Episode
#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
1:24:23
Published: Mon Sep 07 2015
Description
WARNING: AS I’VE EMPHASIZED BEFORE, NEVER DO BREATHING EXERCISES IN WATER OR BEFORE TRAINING IN WATER. SHALLOW-WATER BLACKOUTS CAN BE FATAL. Wim Hof (@Iceman_hof) is a Dutch world record holder, adventurer and daredevil, commonly nicknamed “The Iceman" for his ability to withstand extreme cold. He is the creator of the Wim Hof Method and holds more than 20 world records. Wim is an outlier of outliers, as he routinely asks scientists to scrutinize and validate his feats. Here are just a few examples: In 2007, he climbed past the “death zone" altitude on Mount Everest (~7,500 meters) wearing nothing but shorts. In 2009, Hof completed a full marathon above the polar circle in Finland, in temperatures close to −20 °C (−4 °F). Dressed in nothing but shorts, Hof finished in 5 hours and 25 minutes. Hof holds the current Guinness World Record for the longest ice bath, now set at 1 hour 53 minutes and 12 seconds. But it’s not just cold. In 2011, he ran a full marathon in the Namib Desert without water. The run was performed under the supervision of Dr. Thijs Eijsvogels. He can also run at altitude without suffering from altitude sickness. In the same year, he was injected with toxins under doctor supervision and demonstrated that he could effectively control his autonomic immune response. Wim was able to raise his cortisol levels and lower his blood concentrations of cytokines (inflammatory mediators) using solely his meditation and prep techniques. Not only this, but he was able to train others to achieve the same effect… with only 4 days of training! We dig into all this and more. I loved this conversation and hope you do, too... All show notes, links, and resources from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast This episode is brought to you by Audible, which I have used for years. I love audiobooks. I have two to recommend right off the bat: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Perhaps my favorite audiobook of all time. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts – This book had a huge impact on my life and formed the basis for a lot of what has become The 4-Hour Workweek To get your free audiobook and a free 30-day trial, go to Audible.com/Tim. You can choose from the two audiobooks listed above or from 180,000+ audio programs. They offer audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and even classes. It’s that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and grab your free audiobook. This podcast is also brought to you by MeUndies. Have you ever wanted to be as powerful as a mullet-wearing ninja from the 1980’s, or as sleek as a black panther in the Amazon? Of course you have, and that’s where MeUndies comes in. I’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks wearing underwear from these guys 24/7, and they are the most comfortable and colorful underwear I’ve ever owned. Their materials are 2x softer than cotton, as evaluated using the Kawabata method. Check out MeUndies.com/Tim to see my current faves (some are awesomely ridiculous) and, while you’re at it, don’t miss lots of hot ladies wearing MeUndies.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
Tim Ferriss promotes his popular email newsletter, Five Bullet Friday, which features five short and cool items he found interesting that week.
00:00 - 05:00 (05:00)
Summary
Tim Ferriss promotes his popular email newsletter, Five Bullet Friday, which features five short and cool items he found interesting that week.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In only four days, individuals with no prior cold exposure were able to withstand freezing temperatures, proving the power of the mind on the body's ability to handle stress.
05:00 - 20:22 (15:22)
Summary
In only four days, individuals with no prior cold exposure were able to withstand freezing temperatures, proving the power of the mind on the body's ability to handle stress. Research also shows that stress levels can actually be higher lying in bed than in fear-inducing situations, and the autonomic nervous system has the ability to control the immune system.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how controlling the immune system is possible by tapping into the brain stem and producing hormones like adrenaline and epinephrine.
20:22 - 38:50 (18:28)
Summary
The speaker discusses how controlling the immune system is possible by tapping into the brain stem and producing hormones like adrenaline and epinephrine. Additionally, measurement devices are not able to detect the full capacity of oxygen storage in the human body.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Conscious breathing can lead to better and deeper breathing, resulting in improved metabolic activity in the cells, particularly in the mitochondria.
38:51 - 45:47 (06:56)
Summary
Conscious breathing can lead to better and deeper breathing, resulting in improved metabolic activity in the cells, particularly in the mitochondria. This chemical process, called aerobic dissimulation, helps the body produce more energy, making conscious breathing a crucial part of regaining control of one's body and mind.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The pineal gland, when activated through training and decalcification, has the ability to regulate all other glands in the body, leading to a greater ability to handle stress and regulate bodily functions.
45:47 - 55:11 (09:24)
Summary
The pineal gland, when activated through training and decalcification, has the ability to regulate all other glands in the body, leading to a greater ability to handle stress and regulate bodily functions. By training in uncomfortable situations, we can reclaim our ability to handle discomfort and achieve true comfort in life.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares a breathing exercise with pushups that can change the pH levels in the body and increase oxygen flow, leading to relaxation and better performance in physical activities.
55:11 - 1:02:24 (07:12)
Summary
The speaker shares a breathing exercise with pushups that can change the pH levels in the body and increase oxygen flow, leading to relaxation and better performance in physical activities.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares how breathing can help us gain the same benefits as people who engage in extreme activities such as cold exposure, drugs or outdoor adventures, and that discipline and believing can help us overcome difficult periods.
1:02:24 - 1:11:50 (09:26)
Summary
The speaker shares how breathing can help us gain the same benefits as people who engage in extreme activities such as cold exposure, drugs or outdoor adventures, and that discipline and believing can help us overcome difficult periods.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A discussion about incorporating singing, mantras, and movement while holding stones, such as amethysts and opals.
1:11:50 - 1:18:34 (06:44)
Summary
A discussion about incorporating singing, mantras, and movement while holding stones, such as amethysts and opals.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Confidence in your intuition can make a big difference in decision-making.
1:18:34 - 1:22:54 (04:20)
Summary
Confidence in your intuition can make a big difference in decision-making. Listen to your feelings and keep it simple.
Episode#102: "The Iceman," Wim Hof
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Subscribe to Five Bullet Friday, a weekly email newsletter, for a compilation of cool and unusual things discovered during the week, including gadgets, articles, and ideas.
1:22:54 - 1:24:20 (01:26)
Summary
Subscribe to Five Bullet Friday, a weekly email newsletter, for a compilation of cool and unusual things discovered during the week, including gadgets, articles, and ideas.