Raff's Brain

🔥 Episode Summary Rob takes us on a road trip detour to Buckhannon, West Virginia (26201), for a small-town yoga experience that’s big on charm and full of surprises. Broadcasting straight from the parking lot of Las Trancas Mexican Restaurant, he recaps his first-ever PiYo class — a Pilates–yoga hybrid that feels more “micro-torture” than mindful flow. From the surprising serenity of this North...

In this solo Walk & Talk episode, Rob Raffety checks in from Buckhannon, West Virginia, reflecting on family, fitness, and the fight against father time. Unable to hit his usual hot yoga studio, Rob dusts off an old habit— the yog —and takes listeners on a meandering mental jog through memory, motivation, and movement. From running his first 10K back in law school to raw-dogging a marathon, to...

What starts with a tweet and a copy of 12½ by Gary Vaynerchuk turns into a cross-state donut taste test between two new friends: host Rob Raffety and guest Matt Brady. Matt, a self-proclaimed foodie with a culinary background and a knack for reef design, joins Rob to unpack everything from parenting late in life to Halo nostalgia, while diving deep into the local legends of Neil’s Donuts (CT) and...

When Rob returns to his hometown of Buckhannon, WV, he discovers something unexpected: yoga is alive and well in rural America. In this off-brand (but 100% heartwarming) episode, Rob navigates small-town bulletin boards, unfamiliar classrooms, contact lens battles, and a deeply focused flow class in a former elementary school. It’s not hot yoga—it’s cold(ish), local, and surprisingly crowded. But...

After a two-week hiatus filled with personal chaos and West Virginia misadventures, Rob returns to the hot yoga studio—and walks right into a substitute-led slow flow class. What follows is a sweaty odyssey through extended poses, skipped core work, and an unexpectedly spiritual Shavasana that might’ve included interdimensional travel. It's not about making progress—it's about making it...

Riffin’ with Raff is back with Episode 99, and Rob welcomes three-time guest and hometown legend Cody Hollen for a nostalgia-fueled conversation recorded live at CJ Maggie’s in Buckhannon, WV. They dig into the golden age of GI Joe, Garbage Pail Kids, comic books, and the joy of blowing up action figures in your backyard. Now armed with “adult money,” the duo explores the rebirth of childhood hobb...

🐱 The THREE-LEGGED CAT Who Defied the Odds! | Raff’s Brain Drive & Jive! 🎙️ WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CAT DISAPPEARS FOR MONTHS… AND RETURNS WITH A SHOCKING TWIST? In this episode of Drive & Jive , I take you on the road 🚗💭 for a stream-of-consciousness deep dive into one of the wildest pet stories I’ve ever lived. Leia—the three-legged warrior cat —vanished into the Appalachian wilderness, o...

In this Hot Yoga Problems episode, Rob Raffety previews an exciting (and totally unnecessary) new experiment—the Hot Yoga Towel Challenge ! After years of dedication to one reliable brand, he’s throwing caution to the wind and testing an array of hot yoga towels to find the ultimate champion. Will price matter? Does texture affect performance? Will he ever master side crow ? Also, Rob rants about...

🎙 Hot Yoga Problems #TowelTalk 🎙 It’s an afternoon yoga session, and that means maximum energy – thanks to coffee, blood pressure meds, and a CorePower Yoga class that nearly annihilated me. But today’s real hot yoga problem? Yoga towels. I’ve got some strong opinions on: The tightest parking garage in existence (seriously, are spots getting smaller?) Becoming a hot yoga regular (they know my name...

Rob is feeling the yoga energy today! In this episode of Hot Yoga Problems , he shares his latest class experience, where he absolutely crushed it . With an early arrival, prime mat positioning, and a friendly chat with the instructor, Rob found himself influencing the class flow—unintentionally, of course. The focus? Headstands. Turns out, his request came with a price: an immense amount of core...

🎶 Ep. 94 - Hot Yoga Problems: The Theme Song Episode We did it, folks! Hot Yoga Problems officially has a theme song, thanks to a listener who took the idea and ran with it. Rob dives into the song’s creation, the power of community engagement, and why simplicity in content production is key. Plus, a Reddit experiment, a marijuana-infused rant, and motivation to start your own creative journey. I...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Drive & Jive , the latest segment on Raff’s Brain ! Today, I take you along for a spontaneous drive to the car wash while discussing the quirks of car culture, the economics of car washes, and why some people insist on naming their vehicles. Do you name your car? What’s the best name you’ve ever heard? We also break down traffic pet peeves, the zipper merge...

Hot Yoga Problems: Morning vs. Afternoon Yoga Description: Rob is back with another sweaty saga, this time questioning the optimal time for yoga practice. Is morning yoga still king, or has the afternoon session unlocked a new level of energy? As he navigates poses (including a mysterious one-legged push-up that may or may not be called Ecopotama ), deals with unexpected medical call anticipation,...

Hot Yoga Problems - The Agony of Yin Yoga Episode Summary: Rob’s back with another hot yoga struggle, and this time it’s Yin Yoga—aka Core Restore , but don’t let the name fool you. What was supposed to be a restorative session turned into a slow-burning masterclass in discomfort. As he pushes toward his goal of 20 yoga sessions in 30 days, Rob shares the mental and physical battles of holding dee...

Episode Title: Cat-Cow Chaos & The 20-Class Yoga Gauntlet Episode Summary: Rob takes on an intense afternoon hot yoga class, and it’s a struggle. Unlike his usual early morning sessions, this one hits different—harder, sweatier, and way more frustrating. He breaks down his deep disdain for the cat-cow pose (why do we do this?), goes on a hilarious tangent about birds’ hollow bones (thanks, Mar...

In this nostalgic and entertaining episode of Riffin’ with Raff , Rob Raffety is joined by his childhood friend Cody Hollen (aka Code H) as they reminisce about their shared love of hockey, growing up in Buckhannon, WV, and the memories that shaped their friendship. From watching legendary Penguins games on a satellite dish to playing intense roller hockey matches with friends, they reflect on how...

Trapped in Sweat: The Great Hot Yoga Locker Room Showdown! 🔥🚪😩 Hot yoga is already a struggle—sweat, pain, regret—but escaping the locker room? That’s a whole other challenge. Why do people treat the locker area like a personal dressing room while the rest of us just want to grab our stuff and go ? Perfume, makeup, intense texting… meanwhile, I’m standing there, a puddle of post-yoga exhaustion...

🔥 Hot Yoga Problems: Can I Survive 20 Sessions in 30 Days? Today was a rare win—my third consecutive day of hot yoga, and I didn’t get completely wrecked. The challenge? 20 classes in 30 days. The reality? I’m behind, and CorePower Yoga’s guilt-trip emails aren’t helping. 🌟 The Pose That Broke Me: Ever tried Pentacle Pose? Aka Starfish Pose ? Sounds chill, but trust me—it’s not. Hands tingling,...

Episode Summary: Breathing: it seems simple—until you try doing it correctly in a hot yoga class. In this episode, we explore the challenge of syncing breath with movement, particularly during the grueling Sun B sequence. Our host shares his battle with Ujjayi breathing, his ever-elusive yogi goals, and his Valentine’s Day plans featuring copious amounts of melted cheese. Along the way, we detour...

Raff's Brain - Riffin' with Raff The YouTube Experiment: Lessons in Growth & Storytelling feat. @GraubenLara Description: 🎙️ How do you grow a YouTube channel from scratch? In this episode of Riffin’ with Raff , Grauben Lara shares his experience building an educational economic channel, experimenting with different formats, and figuring out what works. We discuss the power of storyt...

Hot Yoga Problems: The Studio Turns into a Sick Ward 🤒🔥 Description: It’s mid-February, and the yoga studio has turned into a germ-fest! In this episode of Hot Yoga Problems , I share my latest class experience—where 4 out of 7 yogis were coughing, sneezing, sniffling, and wheezing. The question is: Should we power through sickness or stay home? 🤔 Also on the docket: Budweiser’s disappearing ac...

Raff's Brain: Pound Foolish - The Journey Begins - PILOT EPISODE!  Welcome to Pound Foolish , the latest stream of Raff’s Brain content! This is where I document my ongoing struggle to lose weight, get healthier, and thumb my nose at the ever-approaching Grim Reaper—all while keeping it light, absurd, and just self-aware enough to (maybe) stay accountable. 🚗 Recorded while driving back from...

Riffin’ with Raff feat. Mallory Moss | Driving, Lacrosse & Life Updates 🚗 Buckle up! In this episode of Riffin’ with Raff , my number one returning guest , Mallory Moss, is back for her fifth appearance! We catch up on life, talk about her newfound freedom as a licensed driver , and dive into some classic hot takes. What’s Inside This Episode? ✅ Mallory’s first solo drive —pure freedom or sh...

Riffin’ with Raff feat. Dan Francis – From Policy Summaries to Police Automation In this episode of Raff's Brain: Riffin’ with Raff , Rob sits down with Dan Francis , tech entrepreneur, Y Combinator alum, and the founder of Abel Police - a startup revolutionizing police report automation using AI. Dan shares his incredible journey from writing policy summaries in D.C. to working in San Franci...

Description: What happens when a dedicated hot yoga addict travels to a town with no yoga studio? A full-blown crisis. This week, I’m heading back to my hometown—where hot yoga is nonexistent—and I’m wondering: Should I start my own studio? In this episode, I brainstorm the logistics of opening a nonprofit yoga space, the challenges of heating costs, and whether I could actually get the locals hoo...