Align Podcast

What did you learn from the challenges you surpassed? Do you think that self-confidence is key to “winning” or thriving in life?   In this episode of the Align Podcast, Chris Duffin and I chat about the challenging and uncomfortable situations that we may face in our lives and how surpassing those is the only way for us to grow both mentally, but physically too. In fact, the same can be said about your muscles.   We also talk about Chris’ impressive training techniques that have been tested and clinically proven to get the results most people are looking for when weight lifting, but with less weight and less training time. Known as the BFR (blood flow restriction) method, this allows your body to actively flush your body’s toxins and forces both lymphatic and blood drainage. In fact, this method reduces the blood flow in your body to an area, provoking deep muscle fatigue sooner. This causes hypertrophy, which is an increase and growth of your muscle. Chris Duffin is an inventor, thought leader, and serial entrepreneur in Health and Fitness. He has Co-Founded multiple prominent brands the largest of which, Kabuki Strength. Chris has invented multiple ‘game-changing’ products improving human biomechanics under load, as well as systemized approaches to assessing and correcting human movement dysfunctions. Find out more about Chris: Website: christopherduffin.com Book: The Eagle and the Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention Instagram:@mad_scientist_duffin

In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Amen and I discuss the stigma towards mental illness and how it makes those who are suffering feel ashamed, which can worsen their symptoms and conditions. While most doctors might look at mental illness as a simple diagnosis, Dr. Amen was thought to think of people going through these health conditions not as someone with a diagnosis, but as a whole by considering the four circles of life; biological, psychological, social, and spiritual.    Plus, we also talk about how to deal with negative thoughts and a negative mindset. The first thing is to be able to detach ourselves from our thoughts, so we can deeply question them. Then, it is important to live with the end, meaning death, in mind. This way, we are much more likely to be present and take advantage of the now.   Dr.Daniel Amen is one of America’s leading psychiatrists and brain health experts. Dr. Amen has helped millions of people change their brains and lives through his health clinics, best-selling books, products and public television programs.He has appeared on numerous television shows including Dr. Phil, Larry King, Dr. Oz, The Doctors, and The View.   To learn more about Dr. Amen:   Website: danielamenmd.com Book: Change Your Brain Change Your Life Podcast: The Brain Warrior’s Way Instagram: @doc_amen  

What is embodied cognition? How do our senses help us process our reality? How can psychedelics help us let go and surrender? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Kyle and I discuss psychedelics. Kyle narrates his 17-day experience with a medicine known for allowing its users to continue living through the experience during their sleep, with one single dosage. Further on, we also discuss depression and what is currently going on in the world.  Another interesting subject we cover is the value of intentionality. We are intentional about certain things, such as a business. but then we can be completely unintentional about other things, such as a geographic location. However, having acceptance and love for whatever your answers are to what you are intentional and unintentional about is essential. There’s no answer to what is the right or wrong way to live a life, but you must have the awareness to be able to engage with the choices you make.  Kyle Kingsbury is the host of the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast, is an optimization expert, everyday shaman, full-time coach on the Fit For Service Fellowship, and a former UFC fighter.

How important is blood sugar stability to your overall health? What happens if we don’t have that? How should we be eating for optimal energy, brain function, and to achieve satiety? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Will Cole and I discuss how exactly fasting affects our levels of hunger and our health. In fact,  fasting in a ketogenic diet, where most of the diet is plant-based, is a proven and effective way to help stabilize blood sugar, if done consistently.  Plus, Will discusses the benefits of eating and living intuitively and why he supports this lifestyle, beyond what the medical data says. He encourages people to check within themselves; check on their sleep quality, their energy levels, their brain functions, and to learn to listen to what feels better for themselves. This is the best way to achieve optimal health; by simply listening to your body.   Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional-medicine expert. Dr. Cole was named one of the top 50 functional-medicine and integrative doctors in the nation and is a health expert and course instructor for the world’s largest wellness brands such as mindbodygreen and goop.   To learn more about Dr. Will Cole:   Website: drwillcole.com Instagram: @drwillcole Podcast: The Art of Being Well with Dr. Will Cole Book: Intuitive Fasting  

Are you sleeping enough, eating enough, hydrating enough, or socializing enough? What happens if the answer is “no”? At what point will efficiency become a burden to our biology? In this Episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Ruscio and I talk about how the answer to our health issues often lies in the foundational layers of our health. Too often, we have the initial reaction to look beyond those layers, when the answer to our conditions or disease lies in what we nourish and treat our bodies on a daily basis. Plus, we talk about how moderation is key to everything. We all have different bodies, so we must all make use of measures on a moderate basis, such as dieting and exercising, as all of our bodies will respond in their own unique way. Lastly, stress isn't always a hazard. When loaded properly, stressors help our organisms become more resilient, every time we recover.   Dr. Ruscio is a Doctor of Natural Medicine, Doctor of Chiropractic, clinical researcher, and author. His book, Healthy Gut Healthy You, has helped countless patients regain their health even when numerous doctors have been unable to. What we discuss:   02:19: At what point can efficiency become a burden to our biology? 05:22: Under what circumstances is stress beneficial? 06:31: Gut health issues and how they manifest in the US population 08:59: How Dr. Ruscio got into this field 13:23: How can we determine the likelihood of an issue coming from the gut? 14:43: What is an effective way to determine a gut-joint-related issue? 17:07: What are FODMAPs and how do they work? 23:09: Diets, food sourcing. and quality ingredients 27:53: Scientific research behind the cellular impact of feeling connected to something greater than yourself 34:36: Is sun exposure dangerous? 37:06: Vitamin D: supplements for the microbiota 38:16: Why is there an epidemic of undiagnosed sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome? 45:57: What is bloating and how can we use probiotics to reduce bloating? 53:09: What is the gut, actually? 56:27: The gut-brain relationship 58:56: The detrimental effects of excessive exercise 1:07:08: The ultimate balance in medicine   To learn more about Dr. Ruscio: Instagram: @drruscio Website: drruscio.com Book: Healthy Gut, Healthy You

Where did COVID come from? What can you do right now to make sure you can fight the virus, if you are ever infected? Should you get vaccinated?   In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Steven Quay and I discuss how the Coronavirus has been able to develop so quickly in the human body, the mechanisms of it, and how our immune system works to fight it. We talk about how exactly vaccines act to help our body fight viruses and how the antibody-dependent enhancement’s (ADE) unpredictability can affect people of different ages.   Plus, Dr. Quay points out how the posture that we tend to hold during the day causes us to lose lung capacity. With our lungs and intercostal muscles being primordial to effectively fight the hazards of COVID, he suggests a yoga-based practice to help us develop both of these capacities.   Dr. Steven Quay has over 360 published contributions to medicine, placing him in the top 1% of scientists worldwide. He holds 87 US patents and has invented seven FDA-approved pharmaceuticals which have helped over 80 million people. He is the author of the best-selling book on surviving the pandemic, Stay Safe: A Physician's Guide to Survive Coronavirus. What we discuss: 03:58: How can we train our body to help combat COVID and other respiratory diseases?   06:09: Aaron’s symptoms when he was infected with COVID   08:04: What does Dr. Quay recommend you do to fight Covid?   09:20: Supportive breathing practices you can start today   10:27: Where does the virus originate from?   15:19: What kind of repercussions has Dr. Quay faced for his scientific opinions?    17:59: What will the world be like post-vaccination?   19:06: Should young and healthy people take the vaccine?   20:35: The race between covid-2 vs the immune system   21:42: Are masks effective?   27:39: What does the future of the coronavirus look like?   30:41: The antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)   32:28: What is the virus’ infection mechanism?   34:39: Describing the 3 phases of the virus   36:09: The burden of COVID in our world and political implications   40:56: Physiologic response to the vaccine Vs developed immune response   47:03: Why did Dr. Quay write his book?   48:50: What can we do to protect ourselves if we suspect we were exposed to the virus?   49:55: Why does it turn into pneumonia?   52:31: The issue with western medicine not looking at the importance of nutrition 57:52: How the metro transport system could have been the conduit to spreading COVID in major cities   Learn more about Dr. Steven Quay:  

What is the cure to pain? What are we supposed to do with the learnings we gain from going through painful experiences? What does holding space actually mean? What happens when we withhold our own truth? In this episode of the Align podcast, Stefano shares with us why and how he hit rock bottom, how he expressed his addictions to sex, alcohol, physical extenuation, materialism, status, and how someone living through a similar passage can find peace with their story.  Plus, we explore the reality that most of us act according to what people feel is “normal” and expected by our society, which results in us feeling ashamed of expressing what we truly want and suppressing our own fantasies.  Stefanos Sifandos is a relationship alchemist, international speaker, and author who facilitates transformational growth through neuro-empowerment practices to help evolve and enhance relationships.   What we discuss:   06:03: Stefano’s 10 day fast in the wild 12:50:  What does ‘holding space’ actually mean? 14:27: How to cultivate depth within ourselves in order to be of supportive of others 15:28: Stefano’s story of learning through pain 20:04: How does one acknowledge their own story in order to re-write it? 24:50: Are there any 'neuroses' that can't be healed by love? 28:34: Is it possible to re-parent ourselves? 29:30: What shame feels like to Stefano 35:55: How to come to peace with your own story 37:00: More about relationships 40:00: Thriving in familiarity Vs novelty 46:13: Masculine and feminine energy - how does polarity work? 51:33: How can we relate to each other effectively? 57:36: How a female embodies feminine elements to attract a masculine figure 1:04:49: Will society erupt? 1:05:39: Is equilibrium even sustainable? 1:10:31: Modern use of psychoactive substances to address trauma and wounds   To learn more about Stefanos:   Website: stefanossifandos.com Instagram: @stefanossifandos

Can the dietary choices we make right now affect how we feel later in the day? What’s the difference between “doing” health and creating health? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Drew and I discuss how the food that we consume can impact our mental health both in a positive or negative way. For example, incorporating brain food such as omega-3 fatty acids and leafy greens are proven to help promote healthy brain functions and keep your mood stable.  Plus, we talk about how individuality is not something that is taken into consideration on social media when advice is shared in regards to health and diets. We all have different genetics and needs in terms of nutrition and following a cookie-cutter rule for nutrition can lead to unintentional malnutrition.  Drew Ramsey, M.D. is a psychiatrist, author, and farmer. He is a clear voice in the mental health conversation and one of psychiatry's leading proponents of using nutritional interventions. He is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.   What we discuss:   03:26: The 6-week anti-depressive timeframe 04:21: Why Drew decided to focus on anxiety and depression 07:43: The impact on the health care system when the health care providers' mental health is not taken care of 11:28: Being in the cycle of nature 15:24: Bacterial exposure in nature and how it relates to mental health 20:29: How are bugs controlling us? 24:24: A prediction on the effect on young people being hindered from facial expressions due to the current mask usage 28:47: What is nutritional psychiatry? 34:06: How does social media influence our choices and the dangers of not considering our individuality 37:53: Why some patients might feel worse in their first psychiatry appointment 40:51: Are we at an inflexible point in the masculinity shift? 50:53: How will the world be after COVID in regards to social and sanitization matters 55:24: Discussion on labeling people with a certain pathology 57:23: What can awareness actually do? 1:01:22: Drew's Ramsey book 1:07:55: What’s next in medical research? 1:18:26: Olive oil; why it should be the main fat we consume 1:19:26: Top foods that might cause depression from a nutritional standpoint More about Drew: Website: drewramseymd.com Instagram: @drewramseymd Book: Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety

For some of us, we tend to say yes to any opportunity that comes our way. For others, we just aren't able to say no to favors that are being asked of us. But why is that? Why do we say YES when we want to scream NO? In this episode of the Align Podcast, Christine Hassler and I define issue-based relationships, how to build a proper foundation for opening up to relationships, and what type of people should be staying single at certain points in their lives.  Plus, we cover how compensatory strategies are formed in childhood as coping mechanisms that are later reflected throughout our adult lives. Christine Hassler is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, master coach, and podcast host who is committed to guiding people and organizations into their highest potential.   What we discuss:   02:00: Christine's process in saying “no” 05:04: Where does the fear of saying “no” come from? 08:34: How can someone recognize their own compensatory patterns? What is the expectation hangover? 11:16: Why are we here? 12:54: Does the ideal mate exist? 17:25: How to create a foundation in order to open up space for a relationship 20:42: What are issue-based relationships? 23:02: Can a relationship just be easy? 25:02: Can we create a healthy foundation by examining our childhood? 28:48: how to connect to ourselves as a child 30:59: Christine's first deep inner child meditation 42:34: Who should stay single? 45:59: How does Christine define God + her religious upbringing 1:03:44: How are our outer experiences a reflection of the inner reality?   To learn more about Christine:   Website: christinehassler.com Instagram: @christinehassler Podcast: Over It & On With It

What is a thought? Where are our thoughts located? What weight do our thoughts have?  In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Caroline Leaf and I discuss what defines the concept of thoughts and how exactly they affect our body and our DNA. In fact, the human brain is capable to identify toxic and negative thoughts and treat them as foreign invaders, similar to how our bodies react to foreign invaders that attack our immune system. Plus, Dr. Leaf shares with us a proven 5 step process that is designed to help us overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and more.  Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist, specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. She has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is also the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, Think and Eat Yourself Smart, and many more.   What we discuss: 02:02: What is a thought? Where are thoughts located? What weight do our thoughts have? 06:12: How much control do we have over our entire thought process? 08:01: Dr. Leaf’s path to engaging in the knowledge of the mind 14:4: How do we experience things through our mind? 18:29: An explanation to why we don’t have a negative bias 19:18: Why are our brains drawn to the negative? 23:16: What is consciousness and unconsciousness? How do they relate to each other? 36:55: Where does shame come from? 43:27: Breaking down the NeuroCycle 51:55: The advantage of multi-perspective To learn more about Dr. Leaf:   Website: drleaf.com Instagram: @drcarolineleaf Podcast: Cleaning Up the Mental Mess Book: Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess