Social media is designed to keep you hooked—dopamine hits, endless comparison, and the pressure to constantly perform. As a hybrid athlete and fitness creator, Heba Ali knows this all too well. She’s built a massive following by pushing limits—but behind the training videos was a growing awareness of how the platforms were rewiring her mind.

In this episode, Heba gets real about the psychological cost of content culture—how chasing likes and virality can quietly erode confidence, clarity, and self-worth. Breaking down the addictive nature of validation, the blurred line between discipline and obsession, and why so many creators feel burnt out despite outward success. This isn’t about quitting social media—it’s about taking back control.

Timestamps:
00:00 Heba Ali Introduction
04:00 Mastering focus in a distracted world
05:46 From first jobs to entrepreneurship
10:16 Finding strength through athletics
14:04 The birth of EvolveNation
18:24 The journey of becoming yourself
21:44 How social media reshapes identity
25:00 Healing through life's challenges
30:39 Balancing luxury with simplicity
35:31 The entrepreneur's responsibility dilemma
39:16 Creating content with integrity
43:24 The psychology behind what sells
47:11 Breaking free from digital addiction
53:39 Using distractions to avoid deeper questions
59:39 Community care across cultures
1:04:49 Making health choices amid fear
1:09:25 Building relationships that matter
1:19:43 The mindset behind effective training
1:25:35 Healing through questioning
1:32:11 Redefining roles in relationships
1:38:38 Relationships in the social media age
1:44:03 Leading with values and purpose
1:49:50 Speaking each other's love languages
1:56:12 Finding truth in a filtered world
2:04:02 Beauty beyond society's narrow lens
2:12:05 Creating balance in public life
2:18:36 The true currency of life: time

Links:
» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join @Whoop and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

Follow Heba:
YouTube: @EvolveNation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hybridheba/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hybridheba?lang=en

The Edition

The AI-powered Podcast Player