The Ronan Levy Podcast

Hello everyone! Welcome to Seasons 5 of The Ronan Levy Podcast. Today we're back with a fascinating conversation with Stephen J. Cloobeck. Stephen is running for Governor of the great state of California. Although Stephen is best known for his work founding and operating Diamond Resorts, he also has political experience having been the Chairman of Brand USA (a a public-private partnership tasked with promoting tourism in the United States) and Chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission. The combination of experiences, he believes, gives him the skills necessary to lead the State of California into a new golden age. I'm not sure why his people asked me, a Canadian, have Stephen on the podcast but I was delighted to take the opportunity to ask questions as an impartial interviewer. I kind of like what I heard. This episode is brought to you by Spoken Nutrition. Spoken delivers the best products on the market, crafted with precision to meet the exacting demands of the world’s top athletes. Each formula is built using only the highest quality ingredients and the proper dosage of each—never adding components just for the sake of inclusion. Every product is designed with a singular focus: to provide the ultimate in performance and results. Simply put, Spoken offers the best because it’s built by those who know what excellence requires.Try Sleep Builder. It is the most effective sleep aid I've ever taken, creating the right environment for better sleep without melatonin or herbal supplements.

When it comes to being successful in the business of managing musicians, there is one piece of advice that trumps them all: do your best to keep them on the straight and narrow. So it's no surprise that Brandon Reid, whose clients include The National, Big Red Machine, Broken Social Scene, Georgia Harmer and Aaron Dessner (co-author of Folklore by Taylor Swift, for all the Swifties out there) chose the name Straight x Narrow Management for his business. Whether that's actually the impetus for the name of his company or not, I don't know. But it sounds like a good story. And this conversation is full of good stories. Like the one off the top about Ed Sheeran, Aaron Dessner and a giant stuffed animal. Enjoy the conversation.

Dr. Jared Pelo is the Chief Medical Officer at Bionic Health, a pioneering health startup that integrates biomarker testing, AI, and advanced technology to deliver personalized, precision, and preventative medical care. With a background as an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Pelo has also co-founded and led successful health tech startups, bringing a blend of clinical expertise and entrepreneurial innovation to the medical field. Known for his thoughtful and balanced approach, Dr. Pelo focuses on making advanced healthcare accessible and promoting well-being through holistic, evidence-based strategies.00:00:00 - Intro: Ronan shares the podcast’s evolving focus and introduces Dr. Jared Pelo.00:01:10 - Journey into Medicine: Dr. Pelo’s path to medicine and early life experiences.00:02:42 - Medical Training Challenges: The tough realities of medical school and their personal impacts.00:04:18 - Therapy and Self-Reflection: Seeking therapy and learning self-forgiveness.00:07:09 - Psychedelic Therapy: First experiences with ketamine therapy and its subtle benefits.00:10:22 - Struggles with Self-Worth: Discussing self-worth, upbringing, and societal pressures.00:13:07 - Impact of Therapy: How ketamine therapy helped dissolve self-loathing.00:18:25 - Entrepreneurial Shift: Transitioning from ER doctor to startup founder.00:25:39 - Mind-Body Connection: Ronan’s personal story on stress and IBS.00:27:07 - Bionic Health Overview: Dr. Pelo explains Bionic Health’s mission in precision medicine.00:33:09 - AI in Healthcare: Role and future of AI in personalized patient care.00:43:08 - Longevity Considerations: Spiritual and emotional implications of living longer.00:50:20 - Community and Connection: Importance of combating loneliness for better health.00:53:29 - Challenges in Modern Medicine: Addressing late-stage treatment and systemic issues.01:01:50 - Supplement Recommendations: Dr. Pelo’s take on supplements for health.01:07:54 - Cancer Screening Tips: Early detection strategies and full-body MRI insights.01:12:31 - Closing Thoughts: Ronan’s thanks and reflections on the conversation.

After my efforts to convince Scott Galloway to start a podcast with me failed, I decided to go for the next best thing and started a podcast with Ben "Doc" Askins. And so we'd like to introduce you to The Know Nothing Podcast, a podcast dedicated to nothing. Think of it as Seinfeld meets The Big Lebowski for the podcast generation by two below average talent podcast hosts. If you like what you hear, or just want to take pity on us, please subscribe to The Know Nothing Podcast on Apple or Spotify.

After disrupting the hospitality industry twice, first as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the second-largest operator of boutique hotels in the U.S., and then as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, leading a worldwide revolution in travel, Chip Conley co-founded MEA (Modern Elder Academy) in January 2018.Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a ‘modern elder’ at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary transformation from a fast-growing start-up to the world’s most valuable hospitality brand, MEA is the world's first ‘midlife wisdom school.’ A New York Times bestselling author, Conley's 7th book “Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age” is about rebranding midlife to help people understand the upside of this often-misunderstood life stage.In this conversation we talk about identity, purpose, wisdom, life and death and more. It's a good one. To learn more about Chip, visit chipconley.com and to learn more about The Modern Elder Academcy, visit meawisdom.com.

After the death of a close friend at seventeen, Tom Turcich resolved to make the most out of life; to travel and be forced into adventure; to experience and understand the world. On April 2nd, 2015, he set out to see it all—one step at a time.The World Walk is the emotional and exhilarating story of the tenth person and first dog to walk around the world. Together, Turcich and his dog, Savannah, covered twenty-eight thousand miles over the course of seven years. Through deserts, jungles, cities, and mountains, Turcich meditated on what’s important in life and took lessons from cultures around the globe.After reading Tom’s book I wanted to have him on the podcast to ask him some of the deeper, personal questions other interviewers might not bring up about what he’s learned from his travels.

Jayson Gaignard is the Founder and Head Curator of MMT (MastermindTalks), one of the world’s most exclusive communities for entrepreneurs.The invite-only MMT community has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard University and brings together brilliant minds from various industries for networking, targeted troubleshooting, and community building.Jayson’s work has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, Life Hacker, Business Insider, and as part of Tim Ferriss' New York Times bestseller Tools of Titans but I really brought him on to have an excuse to go deeper with my close friend and learn more about his origin story and values.What makes for a great event? How do we find our tribe? What does it all mean in the big scheme of things anyway?I finally got in all the questions I’ve always wanted to ask and remembered that Jayson is one of my favorite people on the planet and my life is infinitely richer for his presence in it.

Whether you are a big hockey fan or not at all, I thought the beginning of the NHL season was a good excuse to invite strength & conditioning coach Andy O’Brien on the show.He’s worked with some of the world’s biggest athletes and I wanted to ask him about how sports are changing and what lessons us non-athletes can take away from hockey players around team building and resilience.For more than 25 years the athletes have turned to Andy for sports nutrition, rehabilitation, injury management, and the unique mental health struggles they face.This year we started working together on Cwench Hydration where he is the Chief Performance Officer.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Pilar Gerasimo is a health journalist, podcaster, and the author of The Healthy Deviant: A Rule-Breaker’s Guide to Being Healthy in an Unhealthy World.In today’s society where such a small percentage of people are truly happy and healthy, Pilar says we have to take it upon ourselves to buck a lot of society’s norms and reject a lot of conventional health prescriptions to find our own sense of balance and wellness.When I started thinking about it, rule-breaking really is one of the most prominent traits that every single guest on this podcast shares, whether it comes to health, business, music, or spirituality.If you feel like you might be a fellow Healthy Deviant like us take Pilar’s quiz and sign up for her email list at https://healthydeviant.com/quizThis podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

In 1968 a young Canadian filmmaker named Paul Saltzman was seeking solace in transcendental meditation for a broken heart and was befriended by The Beatles in Rishikesh, India during their immersive study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. 2020 saw the release of his documentary, Meeting The Beatles In India - a film that brings together others who were there for this pivotal moment in music history.As amazing as his experience in India with The Beatles may have been, it is by no means the only incredible story from his fascinating life and career. In this podcast we talk about what we can learn from the virtues of the 60s hippie movement, our understanding of consciousness, and the power of love for our fellow humans.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Raghunath Cappo (@raghunathyogi) is the punk who became a monk.A teen in search of meaning, Ray Cappo fled his suburban Connecticut enclave for New York City—and found community among the misfits of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He fell in love with punk rock, so he started a band and a record label. By the late 1980’s, Youth of Today had thousands of fans, cementing Ray as a leading voice and trendsetter at the bullseye of hardcore culture.However, a growing existential itch led Ray to call it quits. At just 22, he walked away from his band and label and decamped for India—a spiritual pilgrimage that led him to the holy village of Vrindavan where he would become Raghunath.Ultimately Raghunath returned to the States. Now married with 5 kids, he leads spiritual quests throughout India, teaches yoga training in upstate New York at his Supersoul Yoga and Farm. This is the incredible story of a modern day yogi who has a lot of wisdom to share around how we can improve our lives through connection and service.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Mike Brcic is an entrepreneur, adventurer, writer, and family man in Toronto with a penchant for world travel.After selling his company Sacred Rides in 2019 (the AirBNB of adventure mountain biking) He went into a deep existential search for meaning and a journey to find new practices that would raise his consciousness and self awareness.Today he runs Wayfinders, where he works with impact-driven entrepreneurs through courses, workshops, consulting, and of course, travel adventures.In this podcast we talk all about connection. Connection to the self, the planet, other human beings, and the great mystery that is life.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Dr. Jack Feldman @jacklfeldman is a neuroscientist, the David Geffen School Chair in Neuroscience, and a Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at The University of California Los Angeles.If you are a fan of Andrew Huberman and the “physiological sigh” you can thank Jack’s research for making that a thing.We’ve never really explored breathing in depth on this podcast but if you do a little bit of digging you’ll see that our breath is one of the most powerful tools we have for changing our state of mind.In fact, my biggest psychedelic experience so far involved zero substances but only my breath. So I brought Dr. Jack Feldman on to discuss everything we need to know about breathing and the brain for our mental and physical health.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Ben “Doc” Askins, PhD (Hon.) has an eclectic background with degrees in Outdoor Education, Intercultural Studies, Physician Assistant Studies, and Divinity. I wanted to bring him back on the podcast after his last visit was an audience favorite so he could share his ideas on how to live a good, long life.Doc has nearly two decades of experience practicing and teaching wilderness, tactical, and expeditionary medicine in the military.In civilian life, he is a Psychiatric Physician Assistant with an evidence-focused and integrative approach to mental health that includes extensive experience providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, medicine management, and spiritual direction. He is certified with the Multidisciplinary Association on Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Dr. Jordan Shallow aka The Muscle Doc (@the_muscle_doc) is a chiropractor, strength and conditioning coach, powerlifter, and founder of Pre-Script and RX’D RADIO.Jordan works with teams, companies, and individuals on biomechanics, sports performances and injury risk management.In this episode we discuss the role of intuition and feeling in fitness, the dangers in putting too much faith into scientism as a belief system, and what evidence-based living really means.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start, whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.

Laura Gassner Otting is an executive coach, speaker, and best-selling author who inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo by helping people think bigger and accept greater challenges.She is the author of three books, including Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn’t Feel Like It Should… and What to Do About It, Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life, and Mission-Drive: Moving from Profit to Purpose.I brought her on the podcast to discuss how we define success as so many of us are taught at a young age that happiness will come from achievement only to realize that perhaps there is more to life.We discuss her early political career, best practices for hiring and making yourself attractive to talent scouts, the state of the self-help industry, and what it looks like to change paths.This podcast is brought to you by Cizzle Brands, a company that I helped start, whose mission is to elevate the game in health and wellness by replacing all of the unhealthy sugary and fattening foods in our cupboards with healthy nutritious alternatives.Our first product is Cwench Hydration which has been formulated to be the world’s healthiest and best made hydration drink. For a 20% Off coupon code visit CwenchHydration.com and enter LEVY20 at checkout.Head over to www.instagram.com/ronandlevy to connect with me on Instagram.

Sanjay Singhal is an entrepreneur who filed for personal bankruptcy at 31 and later sold Audiobooks.com for $56 million in 2016. This venture capitalist, author, and restaurateur has really done it all.Today he focuses on philanthropy after creating the Nikean Foundation in 2019 to fund mental health research, focusing on novel psychedelic therapies.Now at 58 years old he has started a popular blog SanjaySays.co where he passes on all of his life lessons and raw unfiltered thoughts.

Chris Van Loan II is a video marketer, content strategist, and he also just so happens to be the producer of this show.In my life I have never met anyone so committed to the craft of podcasting or someone who believes so fervently in the power of podcasts to move a generation and raise consciousness.We talk in this episode about relaunching the show as A Good Long Podcast, how the medium is changing, and how to grow your audience without sacrificing your ethics and remaining true to yourself.Head over to www.instagram.com/chrisvanloanii to connect with Chrisand to www.instagram.com/ronandlevy to connect with me on Instagram

Dr. Sherry Walling is a clinical psychologist, speaker, podcaster, best-selling author and mental health advocate. Her company ZenFounder provides mental wellness resources for leaders as they navigate transition, loss, and conflict.She is the co-author along with her husband Rob Walling of a book called The Entrepreneur’s Guide To Keeping Your Shit Together as well as her recent book Touching Two Worlds: A Guide For Finding Hope In The Landscape Of Loss.This conversation is a wonderful reminder that whether it is business or life or loss stressing us out, we are all just doing our best to keep it together. Head over to www.instagram.com/ronandlevy to connect with me on Instagram.

What is this feeling of “awe” and what role does it play in our lives?Dacher Keltner is the Founding Director of the Greater Good Science Center, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. He is also the scientific advisor behind Pixar’s Inside Out & Inside Out 2!I brought Dacher on the podcast because for much of my life I cut myself off from feeling the full depth of my emotions and he’s spent much of his life studying how we can understand and practice tapping into all that life has to offer emotionally.In this episode you’ll learn how you can create more awe and wonder in your own life to live a richer experience in your good, long life.Head over to www.instagram.com/ronandlevy to connect with me on Instagram.

This episode touches on something that honestly scares the living daylights out of me, and that is getting cancer at a ridiculously young age.So why would I start the first official new episode of this podcast about longevity talking about early onset cancer?When you hear Florence Shaffer’s story about the diagnosis giving her clarity and finding direction and meaning in the impermanence of life, you’ll understand.Florence is a technology executive who has worked all over the world in beauty, luxury fashion, automotive, film, real estate, construction, healthcare and hospitality. Her wide ranging experiences have led her to launch a new company called Becoming (StartBecoming.co) which focuses on the intersection between humanity and technology by making the world’s experts in various holistic wellness fields accessible to the masses.This is one you won’t want to miss!Head over to www.instagram.com/ronandlevy to connect with me on Instagram.

After a brief hiatus, Ronan is back with a new focus for the podcast. While being non-ordinary is fun and insightful, there is more to life to explore. So say hello to A Good, Long Podcast: Lessons for a Good, Long Life. A podcast in which we speak with people from all walks of life about the wisdom they've received on how to live a good and long life. Produced by Chris Van Loan II, Van Loan Film Co. Cover Art by Walker Munro. Music by Jahzzar.

Jon Hopkins, a highly acclaimed musician and electronic music producer, joins Ronan from across the pond to discuss the inspiration and creative process for his new record “Music for Psychedelic Therapy,” his own journey with psychedelic medicine, posthumously collaborating with Ram Dass, and more! Jon’s works have been Grammy and Mercury Prize nominated, he has done film scoring, and has collaborated with the likes of Brian Eno, Imogen Heap, Coldplay, Purity Ring, and previous Field Tripping guest East Forest. “Music for Psychedelic Therapy” (which is out now, available at https://smarturl.it/MFPT/) signifies a seeming departure from Jon’s trajectory as a more techno/club-centered act. The album’s first single, Sit Around the Fire, features the words of Ram Dass from a 1970’s recording as well as contributions from collaborator East Forest. 

As 2023 has been a year of profound changes, ups and downs and lots of confusion and uncertainty for me, I couldn't think of a better episode to send this year off with than this one with Ben "Doc" Askins. Give a listen and you'll understand why. Ben "Doc" Askins is a no-one. But he is also Banksy’s erudite elder brother, a Deadpool wannabe, and the Shadow of the world’s most interesting man. When artificial intelligence has a fever dream, it dreams of being Doc.But if you actually care about qualifications, here is what you need to know about Ben. He has degrees in Outdoor Education, Intercultural Studies, Physician Assistant Studies, and Divinity. He has nearly two decades of experience practicing and teaching wilderness, tactical, and expeditionary medicine in the military. In civilian life, he is a Psychiatric Physician Assistant with an evidence-focused and integrative approach to mental health that includes extensive experience providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, medicine management, and spiritual direction. He is certified with the Multidisciplinary Association on Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Ben is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society, a National Outdoor Leadership school alum, a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, and has completed postgraduate training in Neuropsychiatry and Genomics.I won't even attempt to put together show notes on this one because it would be a failed pursuit. But it was an awesome conversation. If you're not nauseated by the end of this conversation, check out Ben's work here.

Danny Morel is a life coach and spiritual leader guiding millions throughout the world to awaken, heal and transform their lives. But don't tell him that. Because he doesn't like those labels, and I can understand why. There's something weird about calling yourself a spiritual leader. But sometimes doing this work, whatever you call it, is going to mean you're going to run into people who want to get it but sometimes just...don't. And maybe I'm one of those people. How can I say this? Even though I really want to buy into a lot of what Danny says, there's something about it that just doesn't land for me. I can't tell you why. Maybe it was just my mood that day. Maybe I just see the world differently. Or maybe there is something incomplete about what Danny is preaching. I don't know. But I do know that, notwithstanding my ambivalence about some of the elements of this conversation, that there are some great insights shared and, that what I'm trying to do with this podcast is try to elevate truth as much as possible. And the truth is that there's something that just doesn't sit right for me in this conversation. And maybe that's all the truth that needs to be shared. Learn more about Danny and his work here.

I can't help but love it when some people f*ck with authority, especially when they are on the right side of history. Prof. David Nutt is one of those people. David is currently the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences.  He is also the Chair of DrugScience (formally the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ISCD)) and President of the European Brain Council. But he's probably best known for up-ending everything we were taught about drugs in high school after he authored a study published in the Lancet that showed, through a multi-criteria analysis, that things like cannabis, psilocybin and LSD weren't nearly as harmful to people as was our then (and still, frankly) vice, alcohol. And we should all be grateful he did because in many ways that was a pivotal moment for the psychedelic renaissance and the start of a healthy reexamination of psychoactive compounds in our society. His recent book, Psychedelics: The Revolutionary Drugs That Could Change Your Life - a Guide From the Expert, was published in June 2023 and is now available for pre-order in Canada and the US. You can get your copy here.

This is a reposting of a recent episode of the podcast Making Sense with Sam Harris called "The Bright Line Between Good and Evil", reshared with Sam's consent and with a brief commentary from me at off the top. I am resharing this because it opened my eyes to things I hadn't considered, and I think it's important for these thoughts to be heard, considered and, if appropriate, responded to.

What happens when you’re building one of the most innovative companies and coolest brands in the world and a baby drops into your life at the same time? Two experiences that you can do all you want to prepare for consciously but can never really be prepared for? That’s what Robbie Bent, Co-founder and CEO of Othership, is going through right now. Robbie was kind enough to join me on the podcast for a second time to talk about how his life has evolved since our last recorded conversation, which happened just before he was about to embark on a psychedelic retreat at Holos to prepare for fatherhood. You can listen to that episode here. Here are some highlights: 1:35 - living with a wild animal, otherwise known as a child10:07 - getting hyped to create something amazing and deliver transformative experiences13:23 - Robbie's triggers and bringing the stress of work into home life14:57 - admiration for his wife and the role of the mother15:40 - hard lives22:40 - what drives Robbie to do what he does25:00 - managing the balance28:00 - is there a moment of "success" for Robbie? 29:45 - moving goal lines 35:17 - the sadness in success and how running Othership is already changing40:30 - the merits of lifestyle businesses45:18 - revisiting the psychedelic fatherhood retreat (and a shoutout to Steve Rio!)49:39 - a spiritual moment with Onyx52:17 - how parenthood (and the Hoffman Method) shifted his relationship with his parents57:00 - the trials and tribulations of parenthood1:04:24 - how your business can become part of your family 1:09:39 - the New York Othership reveal

If the conversation with Scott Galloway was the one with the frat boy turned banker turned entrepreneur going vulnerable, this one is the conversation with the thoughtful, grass-fed farmer-turned-physician. And it's equally as insightful. Drew Ramsey, MD is a board certified psychiatrist, author, and mental health advocate. His work focuses on clinical excellence, nutritional psychiatry, male mental health and creative media. He is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and founded the Brain Food Clinic, a digital mental health clinical practice.His work has been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lancet Psychiatry, The Today Show, BBC, and NPR and he has given three TEDx talks. He is co-author of the Antidepressant Food Scale and created the first e-courses on Nutritional Psychiatry education for the public and clinicians. His books Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety (Harperwave 2021), Eat Complete, 50 Shades of Kale, and The Happiness Diet explore the connections between mental health and nutrition. He is on the Advisory Board at Men’s Health, the Editorial Board at Medscape Psychiatry, and the Scientific Advisory Board of the anti-stigma nonprofit Bring Change To Mind. He lives in Jackson, Wyoming with his wife and two children.Follow Dr. Drew on Instagram: @DrewRamseyMDHighlights: 3:30 - how do we define success? 4:23 - a moment to fan boy over Prof G6:47 - what's worked for Ronan since leaving Field Trip12:07 - the brilliance of association and intuition14:67 - the lies that Disney movies tell us19:30 - a really good diagnosis being a good thing22:46 - using psychedelics during periods of distress 27:00 - the beauty of not being a doctor28:50 - what is nutritional psychiatry38:00 - rethinking vulnerability42:26 - what's Justin Trudeau got to do with it? 44:57 - Drew's perspectives the Barbie Movie49:26 - how to be a good mental health clinician55:22 - a nod to Dr. Barry Waisglass and more integrated approaches to medicine1:00:38 - back to lentils1:02:46 - gluten, organic, coconut oil, ketosis and artificial flavours. And GMOs and UFOs.

There are few men in this world that I'd identify as being a role model for me. But after this conversation, I may just have one. Scott Galloway is Professor of Marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business and a serial entrepreneur. He was named one of the world’s best business professors by Poets & Quants. Scott has founded nine companies, including Prophet, RedEnvelope, L2, and Section School, where he also teaches. He is the New York Times–bestselling author of The Four, The Algebra of Happiness, Post Corona and Adrift: America in 100 Charts. Scott has served on the boards of directors of The New York Times Company, Urban Outfitters, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Panera Bread, and Ledger. Across his Prof G and Pivot podcasts, No Mercy / No Malice newsletter, and his YouTube channel, Scott reaches millions. He has won multiple Webby and Best Podcast awards, and his books have been translated into 28 languages. Find everything Scott Galloway at https://profgmedia.com/. Highlights: 3:15 - what gave rise to Scott's interest in the conversation around masculinity. 6:24 - compassion is not a zero sum game. 8:06 - for many men, suicide is not a result of mental illness. 8:54 - the importance of relationships. 9:40 - Scott's business failures.11:42 - failure as an ingredient of success and the traps of it.12:22 - kicking dogs and other ways to get over failure. 12:37 - the role of luck in success. 14:02 - the thread that connects millionaire hedge fund operators and lost young men. 16:29 - what failure feels like. 18:07 - the importance of not being too picky and just picking up the pieces.19:55 - the curse of both genders. 22:00 - men, money and the data. 23:07 - why Scott's life partner has been pivotal to Scott's success. 24:09 - how Scott's identity is wrapped up in his professional relevance. 26:02 - biases in the school system and the workplace. 29:14 - the role of fathers and the definition of masculinity going forward. 30:03 - the story of Scott's childhood and his relationship with his father. 33:54 - Scott's introduction to investing, courtesy of one of his mom's boyfriends. 35:53 - become a frat boy. For your own good. 39:00 - the consequences of refusing to accept defeat and failure. 42:55 - psychedelics, alcohol and more. 47:05 - body dysmophia in men. 50:07 - the beauty of the male form. 52:51 - Scott's appreciation of nurturing men.

For decades, we had envisioned our future as a digital utopia in which technology would solve all of our problems and create a perfect world.Yet, with the pandemic, we got a taste of what this promised future would be like - and it was awful. So, are we doomed to live in a digital dystopia?David Sax is an award-winning writer and speaker whose journalistic writings have been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Bloomberg.Today, David joins Ronan to discuss his upcoming book 'The Future Is Analog' in which he explains why the promised digital utopia never arrived, how we got here, and whether we can build a future that serves us as humans, first and foremost. Tune in to learn more!Ronan and David also discuss the potential of psychedelics as a way to reconnect with ourselves, Jewish culture, The Singularity, and more.Key Takeaways Are we doomed to live in a digital dystopia? (00:00)The rediscovery of the Jewish deli (08:59)Paper books vs. ebooks (26:07)What to expect from the future of digital technology (39:11)Why the analog world is better than the digital world (42:13)Why the psychedelic experience is so powerful (48:48)Ray Kurzweil's prediction of The Singularity (57:13)The importance of getting back to authentic human connection (1:01:56)Additional ResourcesLeverage the power of psychedelic therapy and start your path to long-term change. Learn more at: https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/Download the Field Trip App:https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/self-guided-mobile-appTune in to The Field Tripping podcast at: https://www.fieldtripping.fm/Learn more about David's book 'The Future Is Analog:' https://books.google.es/books/about/The_Future_Is_Analog.html?id=3RRjEAAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

Robbie Bent, CEO and co-founder of breathwork and wellness center Othership, joins Ronan in this emotional episode of Field Tripping. The two discuss Robbie’s evolution from backyard breathing sessions to owning a brick and mortar studio and his personal evolution to becoming the best version of himself. Plus, they discuss how psychedelics are helping to prepare Robbie for fatherhood. Learn more about Othership at othership.us

Every once in a while, life provides a sliding door moment. One of those pivotal moments in life for which there was a before and there is an after. This conversation with Alex Charfen is one of those moments for me, as it helped me find a level of self-acceptance that I've never found before. Here is a little bit about Alex...He was never meant to be the Co-founder & CEO of a multi-million dollar company. As a kid, Alex had a tough time learning, fitting in, and following other people’s rules. His entrepreneurial journey started early on by selling things at school, and he went on to run a window washing service in high school and a financial consulting firm in college. In his twenties, Alex became a Fortune 500 consultant, working with some of the most successful people in the world. In his early thirties, he met his wife, Cadey, and sold his consulting business. Unable to stay out of the entrepreneurial world, Alex and Cadey started buying and selling houses and became one of the largest real estate companies in Florida in less than a year. Following the Economic Crisis of 2007, Alex and Cadey lost everything and went bankrupt. Rising from the ashes, they built an information product called the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation. Through their designation, Alex and Cadey worked with the majority of major lenders and real estate brokerages in the United States to help our country recover from the mortgage crisis. As a result, they helped pull forward the recovery of the foreclosure crisis by five to seven years, sold over $70 million, were featured on the Inc. list of fastest-growing companies in the country three years in a row, and won many other awards.Alex went on to create the Entrepreneurial Personality Type (EPT), helping tens of thousands of entrepreneurs with six-, seven-, and eight-figure businesses to grow and scale. Today, Alex has created multiple multimillion-dollar companies, learned a lot along the way, and is teaching entrepreneurs how they can do the same. Sharing his journey with others led Alex to write for publications such as Success, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine, and his story has also garnered attention from major media outlets like MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and Investor’s Business Daily. As a result of his mentorship and success, Alex is now known as the go-to person for helping entrepreneurs ascend the Billionaire Code and understand how to plan strategically. Throughout all of this, Charfen’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs to grow and scale their business and make their greatest contribution. If you want to learn more about Alex and his incredible work with Simple Operations, visit www.charfen.com.Key Moments: 03:00 - Alex's tumultuous childhood in Mexico City10:40 - Tony Robbins and Wayne Dyer make Alex even weirder14:01 - adversity as a precursor for massive success15:26 - a basic definition of The Entrepreneurial Personality Type16:06 - Ronan's tumultuous childhood17:44 - entrepreneurs are information seekers20:00 - how entrepreneurs are often persecuted by the system and then want to fix the system for everyone22:00 - momentum as a key determinant in an entrepreneur's happiness23:26 - what's wrong with me? 27:10 - changing the entrepreneurial scoreboard32:44 - the three elements of momentum38:19 - Alex's own brush with insolvency45:49 - Alex's phoenix rising from the ashes, and near collapse 56:27 - stillness in momentum 1:00:24 - a new definition of success1:05:44 - some thoughts on Bill Gates

In early 2019, Mira's life was entirely blown apart, when her partner Brian was diagnosed with an unbelievably aggressive cancer. He died seven weeks later, leaving her alone with their almost three-year-old daughter.The experience forced Mira to explore the grieving process and she has turned that exploration into New Moon Mira, a grief coaching business that supports widows and grievers in more intimate group containers and provides grief literacy training for grief-support people and healthcare professionals.In this conversation, we talk about the experience of having a life partner pass on, how to support someone who is going through the process of, or soon to be, grieving, how the medical profession fails to support people in the dying process and, ultimately, how grief can help us evolve. If you're interested in learning more about Mira and her work, check out: https://www.instagram.com/newmoonmira/

Derek Beres is a multi-faceted author and media expert based in Portland, Oregon. He has served in senior editorial positions at a number of tech companies and has years of experience in health, science, and music writing. He is the co-host of the Conspirituality podcast and co-author of Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat.In this episode, Derek and I talk about his conspirituality, what it is, where it comes from and why it demands that all of us take the word of influencers and charismatics with a healthy sense of skepticism...especially when they are trying to sell you something. We also explore the unlikely alignment between the alt right conspiracy theorists and left-wing hippies when it comes to vaccines, the origins of modern yoga, some big name podcasters and RFK Jr. It might blow your mind. Or piss you off. Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, you better watch out. Derek shows us what real journalism looks like. Timeline: 3:53 - What is conspirituality? 8:36 - Who in the world is Charlotte Webb? 12:11 - Conspirituality through the modern age. 22:32 - Dave Asprey and the early days of the modern conspirituality. 26:22 - How indigenous practices are being co-opted by conspiritualists. 28:47 - a discussion of AI and intellectual property law.30:35 - How even real scientists like Andrew Huberman can get caught stepping out of their lane. 31:55 - Russell Brand is NOT a journalist. 38:39 - Why charismatics and conspiritualists try to make you feel like you're on the right side of history. 40:45 - The roots of modern yoga are not what you think. 48:17 - How the rise of modern yoga predicted the conversation around transgendered people.1:05:47 - a conversation about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 1:10:49 - RFK Jr. vs. ChatGPT in a battle for the truth. If you'd like to order a copy of the book, Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/derek-beres/conspirituality/9781541702981/?lens=publicaffairsIf you're interested in learning more about Derek's work more generally, check out: https://www.conspirituality.net/https://twitter.com/derekbereshttps://www.instagram.com/conspiripod/

Susan Stephens is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and an Intuitive Counsellor, and the founder of Liberated Living in Hamilton, Ontario where she specializes in helping people to overcome addictions, trauma, negative recurrent patterns, depression and anxiety. Over the years, Susan has helped thousands of men and women to transform emotional pain, elevate health, cultivate conscious relationships and connect to the divinity within and without.In this episode, Susan and I open up about some of the experiences in our lives that put us on the not-always-pleasant paths that we have found ourselves on. We talk about childhood trauma, feelings of self-worth (or lack thereof), the traps of success, why many therapists are too shallow (and that's a good thing) and embracing our inner bitch. This episode gets vulnerable very quickly so there are a number of stretches of silence and some sniffles to choke back some tears. What can I say? No one ever said Evolving is easy. Or pretty.But it's the first of a few episodes that will feature Susan as I will continue to work with her over the coming weeks and months to go deeper, both for physical health as well as emotional health. If you want to learn more about Susan's work, check out www.liberatedliving.ca or join her private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/561484324447592.4:03 - Susan's shares about her past and alcoholism. 11:19 - Susan shares about her experiences with therapy and AA.15:32 - overcompensating and a discussion about orthorexia. 16:35 - the quest for success. 23:16 - manifestation is now a thing. 26:45 - a conversation on doing vs. being. 33:34 - the more woo, the better. 34:16 - the spiritual journey is not for wusses. 38:33 - a conversation about divorce. 40:08 - from zero to one and back to zero again. 43:06 - the biggest issue in our culture. 44:57 - a conversation about heartbreak. 49:17 - Ronan's first spiritual realization. 53:41 - this sh*t is bananas. 59:24 - compassion as betrayal. 1:06:31 - anger as an act of self-worth. 1:09:14 - the law of attraction.

Father's Day is a great day to celebrate and honour all of the fathers out there. But it's also a good day to reflect on what it is to be a father and a man in our society. As much as "it's a man's world," men suffer the effects of chauvinism too and if we want to break the cycle of it, it starts (in part) with dads. Happy Father's Day everyone!

Jere Simpson is an entrepreneur with a beautiful rags-to-riches story. He's known for his prophetic vision in tech, having built landmark companies in SaaS, mobile and cybersecurity and worked with the CIA, FBI, NSA and Pentagon. He's been recognized by Forbes Magazine as "one of the top minds in tech" and by Entrepreneur as "one of the best entrepreneurs in the world". Now he's turning his sights on AI with his company AtlasUP. In this conversation, we dive deep into AI, what we can expect from it, how we change our attitudes toward it and work to ensure it doesn't become an apocalyptic nightmare. And we stumble upon two of the most terrifying conclusions about artificial intelligence I've ever considered. But we end on a very optimistic note about how to make this a beautiful life. 28:00 - deep wisdom from Alan Shore (James Spader) that leads to the scariest realization I've had about AI.32:00 - a surprisingly thoughtful insight from an AI model. 35:00 - post-scarcity world and the age of abundance. 38:00 - marketing and deception 41:00 - the 6 people who can end everything45:00 - Sam Altman, Elon Musk and politicians 49:00 - if we can't figure shit out over psychedelics, how are we going to do it over AI? 53:00 - the magic of human machinery

Do you remember the first time you truly felt alive? While we wait for some of the first interview episodes to be finalized I thought I'd start by sharing some short reflection pieces and the first one I'm sharing is on this very question. The first time you feel truly, emphatically alive is usually a moment in your adolescence, sometimes called The Eternal Youth. It's one of 7 Faces of the Soul that all humans go through as part of the experience of being human. This is the story of my first feeling of The Eternal Youth.

Anyone who has undertaken any kind of construction project knows that surprises always await. This is true whether you're renovating a house or renovating a podcast. And that happened to this podcast following my attendance at The Intelligent Change Summit hosted by Alex and Mimi Ikonn in April, which led me to conclude that I wanted to take this podcast in a slightly different direction than I had before. Same general theme, but marginally different approach. Give a listen and let me know your thoughts.

Todd Herman, the author of the WSJ and International Best Selling Book, “The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life,” joins Ronan to discuss Todd’s experiences with MDMA assisted therapy to overcome sexual trauma, the power of alter egos, and whether there exists a one true authentic self. He is also a speaker and coach focused on mental toughness, leadership, and peak performance, and has been featured on NFL Films, Fox Sports, PBS, Entrepreneur, and the Today Show. His training programs have been delivered to over 2 million people and have won numerous awards and his coaching systems are used by teams in the NFL, NBA, and NHL, as well as major companies around the world. Todd just launched his own shoe line, and his work has even inspired the new FOX TV show, Alter Ego!Feel free to leave Ronan a message with your comments, questions, or just to say hello!

Writer, meditation and metaphysics teacher, lifestyle design expert and fellow podcaster Luke Storey joins Ronan to chat about good and evil, addiction and sobriety, and self love. Luke shares transformative principles of health, addiction recovery and spirituality, detailing how he's spent the past two decades refining the ultimate wellness lifestyle, combining primal health and ancient spiritual practices with the most cutting-edge natural healing, and consciousness expanding technologies. Listening to this episode is an act of self care as Luke’s story is chock-full of tried and true strategies for feeling more confident, happy and connected.

Bob Parsons, entrepreneur and psychedelic philanthropist best known for founding the domain registrar GoDaddy, joins Ronan to discuss his harrowing combat experience in Vietnam and the ensuing PTSD, his path to psychedelic therapy and healing, how to address the failed war on drugs, and more! After returning home from the Vietnam War, Bob realized he was not the same person as before, and eventually became aware of his PTSD after years of struggle. After reading Michael Pollan’s book “How To Change Your Mind,” he immediately began exploring psychedelic therapy as an option to heal his trauma. Parsons is currently working with MAPS to help conduct clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for FDA approval, and with Dr. Rachel Yehuda to help with PTSD research, and to train therapists to specialize in treating veterans and active-duty members with psychedelics.Feel free to leave Ronan a message with your comments, questions, or just to say hello! https://www.speakpipe.com/fieldtripping or write us an email at [email protected]. And please check out our Field Tripping YouTube channel where you can watch the show!Follow us!Official Website: fieldtriphealth.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fieldtriphealth/Facebook: facebook.com/fieldtriphealthTwitter: twitter.com/fieldtriphealthInstagram: instagram.com/fieldtriphealthGuest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbobparsons/Download our app: tripapp.co

World-renowned visual artists Alex and Allyson Grey join Ronan this week to talk about art and psychedelics, what deems something sacred, and making love stay. Known for creating their iconic spiritual paintings, Alex and Allyson are the co-founders of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, or COSM, a nonprofit organization and contemporary public chapel that is a sanctuary for spiritual renewal through contemplation of transformative art in New York. Their work has been praised since the 1970s for their other-worldly and signature styles that are instantly recognizable to those that know them - from Tool album covers to the MAPS logo. The soul behind their livelihood and both of their works leaves one hugely intrigued and introspective… much like listening to this episode will likely leave you. Feel free to leave Ronan a message with your comments, questions, or just to say hello! https://www.speakpipe.com/fieldtripping or write us an email at [email protected]. And please check out our Field Tripping YouTube channel where you can watch the show!

To celebrate the release of Michael Pollan's new series 'How to Change Your Mind' on Netflix we wanted to rewind and revisit our episode with one of the most important voices in the psychedelic space. The episode first aired 6 months ago, and it touches on themes from his newest book, like our complicated relationship with caffeine, and how mindful gardening started him on this path to psychedelic curiosity and enlightenment. In this interview, Michael also highlights the new territory that psychedelics have opened for him and hints at the phenomenon that he may begin to examine next: the great mystery of consciousness itself. About Michael:How to Change Your Mind (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80229847Michael's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.pollanAbout Us:Download our app: tripapp.coInstagram: instagram.com/fieldtriphealthOfficial Website: fieldtriphealth.com

On this episode of Field Tripping, Ronan is joined by Dr. Carl Hart - neuroscientist, researcher, and best-selling author of "Drug Use for Grown Ups." The two discuss opioid death examinations, psychedelic media coverage and how the definition of a psychedelic is changing. Plus, we chat about drug policy & reform in America – and how Dr. Hart is sickened that drug test kits aren't more accessible.

Tucker Max, New York Times bestselling author known for the 'fratire' genre, takes on a more emotional side in this episode of Field Tripping. He and Ronan discuss childhood wounds, Tucker’s psychoanalysis journey, why he is grateful for failure, and how he sees the role of narcissism. Plus, they dive into his healing work with psychedelics and how the first time he actually felt love was during an MDMA journey.

Is there a way to discover and understand our true inner selves?Dr. Dick Schwartz is a systemic family therapist and an academic. He is known for developing the therapeutic approach called Internal Family Systems. This approach to therapy recognizes all the multi-dimensional aspects of who we are and, most importantly, gives voice to them. Today, Dr.Schwartz joins Ronan to break down the 8 C's of self-leadership, how IFS therapy relates to psychedelics, and their potential when it comes to mental health and well-being. Tune in to find out more!You'll also learn the ideas behind Dr. Schwartz's theory, how our different personalities work, and you'll witness Ronan's live therapy session with Dr. Schwartz.Key Takeaways Intro (00:00)How Dr. Schwartz discovered that we all have multiple personalities (03:08)The eight C's of self-leadership (07:57)Our different inner personalities and how they work (13:38)Ronan's session with Dr. Schwartz (23:14)What are the rules of the inner world? (40:41)What's driving the current state of our society? (52:36)Roflections (55:37)Additional ResourcesLeverage the power of psychedelic therapy and start your path to long-term change. Learn more at: https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/Download the Field Trip App:https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/self-guided-mobile-appTune in to The Field Tripping podcast at: https://www.fieldtripping.fm/

Is the NFL world ready for psychedelic therapy?Kenny Stills is an NFL athlete, activist, and philanthropist. When not playing wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, Kenny manages the Kenny Stills Foundation; an initiative focused on improving the quality of life of underserved communities through education and enriching experiences.Kenny is also one of the first football players to come out of the psychedelic closet and is also a graduate of Field Trip's ketamine-assisted therapy program.Today, Kenny joins Ronan to discuss his career, racial trauma as an NFL athlete, the NFL's approach to psychedelics, and the problem with the current political climate in the US. Tune in to find out more!Kenny also shares his experiences with psychedelic therapy and explains the importance of taking care of our emotional and physical health to battle against racism, hate, and inequality. Key Takeaways Intro (00:00)Kenny's career in the NFL and his motivation from the start (14:26)Psychedelics and therapy in the NFL (19:00)Why people don't understand nuance and why this is a problem (27:21)Kenny's views on the current political climate in the US (32:05)Kenny's experience with psychedelic therapy (34:53)The NFL's approach to psychedelics and sports (40:13)What is the Kenny Stills Foundation? (54:52)Roflections (1:03:27)Additional ResourcesFind out more about The Kenny Stills Foundation at: https://kstills.com/Leverage the power of psychedelic therapy and start your path to long-term change. Learn more at: https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/Download the Field Trip App:https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/self-guided-mobile-appTune in to The Field Tripping podcast at: https://www.fieldtripping.fm/

In a world of egos and icons that is much of the music industry, it's admirable to find some influential artists openly discussing mental health.Mike Posner is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, poet, and record producer, famous for his breakout record 'Cooler Than Me' and his hit track 'I Took A Pill In Ibiza.'Mike isn't shy about speaking out on the importance of mental health. He has incorporated many wellness practices into his everyday life, including the Wim Hof breathing method, of which he is a certified instructor. Today, Mike joins Ronan to discuss his career in the music industry, how signing a deal with RCA changed his life, what prompted him to begin his spiritual journey and the importance of mental health in the music industry. Tune in to learn more!Mike also shares how climbing Mount Everest in 2021 shifted his perspective on life, what happened after he got bitten by a rattlesnake in Colorado, and more.Key Takeaways Mike Posner on the music industry's mental health crisis & his spiritual journey (00:00)Mike's background and why he decided to become a musician (14:02)How Mike's signing with RCA changed the trajectory of his life (17:11)Shelved albums and getting better at music (30:40)How do you account for success in music? (33:54)Mike's views on the secret to success in entrepreneurship (40:15)The best decision Mike ever made (55:46)How climbing Everest in 2012 changed Mike's life (1:02:57)How to grapple with your "why" (1:09:04)Additional ResourcesListen to Mike’s music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KsP6tYLJlTBvSUxnwlVWaLeverage the power of psychedelic therapy and start your path to long-term change. Learn more at: https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/Download the Field Trip App:https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/self-guided-mobile-appTune in to The Field Tripping podcast at: https://www.fieldtripping.fm/