The Mindbodygreen Podcast

“If something isn’t working, change it,” says John Mackey.  John, the Co-Founder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market, joins us to discuss the art of balancing authenticity and success, his wins and losses as a CEO, and: -Who is John Mackey? (~1:30)  -His thoughts on the Amazon merger (~5:30)  -The high point of his many years as CEO (~8:36)  -The biggest changes in groceries since 1980 (~11:20)  -His thoughts on Sprouts, Erewhon, & Trader Joe’s (~13:30)  -Money-saving tips for shopping at Whole Foods (~23:40) -The problem with fad diets (~26:45)  -His secret sauce to success (~36:08)  -How he keeps an open mind in business and life (~42:10) -Advice for entrepreneurs (~55:30) Visit shop.mindbodygreen.com/whey20 to get 20% off your first order of grass-fed whey protein isolate+.  Referenced in the episode:  -The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism - John’s op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal: “The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare” -Love.life We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel

“Our health system is $5 trillion today, and we spend 3.5% of that on preventative healthcare,” says Andrew Lacy.  Andrew, the founder and CEO of whole-body imaging company Prenuvo joins us to discuss early detection of cancer and cognitive decline and explain why preventative health care needs an update, plus: -How Prenuvo is different (~04:08) -What does Prenuvo & what does it test for? (~7:38) -What are the limitations? (~9:46) -The most common findings (~12:50) -My personal MRI experience & findings (~15:16) -Pancreatic cancer and why cancer rates are growing (~24:00) -Early biomarkers of dementia (~30:00)  -What about radiation concerns? (~33:30)  -How much does Prenuvo cost? (~34:06) -Why we need more preventative care (~35:58) -Why the current physcial exam is outdated (~37:27) -Why Andrew started Prenuvo (~40:30)  Use discount code MINDBODYGREEN at checkout or visit http://prenuvo.com/MINDBODYGREEN for $300 off your Prenuvo Whole Body scan. Go to shop.mindbodygreen.com/support15 to get 15% off your fi

“Through repetition, we manifest our intentions,”  says James Doty, M.D. James, a neurosurgeon, compassion researcher, and Stanford professor joins us to discuss the science of manifestation and how to get what you want by fine-tuning your intentions, including:  -The biggest misconceptions about manifestation (~02:18) -How to establish a manifesting baseline (~06:16) -How to manage expectations when manifesting (~10:07) -How to actually manifest wealth (~14:40) -James’s inspiring personal story (~16:20) -Hedonic happiness vs. eudaemonic happiness (~23:53) -The James Doty-approved manifestation method (~26:35) -How your surroundings sabotage your manifestations (~31:32) -How to identify your true intentions (~33:41) -How neuroanatomy influences manifestation (~45:45) -A final word of wisdom (~53:00) Visit shop.mindbodygreen.com to shop focus+ and use code FOCUSPOD for 20% off your first order. Cannot be combined with gift cards or other discount codes. Referenced in the episode: -Doty’s latest book Mind Magi

“Broad-spectrum light exposure is the strongest and best kept secret for good quality sleep," says Jade Wu, Ph.D. Jade, a board-certified behavioral sleep medicine psychologist, joins us to discuss how to solve every sleep issue, plus: - Jade’s sleep hygiene tips (~00:41) - How to know if you have sleep apnea (~02:20) - How many people actually have insomnia (~07:45) - What to do if you can’t fall asleep (~09:47) - What to do if you wake up in the middle of the night (~13:38) - How performance anxiety relates to sleep (~17:30) - Jade’s research on CBT, sleep & cardiovascular health (~18:16) - How to nap responsibly (~21:32) - How to define quality of sleep (~26:21) - How air quality impacts your sleep (~32:28) - Time in nature & sleep quality (~37:14) - Jade’s POV on daylight savings (~39:50) - Why we should pay more attention to nightmares (~42:39) - The best types of white noise for sleep (~44:46) - Why sleep regularity is more important than duration (~47:08) Visit mindbodygreen.com/SLEEP25 and use code

“Diet plus lifestyle accounts for 40 to 50% of health outcomes," says Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D. Sarah, a medical biophysicist and New York Times bestselling author, joins us to discuss how to get the most nutritional bang for your buck, plus: - Nutrition myths Sarah used to believe (~00:10) - Are seed oils really that bad for you? (~03:09) - Is linoleum acid unhealthy? (~04:22) - How to eat for cardiovascular health (~09:11) - Sarah’s POV on anti nutrients (~11:37) - Common nutritional deficiencies people are unaware of (~13:33) - Sarah’s view on fortified & enriched foods (~17:09) - What is the Nutrivore score? (~20:50) - Why coffee earns the highest score (~25:10) - The highest scoring fruits, legumes & seafood (~27:30) - The healthiest meat you can eat (~32:13) - The most nutritious type of milk (~36:54)  - How Sarah ranks grains & sweeteners (~38:44) - Does alcohol have any nutritional value? (~43:11) - What to do with Nutrivore information (~44:22) - Biggest swaps Sarah has made in her own life (~46:00

“Menopause is inevitable, but suffering through it is not," says Mary Claire Haver, M.D. Mary Claire, a board-certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner, joins us to discuss everything a woman needs to know during this hormonal transition and beyond, including: - Old vs. new menopause (~00:07) - Signs of peri menopause in 30s, 40s & 50s (~02:04) - Sleep deprivation during menopause (~05:09) - Menopause weight gain (~06:36) - How to enhance body composition as you age (~09:25) - Protein needs for women (~14:20) - The link between food & hot flashes (~16:09) - Pros & cons of hormone replacement therapy (~18:43) - How to know if you’re a good candidate for HRT (~25:02) - Best questions to ask your doctor (~27:23) - Why we should have annual midlife wellness visits (~28:28) - The future of menopause care (~31:23) - A drug that can prolong estrogen production (~33:02) - How to measure estrogen swings (~35:10) - How to be your own menopause advocate (~39:35) Visit shop.mindbodygreen.com/whey20 to get 20

“Extreme food cravings are a sign from your body that you are giving it mixed messages," says Casey Means, M.D. Casey, a Stanford-trained physician and the co-founder of Levels, joins us to discuss everything you need to know about optimizing your metabolism, including: - Casey’s powerful personal story (~00:14) - Metabolic health markers to have on your radar (~08:34) - Optimal levels Casey likes to see in patients (~14:05) - The 6 principles of “good energy” eating (~16:24) - Why protein is so key in balancing energy (~26:07) - Why muscle mass is so protective (~32:47) - Casey’s go-to breakfast (~34:04) - Casey’s grocery list must-haves (~37:52) - The best blood sugar-balancing hacks (~41:16) - The mind-metabolism connection (~46:53) - Why fear mongering with food makes metabolic health worse (~51:45) Referenced in the episode: - Casey's book, Good Energy - mbg Podcast episode #342, with Casey - A survey showing 80% of people are confused about nutrition - A study on glucose crashes predicting hunger lat

“We have to spend time on our health rather than spend time on diseases," says Nir Barzilai, M.D. Nir, a renowned longevity researcher, joins us to discuss pharmaceutical interventions to delay aging, plus: - What are gerotherapeutics? (~00:19) - What you need to know about antagonistic nutrients (~04:25) - Why healthcare costs don’t have to increase as people live longer (~08:55) - SuperAgers vs. Blue Zones (~12:40) - What are some science-backed longevity genes? (~15:14) - The hallmarks of aging (~19:54) - How metformin extends longevity (~22:46) - Who is the right candidate for longevity drugs? (~25:03) - The best age to take a longevity drug (~31:55) - Lifestyle interventions for healthy aging (~34:17) - Is fasting actually necessary? (~38:18) - What to know about mTOR (~41:19) - How to test your biological age (~43:10) - What to do in your 20s and 30s for healthy aging (~48:16) - The role of mindset in aging (~53:45) - How repurposing drugs has saved lives (~57:45) - Why women have the aging advantage

"There is never an age or a skill level where your body will not respond to the positive energy you put into it to become healthier," says Vonda Wright, M.D., M.S. Vonda, a double-board-certified orthopedic surgeon, joins us to discuss the best tips to build muscle, enhance bone density, and support mobility long-term, plus: - How the bones & muscles talk to each other (~00:09) - How to assess your bone & muscle health (~02:27) - How to measure joint health (~09:47) - How to assess VO2 max (~11:56) - Common lifestyle activities that harm bone & joint health (~13:43) - The impact of surfaces on bone health over time (~18:23) - How women should strength train as they age (~20:27) - Why Vonda doesn’t prefer weight machines (~23:40) - How Vonda recommends splitting up workouts (~25:43) - Should women do cardio as they age? (~29:19) - The power of exercise “snacks” (~32:36) - Why estrogen is the “elixir of longevity” (~35:02) - Vonda’s nutrition philosophy (~38:21) - The role of mindset in extending healthspan (~4

"You can change your gut microbiome within about a week just by altering your diet," says Tim Spector, M.D. Tim, an epidemiologist, gut microbiome expert, and award-winning scientist and author, joins us to discuss his top science-backed nutrition tips, what to avoid for optimal gut health, plus: - What we know about the microbiome today (~00:01) - How to eat for an optimal gut microbiome (~01:11) - Why there’s no such thing as superfoods (~05:58) - Tim’s POV on yogurt (~08:07) - How a carnivore diet impacts your microbiome (~10:39) - Why low-fat foods are worse for your gut (~15:06) - How to assess the health of your microbiome (~17:43) - How often should you poop? (~19:43) - The link between gut microbiome & healthy weight (~21:27) - The future of an Ozempic-like probiotic (~24:51) - The most surprising study Tim has worked on (~26:29) - What Tim eats in a day for gut health (~29:58) - How meal timing impacts your gut microbiome (~32:32) - How microbiomes beyond the gut influence health (~36:35) - Where gut

“Every single time I eat salmon, I just feel like a million bucks," says GiGi Ashworth. GiGi, an allergen-friendly food personality and cook affectionally known as "The Salmon Queen," joins us to discuss everything you need to know about the omega 3-rich fish, including: - What made GiGi fall in love with salmon? (~00:03) - How GiGi dealt with restrictive eating habits (~05:14) - What she thinks of the carnivore diet (~08:59) - Other seafood GiGi loves (~13:14) - How to know if you should get an allergy test (~14:51) - Why “farm-raised” is not a dirty word (~25:26) - How to avoid parasites in fish (~31:14) - What GiGi thinks about mercury exposure (~33:25) - GiGi’s second favorite type of seafood (~35:10) - How GiGi orders at restaurants (~37:14) - Her favorite salmon recipe (~39:16) - GiGi’s main goal for salmon lovers (~43:07) - Get to know GiGi’s husband, a PhD, actor & producer (~47:05) Trigger warning: This podcast contains mentions of disordered eating. Referenced in the episode: - GiGi's book, Seduc

"In my practice, a significant number of people with autoimmune disease have a history of toxic stress and trauma," says Sara Gottfried, M.D. Sara, a Harvard- and MIT-trained integrative medicine doctor and four-time New York Times bestselling author, joins us to discuss the emotional triggers for autoimmune disease, plus: - How traditional medicine falls short with autoimmune disease (~00:02) - Subtle signs of an autoimmune issue (~02:25) - How trauma impacts your health (~04:27) - How to know if your health condition has emotional ties (~12:03) - How to identify your body’s trigger points (~16:21) - How stress impacts your inflammatory response (~19:07) - How to correctly follow an elimination diet (~23:39) - What Sara learned from psychedelic-assisted therapy (~27:12) - Why you should know your sensitivity threshold (~30:37) - MDMA versus ketamine-assisted therapy (~35:59) - The future of psychedelics in medicine (~45:29) - Why we shouldn’t put holistic medicine on a pedestal (~49:03) - How to have nuance

“I consider food a gift we give ourselves three times a day, so let's make it good," says Kimbal Musk. Kimbal, a professional chef, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, joins us to discuss his top cooking tips and how to infuse your food with love, plus:  - How to respect the animals you eat (~00:29) - Why regenerative farming is the future (~05:23) - Why every child should learn to grow food (~07:34) - The role restaurants play in community & connection (~10:50) - Why you should cook at least one meal a day (~14:01) - How to know if your food was cooked with love (~16:26) - Subtle tricks that make a restaurant irresistible (~17:48) - How eating with others enhances longevity (~22:36) - Kimbal’s surprising bloodwork results (~24:41) - The importance of moderation (~29:11) - Kimbal’s favorite recipe when he’s short on time (~31:03) - What people get wrong when cooking eggs (~34:01) - Kimbal’s tricks for cooking vegetables (~36:33) - How to cook the best steak of your life (~38:59) - Kimbal’s important work with

“Your brain cells stay with you for life. If you damage them, you don't have a second choice," says Lisa Mosconi, Ph.D. Lisa, a neuroscientist, certified integrative nutritionist, and holistic healthcare practitioner, joins us to discuss how women at every stage of life can protect their brains, plus: - How menopause affects women’s brains (~00:25) - How to strengthen your brain in your 30s and 40s (~02:15) - Which tests to ask for at the doctor (~05:33) - How to find a menopause specialist (~08:56) - The markers of Alzheimer’s everyone should be aware of (~14:48) - What we’re getting wrong about the Alzheimer’s gene (~18:07) - Red flags in a doctor you shouldn’t ignore (~21:04) - How to know if you’ll benefit from hormone replacement therapy (~24:10) - The best type of exercise for menopause symptoms (~26:15) - The healthiest way to drink coffee as you age (~28:30) - At what age is it OK to start drinking coffee? (~32:15) - How to set your brain up for success before menopause (~35:42) - Lisa’s POV on interm

“You don't have to stop. Sometimes you just need to pause, recalibrate, and reassess what the options are," says Sue Varma, M.D. Sue, a board-certified psychiatrist, joins us to discuss how to cultivate incredible resilience and growth, plus: - What is practical optimism? (~00:04) - How to approach circumstances you have no control over (~03:41) - The role of hope & faith (~06:42) - Why toxic positivity sets us up for failure (~08:35) - Sue’s take on manifestation (~10:06) - The power of being alone, not lonely (~14:06) - The 8 pillars of practical optimism (~16:23) - Why we should all be social snacking (~22:06) - What happens when we don’t feel seen (~26:07) - How to identify your purpose (~30:03) - How to measure your level of optimism (~31:45) - How much of the population is actually optimistic? (~36:38) - Sue’s 4 M’s of mental health (~39:37) - What to do when you start to negatively spiral (~42:55) - How to start a worry diary (~45:11) - Why women report higher stress levels (~46:17) - The optimistic f

“If you have bad breath, mouthwash actually makes it worse," says Mark Burhenne, DDS. Mark, a functional dentist, joins us to discuss *everything* you need to know about oral health, including: - The link between breath & oral health (~00:13) - Mark’s recommended oral care routine (~04:01) - What to look for & avoid in a toothpaste (~05:52) - Mark’s POV on mouthwash (~09:47) - How poor oral health can lead to chronic disease (~13:33) - Why everyone should practice tongue scraping (~17:55) - A grocery list for optimal oral health (~22:05) - The benefits of mouth taping (~28:18) - How to get the most out of your dentist visit (~30:16) - What Mark thinks about fluoride (~35:37) - Mark’s POV on X-rays & teeth whitening (~38:16) - How to find the right dentist for your goals (~46:29) - How to optimize your Invisalign or braces experience (~48:15) - The best time to remove your wisdom teeth (~52:57) - Root canals & implants (~57:35) - Dentist red flags (~01:03:43) - What to know before getting veneers or crowns (~

“If you're dealing with an issue, don't describe your partner. Describe yourself, your feelings, and your needs," says Julie Gottman, Ph.D. Julie and John Gottman, Ph.D., leading relationship experts and founders of the Gottman Institute, join us to discuss how to know if your partner is long-term material, plus: - The top ingredients for a loving relationship (~00:02) - The three main conflict styles (~02:34) - The “bomb drop” fight (~09:16) - What to do if you feel “flooded” during a fight (~11:17) - The “shallows” fight (~16:17) - How to resolve “the standoff” (~19:20) - How couples can rebuild their relationship post-affair (~28:43) - What causes affairs? (~34:20) - The Gottmans’ top 3 green flags in a relationship (~35:56) - How to know if you’ve found The One (~43:01) - What causes unhappy marriages? (~46:02) - How to know if you’re ready for a serious relationship (~50:51) - The Gottmans’ No. 1 tip for successful relationships (~54:18) Referenced in the episode: - The Gottmans' book, Fight Right. - m

“No conversation about lifespan is complete without a discussion of healthspan," says William J. Kole William, a veteran reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent, joins us to discuss how to stay healthy and mobile well into your 80s, 90s, and even 100s of years, plus: - Common themes with the longest living humans (~00:08) - How much of a role does genetics play? (~01:31) - Lifestyle methods that make a difference in longevity (~04:48) - The power of a positive attitude (~07:01) - The dangers of loneliness (~10:20) - Why we should prioritize intergenerational connections (~15:18) - The role of retirement in longevity (~19:05) - What we can learn from Jane Goodall (~21:26) - Why you should never stop learning (~23:54)   - The power of purpose (~27:23) - The link between faith, prayer & longevity (~29:59) - Should aging be classified as a disease? (~34:00) - The future of immunotherapy (~36:20) - How radiopharmaceuticals change the longevity game (~41:21) - What William has changed based on his research (~42

“What you don't resolve your children will have to face,” says Vienna Pharaon, LMFT. Vienna, a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of NYC's most sought after relationship therapists, joins us to discuss how to work through the emotional trauma you don’t even know exists, plus: - Why everyone has emotional wounds (~00:13) - Why you pursue emotionally unavailable people (~01:40) - What causes a worthiness wound (~06:47) - The 5 core emotional wounds (~09:38) - Is your determination a trauma response? (~13:37) - How to keep emotional wounds from being an obstacle (~19:56) - How birth order affects your personality (~25:21) - How to raise emotionally mature children (~31:26) - How trauma shows up in relationships (~33:43) - How to know if you’re ready for a serious relationship (~40:55) - The most common relationship killers (~44:26) - How to prevent resentment in your relationship (~47:38) - Are you emotionally mature? (~51:43) - How to become a better friend & partner (~55:38) - Questions to ask you

“A moment of awareness and a strategy can truly make what feels overwhelming more doable,” says Jennifer Taitz, Psy.D. Jennifer, a licensed clinical psychologist, joins us to discuss actionable tips for reducing stress, plus: - Jennifer’s favorite strategy for in-the-moment anxiety (~00:02) - The most relaxing song, according to science (~04:08) - The power of bite-sized doses of hope (~06:34) - The worst TikTok hacks for stress (~09:44) - The brain benefits of getting out of your comfort zone (~13:04) - Exercises to recalibrate your nervous system (~16:59) - How to become your own therapist (~24:01) - The lost art of saying “no” (~26:43) - The power of a good, long sigh (~30:44) - How to practice radical acceptance (~34:19) - How to avoid obsessive behavior (~39:18) - How to know when venting becomes unproductive (~48:26) - How to become a better listener (~51:03) - How to be more joyful & magnetic (~53:40) - Jennifer’s No. 1 tip to be happier & more resilient (~55:54) Trigger warning: This episode includes