Ep. 374: Mark Sisson - Stop Chasing the Health Hacks. Want to Live Longer? Start with Your Feet.

Rip Esselstyn (0:00)

I'm Rip Esselstyn, and you're listening to the PLANTSTRONG Podcast.

My guest today is somebody that I go way, way back with, all the way back to my early triathlon days.

Mark Sisson was an elite endurance athlete, coach, author, founder of a blog called Mark's Daily Apple, creator of the Primal Blueprint, founder of Primal Kitchen, and now the co-founder of Peluva Shoes. And before anybody shoots me an email, I want you to know upfront that Mark and I have some very significant differences when it comes to what we put on our plates. He is Mr. Primal, Mr. Paleo, and I am Mr. PLANTSTRONG. But I want you to know that I have mad respect for this guy. He actually coached me for half a year back in 1992 in my early racing days. And for as long as I've known him, he has never been afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, take a risk, build something from scratch, or put his money where his mouth is. And that entrepreneurial spirit, it fascinates me, and it's essentially what I'm doing every day here at PLANTSTRONG. Today, though, we don't really talk about food. I brought Mark on to tackle four big topics. Biohacking, longevity, a topic that Mark calls chronic cardio, and then something that most of us probably don't think nearly enough about, and that is our feet. And I want you to know, Mark has some pretty strong opinions about all of these things. In fact, he calls biohacking the day trading of health. He thinks that many endurance athletes spend far too much time training too hard. He believes that walking deserves a much larger role in our lives, and he makes the case that strong, functional feet may be one of the lowest-hanging fruits when it comes to mobility and longevity. Now, do I agree with everything that Mark says? Absolutely not.

But that's exactly why I wanted to have this conversation with Mark Sisson. So we'll get right to it, right after these words from PLANTSTRONG. We've got something new coming that I'm really, really stoked about. We have completely rebuilt the PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner to make eating this way easier, more personalized, and a lot more useful in real life. Think hundreds of recipes, smarter tools, more support 24-7 to help you figure out what to eat day-to-day. We'll be sharing all of the details very soon, so be sure to stay tuned.

On the retreats front, our Sedona Retreat sold out much faster than ever, and next spring's Black Mountain Retreat is already more than half full. So, if you've been thinking about joining us for an all-inclusive getaway, this is definitely the time to make it happen. The Black Mountain Retreat runs April 25th to the 30th, 2027, and it's six immersive days of Plant Strong Food, education, the latest science, all kinds of movement and community. Plus, pickleball with me, cooking with Jane, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, yoga, and plenty of time to connect with people who are on this journey alongside you. These retreats are so much more than what's on your plate. They're a chance to step away from your routine, to learn, move, laugh, recharge, and come home inspired. We're filling up earlier than ever, so if Black Mountain is on your to-do list, don't wait too long to grab your spot. Simply visit plantstrongevents.com.

And if you want to bring a little of the retreat experience home with you, you want to check out Plant Strong Foods. Fill your pantry with your Plant Strong favorites, hearty chilies, granolas, shelf-stable milks, burgers, pizza, and a whole lot more. It's all about real food, using simple ingredients, our strong standards, and no gimmicks. And there's all kinds of ways to make Plant Strong part of your everyday life. Simply visit plantstrong.com and check it out.

Mark Sisson, I want to welcome you to the Plant Strong Podcast. It's a pleasure.

Mark Sisson (5:00)

Oh, it's my pleasure to be here, Rip. It's a pleasure to see you again.

Rip Esselstyn (5:02)

So what in the world are you and your sidekick, Brad Kerns, doing here in Austin, Texas?

Mark Sisson (5:07)

So we're winding up a podcast tour. Started in Santa Monica last week. I did seven podcasts in Santa Monica, doing two here today, and then have a live event this evening.

All in service to telling the world about my shoe brand, Peluva.

Rip Esselstyn (5:23)

Right.

Mark Sisson (5:24)

But behind that is an entire story about the concept of exercise and the notion that walking is the single best thing that a human being can do.

Better than running, for example, which is my career for a long time. So what we're trying to do is convince the world that movement, just general human movement, which is slow, steady, or throughout different ranges and planes of motion, is the way that we should orchestrate the baseline of fitness throughout our lives. Whether you're a teenager or you're 80 years old, you should be spending a lot of time walking, a lot of time doing slow, easy movements. Then once in a while, sure, go to the gym and lift weights. Once in a while, go to the track and swim or go to the pool and do some sprints. But most of our lives should be orchestrated around walking with the appropriate footwear, in which case you're able to regain a normal perfect gait and extend your longevity well into your later years.