DOGS!! 

Now that I have your attention - today's guest is Brian Hare. Brian is a Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Duke University. He is also the co-author, alongside his wife Vanessa Woods, of the bestselling book "The Genius of Dogs". 

I read the book and loved it. I reached out to Brian because I wanted to learn more about this fascinating topic. Dogs and Homo Sapiens are a very unlikely pairing in evolutionary terms - both being top predators, tens of thousands of years ago, who would have been vying for the same prey. Yet, the wolves that were once our enemies have evolved into dogs that are members of our families. 

Brian says its survival of the friendliest, not the strongest, that has allowed dogs to evolve alongside us. From their start as wolves benefiting from our leftover food, they have gradually become the animals we love so much today. 

Dogs have evolved to read our facial expressions, movements, and body gestures. They can get a read on our emotional well being, and are better at this than almost any other animal. They really are "Man's best friend".

My Take - Dogs are an amazing evolutionary "accident". We are lucky to have them beside us, and they, in return. reap the benefits of being the most loved animal in the world. Unlike wolves, their distant family member, who are extinct/on the verge of extinction almost everywhere they used to roam - dogs are ubiquitous everywhere, in every country, on every continent. They are truly remarkable in their story, abilities, and adaptability. 

Brian Hare 

Brian's Twitter 

Comments, requests, sponsorships or questions, please reach out - [email protected]

Andrew is a professional speaker, the founder and CEO of Habits At Work, and the co-author of the 11th Habit. A book that shows how to design a company that makes it easy and natural for employees to prioritize and care for themselves, and perform at the highest level as a result. 

Andrew grew up in South Africa, but at a certain stage decided that what he was doing there was just not enough for him anymore. He eventually set his sights on the US. Andrew focuses on creating good habits and helping people become magnetic. I didn't fully realize what he meant when I originally heard it, but after talking to Andrew for over an hour, I understood what he means when he said magnetic. 

The way I perceive it is having people be drawn to you, and you do that in a few ways. One of the ways, which Andrew himself portrays so well, is just simply listening. Most people want to talk to be heard - which is fine - but if you actually listen to what people have to say, you will be able to be a better husband, wife, father, mother, CEO, or salesperson.  Our ability to listen and receive honest feedback is a crucial part of the process. Andrew also said something that really stuck with me - we invent who we are. I never really thought of it in this way but through our actions and our daily conscious and nonconscious decisions and habits, we actively create the person that we become. Our habits create us. 

Andrew says that if we practice good habits, let's say in one particular arena, every day, day after day -  we can eventually rise to the top 1% of that industry/category.  I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, and I think Andrew has a lot of great insights into what makes us better. Better salespeople, better entrepreneurs, better CEOs, better fathers and mothers, and better partners.  

My Take - Invent yourself, you are your own best or worst invention. If you create good habits, you will see the results in the long run. We make many decisions each day, make sure some of those decisions serve you well in the process of creating a better you - not comparing yourself with others, but only with yourself. 

Enjoy the Episode  

Andrew Sykes  

Andrew's Twitter 

Comments, requests, sponsorships or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Alex is a scuba diver and underwater photographer. He often shoots incredible wreck sites of ships, planes, and tanks. These surreal images are what got me to reach out to Alex. 

Alex has been diving and shooting incredible underwater photos for decades, even before digital cameras were a fixture - which must have been incredibly difficult. However, this also forced him to shoot with more precision and deliberation.  Diving through these pieces of history, one must wonder what went down as the final moments occurred, as some of these wrecks are from lost battles or wars. To see some of the wrecks still in pretty good condition after so many years is pretty incredible. Since the majority of wrecks have not yet been found, we have not even begun to scratch the surface. There are still so many unexplored sites to shoot and explore in the future for Alex and other enthusiasts in our vast blue oceans. 

Together we explored the process of setting up these shoots and we even discussed an excavation expedition where they successfully found champagne bottles dating back to the 18th century. These champagne bottles sell for up to 30,000 euros in champagne auctions. Alex explained some of the technical aspects of diving, talked about some canceled trips due to COVID, the process of choosing the right image, and much more. 

My Take - Sometimes the unknown is the scariest thing but also the most exhilarating and fascinating. The things that lie underneath the surface have their own tale to tell and I'm happy that Alex is there to document it and share that story with the world. 

Alex Dawson 

Alex Dawson's Instagram 

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Dr. Einat Wilf is the co-author of “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace” and a leading intellectual and original thinker on matters of foreign policy, economics, education, Israel and Zionism. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010-2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. She is considered one of Israel’s most articulate representatives on the international stage.

Einat's book has been making waves on the world stage, challenging many of the preconceived notions many have had about the situation in the Middle East. In an area that is more complicated than any other in the world, Einat gives the readers a clearer understanding of what the Palestinians want, and why no matter what happens, the idea of "from the river to the sea" makes it extremely difficult for peace to reign in the region. 

I thoroughly enjoyed our candid and open conversation on a topic that many would rather not discuss. Einat was insightful, knowledgable, and funny - when talking about such a heavy topic. It helps to inject some humor at times. I hope more people read her book, listen to this podcast, and learn more about the less told aspects of why peace has been unattainable so far. 

Einat and I discussed her book, MENA Jews, the transfer of empires to nation-states, Palestinian "refugees", UNRWA, what is happening in the UN, Israel's disastrous PR job, and much much more. 

My Take - Einat really took a very complicated issue and distilled it into a single story, which is really the crux of the whole conversation. I hope this book opens people's minds, clears up misunderstandings, and makes people understand what has been the real issue all along. When you strip away the emotions, the political ideology, the theatrics of Pollywood, media bias, and religious dogma - you're really only left with the truth. Hopefully, Einat's book will clear a path to a more honest and open dialogue and maybe even in the long run, if one wants to be optimistic, peace.

Enjoy the Episode.

Dr. Einat Wilf 

Einat's Twitter 

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Jack is the co-host of the popular outdoors show Rock The Park 

Turning a hobby and/or a love of the outdoors into an actual show is something that most people would only dream of, but Jack and Colton managed to turn that dream into a reality. They travel the country going to amazing national parks and forests and show the beauty and fun of the outdoors. What I like about the show, is that Jack and Colton bring you the perspective of the everyday person and /or weekend warrior - this isn't your crazy over the top, survival in the jungle type of show. The national parks in the US are some of the most beautiful in the world, and Jack and Colton portray just that.

From climbing 14ers in Colorado to enjoying the deserts of Utah or California, there is always a sense of leaving with more once you experience nature. Jack and I talked about how the show came about, his relationship with Colton, bears and bear safety, some of his favorite places, and what nature really means to him. We even discussed dogs because I mean, they're dogs. Who doesn't want to talk about dogs? 

This was a great conversation, I really enjoyed it - and I'm sure you guys will as well. 

Hopefully, Jack and I will get to do a hike together in the post-COVID future. But for now, enjoy the podcast 

My Take - Nature - the mountains, the beaches, the trees, the trails, and the lakes and streams all offer us a chance to disconnect from the material and connect to the internal. This is a great time to enjoy some of the marvelous natural gifts that surround us. Go on a hike, jump in a lake, climb a mountain, go camping,  whatever it is you enjoy doing in the outdoors, do it now. Recharge those batteries, put your phone away, release the stress, connect with friends or family, or just be by yourself cloaked by nature. 

http://www.thoseparkguys.com/

Jack Steward Youtube Channel 

Jack's Instagram 

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Elias is the mastermind behind the wildly successful Instagram account The Dogist. Elias has shot over 40,000 dogs over the last 8 years or so, and according to him, this is just the beginning. 

The importance of the story is a vital part of any image, especially when photographing dogs. Dogs don't have egos and do not change the way they behave, or express themselves differently, in front of a camera. Henceforth, the reaction or expression that you get from them is the rawest possible. 

After getting laid off from his corporate job, Elias found a way to turn a negative into a positive. He decided to follow his passion and he saw an opportunity to photograph man's best friend. With knee pads in one hand and a camera in the other, he walked the streets for hours looking for interesting dogs. Only through commitment, perseverance, and a creative outlook was he able to, day in and day out, put out great content and gradually build a community of followers while building his brand.  

We had a great chat about dogs, dogs, and more dogs (!), but also about his journey, career, childhood, and the difficulty of street photography. Approaching strangers on the street is no easy feat, but doing anything consistently will lead to improvement. We talked about his social media brand and some future projects on the horizon. This is a great episode for dog lovers and non-dog lovers (who are those people? ) alike. 

Enjoy the Podcast

My Take - Perseverance pays off, even when your dream seems to be farfetched, unattainable, and against all odds. Your only course of action is to tackle it head-on and persist with the force of a bull. If you do not believe in your dream, no one will. I also believe that dogs complete humans in a way no other animal can and in a way that sometimes even other humans can't. This is partly why the Dogist has been successful - he portrays our best friend in an honest and fun way, making it even easier for us to connect with the images. 

The Dogist 

The Dogist Instagram 

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Matteo is an entrepreneur, originally from Italy, where he focused on the renewable energy sector. Since arriving in NYC however, he has dedicated his energy and time into co-founding the athletic sleep company - Eight Sleep. 

I never realized how important sleep was for athletic ability, recovery, and overall performance. What Matteo's mattress does is essentially adapt to your body temperature, gather data on what facilitates your best sleep, and gradually, the goal is for you to be able to sleep less but better. D2C (direct to consumer) mattress companies have blown up in the last decade - but there isn't any other mattress company that collects your own personalized sleep data, to give you the best sleep possible. 

With more and more studies coming out backing the importance of deep sleep, Matteo has positioned himself to capitalize on a growing trend. Matteo gives some really great tips on improving your sleep, and even your naps. Now that we are starting to realize that sleeping is one of the most important tools for a great day, these tips are definitely worth taking. 

Matteo and I discussed how he started Eight Sleep, the benefits of great sleep, rem vs non-rem sleep, how Eight Sleep uses and gathers data, athletic endurance, and so much more. 

My Take - There are many basic things we do every day that we could essentially be doing better. Breathing, running, sitting, and yes, even sleeping, are daily activities that through science we are now learning so much more about. A good night's sleep is something we should invest in, as the return on investment could be better athletic ability, quicker recovery, and increased physical / mental health and focus. 

Enjoy the Episode! 

Matteo Franceschetti's Twitter 

Eight Sleep 

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Sophie Gammand's story is one of serendipity. Sophie is a photographer - you may know her from her Pitbull Flower Power series - which went viral and, in the process,  helped many Pitbulls in shelters. 

Her serendipitous start came one day when she was walking down the street to shoot a project for a photography class she was taking. Her task was to shoot people on the streets of NYC. A man presented himself, asking her to photograph him - upon which Sophie says she "chickened out" and essentially ran the other way. Fully uncomfortable with the prospect of shooting strangers, Sophie decided to visit a nearby veterinarian's office - and her subjects ended up being dogs, not humans. From here, as they say, the rest is history. 

Since then, Sophie has gone on to publish books, amass a massive social media following, and, most importantly - helped many Pitbulls and other dogs in shelters with her flower power portrait series. 

Sophie and I had a really fun conversation - both having had the immigrant experience, both moving to NYC and taking up photography when we arrived, and a mutual love of dogs and Pitbulls. We talked about the bad rap that Pitbull type dogs get, the media propaganda that caused the biased dialogue around the breed, how she came up with the ideas for her portrait series, and much more. 

This was my longest episode to date. I felt as though we still had so much more to cover. Perhaps, in the future, Sophie will come back on the podcast.  

Enjoy the Podcast

My Take - Pitbulls are some of the most misunderstood dogs out there. They are actually exceptionally sweet and get along well with kids and babies. I'm glad Sophie saw through the media disinformation campaign and decided to dedicate so much of her time/career to help change hearts and minds. If you do something with your heart, you will be rewarded on many fronts. 

Sophie Gamand 

Sophie's Patreon 

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Marie is a very unique young woman. At the age of 17, she decided to leave her family and friends in Estonia and travel to Thailand to pursue her dream of being a professional Muay Thai fighter. Along the way, she developed into an MMA fighter - and recently - landed a contract with ONE Championship (the largest MMA organization in Asia).  

Since arriving in Thailand she has had many pro Muay-Thai fights, learned the language, and evolved as a more complete martial artist.  We talked about the transition of moving from Estonia to Thailand, how she got interested in fighting,  her fights, and what she sees in her near future. Dedicating your life to fighting is probably one of the hardest things a human can do, but looking at Marie in the ring she seems so cool, calm, and collected. She says it's her happy place, that she loves being there. And with some amazing wins its hard to argue that. I think in the next few years she will grow as a fighter, rack up more wins, and start to receive more international acknowledgments! There has never been a better time to be a fighter.   Enjoy the podcast.  

 My Take - If you are lucky enough to realize what you want to do in life, grab it with both arms, don't let it go, and pursue it with every fiber in your being. Most of us don't know what we want to do even in our 40's, and some of us, never figure it out.  If at age 16 you are willing to leave your family and friends and pursue a passion, you must let that passion overtake you and become a driving force in the pursued dominance of your craft.  

Marie Ruumet Instagram  

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]

Jack Sim is a very unique guy. A successful businessman turned NGO founder, he is determined to solve one of the biggest and overlooked issues of our times - toilets. More accurately, the lack of toilets and proper sanitation in developing nations. 

Recently, Jack was the star of the documentary "Mr. Toilet, The World's #2 Man", an insightful documentary about Jack, his journey, and the very real problem of sanitation and lack of toilets in developing countries. Jack has realized something very important about the media; with humor and sensationalism, he can garner media attention, and if he gets their attention - he gets the world's attention. He realized that talking about shit (in the literal sense of the word) is awkward, taboo, and uncomfortable for most people. So, he put a twist of humor into his message -  in order to create an open dialogue on this extremely important issue. Not having a place “to go” isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a problem that impacts over 2 billion people worldwide. In India alone, 200,000 children die each year from lack of safe sanitation. 

Jack and I discussed what we can do to help this very urgent matter -  how do you re-educate people, what are some projects he and his organization are working on, and how as a collective we can better serve other humans more / ourselves a little less.  Jack believes that helping others is the best way to live. I mean, it's hard to disagree with that. 

My Take - In the western world we take certain things for granted - healthcare, internet, electricity, running water etc... these basic things are not accessible to a large percentage of the population in developing nations. Before we complain about how hard our lives are, we should take a minute and be thankful for everything that we have, because something as simple as a toilet to you, could be a lifesaver for someone else. 

Enjoy The Podcast

Mr. Toilet Film - https://mrtoiletfilm.com/

WTO - https://www.worldtoilet.org/

Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is [email protected]