Why Will?
Will is a buddy from grad school that served in the 82nd Airborne. If you spend time checking out his Instagram, youâll see why I thought his unique interests would lead to interesting recommendations. He is a down-to-earth guy that spends a lot of his time in the airâŠ
Follow Will on Instagram @dudebraj
Self-Description
Curious individual that's always hyper-fixated on a handful of things; Current obsessions include skydiving (solo licensed w/ 550+ skydives), thrifting, bouldering, and Toyota 4x4s. Grateful for life.
Willâs Recommendations
Written in his own wordsâŠ
Content
Dr. Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist and tenured professor at Stanford that hosts a podcast covering topics like athletic performance, sleep, diet, health, and supplementation. I love how he breaks down complex topics into actionable frameworks for reapplication. This guy has me going outside every morning and staring at the sun and taking all sorts of wild pills and as crazy as it sounds I feel better because of it.
Product
They are the technical outerwear version of your Lulu ABC Slim pants. A friend of mine is a talented rock climber and has a pro deal with Prana. He opened his bag this weekend to reveal 5 pairs and was raving about them. As soon as I tried them on I realized I had to buy them. Abrasion resistant, water repellant, UPF 50+ protected, stretchy. The perfect pair of paints to romp around the Red River Gorge and then hit Miguel's Pizza.
Well Being
Working out for longevity
I swear as soon as I turned 30 I instantly went from a fit Army dude that could squat 315 lbs and run a 6-minute mile to a guy who groaned getting out of bed. I spent the next few years throwing my back out in the gym every few months ego lifting. Over the last year I traded my old workout philosophy to one geared towards longevity. I see a PT once a month for dry needling and exercises to work all the underdeveloped tiny muscles I missed from years of neglect. I traded a standard gym routine for unilateral work and spend more time doing kettlebell and bodyweight stuff. I've also added yoga and bouldering to my plan. It's taken some time, but I'm starting to feel a lot more athletic and feel pain less often. If you're feeling the weight of your years it may be time to take a step back and build back better.
Watch
I'm surprised more people haven't watched this Breaking Bad spinoff. It's a super slow burn with such a rewarding payoff. I remember watching and thinking I enjoyed the ride more than Breaking Bad. Highly recommend if you enjoyed Breaking Bad and want one more trip to that universe.
Gift Idea
Art
I never know what to ask for these days, but I can say I've never been more caught off guard and moved then when I was gifted art. My good friend Bennett Savage Davidson (@benetttthecat) gifted me a painting in exchange for a small donation to a charity in 2020. Bennett's paintings remind a bit of Hiroshi Nagai's work with a surrealist touch.
My partner recently gifted me a painting from a local artist named Michelle Whitmer who paints Floridian Americana type imagery. Every time I look at the painting, I am brought back to visiting my grandparents in Clearwater Florida and driving around Tampa in college.
Music
The final tour! It's your last chance to see the Dead in its current configuration. I'll be seeing the boys in Cincy, Indy, and maybe another stop or two. I guess the prompt was under the radar bands so Benny Sings and Mac DeMarco have gotten a lot of air time for me lately.
Personal Plug from Will
Skydiving
Please hit me up if you're interested in going for a tandem or getting licensed. I'd be happy to provide recommendations on where to go and answer any questions you might have. I'm super passionate and would love to see more people get their knees in the breeze.
Want to get in touch with Will? DM him on Instagram @dudebraj.
Thank You, Will!
Bonus Section: Summer Reading // Rambull Book Club
Iâve curated a list of book recommendations from past profiles that are perfect for those summer vacation travel and beach days.
A. City of Thieves [4.6 stars from 16,298 reviews] â cheesy but I wish I could go back to when I hadnât read this book so I could reexperience the joy of finishing it in a day in a half. Perfect for any WWII history buffs that also enjoying mixing in some fiction. Shocked this story has not yet been turned into a movie. (Thanks to Trevor Houghton for the recommendation)
B. Open [4.6 stars from 19,755 reviews] â The autobiography of Andre Agassi, ghostwritten by J.R. Moehringer. Moehringer also ghostwrote Shoe Dog (Phil Knight) and Spare (Prince Harry). This is a really moving look behind the scenes at a very complicated but extremely talented athlete. I donât remember Agassi much from my childhood but found myself enthralled by his story. (Thanks to Johnny Belk for the recommendation)
C. Shantaram [4.6 stars from 35,097 reviews] â Warning this book doubles as a doorstop given its 936 pages. However, its a fascinating read inspired by the authorâs experiences in Australia and India. If youâve ever wanted to learn more about India or interested in jail escapes and criminal underworlds, this one is for you. It was recently turned into a tv series on Apple+. (Thanks to Ian Rahilly for the recommendation)
D. Tommorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow [4.4 stars from 50,608 reviews] â This is the book Iâve been recommending constantly since I read it a few weeks ago. If you pick one book from this list its a toss up between this one and City of Thieves. The storytelling and vocabulary is unlike anything Iâve read and not in the way that it feels like a senior year English class book. The storytelling will leave you feeling moved about your own relationships and also expose you to the development side of the video game industry. (Thanks to Ryan Salisbury for the recommendation)
E. I Am Pilgrim [4.6 stars from 89,129 reviews] â The ultimate page turner for a summer read. Perfect if you like any combination of Law & Order SVU, James Bond, or Call of Duty. I binged this one on audible during a long roadtrip. (Thanks to Lindsey Johnson for the recommendation)
F. Daisy Jones and The Six [4.4 stars from 76,265 reviews] â I was admittedly skeptical of this book but couldnât put it down once I started. After living in Los Angeles, I am naturally drawn to any book that references the city. (Thanks to Elizabeth Belk for the recommendation)
Reply to this email with the Letter(s) of any books you plan to read. Curious to know what you think!