Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Michael Easter is a New York Times bestselling author and the voice behind Substack's most popular health newsletter. His new book, “Walk With Weight,” explores why humans are uniquely built to carry weight for distance. We discuss rucking, how GPS affects cognition, optimization culture, and the "super medium" body. READ MORE👉🏼bit.ly/richroll969
✌🏼🌱 – Rich
This Episode Is Brought To You By…
Airbnb: Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at👉🏼airbnb.com/host
Momentous: High-caliber human performance products for sleep, focus, longevity, and more. For listeners of the show, Momentous is offering up to 35% off your first order👉🏼bit.ly/LiveMomentous2025
Caraway Home: Save up to $190 on cookware sets + an additional 10% off with code RICHROLL👉🏼bit.ly/Caraway2026
Birch: For 27% off ALL mattresses👉🏼bit.ly/birchliving
Go Brewing: Use code Rich Roll for 15% OFF👉🏼bit.ly/gobrewing2025
Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors👉🏼richroll.com/sponsors
00:00:00 Start
00:04:38 The Evolution of Bipedalism and Carrying
00:06:10 Rucking vs. Running: Revisiting 'Born to Run'
00:08:16 Hunting in the Arctic: Real-World Carrying
00:09:40 Researching Human Uniqueness in Carrying
00:10:49 Defining Rucking and Its Military Origins
00:12:25 Women, Mothers, and the Invention of Carrying Packs
00:14:00 Health Benefits of Rucking vs. Running
00:16:20 Calorie Burn: Rucking, Running, and Lifting
00:18:17 Cognitive and Brain Health Benefits of Navigating Outdoors
00:22:13 Orienteering and the Mental Challenge of Navigation
00:24:32 Nature, Resilience, and the Limits of Optimization
00:40:00 The 'Super Medium' Body Type and Functional Fitness
00:41:13 How to Achieve Super Medium Fitness
00:48:21 Fat Loss and Unique Benefits of Rucking
00:51:02 Infant Development and Carrying
00:52:43 Show-and-Tell: Gear for Rucking
00:58:38 Backpacks vs. Weight Vests: Posture and Safety
01:03:14 Rucking and Back Health: Safety Considerations
01:07:16 Accessibility: Anyone Can Start Rucking
01:08:44 Alternative Carrying Methods and Functional Strength
01:10:43 Beginner Tips: Weight, Posture, and Gear
01:12:53 Footwear Recommendations for Rucking
01:15:21 The Rise of Rucking’s Popularity
01:19:49 Social and Intergenerational Aspects of Rucking
01:29:17 Recovery, Sobriety, and Daily Non-Negotiables
01:34:08 Balancing Writing, Fitness, and Creativity
01:37:20 Substack Community and Value-Driven Content
01:40:33 Practical Guide: Walk With Weight Book
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: bit.ly/rrpgooglepods
Meal Planner: meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: bit.ly/rollcallemail
CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - richroll.com/all-episodes
✩ Instagram - instagram.com/richroll
✩ Twitter - twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed
✩ Support - patreon.com/richroll
Thanks To The Team: Jason Camiolo, Dan Drake, Morgan McRae, Blake Curtis, Desmond Loh
* * * * *
NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
bit.ly/otillonyt
bit.ly/vegansglam
I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
#richroll #richrollpodcast
Michael Easter is a New York Times bestselling author and the voice behind Substack's most popular health newsletter. His new book, “Walk With Weight,” explores why humans are uniquely built to carry weight for distance. We discuss rucking, how GPS affects cognition, optimization culture, and the "super medium" body. READ MORE👉🏼bit.ly/richroll969
✌🏼🌱 – Rich
This Episode Is Brought To You By…
Airbnb: Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at👉🏼airbnb.com/host
Momentous: High-caliber human performance products for sleep, focus, longevity, and more. For listeners of the show, Momentous is offering up to 35% off your first order👉🏼bit.ly/LiveMomentous2025
Caraway Home: Save up to $190 on cookware sets + an additional 10% off with code RICHROLL👉🏼bit.ly/Caraway2026
Birch: For 27% off ALL mattresses👉🏼bit.ly/birchliving
Go Brewing: Use code Rich Roll for 15% OFF👉🏼bit.ly/gobrewing2025
Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors👉🏼richroll.com/sponsors
00:00:00 Start
00:04:38 The Evolution of Bipedalism and Carrying
00:06:10 Rucking vs. Running: Revisiting 'Born to Run'
00:08:16 Hunting in the Arctic: Real-World Carrying
00:09:40 Researching Human Uniqueness in Carrying
00:10:49 Defining Rucking and Its Military Origins
00:12:25 Women, Mothers, and the Invention of Carrying Packs
00:14:00 Health Benefits of Rucking vs. Running
00:16:20 Calorie Burn: Rucking, Running, and Lifting
00:18:17 Cognitive and Brain Health Benefits of Navigating Outdoors
00:22:13 Orienteering and the Mental Challenge of Navigation
00:24:32 Nature, Resilience, and the Limits of Optimization
00:40:00 The 'Super Medium' Body Type and Functional Fitness
00:41:13 How to Achieve Super Medium Fitness
00:48:21 Fat Loss and Unique Benefits of Rucking
00:51:02 Infant Development and Carrying
00:52:43 Show-and-Tell: Gear for Rucking
00:58:38 Backpacks vs. Weight Vests: Posture and Safety
01:03:14 Rucking and Back Health: Safety Considerations
01:07:16 Accessibility: Anyone Can Start Rucking
01:08:44 Alternative Carrying Methods and Functional Strength
01:10:43 Beginner Tips: Weight, Posture, and Gear
01:12:53 Footwear Recommendations for Rucking
01:15:21 The Rise of Rucking’s Popularity
01:19:49 Social and Intergenerational Aspects of Rucking
01:29:17 Recovery, Sobriety, and Daily Non-Negotiables
01:34:08 Balancing Writing, Fitness, and Creativity
01:37:20 Substack Community and Value-Driven Content
01:40:33 Practical Guide: Walk With Weight Book
LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: bit.ly/rrpgooglepods
Meal Planner: meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: bit.ly/rollcallemail
CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - richroll.com/all-episodes
✩ Instagram - instagram.com/richroll
✩ Twitter - twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed
✩ Support - patreon.com/richroll
Thanks To The Team: Jason Camiolo, Dan Drake, Morgan McRae, Blake Curtis, Desmond Loh
* * * * *
NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
bit.ly/otillonyt
bit.ly/vegansglam
I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
#richroll #richrollpodcast
