Be Raw Podcast

As we grow up, we change—at least most of us do. Back in the day, Tom and I worked the bar scene together. We had a ton of fun, saw some things, did some things… Now? We’re raising families. Building lives. This episode was a blast—catching up with Tom, talking about what we’re into now, and how we’ve built the lives we have. And here’s the twist—Tom’s chasing gold. That’s right, he’s a gold hunter. Raw talk. Real laughs. Earned perspective. 🎙️ Connect with Tom: House7.62 on Instagram Support the Show & Sponsors: 🔥 Live Rishi – Natural CBD products → https://liverishi.com/ (use code TABLE50 for 50% off) 🛠️ HighSpeed Daddy – Gear built for dads who go all in → https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 👉 Be Raw Nation – More raw perspective, merch, and episodes → https://berawpodcast.com/ ’til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin’ ass. ’til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin’ ass. #BeRawNation #SimpleRealPowerful #BuiltNotBought #NoNotesNoMercy #PodcastTruth #BeRawPodcast #WaltBlau #GoldHunting #Friendship #LifeUnfiltered #EarnedPerspective For as long as people have walked the earth, they’ve been chasing gold. From the ancient Egyptians who prized it as the “flesh of the gods,” to the legendary California Gold Rush of 1849, the hunt for gold has shaped history, sparked migrations, and built entire towns. Gold prospecting has always been more than digging in the dirt—it’s adventure, risk, and the hope of striking it rich. In the American West, prospectors used simple gold pans and sluice boxes to pull flakes and nuggets from rivers, while modern gold hunters now mix tradition with technology—metal detectors, dredges, and advanced mapping. The common thread? The thrill of discovery. Gold hunting has never just been about wealth; it’s about freedom, grit, and chasing a dream. Whether you call it gold prospecting, treasure hunting, or simply the search for something bigger, the history of gold is the history of ambition. And today, people like Tom keep that tradition alive—out in the dirt, chasing the same glimmer men risked everything for centuries ago.

Back in the day, my buddy Larry (no, that’s his real name) and I had this savage little phrase we’d throw out anytime one of us got wrecked—by a girl, a song, a damn good steak—whatever: “…and there I was…” Translation? Hooked. Gone. Screwed in the best kind of way. So in honor of Larry, here it is— …and there I was… falling in love with blogging. Yeah, I said it. Writing. The thing I used to dodge like a chore is now where I process the chaos. It’s where I get honest, raw, and maybe a little dangerous with my thoughts. In this episode, I’m diving into: – Why blogging grabbed me by the throat (in a good way) – How it’s become the most unexpected creative outlet I’ve got – And why I think everyone should bleed a little bit on the page Can’t catch the live? It’s all here. Just press play. And drop me a “…and there I was…” of your own. What grabbed you and never let go? 🔗 Links Mentioned in the Episode Check out the platform keeping me plugged in: Use the code LiveRishi Gear, merch, or just fuel my vibe: HighSpeedDaddy Catch all episodes and extras at: BeRawPodcast 'til next time Be Raw Nation, Keep kickin ass! Let’s talk about blogging. Not the influencer fluff or SEO-chasing drivel. I’m talkin’ about the kind of writing that leaves a mark—on the page and on your psyche. Blogging, when done right, isn’t content. It’s a controlled detonation of thoughts. It’s staring down a blinking cursor and bleeding into the void because you’ve got something to say—and no one’s handing you a mic. You want therapy? Start a blog. You want clarity? Strip your soul down and hit “publish.” Blogging is where rage, heartbreak, purpose, and grit all get a seat at the table. You don’t need a degree, a brand deal, or permission. Just guts. It’s not about writing for attention. It’s writing because if you don’t, that shit eats you alive. It’s rebellion with a keyboard. It’s telling the world, “Here’s what I’ve lived, take it or leave it.” Some blogs are clean. Some are chaos. The best ones? They’re honest. And in a world faking it for likes, that kind of honesty is rare as hell. So yeah—blogging’s not dead. It’s just been waiting for people real enough to use it right.

Benedict didn’t just show up—he brought the chaos, the truth, and the kind of stories that make you sit up and listen. We’re talking war, grit, and the reality behind All Quiet on the Western Front. This isn’t history class—it’s raw perspective straight from someone who lived and breathed the world behind the film. Unscripted. Unfiltered. No notes. No mercy. 🎥 Full video on YouTube: https://berawpodcast.com Mentions in this Episode: 🎬 Benedict’s Filmography: IMDb Link 🎒 HighSpeed Daddy – Gear that Works: HighSpeedDaddy.com 💪 Live Rishi – Use code “TABLE50” for 50% off: LiveRishi.com 🎙️ Me – Everything Be Raw Podcast: BeRawPodcast.com Movies used to be built on grit—practical sets, real stunts, and crews dragging cameras through mud, deserts, or city streets just to capture the perfect shot. Explosions? Real pyrotechnics. Car chases? Metal smashing into metal. Epic battle scenes? Hundreds of extras in costume swinging swords or charging across fields. Then came CGI, and the industry changed forever. Entire worlds could be built inside a computer—castles, alien planets, entire armies—created with keystrokes. It opened up insane possibilities but also stripped away a bit of the magic. CGI can be jaw-dropping, no doubt. But when the dirt on an actor’s face came from an actual battlefield set—not a green screen—man, it just hit different. Movies got bigger, cleaner, flashier… but sometimes you can’t help but miss the chaos, imperfections, and raw reality of when it all had to be real.

What if we lived life in reverse? Start old—cranky, wise, no filter—and end as an orgasm. That’s the trip we’re taking today. This episode dives into the idea of aging backward: letting go of the noise, laughing at the chaos, and flipping the bird to every “should” the world throws at you. It’s part philosophy, part sarcasm, full throttle Be Raw energy. Fueled by caffeine, rocking a shirt with a T-Rex who’s all attitude and no reach, and dropping bombs that’ll either make you think… or cancel me. Let’s live a little—backwards. 🎙 'tube, I'm soooo close to 1k subs, it's like dancing with a hooker... Help me get over the hump! https://www.youtube.com/@Berawpodcast 🔥 HighSpeed Daddy – https://liverishi.com 🧢 Be Raw Nation HQ – https://berawpodcast.com Mic’s hot. Life’s backwards. Let’s go.

Everyone’s got stories. But not everyone’s been behind the chair for over 30 years. Jason has. From sweeping the floors in his mom’s salon to styling the biggest names in the game, Jason’s journey is anything but boring. This episode dives deep into the unfiltered chaos of salon life—awkward confessions, wild clients, and wisdom only earned through decades of cutting hair and cutting through bullshit. Scissors. Sarcasm. Survival. This one’s got it all. Mentions: 🔗 Jason – Instagram 🔗 HighSpeed Daddy – liverishi.com 🔗 Walt – BeRawPodcast.com ’til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin’ ass. #BeRawPodcast #HairdresserLife #SalonStories #BehindTheChair #UnfilteredTalk #BarbershopConfessions #RealTalkPodcast #FunnyPodcast #DarkHumor #RawAndUncut #MicHotTakes #BlueCollarTruth #StorytellingPodcast #ScissorsAndScars #BeRawNation

Welcome to Dome Dump—raw, loud, and shit I think you need to hear. This is me, the mic, y’all listening—no notes, no mercy, and whatever’s bouncing around in my dome. Thanks for being here. Take what you want, leave the rest. Mic’s hot. I’m caffeinated. And today, I’m tearing into the truth about AI—no fluff, no filters. We’re not talking about how “cool” ChatGPT is. We’re talking about what happens when the tool starts questioning the hand holding it. 🔧 Why AI is just a wrench—but most people still don’t know how to turn a bolt 💤 How it exposes laziness faster than a bad boss 🪞 Why being replaced isn’t a threat—it’s a mirror 🐭 And what happens when AI starts seeing us the way we see mice in our homes… This one’s for the doers, the thinkers, and anyone trying to survive the future with their relevance intact. Mentions: 🎒 HighSpeedDaddy → https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 🌿 Lish Rishi (Code: “TABLE50” for 50% Off) → https://liverishi.com/ 🎙️ Me → https://berawpodcast.com/ ’til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin’ ass.

Welcome to Dome Dump—raw, loud, and shit I think you need to hear. This is me, the mic, y’all listening—no notes, no mercy, and whatever’s bouncing around in my dome. Thanks for being here. Take what you want, leave the rest. Mic’s hot. I’m caffeinated. And today, I’m tearing into the truth about AI—no fluff, no filters. We’re not talking about how “cool” ChatGPT is. We’re talking about what happens when the tool starts questioning the hand holding it. 🔧 Why AI is just a wrench—but most people still don’t know how to turn a bolt 💤 How it exposes laziness faster than a bad boss 🪞 Why being replaced isn’t a threat—it’s a mirror 🐭 And what happens when AI starts seeing us the way we see mice in our homes… This one’s for the doers, the thinkers, and anyone trying to survive the future with their relevance intact. Mentions: 🎒 HighSpeedDaddy → https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 🌿 Lish Rishi (Code: “TABLE50” for 50% Off) → https://liverishi.com/ 🎙️ Me → https://berawpodcast.com/ ’til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin’ ass.

Old friends. Same small town. Two very different paths—Army for him, blue-collar grind for me. Somehow, we both ended up blessed with badass wives and families that ground us. In this episode, we swap wild stories, talk about the questionable life choices that somehow worked out, and laugh our asses off about where we came from vs. where we are now. Oh—and he casually drops that his family tree traces back to English royalty. I told him it ain’t a tree, it’s a wreath. Real friendship. Real stories. And a damn good time reconnecting. Mentions: 🎒 HighSpeedDaddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 🧴 Live Rishi – Use code "TABLE50" for 50% off your order: https://liverishi.com/ 🎙 Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ ’til next time Be Raw Nation – keep kickin' ass!

Welcome to Dome Dump—raw, loud, and shit I think you need to hear. This is me, the mic, y’all listening—no notes, no mercy, and whatever’s bouncing around in my dome. Thanks for being here. Take what you want, leave the rest. Let’s fuckin’ go. This One’s for the Dads and Men Out There Killing It Strong on the outside, storms on the inside—this one’s for you. In this special Father’s Day episode, I’m tipping my hat to the men out there holding it down—whether you're called Dad, Daddy, or just trying to keep your shit together. We’re talking strength, pressure, and the mental weight most men carry in silence. This one’s raw, real, and long overdue. 'til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin' ass. Mentions: HighSpeed Daddy - https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi, use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your. entire order - https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/

At 4 years old, my son just took his first swing at the mic—and crushed it. No pressure, just presence. This moment reminded me that it’s not about being polished—it’s about being present and real. One mic. One kid. One proud damn dad. ’til next time Be Raw Nation – Keep kickin' ass. — Walt

🎧 EPISODE DESCRIPTION: In Part 2, we go even deeper with Leo—combat medic, warrior, husband, and father. He opens up about what it really meant to be the guy running into the chaos, patching up his brothers under fire, and the mental weight that doesn’t just disappear when the uniform comes off. Now, he's home—but the mission didn’t end. It just changed. We talk about purpose after the battlefield, finding peace without going soft, and showing up for the people who matter most. This one’s raw, honest, and full of hard-earned perspective. That’s a wrap for today, Be Raw Nation—keep kickin’ ass. CombatMedic #VeteranVoices #BeRawNation #PostMilitaryLife #Fatherhood #MentalResilience #VeteranPodcast #RealTalk Mentions: Leo - https://www.facebook.com/OuttoEatwithLeo High Speed Daddy - https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi - Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order - https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/

Leo was the tip of the spear on the battlefield—dodging bullets while patching up his brothers in arms as a combat medic. After being injured, he didn’t slow down—he shifted gears. Now he’s leading the charge for his family and pushing out raw, real positivity on social media. In this episode, we talk about pain, purpose, and what it means to still be a warrior when the uniform comes off. This one’s not about survival—it’s about showing up every damn day and choosing to fight forward. Food has always been more than just fuel—it’s a symbol of survival, success, and connection. You don’t sit down to eat when you’re running from danger. You don’t feast in the middle of a war. You break bread when you’ve made it through the fire, when you’ve hunted, gathered, built, or earned your way to that table. Throughout history, when people came together over a meal, it meant they’d survived another day, and that was worth celebrating. Food is the universal truce. Cultures, families, warriors, and even enemies have gathered around it to talk, share, and reconnect. And let’s be real—if I came over to your house, where are we hanging out? The kitchen. Always the kitchen. Everyone’s crammed in there, shoulder to shoulder, telling stories, stealing bites, and laughing loud while the rest of the house sits empty. It’s not about the space—it’s about the warmth, the smells, the energy. Some of the strongest memories we carry are tied to meals: Sunday dinners, barbecues, holidays, birthdays, post-fight feasts, or that one dish grandma made better than anyone else. And in today’s chaos, we forget how powerful that is. We scroll through fake perfection, skip meals, eat alone, and call it normal. But when you slow down and sit with your people over food, something shifts. There’s laughter, stories, maybe even healing. The bullshit falls away and what’s real remains—connection, community, and shared victories. Food doesn't just nourish the body. It anchors us. It reminds us we’re not alone. Mentions: Highspeed Daddy – https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi – Use code TABLE50 for 50% off: https://liverishi.com/ Me – https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time, Be Raw Nation—keep kickin’ ass.

This is me, the mic, ya'll listening, no notes and whatever is on my mind. Thanks for listening, take what you want, leave the rest. Mentions: High Speed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=... Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order- https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time! Be a Value to Society—That’s It. It’s 2:20 in the morning. I’m rolling back from a poker game with my buddy, need gas bad, so we pull into a station in Jersey—you know, where they still won’t let you pump your own fuel. This young kid comes out. Clean cut. Smells like he gives a damn about himself. Polite, sharp, good service. I say thanks, we drive off. My buddy mutters, “Loser.” I hit the brakes—figuratively and mentally. I go, “What the fuck did you just say?” He shrugs. “He probably goes home and smokes weed, plays Xbox, lives in his mom’s basement…” And I said, “Who gives a shit? The kid showed up. He worked. He contributed.” That’s more than most people can say. Everyone’s so fast to judge. But if you’re showing up, adding value, doing your part—you’re not a loser. You’re in the game. Society doesn’t run on titles and trust funds. It runs on everyday people doing honest work. Stop judging. Start appreciating. Because if you're adding value to this world, you’re already ahead of the assholes sitting on the sidelines throwing stones.

I don't and you shouldn't agree 100% with anyone. when I came across this video my Nick Freitas it comes damn close to agreeing 100% on this subject. Love how he talks about raising boys. Check it out and let me know thoughts. Mentions: Nick - https://www.youtube.com/@Nickjfreitas Sponsors: Live Rishi - Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order - https://liverishi.com/ HighSpeed Daddy - https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time! I don’t just want my son to be “nice.” I want him to be dangerous. Not reckless, not cruel—dangerous. The kind of man who knows how to protect, provide, and stand tall when life throws punches. Because the world doesn’t care about your feelings. It respects strength, discipline, and men who can carry the weight when others fold. Raising a dangerous man doesn’t mean teaching violence—it means teaching control. It’s about sharpening his instincts, hardening his resolve, and building a code he can live by. I want him to have the confidence that only comes from knowing he can handle himself and protect what matters. A man who’s capable of violence but chooses peace? That’s a man people respect. That’s a man people follow. That’s who I’m raising. Softness isn’t safety. Compliance isn’t strength. I’d rather raise a lion and teach him restraint than raise a sheep and pray he never meets a wolf. So no, I’m not raising him to be palatable to the world. I’m raising him to be prepared—for the weight of responsibility, for danger, for leadership. Because one day, it won’t be me protecting him. It’ll be him protecting others.

Go back and catch up on part #!. When you are with your friends talking about what you did in the past and someone says you need to write a book about it...Well todays guest Andy did just that! He has stories, enjoy! Mentions: Andy: https://www.andysbook.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadKNf7EnST30A5PdLuNVXyW6QrkVzm5Xc5LWIgleCkoa-J7frQZ2ZAoyQ-COA_aem_Xfk_xHKHbbas-WcpFQz6LQ HighSpeed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order - https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time! I once did a deep dive into the commandments, teachings, pillars, rules—whatever label the world’s major religions gave their moral codes. I read through the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the Tao Te Ching, Buddhist teachings, even some tribal belief systems. All of them had different flavors, rituals, and stories—but when you strip away the incense, the robes, the chants, and the translations, guess what the core message boiled down to? Don’t. Be. A. Dick. That’s it. That’s the thesis. Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t kill, don’t screw people over, don’t act like the center of the damn universe. Be kind, help others, say thank you once in a while, and if you screw up—own it. You don’t need a theology degree or enlightenment from a mountain monk to grasp this. But here’s the real kicker: it’s simple, not easy. Ego gets loud. Pride gets in the way. Fear and anger turn people into walking middle fingers. And before you know it, you’ve become the very jackass you swore you weren’t. “Don’t be a dick” is more than a joke or a bumper sticker—it’s a code. It’s the real golden rule without all the religious fluff. Live it, and the world gets a little less stupid. Ignore it, and congratulations, you're part of the problem. So yeah, whether you're quoting scripture or just trying to not be the worst part of someone’s day, remember this: all the sacred texts pretty much agree—just don’t be a dick.

When you are with your friends talking about what you did in the past and someone says you need to write a book about it...Well todays guest Andy did just that! He has stories, enjoy! Mentions: Andy: https://www.andysbook.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadKNf7EnST30A5PdLuNVXyW6QrkVzm5Xc5LWIgleCkoa-J7frQZ2ZAoyQ-COA_aem_Xfk_xHKHbbas-WcpFQz6LQ HighSpeed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order - https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time! I once did a deep dive into the commandments, teachings, pillars, rules—whatever label the world’s major religions gave their moral codes. I read through the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the Tao Te Ching, Buddhist teachings, even some tribal belief systems. All of them had different flavors, rituals, and stories—but when you strip away the incense, the robes, the chants, and the translations, guess what the core message boiled down to? Don’t. Be. A. Dick. That’s it. That’s the thesis. Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t kill, don’t screw people over, don’t act like the center of the damn universe. Be kind, help others, say thank you once in a while, and if you screw up—own it. You don’t need a theology degree or enlightenment from a mountain monk to grasp this. But here’s the real kicker: it’s simple, not easy. Ego gets loud. Pride gets in the way. Fear and anger turn people into walking middle fingers. And before you know it, you’ve become the very jackass you swore you weren’t. “Don’t be a dick” is more than a joke or a bumper sticker—it’s a code. It’s the real golden rule without all the religious fluff. Live it, and the world gets a little less stupid. Ignore it, and congratulations, you're part of the problem. So yeah, whether you're quoting scripture or just trying to not be the worst part of someone’s day, remember this: all the sacred texts pretty much agree—just don’t be a dick.

This is me, the mic, ya'll listening, no notes and whatever is on my mind. Thanks for listening, take what you want, leave the rest. Here I give my thoughts on how my passions feed my other passions. Check out these local businesses: HighSpeed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=... Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order: https://liverishi.com/ You know what keeps me productive? Having more than one damn passion. Shocking, right? I’m a blue-collar, on-the-road mechanic—I get my hands dirty for a living, and honestly, I love the hell out of it. Some days I’m basically skipping to the damn truck, caffeine in hand, ready to wrestle with whatever the day throws at me. But here’s the twist: what keeps me really dialed in out there isn’t just the work—it’s having something else I’m fired up about. For me, that’s this podcast project. It’s not a side hustle or a time-killer. It’s something I give a real shit about. So I bust my ass during the day, not just to finish the job, but to earn the time to go all-in on something that lights a different kind of fire. And yeah, it’s all connected. I want to be on point with the podcast so I can chill with my family, hit the gym, and show up sharp at the poker table. It’s passion feeding passion. One thing fuels the next. Keeps me sharp. Keeps me sane. And honestly, keeps me from turning into one of those “I live for the weekend” zombies. No thanks. I’ve got shit to do. 'til next time!

You should never take advise from someone who hasn't been there, biuld something or what ever you are trying to do. Well Harvey has been there and if you want to know how to lose weight? This dude dropped over 100lbs and lives a great life, enjoy! Mentions, Harvey: https://www.instagram.com/harvey_a_erwin/ High Speed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order: https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time! Life Is a Mirror, Not a Window—So Stop Crying at the Glass Oh, how nice it would be if life were just a big, scenic window. You could press your sad little forehead against it, sigh dramatically, and blame the world for handing you a lousy view. But no—life isn’t a window; it’s a mirror. And if you don’t like what’s staring back at you, well, guess who’s responsible for that? You think everyone around you is selfish? Maybe you’re not as generous as you pretend to be. Tired of dealing with liars? Might want to check how “honest” you really are. Keep attracting negativity? Hate to break it to you, but you’re probably the common denominator. Life doesn’t hand you a pre-packaged reality—it reflects back whatever you bring to the table. Windows let you sit back and complain. Mirrors? They force you to take responsibility. And here’s the real kicker—if you don’t like the reflection, smashing the mirror won’t fix the problem. Changing you will. So, if life keeps looking like a disaster, maybe it’s not the world that needs fixing. Maybe it’s time to stop whining, own your reflection, and actually do something about it.

This is me, the mic, ya'll listening, no notes and whatever is on my mind. Thanks for listening, take what you want, leave the rest. In this episode I talk about my experience of being on the carnivore diet for 7 weeks now. The ups and downs, the pros and cons. Enjoy! Take a moment and check out these great companies! Highspeed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order - https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time, keep kickin ass! Ah yes, the carnivore diet — the "crazy, unsustainable" way of eating that’s somehow completely transformed my health over the past two months. Who knew ditching kale and quinoa for steak and eggs would actually make me feel human again? Shocking, right? While everyone else is choking down green smoothies and pretending to enjoy chickpeas, I’m over here thriving on ribeye and butter. My inflammation? Gone. My energy? Through the roof. My cravings? What are those? Turns out, I don't need a side of anxiety with my avocado toast after all. Of course, the plant-based crowd loves to call this “dangerous” and “unbalanced.” Because, you know, eating real, nutrient-dense food that humans have survived on for thousands of years is clearly more reckless than stuffing your face with processed soy burgers and seed oil dressing. Makes perfect sense. Look, I get it. It sounds extreme to some. But honestly, what's more extreme — eating the diet we evolved on or trusting the same food industry that's been pumping out sugar-laden garbage for decades? I’ll stick with my steak, thanks. My body’s happy, my mind’s clear, and my abs are starting to show. But hey, enjoy your kale chips.

Make sure you have a fresh bottle of Kombucha ready for this episode! We dig into Eric's passion for his work and the importance of intellectual exercise. With his new book out and the stories he shares that got him where he is today, I'll let him tell you all about it! Enjoy. Mentions: Eric: https://www.ericjaysonnenschein.com/ HighSpeed Daddy: https://www.highspeeddaddy.com/?rfsn=7178368.317ce6 Live Rishi: Use the code "TABLE50" and get 50% off your entire order: https://liverishi.com/ Me: https://berawpodcast.com/ 'til next time! The Importance of Intellectual Exercise: Because Who Doesn’t Love Using Their Brain? Ah, intellectual exercise—because using your brain is apparently just as important as using your body. Who knew? In a world where scrolling through social media counts as reading and binge-watching ten seasons of a TV show in one weekend is considered "commitment," mental stimulation is somehow still relevant. Crazy, right? Now, let’s talk about why flexing those mental muscles is crucial. Because, let’s be honest, relying on autopilot for the rest of your life might not be the best strategy—unless, of course, you enjoy being outsmarted by your toaster. 1. Keeps Your Brain from Turning Into Mush You know what’s fun? Having a brain that actually works. Just like muscles deteriorate when they aren’t used, your brain also gets lazy when it’s not challenged. If you think solving a crossword puzzle or reading something more complex than a fast-food menu is too much work, then congratulations—you’re on the fast track to becoming a human houseplant. Keep it up, and pretty soon, forming coherent thoughts might require Google assistance. 2. Prevents the "What Was I Saying Again?" Syndrome Ah, memory loss—the fun little trick your brain plays when you treat it like an old piece of furniture. Studies suggest that engaging in intellectual activities like reading, problem-solving, and, you know, actually thinking, can help prevent cognitive decline. But sure, go ahead and rely on your phone for everything. I’m sure Siri won’t mind reminding you of your own birthday in a few years. 3. Boosts Creativity—Because Original Thoughts Are Rare These Days Want to be the kind of person who actually contributes something interesting to a conversation instead of regurgitating TikTok trends? Well, congratulations, intellectual exercise is your secret weapon. Reading, debating, and analyzing ideas help develop critical thinking skills, which means you might actually have a fresh perspective on something. Imagine that—being able to form an opinion that wasn’t spoon-fed to you by an algorithm. Revolutionary. 4. Makes You Less Gullible (Hopefully) Ever wonder why some people believe everything they read on the internet? Lack of intellectual exercise, my friend. A well-exercised brain can detect nonsense from a mile away. So, if you’d rather not fall for the latest conspiracy theory about how Wi-Fi signals are controlling your thoughts, maybe—just maybe—consider engaging in some critical thinking activities. 5. Gives You Something to Talk About Other Than the Weather Nobody wants to be that person at a dinner party whose conversational skills are limited to “Wow, crazy weather we’re having, huh?” Reading books, learning new skills, and challenging yourself intellectually make you a more interesting person. Because let’s face it—there are only so many times you can get away with saying, “I don’t really read” before people start questioning your life choices. Conclusion: Use It or Lose It At the end of the day, exercising your brain is the difference between staying sharp and becoming that person who calls tech support because their computer won’t turn on… only to realize it’s unplugged. So, do yourself a favor—read a book, learn a language, play chess, or at the very least, do a Sudoku puzzle once in a while. Your future self (the one who actually remembers where they put their car keys) will thank you.