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Discover how to become a humble, hungry, happy person, that kicks ass into your 90s.

In this episode, world-class strength & conditioning coach Ben Bergeron shares his holistic approach to long-term fitness, strength, and mental resilience. Learn how creating supportive environments, building strong connections, and focusing on key pillars—eat, sleep, train, think, connect—can help you crush your goals and stay fit for life. Whether you're training for life's challenges or simply want to feel great and pain-free, Ben’s insights will inspire you to kick ass into your 90s. Don’t miss this motivational deep dive into optimizing health and happiness!

• Why elite performance is about sustainability, not intensity
• How discipline creates freedom in training and leadership
• The difference between being busy and being effective
• Why emotional regulation is a performance skill
• How to avoid burnout while still pushing limits
• What world-class athletes understand about consistency
• Why values-based systems outperform motivation

(00:00) - Intro

(02:49) - Key System Mistakes for Everyday Athletes

(09:35) - Creating a Movement Rich Environment

(10:44) - Feeling Seen and Sense of Belonging

(17:45) - Building Community in Fitness

(18:50) - Evolution of Training Philosophy

(20:50) - Embracing "Yes, And" in Fitness

(22:56) - Shifts in Ben’s Fitness Perspective

(25:28) - Best Practices in Training Implementation

(28:58) - Changes in the Fitness Landscape Over 20 Years

(32:17) - Fitness as a Standalone Discipline

(35:03) - Hydration with LMNT

(37:35) - Momentous: Creatine Chews

(46:01) - Importance of Fun in Training

(47:00) - Squatting and Deadlifting After 40

(50:03) - Current Obsessions in Fitness

(52:36) - Character vs Personality in Training

(58:21) - Training Character Development

(01:01:00) - Changing Your Mindset for Fitness

(01:05:30) - Transformative Impact of Training Methods

(01:09:40) - Infinite Shelf

(01:11:39) - Finding Ben Online

(01:13:06) - Join the Starrett System

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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Did you know your oral health is directly tied to your longevity?

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Kenny Brown, Stanford-educated oral and maxillofacial surgeon, unpacks the shocking link between dental hygiene and overall health and wellness. Discover how bacteria in your mouth can impact your heart, brain, gut, and even reproductive system, and why gum disease could be silently affecting your body’s performance. Learn the dos and don’ts of brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning, bust common oral health myths, and explore groundbreaking innovations like the Feno Smartbrush that could revolutionize your routine. Whether it’s preventing chronic inflammation or improving systemic health, this episode is packed with actionable tips that could transform your wellness journey. Don’t miss out—your health starts here!

• Why oral bacteria travel to the heart, brain, joints, and gut
• The difference between brushing “daily” and brushing correctly
• Why only 3 out of 10 people brush properly — and just 1 in 10 floss
• What bleeding gums actually mean (hint: inflammation, not “brushing too hard”)
• The connection between gum disease and chronic illness, diabetes, heart conditions, and preterm labor
• Why panoramic X-rays and cone-beam CT scans matter
• How root canals can hide silent infections
• Whether oral care is improving or declining — and why
• How Zyn, vaping, and nicotine damage gum tissue and affect wellness
• Why nasal breathing and airway health matter for kids and adults
• The future of oral hygiene: AI, microbiome testing, and automated brushing

(00:00) - Intro

(00:39) - How Often to Brush Teeth

(04:10) - Mouth as Gateway to the Body

(09:12) - Proper Tooth Brushing Techniques

(11:39) - Importance of Flossing

(13:03) - Benefits of Mouthwash

(14:15) - Manual vs. Electric Toothbrush

(15:34) - Teeth Whitening

(17:03) - Understanding Root Canals

(22:17) - Oral Health and Overall Wellness

(29:40) - Hope for Non-Flossers

(31:52) - Gum and Dental Health

(33:55) - Effects of Mouth Breathing

(38:39) - Nicotine and Oral Health Risks

(44:32) - Innovations in Oral Care

(47:19) - Current Trends in Oral Health

(55:22) - A book for our Infinite Shelf

(57:11) - Finding Dr. Kenny Brown

(58:28) - The Starrett System’s Durability Challenge

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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What if strength isn’t just physical, but emotional and cultural too?

Award-winning journalist Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim and On Muscle, explores how our muscles tell the story of who we are — our adaptability, creativity, and joy in motion.

On this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett sit down with Bonnie to unpack how muscle links the brain and body and reshapes how we think about strength, beauty, and being alive.

• Why muscle is more than physical strength — it’s an endocrine organ that communicates with the brain.
• How Bonnie’s unconventional childhood shaped her lifelong fascination with the body.
• The cultural myths that still shape how we view women’s bodies and power.
• Why play and access to movement are essential across every stage of life.
• How muscle’s adaptability makes it a symbol of hope and renewal.
• The one simple practice Bonnie recommends for everyone: “Lift something heavy for you”

(00:00) - Intro

(01:25) - Importance of Muscle

(03:52) - Parental Influence on Fitness

(07:56) - Debunking Muscle Myths

(12:35) - Understanding Muscle Physiology

(15:52) - Surprising Facts About Muscle

(18:50) - Women and Muscle Development

(23:15) - Trends in Women's Fitness

(27:38) - Access and Inclusion in Fitness

(30:11) - Resilience of Muscle Tissue

(31:13) - Muscle Regeneration Process

(32:44) - Interview with Matthew Sanford

(37:10) - Curiosity in Muscle Science

(43:28) - Daily Muscle Care Tips

(45:47) - Closing Remarks

(47:14) - Bonnie adds a book to our Infinite Shelf

(48:00) - Connecting with Bonnie

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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Behind every great movement is a trained visual system. Your eyes aren’t just for seeing — they’re tools for balance, reaction, and control. When they’re not working in sync with your brain and body, everything from focus to performance suffers.

In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Bryce Appelbaum — a neuro-optometrist specializing in functional vision — joins Juliet and Kelly Starrett to break down how your visual system drives everything from reaction time to recovery. He explains how training the eyes and brain together can improve coordination, balance, and focus under pressure. Whether you’re coming back from a concussion or looking to level up your athletic edge, this episode will open your eyes to the hidden system behind performance.

• What functional vision training is (and how it differs from standard eye exams)
• Why vision is a skill — not just a sense
• How concussions and screen time can disrupt your visual system
• The surprising ways vision affects posture, balance, and coordination
• Practical tools to improve visual endurance and reaction time
• How athletes can train their eyes like any other muscle
• Why vision issues are often misdiagnosed as ADHD

(00:00) - Intro

(01:48) - Vision Misunderstandings

(05:14) - Training Eyesight Without Glasses

(10:27) - Identifying Children's Vision Problems

(15:44) - Causes of Reading Fatigue

(18:54) - Increasing Vision Changes Trends

(23:33) - Healthy Vision Training Routine

(27:35) - Sponsor: Momentous

(30:29) - Sponsor: LMNT

(32:45) - Duration for Effective Vision Training

(38:02) - Secrets to Regular Bowel Movements

(44:06) - Understanding Concussions

(50:30) - Getting Help for Concussions

(53:20) - Functional Vision as a Competitive Advantage

(56:20) - Finding Dr. Bryce

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

Rob Wilson is a performance educator with over twenty years of experience helping people build durable, high-functioning bodies and minds. He joins us on The Ready State Podcast to unpack the uncomfortable truth about performance: it’s not free. In this powerful conversation with Kelly and Juliet Starrett, Rob dives into the real price of pushing your limits, why sleep is non-negotiable, and how to reframe “selfish” self-care as the foundation for showing up better in every area of life. Together, they tackle burnout, aging, and what it takes to sustain health and high output in a world that rewards constant hustle.

• The three waves of fitness, and why Rob Wilson's book represents the vanguard of the third wave.
• The problem with the democratization of health metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) if you don't know how to interpret the data or take action.
• The story behind the "Check Engine Light" metaphor, which helps high performers prioritize what to address and what to ignore.
• Why the phrase "self-care" often fails with service-oriented and high-performing individuals and the analogy used instead.
• The "Cobra Effect" or Goodhart's Law, and how chasing a metric like a high HRV can lead to misleading and useless outcomes.
• How to stop the "medical cascade" and apply an experimental framework (test/retest) to chronic, nagging pain and everyday health issues.
• The true cost of high performance and the crucial need for a "cost mitigation strategy" to avoid burnout.
• Why context matters more than perfect protocols, and how to create a personal longevity dashboard for continuous adaptation.

For more info, follow Rob on Instagram and definitely pick up a copy of his new book, Check Engine Light: Tuning Your Body and Mind to Achieve Performance Longevity.

(00:00) - Intro

(00:48) - Check Engine Light Book Overview

(06:49) - Check Engine Light Metaphor Explained

(14:06) - Importance of Check Engine Light for Everyone

(17:49) - Inputs and Outputs in Life

(20:37) - One Size Fits All Approach: Myth or Reality?

(25:25) - Identifying What Matters Most to You

(27:28) - Performance Costs: Understanding Trade-offs

(29:27) - Recommended Supplements for Health

(32:55) - LMNT: Importance of Hydration Explained

(37:10) - Resistance: Creativity's Universal Challenge

(39:48) - Becoming Reasonable: A Personal Journey

(45:18) - Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Benefits Explained

(47:15) - Using Tracking Devices Mindfully

(49:57) - The Cobra Effect: Understanding Consequences

(57:55) - Setting Up Environments for Success

(1:00:20) - Changes Since Writing the Book

(1:03:14) - What's Next for Rob: Future Plans

(1:04:30) - Finding Rob: Where to Connect

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

In a world where “one-size-fits-all” health advice dominates, women are often left out of the conversation entirely. Enter Dr. Stephanie Estima — chiropractor, health strategist, and unapologetic myth-buster — who’s redefining how women think about hormones, metabolism, and longevity. Known for her bestselling book The Betty Body and her work on aligning health practices with the female cycle, Estima is helping women ditch cookie-cutter protocols and reclaim their biology as a superpower.

In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett dig deep with Dr. Estima into why women need different health strategies, what biohacking gets wrong, and how to move from shame and confusion to empowerment and strength.

• Why the first step for women's health is "the great unlearning" that they are not just "smaller men".
• How prolonged calorie restriction teaches the female body to conserve fat and slow metabolism.
• The three-pronged approach to health that balances scientific evidence, clinical experience, and patient desire.
• Why the menstrual cycle is a vital sign, and how to use it as a monthly hormonal report card.
• The biggest misconception around strength training for women (Hint: It’s the fear of "getting bulky").
• Why you lose strength before mass, making strength training crucial for fall risk and long-term independence.
• Why explosive movement, like sprinting, is the key to maintaining power and mitigating the exponential decline of speed with age.
• How to deprogram the fear of lifting heavy and prioritize form before load.

(00:00) - Intro

(02:15) - Why Women Need a Different Health Strategy

(06:42) - The Hormonal Cycle Explained

(13:10) - Fasting, Keto & Carbs for Women

(21:25) - Stress, Cortisol & Female Metabolism

(29:48) - The Truth About Sleep as a Biohack

(35:22) - Why Lifting Heavy is Non-Negotiable

(42:50) - The Problem with Male-Dominated Biohacking Protocols

(49:36) - Using Hormones as Feedback, Not Enemies

(55:44) - Practical Nutrition Tips for Each Phase of the Cycle

(01:03:20) - Turning Confusion into Empowerment

(01:09:55) - Longevity Strategies for Women

(01:15:18) - Q&A: Busting Common Myths

(01:22:40) - Final Thoughts from Kelly & Juliet

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

ACL tears used to be rare in high school sports. Today, they’re an epidemic. Behind the headlines, there’s one voice cutting through the noise with hard truths, practical solutions, and decades of experience: Coach Carmen Bott. Known online as “Coach Bott,” she’s become the go-to expert on youth athletic development and late-stage ACL rehab, guiding parents, athletes, and coaches through one of the most pressing crises in sports performance.

In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Kelly and Juliet Starrett sit down with Coach Bott to dig into why so many kids are getting hurt, why recovery takes longer than most parents realize, and how we can protect the next generation of athletes.

• Why ACL rehab isn’t 12 weeks—it’s a full year
• The difference between yesterday’s athletes and today’s single-sport kids
• Red flags parents should watch for in youth sport programs
• How to support kids when insurance and the system fall short
• The myths around strength training and growth in young athletes
• Why prevention starts with play, variety, and strength—not fear
• The real story behind the menstrual cycle and ACL injury debates

(00:00) - Intro

(00:54) - Carmen's Background

(05:26) - Athletes 25 Years Ago

(10:00) - Good Rehab Program Criteria

(13:18) - Ideal Club System for Athletes

(16:40) - Supporting Kids in Sports

(23:46) - Post-Acute Rehab Strategies

(29:32)) - Return to Play: Getting Fitter

(32:23) - Importance of Exposure in Rehab

(39:34) - Returning to Contact Sports

(44:51) - Preventing ACL Injuries in Kids

(52:30) - Menstrual Cycle and Athletic Performance

(56:04) - Myth Busting in Sports

(58:20) - Where to Find Carmen

(59:34) - Outro

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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Feeling tired after meals, battling brain fog, or wondering why your gut health feels off? Dr. Amy Shah — a double board-certified physician, nutrition expert, and bestselling author — reveals how your microbiome holds the key to energy, mood, and long-term wellness.

In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, she breaks down the hidden impact of ultra-processed foods, the surprising role of microbes and dirt in childhood, and why circadian rhythms matter as much as diet. From understanding the “energy trifecta” to mastering her 30/30/3 rule, Dr. Shah shares simple, science-backed steps that make gut health practical and powerful. Tune in for clear, actionable insights to help you eat smarter, sleep better, and feel truly energized every day.

• Why ultra-processed foods confuse your brain and immune system
• How dirt, animals, and early exposure shape a child’s microbiome
• The truth about fermented foods — and which ones actually work
• What Dr. Shah calls the “energy trifecta” for boosting mood and focus
• Why most Americans aren’t getting nearly enough fiber
• How circadian rhythms (and when you eat) impact gut health
• A simple 30/30/3 rule to reframe your daily nutrition

(00:00) - Preview

(01:06) - Intro

(02:00) - Dr. Amy Shah’s Journey

(08:58) - Ultra-Processed Foods

(11:48) - Gut and Immune System Connection

(18:15) - Benefits of Fermented Foods

(21:21) - Energy Trifecta Explained

(25:20) - Gut-Brain Connection Insights

(31:51) - Momentous: Importance of Vitamin D

(34:41) - LMNT: Benefits of Salty Morning

(38:45) - Importance of Fiber in Diet

(42:33) - Hunger, Appetite, and Cravings Explained

(46:53) - Role of Circadian Rhythms

(53:13) - Understanding Appetite

(56:24) - Skin Health and Nutrition

(1:00:50) - Food Allergies Overview

(1:06:08) - Current Trends: Megan's Insights

(1:08:23) - Benefits of Circadian Fasting

(1:09:44) - Where to Find Dr. Shah

(1:10:16) - Dr. Shah's Books

This episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by Momentous, and LMNT.