Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast The Stress Paradox: How to Harness Stress to Improve Health and Performance
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Aug 4, 2025 Dr. Sharon Bergquist, a physician and medical director at Emory's Executive Health Program, delves into the nuances of stress. She differentiates between detrimental and beneficial stress, highlighting how short bursts of the latter can foster resilience and boost performance. Listeners learn practical ways to incorporate healthy stress into daily life, enhancing well-being and leadership effectiveness. Discussions on nutrition and proactive health choices further enrich the conversation, emphasizing the positive impacts of stress when managed wisely.
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Executive's Question Sparks Research
- Dr. Sharon Bergquist began exploring stress while caring for an executive worried he might die young from his stressful lifestyle.
- This led her to question if all stress is harmful, sparking clinical trials to understand stress's impact on health and longevity.
Good Stress Heals and Strengthens
- Stress has a sweet spot where brief, specific bursts trigger cellular repair and regeneration.
- This anti-fragility means stress can make us stronger, not just worn down.
Hormesis Reprograms Cells
- Hormesis is the process where good stress excites cells, reprogramming gene expression to enhance resilience.
- These genetic changes help us emerge stronger and better adapted after recovery.
