Finding Genius Podcast

In this episode, Travis D. Hahler joins us to discuss his book, Rethink Resistance: Embracing Neuroscience to Lead Transformational Change. Drawing on his background in psychology, business strategy, and neuroscience, Travis helps leaders understand why change initiatives so often fail — and how organizations can work with the brain instead of against it to create lasting transformation…

Travis is the Senior Director of Global Strategy & Transformation at Salesforce, where he helps drive large-scale organizational change in one of the world's leading technology companies. He is also the founder of The Neurological Nomad, an organization dedicated to helping leaders apply neuroscience, neuropsychology, and behavioral science to build more effective, employee-centered workplaces.

This conversation covers:

• The human element of making large-scale changes.

• The ways that AI is shifting how we do work.

• Why resistance to change is often a natural neurological response.

• How neuroscience can help leaders create more successful transformations.

Want to learn how neuroscience can transform the way you lead change? Listen in as Travis shares insights from Rethink Resistance and explains how leaders can create meaningful, sustainable transformation in today's rapidly evolving workplace.

Connect with Travis:

Salesforce

Personal Website

LikedIn

Buy Rethink Resistance

Instagram

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 Embracing Resistance to Change: Facilitating Change Differently Through the Paradox of Resistance – Explores how understanding and working with resistance can make organizational and personal change more effective. 👉 Get it here

📘 Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard – A practical guide on overcoming obstacles to change by aligning rational thinking with emotional motivation. 👉 Check it out

📙 The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups – Reveals the principles behind successful team cultures and how to foster trust, collaboration, and innovation. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't – Examines how effective leadership builds trust, cooperation, and strong team performance. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

In this episode, we connect with Dr. Izzy Justice, Chief Neuroscience Officer at Neuro580 and author of Life Explained: Chasing 10Hz, to explore how the brain functions under the pressures of modern life. Drawing on decades of experience in applied neuroscience, Dr. Justice explains why so many high achievers struggle with stress, distraction, mental fatigue, and burnout — even when they appear successful on the surface…

As a pioneering sports neuroscientist, executive coach, and performance advisor, Dr. Justice has worked with elite athletes, business leaders, coaches, and teams to help them unlock higher levels of focus, resilience, and performance. Through his work at Neuro580, he studies the brain's electrical activity and develops practical tools designed to help people perform at their best when it matters most.

Dive in now to learn about:

• What the "10Hz state" is and why it may be critical for focus and performance

• Why high-performing individuals often experience overwhelm, brain fog, and mental fatigue

• How stress impacts brain function and decision-making

• The neuroscience behind attention, presence, and peak performance

• Simple Neurohacks that can help improve focus, clarity, and emotional regulation

Dr. Justice is the Chief Neuroscience Officer at Neuro580 and the founder of Neuro580Gives, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting mental wellness for underserved youth and the educators, coaches, and mentors who guide them. A five-time Ironman finisher, bestselling author, and trusted advisor to Olympic medalists and championship-winning athletes, he combines expertise in neuroscience, business, and human performance to help individuals achieve sustainable success.

Connect with Dr. Justice:

Instagram

Personal Website

LinkedIn

Neuro580 Website

X

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 Life Explained: Chasing 10Hz – Explores how brainwave frequencies influence consciousness, performance, and mental clarity, offering insights into optimizing your mind. 👉 Get it here

📘 Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise – Reveals how deliberate practice and focused learning can help anyone achieve mastery in their chosen field. 👉 Check it out

📙 Boundless: Upgrade Your Brain, Optimize Your Body & Defy Aging (Updated and Revised) – A holistic guide to enhancing cognitive function, physical health, and longevity with science-backed strategies. 👉 Explore it here

📕 The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business – Examines the science behind habit formation and how to build lasting behavioral change for success and productivity. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

"What does it mean to age – and can we change it?" This is the question that filmmaker David Donnelly set out to explore while writing and directing the award-winning documentary Forever Young. Filmed over three years and spanning three continents, the project takes viewers from the cutting-edge research labs of the Buck Institute in Northern California to communities around the world known for their longevity and healthy aging practices.

The result is an 88-minute documentary featuring scientists, physicians, researchers, and thought leaders examining one of humanity's most enduring questions: how do we age, and what can modern science teach us about living longer and healthier lives?

Jump in now to discover:

• Surprising insights from the science of aging and longevity

• The difference between lifespan and healthspan

• Emerging therapies and technologies being studied for healthy aging

• How genetics, epigenetics, and cellular health may influence the aging process

David is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and visual artist whose work explores the intersection of culture, technology, and the human experience. His films, installations, and mixed-media projects have been featured in major museums, international festivals, and private collections worldwide.

David's films have been showcased at premier institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, the Kennedy Center, the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, the Beijing Music Festival, and the Arvo Pärt Center.

Watch the movie Forever Young on Apple TV.

Connect with David:

Personal Website

Forever Young Website

IMDB Profile

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To – An eye-opening exploration of the biology of aging and actionable strategies to extend both lifespan and healthspan. 👉 Get it here

📘 The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer – Reveals how lifestyle choices affect telomere length and offers practical steps to slow aging at the cellular level. 👉 Check it out

📙 Healthy at 100: How You Can—At Any Age—Dramatically Increase Your Life Span and Your Health Span – A classic guide sharing lessons from the world's longest-living populations and how to apply them to your life. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old – Combines cutting-edge science and practical strategies to maintain vitality, health, and cognitive function as we age. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

Join us in this episode as world-renowned British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar sits down to discuss the evolutionary, cognitive, and neurobiological foundations of human relationships. Best known for developing Dunbar's Number, Professor Dunbar has spent decades studying how the human brain shapes the size and structure of our social networks, offering groundbreaking insights into friendship, community, and social behavior.

Professor Dunbar is Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford and a member of the Social and Evolutionary Neuroscience Research Group. His research explores the mechanisms behind social bonding in both humans and primates, helping explain why we form relationships the way we do and how social connections influence well-being, cooperation, and group success…

This discussion covers:

• The origins and meaning of Dunbar's Number

• Why humans can only maintain a limited number of meaningful relationships

• What happens when human group size increases

• The evolutionary role of friendship and community

Why are human relationships structured the way they are – and what does science reveal about building stronger communities? Listen in as Professor Dunbar shares decades of research on the social brain and the hidden architecture of human connection!

Connect with Robin Dunbar:

University of Oxford Profile

ResearchGate Publications

LinkedIn

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Dunbar's Number and Other Evolutionary Quirks – Explores the science of social connections and the optimal number of meaningful relationships humans can maintain. 👉 Get it here

📘 Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships – A deep dive into the significance of friendships and how they shape our emotional well-being and life outcomes. 👉 Check it out

📙 Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition – A classic guide to understanding the principles of persuasion and how social influence affects our decisions and behavior. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives – Examines how networks influence emotions, behaviors, and decisions, from friends to friends-of-friends. 👉 Discover it here

📗 Social Physics: How Good Ideas Spread—The Lessons from a New Science – A science-based exploration of how ideas, behaviors, and innovations propagate through social networks. 👉 Learn more here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

In this episode, we are joined by Chris Hamilton, Partner and Employee Benefits Practice Leader at Hotchkiss Insurance, an independent insurance agency based in Texas. With nearly two decades of experience in corporate finance and employee benefits, Chris helps employers navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, reduce costs, and gain greater control over their health plans by moving beyond traditional insurance models.

In addition to his work at Hotchkiss Insurance, Chris is the founder of Benefits Insider, an educational platform dedicated to helping employers understand how healthcare financing really works. Through practical case studies, industry analysis, and real-world examples, he empowers business leaders to make more informed decisions about employee benefits and healthcare spending.

Recognized as the 2025 BenefitsPro Advisor of the Year, Chris has become a leading voice on healthcare transparency, employer-sponsored health plans, and cost-containment strategies. He regularly contributes to podcasts, conferences, and educational content designed to simplify one of the most misunderstood areas of business.

This conversation explores:

• How Chris got started in the healthcare and employee benefits industry

• The unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act on employers and healthcare

• The incentives that drive insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and other healthcare stakeholders

• Alternative approaches to controlling healthcare costs

Why are healthcare costs continuing to rise, and what can employers do to take back control of their benefits strategy? Tune in to hear Chris's practical insights into the healthcare system and how businesses can create more efficient, cost-effective plans for their employees.

Connect with Chris:

Personal Website

Hotchkiss Insurance

LinkedIn

Youtube

Tiktok

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 Overcharged: Why Americans Pay Too Much For Health Care – A deep dive into the systemic issues driving high healthcare costs in the U.S. and how they impact patients and families. 👉 Get it here

📘 The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It – An investigative look at the financial and structural problems in American healthcare, with solutions for reform and better outcomes. 👉 Check it out

📙 The Healthcare Fix: Universal Insurance for All Americans – Explores practical strategies for implementing universal healthcare coverage in the U.S., aiming to improve access and reduce costs. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Benefits Revolution: The Next Generation of Employer-Sponsored Healthcare – A forward-looking guide to modernizing employer-based healthcare benefits to meet the needs of today's workforce. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

In this episode, Lane Kawaoka joins us to discuss his book, The Wealth Elevator: Real Estate Syndications, Accredited Investor Banking, and Tax Strategies for First-Gen Millionaires. As a seasoned real estate investor, Lane has built a portfolio valued at more than $2.1 billion and has helped hundreds of investors access alternative wealth-building strategies through real estate syndications.

Lane is the founder of The Wealth Elevator and the Hui Deal Pipeline Club. Since 2016, he has syndicated more than $205 million in private equity and facilitated over $45 million in distributions to investors. Through his work, he helps working professionals create passive income streams and pursue financial freedom through strategic investing, tax optimization, and alternative asset ownership.

This conversation covers:

• How Lane got started in the business industry.

• The mindset shifts required to build long-term wealth.

• Why syndications can provide opportunities beyond traditional investing.

• Common mistakes new investors make when evaluating deals.

Interested in learning how real estate syndications, tax planning, and alternative investments can help accelerate your path to financial independence? Tune in to hear Lane share the lessons, strategies, and experiences that have shaped his approach to building long-term wealth.

Connect with Lane:

LinkedIn

Instagram

The Wealth Elevator Website

Free Masterclass

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 The Wealth Elevator: Real Estate Syndications, Accredited Investor Banking, and Tax Strategies for First-Gen Millionaires – A comprehensive guide to building wealth through real estate syndications, smart banking, and tax strategies for aspiring first-generation millionaires. 👉 Get it here

📘 The Millionaire Real Estate Investor – Proven strategies and insights from successful investors on how to acquire, manage, and grow real estate wealth effectively. 👉 Check it out

📙 Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! – A classic personal finance book highlighting the mindset and financial lessons that separate the wealthy from the rest. 👉 Explore it here

📕 The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing (BiggerPockets Rental Kit, 2) – A step-by-step guide for building long-term wealth through smart buy-and-hold rental property investments. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

Join us in this episode as we explore the evolving field of cardiovascular medicine with Michael S. Sacks, Professor and Director of the James T. Willerson Center for Cardiovascular Modeling and Simulation at the University of Texas at Austin. As a leading expert in cardiovascular modeling, Professor Sacks focuses on developing patient-specific, simulation-based technologies that improve our understanding of heart and heart valve disease. What's his goal? To advance treatment strategies by helping physicians better predict outcomes and design therapies tailored to individual patients…

Click play to learn about:

• The two major problems with valve therapy.

• How computational modeling is transforming the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

• Why patient-specific simulations may improve surgical planning and clinical outcomes.

• The limitations of current valve replacement technologies.

Professor Sacks has held numerous leadership roles throughout his distinguished career, including serving as Technical Editor of the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. He is an inaugural Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. His honors include the Van C. Mow Medal from the ASME Bioengineering Division, the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award, the Richard Skalak Distinguished Lectureship from Columbia University, and the SKT Lectureship from the City College of New York. In 2006, he was recognized as one of Scientific American's 50 Leaders in Science and Technology.

Connect with Professor Sacks:

LinkedIn

University of Texas Profile

Google Scholar Profile

Willerson Center for Cardiovascular Modeling and Simulation

Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69f3244a-b680-83a9-99ae-23ca6cf8d874-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-69f3244a-b680-83a9-99ae-23ca6cf8d874-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-34" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant">

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 The Cardiovascular System at a Glance – A concise, visual guide to the structure, function, and disorders of the cardiovascular system, ideal for students and healthcare professionals. 👉 Get it here

📘 Sampling and Analysis of Environmental Chemical Pollutants: A Complete Guide – A thorough reference on methods for detecting, analyzing, and understanding chemical pollutants in the environment. 👉 Check it out

📙 Pathophysiology of Heart Disease: An Introduction to Cardiovascular Medicine – A detailed introduction to cardiovascular diseases, their mechanisms, and clinical implications for medical practice. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts (Lippincott Connect) – A comprehensive text covering the key principles of cardiovascular physiology, integrating concepts with clinical relevance. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Matt Bernstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Ellenhorn and Chief Executive Officer of Accord. A highly respected clinical psychiatrist and leading voice in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, Dr. Bernstein draws on more than 25 years of experience helping individuals achieve meaningful mental health improvement and long-term functional recovery.

Throughout his career, Dr. Bernstein has explored the connection between metabolism and mental health, first through private practice and later through his work at Ellenhorn. More recently, he developed Accord's comprehensive treatment model and has become a prominent advocate for metabolic psychiatry through podcasts, national conferences, and briefings for members of Congress.

This conversation dives into:

• What metabolic psychiatry is and how it differs from traditional psychiatric care.

• The relationship between brain metabolism and mental health disorders.

• How ketogenic therapies are being explored as potential tools for psychiatric recovery.

• The role of metabolic health in conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis.

Dr. Bernstein graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in English Literature and earned his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his psychiatric training at MGH/McLean, where he served as Chief Resident and later held leadership positions, including Psychiatrist-in-Charge and Assistant Medical Director of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Inpatient Program. He also serves on several advisory and nonprofit boards, including Metabolic Mind, Meru Health, The Metabolic Revolution, and the Coalition for Metabolic Health.

Connect with Dr. Bernstein:

LinkedIn

Accord's Website

Ellenhorn's Website

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

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🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 The Road to Metabolic Health: Why the Answer Lies in Food, Not Pharmaceuticals – A science-backed guide showing how dietary choices impact metabolic health and prevent chronic disease without relying on medications. 👉 Get it here

📘 Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams – A comprehensive exploration of the vital role sleep plays in physical and mental health, and practical strategies for improving sleep quality. 👉 Check it out

📙 The Upward Spiral (Second Edition): Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time – A practical guide using neuroscience-based strategies to improve mood and mental health incrementally. 👉 Explore it here

📕 The End of Mental Illness: How Neuroscience Is Transforming Psychiatry – An evidence-driven look at how brain science is changing the treatment and prevention of depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and more. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Rachel Pappert Docekal to explore the neuroscience, social influences, and behavioral patterns driving addiction in today's world. As the CEO of Hanley Foundation, Dr. Docekal is leading efforts to prevent substance misuse through education, advocacy, treatment access, and recovery support.

Join us as Dr. Docekal shares her vision for addressing addiction at its roots and explains why prevention may be one of the most powerful tools we have in combating substance use disorders…

Hit play to find out:

• How addiction affects the brain and influences human behavior.

• Why prevention and early intervention are critical in reducing substance abuse.

• The ways that social media can contribute to addiction trends today.

• How loneliness, technology, and modern lifestyles may increase vulnerability to addiction.

Dr. Docekal holds a Bachelor of Arts from Chatham College, a Master of Business Administration from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. In addition to her role at Hanley Foundation, she founded the Lyrae Group, a consulting firm focused on philanthropy, where she served as Managing Director until 2023.

Connect with Dr. Docekal:

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

X

Hanley Foundation Website

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

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🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity - And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race – Explores how dopamine influences behavior, motivation, and creativity, shaping our personal lives and society at large. 👉 Get it here

📘 Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy – A powerful examination of addiction, its social impact, and evidence-based approaches to prevention and recovery. 👉 Check it out

📙 The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease – Challenges conventional views on addiction, presenting a biological and behavioral perspective on why and how addictive behaviors develop. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Rewired: A Bold New Approach To Addiction and Recovery – Offers innovative strategies for breaking addictive cycles, rewiring the brain, and sustaining long-term recovery. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!

In an era where longevity and anti-aging advice are everywhere, it can be difficult to separate meaningful science from marketing hype. What actually works when it comes to living longer, feeling better, and maintaining peak performance as we age? In this episode, Michael Linares joins the podcast to share his insights…

Michael is the CEO of Longevity Farms, a wellness company dedicated to helping people optimize performance, recovery, and long-term health. Through evidence-based supplementation, education, and a focus on cellular wellness, Michael and his team aim to help individuals improve their energy, resilience, and overall quality of life as they age.

Hit play to learn more about:

• The "holy grail" of longevity optimization.

• Why mitochondrial health plays a critical role in healthy aging.

• The connection between cellular energy production and overall wellness.

• How to boost NAD, and why it matters.

Michael's passion for longevity was shaped by more than 15 years of experience as a personal trainer and nurse educator, where he developed an interest in human physiology and the science of aging. Inspired by conversations with his brother Joe Linares, a firefighter-paramedic and fitness enthusiast, he began exploring emerging research on longevity and the biological processes that influence how we age.

Connect with Michael:

Instagram

Longevity Farms Website

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from this Episode

📖 Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis: The Retrosynthesis Approach – A detailed guide to using enzymes in organic synthesis, focusing on practical retrosynthesis strategies for efficient biocatalytic reactions. 👉 Get it here

📘 Synthetic Biology – A Primer (Revised Edition) – An accessible introduction to synthetic biology, covering foundational concepts, design principles, and applications in modern biotechnology. 👉 Check it out

📙 Bioprocess Engineering Principles – A comprehensive resource on the principles and practices of designing and optimizing bioprocesses for industrial biotechnology. 👉 Explore it here

📕 Introduction to Protein Structure, by Branden, 2nd Edition – A classic textbook detailing the fundamentals of protein structure, folding, and function, essential for biochemistry and molecular biology studies. 👉 Discover it here

Note: These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the podcast. Thank you!