We love to celebrate Olympians as superheroes. It’s important to remember they are human beings.

In today’s episode of the podcast, Adam Skolnick and I trade thoughts on Tokyo 2020, great white shark sightings, kaatsu training and more.

For those new to the show, Adam Skolnick is a waterman, writer, activist, and veteran journalist best known as David Goggins’ Can’t Hurt Me, co-author. Adam writes about adventure sports, environmental issues, and civil rights for outlets such as The New York Times, Outside, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. He is the author of One Breath and is currently using the ‘new dad’ excuse to avoid working on his novel.

Topics covered in this episode  include:

• Adam’s close encounter with a great white shark;
• endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh and the massive melting event in Greenland;
• Robbie Balenger’s Colorado Crush challenge;
• Timothy Olson’s recent FKT on the Pacific Crest Trail;
• Simone Biles’ choice to scratch Olympic events & the ensuing conversation around mental health and elite athleticism’
• was Russia ‘actually’ banned from the Olympics?; and
• a look at blood flow restriction & ultra-short race-pace training; 

In addition, we answer the following listener questions:

• What does it mean to ‘do the work’?
• What are Rich & Adam’s top five bands and albums?
• How do you set realistic physical goals as you age?

Thank you to Justin from Minnesota, Jess from Illinois, and Bev from Denver for your questions. If you want your query discussed, drop it on our Facebook Page or better yet leave a voicemail at (424) 235-4626.

To read more click here. You can also watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Peace + Plants,

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Thanks to this week’s sponsors:

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SHOW NOTES:

• Connect With Adam: Website | Instagram | Twitter
• TikTok: @iamrichroll
• YouTube: Rich Roll Podcast Clips Channel
• Instagram: Carlos G.: The Malibu Artist
• CNN: The amount of Greenland ice that melted on Tuesday could cover Florida in 2 inches of water
• Outside: Timothy Olson (Probably) Just Nabbed the FKT on the PCT
• CTS: Key Takeaways from Timothy Olson’s Pacific Crest Trail Fastest Known Time
• David Epstein: Getting Over Gold: Athletes And Mental Health
• Outside: Simone Biles Made the Right Choice. Here’s How You Can, Too.
• New York Times: Simone Biles Just Demonstrated a True Champion Mind-Set
• Swim Swam: Caroline Burckle Discusses Mental Health And Well-being For Olympic Athletes
• Washington Post: Simone Biles Was Abandoned By American Officials, And The Torment Hasn’t Stopped
• Washington Post: Simone Biles returns; world record highlights big day of track and field
• Washington Post: Simone Biles withdraws from women’s gymnastics all-around final
• Today: Simone Biles returning to Olympics to be a voice for abuse survivors
• Yahoo Sports: Japan’s Olympic organizers lied about its weather, and now athletes are paying the price
• CNN: Why Kaatsu, A Fitness Trend Spotted At The Games, Isn’t Just For Olympians
• New York Times: A Hot Fitness Trend Among Olympians: Blood Flow Restriction
• Inverse: The Scientific Reason Why Olympians Are Embracing This New Fitness Trend
• Everyday Health: Olympic Athletes Are Into Blood Flow Restriction Training — Does It Work?
• Washington Post: New Olympian Michael Andrews Quietly Deleted His Doubters, But The Scrutiny Isn’t Going Away

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Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production, show notes and interstitial music; Margo Lubin and Blake Curtisfor video, & editing; graphics by Jessica Miranda & Daniel Solis; portraits by Ali Rogers, Davy Greenberg & Grayson Wilder; copywriting by Georgia Whaley; and theme music by Tyler Piatt, Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.

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