The Ready State Podcast

• Longevity Starts in Your Mouth: Dr. Kenny Brown on Oral Health & Whole-Body Wellness

  View This Week's Show NotesStart Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility CoachJoin Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The AmbushDid you know your oral health is directly tied to your longevity? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Kenny Brown, Stanford-educated oral and maxillofacial surgeon, unpacks the shocking link between dental hygiene and overall health and wellness. Discover how bacteria in your mouth can impact your heart, brain, gut, and even reproductive system, and why gum disease could be silently affecting your body’s performance. Learn the dos and don’ts of brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning, bust common oral health myths, and explore groundbreaking innovations like the Feno Smartbrush that could revolutionize your routine. Whether it’s preventing chronic inflammation or improving systemic health, this episode is packed with actionable tips that could transform your wellness journey. Don’t miss out—your health starts here!What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy oral bacteria travel to the heart, brain, joints, and gutThe difference between brushing “daily” and brushing correctlyWhy only 3 out of 10 people brush properly — and just 1 in 10 flossWhat bleeding gums actually mean (hint: inflammation, not “brushing too hard”)The connection between gum disease and chronic illness, diabetes, heart conditions, and preterm laborWhy panoramic X-rays and cone-beam CT scans matterHow root canals can hide silent infectionsWhether oral care is improving or declining — and whyHow Zyn, vaping, and nicotine damage gum tissue and affect wellnessWhy nasal breathing and airway health matter for kids and adultsThe future of oral hygiene: AI, microbiome testing, and automated brushingChapters(00:00) - Intro(00:39) - How Often to Brush Teeth(04:10) - Mouth as Gateway to the Body(09:12) - Proper Tooth Brushing Techniques(11:39) - Importance of Flossing(13:03) - Benefits of Mouthwash(14:15) - Manual vs. Electric Toothbrush(15:34) - Teeth Whitening(17:03) - Understanding Root Canals(22:17) - Oral Health and Overall Wellness(29:40) - Hope for Non-Flossers(31:52) - Gum and Dental Health(33:55) - Effects of Mouth Breathing(38:39) - Nicotine and Oral Health Risks(44:32) - Innovations in Oral Care(47:19) - Current Trends in Oral Health(55:22) - A book for our Infinite Shelf(57:11) - Finding Dr. Kenny Brown(58:28) - The Starrett System’s Durability ChallengeSponsorsThis episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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• How Muscle Shapes Who We Are: Bonnie Tsui on Strength, Resilience, and Her Newest Book On Muscle

  View This Week's Show NotesStart Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility CoachJoin Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The AmbushWhat if strength isn’t just physical, but emotional and cultural too?Award-winning journalist Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim and On Muscle, explores how our muscles tell the story of who we are — our adaptability, creativity, and joy in motion.On this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett sit down with Bonnie to unpack how muscle links the brain and body and reshapes how we think about strength, beauty, and being alive.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy muscle is more than physical strength — it’s an endocrine organ that communicates with the brain.How Bonnie’s unconventional childhood shaped her lifelong fascination with the body.The cultural myths that still shape how we view women’s bodies and power.Why play and access to movement are essential across every stage of life.How muscle’s adaptability makes it a symbol of hope and renewal.The one simple practice Bonnie recommends for everyone: “Lift something heavy for you”Key Highlights: (00:00) - Intro(01:25) - Importance of Muscle(03:52) - Parental Influence on Fitness(07:56) - Debunking Muscle Myths(12:35) - Understanding Muscle Physiology(15:52) - Surprising Facts About Muscle(18:50) - Women and Muscle Development(23:15) - Trends in Women's Fitness(27:38) - Access and Inclusion in Fitness(30:11) - Resilience of Muscle Tissue(31:13) - Muscle Regeneration Process(32:44) - Interview with Matthew Sanford(37:10) - Curiosity in Muscle Science(43:28) - Daily Muscle Care Tips(45:47) - Closing Remarks(47:14) - Bonnie adds a book to our Infinite Shelf(48:00) - Connecting with BonnieSponsorsThis episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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• The Hidden System Behind Performance: Functional Vision Training with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum

  View This Week's Show NotesStart Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility CoachJoin Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The AmbushBehind every great movement is a trained visual system. Your eyes aren’t just for seeing — they’re tools for balance, reaction, and control. When they’re not working in sync with your brain and body, everything from focus to performance suffers.In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Bryce Appelbaum — a neuro-optometrist specializing in functional vision — joins Juliet and Kelly Starrett to break down how your visual system drives everything from reaction time to recovery. He explains how training the eyes and brain together can improve coordination, balance, and focus under pressure. Whether you’re coming back from a concussion or looking to level up your athletic edge, this episode will open your eyes to the hidden system behind performance.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhat functional vision training is (and how it differs from standard eye exams)Why vision is a skill — not just a senseHow concussions and screen time can disrupt your visual systemThe surprising ways vision affects posture, balance, and coordinationPractical tools to improve visual endurance and reaction timeHow athletes can train their eyes like any other muscleWhy vision issues are often misdiagnosed as ADHDKey Highlights: (00:00) - Intro(01:48) - Vision Misunderstandings(05:14) - Training Eyesight Without Glasses(10:27) - Identifying Children's Vision Problems(15:44) - Causes of Reading Fatigue(18:54) - Increasing Vision Changes Trends(23:33) - Healthy Vision Training Routine(27:35) - Sponsor: Momentous(30:29) - Sponsor: LMNT(32:45) - Duration for Effective Vision Training(38:02) - Secrets to Regular Bowel Movements(44:06) - Understanding Concussions(50:30) - Getting Help for Concussions(53:20) - Functional Vision as a Competitive Advantage(56:20) - Finding Dr. BryceSponsorsThis episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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• Performance Longevity with the 'Check Engine Light' Framework

  Rob Wilson is a performance educator with over twenty years of experience helping people build durable, high-functioning bodies and minds. He joins us on The Ready State Podcast to unpack the uncomfortable truth about performance: it’s not free. In this powerful conversation with Kelly and Juliet Starrett, Rob dives into the real price of pushing your limits, why sleep is non-negotiable, and how to reframe “selfish” self-care as the foundation for showing up better in every area of life. Together, they tackle burnout, aging, and what it takes to sustain health and high output in a world that rewards constant hustle.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeThe three waves of fitness, and why Rob Wilson's book represents the vanguard of the third wave.The problem with the democratization of health metrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) if you don't know how to interpret the data or take action.The story behind the "Check Engine Light" metaphor, which helps high performers prioritize what to address and what to ignore.Why the phrase "self-care" often fails with service-oriented and high-performing individuals and the analogy used instead.The "Cobra Effect" or Goodhart's Law, and how chasing a metric like a high HRV can lead to misleading and useless outcomes.How to stop the "medical cascade" and apply an experimental framework (test/retest) to chronic, nagging pain and everyday health issues.The true cost of high performance and the crucial need for a "cost mitigation strategy" to avoid burnout.Why context matters more than perfect protocols, and how to create a personal longevity dashboard for continuous adaptation.For more info, follow Rob on Instagram and definitely pick up a copy of his new book, Check Engine Light: Tuning Your Body and Mind to Achieve Performance Longevity.Key Highlights: (00:00) - Intro(00:48) - Check Engine Light Book Overview(06:49) - Check Engine Light Metaphor Explained(14:06) - Importance of Check Engine Light for Everyone(17:49) - Inputs and Outputs in Life(20:37) - One Size Fits All Approach: Myth or Reality?(25:25) - Identifying What Matters Most to You(27:28) - Performance Costs: Understanding Trade-offs(29:27) - Recommended Supplements for Health(32:55) - LMNT: Importance of Hydration Explained(37:10) - Resistance: Creativity's Universal Challenge(39:48) - Becoming Reasonable: A Personal Journey(45:18) - Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Benefits Explained(47:15) - Using Tracking Devices Mindfully(49:57) - The Cobra Effect: Understanding Consequences(57:55) - Setting Up Environments for Success(1:00:20) - Changes Since Writing the Book(1:03:14) - What's Next for Rob: Future Plans(1:04:30) - Finding Rob: Where to ConnectSponsorsThis episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous. 

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• The Truth About Women’s Health: Hormones, Metabolism, and Strength with Dr. Stephanie Estima

  In a world where “one-size-fits-all” health advice dominates, women are often left out of the conversation entirely. Enter Dr. Stephanie Estima — chiropractor, health strategist, and unapologetic myth-buster — who’s redefining how women think about hormones, metabolism, and longevity. Known for her bestselling book The Betty Body and her work on aligning health practices with the female cycle, Estima is helping women ditch cookie-cutter protocols and reclaim their biology as a superpower.In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Juliet and Kelly Starrett dig deep with Dr. Estima into why women need different health strategies, what biohacking gets wrong, and how to move from shame and confusion to empowerment and strength.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the first step for women's health is "the great unlearning" that they are not just "smaller men".How prolonged calorie restriction teaches the female body to conserve fat and slow metabolism.The three-pronged approach to health that balances scientific evidence, clinical experience, and patient desire.Why the menstrual cycle is a vital sign, and how to use it as a monthly hormonal report card.The biggest misconception around strength training for women (Hint: It’s the fear of "getting bulky").Why you lose strength before mass, making strength training crucial for fall risk and long-term independence.Why explosive movement, like sprinting, is the key to maintaining power and mitigating the exponential decline of speed with age.How to deprogram the fear of lifting heavy and prioritize form before load.Key Highlights(00:00) - Intro(02:15) - Why Women Need a Different Health Strategy(06:42) - The Hormonal Cycle Explained(13:10) - Fasting, Keto & Carbs for Women(21:25) - Stress, Cortisol & Female Metabolism(29:48) - The Truth About Sleep as a Biohack(35:22) - Why Lifting Heavy is Non-Negotiable(42:50) - The Problem with Male-Dominated Biohacking Protocols(49:36) - Using Hormones as Feedback, Not Enemies(55:44) - Practical Nutrition Tips for Each Phase of the Cycle(01:03:20) - Turning Confusion into Empowerment(01:09:55) - Longevity Strategies for Women(01:15:18) - Q&A: Busting Common Myths(01:22:40) - Final Thoughts from Kelly & JulietSponsorsThis episode of The Ready State Podcast is brought to you by LMNT and Momentous.

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