Two Percent with Michael Easter

The 130th Boston Marathon is this Monday. To mark the occasion, Michael sits down with Brady Holmer — a science writer, runner, and 2:24 Boston finisher — to go deep on what the race actually feels like, why super shoes might be saving you 5-8 minutes, how to fuel a marathon without your gut exploding, and whether anyone can qualify for Boston.
Then Dr. Mike Roussell, a PhD nutritionist from Penn State who works with NBA players and busy execs, breaks down the ultraprocessed food debate that's tearing through the nutrition world. Are ultraprocessed foods actually evil? Or are they sometimes the healthiest option? He walks through a mind-blowing ultraprocessed food study, why fiber is the most underrated nutrient, and a practical framework for using UPF without letting it wreck your diet. Plus his surprisingly nuanced take on GLP-1 drugs.
After that, Michael heads to the Two Percent Kitchen with the most ridiculous endurance recipe you've ever seen.
Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today’s episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Ryan Mulhern. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.
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In this episode of Two Percent, Michael sits down with backcountry bow hunter and filmmaker Donnie Vincent to unpack what months in remote wilderness teach you about stress, calm, and competence. Donnie was featured heavily in Michael’s bestselling book, The Comfort Crisis, and now he joins Michael for the first time on mic since the book’s release.
They talk about the ethics and emotional reality of hunting, why sourcing your own food changes your relationship with life, and how modern convenience hijacks the ancient “search” that once made humans thrive. Donnie shares stories from Alaska—about storms, solitude, and the kind of discomfort that forces growth.
The two discuss the importance of building resilience when nothing's certain, staying present in wild places, and how you can get the same benefits of a hunt without ever picking up a bow – all it takes is choosing experiences that are hard and honest.
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Walking shaped humans into who we are—and it’s one of the simplest ways to improve health, mood, and longevity right now. In this episode of Two Percent, Michael sits down with evolutionary geneticist Dr. Melissa Ilardo and writer Foster Kamer to explore what endurance science says about how far humans can actually go, why the brain often quits before the body, and how small daily choices compound into massive long-term outcomes.
We cover the real research behind step counts (including why the 10,000 number is a myth), the minimum effective dose that meaningfully improves health, and how to make walking effortless by stacking it into things you already do. Plus: persistence hunting, sleep differences that change performance, and what ultra-endurance reveals about mindset.
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Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today’s episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur, Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Kaleidoscope’s Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Nick Pomeroy. Our theme music is by Heater Manager.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From New York Times bestselling author and journalist Michael Easter comes a twice-weekly deep dive into the science of living better by doing things the hard way. Building on the insights of his #1 Substack and acclaimed books, Easter balances rigorous evidence with a healthy dose of skepticism to cut through the noise of the modern wellness industry. Whether he’s interviewing elite explorers and Harvard biologists or deconstructing the truth about longevity and metabolic health, this isn't a show for "biohacking" perfectionists—it’s a grounded, often humorous guide for real people looking to build resilience and agency in an increasingly comfortable world. From ancient wisdom to cutting-edge research, listen to Two Percent to discover why the antidote to modern malaise is often found in the challenges we’ve been taught to avoid.
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Michael covers the new science of resilience. Psychologists used to think people weren’t inherently resilient, then new research began to suggest a brighter picture.But now, cultural forces may be shifting us in the direction of less resilience.We’ll cover the science and how you can become more resilient.Note: This audio read was generated with AI.

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