The Rich Roll Podcast

Dr. Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist, host of the podcast “A Slight Change of Plans,” and author of “The Other Side of Change.” This conversation explores the challenge of navigating involuntary change, whether it's injury, loss, or a future that suddenly collapses. We discuss identity and attachment, the illusion of control, why our brains resist uncertainty, the end of history illusion, rumination, and practical tools to help us see change not as a burden—but as a revelation. Maya also opens up about her own identity crises, a career-ending injury at 15, and later pregnancy losses that forced her to confront who she was beyond her deepest aspirations. Change is coming for all of us, whether we like it or not. Maya's goal is to give you the companion you need along the way. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Go Brewing: Use the code Rich Roll for 15% OFF

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a gastroenterologist, one of the world's foremost authorities on the gut microbiome, and author of “Plant Powered Plus.” This conversation explores the gut-immune connection as the root determinant of chronic inflammation—the silent driver behind three out of five deaths. We discuss the four nutritional workhorses, why your microbiome is nocturnal, and what happens when you eat after dark. Dr. B also opens up about a decade-long estrangement from his father—an unexpected reminder that healing isn't always biological. Sometimes it's emotional. This is our third exchange together. Our best yet. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Go Brewing: Use the code Rich Roll for 15% OFF

Mark Manson is the author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and host of the Solved podcast. Back for his third appearance (eps. 476, 882), we skip the backstory and pull questions from a fishbowl. We discuss vanity goals versus values-aligned goals, why procrastination is really about emotional avoidance, the trap of people-pleasing, how to distinguish intuition from impulse, and the delusion of passive manifestation. I also share my own shifting perspectives on positive thinking and the dissolution of self. Mark is the anti-guru. And this conversation is your New Year intervention. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Seed: Use code RICHROLL20 for 20% OFF your first order

Happy holidays from the RRP mothership. Another year in the rearview. Time for what's become one of my favorite traditions, our annual “Best Of.” 12 years running now. This year was packed with an astonishing array of guests—too many to feature here. Part 1 revisits the year's most powerful moments: longevity science, neuroplasticity, happiness research, emotional regulation, consciousness, and what it actually takes to change. I'm filled with gratitude for our guests, my team, and most of all—for you. I don't take your attention and support for granted. Here's to growing together in 2026. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTubeNewsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: On: High-performance shoes & apparel crafted for comfort and style

Kevin Hall, Ph.D., is a physicist-turned-nutrition scientist whose rigorous research has upended some of our most sacrosanct beliefs about metabolism, dieting, and weight loss. This conversation explores why diets fail, the truth behind the "slow metabolism" myth, how ultra-processed foods hijack our biology, and why the 800-pound gorilla driving the obesity epidemic isn't willpower—it's our toxic food environment. He also opens up about his decision to leave the NIH after 20 years due to political interference with his research. Kevin is an honest actor, always trying to set matters to rights amidst a hurricane of nutritional misinformation. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTubeNewsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: On: High-performance shoes & apparel crafted for comfort and style

Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian, bestselling author, and the guy who went viral telling Davos billionaires to pay their taxes. This conversation is a salve for the crisis of meaning percolating through modern life. We explore Rutger's pragmatic antidote—moral ambition—and discuss why a quarter of workers believe their jobs are socially useless, what the abolitionists teach us about coalition-building, and why factory farming may be the ethical abomination future historians judge us for most harshly. Rutger's conviction is rare and infectious. By the end of our conversation, I was so inspired that I committed $25K to his organization’s new US Food System Reform Program, a cause area that is deeply important to me. Final Note: Through December 31st, every dollar to moralambition.org/food is matched.  I hope you’ll consider joining me today in making a donation to this impactful organization. See the links in our newsletter, on our website, and in our Substack. Let’s lean into our own moral ambition and d

Gregg Renfrew is the founder of Beautycounter and now Counter—a pioneer in the clean beauty movement. Five years after our first exchange, Gregg returns with her story about navigating imposed change. After losing her company, she bought it back out of foreclosure in 48 hours—then let it die to save it. Today, we explore identity collapse, decoupling self-worth from success, why selling control means losing it, and the beauty industry's toxin loopholes. Along the way, we confront rebuilding when everything you've created is stripped away. This is an honest conversation about ego, humility, and the courage to begin again. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Go Brewing: Use the code Rich Roll for 15% OFF

Roll On returns! Just in time for the holiday gauntlet. Adam Skolnick and I unpack three questions the season demands: how to navigate family gatherings when the same dynamics play out like clockwork, what rock bottom actually means (hint: it's a launchpad for transformation, not a life sentence), and why I've traded rigid goals for something more like trajectory. We get into the superpower of extreme neutrality, why everyone is right from their perspective, and morning pages as the unlock you didn't know you needed. We also celebrate Adam's debut novel “American Tiger”—finally out in the world! Last but not least, we crown our favorite films of 2025. Enjoy!  Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: On: High-performance shoes & apparel crafted for comfort and style

Todd Marinovich is a former NFL quarterback, USC Rose Bowl champion, and the subject of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "The Marinovich Project." This conversation explores the duality of engineered perfection and performance-based love. We discuss his father's authoritarian methods, the identity crisis of living someone else's dream, his harrowing addiction, the moment his father's approval paradoxically ended his motivation, and his journey toward self-compassion through art and recovery. Through it all, Todd elucidates what it means to reclaim your humanity after decades of self-defiance. Todd's story is raw and achingly human. And his message is clear—hope is a decision. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Bon Charge: Use coupon code RICHROLL20 to save 20%

Oliver Burkeman is a bestselling author, journalist, and the mind behind “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” and “Meditations for Mortals.” We explore our broken relationship with time and Oliver's philosophy of imperfectionism, which dismantles the delusion that productivity is a moral imperative. Oliver explains why we're all chasing an infinite backlog, how perfectionism keeps us from doing the work, the path from overwhelm to agency, why acceptance isn't resignation, and the mystical energy of completion. Along the way, Oliver diagnoses my biggest malfunction and exposes an uncomfortable truth about my people-pleasing tendencies. Oliver's work is vital. And this conversation might just change your life. Enjoy!  Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up  Today’s Sponsors: Momentous: High-caliber human performance products for sleep, focus, longevity, and more. For listeners of the show, Momentous is offering up to 35% off your first order

This Fasting Compilation features Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Dr. Valter Longo, and Dr. Michael Greger to discuss the science of strategic deprivation. We explore why visceral fat behaves like a tumor secreting inflammatory molecules that drive chronic disease. How many health conditions stem from dietary patterns rather than requiring medication alone. The evolutionary mechanism of insulin resistance and the reality that when you eat can matter as much as what you eat, with the same calories producing opposite metabolic outcomes depending on meal timing. I also share my own challenges. Knowing the science doesn't make implementation easy. Listen. Learn. And discuss with your healthcare provider what makes sense for you. Enjoy! CRITICAL SAFETY NOTE: Under no circumstances should anyone undertake a water fast of any length without medical supervision. Do not attempt this at home. Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Roka: Unlock 20% OFF your order with code RICHROLL

Katie Couric is a journalist and the first woman to solo-anchor a major network evening newscast.  We explore the disintermediation of news media, institutional distrust, and the fragmentation of shared truth in America. Katie shares her experiences navigating the CBS boys club, her perspective on the Sarah Palin interview, the craft of asking great questions, her cancer advocacy work after personal tragedy, and what she's learned about happiness.  Along the way, Katie admits she's never been addicted to anything—until now.  With four decades of perspective, Katie doesn't hold back. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Bon Charge Get 15% OFF all my favorite wellness products w/ code RICHROLL

Tig Notaro is a comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer, and co-host of the podcast Handsome. This conversation explores Tig's legendary 2012 set—delivered days after her cancer diagnosis—and how loss became her greatest teacher. We discuss her wild upbringing, choosing presence over performance, the napkin-based writing process, what's going on in the comedy scene, and producing "Come See Me in the Good Light," the Sundance-winning doc about poet Andrea Gibson. Oh, and we bond over spinal fusion surgery recovery. Tig is great—and I really enjoyed our time together. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Squarespace: Use code RichRoll to save 10% off your first order of a website or domain

This Modern Masculinity Compilation features Scott Galloway (ep. 826), Terry Crews (ep. 676), Jonathan Haidt (ep. 827), Arnold Schwarzenegger (ep. 784), John W. Price (ep. 939), John Pearson (ep. 739), and Toby Morse (ep. 816). We explore the friendship recession, boys without fathers facing incarceration, and digital isolation that predated COVID. Men exhausted from cosplaying confidence. The elephant metaphor about young males needing elder presence. Why vulnerability and toughness aren't opposites but partners. These conversations diagnose what's broken and map paths forward through mentorship and connection. Seven voices who showed up and got vulnerable. Pass it on. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Seed: Use RICHROLL25 for 25% OFF your first order

Jillian Turecki is a relationship expert, New York Times bestselling author of It Begins With You, and host of the podcast Jillian on Love. This conversation explores why intimacy reveals our character defects, how childhood conditioning sabotages adult love, and the universal fear driving relationship dysfunction. We discuss why there's no cruise control in partnerships, why stress kills more relationships than infidelity, and how to distinguish needs from unrealistic expectations. Along the way, Jillian performs a bit of relationship triage on me. Jillian's message is direct and empowering. This one rules. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Bon Charge: Use coupon code RICHROLL20 to save 20%

Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, education activist, and survivor of a Taliban assassination attempt at age fifteen. This conversation explores the gulf between icon and identity—what happens when you're trying to figure out who you are while everybody has already decided for you. We discuss PTSD that surfaced years later, therapy she resisted, reconciling heritage with freedom, the crisis facing Afghan girls under gender apartheid, and why meaningful activism extends beyond social media. Through it all, she's redefining what courage actually looks like. Malala is vulnerable, honest, and profoundly human. And this conversation is a gift. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up   Today’s Sponsors: Seed: Use code RICHROLL20 for 20% OFF your first order

Andy Galpin is a PhD in exercise bioenergetics, professor at Parker University, and elite performance coach to professional and Olympic athletes. This conversation explores his framework of nine fitness adaptations and why many people plateau in what could be called the "gray zone"—working hard enough to feel exhausted but not specifically enough to trigger adaptation. We discuss how movement quality often matters more than intensity, the difference between functional overreaching and overtraining, and what's actually limiting your progress. Also, Andy coaches me through rebuilding movement patterns after spinal fusion surgery. Andy translates complex exercise science into practical training wisdom. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: On: High-performance shoes & apparel crafted for comfort and style

Nick Thompson is CEO of The Atlantic, an elite marathoner, and author of the memoir The Running Ground. This conversation explores how running reveals our deepest inherited patterns. We discuss Nick's journey from getting fired from CBS in under an hour to running The Atlantic, reconciling with his brilliant father's tragic collapse, setting age-group records at 50, and why AI threatens the very nature of reality. We also discuss why the simple act of running becomes a portal for understanding your deepest patterns. Nick offers profound lessons in post-traumatic growth. And he shares them generously. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Go Brewing: Use the code Rich Roll for 15% OFF

Joanne Molinaro, aka The Korean Vegan, is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author who has redefined food storytelling through viral videos. This conversation explores her journey from the facile safety of corporate law to creative uncertainty, using food to reconcile generational trauma, and navigating the liminal space between Korean tradition and personal evolution. We also discuss her refugee parents' silence, the wellness world's descent into conspiratorial thinking, and how the Korean concept of "sun mat" infuses everything she creates. Joanne brings remarkable vulnerability to this episode. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today’s Sponsors: Squarespace: Use code RichRoll to save 10% off your first order of a website or domain