Align Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rafael Lovato Jr: Philosophy of Fighting & Mastering the Art of Peace | EP 374 Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

What's the difference between a fighter and a true martial artist? How does an MMA champion deal with a career-ending diagnosis?

In this episode, I'm joined by International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Champion and Professional MMA Fighter Rafael Lovato Jr. We talk about the events leading to his brain disorder diagnosis and how it propelled him to power through what he calls the "pinnacle challenge" of his martial arts journey.

Here, he reveals more details on his disorder, his secrets to defeating his opponents, what separates a martial artist from a fighter, and why we shouldn't train only to win but to continuously learn. Also, we reflect on the meaning of success and death and how martial arts teaches us the art of letting go – a skill that will save us from life’s most difficult moments.

What we discuss:

00:00 - Introduction to Rafael Lovato Jr.

1:00 - His childhood, first losses, first wins, & what success means

4:00 - The life-changing diagnosis

10:40 - How he used his diagnosis to fuel his drive to win

16:00 - What martial arts can teach us about the power of letting go

21:30 - What retirement taught him about life & relationships

26:00 - How to win a fight by detaching yourself from your emotions

30:00 - The marks of a true martial artist

35:00 - Rafael reacts to Morihei Ueshiba quotes

48:00 - Secrets to becoming a world champion & a better human being

53:00 - Why you should practice martial arts

Learn more from Rafael Lovato Jr.:

Website: https://okbjj.com/

Instagram: @lovatojrbjj

Related Links:

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Knees Over Toes Guy | The #1 Exercise You MUST Be Doing That You're Probably NOT! |EP 373 Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

What if the solution to your chronic knee pain lies in how you exercise the often-neglected body parts, like your toes, feet, and ankles Whatever pain you're going through, there's always someone who can offer the tools for your own breakthrough. Ben Patrick (known online as "Knees Over Toes Guy"), the founder and CEO of Athletic Truth Group (ATG), worshipped basketball since he was a kid, but at 9 years old, chronic knee problems started crushing his dreams…or so he thought.

By 18, he had 3 surgical knee alterations and decided to quit basketball. Driven to heal himself naturally, Ben experimented with unorthodox methods and was introduced to Charles Poliquin's "knees over toes" training techniques - something prohibited in college sports. Despite criticisms, Ben kept doing his training and regained his athleticism. At 21, he was offered a full-ride basketball scholarship and transformed his basketball career. Not long after, Ben needed to let go of a full-ride D1 scholarship because of NCAA eligibility rules. Not to mention his strength coach then was against his knees over toes training, too.

Now in his 30s, Ben has a record-breaking 42-inch vertical jump even elite NBA players find hard to top. On a mission to educate people and alleviate the epidemic of knee surgeries, he spends countless hours producing free content and designing programs based on the knees over toes approach. Ben's methods focus on transforming one's athleticism by strengthening the body from the ground up, which means re-integrating the toes, feet, ankles, and the anterior tibialis. He explains why we need to practice walking backward and reveals the secrets to pain-free knees by doing backward sled drags and split squats.

Our conversation gets more personal as Ben reveals the driving force behind his epic wins and how he deals with pain and failures. He also looks back on his battle with depression and painkiller addiction and shares the most important lesson he learned from it.

What we discuss:

00:00 - Introduction to Ben Patrick

4:00 - What does "knees over toes" training mean?

8:50 - Reversing pain through manual therapy

13:00 - Exercises to banish your knee pain & reveal your weak spots

16:20 - What split squats are for & why you need to work on your anterior tibialis

18:15 - How to drastically improve your vertical leap & dunk like the world's top jumpers

20:00 - How to relieve tight hip flexors + Glute workout that’s perfect for the elderly

22:20 - No-nonsense tips to staying driven & motivated

27:00 - The "Sled" Metaphor: How to find light in your life's darkest moments

31:00 - Debunking popular myths about movement & sports training

33:50 - Why you need both strength & flexibility in sports & life

36:20 - Training advice for athletes & sports enthusiasts

Learn more from Ben Patrick:

Website: www.atgonlinecoaching.com/

Youtube: TheKneesovertoesguy

Instagram: @kneesovertoesguy

Book: “ATG For Life” by Ben Patrick

Related Links:

The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!

Pre-order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook

.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount

drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE

magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wellness Mama: Are Your Household Products Making You Fat, Depressed & Infertile? | EP 372 Jan 21, 2022

Show notes

Did you know that you're exposed to over a hundred harmful chemicals daily? Ironically, some of these potentially toxic chemicals lurk in your "self-care" products. In this episode of the Align Podcast, Katie Wells and I go deep into the endocrine-disrupting effects of plastic chemical exposure from some of your everyday essentials, specifically oral and hair care products and deodorizers.

"What goes on your skin goes into your body," Katie says as she explains how you can nourish your body by from the outside in by being extra conscious of what you put on your skin and hair. There are always better options than the overmarketed products you’re manipulated to buy, and she shares where and how you can naturally source them.

Our conversation gets vulnerable as Katie opens up about her issues with weight and body image that stem from a deep emotional trauma. She claims that successfully losing 100lbs in 6 months isn't just about sticking to a workout routine; it's about revisiting her past wounds and choosing to heal from them, no matter what it takes.

Katie Wells is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and a mom of six. She’s the host of the podcast “Wellness Mama” and the founder and CEO of Wellnesse. With her background in research, journalism, and nutrition, she teams up with medical advisors to find answers to essential health problems and help women and moms live a healthier life.

If want to live a more eco-conscious and purposeful life for you and your family but can’t commit to it, this episode will make you realize it’s easier than you think.

What we discuss:

0:00 – Introduction to Katie Wells

3:00 – On learning comedy: "It's like playing a mental chess"

5:00 – The endocrine-disruptors lurking everywhere in your home

12:05 – Simple tips for minimizing plastic use and toxin exposure

17:00 – How your skin and hair products affect your overall health

24:00 – Why keeping your microbiome healthy isn’t as expensive as you expect

30:00 – Why weight loss involves trauma work

35:00 – The root of her body and weight issues + how she overcame them

44:00 – Practical tips for becoming a healthier human

53:00 – Katie’s advice: Be your own primary healthcare provider; take responsibility for your own health.

Learn more from Katie Wells:

Websites: wellnessmama.com wellnesse.com

Instagram: @wellnessmama

Katie Wells’ books: wellnessmama.com/books

Related Links:

The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!

Pre-order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook

.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount

drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE

magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10%.

neurohacker.com/qualia-mind and use AARON during checkout to save 15%

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Stacy Sims: Menstrual Cycles - Craving Carbs, Ovulation, Sex on Your Period and Training Recommendations | EP 371 Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

What does it mean to train like a woman? How does women’s menstrual cycle affect athletic training and performance?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I’m honored to host one of the world’s leading experts in female physiology and sports nutrition, Dr. Stacy Sims. We have an awakening conversation on the power of tracking women’s menstrual cycles not only for optimal sports training and performance, but also for a deeper understanding of what women have to consistently go through.

Arguing that sports and fitness science is designed from a cis-male’s perspective, Dr. Stacy lays out the complexities of female physiology and why it merits a whole different approach. She explains how to track menstrual cycles so women can plan their own training based on their cycle metrics. Knowing these patterns allows women and coaches to leverage hormonal changes and identify the best days for steady-state work, high-intensity session, and recovery period.

Plus, Dr. Stacy shares what trainings can be done during high-hormone and low-hormone phases, the best food to eat during each phase, and essential training advice for young girls. She also debunks popular myths around menstrual cycles: Does ovulation predispose women to ACL injuries? Is having sex really a no-no during red days?

Dr. Stacy Sims is an Environmental Exercise Physiologist and Nutrition Scientist specializing in gender differences. She’s also an innovator, entrepreneur, and author.

What we discuss:

0:00 – Introduction to Dr. Stacy Sims

6:00 – Gender bias in sports training & other reasons she studied female physiology

10:00 – What causes menstrual cycles?

18:00 – Low-hormone phase + why women need more protein than men

23:10 – Ovulation + why women crave carbohydrates on their period

30:00 – Most important lessons from her years of research & experience

32:30 – Debunking myths: Are women more likely to tear their ACL on their period?

44:30 – Training recommendation during the luteal phase

47:30 – Debunking myths: can women have sex on their period?

50:00 – How sexual contraception affects athletic training & performance

58:00 – Dealing with irregular cycles & amenorrhea among athletes

Learn more from Dr. Stacy Sims:

Website: www.drstacysims.com

Instagram: @drstacysims

Books: www.drstacysims.com/booksandmore

Related links:

The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!

Pre-order here: https://www.alignpodcast.com/alignbook.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SOLO: Relieve Shoulder Pain and Increase Mobility | EP 370 Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to a special solo episode of the Align Podcast, something that is few and far between! I dive into a chapter from my newly revised and expand book: The Align Method, speaking about why our bodies our so compressed and what we can do to fix it. A key distinction between human beings and other mammals is our capacity to walk upright on two feet. The story becomes extra interesting when you ask, “What the heck were we doing before that?” It's a great question and one I explore in this episode. Essentially, we have gotten so far from our ancestral way of life and it has trigger misalignment throughout our entire body. In this episode, you can find solutions on how to successfully decompress your body, ease your pain and discomfort, feel more confident and live a more aligned life.

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Chris Williamson: Impending Threat of a Sexless Culture, Incels and Infertility | EP 369 Jan 07, 2022

Show notes

As the new year unfolds, do you feel more pressure to fully live your purpose? But what if your purpose remains unclear to you?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I'm joined by Youtuber, Podcaster, and polymath Chris Williamson. He's the creator and host of "Modern Wisdom" where he interviews some of the brightest minds on the planet to explore different topics on human nature, philosophy, health, fitness, and many more.

Chris admits feeling like an outsider his whole life, which helped forge his exceptional perceptive qualities that led to his huge commercial success as a club promoter. But, for Chris, we're more than what we do. He goes on to discuss the key to finding your purpose, how to make sense of your suffering, and one of the most bewildering topics of all…modern dating. He explains why more men and women struggle to find a partner nowadays and how balancing the feminine and masculine energies can solve it.

What we discuss:

0:00 – Introduction to Chris Williamson

2:30 – How dogs can help you live longer

7:09 – Intrinsic focus Vs. Extrinsic focus

13:30 – Is there a cheat code to finding love?

17:30 – How to reframe your negative experiences

21:40 – Why curiosity is also a desire to be understood

32:00 – How to transcend your suffering

38:40 – Finding and questioning your purpose

42:00 – The most attractive quality in a person

46:00 – Is a high-agency partner good for you?

55:00 – On modern dating: Problematic relationship advice you need to rethink

1:02:00 – Balancing the feminine and masculine energies to solve the chaos of modern dating

Learn more from Chris Williamson:

Website: https://chriswillx.com/

Instagram: @chriswillx

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Katy Bowman: The Movement Diet & Why It Matters | EP 368 Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

Did you know that your body needs movement as much as you need food?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, biomechanist and movement guru Katy Bowman explains what human movement truly means, why it affects your quality of life, and how to get yourself to move more often and effectively in a sedentary world that offers limitless reasons to sit on hours.

What's really interesting to know is that it's not enough that you exercise or move your body once in a while; Katy says you should be moving in ways that optimize ALL parts of your body. Yes, there's actually a "dosage" of movement required for different body parts. It seems complex, but it's totally achievable if you introduce even small changes in your routine.

Whether you're working in front of the computer or glued to the TV screen, there are easy ways you can secure that daily dose of healthy movement. Learn more as Katy and I delve deep into that in this educational talk.

Aside from writing the best-selling "Move Your DNA" along with 7 other books, multi-awarded leader Katy Bowman teaches movement globally through her movement education company, Nutritious Movement. Her work has been featured in diverse media including The Today Show, CBC Radio One, The Seattle Times, and Good Housekeeping. She’s one of the most influential thinkers whose work continues to amaze and inspire me.

What we discuss:

2:50 – What is movement, and how to know if you're "under moved"

8:00 – Pelvic Floor biomechanics, and the “movement dosage” your body parts need

13:40 – How to incorporate movement even if you’re just sitting

16:50 – Why you need to go out more often and look at things from a distance

24:00 – Katy’s book reco: The Wizard and the Prophet

36:15 – “The body is a renewable resource through movement.”

41:00 – Tensegrity beyond the skeletal system: How your perception of the world shapes your body and life

46:11 – How to be more active individuals in a sedentary world

49:00 – Movement as Nutrition: Why "Move Your DNA" is worth the read

Learn more from Katy Bowman:

Website: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/

Instagram: @nutritiousmovement

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Michele Graglia: What really happened with David Goggins | EP 367 Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

Do you want to pursue greater things but can't find the courage to leave your comfort zone?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, top ultra marathoner and world-record holder Michele Graglia shares empowering insights that will get you off the couch and start running towards your highest dreams.

His unimaginable wins are plastered in various websites but, in this rare interview, Michele reveals why competition ruins the essence of ultra running, what sets his mindset apart from other ultramarathoners, and how to overcome your ego-centric tendencies that keep you from growing into a better version of yourself.

From getting high on the addictive supermodel lifestyle at age 24 to feeling the unbearable existential void at 27, Michele found an escape in the world's most inhospitable places: ice mountains and torrid deserts. His pivot from the limelight set him off to epic adventures that test the limits of human potential. Giving his all to run extreme distances in extreme conditions, he has conquered both the scalding canyons of Death Valley and the sub-zero Yukon region. Amid the COVID pandemic, he won the 2020 Moab 240 Endurance Run, a death-defying 240-mile foot race through some of Utah’s most challenging terrains.

It seems insane to give up fame, fortune, and comfort for intense mental and physical pain, suffering, and despair, but Michele believes it’s necessary. “We can all transcend our perceived limitations to grow as a person,” he remarks. If you feel trapped in your current situation and struggling to break free from your comfort zone, this episode is perfect for you.

What we discuss:

3:15 - What made him leave the luxurious modeling world for ultra running?

6:00 - Why ultra running is about self-exploration, not competition

8:30 - On beating world-renowned ultramarathoner David Goggins in a race

13:50 - What mind and body transcendence is, and why running a race is an spiritual pursuit

20:08 - How your ego keeps you from achieving greatness

22:35 - Michele's realizations after his confrontation with David Goggins

38:04 - How your ego makes you do stupid things

45:00 - Why life is an endless pursuit of self-discovery

51:50 - Tips to preparing for a big race

57:15 – Ultra Running Diet: Optimized Fat Metabolism (OFM) diet, ketosis, or veganism?

Learn more from Michele Graglia:

Website: https://michelegraglia.com/

Instagram: @mickeygraglia

Related Link:

www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount

drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE

www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.

Leave a review of the podcast and get a chance to win exciting prizes!

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Patrick McKeown: Live Better by Breathing Less | EP 366 Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

Is there such a thing as breathing too much? Yes! And if you’re doing it through your mouth, that’s much worse.

In this latest episode of the Align Podcast, world-renowned breathing expert Patrick McKeown explains why you should stop breathing through your mouth and start taking slow, light breaths through your nose. One huge reason for this is that nasal breathing will drastically improve your sleep, attention and memory, calm your mind, and reduce your stress almost instantly.

Do you notice how anxiety makes your breathing fast and shallow, which only reinforces your suffering? That's mostly because of dysfunctional breathing patterns you’re not even aware of.

Here, Patrick gives tips on how to stay calm and collected in stressful situations by controlling our breath. His focus is not in deep breaths but in the gaps between those breaths. Also, we cover the healing effects of nasal breathing on COVID and asthma patients, the dangers of mouth breathing in kids, and how tongue posture affects your gait and appearance.

Patrick McKeown is a best-selling author and leading expert on the topic of optimal breathing for improved health and fitness. He has written 8 books, including top sellers "Close Your Mouth" and "Asthma Free Naturally". His latest book, "Atomic Focus,” is packed with science-proven breathing techniques that help people achieve the highest level of focus they need to succeed.

What we discuss:

6:00 - The secret to staying calm in stressful situations lies in your breath

12:30 - The harmful effects of mouth breathing in children

23:00 - Why solving the mental health crisis starts with addressing sleep disordered breathing

30:00 - Stimulate your vagus nerve through this breathing technique

35:30 - 6 Tongue Exercises to boost brain function

44:15 - Why you should start breathing less and slow, not fast and shallow

50:43 - How nasal breathing improves your focus and memory

53:40 - Self-actualization begins with deep sleep and correct breathing patterns

56:00 - Microcosmic Orbit: Harnessing strength and energy from your tongue

59:00 - How are your tongue position, gait, and posture related?

Learn more from Patrick McKeown:

Websites:

https://oxygenadvantage.com/

https://buteykoclinic.com/

Instagram: @oxygenadvantage, @buteykoclinic

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tamar Geller: Debunking Popular Myths About Dogs, Unconditional Love, and Relationships | EP 365 Dec 10, 2021

Show notes

Ever wonder how you can show up better in your relationships? Your dog has the answers!

On this episode of the Align Podcast, Tamar Geller shares how she believes that our dogs are in our life to teach us how to show up for a relationship. In other words, she considers them to be our training wheels as we learn how to develop better relationships in our lives with ourselves and others.

Tamar Geller is a New York Times bestselling author and as OPRAH says “A Life Coach for Dogs and their People”. Known for her mindful, fun, innovative and effective methods, her enthusiasm revolutionized the way dog training is done. She doesn’t believe in giving commands to a dog, instead she prefers to teach them the life skills that allow them to self-regulate and make better decisions.

To learn more about Tamar:

Website: theloveddog.com

Instagram: @theloveddog

Related links:

www.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount

eatonhemp.com/align and use ALIGN code during checkout to save 20 percent

www.magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10 percent.

Leave a review of the podcast and get a chance to win exciting prizes from Eaton Hemp and BiOptimizers!

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