Paleo Baby

In this interview, Performance Psychologist Simon Marshall, PhD is with me to discuss one of the most common obstacles to meeting health and fitness goals - time management. For most of us, our days are filled with work and family obligations, leaving just a few precious unscheduled minutes at the end of the day.  It can seem nearly impossible to carve out the time needed for meditating, exercising, or cooking healthy meals at home. There are biological reasons we find it harder to follow through with our good intentions as the day goes on. Fortunately, there are simple things that can be done to build better habits and strengthen our commitments. If you’re struggling to make it all work, Simon offers solutions for assessing your time-management problem and freeing up the time you need. Here’s the outline of this interview with Simon Marshall: [00:02:50] The underlying struggle. [00:03:56] Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman. [00:05:30] Motivation and commitment to change. [00:06:32] Book: Essen

Recently we’ve had remarkable guests on the podcast highlighting areas of evolutionary mismatch. It’s clear our society has disconnected from real food and good sleep, but we’ve also detoured from what’s optimal in how we congregate, educate, and support one another. We’ve divided ourselves into nuclear families, often leaving our children in the care of strangers so we can go to a job we don’t care about, in order to earn money to pay for our segregated lifestyle. Social isolation has become so common we barely realize the madness of it - until we need help and find that there’s no one nearby. In this interview, I’m joined by my wife, food scientist Julie Kelly to talk about how our society could benefit from a cohousing model, transcending the current paradigm that leaves parents exhausted and young adults unable to afford housing. We discuss our own living situation and that of neighbours and friends, many of whom could benefit from living with others to share resources and skills. We’re in the contemplati

Strength and conditioning coach James Cerbie is the founder of Rebel Performance and host of the podcast by the same name. He’s on a mission to forge a new breed of athlete while giving that athlete a tribe and a competitive outlet.  What’s amazing is not just that he and a squad of other experts are developing a training library and launching competitions, but that they’re doing it all online. Only those interested in becoming complete freak athletes need apply. In this interview, James and I talk about his remote coaching model, and how he manages to create a sense of community amongst athletes living great distances apart.  He discusses his 6 pillars of athletic performance (strength, hypertrophy, power, endurance, movement IQ, and fusion) and how his team of experts deliver results in these areas. He also shares his no-nonsense nutrition recommendations and talks about how Crossfit measures up to his approach. Here’s the outline of this interview with James Cerbie: [00:00:57] Zac Cupples; Podcast: Moveme

At the root of our obstacles to better health, and indeed a cause of many health problems is stress. It’s not hard to find advice for coping with stress - many people will recommend meditation or yoga, and these are a great place to start. But what you might not know is that managing stress for the long term is a challenge that is best met with a balance of two specific approaches. In this podcast Performance Psychologist Dr. Simon Marshall, PhD. describes the two best strategies for managing the stress of life, along with a simple way to determine which one you’ve been relying on (often to the exclusion of the other). We also discuss some of the most common social stressors and ways for you to detach from stressful thoughts and feelings. Sign up for the 2020 Braveheart Highland Games in San Diego, CA. Here’s the outline of this interview with Simon Marshall: [00:02:19] Many dimensions to health. [00:03:02] Headspace. [00:04:13] Book: Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. [00:06:35] Stressor vs stress

Sleep researcher, writer and international speaker Greg Potter, PhD is with us once again to continue our conversation about improving your sleep. In my last interview with Greg, we discussed practical steps to take when sleep eludes you, as well as preventing sleep problems in the first place. We’ve circled back around today to take a closer look at some of the most promising interventions for insomnia as well as special considerations for athletes with regard to sleep. In this interview, Greg describes Sleep Restriction Therapy and Intensive Sleep Retraining in detail, two approaches to fixing insomnia that sound counterintuitive at first but which can pay off quickly with more restful sleep. Greg talks about mindfulness and meditation, sharing tips for using these practices to reduce insomnia and overall stress. We also discuss sleep considerations specific to athletes, including sleep timing, training load, and travel. Here’s the outline of this interview with Greg Potter: [00:03:35] Documentary: Who Kil

Researcher and elite athlete Brianna Stubbs is back on the podcast today, checking in before her recent Ironman competition in Santa Cruz, California. Since we last talked with Brianna she’s left HVMN and joined the Buck Institute for Research on Aging as Lead Translational Scientist. There she’ll be studying ketone biology and collaborating on some of the best research being conducted today with the mission of living better, longer. In this interview, Brianna and I talk about some of the latest studies on ketone metabolism, which continues to show promise for athletic performance, cognition, and cardiovascular health. She also notes where the research in this area is lacking and even contradictory. Brianna also shares her personal strategy for dosing the ketone monoester she helped bring to the marketplace.  Here’s the outline of this interview with Brianna Stubbs: [00:00:00] Brianna’s previous podcasts: World Champion Rower and Ketone Monoester Researcher Brianna Stubbs, The D-BHB Ketone Monoester Is Here

Anastassia Laskey is a consultant living in Atlanta, and she’s been a member of NBT’s Elite Performance Program for the past 3 years. Since then she’s overcome health challenges that were significantly affecting her quality of life, including numerous gut infections, food sensitivities and fatigue. On this podcast, Anastassia talks with NBT coach and Scientific Director Megan Roberts about her healing journey from a state of severe illness to one in which she’s gained control over her well-being. She shares about her decision to go overseas for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and the impact this procedure had on her recovery. She also discusses the habit-forming strategies and lifestyle changes she implemented to maintain her improved state of health. Here’s the outline of this interview with Anastassia Laskey: [00:00:31] Why Ana came to Nourish Balance Thrive. [00:03:32] Diet changes. [00:03:45] Book: The Primal Blueprint, by Mark Sisson. [00:04:11] Clostridium difficile (C-diff). [00:06:30] Fecal M

Ashley Mason, PhD., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF, is back on the podcast this week. Ashley is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a structured program that helps people overcome the underlying causes of sleep problems. She’s passionate about her clinical work with small groups, and there’s clearly a demand for her services - her schedule is booked for the next 8 months. In this interview, Ashley shares her step-by-step formula for helping her patients fix their sleep. She describes some lesser-known strategies that help re-establish restful sleep patterns, including sleep restriction, scheduled worry time, and identifying cognitive distortions. She also talks about the pitfalls people encounter when recovering from insomnia, and how to avoid them. Please consider supporting Ashley’s work. Here’s the outline of this interview with Ashley Mason: [00:00:13] Book: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, by Matthew Walker, P

Christopher Ryan, PhD. is an author, speaker, and podcast host, as well as an excellent storyteller. With his New York Times best-selling book, Sex at Dawn, he became known for challenging the standard cultural narratives around sex and social organization. His new book, Civilized to Death, questions whether civilization has been a net benefit to our species. On his podcast Tangentially Speaking, Chris welcomes a mix of unconventional guests including famous comics, bank robbers, drug smugglers, porn stars, and rattlesnake experts. In this interview, Chris offers a challenging perspective on how humans have strayed from egalitarian tribal living, instead adopting customs that don’t match our biological drives and social needs. He focuses on the disruptive role of agriculture in human history, marking that as the period during which we veered off course. Chris also shares humorous and touching stories from interviews and travels in his van, Scarlett Jovansson. Here’s the outline of this interview with Christop

Mickey Trescott, NTP is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, blogger, author, and advocate for those taking recovery from autoimmune disease into their own hands. Mickey has a special place in my heart because her first book was the resource that my wife, Julie, used to help me recover my own health. She’s now written a second book, The Nutrient-Dense Kitchen, emphasizing the healing aspects of the highly nutritious foods available within the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) template. In this interview, Mickey and I discuss her journey to finally being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and celiac diseases, and the lifestyle factors that may have contributed to her illness. She discusses some of the pitfalls encountered by people following AIP, and the clinical trials being done to empirically validate AIP as a treatment for autoimmune disease. Here’s the outline of this interview with Mickey Trescott: [00:00:10] Nutrient density, defined. [00:01:13] Book: The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook: An Allergen-Free Approach to Managing

Sleep researcher Greg Potter, PhD, is back on the podcast today with practical help for those suffering from insomnia. Greg’s research at the University of Leeds on sleep, diet, and metabolic health captured the attention of both scientific and mainstream news outlets on several continents. He is currently an international public speaker, science writer, and consultant, focusing in particular on circadian rhythms, exercise, nutrition, sleep and stress.  In this podcast, Greg talks about different types of insomnia, and how chronic sleep difficulties create barriers to personal safety and health for 10-15% of adults at any given time. He discusses the best things to do when you’re lying in bed, unpleasantly awake. He also talks about routines and tools for preventing sleep disruption in the first place. Here’s the outline of this interview with Greg Potter: [00:02:21] Greg's articles on optimising sleep: 1. Having trouble sleeping? A primer on insomnia and how to sleep better 2. Sleep-maintenance insomnia: h

Tim Harsch is the CEO and Co-Founder of Owler, a business insights company based in San Mateo, California. He’s a lifelong athlete, having played soccer, lacrosse and rugby in his younger years and more recently competing in triathlons. He also has type 1 diabetes (T1D), diagnosed at the relatively late age of 17. We’ve had the pleasure of working with Tim over the past year as a member of our Elite Performance Program. On this podcast, Tim talks about the tools he uses to manage his diabetes, including a low-carb diet and a continuous glucose monitor. He also discusses the benefits he’s found in working with the NBT team, including weight loss, strength gains, and improved sleep and stress management. He describes the dietary changes that have helped him the most over the last year and his best advice for others living with T1D. Here’s the outline of this interview with Tim Harsch: [00:00:32] Cal Newport; Book: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World; Podcast: How to Live Well in a High

Daniel Cortez is a Primal Health and Movement Coach, Wim Hof Master Instructor, and Psychedelic Integration Specialist. After tirelessly seeking answers to overcome his own 15-year health struggle, he now guides others along the same path. From his home in Cusco, Peru, he coaches and leads retreats using the power of breath, movement, cold, and plant medicines.  On this podcast, Daniel shares his personal story of chronic pain and cognitive dysfunction, and the events surrounding his whole-body transformation. He discusses the power of evolutionary science, modern psychology, and ancestral wisdom for restoring health, and describes how psychedelic plants play a critical role in healing. Here’s the outline of this interview with Daniel Cortez: [00:01:14] Daniel's health journey. [00:03:48] Wim Hof. [00:04:04] Chris Kresser. [00:04:15] CIRS Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Ritchie Shoemaker, MD. [00:04:56] Buck Institute for Research on Aging; Dale Bredesen, MD. [00:06:03] Cholestyramine for mold; Podcas

At the 2019 Ancestral Health Symposium, I managed to catch up with metabolism and fitness expert Mike T. Nelson, PhD. Mike was there presenting on a subject that many in the health space find both intriguing and confusing: cannabinoids and CBD. Really, who amongst us hasn’t wondered if using CBD will get us in hot water at the next work-related drug screening? And is it even legal? On this podcast, Mike demystifies the terms bantered about when it comes to the cannabis plant.  What exactly is the difference between hemp, THC, and CBD anyway? He cuts through the marketing hype and talks about the specific health conditions that respond best to cannabidiol (CBD). He also shares exactly how he uses it to prevent brain injury during extreme sports. Here’s the outline of this interview with Mike T. Nelson: [00:00:11] Mike’s Ancestral Health Symposium 2019 talk: Mike Nelson - CBD and Cannabinoids: Beneficial Plant Compounds or All Hype? - AHS19. [00:02:30] Charlotte's Web cannabidiol (CBD). [00:03:33] FDA warning

Kirk Parsley, MD, inventor of Sleep Remedy, has been a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine since 2006 and has served as Naval Special Warfare’s expert on Sleep Medicine. A retired Navy SEAL, he is currently a performance consultant, helping others to achieve the highest quality of life possible while realizing their health, performance, and longevity goals. In this interview, Greg Potter, PhD talks with Dr. Parsley about the critical role sleep plays in cognitive, emotional, and physical health. They discuss the best supplements to help with sleep and some good reasons to avoid pharmaceutical sleeping pills. “Doc” Parsley shares why he recently reformulated Sleep Remedy to be even more effective, not just for falling asleep but also staying asleep at night. Here’s the outline of this interview with Kirk Parsley: [00:00:08] Greg Potter’s previous podcasts: How to Entrain Your Circadian Rhythm for Perfect Sleep and Metabolic Health and Morning Larks and Night Owls: the Biology of Chronotypes. [00

Our resident neurologist and banjo afficionado Josh Turknett, MD is back on the podcast with me to talk about the premise behind his Ancestral Health Symposium 2019 talk, How to Win at Angry Birds. It’s a paradigm for how best to approach health and performance and has far-reaching implications that will help you simplify efforts to optimise your health.  In this interview, Josh talks about his 4-quadrant model, a detector for finding a signal in the health noise. In an age where specialization and technology have become the norm and the next health trend is around the corner, it’s easy for the big picture to be obscured. Josh offers a model for prioritising interventions that will give you the greatest benefit with the least disruption.  Here’s the outline of this interview with Josh Turknett: [00:00:44] Josh's 2019 AHS talk: How To Win At Angry Birds: The Ancestral Therapeutic Paradigm. [00:00:57] Few significant advances in medical therapeutics. [00:04:05] The parable of Angry Birds: Team Game Level vs. Te

Stacy D’Andre, MD is a board-certified internal medicine specialist and oncologist who sees patients at Sutter Health in Northern California. She is also a Principal Investigator for National Cancer Institute-sponsored oncology group clinical trials and studies supported by the Sutter Institute for Medical Research. She has authored numerous publications, book chapters, and abstracts on emerging treatment options for gynecologic and GI cancers. She has also been an NBT client for the last two years. In this interview, Stacy and I talk about her recent switch to an integrative medicine approach to cancer treatment. She describes some of the progressive cancer therapies she uses in her practice, including lifestyle change, cannabis, and turkey tail mushrooms. She also shares several case studies in which integrative treatment strategies made the difference for her patients. Here’s the outline of this interview with Stacy D’Andre: [00:00:53] Background as an ice skater. [00:06:06] Health problems: Keto diet, thy

Brian Sanders is the filmmaker behind the documentary, Food Lies, and the host of the Peak Human Podcast. Brian’s background is in mechanical engineering and technology, and he’s driven to help others reverse chronic disease using ancestral health and wellness principles. Brian has recently partnered with a physician as a health coach and is building technology to help people communicate with their doctors, track their health, and implement a healthy diet.  In this podcast, Brian and I talk about his film, which touts the benefits of a nutrient-dense whole food diet and debunks myths about eating meat and saturated fat. We discuss the many aspects of his ancestral-health outreach, including his Nose to Tail farm that ships 100% grass-fed meat and the SAPIEN diet plan he makes freely available to everyone. Here’s the outline of this interview with Brian Sanders: [00:00:19] Documentary: Food Lies (still being crowdfunded). [00:00:28] Brian's background; family health problems. [00:02:17] Mark Sisson. [00:03:21]

Nick Pineault is an investigative health journalist specializing in electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and their effects on human health.  His mission is to spread awareness about the potential dangers of wireless technologies and work with industry and governments to find safe solutions. He has recently authored a book called The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs and has developed a training course for health professionals and optimisers on how to dramatically reduce exposure and symptoms related to EMF radiation. In this interview, Nick gives practical advice for mitigating exposure to EMFs without giving up the convenience of electronic devices. He shares simple adjustments you can make to keep EMFs from interfering with your sleep and your health and recommends specific tools and devices for managing, measuring and blocking unwanted radiation.  Be sure to download this episode and put your device on Airplane Mode while you listen!  Here’s the outline of this interview with Nick Pineault: [00:00:12] Nick’s book: The No

Lucy Mailing is an MD/PhD student at the University of Illinois. She recently completed her PhD in Nutritional Sciences and continues to perform research on the impact of diet and exercise on the gut microbiome in states of health and disease. She has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles related to the microbiome and health and was recently named an Emerging Leader in Nutritional Sciences by the American Society for Nutrition. Lucy has also been a staff research associate for the Kresser Institute for four years and writes about evidence-based gut health on her blog. She plans to begin medical school at the University of Illinois in 2020 after a year dedicated to writing and the launch of a gut-related startup. In this podcast, Lucy discusses the most promising trends and research in gut health. She talks about the best and worst ways to test for GI problems and the effects of exercise intensity and diet change on the gut microbiota. She also challenges the notion that ketogenic and high-fat diets