Optimized Geek | Reboot Your Life

Today our conversation is with Jack Andraka about his love of science, how persistence paid off for him, and about the future of medicine. Prepare to be charmed by the 20-year-old wunderkind, who was only 15 years old when he invented groundbreaking cancer-detecting technology. Jack is also the author of the book Breakthrough, on the faculty at Silicon Valley’s Singularity University, a TED speaker, and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Listen in to this thought provoking episode. Find Out More About Jack Here: jackandraka.com@jackandraka on TwitterJack Andraka on InstagramJack Andraka on Facebook In This Episode: [01:35] - What spurred Jack’s discovery, and how was he able to pull it off as a teenager? [02:21] - Jack explains his invention in more detail. [03:17] - Because it takes a while to get medical technology on the market, Jack’s invention isn’t yet fully in use. [03:53] - There are several other tests currently under development, but Jack hasn’t heard of any that can detect cancer as early an

Elissa Epel, today’s guest, is an expert in the field of telomeres. She co-wrote the The Telomere Effect with Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, who won a Nobel Prize for discovering telomerase. Elissa, an associate professor at UCSF, explains in this conversation how certain behaviors and experiences can impact telomere length. She talks about stress, for example, which affects telomeres differently depending on the kind of stress. She also offers insight into how to protect yourself from premature cellular aging through mindset and lifestyle choices. Find Out More About Elissa Here: Elissa Epel at UCSF@Dr_Epel on TwitterElissa.Epel@ucsf.eduwww.telomereeffect.com In This Episode: [01:51] - Elissa speaks about why we should care about telomeres, and what we need to know about them. She reveals that much of our aging is about our lifestyle. [03:35] - Stephan recaps what telomeres are. Elissa then expands on what he has been saying and offers some insight into how short, worn-out telomeres lead to aging issues. Short te

Dr. Susan Blum, who wrote The Immune System Recovery Plan, knows the ins and outs of the immune system, and is intimately familiar with the types of choices and behaviors that negatively impact it. We’re constantly bombarded by pathogens and toxins, but fortunately the immune system offers a defense against them. However, most of us are compromising our own immune systems through poor lifestyle choices, often without even realizing we’re doing it. If you’re ready to make the changes necessary to protect your immune system and help it protect you, listen in to learn how. And if you’re not ready now, after listening to this conversation, you will be! Find Out More About Susan Here: blumhealthmd.com@susanblum on Facebook@SusanBlumMD on Twitter@drsusanblum on Instagram In This Episode: [01:45] - Susan explains what preventive medicine is and how it relates to conventional medicine. She also explains that the root cause of disease is based in lifestyle, and clarifies what lifestyle medicine is. Finally, she discu

If you know much about pain management, body alignment, and chronic pain relief, chances are you’ve already heard of the Egoscue Method. As the creator and developer of the method, Pete -- who I have the pleasure of introducing as today’s guest -- knows it intimately and understands exactly how it works. This exercise therapy program is globally acclaimed for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain and offering safe, effective, permanent relief from chronic pain. To hear how it works, as well as to learn about tips and techniques you can use to keep yourself fit, healthy, and pain-free, tune into this episode! Find Out More About Pete Here: egoscue.comEgoscue UniversityPete Egoscue on Facebook@PeteEgoscue on Twitter In This Episode: [01:54] - What exactly is the Egoscue Method, and why would someone need to use it? [03:32] - Pete points out that you don’t need to go to an Egoscue clinic in person; they do Skype appointments as well. [04:50] - In response to Stephan’s description of the “air bench” exercise, Pe

On the show today we have Kurt Johnsen, the vision keeper and co-founder of Simplified Genetics. Kurt is passionate about positively impacting the lives of people around the world. In fact, as you’ll hear in this episode, one of his strongest motivations is to do good and give back. In addition to his work at Simplified Genetics, Kurt is the senior columnist for Yoga Digest and the official yoga trainer of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Find Out More About Kurt Here: Kurt Johnsen on LinkedInKurt Johnsen on Facebook@kurtjohnsen on TwitterSimplified Genetics In This Episode: [01:23] - Kurt talks a bit about himself and explains how he got involved in genetics. He then goes into depth about the kind of testing his company does and explain why it’s valuable compared to tests by other companies. [05:40] - Kurt goes into the dieting side of things, explaining that his tests reveals fat and glucose sensitivity. [07:43] - Is a vegan diet healthy for some people based on their genes? [08:58] - Stephen talks about a

Karen Hoyos was a victim of domestic violence who overcame incredible adversity to reach where she is today -- and, in fact, sees her past struggles as a blessing, as she explains in this episode. She has become a celebrity coach and speaker with over 25,000 graduates from her seminars. Her impressive list of clients includes Harvard University, the United Nations, the New York Times, and many more. All this came from letting go of control and giving in to faith, and she explains in this conversation how all of us can make space for miracles and transformation. Find Out More About Karen Here: Karen HoyosKaren Hoyos on Facebookkarenhoyos on Instagram@karenhoyos on Twitter In This Episode: [01:43] - What is ego to you? And is it a good thing or a bad thing? [03:03] - Karen explains why it’s important to come up with a different name for your ego. She briefly touches on her own ego, Carmen. [05:03] - We are responsible for everything that happens to us and what we’re attracting into our lives. Karen then talks

Today’s guest, Brent Charleton, is a true expert in "chair work". This remarkable experience, which is the culmination of a four-day journey, can be like the equivalent of six months of therapy accomplished in just one morning. He's licensed in psychotherapy as well as marriage and family therapy, but he’s certainly not your typical therapist. We discuss ways to increase your sense of worth, his thoughts on psychotherapy, and how to cope with Trauma. Find Out More About Brent Charleton Here: BrentCharleton.net In This Episode: [01:45] - What is chair work, and how different is it from traditional therapy? Brent explains that it involves expelling the emotional blocks that we’ve all developed. [03:55] - Trauma is in the eye of the beholder with different levels of intensity, Brent clarifies. [04:48] - Brent talks more about shame, carried feelings, and unexpressed feelings. He also explains that squirrels (and other animals) are able to physically shake their shame off in a way that we can’t. [08:14] - Shamin

Sylvia Tara is the author of The Secret Life of Fat: The Science Behind the Body's Least Understood Organ and What It Means for You. In other words, she’s an expert in the topics of fat, digestion, weight management and more. She discusses all of these topics in this episode, diving into how a certain amount of fat is a good thing and offering some tips on understanding (and losing) weight. Find Out More About Sylvia Here: @SylviaTaraPhD on Twitter@sylviataraphd on Facebook In This Episode: [01:24] - Fat actually functions like an endocrine organ, Sylvia reveals. It’s also linked to our immune and reproductive systems. [02:42] - What are the different kinds of fat, and what do we need to know about them? [05:08] - Sylvia talks about the relation between fat and stem cells. {06:17] - Why do some of us end up with love handles, and why are they so hard to get rid of? [09:30] - Sylvia discusses the role of genetics in weight gain and the ease or difficulty of weight loss. [13:03] - Stephan talks about the role

If you’re ready to become a master of productivity, discipline, and focus, you’re in luck! This episode with John Lee Dumas is for you. We hear some of John’s advice for new speakers who don’t yet have a long or solid track record, his techniques for building and maintaining relationships and his advice on how to make sure your podcast guests share your podcast once it’s live. To learn more about The Mastery Journal, listen to this inspiring episode! Find Out More About John Here: EOFire@johnleedumas on TwitterJohn Lee Dumas on LinkedInJohn@EntrepreneurOnFire.comjohnldumas on Skype In This Episode: [01:26] - What are the keys to mastery? There are three, John explains: productivity, discipline, and focus. [02:21] - John talks about how he decided to create The Mastery Journal. [03:43] - The morning routine is key, John reveals, and explains how best to take advantage of this concept. [05:43] - Does John use Focus at Will to help him focus? It turns out both he and Stephan have interviewed the founder, Will H

Will Henshaw founded the British pop-soul band Londonbeat, which had two Billboard #1 hit records, and also a successful serial entrepreneur. He’s the founder and CEO of Focus at Will, a music app for increasing productivity. In this conversation, he explains in detail how flow states work in relation to sound, and explains why most music is actually a distraction rather than a helpful tool. Find Out More About Will Here: Will Henshall on LinkedIn@willhenshall on TwitterWill Henshall on FacebookFocus at Will In This Episode: [01:51] - Will’s three interests are efficiency/productivity, music, and the brain. He explains why the music we tend to listen to isn’t great for productivity, and discusses how putting headphones on to block out distracting sounds actually makes things worse. [07:22] - Your non-conscious mind doesn’t only notice music with vocals, but also music with instruments that sound like a human voice, or other things related the human voice (such as breath sounds). [09:45] - Some people are mor

We're talking to Dr. Harry Adelson who is an expert at stem cell therapy and the founder of Docere Clinics in Park City, Utah. Dr. Adelson is one of the most experienced practitioners in the world with use of autologous stem cells for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain conditions. He’s deeply knowledgeable about various aspects of stem cell therapy and we discuss various uses for stem cells, whether and how to bank them for the future, and the strengths and limitations of stem cell therapy. Find Out More About Harry Here: Docere ClinicsAbout Harry Adelson In This Episode: [02:09] - Harry talks about the stem cell injections he has done on Dave Asprey. He also discusses Mannitol and its impact on the blood-brain barrier. [05:15] - We learn more about the anesthesia involved in Harry’s processes. [07:09] - Harry clarifies the two types of approaches to getting stem cells. He then explains the sensation and experience of having the procedures done. He talks about his experiences with using both, and the ben

Our guest today, Tom Butler, is the VP and partner at LiveO2, an oxygen training system. As you’ll learn during this conversation, super oxygenation is important not only for workouts, but also for our overall health. Tom is the founder of the Whole Health Network. He began his career as a biochemist in pharmaceutical development, and he achieved the status of senior scientist at the impressively early age of 25. This combination of resources gives him brilliant insight into health, as you’ll hear in our conversation. Find Out More About Tom Here: Tom Butler on LinkedInLiveO2.com In This Episode: [03:09] - What is super oxygenation, and why should we care? [04:42] - Stephan points out that vascular inflammation is linked to heart disease, cancer, and more, so super oxygenation is about more than just a better workout. Tom elaborates on this. [08:33] - Tom talks about Chinese medicine and its views of not only the movement of energy in the body, but also the blood. He mentions blood stasis, or blood stagnati

This week's guest is Dr. Helen Irlen, who is an expert in -- and the discoverer of -- Irlen Syndrome. This syndrome is a visual processing problem that can cause symptoms including headaches, difficulty reading, sleepiness while reading, a shortened attention span, and more. She, Irlen Syndrome, and the Irlen Method have been featured on 60 Minutes, The Doctors, Good Morning America, BBC, 60 Minutes Australia, and more. Find Out More About Helen Here: Irlen.comThe Irlen Institute @SeeIrlen on Twitter In This Episode: [02:17] - Helen explains why she likes talking about Irlen Syndrome. [03:23] - Irlen Syndrome is a kind of visual processing problem. In other words, the problem isn’t with the eyes themselves. [04:25] - Up to 48% of certain populations have Irlen Syndrome. In the general population, around 26% of people have it. [05:11] - What are some of the symptoms of Irlen Syndrome that show up in everyday life? [10:42] - Helen talks about her Spectral Filters, which can help with Irlen Syndrome. She also e

Dr. John Demartini is the founder of the Demartini Institute and the creator of the Demartini Method. He focuses deeply on our individual values, and emphasizes the importance of living in alignment with them. He goes into depth about our innate values and how important it is to live by them, and how understanding others’ values can help our personal relationships. Find Out More About John Here: Dr. John Demartini@DrJohnDemartini on Twitter@drjohndemartini on Facebook   In This Episode: [01:37] - John starts things off by talking about values, specifically the values determination process. He walks us through the thirteen questions involved in determining our values. [07:27] - We hear more about how this value determination system can help in professional situations or as a tool in deciding who to hire. [08:31] - John talks about how knowing your values can help you live in alignment with them. [09:50] - What if somebody isn’t in a position to be able to afford to hire someone to delegate their lower-value

Justin Dudek, is a behavior hacker who’s part of the quantified self movement. He got involved in behavior hacking a few years ago, and in that time, he has tracked everything from heart rate variability to sleep to bad (and good) habits. In doing this, he has experimented with neurofeedback, Pavlok (electroshock), holotropic breathing, ice pads, and much more. Find Out More About Justin Here: Justin Dudek at BIL ConferenceJustin Dudek on LinkedIn   In This Episode: [02:29] - Justin talks about how he got into the quantified self movement. [03:50] - What’s the biggest breakthrough Justin has had from studying his own behavior and biomarkers? [06:13] - In response to Stephan’s question about habits, Justin begins by explaining what he believes a habit is. He then explores some of the bad habits that he has reduced through this work, and some positive habits he’s formed. [10:18] - Justin shares the steps he took toward managing his addiction to sugar. He then digs into the motivations and experiences behind th

In this episode, we talk with Gordon Hay, who is the co-founder, inventor, and creative visionary for ALINE. Gordon offers some guidelines on when to worry about what you’re wearing on your feet, how footwear choices can change the appearance of your body, and how to get your feet and legs working in harmony. Find Out More About Gordon Here: @Hay_Gord on TwitterALINE Gordon Hay on FacebookGordon G. Hay on LinkedIn   In This Episode: [02:16] - What’s the big problem -- and the solution -- with regards to how we stand, walk, run, and otherwise do everything on our feet? [05:06] - You walk 2-3 million steps per year, which can lead to problems if you’re not walking properly. Gordon talks about this, revealing the problems with going barefoot, too much cushioning, and molded shoes or insoles. [09:26] - We hear about Gordon’s background in sports, and how he started to get involved in the kind of work he does now. [14:21] - How do you compensate for the differences between one person’s left and right feet? [17:18

I met Dan Sutera through the not-so-secret organization The Society, founded by Neil Strauss. If you haven’t heard of him, Dan is the cofounder and President of Futurism.com, the founder of ShareFile (later acquired by Citrix), and Vice-President of Product at Yext. In fact, he’s a six-time entrepreneur who has taken two tech startups from inception to Inc 500. In this conversation, we focus primarily on his new nonprofit, Impact Network, which runs 10 e-learning based schools in rural Zambia. It’s clear that Dan is deeply passionate about this field, and he shares both that passion and his technical knowledge about running nonprofits in this podcast. For him, it’s clear that there’s a bigger mission than just making a bunch of money, and the real question is what do you do with that money once you’ve made it. Find Out More About Dan Here: Dan Sutera on LinkedInsutera.com@DanSutera on Twitter In This Episode: [03:17] - We start things off by hearing about Dan’s background and how he made certain choices duri

For this episode I had the honor of speaking with award-winning author, serial entrepreneur, growth strategist, and podcaster Jonathan Fields. He is regularly featured in the media on outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, USA Today, and many more. While he’s impressive in everything he does, I particularly admire his success in podcasting; his top-rated podcast, The Good Life Project, gets millions of listens in more than 150 countries. As an author, he’s written some incredibly insightful books including Uncertainty and Career Renegade. His newest book, How to Live a Good Life, explores his concept of “good life buckets,” which we discuss in this podcast. It also includes 30 days of inspiring, actionable explorations to get you started on a path to possibility. Find Out More About Jonathan Here: jonathanfields.com@jonathanfields on TwitterJonathan Fields on Facebook In This Episode: [02:12] - Jonathan starts off by talking about his experience with tinnitus, which

Fear is universal, but that doesn’t mean it needs to control your life. Ravé Mehta, the founder of Mehta Labs, is an expert in hacking fear. In fact, he’s spent over 15 years researching and hacking fear to better understand how we can overcome these reactions and feelings. In addition, Ravé is a pioneer in the virtual reality industry, with nearly two decades of experience in using VR for accelerated learning. He’s also an engineer, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and even an award-winning pianist! Achieving such impressive feats is easier once fear is out of the way, and Ravé offers all sorts of insights and tips into how to join him in that state. Find Out More About Ravé Here: @ravemehta on Twitter@ravemehta on FacebookRavé Mehta on LinkedIn In This Episode: [01:38] - What does it mean to hack fear, and why would we want to do it? Ravé shares the personal experience that started his journey into hacking fear. [02:31] - Ravé explains that there are two base emotions: fear and trust. All negative emotion

John Gray needs little introduction, as he’s the author of the bestselling book of the 1990s and, according to USA Today, one of the top 10 most influential books of the last quarter century. If you haven’t already guessed, this remarkable book is Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. This book is John’s most famous by far, and has been translated into 45 languages in over 100 countries. However, it’s far from his only one; he’s written over 20 books and has a new one, Beyond Mars and Venus, coming out in January 2017. In this episode, he offers a lot of detailed information and advice (particularly for men) about how to best address relationship dynamics, hormone levels, and health. Find Out More About John Here: MarsVenus.com@MarsVenus on TwitterJohn Gray Mars Venus on Facebook In This Episode: [01:57] - What’s the secret sauce to relationship success? In his answer, John illuminates some of the differences between men and women and explores how these can cause problems. He goes on to talk about his f