In this episode, I sit down with Alex Neist, the visionary behind Hostage Tape, to dive deep into the world of sleep, entrepreneurship, and the personal journey that led him to create a product that’s changing lives. Alex shares his rock-bottom moment, the life-altering realization about the importance of nose breathing over mouth breathing, and how these experiences drove him to develop a solution to a problem affecting millions of people: poor sleep caused by mouth breathing.

We explore the science behind mouth breathing versus nose breathing, the impact of poor sleep on health and relationships, and the story of how Hostage Tape was born out of Alex’s desire to solve his own sleep issues. This conversation isn’t just about a product; it’s about resilience, accountability, and the drive to create something meaningful that can help others improve their lives. Whether you’re struggling with sleep, interested in entrepreneurship, or just love a good comeback story, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

- [1:09] - Introduction to Hostage Tape and the skepticism it initially faced.

- [2:32] - Alex’s journey from being a professional athlete to starting a software company.

- [4:02] - How snoring and sleep apnea led to the deterioration of Alex’s marriage.

- [6:33] - Discovering "Breath" by James Nestor and the experiment that changed Alex’s perspective on breathing.

- [9:10] - The first night of using mouth tape: Alex’s immediate transformation in sleep quality.

- [12:13] - The science behind nose breathing: Understanding the Bohr Effect and nitric oxide production.

- [15:17] - Addressing common concerns about mouth taping, especially for those with beards.

- [18:15] - The widespread issue of mouth breathing: Statistics and health implications.

- [23:02] - Impact of sleep issues on men's health: The role of prolactin and testosterone.

- [26:24] - Alex’s personal story of rebuilding his marriage after his divorce.

- [31:15] - Balancing business and family: Advice for young entrepreneurs from someone who has learned the hard way.

- [37:08] - Building a successful business: The importance of mentorship and learning from failure.

- [42:00] - The power of mindset: How delusional optimism and the law of attraction played a role in Alex’s success.

- [45:05] - Handling criticism and negativity while staying focused on your goals.

- [49:11] - The necessity of social connections for men, especially entrepreneurs.

- [53:57] - The influence of Andy Elliott and the polarizing nature of strong, unapologetic leadership.

- [59:02] - The importance of masculinity and the current cultural battle around it.

- [1:02:03] - Closing thoughts on extreme accountability and the benefits of owning both successes and failures.

Links and Resources:

Check Out Hostage Tape:

https://hostagetape.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6mHeGqE95tAMum__VXl3pLtPEpR16JzLJpqH0rUK4aGiseSgv

Follow Hostage Tape On Instagram: @hostagetape

Follow Justin Mihaly On Instagram: @jmihaly_

Work With Justin: https://www.togethermorefit.com/founder

Sign Up For The Together More Elite Mentorship: https://togethermorefit.com/elitepurchase