How Breathing Can Transform Your Life with Brian MacKenzie

CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing

It is the first thing we do when we arrive in the world and the last thing we do before we leave. It happens automatically 26,000 times a day without us even having to pay any attention to it, yet breathing is one of the only autonomic systems in our body that we can control, if we choose to. But because we can do it without consciously thinking about it, we often forget about it. The reality is though, that we react to every single situation in life with our breath and we have the power to choose how we respond to any situation by controlling our breath. Amazingly, this can also affect how others will respond back to us.

No one demonstrates this better than my guest on today’s conversation, Brian MacKenzie. Brian is co-founder and President of the Health and Human Performance Foundation and Creative Director at Power Speed Endurance, a company focused on optimising physical, emotional and cognitive performance.

In today’s podcast, Brian shares some of his incredible experiences. Firstly, he describes how he nearly became paralysed in an accident and he also shares his unbelievable experience of voluntarily swimming with great white sharks. In both of these intense situations, Brian was able to control his response by harnessing the power of his breath. Breath is at the centre of everything Brian does and he believes that through our breath, we can all discover who we really are and rid ourselves of the mental and societal constructs that prevent us from being free.

We cover so many different themes today. We discuss the concept of carbon dioxide intolerance and what it means for our biology and our emotions. But we also talk about optimising oxygen efficiency in our bodies – doing so can help every single aspect of our lives – whether we want to improve our mental health, our focus, reduce stress or even increase our sporting performance.

I understand that starting a breathing practice can feel confusing – where should you begin, what method should you use, are you doing it right? Brian’s advice on this is reassuring. For him, breathwork is about giving it all a try, experimenting, learning and finding out what works for you. I think that is wonderfully freeing and exciting. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

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Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

Brian’s Courses:

Brian’s PSE PRO online course

For one month’s FREE access to PSE PRO use code: feelbetterpse

For details for Art of Breath Clinic click here

Connect with Brian:

Website     Instagram      Twitter     

Facebook     YouTube   

Brian’s Books:

Unplugged: evolve form technology to upgrade your fitness, performance and consciousness †

Power Speed Endurance: A skill based approach to endurance training †

Further learning:



Further learning on Brian’s websiteNational Academies Press – Baboons and Men: Social Circumstances Biology and  the SocialThe Guardian – Fearless brain damages patients are terrified of suffocation



Dr Chatterjee’s resources:



Podcast #82 – How to Create the Life You Were Born to Live with Peter CronePodcast #99 – How Breathing Through Your Nose Will Change Your Life with Patrick McKeownFind Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillar of Health in The 4 Pillar PlanAvailable in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease DisappearOrder Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution.Dr Chatterjee’s NEW book Feel Better in 5 is out now.

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

† Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

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