The Rich Roll Podcast

The James Bond of filmmaking, Louie Psihoyos is an Academy Award winning documentarian with a track record of putting his life at risk to create weapons of mass instruction designed to thrill—and forge positive change. One of the most interesting people I have ever met, Louie took home the Oscar for The Cove, an Ocean's 11-esque thriller that powerfully exposed the gruesome underbelly of the Japanese dolphin trade. Louie also documented the rise of the plant-based athlete in the James Cameron produced Netflix hit, The Gamechangers and powerfully drew attention to mass species extinction in 2015's Racing Extinction. Today he shares his remarkable story. Why he puts his life on the line for causes most urgent. And what he hopes to achieve as a result. This is a conversation about harnessing the power of story to spark action, ignite social change, and challenge cultural norms. It's an honor to share Louie's powerful perspective with you today—may it incite you to action. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsl

How can you consciously evolve long-term relationships? Returning to answer this question and other spiritual, romantic, and philosophical inquiries is the high priestess herself, Julie Piatt. Longtime listeners are well-acquainted with my wife’s mystical ways with wisdom, but if this is your first introduction to the one who goes by SriMati, she is an accomplished yogi, musician, chef, and mom to our four children. She’s also the bestselling author of three vegan cookbooks, hosts the For The Life of Me Podcast, provides spiritual counsel via her Water Tiger community, and is the founder & CEO of SriMu, the best and only plant-based cheese you need to concern yourself with. Today’s conversation centers on intimacy in relationships. Through the lens of our twenty-three years together we discuss how to intentionally evolve a long-term relationship beyond calcified habits, routines, expectations, and projections—and summon the courage to truly see and allow yourself to be seen by and with your partner. We also d

Many have attempted the brutal 3,000+ mile transcontinental run across the U.S. Few have completed it. And even fewer have crushed it with the style and swagger of today’s guest William Goodge, who ran from Los Angeles to New York in a blazing 55 days and somehow made it look fun.  His endurance resume also includes running 50 marathons in 50 days, circumnavigating Lake Cuomo, Italy, and running from Land’s End to John O’Groats—all to raise funds for cancer research in honor of his mother. What I find most compelling about Will isn’t just his athletic accomplishments and the mission behind them. It’s that he’s actively defying the archetype of how ultrarunners should look and behave with an infectious energy and unique style that is completely his own. A former model sporting a muscled physique uncommon among endurance athletes, Will much prefers Paris Fashion Week and high tea at Claridge’s to camping. He’s keen to share his skincare routine with you and isn’t afraid to rock a Prada man purse. He cuts a diff

Every once in a while there’s a generational thinker that emerges from the most unlikely of places. Someone capable of straddling the complexities of new industries without losing their grasp on historical and cultural perspectives. A person willing to forge new paths in new ways toward a brighter future for all. Ed Catmull is one such generational thinker. As co-founder of Pixar and later as President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Ed played a key role in shaping a unique company culture of collaboration and creativity. He’s a mastermind of innovation, a pioneer of groundbreaking technology, and a leader when it comes to using great storytelling to forge a better world. If you’ve ever been captivated by the beloved films Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, you have Ed to thank for that. Today we discuss the leadership and management principles that built Pixar’s unique and successful studio. More specifically, we talk about the insights that fueled Ed’s career, the workplace practice

It’s time to grapple with the absurdity of life, the nature of reality, truth, consciousness, and the hard problems that perplex humanity. Here to add a healthy dose of humor, wit, and wisdom to this week’s inquiry is one of my favorite humans, Pete Holmes. A stand-up king with a cornucopia of comedy specials, including HBO’s Faces and Sounds, Dirty Clean, and the CBS sitcom How We Roll, Pete is best known as the creator and star of the semi-autobiographical critically acclaimed HBO show Crashing which he created alongside friend of the pod Judd Apatow. In addition, he hosts the You Made It Weird podcast and is the author of the bestselling memoir, Comedy Sex God. Pete is also working on a new comedy special worthy of your attention entitled, 'I’m Not For Everyone', which drops on Netflix October 24th. Today we talk about everything from spirituality to comedy, creativity, consciousness, fatherhood, and the many disorientations of mid-life. More specifically, we talk about how parenthood changes your perspect

Your darkest moments will either break you beyond repair—or make you stronger. This was the choice faced by Steph Catudal as she navigated mortality, motherhood, and the search for self while her husband—beloved ultra-runner Tommy Rivs—battled a rare form of lung cancer that nearly took his life. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, Steph relates the intimacies of this experience in her New York Times bestselling memoir, Everything All At Once—an arresting, must-read perspective on trauma, rebellion, faith, tragedy and the painful struggle to identify one’s place in the world. If you count yourself among the millions deeply impacted by Tommy Rivs’ brush with death and return to life—one of the most beloved episodes the history of this podcast—then today’s conversation is non-negotiable. This is a conversation about the big things in life: trauma, death, grief, pain, identity and faith. An artist with words, Steph shares the details of her complicated upbringing, the loss of faith that catalyzed a decade of rebellio

A full-blown epidemic in the developed world, diabetes currently afflicts an astonishing 37 million people in the U.S. alone, and 1 in 5 Americans don’t even know they have it. An astonishing 96 million US adults (over one-third) have pre-diabetes, with the rate of Type 2 diagnoses among adults more than doubling in the last 20 years. To better understand this epidemic of metabolic dysfunction, I sat down with exercise physiologist, sports scientist, and Type 1 diabetic Drew Harrisberg. Diagnosed at 22, Drew shares his story, along with the diet and lifestyle changes he relies upon to thrive with his condition—changes he details and recommends not just for Type 1 diabetics but for anyone and everyone concerned about metabolic health and how to improve it. We go deep into the physiology of diabetes, the differences between Type 1, Type 2, and pre-diabetes, and what can be prevented or reversed versus managed through lifestyle, movement, mindset, and nutrition. We also discuss how diet and lifestyle impact bloo

Beloved icon of stage and screen, my guest today is the singular Sir Patrick Stewart. The knighted Shakespeare thespian, captain of the Starship Enterprise, international treasure, and master storyteller is here and brings conversational delights lifted from 83 years of life. Today Patrick shares tales from his humble beginnings, how theatre saved him, and how childhood trauma informed his career and led to his passion for mental health advocacy. We also discuss legacy, longevity, honing your craft, the importance of mentorship, and his unique friendship with Sir Ian McKellen. We of course dive into some epic Star Trek stories and explore why the series is so indelible—which naturally led to thoughts on UFOs and the ghost that he is absolutely convinced took up residence in his Silverlake home.  The occasion for today’s exchange is Patrick’s brand new memoir, Making It So—an excellent read that traces the improbable story of his life from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywoo

Today Arnold Schwarzenegger shares tales from his extraordinary life, how he reached the pinnacle of success in three different careers, and why his 4th act is leveraging his influence to forge a better world. The occasion for this conversation is the publication of his new book, Be Useful—a primer on the principles that catapulted him into a generational icon and why service is the path to meaning and purpose. This conversation covers the vision, work ethic, and salesmanship that Arnold deployed to become the world’s greatest bodybuilder, the top-grossing action star in Hollywood, and the highest elected official in California. We discuss reinvention, the importance of selling yourself, and how giving back became his paramount focus. We go deep on how he thinks about the influence he wields—and why usefulness and positivity are the antidotes to unhappiness and apathy. Arnold also shares thoughts on confidence, ego, and leadership. Why his friendship with James Cameron is so special—and how it led to Arnold’

I think it’s safe to say that many people are suffering, not just from major public health concerns and economic hardship, but also from loneliness—the prevalence of which has skyrocketed in recent years. Studies indicate that about half of U.S. adults have reported experiencing loneliness. The impact of this extends beyond a decline in mental health, increasing the risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke, and even premature death. It’s a problem today’s guest has officially labeled an epidemic—and has made his mission to ameliorate. Meet the 21st Surgeon General of the United States, Vice Admiral Dr. Vivek Murthy. Today Dr. Murthy explains how we arrived at this juncture of disconnection and why it is so vitally important to redress. We also discuss the compound effects of loneliness on our health as individuals and as a society, and what we can do to engender our lives with more connection, companionship, and community. It was an honor to host an important conversation with such an esteemed individual. I wa

Imagine a young singer-songwriter of global acclaim—someone like Justin Timberlake or Shawn Mendes. Except this star also happens to be an elite athlete with an Olympic dream. It sounds like fiction. But this is the true story of Cody Simpson. Superstardom within reach, Cody Simpson put his guitar down and traded Hollywood for the black line at the bottom of a pool with one singular goal in mind: to compete in the Olympics. It's the story of a chlorine-soaked little kid who became a global star. He traveled the world, performed before massive crowds, modeled for luxury brands, even acted on Broadway and in movies and television. But something was missing. Out of an instinct for survival, he proceeded to do what many would consider unthinkable. He walked away from all of it. He couldn’t shake the feeling of what might have been had he not forsaken the Speedo for the stage and decided to do something about it. World-class competitive swimming is a sport in which the elite never dare to take more than a month of

Everyone wants more happiness in their life, but most pursue it incorrectly, mistakenly believing it can be found in places like the promotion or the bank account. Instead, happiness is the by-product of pursuits less appreciated. Like the quality of your relationships with friends and family. Doing hard things. Creating value for others. And being in communion with the transcendent. Here to help us better orient our lives towards happiness is Arthur C. Brooks, returning for round two on the podcast. Arthur is a social scientist, in-demand public speaker, and professor at both the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School where he teaches courses on leadership, happiness, and social entrepreneurship. In addition, he is the creator of the popular How to Build a Life column for The Atlantic, and the author of 13 books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller From Strength to Strength. His latest offering—a book he co-authored with Oprah Winfrey—is entitled, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Scien

Today we’re going to deep deep into the world of business leadership and personal development with a truly extraordinary person—entrepreneur, renowned speaker, investor, and the host of the UK’s No.1 podcast Diary of a CEO, Steven Bartlett. For the uninitiated, Steven is the co-founder of Flight Story, a marketing and communications company that works with some of the world’s most cutting-edge brands, as well as ThirdWeb, a San Francisco-based software company, and the venture enterprise FlightFund. He is the youngest ever host of Dragon’s Den (UK’s version of Shark Tank), he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and has delivered talks for the UN, SXSW, and TEDx. But Steven’s formal bio fails to tell the story of how an outcast kid with very little means who dropped out of university would go on to become not only a wildly successful entrepreneur whose ongoing concerns generate hundreds of millions in revenue—but also a genuine thought leader on everything from business and leadership to personal grow

Determined to bring transparency and accountability to Big Tech, in 2021 Frances Haugen risked everything to blow the whistle on Facebook. She copied tens of thousands of pages of documents that revealed that the social media giant had accidentally changed its algorithm to reward extremism. Even worse, Facebook knew its customers were using the platform to foment violence and spread falsehoods—and refused to fix it. Frances testified to Congress and spoke to the media. She was hailed at President Biden’s first State of the Union Address. She made sure everyone understood exactly what the documents showed. And she set an example for standing in truth and doing what is right for the greater good. Today we dive into the nuanced impact of social media on society. We talk about why algorithms prioritize extreme content and Facebook’s own complicity in radicalization and political violence around the world. We explore the tools available to combat these issues, including what Big Tech can do to prioritize user cons

We tend to think professional athletes live perfect, charmed lives. Genetically gifted, they effortlessly conquer physical challenges with confidence, propelled by physiques unattainable by mere mortals. From the outside looking in, Tim Tollefson is one such example.  One of the world’s most successful ultra-runners, Tim has a slew of impressive race victories to his name. These accomplishments matched with his winning smile and handsome looks would lead anyone to believe that he’s an exemplar of strength and health. But behind it all, Tim has waged a private, two-decade-long battle with body dysmorphia and disordered eating that not only compromised his athleticism, but completely debilitated him, producing a never-ending cycle of anxiety, loneliness, and self-hatred. Today Tim shares his experiences and the path he’s forged to reclaim his sense of self-worth and balance in a world (and sport) that pushes us to extremes. He opens up about his decision to go public with his struggles, the role of social media

From global disruptions to individual life changes, transformation—both good and bad—is happening constantly. Here to offer us a path for embracing life’s inherent instability is Brad Stulberg—a sustainable excellence expert, human performance coach, and bestselling author returning for his fourth appearance on the pod. Today we talk about how to embrace transformation, cultivate resilience, and adapt to an ever-changing world. We also explore rugged flexibility, tragic optimism, adopting a flexible identity over time, how to navigate big life changes successfully, the perils of biohacking, and many other fascinating topics. Amidst the chaos and confusion of self-help, I find Brad to be a principled voice of reason. This conversation is overflowing with evidence-based, practical, and actionable life counsel. My hope is that some of the tactics shared help you not only navigate difficult circumstances but help facilitate the emergence of meaning and growth. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-U

Even in the darkest moments, there exists the potential for redemption, rebuilding, and the reclamation of one’s life. Today’s guest is a living embodiment of this truth. Meet Osher Günsberg—one of the most celebrated television hosts and media personalities in Australia.  Longtime listeners may recall Osher’s first appearance on the podcast over nine years ago (episode #76) where we discussed his journey to the big stage and his transformation from being a chubby kid to a plant-powered, marathon-running host of Australian Idol. Shortly after that conversation, Osher experienced a public psychotic breakdown that left him terrified, distressed and convinced the world was coming to an end. But rather than hide this experience and internalize his struggles with his mental health and substance abuse, Osher bravely began to talk openly about his recovery. Today he shares that terrifying experience in vivid detail, what happened, how he clawed his way back to sanity, and the hard-earned lessons he’s garnered along

With over 400 triathlons to her name, today's guest Lesley Paterson is a 3x XTERRA Triathlon World Champion and 2x World Triathlon Cross Champion. But if you asked about her greatest test of endurance, it wouldn’t be a race. It would be chasing an Oscar. For 16 years during her professional triathlon career, Lesley fought to secure and maintain the film rights to All Quiet on the Western Front out of her own pocket from race winnings. She wrote and rewrote the script, and despite the odds stacked heavily against her, never gave up on her dream of getting the movie made. After many years of starts and stops the film was finally released and took home four Oscars and seven BAFTAs—including one for best-adapted screenplay (this was Lesley’s first screenplay might I add). All of which is a testament to her patience, discipline, and hard work. Lesley’s relentless persistence is the focus of today’s conversation, along with the importance of self-belief, playing the long game, and the ‘never quit’ drive required to

Here to guide us toward an evidence-based, rational model for nutritional health and teach us how to distinguish good nutrition science is one of the world’s leading and most innovative researchers, Christopher Gardner, Ph.D. Dr. Gardner is the Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and a Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. He's been researching the health effects of a plant-based diet for 20 years, and his research has provided significant and practical health insights to better inform our everyday dietary decisions. Today we dive into the following topics: What we know and don’t know about diet, weight loss, obesity, diabetes, heart & metabolic health; the diet wars: plant-based vs. carnivore vs. Mediterranean & low-fat vs. low carb; common misconceptions about protein requirements; the importance of personalized nutrition and finding a sustainable diet for long-term success; what makes a rigorous scientific study and why knowing a

Welcome to ‘Roll On’—the semi-regular version of the podcast where we ramble on matters of interest across culture, sports, art, literature, politics, self-betterment, and more. My co-host is Mr. Adam Skolnick, an activist, veteran journalist, author of One Breath, and David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished co-author. Adam writes about adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. Today we exchange updates on personal goings on, discuss listener questions, welcome UK radio legend Chris Evans to the table, and share the whys and hows of my new creative partnership with Swiss sportswear brand On. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Timeline Nutrition: TimelineNutrition.com/RICHROLL On: On.com/richroll AG1: DrinkAG1.com/RICHROLL Indeed: Indeed.com/RICHROLL Plant Power Meal Planner: https://meals.richroll.com Peace + Plants, Rich