One of the Most Important Interviews I’ve Ever Given
How conscious breathing and tiny increments can transform a life
Dear friends,
This week, I had the pleasure of joining Jock Putney on The Pathway to Peak Performance podcast for a conversation about health, resilience, and the simple ideas that have guided my work for decades.
In the episode I talk about:
The motorcycle accident in which I was run over by a 6,000-pound Winnebago and how conscious breathing helped save my life and my legs
Why our culture’s approach to health is failing and the simple “gasoline” analogy I use to explain metabolism and nutrition
How tiny increments can take someone from a sedentary lifestyle to walking, jogging, and even running marathons
The importance of learning to treat the brain as a tool rather than letting every thought run your life
The emerging role of psychedelic medicines like MDMA and psilocybin in modern therapy
My thoughts on where human intelligence may be heading as technology and consciousness continue to evolve together
One of the central themes of our conversation was conscious breathing.
It is one of the simplest tools we have, and one of the most powerful. It helped save my life during a traumatic accident, and it remains a practice I teach to anyone seeking greater calm, resilience, and clarity.
If there is one lesson that runs through this entire conversation, it is this:
A little something, practiced consistently, even something as simple as conscious breathing, can change the course of a life.
Golden light,
Richard
A note on working together
For those who feel drawn to working together more directly, I offer a limited number of one-on-one conversations.
These are not traditional therapy sessions. They are quiet, practical conversations focused on calming the mind, easing anxiety, and working with simple tools that support steadiness in daily life.
We move at a thoughtful pace. We work with what’s present. We focus on what helps.
If you’d like to learn more about working together one-on-one, you’re welcome to reply to this email and my team will share additional details.
1-minute mind control (my latest book)
Traditional mindfulness and meditation techniques often require a huge investment of your most precious resource (time) without guarantees of results.
My own version of mindfulness—what I sometimes refer to as “mind control”—can be mastered in much less time if you commit to regular 60-90 second practice throughout the day.
Breathing. Witnessing. Changing the channel on negative thoughts.
I’ve honed these techniques over a lifetime of personal and professional practice, and now I’m sharing them with the world.
Get my new book Master Your Mind, and as a thank you for your support, I’ll give you a free 30-day subscription to our premium newsletter and exclusive content. Just reply to this email after you buy it to confirm your purchase.
My Other Books:
Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear (release date: November 5)
Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out
Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances
Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca
Integral Psychedelic Therapy (co-edited with Jason A. Butler & Genesee Herzberg)