Good Stress

The Health Benefits of Doing Hard Things

By: Jeff Krasno, Schuyler Grant - contributor

Narrated by: Jeff Krasno

Ten protocols to counteract the “chronic ease” that creates our modern epidemic of dis-ease, from a wellness industry leader who can prove they work—because he’s tested them on himself.

Jeff Krasno, the founder and CEO of the global wellness platform Commune Media, thought he was pretty healthy. Though he suffered from brain fog, chronic fatigue, and bouts of insomnia, those symptoms seemed utterly normal in today’s society. When he learned he had diabetes, his first thought was, How can that be? I run a wellness company!

His diagnosis propelled him to consult every expert at his disposal and engage in intensive “me-search” in order to turn his health around. On this journey, he began to form a larger picture of what’s wrong with our health in the modern world. In Good Stress—co-authored with his wife, Schuyler Grant, who shepherded him through 300-plus interviews with doctors and helped distill the results into actionable information—Jeff shares what he’s learned and outlines a practical program for listeners to reset their own health.

Jeff explains that the comforts and conveniences of modern life in the developed world undermine our biology. Humans evolved with Paleolithic stressors and scarcity, which conferred health and resilience.

Modern life sets us up for diabetes, dementia, heart disease, cancer, and more. Chronic disease is the result of chronic ease: an endless abundance of calories, sedentary desk jobs, exposure to blue light, and separation from nature. To come back into balance, we need to thoughtfully subject our bodies and minds to the stressors we’re naturally built for.

This book distills the hundreds of conversations that Jeff has had with acclaimed teachers and practitioners in mind-body wellness, including Gabor Maté, Mark Hyman, Marianne Williamson, and Dr. Sara Gottfried. Jeff gives readers uncommonly wise and relatable guidance for 10 practices to extend both our lifespan and our healthspan, including:

• Time-restricted eating
• Cold and heat exposure
• Light therapy
• Eating “stressed plants”
• Building our “psychological immune system” and more

For each practice, Jeff shares his own experience (there’s a great story of how Wim Hof finally convinced him to get into an ice bath); unpacks the science behind it, the place it has in our culture, and the effects it has on body and mind; and explains how to undertake it safely and mindfully.

©2025 Jeff Krasno and Schuyler Grant (P)2025 Hay House LLC

Critic reviews

“In Good Stress, Jeff Krasno masterfully illustrates the profound impact evolutionary mismatches have on our health and well-being. This book dives deep into the science of why our modern comfort-filled life, while seemingly benign, is at odds with our genetic makeup. With a focus on the transformative power of fasting—a topic near to my practice—and other eustress protocols, Jeff provides a compelling blueprint for realigning our lifestyle with our biology. This is not just a book; it’s a call to action to embrace the stressors that refine us, challenge us, and ultimately lead us to a vibrant life. A must-read for anyone looking to break free from the grip of chronic ease and reclaim their health.” — Dr Will Cole, New York Times best-selling author of Intuitive Fasting and Ketotarian

“In Good Stress, Jeff Krasno eloquently bridges the ancient wisdom of Eastern thought with modern scientific insights. This profound work reveals how Buddhist teachings on impermanence and interconnection anticipated groundbreaking discoveries in epigenetics, neuroplasticity, and the microbiome. This book is a masterful exploration of how embracing life’s challenges can unlock our innate potential for growth, healing, and transformation.” — Deepak Chopra, best-selling author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

“In Good Stress, my longtime friend Jeff Krasno takes us on an extraordinary journey from CEO to health advocate, blending wisdom from Eastern philosophy with the science of functional medicine. I’ve watched Jeff transform from a successful business leader at Wanderlust to a passionate storyteller who dives deep into the power of adversity mimetics. This book beautifully weaves ancient teachings on impermanence and interconnection with practical protocols that challenge the body and mind, showing us that true growth comes from embracing life’s hard edges. It’s a must-read for anyone ready to unlock the healing potential of ‘good stress.’” — Mark Hyman, M.D., co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Function Health and 15-time New York Times best-selling author