Our quote of the week is attributed to Rich Roll. Rich is a bestselling author, accomplished vegan ultra-endurance athlete, inspirational wellness advocate, and host of the popular Rich Roll Podcast. His podcast regularly ranks on iTunes’ most popular lists. Outside Magazine called him the “Oprah of endurance sports.”
“Being of service to other people in a selfless way as a reflex rather than a burden or an obligation – that in my experience and what I have seen with other people, is probably the best way to set you on a trajectory that’s going to connect you with some kind of purpose in life. And the truth is, the more selfless you are, first of all, the happier you will be. It’s very gratifying and gives your life meaning.”
From addiction to ultra-athlete
Rich Roll is a Stanford University and Cornell Law School graduate. In the late ’80s, his career was cut short by his struggle with drugs and alcohol. Addiction led him astray and even into jail, institutions, and ultimately into rehab at the age of 31. Although sober, he found himself 50 pounds overweight and unfit. Everything came to a head on the eve of his 40th birthday. He felt defeated by a mere flight of stairs that left him buckled over in pain. Rich said he foresaw an “almost certain heart attack looming in his near future.”
The journey to wellness
The day after, he started overhauling his life. Rich Roll adopted a vegan diet, put on his running shoes, and dived back into the pool. The rest is history.
His plant-fueled feats of boundary-pushing athleticism have been featured on CNN as well as many other major publications. These include The New York Times, Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, The Huffington Post, Stanford Magazine, Men’s Health Living, VegNews, Triathlete, Outside, and 3/GO Magazine. Men’s Fitness Magazine named Rich as one of the “25 Fittest Men in the World.
Less emotion, more devotion
Rich’s podcasts are devoted to helping his listeners live a healthier and mindful life. He regularly hosts a diverse variety of thought leaders. His easy, conversational style covers all aspects of living with purpose. Not just wellness in the physical sense, but also mental and spiritual ideals.
Rich is also the bestselling author of the inspirational memoir Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself.
Plant power
More recently, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rich published his latest book, Voicing Change.
He lives with Julie Piatt and their four children in Malibu Canyon outside of Los Angeles. Rich and Julie are a power couple. Together they have published a bestselling cookbook and lifestyle primer together. Titled The Plantpower Way: Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes And Guidance For The Whole Family.
He openly shares his daily wellness habits. One of which includes sleeping alone in a tent every night. And when he isn’t writing, podcasting, or spending time with his family, he can be found running through remote trails in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Where to find him
Find him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or his website richroll.com
