Breaking Ordinary with Andy Petranek

Amber Lewis is the visionary behind The Good Kitchen, a meal delivery service that focuses on making it easy for you to make healthy food choices. She founded its predecessor, modPALEO, and grew it into what it is today, a small business that supports small farms, sustainability, a community of good people, and healthy living.

Amber's passion for healthy food grew out of her own personal journey to wellness. She discovered the transformational powers of eating real food. She's a sucker for a farm visit, and loves to discover new dishes that complement her healthy and active lifestyle.

Steven Sashen is the CEO and co-founder of Xero Shoes (www.xeroshoes.com). A serial entrepreneur and life-long athlete, Steven was an All-American gymnast and is now a Masters All-American sprinter. Also a former professional stand-up comedian and Emmy award-winning TV host, Sashen's comedic and educational videos have over 4 million views. With Xero Shoes, Steven is committed to helping people discover the fun and benefits of footwear that lets your body move and function naturally, and his enthusiasm for doing it hasn't ebbed since getting involved in the barefoot movement almost 10 years ago.

If you're a runner, you've probably asked yourself one or more of these questions: a) Am I actually running efficiently? b) Are my comfy running shoes truly the best ones for good, healthy, natural running mechanics? c) Why do I keep getting running injuries? d) Running is hard... how can I make it easier?

If so, or if you've ever wondered what all this talk is about barefoot running, tune in to this podcast... we talk about all of this... and more!

Drew Logan is a TV personality, best selling author, and celebrity fitness expert. He is also what doctors believe to be the only person to survive three sudden cardiac arrests in one night. Since that night, and partly because of it, Drew has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to helping people reach their full physical, mental, and emotional potential.

As the star of Sylvester Stallone's 2016 NBC reality TV show, "STRONG", Drew was recognized as one of the nation's top ten elite fitness experts. His cutting-edge book, 25Days: A Proven Program To Rewire Your Brain, Stop Weight Gain, And Finally Crush The Habits You Hate - Forever became both an Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestseller. Drew has been featured on NBC, on The Jillian Michaels Podcast, on superhumanradio.com, in Esquire, People, Mademoiselle, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Thrive, and Parade Magazine.

In the years after his hard-fought initial recovery, with help from a very rare & talented Cardiac Alert Service Dog named "Lucky"), Drew is more determined and focused than ever to live a life that would change others lives dramatically.

Drew is a guy that is out there doing it. He's not just talking about it. The experiences he's had in his life have shaped him, and given him a unique perspective that he's using to help others achieve the lives of their dreams. In a world like ours, where many people with the fame and notoriety of a guy like Drew would be inaccessible, standoffish, and resistant to share too much of their personal stories, Drew is the anthesis. He picked up my call to his cell phone and we yapped the first time we spoke like we had known each other for years.

Hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!

Dr. Jason Fung is a Canadian nephrologist and a world-leading expert on intermittent fasting and LCHF (low carb, high fat), especially for treating people with, or at risk for, type 2 diabetes. Dr. Jason Fung earned his medical degree and did his residency at the University of Toronto before heading to UCLA for his fellowship in nephrology. In addition to his practice as a kidney specialist, Dr. Fung is currently the scientific editor of the Journal of Insulin Resistance.

After treating thousands of patients, it became clear to Dr. Fung that we are losing the battle against the epidemic of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The traditional dietary recommendations - to reduce dietary fat and calories - were clearly ineffective, so he founded the Intensive Dietary Management Program (IDM Program) to provide a unique treatment focus for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Dr. Fung believes that, rather than focusing on medications, the focus needs to be on simple, effective dietary changes.

In Dr. Fung's first book, The Obesity Code, he explores the underlying causes of obesity and recommends effective strategies that target the root causes of weight gain. His second book, The Complete Guide to Fasting, is a practical guide to fasting, including fasting regimens, what to expect, and how to deal with problems.

Without any plan to have Dr. Fung on the podcast, I got a copy of his book. After getting half-way in, I was so compelled by his research, expertise, and recommendations, I reached out to invite him to be a guest on the podcast. He's a traditional doctor with a non-traditional message - give your body a break from insulin by getting off the carbs and not eating so frequently. It's a message many, many more of us need to hear.

Take out your pen and piece of paper, take notes, and share his message with others. Then give it a whirl to see if and how it works for you. I'll bet in looking back on it that you'll be thankful you did!

- Andy Petranek

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Jill Miller, C-IAYT, ERYT is the co-founder of Tune Up Fitness Worldwide and creator of the self-care fitness formats Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® Method. Jill is the anatomy columnist for Yoga Journal Magazine and has been featured in Shape, Men's Journal, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Yoga Journal, Self, and on the Today Show and Good Morning America. She is regularly featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

With more than 30 years of study in anatomy and movement, Jill is a pioneer in linking the worlds of fitness, yoga, massage, athletics and pain management. She is the creator of dozens of DVD's including Treat While You Train with Kelly Starrett DPT and is the author of the internationally bestselling book The Roll Model: A Step by Step Guide to Erase Pain, Improve Mobility and Live Better in your Body.

Jill Miller has trained thousands of movement educators, clinicians, and manual therapists to incorporate her paradigm shifting self-care fitness programming into athletic and medical facility programs around the world. She has created original programs for 24 Hour Fitness, Equinox, YogaWorks, and numerous professional sports teams.

For complete show notes, please click here to visit our website.

Jill is a great example of powerful feminism at it's best. She's been a force and leader in the world of mobility and yoga for years, is a new mother, and is incredibly humble and transparent about the bumps along the way (including her struggles with an eating disorder, injuries, and a hip replacement).

Jill continues to learn and grow, creating new ways to reach and help more people, more effectively, and will be your mobility coach for the next 6-weeks of the Whole Life Challenge. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

-Andy Petranek

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please click here to subscribe AND leave a review. Your written reviews in iTunes are what help us grow our audience, getting these inspiring stories out in front of more people. Thank you in advance for your help and support!

"My mission is to empower people to take control of their own health, well-being and fitness using simple breathing exercises proven to improve body oxygenation". -Patrick McKeown

Breathing. It's fundamental to human life, and we've been breathing air since moments after birth. It's so instinctual, we do it correctly right from the start - diaphragmatic breathing with the mouth closed. Like so many other aspects of life, though, many of us stray from this original, natural, and healthy behavior. According to Patrick McKeown, the derangement of our breathing process is at the root of many of the ills and ailments that are common today.

Patrick McKeown is the author of seven books and the Director of Education and Training at the Buteyko Clinic International. The Buteyko method is a breathing technique used to help children and adults suffering from breathing problems including asthma, COPD, snoring, and sleep apnea as well as helping athletes improve performance.

Click here for complete show notes, resources, and links from this episode.

Listen - if there is one thing that you consider addressing this year in your physical performance, I suggest it be breathing. It's the most fundamental element of life - you can survive less than 5 minutes without taking a breath, and it may just be the most transforming in your health and well-being. Patrick has been teaching these breathing techniques to thousands of people over the past couple decades. Many have seen absolutely remarkable transformations - eliminating asthma, snoring, sleep apnea, improving the health of gums and teeth, changing jaw structure, reducing stress, improving performance.

While I'll admit that Patrick's coaching to "breathe less" sounds absolutely crazy, after you hear the reasons why... and that your body actually does a better job at delivering oxygen to your tissues, you'll find yourself itching to learn more (as I did). I suggest sitting down with a pen and piece of paper to jot down notes, and to pick up a copy of his book as well.

Enjoy!

Chris Kresser M.S., L.Ac is the founder of Kresser Institute, co-director of the California Center for Functional Medicine, the creator of ChrisKresser.com, and the New York Times best selling author of The Paleo Cure. He is one of the most respected clinicians and educators in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health, and has trained over 400 practitioners around the world in his unique approach.

Chris was named one of the 100 most influential people in health and fitness by Greatist.com, and his blog is one of the top-ranked natural health websites in the world. His new book, Unconventional Medicine, presents a 3-step plan for reinventing healthcare and reversing chronic disease using Functional Medicine, an ancestral diet and lifestyle, and a collaborative practice model. Chris lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife and daughter.

Click here for complete show notes, resources, and links from this episode.

Ok... listen people. This might just be the most important conversation in a podcast that I have this entire year - and one of the most important podcasts you listen to as well. Chris and I address the MASSIVE health care problem we're facing with the progression of chronic disease. It's a problem that could bankrupt our country within the next 35-40 years. Yes, it's that big. Yes, it's that serious. But don't worry, we talk about some really awesome, progressive potential solutions too.

Later in the conversation, Chris gives us a peek inside of his personal life, giving us a chance to learn from some of the strategies he's adopted to keep his life happy, healthy, productive and balanced.

Hope you get as much out of this conversation as I did!

- Andy Petranek

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please click here to subscribe AND leave a review. Your written reviews in iTunes are what help us grow our audience, getting these inspiring stories out in front of more people. Thank you in advance for your help and support!

This is a particularly personal interview for me. Not the subject matter, but the broader context - the fact that the editor of Outside Magazine is on my podcast! You see, Outside Magazine has been my magazine "bible" since the early 1990's. It was THE place I turned for articles, inspiration, gear, adventure, and innovations. It was where I turned time and again for figuring out what to buy, where to go, and what sponsors to go after when looking for new gear for adventure racing.

So when I found out that Outside Magazine, and in particular, the editor, Chris Keyes had contacted the Whole Life Challenge about participating in our event, I was floored.

But wait, it got even cooler.

Chris wanted ME (and Michael) to be on the Outside Magazine Podcast, and wanted us to come out to Santa Fe, NM to record it. So that's exactly what we did... and while there, I got Chris to hang out for a couple hours on Sunday to record this one.

So... what do you talk about with the editor of a major magazine? Writing, journaling, apps, reading, how an article goes from birth to finished form, and of course, outdoor sports!

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

- Andy Petranek

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please click here to subscribe AND leave a review. Your written reviews in iTunes are what help us grow our audience, getting these inspiring stories out in front of more people. Thank you in advance for your help and support!

Philip Folsom is America's most experienced and impactful expert in experiential leadership development, human optimization, and the creation of high performance teams and cultures. Philip is the Tribe Guy.

His work has dramatically improved the lives of over 500,000 individuals over the last 25 years. Philip's transformational High Performance Tribe program has been successfully implemented at Fortune 50 companies including Sony, Microsoft, Dreamworks, Medtronic, Apple, and Northrop Grumman. He also works regularly with the High Performance Department of Redbull North America.

Philip Folsom's work is often referred to by his clients as "transformational" and "game-changing." Fox Pictures called working with Philip, "the best investment we've ever made in our organization." His reputation in the team development world is legendary. Philip's work has been featured on numerous national television programs including The Biggest Loser, The Letter, For Love or Money, Celebrity Fitcam, and Cholos Try.

If you ever get the feeling that you're missing something, that your life could be richer, more vibrant, and more fulfilling, then don't miss this exciting and hopeful conversation. Learn about the tribal bonds that we've forgotten and the vital importance of working together for a better life.

- Andy Petranek

Co-Founder, Whole Life Challenge

P.S. If you enjoy the podcast, please click here to subscribe AND leave a review. Your written reviews in iTunes are what help us grow our audience, getting these inspiring stories out in front of more people. Thank you in advance for your help and support!

What if you could align healthy eating with the health and well-being of of animals and livestock, while simultaneously improving the health our planet's grasslands? According to Bobby Gill, that is not only possible, but is currently in process. Livestock provides much, much more to us than meat, and the way that livestock is raised can either degrade or improve the land.

Bobby Gill is on a mission. A mission to improve our planet and help its inhabitants eat and live better than ever. Bobby is the Director of Corporate Development for the non-profit Savory Institute. An accomplished Biological Resources Engineer with a long and successful track record in non-profit development, fundraising, and community building, Bobby Gill takes this mission personally.

[Note: For the complete set of show notes, links, and contact info, head to https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/podcast]

For seven years, Bobby worked as a lead scientific reviewer for the US Food & Drug Administration. While designing clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cardiovascular devices, he developed a strong appreciation for analyzing scientific research and understanding the underlying mechanisms of biological systems. This ultimately led him to studying ancestral nutrition and regenerative agricultural systems, challenging the status quo and seeing how working with nature instead of against it optimizes life for all involved.

It was a Ted Talk by Allan Savory that changed the course of his life. After seeing it, he was so inspired, he found his way to Colorado and sought out a position with the team at the Savory Institute.

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