Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World

Close your eyes and imagine a world without convenience. No cars. No air conditioning. No social media. No ease whatsoever. Sure, life would be a million times harder and more dangerous without advanced medicine and technology. But we’d also avoid the maladies that plague developed societies today—diseases of immobility, processed foods, even loneliness. To be sure, if we lived just a little more like the ancients, there’s a good chance we’d be happier, less distracted, more balanced, and in tune with ourselves.

But what does that entail, exactly? How can we apply advice and techniques that have survived over centuries to rediscover what it means to be human? Can fasting, walking, and spending time with nature really make us feel better? What are flow states? How do relationships—or lack thereof—impact physical health? And what can the healthiest and happiest communities out there today reveal about the secret to good living?

Answer these questions and more with the 10 episodes of Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World. Sit in on a series of expert interviews moderated by artist and inspirational speaker Prince EA. You’ll:

• Examine “blue zones”—where people are the healthiest and live the longest—to figure out why their inhabitants live so well;
• Discover the health benefits of walking and intentional grounding;
• Deconstruct your diet so you can eat better and feel better overall;
• Figure out how to build and maintain lasting, meaningful relationships;
• Discover flow states, forest bathing, tantra meditation, and grateful thinking;
• And so much more.

Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World takes a fun, interactive, hands-on approach that goes beyond listening and taking notes. Through carefully designed homework assignments delivered to you at the end of every episode, you can start to build good habits from the second you press play. Hit key goals and benchmarks as you move through the course. Test out meditation techniques, walking exercises, and specific diet plans. And walk away with a real sense of what works—and what doesn’t—for you. Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World doesn’t hand you a one-size-fits-all approach but, instead, provides you with the requisite knowledge and tools you will need to build a simpler, more balanced, “de-convenienced” life.

From Old Worlds to Blue Zones

Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World looks backward so you can look forward to a healthier, happier, and more balanced life. Focus on the ancient world and the people who inhabited it. How did they live? And more importantly, what did they think, write, and say about the way they lived? Across 10 episodes, you’ll dive into and become inspired by Chinese, Indian, Native American, Egyptian, and Greek philosophies. You’ll get to know famous thinkers like Socrates, Seneca, and Luther Standing Bear. And you’ll discover a range of old techniques that have powerful modern applications.

That’s not all, though. While this series is all about looking to the ancients for inspiration, you’ll also have a look at some contemporary communities known as “blue zones” that are “vibing and thriving” according to ancient wisdoms in Italy, Japan, and even California. See what makes them tick, from the foods they eat to the relationships they have with each other, to the habits they practice every day. Explore the cutting-edge research that’s centered around and inspired by them. And learn with both ancient and contemporary communities as your reference point to begin a process to improve your life for the better.

Ancient Wisdom from Modern Experts

Prince EA, though front and center throughout the course, won’t be the only expert you’ll get to meet. You’ll sit down with a range of professionals from sociologists to athletes who talk to you about topics they’ve spent their lives thinking about and studying. Learn from some of the best, brightest, and most experienced people about how you can:

• Live an active lifestyle. Twenty-first century lifestyles are extremely sedentary—but worry not. Walking a little bit more each day can do wonders. Talk to Francis Sanzaro about “intentional grounding” techniques to see how you can not only walk more but walk meaningfully and holistically as well.
• Eat better. It’s not just what we eat; it's how often, too. Chat with Shawn Stevenson about the benefits of fasting on a molecular and physiological level before trying to work out which fasting program makes the most sense for you.
• Connect with nature. The only jungles that surround us nowadays are made of concrete. Yet, nature—and more importantly, a strong connection to it—can be a special space. Reconnect with Francis Sanzaro to learn about forest bathing, a popular Japanese stress relief technique.
• Improve performance. You can half the amount of time it takes to master a skill if you’ve entered a flow state. Discover what it means to be in the flow—chemically and neurologically—by talking to expert Steven Hotler, a human performance researcher at the Flow Research Collective.
• Build meaningful relationships. Few things matter more than the relationships we have. Discover the importance of social contact and, conversely, the danger of isolation, before learning about the psychology behind social connection across all stages of life from Marisa G. Franco.
• Think more positively. Negativity—once key to human survival—can do a lot of damage to body systems today. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We’ve got a lot to be thankful for: relationships, careers, health, nature. Discuss with Dr. Christine Carter the social and personal benefits of gratitude.
• Relax. Meditation is all the rage right now, but it comes in so many different shapes and sizes. Sit down with Dr. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati to discuss tantra meditation specifically, utilizing her academic and personal experiences with the power of this ancient relaxation technique.

Get to know the people working on the psychology of relationships, the runners connecting with the natural worlds around them, and the neuroscientists testing and retesting flow to measure human performance. In Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World, this diverse group of experts helps you help yourself by providing a roadmap to experience life the way it ought to be experienced, with no distractions.