The Growth Kit
The Growth Kit is where science and practical advice intersect to help you live a better life. It's my mission to give you the knowledge and tools to enhance your physical health, mental health, and parenting skills. Through the world of health, fitness, nutrition, and parenting, we'll discover how small changes can be the catalyst to significant improvements in your life.
Episodes
Rucking, the simple act of walking with weight in a backpack, is a surprisingly effective fitness activity that offers a range of benefits. From boosting cardiovascular endurance and strength to improving posture and mental toughness, rucking is gaining popularity for its low-impact, full-body workout. This guide will walk you through the benefits of rucking, explain how to get started, and offer tips on the best gear and technique...
Incorporating Japanese philosophies into your daily life can offer profound benefits for your mental and physical well-being. From finding purpose with Ikigai to practicing mindful eating with Hara Hachi Bu, these 9 Japanese concepts can help you live a more balanced, fulfilling, and purposeful life.
Read The Article: 9 Japanese Practices To Improve Your Life
Things Mentioned:
- Here’s a great Forbes article on how Ikigai ca...
"I know I should exercise, eat well, and get quality sleep, but give me the 5 underrated things that I should do to be healthier, beyond the basics."
I love this because it cuts through the noise and gets to the good stuff—the things that actually move the needle but don’t always make the headlines. After lots of thought here are my five (plus some extras because I couldn’t resist) that go beyond the foundational strategies.
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In the long run, hitting the lottery won’t make you happier (in fact, 50% of people feel worse after just 3 years), moving to the perfect climate won’t guarantee perpetual bliss, and the high from that promotion will be gone in no time. So what will bring happiness?
As unsexy as it sounds, true and lasting happiness comes from cultivating "psychological nutrition"—essential habits and knowledge that nourish your mental well-being. ...
Pushing your limits in the gym or outside on a run is a fantastic way to build strength and endurance. Reaping the benefits requires rest, but the old way of thinking is that all you can do is rest. The good news is, that thanks to research in the field of sports medicine, there's more you can do besides waiting it out. This article dives into a range of science-backed strategies to optimize your workout recovery and get you ba...
This Bonus episode features my sister, Meredith Comly, and her son, Flynn, as they sit down with Christina Mallon, a trailblazer in the world of inclusive design. Meredith reached out with the idea to talk to Christina, a former classmate, about her inspiring journey. Christina opens up about her diagnosis, the many obstacles she's overcome, and the powerful ways she’s working to reshape the world of design to better serve people w...
In this episode, we dive into the lost tradition of family dinners. Despite their proven benefits—stronger bonds, reduced stress, and lower risks of unhealthy behaviors—only 30% of families have them regularly. We'll explore why they're so important, the science behind the benefits, and practical strategies to make family dinners a lasting habit, even in a busy world. Join me as we break down why sharing meals is more than just tra...
Here are 7 reasons to get your feet touching sand and water, according to science.
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Things Mentioned:
I'm a new convert using my Bon Charge Red Light Device when I can't get to a sunrise or sunset.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects 5% to 16.5% of the population, causing challenges in how individuals interpret sensory input. As an occupational therapist and a parent of two children with different sensory needs, I’ve seen firsthand how SPD impacts daily life. One child is a sensory seeker, constantly craving input, while the other is avoidant, overwhelmed by too much stimuli.
Once you understand SPD, behaviors that seem ...
Nowadays, good sleep feels harder to come by. Over a third of U.S. adults sleep less than seven hours a night, which leads to cognitive issues, mood swings, weight gain, and even serious health risks like diabetes and cancer—not to mention the thousands of car crashes linked to drowsy driving each year.
With sleep being so critical, many turn to natural sleep aids as a safer prescription alternative. But not all are created equal, ...
One hour, I might walk into a session with a young athlete recovering from a car accident, their once lightning-fast reflexes now struggling to catch a ball. The next, I work with a middle-aged adult grappling with the fog of cognitive decline, their memories, attention, and processing speed just a fraction of what they were. Though separated by decades and causes—a jarring impact, a silent stroke, or the slow burn of Alzheimer's—b...
Lessons I learned in my job as an OT, able to be applied to life.
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Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood. From its effects on heart health to myths about dehydration and the elusive 'lethal dose,' misconceptions about caffeine are widespread. In exploring these 21 common misunderstandings, much of the information presented draws heavily on a comprehensive review published in the Journal of the International Society of Sport...
What to know to improve your vision. Debunking myths and providing practical strategies.
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Things Mentioned:
Hit the minimum effective dose of exercise (lifting, walking, HIIT, and Zone 2).
A 2020 study involving more than 10,000 child...
Today‘s guest is someone I was really looking forward to talking to: Dean Stott. Dean is a former British Special Forces soldier who served in the Special Boat Service (also known as the SBS). After a career-ending parachuting accident, he transitioned to the private sector. He became renowned for handling high-risk situations such as when he evacuated the Canadian Embassy in Libya. He later set two world records for traveling the ...
Today I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, the author of The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family. Emily is a former teacher, screen-time expert, advocate, and the author of The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family.
Today on the show, Emily unpacks the alarming statistics of screen time use and the consequences, why screen time use today is much differe...
Discover 8 foods that modern society doesn’t consider unhealthy but which actually are.
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Things Mentioned:
Granola:
DIY: Make your own granola using organic oats, nuts and seeds (pumpkin, pecan, and cashews for example), dark chocolate, coconut...
Studies reveal that over 50% of people mistakenly believe cognitive decline is simply a function of getting older. This misconception can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing people to disengage from mentally stimulating activities, physical activity, and socialization.
The good news? Your brain is more adaptable than you might think. Listen for a research-based dive into practical strategies to help mitigate cognitive ...
The importance of sleep is undeniable It improves everything from our thinking to our physical function to our longevity. Still, 35.2% of adults in the U.S. get less than the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night and nearly 40% of adults unintentionally fall asleep during the day each month.
In the last decade, I’ve put a lot of focus into my sleep optimization and learned a lot in the process. Combining my experiences ...
Popular Podcasts
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
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The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.