THE EXPLODING HUMAN with Bob Nickman

MARIYA JAVED-PAYNE, MSW, LICSW, LADC is a somatic psychotherapist specializing in healing trauma, complex trauma, addiction, generational and racial trauma, and oppression in the body. She is both a practitioner and teacher of “Brainspotting” a powerful technique in healing trauma. Mariya says, “I am a woman. I am a body of culture. I am a person in recovery. I am an immigrant. I am a student of life. I am a partner, educator, sister, daughter, and friend. I am a passionate and curious individual dedicated to creating health and wellness for individuals, communities, and societies. I believe in deep, nourishing, and holistic change that heals from the roots up.” I was born in India and lived in France, Brazil, and the United States all before the age of six. My experience with vastly different cultures piqued my curiosity about humans and diverse societies from a young age. Blending and assimilating my culture of origin with the United States has been and continues to be an integral part of my story. It has also shaped my ability to assist others in reclaiming their identities as multi-dimensional and complex human beings. These early life experiences in global societies defined my open worldview and appreciation for the diverse walks of life that humanity encompasses. I am grateful for the expansiveness they have provided my foundation. My own journey with addiction and my challenging path to recovery over ten years ago has also given me depth and compassion as a therapist. I gained a firsthand understanding of the quest of the human mind to find a sense of belonging and settledness in an ever-shifting world. These experiences have given me the ability to approach all people with openness, non-judgment, and patience. They have also taught me to be tenacious in my pursuit of healing self and others. Hope is a powerful survival mechanism. www.awakenconsultingservices.com

KLAUDIA MITURA is the host of The Happiness Challenge podcast. She holds an MSc in Occupational Psychology, is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and a certified Chief Happiness Officer. She works as the Learning and Development Manager at the Science Museum Group in London, where she continues to build a learning culture that empowers individuals to be at their best at work. We talk about her new book “The Alphabet of Happiness, Create More Happiness at Work, in Relationships, and in Your Own Skin.” , During a difficult personal time in 2020, Klaudia started The Happiness Challenge podcast with a mission to interview leading wellbeing experts and test-drive the best happiness hacks that science has on offer. Her podcast was a runner-up for "Best Health & Fitness Podcast" in the International Buzzsprout Discover Pods Awards 2020.   =Klaudia is passionate about applying scientific research on happiness to her daily ups and downs, and she continues to dare people to create more happiness in their lives via her podcast, webinars and courses.   We talk about: -What science says about happiness, and the biggest misconceptions people have. -Surprising and counterintuitive findings in the research on happiness.  -Happiness hacks from The Alphabet of Happiness and how they contribute to life satisfaction. -What principles people can apply to improve happiness at work. The role relationships play in overall happiness, and some small but impactful ways to improve them. -Self-acceptance and confidence  -Habits backed by science that can significantly boost happiness. -How external factors like social media, news, and work culture influence happiness, and how we can  counteract the negative effects. -Practical ways to bounce back from setbacks or failures with a happiness-focused mindset. -In a world that often glorifies busyness and productivity, how we can prioritize happiness without feeling guilty. The Happiness Challenge podcast The Alphabet of Happiness book

 MATT BERNSTEIN, MD  has a holistic view of how what we eat profoundly impacts how we feel and function. As a physician and educator, he’s deeply committed to helping people understand the connection between nutrition and mental health, showing how food can be a foundational tool for healing anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses.  Dr. Bernstein is a psychiatrist who is educating patients and families on the relationship between metabolism and mental illness. 50% of people with severe mental illness also have metabolic syndrome. As the CEO of Accord, a first-of-its-kind residential program, he is helping to lead a paradigm shift in mental health treatment, creating a more humane, healthy, and effective approach. Dr. Bernstein's personal experience with his sons has played a vital role in how he works with patients and why he is so passionate about ensuring proper nutrition at a younger age to help prevent mental illness.   Dr. Bernstein teaches how dietary intervention can be a powerful treatment for those with mental illness and breaks down the how and why. We talk about: The Evidence Behind A Ketogenic Diet & Mental Health The Mechanisms of How Ketones Improve Brain Health How Ketones Improve Mitochondrial Health UPDATED BIO Dr. Matt Bernstein is a board-certified psychiatrist and a leading voice in metabolic psychiatry, with 25 years of experience helping individuals achieve full mental health and functional recovery. rdmh.com  https://www.facebook.com/accordmh https://x.com/accordmetabolic/ https://www.instagram.com/accordmh/   

RICHARD ASHWORTH  is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking transformational work with the Ba Zi or Four Pillars of Destiny, otherwise misleadingly known as the Chinese Horoscope. We discuss the results of my personal Ba Zi reading and how it applies to my life past and present. It was an eye-opening and inspiring personal experience which led to us talking about spirituality, family of origin, trauma and our relationship to society, religion and politics.    Richard’s work has been highlighted many times in the media, but he is probably best known for introducing authentic Chinese Imperial Feng Shui to BBC TV's Housebusters and for his book The Feng Shui Diaries.   He has worked with A-Listers such as Gillian Anderson of the X-Files (who said he "commands both confidence and awe") and professionals like Britain's favourite Interior Designer, Kelly Hoppen (see link below). He has been the subject of the Sunday Times feature 'A Life in the Day', His Diaries, which are available free from this website, appear on the site of the Feng Shui Society. In the summer of 2010, he was on Big Brother's Little Brother to give his view of the Big Brother houses over the years, which he described as "the dark side of feng shui."   Check out his new book on Amazon: “I Talk to the Animals” https://a.co/d/25p7REA  

WILLIAM PERSON, a former 9-year Team USA Bobsledder, has been battling the devastating reality of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalitis -like symptoms—depression, confusion, even getting lost in his own neighborhood. What’s heartbreaking is that these symptoms often lead to tragedy for athletes and military alike, as CTE steals away both quality of life and sanity while it remains undiagnosed until after death. William’s turning point came with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which gave him almost immediate mental clarity and hope after years of struggle. Now, he’s on a mission: to bring HBOT and other healing treatments to athletes and veterans through a nonprofit CTE Recovery Center. He’s working to raise funds via GoFundMe so this care can be offered at no charge to those suffering and desperately in need. William’s perspective could shed light on brain trauma, the hidden dangers of sports like bobsledding, and the urgent need to protect and heal the brain, echoing your theme of prevention and powerful self-healing modalities. www.onemanwithachamber.com  

New York Tmes bestselling author LAURA DOYLE was the perfect wife--until she got married.Wheb she began telling her husband how to be tidier, more rmantic, more ambitious, he avoided her.So she dragged him to omarriage counseling and nearly divorced him.  In desperation, she asked happily married women for their secrets, and that's when she got her miracle;the man who had wooed her returned. Laura is the founder of the international relattionship coach training program Laura Doyle Connect, the star of Empowered Wives, on Amazon Prime and the The Empoweed Wife Podcast.  Laura shares her personal marrigage challenges, along with cllent anectdotes and offers her tips, hacks and secrets to having a successful marriage. She is warm, honest and loves to laugh!  Find out more at: www.lauradoyle.org  

After suffering for years with strange medical conditions, BRAD PITZELE was diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis in 2010 and malignant melanoma in 2014. Concerned that his treatments increased cancer risk, he began searching for a safer, more holistic path. Further testing revealed he also had Lyme disease and Bartonella. As his condition worsened—with debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and mobility loss—Brad sought alternatives. In 2016, his doctor recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) or exercise with oxygen therapy (EWOT).Brad chose EWOT, but dissatisfied with what was on the market, he decided to build his own system. The results were transformative. Within a year, his strength, clarity, and energy returned. Seeing the improvement, Brad’s doctor asked if he could make EWOT systems for others. That moment sparked the creation of One Thousand Roads, founded on the belief that healing should be effective, safe, and accessible. Today, Brad empowers others by sharing his firsthand experience with chronic illness and recovery. He helps people understand how EWOT works, why it can support healing from conditions such as Lyme disease, cancer, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune diseases, and how to integrate it safely and affordably into their wellness journey. We talk about: • The Role of Oxygen in Healing • EWOT: Oxygen from the Inside Out Oxygen as a Therapeutic Tool for Cancer, ChronicIllness & Detoxification Enhancing Cognitive Health, Reducing Inflammation& Reversing Aging with EWOT • How EWOT + Red Light Work Synergistically • Understanding How Red & Infrared Light Work, Support Healing & Create Multiplier Effects • Brad’s Personal Recovery Story • How does our body use oxygen, and how does this change as we age? • What is EWOT, and how does it work? • What benefits can EWOT provide for those suffering from chronic illness? • How do EWOT and Red Light therapy complement each other to boost oxygen and energy for peak performance? • What is the science of Red Light therapy, how does it work, and what are the benefits? • How does oxygen therapy support healing in conditions like cancer, Lyme disease, detoxification, and improving sleep and mental clarity? • In what ways does oxygen help reduce inflammation and reverse aging at the cellular level? Website: www.onethousandroads.com YouTube: onethousandroadshq  

DR. ELLIOTT JUSTIN,, MD, is the CEO and Founder of FirmTech, and an acclaimed expert in the rapidly evolving sextech and wearables industry, with a unique focus on the intersection of sexual and cardiac health.    Elliott offers invaluable insights into how recent innovations in sextech can improve their sexual health—and, by extension, their cardiac health—potentially saving their lives.   Driven by technological advancements and a growing emphasis on sexual wellness, the sextech market has exploded on a global scale in recent years. The wearables category has arguably seen the most interesting and compelling growth with products that do things like help alleviate pain during penetration, others use AI to map changes in the pelvic floor, and innovations like FirmTech’s award-winning Tech Ring—the first smart intimacy wearable of its kind—enhances pleasure while improving cardiac health.   Dr. Justin’s expertise extends far beyond the FirmTech brand. With a background in emergency medicine, he is all too aware of cardiac health and is driven by an understanding of how sexual and heart health are linked.  We talk about how the data collected from the Tech Ring can inform heart health, adrenal health and other conditions prompting  early detection. Elliott also talks about how “werables” have improved sexual function and pleasure in both men and women. This frank and informative discussion takes us through the current research and data,  as well as anecdotal success stories which illustrate the power and viability of this burgeoning field. www.myfirmtech.com

JOE SMARRO, a Marine Corps veteran, former police officer, and nationally recognized mental health advocate who is transforming crisis intervention and suicide prevention—especially for first responders. Joe co-founded the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit, reshaping how law enforcement handles mental health crises with empathy, connection, and calm solutions. His groundbreaking work has been featured in the Emmy-winning HBO documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops and his TEDx talk, I See You, has inspired thousands. Now, as the founder of SolutionPoint+, Joe trains organizations, first responders, and leaders nationwide on mental wellness, crisis intervention, and resilience. His bestselling book,Unarmed, teaches how courage, compassion, and connection can save livesWe discuss Mental Health in Public Safety – Transforming crisis response and intervention Empathy as a De-escalation Tool – How compassion leads to better outcomes Suicide Prevention & Resilience – Helping first responders and communities stay strong Understanding Human Behavior in Crisis – Turning high-stress moments into opportunities    for connection Building Stronger, Safer Communities – Strategies for fostering trust and collaboration Joe’s message is simple: leading with empathy saves lives.  www.joesmarro.com  

ZACH BEACH, MA is committed to building a world based on love and connection. For over ten years, he has been travelling the world teaching love in the form of yoga, meditation, writing, poetry, and coaching. He is the host of the weekly Learn to Love Podcast, which features therapists, coaches, authors, and educators, and has reached hundreds of thousands of listeners across over 100 countries. He founded The Heart Centre Love School, which hosts compassion cultivation trainings and other workshops. Zach's formal education includes an M.A. in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a B.S. from Northwestern University and a mental health therapist in We talk about his new book.”Love & Suffering: A Spiritual Guide for Helpers, Healers and Humans,”  covering amo How To Relate to Suffering Why We Suffer in Love  How Wisdom Teachings Apply in Today’s World  The Role of Suffering in Awakening and Joy The Secret to a Meaningful Life A Global Spirituality  Why This Book Is Needed Now More Than Ever   www.zachbeach.com