Brad Stulberg: Mastering Change, Taking Action, and Rugged Flexibility

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Brad Stulberg
Mastering Change, Taking Action, and Rugged Flexibility

Brad Stulberg is the bestselling author of the new book Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing, Including You. Brad writes and coaches on mental health, well-being, and sustainable excellence. He regularly contributes to the New York Times and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the Atlantic, among other outlets. In his coaching practice, he works with executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes on their mental skills and overall well-being. He is on faculty at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. His past books include The Practice of Groundedness and Peak Performance. He lives in Western North Carolina.

The Starretts are navigating the massive life change of their oldest leaving for college. Brad’s book is the framework everyone needs to create a rugged and flexible mindset in times of change.

For more info about Brad, visit his website, follow him on Instagram, and definitely check out his podcast.

Points of interest in the episode: 

05:48  Brad just pulled a 500# deadlift
06:40  Brad comes from a background of power sports, but moved to endurance sports
07:20  Chronic injuries led Brad back to his background in strength and power sports
08:15  Kelly is an aerobic athlete that is always fighting his genetics
09:30  Endurance athletes after the birth of babies
12:00  Brad is one of the most reasonable voices on Twitter
13:05  Brad is faculty at the University of Michigan’s Graduate School of Public Health, and the Starretts just dropped their oldest, Georgia, to start college at Michigan
14:07  Brad just release his latest book, Master of Change
14:20  Brad’s backstory: OCD, injury, family estrangement
16:50  Homeostasis and allostasis defined; Walter Cannon; Sterling and Eyers
21:25  Rugged Flexibility
24:25  Kelly describes a time of extreme change
27:40  OCD is it’s own form of hiccups
29:14  Venti latte with cream
35:26  Juliet describes a time of low back pain
37:44  How to maintain flexibility as we age (physical, mental, emotional..)
39:30  Rich Roll says “mood follows action”
40:29  Rigidity
42:22  Breadcrumbs
43:40  Destigmatizing is not the same as making it better; Simon Biles
45:41  Non-avoidance is the key skill
46:38  The role of expectations
50:56  Tragic optimism; Viktor Frankl
54:10  Taking action in the face of change
55:01  “The pause between action and reaction”; Michael Gervais, George Mumford
55:54  Trivial changes vs. big changes
56:38  Freud allegory of the wildflowers
58:33  Where to find Master of Change
59:02  Brad’s socials and podcast
59:18  What’s next

Full Transcript

Sponsors

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