The Rich Roll Podcast

Our post-modern culture has largely dismissed faith and spirituality as a collective pursuit. But today’s guest has a different perspective. He argues that we need to find practical spiritual solutions to help humanity move forward. In other words, we need a total spiritual revolution—what he calls, a Soul Boom. Enter Rainn Wilson, the co-founder of the media company SoulPancake, co-host of the podcast Metaphysical Milkshake with Reza Azlan, and the author of the new book “Soul Boom: Why We Need A Spiritual Revolution”. Oh yeah, and he once played a character in a television show called 'The Office.' You might have heard of it. Today we discuss Rainn’s Bahá’í faith, his conception of the divine, the importance of finding meaning in life, the positives (and negatives) of religious belief, how to build a movement of change, finding the sacred in our everyday lives, and why the solutions to the existential problems we currently face require a spiritual revolution. This conversation is an equal parts fun and prof

Adolescence has always been a difficult phase of life, but today’s teenagers are navigating a world that is vastly different from any generation before them. From social media to cyberbullying, from political polarization to climate change, the challenges facing teenagers today are numerous and complex. So how do we equip teens emotionally with the tools they need to navigate our complex and ever-changing world? Here to help us answer this question is teen whisperer par excellence, Lisa Damour, PhD. Lisa is a Yale-educated psychotherapist with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan who specializes in education and child development. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers—the latter being the subject of today’s exchange. We explore the impact of social media on mental health, the pressure to succeed academically and professionally, and the struggles that come with trying to fit in and find a sense of bel

In this episode, I reflect on our evolving and complicated relationship with the digital world, the importance of logging off, investing in analog experience, and turning our attention instead to presence, growth, real connection, and bringing more conscious intentionality to our lives. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: InsideTracker:  insidetracker.com/RichRoll Squarespace: Squarespace.com/RichRoll  Native: nativedeo.com/rrp Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/richroll Peace + Plants, Rich

Senator Cory Booker is the former mayor of Newark, New Jersey, a 2020 presidential candidate, and currently a leading voice in the United States Senate. My conversation with Cory covers his path to public service, the divided nature of modern politics, how to lead by example with love and faith, and a topic that is near and dear to both of our hearts: food policy reform. Senator Booker has been fiercely advocating to reinvent our food systems to address food insecurity and rising rates of lifestyle disease incident to poor nutrition. He also calls out the many ills of factory farming, including soil depletion, climate degradation, species extinction, animal suffering, and food injustice—working tirelessly to ensure that every American has access to healthy, affordable food. Ultimately, this conversation is all about embracing the power we all possess to catalyze substantive change—and shouldering that responsibility to drive change within ourselves, in our communities, and even on a national level. It was a t

What does the advent of artificial intelligence portend for the future of humanity? Is it a tool, or a human replacement system? Today we dive deep into the philosophical queries centered on the implications of A.I. through a brand new format—an experiment in documentary-style storytelling in which we ask a big question, investigate that query with several experts, attempt to arrive at a reasoned conclusion, and hopefully entertain you along the way. My co-host for this adventure is Adam Skolnick, a veteran journalist, author of One Breath, and David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished co-author. Adam writes about adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: House of Macadamias: https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/richroll Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/richroll  ROKA:  http://www.roka.com/ Salomon: https://www.salomon.com/richroll Plant Po

We all face difficult experiences at some point in our lives: loss, grief, disappointment—feelings that can be overwhelming, confusing, and even paralyzing to confront. But what if we could transform our pain into something beautiful? What if we could use our creativity to process our emotions and, in turn, transmute them into something that speaks to others, serves as a communal salve, and illustrates that hope, help, and healing are possible? Today we explore the art of understanding, accepting, and processing emotion through the creative process with the incredibly talented actor, writer, director, and new friend, Zach Braff. Many of you may know Zach from the hit TV show 'Scrubs,' or his seminal directorial debut ‘Garden State’—a much-celebrated independent film he wrote, directed, and starred in alongside Natalie Portman. But today, we dive into the creative process behind Zach’s newest directorial effort, 'A Good Person,' a story about a young woman played by the eminently talented Florence Pugh whose w

Today we explore science-backed truths behind healthspan extension and healthy aging with Dr. Peter Attia. Peter is a graduate of Stanford School of Medicine, a former surgeon, and a world-renowned physician who has dedicated his life to understanding the science of human health and the art of living a longer, more fulfilling life. The occasion for Peter’s return is the publication of his new book, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity—a groundbreaking primer that challenges the conventional medical thinking on aging and reveals a new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health. Today’s conversation offers a short overview of all of the subjects covered in the book including the roles that exercise, nutrition, and sleep play in preventing or delaying the onset of the primary conditions that unnecessarily end most people’s lives too soon. But in large part, we focus on the story of Peter’s emotional health during a dark time and the critical role that emotional well-being plays in

Imagine running 2,500 miles across Australia, in some of the most brutal conditions on Earth, in under 50 days. This is the remarkable story of today’s guest Nedd Brockmann. A charismatic young electrician apprentice with a legendary bleach blonde mullet and world-class personality, at just 23 years old, Nedd audaciously set out to become the fastest person to ever run across his native Australia–4000km (2,500 miles) from Perth to Bondi Beach in Sydney. This is a phenomenal conversation in which we unpack Nedd’s extraordinary and inspiring journey. We cover why he got into running, how he progressed so quickly, and the intrinsic motivation behind his trans-Australia adventure. Nedd shares how he grapples with hardship—including his post-run PTSD. But more than anything, today’s conversation is about what we can all learn from his example when it comes to human potential and the power we all have to do amazing things when the mind, body, and spirit are dialed in. I loved getting to know him—and I know you will

What is our soul’s purpose here on planet earth? How do we catalyze experience into evolution? And how do we discover who we really are? To help us make sense of these important spiritual inquiries, enter Julie Piatt, otherwise summoned as the holy and ethereal Sri Mati. She is an accomplished yogi, musician, chef, and mom to our four children. She’s also the bestselling author of three vegan cookbooks, hosts the For The Life of Me podcast, lords over Water Tiger, her online spiritual community, and is the CEO and ‘Mother Arc’ of SriMu, the best plant-based cheese in the known universe. Julie has been a recurring source of spiritual wisdom on the podcast, dropping many a pearl over the years on everything from parenting and creativity to finding meaning, purpose, direction, grappling with love, grief, and everything in between. Today’s conversation centers on the ways we can all become more embodied, connected to the core of our beings, and find direction in our intuition. We talk about how to remove obstacle

What is consciousness? Where does it come from? What happens to consciousness when we die? And what is the nature of reality? It’s time to ask the big questions and tackle the hard problems that have perplexed humanity since the dawn of inquiry. Our guide for today’s journey is Philip Goff, PhD, a modern philosopher who has devoted his life to better understanding the qualities of reality. Philip is an associate professor of philosophy at Durham University who specializes in the nature of consciousness. He is a proponent of panpsychism—the controversial theory that everything material in our universe is imbued with some element of individual consciousness—which he beautifully captures in his fascinating book, Galileo's Error. This is a fascinating, awe-inspiring conversation about the science of mind, the nature of reality and consciousness, the meaning of the multiverse, artificial intelligence, and spirituality. A conversation that I must admit began to stretch past the boundary of my intellectual capabilit

What does it mean to be a good man? Furthermore, how do we combat toxic masculinity? And how do we find purpose in aging? Today we explore these topics and more with the world’s first male supermodel, John Pearson. John is a pioneer of the male modeling profession, and was the most sought-after male model through the 1990s, the face for some of the world’s biggest brands. But John is here today not so much because of his past—although it’s incredibly fascinating—but because of the very unique life he lives today. We discuss his wild career and the ways it has impacted his perspective on art, culture, the power of an image, and the modern world of influence. We also dive into his philosophy on parenting, mental health, and modeling healthy masculinity—themes that underscore his very cool lifestyle and self-improvement digital magazine, Mr. Feel Good. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube.  Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Athletic Greens: https://www.athleticgreens.com/richroll Squarespace: Squarespace.com/

We all want to find peace. We all want to experience contentment. And most of all, we all want to be happy. So why are these states so elusive? From reducing stress and anxiety to improving immune function and sleep quality, meditation has been shown to positively impact our brain and body. But in this fast-paced, hyper-connected world, most people often struggle to find the time or the motivation to meditate. But, the reality is that meditation need not be a burden, but rather a way of life that can be seamlessly integrated into our daily routine. From learning how to cultivate a daily practice to exploring the neuroscience behind the benefits of meditation, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice guaranteed to inform and enlighten the novice and the seasoned meditator. My hope is that you use this compilation episode as an inspiration and jumping-off point for further inquiry and, an ever-deepening practice. Show notes + MORE Watch on Youtube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors:

Meet ultra-legend Mike Wardian. From running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents to running across America, Mike has accomplished a staggering amount as a runner over the years. He holds FKTs all over the globe from D.C. to Israel, and won a 100k world championship silver medal. And he’s done all of this while holding a full-time day job and spending time with his wife and young children. In today’s conversation, we dive deep into Mike’s unique relationship with running, setting his world records, his experience running across America, and how he balances all of his athletic accomplishments with his responsibilities. We also talk about how his hobbies, like pickleball, chess, cycling, and CrossFit, complement his endurance training. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Seed: seed.com/RICHROLL Thesis: takethesis.com/RICHROLL Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/richroll BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/richroll ROKA:  roka.com Peace + Plants, Rich

Robert McKee is a modern Aristotle of story and master of the form who wrote the definitive book on the subject, called, of course, STORY. Robert is a Fulbright scholar and the author of five books on storytelling, including Dialogue, Character, Action, and Storynomics, but he is best known as the most sought-after screenwriting teacher in the world. His students have collectively won 70 Academy Awards, 250 Emmy Awards, and 100 WGA (Writers Guild of America) Awards. My conversation with Robert centered on his philosophy of story, what stories are, why they’re important for humanity and so much more. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Squarespace: Squarespace.com/RichRoll  Peace + Plants, Rich

Welcome to the 2023 season premiere of ‘Roll On’, the version of the podcast where we indulge in some good-natured banter and ramble on matters of interest across culture, sports, politics, literature, art, self-betterment, and more. My co-host is Mr. Adam Skolnick, an activist, veteran journalist, author of One Breath, and David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished co-author. Adam writes about adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. Today Rich and Adam talk about the new ‘Roll On’ format, share their streaming selects, answer listener questions, and more. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/richroll  Native: nativedeo.com/rrp Calm: calm.com/richroll Birch Living: birchiving.com/richroll Indeed: Indeed.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich

Meet legendary big wave king Garrett McNamara. Garrett is an internationally recognized big wave surfer who commanded global attention by surfing one of the world’s largest waves in Nazaré, Portugal, and popularizing Nazaré’s now famous surf break. He has also accomplished a myriad of other absolutely insane surfing feats like surfing waves generated by a 300ft glacier in Alaska, giant barrels breaking on shallow, jagged reefs, and on massive, open ocean hurricane swells. We dive into Garrett’s background—how he began surfing, his 100-foot wave quest, and the docu-series that captured it all. As an added bonus, Garrett’s wife Nicole—absolutely his partner in all things—joins the conversation at the end to enlighten us on the manifestation spiritual practice she and Garrett utilize to guide their decision-making and execute their goals. Garrett is he’s quite a character, truly one of a kind. My exchange with him and Nicole is one I won’t soon forget. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Toda

Today’s guest has dedicated his life to answering these questions with actionable, sustainable solutions. Meet the world’s most influential living philosopher, Peter Singer. The grandfather of both the modern animal rights and effective altruism movements, Peter is a Professor of Bioethics at Princeton and a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne, who has published several books on our moral responsibility to alleviate suffering. Since its original publication in 1975, his groundbreaking work "Animal Liberation" has awakened millions of people to the existence of speciesism—our systematic disregard of nonhuman animals—inspiring a worldwide movement to transform our attitudes to animals and eliminate the cruelty we inflict on them. His book "The Life You Can Save" and the nonprofit organization of the same name focus on how we should respond to extreme poverty and how doing good for others can bring fulfillment to your own life. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsor

Here to wax poetic on all things creativity, battling resistance, and answering your calling is wise master of the creative process Steven Pressfield, returning for his second appearance on the show (his first being episode #584). Steven is a prolific writer and thinker known for his profound insights into the creative process and the psychology of success. He has over 20 books to his name, and his works The War of Art, Do The Work, and Turning Pro have inspired and motivated millions of readers worldwide to embrace their creative compulsions and pursue their dreams with conviction and determination. Packed with actionable advice to inform your creative process, I have no doubt that Steven’s words will serve you no matter where you are on your creative journey. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Peace + Plants, Rich

A force of nature, Chef Babette is the chef and owner of Stuff I Eat, a plant-based restaurant in Inglewood, California. After weathering an extremely challenging childhood, years addicted to drugs and processed foods, and suffering from a myriad of health issues, Babette managed to get clean and transform her life wholesale. From going plant-based in her 40’s, to starting a restaurant in her 50’s despite no experience, to becoming the very model of fit and radiant at 72 years young, Babette is a living testament to all late bloomers that it’s never too late to change. This conversation is about all that and more. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: House of Macadamias: https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/ Salomon: https://www.salomon.com/richroll Athletic Greens: https://www.athleticgreens.com/richroll Express VPN: https://www.expressvpn.com/RICHROLL Voicing Change II: bit.ly/voicingchangeII Peace + Plants, Rich

An absolute icon of modern music whose influence on culture has been nothing short of titanic, Rick Rubin is one of the greatest music producers of all time, noted for his unique—and some might say counter-intuitive—way in which he is able to help manifest the absolute best in every artist he works with. But lesser appreciated is Rick’s spiritual approach to artistry, explored in his newly released and completely transformative book, The Creative Act, which is all about cultivating the innate creativity that dwells within all of us. But more than that, creativity is a way of moving through the world. Enjoy. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Seed: seed.com/RICHROLL Calm: calm.com/richroll Momentous: LiveMomentous.com/richroll Squarespace: Squarespace.com/RichRoll  Thesis: takethesis.com/RICHROLL Peace + Plants, Rich