Align Podcast

What is the cure to pain? What are we supposed to do with the learnings we gain from going through painful experiences? What does holding space actually mean? What happens when we withhold our own truth?

In this episode of the Align podcast, Stefano shares with us why and how he hit rock bottom, how he expressed his addictions to sex, alcohol, physical extenuation, materialism, status, and how someone living through a similar passage can find peace with their story. 

Plus, we explore the reality that most of us act according to what people feel is “normal” and expected by our society, which results in us feeling ashamed of expressing what we truly want and suppressing our own fantasies. 

Stefanos Sifandos is a relationship alchemist, international speaker, and author who facilitates transformational growth through neuro-empowerment practices to help evolve and enhance relationships.

What we discuss:

06:03: Stefano’s 10 day fast in the wild

12:50:  What does ‘holding space’ actually mean?

14:27: How to cultivate depth within ourselves in order to be of supportive of others

15:28: Stefano’s story of learning through pain

20:04: How does one acknowledge their own story in order to re-write it?

24:50: Are there any 'neuroses' that can't be healed by love?

28:34: Is it possible to re-parent ourselves?

29:30: What shame feels like to Stefano

35:55: How to come to peace with your own story

37:00: More about relationships

40:00: Thriving in familiarity Vs novelty

46:13: Masculine and feminine energy - how does polarity work?

51:33: How can we relate to each other effectively?

57:36: How a female embodies feminine elements to attract a masculine figure

1:04:49: Will society erupt?

1:05:39: Is equilibrium even sustainable?

1:10:31: Modern use of psychoactive substances to address trauma and wounds

To learn more about Stefanos:

Website: stefanossifandos.com

Instagram: @stefanossifandos

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Can the dietary choices we make right now affect how we feel later in the day? What’s the difference between “doing” health and creating health?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, Drew and I discuss how the food that we consume can impact our mental health both in a positive or negative way. For example, incorporating brain food such as omega-3 fatty acids and leafy greens are proven to help promote healthy brain functions and keep your mood stable. 

Plus, we talk about how individuality is not something that is taken into consideration on social media when advice is shared in regards to health and diets. We all have different genetics and needs in terms of nutrition and following a cookie-cutter rule for nutrition can lead to unintentional malnutrition. 

Drew Ramsey, M.D. is a psychiatrist, author, and farmer. He is a clear voice in the mental health conversation and one of psychiatry's leading proponents of using nutritional interventions. He is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

What we discuss:

03:26: The 6-week anti-depressive timeframe

04:21: Why Drew decided to focus on anxiety and depression

07:43: The impact on the health care system when the health care providers' mental health is not taken care of

11:28: Being in the cycle of nature

15:24: Bacterial exposure in nature and how it relates to mental health

20:29: How are bugs controlling us?

24:24: A prediction on the effect on young people being hindered from facial expressions due to the current mask usage

28:47: What is nutritional psychiatry?

34:06: How does social media influence our choices and the dangers of not considering our individuality

37:53: Why some patients might feel worse in their first psychiatry appointment

40:51: Are we at an inflexible point in the masculinity shift?

50:53: How will the world be after COVID in regards to social and sanitization matters

55:24: Discussion on labeling people with a certain pathology

57:23: What can awareness actually do?

1:01:22: Drew's Ramsey book

1:07:55: What’s next in medical research?

1:18:26: Olive oil; why it should be the main fat we consume

1:19:26: Top foods that might cause depression from a nutritional standpoint

More about Drew:

Website: drewramseymd.com

Instagram: @drewramseymd

Book: Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety

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For some of us, we tend to say yes to any opportunity that comes our way. For others, we just aren't able to say no to favors that are being asked of us. But why is that? Why do we say YES when we want to scream NO?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, Christine Hassler and I define issue-based relationships, how to build a proper foundation for opening up to relationships, and what type of people should be staying single at certain points in their lives. 

Plus, we cover how compensatory strategies are formed in childhood as coping mechanisms that are later reflected throughout our adult lives.

Christine Hassler is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, master coach, and podcast host who is committed to guiding people and organizations into their highest potential.

What we discuss:

02:00: Christine's process in saying “no”

05:04: Where does the fear of saying “no” come from?

08:34: How can someone recognize their own compensatory patterns? What is the expectation hangover?

11:16: Why are we here?

12:54: Does the ideal mate exist?

17:25: How to create a foundation in order to open up space for a relationship

20:42: What are issue-based relationships?

23:02: Can a relationship just be easy?

25:02: Can we create a healthy foundation by examining our childhood?

28:48: how to connect to ourselves as a child

30:59: Christine's first deep inner child meditation

42:34: Who should stay single?

45:59: How does Christine define God + her religious upbringing

1:03:44: How are our outer experiences a reflection of the inner reality?

To learn more about Christine:

Website: christinehassler.com

Instagram: @christinehassler

Podcast: Over It & On With It

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What is a thought? Where are our thoughts located? What weight do our thoughts have? 

In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Caroline Leaf and I discuss what defines the concept of thoughts and how exactly they affect our body and our DNA. In fact, the human brain is capable to identify toxic and negative thoughts and treat them as foreign invaders, similar to how our bodies react to foreign invaders that attack our immune system.

Plus, Dr. Leaf shares with us a proven 5 step process that is designed to help us overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and more. 

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist, specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. She has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is also the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, Think and Eat Yourself Smart, and many more.

What we discuss:

02:02: What is a thought? Where are thoughts located? What weight do our thoughts have?

06:12: How much control do we have over our entire thought process?

08:01: Dr. Leaf’s path to engaging in the knowledge of the mind

14:4: How do we experience things through our mind?

18:29: An explanation to why we don’t have a negative bias

19:18: Why are our brains drawn to the negative?

23:16: What is consciousness and unconsciousness? How do they relate to each other?

36:55: Where does shame come from?

43:27: Breaking down the NeuroCycle

51:55: The advantage of multi-perspective

To learn more about Dr. Leaf:

Website: drleaf.com

Instagram: @drcarolineleaf

Podcast: Cleaning Up the Mental Mess

Book: Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

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We often feel that the career choice we made years ago is permanent, that we are hostages of a degree we earned or a couple of decades of experience that we accumulated. But that isn’t true.

In this episode of the Align podcast, Ashley Stahl and I discuss the 9 core skill sets that you should develop if you are contemplating switching careers. Plus, Ashley explains how the skills that you naturally have are more important than the interests you have.

Lastly, we get to hear all about how Ashley’s impressive background in counterterrorism helped her develop soft skills that are essential for the career choice she made after leaving the Pentagon.

Ashley is an angel investor, writer, career coach, podcast host, and an ex-counterterrorism professional for the Pentagon. Her leadership firm, Ashley International Inc., offers private coaching and unparalleled online programs to empower Millennials to find their purpose, land more job offers, and increase their income.

What we discuss:

04:26: Ashley's creative process for writing her new book

08:36: Expanding options vs going unidirectionally in a career

12:56: Making core skill sets relevant

16:22: Ashley's background in counter-terrorism

22:39: How Ashley incurred a loss in her business

24:41: What brought Ashley to her current formula?

29:25: Why did the Senate get raided?

32:22: Ashley's day to day working in counter-terrorism and international development

35:57: How are skill sets becoming obsolete in the workforce

40:01: What was Ashley's relation to Al-Qaeda in her professional role?

41:51: Ashley's experience as a female in her previous field

44:42: Developing self-awareness to determine our own hardness

47:00: Making career choices based on past wounds

48:46: What are the required skills of a good spy?

52:37: The power of being good with words

55:16: How did Ashley's perception of death evolve throughout time

01:03:05: The value and disadvantages of the current educational system

01:05:42: Changing careers at a mature age

To learn more about Ashley:

Website: ashleystahl.com

Instagram: @ashleystahl

Podcast:  Your Turn Podcast

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How many of you experienced bullying in your childhood? How did that experience shape the person that you are today? Is self-love all that you need to get through difficult times?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, we get deep and personal with Justin Wren. From bullying to self-sabotage with addiction, we discuss the importance of learning self-love and how expressing kindness towards yourself and others is the key to healing.

We also get a very intimate insight into Justin’s darkest thoughts and moments and how he overcame them. Plus, a message is given to those going through dark times.

Justin Wren is a former heavyweight division fighter, holding an MMA record of 15-2. After overcoming depression and addiction, Justin took the decision to step away from MMA, seeking out a purpose and passion for his life. He then founded Fight For The Forgotten initiative, where he now fights for those who don’t have a voice.

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Call 1-800-273-8255 to talk.

What we discuss:

02:26: Justin's relationship with his mom

05:30: What do martial arts teach you?

07:11: What makes a bully?

11:18: Justin's experience with bullying

24:50: Learning how to love yourself

29:17: Discussing suicide ideation and attempt: Justin's experience

01:08:44: How kindness can help you

01:17:47: Self-sabotage with addiction

01:22:58: A message for those going through dark times

01:34:10: More about the Fight for the Forgotten initiative

To learn more about Justin:

Website: fightfortheforgotten.org

Instagram: @fightfortheforgotten / @thebigpygmy

Podcast: The Justin Wren Podcast

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Are you honest with yourself? Do you have realistic expectations of how your body can perform? What thoughts are you using to fuel your body and optimize its performance? 

In this episode of the Align podcast, Steven Kotler and I discuss how understanding our own human biology is the most important thing we can do for ourselves in order to properly pursue and attain our goals. In fact, knowing how to make biology work for us and not against us is the secret of many successful people.

We also talk about the crucialness of honesty, and how we must accept that we can only work with what we have. Steven recommends how we should feed our pattern recognition system properly and on a daily basis to help us reach peak body and brain performance.

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. His nine bestsellers are praised all around the world and by industry leaders such as Elon Musk, Bill Clinton, and more.

What we discuss:

02:56: Discussing Steven's religious upbringing

08:42: How peak performance and honesty related to each other

10:00: Changing a child's direction through parenting

12:20: How praying is great training for peak performance

14:36: How evolution has been shaped by the force of innovation

16:31: What is the general thinking of flow?

18:13: Drivers of evolution: more food and better health

22:36: Why long-term planning and flow are dissociated

26:03: Kotler's Art of Impossible book

28:26: Motivation, learning, creativity and flow

To learn more about Steven:

Website: stevenkotler.com

Book mentioned: Art of Impossible

Instagram: @kotler.steven

Podcast: Flow Research Collective Radio

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If time is relative, how can we dilate it to live presently? How can you improve your focus to bring more time, energy, and money into flow? What does a monk think of money and what financial advice does he give? 

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I have a conversation with Pedram Shojai, a.k.a. The Urban Monk, about the very fundamentals of meditation, how to be present and mindful, and how you can go as far as you can with the means you have today.

Plus, we talk about the concept of identity and how so many of us nowadays find our identity structure through ideology groups. We also discuss the value of rites of passage and the importance of wilderness, which often seems to be a missing component in urban life.

Pedram is a master herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, and wellness consultant. He is a dynamic teacher, Taoist minister, and lifelong student of various Alchemical Traditions. Pedram is also a Filmmaker and author, father, and husband.

What we discuss:

03:55: Pedram’s experience of studying with the Dalai Lama

04:47: Explaining educational and philosophical differences between Tibetans and Westerners

06:51: How and why Pedram became a Taoist monk

10:16: How to self-reconcile

12:53: Best practices for optimal focus

14:55: Why do we spend so much time online and how can we stop doing that?

20:08: The value in rites of passage

26:41: Money is trade

29:28: Financial advice from a monk

33:15: Being able to re-write our own story

38:42: Can meditation have different forms?

40:32: How to meditate effectively

44:17: Dissecting the perception of time and how to dilate it

:51:44: Dealing with imposter syndrome

53:55: Transitioning to a bigger game in life

To learn more about Pedram Shojai:

Website: theurbanmonk.com

Instagram: @official_urbanmonk

Book: The Urban Monk

Podcast: The Urban Monk Podcast

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What is thyroid disease, exactly? What causes it? Can we even reverse thyroid disease? If so, how can we do that?

In this episode of the Align Podcast,  I have a conversation with Alan Christianson, where we discuss how the foods we choose to fuel our body can actually help reverse thyroid disease and how a healthy thyroid contributes to our immune system, our mental health, and our physical health. We then break down what is iodine, what are the optimal levels for human consumption, and what are the best resources we can refer to in order to ensure we are intaking the proper and recommended amount. 

We also pick Alan’s brain about emotions and how they can impact our overall wellbeing, his own personal practices of meditation and journaling, and we even touch upon epistemology!

Alan Christianson is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) who specializes in natural

endocrinology with a focus on thyroid disorders. He is the author of The Metabolism Reset Diet

and the New York Times bestselling book The Adrenal Reset Diet. He has been named a Top Doctor in Phoenix Magazine and has appeared on national TV shows and in numerous print media.

Website: https://www.drchristianson.com

Instagram: @dralanchristianson

Book: https://www.drchristianson.com/thyroidresetdiet/#Bonus

What we discuss:

[00:02:46] Christianson's new book on thyroid disease research

[00:04:26] The value in making our own food

[00:06:54] What is Iodine?

[00:09:47] The repercussions of iodine deficiency and excess

[00:11:52] What are the optimal levels of iodine?

[00:13:12] What causes thyroid disease? 

[00:15:59] Can thoughts and feelings affect the functioning of the thyroid?

[00:18:45] What is the thyroid and how does it work?

[00:20:10] How emotional states contribute to your physical health issues

[00:22:50] Do we have free will?

[00:26:01] Alan’s biggest challenges

[00:32:09] How do we know we know?

[00:36:30] A guide to mediation and journaling practices

[00:38:37] Alan’s thoughts on God

[00:40:19] What are signs of an underlying thyroid issue?

[00:41:26] Can all diseases be reversed and what be the root cause for it?

[00:43:10] How does toxic fat develop?

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What's the planet's most nutritious food? SPROUTS! And in this episode of the Align Podcast, the author of the Sprout Book, Doug Evans, tells us why.

Among the mind-blowing nutritional qualities of sprouts:
― they have 20-30 times the nutrients of other vegetables and 100 times those of meat
― they pack cancer-fighting properties and help to protect us from cardiovascular disease and environmental pollutants
― they aid in digestion
― they are a simple way to grow your own vegetables and compatible with all diets

Ready to learn more? Tune into the full episode! 

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