📍Stig Severinsen is a four-time world champion freediver, multiple Guinness World Record holder, and the first human being to hold his breath for more than 20 minutes. Known globally as “The Human Dolphin,” Stig combines elite physiology, Eastern philosophy, and decades of scientific research to explore the limits of human potential.

In this conversation, Stig and Rut go deep into:


How Stig learned to hold his breath for 22 minutes


The Viking childhood that shaped his connection to water


Training Navy SEALs, fighter pilots, and elite performers


The biology of breath, CO₂ tolerance, lactic acid, and nervous system control


Why modern medicine misunderstands the mind-body connection


The psychology of pushing past fear and physical limitation


Breathwork as a tool for mental toughness, resilience, and healing


The story behind his world records, including the under-ice swim


How anyone can begin training their breath today

Stig brings together science, nature, and spirituality in a way few people can. This episode is a masterclass in human performance.

Follow Stig: https://www.breatheology.com/

Next Steps:
🏫 Get coaching by David Rutherford: https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/
📕 Get David's novel, The Poet Warrior: https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior
📰 Sign up for David's weekly newsletter for free coaching tips, updates, and more: https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Early Childhood, Connecting To Water, Inspired By Nature

17:01 - What Ignited Stig’s Competitive Spirit & Will To Be The Best?

32:23 - Breaking World-Records & Pushing Human Limits

42:30 - The Physiology of Freediving

01:02:41 - Mindfulness, Performance Psychology, The Power of Breathwork

01:14:37 - Conditioning The Mind & Body For Superhuman Performance

01:37:04 - Coaching World-Record Setting Athletes

01:48:32 - Where To Learn More About Stig & Breatheology

📍Stig Severinsen is a four-time world champion freediver, multiple Guinness World Record holder, and the first human being to hold his breath for more than 20 minutes. Known globally as &ldquo;The Human Dolphin,&rdquo; Stig combines elite physiology, Eastern philosophy, and decades of scientific research to explore the limits of human potential.
In this conversation, Stig and Rut go deep into:
<ul data-start="3118" data-end="3696">
<li data-start="3118" data-end="3172">
How Stig learned to hold his breath for 22 minutes
</li>
<li data-start="3173" data-end="3233">
The Viking childhood that shaped his connection to water
</li>
<li data-start="3234" data-end="3295">
Training Navy SEALs, fighter pilots, and elite performers
</li>
<li data-start="3296" data-end="3377">
The biology of breath, CO₂ tolerance, lactic acid, and nervous system control
</li>
<li data-start="3378" data-end="3441">
Why modern medicine misunderstands the mind-body connection
</li>
<li data-start="3442" data-end="3505">
The psychology of pushing past fear and physical limitation
</li>
<li data-start="3506" data-end="3576">
Breathwork as a tool for mental toughness, resilience, and healing
</li>
<li data-start="3577" data-end="3645">
The story behind his world records, including the under-ice swim
</li>
<li data-start="3646" data-end="3696">
How anyone can begin training their breath today
</li>
</ul>
Stig brings together science, nature, and spirituality in a way few people can. This episode is a masterclass in human performance. Follow Stig: https://www.breatheology.com/
Next Steps:
<ul>
<li>🏫 Get coaching by David Rutherford: <a href="https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/">https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/</a></li>
<li>📕 Get David's novel, The Poet Warrior: <a href="https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior">https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior</a></li>
<li>📰 Sign up for David's weekly newsletter for free coaching tips, updates, and more: <a href="https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/">https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/</a></li>
</ul>
Timestamps:
00:00 - Early Childhood, Connecting To Water, Inspired By Nature
17:01 - What Ignited Stig&rsquo;s Competitive Spirit &amp; Will To Be The Best?
32:23 - Breaking World-Records &amp; Pushing Human Limits
42:30 - The Physiology of Freediving
01:02:41 - Mindfulness, Performance Psychology, The Power of Breathwork
01:14:37 - Conditioning The Mind &amp; Body For Superhuman Performance
01:37:04 - Coaching World-Record Setting Athletes
01:48:32 - Where To Learn More About Stig &amp; Breatheology

The David Rutherford Show represents the highest form of the emerging new media landscape. As a former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, and world championship performance coach, David has been exploring the human condition for the past 30 years in his epic quest to understand how individuals and teams can defeat the negative insurgency. In his new show David will give experienced analysis to most pressing topics of our time. His mission is to consolidate the battlefield of information and provide unique context to most important issues of the day. Don’t miss this exciting show and allow David to be your flash bang of truth. 

The David Rutherford Show represents the highest form of the emerging new media landscape. As a former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, and world championship performance coach, David has been exploring the human condition for the past 30 years in his epic quest to understand how individuals and teams can defeat the negative insurgency. In his new show David will give experienced analysis to most pressing topics of our time. His mission is to consolidate the battlefield of information and provide unique context to most important issues of the day. Don&rsquo;t miss this exciting show and allow David to be your flash bang of truth.&nbsp;

The David Rutherford Show

David Rutherford Show: “22 Minutes Without Air” – World Record Holder Stig Severinsen on the True Limits of Human Performance | Ep. 86

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f4e7fc47-150d-4b4f-91d1-b3b400d5bfdb/transcript

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