The Made to Thrive Show

We always assumed brain trauma was acute and in the moment, but the truth is damage slowly accumulates and we can neither see nor often feel it. This TBI chronic neuroinflammation is invisible and silently compromising our cognitive health and performance. But we have the tools and technologies to uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface, mapping out our own unique, personalised brain terrain. And more importantly, we can use those insights to deploy targeted therapeutic protocols, addressing vulnerabilities and supporting the brain’s remarkable capacity to repair and regenerate. That’s what my guest today calls “backfilling the brain”.Dr. Greg Eckel is a Naturopathic Physician & Licensed Acupuncturist. His integrative approach combines traditional healing practices with modern technologies, emphasising prevention, wellness and the treatment of chronic illness. His personal journey took a profound turn when his wife was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, inspiring a deep exploration of regenerative medicine and brain health. This led him to develop a brain regeneration programme and a nasal spray designed to target neuroinflammation. Today, his work incorporates sound and laser technologies, bioenergetics, regenerative therapies and mind-body techniques, driven by his belief that frequency-based medicine represents an important frontier in healthcare.Contact:Website - https://agemed.orgWebsite - https://brainregen.com Join us as we explore:Neuro-regeneration - yes renewing and regrowing the brain with the Eckel protocol.Why uncovering and mapping the biological terrain is Dr Eckel’s key success step.The risk of TBI is not just the one-off event - it’s the cumulative traumas and chronic neuroinflammation. The Silver Tsunami, and tackling Parkinson’s with a root cause, functional approach and whether factors are casual or correlative. Hyperbaric chamber therapy for TBIs and “backfilling” TBIs.Plasmalogens, mitochondria, peptides, lasers and other components of and treatment tools to treat biological terrain.Post-viral syndrome. MentionsBook - End of Alzheimer’s, Dr Dale BredesenBook - When Brains Collide, Dr Michael LewisDiagnostic - P300, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P300_(neuroscience) Diagnostic - Me Screen, https://www.mescreen.co.zaSupport 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/

Two suitcases each, four kids, one Border Collie, and one-way tickets to rural southern India. That’s what it took for Dr. Ravi Kumar to begin healing from burnout. After a decade of working 100-hour weeks, surviving on minimal sleep and even less self-care, the once unstoppable and seemingly invincible neurosurgeon reached a breaking point. He knew that if he didn’t make a radical, meaningful change to his lifestyle, he might not survive much longer. And remarkably, within just a month of unplugging from the relentless demands of his former life, his physiology began returning to normal. Dr. Kumar eventually returned to the United States, but he was no longer the same man who had left. Today, he works only part-time as a neurosurgeon, having redirected much of his time, energy and purpose towards a different kind of healing: empowering people with the knowledge to take control of their own health. Dr. Ravi Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina. He earned his MD from Texas A&M University College of Medicine in 2010 and completed his neurosurgery residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in 2017. He has trained and operated in the highest-stakes corner of clinical care, where the difference between what the evidence says and what actually helps a patient is not academic. The Dr. Kumar Discovery grew out of a simple frustration: most health information the public sees is either watered-down, wrong, or sold. Dr. Kumar started this platform to do the opposite, to read the primary research himself and translate what it genuinely shows, including when the honest answer is “we don’t know yet.”Contact:Website - https://drkumardiscovery.comJoin us as we explore:How a high-performing neurosurgeon burnt out completely, received no answers from the medical fraternity and to recover sold his home and medical practice and moved his family of 4 kids and a dog to southern India.How sleep architecture reflects overall health and vitality, brain washes and Alzheimer’s and how our sleep architecture changes as we age.A neuroscience breakdown of deep sleep and REM sleep.The shocking increase in dementia risk by chronically sleeping less than 6 hours.How creatine creates energy.The biggest sleep stressors, the best sleep and stress supplements and pink noiseSupport 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/

What I loved about this episode is that Dr Adeel Khan isn’t interested in hype. He’s refreshingly cautious about the overpromising surrounding certain longevity interventions and even AI, and he backs up his perspective with real-world clinical experience and firsthand research—including spending four months in China, witnessing the cutting edge of regenerative medicine. Meanwhile, across his clinics, Dr Khan is already exploring and working with some of the most exciting emerging therapies in medicine, from peptides and follistatin gene therapy to MUSE stem cells and the rapidly evolving field of proteomics. This is a true regenerative medicine masterclass, with a clinician who isn’t afraid to speak openly and honestly about the science, the results, the limitations, the costs and, crucially, how accessible these therapies really are.Dr Adeel Khan is a leading voice in regenerative medicine, pioneering innovative approaches to health, longevity and recovery through stem cell therapies, peptides and cellular repair. His work has attracted international attention, with high-profile clients reportedly including Chris Hemsworth, Tony Robbins and Chris Bumstead. Through collaborations with scientists and medical specialists across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, he has helped establish Eterna Health, a clinic focused on emerging regenerative therapies. Contact:Website - https://eterna.healthJoin us as we explore:A regenerative health masterclass from a practitioner working everyday with cutting-edge tools on high-performance clients.The regenerative medicine cost pyramid, cellular terrain, peptides, the Wolverine stack, Klotho, follistatin gene therapy and the emerging field of proteomics.Why proteomics are more important than genomics.The two most exciting things coming from peptide medicine.The destructive impact of cortisone. MUSE stem cells, how to make them naturally and why their “stress enduring” nature makes them uniquely effective and risk-free as an intervention.Stem cell harvesting and storage.How far ahead China’s regenerative medicine sector is and why Hainan Island is the hub.Mentions:Proteomics - Sedona, https://www.sedonahealth.comProteomics - SomaScan, https://somalogic.com/somascan-platform/ 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/

Do you know what the first symptom is for 50% of cardiovascular disease patients? A heart attack or sudden cardiac death. That’s the terrifying reality of a disease that can progress silently for decades before making its presence known. But what if we could identify the danger long before symptoms appear? In today’s episode with diagnostic radiologist extraordinaire Dr James Thompson, we explore the cutting edge of preventative cardiology, from revolutionary diagnostic technologies and advanced cardiac imaging to the rapidly evolving power of AI to detect hidden risks, personalize interventions and potentially save lives. James J. Thompson, D.O., is a diagnostic radiologist and physicist specializing in advanced cardiovascular imaging, including cardiac CT and cardiovascular MRI. With more than 20 years of experience in cardiovascular imaging, his work combines clinical medicine, imaging physics, and emerging technologies in artificial intelligence. Dr. Thompson has extensive experience developing advanced cardiovascular imaging programs, including launching cardiac CT and cardiovascular MRI services, developing imaging protocols, and educating physicians and clinical teams. His clinical interests include coronary CT angiography, cardiovascular MRI, adult congenital heart disease, preventative cardiovascular imaging and quantitative imaging. His academic and research interests focus on the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced imaging technologies into cardiovascular care, with particular emphasis on earlier disease detection, improved diagnostic capabilities and the development of clinically meaningful imaging technologies. Contact: Website - https://drjamesthomps.comJoin us as we explore:Why preventative cardiac care is the most important proactive health step you can take right now.No, your “good” CAC score does not put your in the clear for cardiovascular event risk but AI is here to give us exact visuals and measurements of the most dangerous arterial plaque at the vessel level.  From soft to non-calcified to vulnerable to high risk plaque - why you need to understand and measure this.Why you have to know your VAT.Why a negative CTA test gives you a predictive value of nearly 100% and why Dr Thompson does not believe in doing imaging just for imaging sake.Why AI is NOT actually going to make radiologists extinct, but actually enhance their skills in disease identification and prevention.Mentions:Research - Williams M, Wereski R, Tuck C et al. Coronary CT angiography-guided management of patients with stable chest pain: 10-year outcomes from the SCOT-HEART randomised controlled trial in Scotland, The Lancet, 405, 329-337Research - NICE guidelines, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidanceSupport 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/

Will AI really cure cancer? Will we one day have nanobots swimming through our bloodstream, clearing the deadly plaque from our arteries? My guest today, Rajeev Kapur, believes this kind of future is coming—and perhaps sooner than we think. But while we wait for tomorrow’s breakthroughs, Rajeev wants to empower us to harness AI today, helping ordinary people get the most out of what may prove to be one of the greatest revolutions in human history.Rajeev Kapur helps non-technical leaders turn AI from a vague ambition into clear, practical results. A seasoned executive and plain-English educator, he cuts through the noise. His work focuses on education, government, and SMBs, where budgets are tight, and outcomes must be visible. He brings stakeholders together around shared understanding, clear ownership, realistic timelines, and measurable success. A keynote speaker and author of AI Made Simple, Rajeev combines real-world leadership with repeatable frameworks, so teams leave with momentum—not just inspiration. He has served as CEO of 1105 Media, Inc. for over a decade, drawing on decades of global business, strategy, and leadership experience to help organizations innovate and grow. Contact: Website - https://www.rajeev.aiJoin us as we explore:Making AI healthcare simple - which LLM to invest in, privacy, identity left risks and data confidentiality.3 critical steps on how to use AI in collaboration with your doctor.Will AI really create the history altering medical breakthroughs expected?The Superman effect.Will physicians and hospitals who do not partner with AI become defunct?MentionsTools - OpenEvidence, https://www.openevidence.com Book - AI Made Simple, https://www.amazon.com/Made-Simple-Beginners-Generative-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B0FP3XPVN5?th=1&psc=1Product - Ammortal Chamber, https://ammortal.com/products/ammortal-chamber 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/

Dr Ghomi has been in the trenches of brain health and mental performance for decades. As a clinical physician, he works with real people facing real-life challenges while simultaneously operating at the cutting edge of diagnostics, therapeutics and AI-driven healthcare. As a returning guest, we catch up on the latest developments since our last conversation before tackling questions from people struggling with anxiety, poor sleep and brain fog.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:Mental performance is plummeting and brain rot is real - so what are the most cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic tools and techniques available to us?“My blood work is all normal, but my mind is foggy and my memory isn’t sharp, now what?”The three biggest food culprits for poor mental performance.The pros and cons of giving the AI LLM’s your health data, plus some helpful guidelines for a better, safer experience.What sets apart contained, specifically directed LLM’s like OpenEvidence?Using the human voice to diagnose brain health challenges from depression to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.Dr Ghomi’s experience and opinion on peptides and GLP drugs.MentionsTools - OpenEvidence, https://www.openevidence.com 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/

Yes, we live in a chronically overstimulated world. Yes, our attention is increasingly fragmented. And yes, we’re constantly monitoring email, WhatsApp, Slack, social media and more. But what if the solutions to winning the brain game aren’t nearly as complicated as the problem makes them seem? That’s what I love about returning guest Dr Tommy Wood: he keeps it gentle, truthful, practical and simple. The challenges facing our brains are real, but this episode is genuinely hopeful because protecting your brain, improving your cognitive performance and building resilience doesn’t require turning your life upside down. It truly is possible to win the brain game—with realistic, consistent effort.Dr Tommy Wood is Assistant Professor of Paediatrics and Neuroscience at the University of Washington, where he conducts research focusing on ways to increase resilience and treat injury in the developing brain. He holds a degree in biochemistry from Cambridge, a medical degree from Oxford, and achieved his PhD in physiology and neuroscience in Oslo. When it comes to brain health and longevity, Tommy’s knowledge is second to none. He has an impressive range of experience across a variety of different disciplines, which gives him both a broad perspective and an incredibly specialised area of expertise.Join us as we explore:The shifting landscape of mental health, burnout, dementia burden and cognitive decline.Are you running out of brain room?How to win the brain game?How to structure your workday for brain benefits, re-training for attention and the power of the pomodoro technique.The most impactful down-regulating tactics.The most objective and reputable ways to measure your brain health and performance.The most impactful types of exercise for brain health and cognitive longevity.The most critical micronutrients to prevent trophic-driven dementia.Mentions:Assessment - BetterBrain, https://www.betterbrain.comAssessment - Creyos, https://creyos.comAssessment - Food For The Brain, https://foodforthebrain.org/the-cognitive-function-test/ Book - Attention Span, https://gloriamark.com/attention-span/Study - Hallbeck, M. S., Lowndes, B. R., Bingener, J., Abdelrahman, A. M., Yu, D., Bartley, A., & Park, A. E. (2017). The impact of intraoperative microbreaks with exercises on surgeons: A multi-center cohort study.Applied Ergonomics, 60, 334-341.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/

Dr Frank Shallenberger is a board-certified physician in anti-ageing medicine and US President of the American Association of Ozone Therapy. He’s been a pioneer in the field of ozone for over 40 years, and more than that he has been a pioneer in the field of medicine. Dr Frank also developed a new area of Ozone Therapy, referred to as Prolozone®. Prolozone® is an injection technique that has been shown to regenerate damaged joints, herniated discs, and degenerated joints, tendons, and soft tissues. Known as the “Teacher’s Teacher”, he’s a mentor to Dr Stave Stavs, who describes him as a man of truth, honesty and integrity, who has stood up for what is right, what is effective and what has been used for generations. Join us as we explore:The counterintuitive nature of oxidative stressWhat is Ozone Therapy?The effectiveness of ozone on your immune systemThe ins and outs of Prolozone (injectables) and why it's so important The benefits of hydrogen peroxide in treating health issuesTonsils and the immune systemMajor and Minor AutohemotherapyThe future of Ozone TherapyJoin our community:Facebook MadeToThriveZA; SteveStavsZAInstagram SteveStavsZAMentions:Book: Frank Shallenberger - The Ozone Miracle: How you can harness the power of oxygen to keep you and your family healthy https://www.amazon.com/Ozone-Miracle-harness-oxygen-healthy-ebook/dp/B06XDCGPCFProlozone Therapy: Frank Shallenberger, Journal of Prolotherapy: Prolozone – Regenerating Joints and Eliminating Pain. https://journalofprolotherapy.com/prolozone-regenerating-joints-and-eliminating-pain/Book: Thomas E Levy - Rapid Virus Recovery https://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Virus-Recovery-Thomas-Levy-ebook/dp/B095C8PWVF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QTBX2U0KUQCQ&keywords=rapid+virus+recovery+book+by+thomas+levyYouTube video: Disease is Optional Part 1- Frank Shallenberger 5 part video seriesOzone Courses / Training: http://www.shallenbergerozonecourse.comContact Dr Frank Shallenbergerhttps://ozoneclinic.co.za/https://www.antiagingmedicine.comhttp://www.shallenbergerozonecourse.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/OzoneWellnessTherapy/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/

Wow! This podcast was nonstop sleep information gold from the sleep doctor of all sleep doctors. It is incredible how much you can transform your sleep by just listening to this hour with a true sleep guru. Dr. Michael J.Breus, The Sleep Doctor, is a clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in his field. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Breus is one of the only psychologists to pass the Sleep Medicine Specialty board without attending medical school. In 2021, Reader’s Digest named him the best sleep specialist in the state of California. Dr. Breus is also a best-selling author. His publications include four books – Good Night: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health (2006), The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep (2011), The Power of When: Discover Your Chronotype–and the Best Time to Eat Lunch, Ask for a Raise, Have Sex, Write a Novel, Take Your Meds, and More (2016) and Energize!: Go From Dragging Ass to Kicking It in 30 Days (2021).Dr. Breus lectures all over the world and serves as an expert resource for most major publications, doing more than 250 interviews per year.Join us as we explore:An amazing, in-depth journey through the sleep cycles, sleep stages, sleep drive, sleep trackers and how that relates to your health and wellbeing.Whether it is more important to go to bed at the same time every day or wake up at the same time every day?Why sleeping in on the weekends is far more detrimental to your health than you can imagine!If you’re a bear, a wolf, a dolphin, an early bird or a lion?A caffeine masterclass! When to have it, when not to and why a lot of people are not getting any bang for their coffee buck.Why HRV is correlated to your sleeping patterns and quality.The Sleep Doctor’s easy to do 5 step plan to excellent sleep!Absolutely everything about sleep supplements – melatonin, cannabis, valerian, sleeping aids and more.Mentions:Quiz – The Chrono Quiz, https://thesleepdoctor.com/sleep-quizzes/chronotype-quiz/Study - Negative effects of restricted sleep on facial appearance and social appeal, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5451790/Podcast – Four Sigmatic - Functional & Medicinal Mushrooms, Nootropics, and Smart Drugs, https://youtu.be/opqG7P_PB-wProduct – ChiliPad, https://madetothrive.co.za/special-deals/chili/Product – EBB, https://sleepgadgets.io/ebb-sleep-cooling-headband/Product – Apollo Neuro, https://madetothrive.co.za/special-deals/apollo-neuro-stress-relief-device/  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/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/

Ben Azadi, health educator, author, and founder of Keto Kamp, shares his roadmap to metabolic freedom. Explore why metabolism is not doomed by age, how fasting insulin reveals hidden dysfunction, and why metabolic flexibility matters. He also discusses personalized fasting, muscle and protein, CGMs and DEXA scans, mindset, and practical tools such as sauna, cold exposure, walking, and sunlight.