Paleo Baby

Paul Laursen, PhD is an author, endurance coach, high-performance consultant and entrepreneur. He has competed in 17 Ironman triathlon races and has published over 125 peer-reviewed papers in exercise and sports science journals. We’ve had him on the podcast once before to discuss High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and he’s since co-authored a book and developed an online course on the topic. In this podcast, Paul and I take an even deeper dive into HIIT, including the specific physiological benefits that just aren’t available with lower intensity aerobic training. He describes his book and training course, which bridge the gap between the science and application of HIIT. We also get into some of the technology, gadgets, and sports psychology concepts that Paul uses in his coaching. Here’s the outline of this interview with Paul Laursen: [00:00:04] Paul's first podcast: Why Do and How to High-Intensity Interval Training. [00:00:33] Book: Science and Application of High-Intensity Interval Training, by

When we launched the Blood Chemistry Calculator (BCC) in early 2018 we couldn’t have predicted the changes the software would undergo or the projects it would lead to. One such project has been researching and writing a scientific paper on the use of machine learning to predict and interpret biological age. The paper is currently in the peer review process on F1000Research, an open research publishing platform. In this podcast, I talk with lead author Dr. Tommy Wood, MD, PhD, about the importance of knowing your biological age and understanding how it can be derived from basic blood chemistry markers.  Tommy and I discuss the peer-review process and the changes we’re making to the software as a result of the feedback that’s been provided. We also discuss the individual markers that have the greatest impact on biological age, and how you can get a free predicted age report. Here’s the outline of this interview with Tommy Wood: [00:00:58] Tommy got bit by a snake. [00:02:38] Going to the doctor vs. changing lif

At the recent Physicians for Ancestral Health Winter Retreat I had the opportunity to sit down in person with L. Amber O’Hearn, an outspoken advocate of plant-free eating. Since learning about the zero-carb carnivore approach in 2009, Amber has become an international speaker, researcher, and writer on the subjects of ketosis and the health benefits of eating meat. In this podcast, Amber and I discuss her health journey from veganism to low carb, and then to the more radical carnivore diet. She explains how shunning plant foods led to a dramatic improvement in both her physical and mental health, ending her 20-year battle with bipolar disorder, without the use of medication. She also describes her own version of zero-carb and discusses how a carnivore diet affects ketosis. Here’s the outline of this interview with Amber O’Hearn: [00:00:23] Physicians for Ancestral Health. [00:02:01] Amber's background. [00:03:02] The path that led her to a low carb diet. [00:09:23] Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn. [00:11:53] David Chaum

Stephanie Welch is a humanist and ancestral health advocate, challenging commonly held societal beliefs and taboos in an effort she calls Disruptive Anthropology. In 2013 she became a full-time urban barefooter in Boston and in 2014 she took up intactivism, combating both male and female circumcision as a matter of health and human rights. Two years later she began studying and speaking on sexual commerce as it relates to male and female interpersonal dynamics. On this podcast, Stephanie and I talk about some of the stances she’s taken during her years of ancestral advocacy. We talk about the ways that wearing shoes undermines our innate biomechanical development and the social norms she challenges by going barefoot. We also discuss the physical and sexual consequences of male circumcision and the critical aspects of community and connection that have been lost to modern American culture. Here’s the outline of this interview with Stephanie Welch: [00:00:08] PAH Winter Retreat. [00:06:30] Noticing patterns in

Kimberly Harmon, MD, is board certified in Family Practice with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. She is the Head Football Team Physician for the University of Washington Huskies, as well as a UW Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Kimberly has lectured nationally and has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers on topics relating to sports injury and novel approaches to treatment. In this podcast with Dr. Tommy Wood, MD, PhD, Kimberly draws from her own research and experience to describe options for the treatment of sport-related tendon and joint injuries using minimally-invasive procedures. They discuss interventions ranging from physical therapy techniques to platelet-rich plasma to relieve pain and improve function. She also discusses some of the main medical and safety challenges faced by today’s college athletes. Here’s the outline of this interview with Kimberly Harmon: [00:01:15] Non-surgical approaches to sport-related joint and

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, MD is a family medicine physician and Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, as well as a Professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine. Mark has been a competitive runner for almost four decades, with more than one hundred marathon and ultramarathon finishes, and he continues to compete as a national-level masters runner. Mark also owns the first minimalist running and walking shoe store, Two Rivers Treads. In this podcast Dr. Tommy Wood, MD talks with Mark about his new book Run For Your Life, which outlines the science and the soul of running and nutrition for maintaining a vigorous life. They discuss the aspects of physiology that suggest humans evolved to run, and the features of modern living that can result in foot pain and arthritis. Mark shares his best training tips for both new and experienced runners, as well as resources for healing painful foot conditions. Here’s the outline of this interview with Mark Cucuzzella: [00:00:23] Book: Run for Your Life: How to Run, Wal

This past January several of the NBT team members and I met up for sun and camaraderie at the Flō Retreat Center, in Uvita, Costa Rica. Flō is run by strength coach, Ben House, PhD, who’s been on the podcast once before. Previously we talked about his work with clients and the effects of hormones on building strength and lean mass. It’s now a year later and we’re continuing the conversation. On this podcast, Ben is joined by myself, Dr. Tommy Wood, Megan Roberts, and Dr. Lindsay Taylor for a discussion of some of the practical and philosophical aspects of strength training and public health. Ben also shares his strategy for evaluating scientific literature and explains why everyone can benefit by building muscle. Here’s the outline of this interview with Ben House: [00:00:00] Hikecast with Kim House. [00:00:07] Flō Retreat Center, Uvita, Costa Rica. [00:03:03] Addictions. [00:05:27] Indicators of longevity: grip strength, leg strength and muscle mass, VO2 max. [00:08:46] Megan's transformation. [00:09:47] Fa

Back on the show today is Greg Potter, PhD, Content Director at humanOS.me. Last time Greg was here we discussed entraining circadian rhythm to attain perfect sleep. Today we’re examining circadian biology from a different angle, focusing specifically on chronotypes. Are we biologically wired to be morning larks or night owls? Or do these tendencies stem from social conditioning and modern influences? On this podcast, Dr. Tommy Wood talks with Greg about the biological underpinnings that may have resulted in distinct chronotypes. They discuss the environmental factors that contribute to early or late tendencies and the impact of having a “late” chronotype on health outcomes. Greg also shares his best practical strategies to optimize the circadian system for the purposes of health, sleep, and productivity. Here’s the outline of this interview with Greg Potter: [00:00:00] Try a humanOS Pro Membership for $1 for the first month (use code: NBT). [00:00:10] Greg’s previous podcast: How to Entrain Your Circadian

→ Join us at the Physicians for Ancestral Health Winter Retreat ← Dr. Luke Bennett, MD is the Medical and Sports Performance Director with Hintsa Performance, and the team doctor for the Mercedes - AMG Petronas Formula One (F1) racing team. His role with F1 involves providing general medical practice for 200 staff on the road and overseeing a team of coaches, trainers, and nutritionists who work with the drivers on the Formula One grid. In this podcast with Dr. Tommy Wood, Luke discusses his background in critical and intensive care medicine in Australia and the events that launched him from lifelong fan of motorsport to Formula One team doctor. They discuss the training, business, and performance psychology needs of F1 drivers and some of the challenges associated with life on the road. Here’s the outline of this interview with Luke Bennett: [00:00:12] Peter Attia Podcast: The Drive. [00:00:20] Hintsa Performance. [00:02:30] Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. [00:05:18] Taking a patient history. [00:0

Julian Abel, MD has been a consultant in palliative care since 2001, as well as the Vice President of Public Health Palliative Care International, and the Director of Compassionate Communities UK. Since 2016 Julian has been collaborating with Frome Medical Practice in the UK to roll out their innovative model of building social connection within the community to improve health outcomes and quality of life. The initial results have been remarkable, with dramatic decreases in local emergency admissions compared to surrounding areas. On this podcast with Tommy Wood, MD, PhD, Julian describes the compassionate community model of care, including the financial and social benefits that come with weaving social support into an existing health care system. He explains how creating stronger connections within the community is a public health imperative and a socially conscious alternative to rising health care costs. He’s also developed a replicable system for bringing the concept to other communities and businesses. H

We’ve got neurologist Josh Turknett, MD back on the podcast today to talk about “unschooling”, a homeschooling method in which the direction of education is strongly influenced by the student’s interests and choices. It is becoming a popular alternative to traditional schooling, which forces kids to stay indoors, sit still, and be quiet for hours every day, while limiting access to activities they are developmentally wired to appreciate, such as art, drama, and music. On this podcast Josh and I talk about how best to support a child’s natural cognitive development, specifically using the principles of unschooling. Josh describes this emerging paradigm and explains the benefit it holds for all children - not only those struggling within the traditional school system. We also discuss the best resources we’ve found for educating our own kids and encouraging their cognitive development. Here’s the outline of this interview with Josh Turknett: [00:00:13] Previous podcast episode: The Migraine Miracle, with Josh T

Internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and software coder Kevin Rose had his first taste of success in business when he co-founded Digg, a social news website, in 2004. A few years later he was named one of the top 35 innovators under age 35 by the MIT Technology Review. He’s gone on to create other websites and companies, with a current focus on building health-related mobile apps and investing in promising startups. In this podcast, Dr. Tommy Wood and I interview Kevin about his professional life as an innovator and entrepreneur. We delve into his remarkable ability to predict societal trends and discuss the direction he sees technology heading next. Kevin also shares some of the practices and supplements he uses to enhance his own cognitive performance and quality of life. Here’s the outline of this interview with Kevin Rose: [00:01:03] Kevin's background. [00:04:05] Combining marketing and programming; TechTV; The Screen Savers. [00:04:25] Digg. [00:06:11] Fake news: Turning Obama audio clips into re

Coach PJ Nestler is a human performance specialist with a life mission to help athletes and coaches realize their full potential. With over 10 years of experience preparing top athletes for competition, PJ has trained dozens of athletes from the UFC, NFL, NHL, and MLB. He has also worked extensively with over 100 fighters, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champions and Top 10 ranked UFC fighters. On this podcast, NBT Coach Clay Higgins talks with Coach PJ about his role as the Director of Performance with XPT Life, which includes researching, educating, and training based on XPTs Breathe-Move-Recover foundational pillars. PJ discusses the value of breathing protocols to sustain health and improve athletic performance. They also look at exposure to extreme heat and cold for hormetic benefits and offer some things to consider before adding these strategies to your training regimen. Here’s the outline of this interview with PJ Nestler: [00:01:00] XPT Experience; Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece. [00:02:39] Pool

Researcher Jon Ramsey, PhD is Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences within the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. His study of animals focuses on nutrition as it relates to obesity and aging. The goal of his research is to understand the biological mechanisms that contribute to the aging process and to develop dietary interventions that promote healthy aging and weight loss. In this podcast, NBT Scientific Director Megan Roberts interviews Dr. Ramsey about his research in the area of calorie restriction and its beneficial effects on longevity and healthspan. They examine the scientific literature on energy and macronutrient restriction, including some of the possible biological mechanisms driving the anti-aging effects of these interventions. They also discuss what this all means in practical terms for those seeking optimal health as they age. Here’s the outline of this interview with Jon Ramsey: [00:01:35] Calorie restriction for increasing lifespan. [00:02:01] Theories of aging. [00:0

→ Join the Brainjo Collective ← Researcher and writer Bill Lagakos, PhD earned his doctorate in Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology from Rutgers University, with a focus on obesity, insulin resistance, and circadian biology. He went on to post-doctoral research on inflammation and diabetes, which led to an interest and course of study on circadian rhythm with the Mayo clinic. Bill is the author of the book, “The Poor, Misunderstood Calorie,” and maintains an active blog where he explores health-related topics in the scientific literature. On this podcast with Tommy Wood, MD, Bill discusses critical aspects of entraining circadian rhythm, including the importance of early time-restricted eating. They challenge the concept of chronotypes and discuss why your intermittent fasting program may not be giving you the results you want. Bill also shares his impressions on macronutrient requirements, and the effects of ketosis on body composition and athletic performance. Here’s the outline of this interview with B

Speaker, author, and scientist James Hewitt is back on the podcast today to discuss his latest research involving cognitive endurance. As the Chief Innovation Officer for Hintsa Performance, James has studied the sleep, stress, and cognitive performance of knowledge workers. In doing so, he has identified behaviors and habits that can derail mental stamina, as well as the ones that lead to sustainable high performance and wellness. On this podcast with Dr. Tommy Wood, James shares his observations on cognitive load and inhibitory control, factors that impact our ability to remain committed to goals and excel in areas requiring attention and self-control. He offers specific strategies for enhancing cognitive endurance by optimising the rhythms of work, rest, and peak performance. They also discuss the effect of cognitive load on sports performance, and the evolving role of augmented intelligence in the workplace. Here’s the outline of this interview with James Hewitt: [00:00:06] Previous podcast: How to Avoid

→ Join us on Patreon ← Dr. Peter Attia, MD is the founder of Attia Medical, PC, a medical practice that focuses on increasing healthspan by minimizing the risk of chronic disease and preserving quality of life. Peter trained for five years at Johns Hopkins in general surgery and then spent two years at NIH as a surgical oncology fellow.  He has since been mentored by some of the most experienced and innovative physicians and scientists in the US and Canada. On this podcast Dr. Tommy Wood, MD talks with Peter about the critical components of lifespan and healthspan, including the factors he has identified as most important. They also discuss the controversial role of statin medication and take a close look at the necessity and sufficiency of risk factors for atherosclerosis. If you want to learn more about Peter’s work, he has a blog, a podcast and an active social media presence. Here’s the outline of this interview with Peter Attia: [00:00:35] Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop. [00:04:01] Eddy Merckx. [00:04:16] He

David Korsunsky spent 15 years working for industry-leading technology firms, and in 2015 founded Heads Up Health, a San Francisco-based startup helping people to aggregate and learn from their own health information. The company can retrieve lab work from over 30,000 providers across the US, building a single health history and a timeline that can help to make sense of your current challenges. In this podcast, I’m talking with David about his mission to help 100 million people take control of their health. We talk about the Heads Up Health platform, which integrates with apps and devices and eliminates that dusty old pile of lab reports you weren’t sure what to do with.  David also shares his own story as a case study, demonstrating the value of having easy, mobile, shareable access to all of your health information. Here’s the outline of this interview with David Korsunsky: [00:01:09] Heads Up Health. [00:01:24] Robb Wolf's Podcast featuring Dave Korsunsky. [00:02:08] The story behind Heads up Health. [00:

Over the past year, we’ve made the Blood Chemistry Calculator our primary screening and feedback tool for the athletes we work with. In that time we’ve noted some clear patterns in the effects of long-term and vigorous exercise on blood chemistry. We’ve learned that while certain tests seem to be directly affected by hard training sessions, some can also provide clues for how best to enhance athletic performance. In this podcast I’m talking with Dr Tommy Wood, MD, PhD about blood chemistry in athletes: which markers are affected by intense exercise, how to know if your labs indicate a problem, and what to do about it. We discuss the markers associated with athletic power and lifespan, and why knowing your own blood chemistry numbers may be the best thing you do for your health and performance. Here’s the outline of this interview with Tommy Wood: [00:01:24] Liver enzymes (ALT, AST). [00:04:44] Optimal vs standard reference ranges. [00:06:28] Differences among ethnic groups. [00:08:15] Recovery of liver enzyme

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) - It’s a group of academic disciplines and professions that have historically been male-dominated. In 2017, women held 47% of all jobs in the US, but only 24% of STEM jobs. As a result, we are lacking the perspectives of women in fields that contribute heavily to our progress as a society. On the podcast today, NBT Scientific Director Megan Roberts is talking with Elizabeth Nance, PhD, and Brianna Stubbs, PhD, scientists leading teams of researchers in the areas of biotechnology and physiology. The trio talk about the unique aspects of being women in scientific fields, including the importance of allies and mentors, imposter syndrome, and identifying your own biases. Here’s the outline of this interview with Elizabeth Nance and Brianna Stubbs: [00:00:23] Elizabeth's STEM-Talk podcast. [00:00:49] Previous podcasts: Elizabeth: Nanotechnology: The Big Impact of Tiny Particles; Brianna: World Champion Rower and Ketone Monoester Researcher Brianna Stubbs;