Podcast
RUNGA Radio
Hosted by RUNGA · EN
RUNGA Radio is where physical health, emotional well-being, and personal transformation collide. Hosted by Joseph Anew, a 20+ year health and fitness coach, RUNGA Radio blends evidence-based insights with proven high-impact approaches to optimize your mind and body. Join Joseph as he sits down with some of the world’s leading experts to explore the cutting edges of personal transformation and long-term health and wellness with deep explorations into heart health, breathwork, biohacking, functional fitness, emotional resilience, psychedelics, and beyond.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
228 | Laura Fullerton: Rethinking Cold Exposure, Ice Baths & Biohacking for Women
May 6, 202500:59:14Tap to summarizeLaura 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 thinkThe secret link between trauma, PTSD recovery, and the coldThe biggest myths about ice baths (and why “harder” isn’t always better)Get ready to rethink what you know about cold therapy, stress resilience, and performance. TIMESTAMPS:00:01 – Meet Laura Fullerton: founder of Monk Ice Baths and unexpected ice bath enthusiast00:44 – Laura’s first (reluctant) plunge and life-changing breathwork experience03:49 – Why the more afraid you are, the bigger the dopamine reward04:18 – How the menstrual cycle affects cold tolerance: when women should (and shouldn’t) plunge08:37 – Should you plunge when sick or hungover? (spoiler: probably not)09:44 – Ice baths and inflammation: how plunging helped endometriosis symptoms in a pilot study [Liability Note]11:07 – Does cold exposure blunt muscle growth? Here’s the real nuance14:37 – When cold plunging boosts athletic recovery and endurance pre-cooling16:14 – Carnivore Aurelius says cold plunges are bad? Here’s why that’s misleading17:23 – Gender differences: how men vs women experience the benefits of cold19:54 – Is cold therapy a lasting health trend—or just a stepping stone to something bigger?24:03 – Joseph’s near-death hypothermia story (and accidental DMT experience)26:00 – Swearing during cold plunges: surprising science about pain tolerance28:47 – Laura’s #1 ice bath myth she wishes would disappear33:26 – Behind the scenes: building Monk, hardware + software in the biohacking space38:36 – Monk’s vision: syncing cold therapy with your biometrics40:08 – How cold plunging could help PTSD and mental health for veterans48:55 – Cold immersion, menstrual cycles, and psychedelics—new research insights53:46 – Why women’s health research is finally (slowly) catching up57:45 – How to find Monk, Laura, and what’s coming nextSupport the show
Transcribe →227 | Therapy vs. Exercise: What’s the Real Antidote to Mental Health Struggles?
Apr 30, 202501:16:16Tap to summarizeIn 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. impact” culture – How plastic surgery affects mental health – The real reason social connection predicts longevity – Why men’s mental health needs movement, not just talking circlesWith honest reflections, real studies, and no sacred cows, this conversation is a much-needed reality check for anyone navigating modern mental health culture.Ready for a true mind-body-soul upgrade? Join our RUNGA Intensive — a 12-week coaching journey to unlock your next level of health and freedom. ➔ Learn more & applyTIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Facelifts: The new PED for biohackers? 04:17 – Plastic surgery and its unpredictable impact on mental health 06:56 – Why your perception shapes your reality more than you think 08:32 – How outrage culture is making us miserable 13:05 – Does therapy really work? A harsh look at the evidence 19:45 – The dangers of therapy if you don’t actually need it 24:15 – Exercise, SSRIs, and therapy: Which one wins for mental health? 37:31 – Why men might need exercise even more than women 43:34 – Longevity and friendship: It’s not what you think 48:10 – New Age spirituality and narcissism: a slippery slope 55:06 – SSRIs: The dirty secrets no one talks about 01:08:04 – Why therapy needs to integrate sleep, food, sunlight, and fitnessSupport the show
Transcribe →226 | Tony Wrighton: Is Wellness Making You Sick?
Apr 22, 202501:00:31Tap to summarizeMold, EMFs, Histamine & the Biohacking Rain BarrelTony 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 to be histamine intolerance… caused by mold exposure in his student housing decades earlier. We also get real about the biohacks that don’t work, parenting in the digital age, EMF fails, and why the best hacks are still free.Tony’s also the host of the popular Zestology podcast.Topics We CoverMold, histamine intolerance & post-viral fatigueEMFs, sleep canopies & tech that might be doing nothingParenting without iPads (and why tapping helps with constipation)Biohacking fails: TSA trauma, shrinking shorts, and placebo pantsFull-body MRIs, metabolic testing, and the future of diagnosticsWhy Gabor Maté and Esther Perel were Tony’s most important teachersSocial media’s role in health anxiety — and what to do about itKey Moments 00:00 – Mold vs. EMF: Why we’re not all reacting to the same triggers 03:18 – What histamine intolerance really feels like 07:11 – The “Plinko” theory of chronic illness 21:00 – Tapping for kids, parenting in the age of addiction 33:00 – EMF blocking fails, radiation fears & airport scanners 43:29 – What’s actually exciting in health: testing, not techTools & ResourcesDirty Genes by Ben LynchSiPhox Home TestingQuicksilver Scientific – use code RUNGA for 15% offDr. Khan – Austin Regenerative TherapyRELATED EPISODESAmy Piper – The Science of Tapping & Becoming Your Own HealerHuberman’s Dangerous AdviceLIABILITY NOTEEMF sensitivity is not recognized as a formal diagnosis by most medical institutions. However, some individuals report reproducible symptom relief from mitigation strategies.Histamine intolerance remains a controversial and poorly defined diagnosis. Symptoms may overlap with other conditions. Always consult with a medical professional.Airport scanners in the U.S. use millimeter wave technology. These scanners are banned in the EU based on precautionary principles.EFT (Tapping) may be effective for emotional regulation but should not replace professional mental health care when needed.FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM@the_breath_geek | @TheRUNGAGuy | @tonywrightonIf your “rain barrel” feels full, this one’s for you.Support the show
Transcribe →225 | The Viral Post That Exposed the Therapy Industry
Apr 15, 202501:22:14Tap to summarizeDr. 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 unpack the firestorm. They address accusations of manipulation, the limitations of talk therapy, and the rise of therapy culture that may be doing more harm than good. This is a raw, honest, and timely conversation that asks big questions about how we heal, what’s keeping us stuck, and what a more empowered, integrated path forward might look like.• The Limitations of Traditional Talk Therapy – Why many people feel stuck in therapy, and how the field is still influenced by outdated frameworks and models of the mind. • The Rise of “Therapy Culture” – A critical distinction between therapy as a tool and the growing cultural identity around being in therapy, working on trauma, or identifying as broken. • Personal Agency and the Path to Real Healing – How movement, community, breathwork, and lifestyle interventions can create the transformation many are seeking—but not finding—in conventional care. • Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB) as a Therapeutic Alternative – Drawing from his PhD research, Richard shares why CCB may offer a more embodied and effective route for emotional processing and nervous system regulation. • Rethinking the Mental Health System – From ghosting therapists to the limitations of insurance-based models, the conversation explores what’s not working—and what could work better.Liability Note This episode includes a critique of therapy culture, outcomes, and common practices. Listeners are reminded that not all therapy is ineffective, and many benefit from mental health support when well-matched with a trained professional. This podcast does not offer individualized clinical advice. Always consult a licensed provider for mental health needs.Support the show
Transcribe →222 | Huberman’s Dangerous Advice & Why We Need To Stop Overcomplicating Fitness
Mar 24, 2025Tap to summarizeIn 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 misunderstood recommendation about running with a unilateral load—leading to a breakdown of energy systems, metabolic pathways, and why so many people are aerobically deficient.The conversation also explores longevity, stress, and why some Blue Zones research may be misleading. They unpack the “Midwit” meme—showing how fitness advice often gets needlessly complex—and highlight the power of community, the mental benefits of strength training, and the history of kettlebell training.You’ll Learn:The real impact of creatine on energy and performance.Why authenticity matters in fitness advice.How energy systems fuel your workouts—and why most people ignore aerobic health.Why fitness advice often gets overcomplicated.The surprising mental benefits of strength training—especially back squats.The origins of kettlebell training and what RKC & Strong First got right.Support the show
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