Session One Resources

Session one will show us where we are and what we're up against. It may be a shock to some to get such a frank and dire picture of health in America. But it also shines the light of hope, illustrating that personal change is not only possible, it's relatively simple.

Here are some resources that inform the content in this session.

Books

Atomic Habits — Atomic Habits by James Clear explores how small, consistent changes in behavior can lead to significant life improvements, likening habits to compound interest. He offers a four-step framework—make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying—to build good habits and break bad ones, emphasizing identity over outcomes. Blending science and practical tips, it's a concise guide to mastering consistency.

The Power of Habit — The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg examines how habits shape our lives, using a simple loop—cue, routine, reward—to explain their formation. It blends research and stories to show how understanding and tweaking this loop can transform personal and professional habits.

Unwinding Anxiety — Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer explores how anxiety becomes a habit driven by a trigger-behavior-reward cycle. Using neuroscience and mindfulness, it offers practical steps to break this loop and reduce anxiety effectively.

The Hacking of the American Mind — The Hacking of the American Mind by Robert Lustig argues that modern industries exploit our brain's reward system, blurring the line between pleasure (dopamine-driven) and happiness (serotonin-driven). It examines how this manipulation—through food, tech, and media—leads to addiction and discontent, offering insights to reclaim well-being.

Lies My Doctor Told Me — Lies My Doctor Told Me by Dr. Ken D. Berry challenges conventional medical advice, exposing myths perpetuated by well-meaning but misinformed doctors. Drawing from his experience as a family physician, Berry debunks outdated recommendations like avoiding fats, cholesterol, and sun exposure, arguing they harm health rather than help.

YouTube

• The Healthcare Crisis Keeping Americans Sick — Calley and Casey Means on The Joe Rogan Experience: Calley and Casey Means critique America's healthcare and food industries, connecting physical health decline (chronic disease) to mental strain and emotional disillusionment from systemic profiteering. He highlights financial burdens from medical costs, painting a grim picture of national well-being.
• RFK Jr. on America's Health Crisis — The Joe Rogan Experience: RFK Jr. addresses America's physical health crisis (obesity, autoimmune diseases), blaming corporate influence on food and medicine. He ties this to mental and emotional exhaustion from distrust in institutions, advocating for systemic change to restore national vitality.
• Functional Health — Dr. Sten Eckberg: Olympian Dr. Sten Eckberg breaks down the role of functional health. Functional Health seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, and views the body as one integrated system, not a collection of independent organs divided up by medical specialties. It treats the whole system, not just the symptoms.
• High Cholesterol & Healthy Hearts — Dr. Nick Norwitz: A quick summary of new research on cholesterol that challenges long-standing dogma.
• Rethinking Money with Ramit Sethi — Diary of a CEO: Known for some controversial opinions on money, the host of the Netflix series "How To Get Rich" shares a positive and expansive view of personal finance that doesn't include intense budgeting.
• The Truth About Why Americans Are Getting Sicker — The Ultimate Human Podcast: The number one killer today is not smoking, it's not war, it's food. Dr. Mark Hyman and Gary Breka discuss how our food system is destroying us.
• Dr. Andrew Huberman Unpacks a Number of Health Topics — Diary of a CEO: Dr. Andrew Huberman is a professor of ophthalmology and neurobiology at Stanford University. He has his own podcast where he makes science accessible to the masses for free. Get a sampling of his excellent work in an interview by Steve Bartlett.
• Dr. Daniel Amen Playlist of Interview Snippets on Impact Theory: Tom Bilyeu has interviewed Dr. Amen several times. Here you'll find some top segments that unpack brain health. Dr. Amen is both a PhD psychologist and a licensed MD. He has the unique qualification of having performed over 300,000 brain imaging scans to understand, diagnose, and treat brain issues from ADHD to depression to PTSD.

Articles

• Why You're Always Tired: Let's talk about how to increase energy. If you're reading this, I'm guessing you're feeling tired. I understand. I struggled with fatigue for years, trying countless remedies...
• Forbes: Living Paycheck to Paycheck Statistics 2024: As living expenses in the U.S. continue to rise and wages struggle to keep up, it's unsurprising that Americans of all generations are having a hard time financially. For many, this means living paycheck to paycheck.
• CDC: Suicide Trends: Statistics up to 2024 tracking US suicide rates.
• NIH: Declining Health Since Turn of Century: Are Recent Cohorts Getting Worse? Trends in US Adult Physiological Status, Mental Health, and Health Behaviors Across a Century of Birth Cohorts.
• MSN: 75% of Americans Are Overweight: MSN summarizes the findings in a recent Lancet study.