The Becoming Superhuman Podcast

This week, I’m excited to bring you another bona-fide superhuman. Get this - my guest Dr. Kirk Parsley is not only a former Navy Seal and all-around athlete (having seriously competed in football, track and field, power lifting, boxing, multiple martial arts, volleyball, and crew). He’s also a doctor. Through his extensive work with the elite Navy SEALs and extensive personal experimentation, he has become an expert in all things fitness and health, but most specifically, sleep. In the episode, we'll learn how to optimize sleep, health, and generally perform better in a lot of aspects. I know you're going to love it!

You have a lot to look forward to in this episode. My guest Rory Vaden and his team have spent thousands upon thousands of hours developing theories, and frameworks, and methodologies, and he generously shares so many of them with us in such a short time. The episode is absolutely jam-packed: it’s very theory-heavy and offers a lot of very new, unique, and impactful ideas that I certainly had never considered. Quite frankly, you should probably listen to it with a notepad handy, because I’m quite confident you’re going to take away a ton of applicable knowledge to use in your day to day lives.

In this interview, we dive deep into what makes successful people tick, including a long list of the most impactful books and why they’re worth reading. We learn about the strategies that make people effective leaders, and we dive into John Michael Morgan’s personal habits, how he structures his life, and his own story of finding personal development as a means to overcome depression. These topics are all very close to my heart, and parallel my own story, and so I really hope they are as inspiring and touching to you as they are to me.

My guest today is Tayo Rockson, a “third culture kid” using his difference to make a difference. Growing up on four different continents, he has been able to bring a unique perspective and inspirational stories that empower people to make a difference in this world. Through his company, UYD media, and his podcast, As Told By Nomads, he inspires people to live alternative lifestyles and use their own special skills and advantages to get the most out of their lives. In short, he’s all about cross-culturalism and inspiration, and we love that stuff here at Becoming SuperHuman. He’s also an avid writer and blogger - in fact, you may have read about him on Huffington Post or Entrepreneur.com, and you might have even heard of his book - the Ultimate Guide to TCK Living. In this episode, we talk about this crazy beautiful and increasingly multicultural world, and how to stake your claim and shine in it. We also go into some great stuff about life purpose and entrepreneurship. It’s a lighter, easier, and more casual 

From having RFID chip devices implanted in his body as early as 2005, to speaking at TEDx on biohacking, wearable technology, and cybernetics, and authoring a book on RFID chip technology, Amal Graafstra is a thought leader in the subject of cybernetics. Beyond his superhuman implants, he also exhibits quite an impressive level of productivity and work output, running as many as 3 companies at once alongside all his many other projects. He even has a company that will sell you chips and implant kits to get this stuff done at a local piercing shop!   In the episode, we get the chance to discuss both the practical and the theoretical, diving into what life looks like with prosthetic security devices in your hands, as well as a discussion of the security benefits and the future of these types of technology. Though it’s a bit different from our typical interviews, it’s a really entertaining and fascinating exploration of the mindset of someone at the absolute cutting edge of a new leap forward in our evolution

In this week's episode, we explore the theories and strategies for earning passive income and establishing complete financial freedom. It takes a bit of a different format from our normal posts, in that there's no guest. Let us know what you think!

My guest this week is a keynote speaker, success coach and best-selling author Mitch Matthews. His new podcast, “DREAM. THINK. DO.” is at the top of the iTunes charts. He has worked with leaders and teams from organizations like NASA and Disney, and has coached thousands of people through Coach Training and Certification Program. Mitch Matthews has built three successful businesses himself, and published the best-selling book IGNITE: 3 Simple Steps for Re-sparking Your Buried Dreams and Building a Plan That Finally Works. So, basically, dude is a real rock star. You’ll quickly see in the interview that Mitch is a huge personality who just oozes charisma and joy. He really has a thousand watt presence, and he’ll inspire you before he even dives into the message itself. In the interview, he offers a ton of practical and easy-to-apply skills to help you identify and live your dream, as well as overcome the fear of failure or uncertainty. These range from goal setting to mentality shifts, as he and I dig into som

As someone who specializes in accelerated learning, I’m really excited about this week's guest, Peter C. Brown. After retiring from management consulting, he has published a number of books on money making ventures for nonprofits, jumping the job track, and most recently, a book entitled “Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning.” In fact, his book and mine are consistently battling it out for the top spot on Amazon’s list of best books about learning, so you know, i just had to reach out to him and compare notes on how the strategies for successful long-term learning versus those for accelerated learning compare.

Our guest today is Carl Paoli, a movement expert, elite gymnast, a trainer, and an all around superhuman. In his home country of Spain, he competed for over 15 years, rising through the ranks as a gymnast, while exploring a range of other sports from snowboarding to water skiing and martial arts. In 2004, he left what he thought would be a career in Marine Biology to return to the world of movement and fitness, and his meteoric rise to prominence has been something to marvel at... Today, he is one of the most respected CrossFit trainers in the world, working with greats like Kelly Starrett and our former guest, Diane Fu. However, whereas Diane brings a unique power-lifting aspect to the world of CrossFit, he brings a vast knowledge of gymnastics and kinesiology. In addition to training at SF CrossFit and running his own program called Naka Athletics, he has recently published a book with called FreeStyle, which teaches us how to maximize our Sport and Life performance with just four basic movements. This c

My guest today is published author, behavioral investigator, and fellow Udemy instructor Vanessa Van Edwards. She is a professional people watcher—speaking, researching and cracking the code of interesting human behavior for audiences around the world. Her groundbreaking workshops and courses teach individuals how to succeed in relationships and in life by understanding the hidden dynamics of people. Besides being a Huffington Post columnist and Penguin author, She has been featured on NPR, the Wall Street Journal, the Today Show and USA Today. She has even written for CNN, Fast Company and Forbes. Cool fact - she was actually trained by Dr. Paul Ekman, who is the real-life version of the main character in the popular show “Lie To Me."   You’ll notice that we dive pretty deep and geek out on body language and charisma really fast. What can I say? Vanessa is, after all, an expert in communication and getting people to open up. The end result is an interview jam-packed with usable tips and inspiring anecdote

My guest for this episode is Luis Congdon, an expert in helping people form strong and lasting relationships. In this episode, we learn some very personal stories from Luis, who explains how he pulled himself up from a very difficult upbringing and a broken home in drug-torn Medellin, Colombia, and spent years training himself and contributing to the nation’s largest ever study on what makes human relationships work. Through his website and podcast, Lasting Love Connection, and through his popular retreats and seminars, Luis has helped thousands of couples reach better communication and understanding. He was gracious enough to share with us his deeply moving story, his thoughts on why a strong, healthy relationship is an essential part of becoming superhuman, as well as tons of really impactful and practical tips for achieving that type of relationship.

My guest today is one of the most notable and respected names in the CrossFit world, and an accomplished Olympic weightlifting specialist. If you’ve ever visited a CrossFit gym anywhere in the world and seen a chart on the wall demonstrating the ideal Olympic lifting movements and positions, you might already been familiar with her. She has been in the fitness industry all of her professional life, and has trained and worked early on with the great Kelly Starrett at SF CrossFit, long before either of them were what they are today. More recently she has competed nationally as an Olympic lifter, and is the head coach at FuBarbell. On another note, she’s just a crazy-strong lady who breaks barriers and personal records like it’s her business - and actually, it kind of is! For those who are interested in optimizing health or getting more out of their workouts, this interview will offer a lot of value. It’s also a really lively conversation, and has  tons of entertainment value!  

Our interview with Chad Foreman, Chad Foreman, a former Tibetan Buddhist monk from Australia. After spending 6 years in a monastery studying from the most respected gurus in the world, Chad began spreading the seeds of their wisdom. Since 2004, he has amassed a following of 1.5 Million people for his organization, The Way of Meditation, and continues to touch lives and inspire through workshops and one-on-one training. Whether or not you currently have a meditation practice, this episode will offer you a lot of tips and inspiration to start or improve it. Chad is a truly inspiring and thoughtful speaker, and I am confident you'll enjoy listening to him as much as I enjoyed interviewing him.

We host lifehacker, entrepreneur, and electric-shock advocate Mr. Maneesh Sethi. For those who haven’t heard of him, Maneesh is a truly unconventional serial entrepreneur and self-proclaimed digital nomad. He has published 4 books (including an international bestseller authored at the age of 14), built a very successful blog on hacking the system, launched an NGO in India, traveled the world, and has recently launched a wearable technology company called Pavlok, which aims to help everyday people achieve superhuman levels of discipline and motivation in reaching their goals.   This interview is a bit like drinking from a fire-hose. It’s jam-packed full of useful knowledge, inspiring stories, and life-changing tidbits of wisdom. There are dozens of takeaways on how to create and eliminate habits, which habits most drastically improve your life, and much, much more. You’ll quickly see that Maneesh is not only an inspiring and passionate entrepreneur, but he's also one of the more interesting and unique peopl

A lively interview with Ms. Jennifer Cassetta, a clinical nutritionist, personal trainer and 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido with a passion to empower women to be strong, safe and sexy. But gentlemen, don’t tune out just yet!  Jennifer created the popular Stilettos and Self Defense DVD series, has recently published a book, and has been featured on The Today Show, The Doctors, E! and many more. She teaches empowerment, safety and self defense workshops around the country while she continues her nutrition and corporate wellness practice in Los Angeles.  As you will quickly notice, Jennifer and I really had fun chatting, and we go on a lot of interesting but kind of unrelated tangents. Whether you’re a male or a female, this episode will offer you a lot of value and maybe remind you of some important mindset adjustments you should be keeping in mind. We talk about all kinds of different ways to defend your mind, your heart, and your body from would-be attackers, ranging from being conscious of what types of th

This week's guest is quite possibly one of the toughest, fiercest women on the planet - seriously. Her name is Adi Rotem, and she holds no less than 2 WORLD championship titles in Thai boxing, from both the WAKO and WFCA organizations. As if that weren’t enough, Adi holds a third degree black belt and seven consecutive Israeli national championship titles in mixed martial arts. She also served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a Krav Maga instructor, and has more recently competed in a reality TV show in the Enfusion style of martial arts. Basically, if it is a form of martial arts, Adi has either trained in it or won a title in it. When you hear Adi speak and tell her story, you’ll immediately understand just how deep her determination goes. It’s a very inspiring story that will help you understand just how much determination it takes to earn the title “World Champion." If you take away just one thing from this interview, it should be this: Hard work and determination outweigh natural talent any day of the we

Our guest this week is Ryan Ford, an internationally-recognized expert and coach in a lesser-known and fascinating sport called “parkour.” If you have never seen a video of Parkour, it’s a sport where people in urban environments climb, jump, flip, twist, and generally maneuver through their environment like Batman or Spiderman. Besides performing world-wide for dozens of respected organizations and competitions, Ryan is also an accomplished entrepreneur, with a network of his own gyms and online businesses. His success - and superhuman feats - have lead to media attention from such media giants as the New Yorker, TIME, and ESPN. Whether or not you have a burning desire to jump off of rooftops, this interview will offer you a lot of awesome takeaways, ranging from fitness advice, tips on how to avoid injuries, ideas on how to turn your passion into an entrepreneurial career, and a better understanding of how one should approach obstacles - both physical and mental. I know you're going to enjoy it!

An interview with Dr. Andrew Hill,  Ph.D in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA, who is is currently focused on developing tools and technologies to help everyday citizens enhance their cognitive performance outside of the lab. In under an hour, we cover every imaginable method of how to increase brain power, mental performance, and intellectual longevity, and we offer a TON of practical steps you can and should take TODAY. I just know you're going to LOVE this episode and share it with all of your friends.

Our guest this week is one of the world’s most renowned experts on learning languages quickly and effectively. By his early-20’s, Benny Lewis had failed to learn Spanish and Irish, despite living in Spain and growing up in Ireland. As a result, he decided to reapproach language learning in a smarter way, and developed his own system. Using this methodology, he has since becoming fluent and confident in 7 languages. He runs a popular blog called Fluent in 3 months, and his book of the same title was the #1 bestseller across numerous categories and countries on Amazon.  Benny has been featured in Time Magazine, Forbes, Lifehacker, the BBC, and many more, and  he also gave one of my favorite TEDx talks of all time.

An interview with Nelson Dellis, 3X USA Memory Champion, accomplished mountain climber, and Alzheimer's crusader. Nelson and I discuss memory, willpower, tenacity, and how his two fields of expertise, memory and rock climbing, cross-pollinate and make him a better all-around superhuman. Besides just an insight into how an elite memory athlete trains, Nelson's words offer inspiration and motivation as to how we can conquer some of the most challenging goals in our lives.