The Doctor & The Nurse

Todd Vande Hei—CEO of Stark Health—joins David for the final episode of season 2, sharing his transformation from medical crisis in his 30s to top-tier health in his 50s. Todd outlines his game-changing “Wheel of Health” framework—designed to assess and optimize all key health domains—and explains how integrating lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, stress management, hormone balance, and data tracking leads to sustainable gains. Together Todd and David debunk magic bullets, emphasizing fundamentals and strategic measurement using tools like DEXA, HRV tracking, blood panels, and hormone labs. Todd also touches on enhancing mental resilience through cold immersion, AI-assisted personalized training, and when hormone therapy can be a foundational game-changer. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon once again joins David for the final part of this episode, this time discussing the importance of muscle quality over quantity and advocating measuring the fat within the muscle to assess true muscular health. The two reinforce the importance of body autonomy, stating that if a tool helps someone mentally and emotionally—whether they have 5 or 50 pounds to lose—it’s valid. The key takeaway from this conversation: health is not fate, it’s a skill that can be acquired and mastered to achieve peak performance. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Holding My Baby—Morning Epiphany 01:13 From Medical Crisis to Peak Health 05:14 Building the Wheel of Health Framework 07:34 Life Integration vs Balance—The Dance 12:30 Measurement Tools: Oura, DEXA, Labs 16:56 What Works—Lifestyle Always Comes First 18:23 Hormone Therapy: A Foundational Tool 21:20 Cold Plunges & Brain Growth 22:22 Teen Testosterone Decline & Digital Stress 24:01 AI’s Role in Personalized Training 27:57 Minimal Viable Training: 2–4 hrs/week 29:43 Individual Variability: Goals & History 32:44 Key Metrics: Grip, VO₂max, Mental Health 34:58 Final Takeaways + How to Follow Todd Follow David Nurse on Social Media! Who is David Nurse: https://www.davidnurse.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnursenba/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidNurseNBA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhnurse/ Get David's New Breakout book of the year: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Life-Changing-Power-Taking-Action/dp/1119853702 David Nurse is an NBA/elite performance optimization coach, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Do It: The Life-Changing Power of Taking Action, and an internationally-acclaimed motivational keynote speaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Dawn Mussallem, an integrative oncologist at Mayo Clinic, joins David to share her extraordinary journey—surviving Stage IV lymphoma, enduring a near-death flat line, and later undergoing a heart transplant—guided by her joy, faith, and steadfast commitment to a lifestyle-centered healing approach. Traveling to Dharamsala to meet the Dalai Lama reinforced Dawn’s belief in love, compassion, and unity as essential complements to medical science. She unpacks metrics for heart and cancer prevention (like Apo-B, lipoproteins, calcium scoring, early detection tests), debunks extremes, and champions five daily pillars—connection, movement, nutritious eating, sleep, and reducing toxins—as foundational to vibrant, purposeful living. At the end of the episode, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon joins David to highlight the most actionable biomarkers and tools for heart and cancer prevention. Gabrielle underscores a shift toward individualized care and warns against outdated generalizations—like past assumptions linking testosterone to prostate cancer—underscoring the evolving nature of medical understanding. This episode blends profound personal experience, spiritual enlightenment, and evidence-based lifestyle guidance. Whether you're fighting illness or striving for vitality, Dawn's infectious joy and practical wisdom illuminate a path that uplifts body, mind, and spirit. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Meeting the Dalai Lama: love, compassion & time standing still 03:48 Cancer diagnosis: facing Stage IV lymphoma in medical school 06:55 Cardiac aftermath: near-death flat-line & living with 8% ejection fraction 10:33 Integrative medicine at Mayo: holistic care & lifestyle optimization 15:08 Heart health metrics: Apo‑B, lipoproteins & imaging insights 19:20 Cancer prevention through lifestyle: nutrition, movement & sleep 24:59 Environmental factors: navigating risks without fear 27:12 Five daily habits: connection, movement, food, sleep & toxin awareness Follow David Nurse on Social Media! Who is David Nurse: https://www.davidnurse.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnursenba/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidNurseNBA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhnurse/ Get David's New Breakout book of the year: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Life-Changing-Power-Taking-Action/dp/1119853702 David Nurse is an NBA/elite performance optimization coach, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Do It: The Life-Changing Power of Taking Action, and an internationally-acclaimed motivational keynote speaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To learn more, you can go to kashkhanofficial.com/nurse and use code Nurse50 for $50 off + Free 15 minute personalized health call. (may want to spell out K-A-S-H-K-H-A-N Official.com forward slash NURSE) What if your health, energy, and mental edge were already coded into your DNA—and all you had to do was unlock it? Kashif Khan, founder of The DNA Company, joins David on this week’s episode of The David Nurse Show to break down how your genes really do hold the blueprint for peak performance and longevity. During their conversation, Kashif walks David through his personal DNA results, revealing shocking insights about gut health, mitochondrial energy production, and the so-called "clutch gene" that influences high-pressure performance. The two also discuss whether killer instinct is born or built, how to fix poor genetic detox systems, and why many popular supplements may be doing more harm than good if your body isn’t genetically suited for them. Finally, learn why some people never feel full, why keto can backfire based on your fat metabolism gene, and how your DNA can predict future disease risk—so you can take action before it’s too late. Don't miss this fascinating conversation! Use code NURSE50 at kashkhanofficial.com/nurse for $50 off your DNA test and a free 15-minute personalized consultation. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Can You Develop Killer Instinct or Is It in Your DNA? 02:29 Kashif’s Health Journey and Founding of The DNA Company 04:37 The Neurochemical Blueprint of Clutch Performance 08:11 How Genomics Predicts Mental Toughness and Trauma 09:48 Developing Killer Instinct Through Genetic Expression 11:23 Personalized Health: Gut Issues and Missing Detox Genes 15:48 Mitochondrial Dysfunction and the Future of Your Energy 21:09 Cardiovascular Risk and the Truth About Endothelial Health 24:37 The Vaccine, mRNA, and Young Athletes' Heart Risk 28:40 Is Gene Therapy Real or Just Hype? 30:27 What Really Slows Aging: Genes, Mitochondria & Inflammation 32:14 The Warrior Gene: Training Based on Your Hormones 36:53 Is There a Fat Gene? Why Diets Succeed or Fail by DNA 39:02 How to Get Your DNA Tested and Optimize Your Life 40:18 The Dopamine Map: Broke or Billionaire? 42:00 Facing Mortality and the DNA of a Life Well Lived Follow David Nurse on Social Media! Who is David Nurse: https://www.davidnurse.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnursenba/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidNurseNBA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhnurse/ Get David's New Breakout book of the year: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Life-Changing-Power-Taking-Action/dp/1119853702 David Nurse is an NBA/elite performance optimization coach, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Do It: The Life-Changing Power of Taking Action, and an internationally-acclaimed motivational keynote speaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Will Cole sits down with David on today’s episode of The David Nurse Show to unpack one of the most pressing issues facing America: our broken approach to healthcare and nutrition. Despite spending more on healthcare than any other industrialized nation, the U.S. faces skyrocketing chronic disease and declining life expectancy. Will doesn’t just point out the problems—he presents solutions through his work with the “Maha” movement (Make America Healthy Again), which is aiming to democratize access to functional medicine and break the grip of the pharmaceutical and processed food industries. Together Will and David expose the deep-rooted issues: food subsidies that promote disease, misinformation in media, and political agendas that distort the truth. They also tackle the cultural contradictions—how toxic diet culture has swung to glorify obesity under the guise of body positivity, and why self-respect should be the foundation of nutritional choices. The conversation balances big-picture activism with personal responsibility, offering both inspiration and actionable guidance. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why the U.S. Health System Is Set Up to Fail 01:20 The Truth About Lucky Charms and Processed Foods 02:45 MAHA Movement: More Than Politics 04:10 Inside the Kellogg’s Headquarters Protest 07:10 The Power of Deep, Dark Pharma Money 10:00 Hope vs. Juggernaut: Can Change Really Happen? 11:45 Public School Food, Subsidies, and Chronic Disease 14:00 Body Positivity vs. Self-Respect in Health 16:00 The Cultural Overcorrection and Virtue Signaling 18:00 Behind-the-Scenes at MAHA and Kellogg’s 21:00 Realignment of Political Ideals in Wellness 25:00 Why Stats on Health Should Wake Us Up 28:15 The Core Four Inflammatory Foods to Cut 31:25 What to Eat Instead: Nutrient-Dense Healing Foods 33:30 Feeding Your Head and Heart with Intention 35:00 Stevia, Zevia, and the Peanut Butter Addiction 38:00 Guilty Pleasures and the Truth About Balance 41:30 Holding Each Other Accountable for Health Habits Follow David Nurse on Social Media! Who is David Nurse: https://www.davidnurse.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnursenba/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidNurseNBA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhnurse/ Get David's New Breakout book of the year: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Life-Changing-Power-Taking-Action/dp/1119853702 David Nurse is an NBA/elite performance optimization coach, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Do It: The Life-Changing Power of Taking Action, and an internationally-acclaimed motivational keynote speaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The David Nurse Show, cardiovascular researcher and pharmacist, Dr. James DiNicolantonio, sets the record straight on one of the most misunderstood nutrients—salt. Far from being the enemy, sodium is essential for performance, focus, energy, and cardiovascular health. During his conversation with David, James explains why most people are chronically under-consuming salt and how this impacts everything from fatigue to hormonal health. Together David and James explore how low salt levels can increase insulin resistance, stress hormones, and even cravings, creating a dangerous cycle that sabotages physical and mental performance. James also breaks down how proper sodium intake improves endurance, sleep, and stress resilience—and gives specific guidance on how to tailor salt intake based on your activity level and lifestyle. This episode is a must-listen for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone wanting to perform at their highest level. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. James DiNicolantonio 01:32 Why Salt Is Not the Enemy 03:45 The Real Science Behind Sodium and Blood Pressure 06:10 Hydration Myths That Hurt Performance 08:05 Signs of Salt Deficiency in High Performers 10:22 How Low Salt Increases Insulin and Stress Hormones 13:01 Optimizing Sodium for Energy and Focus 15:17 Best Forms of Salt and Electrolyte Supplements 18:00 How to Personalize Your Salt Intake 20:04 Final Takeaways on Salt, Health & Longevity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit https://ketone.com/DAVID for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more! Celebrity trainer Don Saladino joins David Nurse for this raw, energizing conversation about what it really takes to build and sustain elite-level health and performance—physically and mentally. On today’s episode Don outlines why consistency is the single most overlooked and irreplaceable factor in transformation—revealing how he’s structured his training for over 30 years to avoid burnout, stay injury-free, and keep evolving. Together the two explore how Don’s approach has evolved from his early Equinox days to working with top-tier Hollywood clients, and why standards—not hacks—create real transformation. Don discusses resistance training as the “entrée” to fitness, how he integrates cardio for recovery and longevity, and why NSVs (non-scale victories) are a far more reliable progress marker than the number on the scale. Don also takes a firm stance on the influencer vs. coach debate—calling out the lack of real-world experience in the online fitness space—and shares why application trumps lab results when it comes to real change. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon joins David toward the end of the episode to break down intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) as a game-changing new health marker and how movement is essential for skeletal muscle quality. They also discuss the best ways to track nutrition for body composition, the psychology of standards, and what truly sustainable excellence looks like. No matter where you’re at in your fitness journey, this episode will challenge you to raise your standards, think deeper, and train with more purpose. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Don Saladino’s Relentless Consistency 03:00 40,000+ Sessions and What They Taught Him 06:45 Periodization, Recovery & Training Blocks 11:20 Real Coaches vs Influencers 13:40 The Science vs Application Debate 16:00 Tracking, Feel, and Nutrition Misconceptions 18:45 Metabolic Flexibility and Real RMR Gains 21:15 Training to Failure: What It Really Takes 23:00 Celebrity Coaching and Industry Experience 26:15 Why Standards > Motivation 28:45 NSVs and Sustainable Progress 31:00 Ozempic, Shortcuts, and Long-Term Costs 34:00 Gabrielle Lyon on iMAT and Muscle Health 38:00 Optimal Training Frequency & Recovery 42:00 Reframing Body Fat vs Muscle Quality 46:00 Standards as a Lifestyle Filter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit https://ketone.com/DAVID for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more! Christian Drapeau, a leading expert in stem cell science, joins David Nurse to unpack the often misunderstood world of stem cells and how they are changing the game for health, healing, and longevity. Rather than splurging on expensive injections abroad, Christian outlines how specific plant extracts can trigger your own body to release millions of stem cells daily—jumpstarting recovery, rejuvenation, and regeneration from within. David and Christian’s conversation also navigates the socio-political resistance to stem cell technologies in Western countries, detailing how the pharmaceutical industry’s profit-driven model clashes with treatments that actually restore health rather than manage symptoms. Christian brings clarity to a cutting-edge yet practical health approach that many medical professionals still dismiss simply because it challenges the status quo. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to optimize performance, prevent disease, or better understand how to support the body’s natural healing abilities. CHAPTERS: 00:00 The Future of Medicine—Stem Cell Repair Potential 02:07 Why Stem Cells Are Misunderstood 03:00 Stem Cells as the Body’s Repair System 04:54 Regulatory Resistance and the Pharma Business Model 08:47 The Truth About Stemregen and Plant-Based Activation 10:32 From Lab to Reality: Proof of Heart Regeneration 12:33 How Much Stem Cell Release Is Possible? 14:58 Top 5 Plants That Mobilize Stem Cells 15:37 Study: Accelerated Injury Recovery in Elite Athletes 18:59 Microtrauma, Athletic Recovery & Injury Prevention 19:21 What is ESCM (Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization)? 21:20 What It'll Take for Mainstream Acceptance 24:44 Why This Could Be a Turning Point in Modern Health 26:30 Stem Cells: From Concept to Cultural Acceptance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit https://ketone.com/DAVID for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more! Dr. Latt Mansor’s path from a small town in Malaysia to earning degrees at Columbia and Oxford is a story of relentless curiosity, resilience, and timing. In this compelling conversation with David Nurse, Latt reveals how a series of unexpected decisions led him to the forefront of ketone research at H.V.M.N., where he now leads groundbreaking studies on performance, focus, recovery, and heart health. He breaks down the science behind ketones—why the brain and body love them, how Ketone IQ differs from traditional energy sources like caffeine, and what the data shows in real-world applications: improved endurance, sharper mental clarity, deeper sleep, and even enhanced cardiac output in heart failure patients. But this episode is about more than science. Latt shares how personal loss, cultural identity, and internal self-doubt shaped his mission to help others live longer, more optimized lives. It’s a conversation on fuel—not just for the body, but for the mind, purpose, and belief. Whether you’re training for peak performance, building a business, or simply aiming to think and feel your best, this episode delivers the clarity, consistency, and actionable insight you need to operate at your highest level—physically and mentally. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Latt's Journey: From Malaysia to Oxford 06:43 Breaking Into Biotech Without a Plan 12:59 The Startup Pivot: From Academia to Entrepreneurship 17:01 How Ketones Work in the Body 21:50 Ketone IQ vs. Caffeine: Real Energy Without the Crash 25:33 Sports Performance & Anaerobic Gains 30:20 Ketones for Mental Focus & Flow State 33:45 Sleep Enhancement & Ketones at Night 37:02 Appetite Suppression & Weight Control Studies 40:25 Heart Health Breakthroughs in Ketone Research 43:57 Risks, Cautions & What Ketones Can't Do 45:31 The Real Takeaway: Consistency, Self-Belief & Performance Optimization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Chris Asandra, one of the top hormone and peptide therapy experts in the world, sits down with David Nurse to discuss the frontier of health optimization—and why it's not just about looking younger, but truly feeling better, longer. From testosterone therapy to breakthrough peptides like BPC-157, CJC-1295, and GHK copper, this conversation unpacks the real science behind the “Hollywood stacks” transforming how top performers—from actors to athletes—prepare their bodies and minds. Known as a leading expert in anti-aging and performance medicine, Dr. Asandra shares the truth about TRT, peptide stacks, Ozempic alternatives, and the secrets behind Hollywood’s physique transformations. The episode covers the stigma around hormone replacement, the power of copper peptides, and how hormone balancing is transforming both male and female lives. David and Chris also explore gene therapy trends, optimal supplement stacks, and what the future of personalized medicine looks like. Dr. Asandra pulls back the curtain on peptides that heal gut lining, stimulate growth hormone, burn fat, and even promote collagen and hair regrowth. The two also dive into Ozempic and its alternatives, the growing impact of GLP-1s, and how people are using these compounds safely to transform their health—with less risk and more reward than traditional pharmaceuticals. Whether you’re getting ready for a blockbuster role or just want to feel your best, Dr. Asandra maps out the exact protocols and stacks that get real results—and why working with a qualified professional matters more than ever. If you're curious about anti-aging, aesthetic performance, or the truth behind what top-level talent is using, this episode will open your eyes to a powerful new health paradigm. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Chris Asandra 01:42 The Science and Stigma Behind Peptides 05:20 Ozempic, GLP-1s, and Safe Fat Loss 10:03 The Power of Copper Peptides 13:00 TRT: Truths, Myths, and Proper Use 17:50 Building the Ideal Stack: Lean vs. Mass Goals 23:15 Injectables vs. Orals: What's Safer? 26:45 Brian Johnson, Gene Therapy, and Follistatin 29:00 Hormone Therapy for Women: Pre and Post-Menopause 32:40 How to Work with Dr. Asandra 34:10 Final Thoughts on Changing Lives with Hormones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if everything you thought you knew about nutrition, muscle, and longevity was outdated? In this high-impact conversation, David Nurse sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon—founder of the Muscle-Centric Medicine® movement—to break the mold on traditional health thinking. From exposing the myths behind evidence-based medicine to unveiling the overlooked power of muscle in aging and disease prevention, this episode covers the cutting edge of metabolic health. You’ll hear insider insights on peptides like BPC-157, Ozempic vs. Manjaro, stem cell therapies, copper’s role in vitality, intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), and how discipline starts with standards—not motivation. Gabrielle also shares visionary takes on body composition, and what recovery will look like 10 years from now. If you're tired of the same recycled fitness advice and want real science, real stories, and real strategies from one of the sharpest minds in the field, this episode is your edge. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join the movement at davidnurse.com ---- CHAPTERS: 00:00 The Real Metric: Muscle Quality Over Body Fat 06:43 Ozempic, Manjurno & the Future of Weight Loss Drugs 12:20 Stem Cells, Peptides & What’s Actually Worth It 18:52 Copper, Iron, and Hormones: Micronutrient Talk 24:30 The Training Equation: Movement, Strength & Consistency 30:15 Standards, Discipline & The Power of Mission 36:20 Genetic Drive vs. Environment: Raising the Next Greats 42:18 Mortality, Hospice & Facing the End Well 47:35 Cancer, Heart Health & What Tests Actually Matter 52:18 Overconsumption, Processed Foods & Global Health Gaps 56:47 Reaching the Masses: From Protein to MrBeast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices