Hotshot firefighting is one of the most physically demanding and dangerous jobs in the United States. River Selby spent seven years as a wildland firefighter, four of them on elite hotshot crews, the teams that jump into the worst blazes in the country.

Michael sits down with Selby, author of Hotshot: A Life on Fire, about what the job costs and what it teaches. They cover:

• Lessons River learned in a burning wilderness.
• The physical and psychological qualities that build grit and make someone a good hotshot.
• Why proximity to danger brings a proximity to life.
• How River proved they belonged on the team as someone who didn’t fit the hotshot mold.
• Failures in how the government manages fires, and why it’s led to more extreme fires.
• How River’s hard childhood helped her tolerate the hardships of wildfire fighting.
• And more …

This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse, addiction, and suicide.

Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.

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There are billions of animals living inside America's factory farms right now. Most live terrible, painful lives. Dan Shannon runs the Humane League, one of the largest and most effective animal welfare organizations in the world.

Most organizations like his push people to go vegan—but Dan says that’s a critical error. Meat-eaters might be the most important people in the animal-welfare movement—and should be welcomed.

Michael sits down with Shannon, a vegan of almost 30 years, to unpack why he wants meat eaters in the animal welfare movement and what actually improves animal welfare. They get into how to avoid B.S. labels food producers use to make you think you’re buying ethically, why a phone call to a grocery chain can do more for animals than a perfect diet, the animal welfare law 80 percent of Americans agree on, and how to eat fewer animal products without pretending you'll be perfect. Shannon's message is the one worth keeping: you have more power than you realize.

Go deeper: Protein Myths Part II

Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.

GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI at twopct.com

I share similar insights around health and wellness on Substack.

Follow Michael: Instagram · X · LinkedIn · Facebook · TikTok

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans spend more on healthcare than any other wealthy nation and have the worst outcomes to show for it. Dr. Lucy McBride, a Harvard-trained physician who has practiced for more than two decades, says the problem is baked into the system.

The modern medical system is built to manage disease after it appears, not to treat the whole patient well. What’s more, doctors are forced to see far too many patients each day. The underlying factors that help or hurt our health—stress, sleep, grief, and life events—never come up in a rushed 12-minute visit.

Michael sits down with Dr. McBride, author of Beyond the Prescription, to talk about the five rules you must follow to stop being passive and become the CEO of your own health. They get into where the wellness industry genuinely helps and where it preys on you, what AI can and can't do in the exam room, rapid-fire verdicts on Prenuvo scans, direct-to-consumer blood tests and CGMs, and questions you must ask your doctor to get better care.

• Go deeper: Read more about The Comfort Crisis in the Doctor’s Office.

Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today's episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. Our editor is Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.

GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI. GO TO https://www.twopct.com AND ENTER YOUR EMAIL.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.