The Drop №. 124 with Chase Hobby

VRB’s weekly list of things to read, watch, listen to, and try that have helped us live better and be better. Brought to you this week by Chase Hobby.

The Power of Breath as Medicine

Listen to The Power of Breath as Medicine. James Nestor, author of the New York Times bestseller ‘Breath’, sits down with Dr. Mark Hyman to discuss how simple changes to your breathing can drastically improve your health and reduce stress. It turns out that the way we breathe impacts everything from how well we sleep to our metabolism, cognitive function, immunity, and more. The fixes are simple. Watch and learn.

Inside the mind of a master procrastinator

Watch Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator. This short Ted Talk by Tim Urban describes exactly what it's like to procrastinate as a way of life and how you might harness that for good. I feel seen.

Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor

Read Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor. As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus transformed the unruly Republic into the greatest empire the world had ever seen. His consolidation and expansion of Roman power two thousand years ago laid the foundations, for all of Western history to follow. With names like Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Antony, and Cleopatra peppering this biography, you'll learn a lot and won't be able to put the book down. Don't say I didn't warn you.

19-Minute High Intensity Interval Training

Try this 19-Minute High-Intensity Interval Training. Done correctly, high-intensity interval training is one of the most efficient forms of exercise. HIIT sessions will incorporate several rounds of short high-intensity cardiovascular bursts — usually not more than 20 seconds — followed by brief periods of rest. This allows you to complete a workout that delivers substantial fitness results in just 30 minutes or so while getting a higher average calorie burn than steady-state sessions of similar duration. This one is a great starting point.