January 7, 2023
I have created a greater Why.
This is important. But you may be asking: what do I mean by that?
The answer, as you might imagine, is rather personal and involved. Recently, I was a guest on Behind The Human, a podcast hosted by a man named Mark Champagne, and this was one of the many fascinating topics we explored together.
On his podcast, Marc Champagne unpacks the mental fitness practices and reflective questions shaping the lives of some of the most successful and brilliant thinkers in the world. He is also the author of Personal Socrates, a best-selling book exploring the pointed questions that stimulate your mental fitness and teach you how to direct your internal narrative to work for you instead of against you. Marc studies the prompts and practices of legends such as Kobe Bryant, Maya Angelou, Robin Williams, James Clear, Coco Chanel, Stephen Hawking, and many others to bring clarity, intentionality, and possibility to every aspect of your life.
The host of the top 50-ranked podcast Behind The Human, Marc co-founded the journaling app KYO which reached 86.9 million people without any paid advertising. He has studied mental fitness practices for over a decade and consults with Fortune 500 companies as a mental fitness strategist and practitioner.
During our discussion, you'll discover:
-Ben’s introduction…06:00
- Personal Socrates by Marc Champagne
- Behind The Human Podcast is on:
–Marc Champagne’s introduction to Ben Greenfield…06:57
- Books by Ben Greenfield:
- Who is Ben?
- Teacher
- Inspired by learning new things and teaching other people
- Trying to deliver something meaningful
- Engaged in various sports
- A blog, a podcast, books
- A Christian hedonist, man of faith, enjoying God’s creation with temperance and sobriety
–Rigid schedules and the idea of training spiritual stamina and endurance…15:18
- Treadmill
- Ikigai
- Creature of habits and schedules
- Following what is considered an 80/20 rule
- Balance between rigidity and creativity
- Balance between flow and adherence to a strict schedule
- Airdyne
- Sabbath – Sundays are sacred days
- Charge the batteries
- Being with friends and family
- Playing an instrument
-Training your spirit as much as your body and Ben’s daily routine…22:19
- Growing distant from his wife who is very spiritual
- Being spiritually stagnant while training very hard
- Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
- Podcast with Ryan Holiday:
- Became an egotistical fit guy
- Realizing the only way to be a good husband and father is to seek guidance from God every day
- Realizing that the foundation of faith and family comes before health and business
- Waking up earlier to meditate, read devotions and the Bible, praying
- Building spiritual stamina
- Morning routine with the whole family
- Insight Timer
- TextMagic
- At the end of the day:
- Dinner together
- Reading a book
- Chatting
- Playing games
- After dinner:
- Breathwork
- Self-examination process
- Answering 3 questions:
- What good have I done this day?
- What could I have done better on this day?
- Where was I most purpose-filled today?
- Saying prayers
–Having a higher belief system and resisting temptation…41:23
- Asking the question for 30 days – What did I learn about myself today?
- Gabor Mate – trauma as a disconnection from the true self
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Climbing the wrong mountain:
- How did that happen?
- How did I get here?
- Sexual temptation as an example:
- Creating a greater Why to resist the temptation
- Building your family legacy
- Legado Family Foundation
- Podcast with Rich Christiansen:
- If there is no higher power, there is no reason to build a legacy
- You get strength from a higher power
-What makes Ben smile these days…52:20
- Morning dance parties – playing a song really loud, dancing, singing
- Podcasts with Paul Chek:
- BioGeometry Protection Of Your Home, Plant Medicine, Parenting, Stacking Rocks, Stages Of Human Consciousness & More With Paul Chek.
- Heavy Rock Lifting, Building Your Own “Water Charging” Station, Biomechanical Fixes, Plant Medicine Journeys & More.
- The 3 Key Steps To Intuitive Eating, Ego Dissolution, Raising & Educating Children In A Modern Era & More.
- Why Humans Need Winter, How Too Much Christmas Is Dangerous, Rites Of Passage & More.
- Family dinner parties
- Homeschooling feedback once a week
- Playing table games:
- Larger dinner parties – with family and friends
- Male friendships – sharing experiences together without intense dialogue
- Going on a walk
- Reading a book in a sauna
- Going to the gym at the same time
-And much more…
Upcoming Events:
- Six Senses Retreat: February 27, 2023 – March 3, 2023
Join me for my “Boundless Retreat” at Six Senses from February 27th, 2023 to March 3rd, 2023, where you get to improve on your functional fitness, nutrition, longevity, and the delicate balance between productivity and wellness. Complete with a healthy farmhouse breakfast, yoga spa sessions, and sound healing, you learn how to live a boundless life just like me, and I'd love to see you there. Learn more here.
- Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar!
Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
– Marc Champagne:
- Behind The Human Podcast:
- Personal Socrates by Marc Champagne
- Marc's Media Kit
- Social Media:
– Podcasts and articles:
- Why Kids Need Goats & Snakes, Top Writing Secrets Of A Famous Author, How To Read More Books, 33 Ways To Be Insanely Productive & Much More With Ryan Holiday.
- BioGeometry Protection Of Your Home, Plant Medicine, Parenting, Stacking Rocks, Stages Of Human Consciousness & More With Paul Chek.
- Heavy Rock Lifting, Building Your Own “Water Charging” Station, Biomechanical Fixes, Plant Medicine Journeys & More.
- The 3 Key Steps To Intuitive Eating, Ego Dissolution, Raising & Educating Children In A Modern Era & More.
- Why Humans Need Winter, How Too Much Christmas Is Dangerous, Rites Of Passage & More.
- How To Blast You (And Your Child’s!) Physical, Mental, & Spiritual Resilience Through The Roof With Breathwork.
- How To Build Your Legacy, Bond Your Family With Traditions, Rituals & Routines, Rites Of Passage & Much More With Rich Christiansen of Legado Family Founder.
– Books:
- Books by Ben Greenfield:
- Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
– Other Resources:
- Legado Family Foundation
- TrueForm Treadmill
- Ikigai
- Airdyne
- Insight Timer
- TextMagic
- Exploding Kittens
- Unstable Unicorns
- Monstrosity
- Wavelength
- Fuzzy Logic
- Scrabble
- Boggle
- Scattergories
Episode sponsors:
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Six Senses Event: Join me in this beautiful 19th-century wine estate in Portugal and enjoy treatments that go beyond the ordinary in Six Senses Spa. Ten treatment rooms and an indoor pool with chromotherapy and an underwater sound system offer a unique and layered wellness experience. Try delicious food made with local sensitivity and global sensibility. Head over to bengreenfieldlife.com/sixsenses and claim your spot today.
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Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for Marc or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!
Good pod Ben!
Your father is Greek Orthodox, how come you and your family have not converted to orthodoxy or Catholicism yet?