Paleo Baby

Ancestral health advocate and pioneer of Evolutionary Feminism Stephanie Welch is back on the podcast today. We met up at the Ancestral Health Symposium in San Diego, California in August where she gave a talk on gender-segregated housing as an alternative to the traditional nuclear family. Stephanie is dedicated to exploring the boundaries of relationships and sexuality, and she makes a compelling case for a living arrangement most of us have never considered. In this podcast, Stephanie identifies the time in history that humans abandoned tribal living and gravitated to segregated nuclear families and sexual monogamy. She talks about the many ways this change has been a detriment to society, resulting in families and relationships lacking in social support and other basic human needs. She also offers solutions for re-establishing aspects of tribal living in a modern world. Here’s the outline of this interview with Stephanie Welch: [00:00:50] Stephanie's previous podcast: Disruptive Anthropology: An Ancestra

Scottish doctor, writer, speaker, and outspoken cholesterol sceptic Malcolm Kendrick is back on the podcast this week. He continues to challenge the widespread use of statin medications, despite being targeted personally and professionally by those opposing his message. Since we last talked he has authored a new book, A Statin Nation: Damaging Millions in a Brave New Post-health World, elucidating his position against mainstream medicine’s rampant cholesterol-lowering tactics.  On this podcast, Dr. Kendrick describes in detail exactly what he believes drives the process of cardiovascular disease, informed from 35 years of research on the subject.  He explains specifically why cholesterol has been misunderstood, and how medicine got it wrong. We discuss corruption in medical research and the money supporting the status quo, and Dr. Kendrick shares some of the best ways to avoid heart disease (which have little to do with diet!). Here’s the outline of this interview with Malcolm Kendrick: [00:00:07] Our first

Sam Feltham is the Director of the Public Health Collaboration in the UK, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of public health education. The PHC coordinates campaigns and produces evidence-based reports for improving pressing health issues, such as obesity and diabetes, which are on the rise in the UK and worldwide. I met up with Sam at the Real Food Rocks Festival in July, a family event coordinated by the PHC to bring people together with music, fun, and of course, real food. In this podcast, Sam and I discuss the current initiatives being pursued by the Public Health Collaboration, including training and deploying a nationwide team of volunteer ambassadors to inform and implement healthier decisions at a local level. We discuss some of the obstacles encountered in educating the public, and Sam shares some of his long-term goals for a healthier future. Here’s the outline of this interview with Sam Feltham: [00:00:09] Real Food Rocks Festival. [00:02:25] The Public Health Collaborati

Engineer, podcaster, author and speaker Ivor Cummins is back on the podcast today to talk about a topic that could save your life or the life of someone you love. Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC), a direct measure of arterial calcification obtained with a CT scan, is gaining respect as the best predictor of cardiovascular events. Indirect risk factors - like LDL cholesterol, though beloved by the medical establishment, pale in comparison. Today Ivor talks about what really causes cardiovascular disease and how best to assess your risk. He discusses the science that supports the use of CAC to identify those most at risk - and by doing so, they can take steps to slow, stop or even reverse disease progression. Further validating Ivor’s work, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association are now formally recommending the CAC for middle-risk patients. As if that wasn’t enough, getting a CAC scan is affordable and probably available near you. Here’s the outline of this interview with Ivor Cummi

James McCarter, MD, PhD. is a researcher and author of over 60 scientific publications and patents. He recently led research and clinical operations for San Francisco-based Virta Health, a nationwide medical provider that delivers the first clinically-proven treatment to safely and sustainably reverse type 2 diabetes without medications or surgery. Dr. McCarter recently directed the Virta - Indiana University Health clinical trial demonstrating reversal of diabetes using nutritional ketosis and guided behavior change. This trial has resulted in changes to the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care and consensus statement on nutrition in 2019, reflecting the benefit of low-carbohydrate diets.  In this podcast, James discusses the results that have emerged from this research and the incredible outcomes Virta is demonstrating in helping people reverse their type-2 diabetes and improve cardiac risk markers. He also talks about the five facets of treatment behind Virta’s success, and the business model

Mark Alexander is an electronics engineer and technology consultant living in San Francisco. He’s been a member of our Elite Performance Program over the past two years, and in that time we’ve seen him overcome health obstacles that were inhibiting his training and quality of life, including mould exposure, heavy metals, and gut pathogens.  In this podcast, Mark and I discuss his health journey, including the lab tests, coaching, and tools that made the biggest difference for him. He describes the game-changing protocols that helped him gain 6 pounds of muscle mass in 6 months without changing his training. Mark also shares about the major personal and professional shifts he’s made over the past two years, including leaving his engineering job to pursue more fulfilling work and life experiences.  Here's the outline of this interview with Mark Alexander: [00:00:25] Dolby Dimension headset with Atmos Soundscape. [00:03:48] Mark's background. [00:07:14] Going through the NBT Elite Performance Program. [00:08:53]

Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, author and researcher, specializing in evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. She’s been with us on the podcast before, discussing her bestselling books, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes and Real Food for Pregnancy.   Lily joins us on this podcast to talk about postpartum nutrition and healing, including nose-to-tail eating, carbohydrate restriction, and supporting mom’s recovery and energy needs after the baby arrives. We discuss nutrient requirements for new moms, and factors that affect readiness to resume work and exercise. Lily also shares details about her new webinars on postpartum recovery and nutrition at the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy. Here’s the outline of this interview with Lily Nichols: [00:02:40] Environmental mismatches. [00:03:19] Preparing for postpartum. [00:06:11] Preparing new moms for what to expect. [00:08:53] Book: Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prena

Physical Therapist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach Zac Cupples has a passion for human anatomy and helping people meet their health and performance goals. He excels at providing individualized treatment through rehab, training, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and sports science.  What’s amazing to me is that he does online consultation, and helped me fix my chronic back pain by video conference! On this podcast, Zac and I discuss his approach to working with clients and mentoring other practitioners. He talks about some of his assessment methods and strategies for helping people reduce pain while getting remarkable health and performance results. He shares simple breathing techniques that helped me tremendously and discusses some tried-and-true methods for improving client adherence with daily exercises. Here’s the outline of this interview with Zac Cupples: [00:00:06] Dr. Ben House; Podcast: Ben House, PhD on Strength Training: a Discussion at the Flō Retreat Center in Costa Rica. [00:00:

Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and the author of 6 books, including New York Times bestseller Digital Minimalism. His writing focuses on the impact of new technology and social media on our ability to be productive and lead satisfying lives. Not surprisingly, his research suggests we’re becoming less connected and getting less done as technology permeates every moment of our day. For this podcast, I got to sit down face to face with Cal to discuss his ideas on digital minimalism. He describes how big business has manipulated us into constantly checking our phones, and is now profiting off of our attention. We discuss the consequences of pervasive technology, and the damaging effect it can have on our drive to create and connect with others in meaningful ways.  Fortunately, Cal also has a solution for turning your attention back to the things that really matter. Here’s the outline of this interview with Cal Newport: [00:00:35] Cal's background. [00:02:18] Book: So Good The

I’ve recently taken the new course created by Performance Psychologist Simon Marshall, PhD called Nudge Tactics for Health Coaching. He’s leveraging new behavioural science on how people make decisions about their health. Turns out scaring people or educating them is not enough to overcome the difficulty inherent in adopting healthier habits. On this podcast Simon discusses the latest strategies that actually work when it comes to persuading, nudging, and motivating people (or yourself) to overcome self-sabotage and create better habits. He introduces the SEEDS method - a system of adopting up to 15 teeny tiny behaviours, and then self-monitoring and reviewing progress. He also describes a powerful way to cope with catastrophic thinking when things inevitably go wrong, so you can stay on track.   Here’s the outline of this interview with Simon Marshall: [00:00:09] Simon’s new course: Nudge Tactics for Health Coaching. A Health & Wellness Coach’s guide to the science of behavioral economics. [00:00:36] T

Functional medicine physician Rob Abbott, MD is back on the podcast this week.  Since he was with us last year his career and practice has evolved in exciting ways. While seeing patients at Resilient Roots Functional and Evolutionary Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia, he is also the medical advisor at Autoimmune Wellness and is conducting collaborative research with founders Angie Alt and Mickey Trescott. Today Rob talks about the results of his recently published pilot study of the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet for women with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. He describes the crowdfunding that made the research possible, the tools and supports they used with the participants, and the dramatic results found at the end of 10 weeks. Here’s the outline of this interview with Rob Abbott: [00:00:08] Rob's previous podcast: How to Become a Functional Medicine Doctor. [00:02:23] Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet. [00:04:24] Study: Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as part of a multidisciplinary supported lifestyl

Dr. Shawn Baker is an orthopaedic surgeon, athlete, and an advocate of a carnivore diet.  Shawn has a rich history in sport: playing semi-professional rugby in New Zealand, competing in and winning Strongman competitions, and setting records as a powerlifter and Highland Games Masters World Champion. In the meantime, he also climbed the ranks as an officer in the US Air Force, conducting surgeries under pressure in war zones of Afghanistan. In this podcast, Shawn and I discuss his athletic and military background, and his current athletic passion: Concept2 rowing, in which he has repeatedly broken world records. Shawn talks about his choice to excel at sport without the use of performance-enhancing drugs. He also makes a compelling case for the health and performance benefits of eating zero-carb, offering many examples from anthropological data that suggest man evolved to eat meat.   Here’s the outline of this interview with Shawn Baker: [00:00:20] The Minimalists; Paul Saladino; Rich Roll. [00:00:43] The Hum

We’re happy to welcome Dr. Tim Gerstmar back on the podcast this week. Tim is a naturopathic physician, specializing in the treatment of digestive and autoimmune problems. He has spent the past 10 years seeing patients locally at Aspire Natural Health in the Seattle area, and he offers virtual consultation, both nationally and internationally. Tim is also a faculty member at Bastyr University, where he trains and mentors medical students. In this podcast, Tim talks about choosing a practitioner that has the specific expertise you need and highlights the benefits of working with a health coach. He discusses his new book, The Clear Path to Health, and the mission behind it: making integrative medicine understandable to consumers. (Find out how to get the book for free if you take action by 6/7/19!) Here’s the outline of this interview with Tim Gerstmar: [00:00:10] Tim’s previous podcasts: Methylation and Environmental Pollutants and How to Test and Predict Blood, Urine and Stool for Health, Longevity and Perf

Brad Stulberg is a writer, performance coach, and speaker, specializing in developing and harnessing productive passion using evidence-based principles of mastery and success.  He has co-authored two books, Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox, which explore the science and practice of passion and world-class performance. Currently a columnist for Outside magazine, Brad has also written for the New York Times, Wired, New York Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and more. His work also includes coaching executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes. In this podcast, Brad and I talk about passion - specifically the idea of developing your passion, rather than “finding” it. Brad discusses how passion can be a blessing or a curse, highlighting examples of people whose obsessive approach to their work has led to their downfall. He discusses the myth of living a balanced life and offers advice for people nearing burnout. Brad also describes what the research says about quitting your day job to pursue your passion. Here’s t

Graeme Muirhead has been a member of our Elite Performance Program since February 2018. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Edinburgh Scotland, he studied computer science at Heriot-Watt University. His career in technology brought him to the US in 2009, and he is now a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. On this episode of the podcast, Graeme talks about his transformation from obesity, drinking, smoking, and back pain, to becoming a triathlete, now having completed fourteen Ironman events in Europe and the US. He discusses the moment he made the commitment to get healthy, and the methodical steps he took to develop his running, cycling, and swimming skills. Graeme also shares about his experience as an NBT client over the past year and the coaches at strategies that have helped him to improve his health and performance. Here’s the outline of this interview with Graeme Muirhead: [00:00:38] Becoming an athlete. [00:05:04] 300 pounds, drinking, smoking, in pain, and the moment it all ch

Sports Physiologist and Performance Nutritionist David Bailey, PhD is the Head of Performance for the Bahrain-Merida Pro Cycling Team. He manages and delivers scientific support to elite athletes competing at the highest level in international cycling. He also coaches, providing training prescription, nutritional support and performance interventions. He has worked with World Champions and Olympic medalists for the past 15 years. In this podcast, Sports Psychologist Simon Marshall, PhD talks with David about his role supporting a team of elite road cyclists. They discuss what it takes to prepare athletes for the Tour de France, and some of the subtle aspects of training and physical development that lead to improved performance. David weighs in on doping controversies, and also offers tips for amateur cyclists and “weekend warriors”. Here’s the outline of this interview with David Bailey: [00:00:11] Previous podcasts featuring Simon Marshall, PhD: 1, 2, 3, 4 [00:00:26] Head of Performance for the Bahrain

Integrative Clinical Psychologist Ashley Mason, PhD. is back on the podcast to discuss her clinical work and research within the UCSF Department of Psychiatry. She is now the Co-Director for the UCSF Center for Obesity Assessment, Study, and Treatment, and the Director of the Sleep, Eating, and Affect (SEA) Lab. Her areas of interest include problematic eating and sleep-related behaviors, and nonpharmaceutical interventions to address them. In this interview, Ashley and I discuss her current research, which focuses on treating individuals with type-2 diabetes using reduced-carbohydrate diets, mindful eating techniques and environmental management. She shares her insights on some of the root causes fueling the diabetes epidemic, and the factors that keep her research subjects motivated to make difficult lifestyle changes. We also discuss her clinical work treating people struggling with sleep, and the behavioral methods she uses to help them turn things around in a matter of weeks. Support Ashley’s work. Here’

Back on the podcast today, we have researcher and athlete Brianna Stubbs, PhD. Brianna has been a world-champion rower and is now competing in cycling, running, and triathlon. She is also Research Lead for HVMN, advancing the science on human optimisation and creating content and products to improve physiology, metabolism, and cognition. As a world expert on ketone metabolism, Brianna is here with me to talk about the latest research on exogenous ketones. We discuss their effects on athletic performance, brain injury, and cognition, and she weighs in on the controversy regarding the effect of ketone esters on the inflammasome. We also look at the misunderstood role of lactate and how it’s now being used to improve athletic performance. Here’s the outline of this interview with Brianna Stubbs: [00:00:35] Our previous podcasts with Brianna: 1, 2, 3. [00:02:00] Podcast: Professor Tim Noakes: True Hydration and the Power of Low-Carb, High-Fat Diets. [00:02:19] Andrew Bosch at the University of Cape Town. [00:

Greg White writes for television in Los Angeles. He has written for Comedy Central, Netflix, Cartoon Network, Disney, and has developed his own material for networks such as FX and MTV. A former endurance running junkie, his interests include strength training, functional movement, and meditation. He has been an NBT client since 2015 and credits this for helping him connect the dots and find the nexus between health, longevity and performance. In this episode, Greg and I talk about his transition from a life of overtraining and injury to one of balance and vitality.  He discusses his shift in values from performance to longevity, along with his new passion for strength training. We get into gut health, diet, and the mindset that works for both writing and sport.  Greg also manages to pin me down on our exact calorie and carbohydrate intake recommendations for athletes. Here’s the outline of this interview with Greg White: [00:01:03] Greg’s history as a client of Nourish Balance Thrive. [00:01:21] Chris on Ben

Dr. Jason Hawrelak, PhD. is a researcher, educator, and clinician, specializing in gastrointestinal health, the gut microbiota and the use of probiotics to improve health outcomes. Jason has written extensively in the medical literature on these topics and has been in clinical practice for almost 20 years. He also coordinates and teaches the Evidence-based Complementary Medicine Program at the University of Tasmania in Australia. In this podcast, Jason and I discuss probiotics: what they are, what they do, and how to use them to improve your health. Jason talks about assessing the gut microbiota, some common misconceptions about probiotics, and specific strains to look for that are backed by research. He also discusses his industry-independent, evidence-based online courses and database, created to help guide clinical practice. Here’s the outline of this interview with Jason Hawrelak: [00:00:53] Jason’s background. [00:01:48] Studying people with IBS; learning about FODMAPs the hard way. [00:06:15] Jason's Pr