T be anything we want to be
48:20 - Follow these practices and techniques to get through pain and anger
56:00 - Tips to breaking toxic attachment with technology
1:04:00 - What's the cost of living a happy life, and how do we prepare for it?
Learn more from Sadhvi:
Website: https://www.sadhviji.org/
Instagram: @sadhviji
Forget about New Year's Resolutions! Let's talk about the small habits we do every single day that define our entire year...or even our whole life!
This episode of the Align Podcast is a rerun of my interview with James Clear about his New York Times bestseller, “Atomic Habits,” which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
While explaining how habits are formed, James argues that we can transform our lives just by committing to small, consistent behavioral changes. Simply put, set a GOAL and build HABITS that align with it! Good habits don't even need to be grand; they can be as simple as placing your phone away from you for a certain period to avoid checking it 200x a day and make space for things that matter.
Need help in breaking bad habits?
Listen to the entire episode to understand why we repeat an action (good or bad) over and over again and how to make true changes that last longer than any of your New Year's Resolutions!
Besides being a successful author, James Clear is a weightlifter and travel photographer. His presence is sought by big companies worldwide for his insightful speeches on habit improvement and personal development.
What we discuss:
2:30 - Get 1% better each day instead of having no improvement at all
4:02 - How to avoid addiction to modern technology by adding friction to your actions
7:30 - 2 Tips to improve bad habits
10:48 - Most of us are drug addicts; we just don’t realize it
13:00 - The 4 Stages of Habit Formation
16:00 - Why we get addicted to social media & video games + how to control it
20:40 - Outcome-based habit Vs. Identity-based habit: Which is better?
29:29 - How to be the architect of your environment rather than a victim of it
33:50 - Why success isn't about grinding & hustling but about decision-making & habit-forming
37:20 - Explore Vs. Exploit Trade-Off: When to know when it's time to give up
Learn more about James:
Website: jamesclear.com
Instagram: @jamesclear
Related Links:
www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount
eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent
drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE
www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.
20-50% of people quit their jobs without knowing what to do next. Are you one of them?
In a world of uncertainties, finding the thing that lights us up gets more difficult each day. Most of us are burnt out, dragging ourselves to work for the paycheck, status, benefits, and prestige until we wake up 10 or 20 years later wondering what it was all for.
How do we show up better in life and keep our sense of purpose?
Jonathan Fields offers the tools and strategies we're looking for! Here, he talks about what defines a good life, where to find meaning despite uncertainties, and how to cultivate a still mindset to embody a more peaceful and productive inner state.
Jonathan is the host of the top-rated podcast, Good Life Project. After years of researching what sparks people's motivation, he came up with a system that identifies people into 10 different Sparketypes. Among his greatest discovery is this: aligning our work with our Sparketype leads to a higher sense of fulfillment and renewed quality of life. Find out more about the Sparketypes in Jonathan’s new book, "SPARKED, Discover Your Unique Imprint For Work That Makes You Come Alive."
What we discuss:
3:13 - Realizations on Good Life Project's transition into remote production
11:55 - Navigating uncertainties in a changing world
14:15 - How do we find our passion?
16:49 - What it means to live a good life, and Jonathan's inspiration for Good Life Project
19:53 - What are Sparketypes?
25:00 - Why swapping jobs or relationships isn't always the best first step toward a better life
31:00 - The importance of infusing play into our adult life
38:03 - How do we show up better in life, relationships, and at work?
46:28 - How to cultivate a healthy and peaceful mindset to avoid burnout
54:30 - What do we consider as "work,” and how do we find fulfillment from it?
1:02:14 - The algorithim behind the Sparketype Assessment
Learn more from Jonathan’s website: https://www.jonathanfields.com/
Struggling to keep your focus and be present in the here and now? You're not alone! There are simple, little changes you can do to tap into the power of your conscious mind and live in full measure.
In this episode of the Align podcast, Dr. Amishi Jha explains how our brain's attention system works while highlighting our ability to train our mind to function better. Yes, we can pay attention like we never did before and change habits we thought we couldn't live without.
Also, we discuss neural plasticity, how to orient ourselves to pain and difficult emotions, why positivity hurts in certain high-stress situations, and how practicing mindfulness is the key to a fulfilled existence.
Dr. Amishi Jha, PhD is a neuroscientist and a professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. She serves as the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative, which she co-founded in 2010. Dr. Jha’s work has been featured at NATO, the World Economic Forum, and The Pentagon. She has received coverage in the The New York Times, NPR, TIME, Forbes and more.
Her recent book, PEAK MiND, offers a guide to thriving in a distracted world. It breaks down science-proven mind-training practices to manage our attention more effectively and be 100% present in life’s crucial moments.
What we discuss:
2:41 - What is the definition of the 'mind' and how does it differ from the 'brain'?
8:17 - Explaining the brain to a 5-year-old
12:00 - Where does memory exist in the body?
17:07 - How to connect to the pain and reorient yourself to difficult emotions
21:58 - Why positivity can be problematic in high-stress situations
29:03 - Why do we consciously make bad decisions, and how do we change that?
33:20 - Defining the Default Mode Network and what happens in our brain when we're told to rest?
38:00 - Demystifying neural plasticity and why committing mistakes don't always result in better brain function
43:54 - What her book, PEAK MiND, offers to everyone struggling with attention
49:39 - "Kindness and compassion begin by paying attention." - Dr. Jha
Learn more from Dr. Amishi Jha:
Website: amishi.com
Instagram: @amishijha
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Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day: https://www.amazon.com/Peak-Mind-Attention-Invest-Minutes-ebook/dp/B08THNJ978
Is there a connection between your gut and your overall health?
In this week’s episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum joins in to discuss all things gut microbiome and its effect on our physical and mental health. As one of the world’s leading fungal community scientists, Dr. Ghannoum enlightens listeners with a wealth of knowledge and research on this very important topic.
Dr Mahmoud Ghannoum is the Director of the Integrated Microbiome Core and the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He has been called the leading microbiome researcher in the world; by The Washington Post, and has published over 450 papers on his research on how bacteria and fungi impact our health.
What we discuss…
2:27- Gut-brain axis
3:42- Your body communicates to you
5:51- The connection between the gut biome and depression
8:33- What should we be doing?
17:28- Fungus and bacteria within us
19:45- Is over-sanitization better?
21:43- Do things in moderation
25:07- Toxins in our soil
28:11- Building friendly gut biomes
30:34- The gut, brain, skin connection
35:38- Sexual organs and our microbiome
40:25- Listen to your body & be a critical thinker
45:19- Gut connection and autism
53:55- Stress and the microbiome
55:44- Fungus plays a role in our environment
58:29- Mushroom supplements
To learn more about Dr. Ghannoum…
Website: BIOHM Health | Gut Health & Probiotic Supplements
Instagram: @dr.microbiom
Facebook: BIOHM Health - Home | Facebook
Related links:
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eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent
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In this week’s episode of Align Podcast, Dr. Zach Bush joins in to discuss the science behind healing the body physically, mentally, and spiritually even in the face of today’s health crisis and sometimes toxic environments we live in. Dr. Zach enlightens listeners with alternative healing modalities and ways to ascend physically and spiritually in order to live an optimal and abundant way of life. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
Zach Bush MD is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr Zach founded *Seraphic Group and the nonprofit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health.
What we discuss…
3:54-4:13- Deconstruct harder & digging deeper
4:50-5:04- You are writing this story
6:03-6:15- Opportunities that the universe brings
7:00- Complexity vs. simplicity: Be willing to be shifted
8:10- Health comes from within
11:48- Why Dr. Bush chose to study endocrinology
14:20- Chemicals in our food and our environment
17:46- Genetics of fear and guilt
19:09- What are viruses?
26:39-The purpose of a fever
30:57- Life needs more life
32:30- Let go of judgements, fear, and guilt & embrace abundance
37:11- Technology is an accelerator
39:54-Is everything around us a hologram?
41:28- We are all God energy
49:28- Let go of judgement
54:19- The draining of our life force
1:00:24- Another dimension we’re missing in allopathic medicine
1:02:12- The intersection between human health & food systems
1:04:36- Life is regenerative and there is a generative force on this planet
1:05:30- Stories from hospice work and lessons for life
1:14:17- Hormone therapy and its effect on health and the endocrine system
1:17:37- Connecting with indigenous wisdom
To learn more about Zach Bush…
Website: zachbushmd.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ZachBushMD/
Instagram:@zachbushmd
Twitter: @DrZachBush
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Why are sexual pleasure and aging both forbidden topics of discussion? Why are people so hesitant to discuss these pertinent topics when it brings about so much enjoyment and gratification in life?
In this week’s episode of Align Podcast, Dr. Amy Killen joins in with a fun and educational approach to sexual health, anti-aging, and discusses taboo topics related to sexual pleasure and sexual optimization.
Dr. Amy Killen is a Board Certified Physician and leading expert in anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Dr. Killen also speaks internationally and trains physicians about PRP and stem cells, sexual longevity, and skin health.
What we discuss…
4:14- Why do people see Dr. Amy?
5:58- There’s more going on!
7:17-Stem cells...what do they do?
9:24- Injecting stem cells into genitals
10:13- Root causes of erectile dysfunction
12:39- Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy, & Sexual Healing
13:56- What does working with Dr. Amy look like?
15:22- Nitric oxide, blood flow, and erectile dysfunction
20:51- Stress states and aging
21:50- Allopathic vs. holistic medicine
28:56- Shame and genitalia
31:17- Normalizing talking about sexual health
33:09- Emotional connection to sexual health
44:31- Prostate massages...should men do it?
46:14- Testosterone levels and ejaculation
46:48- Clitoral injections and its’ association with increased sexual pleasure
48:52- The “G Spot”
50:09- How does one get to know their vagina?
53:38-Decreasing the likelihood of prostate cancer
To learn more about Dr. Amy Killen…
Website: https://dramykillen.com/
Instagram:@dr.amybkillen
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Have you been going to the gym for years, working out with trainers or taking gym classes, but not seeing the results you want?
This week, Dr.John Jaquish and I talk about controversial ideas that go against the grain of what many people are doing inside gyms and dispel myths of the traditional fitness methodologies. Dr. John discusses ways to improve your fitness outcomes by utilizing his unique, scientific-based approaches and his proven methodologies in order to get the fitness results you want!
Dr. Jaquish has spent years researching and developing improved approaches to health. He is a notable scientist, inventor, and author. He is the founder of the X3 System, best selling author of the book, Weight Lifting is a Waste of Time, So is Cardio, and There’s a Better Way to Have the Body You Want. Dr. John is also the founder of OsteoStrong- the most effective bone density building medical technology, which is now partnered with Tony Robbins.
What we discuss…
6:56- The inefficiencies in standard human fitness and focusing on a different approach
8:46- What is variable resistance training and why does it matter?
13:41- Who is using the OsteoStrong methods and why are they using it?
22:41- More about OsteoStrong scientific
26:10- How much training is too much training? How much training is not enough training? Tying Dr. John’s methodology of OsteoStrong and X3 into this equation.
33:31- Training with greater force to trigger greater gains
37:47-Why rest is important in building muscle
44:57- Does visualization in strength training work to produce results in your body?
52:51- Setting goals, standard education, and lessons learned in goal setting
54:51- Success at a deeper level: Material success vs. deep internal success
58:05- Decluttering your life by purging unnecessary material items around your space
59:05- Everchanging version of self and growing throughout life
1:03:37- Stepping into the empowered version of yourself
1:08:36- Thoughts on love and fear
1:15:02- Community and connection and its correlation to health
To learn more about Dr. John…
Website: https://www.jaquishbiomedical.com/
Instagram: @drjaquish
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Almost two hours in a cylinder filled with 700 kilograms of ice cubes seems like an impossible feat. To climb the highest and coldest mountains in the world, in only shorts, you have to be almost superhuman. And a half marathon barefoot running through snow and ice?! Yep, it might sound unbelievable, but it’s nothing but true. You know what else? You can do this too! Wim Hof has several breathing exercises and cold-water training that made him able to deliver this performance.
Wim is able to hold his breath with ease for over six minutes while his entire body is submerged underwater. Coldwater, obviously. It’s possible for everyone. The base lies in proper breathing.
Through proper breathing and training, you can train to hold your breath longer and make conscious contact with your heart, autonomic nervous system, and immune system. It also has a positive influence on your blood circulation.
After the breathing and meditation exercises, your body and mind will be prepared for the next challenge: the confrontation with cold. Through certain exposures to the cold, you can make your body stronger. You can start now by practicing this at home! For example, take a cold shower after a hot one. This will train the tiny muscles in your veins to become more flexible. As you progress you can even sit, walk, or run through the snow and ice. More importantly, this helps your body prevent future diseases
To learn more about Wim…
Website: wimhofmethod.com
Instagram: @iceman_hof
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Have you ever thought there was "good" anxiety?
This week, Dr. Wendy Suzuki and I talk all about the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of anxiety. She explains how to approach anxiety, the thoughts behind it, the tools to use to take control of your anxiety and take back your life! We discuss her research while writing her new book, Good Anxiety, and how important mindset is and the effect of physical activity on the brain.
Dr. Wendy A. Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University. Her major research interest continues to be brain plasticity. Wendy is passionate about teaching, exercise, and supporting and mentoring up-and-coming scientists.
What we discuss…
2:32- What was the reason for writing your book?
4:04- What is the difference between good and bad anxiety?
6:56- What is stress inoculation?
10:54- How to think about stress and stress responses
15:42- Did anything surprise you during your research on stress
19:24- The effects of physical activity on the brain
23:10- The effects of meditation on the brain
25:44- What happens to one’s physiology during the stress state?
33:14- Is there truth in the research of the smile effect?
40:51- Tools to use for fixing anxiety and joy conditioning
48:04- How to change your mindset to a joy bias
51:48- How does one begin to engage more into implicit memories?
54:40- What was the root of your social anxiety?
To learn more about Dr. Wendy…
Website: wendysuzuki.com
Instagram: @wendy.suzuki
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