The Meaning Of Life, Making Friends, Plant Medicines In The Bible, Daily Spiritual Routines, Rites Of Passage & More With Ben Greenfield & Aubrey Marcus.

The biggest blessing in my life that has resulted from the pandemic has been a greater appreciation for community.

The sheer joy of getting to know your neighbors, hosting community dinners, and gathering in song and prayer is unparalleled.

This sense of community is far more fulfilling than any meditation or breathwork in the sauna (not that I don’t love practicing those regularly). Before the madness of 2020, I was constantly on and off an airplane…traveling from one speaking event to another with *some* time in between for my family. I was also still racing in Spartans and triathlons between all of the speaking events, which kept me even busier.

When I’d return home, I rarely had the mental or physical capacity to participate in local social interactions since I was so depleted from constantly being on the go. Staying home during the pandemic (whether I liked it or not at the time) offered me a rare chance to foster connections in my community—and it's completely changed my life.

But things have changed, not only with travel, but also with all of my approaches to spirituality, purpose, family, and life in general. So recently, I sat down with Aubrey Marcus to discuss how community fostering has changed the way I live, and we also talk about how to discover your purpose, ancient psychedelic recipes, pickleball (yes, pickleball), and much more.

Aubrey Marcus and I have connected in the past on the podcasts:

• The Zen Of Being A Warrior Poet – How To Dominate Your Physical And Mental Performance
• Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex.

Ben Greenfield on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast:

• Creating Your Own Heaven with Ben Greenfield
• Dick Optimization with The Cock Warlock Ben Greenfield

Today, we're back recording straight from his home in Austin, Texas with a wide-ranging discussion of everything from Christianity to plant medicines to managing time and FOMO, family, and, of course, the age-old question of whether men should avoid sex or ejaculation if they don't want to strip nutrients and energy from their body. 

Aubrey Marcus is the founder of Onnit, a lifestyle brand based on a holistic health philosophy he calls Total Human Optimization. Onnit is an Inc. 500 company and an industry leader with products optimizing millions of lives, including many top professional athletes around the world.

Aubrey also currently hosts the Aubrey Marcus Podcast, a motivational destination for conversations with the brightest minds in athletics, business, mindset, and spirituality with over 35 million downloads on iTunes. He regularly provides commentary to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Tim Ferriss Show, and The Joe Rogan Experience. He has been featured on the cover of Men’s Health, is the host of the Fit For Service Fellowship, and is the author of the NYT Bestselling book Own The Day, Own Your Life from HarperCollins.

If you ask Aubrey the cause he is most passionate about, it is raising awareness for psychedelic medicine, through organizations like MAPS.org and Heffter Institute. He is a 20 year native of Austin, Texas where he currently resides.

In this conversation with Aubrey Marcus, you'll discover:

-Why Ben had imposter syndrome while writing the Boundless Cookbook…05:33

• Jessa is a really good cook; taught the twins how to cook at the age of four
• Made soufflés, ravioli, risotto…
• How Ben did a 150lb pig roast for Jessa's 40th birthday; had 75 guests
• Explore molecular gastronomy, biohacking food with the Boundless Cookbook
• Ben now loves to cook; there is some kind of a party every day with the family

-Ben on his twin sons' recent rites of passage…10:37 

• The twins had their rite of passage recently at Tim Corcoran's place, Twin Eagles Wilderness School
• Sabbath Ramblings: Analog
• How To Go On A Vision Quest & Embark Upon A Rite Of Passage, with Tim Corcoran
• Family activities after every dinner

-How building a community changed the dynamics of living…14:40

• Jeanne Calment, supercentenarian, was known for her relationships, love, and family
• Getting to know neighbors changed the dynamics of living in the community
• Hanging out with neighbors more fulfilling than sauna, meditation…
• Men form friendships around activities; women from social gatherings
• Community is one of the most important things people have

-Breathwork is one of the giveaways when meeting new people…25:17

• Breath and how a person breathes says a lot about a person
• The Renegade Breathing Mastermind Behind The Crazy Holotropic Breathing Protocol I Do In My Sauna (& Biohacking Breathwork, Best Foods For Breathhold Time & Much More!), with Niraj Naik.

-Core practices aside from exercise and biohacking that are built into Ben's routine…27:12

• Morning and evening meditation done as a family
• Afternoon tiredness is remedied by a really good 10-30 minute nap
• Sleep by Nick Littlehales
• The Man Behind The Advanced Sleep Hacking Tactics Used By The World’s Most Elite Athletes, with Nick Littlehales
• Dr. Andrew Huberman and the Yoga Nidra cycle
• Apollo for the vibration therapy
• Hapbee magnetic signals:
  • Theobromine
  • CBD
  • Caffeine
  • MDMA
• A New, Drug-Free Biohack To Finely Tune Your Emotions, Sleep, Relaxation, Energy, Focus, Calm & More: The Hapbee With Scott Donnell.
• Bookending the day with morning (7 minutes) and evening (4-5 minutes) journaling with the family
  • Spiritual Disciplines Journal 
  • A Day In The Life Of Ben Greenfield: Ben’s Exact Morning, Afternoon & Evening Routines, with Will Ahmed
• Revisiting your life's purpose statement
  • Sabbath Ramblings: How To Find Your Purpose In Life.

-The challenge of managing and going through all the interesting activities…41:34

• Being happy just playing the guitar or banjo
• Didgediroo box and circular breathing with the didgeridoo
• FOMO on things and activities found on the internet that actually are not that fulfilling and is just a waste of time

-Ben's belief in living forever in a new heaven and a new earth…44:28

• It is the earth as it is now but perfect, where we can create, build, and do everything we were intended to do
• A pure and clean and a toxin-free environment
• Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

-Ben as a post-millennial Christian…49:05

• The belief that the world is getting better and better
• Tell everybody to slow down, enjoy life, build community, love others, and love the earth
• Dominion mandate is a call to be a gardener, to care for this planet
  • Are Christians Destroying The Environment? A Biblical Approach to Environmentalism and the “Dominion Mandate.”, with Dr. Gordon Wilson.

-Plant medicine in the Bible…53:17

• Ben sometimes vaporizes tobacco with a little bit of cannabis with essential oils like blue lotus, nutmeg, myrrh, or frankincense
• The anointing oil and incense used in early tabernacle worship have ingredients that are cytochrome enzyme inhibitors
• Sabbath Ramblings: Sober
• Cytochrome Enzyme Inhibitors allows any co-ingested molecules to be active for a longer period of time in the bloodstream
• Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku
• Chavin culture; discussed by Don Howard on the Aubrey Marcus podcast
• Henbane
• Plant medicines create an altered, elevated state of consciousness
• There is the risk of abuse; used as an escape mechanism
• Secrets Of The Vine by Bruce Wilkinson

-Fears, stress, and shame and encountering Christ and the cross…1:05:00

• Jesus sees us as who we are, with all our fears and shame
• All the deepest pains and shame anyone has experienced Jesus experienced
• The cross is a symbol of ultimate courage
• Cicero: Crucifixion is the cruelest and disgusting punishment
• The cross has become a symbol of the most glorious promise possible

-Living in your beliefs and living a rich life…1:11:21

• Living in your beliefs is deeply fulfilling
• Opportunity to turn this life into a heaven
• As Tim Ferris asked Aubrey on the Tim Ferriss show: “If you were to make a billboard, what would it say?”
• “Welcome to heaven, population: everyone”
• Take immense joy at the tiny creation made for the family
• Do not forget to savor God's creation
• Balance between working to save the world and savor the world

-Different longevity practices and how to extend human life…1:18:45

• How long is a human being going to live?
• The human who will live to a 150 is already alive

-Does ejaculation frequency deplete magnesium and zinc and drain energy?…1:24:41

• Dadi Kit (use code BEN20 to save $20)
• Mineral depleted is maybe equivalent to minerals taken in a meal

-And much more!…

Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

– Aubrey Marcus:

• Onnit
• Aubrey Marcus Podcast
• Own The Day, Own Your Life
• Fit For Service Fellowship
• Aubrey Marcus on the BGF podcast:
  • The Zen Of Being A Warrior Poet – How To Dominate Your Physical And Mental Performance
  • Own the Day, Own Your Life: Optimized Practices for Waking, Working, Learning, Eating, Training, Playing, Sleeping, and Sex.
• Ben Greenfield on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast:
  • Creating Your Own Heaven with Ben Greenfield
  • Dick Optimization with The Cock Warlock Ben Greenfield

– Podcasts And Articles:

• How To Go On A Vision Quest & Embark Upon A Rite Of Passage, with Tim Corcoran
• The Man Behind The Advanced Sleep Hacking Tactics Used By The World’s Most Elite Athletes, with Nick Littlehales
• A New, Drug-Free Biohack To Finely Tune Your Emotions, Sleep, Relaxation, Energy, Focus, Calm & More: The Hapbee With Scott Donnell.
• A Day In The Life Of Ben Greenfield: Ben’s Exact Morning, Afternoon & Evening Routines, with Will Ahmed.
• Are Christians Destroying The Environment? A Biblical Approach to Environmentalism and the “Dominion Mandate.”, with Dr. Gordon Wilson.
• The Renegade Breathing Mastermind Behind The Crazy Holotropic Breathing Protocol I Do In My Sauna (& Biohacking Breathwork, Best Foods For Breathhold Time & Much More!), with Niraj Naik.
• Sabbath Ramblings: Analog
• Sabbath Ramblings: How To Find Your Purpose In Life.
• Sabbath Ramblings: Sober

– Books:

• Boundless Cookbook
• Sleep by Nick Littlehales
• Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
• Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku
• Secrets Of The Vine by Bruce Wilkinson

– Gear:

• Apollo
• Hapbee
• Didgediroo box

– Other Resources:

• Blue Lotus Essential Oil (use code BEN to save 10%)
• Nutmeg (use code BEN to save 10%)
• Myrrh And Frankincense (use code BEN to save 10%)
• Dadi Kit (use code BEN20 to save $20)
• Spiritual Disciplines Journal
• Molecular Gastronomy
• Twin Eagles Wilderness School
• Yoga Nidra Cycle
• Circular Breathing With The Didgeridoo
• Don Howard On The Aubrey Marcus Podcast
• Henbane
• Jeanne Calment
• Chavin Culture
• Evidence for a limit to human lifespan
• Scientists up stakes in bet on whether humans will live to 150

Upcoming Events:

• Las Vegas Keto Expo (October 15-16, 2021). Ben will be speaking at the Las Vegas Keto Expo along with 13 other keto experts. The first 300 guests to register here will get a free drink chip for the poolside party and a free t-shirt.
• Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar

Episode sponsors:

–JOOVV: After using the Joovv for close to 2 years, it's the only light therapy device I'd ever recommend. Give it a try: you won't be disappointed. For a limited time, Joovv wants to hook you up with an exclusive discount on your first order. Just apply code BEN to your qualifying order.

–Kion Aminos: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more. BGF listeners save 10% off your order at Kion with code BEN10.

–Thrive Market: Organic brands you love, for less. Your favorite organic food and products. Fast and free shipping to your doorstep. Receive a gift card worth up to $20 when you begin a new membership.

–Butcher Box: Delicious 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage-breed pork, and wild-caught seafood, all sourced from partners who believe in doing things the right way.

Got a question or comment about today's episode? Leave it in the space below and I'll reply!