Meta Health: Mindfulness Meets Metabolism

Modern health culture is obsessed with leanness, discipline, and optimization. But many people are getting leaner—and feeling worse or suffering surprising health consequences.  In this episode, I share my personal experience chasing single-digit body fat and how it led to increased stress, glucose instability, and accelerated aging despite "doing everything right." We explore why body composition alone is an incomplete measure of health and why mental composition—the state of the inner body—matters more than most metrics we track. Key topics include: Body composition vs mental composition Why Blue Zones don't chase six-packs How fear-driven optimization fuels chronic stress How influencers often drive fear-based leanness and longevity goals The physiology behind looking older when you're leaner How to rebuild health in a more sensible way

In this episode, I uncover how family dynamics—both loving and dysfunctional—shape our stress patterns, emotional reflexes, and long-term metabolic health. I get personal, sharing my own experiences and those from the clinic and my program.  How your childhood emotional environment shapes adult health Recognizing 3 common family stress patterns  How family dynamics drive burnout, inflammation, and chronic dissease The concept of "Shamilies" and how it quietly affects so many of us The Roseto Effect vs the "Silicon Valley Effect" How to break inherited stress patterns and create a healthier family tradition. 

There's a quiet form of stress we mistake for normal — a constant readiness that silently drains our energy. I personally discovered it not too long ago, and in this episode I share how to spot it and take your power back. You'll learn: The brain science behind anticipation and anxiety How even a silent phone nearby burns glucose and attention Why this "always-on" state disrupts sleep and mood The benefits of phone-free walks and mindful mornings Simple ways to turn outward alertness into inward awareness Go to my blog at culturalhealthsolutions.com for related resources and show notes on most episodes.

Your mind never stops taking shots — so how do you defend your peace? In this episode I explore how to train your mind like an athlete, treating life as a continuous mental game where playing good defense is critical. We cover some of the following: Using an athletic framework to counter our conditioned self (aka ego) Learning to play great defense to protect the mind "Coach Ego" and the myth of multiplicity Simple drills to improve your mental fitness and wellbeing Everyday opportunities to improve awareness Go to my blog at culturalhealthsolutions.com for related resources and show notes on most episodes.  

Your mitochondria and microbes are ancient communities that mirror how we live, connect, and find purpose. We keep turning to the outside to learn from others, instead of tapping into this profound inner wisdom. In this episode, I explore what these inner networks teach us about resilience, loneliness, purpose, and thriving from the inside out. You'll learn: Mitochondria origin story Lessons we can learn from mitochondria and microbial behaviors How Survival fo the Fittest has led us astray How mitochondria and microbes communicate with the brain The loneliness myth and what might matter more than social connection Go to my blog at culturalhealthsolutions.com for related resources and show notes on most episodes.