Brain Shaman

In this episode, I explore the intersection of bipolar disorder and spiritual experiences with Mari Beth Lutes, author of Is this a Spiritual Awakening? Or my Bipolar? We talk about what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder, practical tools for navigating it, and how it can sometimes open a door to the metaphysical, connecting us to spirits, God, and deeper realities. We talk about clairvoyance, addiction, alcohol, meditation, psychedelics, mediumship, and the blurry line between mania and spiritual connection. Mari also gives me a card reading and helps me navigate my own journey of self-understanding. Whether you're skeptical or curious about the unseen world and its links to bipolar, this conversation invites you to explore new dimensions with Mari Beth Lutes.

RESOURCES

BOOKS
- Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch
- Bipolar Disorder for Dummies by Candida Fink
- Seth Speaks by Jane Roberts (book)
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
- One by Richard Bach
- The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
- The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide by David Miklowitz
- The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

CARDS
- Angels and Ancestors Oracle Cards
- Talking to Heaven Mediumship Cards
- The Soul's Journey Lesson Cards

MOVIES
- Titanic
- Indigo
- What the Bleep Do We Know!?

ORGANIZATIONS
- Al-anon
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Amen Clinics
- Families Anonymous
- Nar-Anon
- NROTC
- University of North Carolina
- VA

PEOPLE
- Michael (archangel)
- Daniel Amen
- Fyodor Dostoevsky 
- James Van Praagh
- Jane Roberts
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Long Island Medium
- Mario Fields
- Neale Donald Walsch
- Phil McGraw
- Richard Bach

PLACES
- Bakersfield
- Camp Lejeune
- Caribbean
- Chautauqua Lake
- Hokkaido
- Lily Dale
- Okinawa
- Jacksonville, NC
- Outer Banks
- Sanctuary of Truth
- Utah
- Washington D.C. Temple
- Wilmington, NC

**Connect and Learn More**
Instagram: @aguidedway
Facebook: Guided Way Wedding Officiant
LinkedIn: /mari-lutes-677868186

In this episode, I talk to musician and Manic Memoir author, Matt Masters Burgener. Matt shares his journey from an exciting life of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll to one grounded in love, responsibility, and genuine connection. Together, we dive into his evolution—from living for the moment to building a future, from chasing fun to discovering lasting bonds—a true transformation from adolescence to adulthood. 

Our conversation covers topics like bipolar disorder, drugs and addiction (focusing on marijuana), creativity, anger, death, solitude, love, sex, loss, music, writing, family, parenthood, and social connection. Join us for an intimate look at Matt’s journey from mania to calm, and the wisdom and actions that led him to a life of responsibility, growth, and peace.

RESOURCES

PEOPLE
- Beyoncé
- Matt Masters (British DJ)

PLACES
- Australia
- Calgary
- Canmore
- Mexico City
- New Orleans
- Niagara Falls
- Texas
- The Old Spaghetti Factory
- Toronto
- South Pacific
- Whitehorse
- Yukon

VOCABULARY
- Alopecia universalis
- Celiac disease
- Thyroid

**Connect and Learn More**
website: mattmasters.ca
book: Manic Memoir: A bipolar journey in music
company: curbsideconcerts.ca
Instagram: @mattmastersburgener
X: @mastersmatt
Spotify: open.spotify.com/intl-ja/artist/24AhJ8DlTXsxNt2HbstB3N
YouTube: @MattMastersMusic

In this episode, we explore ADHD and the potential of neurofeedback to help manage symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Ofer Lidsky, founder and CEO of Excellent Brain, explains how neurofeedback can be used to train the brain, guiding users toward enhanced focus and cognitive performance. We dive into the role of dopamine, the prefrontal cortex, the benefits and limitations of medication, and examine the impact of the education system on ADHD. Additional topics include consciousness, willpower, and the distinctions between biofeedback and neurofeedback, along with technologies like smartwatches, video games, and VR. Discover how neurofeedback utilizes brain waves to create lasting improvements in attention and cognition.

RESOURCES

PEOPLE
- David Passig
- Roger Penrose
- Stuart Hameroff

PLACES
- Bar-Ilan University
- Israel
- University of Arizona

MEDICATIONS
- Concerta (Methylphenidate)
- Ritalin (Methylphenidate)

VOCABULARY
- Cybersickness (VR Sickness)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)
- Microtubules
- Orchestrated Objective Reduction
- Quantum Computer
- Sudoku
- Synapse
- Thalamus

**Connect and Learn More**
website: excellent-brain.com
Forbes: forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/people/oferlidsky
LinkedIn: in/oferlidsky

Welcome to episode 100 of the podcast—celebrating two incredible years since we began! Today, I’ll share my heartfelt gratitude to all my guests and listeners, spotlighting our top cities, countries, and episodes. We’ll explore the most powerful ideas and principles we've discussed, highlight essential tools, outline key things to avoid for better brain health, and give you a sneak peek into the exciting future of the podcast. Thank you for being part of this amazing journey! 

In this episode, I interview Dr. Ken Sharlin, a neurologist and the author of The Healthy Brain Toolbox, to discuss Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and ALS. Dr. Sharlin explores the symptoms, causes, and potential breakthroughs in treating these diseases through both conventional and functional medicine.

What We Discuss:

• Parkinson’s Symptoms and Early Signs: Both motor symptoms (such as tremors, rigidity, and shuffling gait) and non-motor symptoms (including anxiety, depression, constipation, and REM sleep behavior disorder) can appear during a pre-motor phase that may last over a decade before diagnosis. 
• The Neuroscience of Parkinson’s: We explore how dopamine loss and damage to the basal ganglia disrupt movement, highlighting the role of dopamine in the disease’s hallmark symptoms.
• Current Treatments: While there’s no cure, treatments like levodopa manage symptoms. Diagnostic tools like DAT and SPECT scans reveal brain abnormalities that guide treatment.
• Levodopa: This vital medication helps restore dopamine but can cause side effects like psychosis, making it important to balance with functional approaches.  Explore its science, benefits, risks, and limitations. 
• Environmental Factors: Toxins, head injuries, and gut health may contribute to Parkinson’s, with inflammation and oxidative stress playing key roles in its development.
• Gut-Brain Connection: We discuss how gut health affects brain function and the potential of diet and probiotics to slow disease progression.
• Diet and Lifestyle: A plant-based, anti-inflammatory diet, along with sleep, exercise, and stress management, is crucial for brain health and reducing inflammation.
• Understanding Systems Biology: We explore systems biology and how our interconnected bodily systems influence neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, advocating for a holistic strategy instead of just treating individual organs or symptoms. 
• Reversing Cognitive Decline: Dr. Sharlin shares success stories of reversing Alzheimer's through functional medicine, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle changes and controlling inflammation.

RESOURCES

BOOKS
- An Essay on the Shaking Palsy by James Parkinson
- The Healthy Brain Toolbox by Dr. Ken Sharlin
- Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky 

DRUGS
- Aducanumab (Aduhelm)
- Donanemab (Kisunla)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec, Losec)
- Lecanemab (Leqembi) 
- Levodopa and Carbidopa (Sinemet)

MOVIES & TV
- Awakenings
- Star Trek
- Supersize Me

PEOPLE
- Barbara Pickut
- Brett Favre
- Hans Selye
- James Parkinson
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Morgan Spurlock
- Robert Sapolsky
- Robin Williams
- Robert De Niro
- Walter Cannon

ORGANIZATIONS
- Bened Life
- Biogen
- Eli Lilly
- Eisai 
- Green Bay Packers
- The Institute for Functional Medicine
- University of Michigan

VOCABULARY
- Alpha-synuclein
- Cytochrome P450
- General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
- Glutathione
- Krebs Cycle 
- Lateral ventricles
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
- mTOR pathway
- Postencephalitic Parkinsonism 
- Trichloroethylene

Connect & Learn More
Website: functionalmedicine.doctor
Book: healthybraintoolbox.com
The Parkinson's Solutions Summit 2.0: drtalks.com/summit/parkinsons-summit

 In this episode, I interview Michael J. Gelb, author of Walking Well and 17 other insightful books. He teaches us how to transform our walking experience, increasing comfort, awareness, connection, energy, creativity, presence, and joy with every step. Learn to undo bad habits that hold you back and discover principles from tai chi, qi gong, aikido, and the natural movements of humans and animals. Explore how to connect with the ground, the air, historical figures, animals, the sacred, each other, and your true self. This episode serves as a quick guide to re-learning the natural art of walking.


RESOURCES

ANIMALS
- Bear
- Crane
- Eagle
- Heron

BOOKS
- Body Learning by Michael J. Gelb
- How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael Gelb
- Walking Well by Michael J. Gelb & Bruce Fertman

PEOPLE
- Albert Einstein
- Bruce Fertman
- Georgia O’Keefe
- Giorgio Vasari
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Nikola Tesla
- Thomas Edison
- Thomas Jefferson
- Tony Buzan

PLACES
- Albert Einstein Walk
- Cerro Pedernal
- Coyote, New Mexico
- Mount Kailash
- Omega Institute
- Princeton University
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Santiago de Compostela

PRACTICES
- Aikido
- Tai chi
- Qi gong

SONGS
- You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers
- Walk Like a Man by The Four Seasons

VOCABULARY
- Mind mapping
- Passeggiata
- Pedometer
- Plantigrade
- Digitigrade
- Cervical vertebrae 

**Connect & Learn More**
website: michaelgelb.com
book website: walkingwell.com
Instagram: @michaeljgelb

In this episode, Diante Fuchs, author of The Gift of Anxiety, guides us through our emotions and how they reflect our unmet needs. She emphasizes the importance of listening to and embracing these emotions, allowing them to guide us forward into a better life. Emotions like anger, sadness, frustration, and anxiety often signal unmet needs—such as connection, safety, independence, acceptance, boundaries, and spontaneity. Learning how to understand, engage, accept, and communicate them, will help us improve our mental and emotional well-being, relationships, and overall life.

We delve into various emotions, with anxiety taking center stage. Diante explains how anxiety arises from the need for safety and predictability, manifesting in both mind and body through symptoms like muscle tension, a racing heart, and shortness of breath. Instead of merely managing these symptoms or reducing our anxiety through relaxation strategies such as deep breathing, cold water exposure, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Diante advocates embracing your anxiety (as well as anger, sadness, etc.), having self-compassion, questioning and shifting your beliefs, and communicating and fulfilling your unmet needs. This approach allows us to meet our emotions with kindness, process them without self-judgment, and avoid getting stuck in them.

We also discuss societal pressures to conform to a narrow emotional range, cultural influences on emotional expression, and common misconceptions about mental health. Diante reframes mental illness not as a sickness but as emotions that have gotten horribly stuck. She urges us to give our emotions the space they need to be expressed rather than suppressing or ignoring them.

Communication plays a critical role in this process. Diante emphasizes the importance of expressing our needs and being honest about our feelings. By fostering open dialogue without making assumptions about others, we can create clearer, more meaningful connections in our relationships, and reduce our anger, sadness, or anxiety.

A key insight from the episode is Diante’s perspective on anxiety as a gift—a signpost for change. She explains how anxiety and excitement share the same physiological response, showcasing anxiety as a positive force guiding us toward growth and transformation. Self-compassion remains the best tool for navigating these moments, allowing us to embrace discomfort as part of our journey.

RESOURCES

PEOPLE
- Jeffrey Young

PLACES
- Denmark
- Japan
- Norway
- United States

THERAPIES
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cold Water Immersion (CWI)
- Schema therapy


**Connect or Learn More**
website: theunstuckinitiative.com
book: The Gift of Anxiety
podcast: EASE Anxiety
Instagram: @the.unstuck.initiative

Birthday boy is back! Join me on this wacky, healthy journey as we gear up for the big day. Instead of relying on quick, distracting thrills like sweets, alcohol, social media, or overloaded schedules and stomachs, we’ll focus on creating a birthday that brings true, lasting happiness—one built on long-term healthy habits.

We’ll break down the difference between short-term and long-term happiness, and why the days and weeks leading up to your birthday may actually matter more than the day itself. By shifting your focus beforehand to habits like sleep, healthy eating, time in nature, and meaningful connections, you can frontload the happiness, making it easier to avoid that post-birthday hangover, exhaustion, and regret.

You can still have fun on your special day—embrace those dopamine highs! But they’ll feel even better if you’ve taken care of yourself in the days leading up to it. Pre-game your brain, load it up with health and happiness, and launch yourself into pure bliss when your birthday arrives.

RESOURCES

ANIMALS
- Alligator
- Anglerfish
- Blue whale
- Chimpanzee
- Clownfish
- Dingo
- Pterodactyl

CHARACTERS
- Care Bears
- Popeye
- Poseidon

FIREWORKS
- Dynamite
- Firecracker
- Piccolo Pete 

Media
- Brain Energy by Chris Palmer (book)
- Chimp Crazy (documentary)
- Metabolic Mind (podcast)

People
- Abraham Lincoln
- Chris Palmer
- Matthew Bernstein
- Paul Zak
- Travis (famous chimp)

Places
- Miyakojima Station
- Miyakojima-ku
- Myanmar
- Pacific Ocean
- Thailand
- The Everglades

TOYS
- Jack-in-the-box
- Lincoln Logs

EXTRA VOCAB
- Blowhole
- Jump scare
- Kansai-ben
- Mendokusai
- Mitochondria

In this episode, I interview Paul Zak, neuroscientist, oxytocin expert, and founder of Immersion Neuroscience. We explore how to create extraordinary experiences—not just for yourself, but for your customers, employees, patients, and everyone you encounter. 

Paul introduces the concept of "Immersion," a state where we are fully present and emotionally engaged. We dive into the neurochemistry behind it, focusing on oxytocin and dopamine, and explore practical ways to ignite this state. You'll learn how to cultivate deeper human connections and harness technology to understand your energy, mood, and preferences. 

A key theme throughout our conversation is the power of social connection. Paul shares simple yet powerful ways to enhance this connection, such as hugging, expressing love, giving your full attention, talking to strangers, volunteering, slowing down, disconnecting from tech, spending time outdoors, getting a dog, going to church, and playing together.  We also explore cultural practices like "Fika" and "Hygge" in Nordic countries, as well as traditions from Loma Linda's Seventh-day Adventists, such as emphasizing community, Sabbath rest, and living with a strong sense of purpose. 

This episode will inspire you to build emotional fitness, deepen your presence, and enhance your connections. Join us in discovering how to make life richer, more meaningful, and filled with extraordinary moments for everyone. 

RESOURCES

EVENTS
- Nudgestock

PEOPLE
- Michael Allison
- Peter Drucker

ORGANIZATIONS
- Boston Celtics
- BrainBit
- Claremont Graduate University
- Department of Defense
- Loma Linda University Health (LLUH)
- Loma Linda University Medical Center - Murrieta
- Muse
- Ogilvy Consulting
- Polyvagal Institute
- Seventh-day Adventist Church

PLACES
- Denmark
- Kuala Lumpur
- London
- Loma Linda
- San Diego
- Sweden
- Tahiti

VOCAB
- Blue zones
- EEG
- Fajr prayer
- Fika
- Hygge
- PPG
- prodrom
- sieve estimator
- striatum 

**Connect and Learn More**
app: SIX
book: Immersion
website: getimmersion.com

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Torkil Færø — a general practitioner, emergency physician, photographer, and author of the best-selling book The Pulse Cure — to explore heart rate variability (HRV) and how you can harness smartwatches to measure and regulate stress, enhance health, and ultimately extend your lifespan.

Dr. Færø delves into common sources of stress that can lead to low HRV, such as dietary choices, meal timing, alcohol and nicotine consumption, overexercising or lack of physical activity, and environmental factors like heat, noise, and nighttime light exposure.

We also discuss effective strategies to bolster the resilience of our nervous system and raise our HRV. Key practices include cold exposure, moderate exercise, adequate sunlight, quality sleep, and intentionally scheduling time for relaxation.

Gain insight into how HRV functions, what it signifies, and practical steps you can take to monitor and improve yours. In today’s world, stress is linked to a range of health issues and chronic diseases, from heart disease to cancer to infertility. By utilizing HRV data from wearables like smartwatches, we can identify our individual stressors and proactively mitigate their impact, fostering a longer and more fulfilling life. Empower yourself by taking charge of your health through HRV tracking.

Topics discussed include: alcohol, food, temperature, exercise, the menstrual cycle, seasonal changes, circadian rhythms, trauma, interoception, ECG vs. PPG sensors, photography, play, and more.

RESOURCES

BOOKS
- The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- The Pulse Cure by Torkil Færø
- Kamerakuren by Torkil Færø
- When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

COMPANIES
- Apple
- FitBit
- Firstbeat Analytics
- Garmin
- Samsung

PLACES
- Panama Canal
- French Polynesia
- Seychelles

PEOPLE
- Bessel van der Kolk
- Charles Darwin
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- K. Anders Ericsson
- Gabor Maté
- Loretta Breuning
- Peter Attia

PODCASTS
- The Drive
- WHOOP Podcast

**Connect or Learn More**
website: thepulsecure.com
Instagram: @dr.torkil
LinkedIn: /torkil-færø-97348b1