Episodes
When most people think about a strong core, we usually picture six-pack muscles. While that's part of the story, there's much more to it. The deeper core muscles, like the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and the muscles of the pelvic floor—also known as the pelvic diaphragm—play a crucial role. In yoga, the pelvic floor is often an overlooked but essential part of the practice, referred to as 'mula bandha.' Other traditions call it pelvic floor training or pelvic diaphragm work. Today,...
Published 11/13/24
Stress, anxiety, and overwhelm are issues many of us face daily. But the real challenge is knowing what to do when you're wired but exhausted, when worries keep you from being productive, and worst of all, when you can’t fully be present in your own life. Raising awareness about mental health is a great first step, but what comes next? How do you take control of your story, and where do you turn for help or self-help when you need it? Today’s guest is Dr. Nicole Cain, psychologist and author...
Published 11/06/24
Pop quiz: how many bones in your body can you name? How many muscles? Do you know the difference between tendons, ligaments, and fascia? We are all walking around with a supercomputer between our ears, and our bodies themselves are a biological miracle - and yet we hardly pay them any mind. How strange! On this week’s podcast, we’ll attempt to spark your interest.
Listen and learn:
About the wonderful world of fascia How we are all mirrors and snowflakes, anatomically speaking The ethical...
Published 10/30/24
What if you were more present in your life—at work, at home, with the people and projects that mean the most to you? What if you spent less time ruminating about the past and worrying about the future? Wouldn’t that be nice? I think mindfulness is at its peak popularity right now because most of us are so mindless most of the time—doom scrolling, binge watching, and filled with fear, all while missing out on the lives we’ve worked so hard to build. Or maybe that’s just me. My guest this week...
Published 10/23/24
When you think about healthspan and longevity, your first thought probably isn’t “muscle” - but it should be. Here are just some of the benefits of muscle strength and mass, particularly as you age: increased metabolic rate, improved insulin sensitivity, improved bone density, better joint health, improved balance and stability, cardiovascular health, preserving mobility, improved mental health, reduced risk of sarcopenia, and even enhanced fat loss. On this week's podcast, you’ll meet an...
Published 10/16/24
Fiber is often overlooked in discussions about diet, weight loss, and immunity, but it shouldn’t be. Fiber is essential for digestive health, improving gut motility, and regulating bowel movements. It’s also key for weight management, as high-fiber foods are more filling. Research shows that fiber can reduce LDL cholesterol, potentially lowering the risk of heart disease. Additionally, fiber lowers the glycemic load of foods, helping to prevent metabolic syndrome and related conditions. Fiber...
Published 10/09/24
Chronic pain affects hundreds of millions worldwide, with conditions like gastrointestinal issues, back pain, and migraine topping the list. In many cases, psychological factors play a significant role in causing or worsening pain. Despite overwhelming evidence, the mind-body connection is often ignored or dismissed as "all in your head," as though that makes it less serious. My guest this week has dedicated his work to educating both medical professionals and patients on the power of the...
Published 10/02/24
The iconic brand Tupperware filed for bankruptcy this week, burdened with over $1.2 billion of debt. They’ve reached a point of no return, where digging out is virtually impossible. In many ways, this mirrors the struggle of those facing severe obesity—a situation where years of weight gain have led to a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
Just as companies can file for Chapter 11 and start afresh, people now have a potential reset button with the advent of weight loss drugs like...
Published 09/26/24
Neuroscience might be the final frontier when it comes to the human body. There is still so much to be discovered and understood about memory, attention, and how we learn. My guest on this week’s podcast runs a research lab at UCLA that uses brain imaging and electrical stimulation to see if science can move the needle and unlock our potential.
Listen and learn:
What memory is and why it’s impossible to isolate in the brain Why some primates have better short-term recall than humans How...
Published 09/18/24
You know how old you are, but do you know your biological age? Meaning, are your body and brain younger or older than your chronological years? For anyone interested in slowing down aging and preventing disease and illness, telomeres are an important part of the discussion. These chromosomal caps provide insight into the health or senescence of cells and can provide some limited insight into how well you’re aging.
Listen and learn:
About the FOX03 gene and its role in longevity The...
Published 09/11/24
Sleep is as vital for life as food, water, and breathing, but knowing its importance doesn’t necessarily provide you with the tools to improve it. What if you toss and turn and can’t sleep until late? What if you wake up five times a night to pee? What if you work night shifts and suffer from jetlag-like symptoms weekly? On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a researcher whose work is focused on understanding and improving sleep homeostasis.
Listen and learn:
Why some people don’t operate on...
Published 09/04/24
Inside your gastrointestinal tract there are trillions of microbes, about 3 lbs in total, and in terms of absolute numbers, you have more microbial cells than human cells. This collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi are collectively referred to as your gut microbiome, and at this juncture of human history, most of us struggle with some degree of gut dysbiosis. My guest on this week’s podcast has dedicated his work to the study of gut microbiome and how to fix it when things go wrong.
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Published 08/28/24
The way we work has changed more in the past four years than it has in the past 20. An estimated 43 percent of Americans are now working at least partially from home, artificial intelligence is making most people at least marginally more productive, and we’re all connected all of the time. This sounds good–or at least exciting–but is it working for you? Are you more efficient? More balanced? More creative? My guest on this week’s podcast wrote a book on efficiency in our modern world, a...
Published 08/21/24
Despite the obvious fact that every woman will experience menopause, support and education on the topic remains embarrassingly sparse. Worse still, misinterpreted studies have left many fearful of hormone replacement therapy and determined to simply white knuckle their way through this transition. My guest on this week’s podcast is an OB-GYN specializing in women’s hormonal health, who’ll help you understand your options.
Listen and learn:
Why the breast cancer risk of HRT was...
Published 08/14/24
The joint pain market is fraught with wild claims, fringe treatments, and scary interventions. At the same time, whether you’ve got hip, knee, or back pain, there are some truly remarkable mainstream and alternative options you’ll want to consider. But you need to take agency over the process as your decisions can have a huge impact on the quality of your life. My guest on this week’s podcast is a surgeon who takes a holistic and non-surgical approach when possible.
Listen to learn:
Why...
Published 08/07/24
According to the WHO at least 14 percent of people over 60 have a mental health disorder with depression and anxiety at the top of the list. Loneliness, isolation, chronic pain, and diminished health are contributing causes, and unfortunately, many suffer in silence. My guest on this week’s podcast has dedicated her career to geriatric psychiatry and shares her insights into finding peace and joy in later life.
Listen and learn:
What happens to the aging brain Potential problems with...
Published 07/31/24
In middle age and beyond, your metabolism changes. It’s easier to gain weight - particularly around your midsection - and it’s very hard to lose it. The same foods that kept you lean when young suddenly cause imbalance. Why? What changed? Aging creates a cascade of changes, but insulin resistance is a key driver that is rarely measured or understood. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a health provider whose work is focused on tackling this issue, particularly in older adults.
Listen and...
Published 07/24/24
Digestive health issues can make every day a challenge, put strain on personal relationships, and even become life threatening if advanced and untreated. My guest on this week’s podcast suffered from severe Crohn’s that left him emaciated and very ill. He found his way back to health through functional medicine and now dedicates his career to helping others.
Listen and learn:
About the usefulness and confusion around testing The individuality of responses to toxins and treatment The...
Published 07/17/24
No one wants to die alone, and yet according to Pew Research, 29% of people aged 50 to 64 are single. That number jumps to 36% for those over 65. Dating is a minefield at any age, but how do you start again in the later chapters of life? On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a dating coach who helps women do just that.
Listen and learn:
Why a pragmatic approach is needed How to view yourself as the CEO and your dates as interns The truth about dating apps vs. real life Mistakes commonly made...
Published 07/10/24
If you’re lucky enough to live a long life, you’ll inevitably be challenged by loss - the loss of family, friends, potentially even your spouse. Despite the obvious inevitability of loss, most people avoid even talking about it, much less preparing for the death of those we love. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet an author who’s dedicated her career to grief and loss.
Listen to learn:
About power of attorney, death certificates, bank details and logistics How all loss, even invisible...
Published 07/03/24
Much of how we interact with the world comes from early experiences from our childhood, with our family, and in our community. Attachment styles are psychological models for understanding the ways in which we tend to bond to others, particularly our spouses. This week’s guest reveals how understanding your attachment patterns might help you navigate your relationships with more grace.
Listen and learn:
The difference between secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles Why we often...
Published 06/26/24
The world of professional athletes and the concept of your body being your business, with its performance directly linked to your paycheck is completely outside of anything most of us have experienced. For most of us, we wake up to a to-do list of tasks, and it’s unclear if we’re winning or losing, what the score is, or whether anyone is even keeping score. My guest on this week’s podcast shares how he’s taken his experiences as a professional baseball player off the field and into office...
Published 06/20/24
Transcendental meditation is arguably the most popular meditation technique in the world, and the TM organization has funded the bulk of published literature on meditation worldwide. This is in no small part due to its celebrity clients like the Beatles, David Lynch, and Jerry Seinfeld, but also because people find the practice extremely practical and their long term adherence is much higher than to other techniques. Transcendental Meditation involves 20 minutes of mental repetition of a...
Published 06/12/24