Feeding Curiosity

This post provides an overview of the wearable technology Whoop and Oura. Erich wears these devices to track sleep and activity. This blog goes into detail on what each device measures. You will also gain an understanding of why it is important to monitor this for daily recovery.

To read this piece and for more information go to this link: https://feedingcuriosity.net/blog/wearables-whoop-oura

— MICHAEL GREENBERG

Dr. Michael Greenberg is a Dermatologist dedicated to providing patients with state-of-the-art care at the Elk Grove office of Illinois Dermatology Institute. He specializes in medical dermatology, as well as treating patients with an emotional or spiritual component to their skin condition. He is a co-founder of the Illinois Dermatology Institute. Dr. Greenberg embraces the benefits of a group practice, stating that "practicing in a group that is more family than corporate has added to my joy of being a physician."

Outside of his practice duties, Dr. Greenberg also hosts a bi-weekly radio show for medical professionals on XM160, where he shares his advanced knowledge and experience with other doctors. Throughout his career, Dr. Greenberg has had articles published discussing his goal of increasing the care and compassion providing by medical professionals today. "As far back as I can remember, I knew I was a physician. My choice to become a Dermatologist was one made from my heart, not my head. As a junior medical student, I was assigned to shadow a Dermatologist and, arriving at his office, felt a strong connection, even before seeing patients."

Show Notes:

(00:05:08) Outlining the Problem

(00:06:39) Combating the Fear

(00:09:13) Getting people to pause

(00:11:49) Learning to respond not react

(00:14:46) Leveraging what you have control over

(00:17:58) Making an impact in your community

(00:25:24) Awareness, Selfishness, Self-Centeredness

(00:27:49) Giving away unused items

(00:29:26) Living with less

(00:31:40) Picking up the phone

(00:38:25) Learning to pause

(00:42:18) This may not be working but how do you fix it?

(00:43:35) The power of comedy

(00:44:24) We are all flawed

(00:46:50) Failure and Labels

(00:48:34) Overgeneralizing experiences

(00:52:45) Deeper Experiences

(00:56:10) Deeper questions and being humble

(00:58:48) Take your pulse

(00:59:38) Recommendation for others to get through these uncertain times

(01:01:30) One final story

For transcripts and links learn more here: https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast/michael-greenberg

“What are the skills we can learn or mindsets that we can adopt that foster your own sense of calm and purpose and how do you extend a little bit of gratitude, empathy, and compassion to those around you?”

In this episode, Erich wanted to check in with each of you! In the wake of the response to COVID-19, the world seems to hold its breath. In this short podcast, Erich shares how he's dealing with the quarantine in effect.

You can read this episode here: https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast/checking-in

— GABE SALINAS

Gabe Salinas is the owner of the Sports Performance Facility, The Sports Lab, a former professional MMA Fighter, and a speaker on the topic of performance in various facets.

Gabe has helped Professional Athletes to Weekend Warriors and everything I'm between to achieving their peak athletic performance. As someone who desires to learn and improve daily, Gabe stays on the cutting edge of the research on Human Performance in hopes of helping both his athletes and himself.

Show Notes:

(00:05:47) Where did the interest in movement begin?

(00:07:04) Were there any coaches or mentors to help guide him early on?

(00:07:49) MMA Early On

(00:10:54) Using the gym as a place to fail

(00:12:38) What makes a high performer?

(00:14:24) Motivation only gets you so far

(00:18:07) Recommendation for the average person

(00:20:27) Getting into the body

(00:23:35) Is it better to specialize or generalize?

(00:28:19) How did Gabe's training evolve?

(00:31:04) Being a fighter doesn't mean you are aggressive

(00:33:45) Why did Gabe stop pursuing MMA?

(00:39:50) Not wrapping his identity as a fighter to tightly

(00:42:58) What were Gabe's other interests?

(00:44:39) How do you filter information?

(00:48:28) Good Coaching or Teaching

(00:49:24) The Diet Wars

(00:52:33) Diet Recommendations to his athletes?

(01:00:05) View on supplementation

(01:01:31) The Three Big Pieces

(01:03:33) Getting Recovery Right

(01:04:24) Overestimating the good and underestimating the bad

(01:07:33) Breathing work

(01:09:42) Back to sleep data

(01:12:34) Why We Sleep

(01:14:13) Alcohol and Athletes

(01:18:23) Where does the discipline come from?

(01:19:48) Having a reason to get in shape

(01:24:10) Giving someone all the tools to be self-sufficient

(01:25:47) Recommended Books

(01:27:21) Advice to someone entering the "real" world or starting on a new path

For more information head to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast

— CHRIS RUDEN

Chris Ruden is an elite Powerlifter, entrepreneur, model, and motivational speaker– despite his congenital birth defect leaving him with only two fingers on his left hand and a shorter left arm. Nineteen years into battling his physical situation, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. But for Chris, losing is not an option.

Chris uses his struggle to inspire people to overcome any adversity they may face in their lives through molding mindsets into resilient fortresses of self-belief. Through humor, logic, and passion, Chris' comedic relatability, yet hard-hitting message inspires the masses.

His education mirrors his experience, as he has a bachelor's degree in exercise science and health promotion as well as a laundry list of certifications and specializations in fitness, therapy, and life coaching.

Show Notes:

(00:04:41) Growing Up Feeling and Looking Different

(00:06:19) Chris' Childhood

(00:08:38) Feeling like an Outcast

(00:10:33) When did Chris Start Challenging Assumptions?

(00:13:06) Failing and Failure

(00:16:10) Paying to overcome obstacles

(00:18:25) The stories you tell yourself

(00:19:59) How do you know you can do difficult things?

(00:21:30) Motivation is wrongly placed

(00:23:36) Creating Discipline

(00:26:05) Which would make you more proud?

(00:27:11) The journey into powerlifting

(00:29:12) A story that changed his life

(00:31:21) A new definition of achievement

(00:32:50) Controlled Pessimism

(00:35:20) Stoicism and Controlling the thing you can

(00:39:48) The Power of Authenticity

(00:42:53) Choose where your focus is

(00:46:31) A favorite failure

(00:47:46) Comparing yourself to others

(00:49:27) Where did the idea of all “a work in progress” come from?

(00:51:15) How do you stay present

(00:53:17)  Recommended Books

(00:55:26) Synthesizing what you read

(00:57:49) How you learn doesn't matter?

(00:59:46) Don't live your life with supposed to

(01:01:35) Fixing Education

(01:03:22) Reflecting and the compound effect

(01:05:23) What are Chris' little things?

(01:07:57) What is authenticity?

(01:10:38) Bettering yourself and being selfish

(01:14:45) Leaving the world better than we found it

(01:17:00) Sharing what you create

(01:20:36) Bad recommendations

(01:22:24) The desire to be in shape

(01:24:04) Absurd habits that you love

(01:25:48) A new belief or behavior that has improved your life?

(01:26:29) Advice to someone who wants to better themselves?

For more information head to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast

Clint Pulver is known as “The Millennial Speaker,” he works with organizations that want to retain, engage, and inspire the younger generation. As one of the most sought after Keynote speakers, Clint travels the world every year, helping educators to remember the power and significance of the teaching job and that how they choose or choose not to teach in the classroom changes lives.

Show Notes:

(00:04:29) The Undercover Millennial

(00:06:43) Why Do People Stick Around?

(00:09:24) How did Clint turn toward finding fulfillment?

(00:13:43) Becoming the Anomaly

(00:14:50) Getting Comfortable with Risk-Taking

(00:18:45) Board of Mentors

(00:19:53) Rookie Mode

(00:21:11) What are your nonnegotiables?

(00:23:13) To Don't Lists

(00:24:26) How do you recognize what's taking away from you?

(00:28:04) Taking People for Granted

(00:30:12) People that mean something to you

(00:33:27) Mentors connect you to your dream

(00:36:34) Negative Thoughts

(00:38:29) Having people that will be there no matter what

(00:39:25) A Challenge to Listeners

(00:41:10) What do you do when you become overwhelmed or unfocused?

(00:44:14) Recommended Drummers

(00:45:04) Recommended Books

For more information head to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast

— ERICH WENZEL

Erich shares his thoughts on the journey that Feeding Curiosity and what others can take away from it.

For transcripts and related links go to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast

— JOE VEZZANI

Joe Vezzani is the Chief Executive Officer of LunarCRUSH.

Joe has a diverse background in working in Finance, Technology, Advertising, Sales, Marketing, and Start-Ups. A second-time Founder with both companies accepted and graduated from Techstars programs. Extensive start-up and business development network. Also technical with six years of product management background. Crypto since 2015.

LunarCRUSH provides a suite of tools designed to improve cryptocurrency research for investors, exchanges, and funds, built purely around providing community insights. The website is a free tool for the crypto community, designed to provide unique insights and adaptive, engaging user experience they can't get anywhere else. It helps simplify crypto investing by reducing research time, simplifying social intelligence, and providing a complete view of the market.

Show Notes:

(00:04:45) Joe's Background

(00:05:46) What is LunarCRUSH?

(00:06:28) Entering the Workforce in 2008

(00:08:58) Evaluating Options

(00:10:30) Fiance goes to New York

(00:11:36) Working In California

(00:14:31) Having a different lens than the typical Fiance Person

(00:16:30) How did Joe Enter the Crypto-Currency World

(00:22:08) Gaming and Crypto

(00:24:46) What Gaming Can Teach You

(00:26:32) Play Games With Your Kids

(00:28:25) Both Short and Long-Form Attention Exist

(00:31:16) Working With Email More Effectively

(00:32:39) What Do You When You Feel Distracted?

(00:34:42) Making New or Repackaging Old Content

(00:37:11) The First Content Experiment - YouTube

(00:38:24) What Does LunarCRUSH Show?

(00:42:05) How would you recommend taking the first step into Cryptocurrency?

(00:44:24) Predicting the Future - Uber Example

(00:46:21) Evolution of the Internet

(00:48:34) Creating a Personal API - Controlling Your Data

(00:52:31) Confusion of Data Usage - Corporate vs Government

(00:55:38) The Need for Targeted Advertising

(00:57:25) What Belief or Behaviour has most improved your life?

(01:01:03) Not Making People Stay for No Reason

(01:02:42) Busy is a Choice

(01:04:28) Wearables - Recovering Effectively

(01:08:36) Personalized Medicine and Routines

(01:12:34) Favorite or Most Gifted Books

(01:17:03) Advice to Someone Who Wants to Get Started in a New Domain

(01:21:43) How Do You Find Your "Passion"?

For transcripts and related links go to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast

“Everything you’re doing, you’re choosing to do. You need to understand that. Like never forget that you’re choosing to do this, and at any point. You can choose not to. You don’t have to. Just walk away from anything. There might be some consequences; more often, there’s not.”

— DEREK SIVERS

Derek Sivers(@sivers) is a creative thinker who is quite hard to pin down when trying to explain who he is. Here’s a shortlist of what he’s a done musician, producer, circus performer, entrepreneur, TED speaker, and book publisher. If I could sum up who Derek is, I would say he’s a philosopher and introspective person looking to push his thinking in ways he hasn’t explored yet. He won’t hold any belief or assumption too tightly.

Originally a professional musician and circus clown, Derek created CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online, with $100 million in sales for 150,000 musicians.

In 2008, Derek sold CD Baby for $22 million, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education. He is a frequent speaker at the TED Conference, with more than 5 million views of his talks.

Show Notes:

(00:03:52) Derek's Background

(00:05:57) Life - Intentional and Unintentional Events

(00:07:24) Getting to Speak at TED

(00:08:46) What Did You Do Before TED

(00:10:08) Derek's Writing Process

(00:12:11) Making Life Decisions

(00:14:45) Choosing the Right Tool For The Job

(00:18:37) How Derek Views Creativity

(00:21:29) Erich's Brother's View On Creativity

(00:22:46) Is Creativity An Innate Trait?

(00:25:58) Curiosity is Very Specific and Personal

(00:29:27) You Don't Have To Do Anything

(00:32:23) Skill Acquisition and Skills Across Domains

(00:38:15) Self-Reliance and Accumulating Knowledge

(00:41:58) World Citizen and Being Comfortable With Travel

(00:48:38) Taking the First Step to Travel

(00:54:55) Work Visa Under 30

(00:59:19) Counteract Tribalism

(01:00:23) Don't Confuse Medium With The Message

(01:03:20) Acknowledge Stereotypes

(01:05:27) Separating What You Do From Who You Are

(01:06:53) Gender Stereotypes

(01:10:24) De-exaggerate the Differences

(01:14:57) Within In One Place, The Differences Feel Huge, But When You Compare Big Picture It Is Small

(01:17:26) Thinking Like A Scientist Or A Sports Fan

(01:20:09) Thoughts On Parenting

(01:24:37) Learning to Trust as a Parent

(01:27:03) Giving Advice To Strangers

(01:29:03) Personality Tests

(01:32:05) Time Focuses

(01:34:32) Stoicism and Minimalism

(01:38:42) Don't Buy Into Isms Completely

(01:39:57) Don't Hold Your Beliefs or Assumptions To Tightly

For transcripts and related links go to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast

Claudia is someone who prefers to go by many hats. By day she works an adolescent/young adult mental health therapist in private practice. Outside of her professional career, she enjoys sports/exercise, dinners with friends, and above all, TRAVEL. 2019 was the year of battling several major health conditions while still trying to live life to the fullest.

Claudia has been a featured TEDx speaker, presented at the IABH Conference, and most recently received her certification in Clinical Neurofeedback. She takes her academic knowledge, paired with her personal experiences in overcoming health concerns to impact those around her.

Show Notes:

(00:04:27) The Start of Claudia's 2019

(00:04:55) Recovering from a Concussion

(00:07:20) Hashimoto's Diagnosis

(00:10:00) Managing Hashimoto's Symptoms - Food is Medicine

(00:10:58) Getting Stuck in a Loop

(00:13:02) What has worked best for Claudia so far?

(00:15:55) Mindfulness and Sitting with Your Thoughts

(00:17:39) Situational Awareness of the Body

(00:19:54) Separate Acceptance from Change

(00:21:06) What Can You Control?

(00:23:17) Being Transparent

(00:26:29) Stay In Your Situation

(00:29:07) Being an Active Consumer

(00:30:51) Light Exposure

(00:35:36) Fish Oil and D3

(00:36:44) Self Experiments - Fasting, Sleep Tracking, and Habits

(00:40:14) Wearables and Stress Measurement

(00:42:34) Neurofeedback

(00:45:52) A Different View on Positivity

(00:49:34) Motivation is the Easy Part

(00:51:19) Travel - Costa Rica and Iceland

(00:53:06) World Citizens

(00:57:08) Travel Logistics

(00:59:35) Currency of Time

(01:01:27) Being Open to Experience

(01:04:08) Gifting Books and Experiences

(01:06:16) What are You Excited about for 2020

For transcripts and related links go to https://feedingcuriosity.net/podcast