Stoicism may be a philosophy born of ancient times, but it’s recently made a comeback. Designed to make people more resilient, virtuous, and wise, it was once relied on by slaves to help them in dealing with the difficulty in their lives. Now,

Ep 12 // Shame as a Positive Force

May 11th, 2021 31m 48s

Sometimes shame is used to bully, while other times it’s used to teach. Shame has even perhaps worked as a cohesive force on society. In this episode, Matt and Rob discuss the ins and outs of shame and whether it can actually be wielded as a po

Ep 11 // Silent Meditation Retreats

Apr 27th, 2021 36m 49s

Silent meditation retreats are an immersive way to go deeper into one’s meditation practice – and we mean really deep. In this episode, Rob discusses Vipassana retreats that involve ten days of not talking while Matt explains his experience at

Ep 10 // Ayahuasca

Apr 13th, 2021 56m

Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic tea from the Amazon has become a trendy, life-altering brew consumed by hipsters, Silicon Valley, and the yoga crowd. Many say it’s the most significant spiritual experience of their lives. Others claim it’s like “10

Ep 9 // Conspiracy Theory Addiction

Mar 2nd, 2021 29m 55s

Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream. From old standards like Area 51 to relative newcomers like QAnon, people can’t get enough of conspiratorial thinking. Could it be that they’re actually addicted?In this episode, Matt and Rob examine th

Ep 8 // Michael Pollan & Headspace

Feb 2nd, 2021 42m 13s

Matt and Rob go for a deep dive into the work of author Michael Pollan and the impact he’s had on how America eats and views psychedelics. They focus on two of Pollan’s seminal books: ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma’ and ‘How to Change Your Mind.’They

Ep 7 // Intermittent Fasting, Runkeeper, & The Marshmallow Test

Jan 5th, 2021 36m 36s

Feels like everyone is switching between fasting and eating on a regular schedule these days. It’s called intermittent fasting. Is it a good idea? Also, Matt explains his newfound life as a runner and what it’s like to use a leading running app

Ep 6 // New Year’s Resolutions & Tulum

Dec 22nd, 2020 33m 45s

Seems like everybody commits to New Year’s Resolutions. But are they worth it and is it healthy to make them? How do resolutions stack up to setting everyday, achievable goals? And what’s up with Tulum? It’s been a popular wellness destination

Ep 5 // Nonviolent Communication, Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, & Marie Kondo

Dec 8th, 2020 40m 14s

What is nonviolent communication, and could it be violent in the wrong form? Was Dr. Bragg’s championing of apple cider vinegar as a health elixir quackery or visionary? And you’ve likely heard of Marie Kondo’s book, 'The Life-Changing Magic of

Ep 4 // Conspirituality

Nov 24th, 2020 31m 25s

At the intersection of belief in conspiracy theories and the search for spiritual meaning exists the hybrid known as “conspirituality.” In our fourth episode, hosts Matt Ruby and Rob Kramer discuss how these two groups manage to come together a

Ep 3 // Microdosing, Spiritual Bypassing, & Shaman Durek, Spiritual Advisor to the Stars

Oct 27th, 2020 35m 26s

Is microdosing worth it? What exactly is spiritual bypassing and who's doing it? And who is Shaman Durek and what's he selling? It's the third episode of 'Hell & Wellness,' and hosts Matt Ruby and Rob Kramer are back to review health and welln

Ep 2 // Impossible Burgers, Buddhist Meditation, & 'Unwell' on Netflix

Oct 14th, 2020 32m 23s

How do Impossible Burgers measure up to meat-based burgers–or just straight up vegetables for that matter? Is Buddhist meditation worth the time and effort? And is Netflix's 'Unwell' series a good look at health and wellness trends? It's the se

Ep 1 // Juice Fasts, Standing Desks, & Frequency Healing

Sep 29th, 2020 27m 54s

Welcome to the first episode of our new podcast, 'Hell & Wellness,' hosted by Matt Ruby and Rob Kramer. Think of them as Siskel and Ebert for health and wellness trends and traditions. Will juice fasting get rated as "hell?" Will standing desks

Trailer

Primer: About the Podcast

Sep 20th, 2020 1m 46s

'Hell & Wellness' is a new podcast hosted by Matt Ruby and Rob Kramer. Subscribe now to get the 1st episode in your feed on Tuesday, Sep. 29th!Matt Ruby is a comedian and dabbler in the health and wellness space. And Rob Kramer is a longtime m