The Happy Pear Podcast

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, by 70%, and is the number one most costly disease - “It’s not because its happening more often it’s because of bad lifestyle and medications that prolong life but don’t get rid of pathological processes that cause dementia so you have a whole lot of people living with this devastating disease.”This week we speak to THE ultimate brain-powered couple! Neuroscientists Dr Dean and Ayesha Sherzai are a phenomenal pair, aside from the impressive list of credentials after both of their names, they have dedicated their lives to behavioural change models and brain health initiatives. Co-director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University, Dr Dean completed two fellowships at National Institutes of Health, and UC San Diego. He also has 2 masters degrees in clinical research and epidemiology, an executive leadership degree from Harvard Business School, and a PhD in Healthcare Leadership. And just when you thought that was already enough achievements for one person, in 2002, Dr Dean was asked by the World Bank to help lead their health delivery project in Afghanistan. While there, he was asked by President Karzai to become the Deputy Minister of Health and focused on bringing together all the stakeholders around the vision of rapid delivery of the basic package of health services and women’s empowerment. This process was deemed by LANCET as the most successful plan in any post-conflict county. This plan also helped empower more than 20,000 Afghan women by making them the only source of health care in the most remote of communities. In 2013, he helped create the Afghan Health Initiative in order to empower the Afghan diaspora with their own health. Currently, along with his wife Dr. Ayesha, they are leading the largest community-based brain health initiative in the world through their online work in Brain Health Revolution.Dr. Ayesha, also a neurologist and co-director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University, where she leads the Lifestyle Program for the Prevention of Neurological Diseases. Is also a trained plant-based culinary artist.She holds a master’s in advanced sciences from UCSD. Subsequent to completing her residency Dr. Ayesha completed a fellowship in vascular neurology from Columbia University and is currently enrolled to finish a PhD in women’s leadership.We think it’s safe to say that when it comes to brains, these pair know what they are talking about!“There are good stresses and bad stresses. Bad stress is when you are involved in activities that are not driven by your purposes… you don’t have a runway that is yours. Whereas good stress is based around activities that do drive your purpose… our brains are made to be active, it craves to be pushed and challenged around its purpose…”In this episode, we discuss lifestyle choices, nutrition, purpose, Alzheimers, dementia, food that fuel your brain, activities that fuel your brain and, the data to support it.It truly is an amazing episode we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!Lots of love,Dave & SteveTo learn more about Dr’s Sherzai check out their website: https://teamsherzai.com/And their latest book: The 30 Day Alzheimer’s SolutionsProduced by Sara Fawsitt and Sean Cahill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40% of men suffer from erectile dysfunction in their 40’s, 50% in their 50’s, 60% in their 60’s… it’s an easy stat to remember! A lot of this is due to age-related changes however "some of this we can control and put on the breaks…” This week's episode is for anyone with a penis, any friends of penises, and any lovers of penises! An area that is not talked about enough, and yet viagra had some of the fastest uptake and sales growth of any medication, ever, after its launch in 1998. We were delighted to speak with Aaron Spitz, M.D a board-certified urologist and a leading expert in male sexual health and fertility. Who has been featured worldwide on numerous tv shows, published many articles on the subject and now is the author of the book called The Penis Book: A Doctor’s Complete Guide to the Penis: From Size to Function and Everything in BetweenJust like the canary in the coal mine, ED can be the first sign of something much more major going on in your body. “If a man starts noticing he is getting weak erections or having difficulty keeping erections that most likely means the little arteries in his penis are starting to get clogged up, which means all the arteries in his body are getting clogged up, it’s just the arteries in his penis are much smaller so he is not feeling it everywhere else…yet!”Dr Aaron has helped countless men overcome these challenges, including erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, Peyronie’s Disease, and low sperm count. He is a nationally recognised leader in microsurgical vasectomy reversal. Dr. Spitz is able to demystify these complex and emotional conditions for his patients as well as for the public at large. Dr. Spitz served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology, UC Irvine for 10 years, where he oversaw their training for male sexual health and infertility. Dr. Spitz is a national leader in health policy for urologists across the nation. He serves as the lead delegate representing all of America’s urologists to the American Medical Association (AMA). He also is in charge of pioneering the use of telemedicine for America’s urologists. He frequently meets with state and national legislators about topics of critical concern to doctors and patients alike.As two penis owners naturally we found this a fascinating conversation. However, as Dr Aaron says, this is something that affects everyone, whether it be directly or through association. The more we understand, the more knowledge we have the more we can prevent premature ED and potentially much more serious and life-threatening illnesses.To find out more about Dr Aaran and his work check out his website www.aaronspitz.com and his book The Penis Book: A Doctor’s Complete Guide to the Penis: From Size to Function and Everything in BetweenLots of Love,Dave & SteveProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever heard the expression “use it or lose it”? This week we speak to Dr James Timmons, an Exercise Specialist who aims to live to 100 independent and strong!We are living longer, “old school thinking was that as you age you slow down, we now know that as you age you should be doing more… There needs to be a shift in the thought process from the government - we need to keep people active longer…”With 10 years of Strength and Conditioning experience working with clinical populations, Dr James received his BSc in Sport and Exercise Science from the University College Dublin in 2012, MSc in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Edinburgh in 2013, and PhD from University College Dublin in 2018. His doctoral studies focussed on exercise training and dietary strategies to support improvements in body composition and physical function in older adults. While carrying out his PhD, he also worked as an exercise specialist in Medfit Proactive Healthcare where his focus was on improving muscle mass, strength and function in adults over the age of 65. The owner and founder of www.youagewell.com, James’ mantra is to “match health span to lifespan” with a primary focus on improving movement patterns and quality of life of adults over 50.James takes us through the many ways in which we can prevent, delay and improve muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, increase muscle mass and stay mobile with practical tips and the data to back it.We hope that James’ insights motivate you to use and celebrate your body as much as it motivated us!Lots of LoveDave & StevePre order our new book now, The Veg Box! 10 vegetables, 10 ways using only 10 ingredients or less. Plant-based healthy eating made super simple, less waste, better for you and the planet! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever considered what effect lack of sleep can have on things other than your mood? Did you know that…Sleep acts like a filter system for your memory?Sleeps helps you forget unnecessary information to make room for important information?children only grow in the first few hours of sleep?Your ability to gain more muscle is effected by the quality of your sleep?This week we speak to Dr Oliver Bernath, the ultimate sleep specialist!We have been aware of the importance of sleep for years, making sure that we go to bed and get up at the same time everyday (or as often as we can!) However, when we met Dr Oliver at a conference in London last month, we were blown away by his knowledge and how little we really knew!Dr Bernath specialities cover: Sleep Disordered Breathing (Snoring, Sleep Apnoea) Insomnia, Sleep Rhythm disorders Parasomnias (e.g. Nightmares, Sleepwalking, REM-Sleep Behaviour Disorder), Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep, Narcolepsy and Central Hypersomnias, Sleep Optimisation and Performance.fter completing his Medical Doctorate thesis in muscle electrophysiology, Dr Bernath trained as a neurologist at the University of Chicago and completed fellowships at the University of California San Francisco in clinical neurophysiology. He trained in Sleep Medicine in Chicago with Prof Rechtschaffen and then at the world’s first Sleep Disorders Clinic at Stanford University with Prof Dement and Prof Guilleminault. He led the Northern California Sleep Disorders Center at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco and now sees patients at the NHS Sleep Clinic in London.During this chat, we touch on how complex sleep quality really is, how we are not all the same and how to apply certain techniques in order to ensure you are getting the right sleep for yourself!We hope you enjoy this and sleep well tonight!Lots of love,Dave & Steve xProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the characteristics of a great leader? Are you born with it, or can it be taught? From the moment she entered the studio filling the space with warmth; to the leadership roundtable she facilitated at the end, Joanne oozed passion for people and creating a national of leaders “of good character”.Today, Joanne is dedicated to her social enterprise LIFT, which strives to create positive change in Ireland through values based leadership. With over 30,000 people doing LIFT roundtables since inception 4 years ago, LIFT is the most inclusive positive leadership initiative ever seen in Ireland.Starting as an entrepreneur at the age of 27, Joanne founded two businesses of her own: The Entrepreneurs Academy and QED The Accreditation Experts. What else? From speaking at TEDx and authoring the best-selling “Don’t Get A Job Build A Business”, to spending being elected a Council member of the Dublin Chamber, Joanne has also lived a rich professional life away.We are very grateful for the wisdom, lessons and kindness Joanne gifted us and believe that anyone striving to be a better leader will benefit from this conversation!Lots of Love,Dave & SteveProduced by Sara Fawsitt and Sean Cahill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have the wonderful Dr Sue Kenneally with us, the weight management specialist!A General Practitioner, nutritionist and co-founder of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr Sue sits on the board of Plant Based Health Professionals UK and is SCOPE certified in obesity management, working with the University of South Wales in the study of weight management.We have known Sue for years, having first met her at The Plant-based Doctor Conference in London where we connected immediately. Aside from her qualifications, Sue’s deep understanding of the difficulties of weight management comes from her own personal experience as well as her empathetic nature, “I am not naturally slim myself, I have to work hard to maintain my own weight, and I know that the challenge is real!”After our first encounter in London, we kept up our friendship which eventually blossomed into The Happy Shape Course! A 4 week course where along with Dietician, Rosie Martin, and PT, Zanna Van Dijk, the five of us take on what it truly means to have a happy shape, through education, movement, sleep, food, nutrition, community and most importantly having fun! We debunk the myths, ensure you are never hungry or lacking in delicious food and connect you with a group of like minded people so you forever feel supported.“Getting someone to change their relationship with food is like getting someone to change their relationship with any addictive substance. The only difference is, if I am dealing with a heroin addict I can tell them to stop taking heroin and support them to do that, but I can’t tell someone who is addicted to food to stop eating…”In this episode, Dr Sue takes us through the most common mistakes people make for weight management, the differences between men and women, why calorie counting is pointless, and practical tips you can apply now.A great episode! Enjoy!Lots of Love,Dave & Steve xThis May 30th join us on The Happy Shape Challenge! One month, where we all begin together, guided by Dave, Steve, Dr Sue and Rosie through constant live Q&A’s. Come join us and find out more on how you can feel healthier and happier while maintaining your happy shape! Follow this link for more information: thehappypear./thehappyshapeProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It’s embarrassing to say: “I was the victim of abuse. I was the victim of domestic abuse.”As a child her home meant violence, her security and safety was the streets - school did not understand her and wanted to punish her - she moved from one abusive relationship to the next one resulting in such physical damage it caused the death of her unborn child. Drugs and alcohol became her only companions, “I had burnt my life to the ground, I would ruin everything I touched because I wasn’t able to be myself, to be honest with myself.”At the age of 25 something happened which changed her life…Jen Healy is a qualified neuroscience life coach, Yin yoga teacher, and cacao facilitator.Her difficult past has shaped her into the powerful, and inspiring woman she is today. With over 13 years experience working frontline in addiction, homelessness and mental health, “I’ve had the privilege to work with some of the most complex cases as part of a multi-disciplinary team including GPs involuntary admissions team and the Resettlement team for the National Forensics Hospital (Central Mental hospital)”Jen came down to the studio and brought a bar of “only female touched” cacao, “honing in on the feminine energies”. We sat in a circle, whispered our intentions as we sipped on the delicious warming drink - would you believe, this was our first cacao ceremony?! We might be enthusiastic vegan yogis but the thought of cacao ceremonies had even been too much for us.We continued to sit and talk for nearly 2 hours during which Jen brought us through her challenging past, and the fundamental moments that has shaped her into being the woman she is today. Through all the depths of what she has been through has blossomed this wisdom, love, generosity, and the capacity to make others feel the emotions of what she and even others have gone through.“She said: “Jen, victims don’t recover”, and I thought the neck of her! Who does she think she is?! I was fuming but I knew in my gut, this bitch is right… I felt like she had a shotgun of truth and I didn’t want to hear it… “The world owes me I have been wronged” - It was exactly what I needed.”Jen has a charm and charisma that draws you in, she wears her vulnerability with pride allowing you to feel totally at ease and trust in her company. A powerful conversation that will bring tears to yours eyes, moments of laughter and leave you feeling warm.Enjoy!Lots of love,Dave & Steve xTo find out more about Jen and her work visit her site: https://jenhealy.ie/Or check out her instagram: @yinyogajenProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Julie Smith is on a mission to make mental health education accessible to all! To help as many people as she can to thrive, by making top-quality mental health education readily available online, so even those who cannot access therapy can get off to the best start in their recovery journey.Dr Julie is a clinical psychologist, online educator, blogger, and owner of a private practice in Hampshire, England. She is also the best-selling author of the book “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before”.Dr Julie’s short punchy social media post has caught the attention of many followers as she distills serious topics into bite-sized, motivational and visually entertaining snippets.We really enjoyed speaking with Julie, her message is clear, she is not trying to reinvent the wheel with some amazing hack to mental health, it is in her ability to make important information relatable and tangible. We all want that pill to make us better but sometimes what we really need is staring right in front of us!From dealing with and managing anxiety, to stress, and critical inner voices, to relationships and external judgements, we talk through many of the challenges we have in todays society and the tools and techniques that can help us navigate through them.“Your attention is like a spotlight, all these different actors are coming on the stage. You hold the spotlight, you can choose which actor you want to shine it on and which ones you will let pass. Some thoughts will hang around on stage for longer than you wanted them to, but you don’t have to give them the spotlight”Lots of love,Dave & Steve Read more about Dr Julie's work and profile here: https://doctorjuliesmith.com/Follow her on Instagram to hear her latest updates @drjulieProduced by Sara Fawsitt and Sean Cahill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is modern medicine and/or culture the cause of period pains, PCOS, Endometriosis amongst other issues? Is there an answer to reducing menopause symptoms beyond using HRT that is incredibly effective?This week we speak to Dr Nitu Bajekal, MD, a Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the UK with over 35 years of clinical experience in women’s health. Her special interests include Lifestyle Medicine, PCOS, Endometriosis, period problems, menopause, pre-cancer, complex vulval problems and medical education.One of the first board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physicians in the UK. Dr Bajekal has written the women’s health module for the first UK University based plant based nutrition course. An avid vegan herself, Dr Bajekal is passionate about spreading health awareness, providing reliable medical and lifestyle information for the general public, doctors, workplaces and schools. She is the co-author of Living PCOS Free along with her daughter and nutritionist, Rohini Bajekal, available for pre-order worldwide due for release on 28th April 2022. Dr Bajekal is a vehicle of knowledge, you will learn so much in this episode. We certainly did! Read more about Dr Bajekal’s work and profile here: https://nitubajekal.comFollow her on Instagram @drnitubajekalProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The world is really bifurcating into two types of people; people who allow their time and attention to be controlled and manipulated by others and people who say NO I am in-distractible, I control my time and attention, I control my life.”Mastering your internal triggers, leaning into the discomfort, turning distraction into traction, becoming masters of your own time… these are amongst some of the many topics we discuss in this week’s podcast with the genius that is Nir Eyal.“The self help industry has really done people a disservice by promoting happiness as the goal, it is a completely unrealistic and unnatural goal to be completely happy, if there was ever a group of homo sapiens who were happy all the time, that had everything they needed, our ancestors would have killed them, from an evolutionary basis this makes no sense. You want a species to always want more to strive, to create, to invent… the fact that we are unsatisfied is a good thing. High performers leverage that discomfort to propel them forward, low performers don’t know what to do with that discomfort and they escape it with distraction.”Nir is the author of Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Previously, he taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Design School, and has sold two technology companies since 2003.For most of his career, he worked in the video gaming and advertising industries where he learned and applied (and at times rejected) the techniques used to motivate and manipulate users. He writes to help companies create behaviours that benefit their users while educating people on how to build healthful habits in their own lives.After listening to this episode we guarantee you will start blocking out your schedule with even time to procrastinate, reevaluating how you approach your workflow, how you handle meetings and even how deal with your domestic relationships. So much wisdom in this episode we highly recommend you take notes!Lots of love,Dave & SteveTo find out more about Nir and his work check out: nirandfar.comProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.