The Art Of Hacking Your Brain Without Smart Drugs: A Podcast With Immersive Journalist, Adventurer & Author Neil Strauss.

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Biohacking, Body, Diet & Nutrition, Fitness, Podcast, Podcast-new

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Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Neil Strauss is an American author, journalist and ghostwriter, perhaps best known for his controversial best-selling book The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists, in which he describes his experiences in the seduction community in an effort to become a “pick-up artist.” He is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone and also writes regularly for The New York Times.

But Neil's interests go far beyond “seduction”.

For example, in his book Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life, he spent three years surviving amongst survivalists, tax-dodgers, billionaire businessmen, and the government itself, and the book was hailed by Rolling Stone as an “escape plan” for the current world crisis.

When I visited Neil's home in Malibu to record this interview, I found myself immersed with Neil in everything from advanced virtual reality game playing, crazy underwater pool workouts, surfing with internet celebrities and drinking “billion-dollar smoothies”, all of which you'll hear about in this podcast recorded from Neil's kitchen.

During our discussion, which gets slightly explicit at times, you'll discover:

-Exactly how to do an underwater pool workout like Laird Hamilton…[7:25]

-The ingredients of the “billion dollar smoothie”…[12:50]

-Why Neil and I were surfing with internet celebrity Cameron Dallas prior to recording the episode…[16:20]

-Why Neil is so interested in advanced virtual reality gaming…[18:20]

-Why Neil checked himself into sex addiction therapy…[22:30]

-Neil's uncomfortable volley of questions to me in which I potentially throw my Mom and Dad “under the bus”…[36:40 & 55:00]

-Neil's three steps for “rewiring” your brain without the use of smart drugs or biohacks…[45:30 & 63:00]

-Why Neil paid to get thrown in the back of a trunk with his hands ziptied together…[77:30]

-And much more!

Resources from this episode:

-My podcast with Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece about underwater workouts

-The book “Rules of the Game

The book “The Truth: An Uncomfortable Book About Relationships

The book “The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

The book “Everyone Loves You When You're Dead: Journeys Into Fame and Madness

-The book “Radical Honesty” 

-The book “Superlife” 

Intranasal oxytocin 

Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Neil or me? Leave your thoughts below and one of us will reply!

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14 thoughts on “The Art Of Hacking Your Brain Without Smart Drugs: A Podcast With Immersive Journalist, Adventurer & Author Neil Strauss.

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  2. Zach says:

    Just listened to this. I am a little behind schedule. Great podcast. At the top of the list on my favorites. I enjoyed Neil. Darin Olien is a great guy as well. He is worth checking out. He was an integral part in the development of a pretty good supplement that I use regularly called Shakeology.

  3. Bill H. says:

    Honestly, I have not been listening much lately as I feel like I am being “sold” too many items. Glad I downloaded this one! I have heard of Neil before but could not tell you much about him – new fan – Mind Blown! Some pretty awesome stuff in this podcast. When he was talking about saying something negative about your parents is akin to blasphemy, I suddenly remembered my father used to always say – “I may not always be right, but I am never wrong”. Chill bump moment. Also, in regards to the talk about changing your environment, beliefs, etc., I remember my mother used to say, (17 years in AA when she passed) “geographical cures do not work”. I will be following your blog Neil! Awesome!

  4. Jamie Duffy says:

    I really enjoyed listening to this podcast; it brings up some great knowledge bombs, brain bites. The talk about our emotional belief system reminds me of Lou Tice’s Thought Patterns for High Performance (through The Pacific Institute). If that was interesting to you, you may also enjoy digging into Lou’s work and his story. :) Thank you for your words! Love listening. Keep up the great work.

  5. Frank says:

    I like Neil’s books, but he makes for one boring podcast. Snoozefest!

  6. Hi Ben,

    Just a note about your comment re: Robin Williams. Robb Wolf just posted a letter written to neurologists from Robin Williams wife, on Facebook. In it she details the destructive brain disease he had that was diagnosed as Parkinsons’ but although it is similar, much more destructive and was advancing at lightning speed. It is quite interesting and heartbreaking.

  7. Morgen says:

    Hey there,

    Great episode as usual! Can you please provide the link to your green juice powder form Organifi? I am trying to buy it here and I keep getting sent to Amazon?

    The best part of his epiphany that you carry your upbringing to all of your relationships…sad that it took so long for this realization- happy he finally did!

    1. BenGreenfieldFitness.com/FitLife. Coupon Code ‘BEN’ will get you 25% off.

  8. Morgen says:

    Hey there, can you link to your organifi green juice link on your site? Trying to buy and it’s sending me to Amazon- but I thought you sold this here?? And the epiphany was about how you bring your baggage and upbringing into your relationships… Great episode, as usual!

  9. Brad says:

    >Heartbreak is the greatest motivator for change

    It really is. How often have you heard the story where the guy talks about how “she broke up with me and I completely turned my life around”? They start studying harder, going to the gym, stop playing video games, etc. Heck, it’s happened to me, too.

  10. Erik Huber says:

    Can you post the specific recipe (along with where to source ingredients) for the “Billionaire Smoothie”?

    Thanks guys! Very entertaining episode, btw.

  11. DEFINITELY one of the best all around spiritually & human podcasts !

    Thank you !

    -Joni

  12. Zach Jones says:

    NLP’a Model for Change: 42min mark

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