
E189 - Wim Hof: Why Your Body Was Built to Heal Itself (And What Stopped It)
From Know Thyself by André Duqum
April 7, 2026 · 1h 39m · Season 1 · Episode 189
About this episode
Wim Hof discusses his journey and methods for self-healing through breath and cold exposure.
Wim Hof joins me to explore the deeper story behind his work, from profound personal loss to discovering a direct path back into the body through breath and cold exposure. We unpack how modern life pulls us out of feeling and into constant mental noise, and how reconnecting with the breath can bring us back into a state of presence, strength, and clarity. Wim shares how a single moment stepping into freezing water at 17 opened something fundamental within him, quieting the mind and reconnecting him to his heart. In this conversation, we explore the science behind his methods and what it means to consciously influence the nervous system and immune response. Wim explains how breathwork can reduce inflammation, strengthen the body, and restore balance, and why this ability is not unique to him but available to anyone willing to practice. This episode is an invitation to reclaim autonomy over your body and mind, and to remember a deeper connection to nature that modern life often pulls us away from. Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/knowthyself or use gift code KNOWTHYSELF25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Try LMNT & get a free sample pack…
People in this episode
Host: André Duqum
Guest: Wim Hof
Topics covered
- breathwork
- cold exposure
- self-healing
- nervous system
- inflammation
- mental clarity
Keywords
- Wim Hof
- breathwork
- cold exposure
- self-healing
- nervous system
- inflammation
- mental clarity
Sponsors
Function Health, LMNT
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Function Health
More episodes of Know Thyself
- E198 - Dr. Todd Rose: Why Your Desires Aren't Actually Yours (Here's Who Planted Them) · June 9, 2026 · 1h 57m
- E197 - 9 Great Thinkers on the Inner Work That Frees You · June 2, 2026 · 1h 22m
- E196 - Dr. Vasant Lad: The Doctor From India: The Forgotten 5,000-Year-Old Science of the Human Body (Ayurveda · May 26, 2026 · 1h 31m
- E195 - Dr. Mei Rui: The Science of Sound & Music as Medicine · May 19, 2026 · 1h 35m
- E194 - Arthur Brooks: How To Find The Meaning of Your Life · May 12, 2026 · 1h 59m
- E193 - Dr. Paul Conti: A Psychiatrist's Guide to Understanding Your Mind · May 5, 2026 · 1h 45m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Know Thyself podcast page.