Welcome to a most informative and inspiring show about the amazing ancient superfood of cacao!

This episode will give you everything you need to know about its remarkable health benefits, healing properties, and how to choose the most sustainable, eco-friendly, fair-trade bean-to-bar products. You will learn about the fascinating history of cacao as a sacred food, currency, and medicine, why it remains one of the most highly regarded superfoods on the planet, and how the food industry took this extraordinary raw material, stripped out everything useful, and transformed it into little more than a heavily sugared version of the original.

Along the way, I explain the science in plain English—from the powerful polyphenols that support your heart, brain, blood pressure, gut microbiome, metabolism, and mood, to why cacao may be the single most antioxidant-rich food you can eat.

I also reveal the disturbing reality behind much of today's commercial chocolate industry, including how mainstream processing destroys many of cacao's most valuable compounds and why ethical sourcing matters. You'll learn the difference between raw cacao powder, cacao nibs, and high-percentage dark chocolate, how to identify truly high-quality bean-to-bar chocolate, why I became a dark chocolate connoisseur, and the artisan brands I recommend.

When this episode is over, you're never going to look at a chocolate bar the same way again, and you'll be fully armed to make the best product purchasing decisions and obtain the maximum benefits from consuming foods high in nutritious cacao.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Cacao is one of the most highly regarded superfoods on the planet. [00:56]

When you are finished listening to this episode, you will never look at a chocolate bar the same way again. [02:28]

The best way to enjoy chocolate is to put it on your tongue and allow the flavor to dissolve in your mouth. [06:38]

The history of cacao is fascinating. It is one of the most nutrient dense, biologically active foods in all of human history. [08:10]

Early civilationa learned to ferment, roast, and grind cacao beans into a drink. It was more than a flavoring agent, it was very much a spriitual centerpiece as well as used for medicinal purposes. [10:11]

After the Europeans added sugar to cacao, it lost some of its medicinal purpose, although it still is a good source of antioxidants. [12:29]

There are many cardiovascular benefits from cacao. It improves platelet function.  [18:17]

Cacao has been shown in studies to produce meaningful reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is also known to help boost levels of HDL (high density lipoproteins.) [20:55]

Cacao consumption improves your overall lipid profiles, including helping with healthy triglyceride levels. [27:24]

Does cacao help with weight loss goals? [28:27]

Cacao has an impact on brain function and mood. [31:37]

In contrast to the powerful, hard and fast effects of caffeine, theobromine in cacao works more slowly. It has a gentler mechanism and a longer half life. [35:08]

Studies show wonderful benefits from cacao on the gut. It has been identified as a potent prebiotic which is what feed probiotics to flourish in the intestinal tract. [38:59]

Reasearch shows cacao has properties protecting you from UV damage from sunburn. [46:35]

Just how damaging to health is mainstream modern chocolate processing? One of the terrible aspects of the low-priced chocolate is because of the support of child slave labor harvesting these beans. [50:02]

Look for the designation of "bean to bar" on the product. It should also have cacao beans as the first ingredient. [55:05]

In mainstream processing of the beans, they have to use super high temperatures which degrades the polyphenol. [57:17]

There are three categories of products which can deliver these wonderful health benefits. [01:00:07]

When the bar is above 80%, this is where most of the research showing cardiovascular cognitive benefits was conducted. The words "cacao beans" should be the first ingredient on the label. [01:05:53]

Brad lists his recommendations for good chocolate bars. [01:19:44]

How much chocolate should one consume? [[01:29:06]

Do not refrigerate high quality dark chocolate. [01:32:50]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes
• Burn
• The Primal Blueprint
• Podcast with Shawn Askinosie (Chocolate)
• Podcast with Todd White (Dry Farm Wine)
• Dry Farm Wines
• Askinosie Chocolate
• Chocovivo
• Cocoa Runners
• Nomosu
• Pump Street Chocolate
• Puna Chocolate
• Ranger Chocolate
• Rausch
• Spring and Mulberry

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, how about a podcast guest of the fittest female athlete in the world?

Her name is Lauren Weeks and she is a Hyrox legend and a three-time world champion widely considered to be the most decorated competitor in the sport’s history and the world’s fittest woman. That’s a title you can throw around and argue about, but she has a legitimate claim because Hyrox is an incredible athletic challenge that demands both extreme endurance capability and the strength and power to perform these challenging stations that happen in between one-kilometer runs.

Lauren breaks down the entire Hyrox competition, how this fitness sensation has taken the fitness world by storm, and her journey to becoming a three-time world champion—including winning world championships, competing while eight months pregnant, returning to take second in the world, and eventually breaking the world record in both the pro and open divisions.

You’re also going to learn some really interesting insights about her training. Sneak peek: most of her training is comfortably paced. I want to pound this message into our heads over and over—here is a woman performing at the very highest level ever seen in total athletic, functional fitness, and most of the time she’s training well within her capacity.

Lauren shares how she balances aerobic training, strength work, and specific Hyrox preparation, and why building your aerobic system, staying strong, and training consistently are the foundation for performing at the highest level and staying fit and healthy throughout life.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Lauren Weeks, World Champion in Hyrox, is here to give an explanation of the sport and some trips for training. [01:03]

It's a sport that encourages you to have an aerobic base, but also work on strength, which I think is really important for longevity. Lauren explains the stations. [04:29]

So pacing, no matter what level you're at, is gonna be incredibly important. [12:18]

If you're racing full bore for around an hour, that's pretty much the definition of the anaerobic threshold. [16:01]

The participants in these events vary in their skill level.  There are divisions differing in the weights at the stations. [19:11]

On average, the average time is probably just about 90 minutes, but the range is anywhere from just under an hour to probably just over three hours. [22:31]

Range of motion might be a problem for folks who haven't trained for these stations. [25:17]

Did it take a long time for Lauren to get to the world champion level? What is it like being a professional these days? [27:04]

How many different events are there on the calendar? [32:48]

What does her daily training regimen look like? [34:54]

How can you be 8 months pregnant and compete in a Hyrox competition? [45:55]

 

Learn more about the Centr x HYROX ecosystem:

For gym owners and operators interested in Centr x HYROX commercial opportunities:
https://shop.centr.com/pages/commercial?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=TheB.radPodcast&utm_campaign=Podcast

Try the Centr App (includes the only HYROX-certified digital training programs):
https://centr.com/p/hyrox/all-programs?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=TheB.radPodcast&utm_campaign=Podcast

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes
• High Rocks (Hyrox)
• Wikipedia: Lauren Weeks
• Emom Training
• thehybridengine training

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am so excited to welcome back to the B.rad Podcast, Cynthia Monteleone, my good friend and sprinting mentor coach to numerous Olympic and world champion masters track and field athletes, and a former world champion herself in the 400 meters for women aged 45 and over!

Our last show was dedicated to discussing the dangers of chronic endurance training and the wide-ranging physiological benefits of sprinting. This conversation is focused on another hugely important topic: recovery.

The workout is the signal. The recovery is where the adaptation occurs.

You’re going to learn how Cynthia became a world champion in sprinting while taking four days off per week to recover, why cortisol is not the enemy, and the difference between the productive stress of training and the chronic stress that can interfere with health, hormones, and performance.

We also get into sprinting for longevity, chasing youth versus chasing longevity, and the simple recovery habits that matter most: sleep, walking, sunlight, spending time with family, and creating space where your body and nervous system can rebuild.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

The body doesn't know whether the stress comes from sprinting, scrolling, financial pressure, or a difficult conversation. It simply responds to stress. [03:37]

Cynthia publishes a free newsletter with educational information on various topics such as the importance of recovery. [05:51]

There is a difference between chasing youth and chasing longevity. [08:44]

The problem of taking outside hormone replacements is common. [12:23]

There are natural ways to get around some symptoms like those that hit women in midlife. Men often aromatize testosterone into estrogen, thus the spare tire. [18:10]

Cynthia uses a metabolic pinch to analyze what is going on in a client's body.  This is based in Chinese medicine. [21:04]

The workout is the signal and the recovery is where the adaptation occurs. [22:03]

There's a lot of misunderstanding and misinterpretation about what cortisol does in the body. Learn to use Eustress in a positive way. [24:07]

Beer creates this enzyme aromatase that changes the testosterone to estrogen. [33:27]

If anyone wants to track their longevity potential and their overall wellness and vitality, test your sex hormones frequently. The more calories burned, more classes attended, more miles run, still creates worse results, especially for the menopausal female [34:80]

Aging with a broken body is not the best quality of life. [39:04]

How can someone become a champion and win the medal but take tremendous amount of recovery time? Don't you have to train every day? [43:18]

Walking after meals is such a great habit to adopt. [47:27]

Walking in those barefoot shoes basically strengthens your foot. [50:17]

Getting the right amount of sleep is essential for all your endeavors. [56:86]

Find joy in what you are doing. Decompress, let go of stress.  These are very important for recovery and longevity. [01:03:11]

Some people think if you have a good diet, you don't need supplements. Some are based in ancestral medicine. [01:03:47]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%
• Instagram @FastOverForty
• fastover40.com
• Brad's Podcast Cynthia Monteleone
• Eustress vs. Distress
• Primal Endurance

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more hardcore and devoted you get to fitness, the more risk you bring that you might actually be doing things the wrong way and getting counterproductive results.

In this episode, I break down 5 ways you may be screwing up your fitness goals—even if you’re consistent, disciplined, and training hard.

We talk about why sleep, rest, recovery, and downtime are the foundation for everything else, why the body is a dynamic organism and not a machine you can program, and why you have to be careful about outsourcing your intuition to technology.

I also dive into why VO2 max is overhyped, why zone 1 deserves more attention, how chronic cardio and narrow fitness goals can compromise longevity, and why so many people are missing the most important pieces of lifelong fitness: strength, power, and sprinting.

In this episode, I reveal that the solution is simple: move frequently at a slow pace, lift regularly, and sprint occasionally.

Whether you’re an athlete or someone focused on staying fit, strong, and capable throughout life, this episode will challenge how you think about training for true full-body functional fitness and longevity.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

The more hardcore and the more serious and devoted to fitness you get, the more risk you bring in that you might be doing things the wrong way. [01:27]

Everything flows downstream from getting a good night's sleep, rest and recover. The hyperconnectivity that we now experience interferes with that. [01:58]

We have chronic low level stress hormone production from consuming variable digital content like text messages or scrolling through social media. [05:26]

Some of us are so devoted to exercise, that we don't know that we are overdoing it. What are some of the biggest signs that we are overdoing it? [07:21]

When you try to apply too much regimentation to a fitness program, you can very easily get yourself into trouble. [15:24]

There is technology measureing your HRV telling you what your body is doing but don't obsess about it.  Listen to you body. [25:50]

Zone one exercise is all than most people need. [30:48]

Let's look at endurance training in general.  It is a very narrow sliver of total body functional fitnes. [34:55]

There is a cutoff point where doing too much can put you into elevated risk for metabolic problems, including adding excess body fat and not being able to remove it. [37:47]

By exercise physiology definition, anything lasting over a few minutes is strongly emphasizing the aerobic system with minimal stimulation to the anaerobic system. [41:50]

The anaerobic muscle fibers are in that "use it or lose it" category. [50:52]

The void of strength training and sprint training in one's program is a great way to screw up everything. [52:11]

The general guideline for a great sprint workout template is four to eight reps of 10 to 20 seconds duration with a six to one recovery to work interval. [58:05]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%
• The Stimulated Mind
• Podcast with Dr. Tommy Wood
• Primal Health Coach Institute. 
• Is VO@ Max Overated Podcast
• BradBeat HRV

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Q&A episode, I answer questions about how to train for varied competitive distances without getting pulled in too many directions, explain my compelling stance on avoiding coffee (and NSAIDs), and give a plug for Dr. Doug McGuff’s “Big 5” total-body workout—a simple, highly effective way to stay strong with just one workout per week.

I also share thoughts on how corporations like Whole Foods Market and PF Chang’s continue to sell plenty of crap despite their healthy reputations, discuss the magic of Zone 1 walking for building awesome aerobic fitness, and explain one of the best ways to tell if you’re doing too much strength training. Hint: you shouldn’t be getting sore.

These are practical, everyday insights you can use right away to simplify your training, improve your health, and avoid some common mistakes.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Jack, age 60, asks about his running goals. He says he is confused about what Brad says the parameters should be. [01:11]

Jack has another question about coffee. Is having that stimulant in the morning helpful for your overall well-being as an athlete?  [07:38]

Another listener asks: Should I take my high intensity interval training, my strength training like Dr. Doug McGruff's Big Five and a basically walking approach to races? [15:45]

Some comments from YouTube include this with Brad's comment: How long should you sprint to achieve all the health benefits? Brad's answer: All your entire life. [17:56]

Monica initiates a discussion on the industrial seed oils being used rather than butter in restaurants and even Whole Foods and P.F. Changs. [18:50]

Anthony asks about building up aerobic fitness by walking. Brad's response is that
the aerobic base is built at the lower exercise intensities where your body has sufficient oxygen to develop and fine tune your mitochondrial function [27:00]

Chad experiences soreness after trying to complete body weight exercises every other day to failure. Brad answers: If you have recurring soreness from your strength training regimen, you are most certainly overdoing it. [30:48]

Dr. Doug McGruff's book, Body by Science, has a great regimen of five big workouts to do once a week. [32:22]

Chad is also asking about his schedule for training. You want to have ebbs and flows in your schedule such that you have built in downtime and you always respect the importance of intuition and adjusting on the fly. [37:37]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%

• Body by Science

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is a special rebroadcast of one of my all-time favorite conversations on the B.rad Podcast!

Every so often, I like to revisit episodes that made a profound impact on me personally and delivered tremendous value to listeners, and this conversation with Thais Gibson is absolutely one of those episodes.

I am so pleased to introduce a fantastically awesome show with Thais Gibson, creator of the Personal Development School!

When Thais first sent me an overview of what she wanted to discuss, I thought, "Sure, let's talk about it." But I have to tell you, I was completely blown away. This became one of my favorite shows I have ever recorded.

Listeners, I truly believe this episode has the potential to be life-changing. I know it was for me. It probably helped that I unknowingly became the guinea pig for much of the conversation. What you'll hear is essentially a live coaching session where Thais demonstrates her expertise and methods using real-life examples from my own experiences—particularly the disconnect between my stated goals and some of my behavior patterns.

We focused on the pursuit of wealth and financial security, an area where I occasionally feel frustrated or deficient, perhaps because of subconscious patterns operating beneath the surface. Thais explains the causes of self-sabotage and how to reprogram limiting thought patterns. One of the most fascinating parts of the discussion is when she explains that we're operating from our conscious mind only about three to five percent of the time.

If you're someone who listens to podcasts, reads books, and continually educates yourself, your conscious mind may be doing a great job acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. But your subconscious needs and programming can still interfere and pull you off course. So in this episode, it's time for Brad to get processed, dig deep, and explore what's really happening when self-sabotage kicks in.

Thais Gibson is a counselor, bestselling author of Learning Love, and co-founder of the Personal Development School. She holds a Ph.D. and more than 13 certifications in modalities including CBT, NLP, somatic experiencing, Internal Family Systems, shadow work, and hypnosis. After nearly a decade running a successful private practice, she founded The Personal Development School—an online learning platform designed to provide a more accessible and authentic way for people to transform their lives.

In fact, after we finished this recording, I enrolled immediately. I encourage you to visit her website and explore what she offers. She offers a test run where you can see what it’s all about—check it out at personaldevelopmentschool.com.

Enjoy this special rebroadcast with Thais Gibson!

 

TIMESTAMPS:

People may not always be aware that they are self-sabotaging because it usually occurs at a subconscious level. [00:53]

Your conscious mind is responsible for roughly 3 to 5 percent of all of your beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions or decisions. Your subconscious is responsible for 95 to 97 percent. [04:48]

We all have subconscious personality needs. [07:54]

Thais uses Brad as an example to unpack what needs it relates to. She asks first, what does he do in his spare time? [09:34]

Where does he spend his money? What does he like to learn about? [12:10]

Our subconscious mind is also the host of all of our limiting beliefs. [19:46]

There is a tool for how to pull up what your limiting beliefs are. [21:42]

We're scared of something that's hidden in the periphery at a subconscious level of mind [24:29]

Reconditioning is a tool for reprogramming. [26:25]

Thais identifies characteristics of people who have been in a relationship with a narcissist. [30:41]

Look for the things that trigger you. Plan your limiting belief and use its opposite. [33:02]

Step one: What is your core belief and its opposite? Step two: what are 10 memories to support? They can be recent memories, really old memories, doesn't matter. 10 memories to support this new idea about yourself. I am, in fact, good enough. Step three: listen back for 21 days. [34:17]

When thinking about financial security, many people struggle with their subconscious as in feeling they don’t deserve it or some parts of society that have a distaste for the inequitable distribution of wealth. [43:10]

There are seven areas of life that need attention. Career, financial, mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and relationship. To ignore one area, we will pay for it later. [52:45]

What specific things or set of things are you going to do on a daily basis to reprogram? [59:13]

So much futile energy and effort toward change without addressing these core issues is going to be tough. [01:06:13]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Isolate + Creatine SUPERFUEL - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%
• Learning Love
• Personal Development School
• Atomic Habits

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running a marathon is a bad idea—and in this episode, I explain why. I react to a shocking new study suggesting that during a marathon, the brain may actually consume myelin (the fatty insulation around nerve fibers) for fuel once glycogen stores run low.

The researchers reassure us that the brain “bounces back naturally over time.” I’m not so reassured. I talk about the acute damage caused by marathon running—not just to the brain, but also to the heart, kidneys, hormones, immune system, and inflammatory response.

I also go deeper into the long-term concerns around extreme endurance training: the diminishing returns of chronic cardio, why endurance training often fails as a fat-loss strategy, the “struggle and suffer” ethos of the endurance scene, and the opportunity cost of spending all your fitness energy shuffling down the road instead of building strength, power, explosiveness, and resilience. I explain why “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is often misunderstood through the lens of hormesis and cumulative stress load, and finish with my preferred approach to lifelong fitness and longevity: walk more, lift weights regularly, and sprint once in a while.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Running a marathon is a bad idea. Running those 26 miles can transform your brain. [01:05]

Myelin is the fatty insulation around nerve fibers used as fuel when we run out of glycogen during a marathon. The brain fog one gets is caused by the loss of myelin. [02:24]

Brad is looking at the stress on the brain as a result of metabolic myelin plasticity. [04:35]

Long distance running places significant demands on the body and brain. [07:10]

Numerous critical health immune inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers get temporarily blown off the charts even in the best prepared athletes, but more so in the recreational athletes. [09:45]

If you were to go directly from crossing a marathon finish line to the nearest emergency room and have blood drawn, you would have the same lab results as someone suffering from a myocardial infarction, a heart attack. [10:47]

There's also prominent research revealing how the immune system is suppressed for a significant period after the marathon. [14:15]

The essence of peak performance and achieving bucket list goals is to do them correctly rather than drag a tired, unprepared body to the finish line. [17:58]

One study suggests that conducting around two and half hours a week of endurance exercise comfortably paced is sufficient. [20:07]

There's extensive and mounting research that endurance training simply does not work for fat loss. [22:14]

An overuse injury is an obvious sign that the body is being overwhelmed and the training is not appropriate. [27:38]

The obligate runner is one who has taken to the extremes similar to the anorexic needing control. [29:10]

Effort and struggle are deeply satisfying when you're pursuing peak performance goals with honor and maintaining constant vigilance over your mental and physical health. [31:52]

Putting all that energy to a narrow fitness goal like endurance training, precludes other far more valuable fitness endeavors. [33:53]

Broad-based, full body fitness is the key to general health, vitality and longevity. Endurance competency is a small sliver of the big picture. [35:10]

Shoes enable poorly adapted people to do an activity that they really shouldn't be doing. [37:16]

Running a marathon is such an extreme challenge and it is very difficult to train in an appropriate sensible manner. A low-key casual approach can even lead to excellence in endurance training provided we don't succumb to these crazy influences that turn you into an obligate runner. [39:24]

Is the old saying; What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." really accurate? [43:47]

You do not have to have sore muscles to grow stronger. Stress and breakdown are a byproduct of something you're doing to try and improve your health [46:27]

You can get a detox effect from fasting but you can also improve your digestive system by just changing your diet. Or you can try a cold plunge. [47:24]

Benefits come from the mechanical load or the cardiovascular load not the damage to the brain you get when you are overdoing it. [50:46]

When thinking of a marathon, think about the pounding of the cement for 26 miles rather than a century bike ride or long distance hiking with low or no impact on your feet. [51:42]

We want to create a fitness program where you spend a lot of energy on resistance training for your muscles and dedicate a portion to explosive efforts. [55:39]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%
• TED Tallk by James O'Keefe, M.D.
• Brad's Podcast with Dr. Joan Ifland
• Brad's Podcast with Cynthia Monteleone
• Jay Feldman Wellness.com
• WHAT RUNNING A MARATHON DOES TO YOUR BRAIN 
• Does Marathon Running Harm the Brain? New Study Reveals Surprising Answer!
• Cognitive Benefits of Open-Skill Sports in Childhood: Evidence from the ABCD Study

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a quick show about getting over yourself, inspired by a passage from Tony Robbins called “8 Rules for a Better Life.”

As I read through the rules, I realized they all kind of hearkened back to my old podcast title, Get Over Yourself, which I believe is a quick and effective mantra for happiness, relationship harmony, and continued personal growth instead of getting stuck in ruts and rumination—which seems to be a common problem these days.

I talk about how anxiety comes when we ruminate about the future, depression comes when we ruminate about the past, and how so much of our suffering stems from an obsession with the self rather than a focus on service or growth. I also reference comments from former podcast guest Dr. Ron Sinha, who points out that rumination may actually show up as a measurable disease state, with blood markers and physiological effects to support it.

Along the way, I go through all eight rules with my own commentary and stories from life, sport, competition, parenting, and everyday stress. I reflect on the pressure and self-importance of racing as a professional triathlete in my 20s, share a memorable finish-line exchange with rival Miles Stewart that changed my perspective on blaming and complaining, and talk about why people almost never change their minds no matter how certain you are that you’re right.

I also get into social media giving us “the most intense and graphic scorecards ever in the history of humanity,” my late friend Don Weaver’s hilarious approach to road rage where he would “flip people off five times in a row,” and why happiness and freedom come from growth—not control.

I finish with thoughts on Tony’s idea that changing your body changes your emotional state, while also cautioning against turning that insight into the modern “stay hard” mentality where we feel like we always have to push a tired, exhausted body just to feel worthwhile.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Actual blood markers can reveal the effects of rumination about the future, which is a common
problem these days. [01:03]

There are eight rules for a better life. Number one is don't judge yourself. [02:20]

Not everything is a matter of life or death. [04:07]

Seek to make a contribution. Self respect comes from making a contribution. [07:17]

Don't get caught up formulating some elaborate life purpose. Do the right thing and your purpose
will unfold. [08:40]

Stop patterns of blaming and complaining. [09:57]

People in situations that push your buttons, provide an opportunity for spiritual growth no matter
what. [17:54]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%
• The Imperative Habit
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready for a wild one!

I dive into this Q&A with interesting insights on a variety of topics: designing your own intuitive diet instead of outsourcing decisions to others; the benefits of the hex bar deadlift; how the chemicals in American food—more so than calories—could be driving the obesity epidemic; how to address the root cause of runner’s knee (hint: it’s not switching to minimalist shoes!); and why sprinting for just 10–20 seconds can deliver huge fitness breakthroughs.

I also talk about how prominent influencers sometimes overstep their areas of expertise, and why we should perhaps look more to elite athletes and coaches than “the science”; my commitment to total honesty on the show while staying in my lane and preserving personal privacy; and how I balance the Doug McGuff “Big 5” strength workout with sprint training.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

This is a Q and A show where Gung Fu asks about eating a tiny piece of potato with his steak. Brad says gather the information yourself and be cautious about outsourcing your decision-making to "experts" on the internet. [02:11]

From Allen Drone Services, we get the question, "What goal are you trying to reach by deadlifting?" [05:55]

"Are barefoot shoes good for runners knee?" asks JS. [08:29]

It is shocking to discover the research from around the world of the rate of overuse injuries among regular runners. Half the regular runners are injured every single year. [11:42]

Daniel writes about comparing the food supply in the US as compared to Europe. What is causing the obesity in the US? [14:42]

Brad, how many six-second sprints should I do? And how much rest should I take between them? [19:08]

Vince says he is a 52-year-old runner who is tired of getting injured.  What is Brad's view of his training regimen? [22:46]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - Save 10%
• The Stimulated Mind
• Body By Science
• Super Human Troy
• Josh Kerr

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk about whether you should announce your goals to the world with great fanfare—or just quietly plug away and pursue them.

The topic was inspired by a couple of social media clips, including a “sub-11 second 100 meters in 90 days” project, which sounds exciting…but also highlights  what we’re seeing more and more today—spouting big goals, getting instant attention, and receiving that payoff without having to continue on and struggle and suffer through the process.

I get into the brain science behind this, including how simply announcing a goal—“I’m working on a book,” “I’m training for an Ironman”—can trigger a dopamine spike that tricks you into thinking you’ve already made progress. I also cover the flip side, with research showing that sharing goals can increase accountability and support when done correctly.

From there, I break down the nuances: why announcing vague or unrealistic goals can backfire, how you risk turning into a “dilettante” chasing attention instead of results, why process-oriented goals beat outcome obsession (with insights from elite sport and my own experience), and when it actually does make sense to share what you’re working on—like being fully immersed in the journey or reporting real progress, not just talking about it.

I also explain why who you share your goals with matters, and how the wrong approach can leave you stuck while the right one can push you forward.

It’s a thoughtful look at motivation, accountability, and what it really takes to follow through on meaningful goals in a world full of hype.

 

TIMESTAMPS:

We have some differing expert opinions about the value or the strategy of announcing goals to others. Some say it helps keep you accountable. There's good research there. Others reference the emptiness and the risk [01:06]

Troy is an example of announcing to all that he will be breaking 11 seconds in the 100 meters. [01:35]

Josh is another example of sharing his ambition to try a feat and asks that you follow along to see what goes into this attempt. [03:13]

Brad discusses the differences in these two styles. [03:37]

It is harmful to attach your self-esteem to specific outcomes. [09:37]

Try to let go of the pressure and enjoy the process with a positive attitude. [11:49]

Brain research confirms that we can elicit a spike of dopamine by simply announcing a big goal to the public or to your friends. [13:40]

The same dopamine hit—with potential backlash—happens when we announce success prematurely. [17:50]

There is a meta-study from the American Psychological Association in 2025 that found that sharing a goal was linked to receiving more support from others. [23:41]

Do not broadcast vague goals that might be deemed unrealistic by an expert outsider observer. [26:27]

Set process-oriented goals. Basketball coach John Wooden said, "Worrying about the scoreboard is a big mistake. Instead, focus on the perfect execution of every possession." [29:02]

Announcing goals when you're actually immersed in the difficult and meaningful journey works well.  [31:11]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• BradNutrition.com - 20% OFF Your First Order!
• B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery
• NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery!
• B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet!
• Brad’s Shopping Page
• BornToWalkBook.com
• B.rad Podcast – All Episodes
• Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes - 10% OFF
• Hicham El Guerrouj
• Podcast with Lion Martinezertyuii[]n b 
• Carlo Thranhardt
• The Weight of Gold, Documentary
• A Memoir - LANDON
• Alysa Liu
• Sleep
• The Hacking of the American Mind

 

We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you!

Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:

B.rad Nutrition: Premium quality, all-natural supplements for peak performance, recovery, and longevity; including the world's highest quality whey protein! Get 20% OFF your first order!

Peluva: Comfortable, functional, stylish five-toe minimalist shoe to reawaken optimal foot function. Use code BRADPODCAST for 15% off!

Jaspr Air Scrubber: Ultra high-performance air purifier - blows other air filters away! Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD.

Get Stride: Advanced DNA, methylation profile, microbiome & blood at-home testing. Hit your stride the right way, with cutting-edge technology and customized programming. Save 10% with the code BRAD.

Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

Primal Fitness Expert Certification: The most comprehensive online course on all aspects of traditional fitness programming and a total immersion fitness lifestyle. Save 25% on tuition with code BRAD!

#bradpodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.