The first time I met Mike Bledsoe three years ago, he was hunched over in the corner of a busy porch at the PaleoFX convention meditating with a "Headspace" app. I took one look at this bearded, tattooed Crossfitter and judged him to be yet another exercise and fitness junkie meathead. I was dead wrong. Mike is profound, interesting, chock full of knowledge on everything from plant-based medicine to the fitness business to meditation and breathwork, and (like me) was homeschooled K-12. He is one of the founders and owners of Faction Strength & Conditioning Home of CrossFit Memphis. He has a degree in Exercise & Sport Science as well as a long list of meaningless certifications that might awe some people but not most and definitely not the people who are probably on this website. At 19 years of age, Mike thought he should donate his body and mind to the service of his country in the US Navy. It was there that he discovered that he didn’t like taking orders. He did extremely well and had a good time, but being part of a system was not his ideal (and he’s one idealistic dude). Getting out was scary, but made the entire world available to him. At the ripe old age of 24, he began college at the University of Memphis in the business department but before the first semester could end he changed his major to Health & Human Performance. It was there that he was first introduced to Olympic Weightlifting, by Dr. Brian Schilling. While in school he regularly donated his body and parts of it to research in the name of science. It was during his senior year that he and a guy named Rob Conner started CrossFit Memphis. Dropping out of school after the first semester of grad school, Mike devoted his time to growing the business and becoming a better coach. Mike “Matraca” Bledsoe (matraca means chatterbox in portuguese) is most well known for his ability to not shut up, and you'll understand why during our discussion in today's podcast, in which you'll discover: -Why Mike was so confused the first time he saw a PVC pipe in a gym.... -The strange story of Mike and Ben's meeting at Joe DeSena's farm in Vermont... -What Mike discovered by going on his first magic mushroom trip in a dog park... -How psilocybin and ayahuasca rewire neurons in your brains... -How to find a good shaman if you decide you want to do ayahuasca... -Mike's one-two combo for morning breathwork and deep tissue work... -Mike's evening routine, and what he completely avoids for 90 minutes before bed... -And much more... Resources from this episode: -Ben's podcast on mushrooms -BarbellBusiness.com -BarbellShrugged.com -Jill Miller's yoga tune-up balls -Wim Hof Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Mike Bledsoe or I? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of use will reply!