Today, I’m talking with Sudeep Krishna and Purav Gandhi, authors of “Lead From The Front: Tales of the Indian Military”. India might be the country of my birth, but I’ll be the first to say that I don’t know the place that well. But what I can tell you is that it’s a complex country with state and national struggles rooted in caste, religion, and poverty. It also is a nuclear power with  decades of conflict against neighboring countries. I always thought my service in the American military would make it harder to relate to my Indian roots, but the opposite is actually true. My time in Afghanistan has made it easier to understand the country and the tremendous opportunity that the next generation of Indians has ahead of them. The book “Lead From the Front” showcases incredible acts of modern day heroism from another nation’s military in conflicts with their borders. It was a powerful read. 

Today we’re speaking Eric Orton about the book Born To Run by Chris McDougall. Eric is actually featured in the book in a major way. He’s a world renowned endurance athlete and coach who was with Chris through much of his journey discovering minimalist running, and the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico: the tribe which inspired the thesis of the book: that human beings are born distance runners. And that the modern shoe industry has made our most valuable work tool—our feet—weaker and less capable. The direction of choice for the future of athletics is not more features and tools around our feet. But less. Eric recently co-authored the Sequel—Born to Run 2—with Chris McDougall, it’s a coaching guide to help athletes incorporate the lessons learned from Born to Run. He’s also the author of the Cool Impossible, an incredible book for athletic ambition. 

Let's chat about Tim Urban's "What's Our Problem"; Mckay Coppins "Romney", and the passing of country legend Toby Keith. There's a punchline in there worth a moment of pause.

As dry January comes to an end in 2024, how should we reconsider our relationship with alcohol? I speak with my friend Jess Britt on our respective journeys to mocktails. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse, you should consider reaching out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357  for resources in your area. 

A review of the book "Ear Hustle" and 2024 reading tips

Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org returns to discuss healthy aging with diet & lifestyle. I'm also joined by Roy Langdell, my neighbor, and my role model for a life well lived.

Charlie Engle is a world renowned endurance and adventure athlete, known for incredible accomplishments like running across the Sahara Desert, and winning numerous ultra marathons. But his story is so much deeper. It's a story of addiction, prison, the unfairness of the justice system and the financial crisis...but most of all, it's a story of redemption and the human spirit. I loved this book, and highly recommend it to all my listeners. Charlie is a good man doing good work, I'm proud to share this interview with you.

Two books on vital technologies, providing us Mutually Assured Destruction and Individually Designed Creation. Take a moment to listen to our takeaways from American Prometheus & The Code Breaker.

Lisa Sun is a former management consultant turned fashion entrepreneur who wants to change the way we talk about confidence in the workplace. She combines the savvy of a seasoned operator with the rigor of a research professional in understanding what gives someone "Gravitas".

Free Solo, The Dawn Wall, Meru and the barrage of climbing documentaries continue to captivate audiences around the world. The books on which the documentaries are based thrilled me even more. In this episode, I speak with professional climber Augy Cohn about how the new wave of interest in rock climbing has affected the sport.