August 26, 2021

While recently in Los Angeles at the Ancestral Health Symposium, I had the pleasure of a long, sunshine walk with my friend Chris Kelly.

We brought a microphone along and recorded a fantastic chat for you with topics including…

• The growing epidemic of loneliness and how building a community can protect you biologically.
• How introversion can be steered towards a great deal of social good.
• My formula for the best dinner party guest list.
• The rewards of systematic service to others.
• And much more…

So who is Chris Kelly?

Chris Kelly is a certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, a graduate of the Kalish Institute, and the founder of Nourish Balance Thrive.

As a competitive cyclist, Chris trained hard and got fast, loving the buzz of a great workout session. However, at a certain point, he realized that in hindsight he spent most of his life feeling like crap—and his biomarkers spelled impending doom. Chris struggled with insomnia, fatigue, brain fog, his libido plummeted, and his recovery times took a nosedive. He wanted to train well, but he also wanted to enjoy the rest of his life.

So Chris transitioned to a Paleo-type diet, reading a book a week on the subject for a year, but that was only half the solution. The other half came through experimenting with and perfecting a system of functional medicine—he effectively became his own guinea pig. Now, Chris's body is back in balance—his symptoms have disappeared, his diet’s right for him, and his family life is as enjoyable as his training. In 2014, Chris quit his job as a software engineer to focus on helping athletes enjoy optimum fitness and health.

Nourish Balance Thrive isn't just a diet or motivational coaching—rather, it's the perfect blend of a lab-based supplement plan, expert dietary advice, and consultative performance planning uniquely tailored to your lifestyle. It's kind of the ultimate biohacking training course with a practical component developed just for you, with the goal of arming you with the knowledge you need to stay fit and healthy for life.

Chris Kelly has also been on my podcast on the following episodes:

• The Little-Known Test That Tells You Everything You Need To Know About Your Metabolism.
• 7 Signs Your Cortisol And Adrenals Are Broken.

In this special two-part episode that includes my talk about loneliness given at the Ancestral Health Symposium (AHS), you'll discover:

Part 1 – Ben and Chris Kelly

-How Ben had a hand in founding Nourish Balance Thrive…09:15

• Nourish Balance Thrive
• BGF podcasts with Chris Kelly:
  • The Little-Known Test That Tells You Everything You Need To Know About Your Metabolism.
  • 7 Signs Your Cortisol And Adrenals Are Broken.
• Sacred Cow film by Diana Rodgers
• James Nestor's books:
  • Breath
  • Deep
  • Half-Safe
  • Get High Now (without drugs)
• BGF podcasts with James Nestor:
  • Biohack Your Breath With Nose “Boners,” Carbon Dioxide Inhalation, Tibetan Longevity Stretches & Much More: How To Unlock The New Science Of A Lost Art.
  • The Extreme Sport You’ve Probably Never Heard Of, And How You Can Use It’s Renegade Techniques To Become Superhuman.
• Ancestral Health Symposium

-Why Ben chose to talk about “loneliness” at the AHS…13:15

• Initially was going to talk about cold thermogenesis
  • Fire & Ice: Tips, Tricks & Biohacks To Maximize The Benefits Of Sauna, Hyperthermia, Cryotherapy & Cold Thermogenesis.
• Growing epidemic of loneliness is brought on by technology, restrictions, etc.
• Our bodies in days of old would have mounted a response to what has become socially normal today
• Loneliness by John T. Cacioppo
• Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky
• “Herd immunity” promotes a sense of community between people
• The Martian by Andy Weir
• Having an empathic nature has positive physiological effects

-Ben's thoughts on the introverted personality…18:48

• Ben was homeschooled, which fostered an independent personality and self-sufficient nature
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• Steer introversion toward social good: speaking and acting
• Introverts are very chameleon-like
• Introverts are not merely shy or socially awkward

-How Ben has used his introverted nature to his advantage in his personal and professional life…25:15

• Studies show that loneliness is on par with smoking for the health effects
• Loneliness is a disconnect between your perception of how many friends you have, vs. how many friends you actually have
• Solving loneliness is not about being around a bunch of people; it could be being around the right people even if there's only a couple of them
• Men are better at forming friendships with shared experiences
• Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
• Transactional relationships; friendships that exist for what's in it for me
• Food is a great means of fostering genuine fellowship among others
• Mastermind Talks Podcast, Jayson Gaignard
• Dinner parties; a mixture of various backgrounds, economic status, etc.
• Create the change you want to see happen

-The thing we often get wrong when we think of building community…39:55

• Survival of the Kindest Podcast, Dr. Julian Abel
• Dinner parties on paper look exhausting, but in reality, are energizing
• The messiness of others is inconvenient at times, but it's worth the trouble
• BGF article on the dopaminergic response while experiencing pain or pleasure with others

-Tools and resources to help build community…46:30

• Friendship in the Age of Loneliness by Adam Poswolsky
• Contacts+ app
• Realm
• Reach out to someone in need of fellowship via church bulletin
• Biological benefits of altruism
• Give uneaten food at a restaurant to a homeless person
• Face masks make it easier to be less personable to others
• People we don't know and may never see again thrive on electromagnetic and emotional energy from human interactions

-How Ben's interaction with the church has influenced his person and message…55:04

• Ben has for years felt disconnected from the church, particularly the modern American church
• God doesn't care about the occupations or backgrounds of who's in the building
• Seeing his own judgmental spirit, accepting others for who they are (that's what God does)
• Recapture the Rapture by Jamie Wheal
• Recapture the Rapture: Alchemist-Like Cookbooks, Carbon Dioxide & Nitric Oxide Inhalation, Sexuality, Music, Mind-Enhancing Substances & More With Jamie Wheal.
• Stealing Fire by Jamie Wheal
• The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler
• The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku—book on plant medicines in the church
• Caring for the spirit is one of the most meaningful things you can do
• Corruption and rationalism has caused the church to lose a lot of the beauty, mysticism it has historically represented
• Imposter syndrome when discussing matters related to spirituality and the church

-Recreating some of the community-building traditions that have been lost through the centuries…1:08:26

• Strength of monogamy in building a strong society and economic prosperity
• Are the church and science claiming to provide a solution to a problem it created?
• Unfettered access to food contributes to chronic disease
• “Healthy Christian hedonist”
• Jesus lived the Hero's Journey (sacrifice) on our behalf

-One thing you can do to reduce loneliness today…1:17:55

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Part 2 – Ben's presentation at the Ancestral Health Symposium…1:23:27

-Apps and technology that can enhance community…

• Next Door app
• Friendship in the Age of Loneliness by Adam Poswolsky
• Peanut app
• We3 app
• MeetMe app
• High Low community messaging
• Dex
• Walkie app
• Good Night Zoo

-Be active in the community…1:27:36

• Gun Lap: Staying in the Race with Purpose by Robert Wolgemuth

-Be active in your local church…1:29:00

-Engage in family relationships…1:29:57

• Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton

-Reclaim Real Conversation…1:31:13

• Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle

-Have a mission or purpose statement…1:32:13

• 36 Questions that Lead to Love essay
• Table Topics
• Love people
• Sabbath Ramblings: How To Find Your Purpose In Life.
• Fit Soul by Ben Greenfield

-Shared experiences…1:35:57

-Embrace the sacredness of commerce…1:37:34

• Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein

-And much more!…

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

Resources mentioned in this episode:

-Part 1:

– Chris Kelly:

• Nourish Balance Thrive
• BGF Podcasts With Chris Kelly:
  • The Little-Known Test That Tells You Everything You Need To Know About Your Metabolism.
  • 7 Signs Your Cortisol And Adrenals Are Broken.

– Podcasts And Articles:

• Biohack Your Breath With Nose “Boners,” Carbon Dioxide Inhalation, Tibetan Longevity Stretches & Much More: How To Unlock The New Science Of A Lost Art With James Nestor.
• The Extreme Sport You’ve Probably Never Heard Of, And How You Can Use It’s Renegade Techniques To Become Superhuman With James Nestor.
• Fire & Ice: Tips, Tricks & Biohacks To Maximize The Benefits Of Sauna, Hyperthermia, Cryotherapy & Cold Thermogenesis.
• Recapture the Rapture: Alchemist-Like Cookbooks, Carbon Dioxide & Nitric Oxide Inhalation, Sexuality, Music, Mind-Enhancing Substances & More With Jamie Wheal.
• Sabbath Ramblings: Share
• Sabbath Ramblings: You’re Not The Hero – The Dark Side Of The Hero’s Journey.
• Sabbath Ramblings: How To Find Your Purpose In Life.

– Books:

• Boundless
• Boundless Cookbook
• Fit Soul
• Breath
• Deep
• Half-Safe
• Get High Now (without drugs)
• Loneliness by John T. Cacioppo
• Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky
• The Martian by Andy Weir
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
• Friendship in the Age of Loneliness by Adam Poswolsky
• Recapture the Rapture by Jamie Wheal
• Stealing Fire by Jamie Wheal
• The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler
• The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku
• Gun Lap: Staying in the Race with Purpose by Robert Wolgemuth
• Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton
• Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle
• Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein

– Other Resources:

• Ancestral Health Symposium
• Sacred Cow – Film by Diana Rodgers
• Mastermind Talks Podcast Of Jayson Gaignard
• Survival of the Kindest Podcast of Dr. Julian Abel
• A Systematic Review of Loneliness and Smoking: Small Effects, Big Implications
• Contacts+ app
• Realm
• Imposter syndrome

-Part 2:

– Ancestral Health Symposium:

• Next Door app
• Peanut app
• We3 app
• MeetMe app
• High Low
• Dex
• Walkie app
• Good Night Zoo
• 36 Questions that Lead to Love essay
• Table Topics

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:

–Ra Optics: Purchase a pair of Ra Optics Day and Night Lenses to optimize sleep quality, energy, levels, and health in the modern, electrically-lit world. Receive 10% off your order when you order through my link.

–Organifi Glow: A plant-based beverage that helps support the body’s natural ability to produce collagen, smooth fine lines, and wrinkles, and protect the skin from sun exposure and toxins. Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code BENG20.

–Butcher Box: Delivers healthy 100% grass-fed and finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork directly to your door on a monthly basis. All their products are humanely raised and NEVER given antibiotics or hormones.

–Kion Serum: Use Kion Serum anywhere you’d like for more vibrant, youthful skin and hair. BGF listeners, receive a 10% discount on your order when you use discount code BEN10.

Questions about what Chris Kelly and I talked about in this episode? Leave them below in the comments section and one of us will reply!