Ep. 282: Brad Kearns - Born to Walk: Why Walking is the Key to Longevity, Health, and Weight Loss
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
🗓️ 2 January 2025
⏱️ 116 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Walking is not only a fundamental human activity, but a cornerstone for improving health and longevity as discussed in this conversation with Brad Kearns, co-author of Born to Walk: The Broken Promises of the Running Boom and How to Slow Down and Get Healthy One Step at a Time.
This new book challenges the long-held belief that we were all born to run, arguing instead that walking is a far less stressful and more beneficial form of exercise.
In this episode, Rip is also joined by his co-producer, Carrie Barrett - an avid endurance runner and triathlete.
They discuss:
- How walking is often overlooked, but is a powerful catalyst for health and longevity.
- Why many people mistakenly believe running is essential for fitness, but walking can be more beneficial.
- How the running boom has led to increased injuries, especially among recreational runners.
- Why so-called 'supershoes' are really a marketing gimmick
- A significant number of runners get injured each year, even more than NFL players.
- How improving aerobic conditioning through walking can help avoid the risks associated with running.
- How to determine your "Fat Max" heart rate level of training
- Slowing down your workouts to maximize health benefits and promote sustainable fitness
- Laying out a fitness plan that centers primarily on walking, but also includes a sprint intervals
And, as you lay out your fitness goals for 2025, we hope you're inspired to take that first step toward a healthier lifestyle—one step and one walk at a time.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm Ray Besselston, and you're listening to the Plan Strong podcast. |
| 0:05.6 | Many of you have heard the notion that we were born to run. In fact, there was a book by Christopher |
| 0:13.5 | McDougal called Born to Run and a whole movement around this premise. Now, what if I told you that the whole born-to-run movement |
| 0:25.9 | is just a big, fat marketing gimmick, |
| 0:30.1 | and that we were actually born to walk instead? |
| 0:34.6 | Are you intrigued? |
| 0:36.2 | I was, too, and today you're going to hear from the co-author |
| 0:39.8 | of the new book, Born to Walk, the Broken to Walk, the Broken Promen, and How to Slow Down and |
| 0:48.1 | Get Healthy One Step at a Time. Brad Kearns and his co-author Mark Sisson challenge everything that I've ever learned |
| 0:57.7 | about running and instead they make the case for how walking is far less stressful, improves health, |
| 1:06.4 | longevity, cognitive function, and even weight loss, far more than running can. |
| 1:13.2 | So let's start the year off on the right foot right after this word from Plant Strong. |
| 1:24.3 | In early January, we're going to be kicking off an all-new Plan Strong Plan. |
| 1:31.4 | And if you're tired of wondering, what in the world am I going to eat, |
| 1:37.6 | the Plan Strong Plan is here to make plant-based living easier than ever. |
| 1:43.8 | There's no complicated recipes. There's no endless grocery lists. |
| 1:48.7 | We're talking about vibrant health, one effortless meal at a time. Now, this isn't just a product |
| 1:56.0 | bundle. It's a simple stress-free way to experience the benefits of the Planned Strong lifestyle. |
| 2:03.3 | With everything planned for you, it's perfect for those who have said, |
| 2:08.1 | just please tell me what to eat. |
| 2:12.4 | It includes a curated product bundle, a seven-day meal plan, a simple grocery list for fresh and frozen |
| 2:20.9 | items, and daily emails to help guide you on your journey. Get ready to experience the simplicity |
... |
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