The Training You’re Missing That Prevents Age-Related Decline

Quick: What’s the leading cause of injury and death among Americans over age 65? Heart attack? Stroke? It’s actually falling—and specifically, the adverse health consequences that can follow a fall. There are 14 million falls a year among Americans over age 65, including 3 million hospitalizations. And disturbingly, somewhere around one-quarter to one-third of those who fall and break a hip are dead within a year. In this episode, I explain the physical attribute that can make the difference between catching yourself during a fall and suffering a life-altering injury: explosive muscle power, which is almost completely ignored in mainstream fitness programming. You’ll learn why being strong isn’t necessarily the same as being powerful, why dynopenia (the age-related loss of muscle power and explosiveness) may be even more dangerous than sarcopenia (the loss of muscle mass), and why traditional endurance training and even many HIIT workouts aren’t developing the fast-twitch muscle fibers we need. I explain the benefits of true sprint training: brief, all-out efforts followed by extensive recovery, and how you can get started with low-impact options like stationary bike sprints, rowing, and even simple exercises like standing up from a chair as fast as you can. As I explain, nobody accidentally trains a high rate of force development when they’re walking to the mailbox, but you can accidentally train your aerobic system every single day. Ultimately, we need to become good sprinters as well as good endurance creatures.    LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $350 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if running one lap around the track could reveal more about your longevity potential than any other fitness test? The 400-meter run is known in track and field as the “race of truth,” challenging your fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers, aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, and your ability to maintain your technique as fatigue sets in. I revere it as the single best longevity marker known. In this episode, I explain why mainstream fitness programming emphasizes aerobic conditioning while often neglecting the speed, power, and explosiveness that decline much more rapidly with age. I also discuss research linking mile-run performance at age 50 with the potential to reach 80 in good health, and share my age-graded 400-meter chart, which lets you compare your time with performance standards for your age, all the way to 100.   TIMESTAMPS: The nickname for the 400 meter run is the Race of Truth. That is one lap around the typical track. [01:01] For the first seven seonds you are running on stored phosphocreatine which is the energy stored directly inside the muscle cell that exhausts quickly. [03;24] Thje enxt phase is called anaerobic glycolysis that is burning sugar glycolysis without oxygen. [04:27] The 400 is an all out examination for all the energy systems, not just a very narrow sliver of your fitness capabilities [07:50] Humans are the greateast endurance creatures on earth. [10:24] Brad contends that tracking your performance in the 400 meters reveals more about fitness and longevity potential than any other fitness or even medical marker. [11:17] Brad explains how to analyze your performance on the chart on his website: "Age-Graded Longevity Performance Standards" [13:30] One can expect about a 6% decline per decade. [18:12]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Age-Graded Longevity Performance Standards   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $350  on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for some more Bradsplaining! These are short episodes inspired by longer, full-length episodes that I have on the B.rad Podcast, so if you want a little quick hit, maybe it will interest and intrigue you to listen to a longer show on the same subject—that’s the idea.  In this episode, I’m talking about sleep and why it comes first on the list of health objectives—everything else flows downstream from getting optimal sleep. That’s nothing new or revelatory, but I see a lot of people paying lip service to the importance of sleep, and then these habits leak into the picture, especially when it comes to interacting with screen technology as the evening comes to an end. In this show, you will hear about how you can easily create a nice transition from a waking state to a good night’s sleep, why I’ve found that I need about nine hours a night, and the simple habits that can help you awaken refreshed and energized in the morning. From minimizing artificial light and digital stimulation to keeping your bedroom cool and getting direct morning light, these are some of the strategies that can help you put your sleep habits first and set yourself up for a good night’s sleep.   TIMESTAMPS: Getting optimal sleep is the number one objective you should have for health and longevity goals. People differ in what their body requires of sleep. [01:14] You want to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and energized.  It starts with sensible evening habits that help set up that transition to you sleep environment. [04:06] Red light ambience in your bedroom is so much better than the white light color you get from light bulbs or the blue from screen. [06:15] Try taking an evening walk before bed or acquire a cooling mattress. Your body likes to be cool before sleep. [07:54] Our digestive circadian rhythm gets thrown off if we eat too close to bed time. [09:35] Your bedroom should be stress free.  No work desk piled with "to do" jobs.  TV should be enjoyed elsewhere in the house, not the bedroom. [10:53] It is important to sleep in a cool room, keeping cozy warm with pajamas or blankets. [12:53] Align you circadian rhythm by waking at sunrise. [18:20]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $350 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a new series on the B.rad Podcast called “Bradsplaining,” where I provide tips, insights, and commentary on distinct subjects, giving you shorter episodes with actionable insights and takeaways. The first episode explains why I quit jogging after 40 years—and why you might want to, too. I was an extreme endurance machine from ages 15 to 55, but today I am a sprinter and a high jumper in the 60+ age division of Masters Track & Field. This is quite an unusual athletic transformation, as I’ve gone from competing in events lasting nearly nine hours to participating in events that last just a few seconds. As you’ll hear, I was completely immersed in the endurance training lifestyle from ages 15 to 30. I basically spent my life eating, training, and sleeping, and was actually asleep for half of my career! In this show, I explain why I quit endurance training in the hopes that it will help broaden your perspective on what it means to be fit for life, especially if your fitness pursuits currently skew toward endurance (which is what the vast majority of fitness enthusiasts are doing). I also reveal the worst-kept secret of the mainstream fitness scene, why the vast majority of runners should not be running, the importance of rejecting the struggle-and-suffer mentality, and how to introduce true sprinting into your training.   TIMESTAMPS: Brad explains why he quit endurance training after 40 years and maybe you should consider it. [01:01] Chronic cardio is a pattern of steady state cardiovascular workouts that are stressful and cause injury. [06:20] True sprinting is a very brief all out anaerobic effort using the fast twitch muscle fibers. [09:38] It is not that easy to reject our long ingrained habit patterns and cultural programming toward the no pain, no gain philosophy. [12:51] Move frequently at a slow pace, lift heavy things and sprint once in a while. [15:00]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Podcast with Mark Sisson Dr. Doug McGuff   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $350 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, I'm taking you through my latest blood testing with Vitals Vault and sharing the biomarkers I pay the most attention to for health and performance. I explain why I track triglycerides-to-HDL ratio, fasting insulin, vitamin D, and especially testosterone, free testosterone, and SHBG—and why I've tested my testosterone about 30 times over the past six years. I also break down how training stress can affect testosterone, why chronic cardio can work against testosterone optimization, and the lifestyle factors I focus on to keep my levels in a healthy range. Plus, I explain why total testosterone, free testosterone, and SHBG all matter—and share one surprising factor that can affect testosterone and longevity: your love relationship!   TIMESTAMPS: Brad talks about the ease and importance of getting blood analysis regularly to maintain your health. [01:01] Triglycerides should be under 100 and you usually have to request fasting insulin and Vitamin D. Also important is the overall sex hormone level. [04:34] If you're metabolically unhealthy and you're carrying around visceral fat, and you take outside testosterone, you are likely to aromatize that extra testosterone, and that means converting it into estrogen. [07:30] Sleep is a great way to elevate the testosterone level. You have to get the junk food out of your diet. Make sure your exercise is in the best way.  Chronic cardio is known to tank testosterone. [11:49]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Vitals Vault   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $350 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I made a post the other day stating that people over 50 should be banned from running marathons, and was greatly amused to see all the savage, critical comments coming back at me. Fair points made by those of you who are thriving in the endurance community, but what I am really talking about is the inherently stressful nature of training for extreme endurance events, like marathons and IronMan. Many people can be drawn into this deeply committed community, and end up training in an inappropriate and overly stressful manner, leading to breakdown, burnout, illness, and injury. I’ve heard enough from the folks at the front of the pack with their longevity badges and chips, but what I am concerned about is the people who are burning out, even though they are engaging in well-intentioned exercise. Furthermore, when you dedicate so much to extreme endurance training, you—by definition—are neglecting by far the most beneficial workouts for longevity: strength training and especially sprinting. What I am advocating is a broadening of your perspective of what it means to be fit for life. I am enthusiastic about this subject because I have had an awakening of my own after having been an extreme endurance athlete, on the professional triathlon circuit decades ago, and then continuing to train like an endurance athlete in the decades that followed—only to realize that I was falling apart and getting old. I threw my back out, tore my meniscus for no reason and realized: Wait, I do not have the full body functional fitness and power, strength, and mobility that I should. That is when I started redirecting my compass over towards sprinting and high jumping—which I found were so much more fun, rewarding, and challenging than just shuffling along towards another distance finish line.  There is a lot more out there, and if you are not a serious competitor, and just doing something because you think this is a way of staying fit and healthy, then this show will help you broaden your perspective on the safe, low impact methods to push yourself and stimulate the anaerobic system (which gets completely neglected by most forms of mainstream training). Tune into this episode if you want to learn the essence of an efficient sprint workout, how to feel energized and invigorated instead of fatigued and depleted after workouts, and how to effectively age gracefully!   TIMESTAMPS: Some people are staying active in their later years with well-intentioned exercise, however some are burning out by overdoing their endeavors. [02:02] Brad is suggesting sprinting and weight training as a goal. [03:35] Many of the exercise patterns people are doing do not build the anaerobic system. [04:25] Sprinting involves much rest in between bursts. [06: 10] Falling is the number one cause of death in Americans over 65. Sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) and dynapenia (age-related loss of muscle power and explosiveness) are the conditions. [08:00] The sprinting routine that is recommended is 8 to 15 seconds with extensive rest of a minimum of a minute. [11:55] When you get through with exercise, you want to feel energized and invigorated instead of depleted and exhausted. [12:30]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost everything the average sports fan believes about doping is wrong. The “dirty cheaters stealing medals from clean athletes” story almost never describes what actually happened. Instead, we’ve had dirty sports, Cold War dynamics, and athletes faced with the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” devil’s bargain. In this show you’ll learn why doping has been cleaned up significantly from past eras, where the problem remains, and why professional cycling is perhaps the most glaring example. You’ll also learn surprising insights about the physiology of doping: Steroids don’t actually magically make you bigger, stronger, or faster. Training does. Doping alters your body chemistry so you can recover faster and train harder. Doping can’t transform an ordinary person into an Olympian, which is why doping up a bunch of retreads and has-beens at the Enhanced Games resulted in pedestrian times in comparison to the world’s elite. We’ll cover EPO, the Goldman Dilemma, the Eastern Bloc origins of Olympic doping, and crazy scandals from Lance Armstrong and BALCO to the heartbreaking case of Shelby Houlihan’s controversial four-year suspension. We close with a discussion about the morality and philosophy of what it means to age gracefully - questions I’ve been asking myself as I strive to be the best 60+ athlete I can be. Is this more honorable than trying to dope myself into a fake 30-year-old? Or should we consider taking advantage of modern pharmaceutical advantages to be the best we can be? If so, do we push the envelope of, “has self-optimization become permission for unbridled narcissism?” Get ready for a heavy show that will leave you never thinking the same way about doping in big time sports again, and also reflecting on the implications of anti-aging and biohacking therapies differently than you may have before!   TIMESTAMPS: For decades, doping in Olympic and professional sports has been a huge concern, controversy, headline stories, and it has been hugely misunderstood on many levels by the average sports fan. [02:42] Myth number one is that doping is commonplace in Olympic and professional sports. [04:57] One of the reasons these suspicions persist is marketing hype and propaganda. [11:38] Why do these suspicions about doping persist? [15:38] Back in the 70s and 80s the western athletes were losing to doped up competitors. What did they tend to do? [20:48] From that point there was much testing and continuing use of steroids, then sport got boring until baseball got into players hitting the ball out of the park. [27:28] The BALCO scandal in the early 2000s was when some undetectable steroids that were not on the banned list were invented. [30:06] In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, there was an incident where two of the favored athletes did not appear for their tests right before the opening ceremonies. [35:21] Today we have more sophisticated testing and are even able to freeze some samples to test later when more advanced testing becomes available. [39:21] A big game changer that came in the 90s was the discovery of EPO, a natural substance secreted by bone marrow and stimulates the production of red blood cells.  [41:28] There are several countries involved in state-sponsored programs as well as small impoverished nations that are poorly regulated.  [46:14] In baseball and other sports, they have penalties that aren't very severe. [56:12] There is another category of athletes that are perhaps ,toward the end of their careers, who might want to go out with a bang and have little to lose.   [01:00:56] There are many young athletes who develop their skills and break records, but are not necessarily suspected of doping. [01:04:55] There are many instances where athletes have been tested for substances that don't necessarily enhance performance, but do cause the athlete a problem.  There is metabolite, nandrolone that appears in some tainted meat. [01:11:05] One of the myths that pervades around the performance enhancing drugs is that they are dangerous and bad for your body. Brad describes his drug free endurance career. [01:19:23] The destruction caused by the extreme training was, Brad would argue, much worse than doing the exact same thing with all the doping protocols available to you. [01:23:44] The myth that taking steroids is going to make you a super athlete, is not technically how it works. It's more about talent. [01:24:47] Lance Armstrong was extremely fit and genetically gifted, and trained hard, but as he emerged into this dirty sport, he pretty much had to join them. [01:29:08] Brad talks about the history of the manufacture of these performance enhancing drugs. [01:35:00] We should have the moral obligation to try to do the best we can to live the best healthy and energetic life. [01:39:25] Visceral fat accumulating around the abdomen is a sign of metabolic disease. [01:41:30] The fears and warnings you've heard are not necessarily holding up. [01:46:37]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Podcast with Shelby Houlihan How Lance Does It   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Slipstream Swim Machine: Smooth, adjustable, battery-powered swim current generator. Swim, or run, in place against a powerful current! Save $250 with the code BRAD @SlipstreamSwimMachine Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $350 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could optimizing your circadian rhythm be the most important health intervention of all? In this show, I take a trip around the 24-hour clock, exploring fascinating ideas about light, leptin, metabolism, sleep, and circadian biology. We’ll look at why direct outdoor light in the morning matters, why eating after dark can cause more fat storage than eating the same number of calories at a different time, and how our modern use of artificial light may be extending “summer” throughout the year. I also explain why the hours from midnight to 3:00 AM are so important for darkness, leptin, human growth hormone, and the body’s overnight repair processes—and why these issues may be especially relevant for post-menopausal women. I wrap it all up with four simple ways to get your circadian rhythm working in your favor: mellow evenings, a dark and cool sleeping environment, energetic mornings, and napping when you need it. I explain why caffeine can override the sleepiness signal your body is trying to send you, and why insufficient sleep can make you 20% slower at everything you do—while making you less aware of it.  I’ll also share emerging research on sunlight and immune regulation, including the fascinating field of photoimmunology, plus the sleep-cooling technology I’m currently enjoying with the Somnus Sleep System. The big takeaway? Before you chase complicated health protocols, make sure you’re respecting the biological rhythms that have governed human health for far longer than artificial light, smartphones, and Netflix queues.   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Morning Exercise Routine Course Can Sunlight Cure Disease? — Apple News A Circadian Rhythm 24-Hour Tour — Part 1 A Circadian Rhythm 24-Hour Tour — Part 2 Dr. Jack Kruse — Cold Thermogenesis 7   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m so excited to bring you this wonderful interview with Mr. Chu Zhu. He is the founder of a company called Somnus Lab, and they make an amazing mattress cooling sleep system to help you regulate your body temperature during sleep. Chu is a scientifically sophisticated guest who explains some fascinating aspects of circadian rhythm and the hormonal processes governing sleep, including the role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus—the “light control tower” in the brain—and the buildup of adenosine that creates sleep pressure. We talk about why outdoor light is such a powerful signal for your body clock, why indoor lighting doesn't come close to matching it, and how caffeine masks the buildup of adenosine rather than eliminating your need for sleep. We then get into the surprising role of body temperature. You need to cool down to fall asleep, stay cool to stay asleep, and warm up to wake up. Chu explains the surprising reason a warm shower before bed can actually help lower your core temperature, why getting too cold can backfire, and why temperature regulation becomes increasingly challenging as we age. I’ve also been beta testing the Somnus system myself, so we talk about how it can automatically regulate the temperature of your mattress throughout the night, customize each side of the bed, and track sleep without requiring you to wear a device. And if you’re someone who loves your sleep-tracking data, we have an important conversation about why more data isn't necessarily better. This episode will make you think differently about what you're doing to get better sleep: we get into the technology, but also the general behaviors that can help us get things right—including the effects of caffeine and alcohol, how sensitive the body is, and how sometimes we can simply get out of the way. It’s a great reminder that getting better sleep and better health may be less complicated than we think.   TIMESTAMPS: Chu discovered some surprising things when he got in to the sleep system technology research. [04:40] Circadian rhythm is very important in regulating how we use sleeping time. [05:49] The hypothalamus is the control center of the brain that receives the light and dark cycles governing our sleep cycles.  [07:33] Caffeine is able to take the spot of the brain's receptor that is supposed to take in adensoine to tell you if you are tired. [08:30] If we look at the evolutionary timelline, we see how the sunset and sunrise used to determine our sleep patterns, whereas now we have the lights and screens that don't allow these mechanisms to work naturally. [11:23] Also the access to processed foods and sugars, the empty calories are causing problems nowadays. The difference between direct sunlight and the indoor blue light we are exposed to also makes a big difference. [12:16] Every system in human body has a mechanism to pull it one way and the other way to push it so that you basically have a two-directional regulation system almost in every aspect. [16:35] So the important thing to do in the morning is awaken naturally near sunrise and get some direct esxposure to light, and then know that in the evening is where most of the problems happen. [17:35] Wearing blue screening glasses during the day is completely wrong. [19:16] Body temperature and environmental temperature are very important parts of the ability to fall asleep. [21:23] You need to cool down to fall asleep and you need to stay cool to stay asleep. You need to warm up to wake up. [23:31] Take a warm shower which allows the body temperature to drop and then bed covers or pajamas keep your skin at a comfortable temperature, but it is really important to have the room or the mattress temperature promoting a drop in body temp. [28:13] There are four sleep stages: preparation to sleep, deep sleep, then REM sleep and waking up stage. [32:37] How do you determine whether you're getting these factors dialed in? Is it as simple as waking up and feeling alert and energized? [34:48] The Somnus sleep system is simply a mattress cover like the protective cover you have on your mattress, that is filled with water that creates a cool sleeping environment. [37:27] How does this Somnus monitor your sleep so that you have sleep data? [50:07]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Somnus Labs Lux, the measurement of light The Sleep Revolution Why We Sleep   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life:   Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Drink Tmrw: Tmrw is a delicious daily longevity drink with 88 potent, clean ingredients  to support cellular nutrition, gut health and mitochondrial function. Use code BRAD for 25% off your first subscription month + free Welcome Kit AND an additional $10 off. Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s talk about testosterone testing and other important blood tests you can track for your overall health, wellness, vitality, and longevity. I recorded this show on the occasion of my first visit to the blood lab after signing up for Vitals Vault’s premium program, and I talk about some of my favorite markers while pedaling home from the lab. I focus a lot on testosterone because I believe it’s a great proxy for overall wellness, vitality, recovery, and resilience to stress. I share my own numbers, which have ranged from 562 to 1,004, and explain why I’m so intent on keeping testosterone levels high as I age. I also get into the roughly 1% annual decline in average male testosterone levels since the 1980s, vitamin D and the widespread fear of the sun, why looking beyond LDL can give you a better picture of your lipid panel, and the lifestyle practices that can help optimize testosterone—from sleep and diet to avoiding chronic cardio, lifting heavy things, sprinting once in a while, and even maintaining a winning relationship.   TIMESTAMPS: Testosterone testing is the best proxy for your overall state of wellness, vitality, and recovery or resilience to stress.  [00:51] Brad checks his testosterone level frequently because it is his way of monitoring the stress impact from his training. [5:41] Triglycerides to HDL ratio is a premier indicator of your heart disease risk factor. It is much better than looking at total LDL cholesterol.  [06:42] In 2017 they lowered the ideal level of testosterone due to the widespread decline of testosterone among males around the world. [09:02] If you are not optimizing your sleep, including down and rest time, you cannot reduce your stress. [12:13] Get the junk out of your diet. If you are in that chronic cardio pattern in your exercise, you may be tanking your testosterone.  [12:37] If there is arguing and other dysfunctional patterns in your relationship, it will tank your testosterone as well as shorten your lifespan. [13:34] Vitamin D comes from sun exposure more than from your diet or pills. [14:30]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery NEW: B.rad Real Rad Gummies - Creatine + Nootropics for Focus, Motivation, Performance, and Recovery! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Vitals Vault The Vitamin D. Solution   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! Check out each of these companies because they are absolutely awesome or they wouldn’t occupy this revered space. Seriously, I won’t promote anything that I don't absolutely love and use in daily life: Recover Faster: B.rad Superfuel helps with fat loss, longevity, immune function and athletic performance with a potent combo of grassfed whey protein and creatine. A five-star bestseller on Amazon, or order direct and save! Get 20% OFF your first order with code BRAD20 Strengthen Your Feet: Peluva five-toe minimalist shoes naturally strengthen and realign your feet to perform better, relieve pain, and achieve full functionality. Use code BRADPODCAST for 10% off Online Education: Immersive learning to transform your diet in 21 days, endurance train the right way, prepare Paleo meals for the whole week, get started the right way the therapeutic cold exposure, and custom-design a morning movement routine.  Somnus sleep system: An advanced, water-based mattress pad that uses intelligent, dual-zone temperature regulation to optimize your micro-climate for deeper, more restorative rest. Use code BRAD for $200 discount on SomnusLab.com Clean Your Indoor Air!: The Jaspr Air Scrubber is an ultra high-performance, automatic-sensor unit that will address the often-disregarded health concern of indoor air quality. Save $200 on your unit with code BRAD Explore B.rad Nutrition, online courses, and my favorite gear at: BradKearns.com/Shop   Enjoying the podcast?Please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts—it helps more people discover the show. Thanks for your support!   #bradpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.