James Nestor

Date: 2020-07-10 | Duration: 1h 50m

Episode Overview

James Nestor dives deep into the science and history of breathing, revealing how something as simple as nasal breathing can profoundly impact health and athletic performance. He discusses the widespread consequences of mouth breathing, including its role in sleep apnea, anxiety, and reduced physical endurance. Nestor shares insights from cutting-edge research, such as Stanford studies showing that nasal breathing improves oxygen efficiency and recovery, and explains how carbon dioxide levels regulate the body’s oxygen delivery—a concept that challenges common assumptions about breathing more air being better. The conversation also explores ancient breathwork practices and their surprising physiological effects, including how controlled breathing can influence the autonomic nervous system and mental states. Nestor recounts personal experiments with devices like the homeoblock to expand the airway and improve breathing, highlighting how modern lifestyles and industrialized diets have altered facial structure and respiratory health. He emphasizes the importance of retraining breathing habits to address issues like snoring, asthma, and anxiety, illustrating the power of breath as a tool for both physical and mental well-being.

About James Nestor

James Nestor is an accomplished journalist and author renowned for his captivating exploration of the science of breathing. With contributions to prestigious publications such as Outside magazine, The New York Times, and Scientific American, he brings a unique blend of storytelling and scientific inquiry to his work. Nestor's latest book, *Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art*, has garnered critical acclaim, shedding light on the profound impact of proper breathing on health and well-being. His ability to blend personal narrative with in-depth research makes him a compelling figure, as he uncovers the often-overlooked art of breath and its transformative effects on our lives.

Key Moments

– Nasal Breathing
– Mouth Breathing
– Breathwork Techniques
– Carbon Dioxide Physiology
– Sleep Apnea
– Breathing and Athletic Performance
– Breathing and Anxiety
– Breathing and Evolution
– Breathing and Orthodontics
– Breathing and Nervous System
– Breathing Measurement
– Breathing and Health
– Buteyko Method
– Holotropic Breathwork
– Breathing Devices
– Breathing and Meditation
– Breathing and Asthma
– Breathing and Circulation
0:00:30 – Origin of James Nestor's interest in breathing
0:02:25 – Discussion of the documentary 'Choke'
0:04:15 – Prevalence of nasal obstruction in population
0:07:18 – Physical changes in nose after surgery
0:11:20 – Scientific evidence against mouth breathing
0:13:25 – Benefits of nasal breathing on oxygen efficiency
0:15:35 – Variability in breathing patterns among individuals
0:18:05 – Heart rate changes during breath-holding
0:20:44 – Autonomic nervous system control via breathing
0:24:41 – Historical breathwork practices and nervous system
0:28:44 – Breathwork origins in ancient spiritual traditions
0:32:38 – Earliest evidence of breath control in history
0:39:01 – Breathing techniques to alleviate asthma symptoms
0:40:27 – Explanation of the Buteyko breathing method
0:44:56 – Slowing breath through nasal breathing
0:46:05 – Improved athletic endurance from nasal breathing
0:47:44 – Misconceptions about oxygen supplementation
0:50:40 – Nasal breathing training for high-intensity athletes
0:54:43 – Habitual nasal breathing in sports training
0:55:41 – Physiological effects of breath-holding adaptation
0:57:15 – Breathing techniques to manage panic attacks
1:00:34 – Anxiety breath coaches and their methods
1:04:14 – James Nestor's personal experience with sleep apnea
1:07:32 – Jaw development and airway improvement devices
1:15:33 – Use of CAT scans to show airway changes
1:23:27 – Simple breath timing exercises
1:26:55 – Subjective experiences and gray areas in breathwork
1:30:42 – Physical sensations during breathwork sessions
1:39:20 – Breathwork to increase lung flexibility
1:41:29 – Oxygen levels drop during breath-holding
1:43:10 – Breathwork's effect on anxiety symptoms
1:45:27 – Introduction to the book 'Breath' by James Nestor
1:46:16 – Closing remarks and social media info

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 All right, we're rolling. Starting point is 00:00:14 for long periods of time, and then they're right there. Starting point is 00:00:30 What made you want to write this? Where'd this come from? Starting point is 00:01:14 wet, sweat all over my face. So I went back to her and I said, what happened? Like you're a doctor, Starting point is 00:01:49 that I don't know about. And I figured other people might not know about as well. Starting point is 00:02:25 And there's this documentary on him called Choke. Have you seen it? I have not, no. It's really fascinating. This documentary, he's doing Starting point is 00:03:02 You're going to find that in the foundation of so many different sports. Starting point is 00:03:41 had a useless nose till I was 40. And then I got an operation to have my deviated Starting point is 00:04:15 But what people don't realize is about 25% to 50% of the population Starting point is 00:04:49 So he had warned me how bad mouth breathing was, but no one knew how quickly that damage came on. Starting point is 00:05:31 one of the best universities in the world. You have the means to do this. And he thought, Starting point is 00:06:04 And that 25% to 50% of the population knows and to actually measure what happens. Starting point is 00:06:39 this from the doctor of speech language pathology at Stanford. She measured people who had laryngectomies, Starting point is 00:07:05 It would seem that it's a hole. Starting point is 00:07:18 My nose got physically wider after my operation. Starting point is 00:07:59 like it's different like if I look at older pictures of myself my nose was more narrow and Starting point is 00:08:29 It's really, really hard. Starting point is 00:09:08 So does breathing through your nose make your actual nostril opening wider? Starting point is 00:09:43 head. Why doesn't he care about breathing from the nose or the mouth? He just wants you to breathe. Starting point is 00:10:14 So he says it doesn't matt...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #1506?

James Nestor was the guest on JRE #1506. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #1506?

On Joe Rogan Experience #1506 with James Nestor, topics include Nasal Breathing, Mouth Breathing, Breathwork Techniques, and Carbon Dioxide Physiology.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #1506?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #1506 with James Nestor is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.