We're back with Matt M. in another episode summarizing some medical research in the realm of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, more specifically psychedelic medicines. We're going over the paper "The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology", published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (JAN2023). This episode focuses on psilocybin "magic" mushrooms. Here's the link to the article if you're interested https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9865175/ it covers a lot of ground for numerous psychedelic substances.

Please share this episode and keep the conversation going, and also check out our other episodes where we go through alternative and complimentary medicine literature. Please follow and rate Dan's Den, thanks for listening!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to continue to support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Guest episode just hanging out with my brother Erik. We discuss some of my alleged experiences with psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis, the importance of 'set and setting', and the challenge of actually describing these experiences. I ask Erik about his physical and mental health routines and he discusses how physical fitness and training has helped improve both cognitive and mental performance, and how it's evolved over the years. We speak on these physical and mental trainings as investments for the future, increasing our 'health span' (being healthier and functional into our later years, rather than just 'living longer' in a state of decreased function and health) to set ourselves up for improved quality of life, as well as the immediate benefits of movement. We chat a bit about each of our romantic partnerships and how these relationships have added tremendous meaning to all aspects of our lives. I ask Erik what he thinks about having his own children someday, and we end talking about some of the history of Rhode Island.

Also check out our episode with Erik discussing financial planning, saving, and investing, which is Erik's professional setting.

Don't forget to follow and rate Dan's Den, and share these episodes to help us reach a wider audience. We appreciate the support!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠⁠⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to continue to support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Welcome! Guest Kevin Levesque is a long-time friend, personal trainer, and owner of PRIME Fitness LLC located in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Kevin specializes in 1-on-1 personal training in a completely private setting. We talk about fitness, movement, and individualized programming to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. We discuss how motivation can be short-lived and how the proper program design can help us to stay motivated and incorporate movement in a way that makes us feel more empowered and able to handle life's challenges - physically, mentally, and emotionally. We also talk about staying up to date on emerging fitness trends and the latest exercise science research, how to avoid the fitness 'plateau' and 'burn out', and how he utilizes a network of other medical and health care professionals to appropriately address all components of clients' health and wellness.

Don't forget to follow and rate Dan's Den and turn on notifications so that you can stay up to date with our latest releases. Please share this episode so that more people can benefit! Here is Kevin's website where you can find his contact info, and some of his other professional certifications and trainings are listed below.

https://kevinprimefitness.wixsite.com/primefitnessri

Kevin Levesque, TPI 1 and 2, CAFS, SSC, TRS-MM, CPT, FNS, PTDC

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to continue to support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Guest episode with Matt M. In this episode we are freestyling our conversation and having fun, talking about audio editing, Netflix series 'Ancient Apocalypse' and Graham Hancock, and wonder about the outdated political structure. We rant about the promotion of fear during the early part of the covid pandemic along with the complete lack of public health education or promotion, and the virus lab leak.

Don't forget to follow and rate Dan's Den, and share these episodes to help us reach a wider audience. Thanks for listening, we appreciate the support!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to continue to support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Welcome. In these 'Breathing Brief' episodes, we discuss different aspects of breathing and respiration, and their relation to numerous physical and psychological health outcomes, and overall health and wellness. This is some fascinating information. Please share it, I believe that this can help a lot of people. Please follow and rate Dan's Den and help us to reach a larger audience, we appreciate the support.

In this episode, I discuss heart rate variability (HRV) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), what they are and how they relate to our health and wellness, and ways to improve these important markers and improve quality of life...with evidence-based breathing exercises. Leave us a voice message with any questions and comments, and if you'd like we can include your message in future episodes!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to continue to support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Welcome to Dan's Den podcast. This is a short introduction about what you can expect from Dan's Den. Thanks for listening!

Don't forget to follow and rate this podcast, and share these episodes. We appreciate the support!

Our guest today, my brother Erik, is a wealth management client associate who works with the DeMarco/McCarthy Group at Merrill Lynch. Erik talks with us about financial planning, what it means and why it's important, and also if the Federal Reserve will raise rates (basis points). He discusses the importance of a financial advisor to stay on track with budgeting and retirement goals, helps to clarify some common language used in finance, and explains interest rates and stock market trends. This is NOT intended as specific financial advice in any way and DOES NOT represent the views of DeMarco/McCarthy group or Merrill Lynch. I'm asking Erik hypothetical questions based on my own experiences. Erik will join us again in future episodes so keep an eye out as we dig deeper into some of these topics.

Don't forget to follow and rate Dan's Den, and please share this episode. Thanks for checking us out, we appreciate the support!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to help support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

In this guest episode with Brandy and Matt, we pick up from our last episode by discussing 'free will', choice, nature / nurture, subjective reality, mindfulness and breathing exercises. Brandy shares some of her experiences with using breathing exercises to manage anxiety symptoms more effectively. We talk about what fitness means to us, balancing being present with preparing and adjusting for the future, using the 'Waking Up' app as an extremely valuable tool for mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness education and practice (free month NO credit card https://dynamic.wakingup.com/shareOpenAccess/SC9225EB6 ). Please rate and follow Dan's Den if you enjoyed this discussion, or share this episode with someone. Thanks for checking us out, we appreciate the support!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to help support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

Guest episode with Brandy and Matt. Matt talks about the train derailment and chemical spills that occurred Feb. 2023 in Ohio, and we wonder about potential health effects and the environmental impact of such a disaster. We talk about gene therapy and vaccine mandates and occupational effects, then reminisce about the classic "Arnold's Pizza Shop". We end by speculating about the idea of 'free will' and pondering the question "how would we think and act differently if we knew that our lives, as collections of stories, were ultimately predetermined?" We continue that discussion in subsequent episodes.

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to help support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.

My guest Matt and I discuss artificial intelligence and the progression of chatGPT, evolution and DNA as a 'computer code', and explore some of our experiences with depression and question whether humans have a natural tendency toward negative thinking. We talk about our autonomic nervous system (ANS) and how our lifestyle factors can influence the state of 'fight or flight'. Finally we discuss how breathing exercises can improve our physical and mental health (more episode on breathing and ANS to follow). Please rate and follow Dan's Den if you enjoyed this discussion. Thanks for checking us out, we appreciate the support!

Check out Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI), an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans. ⁠⁠https://osdri.charityproud.org/Donate⁠. We are not affiliated but we want to help support veterans and bring awareness to these organizations that provide life-changing services. OSDRI works hand in hand with almost every major state and federal agency as well as community organizations and employers to provide seamless referrals to outside sources of assistance.