The SHN #22: The Podcast Issue and Anthony de Mello

Welcome back to The Synergetic Health Newsletter! 

In this edition, I’ll talk about my love/hate relationship with podcasts and which health-related ones I enjoy on a regular basis.

After that, I’ll introduce you to Anthony de Mello and some of my favorite passages from his excellent book “Awareness.”

Then comes some of the normal extra tidbits.

Enjoy!

Joe Burt

🎙️ My Podcast Life

Podcasts, the modern escape for information junkies like me, have held me captive since my first encounter.

I’m not proud of the following numbers, but here’s a snapshot of how much time I’ve spent listening on the Pocket Casts iPhone App, where I consume about 90% of my podcasts (the other 10% on the Apple Podcast App and YouTube), in the past six years alone.

Total Listening Time: 93 days, 1 hour (or 2,232 hours or 133,920 minutes)

Total Time Saved by Skipping Ads and Listening at Increased Speeds (my average listening speed is around 1.8x): 70 days, 21 hours (or 1,701 hours or 102,060 minutes)

Total “Real Time” Listening (how much time if I listened at normal speed minus skipping): 154 days, 23 hours (or 3,719 hours or 223,140 minutes)

Using the last number, out of the 2,190 days in the last six years, I’ve listened to ~155 days’ worth of podcasts.

This comes out to an average of 1.7 hours per day over six years.

Podcasts are, admittedly, a preferred form of entertainment for me. I listen to them instead of music most of the time: in the gym, in the car, walking, on planes, while cooking or cleaning, etc.

Even with my deep love for podcasts and the staggering hours I've logged, I sometimes question the tangible returns.

The reason being that it’s simply my way to binge on information. Information that I likely will forget tomorrow and will rarely act on. Rather than fully immersing myself in activities like working out, enjoying nature, or mindfully tackling daily tasks, I find solace in the distracting embrace of 'content'.

My ego loves this. It feels good “learning”, listening to experts talk about who knows what.

This isn’t entirely dissimilar to being addicted to reality television, social media, celebrity gossip, political news, or any other type of information binge behavior.

While I may think it’s a more useful way to spend my time, it’s not much different from anything else that distracts you from the present moment.

Why, then, do I continue to listen at a such a prolific level?

Ah, the million-dollar question. I guess I've mastered the mental gymnastics it takes to hit play on the next pod instead of going for the walk sans distractions. Let's face it; it's 'easier' to treat the mind to podcast delights during daily activities, and for that, I'm kind of grateful.

Who hasn't felt that discomfort of having a minute to themselves with nothing to do… no phone, nobody to talk to, nothing interesting to look at, nothing to read.

In these moments you come face to face with YOU, your true self, the awareness behind the mask of the ego who always needs to be entertained.

It's that state you encounter in meditation, practicing mindfulness, and embracing moments of serene solitude. Beautiful states to be sure, but they can be anxiety-inducing for many.

This serves as a reminder for me to acknowledge that my podcast binging behavior is one way my ego likes to remain in the driver’s seat and that is OK sometimes as long as I am aware of that and willing to make that tradeoff anyway.

It’s a reminder to think twice before mindlessly pressing play when instead I could drop into a state of presence/stillness/oneness.

Can you recognize similar behavior in your own life?? Are there things you’re “addicted” to where you mindlessly give away control of your attention?

Would it be helpful to you to a) be more aware of these moments and/or b) try to see what’s it like to minimize them?

Now, we’ve taken a stroll through what some might call the 'dark side' of podcasts—the side where you're swept away in an endless audio stream, almost forgetting to be present. Guilty as charged, that’s been me.

But, let’s not forget the flip side. I still adore my podcasts.

And, considering my health-focused newsletter thrives on the wisdom gleaned from these podcasts, this podcast issue of course has to include a list of my absolute go-to's that have been my audio companions for almost half a decade.

Here are some of my favorite podcasts:

Ben Greenfield Life: There was no way I could leave off this podcast, which I’ve been consistently listening to since Ben started it. He’s a well-known “influencer” in the health, wellness, and biohacking spaces that has churned out countless articles, books, and podcasts that offer a comprehensive look into physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental health.

His magnum opus, “Boundless: Upgrade Your Brain, Optimize Your Body & Defy Aging” is a book I refer back to often.

Some of the recent podcast episodes I enjoyed were “Why You Should Try Sleeping on the Floor, the ‘Furniture-Free’ Home, Building a Better Butt, Smartphone Solutions, and More with Katy Bowman”, “Q&A 461: Spicy Stuff for Fat Loss, The Power of ‘Micro-Workouts’, Growing a Bigger Penis, Are Bluetooth Headphones Bad for You & Much More!”, and “Fringe Minerals From Dirt & Why You Need Them: The Full Story Behind Fulvic & Humic Acid, with BEAM Mineral’s Caroline Alan.”

Buddha at the Gas Pump: In this podcast, Rick Archer interviews “ordinary” people who are undergoing or have undergone a shift to a more awakened state of consciousness. These far-ranging conversations are fascinating to me. Everybody “awakens” differently and hearing the individual stories are equal parts entertaining and inspiring.

Some recent episodes that I enjoyed include “Bob Harwood”, “Chris Niebauer”, and “Daniel Stone on Meher Baba.”

The Energy Balance Podcast: I’ve been linking to this podcast a lot recently because the world of bioenergetics is an area of high interest for me now. Jay and Mike are college buddies who do an excellent job of arguing for the importance of maximizing your cellular energy for optimal health. Their viewpoints are way different than what you’d hear from mainstream medicine, but are supported by research and first hand experience.

Some recent episodes I loved include “How Cortisol Affects Your Mitochondria & Acute vs. Chronic Stress”, “The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fruit Juice and the Hormonal Effects of PUFA vs. SFA,” and “How Much Exercise is Too Much From the Bioenergetic View.”

Extreme Health Radio: Justin Stellman has been hosting this podcast forever and has such an eclectic mix of alternative health practitioners as guests. If you are at all curious about the edges of the health world, this is a great place to start.

Some recent episodes to check out include “Danny Roddy-- Sugar Feeds Our Cells, PUFAs are Poison, Hormones, & A Bioenergetic Concept of Health”, “Dr. Bradley Nelson- Conquering Emotional Eating and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using the Body Code System”, and “Dr. Jack Kruse- The Overwhelming Dangers of 5G, Why Light is the Only Thing You Should Be Concerned About & More.”

The Life Stylist with Luke Storey: Another one I’ve been listening to for years, Luke is an ex-LA fashion stylist turned biohacker turned holistic health educator. Luke isn’t afraid to speak his truth about the state of the world, including the potential dangers posed by EMF’s, chemtrails, circumcision, blue light, and tap water, to name a few.

He also shares so much wonderful, cutting-edge health information that you just don’t see in most places. Some of these topics include home water filtration demystified, flower essences, neurofeedback, facing our death phobia, safe psychedelic use, non-toxic skin care, infrared sauna therapy, frequency healing, heart coherence, tons of supplement deep dives, holistic dentistry, stem cell treatment, mysticism, biohacking women’s biorhythms, quantum technology, and so much more.

Living 4D with Paul Chek: A world-renowned expert in holistic wellness, Chek would receive votes for “most interesting man in the world.” While more widely known for his contributions to the health and fitness world, including his Holistic Lifestyle certifications, Chek more often dives into metaphysical and spiritual topics in his podcast.

Some recent conversations I enjoyed include “Paul Levy: Undreaming Wetiko”, “Jonathan Goldman: Healing with Sound”, and “Jason Prall: Beyond Longevity.”

Take Control of Your Health with Dr. Mercola: Dr. Joseph Mercola has been a leading natural health pioneer for well over 20 years. He has been at odds with the western medical model for the majority of that time but that hasn’t stopped him from spreading the good word about how to take control of your own health.

Some recent conversations I enjoyed include “Intro to the Bioenergetic Theory of Health- Discussion Between Jay Feldman & Dr. Mercola”, “Crucial Facts About Your Metabolism- Discussion Between Georgi Dinkov & Dr. Mercola”, and “How Endotoxins and Estrogen Can Wreck Your Health- Discussion Between Kashif Khan & Dr. Mercola.”

Some others…..

A Course in Miracles With Keith: A podcast 100% about the famed 1970’s spiritual classic. Lots of metaphysical discussion with practical examples.

The Energy Blueprint Podcast: Ari Whitten hosts this podcast that tackles a wide range of health related topics including methylene blue, mitochondrial function, healing from autoimmune disease, and more.

The Gillett Health Podcast: A frequent guest on Andrew Huberman’s podcast, Kyle Gillett and his co-host James O’Hara are excellent at simplifying complex health topics. They give reasoned arguments, offer practical suggestions, and often pump the brakes on overhyped health interventions.

The Minimalists Podcast: Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn host this podcast which espouses simple living by helping people eliminate clutter and live meaningfully with less.

Muscle Intelligence Podcast: More than just a muscle bro podcast, Ben Pakulski is an ex-bodybuilder who has guests from all over the map onto his podcast. In addition to tons of health and fitness conversations, you can also find podcasts on light medicine, business building, mindset and leadership, and much more.

Wellness + Wisdom Podcast: I resonate with the host, Josh Trent, who was a longtime personal trainer who moved into the deeper waters of what he calls “The Pentagon of Wellness”— Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, + Financial. Plenty of conversations to dig into with this one.

Wild Health Podcast: Hosted by Drs. Mike Mallin and Matt Dawson, this pod is great at bringing new ideas into the western medicine model. They offer a unique health care offering out of their offices in Kentucky and also have a health coach certification program that is top of the barrel, in my opinion. The podcast is a natural extension of their healthcare practice.

I also listen to popular shows like “The Tim Ferriss Show”, “The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey”, “The Huberman Lab Podcast”, “The Rich Roll Podcast”, among many others!

Yep, that’s a lot, and I didn’t even include sports podcasts, language learning podcasts, business/finance podcasts, and some more esoteric listens.

Amid the ceaseless flow of podcasts and a dedicated reading routine, there's a constant surge of information engulfing my thoughts. Navigating this overflow and translating it into practical actions is an ever-evolving experiment.

Luckily, I've managed to reframe my abundant consumption as “entertainment,” where I consciously invest my time in information intake without the lingering guilt.

So, if I can absorb and apply new ideas, draw inspiration from personal stories, find something shareable with my friends/family/audience, or learn from individuals contributing to my growth, it’s a bonus.

While it might not rival the benefits of mindful silence for inner growth, I see it as a superior alternative to drowning in hours of music, indulging in mindless TV, or succumbing to the relentless 24/7 news cycle.

Anthony de Mello, S.J. (1931–1987), was an Indian Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. He gained international acclaim for his spiritual teachings and writings on spirituality and self-awareness. De Mello blended Christian theology with Eastern philosophies, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, self-discovery, and the pursuit of inner freedom.

His best-known works include "Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality" and "The Way to Love." De Mello’s teachings continue to inspire individuals seeking personal and spiritual growth.

For nearly nine hours of priceless de Mello nuggets…..

His book “Awareness” is one of the few books I’ve re-read, and here are some of my favorite passages:

“There’s nothing so important in the world as awakening. Nothing!”

“We’re surrounded with joy, with happiness, with love. Most people have no idea of this whatsoever. The reason: They’re brainwashed. The reason: They’re hypnotized; they’re asleep.”

“Want to wake up? You want happiness? You want freedom? Here it is: Drop your false ideas. See through people. If you see through yourself, you will see through everyone. Then you will love them. Otherwise you spend the whole time grappling with your wrong notions of them, with your illusions that are constantly crashing against reality.”

“Part of waking up is that you live your life as you see fit. And understand: That is not selfish. The selfish thing is to demand that someone else live their life as YOU see fit. That’s selfish. It is not selfish to live your life as you see fit.”

“How liberating it is not to depend emotionally on anything. If you could get one second’s experience of that, you’d be breaking through your prison and getting a glimpse of the sky. Someday, maybe, you will even fly.”

“The reason you suffer from your depression and your anxieties is that you identify with them. You say, ‘I’m depressed.’ But that is false. You are not depressed. If you want to be accurate, you might say, ‘I am experiencing a depression right now.’ But you can hardly say, ‘I am depressed.’ You are not your depression.”

“When we were young, we were programmed to unhappiness. They taught us that in order to be happy you need money, success, a beautiful or handsome partner in life, a good job, friendship, spirituality, God—you name it. Unless you get these things, you’re not going to be happy, we were told. Now, that is what I call an attachment. An attachment is a belief that without something you are not going to be happy. Once you get convinced of that—and it gets into our subconscious, it gets stamped into the roots of our being—you are finished.”

“Do you think you help people because you are in love with them? Well, I’ve got news for you. You are never in love with anyone. You’re only in love with your prejudiced and hopeful idea of that person. Take a minute to think about that: You are never in love with anyone, you’re in love with your prejudiced idea of that person.”

“Do you want to change the world? How about beginning with yourself? How about being transformed yourself first? But how do you achieve that? Through observation. Through understanding. With no interference or judgment on your part. Because what you judge you cannot understand.”

“As you identify less and less with the ‘I,’ you will be more at ease with everybody and with everything. Do you know why? Because you are no longer afraid of being hurt or not liked. You no longer desire to impress anyone. Can you imagine the relief when you don’t have to impress anybody anymore? Oh, what a relief. Happiness at last!”

“A nice definition of an awakened person: a person who no longer marches to the drums of society, a person who dances to the tune of the music that springs up from within.”

“We see people and things not as they are, but as we are. That is why when two people look at something or someone, you get two different reactions.”

“Freedom lies not in external circumstances; freedom resides in the heart. When you have attained wisdom, who can enslave you?”

𝕏 Thread of the Week:

I haven’t tried any of them but they all sound pretty interesting!

💪 Embracing a healthy lifestyle, even later in life, is associated with reduced mortality and increased longevity: This study showed that among individuals with low genetic risk, adopting a healthy lifestyle contributed to a 3.84-year increase in life expectancy, while those with high genetic risk experienced a boost of 4.35 years. It’s never too late to take actions to improve your health.

🐄 A Milk Manifesto: This excellent article, complete with over 40 scientific references, argues that there are several health-promoting compounds that are only found in milk and that drinking pasture-raised milk is more vegan than eating vegetables. “The consumption of milk from regeneratively farmed, pasture-raised cows on minimally perturbed fields of grass has the best calorie-to-animal death ratio of any food, including plants.”

🤗 Commonly Recommended “Happiness” Strategies Lack Evidence: This article reviewed common practices people undergo to improve happiness levels, like expressing gratitude, enhancing sociability, exercising, practicing mindfulness/meditation, and increasing nature exposure. The authors found “that a strong scientific foundation is lacking for some of the most commonly recommended happiness strategies.”

You cannot find happiness “out there”. It is not found in something outside of yourself, despite the never-ending attempts at trying. You can be happy while doing those activities but will not become happy as a result of them.

🥩 Older Men May Require More Protein Than Younger Men: This study found “that healthy older men are less sensitive to low protein intakes and require a greater relative protein intake, in a single meal, than young men to maximally stimulate postprandial rates of MPS (muscle protein synthesis). To maintain muscle and anabolism, older men may need 2-3x more protein!

✔️ That will do it for this time! Hopefully you got some value out of it. If you have any questions/comments/things you’d like to learn more about please don’t hesitate to reach out.

🔗 If you know anyone who loves learning about these types of topics, send them this link!

📰 To read all past newsletters, go here.