Paul Taylor Podcast: Choose your hard: Science-backed strategies to thrive in a difficult world, with Emeritus Professor Grant Schofield

From the Hardiness podcast with Dr Paul Taylor If you think ease and comfort are the keys to happiness, think again. This episode explores how deliberately embracing life's challenges, through movement, fasting, cold exposure, and mental resilience, can transform your health, happiness, and purpose. Grant Schofield, an esteemed researcher and author, reveals that life's true reward lies in choosing the hard path, strong in the knowledge that it leads to a more vibrant, resilient life. Choose your path, and in doing so, choose your future. And for those ready to take action, Grant’s new book Choose Your Hard distils these powerful principles into actionable step because the path to a better life is a deliberate choice. 00:00 The Role of an Emeritus Professor 02:57 The Academic Publishing Industry 05:54 Understanding Misogi and Personal Challenges 09:00 Fasting and Autophagy Explained 12:01 The Science of Metabolism and Immune Function 15:04 Psychological Aspects of Fasting 17:58 Preparing for a Fast: Strategies and Mindset 20:58 Physical Responses and Adaptations During Fasting 25:51 The Role of Stress in Health 27:28 Choosing Your Hard: Embracing Life's Challenges 35:19 Agency and Responsibility in Health 40:10 Movement: The Foundation of Health 46:43 Dopamine: The Devil's Seesaw 52:41 Hard vs. Soft Dopamine: Resetting the System 53:28 The Irony of Pleasure and Pain 55:24 Facing the Elements: Hot and Cold Exposure 01:01:38 Understanding Emotions and Their Ownership 01:05:18 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Life