Dr. Matt Cook & Ben Greenfield Get Put In The Hot Seat: Favorite Books, Best Anti-Stress Tactics, Pig-Based Nootropics, Best Billboard Advice & Much More!

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He's back! Not only is one of my most popular guests of all time, Dr. Matt Cook, back on today's show, but he is joined by the CEO of BioReset Medical, Barb Branaman, along with my wife Jessa Greenfield…

…both of whom put Matt and I in the hot seat with a host of questions inspired by Tim Ferriss' Tools Of Titans.

Dr. Cook, MD is a regenerative medicine specialist and the president of BioReset Medical in Campbell, CA. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1997 and completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of California San Francisco in 2001. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist with over 20 years of experience in medical practice. Currently, Dr. Cook is the president of California Anesthesia and medical director of the National Surgery Center in Los Gatos, CA. Dr. Cook also sits on the scientific advisory board of several high profile medical companies including VMDOC, FREMedica, & Vasper Systems. His early career as an anesthesiologist and medical director of an outpatient surgery center that specializes in sports medicine and orthopedic procedures provided invaluable training in the skills that are needed to become a leader in the emerging fields of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging and nerve hydrodissection.

Dr. Matt Cook previously appeared on the podcast episodes…

During this discussion, you'll discover:

-Ben and Matt recall hunting stories…7:20

-Question 1: What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why?…17:30

-Question 2: What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?…25:45

-Question 3: How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?…31:00

  • Ben: transactional and not transformational relationships with clients, employees, etc.
    • The antisocial qualities of social media
    • Absence makes the heart grow fonder; familiarity breeds contempt
  • Matt: Went into anesthesia as a profession; found himself detached from his patients socially and emotionally
  • Work one hour a day less
  • Yoga and meditation to find the proper balance between work and joy in life
  • Ecstasy in seeing an idea come to fruition

-Question 4: If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it – metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions – what would it say and why?…38:53

  • Ben: “Be Nice” by The Black Eyed Peas
  • Matt: “It's gonna be amazing…”
    • Transitioning into the future state of being
    • Opportunity to take our health to a greater level

-Question 5: What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?…49:50

  • Ben: The land and home where his family currently lives
    • Book collection is a close second
  • Matt: Knowledge and education
    • Functional medicine education platform (going live soon)

-Question 6: What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?…56:00

  • Ben: Walk in the sunshine 5-7 miles (ruthless walking)
  • Matt: Play and sing along with music at full volume
    • Hydrodissection has helped with vocal cords, clarity in the voice

-Question 7: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?…1:04:05

  • Ben: Meditation and journaling as a family
    • In the morning:
      • What am I grateful for?
      • Who can I pray for or serve today?
    • In the evening:
      • Self-examination in the evening?
      • How did I fulfill my life's purpose today?
    • Spiritual Disciplines Journal (coming soon)
  • Matt: Letting go of dogma, injecting peptides
    • We'll be able to keep ourselves young by harnessing tools and techniques that double in quality every 2 years

-Question 8: What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world?” What advice should they ignore?…1:09:15

  • Ben: For whatever career you want to pursue, find the best in that field and shadow, be mentored by them
  • Matt: Don't put yourself in a box for life

-Question 9: What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?…1:18:15

  • Ben: Exercising is the best way to get fit
    • Low-level physical activity
    • Destressing
    • Cold practice in the morning
    • The fittest people are not constantly in the gym
  • Jessa: The thought that you can “will” yourself into a particular frame of mind or emotional state without doing the work to get into that state
  • Barb: The ability to not judge, particularly yourself, is lost in the current culture in which we live

-Question 10: In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)?…1:27:30

  • Ben: Competitive events
    • Transitioning from an athlete to a greater calling into being a mentor, spiritual leader, motivator, etc.
    • Gratifying ego vs. fulfilling life's purpose
  • Matt: Travel all over the world
    • Yes to gratitude, meditation, introspection

-Question 11: When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?…1:33:00

  • Ben: Deep, centering breaths; in through the nose, out through the mouth
    • Underlying anxiety is the cause of loss of focus for many
  • Matt: Sit with people, deep breathing, talk with them, share and embrace the emotions moving inside
    • A funny or whimsical idea often comes and leads to engaging conversation
    • The ability to be aware of both the struggle and the relief is so freeing

-And much more!


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

Resources from this episode:

– BGF podcasts with Dr. Matt Cook:

– Books:

– Other resources:

Episode sponsors:

Kion Decaf Coffee: Carefully selected and roasted for taste, purity, high antioxidants, and health. BGF listeners receive a 10% discount when you use discount code BEN10.

Organifi Gold Pumpkin Spice: A new take on an ancient secret: Pain-soothing herbs, incredible antioxidants, and phytonutrients all in one delicious, soothing “Golden Milk” nighttime tea! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code BENG20.

Butcher Box: Delivers healthy 100% grass-fed and finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork directly to your door on a monthly basis. All their products are humanely raised and NEVER given antibiotics or hormones. 

Thrive Market: Organic brands you love, for less. Your favorite organic food and products. Fast and free shipping to your doorstep. Receive a gift card worth up to $20 when you begin a new membership.

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

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13 thoughts on “Dr. Matt Cook & Ben Greenfield Get Put In The Hot Seat: Favorite Books, Best Anti-Stress Tactics, Pig-Based Nootropics, Best Billboard Advice & Much More!

  1. Boyd Miller says:

    ben – when discussing the Relaxator you mentioned it increased C02. on the website for the product it suggests it “increases your oxygen uptake”. these sound opposing but maybe I’m wrong. could you clarify please?

    1. google "The Bohr Effect".

      1. Boyd Miller says:

        thank you

  2. Scott D says:

    I really appreciated hearing Jesse’s take on reading books. Ben, you executed that very well by asking if she wanted to say why she doesn’t read all that much. I have gotten to know you Ben quite well through your podcasts and meeting you in person to tie it all together, yet hearing Jesse for a change structured a whole other element of that big picture. She shared that reading with dyslexia was a huge chore and she didn’t really finish a book until well into her 30’s. I can relate a bit and her take made me feel relaxed some how. I don’t have dyslexia, but reading has always been a chore for me too. I had huge troubles in school on the academic side and pulled myself out, to self administer home schooling and get myself up to speed. I tend to have to figure out stuff in my own way. Like Jesse, figuring out how to get by in her own way, I was the same, and it was tricky keeping it together. I can say I haven’t fully finished a book with confidence, without rereading a page too often, even, until I was 28. You can guess my issues by the book I read; Scatter Minds by Gabor Maté. A book that put me at ease and a worthy read to get me up to speed and smash my hangups. It was really special having her on. Big thumbs up for that very special podcast.

    1. Scott D says:

      Oops .. my bad on misspelling Jessa!!

  3. Biz Giancola says:

    I loved hearing from Jessa and Barb! It would be fun to hear from both of them more. Thanks for another great podcast.

    1. Jessica Humphrey says:

      OMG, Biz, hello. It’s Jess. I loooooove that you listen to Ben’s podcast. Amazing…miss you.

  4. Great podcast you all! Loved the spontaneity and subject matter. Quick question for Dr. Cook. We have been doing a significant amount of hydrodissections of lower extremity peripheral nerves with D5W and have had great success. How are you implementing the peptides in your procedures? Do you administer them after the dissection is essentially completed with the larger bolus of fluid, and wait until there is some/significant absorption in order not to dilute the peptides? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

  5. Scott says:

    This was one of my favorite recent podcasts. Thank you all. The loving energy between the four of you was felt by this listener. That’s the real message of life for me these days; how we truly feel inside is impactful to others. The loving grounded essence of you all made the words so impactful. A special tnx to Matt for being brave and learning to sit with pain. Not only sit with it but to let it flow and help others release their pain. This is a human skill we have forgotten in our culture. Barb and Jess were fabulous additions for their intellect and willingness to share. Ben, you continue to inspire me to help others. 👏

  6. Cody says:

    Four people trying to get a word in. This wasn’t my favorite podcast episode.

  7. JR says:

    Hi! Always love it when you have Dr. Matt on, and also your amazing wife!! You guys mentioned nicotine or like a homeopathic dose of it. Can you list where you purchase that, and all the details of how you take it etc.?

    Thanks so much!

    JR

  8. Stevie says:

    Hi Ben,

    Just FYI…

    We just called butcher box within an hour of listening to today’s podcast and they would not honor the promo code BEN20. In fact the gal said they aren’t honoring many promo codes on podcasts. She eventually gave me the ground beef for life but it took some complaining about their user-unfriendly website to get it plus she gave me the hard sales tactic of having to make the purchase right then on the phone.

    Any way, thank you for all your great info. We’ve read your book and listen to you regularly.

    ttfn

  9. Dale AKA Healthnut says:

    Great to hear all of you today. Miss you Barbara, Dr. Cook and well Ben and Jen I havent met you yet other
    than a consult on the phone. I now live in Oaxaca, Mexico for a while. Its a little more challenging
    to get products here. Much Love from Mexico.

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