Episode Details

Summary

In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Axay Shah shares his 16+ year journey living on a raw food diet and the mindset behind it. What begins as curiosity evolves into a deeper discussion about health, energy, discipline, and personal autonomy. The group explores the science, skepticism, and cultural resistance around raw eating, while keeping the tone grounded and non-preachy. From marathon running at 66 to challenging assumptions about nutrition, the episode ultimately centers on self-experimentation, long-term health, and taking ownership of one’s lifestyle choices.

Key Topics

• Axay Shah’s origin story and transition to a raw food lifestyle
• The role of curiosity vs. research in major life changes
• Raw vs. cooked food: evolution, biology, and debate
• Food culture, social pressure, and “diet identity”
• Energy, longevity, and aging differently
• Practical day-to-day raw food habits and routines
• Nutritional considerations (B12, vitamin D, supplementation)
• Self-experimentation (blood work, tracking outcomes)
• Addiction, habit formation, and mindset control
• Non-preachy health philosophy: “do what works for you”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and opening banter
00:05 Meeting Axay Shah and framing the raw food conversation
00:48 Why raw food seems “extreme” to most people
02:04 Health myths and skepticism around raw diets
02:34 Axay’s 16+ year raw journey and marathon running
03:15 The origin story: curiosity and experimentation in 2009
04:27 Early discipline and unconventional food experiments
05:26 Immediate benefits: energy, freedom, and momentum
06:12 How long it takes to feel results (days vs. weeks)
06:41 Planning vs. spontaneity in diet changes
07:47 Observing nature: are humans designed for raw food?
09:41 Debate: raw vs. cooked food and human evolution
11:09 Fire, survival, and the shift to cooked food
12:53 Scarcity vs. abundance: then vs. now
14:47 Food systems, culture, and modern overconsumption
16:06 Biological arguments (intestines, behavior, etc.)
18:35 Hosts challenge assumptions and explore omnivore perspective
20:08 Social perception and stigma of raw lifestyle
21:05 Family dynamics and not forcing beliefs on others
22:03 Longevity, energy, and quality of life goals
23:08 Transparency: 20+ years of bloodwork tracking
24:47 Real-world logistics: eating out, social events, flexibility
26:10 Hunger changes and reduced food intake over time
28:08 Absorption vs. consumption: eating less, gaining more
29:29 A day in the life: what Axay actually eats
31:48 Seasonal eating and sourcing food naturally
33:22 Practical meals: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and preparation
34:15 Nutritional gaps: B12, D3, and supplementation
36:38 Modern food systems vs. natural sourcing
37:25 “Purity” vs. practicality in raw living
39:43 Aging, mobility, and avoiding decline
41:17 Cultural identity and emotional attachment to food
42:48 Non-preachy philosophy and avoiding “diet war