Finland has been dubbed the happiest country in the world, but in reality Finns are content, not overwhelmed with joy. They have a high GDP per capita, good healthcare, low corruption, and a decent amount of personal freedom - all great things, but not necessarily a recipe for joy and happiness.

Most people claim their biggest aspiration in life is to find happiness. This is a beautiful sentiment, and while we all love positive emotions like joy, laughter, celebration, adventure, and curiosity; these only exist because they are juxtaposed with negative and challenging experiences.

My guest on this week’s podcast suggests that rather than look toward happiness for a more fulfilled life, we should focus more on wonder.  

Listen and learn:

• How nature promotes wonder
• The difference between superficial vs. epistemic curiosity
• The tyrannical pursuit of happiness
• Trait openness and its role in wonder

Links

Monica’s site

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Monica Parker is a speaker, writer, and authority on the future of work. She is the author of the book, The Power of Wonder, and founder of HATCH, an organization that helps companies with culture change and workplace strategy.

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If you’re struggling with chronic pain and trying to find help, you’ve probably noticed that the pain management industry is a big minefield with hardcore drugs on one end of the spectrum and questionable potions and placebos on the other. In an ideal world, pain is adaptive and part of our body’s defense mechanisms, but all too often it can become untethered to the original insult and begin to attack your quality of life.  

Listen and learn:

• The purpose of pain in our bodies 
• When to medicate and when to ignore
• The confusing connection between pain and healing
• Why some people are prone to opioid abuse more than others

Links

Amy’s Site

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Amy Baxter is a medical doctor and entrepreneur known for her research on pain. She is the inventor of Buzzy, a simple device to help kids get injections.

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In the 1980s, Nancy Reagan coined the term, “Just say no!” and spearheaded the social aspect of the so-called war on drugs. It didn’t work, nor have any of the dozens of public, private, and international efforts to curb the disease of despair. Things have become so much worse that today, almost every single person listening has a friend or family member affected by addiction. My guest on this week’s podcast is a recovered addict herself and uses yoga as part of an integrated 12-step program to support others.

Listen and learn:

• The importance of support for addiction recovery
• The benefits of talk therapy vs. movement based therapy
• How trauma can feel like it’s stuck physically
• The integration of past, present and future self

Links

Y12

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Nikki is the founder of Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR). Her approach is based on her personal journey through addiction and recovery, leading her to blend the somatic aspect of yoga with the cognitive approach of 12-step programs.

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Injuries can derail your best healthy lifestyle plans, and if you’re not careful, they can lead to deconditioning and loss of function. But here’s what you need to understand and accept: everyone with an active life gets injured - everyone. So rather than feeling guilt or regret about your aches and pains, it’s a much smarter approach to swiftly move into healing mode and take full ownership of the process. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a career yoga teacher and physical therapist whose work focuses on overcoming injuries.

Listen and learn:

• Why many injuries simply require time to heal
• The importance of things like shoes, sleep position, and lifestyle choices
• The power of walking and how to titrate movement vs. pain
• How to potentially get help from a physical therapist or qualified professional

Links

Ariele’s Anatomy Site

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Ariele Foster is a physical therapist and yoga teacher with over two decades experience helping people recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and rehab from surgeries.

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Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and we need good sleep quality as well, which means cycling through light, deep, and REM phases. While sleeping is the most natural of all human behaviors, many of us continue to struggle for a variety of reasons, including stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, and more. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a medical doctor whose work is focused on improving sleep for kids and adults.

Listen and learn:

• Sleep hygiene 101 
• deal sleeping positions
• Kid vs. adult sleep - what changes?
• How to know when you need medical help

Links

That Sleep Doc (Instagram)

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Sujay Kansagra specializes in sleep medicine. He is Director of Duke University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program and author of a number of books, including My Child Won't Sleep: A Quick Guide for the Sleep-Deprived Parent.

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In regenerative medicine and longevity, it’s difficult to separate signal from noise. The search for the fountain of youth is a story as old as humanity, and while we’re all clearly aging, there are some technologies that hold real promise, particularly when it comes to things like joints and skin. On this week’s podcast we’ll discuss stem cells, specifically how specific nutrients can boost endogenous production.

Listen and learn:

• How adaptogenic plants can measurably boost your own stem cells
• Why a reduced ability to heal is a hallmark of aging
• The difference between umbilical cord vs adipose tissue derived cells
• Legal, ethical and access concerns

Links

Christian’s Site

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Christian Drapeau is a stem cell biologist and a pioneer in the study of plant-based stem cell enhancement therapies. He is also the author of Cracking the Stem Cell Code.

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If you’re interested in meditation and have downloaded an app or purchased a book, yet fail to consistently follow through, this week’s podcast is for you. We’ll discuss meditation for average people living in the real world with recurring guest, Ann Swanson.

Listen and learn:

• Meditation practice vs. meditative practices
• How to manage rumination
• Why different meditation practices can serve you in different scenarios
• How to start small and link your practice to an existing habit

Links

• Meditation for the Real World
• Get your bonus here

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Ann Swanson is a certified yoga therapist and author of the best-selling book, Science of Yoga. She specializes in helping people manage stress, pain and arthritis. Her new book is called, Meditation for the Real World: Finding Peace in Everyday Life.

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The quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our relationships. While most people would probably agree with that statement, they would also admit that their relationships are often troubled. From a psychological perspective, attachment theory can be a helpful frame for understanding our patterns of emotional connection and strife, and it can also provide a path forward toward balance and security.

On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet an author whose work is centered around understanding yourself to create space for healthier relationships.

Listen and learn:

• How to identify your attachment style as secure, anxious, avoidant, or dismissive
• Why we’re often attracted to people who struggle in similar or familiar ways
• Why our fundamental needs must be met

Links

Thais Site

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Thais Gibson is an author, counselor, speaker, and founder of The Personal Development School. She has a background in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), underscoring her deep commitment to understanding and teaching the principles of psychological wellbeing and personal growth​. She’s the author of Attachment Theory: A Guide to Strengthening the Relationships in Your Life. 

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Health education is lacking in most school systems, to the extent that most high school graduates can’t name 10 muscles in their own bodies. Anatomical learning has historically been seen as boring, complex, and difficult to make relevant. Today, things have changed, thanks to 3D software, inexpensive models, and cadaver dissections freely available around the world. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet an online educator reaching millions monthly with anatomy and physiology videos using real human cadavers.

You'll learn:

• How cadavers are donated and used ethically (or not) in science
• The anomalous nature of all of our bodies
• Why real human bodies are still an invaluable resource in learning
• How to use LLMs / AI to advance your learning

Links

Institute of Human Anatomy

Dissection Room on Youtube

Substack

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Justin Cottle is the Lab Director at the Institute of Human Anatomy, a private human cadaver lab located in Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his IOHA team reach millions each month through educational social media videos, often using real human cadavers. He is also the creator of The Dissection Room on Substack and YouTube. 

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I’m an introvert. In my private life, I don’t talk much and am mostly in my head. But since the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve come to re-appreciate the power of community. Every single health goal I have becomes so much easier when I’m around positive, supportive people. So once a week, I force myself to practice yoga, take a run, ride my bike, or paddle surf with other people. On one of those runs, I joined up with 120 people on the beach in Barcelona running, doing burpees, and dancing to pop songs. The group is called Midnight Runners, and it turns out it’s a long-standing event that happens all over the world. On this week’s show, you’ll meet the founder to learn about the power of fitness and community.  

Links:

Midnightrunners.com

@gregexplores

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Greg Drach is the co-founder of Midnight Runners with a mission to make fitness more engaging and fun. Drach is an avid traveler and adventurer having visited 65 countries across five continents.

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There is no such thing as a perfect human diet because we are all unique and have unique objectives. The bodybuilder eats to build mass, the dieter plans meals to lose weight, while others use food to manage their mental health. On this week’s podcast, you’ll meet a metabolic psychiatrist who takes a food-first approach in her work with clients.

Listen and learn:

• How to determine if an extreme or moderate approach is best for you
• How ketosis can fuel the brain and cool inflammation
• Why low carb approaches can be helpful for depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD
• Short term treatment or long term fix? Sustainability questions explored

Links

Dr. Ede’s site

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Georgia Ede is a nutrition and metabolic psychiatrist. She has done extensive research on ketogenic diets, and is the author of the book, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind.

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