Optimized Geek | Reboot Your Life

What if your thyroid disorder, chronic fatigue, or digestive problems aren't just physical issues — but signals from a body that has been carrying too much for too long? In Episode 561 of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Dr. Izabella Wentz — pharmacist, five-time author, and the world's leading expert on Hashimoto's thyroiditis — who reversed her own autoimmune diagnosis, along with hair loss, IBS, chronic fatigue, acid reflux, carpal tunnel, and depression. What we explored together: ➡️ The six root-cause categories behind most chronic illnesses and why all of them must be addressed together ➡️ Why stress literally depletes your gut lining, kills stomach acid, and lets infections take hold ➡️ The concept of "medical hexing" and why no doctor has the right to remove your hope ➡️ How EMDR and neurofeedback rewire the brain and accelerate physical healing ➡️ Why educated, empowered patients consistently achieve the best health outcomes Whether you're navigating an autoimmune condition, thyroid disorder,

Most people are stacking up regrets because they're missing opportunities they were too hesitant to take. Fred Joyal grew 1-800-DENTIST from a single phone number into a billion-dollar referral business over 30 years. But it was only when he looked back at his own journey from shy and underconfident to genuinely bold that he realized boldness is the real superpower, and it is a skill anyone can learn. In this episode of Get Yourself Optimized, Fred breaks down exactly what it takes to build boldness systematically, market a book in today's digital-first world, and stop letting other people's opinions run your life. What we unpacked together: Why boldness is a skill, not a trait, and how to build it one action at a time The real needle movers for book marketing in a world with three and a half million podcasts Why digital and audio versions of your book are the only formats that are actually growing How to use one-star reviews on competitor books as free competitive intelligence The one mindset shift

What if dying felt like waking up from a bad dream? Rosemary Thornton, author, journalist, and near-death experiencer, describes her death not with fear, but with relief. After losing her husband to suicide, receiving a Stage 2 cancer diagnosis, and bleeding to death on an operating table, she found herself floating through a velvety blackness, giggling, grateful, and completely at peace. And then she came back—healed. In this week's episode of Get Yourself Optimized, Rosemary shares what she saw, heard, and felt during her temporary death experience, including: The three words that summed up her entire experience of heaven How a seven-foot angel appeared in her church pew and told her to write her book What happened to her Stage 2 cancer after she returned from the other side Why does she call it a 'temporary death experience'—not a near-death experience The simple prayers and daily habits that have kept her grounded ever since This isn't a story about dying. It's a story about coming home.  The

Most people hate selling because they've been taught to do it wrong. The moment you label yourself the same as everyone else in your market, you become a brown box — and brown boxes compete on price. But when you reframe your positioning, build buying energy before the call, and guide your prospect to sell themselves, the whole game changes. In this episode of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Steve Brossman — sales positioning strategist, author of nine bestsellers, and creator of the Backpocket Guide to Self-Selling Secrets — who breaks down exactly why most knowledge professionals freeze when it comes to asking for money, and what to do instead. What we unpacked together: Why your perceived position predicts your profits — and how to stop being a brown box The three levels of influence: imposed, collaborative, and self — and why self is the only one that lasts How to build so much buying energy that prospects ask YOU what the next steps are Why 'discovery calls' kill your close rate — and wha

Your body is keeping score — and it may be losing. Unresolved trauma doesn't just affect your emotions. It drives chronic inflammation, suppresses your immune system, and quietly blocks your body's ability to heal. And most people have no idea it's happening. In Episode 557 of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Dr. Don Wood — founder of the Inspired Performance Institute and creator of the TIPP program — whose daughter was told she had two incurable diseases. Instead of accepting that verdict, he spent a decade researching, earned his PhD, and developed a method that resolves trauma at the neurological level, often in a single session. What we unpacked together: Why chronic inflammation — not just inflammation — is the real driver of disease The difference between capital-T Trauma and the small-t 'emotional concussions' most of us carry without realizing it How the subconscious mind keeps looping old trauma as if it's happening right now — and what that does to your genes Why conventional therapy

New Get Yourself Optimized episode: Neuroscientist + Doctor of Chinese Medicine Dr. Amy Albright reveals why your nervous system—not your strategy—is the real bottleneck. Free 3-step reset included.  The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/556

Your phone isn't a habit. For millions, it's an addiction. Jim Sugel spent 22 years in recovery & wrote the 12 Steps for Smartphone Addiction. We walked through every step live in this Get Yourself Optimized episode.

Most people open ChatGPT and ask it a question. The ones getting extraordinary results? They start by telling it who they are. In this episode of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Dr. Gary Sanchez — founder of the Why Institute and creator of the WHY Operating System — and he will completely reframe how you think about AI as a tool for personal and professional growth. "Who first, then what." Before you ask AI to help you write your LinkedIn profile, plan your business strategy, or create your next campaign, you need to give it the language of you. Your why. Your how. Your what. Without that, you're getting advice built for everyone, not for you. In this episode, we cover:  → How to use your Why assessment as an AI upload to personalize every output  → Meta prompting: getting AI to write the perfect prompt for you  → Using NotebookLM to decode relationship and team dynamics  → Why the future belongs to those who know themselves deeply — and use AI intentionally If you've ever felt like your LinkedIn pro

He was rejected 268 times. Couldn't spell. Barely write. Today, Greg Reid has published 157 books in 45 languages and has a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame. His secret? Stop trying to fix your weaknesses. Double down on your strengths — and hire the rest. In Episode 553 of Get Yourself Optimized, Greg pulls back the curtain on the systems, mindsets, and unconventional moves that turned a dyslexic kid who couldn't get a publisher to call him back into one of the most prolific authors in the world. Here's what we unpack:  → Why ghost writers aren't cheating — they're a strategy  → How rigorous honesty saved his relationships (even his divorces)  → The Web3 opportunity most entrepreneurs are completely ignoring  → Why he pays his 13-year-old son for TikToks instead of chores  → The Hollywood "maybe rule" that got his Oscar-contending film made in 7 months If you've been told you're not the right fit, don't have the right background, or don't have the right skills — this episode is for you. Tune in! The show n

Ever notice how the most meaningful connections seem to happen "by accident"? They're not accidents. They're collisions you can engineer. James Eder—entrepreneur, coach, and author of The Collision Code—reveals the exact framework for creating serendipitous moments that change your business and life. His story: Built Student Beans to 200+ employees. Diagnosed with a heart condition. Told he might need a transplant. Instead of slowing down, he wrote a book, donating 100% of royalties to charity, and created a coaching practice serving entrepreneurs worldwide. The Collision Code breaks down to three elements: Permission - Give yourself permission to start conversations (or blame this podcast for making you do it) Confidence - Built through practice, not preparation Context - Create conversation starters through what you wear, carry, or say In our conversation on Get Yourself Optimized, James shares how he met his longest-running client (8+ years, £20,000+ engagement) by asking a stranger on the street,

From facing jail time and bankruptcy to owning a stake in a professional sports team with an NBA championship ring, Joel Steele's journey proves that your lowest moments can become your greatest catalysts. In this week's episode of Get Yourself Optimized, Joel shares the exact framework that took him from $500,000 in debt at age 24 to financial independence in under two years. His "Life Switch" methodology isn't about positive thinking—it's about tuning into the emotions most people suppress and using them as your personal roadmap. Key insights you'll discover:  ✅ Why your uncomfortable emotions are "gold" (and how to decode them)  ✅ The two-step success formula Joel used to escape bankruptcy  ✅ How to delete doubt the same way you skip a bad song  ✅ The 3 P's that power transformation: Potential, Passion, Purpose Joel didn't get lucky. He got intentional. And he's breaking down exactly how he did it. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/551.

What if the key to better decisions isn't just willpower—it's how we support our daily performance? I just interviewed James Schmachtenberger, co-founder of Neurohacker Collective and creator of Qualia, who went from severe adrenal failure at 21 to pioneering a new approach to human optimization. After a life-changing experimental IV therapy in Mexico transformed his brain function, James asked himself a powerful question: 'Could we make cutting-edge cognitive enhancement accessible to everyone—not just those who can afford $250K/year in precision medicine?' The answer led to a complete reimagining of supplement science, using complex systems modeling rather than the standard "one problem, one pill" approach. James found that when he started exploring nootropics during his burnout period, they helped give him the foundation to start making better choices in exercise, nutrition, and other areas of life—creating powerful compounding effects. If you've ever felt like you're capable of more but can't consistently

The IRS has a new weapon: AI Audits that move at lightning speed And most taxpayers have no idea it's coming. Here's what's happening: The IRS is using artificial intelligence to match 1099s and other reported income against tax returns. When there's a mismatch, you get a letter—but here's the catch: you might have only 5 days left to respond by the time it reaches your mailbox. Don't respond in time? They can freeze your bank account faster than you can say "tax audit." I just released the Get Yourself Optimized episode with Diane Kennedy, a CPA who's been in the tax strategy game for decades. She's seeing the AI audit revolution firsthand—and she's here to help you navigate it (and save money in the process). Diane's philosophy is simple: The same legal tax strategies available to billionaires should be available to everyone. The difference? Knowledge and implementation. Financial stress blocks your potential. When you're constantly worried about money or caught off guard by tax problems, there's less bandw

What if you could give yourself an extra week every year? That's exactly what my guest, Sam Richter, did by automating just ONE repetitive task in his business. Sam, a keynote speaker and AI-powered sales intelligence pioneer, discovered that by creating a custom AI assistant for his presentation slides, he reduced his prep time from 25 minutes to 5 minutes per presentation. Across 100 presentations per year, that's 2,000 minutes saved—essentially a free 53rd week in his year. In this Get Yourself Optimized episode, Sam breaks down:  ✅ The GUIDE framework for writing prompts that reduce AI hallucinations ✅ Why treating AI like an intern gets better outcomes than treating it like a search engine  ✅ How a retail company used AI to optimize staffing in under 5 minutes (a task that would have taken days manually)  ✅ The difference between traditional AI and generative AI—and why it matters  ✅ Custom GPTs, system prompts, and memory features that personalize your AI experience This isn't about replacing humans—it'

Ever feel like you're fighting battles that aren't truly yours? You probably are. Emunah Love just explained in Get Yourself Optimized that most of us carry cellular imprints from ancestors, past lives, and childhood trauma that create invisible ceilings—and we don't even know they're there. Traditional therapy helps you manage these patterns. Emunah clears them at the root. Her journey started with profound trauma. Father was killed by the police at age 8. Emotionally unavailable mother. A world that felt fundamentally unsafe. But she had this unwavering faith that kept her searching for "more." During a trip to Israel, she met a stranger named Emunah (Hebrew for "faith"). Her body lit up like firecrackers. She instantly knew: That's my real name. That's who I am. Fast forward 30 years of healing work, and she's now channeling high-vibration beings to help leaders transmute energetic blocks in single sessions. Her clients report shifts that years of traditional approaches couldn't touch. She intentionally cr

What if your best marketing decisions came from a place beyond data and analytics? In this week's episode of Get Yourself Optimized, I sit down with Ava Carmichael, a digital marketing strategist who reveals how she combines intuition, data, and experience to create breakthrough marketing strategies for her clients. Ava shares the turning point when she realized she was splitting her energy between fashion design and marketing, giving each only 50%. The moment she made a clear, committed decision to focus entirely on marketing, everything exploded: her career, her income, and her impact. Here's what you'll discover:  → The three-pronged approach to developing marketing intuition  → Why quality content beats SEO technicalities every time  → How to distinguish genuine intuitive guidance from fear-based thinking  → The power of making a 100% committed decision in your career  → Why video content is becoming non-negotiable for brands If you've been hedging your bets or splitting your focus between multiple paths,

In the "wisdom economy," ideas aren't the bottleneck. Engagement is. In Get Yourself Optimized, I sit down with Matt Church (Sydney-based leadership thinker, creator of the Pink Sheet Process, author of Rise Up: An Evolution in Leadership) to unpack a practical framework for turning messy thinking into clear, high-impact communication. A few highlights: "Someone's attention is the currency, not my ideas." Why the best leaders charge for experiences, not ideas How one Pink Sheet can become a book, short video, or social post—without starting from scratch If you lead teams, sell expertise, or build a personal brand, this episode is a direct hit. Listen to Episode 545 and then do one thing: try a Pink Sheet today. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/545.

The sources of your biggest pain are also your greatest teachers. In this episode of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Matt Diggity, a well-known SEO entrepreneur who's now on a profound journey of inner exploration. We dive deep into why anxiety creeps up so gradually that you don't recognize it, how IFS therapy rewrites the emotional impact of past trauma, and the power of resonant breathing to release tension in real-time. Matt also shares an extraordinary experience where he and a friend shared the same psychedelic vision, and why going more analog matters in an increasingly digital world. Tune in! The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/544.

The "success lie" nearly destroyed this award-winning entrepreneur's life—until a blackout on an airplane forced her to face the truth. Janelle Bruland had it all: a thriving multi-state business, three daughters, and the appearance of having life "figured out." But when she lost time during a flight and underwent a brain scan, doctors discovered classic PTSD symptoms—her amygdala was "lit up like New York Times Square." What she learned changed everything about how she leads, lives, and defines success. In our latest episode, Janelle reveals why society's definition of success keeps us overwhelmed and exhausted, and how unresolved trauma shows up as invisible barriers to authentic leadership. She shares the framework she created to move from overwhelmed to inner peace, and explains why accepting the present moment "as if you had chosen it" is transformative. One of the most powerful moments comes when she describes the divine message at a funeral that led her to spend her precious final years with her father

Most people don't realize they enter trance states multiple times every day. Ever drive home and can't remember the journey? Get so absorbed in work that you don't hear someone calling your name? That's your subconscious mind taking over—and it's the same state hypnotherapists use to create lasting change. In this Get Yourself Optimized episode, my wife, Orion Talmay, reveals how she helps clients access their subconscious to heal beliefs formed decades ago. These aren't beliefs you can just "think" your way out of—they're patterns wired into your neural connections through repeated experiences. Orion explains:  → How metaphors and symbols speak directly to your subconscious  → Why healing one root memory creates a ripple effect across your entire life  → The difference between stage hypnosis and therapeutic hypnosis  → What makes someone ready for transformational change She also shares her three top tips for living a stellar life: practicing gratitude to shift your state, grounding in nature to balance your