Upbringing, loss, and emotional expression

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/
Website: https://hackyou.media/

After building a massive mental health platform and hitting a midlife crisis at the peak of success, Dr K proves that doing hard things and feeling accomplished isn’t the same as knowing what you want from life.

You'll hear why content creation is an endless hamster wheel you can't escape, how he left millions on the table to keep things affordable, and what happens when you wake up one day, realising you've built someone else's version of success. We discuss knowing when enough is enough and how internal conflict about money and purpose affects even the people helping others figure out their lives.

00:00 Introduction
03:34 The emotional toll of constant content creation
06:14 Why progress feels good but rarely leads to contentment
11:24 How living in Dubai affects self-image and motivation
13:28 Body image, self-esteem and why Mike doesn’t spiral
18:38 Why self-love feels off-limits for certain men
22:46 Regret, efficiency, and the pressure of lost time
27:13 How subtle justifications mask deeper dissatisfaction
34:35 The fear of wasting potential and staying stuck
36:08 Why peak hedonism didn’t bring happiness
40:00 What peace really feels like for high achievers
44:05 Exploring joy in the unknown vs controlled luxury
49:54 The quality of company vs the cost of experience
50:57 The signs of burnout and recognising overwork early
57:04 Why men struggle to understand their own feelings
01:01:29 Learning how to name emotions to stop being ruled by them
01:07:42 The fear of being seen and how it shapes identity
01:13:42 Relationships, emotional safety, and being misunderstood
01:24:57 Why men fear losing their edge and becoming “the loser” again
01:35:38 Building self-awareness and making space to feel things
01:48:46 How meditation helps process thoughts and reduce noise
01:53:33 Dr. K’s own midlife crisis and redefining success

» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/

» Join Whoop and get your first month for free:
https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Dr K
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthygamer_gg/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VaJwyS2KXxiXqR77jqzmP
X: https://twitter.com/HealthyGamerG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healthygamer.gg