Humans were hunting and gathering over 2 million years ago, yet it’s only in the last 10,000 years that agriculture has irrevocably changed the way we live, work, and play. The mismatch between how we live in modern societies and how we evolved to live as hunter and gatherers is at the core of Dr. John Ratey’s research.
As an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ratey is the author of 11 books, including Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain and Go Wild: Eat Fat, Run Free, Be Social, and Follow Evolution’s Other Rules for Total Health and Well-being, two ground-breaking books that deconstruct the link between our genes, how we live, and our physical and mental performance.
In Spark, Dr. Ratey explicitly explores the connection between exercise and cognitive ability and offers concrete examples any aspiring entrepreneur can use to gain focus and boost creativity. Go Wild offers actionable insights into how embracing our inner caveman can boost well-being and help offset the effects of aging.
In today’s episode, Dr. Ratey sits down with Jay to explain:
- How to use exercise to get more out of your day
- Why you shouldn’t ignore your hunter-gatherer genes
- The secret to keeping your brain healthy as you age
- How small lifestyle changes can make a huge impact on your lifespan
Share your own exercise insights with Jay by tweeting @jaykimmer.
Links from Today’s Episode
- Read the full transcript from Dr. Ratey’s interview
- Find Dr. Ratey on Facebook and stay up-to-date with the latest in brain research
- Get your own copy of Spark and boost your focus today
- Go Wild and unlock the secrets to fighting depression, diabetes, heart disease, and more
- Find out more about Dr. Ratey and his ground-breaking research at JohnRatey.com
Detailed Show Notes
- (2:24) Dr. Ratey on his early interest in exercise and its impacts on the brain
- (4:46) Dr. Ratey’s research into attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- (6:48) The science behind how exercise can supercharge your well-being
- (7:40) The two most important side-effects of exercise
- (9:14) On how our hunger-gatherer origins still shape our brains today
- (12:47) On the link between ADHD and entrepreneurship
- (16:31) How exercise prevents the deterioration of our brains as we age
- (21:18) Why you can’t afford to ignore your hunter-gatherer genes
- (23:05) On bringing more balance to your life through mindfulness meditation
- (25:13) Dr. Ratey’s next breakthrough book on staying focused in a world of instant gratification
- (27:37) Five actionable tips to start improving your brain health today
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