

The Made to Thrive Show
Steve Stavs
Optimising your mind, body and soul. Hosted by Steve Stavs, Africa's Pro Biohacker, Health Futurist, and founder of www.madetothrive.co.za.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 1min
Holistic Dentistry Redefined: Safe Mercury Removal, Top Cavity Defences, and Bite Restoration Secrets with Dr. Ben Javid, DDS & Dr. Shawn Javid, DDS
Too toxic for the dump but just fine for your mouth. Yes, that’s the logic of mainstream dentistry. But things are changing. As doctors Ben and Shawn Javid from Smilebody in LA testify, their practice is booming because people from far and wide want to find another way, a holistic, technology driven approach to oral health. Because oral health is the start of all health, from heart disease to your gut. Dr. Ben and Dr. Shawn Javid are the co-founders of Smilebody, a holistic dental and medical wellbeing practice, who are on a mission to transform dentistry as the pathway to overall wellness. They are advocates for ethics and quality dentistry with a focus on biological and functional full-mouth rehabilitation. Dr. Ben Javid is a biological dentist is passionate about health, vitality, and longevity, who has pursued extensive continuing education in cosmetic dentistry, sedation, implants, orthodontics, Invisalign, and sleep medicine, earning Diplomate status with the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. Recognized as one of “America’s Top Dentists” since 2007 and named among Los Angeles Magazine’s “Top Dentists of 2021”. Dr. Shawn Javid is also a biological dentist with a deep expertise in cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, sleep medicine, and integrative biological protocols, and he operates with a philosophy that the mouth is the gateway to systemic health. He is known for leading a wellness-centered clinic that offers advanced diagnostics, biologically compatible treatments, and a range of holistic services like safe implant work, detox-oriented therapies, and whole-person care. Contact:Website - https://mysmilebody.com/about/Join us as we explore:Why Ben and Shawn’s biological dentistry practice is exploding, with patients flying in from all over the world to work with a holistic oral health philosophy.The lunacy of regulating that mercury filings are too toxic for the environment but still perfectly acceptable for human mouths, and why Smilebody uses specific high tech safety equipment to remove mercury amalgams.The top 5 ways to avoid cavities, and no, it’s far more than brushing and flossing!Bruxing, fringing, clenching - the difference, why people do it and how to build back the bite the biological dentistry way.Mentions:Person - Westen A Price, https://www.westonaprice.orgProduct - iTero, https://itero.comSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Oct 15, 2025 • 57min
Revitalizing Skin and Hormones Holistically: Busting Myths, Healing Leaky Barriers, and Embracing Legacy Medicine with Dr. Trevor Cates, ND
Are you reading the ingredients in your skin creams, shampoos and soaps? If you are not, you need to start because the toxic compounds in everyday personal products are disrupting your hormonal health and creating the conditions for diseases like cancer. But it’s not only the products, it’s our mindset and beliefs - our spiritual health. That’s why Dr Cates approaches skin health and hormonal harmony from both the inside-out and the outside-in. Dr. Trevor Cates is a licensed naturopathic physician with over 24 years of experience specializing in women’s health. After overcoming her own childhood health struggles, she pursued an integrative approach to medicine and became the first woman licensed as a naturopathic doctor in California, later relocating her practice to Utah. While serving patients at the Waldorf Astoria Spa in Park City, she recognized that healing extends beyond the physical body, inspiring her to earn a master’s degree in spiritual psychology. This combination of training enables her to guide women in balancing hormones, restoring health, and reconnecting with their true nature. To reach women beyond the one-on-one clinical setting, Dr. Cates created the Hormones, Health & Harmony 9-part documentary series, the PBS special Younger Skin From Within, and The Woman’s Doctor Podcast. She is also the author of two bestselling books, Clean Skin From Within and Natural Beauty Reset. Contact:Website - https://drtrevorcates.comJoin us as we explore:Everything we are getting wrong about skin care - from the products we use, the way we use them, why the most important skin care “product” is not one at all and more skin care myths busted.Cr Cates inside-out approach to holistic health, why she prefers to focus on the do’s versus the dont’s and why skin issues are misunderstood to be topical issues not systemic symptoms.Leaky skin - why it happens, tell tale signs, blocking agents, the skin microbiome and consequences like eczema.What nourishes your skin and makes it healthy and beautiful, and what to avoid eating to avoid skin challenges.The concept of legacy medicine and why spiritual psychology allowed Dr Cates to understand why so many of her patients were unable to make certain steps to get better.Support the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 4min
Conquering Addiction from the Inside Out: Trauma Rewiring, Gratitude's Neuro Power, and Permanent Recovery Habits with Robb Kelly, PhD
What is addiction? There’s no easy answer there, and the science and understanding of addiction is continually changing. My guest today Robb Kelly has treated thousands of addicts and he believes addiction is not about the addiction. It’s not about alcohol or heroin or sex or pornography. That’s 1%. Robb believes the other 99% is about mind, trauma and beliefs. And he believes absolutely anyone and everyone has the ability to overcome addiction permanently and live to their fullest potential. Robb Kelly, PhD is a world-renowned addiction expert who treats the problem, not just the symptoms. For over 20 years, he has helped addicts and alcoholics reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. With a PhD in psychology, decades of experience, and his own recovery as an alcoholic, Dr. Kelly is a “triple threat” against addiction. His philosophy, though unconventional, is grounded in extensive research and behavioral studies. Known as “The Gordon Ramsay of the Addiction World,” he takes a direct, no-nonsense approach, pulling the disease out of his clients and empowering them to fight back. He has worked with thousands, including celebrities, and lectured at leading universities and hospitals. Recognized worldwide as an authority on recovery, Dr. Kelly has witnessed the miracle of recovery in over 5,000 addicts once considered hopeless. Living as a recovered alcoholic, he has made it his life’s mission to help others achieve permanent recovery. His personal slogan, “Step out of the disease, and into the Solution”.Contact:Website -https://robbkelly.comJoin us as we explore:Dr Kelly's journey from homeless to healer extraordinare, why mind is literally over matter, why alcohol is only 1% of alcoholism and how the trauma of childhood composes the other 99%.The neurochemical response of true gratitude and genuine positive validation because nobody actually knows or believes they’ve amazing.Learning to become more adaptive and responsive to positive neurological wiring and frequencies.Asking if “anything less than nurturing a child is abuse” is a reasonable standard.Robb’s morning and night non-negotiable habits.Support the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
Rebooting Your Brain: AI-Powered Hacks, Cognitive Tracking, and Defying Mental Decline with Dr. Reza Ghomi, MD, MSE
Mental health and mental performance are plummeting. Having witnessed this dramatic decline over the past few years, I’ve believe it is my mission to connect with the people and technologies that can intervene and stop this cognitive crisis. That’s why I am pleased to introduce my guest Dr Reza Ghomi, one of the most qualified guests in nearly 300 episodes, with his own unique pain to purpose story, who is leveraging the best of science and technology to save your brain.Dr Reza Hosseini Ghomi is a neuropsychiatrist, engineer, and serial healthcare entrepreneur founding four health tech companies including Frontier Psychiatry and MedFlow. A cancer survivor at 22, I pivoted from naval engineering to medicine, training in biomedical engineering and neuropsychiatry. My work spans MR image registration software, MRI-compatible exercise devices, EHRs and numerous enhancements, digital cognitive testing, and voice-based digital biomarkers. Now focused on transforming healthcare using AI enhanced workflow automations to drive value based care models and improve patient outcomes.Contact:Website - https://www.brainmindedmd.comJoin us as we explore:The fracturing of attention, memory and mental performance due to technological atrophy and neurological hijack.How to assess and track your cognitive performance in an objective, data centric way.The most critical interventions to recover and reboot your mental performance, and why the most important ones are available to anyone everyday.Why lax treatment and tolerating things as “fine”, from blood pressure to other routine blood markers has been more damaging than realized.Using AI prompting to prepare yourself with the right questions for your next appointment with someone in the medical field.Creatine, hyperbaric chambers, light therapy and more.Mention:Tool - BrainCheck, https://braincheck.comTool - Creyos, https://creyos.comSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Sep 24, 2025 • 55min
Unlocking the Gut Microbiome's Hidden Secrets: Antibiotics' Lasting Dangers, Parkinson's Poop Predictors, and Mastery of Targeted Bacterial Strains with Martha Carlin, BS
One course of antibiotics has the power to wipe out certain strains from your microbiome forever. Like everything in health, it’s all about dose and right use, but when it comes to antibiotics we are reaching for it too causally without grappling with the real-world consequences. Unfortunately, Martha Carlin was unable to ignore them when it impacted her family in the most fundamental of ways. She has since become a master of gut health, and is serving the public and fight against chronic disease with offerings of the highest quality gut medicine possible. Martha Carlin is a systems thinker, entrepreneur, and founder of The BioCollective, whose journey began when her husband John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 44. Refusing to accept a future of inevitable decline, she applied her expertise in corporate turnarounds to uncover new approaches to managing and potentially altering the course of chronic disease. Her research led her to recognize the central role of the gut, which she describes as the “general ledger” of health. In 2014, emerging science confirmed her insights, sparking her to leave her career and begin funding microbiome research at the University of Chicago with Dr. Jack Gilbert. Contact:Website - https://www.marthasquest.com/abouthttps://biotiquest.comJoin us as we explore:How her husband’s “old person’s disease” diagnosis changed Martha’s life foreverHow to deploy specific bacteria strains for specific disease and wellness challenges using Martha’s BiotiQuest ranges.How your poop quality and consistency can predict your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.Gut health myth busters - the hidden consequence of antibiotics use, the worst ones and why probiotics at your health shop are not what they seem to be.Mentions:Book - Missing Microbes, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910121-missing-microbes Study - Peng X, Li J, Wu Y, Dai H, Lynn HS, Zhang X. Association of Stool Frequency and Consistency with the Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality among U.S. Adults: Results from NHANES 2005-2010. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Dec 22;11(1):29. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11010029. PMID: 36611489; PMCID: PMC9818668.Person - Dr Hans Vink, https://glycocalyx.com/pages/about-usSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 1min
Functional Skincare Revolution: Bio-Adaptive Tech, Lymph Flow, and Aging Gracefully with Dr. Cathy Goldstein, AP
Dr. Cathy Goldstein, AP, is the founder of Tru Energy Skincare and a licensed Acupuncture Physician with over 30 years of clinical experience. A graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture in 1988, she has dedicated her career to integrating natural healing principles with modern innovations in wellness and beauty. Driven by a passion for non-invasive, health-centered solutions, she developed Tru Energy Skincare to harness the power of pure, natural ingredients in restoring the skin’s vitality. Her signature creation, the All-Natural FaceLift System, is scientifically formulated to target the deeper layers of skin responsible for visible signs of aging. The system pairs advanced botanical formulations with the proprietary Energy Optimizing Wand to stimulate circulation, enhance cellular energy, and firm the skin naturally. Drawing on her background in Eastern medicine, Dr. Cathy infuses each product with a holistic approach that addresses beauty from the inside out. Get 15% discount off all TruEnergy products using my code at checkout - DRSTEVE15 Join us as we explore:How Cathy Goldstein built a revolutionary skincare product by leveraging the fundamentals of functional gut health, Traditional Chinese Medicine, addressing the “issues out of the tissues” and cutting-edge frequency imprinting.Why Cathy congruency tests and NET to ascertain if her patients actually believe they can be in good health.The critical importance of the lymphatic system for health, including skin health, face sweating and patented TruEnergy products and protocols that support optimal lymph function.The power of mirror neurons and how Cathy mirrored this natural technology in TruEnergy products, and how the commonplace use of Botox is blocking this fundamental human connection system.Exploring Cathy’s daily detox and skin protocol. Contact:Website - https://truenergyskincare.comMentions:Techniques - Neuro Emotional Technique, https://www.netmindbody.com/more-information/what-is-net/Study - Monti DA, Tobia A, Stoner M, Wintering N, Matthews M, He XS, Doucet G, Chervoneva I, Tracy JI, Newberg AB. Neuro emotional technique effects on brain physiology in cancer patients with traumatic stress symptoms: preliminary findings. J Cancer Surviv. 2017 Aug;11(4):438-446. doi: 10.1007/s11764-017-0601-8. Epub 2017 Feb 8. PMID: 28181091Support the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Sep 10, 2025 • 59min
AI Health Breakthroughs: Personal AI Agents for Disease Prevention, Peak Performance, Lifelong Wellness & Curing Cancer by 2030 with Leading AI Futurist Steve Brown
Steve Brown, a leading AI futurist and former executive at Google DeepMind, discusses the revolutionary potential of AI in healthcare. He explores how personal AI agents could transform wellness and disease prevention, potentially curing cancer by 2030. Brown addresses the challenges in implementing AI in various industries and the ethical considerations of data usage. He shares an optimistic vision for 2030, highlighting technological advancements and their impact on personal fulfillment and societal progress.

Sep 3, 2025 • 46min
AI Diabetes Reversal Revolution: 98% Success Crushing Type II with Personalized AI, Data-Driven Wins, & Lifelong Empowerment. Dr. John Oberg, DSW, MBA
Reversing type II diabetes at a 98% success rate using artificial intelligence. The future of medicine is already here, and it’s changing real peoples lives right now. Listeners of my show know I believe personalized data and AI interpretation of this data is how we can beat chronic disease, which is why talking to my guest today - who is using this health algorithm right now - was a pleasure and genuine moment of hope. Dr. John Oberg is a Founder, CEO, Board Director, Advisor, Professor, and Investor trusted by organizations to navigate growth, conflict, and change. He founded two Austin-based healthcare innovators: Sedera, a community-based medical cost-sharing organization (#193 on Inc 500, #26 in Financial Times Western Hemisphere), and Precina Health, a first-of-its-kind chronic care virtual medical practice and a thought leader in AI deployment. Through John Oberg Advisory, John advises large institutions, healthcare industry leaders, professional services firms, and nonprofits. John received his doctorate from the University of Southern California (Social Work) and his MBA from the University of New Mexico (Policy & Planning and Management of Technology). He is currently an adjunct professor at USC and sits on the Board of Governors. He has authored patents, started companies, and managed teams larger than 1,000 people. Join us as we explore:John Oberg’s radical success rate of reversing type II diabetes with the Precina way at a fraction of the cost of traditional healthcare.Why the Precina way takes small steps and makes them even smaller, and uses AI to personalize the steps necessary to reverse their diabetes based upon their needs, emotional barriers and tolerance for change.Why Dr Oberg’s approach is not getting into the weeds of diet wars, anecdotal evidence or peer reviewed or not, and focuses on data driven and clinical experience results.How AI will allow individuals to succeed in the long-term with their health despite sub-optimal societal norms and government policies.How John’s training as a social worker informs carefulness in his approach and the importance of how cultural and societal factors interact with chronic disease.Contact:Website - https://johnoberg.comWebsite - https://precina.comSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Aug 27, 2025 • 51min
Light Up Your Life: Mastering the Light Diet to Combat Chronic Diseases, Enhance Sleep, and Unlock Longevity Secrets with Circadian Pioneer Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, MD
Your eyes are not cameras—they are clocks. Every cell and organ in your body is orchestrated by the light you let in, making light the most powerful regulator of health. More than ever, I believe the “light diet” is a foundational lifestyle change in the fight against chronic disease. That’s why today’s guest is one of the most important I’ve had—a true pioneer in the science of light and health.Dr. Martin Moore-Ede is a world-renowned circadian biology expert with over four decades of research on how light affects sleep, fatigue, and chronic diseases. As a former Harvard Medical School professor, he helped discover the brain’s master clock—the suprachiasmatic nucleus—and authored the bestselling The Clocks That Time Us. In 1983, he founded CIRCADIAN®, a global firm optimizing 24/7 workforce performance, and later launched CIRCADIAN Light and CIRCADIAN ZircLight to counter the health risks of artificial lighting.In this episode, we explore:How proper light exposure can increase lifespan by up to five years—and how being “dumb with light” is now correlated with everything from cancer and diabetes to autoimmune and psychiatric disorders.When to wake up, how much outdoor light we need daily, the massive difference in lux between indoor and outdoor light, and the critical role of the brain’s internal clock.Why early sunlight matters, and how flawed studies distorted our understanding of sunlight and cataracts.The rise in breast cancer since widespread electrification—now 70x more common.How hospital window placement can influence recovery from depression and anxiety by up to 50%.Why Dr. Moore-Ede gets outside every day—rain, sun, or snow—without sunglasses or eyewear.Whether you're new to circadian science or already light-aware, this episode will shift how you think about health.Contact and Resources: Website – thelightdoctor.com Website – bluesafe24.com Website – circadianlight.orgReferenced Studies Mentioned:Gbyl K et al. (2016). Southeast-facing hospital rooms and faster discharge. Neuropsychobiology.Farahmand B et al. (2009). Golf and reduced mortality. Scand J Med Sci Sports.Boubekri M et al. (2014). Daylight improves health and sleep in office workers. J Clin Sleep Med.Teicher MH et al. (2023). Bright light therapy boosts brain function in adolescents. PLoS One.Support the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Aug 20, 2025 • 1h 2min
Unmasking the Toxic Tsunami: How Environmental Poisons Fuel Chronic Disease & How to Detox for Lifelong Health with Dr. Kelly McCann, MD
Toxicity is something I’ve been focusing on more than ever—because it’s everywhere. From the water we drink to the air we breathe, the buildings we live and work in, even the everyday products we use—environmental toxins are silently impacting our health at the deepest levels.That’s why I’m excited to bring you this powerful conversation with Dr. Kelly McCann—an integrative physician and true pioneer in environmental medicine. Dr. McCann has called environmental toxins the “tsunami” behind today’s chronic disease epidemic, and in this episode, she breaks down exactly why.Whether you've been told you're "too sensitive" to chemicals or you've been struggling with chronic symptoms that no one can seem to explain, this episode is a must-listen.Dr. McCann has helped thousands of patients navigate complex medical issues—chronic illness, autoimmune disease, gut dysfunction, hormone imbalances, and more—through compassionate, root-cause-focused care. Her approach blends deep clinical expertise with a calm, healing presence that’s helped so many on their path to wellness.In this episode, we explore:Environmental toxicity at the core of the chronic disease crisis & why environmental medicine is the most overlooked component in the functional health arena.The difference between persistent vs non-persistent toxins—and why total load mattersMast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), multiple chemical sensitivity & hidden triggersHow to effectively detox your home and your bodyThe truth about sweating: passive vs active detox, sauna protocols, and what actually worksDr. McCann’s clinical insights on binders and supporting sensitive patientsThe crucial connection between antioxidant enzymes and longevityHow environmental toxins interact with gene variants—leading to thicker blood, strokes, and heart attacksConnect with Dr. Kelly McCann: 🔗 Website: drkellymccann.com 📱 Instagram: @drkellymccannResources & Mentions: 🎙️ Podcast with Dr. Tania Dempsey: Watch here 🎙️ Podcast with Dr. Neil Nathan: Watch here 📚 Research by Stephen Genuis: Explore here 📖 Book – Breaking Alzheimer’s by Dayan Goodenowe: View on GoodreadsSupport the showFollow Steve's socials: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTokSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/


