The Vitalist

Your nervous system is always working in the background, shaping your perceptions, your mood, your reactions, and even your chronic symptoms. Yet most of us were never taught how it actually works. In this episode of The Vitalist, Dr. Sera talks with author and autonomic expert Gabriel Kram about the real biology behind stress and human behavior. Together they break down why the nervous system, not just the brain, drives your moment-to-moment experience, and how its early wiring determines what feels safe, overwhelming, or threatening. They explore the map to your nervous system: Connection, Movement, and Grounding systems. These states influence your physiology, and they discuss how your body can hold onto long-term patterns that affect your daily life. Inside the episode: How your body evaluates risk beneath awareness Why anxiety is often a mobilized response with nowhere to go How shutdown protects the system and why it feels like numbness, fatigue, or collapse The developmental window (womb to 18 months) that sets the foundation for lifelong patterns Why chronic conditions often reflect accumulated allostatic load, not isolated events How attention, behavior, and even identity emerge from repeated autonomic states BIO: Gabriel Kram is an ancestral neuroscience pioneer, author, inventor and entrepreneur. For 30 years he has studied the intersections of neurophysiology, mindful awareness, and Indigenous Lifeways, mentored by world leading experts in the art and science of connection and wellbeing, and Indigenous Elders from many lineages and cultures. In the summer of 2024 his company, Hearth Science, rewrote the neural cartography of the living autonomic nervous system, the biological system that has the deepest shaping force on our moment to moment experience of wellbeing. HIGHLIGHTS: Why does your nervous system and not your brain set the template for how you process energy, handle stress, and stay in balance? (3:43) Neuroscientists are now saying the nervous system isn't centered in the brain at all but operates as a whole body network with dozens of distributed "brains"? (6:06) How does your nervous system react to the world seconds before you consciously register what's happening? (7:26) What if the fight–flight–freeze model is only a fraction of the story and your nervous system is actually a dynamic, mixed-response system adjusting to the entire experience. (12:25) How does your body evaluate safety and danger beneath awareness through a built in surveillance system called neuroception? (12:51) Gabriel introduces the three nerve system phases; connection, movement, and grounding which create your everyday behaviors, emotions, and choices? (14:06) How to identify what state you are in using cues to locate yourself on the nervous system map? (16:22) Anxiety is often the residue of survival energy your body never got to fully move and process? (21:26) Why we feel anxious when there is no current threat? (23:48) Unlike animals, humans can override the stress response to maintain social connection? (24:40) How do your earliest experiences from the womb to 18 months lay the foundation for how you perceive safety in your life? (26:36) There are no 'bad' autonomic states, it's when we get stuck in one state and can't make our way back to safety and connection. (30:42) How does your nervous system store patterned responses from early life, creating predictable reactions decades later? (32:54) Why do chronic symptoms often reflect years of accumulated load your nervous system couldn't fully process and discharge. (39:51) "Allopathic medicine has never diagnosed or treated a stress related disorder successfully, it is fundamentally incapable of this." (45:39) How people pleasing and appeasing patterns create autoimmune conditions. (49:16) How to help people using the autonomic compass so they can orient and become aware of their autonomic states. (50:06) How Gabriel works with people in his current clinic and works with people with years of stress accumulation. (51:16) How someone with Chronic Pain Syndrome presents and how to understand it. (54:05) Try this proprioceptive activity to feel how the whole body responds. (55:26) Gabriel closes with how widespread dysregulation is not just a personal burden but a deeper breakdown in community, belonging, and shared safety? (57:56) A simple book for finding home in your nervous system book to help people understand how they live in their body. (61:37) RESOURCES: https://www.hearthscience.io/ Autonomics Tool: https://www.autonomics.health/ https://www.neurobiologyofconnection.com/ Explore Gabriel's Books: https://restorativepractices.com/product-catalog/ https://www.naturezagabriel.com/ White Paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395656181_Towards_an_Accurate_In_Vivo_Reconceptualizing_of_Autonomic_State Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us https://www.instagram.com/thevitalistpodcast/ https://thevitalistpodcast.com/ Visit us https://www.instagram.com/kinfolkoptimalliving/# https://www.kinfolkoptimalliving.com/

In this episode of The Vitalist, Dr. Keiko sits down with yoga and spiritual teacher Jenn Chiarelli to explore the quiet intelligence that lives in the body. Jenn shares her early years as a professional ballerina and the moment yoga cracked something open in her, shifting her from perfection to presence. She reflects on the practices that helped her reconnect to her essence: breathwork, subtle movement, mantra, meditation, and the lifelong inquiry that continues to guide her: Who am I? Together, Dr. Keiko and Jenn explore what it means to soften, to listen, and to trust the messages that arise in your body, especially when life feels buzzy, overwhelming, or demanding. They talk about injuries as wake-up calls, the art of holding space, and why even five minutes of stillness can change the direction of your day. BIO: Jenn Chiarelli is a lifelong yogi, E-RYT 500, and founder of Anahata Soul with over 10,000 hours of teaching experience. A former professional ballerina with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, she performed principal roles in works by Balanchine, Martha Graham, and more. Jenn's spiritual practice is rooted in Kundalini Meditation under the guidance of Swami Khecaranatha. She teaches internationally, leading trainings, retreats, and workshops known for their grounding, heart-opening approach to movement and meditation. HIGHLIGHTS: Jenn shares her path from second-grade ballet class to a professional career, and how movement became her first language of self-expression. (2:05) Realizing ballet wouldn't last forever, Jenn turns to Ashtanga and is humbled by how much strength she still had to build. (3:55) A spiritual center leads her to a nurturing hatha teacher, helping her balance intensity with softness. (4:30) Jenn recalls her transformative teacher training at the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. (5:29) Her advice for beginners: don't stop after one teacher. Find the style of yoga your body and spirit resonate with. (5:59) How yoga offered what ballet couldn't: presence without criticism, and space to feel instead of perform. (6:45) Jenn remembers the first moment she touched her essence during subtle "movement inquiries" in an open-air shala in Costa Rica. (7:49) She explains how to process what arises in yoga: through breath, posture, chanting, and the cleansing support of the ocean. (10:19) For those new to spiritual practice, Jenn emphasizes safety: you don't need a teacher in your face, you need one who holds space. (11:41) How beginners can connect more deeply to breath: start by noticing you're breathing; slow it down with Durga pranayama. (14:11) Understanding Ujjayi (fog breath), the warming, oceanic breath that reconnects you to your body. (15:25) Meditation begins simply: follow your breath and let it lead you inward. (17:05) Jenn reflects on a childhood shaped by Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, candle gazing, and early metaphysical teachings. (18:28) The book that changed everything: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, heard on an eight-hour drive. (20:07) On the unseen forces that guide us, and the power of asking "Who am I?" again and again. (21:01) Why meditation is essential if we're practicing yoga as union. (23:05) Jenn shares the moment injuries made her question her trust in her body and how they act as wake-up calls. (24:29) Navigating the buzziness of the mind while honoring the stillness beneath it. (27:11) Tools to connect with your energetic essence: mantra, mala beads, chanting, and years of training that help you drop in quickly. (30:40) The simplest practice: give yourself five minutes of stillness each day to meet yourself again. (33:32) The hardest part of teaching spiritually: being the mirror, and not taking others' projection personally. (34:45) The one-word teaching she received from her teacher: "Surrender." (35:36) The one thing she wishes all students embodied: the reminder to continually turn inward. (38:35) Where to connect with Jenn and explore her offerings. (39:47) RESOURCES: Visit Jenn's Website: https://www.anahatasoul.com/ Follow Jenn: https://www.instagram.com/jennigirlyoga/ Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us https://www.instagram.com/thevitalistpodcast/ https://thevitalistpodcast.com/ Visit us https://www.instagram.com/kinfolkoptimalliving/# https://www.kinfolkoptimalliving.com/

This week on The Vitalist, I sat down with Dr. Jocelyn Connolly, Co-founder of The Vagina Doc to talk about the part of our body we've been taught to whisper about, ignore, and tighten. The pelvis is a place where we hold our stories, our stress, our pleasure, our fear… and our power. Dr. Jocelyn is bold, brilliant, and refreshingly honest about pelvic health and she's on a mission to help women understand that their pelvic floor is not meant to be "tight." It's meant to be responsive, alive, and in relationship with your breath. In this conversation, she shares the moment everything changed for her, an emotional first pelvic exam with her mentor that helped her release years of shame and finally reconnect with her body. It's the kind of story that makes you realize why so many women struggle with this area of their body. Here's what we talked about: Why stress is the #1 reason pelvic floors go out of balance The difference between a "deep core" and the six-pack culture we grew up with How birth, posture, breath, and even personality types shape pelvic tone Why so many women who look "strong" on the outside feel weak on the inside How sensation training can actually enhance orgasms If you've ever dealt with leaking, pain with sex, disconnect, shame, birth trauma, or just the quiet belief that "something is off," this episode goes right to the truth. BIO: Our guest is Dr. Jocelyn Connolly, PT, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Pelvic Health Specialist, and Co-Founder of The Vagina Docs, a bold, feminist-forward practice redefining how we talk about and treat pelvic health. Her mission is to help people reconnect with their bodies through education, movement, and honest conversation. Known for her "Own It" approach, she blends science, storytelling, and humor to make pelvic health accessible, empowering, and deeply human. HIGHLIGHTS: Dr. Jocelyn shares her experience with being active, peeing her pants and pain with sex that led her to pursue a pelvic floor physical therapy. (2:08) How she connected the dots from her past symptoms to her pelvic floor while enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis. (4:08) Her fear and shame around having her pelvic floor examined until she met her mentor Katie, a pelvic floor PT. (5:13) Her fear of a pelvic exam and how meeting her mentor, Katie, changed everything. Their first exam together became the emotional turning point that put her on this path. (6:08) The role of the pelvic floor: from holding organs, movement, sex, lymphatic and brain (7:58) How the pelvic floor and core are connected to our breath. (9:30) The deep core explained: The diaphragm as the roof, the core muscles as the walls, and the pelvic floor as the foundation. (10:08) Stress is the most common cause of an imbalance of the pelvic floor because we breathe with the wrong muscles. (11:38) The common reasons people seek pelvic floor therapy… and the subtle dysfunctions most women ignore. (13:38) Pelvic floor therapists can catch things before a gynecologist, and provide alternatives to pelvic floor health that are more natural. (15:08) The culture of "tightness," the Kegel-only misconception, and why so many women are actually over-tightened, not weak. (16:08) Her cue for "taking up the slack," evaluating movement patterns, and identifying the pattern of being strong on the outside but weak in the deep core. (18:08) What "strong on the outside and weak on the inside" looks and feels like and how to check your deep core activation. (20:38) How vaginal vs. c-section births impact the pelvic system, and how labor positions change pelvic dynamics. (24:17) Male vs. female pelvic floors; the two layers of the pelvic floor and what each one does for sexual function and support. (27:33) How the pelvic floor changes over time especially with hormonal changes. (31:23) How to prime your body for a sneeze or cough to optimize pelvic floor engagement. Called the "knack" which prevents leakage. (33:28) How males can engage the pelvic floor with penis and scrotum cues. (35:18) How increasing sensation of the pelvic floor, enhances orgasms. (36:17) Dr. Jocelyn's DIY pelvic floor exam you can do on yourself. (38:38) What "owning it" means in terms of our life in relationships and boundaries. (39:48) A cue for type A personalities, and Type B personalities for their pelvic floor. (41:20) LINKS: Vagina Docs https://www.vaginadocs.com/ DIY Pelvic Floor Exam https://www.vaginadocs.com/pelvicfloor-diy-exam Instagram: Vagina Docs https://www.instagram.com/vaginadocs/ YouTube: Vagina Docs https://www.youtube.com/@vaginadocs TikTok: Vagina Docs https://www.tiktok.com/@thevaginadocs Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us https://www.instagram.com/thevitalistpodcast/ https://thevitalistpodcast.com/ Visit us https://www.instagram.com/kinfolkoptimalliving/# https://www.kinfolkoptimalliving.com/

In this episode, Dr. Sera sits down with Rev. Doctor Joanne Avison, author, body worker and fascia whisperer, to explore the living architecture of the human body. They discuss what happens when we move from seeing the body as parts to understanding the body as as a continuous network that communicates through light, sound, and movement. Joanne shares how embryology reveals the intelligence guiding our development, and why fascia is the substrate of our becoming. Together, they dive into the hidden continuity between the heart and tongue, what it really means to "speak from the heart," and why there's no such thing as one perfect yoga pose. They explore biotensegrity, how the body balances tension and compression, and how fascia stores memory. This episode challenges everything you thought you knew about anatomy. Joanne brings fascia, movement, and embryology together to show that the body isn't mechanical; the body is alive, intelligent, and continuously becoming. HIGHLIGHTS: The story of conception fascinates Joanne from every angle: physiological, anatomical, embryological, and spiritual. (1:45) "There ain't no muscle connected to no bone nowhere in nobody." — how one sentence from Tom Myers rewired everything Joanne knew about anatomy. (2:21) She went on to train with Tom, learned manual therapy, and helped proofread the first edition of Anatomy Trains. (3:40) Joanne uses Christine Wushke's "museum floors" analogy to describe different ways we understand anatomy, from naming parts to seeing the whole picture. (4:18) The second floor is Anatomy Trains, moving from separate bits to interconnected bands. (5:07) As a yoga teacher, she realized no two bodies move the same. There's no such thing as the pose, there's your version of it. (5:40) Anatomy trains were carved, not discovered. The body has always been one continuous whole. (8:45) Fascia isn't something that appears on day 18 of development, it's the foundation of how we become. (9:40) Joanne tells the story of dissecting the heart and discovering it's literally continuous with the tongue. We really do "speak from the heart." (10:51) The embryo teaches us: there is nothing mechanical about the human body. (12:33) Traditional biomechanics is based on levers and pulleys, but the human body doesn't actually work that way. (13:07) Every cell begins in the round, we are patterned in wholeness from the start. (13:26) The heart first forms in the crown before descending into the torso. (15:15) The egg and sperm represent archetypal opposites, largest and smallest, slowest and fastest. coming together to create life. (16:40) The first "cell division" is not division at all, it's cellular multiplication, an expansion of becoming. (19:19) Biotensegrity explains the intelligence of our developing limbs; a living balance of tension and compression. (25:17) Genes don't move. Motion and light do. The body organizes itself through energy and movement. (26:30) Fascia transmits light; a liquid crystalline medium of perception and communication. (28:10) In the womb, we start learning through gravity and touch, through our mother's skin. (30:13) The body is like an orchestra. Each one of us needs different tension and tuning to play in harmony. (32:59) Fascia is the body's largest sensory organ; it is an organ of love, light, and sound. (34:53) Fascia isn't a system — it's the architecture of every system. (36:56) The fascial network changes how we understand the nervous system. They're deeply connected. (37:13) Fascia holds memory and shape; this is how "the body keeps the score." (40:48) The real spell in medicine is the language that divides us from our wholeness. (42:54) Joanne shares the story of a client who released a deep experience tied to being told his body was "deformed." (44:16) Connect with Joanne. (51:58) RESOURCES: Follow @JoanneAvison https://www.instagram.com/joanneavison/?hl=en Visit https://www.joanneavison.com/ The Joanne Avison Podcast https://joanneavison.buzzsprout.com/ Learn about Myofascial Magic in Action https://www.myofascialmagic.com/ Read Joanne's Books https://www.joanneavison.com/books ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Tom Myer's and Anatomy Trains https://www.anatomytrains.com/ John Sharkey https://www.johnsharkeyevents.com/ Jill Bolte Taylor My Stroke of Insight http://mystrokeofinsight.com/ Iain McGilchrist The Master and his Emissary https://channelmcgilchrist.com/master-and-his-emissary/ Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us https://www.instagram.com/thevitalistpodcast/ https://thevitalistpodcast.com/ Visit us https://www.instagram.com/kinfolkoptimalliving/# https://www.kinfolkoptimalliving.com/

In this episode of The Vitalist Podcast, Dr. Keiko sits down with Dr. Meghana Thanki, an Ayurvedic and naturopathic doctor, to explore the deep intelligence of Ayurveda, the original science of life. Together they unpack what it truly means to live in alignment with nature's rhythms and the body's innate wisdom. Dr. Thanki shares how she was called to Ayurveda while studying naturopathic medicine, and how the sister sciences of yoga and Ayurveda form a complete lifestyle system for healing. You'll learn about ojas (vital life force), the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), and how everyday rituals, from tongue scraping and oil massage to mindful eating, can restore balance and longevity. They dive into practical tools for living Ayurveda in the modern world: how to nourish the seven tissue layers, feed your ojas, understand your constitution, and apply these timeless principles without overhauling your life. With warmth and clarity, Dr. Thanki bridges ancient medicine with contemporary wellness, showing that vitality isn't about perfection—it's about rhythm, awareness, and self-understanding. BIO: Dr. Meghana Thanki is a Naturopathic Doctor based in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in Ayurvedic medicine and holistic lifestyle healing. Her work blends the deep wisdom of Ayurveda with modern naturopathic principles to address not only symptoms, but the root causes of imbalance. Guided by the timeless philosophy that the body is designed to heal when in rhythm with nature, Dr. Thanki helps patients reconnect with their innate intelligence through personalized Ayurvedic care, ritual, and education. HIGHLIGHTS: What led Dr. Thanki from naturopathic school to studying Ayurveda, yoga's sister science. (01:36) How Ayurveda complements rather than contradicts what's taught in naturopathic schools. (02:50) Why Dr. Thanki chose naturopathic medicine despite coming from a family of MDs. (03:20) How Dr. Thanki integrates traditional Ayurvedic practices into modern clinical care. (05:12) What Ayurveda really means, the science of life, and how it teaches us to live in rhythm with nature beyond the yoga mat. (06:38) Dr. Thanki explains "ojas," Ayurveda's concept of vital life force, and how to preserve it through daily rituals. (08:11) The seven tissue layers of the body. (10:12) How to directly feed your ojas with Ayurvedic superfoods like ghee, nuts, and spiced ojas balls. (11:00) Why skin conditions often reflect blocked nourishment in the blood tissue layer, especially in pitta climates like Arizona. (12:12) Why Ayurveda's power lies in simplicity, and how to begin without overwhelm. (13:35) Understanding the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and how they shape your body and mind. (15:35) The role of Vata, the air element that governs all movement in the body. (16:15) Pitta as the fire element and why balanced digestion applies to food, emotions, and even information. (17:07) Kapha, the earth element that provides structure, strength, and grounded stability. (18:00) How Ayurvedic constitutions are formed and why we are all born Kapha. (19:07) Traits of the Vata constitution: creative, talkative, and energetic yet easily depleted. (20:18) Traits of the Pitta constitution: organized, driven, and fiery in both body and mind. (20:55) Traits of the Kapha constitution: steady, nurturing, graceful, and deeply reliable. (21:12) How doshic balance is inherited at conception and why preconception cleansing matters. (22:10) The doshas through life's stages: from Kapha in childhood to Vata in elderhood. (23:11) The ancient art of Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis to assess Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. (24:17) Ayurvedic tongue analysis: how your tongue mirrors your digestion and toxicity. (25:04) The benefits of traditional tongue scraping for digestion and detoxification. (25:31) Using abdominal percussion to locate where each dosha resides in the body. (26:58) What marma points are and how they serve as gateways of healing in Ayurveda. (28:50) How oil therapy for the ears treats tinnitus, travel fatigue, and jet lag. (29:07) Why we live in a Vata-toxic world and how regularizing Vata can prevent disease. (30:18) Applying Ayurvedic eating principles without cooking Indian food. (31:01) The top three Ayurvedic kitchen spices: cumin, coriander, and turmeric. (33:20) How to bloom mustard and cumin seeds in oil to enhance digestion and flavor. (34:15) The hidden gem spice asafetida and why it's a must for bloating relief. (35:02) How pressure cooking aligns with Ayurvedic digestion and the Plant Paradox principles. (35:43) Dr. Thanki's go-to teas and her caution around potent herbs like ashwagandha. (36:38) How Ayurveda views the emotional roots of disease through spiritual psychology. (37:23) Integrating Gene Keys and the work of Richard Rudd into Ayurveda. (38:02) Dr. Thanki's daily Ayurvedic practices and seasonal cleansing rituals. (39:12) Her take on the modern longevity movement through an Ayurvedic lens. (40:44) Inside Dr. Thanki's Royal Retreats: immersive experiences in Ayurvedic living. (41:31) Her Ayurvedic Supper Club: learning to eat for your dosha in community. (43:31) About her book The Ayurvedic Lens: an educational memoir written at a Tom Bird retreat. (45:32) Where to connect with Dr. Thanki online and in person. (46:35) RESOURCES: Follow @SecondNatureClinic: https://www.instagram.com/secondnatureclinic/?hl=en Visit Second Nature Clinic: https://secondnatureclinic.com/ Buy Dr. Thanki's Book The Ayurvedic Lens: https://amzn.to/4qFOqKY Copper Tongue Scraper: https://amzn.to/4nBEsY8 Book: Gene Keys by RIchard Rudd: https://amzn.to/4nBEsY8 Book: Plant Paradox by Dr. Steven Gundry: https://amzn.to/493fCNp Spice Asafoetida Powder: https://amzn.to/4oyeaYf Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us https://www.instagram.com/thevitalistpodcast/ https://thevitalistpodcast.com/ Visit us https://www.instagram.com/kinfolkoptimalliving/# https://www.kinfolkoptimalliving.com/

We've been using our eyes all wrong. In this eye-opening conversation, Functional Optometrist Dr. Dana Dean reveals why seeing clearly has nothing to do with 20/20 vision and everything to do with how our brain and eyes communicate to create vision. After struggling through school and repeatedly failing her board exams, Dr. Dana discovered that what she was seeing wasn't translating to her brain. Once she retrained her vision, everything changed. Now, after 25 years in behavioral and developmental optometry, she's helping others do the same. We explore how vision is learned, and 75% of all sensory information flows through our eyes, and yet no one ever teaches us how to truly see. From ADHD and learning challenges to brain trauma, recovery, dementia, and even emotional healing, Dr. Dana shows how vision training can literally rewire the brain and change how we process and perceive our world. She explains why "the softer you look, the more you see," and how expanding our peripheral perception transforms not just how we view the world but how we live in it. "Vision is our leading sense. When we reconnect it, we reconnect to who we are." If you've ever wondered why you can't focus, why the world feels overstimulating, or how to feel more present in your body, this episode will change how you see everything. BIO: Dana Dean, OD, is a behavioral optometrist who specializes in holistic optometry and vision intelligence. Dr. Dean has had a private optometric practice in San Diego for the past 24 years. Originally from South Africa, she completed her studies in San Diego as well as attending the New England College of Optometry in Boston. She treats her patients holistically performing Neuro Vision Heart connection with both children and adults. Her patients also include brain injuries, stroke victims and adults who want to achieve maximum success in life and reach their true potential. Not only does she see patients performing eye-brain-body connection and building visual efficiency, she also lectures on the topics of vision and brain integration, vision and the aging eyes, vision and spirituality, vision with balance and coordination, as well as vision intelligence. Connect with Dr. Dana Dean: https://www.visionintelligence.org/ HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in South Africa as a competitive swimmer, Dr. Dana began noticing academic struggles in 8th grade with early signs of visual processing issues. (3:02) Her introduction to Behavioral Optometry revealed a new way of understanding the connection between vision and the brain. (6:32) Dana realized her visual disconnection caused her to reread constantly and fatigue easily until she retrained her system. (8:22) She explains the difference between Ophthalmology and Behavioral/Developmental Optometry. (10:52) The eyes reveal hidden health insights, from blood pressure and heart issues to cancer and viral patterns. (12:12) "Think of eyesight as a flip phone and vision as a smartphone"—a powerful metaphor for perception versus clarity. (12:52) Seventy-five percent of all sensory information comes through vision, yet most people are never taught how to truly see. (15:42) Babies need visual nurturing and space to sense their environment to build foundational visual pathways. (16:12) Vision training helps stroke and traumatic brain injury patients recover cognitive and motor function. (17:44) Thirty percent of children diagnosed with ADHD actually have a convergence issue with their eyes. (22:12) Dana demonstrates how peripheral vision training improves balance and spatial awareness. (24:02) Most people were never taught to use central and peripheral vision together for efficient processing. (26:12) Dana demonstrates how quickly the brain can be retrained to interpret visual information differently. (33:02) Tools for moving from memorization to visualization make learning more embodied and lasting. (37:47) Visualization strengthens spelling, comprehension, memory, and awareness. (41:46) Screen time and fluorescent lighting strain and dull the visual system. (46:38) RESOURCES: Connect with Dr. Dana Dean: https://www.visionintelligence.org/ Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us https://www.instagram.com/thevitalistpodcast/ https://thevitalistpodcast.com/ Visit us https://www.instagram.com/kinfolkoptimalliving/# https://www.kinfolkoptimalliving.com/

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Jeff Karp, Harvard Medical School professor, MIT scientist, and bioinspired innovator shares the story behind his revolutionary approach to learning, creativity, and curiosity. From being told in second grade that he'd "never make it," to leading a world-renowned biomedical lab, Jeff reveals how metacognition, thinking about how we think, became the foundation for his success. We explore how ADHD and neurodiversity can be superpowers, why true learning engages all the senses, and how curiosity can literally rewire the brain to foster connection and innovation. Jeff also exposes how modern systems, from education to technology, dull our natural wonder and attention, and offers practices to reclaim our creative potential through nature, questions, and embodied focus. Together, we unpack insights from his new book LIT: Life Ignition Tools, diving into: Turning failure into fuel for creativity Using pattern recognition and constraints to spark innovation The danger of AI homogenizing our minds The neuroscience of curiosity and connection Nature as the ultimate teacher and problem solver This episode invites you to rethink how you learn, create, and lead—igniting your curiosity to design a life that feels truly alive. BIO: Dr. Jeff Karp is a biomedical engineering professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT, a Distinguished Chair at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Known for translating nature's intelligence into breakthrough medical technologies, his lab's work has launched thirteen companies—creating innovations from tissue glue for beating hearts to smart needles and cancer-fighting immunotherapies. Once told he'd never succeed in school, Jeff turned his learning differences into a superpower, developing Life Ignition Tools (LIT)—a framework for creativity, focus, and purpose. He also serves as Head of Innovation at Geoversity, a rainforest bio-leadership institute, and continues to mentor others in unlocking curiosity as the engine of discovery. HIGHLIGHTS: Dr. Jeff Karp is a Harvard professor leading groundbreaking innovation, but in 2nd grade, Dr. Jeff Karp was told he'd never make it. (1:55) A single question from a tutor in the 3rd grade asked "How did you think about that?" became the question that changed his entire life. How and why we think the way we do. (2:42) Jeff reveals how learning to observe deeply and seeing patterns that others don't serves as the foundation of his success. (4:25) What happens when teachers tell you to dream smaller and you refuse to listen? (6:35) After being diagnosed with ADD, Jeff's mom helped him discover how his mind really worked and he went from straight C grades to straight A grades. (7:15) "School has become a museum of ideas," Jeff says. He shares what true learning actually looks like when all your senses are awake. (8:00) Can ADHD be a creative edge instead of a diagnosis? Jeff shows how to turn it into a superpower. (11:10) What ancient tribes knew about survival and how their pattern recognition holds clues for modern innovation. (11:50) Why static classrooms and rigid systems are killing curiosity and how to bring learning back to life. (12:30) AI is flattening our language and numbing our imagination. Jeff explains how to keep curiosity alive in an automated world. (14:08) In a world with heightened feelings of aloneness and anxiety, curiosity can activate neurotransmitters that allow us to experience a world of connection. (15:30) The story behind LIT: Life Ignition Tools and how to reignite learning in a distracted world. (16:14) From spider webs to jellyfish, Jeff reveals how nature holds the blueprints for solving humanity's toughest problems. (16:45) Our attention is being monetized. Jeff exposes how corporations hijack our focus and how we can reclaim it. (17:58) Feeling overstimulated? Jeff teaches how to focus one sense at a time to reconnect with embodied learning. (19:05) The role of nature captivating and deepening our ability to imagine solutions that are about impact. (20:30) Curiosity begins with one thing: asking better questions. (23:30) What the world's top performers have in common when they ask questions. (26:18) How to ask questions that don't just inform but energize the mind. (27:50) Why constraints can be the birthplace of creativity and how limits actually set ideas free. (30:30) The most creative moments often follow failure and Jeff shares why. (31:30) When failure strikes, it's not the end, it's evolution in motion. (35:30) Why your best ideas come in the shower, and how to make space for them to find you. (38:00) How to stay in rhythm with failure and use it as feedback, not defeat. (40:30) The deeper reason connecting to nature awakens our creativity and sense of belonging. (43:30) Get a sense inside Jeff's lab, where innovation and nature merge in real-time discovery. (45:00) Why the brain craves low energy states and how that affects our problem solving and focus. (46:10) How convenience culture quietly drains curiosity and what to do about it. (48:30) The simple tools that help you reconnect to your biology and move through the world with intention. (50:30) Why Jeff uses a YouTube blocker and what it reveals about reclaiming attention in a noisy world. (51:53) Salt, sugar, and caffeine: the everyday algorithms of stimulation. Jeff invites us to interrupt these patterns and reawaken our senses by simply choosing to go without it and noticing how our perception changes. (52:15) RESOURCES: Visit Dr. Jeff Karps website: jeffkarp.com Buy his book: https://amzn.to/4qnQirG Watch his TedMed talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AshPR7OsZA0 Follow his lab work: https://www.jeffkarp.com/karps-lab/ Connect on social: https://www.instagram.com/mrjeffkarp/ Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Why are so many of us burned out, checked out, or emotionally detached at work? In this episode of The Vitalist Podcast, Dr. Sera talks with organizational designer and certified Dare To Lead facilitator, Mack Fogelson about why we disconnect from our work and how to rebuild connection, purpose, and vitality from the inside out. We unpack the hidden design flaws in how most organizations operate, why "learned helplessness" shows up at every level, and how our personal patterns, like people-pleasing, perfectionism, or busyness, mirror the systems we work within. Mack shares her simple but powerful framework, Ways of Being + Ways of Doing = Ways of Working, and the surprising first step she uses to help teams heal: slowing down. Whether you're a solopreneur, a team leader, or just trying to feel more like yourself at work, this conversation will help you see your work not as the problem, but as one of your greatest teachers in self-trust, boundaries, and emotional resilience. BIO: Mack Fogelson is a powerful, courageous, wholehearted change-maker. As an Organization Designer, she has guided entrepreneurs, leaders, and companies all over the world — from organizations like Apple, to those with hundreds of employees — to redesign their systems and build braver cultures. Mack lives in Fort Collins, Colorado where she's raising her two teenagers. She writes about uncertainty on Substack (https://mackfogelson.substack.com/). You can also find more about her and her work on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenziefogelson/) and her website (https://mackfogelson.com/). HIGHLIGHTS: The biggest way we give away our power at work is through learned helplessness; waiting to be told instead of trusting ourselves to lead. (1:39) We don't become different people at work; the same patterns of hiding or shrinking show up wherever we go. (2:42) Disconnection happens when we avoid what's uncomfortable, at work and at home. (3:32) Mack's framework for change: Ways of Being + Ways of Doing = Ways of Working. (4:02) Our organizational systems create both the behaviors we want and the ones that keep us stuck. (7:28) Everyone wants to go faster, but Mack's advice is simple: slow down, zoom out, and breathe. (8:45) For entrepreneurs, resilience begins by catching the stories we tell ourselves about success, failure, and worth. (12:29) Mack shares how she learned to move from living in her head to trusting the wisdom of her body. (15:59) Even if we can't change the systems at work, we can choose how we show up, through rest, nourishment, and radical accountability. (19:08) Mack's advice on setting boundaries in the work place. (22:26) Psychological safety starts with creating meeting structures that make space for truth and vulnerability. (25:15) Organizations mirror the human body: when one part is blocked, the whole system suffers. (26:40) Our work is one of our greatest spiritual teachers; it reveals where we've abandoned ourselves and where freedom is waiting. (29:40) Workaholism is a socially accepted stress cycle that keeps us too busy to feel. (31:35) Built on the work of Brene Brown, The Resilience Cycle helps leaders return to awareness, regulation, and grounded response. (36:27) When we shift from burden to possibility, we unlock creativity, curiosity, and flow. (44:50) Centering around energy instead of output transforms the way we work and live. (45:37) Our most common workplace defenses, busyness, perfectionism, or disappearing, are all forms of fear. (48:34) Every leader needs both masculine and feminine energy: strength to act, sensitivity to feel. (49:46) RESOURCES: My Substack channel (paid subscription option): https://mackfogelson.substack.com/ My Ways of Being training (Feb 25+26, 2025): https://mackfogelson.com/offerings/dare-to-lead-training/ Website: https://mackfogelson.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenziefogelson/

What if your body already holds the blueprint for regeneration? In this conversation, Christian Drapeau, neurophysiologist, stem cell researcher, and founder of StemRegen, reveals the remarkable intelligence of the body's repair system. We explore how stem cells act as the body's natural healing mechanism, capable of becoming any cell the body needs, from heart tissue to neurons, and how practices like fasting, meditation, and exercise can enhance their function. Christian breaks down the biology of stem cell renewal, the science of longevity, and how natural plant compounds can mobilize your own stem cells to restore health from within. He also shares his personal journey from studying neurophysiology to living in a monastery to pioneering a new frontier in regenerative wellness. If you've ever wondered how the body heals, why aging accelerates, or how to awaken your innate capacity for repair, this episode will completely reframe your understanding of health and vitality. Get 15% off your StemRegen order with code KINFOLK. HIGHLIGHTS: What stem cells are and how they serve as the body's natural repair system. (1:34) How the body releases and multiplies stem cells daily for continuous healing. (2:36) The role of telomerase in cell division, aging, and cellular lifespan. (3:26) How every organ stores stem cells that dictate health, vitality, and longevity. (4:40) The process of stem cells transforming into specialized tissue types. (5:48) Why conception represents the ultimate stem cell potential and how potency changes with age. (7:31) How every organ in the body continuously regenerates, even the heart and brain. (9:18) Why stem cell production declines after age 30 and how that affects aging. (10:39) The difference between stem cell quantity and quality, and why youth matters. (12:32) A groundbreaking study showing natural stem cell release restoring heart function. (14:07) How a three-day fast can rejuvenate stem cells and reset the repair system. (14:35) How stress suppresses and meditation enhances stem cell circulation. (15:37) The biological sequence of how stem cells locate and repair injured tissue. (17:04) How cells communicate through light frequencies, not just biochemistry. (20:10) How stem cells detect where to go, even without visible injury. (22:49) The anticancer potential of stem cells to restore cellular organization. (24:52) Christian's journey from monastery life to studying the brain and consciousness. (29:37) The origins of StemRegen and the discovery of plant compounds that mobilize stem cells. (31:35) How plants mimic injury signals to release more stem cells naturally. (34:29) How to use StemRegen for daily maintenance or active repair. (36:50) The lifestyle practices that boost stem cell circulation and regeneration. (39:47) The story of a lab-grown, beating heart and what it means for regenerative medicine. (40:41) Why structured water enhances cellular function and vitality. (43:34) The mission of StemRegen and how stem cell science could redefine medicine. (44:50) RESOURCES: Stem Regen - Use code KINFOLK for 15% off your order Follow @StemCellChristian Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com

Most of us were never taught that there's an innate intelligence animating our bodies, a spark that builds us, heals us, and carries our stories. In this episode of The Vitalist Podcast, Keiko and Sera open up about their personal journeys from feeling broken and disconnected to discovering the life-changing philosophy of vitalism. Through stories of conception, embryology, and their first chiropractic experiences, they reveal how vitalism reframes pain, symptoms, and even grief, not as problems to be fixed, but as intelligence speaking through the body. They share how adjustments can help release buried emotions, why kids are natural vitalists, and how cultures and indigenous tribes intuitively relate to nature's wisdom in ways modern society has forgotten. This conversation is a reminder that healing is less about fixing what's "wrong" and more about reconnecting with what's already right within us. If you've ever felt disconnected from your body, struggled with symptoms that don't make sense, or wondered if there's something more to healing than quick fixes and protocols, this episode will expand your perspective and invite you into a heart-based way of living. HIGHLIGHTS: Why people don't know how to embody innate intelligence and how vitalism makes it practical. (1:27) The spark of life and why no one taught us this in school. (2:06) From broken to whole: how the story of conception shifted the belief "I'm broken" into "I'm inherently whole." (4:19) Why studying embryology, and how one cell becomes 70 trillion, changes how you'll see your body forever. (5:08) How vitalism changes the way we adjust, connect, and see people beyond the physical body. (6:37) How an adjustment helped Keiko release the buried longing for a mother. (8:20) Why healing is less about fixing and more about unlearning cultural conditioning. (9:48) Vitalism as a heart-based way of living: why it's about experiencing life force, not just intellectualizing it. (13:11) Holism vs. Vitalism: the crucial difference between "everything is connected" and "everything is bio-intelligent." (14:49) Kids as natural vitalists: curiosity, awe, and openness before culture puts us in boxes. (16:05) Why Amazonian tribes call plants "she" and what it teaches us about relating to nature's intelligence. (20:05) Food as information: why food is more than calories. (26:43) Reframing symptoms: shifting from "my body is punishing me" to "my body is communicating with me." (29:06) How we stopped burning out as chiropractors by realizing healing isn't about "fixing." (30:10) Root cause redefined: why it's not just the "root cause", but the soil it grew in. (32:56) EPISODES WE REFERENCED: The Science of Flower Essences and What Nature Knows That We Don't with Katie Hess The Most Counterintuitive Healing Advice You'll Ever Hear with Wes Kress Breath Is the Steering Wheel of Your Nervous System with Dr. Sachin Patel Never miss an episode. Subscribe to get notified about what's coming next. Follow us @TheVitalistPodcast www.TheVitalistPodcast.com Visit us @KinfolkOptimalLiving www.KinfolkOptimalLiving.com