Self-described as “a self-improvement junkie, a nut-job, an early adopter, a tinkerer, a quick-start, and a life-explorer,” Andy Petranek is also the creator of the Whole Life Challenge, a life coach, an avid outdoorsman, and a lifelong devotee to the pursuit of growth and knowledge. His leadership experience as a Marine equipped him with the skills that brought him success as one of the first CrossFit affiliate owners, and his focus on improving the lives of the “normal” people in his community led him to develop the Whole Life Challenge. To this day, his mission is to “help clients stay committed to making better choices each day, outside of the gym, where it really matters, in their everyday lives.”

Andy joins me for a chat about the apps that improve our lives, unusual sleeping practices, the reason a lack of motivation is keeping people stuck in unhealthy patterns, and the benefits of isometric movement. We explore the connection between mouth-breathing and respiratory rate, look at strategies for longevity, and discuss both the foundational methodology of CrossFit and our thoughts on where the brand is headed. I couldn’t have the founder of the Whole Life Challenge on the show without talking about the Whole Life Challenge, of course—so we dive into what it is, why everyone should do it, and what the best starting place is. As always, this episode is packed with great takeaways that will help you move the needle closer to your best health. Enjoy!

Quicksilver Scientific

Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Introducing Quicksilver Scientific’s PushCatch LiverDetox! Liver detoxification is essential for proper health, but improperly-designed protocols result in uncomfortable toxin redistribution not elimination. The PushCatch LiverDetox is an innovative approach to detox. This two-part cleansing protocol is designed to safely eliminate toxins without reabsorption in the body.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!

Rising Springs

At one point or another on any health journey, you start to wonder about the quality of the water you are drinking. Well, Rising Springs may be just what you have been looking for. In fact, it’s the rare opportunity to drink a water so pure and full of minerals that it’s considered to be a natural mineral supplement. This water, taken from 2.2 miles below the earth’s surface, has been tested to parts per quadrillion to be free of any contaminants and has a naturally high pH of 9.4. Before Rising Springs, I had never had water like this before, and it truly makes me feel amazing. Now you can get it delivered directly to your front door!

Use code STACKED for 25% off your first shipment!

Lambs

Never before in our history have we been exposed to so much electromagnetic radiation. Whether you’re a frequent traveler like me and worried about the radiation in the airplane or airport, or you’re sitting at desk all day exposed to WiFi and sitting close to your phone… all of this stuff is adding up, and the research on the impact this is having on our health is piling up too! This is why my friends over at Lambs have created protective clothing (including the only underwear I wear) to block almost 100% of this harmful radiation.

Use code STACKED for 20% off your order!

Support the show

Aaron Alexander is a manual therapist and movement coach with well over a decade of experience. He is the host of the top-rated Align podcast and recently published his first book, The Align Method. Aaron preaches functional movement and self-care in a format that’s applicable to anyone, from top Olympic athletes to regular Joes working desk jobs.

In this episode, we sit down (on the floor) for a chat about easy ways to move toward alignment, how our posture influences our perception both of the world and of ourselves, why emotions affect us physically, and why some of the healthiest people in the world know nothing about health! Aaron points out that “perfect” health regimens can actually make us sicker, and chats about how modern lives can actually increase our stress levels. Aaron is a ton of fun and chock-full of knowledge to share, so don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re having coffee with an old friend on this show. Enjoy, learn, and if you dig the show, don’t forget to leave a review and subscribe!

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Quicksilver Scientific

Are you flushing money down the toilet with less than optimal supplements? With most traditional supplements, the amount that survives digestion and general acidity in the gut is very low. That is why Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!

Brain.fm 

Before every show, I find a quiet place, grab my noise-canceling headphones and head over to my brain.fm app. With brain.fm you can decide how you want to spend the next few hours of your day—focus, productivity, relaxation—and they will play music that has been scientifically engineered to shift your brain in that direction. (See more of the science behind this here).

P.S. You can now save 20% on this already inexpensive app when you clickhere!

Support the show

Chef Pete Evans, an Australian TV personality and host of the podcast H.E.A.L., started working full-time as a chef at 17 years old and has over 25 books to his name. As a dad, a health coach and a developer of supplements and ready-made meals, Pete passionately shares his knowledge to help people from all generations and backgrounds achieve and maintain mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

This week I sit with Pete in the sun on the front steps of my house. Please bear with us if you hear a few planes flying overhead as we chat. The weather was so nice, and with Pete having just gotten off a plane, we just could NOT sit indoors for this one. We chat about all the things Pete’s been up to while visiting LA, from brain scans to dinner with Robert Kennedy Jr.. Then we dive into some detail about Pete’s culinary education and how applicable traditional cooking is to the more recent paleo movement. We go down a few rabbit holes, as you may expect, and round out the episode with some really solid takeaway messages for our listeners. 

Enjoy today’s show! 

And PLEASE don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast! 

Proudly Sponsored By

Quicksilver Scientific

Are you flushing money down the toilet with less than optimal supplements? With most traditional supplements, the amount that survives digestion and general acidity in the gut is very low. That is why Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!

Seed

After my recent podcast with Seed co-founder, Ara Katz, I began to dig a little deeper into the traditional "probiotic" industry—only to be quite disappointed with the reality of the effectiveness of almost all probiotic products on the market. Seed, on the other hand, has 23 strain-specific clinical studies behind it that demonstrate its effectiveness. Their innovative 2-in-1 capsule also nests the probiotics inside a prebiotic (sourced from Indian pomegranate and organic wild-harvested Scandinavian chaga and pine bark) capsule for additional protection, ensuring the probiotics actually get where they need to be inside of you—your gut.

Use code STACKED at seed.com for 20% off your first month of the Daily Synbiotic.

Support the show

I've been singing the praises of InsideTracker for so long that it was about time to have Gil Blander join me as a guest on Stacked. Gil is the Chief Scientific Officer of InsideTracker and an internationally-recognized authority on the science of aging. He leads a team of experts in the development of algorithms and databases that analyze biochemical and physiological markers and determine their optimal ranges.

In the age of fad diets and nutrition trends, Gil works to educate people on the true indicators of health. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and what may move the needle in the right direction for one person might make no change for the next. We hit the ground running in this episode, cutting through the noise and getting right down to the markers that really matter (and they're not the ones most people pay attention to!). Gil shares fascinating data points on the correlation between red blood cell size and BMI, talks about the effect of "food-like substances" on the brain, and gives us a sneak peek of what to expect from InsideTracker in 2020.

In This Episode

InsideTracker's Ultimate Panel (Use code STACKED on any panel for 10% off!)

Joe's favorite Vitamin D supplement (buy through Quicksilver and use code STACKED for 15% off)

Proudly Sponsored By

Brain.fm 

Let me tell you about a little hack I have been using lately: Before every show, I find a quiet place, grab my noise-canceling headphones and head over to brain.fm. With brain.fm you can decide how you want to spend the next few hours of your day — focus, productivity, relaxation — and brain.fm will play music that has been scientifically engineered to shift your brain in that direction. (See more of the science behind this here).

You can now save 20% on this already inexpensive app when you head over to http://brain.fm/stacked.

RUNGA Corporate Experiences

RUNGA brings wellbeing, connection and optimization into reach within the corporate setting. Designed to reboot an executive team or advisory board, RUNGA offers everything from seminars and wellness programming at larger corporate summits, to curated private wellness retreats. To find out how RUNGA can help your team enjoy greater health and productivity in 2020, schedule a call today.

Support the show

In today’s episode, I keep the microphone to myself for a special solo-sode to kick off 2020.

As I’ve spent most of the month of December in Iceland, in 20 hours of darkness per day, I started thinking about what role I played in peoples’ health and wellness journeys in 2019—and where I think my message is heading in 2020.

I narrowed it down to five key areas: caloric restriction and fasting, sleep, breathing, exercise, and community.

As I thought more deeply about these wellness components, I felt compelled to ramble with the microphone on and to share the result with you guys. 

I hope you enjoy it!

In This Episode

David Sinclair's new book, Lifespan

Joseph Mercola's latest book, Keto Fast

Dry Farm Wines

Joe’s podcast with Dr. Jen

Joe's podcast with Lois Laynee

Mini Popsicle sticks

Joe's Lifestyle coaching program for busy executives

Joe's customized kettlebell/oxygen optimization training plans for high performers

Strong Coffee (use code "joedi" for 20% off!)

Proudly Sponsored By

Strong Coffee Company

Like many of you, I have a soft spot for coffee, and it’s heartbreaking how tough it can be to find good coffee when on the road or traveling. Thanks to Strong Coffee and its addition of amino acids such as L-Theanine and other nutrients, I don’t have to give up my coffee ritual when I’m away from home! More than just coffee, Strong Coffee is a supplement that leaves me feeling focused, energized and satisfied.

Use code JOEDI for 20% off at strongcoffeecompany.com

Quicksilver Scientific

Are you flushing money down the toilet with less than optimal supplements? With most traditional supplements, the amount that survives digestion and general acidity in the gut is very low. That is why Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!*

*Valid until 1/31/2020

Seed

After my recent podcast with Seed co-founder, Ara Katz, I began to dig a little deeper into the traditional "probiotic" industry—only to be quite disappointed with the reality of the effectiveness of almost all probiotic products on the market. Seed, on the other hand, has 23 strain-specific clinical studies behind it that demonstrate its effectiveness. Their innovative 2-in-1 capsule also nests the probiotics inside a prebiotic (sourced from Indian pomegranate and organic wild-harvested Scandinavian chaga and pine bark) capsule for additional protection, ensuring the probiotics actually get where they need to be inside of you—your gut.

Use code STACKED at seed.com for 20% off your first month of the Daily Synbiotic.

Support the show

Today's episode is a “repost” from my good friend Pete Evans’s podcast H.E.A.L. Pete and I recently shared this unfiltered conversation around health that I felt compelled to share with listeners of Stacked. Pete asked some excellent questions—in truth, he caught me off-guard with most of them—which gave me the opportunity to share some perspectives that I feel may be really helpful for listeners as we enter the new year.

In this episode, I discuss the difference between health and fitness, and why culture and our ancestral roots matter—especially when it comes to diet in a nutritional space that seems to leave no room for wine, bread, or cheese. I break down exactly how we tend to make becoming “healthy” stressful through over-analyzing, over-controlling, and becoming our own worst enemy. Lastly, I share some thoughts on endurance training and what I believe to be the healthiest way to get fit for ultra running.

It’s always fun to take a turn in the hot seat, and I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it! (P.S. Stay tuned for Pete’s Stacked episode, coming in the next few months!)

Proudly Sponsored By

Quicksilver Scientific

Are you flushing money down the toilet with less than optimal supplements? With most traditional supplements, the amount that survives digestion and general acidity in the gut is very low. That is why Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!*

*Valid until 1/31/2020

Essentia Mattress

Sleep quality is one of the most important ingredients to vibrant health, and yet it’s one that many health-enthusiasts overlook, often focusing more on supplements and sophisticated biohacks. Well, Essentia has developed a truly life-changing mattress that is one of the best investments you can make for your health and your home. 

Check it out here!

Seed

After my recent podcast with Seed co-founder, Ara Katz, I began to dig a little deeper into the traditional "probiotic" industry—only to be quite disappointed with the reality of the effectiveness of almost all probiotic products on the market. Seed, on the other hand, has 23 strain-specific clinical studies behind it that demonstrate its effectiveness. Their innovative 2-in-1 capsule also nests the probiotics inside a prebiotic (sourced from Indian pomegranate and organic wild-harvested Scandinavian chaga and pine bark) capsule for additional protection, ensuring the probiotics actually get where they need to be inside of you—your gut.

Use code STACKED at seed.com for 20% off your first month of the Daily Synbiotic.

Support the show

If you have neurological deficiencies, Dr. John Marchese can help you solve them. A Boston local with extensive chiropractic training, Dr Marchese has witnessed the rise of strength and conditioning gyms and seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Rather than promoting general fitness or “training for life,” he advocates specific training based on your sport, your goals, and your history of physical activity.

His methods may seem unconventional, but the results speak for themselves. I met Dr. Marchese when I was starting my business and still experiencing the effects of prefrontal cortex damage. Through specific treatment, he helped me to retrain my brain to function correctly and balance my deficiencies. In this episode, we talk about my rehabilitation process, specific fitness for unique individuals, the link between weight training and addictions, why trap bar deadlifts are a terrible exercise, and a whole lot more.

Proudly Sponsored By

Patreon

Support from listeners helps me and my team continue to provide valuable content and eventually expand to more weekly episodes and video. As a Patreon supporter, your contribution—equivalent to the cost of a cup of coffee or a green juice—is so appreciated. You’ll also receive access to exclusive Patreon-only content such as recipes, Q&As, the occasional “Whole Foods hack” and other behind-the-scenes footage.

To support the show, head over to Patreon today!

RUNGA Corporate Experiences

RUNGA brings wellbeing, connection and optimization into reach within the corporate setting. Designed to reboot an executive team or advisory board, RUNGA offers everything from seminars and wellness programming at larger corporate summits, to curated private wellness retreats. To find out how RUNGA can help your team enjoy greater health and productivity in 2020, schedule a call today.

https://vimeo.com/377590039

Support the show

There’s a difference between fitness and athleticism, and Coach Todd Cambio, CSCS, trains athletes to be ready for anything by improving their strength, speed, and agility. He practices what he preaches, maximizing the benefit of his own training by doing his research, moving with intention, and implementing biomechanical techniques. Whether it’s kettlebell training, Spartan racing, or burpees, Coach Cambio has a highly educated opinion on it (and probably a certification for it, too).

We take a deep dive into Cambio’s kettlebell background, athletic history, and thoughts on current fitness trends. He walks us through his corrective process for an athlete with back pain and explains when it’s a good idea to opt for a heavier kettlebell. As an aging athlete himself, Todd has firsthand insight into the process of adjusting athletic expectations over time. While he’s no stranger to intense workouts, he encourages listeners—from serious competitors to average Joes—to know their “why” and train accordingly. No matter where you fall on the continuum, you’ll benefit from this episode.

Inside Tracker

Blood doesn’t lie. That is why Inside Tracker not only tests for your most important biomarkers—Glucose, Vitamin D, inflammation and many more—but also tracks your progress, makes dietary suggestions, and even suggests workout protocols to help you find health and wellbeing in your everyday life.

Use code STACKED for 10% off at insidetracker.com

Strong Coffee Company

Like many of you, I have a soft spot for coffee, and it’s heartbreaking how tough it can be to find good coffee when on the road or traveling. Thanks to Strong Coffee and its addition of amino acids such as L-Theanine and other nutrients, I don’t have to give up my coffee ritual when I’m away from home! More than just coffee, Strong Coffee is a supplement that leaves me feeling focused, energized and satisfied.

Use code JOEDI for 20% off at strongcoffeecompany.com

Support the show

In the first video episode of Stacked, Dr. Christopher Shade joins me to put supplements under the microscope and explore their role in cell health, from detoxification to ketosis. Dr. Shade explains the interconnectedness of stress, glutathione (remember this one from Dr. Paul’s episode?), and leaky gut; walks us through the best way to prepare for detox protocol, and shares his own experience with NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and travel recovery. He’s on a mission to combat universal toxicity, and this episode is packed full of information that will help you navigate the saturated supplement market and reach optimal health.

Quicksilver Scientific

Are you flushing money down the toilet with less than optimal supplements? With most traditional supplements, the amount that survives digestion and general acidity in the gut is very low. That is why Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!*

*Valid until 1/31/2020

Inside Tracker

Blood doesn’t lie. That is why Inside Tracker not only tests for your most important biomarkers—Glucose, Vitamin D, inflammation and many more—but also tracks your progress, makes dietary suggestions, and even suggests workout protocols to help you find health and wellbeing in your everyday life.

Use code STACKED for 10% off at https://www.insidetracker.com/

Brain.fm 

Let me tell you about a little hack I have been using lately: Before every show, I find a quiet place, grab my noise-canceling headphones and head over to brain.fm. With brain.fm you can decide how you want to spend the next few hours of your day — focus, productivity, relaxation — and brain.fm will play music that has been scientifically engineered to shift your brain in that direction. (See more of the science behind this here).

You can now save 20% on this already inexpensive app when you head over to http://brain.fm/stacked

Support the show

Andy walks us through the way light influences our brains, our moods, and our quality of life. He explains how new moms might be keeping their babies awake at night, that sunscreen is bad for you, and why shift work is not ideal for anyone.

Find Andy

Instagram I Twitter I Website

In This Episode

Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival

Health and Light

Quicksilver Scientific

Are you flushing money down the toilet with less than optimal supplements? With most traditional supplements, the amount that survives digestion and general acidity in the gut is very low. That is why Dr. Chris Shade developed the world’s most advanced phospholipid delivery systems. Through this superior delivery method, all Quicksilver Scientific products nourish your cells and enrich your body as they deliver nutrients more quickly and up to 600% more effectively.

Use code STACKED for 15% off your first order!*

*Valid until 1/31/2020

Inside Tracker

Blood doesn’t lie. That is why Inside Tracker not only tests for your most important biomarkers—Glucose, Vitamin D, inflammation and many more—but also tracks your progress, makes dietary suggestions, and even suggests workout protocols to help you find health and wellbeing in your everyday life.

Use code STACKED for 10% off at https://www.insidetracker.com/

BLUblox

If you are anything like me, you’ve probably tried to block out every single spec of light in your bedroom—whether at home or on the road. Well, there’s a better option out there. BLUblox has created this incredible sleep mask that not only blocks out all light but also feels comfortable on your face. It makes getting to sleep and staying asleep that much easier...much like their stylish blue-blocking glasses!

Use Code RUNGA for 15% off at checkout at 

CHRISTMAS SHIPPING: Last day for guaranteed Christmas delivery will be 16th December, if DHL Express shipping option selected. 

Brain.fm 

Let me tell you about a little hack I have been using lately: Before every show, I find a quiet place, grab my noise-canceling headphones and head over to brain.fm. With brain.fm you can decide how you want to spend the next few hours of your day — focus, productivity, relaxation — and brain.fm will play music that has been scientifically engineered to shift your brain in that direction. (See more of the science behind this here).

You can now save 20% on this already inexpensive app when you head over to

Support the show