Benefits of Barefoot Movement with Shoe Entrepreneur, Mountain Chang

Benefits of Barefoot Movement with Shoe Entrepreneur, Mountain Chang

Author: Oz, host @ hippiecritical.org November 19, 2019 Duration: 1:01:16

This episode is packed with interesting nuggets about the benefits and misconceptions about barefoot movement and barefoot shoes. I chat with Mountain Chang, a CPA turned founder of the barefoot shoe company, Carets. Carets makes classy high end dress shoes - think Allen Edmonds - but with barefoot features like a zero drop design and wider toe box.  

(I don't receive a commission for this: you can use the coupon code 2019hippiecritical for $30 off if you shop at Carets.) 

In this episode, we talk about...

  • The interesting origins of barefoot movement 
  • Benefits of barefoot movement and why barefoot shoes exist
  • Why the "standard" approach to shoe design - cushioning, heels, space - is not designed for the human foot to have full range of motion. (Explains why higher heels are especially bad for the foot - not just for women.)
  • Common misconceptions of barefoot running, such as blisters and places to run

Other resources mentioned: 

If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and sign up for the mailing list on Hippiecritical.org.

Credits:

Intro music: "Good Tone" by Nordgroove from Fugue 

Outro music: "Sincerely" by Kevin Macleod


Ever notice how practices that once seemed deeply fringe are now part of your coworker's daily routine? Hippiecritical: New Age Trends, Alternative Health and Hippie Lifestyles picks apart this cultural shift, moving beyond simple skepticism or blind faith. Host Oz approaches topics like healing crystals, reiki, and the modern yoga industrial complex with a curious and balanced-but-critical perspective. Each episode is a deep dive, whether it's examining the surprising history behind tarot cards, understanding the appeal of sensory deprivation float tanks, or exploring the fine line between wellness communities and cults. This isn't about mockery; it's about figuring out what resonates, what works, and what might be pure speculation dressed in sage smoke. You'll hear thoughtful conversations and solo explorations that trace the journey of these ideas from radical counterculture to mainstream culture. For anyone who's been intrigued by a sound bath or side-eyed a trendy meditation app, this podcast offers a much-needed space for grounded inquiry. Tune in for regular episodes that help navigate the often confusing, always fascinating landscape of alternative health and hippie-inspired living.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 14

Hippiecritical: New Age Trends, Alternative Health and Hippie Lifestyles
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