Misogi Is Voluntary Trauma. Here's Why That's Good.
The post reframes trauma as a voluntary, growth‑inducing experience called Misogi, a 50/50 chance challenge designed to push personal limits. Drawing on PTSD research and post‑traumatic growth theory, the author argues that self‑selected intense events can rewrite identity, boost resilience, and expand capabilities. Misogi’s structured risk‑taking, followed by reflection, mirrors ancient rites of passage and modern psychological practices. The piece invites readers to engineer their own "positive trauma" to unlock deeper learning across five life domains.
Your Body Was Built for Heat. Start Using It.
The latest Two Percent podcast episode explores how deliberate heat exposure can boost health and performance. Host interviews ultramarathon champion Ashley Paulson, who completed the 135‑mile Badwater race in Death Valley’s 115‑130°F conditions, and health journalist Bill Gifford, author of...
Why I Banned "Dopamine" On Two Percent
The Two Percent newsletter author announced a personal ban on the term “dopamine,” arguing that the cultural fixation on the neurotransmitter oversimplifies habit formation. Interviews with a Yale psychiatrist and neuroscientists from the University of Michigan reveal that dopamine is...
Stop Trying to Fix Your Weaknesses. That's How You Stay Average.
The latest Two Percent podcast features a psychologist dubbed the real‑life Wendy Rhoades, who coaches the ultra‑wealthy 0.01% on performance. She argues that elite achievers succeed by leveraging quirks and strengths rather than obsessively fixing weaknesses. The conversation challenges popular...
He Trains MVPs and UFC Champions. His Advice for the Rest of Us Is Shockingly Simple.
Dr. Andy Galpin, a leading performance scientist, turned a Two Percent writer into a lab subject before an 850‑mile hike, collecting blood, saliva and urine samples before, during and after the trek. The data revealed dramatic, weeks‑long shifts in hormones,...
Podcast: He Produced "House of Cards." Then a Power Outage Forced Him Into the Desert.
The Two Percent podcast features Jay Carson, former communications director for Bill Clinton and producer of Netflix’s "House of Cards" and Apple TV’s "The Morning Show." A COVID‑era power outage prompted Carson to enroll in a 14‑day wilderness survival course...
Stop Chasing Happiness. That's How You Find It.
The author spent time at a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico to study why monks report unusually high life‑satisfaction despite an austere routine. Evolutionary research shows human happiness is designed to be fleeting, yet monks achieve lasting contentment through purpose,...
What Problem Are You Trying to Solve?
The Two Percent podcast episode with author David highlights that successful companies solve a defined problem, and the same principle applies to personal health. Michael stresses that before adding supplements, diets, or routines, you must first articulate the specific issue...
Podcast: The Downsides of Freedom
Two Percent released a new podcast episode featuring bestselling author David Epstein, who argues that too much freedom can be counterproductive. Epstein illustrates how constraints drive innovation, contrasting General Magic’s collapse with Pixar’s success, and introduces a Post‑It note system...
The High-Carb Diet That Prevents Heart Disease
Researchers conducted a 21‑day trial that returned modern Hawaiians to the traditional high‑carb diet of ancient Kauai. Participants ate until full, consuming tubers, fruits, fish and seaweed, and saw rapid weight loss, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol profiles. The...
Podcast: Why Your Brain Always Wants More, and How to Fix It
The Two Percent podcast features Leidy Klotz, a UVA professor whose research reveals a pervasive bias: people favor adding solutions over subtracting, even when subtraction is optimal. Klotz’s work, highlighted in a Nature paper, shows that subtractive changes improve health,...
The Comfort Crisis in the Doctor's Office
Lucy McBride, a Harvard‑trained primary‑care physician, is releasing her new book Beyond the Prescription on August 11 (Simon & Schuster). The post highlights a "comfort crisis" where patients avoid uncomfortable truths—stress, relationship strain, alcohol use—leading to misleading lab results. McBride argues that sharing...
Burn the Ships: May 2026
Two Percent released its May 2026 Burn the Ships workout, dubbed MFEMF’R, as the latest installment in its monthly high‑intensity routine. The 40‑50‑minute session blends the author’s favorite exercises and is designed for a global community of subscribers who train together...
My Favorite Exercises: Volume VI
The latest "My Favorite Exercises" letter spotlights an unconventional core movement that research labels one of the most effective therapies for preventing and treating low‑back pain. The author, a former Men’s Health fitness director, explains how neglecting this exercise contributed...
Podcast: Find Joy in Any Job
The Two Percent podcast released on May 1 tackles how to find joy in any job, featuring Dr. Mim Ari, an internist who outlines a 10:1 positive-to-negative work mindset and the quiet influence of AI on medical practice, and Robin...