RockneCAST

This is the second episode in a four part series on the Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung, a book that changed my life.  What makes Dr. Fung so awesome as a source on fasting?

In the diet and nutrition space, it is so hard to figure out what to believe and who you should trust.  There are a cacophony of voices out there each hawking their own method, their own theories, their own approach.  Some of that advice runs counter to conventional medical wisdom and trends seem be constantly reversing and changing.  Salt good or bad?  High fat good or bad?  Pills or no pills?  Fasting just a fad or something deeper and more powerful?  When do you accept conventional wisdom?  When should you challenge it?

The work of Dr. Jason Fung has completely transformed my life, helping me to easily lose 70 pounds.   This is a longer podcast on what makes him so effective as a source on fasting.  He is a conventionally trained doctor, but willing to challenge conventional training, especially when the theories did not match what he was seeing in his own practice.  We also explore some limitations on doctors, i.e. why smart people can get it wrong.  Some doctors suck, even when they follow their training without questioning whether it is actually right or the best approach.  

While other doctors out there are just as smart and talented, what makes Dr. Fung so effective is his seamless integration of theory, practice, peer reviewed studies, and the ability communicate to a broader audience.  

Whoa, I have mega gratitude to Dr. Fung.  

Prior to Dr. Fung, Dad Bod, fat, and sick.  After Dr. Fung, fit, six pack, and healthy.  

This podcast is a discussion on why he is so effective and hopefully, you will find your own Dr. Fung.

This book CHANGED MY LIFE!!  After reading it, I have lost 70 pounds, gotten off blood pressure medication, and reversed type 2 diabetes.  I have zero concerns about putting the weight back on because Dr. Fung provided the key to understanding: why we get fat, how to lose weight, and how to keep it off.  

in this episode, I outline how I came across the work of Dr. Jason Fung, and his book "The Obesity Code".  

This sets the stage for the next several episodes where we dive deeper into the work of Dr. Jason Fung.  In particular, we will cover:

1.  Dr. Jason Fung as a source on dieting and weight loss; 

2.  why calorie counting sucks as a weight loss strategy;

3.  why insulin theory of obesity is the correct view; and

4.  food and fasting recommendations from Dr. Fung to lose weight.

If you want to lose weight, and keep it off, read the work of Dr. Fung!!  He is mega-awesome.

For this episode, I interviewed Jhe Russell, a world class ballet dancer who has performed all over the world at top ballet companies in Boston, New York, Toronto, and throughout Europe.  I loved this episode.

We touched on a variety of topics, including being a person of color, how he got interested in ballet, growing up in Boston, and life in Iowa City.  

Jhe is good vibe guy, interesting, funny, personable, and brims with positive life force.  

I really enjoyed this interview with Jhe, and I know you will too!

This is a season for giving thanks.   I give thanks that I had the opportunity to study with and sing under the direction of Weston Noble.  Weston lived in total alignment in mind, soul, and spirit.  When I sang in Nordic Choir in the mid-90's, I experienced moments of pure bliss, or what Joseph Campbell would call, my "ananda."  I experienced that without fully realizing how Weston created those moments.  In his book, Creating the Special World, Weston outlines how how he used the spirit to channel mind and body, creating moments of pure transcendence (check out link at www.rocknecole.com).  This episode is a mediation on Weston's first chapter in that book Bring the Special World into Reality.  May you listen to your inner voice and align your mind, soul, and spirit.  This was a fun one to do and I also outline my new theme for this podcast, a liberal arts podcast focused on strengthening mind, body, and spirit.  Grateful that I studied under Weston and that we can also continue to experience life through the wisdom of Weston Noble.  

Hope you all have an awesome Thanksgiving!!

in this episode, I review Ori Hofmekler's life changing book, The Warrior Diet, which introduced the world to the wisdom of eating one big meal a day. This book rival's Jane Jacob's book "Death and Life of American Cities" for the way in which it completely revolutionized dieting, health, and wellness.  Like Jane Jacobs, Hofmekler does not have all of the "credentials" in the field that he changed.  When he wrote this book, our the dieting world was plagued by conventional wisdom: Fat bad, Carbs good; eat six meals a day... The list goes on.  This approach led to obesity, type 2 diabetes, premature, and way too many man boobs.  I like Ori because he doesn't get totally caught up in the modern keto versus non keto polemics.  Instead, he recognizes the wisdom of fats, carbs, and in proteins, seamlessly harmonizing the wisdom of each camp.  

He uses timing of eating as a way to harmonize when and how  you eat food.  His version of fasting, at least as I understand it, does not mean totally avoiding food during the fasting stage.  Instead, he falls it "undereating."  During the "undereating" fast, he allows certain berries, nuts, and light proteins while avoiding highly refined carbs. He calls this phase "undereating" allowing the body detoxify, rejuvenate, and heal.  During this phase, the body is ready to work, be alert, and do the activities that give us life.  Our sympathetic nervous system is active during the day and he therefore, discourages excessive eating, because it activates the rest and recuperation stage, our parasympathetic nervous system.  

During the evening, he encourages one big meal, allowing you to eat what you want, whether it's carbs, fats, or protein.  Eat away and calories be damned!  He explains why this works so well.  Our body is sensitive to nutrients, allowing us to eat and use the nutrition from the food that we eat.  it also corresponds to our parasympathetic nervous system being activated as our bodies slow down after our day's work.  During this phase, we eat, socialize and get ready to rest for our next day of getting things done, living our life's purpose.

So it's not just just "one meal a day."  It is so much more, evolutionary biology, ancient history, nutrition, exercise, mental clarity, and spirituality.

This book promised a lot and totally delivered.  It's magnum opus, of fasting and human health.

Like US Grant, I have major mancrush on Ori Hofmekler.  

Read it, and you'll be on your way a leaner, clear, and stronger you!!

This is the follow up to my recent podcast on Lincoln's favorite poem, "Oh why should the mortals by proud" by William Knox.  Zachary Taylor, our Nation's 11th president, died on July 9, 1850, only one year and four months into his presidency.  I came across this eulogy while reading Lincoln's Speeches and Writings.  I learned that Lincoln absolutely adored Zachary Taylor and strongly supported him, campaigning vigorously for him in Taylor's run for president.  My mancrush, US Grant, also loved Taylor too.  This got me interested in Taylor and the following paradox: why did two men most responsible for the destruction of slavery, Abe and US, embrace a slaving holding Southern president?  

Whoa, I don't know whether I answered that question in this podcast, but I tried to exploring what made Taylor so compelling to both Grant and Lincoln.  In his encomium to Taylor, Lincoln's admiration of Taylor's leadership qualities demonstrates what he liked, what drove him, and what made him great.  So if nothing else, regardless of whether I rescued Taylor from the ignominy of slavery, I hope you share my view that we must not ignore, but explore the dark side to our human character, and our infinite capacity to be renewed through the eternal waters of forgiveness.

Taylor, the slaver holder, inspired the two men who crushed slavery,  perhaps, equivalent to Saul becoming Paul.  Creation and history work in mysterious ways. 

This was a fun one.  Keep living inspired and productive lives.  Be you.  Do you.  Live your life's purpose.

Some of my best memories growing up in Decorah and at Luther College involve Professor Richard Simon Hanson.   He needs no introduction to Luther and Decorah people.   He is a Professor Emeritus of Religion at Luther College in Iowa, specializing in ancient languages, the Bible, and Judaism.  

We cover growing up Wisconsin, how he got to Luther, why he left Luther, who invited him back, his connection to Weston Noble in the early 1950's, his role with the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Lord's Prayer in Greek, Elie Wiesel, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning".   I learned a ton about this legendary Luther College professor.  

Whoa, this one was fun to do.  It was a total honor to interview one of my life long heroes.     

In this episode, we cover Abe Lincoln's favorite poem, "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud" by William Knox.  I learned about this poem while reading Lincoln's eulogy of our nation's 11th president, Zachary Taylor, which he gave at the Chicago City Hall on July 9, 1850.  

I am going to do a separate podcast on the eulogy, in part, because he so eloquently covers Taylor's leadership qualities.  Taylor is interesting to me because both Lincoln and my man-crush, US Grant, greatly admired Taylor, "Old Rough and Ready."  That cast will have to wait because of awesomeness of this poem, which Lincoln recited from memory at the end of the eulogy.  He referred to it throughout his life in private, but only referred used it once in a public address at Taylor's eulogy. 

Lincoln loved it so much that he also shared it with his first love Ann Rutledge.  He apparently quoted it so much that Rutledge's sister called it "Lincoln's Song".   

We cover death, love, life, and of course, exuberant stoicism.  Carpe diem.  

Whoa, I loved doing this podcast.  If you're interested in Lincoln's speeches, check out my show notes.

In this episode, we discuss the 11 words that completely changed my life, courtesy of the original exuberant stoic, Epictetus and his life changing book, The Enchiridion.  We'll discuss the concept of the Epictetus Life Audit and how it can positively impact your life.  You can also check it out at www.rocknecole.com.

Whoa, I love exuberant Stoicism!!

in this episode, I share one of the most awesome self care practices that I've learned this past year, Wim Hof Breathing.  In particular, I share with you what I've learned from the book, "The Way of the Iceman - How The Wim Hof Method Creates, Radiant Longterm Health".   We'll explore what it is, why it works, and how can it change your life.  

Wim's breathings techniques activate the mind, body and spirit.  Also, you can purchase by checking out www.rocknecole.com.