In this episode, Dr. Martha Havenith—neuroscientist, Oxford graduate, and one of the world’s leading researchers on Conscious Connected Breathwork—joins Joseph and Richard for a deep exploration of what breathwork actually does to the brain and body. They unpack the science, the lived experience, and the ethics of a rapidly growing field, providing an essential conversation for anyone who wants a grounded, evidence-based understand...

Joseph and Dr. Richard Blake sit down with Pulsetto founder Povilas Sabaliauskas to explore how non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and lift HRV—without adding more to your to-do list. They dig into the science, the origin story (including plane-crash supply chain chaos), real-world use cases, and simple stacking protocols you can use tonight.

Key Takeaways

• Capacity > B...

In this episode, Joseph and Richard sit down with Vinny Crispino, founder of Pain Academy, who went from an eight-time All-American swimmer to a young man told he might need a wheelchair after a surfing accident shattered his back. Instead of giving up, Vinny turned his recovery into a lifelong mission: helping others break free from pain by addressing both body and mind.

The conversation explores the limits of traditional rehab, th...

What if the real greatest danger isn’t unhealed trauma, but therapy itself? In this urgent conversation, naturopathic doctor and licensed psychotherapist Dr. Katelyn Kalstein joins Richard and Joseph to dissect what’s going wrong in the modern therapy landscape—from the underqualified grads entering the field, to the systemic failure to account for biology, chronic illness, and even basic supervision. We dig into the dark underbell...

What if everything you’ve been taught about water was wrong? In this paradigm-shifting episode, Dr. Gerald Pollack—the groundbreaking scientist behind “The Fourth Phase of Water”—takes us on a journey into the electric mysteries of water. This is not just another conversation about hydration—this is a challenge to mainstream biology, physics, and medicine.

We explore how sunlight and grounding charge the water inside your cells, why...

Comedian and creator Brent Pella (@brentpella) joins Richard and Joseph for a hilarious, unfiltered, and thoughtful conversation about satire, spiritual charlatans, and the surprising power of breathwork. Brent offers a rare blend of humor and heart while opening up about his creative process, psychedelic journeys, and why he believes we can store joy in our cells just like trauma.

Topics

– Satire, censorship & comedy’s role in a...

In this eye-opening episode, Joseph and Richard sit down with Dr. Jason Sonners—functional medicine expert and hyperbaric innovator—to explore the cutting edge of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), biological aging, and the future of integrative health. Fresh off completing his PhD in molecular biology, Jason shares the results of a groundbreaking study comparing soft and hard hyperbaric chambers, uncovering surprising findings that...

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode of RUNGA Radio, Joseph Anew and Dr. Richard Blake explore the ancient ritual of Misogi—a deliberate undertaking of hardship to meet your truest self. Joseph shares his raw, emotional journey through a 52.4-mile ultra-endurance race he signed up for just 26 days before, using it as a gateway to spiritual and psychological growth. Richard reflects on his own experiences with failu...

Laura Fullerton (@laurafullerton) is the founder of the high-performance ice bath brand Monk. In this episode, Richard (@the_breath_geek) and Joseph (@therungaguy) dive into:

• How cold exposure uniquely benefits women (and what week of your cycle to plunge)
• Why temperature matters way less than you think
• The secret link between trauma, PTSD recovery, and the cold
• The biggest myths about ice baths (and why “harder” isn’t always bette...

In this episode, Dr. Richard Blake (@the_breath_geek) and Joseph Anew (@TheRUNGAGuy) go deeper than the usual therapy vs. fitness debate — questioning whether traditional therapy is even the best first-line treatment for many people.

We explore:

– Why SSRIs might not be the magic bullet we were promised
– How exercise could act as the “missing ingredient” in emotional healing
– The dangers of weaponizing “intention vs. impa...

Mold, EMFs, Histamine & the Biohacking Rain Barrel

Tony Wrighton was once a high-energy presenter on Sky Sports. Now? He’s the guy who walks into a café wearing EMF shorts, uses tapping to help his 5-year-old poop, and might just be the most nuanced voice in biohacking right now.

In this refreshingly honest and surprisingly funny conversation, we explore how Tony’s years of mysterious gut issues and burnout turned out t...

Dr. Richard Blake responds to 3 million views, 3,000 comments, and a mental health system under fire. Last week Dr. Richard Blake (@the_breath_geek) posted a reel that challenged the foundational assumptions of modern therapy — and it exploded: 3M+ views, 100K shares, and thousands of comments.

In this episode recorded live from the Health Optimization Summit, Richard, therapist-in-training Natalia Blake, and co-host Joseph Anew unp...

Joseph and Richard sit down with integrative nutritionist Marek Doyle for a deep and honest conversation about the true nature of stress, why cortisol isn’t the villain it’s made out to be, and how the nervous system—and our energy levels—shape our capacity to heal. Marek brings a refreshingly nuanced perspective to the world of functional medicine, challenging mainstream narratives and offering insight into how energy security, ne...

Jay Campbell is a leading expert in the field of hormone therapy, peptides, and biohacking. With a wealth of experience dating back to 2004, Jay delves into the cutting-edge world of peptide therapies and their diverse applications for optimizing health, performance, and longevity. He dives into the transformative potential of both peptides and bio-regulators, with a particular focus on the revolutionary impact of GLP-1 receptor ag...

In this episode, Joseph Anew and Richard Blake break down what really matters in health and fitness—cutting through hype, misinformation, and overcomplication. They dive into authenticity in fitness advice, exploring whether figures like RFK Jr. and Greg Glassman truly “walk the walk” and exploring how rhetoric can overshadow truth. A deep discussion on the Huberman Lab interview with Pavel Tsatsouline sparks debate over a misunder...

Emilía Rún joins Richard Blake and Joseph Anew this week to share her personal journey with Kundalini Yoga—a practice that profoundly shaped her life. In the wake of HBO’s documentary series Breath of Fire, which exposed the darker side of Kundalini Yoga and some of its most well-known teachers, Emilía offers a fresh perspective. Rather than discarding the practice entirely, she explores how we can hold onto beneficial spiritual pr...

Joseph Anew and Dr. Richard Blake interview Adam Ludwin, a successful entrepreneur who achieved a $100 million exit before the age of 35 and is now the founder of the breathwork app FivePointFive. In this insightful conversation, Adam shares the story behind his early entrepreneurial ventures, the key decisions and strategies that contributed to his success, and his personal journey into the world of breathwork and its transformati...

In the first episode of the new RUNGA Radio, Joseph Anew introduces Dr. Richard Blake as the podcast’s new co-host. Richard—a PhD in Psychology, former Men’s Health model, and expert in Conscious Connected Breathwork—shares his personal journey through fitness, mental health struggles, psychedelics, and ultimately, breathwork as the missing link to real transformation.

Too many people are chasing the next biohack, the next breakthro...

Dr. Kirk Parsley is a physician, sleep expert, and former Navy SEAL who is dedicated to helping high performers optimize their health, particularly through better sleep. This episode takes a deep dive into why Dr. Parsley believes sleep is the most misunderstood and underutilized tool for optimizing health.

This episode covers:

• The Importance of Sleep: Learn how sleep impacts everything from performance to longevity, and why slee...