BroBots: Technology, Health & Being a Better Human

Dr. Marc Brackett on emotional intelligence, and giving yourself permission to feel. "Emotion management and health management is a life's journey." Dr. Brackett is a research psychologist and the founding director at Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University. He has developed a process for understanding emotions and using them to help, rather than hurt, all people, children, and adults in achieving their goals. His wildly popular book, "Permission To Feel" was released to acclaim last September and we talked with him about it then. Since that time the world has changed dramatically. Now, with the release of the book in paperback, he returns to help you deal with anxiety and major trauma brought on by COVID and inequality, and explains how understanding and using our emotions wisely is more important than ever before.

The most common mental health illness in the United States is anxiety. It affects 40 million adults each year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Those who suffer from it know all-to-well that the stress that accompanies anxiety disorders can interfere with your day-to-day life. It can also lead to serious health complications. This week we share our personal struggles with anxiety and a number of tools you can use to keep it from taking over your life.

Americans are unhappier than we've been in a long time. We're grappling with the fear, grief, and other emotions that characterize our response to COVID-19. It feels like we're heading into another "Great Depression"—literally. So, is it possible to be happy in a pandemic? Even in a world where misery has gone viral, we can train our minds to be happy. However, it's going to take work. For help with that, we talk this week with Karen McGregor. She's the author of The Tao of Influence: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leaders and Entrepreneurs. McGregor is something of a happiness expert. In fact, her TEDx Talk on the subject has been viewed by over a million people. Thanks to COVID-19, everyone is short on happiness these days. But Karen McGregor says we can train our minds to reclaim happiness by overriding the brain's tendency to resist change. We also mentioned that September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. If you need help you can start here.

In this episode, we discuss the research behind the most popular types of intermittent fasting. We also provide tips on how to maintain this type of plan to meet your fitness goals. After having tremendous success with intermittent fasting two years ago, I recently decided it was time to do so again. In 2018 along with fasting I limited carbs and worked out daily. This combination helped me lose nearly 70 pounds.

Ryan Sawyer had it all. He was a successful college football coach. Happily married he was starting a family. But underneath the surface there was darkness. In this episode we talk with him about the path that led to writing his new book "CHOICE POINT: Break the Cycle of Self-Sabotage, Accelerate Your Growth, and Realize Your True Potential." Ryan tells the story of his battle with depression and anxiety as a national champion college football coach and how keeping his secret nearly cost him his marriage and family. He shares his journey of self-realization, and the 8 principles of transformation. You will also learn about the tools and practices anyone can use to completely shift every area of their life.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician, founder of Happiest Baby, creator of the SNOO, and author of The Happiest Toddler on the Block. He shares some of what he's learned in his decades of experience working with families to help us cope with our cooped-up kids, coronavirus, and heading back to school.

New York Times bestselling author of "Unfuck Yourself", Gary John Bishop has a new audio original called: "Ask Gary Fucking Anything" - where he dives deep to answer fans' most pressing questions about real-life struggles. Gary is one of the leading personal development experts in the industry. His "urban philosophy" approach represents a new wave of personal empowerment and life mastery that has caused miraculous results for people in the quality and performance of their lives. You'll love hearing advice straight from the mouth of this Scottish-accented-NSFW author and expert.

"The new normal." It's a phrase that has been wildly overused in recent weeks and months but what does it really mean? More importantly, what could it mean for you? We'd like to believe the new normal is whatever we decide it will be. Covid-19 and the resulting shutdown has in some ways limited so much of what we once considered routine. On the other hand, it's created an opportunity to re-evaluate everything. It's a chance to reimagine on a large scale our social structures and financial systems. But on a more personal level, it's giving many of us a chance to "reset" and really take steps to create the life we want and leave behind the one we ended up with. In this episode, we're taking a very revealing and personal look at what normal was for us before everything changed and why all of this new struggle is just another challenge we are compelled to overcome, learn from and end up better for having experienced it. This is a scary time and these are some big questions. However, this is also an exciting time because we can make some choices about what "getting back to normal" looks like.

Yoga has been instrumental in our efforts for better health. From increased strength to flexibility to heart health, there are so many benefits to rolling out the mat. But don't take our word for it. This week we talk with Michael Suzerris, owner of OmCulture in Seattle. He shares his story of how a near-death experience brought him to yoga and how that motivated him to help others find their own path to healing. If you'd like to try a free yoga video OmCulture has a couple of options on their website. Try them out and let us know what you think!

Stress and anxiety are at all-time highs due to protests against police brutality and the coronavirus pandemic in the US. That's in addition to the already overwhelming amount of stimulation we are bombarded with from our phones, computers, social media, and TV. So, we want to suggest one way to escape it all. Imagine a place where there are no distractions, no cell phones going off...and no gravity. In this episode, we're joined by Andrew Loppnow. He is one of the owners of Float Seattle. They offer a variety of wellness tools like cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and of course float therapy. We talk with him about the many benefits of float therapy and why it's a clean, safe, and healthy way to manage stress and anxiety in these difficult times. They are in the process of reopening and are scheduling appointments now. Check out their website to learn more.

Most of us are spending a lot more time at home these days. The new quarantine lifestyle makes it a lot harder to get the physical exercise your body and mind desperately need. In this episode we're taking you to the gym where Zach works out in Albany, New York. Our guest, Chad Southwick is the owner and Head Coach of Crossfit Aevitas and Crossfit Round Lake. As you'll hear, his true passion for health and wellness is infectious. We talk with him about why exercising every day is the cornerstone of both physical and mental fitness and how you can take the first steps to get started on a new routine. Find out more about Crossfit Aevitas on their Instagram page!

Shaun T is back again and this time he is bringing the heat. The creator of the popular Insanity workouts joins us to talk about a new workout challenge program that is described as 60 Days of EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, and SPIRITUAL HARD WORK. Time is short to join the challenge though, listen on May 6th to get all of the details straight from Shaun T himself.

In OVERKILL: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far, acclaimed medical expert and patient advocate Dr. Paul Offit offers an eye-opening expose of some of the most widespread and egregious misconceptions that are putting many of us at risk in the name of good health. Dr. Offit joins us in this episode to talk about all of that and the efforts to create a vaccine for Covid-19. The process, the challenges, and why it takes as long as it does to do so.

Since the first reports of COVID-19 in the US, we have heard the warnings that those with underlying conditions were at the highest risk. So, who are those people and what must life be like for them as this deadly disease sweeps across the country? In this episode, we hear from Healing Jess. She suffers from a chronic illness that's forced her to live for years the way many of us are just now trying to figure it out. We also share our own concerns and struggles as we try to adapt to what we hope is a temporary new normal.

In this episode, we're joined by Ryan Foland. He's one of the authors of "Ditch the Act: Reveal the Surprising Power of the Real You for Greater Success." He tells us how showing vulnerability and authenticity is a better strategy for success in business and life than the picture-perfect persona you feel pressured to put out into the world.

Remember that new year's resolution you gave up on a few weeks ago? Don't feel bad. You're not alone. Traditional gyms and studios are well on their way to losing the vast majority of the customers that joined in January. But that's no reason you can't get back on track...without leaving your living room. We're big fans of the Beachbody home fitness program. It's a leading provider of health and wellness resources, such as some of the classic home workouts like P90X, Insanity, and more recent workouts like Morning Meltdown 100 and Barre Blend, as well as their complete nutrition shake, Shakeology. Beachbody's CEO, Carl Daikeler joins us to talk about why they've been so successful for two decades and how they can finally help you reach your goals.

After comedian Gary Gulman's last Netflix special premiered in 2016, he went down a dark hole, going as far as to check himself into a mental hospital and undergo electroshock treatments. He has since recovered and turned his experience into an hour-long special, with the goal of making depression easier to talk about through comedy. In this episode, Gary joins us to talk about his recovery and how he can be confident that his "depresh" is now in "remish" for good.

In the busy modern world, everyone could use a little more happiness and connection, but how can one attain it? Studies show meditation is an easily achievable path to happiness. In this episode, a pioneer in the field of meditation, a world-renowned teacher, Sharon Salzberg joins us to talk about her New York Times bestselling book, "REAL HAPPINESS, 10th Anniversary Edition: A 28-Day Program to Realize the Power of Meditation." Sharon Salzberg is a central figure in the meditation movement, cofounder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and has authored ten books. Acclaimed for her down-to-earth and relatable teaching style, Salzberg offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible.

We all know that kids love sugar. But studies show children today consume at least three times the recommended daily limit, causing serious health problems. And the culprits aren't just the usual suspects like candy, soda, and cookies. Added sugar is everywhere—in yogurts and bottled salad dressings, in jarred tomato sauce and even in organic, all-natural packaged granola. In this episode with talk with Jennifer Tyler Lee, one of the authors of HALF THE SUGAR, ALL OF THE LOVE, about their delicious recipes that are kid-friendly ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…and breaks down all the sugar myths and inspires you to cook decadent recipes that still include tons of flavor and fun – but just HALF THE SUGAR!

The Rabbit Effect: Live Longer, Happier, and Healthier with the Groundbreaking Science of Kindness by Dr. Kelli Harding is an eye-opening and provocative new way to look at our health based on the latest discoveries in the science of compassion, kindness, and human connection. In this episode, Harding presents a new model for you to take charge of your health and happiness.

For some people alcohol is just something you have with dinner or at the end of the day or at a party. For others, it's the mask that needs to be worn to function. Trying to figure out which one of those people you are can be complicated. In this episode, We're joined by Lisa Boucher, author of Raising the Bottom: Making Mindful Choices in a Drinking Culture. It is a very useful tool for readers struggling with alcohol addiction, a book that brings together stories and lessons from women who have suffered from alcoholism and who have had the courage to regain their freedom.

From their darkest hours to their brightest moments, survivors describe their transformation from despair to happiness in the new book, Chaos to Clarity: Sacred Stories of Transformational Change by Rev. Patricia Cagganello and Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos. In this episode the authors share with us the challenges that these men and women faced head-on, and how they emerged stronger and happier. In Chaos to Clarity, Cagganello and Kanavos share their expertise on the spirituality and psychology of change and explain why change is not only inevitable, but it is good for you. To learn more about the authors, please visit https://sacredstoriesmedia.com; https://sacredstoriespublishing.com; or https://kathleenokeefekanavos.com.

Luke Skywalker may have said it best: "breathe, just breathe." But breathing is not just a trick for harnessing the power of the force. It can also help ground you and set you on a course for better wellness. Professional breathwork coach Lauren Chelec Cafritz has the perfect solution for those seeking emotional liberation, physical wellness, and mental well-being this fall in her new book, Breath LOVE. We talked with her about the book which, is part memoir, part inspiration, part instruction. Now take a deep breath and click "play."

How do you feel? It's a simple question that for many of us is difficult to answer. That question also led to some of the deepest research ever done on how we process our emotions. Dr. Marc Brackett has devoted the past 25 years to conducting research in the field of Social and Emotional Learning and developing RULER, which stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating emotions. He is also the founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He joins us on this episode to talk about his new book. "Permission to Feel" is a personal and professional journey to discovering how emotions drive learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, and health.

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has been all the buzz lately. It's become the hot new product...and a controversial topic. A lot of people are debating and talking about it but many still don't understand what it is, how it's used, or if it's legal. Honestly, we have our own questions. To shed some light on the topic in this episode we talk with a trained critical-care physician from California who has been working in this field for years. He has had great success in treating patients dealing with everything from insomnia to stage 4 cancer. Listen and find out if CBD is something you want to add to your biohacking toolbox.

You've tried and failed to be a morning person, started a new diet... again and you've been planning to go for a run...for 3 years. Like us, you're a fit mess...or maybe you're just "biocurious." Our Guest this week is Kayla Osterhoff. She's a legit scientist at the CDC with a decade of work in health sciences. She also runs a BioCurious Functional Health and Performance Coaching business and hosts the BioCurious Podcast. "BioCurious Kayla" has some great advice to help you focus on what matters most when it comes to your physical and emotional health.

Spending too much time online and on social media is such a big issue in America that lawmakers are currently debating legislation to help combat it. Join us as we talk with Dr. Hilarie Cash, the founder of a Fall City-based inpatient tech addiction treatment program called ReStart. She has solutions for helping wean you offline no matter how aggressive your level of addiction.

Hang on for your life! After a 2-month hiatus, Zach and Jeremy return...and for the first time without a guest. Instead, they share the struggles that life has hurled at them while moving and managing depression. Along the way, they find small victories in the ups and downs of life, numbers on the scale and big-ass rollercoasters.

When was the last time you tried something new? Something that won't make you more productive, make you more money, or check anything off your to-do list? Something you're really, really bad at, but that brought you joy? Odds are, not recently. Author, Karen Rinaldi joins us for a powerful discussion about how being a shitty surfer and all-around-imperfect human has helped her to live a richer, more fulfilling life and how you can reclaim for your health and your sanity through your own riotous suck-ability.

We all do it at one time or another. Sapped of ambition, overcome by fear, or just not able to get going- we do nothing. We procrastinate. Procrastination comes in many different forms - and over time it can become paralyzing. So how do you bust out? For answers, we turn to Certified Life Coach, Trainer, Author, Podcast Host, and former Kung Fu World Champion Karl Romain.

For generations, boys have been taught to be stoic and unemotional—and traits that do not fit in that box should be suppressed. It's more important than ever to redefine our expectations of them—and nurture all the attributes that make them who they are: the sensitive and the strong, the creative and the silly, the kind and the curious. THE HEART OF A BOY: Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood by Kate T. Parker seeks to positively redefine masculinity at a moment when the country is grappling with how to raise boys to become good people. Parker's 2017 blockbuster bestseller Strong Is the New Pretty struck a chord throughout the nation and beyond. Now, in this stunning new collection, Parker turns her lens to boys. Because when given permission to be themselves, boys will not only grow up to be the truest version of themselves but will grow up to be men who will support and respect girls and women. We were lucky enough to have Kate join us again for this edition of The Fit Mess.

These days it seems as though everyone is doing it. Organizing our lives and paring down our possessions. Thrift stores have been inundated with donations of clothes, books, and home furnishings that are being tossed aside to make room for serenity. For many, it's a monumental task so difficult it's hard to know where to start. Our guest on this episode of The Fit Mess is here to help. Seriously. She LOVES this stuff as you'll hear in our discussion with bestselling self-improvement author Gretchen Rubin. She talks with us about her new book, "Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize To Make More Room For Happiness."

Most people know Shaun T as the man who brought the world the popular Beachbody and Insanity workout programs. He's back again with a new routine to help you get in shape in just 20 minutes a day. It's called Transform: 20. But this time he's not only helping your physical fitness...he's helping you with your mental and emotional fitness too. He tells us how in a very open and honest conversation in this episode of The Fit Mess.

A new study reveals Americans are not taking steps to ensure financial security. Freedom from the stress of money is the top dream for their future (59 percent), but more than 2 in 5 Americans polled have less than $1000 in their savings accounts. Economists around the world are predicting another market slump, but most of us (4 in 5) don't feel that we could survive another market downturn. At the same time, we haven't adopted any better financial habits since the Great Recession. But saving can be fun – and many people say it's more rewarding than losing weight. So what's the disconnect and how do we get back on track? For answers in this episode, we turn to nationally recognized money expert, Stefanie O'Connell, author of the book, The Broke and Beautiful Life.

With 80% of New Year's resolutions failing by February, it's time to consider a new path to lifestyle change. Through in-depth scientific research, motivation expert James Fell uncovered how people can be coached toward experiencing such a sudden, life-changing insight that helps them realize their dreams of who they're meant to be. We talked with him about his new book THE HOLY SH*T MOMENT: How Lasting Change Can Happen in an Instant. James Fell has been writing about motivation, health, and fitness for the Los Angeles Times since 2010, and for the Chicago Tribune since 2012. He also has a popular blog that is read by millions.

Multitasking. Everybody does it so they can be as productive as possible. But according to the American Psychological Association, multitasking reduces productivity by up to 40 percent. But that's not all it does . . . In this episode, we'll talk with Dr. Natalia Peart, a Clinical Psychologist & Fortune 500 Executive Leadership Consultant who tells us "While you think it helps you get more done, multitasking actually leads to burnout." Dr. Peart is the author of the brand new book, FutureProofed: How to Navigate Disruptive Change, Find Calm in Chaos, and Success in Work and Life.

Overwhelm affects us on all levels. It is both the cause of and result of stress. When overwhelm manifests physically, as stress, it plays a role in many of the diseases that plague our culture. Over the last two decades in Dr. Samantha Brody's integrative medical practice, she's found that most, if not all, symptoms of compromised health are related, in one way or another, to stress and overwhelm. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Brody, author of "Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress From the Inside Out" about why overwhelm is an invisible stressor on your physical and mental health and what you can do to change it. Dr. Brody is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon. Get the sample chapter of the book and the Core Value exercise here FREE!

The new year has begun and so has your effort to make that resolution stick...this time. For many that resolution might be finally kicking an addiction or a dependency once and for all. But to beat an addiction you have to understand it. Understanding addiction ranks high among the biggest problems that people face. So we have again called on an expert to help. Author, Johann Hari took a journey of 30,000 miles around the world interviewing experts and looking into different cultures for answers. Ultimately, he learned a lot. He learned that the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety...it's connection. He joins us again in this episode to explain why.

In this episode, Dave Asprey talks about "Game Changers: What Leaders, Innovators, and Mavericks Do to Win at Life." Dave Asprey is the founder of Bulletproof Coffee where he's changing a lot of current beliefs about nutrition. You may know him as the guy who is popularizing the idea of putting butter in your coffee. It all started when the world-famous bio-hacker lost over 100 pounds on a quest to improve his physical and mental performance. Asprey is sharing much of his learning in his best-selling books and on his podcast, Bulletproof Radio. Now, it's all available in one new book.

We live in an often overwhelming world – the 24-hour news cycle, social media, and technology constantly demand our attention. If you're a highly sensitive or empathic person, this can leave you exhausted. But rather than being a weakness, high sensitivity can be something of a superpower allowing you to feel things deeply, care about and connect with others, and appreciate nature. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Judith Orloff, author of "The Empath's Survival Guide" about strategies you can use to protect your energy, health, and maximize the benefits of being an empath or highly sensitive person.

In this episode, we talk with Kate T. Parker. She has created "STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY: A Guided Journal for Girls." This interactive journal features prompts to spark confidence and creativity paired with meaningful quotes and favorite photos from her international bestseller, "Strong Is the New Pretty."

What really causes depression and anxiety--and are we treating them correctly? Award-winning journalist Johann Hari struggled with depression since childhood. He was told that his problems were caused by a chemical imbalance. He started treating it with antidepressants as a teenager. As an adult he's tried to find out whether this was true--and as you'll hear in our conversation with him...he learned that almost everything we have been told about depression and anxiety is wrong.

His groundbreaking new book, Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence, is a guide to becoming more focused and present, helping you reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life. In our debut podcast episode, we talk with UCLA Psychiatry Professor and author, Dr. Daniel Siegel, about how the simple act of meditation can improve mood, brain function, and overall health.