In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Darin sits down with Hagen Thiers to unpack one of the most misunderstood journeys in health: why doing "everything right" still doesn't always work — and how true transformation requires decoding the body's survival signals, not fighting them.

Hagen shares his remarkable physical transformation after decades of extreme metabolic adaptation, chronic gut inflammation, and stress-driven physiology. Together, they explore metabolism, inflammation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, protein intake, discipline, and why sustainable health is built through patience, self-leadership, and listening to the body's intelligence.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why extreme dieting and endurance stress can permanently slow metabolism
How survival adaptation can block fat loss despite "perfect" habits
The overlooked role of gut inflammation in weight retention
Why fat is a protective organ, not just stored energy
How leptin signaling and inflammation dictate fat loss resistance
The difference between calorie math and biological reality
Why healing must precede weight loss for many people
How protein intake preserves muscle during fat loss
Why discipline beats motivation every time
The role of hyperbaric oxygen in reducing inflammation and restoring function
How oxygen delivery impacts fat tissue, gut health, and recovery
Why consistency over months—not hacks—creates lasting change
How physical freedom directly impacts happiness and life quality

Chapters

00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife and the mission of sovereignty and health 00:00:32 – Sponsor: Fatty15 and cellular health 00:04:14 – Introducing Hagen Thiers 00:09:43 – Hagen's transformation and why this conversation matters 00:11:26 – Doing everything right but still being stuck 00:13:28 – Discovering severe metabolic suppression 00:14:54 – Extreme endurance, starvation adaptation, and survival metabolism 00:17:04 – Why chronic calorie restriction backfires 00:20:56 – Gut inflammation as the real barrier to fat loss 00:22:41 – Healing before weight loss 00:23:26 – Fiber diversity, probiotics, and microbiome repair 00:24:30 – Enter hyperbaric oxygen therapy 00:27:57 – Why calories in / calories out breaks down 00:30:30 – Stress, inflammation, and metabolic shutdown 00:31:53 – Protein requirements and muscle preservation 00:35:47 – Discipline as a long-term lifestyle 00:38:54 – Eating frequency and metabolic signaling 00:43:39 – How hyperbaric oxygen works 00:47:31 – Why results accelerate after consistency 00:50:23 – 170 lbs lost and metabolic breakthrough 00:54:32 – Oxygen quality and chamber safety 00:58:22 – Breathwork vs hyperbaric oxygen 01:03:40 – Building an internal healing environment 01:05:05 – Life after transformation 01:06:42 – Discipline, the gym, and honest feedback 01:09:26 – Health as freedom, not restriction 01:11:39 – Inflammation as the missing piece for most people 01:12:45 – Closing reflections and hope for listeners

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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Find More from Hagen Thiers

Website: https://waveguard.com/en/
Instagram: @biohacking_ht

Find More from Darin Olien:

Instagram: @darinolien
Podcast: SuperLife Podcast
Website: superlife.com
Book: Fatal Conveniences

Key Takeaway

True health isn't about forcing the body to change — it's about creating the conditions where the body finally feels safe enough to let go.

March of the Machine | #24: The Last to Leave