Start Here: A Master Class in Sleep, Diet, Movement, Fitness and Stress Management

A friend recently asked, “What’s a good episode to start with?” for a basic overview of health and lifestyle optimization. Great question—and honestly, I didn’t have a good answer. So here it is! This show covers the basics from a big-picture perspective—the one to share with friends and loved ones. It’s not sciency or intimidating, just a simple, reasonable framework for how to live a healthy, happy, long life. I hit the five key areas: sleep, diet, movement, fitness, and stress management. You’ll hear why sleep, rest, and recovery are #1—everything flows downstream from there—and how artificial light and digital stimulation after dark wreck your hormones and metabolism. I explain how walking (yes, walking!) delivers a powerful aerobic effect, why sprints give the highest return on investment of any exercise, and how most people are overdoing “chronic cardio.” You’ll learn the simple diet fix of ditching processed junk—refined grains, sugars, and seed oils—and focusing on the nutrient-dense, animal-based foods that fueled human evolution. And we’ll finish with stress management: escaping chronic low-level stress, ending rumination, and carving out real downtime, nature time, and meaningful connection. TIMESTAMPS: Where should you start in your healthier living endeavors? [00:51] The statistics for longevity for the United States population are horrifying. [02:11] Because of artificial light and digital stimulation after dark, most of us throw off our circadian rhythm which prevents us from getting good sleep, rest, recovery, and downtime. Sleep needs to be your number one priority. [04:18] There are many warring factions of people arguing about diet that confuse us. The number one thing you can do to optimize your diet is to start by cleaning up your act and removing the nutrient deficient heavily processed foods from your home. [17:23] In the heavily processed foods, it's the foreign chemical agents that cause inflammation, that cause gut dysfunction and promote obesity above and beyond their calories. [24:59] The visceral fat is especially health destructive because it accumulates in your abdominal area around your vital organs. [27:07] Focus on the ancestral foods: red meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. [29:39] The highest rated category of fish is the oily cold water fish...the SMASH family: sardines, mackerel, anchovies, salmon, and herring. [38:30] Some restrictive diets cause a stress response in the body. They do help as an intervention, but not as a permanent diet. [43:54] When you are looking at the tremendous number of supplements available, you really have to understand what you are getting. [01:01:32] Have a goal of increasing all forms of general everyday movement in your life. [01:03:48] If you get too extreme into workouts that are medium to difficult, that are slightly too stressful to promote that long-term health benefit, you actually do the opposite [01:10:19] Sprinting is the best workout known to mankind, the highest return on investment of any form of exercise for overall fitness benefits. [01:16:14] You can easily overdo it when it comes to endurance training. [01:23:06] Stressful training diminishes your testosterone. [01:26:05] Stress management is crucial as you look to improve your well-being. We live in very stressful times. [01:29:23] relationships, especially the romantic ones you may have, really need to be smooth functioning. [01:35:05] Rumination has been categorized as a metabolic disease with actual blood markers. [01:37:23] In summary, get good sleep and take breaks during the day. Clean out your food pantry by removing the nutrient-deficient chemically processed foods. Move every day. Adhere to sensible exercise patterns. Don't overdo it. Manage your stress. [01:42:50] LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Superdrink – Hydrates 28% Faster than Water—Creatine-Charged Hydration for Next-Level Power, Focus, and Recovery B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes Social Security Administration Actuarial Table The Hacking of the American Mind Podcast with Jack Kruse, Part 1 Podcast with Jack Kruse, Part 2 Mito red light desk lamp B.rad Nutrition Guide Kale vs. Liver Chart Take a Nap, Change Your Life Podcast with Jillian Turecki Podcast with John Gray John Gray Podcast on Regaining Lost Magic Happiest Countries in the World 2025 World Population Review of Happiness Income Disparity by Countries We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to podcast@bradventures.com . 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. 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