Optimized Geek | Reboot Your Life

What makes us behave the way we do? Why do our brains keep defaulting back to the same old bad habits? And why is it so hard to scrap those bad habits and replace them with new ones? Why can't we just stick with these new habits that we tell ourselves we want to form? Installing and uninstalling habits sounds easy, but boy, is it a challenge. Whether you want to hit the gym, wake up earlier, quit smoking, or simply be more productive at work, behavior change can feel like pushing against a brick wall. Or worse, pushing a boulder up a mountain.  For entrepreneurs, the stakes are even higher. Your habits determine your behaviors, which determine your outcomes, which determines your business, which ultimately determines your destiny. The secret to your destiny, the destiny of your wildest dreams is to start small, specifically with tiny habits. Today's guest on this episode number 210 is BJ Fogg, PhD. BJ is the top expert in the world when it comes to habits. He's the author of the upcoming book, Tiny Habits, d

You might have a business coach, you might have a life coach. But do you have a sleep coach? You might say, "Why would I need a sleep coach?" Well, here's one reason. If you live to 75, and I do hope you live a lot longer than that, you will have spent about 25 years of your life sleeping. 25 years. Not only that, but the quality of your sleep will have a huge impact on the quality of your life. Lack of sleep can lead to poor mental performance, low sex drive, and even serious health problems like strokes and heart disease. An investment in your sleep is an investment in your health and your wellbeing.  Sleep is something that my guest for this episode number 209, Claus Plummer, takes very seriously. Claus is president of SAMINA North America, which in my words, is a biohacker’s dream bed. It was through the original biohacker Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof and past guest on this show, episode 38, that I learned of SAMINA and Claus. In fact, Claus taught a sleep workshop hosted by Bulletproof and Upgrad

I'm sure you've heard of acupuncture. You may have even heard of Reiki. But have you heard of Jin Shin? I hadn't. Jin Shin is an ancient Japanese healing art that uses gentle touch and minimal pressure to unblock energy flows throughout the body. It's most commonly used to treat ailments like anxiety, digestive issues, immune disorders, migraines, and more. The best part about Jin Shin is that you can easily practice it on yourself and develop a daily routine that can help you achieve inner harmony and a deep sense of wellbeing and calm. Using just a couple of Jin Shin techniques every day could have a profound impact on your sense of wellbeing.  My guest for this episode number 208 is Alexis Brink, master Jin Shin practitioner, author of The Art of Jin Shin published by Simon and Schuster, and president of the Jin Shin Institute in New York City. Alexis has been practicing Jin Shin since 1991 and teaches Jin Shin techniques to nurses in hospitals and teachers in the public school system. If you'd like more

If you run a business, you know it's tough to get out of the weeds and find time to work on the stuff that really matters, especially if you're a solo entrepreneur who can't delegate to staff. These days, you can easily hire a virtual assistant off the internet. However, it can be difficult to find someone reliable and trustworthy enough to take care of personal tasks, like managing your inbox or booking travel on a credit card. My guest for this episode number 207 is Tim Francis.  Tim is someone who has thought a lot about assistance, delegating, and the most efficient way to run a business. After achieving success at a young age, Tim was hit with a rare illness which left him crippled for three months. The illness forced him to start again from scratch and rethink his entire approach to business. The result was two innovative new businesses, Great Assistant and Profit Factory. Tim is a master when it comes to hiring, managing, and delegating tasks to assistance.  So if you employ one or you're thinking of

If you're like me, you have a cupboard full of vitamins and supplements. But what's your overall health maintenance strategy? Buying supplements on a whim, in other words, without the necessary due diligence, won't address the underlying health issues in your body. Dr. Jay Foster is the expert that many turns to for this kind of nutritional guidance. He's a nutritional biochemist and the president of Body Chemistry Associates. Jay has deep expertise in the interpretation of blood chemistry and mineral analysis. He also designs nutritional and dietary recommendations tailored to his clients' chemical profile and symptoms for maximum impact.  Your health is your most valuable asset. And today, Jay and I will be discussing how to maintain it well into your retirement age and beyond. We'll be busting common health myths, revealing how to reduce your Alzheimer's risk by 70+%, and why you should increase your intake of vitamin C. If you're looking to live a long and prosperous life, you're going to want to listen

Over the past few decades, technology has radically reshaped the way we do business. Compare life today to that of someone living in the early 90s. It's like comparing a VHS tape to Netflix. Organizations are becoming more collaborative and less hierarchical. We're crowdsourcing powerful data and insights at the touch of a button. The blockchain is decentralizing and disrupting across all sectors- government, business, nonprofit. One man who's studied the impact of some of the biggest technological innovations of recent times is Don Tapscott.  Don is the bestselling author of 16 books including Wikinomics, and Blockchain Revolution. He's executive chairman of the Blockchain Research Institute, and a member of the Order of Canada. Don regularly consults for prime ministers and presidents who want to understand what our current era of rapid technological change means for their citizens. And now, Don will help you prepare for the decades ahead too.

What makes someone captivating? Is it an innate quality they’re born with or is charisma something you can learn? That was the question that fascinated Vanessa Van Edwards, behavioral investigator and author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, when she began her research into the science of charisma and persuasion. As it turns out, there are plenty of science-based hacks you can learn to help you master social situations, read other people’s emotions, and develop stronger relationships. Many successful people have already mastered these skills and use them every day in their business dealings. In this episode 204, Vanessa will be revealing some amazing insights, including the primary ingredients of charisma, how to read the tone of voice, facial expressions, hand gestures and understanding micro expressions. Vanessa has shared her research with trillion-dollar companies, and she’s been featured in CNN, BBC, CBS, Fast Company, INC, Entrepreneur magazine, USA Today, and The Today Show to name

Is it possible that the conventional wisdom about networking is wrong? There's a lot of advice out there on the best ways to network, but how much of it really was based on scientific research? According to my guest for this episode number 203, David Burkus, investing time and energy into networking events and flashy business cards likely won't bring you the results you're looking for. Instead, he argues that the most valuable relationships are the ones you already have with the people you already know. David's book, Friend of a Friend, digs into cutting-edge science on human behavior to reveal some profound and counterintuitive insights into the most effective networking strategies. It's a great read, and it might just revolutionize the way you go about networking. David is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, has delivered keynotes to leaders of Fortune 500 companies, and his TED talk has been viewed almost two million times. He’s also a guest on my Marketing Speak podcast episode number 1

How often do you think about the light you're absorbing every day? Probably not as much as the food you eat or the liquids you consume, I bet. In the 21st century, our bodies are bombarded by unnatural light from screens and artificial light sources. We spend most of our time indoors and once finally outside, we use lotions and sunglasses to block out the natural light. As we become more and more removed from the light of our natural environment, how does this affect our physical, mental, and even spiritual well-being? Dr. Jacob Liberman is someone who's taken a deep interest in our relationship with light. This is the second time I've interviewed Dr. Liberman. The first was episode number 130, where we discussed the healing properties of light. It was a powerful episode, and I recommend listening to it if you haven't already. On this episode number 202. I'm excited to welcome Dr. Liberman back to the show to delve deeper into the topic of light. Dr. Liberman is the author of four books and an international

We all know that as we get older, our risk for certain diseases increases, our bodies wear out, and our mental faculties often fade. Aging is something that most of us just accept as a fact of life, but does it have to be? Scientific research is starting to reveal the underlying causes of aging and how diet, genetics, and environment can all contribute to the deterioration of our bodies. In fact, scientists can now recommend specific foods, therapies, and supplements that can reduce the risk of disease and combat the effects of aging. Dr. Terry Grossman is a thought-leader in anti-aging and preventive medicine and the founder of Grossman Wellness Center, a cutting-edge clinic which works to extend the longevity and quality of its patient's lives. He's also co-author of the book Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever with world-renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil. Dr. Grossman has been studying anti-aging therapies and preventative medicine for over 25 years. Whether you're simply interested in fightin

I’ve been podcasting for four years and it feels like just yesterday that the first episode was published. As we wrap up Get Yourself Optimized’s 200th episode, I can’t help but look back and reflect on the last 100 guests who have graciously agreed to be on the show. It was such an honor interviewing some of the best experts, influencers, and trailblazers in the world of biohacking, business, and self-development. So many lessons learned and tips and tricks gained to live a highly optimized life. This special episode is hosted by my lovely wife, Orion Talmay, who happens to have her own wonderful podcast called The Stellar Life Podcast. Tune in as she and I discuss some of the best advice my guests have shared. And to my listeners, thank you for tuning in all these years. Cheers to 200 more amazing episodes!

Stem cells are quietly bringing about a revolution in health and longevity, and doctors are now looking at stem cells as a viable treatment for a number of ailments including spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions. Stem cells also appear to have a lot of potential when it comes to aging. On this episode number 199, I'm joined by Dr. Amy Killen, an expert in anti-aging, regenerative, and aesthetic medicine. Amy works out at the Docere Clinics at Utah where she practices cutting edge treatments that reduce the effects of aging. Her business partner in Docere is Dr. Harry Adelson, who was a guest on the show in episode number 82. Amy is an expert, not only with stem cell therapy but also with PRP injections and non-surgical hair loss treatments. If you secretly wish there was a Fountain of Youth or you just want to hear about the latest innovations in medicine, tune in as Amy reveals some powerful secrets to youth and vitality.

The human brain is an endless source of mystery and wonder. It’s the most powerful computer we know of, at least for now, and it’s a tool that has allowed the human race to achieve incredible things. The brain is also much more flexible and adaptable than many people realize. Someone who understands this more than most is Anat Baniel. She’s a psychologist, best-selling author of two books, Move Into Life and Kids Beyond Limits, and the creator of NeuroMovement, a powerful methodology that uses physical movement to rewire the brain. NeuroMovement is practiced around the globe and can be used as a treatment for pain, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. It’s also a method for achieving peak performance and even a way to combat aging. If you find your mental performance lagging, know that you’re not hardwired that way. Like the muscles in your body, your brain can get flabby without proper care. NeuroMovement reminds us that we need to take a holistic approach to our mental and physical health. Tune in as Anat e

Do you run your business or does your business run you? As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get buried in the details and lose sight of longer-term goals while you fritter away your time picking up the slack or fixing minor day-to-day issues. I admit that I get caught up in the minutia way too often. “Majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors,” as they say. Ideally, you should be working smart rather than hard by applying your genius on the highest value activities. The best and probably the only way to achieve scale is by building intelligent systems into your business. In other words, you should be working on your business, not in your business. On this episode number 197, my guest is Josh Fonger, high-performance business coach, speaker, and co-founder of Work the System. You may already be familiar with the name Work the System from the book of the same title, authored by Josh’s co-founder, Sam Carpenter. Josh will unpack for us some key principles and distinctions from the Work the System me

It’s a common misconception that the genetics we inherit from our parents determine our fate with regards to diseases and our overall health. The truth is your genes are not your destiny. While genetics certainly play a role, scientists now know there are many other factors that can exacerbate or trigger underlying genetic issues, including diet, exercise, your external environment and even your internal environment of your body, which includes things like your metabolism, microbiome, hormone levels and inflammation in your organs. Dr. Ben Lynch is an expert in epigenetics who studied hundreds of conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, heart disease, obesity and more. Lucky for you, he has developed a unique method for taking control of your genetic destiny. Dr. Lynch is also the author of the bestselling book, Dirty Genes. He’s here on this episode to share practical yet cutting-edge tips on how you can optimize your diet and daily routine in a way that allows you to master your genetic hea

If you’re a regular audience to the show, you know that I’m a major productivity nerd. My guest for this episode is someone who intrigues me because he has developed his own simple process for getting things done and achieving his goals, and it works. His name is Tommy Baker and he calls his system, The 1% Rule. It’s all about embracing the daily grind and developing a routine that gets resolved. Tommy has applied this method to his own life, but he also helps others realize their dreams via his podcast, the Elite Man and his coaching business, the Resist Average Academy. This is going to be an epic deep-dive into productivity and the secrets that underpin massive success. We will be discussing everything from mindset and coaching to biohacking and ice baths. Strap in because you don’t want to miss some of the powerful insights in this episode.

Sometimes here in the West, we can get so caught up in new ideas, we overlook traditional practices that have been around for centuries. My guest for this episode is Dennis Notten, a yoga meditation teacher, healer and a student of indigenous medicine from the Amazon and other parts of South America. Dennis has spent an extensive amount of time in the Amazon learning healing techniques from tribes like the Yawanawá in Brazil. He’s on a mission to bring some of these powerful methods to a broader audience in the West and beyond. We’ll be discussing plant medicine and in particular Ayahuasca, which comes from the Amazon rain forest. It’s important to recognize that when we refer to plant medicine in this episode, it does not mean medicine, drug or supplement in the Western sense. Neither Dennis nor I are suggesting that Ayahuasca or the Ayahuasca vine be used to treat or cure physical diseases or other physical conditions. In other words, please do not construe any of this episode’s discussion as medical advice

One of the more powerful books I’ve ever read is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It was first published over 80 years ago. Since then, it’s sold over 70 million copies worldwide. It truly is timeless and has changed many people’s lives, mine included. Many millionaires and billionaires have credited the book as a primary reason for their success. Among them is our guest for this episode, John Shin. John is not only a wildly successful entrepreneur but also a motivational speaker, philanthropist, movie producer and author of the brand-new book How Rich Asians Think. Just so you can appreciate the scale of what John has built, I’ll share with you that John commands a sales force of nearly 6,800 agents. Whether you’ve read or haven’t read Think and Grow Rich, keep reading because you are in for a treat to learn how an amazing book has changed an amazing person’s life and can change yours too.

On an average workday, how long do you spend sitting in front of a computer? Does your office have artificial lights? Do you microwave a meal for dinner and then sit down in front of the TV? Although we spend most of our time in environments filled with electromagnetic fields or EMFs, we rarely think about this kind of radiation exposure, but what effect are all these devices having on our bodies? There’s growing evidence that our lifestyles could be causing adverse effects like headaches, ringing in the ears, lack of energy, weight gain or worse. One of the few people exploring this phenomenon is Jason Bawden-Smith. Jason was a successful entrepreneur until he was struck down by twenty chronic illnesses. He healed himself and now he’s on a mission to help others via his books and talks. On this episode, Jason will reveal how he beat his own illnesses and how you can detoxify your environment and develop a healthy relationship to technology. It’s essential reading for anyone who’s ever wondered if their cell

The idea of hiring a remote workforce is highly appealing, especially if you’re a solo entrepreneur or a small business owner. What’s not to like? You get access to a flexible team without the pesky overheads of a traditional business, like office space and payroll tax. In reality, managing a remote team is trickier than it sounds. First off, it can be hard to find and retain top tier talents. Secondly, you might have other obstacles like work delays due to time zones or cultural differences that might affect internal communication. My guest for this episode number 191 is someone who understands these struggles. Nathan Hirsch is the Cofounder of FreeeUp, a company that connects businesses with professionals in eCommerce, digital marketing, development and much more. Stay tuned as we reveal the secrets to hiring and managing world-class talent, implementing systems to keep your remote business running smoothly and much more. If you’ve ever considered hiring freelancers, this episode is going to provide massive