Dhru Purohit Show

This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers, Ollie, and Maui Nui. As we gear up for the new year, there’s no better time to revisit tried-and-true advice from one of our favorite guests. Most people don’t struggle because they lack discipline, they struggle because they’re following guidance that was never designed to stick. In this conversation, you’ll get a practical, science-backed roadmap for building habits that actually last, so you can step into the coming year with clarity, momentum, and a plan that truly works. Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful conversations with personal trainer and Mind Pump Media co-founder Sal Di Stefano. We dig into the biggest pitfalls that sabotage fitness goals and prevent people from having their fittest year yet. Sal shares his top tips for incorporating underrated forms of movement, building activity into your entire day, and staying consistent for sustainable results. He also breaks down the unrealistic goals that hold people back, from a lack of specificity to an overreliance on trendy supplements. If you’re looking for inspiration to make 2026 the year of consistent, long-term progress, this episode is for you. Sal Di Stefano began his fitness journey at just 18, quickly rising to prominence as a trainer and opening some of the largest big-box gyms in the California Bay Area. By 24, he launched a wellness-focused fitness studio that combined expertise in hormones, nutrition, gut health, and fitness training. It was during this time that Sal developed his unique, behavior-focused approach to achieving lasting health and fitness success. Today, Sal is a highly sought-after expert known for his practical, easy-to-apply insights. As co-host of the Mind Pump Podcast, the world’s top fitness and health podcast, he’s appeared on hundreds of leading shows and frequently speaks at events for trainers and health practitioners. In this episode, Dhru and Sal dive into: The most underrated form of activity (00:42) Why movement results in better choices throughout the day (4:38) Getting results versus keeping results (9:36) Unrealistic approach to calorie cutting and how to build a proper foundation (14:06) Nutritional advice or myths we can leave behind (18:53) Insights into the fitness and wellness industry (30:42) The one supplement Sal recommends and the research behind its effectiveness (33:53) How to use caffeine appropriately (39:42) Being specific with your goals and focusing on one at a time (44:51) Prioritizing simple whole foods and fiber (50:47) The risks of sitting too much and how to counteract them (56:11) How to get started with a sustainable routine (1:02:04) Over-exercising and finding balance (1:05:17) Final thoughts and key takeaways (1:09:32) Also mentioned in this episode: MAPS 15 Fitness Programs Why You Need A Coffee Break and How to Do It For more on Sal and Mind Pump, follow them on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, YouTube, and their Website. This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers, Ollie, and Maui Nui. Upgrade your digestion with enzymes! Go to bioptimizers.com/dhru now and enter promo code DHRU to get 15% off any order of MassZymes today.  Want to give your dog the best in clean eating? Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Right now, Ollie is offering 60% off your first box of meals when you subscribe today! Just head to Ollie.com, use the code DHRU, and you’ll get 60% off your first box of meals in your subscription. Right now, Maui Nui is giving my listeners early access to their Holiday Gift Sets—and when you buy four, you get a fifth free. Just go to mauinuivenison.com/DHRU to claim yours. Quantities are limited, so don’t wait! Sign up for Dhru’s Try This Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Branch Basics and BetterWild. As we get older, protecting brain health becomes more important than ever, and it’s becoming increasingly clear how powerfully everyday inputs shape the brain, often long before any cognitive symptoms appear. The good news is that simple, daily choices can have a massive impact on brain resilience and long-term cognitive strength.  Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, we’re revisiting one of our most talked-about moments with Dr. Datis Kharrazian. He breaks down the top foods that may accelerate early brain aging, including why seed oils are a growing concern. Dr. Kharrazian and Dhru also explore the connection between leaky gut and brain health, as well as the conditions linked to both. Plus, he shares his top supplement recommendations to support brain health and help prevent cognitive decline. Dr. Datis Kharrazian is a clinical research scientist, an academic professor, and a Functional Medicine healthcare provider. He is an associate clinical professor at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School, and a researcher at the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Kharrazian dive into: The everyday foods quietly accelerating brain aging (2:02) Why seed oil consumption deserves a second look (4:50) Leaky gut, leaky brain: the connection most people miss (10:52) Why glutathione matters for calming brain inflammation (14:22) Dr. Kharrazian’s top supplement picks for brain health (22:47) Final takeaways you’ll want to remember (29:49) Also mentioned: Full episode with Dr. Datis Kharrazian Try This: The Power of Glutathione Glutathione: Your Most Important Defense  This episode is brought to you by Branch Basics and BetterWild. Right now, Branch Basics is offering 15% off the Premium Starter Kit; just go to branchbasics.com and use the coupon code DHRU. Transform your space, transform your health, start with Branch Basics today. Right now, BetterWild is offering my listeners up to 40% off at BetterWild.com/DHRU. Support your dog’s digestion and allergy defense system today.  Sign up for Dhru’s Try This Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by LMNT, Cozy Earth, Fatty15, and Maui Nui. We all know muscle is important, but today’s guest takes it a step further, showing why it can truly be a life-changing, even life-saving, part of our health. He shares what his deep-dive research uncovered about the history of muscle and strength training, how our relationship with it has evolved, and what those shifts can teach us about building a stronger, more resilient population today. Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Michael Gross to explore the profound impact of muscle and strength training on health, longevity, and identity. They discuss the importance of muscle mass in preventing chronic diseases, the role of strength in shaping personal identity, and share inspiring stories of transformation. Michael emphasizes that it's never too late to start strength training and highlights the need for a shift in the medical community to recognize exercise as a vital component of health care. Michael Joseph Gross began his career as a political speechwriter before moving into journalism, writing for major newspapers and magazines. As a longtime contributing editor at Vanity Fair, he covered culture, politics, religion, crime, business, technology, and national security, and appeared on programs such as CBS Mornings, Morning Joe, and NPR. He is the author of Starstruck: When A Fan Gets Close to Fame and Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives, which explores the central role of muscle in human health and history. In this episode, Dhru and Michael dive into:  How muscle impacts cancer and diabetes risk (5:46) Muscle mass as the body’s glucose-disposal engine (9:49) The link between muscle strength and cognitive health (14:36) Why the medical system overlooks muscle  and why it matters (19:42) Jan Todd’s story and what it teaches us about self-efficacy (30:04) Why it’s never too late to start strength training (47:34) Ancient Greek wisdom on strength and vitality (52:41) How strength and community shape each other (57:26) The future: prescribing strength training as medicine (1:01:54) Strength training as a deeper life practice (1:11:10) Breakthrough research on strength training for seniors (1:15:06) Michael’s personal stories on strength and quality of life (1:23:45) Final thoughts and key takeaways (1:28:15) Also mentioned in this episode: STRONGER: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives Oldest Female Ninja Warrior: A Longevity Protocol To Stop Decline, Stay Young & Build Muscle! 7 Ways I'm Helping My Parents Stay Healthy As They Get Older For more on Michael, follow him on Instagram or visit his Website. This episode is brought to you by LMNT, Cozy Earth, Fatty15, and Maui Nui. Right now, LMNT is offering my listeners a free sample pack with any purchase. Head over to drinkLMNT.com/dhru today. Right now, get 20% off your Cozy Earth sheets and sleepwear. Just head over to cozyearth.com/dhru and use code DHRUP. Fatty15 is offering an additional 15% off its 90-day subscription Starter Kit. Go to fatty15.com/dhru and use code DHRU to replenish your C15 levels for long-term health. Right now, Maui Nui is giving my listeners early access to their Holiday Gift Sets—and when you buy four, you get a fifth free. Just go to mauinuivenison.com/DHRU to claim yours. Quantities are limited, so don’t wait! Sign up for Dhru’s Try This Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Pique Life and Hollow Socks. An estimated 70% of U.S. homes contain at least one mold species. And, while mold has always been part of our environment, something has shifted. Mold toxicity is showing up more often, more intensely, and in ways past generations simply didn’t experience.  Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, we’re revisiting one of our most talked-about moments with Dr. Pejman Katiraei. Dr. Katiraei shares why today’s “toxic soup” environment makes mold far more disruptive than it used to be, and why kids are uniquely vulnerable. We explore how to recognize mold-related issues, how to think about mold in the larger context of chronic illness, and what steps parents can take if their child or they themselves have unexplained symptoms that don’t improve despite healthy habits. Whether you’re struggling with mysterious health issues or simply want a clearer understanding of what may be happening inside your home and your body, this conversation is an essential starting point. Dr. Pejman Katiraei is a board-certified pediatrician with advanced training in integrative and holistic medicine. After completing his undergraduate studies at UCLA and earning his osteopathic degree from Western University, he trained in pediatrics at Loma Linda University, where he later served as Chief Resident and faculty while founding the Wholistic Medicine Clinic. One of the few physicians skilled in osteopathy, functional medicine, endocrinology, and medical herbalism, Dr. Katiraei now practices in Santa Monica.  In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Katiraei dive into: Why a threat we’ve lived with forever is suddenly wreaking havoc (3:01) Environmental toxins and how they’re reshaping our biology (8:50) The unexpected symptoms in parents that often point to hidden mold exposure (17:22) The deeper story: where mold really fits in the modern health puzzle (21:41) Final revelations and insights that bring the whole picture together (28:03) Also mentioned: Full episode with Dr. Pejman Katiraei Try This: How Indoor Air Quality Impacts Your Brain And What to Do About It This episode is brought to you by Pique Life and Hollow Socks. Right now, Pique Life is offering 20% off their Sun Goddess Matcha. Plus, you’ll get a free beaker and frother when you go to piquelife.com/dhru. For a limited time, Hollow Socks is offering my community a Buy 2, Get 2 Free Sale. Head to HollowSocks.com for up to 50% off your order. Sign up for Dhru’s Try This Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers, BUBS Naturals, One Skin, and Birch Living.  We all know technology shapes our lives, but few of us understand the full impact it has on our minds and our happiness. Today’s episode takes a closer look at why our digital habits matter more than ever. Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with science journalist and author Catherine Price to unpack the high stakes of not changing our relationship with technology, especially social media. Catherine breaks down the latest research on how tech hijacks our brains and affects long-term brain health. She also shares what sparked her passion for helping people break free from digital addiction, along with practical tips for understanding our doom-scrolling habits and bringing more joy and real connection back into our lives. Catherine Price is an award-winning science journalist, bestselling author, and leading voice on how to build healthy relationships with technology. Her books include How to Break Up With Your Phone, The Power of Fun, and The Amazing Generation (co-authored with Jonathan Haidt). Her TED talk on fun has been viewed over 5 million times, and she writes the popular Substack newsletter How to Feel Alive. A dynamic speaker and workshop leader, Catherine has presented to audiences at TED, SXSW, Aspen Ideas, Google, Yale, and many others. Across all her work, she helps people of all ages scroll less, live more, and have more fun. In this episode, Dhru and Catherine dive into:  The hidden dangers of our modern world and what’s really at stake (1:20) How your phone quietly hijacks your brain without you noticing (4:20) The latest research revealing the true impact of social media (10:40) The turning point that pushed Catherine into this work (16:50) Why constant news alerts put your brain into “defend mode” (21:21) Simple shifts to bring real connection and joy back into your life (28:45) Why our brains are longing for a version of fun we’ve lost (38:36) What heavy smartphone use is doing to your memory (41:36) The power of a digital sabbath and how to try one (50:06) How to intentionally connect with people without relying on screens (57:04) Are we quietly abusing technology without realizing it? (1:02:11) Why social media may be uniquely harmful for women and girls (1:07:06) Practical steps anyone can take to create real change (1:14:11) Also mentioned in this episode: Amazing Generation book  For more on Catherine, follow her on Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, or visit her Websites: https://catherineprice.com/ and https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book/amazinggeneration This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers, BUBS Naturals, One Skin, and Birch Living. Go to bioptimizers.com/dhru now and enter promo code DHRU to get 15% off any order of MassZymes today.  Support your skin and your health with BUBS Naturals Collagen Peptides. Head to BUBSNaturals.com and use code DHRU for 20% off your order. Right now, One Skin is offering my community 15% off; just go to oneskin.co and use the coupon code DHRU to save 15% and give your skin the scientifically proven, gentle care it deserves. Birch has extended their Cyber Monday sale exclusively for my community. Just head to birchliving.com/dhru to get 20% off today.  Sign up for Dhru’s Try This Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices