Get Yourself Optimized®

Andrea Petersen is here to explore the world of anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Imagine being fine one moment and completely disoriented the next. Picture having difficulty breathing and intense vision distortions. Your heart is pounding, you're covered in sweat, and you're terrified that you're literally dying. When those of us who don't suffer from anxiety or panic attacks hear about others having them, it's easy to minimize the experience. Regardless of whether you have anxiety yourself or just know someone else who does, this insightful episode will be very helpful.

Andrea Petersen@andreaapetersen on TwitterAndrea Petersen at the Wall Street Journal

• [01:33] - Why did Andrea write her new book and bare her soul in this way? She answers, then discusses whether anxiety disorders are a growing epidemic.
• [05:08] - Andrea talks about whether some people might have anxiety disorders without even being aware of it.
• [07:08] - For listeners who may not understand what a panic attack feels like, Andrea describes the experience.
• [10:48] - Andrea shares what it felt like to go through the process of trying to figure out what was wrong with her.
• [13:40] - Treatment involves amassing new learning that overrides the fears that you have, Andrea explains. She and Stephan then discuss other treatment strategies.
• [17:34] - Andrea talks more about meditation and yoga, and the tools that she uses to practice both.
• [23:01] - Stephan points out that there are three fear responses: fight, flight, or freeze.
• [26:06] - Andrea explores some of the exciting developments happening in terms of treatments for underlying brain dysfunctions.
• [29:39] - Has Andrea tried any apps for synchronizing her breathing to her heart rate variability?
• [32:05] - We hear about Stephan's experience working with Dr. Daniel Amen.
• [34:09] - Andrea talks about whether she has tried eye tracking.
• [36:39] - It's good to start with evidence-based, peer-reviewed, research-tested methodologies, and then branch out from there.
• [38:07] - Andrea explores relapses, which can be caused by different things depending on the person, she explains.
• [41:10] - We learn about whether girls are more likely to suffer trauma while growing up than boys.
• [45:04] - Stephan talks about the dangers of overly accommodating your kids as they're growing up in terms of a Kabbalistic concept.
• [47:44] - Andrea describes what ACEs is and how it potentially plays a role in a child's development of an anxiety disorder over their lifetime.
• [52:33] - Andrea lists some places where listeners can find her or buy her book.

• Andrea Petersen
• @andreaapetersen on Twitter
• Andrea Petersen at the Wall Street Journal
• On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety by Andrea Petersen
• Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Todd Herman
• 10% Happier
• YogaGlo
• Dr. Daniel Amen on the Optimized Geek
• What Is Kabbalah?
• The Bread of Shame
• ACEs
• ACE Questionnaire

Trivinia Barber is the founder of Priority VA, a boutique virtual assistant agency that matches elite-level entrepreneurs with highly skilled assistants. Our conversation is a fresh take on the world of virtual assistants, and we discuss the value that having the right team can make across various aspects of your business. You'll learn how to effectively work with VAs, ensure they won't leave you for a different employer, and become a grandmaster at delegation.

Priority VATrivinia Barber on LinkedIn@Trivinia on TwitterTrivinia Barber on Facebook

• [02:06] - Trivinia talks us through the journey that brought her to where she is today, as the CEO of Priority VA.
• [04:32] - One of the things that Trivinia often tells people is that they can outsource outcomes instead of tasks.
• [08:13] - Trivinia shares her thoughts on how to communicate more effectively with your team.
• [10:07] - What does Trivinia delegate, and what does she choose to keep for herself?
• [13:42] - Trivinia talks about some of the things that her assistant Kim does for her, and talks about some of the traits of a good assistant.
• [15:43] - Compensation is made up of more than just a paycheck, Trivinia points out.
• [18:33] - Does Trivinia give her assistant, Kim, a financial stake in the business?
• [20:36] - We hear whether Trivinia's team has a structure for the content they should create, or whether they have complete freedom as long as it fits her message and her voice.
• [24:09] - Stephan talks about the evolution of creating a structure or content calendar.
• [26:28] - Trivinia asks Stephan a question: does it make him nervous not to know what his blog posts are about?
• [29:09] - Once she has a content calendar, how does Trivinia take this to the next level and create videos?
• [32:17] - For a long time, Amy Porterfield wouldn't let go of Trivinia as her VA. Trivinia talks about how she handled this situation.
• [36:48] - Trivinia talks about how she creates checklists and standard operating procedures within her organization for all the VAs working with other clients.
• [40:33] - We hear more about the roles of different people in creating and executing a checklist.
• [42:01] - Stephan talks more about the process of getting stuff out of one's head and into external structures.
• [47:28] - Has Trivinia tried non-dominant-hand writing to access additional creativity?
• [52:51] - Trivinia talks about whether the videos she creates for her team are also visible to clients, or only used internally.
• [53:55] - Stephan talks to Trivinia about one more area of focus: email.
• [60:17] - How could an interested listener take the next steps to work with Trivinia's team?

• Priority VA
• Trivinia Barber on LinkedIn
• @Trivinia on Twitter
• Trivinia Barber on Facebook
• Nick Sonnenberg on the Optimized Geek
• Ari Meisel on the Optimized Geek
• Chris Rugh on the Optimized Geek
• Carolyn Ketchum on the Optimized Geek
• 90 Day Year Event
• David Allen on the Optimized Geek
• Aaron Ross on the Optimized Geek
• The 5 Love Languages
• The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman
• The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
• The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
• TripIt
• HumanCharger
• Blinkist
• Intercom
• Later app
• Kolbe Test
• Sally Hogshead on the Optimized Geek
• Tucker Max on Marketing Speak
• I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max
• Thinkific
• Amy Porterfield
• Loom
• Process Street
• Dan Martell
• Michael Hyatt
• Taki Moore on Marketing Speak
• Matt Church
• Notability
• Bill Donius on the Optimized Geek
• Pocket
• Inbox When Ready

Dr. Eric Braverman joins me today to talk about achieving net-zero aging through technology, supplementation, and behavioral changes. He's a physician, researcher, author, and the director of the PATH Medical Center and the PATH Foundation. While your body is aging and degrading over time, it's becoming increasingly possible to reduce and even eliminate the functions of aging. If you want to stop aging and live your best, longest life, this is the episode for you!

[email protected] Dr. Eric Braverman on Facebook @DrBraverman on Twitter Eric Braverman on Instagram Eric Braverman on Wikipedia PATH Medical Center PATH Foundation PATH Products

• [01:29] - Eric launches into talking about his early jobs working with the brain, and shares the names of some of the notable people he has worked with.
• [04:22] - How can listeners live long enough to live forever and achieve that longevity escape velocity?
• [07:47] - Eric relates what he has been saying about only being as young as your oldest part to sports, clarifying what he means.
• [11:02] - Since there isn't yet a cascade that will make you 800 years old, Eric talks about what we do in the meantime.
• [14:19] - It's difficult to be stable when you're highly energetic, Eric points out.
• [17:42] - Eric talks about sneezing and the nose, explaining that the nose is critical. He discusses ways to clear the sinuses.
• [20:42] - Where do telomeres and their length come into play in everything that Eric has been talking about?
• [23:01] - Eric explains what he means when he talks about "breaking the aging barrier."
• [26:19] - We learn about several different types of stem cells, and Eric shares his thoughts on how far we can go with stem cells.
• [29:23] - Eric talks about some things he was told at Harvard that have since been demonstrated to be untrue.
• [33:04] - The thyroid is an example of what Eric has been talking about, he explains, then talks more about a net-zero aging state.
• [35:44] - Eric lists three important principles from what he has been talking about in this conversation.
• [39:54] - We hear a metaphor involving an airplane to illustrate the points that Eric has been making.
• [45:24] - Ultimately, delusions and illusions regarding getting old have to be carefully dissuaded, Eric explains.
• [48:48] - Now that we've covered logistics and tactics, is there a third piece? Strategy, Eric points out, is what we talked about first.
• [51:53] - Eric digs into why the sinuses are so important to longevity and anti-aging.
• [53:19] - The average person gains two pounds a month when they don't sleep enough, Eric explains.
• [55:27] - Eric shares his thoughts on neti pots.
• [58:17] - Why is it so important to eat fruits and vegetables that are a wide variety of different colors? Eric answers, then talks about how to counteract muscle loss.
• [60:52] - Eric talks about bone loss, and mentions that people are more concerned about their bank accounts than their bone density.
• [63:46] - What one thing would Eric recommend that all listeners do?
• [64:35] - Eric lists some places where people can find him online.

• [email protected]
• Dr. Eric Braverman on Facebook
• @DrBraverman on Twitter
• Eric Braverman on Instagram
• Eric Braverman on Wikipedia
• PATH Medical Center PATH Foundation
• PATH Products
• The Edge Effect by Dr. Eric Braverman
• Younger You by Dr. Eric Braverman
• Younger Brain, Sharper Mind by Dr. Eric Braverman
• Peter Diamandis
• Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General System Theory
• Progeria
• What Is a Telomere?

Tune into this episode with Aaron Ross to learn about the concept of employee ownership and owning, rather than renting, jobs. Whether you're a business owner or an employee, this conversation provides valuable information about lifestyle design from a true expert on the subject. Aaron manages his time so well that he meets his financial obligations and professional commitments with a 25-hour work week. Join us, and learn how to go to the next level in your life.

Predictable Revenue Predictable University Aaron Ross on LinkedIn Aaron Ross on Twitter From Impossible to Inevitable

• [01:40] - Aaron starts off the conversation by talking about his background and his many children. He also addresses how much of his time he spends away from home versus with his family.
• [05:15] - It's taken Aaron a lot of years to get to the point where he can make the money he needs from relatively few hours per week, he explains.
• [09:00] - We hear more about Aaron's book From Impossible to Inevitable.
• [12:13] - Aaron elaborates on the concept of renting a job that he has been talking about, comparing it to the experience of owning versus renting a house or car.
• [14:39] - What does Aaron do when he has employees who are just there putting in the minimum not to get fired?
• [16:53] - We hear Aaron's recommendations for careerists and CEOs, setting aside the clockers and complainers for the moment.
• [18:49] - Stephan and Aaron discuss some things that managers struggle with. Aaron then digs into what he calls forcing functions.
• [22:27] - Should you get rid of the complainers in your organization?
• [25:12] - Leaving your job because you're working for a toxic person isn't always easy, Aaron points out, and acknowledges that there are certain circumstances where you may need to stay for a while.
• [27:49] - Stephan talks about a recommendation that he got from Dr. John Demartini for the hiring process.
• [30:15] - Aaron talks about the StrengthsFinder test.
• [32:09] - We learn about the difference between earning money and creating money.
• [35:23] - What's better: trying to do your side hustle and turn it into a business while you're still employed, or quit your job and throw yourself into your business venture?
• [40:02] - Aaron discusses one of his exercises for increasing your deal size.
• [42:11] - We hear three pieces of advice for someone who is looking to go to the next level in their life.
• [44:37] - Where can listeners get in touch with Aaron to learn more about him or work with him?

• Predictable Revenue
• Predictable University
• Aaron Ross on LinkedIn
• Aaron Ross on Twitter
• From Impossible to Inevitable
• From Impossible to Inevitable by Aaron Ross and Jason Lemkin
• Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross and Marylou Tyler
• Salesforce
• Ephraim Olschewski on the Optimized Geek
• Tony Robbins
• Dr. John Demartini on the Optimized Geek
• StrengthsFinder
• DiSC
• Grant Cardone
• The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

My guest, Arman Sadeghi, is a business coach who focuses on well-rounded success that involves a balanced life. He works with successful business owners, entrepreneurs, CEOs and professionals who want to crush business and retire young. In our conversation, you'll learn his tips, tricks, and hacks to achieve dramatic success without sacrificing any area of your life.

Titanium Success Arman Sadeghi on Instagram Arman Sadeghi on Facebook The Business Bible by Arman Sadeghi Titanium Life podcast with Arman Sadeghi

• [01:38] - Arman starts things off by talking about how to create the life of your dreams and have both balance and great success.
• [07:00] - How does Arman incentivize people in the challenges he has been talking about?
• [09:38] - Stephan shares the "wheel of life" analogy for getting balance in your life. Arman then talks about his own wheel.
• [14:52] - We hear about some of Arman's routines and rituals to help keep him on task and not sacrificing one area of his life to benefit another.
• [18:58] - Arman talks about how he ended up with seven companies, which he credits to "getting bored very easily."
• [22:04] - Arman finds it more fun to be a business owner than a business operator.
• [23:16] - How does Arman discover whether he's an artist, entrepreneur, or manager, and how does he attract the right people to fill the gaps? In his answer, he also illustrates why it's so important to understand which of those areas you're strongest at.
• [28:47] - Typically, most of us are naturally good at one of the three areas, and are able to make a second work, but need to find someone who's naturally good at that third area.
• [29:43] - Arman talks about whether you should incentivize someone with equity.
• [31:50] - What are the secrets to finding the people who will figuratively fill the empty seats on your bus?
• [35:31] - Stephan takes a moment to share his own process for finding and hiring new candidates.
• [38:19] - We hear more about Arman's KPI dashboards, which are different between each of his businesses and even at different phases of each business. He uses the analogy of various gauges and lights in a car to explain the things he keeps track of in his businesses.
• [47:08] - Is operating cash a red warning light, or is it something you always want to keep an eye on?
• [49:25] - Arman shares a hack that has made a big difference for him: doing important things rather than urgent things.
• [53:44] - How can people work with Arman directly?

• Titanium Success
• Arman Sadeghi on Instagram
• Arman Sadeghi on Facebook
• The Business Bible by Arman Sadeghi
• Titanium Life podcast with Arman Sadeghi
• Tony Robbins
• Avicii
• Steve Jobs
• Dr. John Demartini

Douglas Bentley joins me in this episode to explore the topic of change and permanence, among many others. Douglas was a monk at Oneness University in India for over a decade, during which time he studied directly under Sri Bhagavan. He has since returned to the West to serve as a teacher and spiritual guide. I met Doug in India in 2012, and have been wanting to have him on my show for years. I'm excited to share his wisdom with you in today's show, and hope that this conversation can be the beginning of something big for you.

Douglas Bentley Douglas Bentley on Facebook Douglas Bentley on Instagram Douglas Bentley on YouTube

• [03:28] - Doug talks about his process of going from a web designer to a monk in India, describing his background in the process.
• [07:01] - We learn that Doug was the only Western monk during the time he was there, and was one of the first Westerners to be a monk there at all.
• [07:50] - Doug takes a moment to describe what an avatar is, and explain how people in India see holy people.
• [11:13] - Are an avatar and a guru two different things?
• [13:22] - Being awakened permanently is something to be sought after, but having awakened states doesn't compare. Doug goes into depth about the differences between the two, despite the similarities of what they're called.
• [18:58] - Stephan points out that we easily get caught up with identifying ourselves with our roles in life, such as thinking of oneself as a lawyer instead of someone who practices law.
• [22:33] - When and where did Doug start having profound experiences?
• [25:09] - Doug discusses some ways to achieve a better state of consciousness, which include jogging, eating well, and living a balanced life.
• [28:05] - We hear one of the things that Doug has always appreciated about Sri Bhagavan.
• [32:05] - The more helpless you're willing to become, the faster and deeper your progress will be, Stephan explains. Doug then digs into this idea.
• [35:05] - Doug shares his thoughts on whether he thinks that the process he has been talking about is also happening at a meta level with humanity in general.
• [36:29] - Stephan shares a personal story about a very powerful experience that he had between his two trips to India.
• [40:23] - Doug has watched similar things happen many times during his ten years in India, he explains.
• [43:47] - For listeners who may not be familiar with the concept, Doug takes a moment to describe Maya.
• [45:49] - What is liberation? Doug describes it simply as awakening to the truth of reality and what you are.
• [49:03] - Doug returns to clarifying various terminologies, this time explaining dukkha among other terms.
• [52:14] - If you believe that your god or divine is a punishing god, that's what you'll experience, Stephan clarifies. Douglas then takes the concept a step further.
• [56:00] - How can listeners find Douglas to take the next step with him or learn more about the subjects he's been discussing?

• Douglas Bentley
• Douglas Bentley on Facebook
• Douglas Bentley on Instagram
• Douglas Bentley on YouTube
• Tony Robbins
• Platinum Partnership
• Oneness University
• Sri Bhagavan
• Kundalini
• Kundalini yoga
• Diksha
• Eckhart Tolle
• Maya
• Dukkha

Join me and David Ghiyam in a deeply spiritual episode that will dive into such topics as clairvoyance, reactivity, desire, mercy, and so much more. David is a senior lecturer at The Kabbalah Centre as well as the founder of MaryRuth Organics. He believes when you transform your nature for the better, your light of mercy becomes a vessel that receives the light of wisdom and invites blessings. David is full of powerful age-old wisdom that has changed my life, and that I hope and believe will change yours too.

David Ghiyam at The Kabbalah Center David Ghiyam on Twitter David Ghiyam on Facebook David Ghiyam on Instagram David Ghiyam on LinkedIn

• [01:34] - Let's talk about Kabbalah! David explores what the light is before clarifying the difference between the light of wisdom and the light of mercy.
• [04:11] - David clarifies that the only way that someone can reveal the light of mercy is to overcome their nature, not just to do good deeds.
• [07:44] - The light of the creator has all of the types of pleasures and fulfillments that we're looking for within it, David explains.
• [10:17] - Stephan takes a moment to give a specific example to clarify what it means to give proactively without expectations.
• [11:57] - David differentiates the kind of prayers that are typical (like praying for health and financial abundance) from praying for things like certainty and desire.
• [14:58] - What does it mean that certainty is not of this real or dimension?
• [17:34] - We should be excited about finding a negative attribute ourselves because we can now fix the problem and expand our vessel.
• [18:24] - David talks about the various aspects of ego. He then digs deeper into pride specifically.
• [21:28] - As long as we follow the steps that Kabbalah outlines for us, we'll know how to handle any challenge that we face.
• [25:15] - David talks about the Ana b'Koach prayer and the role it plays as a tool.
• [27:58] - We hear about the concept that truth before mercy creates chaos, which led Stephan to make a lot of changes.
• [31:25] - Stephan gives an example from his own life that illustrates the importance of coming at something with mercy instead of just truth.
• [33:34] - If you eat meat with consciousness, prayer, and gratitude for the animal, then that elevates the animal's soul. David points out that just about everything that you do needs to have this kind of consciousness.
• [36:31] - David talks more about the Bible, the Zohar, and how they relate to everything he and Stephan have been discussing.
• [38:01] - We learn about the tree of life and the tree of knowledge.
• [40:05] - David stumbled on financial success early, and talks about how this experience propelled him to learn the system and wisdom of the Kabbalah.
• [41:42] - What one thing would David recommend a listener do as the next step? One option is to text "Kabbalah" to 797979.

• David Ghiyam at The Kabbalah Center
• David Ghiyam on Twitter
• David Ghiyam on Facebook
• David Ghiyam on Instagram
• David Ghiyam on LinkedIn
• The Kabbalah Centre
• MaryRuth Organics
• Ana b'Koach prayer
• The Zohar
• Kabbalah.com
• The Power of Kabbalah by Yehuda Berg

The key to ethically influencing people is to leave everything (and everyone) better than you found it. Make sure that you aren't rationalizing the things that you want if they aren't actually good for the other people involved. Today's guest is an expert on influencing people. In fact, his ability to talk his way into (and out of) just about any situation saved his life after he traveled through war zones and was kidnapped twice. Jordan is fascinated by influence and he has interviewed world-famous people at the top of their fields to discover their untapped wisdom.

Jordan Harbinger Jordan Harbinger on Twitter Jordan Harbinger on LinkedIn Jordan Harbinger on Facebook The Jordan Harbinger Show

• [03:01] - Jordan starts things off by talking about his background in social engineering and social influence.
• [06:54] - We hear the story of what happened once Jordan decided, as a teenager, that he would find a real criminal for the police.
• [10:03] - What was the next step for Jordan after these exploits?
• [14:01] - Jordan talks about how social engineering came into play in the activities he has been talking about.
• [19:59] - Stephan and Jordan talk about Stuxnet, which infiltrated the Iran nuclear facilities with malware.
• [21:25] - Jordan discusses applying social influence and social engineering to marketing, specifically to online marketing.
• [25:45] - We hear an example of Jordan applying his skills at persuasion in a sales and marketing context that has a good result for him, but is also ethical because it's good for the other people involved.
• [28:12] - We move onto The Jordan Harbinger Show, with Jordan discussing some of the challenges involved in starting over.
• [30:10] - What is Jordan doing to migrate fans of the Art of Charm podcast over to his new show?
• [34:28] - Jordan talks about some of the amazing things that someone has done on his behalf after starting his new show. He and Stephan then talk about why people at the bottom and top tend to be helpful, while those in the middle are often jaded and less interested in helping others out.
• [39:56] - In business, you often see a lot of cases where someone who seems popular among their audience is less popular among their peers for lots of little reasons.
• [42:59] - Stephan talks about Jay Abraham's concept of preeminence. He then shares a story about the benefits of doing things without the expectation of getting anything in return.
• [45:19] - If you're playing the game right, you will win both short-term and long-term, Jordan points out.
• [46:24] - Who has been Jordan's biggest guest since starting the new show?
• [48:12] - We hear about some of the guests who Jordan is planning or hoping to have on his show in the future.
• [51:22] - Jordan shares a piece of advice that he wants to make sure listeners understand.
• [54:58] - How can people get in touch with Jordan to work with him or learn more about what he does?

• Jordan Harbinger
• Jordan Harbinger on Twitter
• Jordan Harbinger on LinkedIn
• Jordan Harbinger on Facebook
• The Jordan Harbinger Show
• Art of Charm
• Stuxnet
• Zig Ziglar
• Dale Carnegie
• Jay Abraham on Marketing Speak
• Byron Katie on the Optimized Geek
• Simon Sinek on The Jordan Harbinger Show
• Gretchen Rubin on The Jordan Harbinger Show
• The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin
• Jocko Willink on The Jordan Harbinger Show
• Dan Heath on The Jordan Harbinger Show
• Bill Browder on The Jordan Harbinger Show
• Neil Strauss

Today, Barnet Bain is here to help you unleash your own inner creativity in every aspect of your life. Barnet is the author of The Book of Doing And Being: Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work, and an award-winning filmmaker who has directed Milton's Secret and worked as a producer of What Dreams May Come. You'll learn all about focusing on desire, expectation, imagination, and much more in an episode that's all about tapping into your creativity and achieving a flow state.

Barnet Bain Barnet Bain on Facebook @BarnetBain on Twitter

• [01:29] - How can you spark creativity in your work and in your life? In his answer, Barnet points out that creativity isn't simply the domain of a privileged few who are born special.
• [05:27] - When someone believes that they aren't creative, the amount of creative energy required to create that construct is enormous, Barnet explains.
• [09:44] - Stephan brings up a specific example of a project that he's working on and wants to amp up desire for. Barnet then responds with a discussion of the tendency of creativity to build and expand upon itself.
• [12:06] - We hear a clarification about why Stephan isn't as excited about the membership site and courses he's discussing as the coaching and consulting that he generally does.
• [14:22] - Barnet and Stephan discuss the specifics of Stephan's audience, and how he would tailor his delivery to his audience.
• [17:49] - If you're teaching to dead air, you're teaching to the past, Barnet points out. In other words, you're talking to a version of yourself that you're conjuring up from the past.
• [20:45] - Stephan is reminded of a conversation with Dan Sullivan.
• [21:57] - Barnet digs into what makes an entrepreneur creative, which involves having a certain level of accomplishment.
• [26:40] - Barnet points out the different relationship with the past and the present between what he has just been describing and where we started talking.
• [29:17] - Stephan takes a moment to recap what Barnet has been saying and making sure all the nuances are clear. Barnet then discusses how various parts of the brain work.
• [35:40] - Allowing yourself to have compassion for yourself allows you to have it for others too, Barnet explains.
• [36:37] - Barnet shares his thoughts on affirmations, and how to make them more than just placating words.
• [40:52] - What Barnet has been saying reminds Stephan of his conversation with Kristen Ulmer and her book The Art of Fear.
• [43:14] - Focusing on what we don't want is like ordering the worst thing on the menu, Barnet explains.
• [48:42] - Stephan shares a powerful distinction that he learned recently about praying for your wishes and desires.
• [53:18] - Which comes first: desire or fulfillment? Barnet and Stephan discuss the fact that you can't experience desire without having fulfillment first.
• [55:50] - Stephan recommends that listeners go to Barnet Bain's website and take his Creativity Quotient quiz.

• Barnet Bain
• Barnet Bain on Facebook
• @BarnetBain on Twitter
• The Book of Doing And Being: Rediscovering Creativity in Life, Love, and Work
• Milton's Secret
• What Dreams May Come
• Dan Sullivan
• Kristen Ulmer on the Optimized Geek
• The Art of Fear by Kristen Ulmer

In this episode, you'll learn more about our problematic addiction to sugar (as well as what you can do about it) with celebrity nutrition expert JJ Virgin. JJ is the person who people go to when they're ready to finally lose weight and transform their health and lives. Tune in to learn how to drop sugar, change your life, and feel better than you ever imagined! I can personally attest to how much difference it makes when you (mostly) quit sugar, so I can't recommend this episode highly enough.

JJ VirginJJ Virgin StoreJJ Virgin on FacebookJJ Virgin on InstagramJJ Virgin on Twitter

• [02:39] - What, exactly, is wrong with sugar?
• [04:15] - JJ talks about the problem with all-natural sugars such as honey.
• [06:19] - We learn what happens when we eat a candy bar or drink a soda. As she answers, JJ shares her surprise that candy bars are still available for sale.
• [08:56] - JJ talks about why fructose is the worst of all.
• [12:07] - JJ takes a moment to rant about the WIC program for underprivileged children in schools, which provides apple juice.
• [13:17] - Do artificial sweeteners also increase your risk of diabetes and the other diseases that JJ has been talking about?
• [15:30] - Which are the worst, and the least-toxic, of the artificial sweeteners? JJ points out that they're all bad, and recommends some natural options instead.
• [16:56] - Exposure equals preference, JJ points out.
• [18:16] - The first step in getting off the hamster wheel and getting off your addiction to sugar is wanting to do so, JJ explains, then offers more advice on getting off of sugar.
• [22:01] - JJ talks about eating cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, and other fruits typically considered healthy.
• [23:15] - Stephan mentions something that was helpful for him when he got off of sugar, which was going cold turkey.
• [25:46] - What's the process for going from being a sugar burner to being a fat burner?
• [28:51] - Stephan points out how much of eating and snacking is based in habit rather than hunger.
• [30:34] - Is there such a thing as healthy snacking, and what kind of healthy snacks would JJ recommend?
• [32:52] - JJ talks about whether she recommends people take food sensitivity tests.
• [37:11] - Is there a particular gut microbiome test that JJ recommends?
• [39:39] - JJ shares her thoughts on kombucha, a supposedly healthy drink that has sugar in it.
• [41:00] - What sorts of genetics tests does JJ recommend?
• [43:19] - We learn about the problems with drinking water from plastic containers.
• [47:15] - JJ discusses what to do with the specific information on body composition that you can get from a smart scale.
• [49:05] - JJ offers some of her tips for taking care of yourself while traveling.
• [50:29] - Does JJ believe in water fasts, or detoxing by taking food completely out of the diet every so often?

• JJ Virgin
• JJ Virgin Store
• JJ Virgin on Facebook
• JJ Virgin on Instagram
• JJ Virgin on Twitter
• The Virgin Diet by JJ Virgin
• The Virgin Diet Cookbook by JJ Virgin
• JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet by JJ Virgin
• JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook by JJ Virgin
• WIC program
• Immuno Labs
• Jeffrey Zavik on the Optimized Geek
• Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory (DSL)
• 23andMe
• Simplified Genetics
• Kurt Johnson on the Optimized Geek
• PathwayFit
• Lissa Rankin's TEDx talk