The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka
131. Russell Brand: EXPOSING the Profit System & Why We're All Getting Sicker
Tue, 14 Jan 2025
Most chase endless comfort and profit maximization, but the real path to impact is reconnecting with traditional wisdom while staying aware of modern challenges. In this paradigm-shifting conversation, Russell Brand shares how modern comforts led him from Hollywood chaos and addiction to profound spirituality and clarity. Russell and Gary also break down how major institutions like, Big Pharma and Big Food, have created systems that prioritize profit over human wellbeing. What comfort could you give up today to grow stronger tomorrow? Share your thoughts in the comments down below! Listen to "Stay Free with Russell Brand" on all your favorite platforms! YouTube: https://bit.ly/4gEhrRF Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4f2rizq Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4giJiGG Connect with Russell Brand: Website: https://bit.ly/3B4r5Ol Instagram: https://bit.ly/3OI5oqo Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Zf4uqc TikTok: https://bit.ly/3ZElFCT X.com:https://bit.ly/3OHdWh6 00:00 Intro of Show 01:24 Russell Brand’s Journey from Addiction to Success 07:43 Giant Companies’ Corruption and Maximization of Profit 10:23 Russell’s Message to the Masses 14:27 Gary’s Perspective on Religion 18:40 Who Do We Worship? 22:09 How Do We Fundamentally Make a Change? 25:34 Military Industrial Complex Companies 28:19 Advocates Helping to Make a Change 31:34 Globalism vs. Nationalism 32:45 Getting Back to the Basics 36:42 Ecosystem from Soil to Humans 42:18 Russell’s Daily Routine and Mindfulness Practices 44:48 Final Question: What does it mean to you to be an “Ultimate Human?” BODY HEALTH - USE CODE “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF YOUR ORDER: http://bit.ly/4e5IjsV BAJA GOLD - 91 ESSENTIAL MINERALS PER PINCH! 10% OFF USE CODE "ULTIMATE10": https://bit.ly/3WSBqUa EIGHT SLEEP - SAVE $350 ON THE POD 4 ULTRA WITH CODE “GARY”: https://bit.ly/3WkLd6E ELEVATE YOUR WORKOUTS WITH THE ULTIMATE HUMAN STRENGTH TRAINING EQUIPMENT: https://bit.ly/3zYwtSl COLD LIFE - BOOST RECOVERY & WELL-BEING WITH THE ULTIMATE HUMAN PLUNGE: https://bit.ly/4eULUKp WHOOP - GET 1 FREE MONTH WHEN YOU JOIN!: https://bit.ly/3VQ0nzW MASA CHIPS - GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST $50+ ORDER: https://bit.ly/40LVY4y PARKER PASTURES - GET PREMIUM GRASS-FED MEATS TODAY: https://bit.ly/4hHcbhc AION - ACHIEVE 25% MORE OUTPUT!: https://bit.ly/4h6KHAD HAPBEE - FEEL BETTER & PERFORM AT YOUR BEST: https://bit.ly/4a6glfo GET GARY’S WEEKLY TIPS ON HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE OPTIMIZATION: https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU SHOP GARY’S TOP-RATED PRODUCTS & EXCLUSIVE DEALS: https://theultimatehuman.com/amazon-recs Watch the “Ultimate Human Podcast” every Tuesday & Thursday at 9AM EST on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPQYX8 Connect with Gary Brecka: Website: https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RPpnFs TikTok: https://bit.ly/4coJ8fo X.com: https://bit.ly/3Opc8tf Facebook: https://bit.ly/464VA1H LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4hH7Ri2 SUBSCRIBE TO: https://www.youtube.com/@ultimatehumanpodcast https://www.youtube.com/@garybrecka Download “The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka” podcast on all your favorite platforms: https://bit.ly/3RQftU0 The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The Content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: What is Russell Brand's journey from addiction to success?
the most powerful and most influential institutions now control that segment of the population. We're a lot more sick and diseased and pathological than we really deserve to be.
If something is geared towards the continual maximization of profit, it will always be corrupting.
I know you've been very open about your history with addiction, how you solved that path. How has that journey transformed you?
What the culture is telling me is if you are not famous, if you do not have money, you are not valuable. Now, I might have other pathological reasons for not feeling valuable, and one of the ways I best understand it is through this rubric and lens of addiction. Thankfully, I've been educated and now so I'm on a different path to communicate a message of value to the maximum number of people.
If Russell Brand were to look back on his life, humanity, public policy, what does that look like?
Sometimes a fractured society, so full of falsehoods and damnation. And yet I have the sense that we're on the precipice of...
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Chapter 2: How do giant companies prioritize profit over health?
Hey guys, welcome back to the Ultimate Human Podcast. I'm your host, Gary Brekka, human biologist, where we go down the road of everything anti-aging, longevity, biohacking, and everything in between. And today's guest is a sure treat. We've had an amazing morning here at the house with his kids and his wife and his family. We see eye to eye on so many things.
He is an incredible comedian, actor, and a wellness inspirational person. individual that's just been on a tremendous journey of his own. So welcome to the podcast, Russell Brand.
Thanks, Gary. I've actually been here eight hours. You've accommodated me. And as you say, my family so beautifully. I've had hydro baths. I've fallen asleep under some sort of red light sunbed thing. I'm still wearing a weighted vest, even though I'm sitting down now.
Chapter 3: What is Russell Brand's message to the masses?
He is wearing a weighted vest.
It's branded.
It's got your name on it. So he walks into my house. I've known him for three, four minutes. He goes, what are you wearing? I said, it's a weighted vest. I take it off, he puts it on, and I don't think you've taken it off since. I'm very happy in that. I took it off in the bath, of course. You did take it off in the bath. So he took a bath with his son and one of his friends.
We've had a whole day of biohacking. He's staying right across the street. So this is how we survived the hurricane. Turns out we see eye to eye on so many things. And we've had some really inspirational discussions. But a lot of my podcast guests, I think, are very analogous to you and your journey in that they had a problem in their life. And they solved this problem.
And through the solution to that problem, they've become these massively impactful figures. And I know you've been very open about your history with addiction and how you solved that path. And it turned into... Christianity. It turned into a massive voice for mindfulness, for meditation, for spirituality.
I wonder for my guests that maybe only know you as an actor, comedian in your, I'll say, former life. It's still your current life. How has that journey transformed you, and how has it put you on this path to be such an advocate for mindfulness and spirituality? You've almost even become this anti-corruption advocate. you know, purveyor of the truth.
And I'm very attracted to people like that because you are so purpose and mission driven. And the media hasn't been particularly kind to you. Sometimes they're not kind to me. And so talk a little bit about this journey from actor, comedian, and addict into the impactful journey that you're on now.
Gary, I hear you over the course of the day talk a lot about stimuli and response and the response that we, the conducive response between an external stimulant and whatever inner mechanism is impacted or responds to that stimuli. I heard once that in chemistry, if two components are introduced, if they react at all, then both are changed forever.
I feel like a lot of people... It's a truthful statement. Yeah, it's cool, isn't it? Yeah.
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Chapter 4: How can we fundamentally make a change in society?
If you don't know what Essex is because you're American, it's... I've heard of Essex. It's New Jersey, is what it is.
OK, so if you come from a place like that and you're aware of urbanity and cosmopolitanism and then you're aware of fame and celebrity and excitement and all of those things, the culture is telling you, I don't know, maybe you're getting a different message, but I feel that what the culture is telling me is if you are not famous, if you do not have money, you are not valuable.
And actually, at that point, I wasn't famous and I didn't have money, so I didn't feel particularly valuable. Now, I might have other pathological reasons for not feeling valuable. And certainly I've explored them at some depth over a variety of conversations with a number of people over the years. Best to understand it is through the sort of rubric and lens of addiction.
Chapter 5: What are the impacts of the military-industrial complex?
Nevertheless, getting famous and becoming a celebrity is pretty exciting. People have done it, sort of know it. Going from scarcity to abundance is a pretty exciting journey for most people, but we're all dealing with the palette and the spectrum that we are shown.
know i reflect frequently about how if i had known when i was younger there was a different pathway i may have taken it but being a comedian that fee that seemed like a pretty easy fit for me being in movies that seemed like a pretty exciting opportunity for me and the fruits that the culture promises you worldliness are by their nature exciting and stimulating.
Who doesn't want to be surrounded by nice material things? Who doesn't want to know what erotica is like when it's abundantly available? I know that I found those things pretty exciting, but luckily, God made me a terrible, terrible drug addict. So because when I was pretty young, I was addicted to crack and heroin in my 20s, say, I learned that the only way
to, I was shown, I was shown, I did not work this out. I remember someone taught me earlier today, in English we say, I speak English. That's how we say that statement. In Hindi, the equivalent is, Hindi comes to me. And I have started to recognize
that most of the things that i have in my life one way or another have come to me whether they are hard painful agonizing lessons or great and abundant gifts even the pleasure of today i ran into asim malhotra the brilliant british cardiologist doctor and activist whose film first do no farm is a excellent one i had a podcast with him yesterday i recommend everybody look everybody watch that what a great guy he is more brilliant innovator do no farm
So because I trust the Lord, I run into him in the hotel lobby. And he's like, oh, Russell, are you here to see Gary Brekker? And I'm, I am now. And like, you know, of course he was generous of spirit. This is good. He didn't sort of like try to keep you behind a little paywall. Like he was like, oh yeah, yeah, Gary, you know, do you want me to connect to you? I was like, yeah, I do.
And then like I messaged you, you messaged me back. In fact, I mean, Max, I don't know how to do your job. You're obviously brilliant, but you could drop in some of the videos.
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Chapter 6: How do we get back to the basics of health?
We should show the videos that we exchanged because they were absolutely hilarious.
Pretty funny exchange. And then within a few hours, because I trust the Lord, when you say to me, come here, I come here.
Bring the kids, bring the family.
They're playing with your family members. I'm having a great time with my wife. My buddy's here with me. And I feel like I'm happy and in the flow of things. Somehow before, I was corrupted by some malign flow towards the culture. I'm not saying there aren't marvelous people in the culture. I worked with amazing people in Hollywood, brilliant, intelligent, creative, wonderful people.
But those institutions, those corporatized, centralized institutions, as you described earlier in the day, and I won't be specific in case it's not something you want to be publicly known, but if something is geared towards the continual maximization of profit, it will always be corrupting. What industry at the top co-level isn't geared towards the maximization of profit?
Hospitality, big pharma, big food. Look at all of them. They're all geared towards the maximization of profit. Throughout, therefore, like an institutional level, money is being saved. Products are being made addictive. I'm talking about food now and the brilliant work of Bobby Kennedy and Callie and Casey Means.
Amen.
Me, I don't want to just do work where, like, you know, we're appearing in films, unless they're films that have a really, really amazing message. And I can't imagine that they would have, although I would like to. There's a lot of things I'm learning about at the moment around Christianity and stuff, and I'd love to make some movies around those things and talking to people about those things.
But now what I've realized, funny enough, going around the block with the gift of addiction, with a gift of trauma, with the great gift of my disadvantages, the gift of coming from where I come from, having the afflictions that I have, Now I'm on a pathway where I'm much happier. I wish I'd been set off in this pathway in the first place. You know, like, Gary, with Dalai Lamas and that.
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Chapter 7: What is Russell's daily routine for mindfulness?
You can only have one at a time. This is true. It's like a pub.
llama rap battles but with like like llama hierarchies you know like they in tibet they go around and they have a little poke around see kids that are looking a bit off key like that kid's probably a llama show him a walking stick show him a bowler hat from yesteryear do a little ceremony if it turns out he's a reincarnated llama you're coming to the monastery son now
Chapter 8: What does it mean to be an 'Ultimate Human'?
In our culture where we don't believe in reincarnation, I believe in eternal life as a follower of Jesus Christ. Most of us, by default, become members of the biggest cult there is, the cult of commodity and consumerism, the cult of bad food and big pharma. That's the glistening and shimmering cult of mammon. We're all indoctrinated into that cult.
You're not offered the opportunity unless you're born into a religious community or have the privilege of being born into a family of people who know what a score is. We're not giving our kids that food. We're not... giving our kids those medications. We're not letting our kids watch those kind of shows. We're not letting our kids go to those type of schools.
Unless you're lucky enough to be born in that, the system will turn you into a lot of commodity.
So true.
Thankfully, Lord, I've been educated, and now I'm on a different path where I hopefully can learn the skill set gifted to me by a variety of experiences to communicate a message of value to the maximum number of people. Thankfully, I don't even have to take care of it anymore because you're being charged with that bit. LAUGHTER I'm going to relax.
But, you know, we talked about messaging to the masses and we talked about, you know, sort of just the state of the world and society and how we got here and got so divided and how we got so upside down with, you know, the corruption in our political systems and our food systems and our industry of pharmaceuticals and disease.
But turning this somehow into a message of hope is, I think, the greatest gift. And we talked about that a lot today in the eight hours that we spent together, and you had really some incredible kernels of wisdom. And I wonder if you might talk about what your message is to the masses now. I mean, you do talk a lot about mindfulness, a lot about spirituality.
You talk about the impact that Christianity's had on you. You found Jesus, or he found you. And you now subscribe to that lifestyle. And so how has that changed your message? And what is your message to humanity now? I mean, if Russell Brand were to look back on his life 25, 30, 40 years from today and say, I accomplished this. my mission.
I have this vision in my mind of where I would like to see humanity, public policy, you know, and what does that look like? What does your utopian world look like?
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