Smarter Not Harder

Dr. Mark Gordon, an expert in traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and hormonal optimization, discusses the link between stress, cortisol, and brain injury. He also highlights the importance of vitamin D for the immune system and testosterone production. Balancing all hormones is crucial for overall health. Topics include: PTSD and TBI connection, significance of hormone optimization, reducing brain inflammation, addressing inflammation in clinical practice, role of testosterone in brain function, and optimizing growth hormone production.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Brad Leech joins our host Jodi Duval to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: What are the benefits of a healthy microbiome and how do we measure this? What does the gut microbiome do for us, and how does the microbiome interact with systemic health? What are some new advancements surrounding the microbiome in recent years, and what does this mean or change for us clinically? Dr. Brad Leech is a PhD-qualified Clinical Nutritionist specializing in chronic autoimmune conditions and complex gastrointestinal disorders. He provides complete and personalized care to his patients using functional nutrition, integrative medicine and holistic wellness. After entering the profession in 2008, Brad has taught and developed subjects at leading universities and conducted research on intestinal permeability, autoimmune disease management and food-based probiotics. Brad is the Lead Clinical Educator and co-creator of Co-Biome, where his expertise in gastrointestinal healthcare enables him to translate the latest science on the gut microbiome into practical clinical applications. In addition to his research, and working with patients, Brad offers practitioner support through his mentoring program Brad's Brainiacs. What we discuss: [00:00] A healthy microbiome is essential for optimal health and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases [07:40] Diversity in diet is key for a healthy microbiome [14:16] The gut microbiome produces metabolites that impact systemic health [21:10] Microbiome diversity and production of beneficial compounds are linked to various health conditions [27:31] Advanced sequencing methods allow for a comprehensive understanding of the microbiome. [34:21] Metagenomics can identify 28,000 bacterial species and their functions [40:55] Personalized medicine is the new approach to treating dysbiosis [46:54] Reduce LPS-producing bacteria through prebiotic fiber, bovine colostrum, and reducing saturated fats [53:16] Increase butyrate production with resistant starch and diverse fiber [59:41] Recommended daily fiber intake is around 30 grams for females and 38 grams for males Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Dr. Brad Leech: Website: https://drbradleech.com/ Instagram: @drbradleech Twitter: @drbradleech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbradleech/ Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Scott Carney joins our host Boomer Anderson to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: How does something go from an idea, to a story, to a book? How can one go wrong in the pursuit of what is otherwise known as a noble path? What is the relationship between the dark side of spirituality and the pursuit of enlightenment? Scott Carney is a New York Times bestselling author, anthropologist and investigative journalist. His works include What Doesn't Kill Us, The Vortex, The Wedge, The Red Market and The Enlightenment Trap. Carney was a contributing editor at Wired for five years and his writing also appears in Mother Jones, Men's Journal, Playboy, Foreign Policy, Discover, Outside and Fast Company. His work has been the subject of a variety of radio and television programs, including on NPR and National Geographic TV. What we discuss: [00:00] The rule of social media is the same as the rule of improv [06:38] The moment that instigated the majority of what Scott has written [17:43] Spirituality can be a tool to become a good person, but it can also lead to spiritual bypassing [23:32] Exploring the dangers of spiritual journeys and gurus [39:58] The authenticity of Eastern spiritual traditions is often overestimated [50:57] Beware of warning signs in spiritual and health communities that may indicate cult-like behavior [01:13] The problem with health gurus and their untested ideas [1:06:49] The potential dangers of the Wim Hof method [1:12:02] The dangers of blindly following gurus and influencers Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Scott Carney: https://www.scottcarney.com/ Instagram: @sgcarney Twitter: @sgcarney Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Ted Achacoso joins our host Boomer Anderson to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: What is evolutionary medicine, and what is its role in the Health Optimization Medicine and Practice framework? How does Universal Darwinism play a role in health optimization medicine? How are master regulatory genes and the cell danger response related to each other? Dr. Ted is the founding pioneer of Health Optimization Medicine and Practice, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping doctors and practitioners learn how to optimize for health rather than treat disease. He is also the founder of Smarter Not Harder Inc, makers of Troscriptions. He went to med school at the age of 18, and is trained in interventional neuroradiology, toxicology and pharmacology. He is also trained in anti-aging medicine, nutritional medicine, and is an expert in hormone balancing. What we discuss: [00:00] Evolutionary medicine's role in health optimization medicine. [06:59] Medicine has gone through magical, religious, empirical, and rational phases and is now moving towards an evolutionary phase. [13:27] Health Optimization Medicine focuses on the body's mechanisms for healing, rather than just getting rid of diseases. [19:45] Universal Darwinism applies from molecules to galaxies. [25:42] Looking at cells and metabolites to understand the body's ecosystem. [31:30] Metabolic neotenization is key for optimal health. [37:28] Master regulatory genes and the cell danger response are related to each other. [43:28] The body has summer and winter metabolisms that alternate within a day, and understanding them is key. [49:34] Evolutionary medicine provides a first principles approach to health optimization. Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Dr. Ted Achacoso: https://homehope.org Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Brian Mackenzie joins our host Dr. Scott Sherr to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: Why is CO2 so important in respiratory physiology? How does building up CO2 tolerance affect not only your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, but your aerobic and anaerobic metabolism as well? What is the importance of nasal breathing? Brian is the founder and CEO of SHIFT, a comprehensive and adaptive training program that focuses on breath control as a primary tool for improving performance. He is also the president and co-founder of the Health and Human Performance Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research on how breath and innate tools can optimize and help health and human performance. He's an innovator in human performance on stress adaptation, and a pioneer in the development and application of custom protocols to optimize human health and performance. His work harnesses and integrates respiratory movement, strength conditioning and endurance based training approaches to elicit unprecedented positive results. His protocols have been used to accelerate and raise both mental and physical performance in world class Olympic and professional athletes, top executives and elite military operators, as well as to improve the health for people suffering from various chronic and pathological issues. What we discuss: [00:00] Understanding stress response and respiratory physiology [06:15] Positive prison population leads to positive staff population [17:59] Our attention span is decreasing due to technology and distractions. [23:29] Stress response is a human trait, hardwired in us, but we need to actively work on keeping it in check. [34:53] Hyperventilation can cause stress on the heart and disrupt the nervous system. [40:16] CO2 tolerance affects anxiety levels. [51:36] Breathing control can improve athletic performance. [57:11] Mouth breathing impacts aerobic capacity. [1:07:33] Breathing through the nose and chewing hard food can improve CO2 tolerance and prevent sleep apnea. [1:12:25] Manage stress and develop breath control before practicing breath hold techniques. [1:23:38] Manage stress by identifying stressors, avoiding reactive responses, and becoming aware of stressors in life for personal growth. [1:29:23] SHIFT is a membership site that offers programs to make everything more accessible to people. Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Brian Mackenzie: https://www.hhp-foundation.org/ Instagram: @_brianmackenzie Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Lucia Aronica joins our host Dr. Scott Sherr to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: What is the definition of epigenetics, and what are common epigenetic modifications? What were the results from the DIETFITS study? What are the various types of epigenetic clocks, and what are the best ways to use them? Dr. Lucia Aronica is a lecturer at Stanford University and instructor of the Stanford Genomics Certificate. Her research and teaching focused on nutrigenomics: the science of how nutrition, genetics and epigenetics interact with each other to impact our health and longevity. She has 20 years of research experience from Stanford University, the University of Oxford, the University of Vienna, the University of Naples Federico II, and the University of Southern California. She's published research papers in top ranked, peer reviewed journals such as JAMA, Cell, and Genes & Development. What we discuss: [00:00] Health optimization medicine focuses on optimizing health through epigenetic biomarkers and metabolomics. [05:36] Epigenetic modifications involve DNA methylation and histone modifications that regulate gene expression. [14:30] Epigenetics affects our health through lifestyle choices and can be viewed as a secret agent of optimization medicine. [21:13] Lifestyle can override the effect of common genetic variants. [27:39] The DIETFITS study analyzed biomarkers to determine which categories of people would benefit from low-carb or low-fat diets [41:40] Reduce carb intake and increase whole food intake for better metabolic and brain health. [48:19] Omega-3s are conditionally essential nutrients which are difficult to synthesize from plant-based sources, making it better to get them from animal-based sources. [54:29] Epigenetic clocks can estimate biological age and capture functional changes in the body but there's a catch [1:00:57] Be cautious about using epigenetic clocks for clinical utility [1:07:26] Sign up for Dr. Lucia Aronica's webinar on epigenetics and longevity Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Dr. Lucia Aronica: https://draronica.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciaaronica/ Instagram: @drluciaaronica Dr. Aronica's free webinars and new certificate course in epigenetics: https://draronica.podia.com Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Joscha Bach joins our host Dr. Ted Achacoso to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: Will physicians and other healthcare providers be replaced by AI technologies? Can AI help solve the most frightening aspects of US healthcare, or are we beyond solutions? What is the future of conscious machines? Dr. Joscha Bach is a renowned AI researcher and cognitive scientist, known for his work in understanding the complex architecture of the human mind. Dr. Bach holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from the University of Osnabrück in Germany, and has worked as a research scientist at the MIT Media Lab, as an affiliate at the Harvard Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, and as Principal AI Engineer at Intel Labs Cognitive Computing group. He has published extensively on cognitive architectures, mental representation, emotion, social modeling, and multi-agent systems. This may be the very first recorded conversation with Dr. Bach that is centered on the role of AI in medicine and health care. What we discuss: [00:00] Empathy is important, but it's also important to develop distance and reflection about yourself. [06:38] AI-generated medical suggestions can be useful but should not be the sole source of advice. [18:14] Alternative regulatory systems can compete with existing ones to introduce pressure for change. [23:51] Regulation can stifle innovation and harm new industries. [35:15] Automated decision tools can create a degree of fairness that you might otherwise not have. [40:52] Understanding death as a part of life and dying with dignity. [52:19] Building an empathetic AI is possible, but it requires a deep understanding of moral and ethical contexts. [57:33] AI's role in advancing diagnostics and therapeutics. [1:09:10] Simulation can aid in identifying factors but real-world context is important. [1:14:48] The only difference between a drug and a poison is the dose. [1:25:39] Exploring the relationship between biological life and consciousness. [1:31:17] Developing a self requires coupling to the world and discovering oneself in it. [1:42:10] Health optimization medicine regards the body as an ecosystem of cooperating and competing cells in the network. [1:47:49] AI can be helpful in healthcare, but professionals need to understand the formal tools to make progress. [1:58:45] Adaptive AI for industrial robots [2:04:30] Building meaningful relationships is the most important thing in life. Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Joscha Bach: Website: http://bach.ai/ Twitter: @plinz Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Michael Levin joins our host Dr. Ted Achacoso to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: Can we unlock the secrets of limb regeneration to revolutionize the future of medicine? How can we harness the power of cellular communication to control cancer growth? What are the ethical and practical implications of creating programmable living machines known as xenobots? Dr. Michael Levin is an acclaimed American developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University. As a Vannevar Bush distinguished professor, Dr. Levin has made a remarkable impact in the field of biology, challenging the limits of our understanding and pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. What we discuss: [00:00] Dr. Michael Levin's groundbreaking research is shaping the future of biology, medicine, and ethics. [06:25] Bioelectric circuits can be manipulated to grow functioning organs [17:44] Anatomical homeostasis may be the reason for regeneration of limbs in frogs and salamanders [33:02] Xenobots challenge our understanding of natural selection [37:54] Mathematics and geometry have an independent life separate from physical facts of the universe. [53:03] Understanding diverse spaces where intelligence can function. [1:03:23] Planarian bioelectric circuits can be rewritten to alter memory and guide regeneration. [1:18:56] Multicellularity enables cells to work in a different problem space and expand their cognitive light cone. [1:24:06] Recognizing and relating to diverse intelligences through a framework, tools, and ethical considerations. [1:34:31] Understanding and studying agency in unfamiliar embodiments is crucial for the future of living with cognitive systems. [1:39:28] Consider ethics in scientific advancements [1:50:11] Medical informatics is a process of discovering beyond the wall of knowledge. Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Michael Levin: Website: https://wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/michael-levin-ph-d/ Twitter: @drmichaellevin Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Rachel Gerrol joins our host Dr. Scott Sherr to give one-cent solutions to life's $64,000 questions that include: What is Nexus, and how has it evolved over the many years since it started? How do the members of Nexus work together to do amazing things all over the world? What are three ways to make your life smarter, not harder? Rachel Gerrol is widely recognized for her work on millennial philanthropy and community building and has been featured in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Forbes, Vanity Fair, and more. She helped organize the "White House Conference on Next Gen Philanthropy & Impact Investing" for the Obama administration and worked closely with Vice President Biden to develop the "It's On Us" campaign to address sexual assault on campus, which she continues to be an advisor for today. Rachel has received multiple awards and was named in the "Top 99 Foreign Policy Leaders Under 33" by the Diplomatic Courier. What we discuss: 00:02:34: Rachel's background in philanthropy 00:05:15: How Rachel became a Philanthropist 00:12:19: What is Nexus? 00:16:57: The challenges of bringing many different people together 00:20:31: The social impact of Nexus 00:27:12: How Nexus supports members all over the world 00:34:41: How to maintain networks and connections 00:39:11: Where is Nexus going in the next 3 to 5 years? 00:43:10: Three ways to help make your life smarter, not harder Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Rachel Gerrol: Website: https://nexusglobal.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelgerrol/ Instagram: @rachelgerrol Twitter: @rachelgerrol Get 10% Off Your Purchase of the Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Thierry Hertogue joins our host Dr. Ted Achacoso to give 1 cent solutions to the following $64,000 questions: Are hormones perhaps the best psychedelics? How can we use the hormones produced in the seven neuroendocrine axis to anti-age? Can doctors and health care practitioners be taught to include spirituality in practice? Dr. Thierry Hertoghe pioneered anti-aging medicine using hormones to balance the system into health. He discusses hormone balancing in the podcast. [00:00] Dr. Thierry Hertoghe is an anti-aging expert who uses hormones to balance the body for health [00:40] Why Testosterone and DHEA are essential for overall health [08:31] Growth hormone can improve health, increase freshness, and reduce anxiety in people above 35-40 years [16:03] Peptides are not as effective as growth hormone for stimulating growth due to their effects on only one receptor. [23:36] Thyroid hormone balancing improves bowel movements and intelligence [30:53] Control blood sugar levels with insulin, alpha lipoic acid, and chromium [38:31] Cortisol deficiency leads to severe health problems [53:01] Hormone treatment has good effects if given from pre-menopause to women up to age 60-65 [1:00:01] Balancing estrogen and progesterone is crucial to avoid negative symptoms and improving quality of life. [1:07:22] Spirituality and hormone balancing are essential for overall health. [1:22:13] Incorporating spirituality into medicine will lead to better healing. Find more from Smarter Not Harder: Website: https://troscriptions.com/blogs/podcast | https://homehope.org Instagram: @troscriptions | @homehopeorg Find out more from Dr. Thierry Hertoghe: Website: https://www.hertoghe.eu/en/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrHertoghe/ Instagram: @dr.hertoghe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thierry-hertoghe-md-839386b7/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/HertogheMedschool Get 10% Off Your Purchase of Metabolomics Module by using PODCAST10 at https://www.homehope.org Get 10% Off your Troscriptions purchase by using POD10 at https://www.troscriptions.com Get daily content from the hosts of Smarter Not Harder by following @troscriptions on Instagram.