Uncommon Living: A Dialogue in Human Resilience

Modern American hospitals are modeled after the factory in the service of the military. They are excellent for treatment of infectious disease and gunshot wounds (acute trauma).

They are NOT designed for chronic illness.

In Episode 54 of the Uncommon Living podcast, Chris Zimmerman shares his innovative approach to transforming healthcare by repurposing rural hospital infrastructure, emphasizing systemic change, and leveraging natural modalities like cold exposure and light therapy to improve health outcomes.

Hollywood Stuntman Bobby Williams describes his experiences with the Stratosphere ATC hypobaric machine he invented to boost health and longevity. In Episode 53 of the Uncommon Living podcast, William's explains to Thomas Seager, PhD how hypobaric (i.e., high altitude simulation) training has improved lung capacity for him and his wife, actress Mariel Hemingway. Their conversations compares hypobaric to hyperbaric chamber and examines the physiology behind both hyperbaric oxygen therapy and induced hypoxia. Finally, the two discuss plans to collaborate at the Cold Plunge Research Institute 3rd Annual Symposium, and for equipping a new hot springs spa in Ketchum Idaho with Morozko ice baths.

George Wiseman invented a machine to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen rich "Brown's gas" for inhalation via an oxygen cannula.
He's maintained the practice years, and credits it for healing scars, warts, boosting his immune system, and keeping him young. In this episode of the Uncommon Living podcast, Wiseman tells Professor Thomas Seager about the benefits of hydrogen inhalation for overall health and human performance.

Clinical trials at Adelaide University in Australia have demonstrated the efficacy of cold plunge therapy for relief of endometriosis pain. Results show that those women who cold plunged most often obtained the greatest relief. In this episode of the Uncommon Living podcast, Kelsi Dodd, PhD describes the complex and painful condition of endometriosis, distinguishes it from PCOS/PMOS, and hypotheses about the mechanisms by which cold water bathing provides pain relief.

In this episode 50 of the Uncommon Living podcast, Thomas Seager, PhD describes the science of photobiomodulation (PBM), explaining that red light therapy and infrared light therapy are becoming popular for their effects on boosting mitochondrial health. However, he also suggests that the big gains in photobiomodulation may still be yet to come.While red/NIR therapy devices typically target the cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) enzyme in the mitochondria to boost production of ATP, Seager suggests that wavelengths targeting melanin are more powerful for promoting skin health. In particular, he emphasizes the potential of green light at 532 nm to energize melanin and promote healing of skin lesions, as well as relieve headache pain anr promote relaxation.Seager also reviews the interaction between different wavelengths of light, such as how red/NIR will protect the skin from the risks of ultraviolet.Finally, Seager reveals that during cold thermogenesis, mitochondria make sunlight inside the body called biophotons, and that light will stimulate production of Vitamin D inside brown fat cells, where it can be stored until other cells in the body need it.