In today’s conversation Dana Sinclair explores why pressure doesn’t ruin performance—drifting into feelings and outcomes does. She breaks down her practical “shift when you drift” approach: get calm-ish (often with breath), identify what’s getting in your way, and lock onto a small number of task cues you can execute right now. Together, Dana and Dr. Wells unpack why confidence and rituals can be overrated if they distract from execution, and how tiny in-the-moment behaviors create better results under stress.

In today’s conversation Philip McKernan explores what it really takes to move from “doing all the right things” to living from a deeper, more aligned place—what he calls SoulSet™. He and Dr. Wells unpack why so many driven people chase goals, money, and control…and still feel like something is missing. Philip shares how creating space, asking better questions, and trading judgment for curiosity can open the door to clarity and meaningful change.

In today’s conversation Stephen Drum explores what it really means to “perform on the X”—the critical moment when everything is on the line and you don’t get a do-over. He breaks down the difference between reacting and responding, and why presence, rehearsal, and simple performance cues matter more than raw intensity.

In today’s conversation Andy Blow explores why hydration and fueling are never one-size-fits-all—and how understanding your sweat losses can transform performance in long or hot training and racing. He and Dr. Wells break down sweat physiology, heat adaptation, and why you can “do everything right” yet still struggle if your sodium and fluid strategy doesn’t match your body.

In today’s conversation Melissa Piercell explores how we move along the health spectrum from disease → not sick → healthy → optimal using practical, high-impact nutrition and lifestyle changes. She and Dr. Wells unpack epigenetics (how lifestyle influences gene expression), why toxins and processed foods can amplify inflammation, and how digestion and “detox” really work in day-to-day life.

In today’s conversation Marco Altini explores how wearable tech has shifted us from one-time lab snapshots to long-term physiology tracking in real life. He explains what wearables can measure accurately at rest (like heart rate and HRV), what they’re estimating (like sleep stages and readiness), and why the most valuable insights come from trends vs your own baseline.

Michael is fighting the core problem of stigma-driven silence—the belief that depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are personal weaknesses. His work aims to shift the narrative to “sick, not weak”, so people get help sooner, caregivers understand better, and fewer individuals suffer alone.

Todd is tackling a modern performance trap: smart, capable people are drowning in noise, overload, and constant demands—then wondering why their best ideas (and energy) disappear. His work focuses on helping leaders and knowledge workers build simple daily practices so they can stay productive and healthy while generating great work consistently.

In today’s conversation Sébastien Sasseville explores how a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes became a turning point that pushed him toward structure, endurance, and purpose. He shares what it took to summit Mount Everest, why the Sahara strips away expectations fast, and how running across Canada became a mission-driven way to help others living with diabetes. Along the way, Sébastien breaks down the mindset of execution under pressure: balancing control with letting go, focusing on the return trip (not just the summit), and finding meaning beyond performance.

In today’s conversation Marie-Hélène Pelletier explores why burnout is more than just feeling tired—and how it shows up as exhaustion, cynicism, and declining performance. She breaks down a simple but powerful framework: demands are rising (especially during crisis), and if supply doesn’t increase, we slide downward over time. Dr. Wells and Dr. Pelletier also dig into how to build self-awareness earlier, reduce stigma through more specific conversations (anxiety, depression, substance use, etc.), and protect performance using the fundamentals that move the needle most.

In today’s conversation Susan Biali Haas explores how high achievers can build stress resilience and prevent burnout without lowering their standards. She and Dr. Wells unpack why the brain and nervous system can get “stuck” in threat mode, especially after prolonged stress, and how small, repeatable practices can shift you back toward calm, energy, and clarity. They also dig into the performance value of purpose, joy, and mental training—simple levers that help people show up better at work and at home.

Kyle’s work sits at the intersection of high performance, safe sport, and human development. He’s distinct because he doesn’t separate winning from wellbeing—he shows how athletes (and leaders) can pursue excellence with supportive coaching, permission to fail, and a culture built on respect. That blend of Olympic-level experience + practical community-building gives his message credibility and real-world usefulness.

In today’s conversation Paul Laursen explores how to program high-intensity interval training by putting context before content, so sessions match a person’s sport, goals, and physiology. He and Dr. Wells break down when to use short vs. long intervals, why recovery choice (passive vs. active) changes what your muscles can do next, and how to monitor readiness with simple cues and HRV. They also dig into endurance nutrition, including fat-adapted approaches for long events and why “being a nutrivore” matters more than labels. Paul closes with Athletica.ai’s mission—making adaptive endurance plans practical for real life. 

In today’s conversation Gillian Mandich explores why the goal isn’t to be happy all the time and how happiness and sadness are separate—often co-existing—experiences. She explains how autonomy and intentional habits raise our “happiness set point,” creating an upward spiral where both highs and lows trend higher over time. We unpack money myths (why buying time and experiences matters more than things), how smiles can shift brain chemistry, and why happiness spreads through social networks. You’ll leave with simple, research-backed ways to engineer small bursts of joy throughout your day. 

In today’s conversation Mark Henick explores why resilience isn’t “never falling” but learning to fail well—and how that mindset carried him from adolescent depression and suicidality to rebuilding a purpose-driven life. He and Dr. Wells unpack radical acceptance, the discipline of creating space before you respond, and the role of contact-based education in reducing stigma. Mark shares concrete practices that helped him navigate job loss, grief, and parenting under pressure. The result is an honest playbook for mental fitness that’s equal parts compassion and execution.

In today’s conversation Kate Eckman explores how to develop “inner fitness” with the same intention we bring to physical training. She shares her swimmer-to-broadcaster-to-coach journey, how early beliefs fueled achievement yet amplified anxiety, and why true confidence means trust—in your preparation, process, and timing. Kate unpacks her “Five Ps of Confidence” (presence, patience, purpose, preparation, practice) with two bonuses (pause, person), then describes “surrendering the outcome” so you can be all-in without gripping. The episode lands on practical rituals—journaling, stillness, breath, and values-driven action—that make composure repeatable. 

In today’s conversation Elli Weisbaum explores how mindfulness builds cognitive flexibility and steadies the nervous system under everyday stress. She traces her path—from attending her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at age ten to researching physician wellbeing—while unpacking the neuroscience of attention and the default mode network (the mind-wander system). You’ll hear practical ways to weave mindfulness into ordinary moments (email, commuting, brushing your teeth), plus how “awareness of awareness” upgrades focus, values clarity, and relationships. Together we connect these skills to leadership, healthcare, and family life with simple, repeatable practices. 

In today’s conversation Milena Braticevic explores how her path from tech entrepreneur through clinical depression to a PhD in Integral Health reshaped her understanding of the mind. She explains the default mode network—the inner story machine—and why training attention, journaling, and emotion regulation interrupt rumination. She lays out nondual awareness as a practical paradigm shift: experiencing reality more directly, strengthening belonging, and working with nature rather than against it. Together you connect these ideas to heart-rate variability, growth mindset under uncertainty, and daily rituals that restore energy and clarity. 

In today’s conversation Todd Stottlemyre explores what it really takes to win—first in your head, then on the field and in life. He shares formative lessons from growing up around the Yankees, the identity-shaking lows of being sent to the minors, and the all-in decision that saved his MLB career. Todd opens up about the loss of his younger brother, the burden of self-blame, and the breakthrough that came from learning to observe thoughts and emotions rather than react to them. We connect those practices to everyday performance—journaling, movement, and presence—so listeners leave with a clear playbook to change their inner game. 

In today’s conversation Lisa Bélanger explores how to design days that reliably produce focus, energy, and calm—especially in uncertainty. She and Dr. Wells unpack why behavior change fails when it relies on motivation alone, and how to use “make it easy and attractive” design to make the right choice the default. They dig into exercise as first-line therapy for cancer-related fatigue, what nature does to the brain during recovery, and how “doormat” rituals separate work from home when boundaries blur. Expect practical micro-habits grounded in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral medicine.