The Rich Roll Podcast

“Staying consistent over a long period of time is ultimately the greatest way to prove success.” Casey Wasserman A force in business, civic affairs, politics, and philanthropy in Los Angeles and beyond, Casey Wasserman is perhaps best known as the chairman and CEO of Wasserman — one of the world’s largest, most powerful, and most successful sports, entertainment and lifestyle marketing and management agencies, representing brands, properties and talent on a global basis. When he’s not negotiating on behalf of Nike, ESPN, Andrew Luck or Russell Westbrook, he’s either leading the charge to bring the 2024 Summer Olympic Games to Los Angeles as Chairman of LA 2024, or funding education, health, arts & human rights initiatives via his  Wasserman Foundation philanthropic arm. Lovingly and painstakingly mentored throughout his childhood by his late grandfather Lew Wasserman — one of the most legendary Hollywood talent agents and studio executives of all time — Casey’s love of business, sports and entrepreneurship was born early. By ten, he was a torch bearer during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. By twelve, he was officially employed in professional sports as a ballboy for the Cleveland Browns. And by 24 he would not only own his first professional sports organization — the Los Angeles Avengers Arena League football team — he was named Chairman of the entire league. I’ve known Casey very casually for a couple years. What impresses me most isn’t the success and accolades. Instead, it’s how he consistently comports himself — with grounded self-awareness, honest humility, and a very present sense of what is most important in life. This is a great exchange about Casey’s remarkable life. It’s a conversation about business, entrepreneurship and risk. It’s about the indelible power of mentorship. It’s about creating a legacy. But most of all, it’s a conversation about that which is required to pursue a life of purpose and meaning. I have tremendous respect for this amazing man. I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline Thanks to this week’s sponsors: Boll & Branch: The first honest and transparent bedding company that only uses sustainable and responsible methods of sourcing and manufacturing. Go to BollandBranch.com today for $50 off your first set of sheets by typing in promo code “RICHROLL”. MeUndies: The world’s most comfortable underwear! Visit MeUndies.com/ROLL to get free shipping (in the U.S. & Canada) and 20% off your first pair. SHOW NOTES Background, Context & Reference * Connect With Casey: Website | Instagram | 

“Dreams don’t work unless you do.” Travis Barker Dubbed one of the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” by Rolling Stone, Travis Barker rose from blue collar roots to become one of the world’s most talented, prolific and hard working rock stars — a multi-hyphenate musician-producer-entrepreneur who initially made his mark as the drummer for Blink-182, the influential, multi-platinum punk-rock band that earned it’s very first Grammy nomination this week for it’s latest release, California. Today, Travis is celebrated for his unique percussive acumen; a rare ability to collaborate with a diversity of musical giants — people like Eminem, Lil Wayne, Slash, Mary J. Blige, RZA, Tom Morello and Steve Aoki — across a swath of genres that reach past rock to country, jazz, hip hop and everything in between. Extending his entrepreneurial flair beyond music, Travis is also the founder of accessory/apparel company Famous Stars and Straps as well as LaSalle Records and is an investor in a variety of ventures including Crossroads Kitchen – one of Los Angeles’ best restaurants and perhaps the most acclaimed vegan restaurant in the world. Travis bares his soul in Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums — a deeply personal and brutally honest memoir chronicling the highlights and lowlights of the renowned drummer’s art and life, including the harrowing plane crash that nearly killed him and his traumatic road to recovery. Ultimately, it’s a book about personal survival. Constant reinvention. Musical salvation. And fatherhood. Travis Barker is a great rock star. But behind the tattoos, sold out arenas and dope rides lives a quiet, soulful artist with a prodigious work ethic. A sober consciousness birthed from pain. Etched from hardship, Travis Barker has survived some serious shit. But it’s our wounds that make us human. And it’s that humanity that interests me the most. This is a conversation about a remarkable life. The pivotal moments that forged it. The premonitions that foretold it. The intuitions that directed it. The humanity behind it. And the heart that animates it. Open, humble and present, I absolutely loved spending time with Travis. I sincerely hope you enjoy the first of what I hope will be many future exchanges. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline Thanks to this week’s sponsors: Casper: The #1 online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 toward any mattress purchase today by visiting casper.com/ROLL and using promo code “ROLL“ at checkout. StrideHealth: The first health insurance recommendation engine tuned & tail...

“I just want people to be consuming nutrient dense plants so they don’t have to drag around this chemistry set of a body & suffer.” Darin Olien What’s it like to traipse the far outreaches of the globe in search of the the world’s greatest edible food sources for optimal health? Meet the Indiana Jones of Superfoods. One of the most popular guests of 2015, this week my friend Darin Olien (@superlifeliving) returns to the podcast to delve deep on the next level nutrition insights he’s gleaned from his extraordinary adventure-based experiences as a widely recognized exotic superfoods hunter, wellness advocate, supplement formulator & environmental activist. Over the last twenty plus years, Darin has explored every imaginable port of call across the developing world questing for better, more natural pathways to ultimate wellness. Communing with thousands of rural farmers, growers and manufacturers in remote communities across Peru, Bhutan, the Amazon, the Himalayas, the South Pacific, Latin America and Asia, Darin now shepherds exotic, high-quality, fair-trade superfoods and indigenous herbal commodities to market. Perhaps best known for his work with fitness company Beachbody, Darin was instrumental in the development and ongoing formulation of the wildly successful whole-food supplement, Shakeology. He chronicles his experience and expertise in Superlife: The 5 Simple Fixes That Will Make You Healthy, Fit & Eternally Awesome (just released in paperback), as well as on his website Superlife.com, where he demystifies health, fitness, nutrition, and longevity into simple daily actions designed to promote life-long wellness. Plant-based, ripped, and bearing more than a passing resemblance to his workout buddy Laird Hamilton, what is most intriguing to me about Darin isn’t just that he is a respected authority on the healing potential of food. And it isn’t just that he has been instrumental in introducing these so called superfoods to western consumers. What is most interesting is his commitment to do it right. A deep rooted responsibility to fairly, sustainably and transparently support the long-term interests of indigenous grower communities against the industrialized threat posed by the well-funded, politically powerful agricultural interests responsible for decimating the planet’s precious rainforests at an unfathomable rate. An inspiration to me personally, this is a guy who walks his talk. From the foods he consumes to the lifestyle habits he practices, Darin is the thriving embodiment of what it means to truly own and take responsibility for your health, your life and the planet we collectively enjoy. But what exactly is a superfood? Are these foods truly “super” or is it all just exaggerated marketing hype? Our first conversation tracked Darin’s life story. Packed with takeaways, today’s exchange deep dives into the efficacy of exotic fruits, herbs, adaptogens and mushrooms. Parsing fact from hyperbole, it’s a conversation about the most important superfoods you should be incorporating into your daily routine and why. It’s a mind-blowing discourse on the importance of water quality and next-level hydration. It’s an exploration of Darin’s pre-workout routine and nutrition essentials. And it’s about our collective responsibility to support ecological ra...

“Yoga is not an Olympic contest—we’re not here to prove what we can do, we’re here to improve what we can’t do.” Guru Singh Inspiration. We crave it. We need it. We love it. But inspiration alone is a salve that does not cure. Because it rarely translates into positive lifestyle adaptations sustained over time. For that you need something called purpose. Purpose derives from a keen awareness of self. An awareness that cannot be found in externalities but instead emanates from the deep recesses of your soul — a place far removed from the dopamine-inducing inspiration hits we restlessly seek outside ourselves. Indeed, purpose is an inside job. So this week, we turn inward. A conversation designed to cultivate that awareness, amplify intuition, and enliven the soul so that we can more deeply connect with our unique purpose and awaken to our highest, most authentic selves. I can think of no better steward to ignite this process than master spiritual teacher and celebrated Kundalini yoga wizard Guru Singh (@gurusinghyogi). Imagine a modern-day rock star Gandalf dropping mad guitar licks between pearls of timeless wisdom that beautifully fuse of Eastern mysticism with Western pragmatism and you start to get the picture. Named “Best Guru in LA” by Los Angeles magazine, for the last 40 years Guru Singh has been studying and teaching Kundalini Yoga – a 5,000 year old ancient science and school of yoga focused on awakening the primal energy known as shakti for the purpose of spiritual enlightenment. He is the author of several books (enumerated below) and a powerful lecturer uplifting thousands worldwide. An extraordinary teacher, he also serves as a behind-the-scenes guide to many a luminary, including Fortune 500 CEOs, athletes, artists and even Tony Robbins. A peer of rock legends like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead, Guru Singh is also a supremely talented musician who began his recording career on Warner Bros’ Sire label in the 1960s. When he isn’t recording tracks with people like Seal, he’s bringing down the house on the daily at Yoga West, his Los Angeles home base. Simply put, Guru Singh is one of the coolest people I have ever met — a huge, beautiful consciousness I’m proud to call friend. It’s an honor to share his story and wisdom with you today. My hope is that that this conversation will catalyze your desire to peer more deeply inward. That it will spark a yearning to more thoroughly cultivate your latent intuition. And ultimately that it helps set a trajectory for your journey towards the ultimate superpower — unlimited awareness. To rise up, you gotta lay down. It is there that you will find purpose. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline Thanks to this week’s sponsors: Boll & Branch: The first honest and transparent bedding company that only uses sustainable and responsible methods of sourcing and manufacturing. Go to

“When you think you’re done, you’re only at 40% of your total potential.” David Goggins This week’s guest is incontrovertibly the most inspirational person I have ever met — a man that will catapult you into 2017 with the inspiration and tools to chase huge dreams, shatter limits, and actualize your best, most authentic self. Often referred to as the toughest athlete on the planet, David Goggins (@davidgoggins) is the only member of the US Armed Forces to complete SEAL training (including two Hell Weeks), the U.S. Army Ranger School (where he graduated as Enlisted Honor Man) and Air Force tactical air controller training. But David is perhaps best known for his superhuman feats of strength and ultra-endurance. After several of his friends died in a 2005 helicopter crash while deployed in Afghanistan, David honored their memory by tackling the 10 most difficult endurance challenges on Earth to raise funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides college scholarships and grants to the children of fallen special ops soldiers. Hence began a most unexpected yet remarkably storied athletic career as one of the world’s most accomplished endurance athletes. Highlights include: * 2013: world record for most pullups in a 24 hour period (4,030); * 2007: 3rd place — Badwater 135 – a 135 mile ultramarathon across Death Valley widely considered to be the world’s most difficult foot race; * 2006: 2nd place — Ultraman World Championships, a double-ironman distance race widely considered to be the world’s most difficult triathlon; * 2007: 1st place — 48-Hour National Championship endurance foot race, where he ran 203.5 miles, beating the previous record by 20 miles; and * 2007 – 2016 — additional top finishes at dozens of the world’s most grueling endurance races, including The HURT 100, Leadville 100, Western States & more. But perhaps David’s greatest accomplishment is that throughout his life, he has faced and overcome a concatenation of seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become the man he is today – obstacles like asthma, sickle cell anemia, psychological and physical abuse, obesity, academic struggles, and even a congenital heart defect that often left him competing — and winning — on a mere fraction of his actual physical capabilities. In addition to being one of the most remarkable people I have ever met, David has had a profound impact on me personally. It was his singular example that ignited my passion for ultra-endurance and fueled the self-belief required to pursue a new life. In truth, I’m not sure I would have achieved my athletic and life goals had he not blazed the path before me. I simply cannot ever repay the debt of gratitude I have for this man. One of the most powerful podcasts I have ever produced, this a conversation about the primacy of purpose to cultivate your inner voice. It’s about passion and self-accountability. It’s about the limiting beliefs that hold us back and the importance of mindset to overcome them. And it’s about the embrace of suffering as a crucible for growth and self-knowledge. But ultimately, this is a conversation about what it means to be truly alive. Welcome to 2017 people. It’s time to check your excuses at the door. It’s time to stop talking yourselves out of being great. It’s time to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s time to wake up. Because your life is not some future event. Your life is now. Peace + Plants, P.S. – If you enjoy this podcast and can’t get enough of Goggins,

Welcome to Part II of our fourth annual Best of the RRP Anthology series. If you haven’t already, I suggest listening to The Best of 2016 — Part I first. This is a compendium of excerpts from some of my favorite conversations of 2016. It’s our way of saying thanks, giving back, expressing gratitude and catapulting you into the new year with the information and inspiration required to make 2017 your best year yet. I appreciate you. Here’s to an absolutely extraordinary 2017. Enjoy the listen. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Spots are now available for Plantpower Austraila, Feb. 20-27, 2017. For info visit plantpowerworld.com Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline FULL EPISODES EXCERPTED: * RRP #242: Neal Barnard, M.D. On The Power Of Nutrition To Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease, Diabetes & Alzheimer’s * RRP #248: From Crack Addict To Running The Sahara To Prison Hero — Charlie Engle’s Third Act * RRP #252: Dr. Michael Gervais On Elite Performance & The Psychology Of Self-Mastery * RRP #262: Kerri Walsh Jennings: Lessons On Mindset From One Of The Most Dominant Olympic Athletes Of All Time * RRP #256: Chris Hauth: Building Better Athletes, Training For Optimal Performance & Achieving Fitness For Life * RRP #254: Julie Piatt On How To Build An Authentic Brand * RRP #223: John Joseph Wants You To Wake The F*ck Up * RRP #217: Gary Vaynerchuk Works Harder Than You Do * RRP #209: Rhonda Patrick On Longevity, Epigenetics & Microbiome Health * RRP #243: Coach George Raveling Is The Mentor You Wish You Had * RRP #226: Moby On Transforming Electronic Music, Elevating Consciousness & Saving The Planet * RRP #236: Andrew Morgan On The True Cost Of Fast Fashion: The Ethical & Environmental Price Of Clothing * RRP #244: Alexis Fox & Micah Risk Are Igniting A Social Movement To Help The World Eat Better * RRP #253: How To Be A Minimalist: Joshua Fields Millburn On The Power Of Living Deliberately

This is the time of year to pause. It’s the time of year for reflection. For gratitude. And for giving back. So let’s do all those things. Welcome to the fourth annual Best of the RRP Anthology — our way of taking a moment to reflect on the year, express gratitude and give thanks for taking this journey with us. I pride myself on bringing a wide variety of personalities, opinions and attitudes to the show. When I look back over 2016, it’s amazing how many incredibly dynamic conversations and perspectives I was honored to share. Second listens brought new insights. Another reminder that this show is a gift that just keeps giving. For long-time listeners, this two-part episode is intended to inform and inspire your new year’s trajectory. If you’re new to the show, my hope is that this anthology will stir you to peruse the back catalog and/or check out episodes you may have missed. Links to the full episodes excerpted in this anthology are enumerated below. What a stunning year. Thank you. I appreciate you. Here’s to an extraordinary 2017 — the year we manifest our greatest dreams into reality. Join me, and let’s do this thing together. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Spots are now available for Plantpower Austraila, Feb. 20-27, 2017. For info visit plantpowerworld.com Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline Thanks to this week’s sponsor: Headspace.com: Train your mind for a healthier, less-stressed life. Download the FREE app and begin their Take10 program, for 10 days of guided meditation at headspace.com/ROLL FULL EPISODES EXCERPTED: * RRP #231: “The Iceman” Wim Hof On Why Breath Is Life, Cold Is God & Feeling Is Understanding * RRP #239: Ryan Holiday On The Perils Of Ego & Inherent Value Of Humility * RRP #211: Russell Simmons: The Yogi Path From Hip Hop Mogul To Happy Vegan * RRP #230: Robin Arzón Wants You To Shut Up And Run * RRP #212: Ray Cronise, Our Broken Plate: Disrupting Nutritional Science, Intermittent Fasting & How He Helped Penn Jillette Lose Over 100 Pounds * RRP #237: Anthony Ervin: The Rebel Olympian On Chasing Water, Finding Meaning In Gold & The Search For Authenticity * RRP #240: Dr. Melanie Joy On Going Beyond Carnism: Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs And Wear Cows * RRP #251: Faith Provocateur Rob Bell On God, Divinity & Why Love Always Wins *

“I’m a huge believer in humanity. I wake up and look at my children and I see something that’s so pure; at that age they don’t know what violence is; and they don’t know how to hate yet. And I think that is what inspires me to do the things that I do.” Marc Ching This week’s guest is a straight up hero. One of the most courageous and committed animal rights activists I have ever met, Marc Ching (@animalhopeandwellness) is the founder of Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, a non-profit devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of dogs abused and often tortured at the hands of the Asian dog meat trade. A family man, successful small business owner and animal lover who has been treating dogs (and humans) for years as a holistic nutritionist, in 2011 Marc began using his skills to rescue and rehabilitate abused dogs in need and place them into homes — work he does primarily in and around his home in Los Angeles. But Marc’s evolution into an ardent animal rights activist didn’t begin until 2015, when he heard about something called the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. He understood that dog meat is simply part of the regional cuisine across many parts of Asia. What he didn’t understand were the reports of mistreatment and abuse. So he decided to infiltrate the festival to learn more. What Marc discovered was an utterly horrific, systemic practice of torture far more pervasive than anything he could have previously imagined. Life for Marc would never be the same again. According to the Humane Society, 30 million dogs are slaughtered every year across Asia with an estimated 10 million per year in China alone. A significant portion of these animals are brutally tortured — often burned and boiled alive prior to death — a practice attributable to the bizarre and misguided belief that tortured dog meat tastes better and provides enhanced health benefits. Let that sink in for a moment. Attending Yulin transformed Marc from an essentially normal, suburban family man into a man obsessed. Over the last two years, Marc has devoted all his free time and resources to combating the Asian dog meat trade. Posing undercover as as a wealthy dog meat buyer, he has traveled extensively across China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea and Indonesia to document and expose the inhuman practices of this barbaric industry. This is dangerous work. Marc has been chased, harassed, beat up and even shot. But to date, he has saved over 1,000 dogs, many on his own dime. More importantly, his work has been essential in catalyzing global awareness of dog meat trade practices, which in turn has led to legislative and regulatory reform. There is something undoubtedly heroic about Marc. But it’s a heroism that comes at a cost. This work has traumatized him. Perhaps even permanently damaged him. He’s made peace with the trade-off. Maybe that makes him even more heroic. I don’t know. Mark’s work has been extensively profiled in outlets that include the New York Times, Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Hollywood Reporter, The Telegraph, The Independent, Buzzfeed, and even Breitbart. It’s an honor to celebrate the difficult work that Marc does. My hope is that this conversation will raise additional awareness around wrongs we must collectively work to correct. NOTE: The subject matter of today’s conversation is disturbing. It’s an emotional conversation that traverses sensitive issues. That said, I believe it’s an important conversation to have as conscious, global citizens. A conversation I don’t think we can or should shy away from. On that note, I encourage all of you to listen and listen with an open ...

“I don’t want to be better than you or her or him—I want to be better than I am right now.” Kerri Walsh Jennings The most decorated beach volleyball player in history and one of the most consistently dominant Olympic athletes of all time, Kerri Walsh Jennings (@kerrileewalsh) needs no introduction. But for those few off-grid souls who somehow avoided the last five Olympiads, here’s but a taste of what this week’s guest has accomplished: * she has competed in the last five consecutive Olympiads; * she is a 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist & 1-time Olympic Bronze medalist in beach volleyball (2016); * along with teammate Misty May-Treanor, she has been named the greatest beach volleyball team of all time; * during their 11-year run together, Walsh Jennings & May-Treanor won 21 consecutive Olympic matches and only lost one set This is a unique and extraordinary exploration of the habits, practices and mindset behind one of the greatest athletes on the planet. It’s a conversation about the mentality required to be the world’s best. It’s an exchange about the crucial role effective communication plays in both sport and relationships. And it’s about the power and responsibility of being a positive role model. But ultimately, this is a conversation about pursuing what you love, loving what you pursue, and taking a stand for what you believe in. I cannot overstate my respect for Kerri, her athletic achievements, and how this delightful, spirited, beautiful and tenacious human lives her life on a daily basis. I adore this conversation and am thrilled to share it with you today. I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange! Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Spots are now available for Plantpower Austraila, Feb. 20-27, 2017. For info visit plantpowerworld.com Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline Thanks to this week’s sponsors: Headspace.com: Train your mind for a healthier, less-stressed life. Download the FREE app and begin their Take10 program, for 10 days of guided meditation at headspace.com/ROLL Casper: The #1 online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 toward any mattress purchase today by visiting casper.com/ROLL and using promo code “ROLL“ at checkout. SHOW NOTES Background, Context & Reference * Connect With Kerri: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook * TeamUSA: Kerri Walsh Jennings Bio * AVP: Kerri Walsh Jennings Bio * TeamUSA:

“We can’t understand our own health or what it means to be healthy without understanding the context of our lives.” Colin Hudon Welcome to a special mid-week episode of the podcast. During our most recent Plantpower Italia retreat, we hosted a panel discussion on the subject of holistic health and alternative healing modalities. I’m glad we decided to record it, and I’m excited to share it with you today. The three-person panel is comprised of: * Angela Bäuml-Nicolas – Osteopath & physiotherapist practicing in southern Germany; * Jennifer Ayres – Ayurvedic Health Practitioner and teacher certified by the internationally known Ayurvedic doctor, writer, and teacher Dr. Vasant Lad; and * Colin Hudon – Physician of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and founder of Living Tea, which imports some of the finest living teas in the world from Taiwan and China. In addition to covering the panelists’ various areas of practice, this is a super engaging round table conversation designed to get you thinking pro-actively about long-term health, disease prevention and the power we all hold and exert over the quality of our well-being. Specific topics covered include: * being present in life * connectedness between mind, body, emotions & spirit * relationship to nature & ill health * digestive health and Ayurveda * emotional connection to food * biodynamics, craniosacral therapy, & embryology * traditional Chinese medicine * genetic determinants & environmental factors * seasonal foods that nourish the body * custom cleansing for the individual * Ayurvedic & Chinese medicine pulse reading * supplements & key nutrients * navigating holistic medicine in the western world I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange! Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Spots are now available for Plantpower Austraila, Feb. 20-27, 2017. For info visit plantpowerworld.com Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline Thanks to this week’s sponsor: StrideHealth: The first health insurance recommendation engine tuned & tailored to the life of the individual. Find the perfect health plan for you—go to www.stridehealth.com/roll and save over $400 for the year. It’s easy coverage in 10 minutes or less, built just for people like us. SHOW NOTES Background, Context & Reference Colin Hudon: livingtea.net Jennifer Ayres: bloominglotusayurveda.com

“No one else is responsible for your well being…take control of your own health.” John Lewis Beyond the chiseled arms and imposing six-foot six physique, the thing you notice most about this week’s guest is his smile — a smile the size of Texas that only hints at the even bigger heart within. But John Lewis wasn’t always the exemplary model of health and advocacy he is today. Tipping the scales at 315 pounds by his freshman year in high school, things could have easily gone sideways for this young man growing up in Ferguson, Missouri. But instead of drugs and gangs, he turned to sports, finding solace and refuge in basketball and football. Honing his skills in both high school and college helped him ditch his fat kid image and triggered his life-long love for healthy living. Nonetheless, John began experiencing some serious, negative health issues despite maintaining an athletic nature post-college. He sought medical advice and was informed that excessive animal protein consumption just might be the culprit. That advice, combined with his mother’s colon cancer diagnosis, catalyzed an experiment with vegetarianism. Little did he know, that experiment would change his life. In short shrift, ditching meat resolved his health issues. More importantly, the lifestyle aligned with his values. So it wasn’t long before John jettisoned all animal products from his plate and went entirely vegan. Needless to say, this was an unlikely move for a football loving gym rat. His friends were not amused. But John never felt better. The lights went on, opening him to an entirely new way of living and being that brought his life path into focus. Today, John is an in-demand public speaker, personal trainer, and entrepreneur tirelessly spreading his his broad smile as the Bad Ass Vegan — busting traditional stereotypes as an entirely new breed of vegan evangelist with a unique ability to communicate and positively impact a wide diversity of people. He has appeared on multiple television shows and been profiled in several magazines, including Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Fitness Rx, Vegan Health & Fitness, Thrive, Origin, Maxim and even Sports Illustrated. You might have seen him flexing in all those P90X television ads that were ubiquitous a few years back. Beyond the nickname, Bad Ass Vegan is also John’s apparel and lifestyle brand — a health and nutrition company striving to upend traditional notions that surround what it means — and what it looks like — to be vegan by educating individuals on plant-based nutrition and more conscious living. I first met John a couple years ago and always enjoy spending time with him at various lifestyle events — his energy is beyond infectious. So I’m proud to share his powerful, super uplifting message with you today. This is a conversation about taking personal responsibility for ourselves, our well being, and our life paths. It’s about the impact of mindset on personal destiny. It’s about the power of community. And it’s a conversation about the power we all possess to positively transform ourselves and make a real difference in those we touch. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including: * John’s early childhood & upbringing * reflecting on life in Ferguson * shifting focus from the NBA to an MBA * John’s experiment transitioning away from meat * body awareness & Kundalini energy * starting Bad Ass Vegan for community * ethical sensibilities & fashion forwardness * plant-based impact on recovery time & endurance * consumer demand & speaking with your dollars * hip hop-influenced documentary * taking health for granted

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” Dean Karnazes Picking up where we left off exactly two years ago, today’s podcast marks the return of ultramarathon legend Dean Karnazes. For the select few unfamiliar with a man whose name has become synonymous with running, let’s break it down: Hailed by TIME as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World, Dean is a New York Times bestselling author of several books and perhaps Earth’s most recognized ultra-distance running specialist – a global ambassador of sport who has pushed his body, mind and spirit beyond places most people simply cannot fathom. Dean’s mind-bending feats of two-legged prowess include: * Running 350 miles in under 81 hours, foregoing sleep for 3 days; * Running 50 marathons in each of the 50 states in 50 consecutive days; * Winning the prestigious 4 Desert Race Series in 2008, traversing the Gobi, Antacara, Sahara and Antarctica; * Competing in the Badwater 135 10 times, including victory in 2004; * Running 148 miles on a treadmill in 24 hours; and * Running 3000 miles across the US from Disneyland to NYC in 75 days I met Dean back in 2011 and we’ve been friends ever since. In 2013, I even helped crew him to his 10th Badwater 135 finish. Today we reunite to pickup where we left off in RRP 115 — one of my most popular podcasts to date — to discuss life, running, his latest adventures, and his brand new book, The Road To Sparta: Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run That Inspired the World’s Greatest Footrace. This is the book Dean was born to write. It’s the story of Dean’s ancestral heritage and his deeply personal, genetically hardwired connection to the intrepid ancient Greek ultrarunners known as hemerodromes. It’s also the incredibly well researched historical account of Pheidippides — perhaps the greatest and most heroic hemerodrome of all time — and the crucial role he played in helping Athens defeat Persia in the Battle of Marathon that took place 2,500 years ago. Pheidippides’ 153-mile, 36 hour run from Athens to Sparta in 490 B.C. wasn’t just critical to Greek victory, it’s fair to say it spared Western Civilization and preserved the democratic institutions we so value today. Finally, the book is a deeply engaging, first-hand account of Dean’s attempt to honor his lauded hemerodrome ancestor by replicating Pheidippides’ ancient and historic 153-mile run, training and racing on only the few foods actually available to Pheidippides at the time. Beyond fascinating tales from the new book, this is a conversation about curiosity, consistency, and drive. It’s about out-of-body experiences that occur when you are stripped to your very core. It’s about what motivates him to continue pushing the boundaries of human capabilities well into his 50’s and how his training, racing and nutrition have evolved to meet that challenge. But most of all, this is a conversation about what it means to be truly alive – and the beautiful embrace of discomfort required to explore the outer limits of performance, potential, and human experience. I consider Dean a role model. In addition to being one of the great athletes of our time and an inspiration to millions worldwide, Dean is someone I am lucky to call friend and mentor. I’m thrilled to further share his life, wisdom and experience with you today. I sincerely hope you enjoy our exchange. Peace + Plants, P.S. – The interstitial track featured in today’s show is 

“If you want extreme results, you need to do extreme things.” Andrew “Spud Fit” Taylor One of the great privileges of hosting this podcast is the occasional opportunity it presents to shift focus from conversations with globally prominent thought leaders to shine a bright spotlight on the struggles and triumphs of the everyman. Folks living average, relatable lives. Anonymous individuals dealing with issues all too many of us confront and combat — obesity, depression, disease, addiction and/or a sense of general dissatisfaction with their current life status. Authentic souls who reach the limit of their pain threshold and cross that tipping point to finally proclaim, enough is enough. On a personal note, nothing gives me more satisfaction than celebrating those who courageously challenge their life paradigm, step outside the cozy comfort zone, and attempt the extraordinary — all in the interest of gaining control of their well being and seizing the reigns of their life path. Folks like Josh LaJaunie, who lost over 200 pounds to conquer ultramarathons and even grace the cover of this month’s Runners World magazine. Or Brett & David Wilcox – the father-son duo who ran across the USA to raise GMO awareness. Luke Tyburski fits the bill — a guy who overcame depression to conquer The Ultimate Triathlon. And I’d add Adam Sud to that list — a young guy who kicked adderal, reversed his diabetes and found a life. Sharing these experiences is what makes this podcast different from the others — meaningful and special in a very unique way. So if you enjoy the uplifting everyman story, then you are in for a treat today. About a year ago, Andrew Taylor stepped onto the scale — 334 pounds. The Aussie didn’t like what he saw. He didn’t like how he felt. Clinically depressed, medicated and hopelessly addicted to unhealthy foods, his elevator was going down — fast. Fed up and sick & tired of being sick & tired, he drew a line in the sand and decided to step over it. It was time to finally wake up and seize the reigns of his physical, mental and emotional health and well being. To once and for all reclaim the life he felt quickly slipping away. Blessed with self-awareness, he saw his path to freedom would lay not in balance but rather in what most would consider drastic and extreme measures. Andrew decided that he would eat nothing but potatoes for an entire year. Nothing. But. Potatoes. For an entire year. On January 2, 2016, all 334 depressed pounds of Andrew popped open his phone, clicked record, and announced his quest on YouTube — to a subscriber base of exactly zero. The single video soon morphed into a daily vlog, a raw, personal and authentic look into the highs, lows, how to’s and whatnots of a potato-fueled journey Andrew dubbed Spud Fit. He presumed nobody would care. This was for him. Surprisingly, the world took notice. It wasn’t long before the global media picked up Andrew’s personal interest story and before he could even blink, his wild adventure was foisted into the white hot spotlight. Over the last year, Andrew has been profiled in countless publications — eve...

“Walk with integrity. Lead with love. Exude the change you want to see in this complicated, divided world.” Rich Roll I have endeavored to keep politics out of this podcast. A podcast proudly built on radical inclusivity that transcends political ideology and affiliation. That said, in the wake of last week, many have solicited my perspective on what I think we can all agree is a historic election — perhaps the most jolting and important political event of our lifetimes. So today, I officially go on record. I’m nervous. Because my truth may not be your truth. But know that I welcome our differences. I do this because I stand for fidelity to authenticity. And authenticity requires I give voice to my truth. I do this with eyes wide open. I understand and accept that I very well may be committing social media suicide. I do this because I am dismayed by the extent to which we are divided as a people. I do this because fear runs rampant. Because discord rules the conversation. Because facts have been rendered irrelevant. Because fundamental rights are being threatened. Because dignity is being trampled. Because science is under siege. And because precious environmental protections are imperiled. I do this to provide counsel for those suffering. I do this to build a bridge to those celebrating. I do this from a desire to better understand. I do this from a place of love. So let’s have a conversation about it. About all of it. A real conversation. Today I convene with Julie Piatt and activist filmmaker Darly Wein for a raw and candid roundtable discourse on how to best process, move forward and come together in this most divisive, uncertain time. The answer to what ails us transcends politics. It lives beyond our respective idealogical bubbles. It’s an answer that will only be found in the desire to better understand ourselves and each other. In the search for unity. In self-governance and taking responsibility for our actions, our words, and our behavior. Beyond the fear that blinds us, it will be discovered only when we learn to walk with integrity, stop fighting and listen — really listen — with compassion. With empathy. And love. Always love. I sincerely hope you find this conversation helpful. Should you choose to pass on this episode (I get it), regular programming will resume on Monday. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on  iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher | GooglePlay Spots are now available for our newest Plantpower retreat in Australia— for info visit plantpowerworld.com Check out Julie’s podcast divine throughline SHOW NOTES Connect With Julie: SriMati.com | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Connect With Daryl:

“The prize never goes to the fastest guy; it goes to the guy who slows down the least.” Chris Hauth This week marks the highly anticipated return of Chris Hauth to the podcast. A sub-9 hour Ironman, Chris (@AIMPCoach) is the current Age Group Ironman World Champion, a former Olympic Swimmer and one of the world’s most respected endurance coaches. In 2006, Chris won the Ironman Coeur D’Alene and went on to be the first American amateur & 4th overall American at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. When he’s not training and racing, Chris expertly coaches a wide spectrum of amateur and elite professional athletes across a variety of disciplines, including Ironman and Western States top finishers, Ultraman winners and myriad swimmers towards age group nationals and Olympic Trials. My relationship with Chris began in 2008. A coach/athlete mentorship turned friendship that profoundly and forever altered the trajectory of my life. Brilliantly guiding me through three Ultraman World Championships (’08, ’09 & ’11) as well as EPIC5 in 2010, my debt of gratitude for Chris’ tutelage cannot be overstated. Simply put, I could have never achieved the level of athletic success I have enjoyed without his deft counsel, which has been instrumental in maximizing my potential as an athlete and bettering me as a human being. Today I am pleased to share his wisdom with you. This is a general conversation about Chris’ evolving philosophy on training, racing and life. It’s also a granular and technical masterclass on optimal training protocols, the common mistakes most athletes make, the approach and mindset required to break the glass ceiling on potential, and how to effectively balance performance goals against general health and well-being. But at it’s core, this is a conversation about multi-sport as a crucible for self-awareness and growth. Endurance sports as metaphor for life.  We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including: * Chris’ training & racing philosophy * aerobic vs. anaerobic training * the benefits of calculated progression * pros & cons of external monitors/trackers * race plan execution * prioritizing core strength * strategies for optimizing recovery  * the facts on fad dieting and fitness nutrition * striking the proper balance between performance & general health * overcoming adversity through mental & physical fitness, and * the imperative of fitness for life I have an inkling this episode will leave you wanting to hear more about Chris’ story and philosophy. If so, check out RRP #21 — our first podcast exchange back in the early days of the program. Then check out his website AIMPCoaching and let him know what you think on Twitter at @AIMPCoach. Still have questions for Chris? Shoot him an e-mail at chris@aimpcoaching.com (Chris – you might regret sharing your e-mail here!) I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange. Peace + Plants, Listen & Subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud | Stitcher |