The Rich Roll Podcast

We need more doctors in the world like Dr. Frank Lipman. Western medicine is astounding when it comes to treating acute, isolated conditions — a catastrophic injury, an arterial blockage or a serious infection, for example. But how does it fare when it comes to preventing disease, particularly chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and countless other conditions sweeping the globe like a modern day plague? Well, not so well. On this I think we can all agree. On that note, when was the last time your doctor focused his inquiry on things like increasing energy levels and general vitality, elevating mood, sustaining optimal body weight, or enhancing mental acuity and focus? Not recently I would imagine, if ever. He or she might advise you to reduce the stress in your life, “eat better” and/or “start taking care of yourself” — but these proclamations are rarely combined with an actual specific protocol to implement. And that, my friends is a shame. Dr. Lipman is working to break this paradigm. Ea

Straight up, this conversation encapsulates every aspiration I ever had for the show when I embarked upon this podcast journey a little over a year ago: inspiration, in the form of a relatable everyman guest sharing his personal story openly and honestly with absolute humility and a vulnerability that is rare in today's panoply of admirable role models. We get emotional. We get real. We get authentic. There's even a few tears. If you're not moved by Adam' story, then check yourself for a pulse. ” Adam Scully-Power ? Never heard of him.” I get it. Adam certainly isn't a household name. But that’s a shame, because we need more guys like Adam. So I'm doing my part to help change that, because Adam's story is extraordinary. And one that needs to be more widely heard. I'll start off with this — talking to Adam was like staring in a mirror. Not because we look alike – we don't. But I have never met anyone with a story that so closely tracks the facts and emotions my own experience. In fact, it's downright eerie. So

American Ninja Warrior. Calisthenics freak. Battlebar champion. Muscle Beach staple. Parkour artist. Spiritual crusader. Social entrepreneur. These are just a few labels we can attach to the badass known as Travis Brewer. But what is truly inspiring about this airborne athlete with a conscience is his mission to live life to the fullest. Catalyzing positive impact through movement to make the world a better place. And inspire others to become more of who they are. For Travis, it's an inside job. His ability to walk through fear, break barriers, push past physical, mental and emotional plateaus to perform the impossible with death-defying body movement begins and ends with one thing – his devotion to spirituality & meditation. Today Julie and I sit down with Travis to explore the boundaries of human potential – both athletic and beyond the monkey bars; what it truly means to unlock the best of who you are; the crucial extent to which devotion, spirituality and meditation play into his holistic health and peak

What do you do when your twelve-year-old son announces he’s going to run across America? That's the dilemma Brett & Kris Wilcox faced, hoping that in time their son David would simply forget about his crazy idea — “it's a phase….he'll grow out of this fantasy eventually……right?” Well, David refused to let up. In fact, he doubled down. On the heels of becoming the fastest freshman cross country runner in his region of Alaska, David became more determined than ever to become the 2nd 15-year old ever to complete a transcontinental run. Needless to say, his parents had a decision to make – quash their son's dream, or dig deep to help make it happen. I am happy to say they chose the latter. And on January 18, 2014, David and his father — supported by his mother Kris and 13-year old sister Olivia — began their coast-to-coast attempt, launching from Huntington Beach, CA en route to Washington, D.C. David has his motivations. But in order to run alongside his son, Brett needed his own. As a Licensed Professional Coun

Matt is a cool dude. Can't believe it took the podcast for us to finally meet in person. Not only do we have plenty of common points of interest and intersection — plant-based nutrition, eating for performance and ultra-endurance athletics topping the list — Matt knows from whence he comes. With a Nutritional Science degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Public Health Nutrition degree from Loma Linda University (yes – that “Blue Zone*” Loma Linda where everyone eats plants and lives like forever – don't worry we get into this), as well as certification as a Registered Dietitian ( the only professional nutrition credential available ), Matt has distinguished himself as a leading expert in the field of vegan nutrition. In addition to working one-on-one with clients and athletes, Matt is the Past-Chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , and co-authored both the No Meat Athlete book with RRP #54 guest Matt Frazier and the best-selling cookbook Appetite for Red

People ask me all the time, “Who inspires you, Rich?” For the most part, the people that inspire me are people you've never heard of. Everyman guys like Josh LaJaunie who toil tirelessly yet essentially anonymously to actualize profound personal change. The single dad working two jobs that still finds a way to lose 50 pounds, get off his statin medication and run his first 10K. Or the soldier stationed in the Middle East doing his best to eat plant-based despite confronting tremendous daily obstacles. Then there are guys like Charlie. The story of Charlie Engle first found it's way into my consciousness back around 2006 or 2007. I still vividly recall hearing Charlie relate the facts of his experience in a radio interview he did with a host I cannot recall. What I do recall is just how moved I was by his journey. A story that didn't just click with me, but one I related to with every fiber of who I am. Addict. Alcoholic. Sober. Ultrarunner. Father. Felon. Inspiration. Charlie is a man of very high highs and v

S$#*t's about to get raw. Authentic. And real. Back by popular demand, Cro-Mags' frontman John Joseph– aka “Bloodclot” — returns to the podcast today to do what he does best – light fires, blow stuff up and burn the house down. All for the sake of getting people to wake up, expand consciousness and take control of our lives. Weaned from the ailing womb of Scorsese's Mean Streets, JJ is a true American original. Lower East Side thief, abuse survivor, drug dealer & brawling gutter rat reborn as spiritual warrior. CBGB Street Poet. Punk-ass Robin Hood. Plantpowered Ironman. Spiritual evangelist. A life story so astounding it echoes some demented amalgam of Bukowski, Hugh Selby, Jr., Jerry Stahl, Eckhart Tolle & Paramahansa Yogananda. Plus he can write. His tale of survival is so vividly depicted in his autobiography Evolution of a Cro-Magnon, it's currently being adapted into a movie. And July 2014 brings Harper Collins' wide release of his previously self-published (and currently out-of-print) cult hit Meat is

Third time's a charm. Show favorite Mishka Shubaly returns to the podcast today for round 3 to chat about addiction, sobriety, rock ‘n roll, ultrarunning, relationships, writing, creativity and his fantastic new Kindle Single, Beat The Devil. But mostly we talk about chasing dreams. The inherent force, value & gestalt of a dream. How much you are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of a dream, even when it constantly deludes and eludes you, undermining, derailing and even destroying other important aspects of your life. How to know whether the dream you seek is the right dream. And when — and if — it ever makes sense to abandon a dream that persistently fails to materialize. Mishka and I have a shorthand. A large percentage of our friendship has taken place on microphone, but there is a palpable sense that we have always been friends. And that's because — although our life experiences are very different — our mental & emotional points of reference share powerful common turf. Indeed, Mishka is my brother-from-anot

Now for something a little different. In celebration of our 1st year anniversary and the quickly approaching new year, I thought it would be fun to compile a “Best Of” edition of the show, with excerpts from some of the more popular interviews over the course of the past twelve months to create a year-end mashup episode. So Tyler, my son and esteemed podcast producer, audio engineer and musician (he writes, produces and arranges all the music for the show as well) rolled up his sleeves and went to work, spending hours culling through the best and the brightest of 2013 to create today's show – a full-length compendium of awesome, it's a veritable grab-bag cornucopia of amazing conversational clips edited together to create a complete show. Excerpted interviews include the following past guests, in chronological order: THE BEST OF THE RRP – 2013 * NutritionFacts.org Founder Dr. Michael Greger ( Episode 7 ) * Julie Piatt on New Year's Resolutions ( Episode 9 ) * Ironman World Champion Chris “Macca” McCormack ( E

This interview is like nothing you have heard before on this show. It will move you. It will inspire you. It will erase whatever obstacles and excuses you rely on that perpetuate bad habits, keep you stuck, and reinforce denial. By listening, my hope is that you will realize that no matter what your circumstances or environment, we all have the power to implement profound personal change beyond our collective imagination in miraculous and fantastic ways. A couple weeks ago, a guy called Josh LaJaunie tweeted me his before and after pictures, thanking me for helping him along his journey of total transformation. Bear in mind, I get many such images sent to me. I absolutely love this stuff – It's why I do what I do. But something about this post was different. The change was so astounding, my first thought was, “Can this be real?” The 400+ pound guy on the left bore almost no resemblance to the guy on the right, a super fit, super handsome young man running with a big smile on his face. And yet when I looked cl

Sometimes I feel like some kind of fringe conspiracy theorist. I didn't used to be this way, I promise. But the more I delve into how things work — truly work — the more amazed I am by what I discover. I don't care if you are vegan, locavore, pescatarian, paleo, primal, high-carb, low-carb, or slow-carb. Everyone deserves to be optimally informed when it comes to how our food is harvested, distributed and marketed. And yet, quite unfortunately, most consumers lack even a basic awareness of the dynamics at play, let alone a working understanding of the formidable economic protocols that function behind the production of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. It is incumbent upon all of us to take personal responsibility for educating ourselves about the economic machinations that dominate and drive our food system. Why? Because these forces affect all of us, irrespective of dietary preference. And because informed choice is power.  Today on the show I am pleased to introduce David Robinson Simon, attorney, advocate for

If you know my story, you know it involves a descent into alcoholism, followed by a hard fought battle to achieve and maintain sobriety. Recovery saved my life, straight up, no exaggeration. To this day it remains — and will always remain — my number one priority. I don't talk it about it often on the podcast, but I think it's an important subject to raise and discuss, particularly as we head into the holidays — an acutely perilous time for the millions who, alone, isolated and ashamed, privately battle these demons. Meet Khalil Rafati, founder of Sunlife Organics– friend, fellow recovery warrior and amazing living example of the profound resiliency of the human body, mind and spirit. Not only has Khalil overcome unimaginable obstacles to survive, he has defied all odds and miraculously repaired his life wholesale. A soul now devoted to the service of others, his primary focus on giving back what was so freely given him. Prepare to have your mind blown. Khalil's tale is nothing short of astounding. From the d

I've got news for you people. Like it or not, the holiday season is upon us. That special time of year when we tend to overeat, overspend and simply overindulge in everything across the board, all in the name of celebratory merriment. When we're not charging it on the card or spread paper thin desperately trying to fulfill all the expectations presented, we find ourselves weathering an unnatural battery of social engagements, not to mention the myriad of emotionally hyper-charged landmines presented by extended family get togethers. The result? A massive and unnatural outpouring of energy that leaves us utterly depleted — spit out the other side physically and emotionally exhausted to the core, all too often overweight and riddled with unnecessary debt. What if we could approach and experience the holiday season differently? What if we could revel in the pure joy of the season and emerge in January not just intact but truly enriched — optimistic, feeling great and energized for all the challenges and adventur

For fans of Ben Greenfield, this is Ben like you've never heard him before. For longtime listeners and fans of health & fitness podcasts, Ben Greenfield needs no introduction. Self-avowed training guinea pig, ardent nutrition student, accomplished multisport athlete, podcast host, blogger and health entrepreneur at Ben Greenfield Fitness and all around good dude. Ben and I have been acquainted for some years — but only through the internet. He was an early guest on this show ( RRP #11 ), I have guested on his podcast as well as his Endurance Planet podcast ( HERE ), we did a nutrition-oriented Spreecast with Vinnie Tortorich back in February ( HERE ) and he has written about my exploits a bit as well ( HERE ). And yet surprisingly, we had never met in person. So it was a pleasure to finally sit down with the guy one-on-one so we could dig a bit deeper. Skype interviews are great, but there is just no substitute for sitting across from someone when you want to have a proper chat. And this interview gets it don

After listening to this interview, you will never again rely on advancing age as an excuse for anything. Meet the unique force of nature known as Deborah Szekely — in so many ways, the Godmother of the Wellness Revolution, but also a tireless activist, philanthropist, writer, and friend of Presidents and Hollywood elite. At 91 years young, Deborah exudes the energy of someone 60 years her junior. In fact, I have met few people in my life that could match the drive, vision, commitment and boundless vitality she persistently demonstrates when it comes to improving the health and wellness of people across the globe. Let me paint the picture. Without Deborah, there is no Jack LaLanne. No 24-Hour Fitness, Gold's Gym, Equinox or Soul Cycle, let alone Canyon Ranch or Burke Williams day spas. In many ways, so much of what we take for granted as part of our daily health and fitness lifestyle experience can be specifically tracked back to the work Deborah and her husband Edmond started in the tiny village of Tecate, Me

Success isn't an accident – it happens by design. Today on the show I am pleased to host Dr. Jeff Spencer – life coach to Olympic champions and entrepreneurs and architect of a methodology he calls The Champions Blueprint – the good doctor's well researched and proven “crystal ball” process to unlock your internal personal power and unleash — and more importantly sustain — prolific peak performance, not to mention your best self. Break out your Moleskins people, because you are going to want to take copious notes. Class is in session! Whether on the playing field or in the board room, we often marvel at those few who seem able to effortlessly achieve — and again sustain — incredible results. I'm talking about people like Michael Jordan. Michael Phelps. Oprah Winfrey. And Richard Branson. Freaks of nature, right? Once in a lifetime talents that deserve our reverence, but simply cannot be emulated, let alone replicated. We all want this right? And yet it seems so elusive. A struggle that can seem impossible for

Let me be clear. Just because you are vegan does not mean you are eating a healthy diet. Today Julie and I sit down with the wonderful Chef AJ to talk about the enormous difference between a simple “animal product free” diet and a whole food plant-based diet. I knew AJ was an amazing plant-based chef. What I didn't know was her inspiring story of personal transformation. The story of an overweight, junk food vegan on the brink of serious health calamity who found salvation in the whole food plant-based lifestyle. Tune in and let her tell you how she overcame her food addictions to become the health advocate she is today. Her responses might surprise you. AJ is a kick in the pants. It was tons of fun chatting with her. I sincerely hope you enjoy the interview. And if you are in California and happen to stop in a Sharky's restaurant, ask for the AJ Burrito! Enjoy! Rich

Now for something a little different. Meet Adam Dole- a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow currently studying the various ways technology can improve our healthcare system. Adam leverages an expertise in human behavior and sociology to help technology improve lives. A rare and specific skill set that landed him a coveted gig at NASA problem solving Mars mission human transport issues and subsequently led to various entrepreneurial stints at Silicon Valley start ups. A developing interest in health and wellness then found Adam spearheading technology innovation for the Mayo Clinic, more specifically a project he conceptualized called Blue Button — a healthcare software application empowering consumer access to healthcare and medical record information. The White House took notice. And before he knew it, Adam found himself in Washington as part of the prestigious Presidential Innovation Fellow program. Under the direction of White House CTO Todd Park, Adam spends his days (at least before the government

All hail the running carrot! Today on the show I'm joined by my pal Matt Frazier, the guy behind the wildly successful NoMeatAthlete.com– website, podcast and roadmap series of downloadable tools — an absolute go to resource chock-a-block with information for runners and triathletes of all abilities looking to take their athletic & nutrition game to the next level. Matt founded NoMeatAthlete in 2009, about the same time he went vegetarian. Six months later, Matt qualified for the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:09:59 at the Wineglass Marathon, over 100 minutes faster than his first marathon time seven years prior. In June 2010, Matt ran his first 50-mile ultramarathon, recently completed his first 100-mile race and has run several more ultras and marathons each year since. What's great about Matt is his sincerity, authenticity, transparency and relatability. He's not a world-class athlete, just a friendly, smart and resourceful guy who started experimenting with running and diet and wanted to share what he w

Ask and ye shall receive. Today is Durianrider day on the podcast. And he has a message for you: Carb the f$%@ up! Aka Harley Johnstone, “Durianrider” is a self-avowed health vigilante committed to increasing public awareness of the benefits of a high carbohydrate, low-fat whole food plant-based lifestyle. A lifestyle modeled upon Doug Graham's book The 80/10/10 Diet*, or what is more commonly referred to as fruitarian — a dietary protocol based predominantly upon eating copious amounts of fruit. Let's just say it's not uncommon for Harley to proudly devour upwards of 70 bananas a day. In this regard, Harley is not alone. Although still on the fringe in terms of mainstream awareness and popularity, the 80/10/10 program is one that is gaining popularity (check out my podcast interviews with Michael Arnstein and Mac Danzig for more). But what distinguishes Harley from fellow healthy lifestyle advocates is his unique, personal style. Outspoken and unequivocal, Harley doesn't mince words. At times acerbic, and of