The Shawn Ryan Show

Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist, performance specialist, and founder of Neuro Athletics, a company focused on brain optimization and neurophysiology for elite performers. A former professional triathlete, Nicola’s early career in endurance sport shaped her belief that peak performance is driven as much by the brain as by the body. Her transition from elite competition to neuroscience was fueled by a desire to understand the neurological foundations of reaction time, resilience, recovery, and long-term cognitive health.

Through Neuro Athletics, she works with professional athletes, sports organizations, executives, and high performers to implement measurable brain-based training protocols. Her work includes cognitive performance testing, visual processing and reaction training, nervous system regulation, and concussion recovery strategies. Nicola emphasizes objective brain metrics over subjective feedback, bringing scientific rigor to performance optimization.

She is also the host of The Neuro Experience podcast, where she interviews leading neuroscientists, physicians, and longevity experts. A significant focus of her public work centers on Alzheimer’s prevention and cognitive decline. Nicola advocates for early baseline testing, cardiovascular and metabolic health, strength and aerobic training to increase BDNF, sleep optimization, inflammation reduction, and lifelong cognitive engagement. She frequently highlights the disproportionate risk women face in Alzheimer’s disease and calls for greater awareness around hormonal and midlife cognitive vulnerability.

Nicola frames brain health as a lifelong discipline, connecting elite performance principles with long-term cognitive resilience and positioning brain optimization not as a reactive measure, but as a proactive strategy beginning in early adulthood.

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Louisa Nicola Links:

IG - https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_

Website - https://www.neuroathletics.com.au

X - https://x.com/louisanicola_

YT - https://www.youtube.com/@LouisaNicola

LI - www.linkedin.com/in/louisanicola
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Andy Lowery is a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander who served as a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer and Nuclear Propulsion Officer, including active duty aboard the USS John C. Stennis. Over more than 30 years, Lowery held demanding roles spanning domestic and global assignments before retiring and continuing in the reserves until 2015. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is recognized as a thought leader in applying technology across industry.​

Andy transitioned to corporate leadership and entrepreneurship after his military career. He is currently CEO of Epirus, a defense tech company pioneering portable directed energy systems to counter modern threats like militarized drones. Joining Epirus in 2021, Lowery quickly rose through the ranks—serving as Chief Product Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and CEO since December 2023.​

Previously, Lowery co-founded and served as CEO of RealWear, leading the company to global prominence in industrial head-up display wearable systems for frontline workers from 2016 to 2020. He also co-founded DAQRI (2014–2016), a pioneer in mixed reality wearables for enterprise use. Lowery held senior engineering and management positions at Raytheon, MACOM, Tyco, and RPM Technology, notably working on electronic warfare systems and major defense projects such as the Navy’s Next Generation Jammer.​

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Andy Lowery Links:

LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andylowery

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Jason Magnavice is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL with over 26 years in Naval Special Warfare. He spent eight years at SEAL Team 2 before being selected to serve within Joint Special Operations Command, operating in some of the most elite elements of the community for over a decade.

He deployed four times to Operation Enduring Freedom and four times to Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as a sniper, tactical communicator, lead jumper, and team leader during the height of the war on terror.

During his time in special operations, he transitioned into a specialized aviation role, earning his Airline Transport Pilot certificate and later serving as a senior enlisted leader within that element. He finished his career coordinating recruiting for Naval Special Warfare.

Today, he flies a Gulfstream privately and holds a 767 type rating with a major freight carrier. He’s a father, a grandfather, and has chosen to live a quiet life with no social media, no book, and no brand.

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Nick Shirley is an American independent journalist, YouTuber, and content creator known for on-the-ground investigative reporting and street interviews. He initially gained attention as a teenager producing prank and shock-style content, including a 2019 video documenting a solo trip to New York at age 16. He later transitioned into political and cultural journalism, focusing on protests, immigration issues, and government accountability.

Originally from Utah, Shirley has built a digital audience of over 1 million YouTube subscribers and hundreds of millions of views across platforms. His reporting style is direct and minimalist, often conducted in real-time and on location.

In December 2025, Shirley drew national attention with a viral investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota’s government-funded childcare programs, claiming over $100 million in misused funds. The video amassed more than 100 million views on X and contributed to increased public scrutiny, including comments from the FBI.

His latest episode builds on this work, focusing on alleged fraud and misuse of government funds in California, continuing his broader investigative coverage of public spending and institutional accountability. Shirley’s content often aligns with conservative perspectives while emphasizing transparency and oversight.

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Nick Shirley Links:

YT - youtube.com/@nickshirley

IG - https://www.instagram.com/nickshirley

X - https://x.com/nickshirleyy

Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/4fm9G0i6lyDZ3XE5fz3Lb9

Hoodie - https://shirleydefense.com/collections/all
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Meg Appelgate is the Founder and CEO of Unsilenced, a nonprofit organization launched in January 2022 to support past, present, and future victims of institutional child abuse. A survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), Meg was abducted from her bed at age 15 and confined in abusive facilities for three and a half years—an experience that drives her mission to expose systemic abuse and fight for reform.

Her 2024 memoir, Becoming UNSILENCED: Surviving the Troubled Teen Industry, chronicles her harrowing journey and transformation into one of the leading national voices demanding change. In 2023, she testified as an expert before the Montana State Senate, helping secure passage of HB 218, landmark legislation increasing oversight and regulation of TTI programs.

Her work continues to empower survivors while pushing for transparency, accountability, and legal reform across the industry. Alongside her advocacy, Meg serves as Vice President and Managing Director of the Gochnauer Foundation, supporting philanthropic initiatives aligned with justice and healing. She lives with her husband, Ben, and their four children, dedicating her life to ensuring that no child endures what she once did.

Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:

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Meg Appelgate Links:

Personal Website - www.megappelgate.com

Memoir - https://a.co/d/3P5hM37

IG - https://www.instagram.com/megappelgate

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@megappelgate

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Megappelgate1

X - https://x.com/megappelgate

Unsilenced Website - www.unsilenced.org
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