On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally invite neuroscientist and clinical psychologist Dr. Heather Berlin to discuss the neural basis of improvisation, making novel associations to keep your brain healthy and active, and her forthcoming book about the science of impulse control and the effects of fame on the brain. Plus Adam and Dr. Heather compare De Niro stories, we meet silent third host Donny The Plant, and Dr. Heather shows Gabrus where she lives on his Long Island tattoo.

Follow Dr. Heather @heather_berlin on Insta

Listen to the Science Of Perception Box podcast HERE

Full video episodes available HERE

Check out Staying Alive merch at siriusxmstore.com/stayingalive

Tickets for our live show at The Bell House in New York on Tues, August 5th HERE

Streaming tickets coming soon!

This episode was recorded April 2, 2025 at SiriusXM studios in New York City

Special thanks to Jared O’Connell

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: neuroplasticity, Edinburgh Fringe, spontaneous creativity, freestyle rap, brain activation, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, flow state, Donny, checking in, Chuck Darwin, executive function, first responders, Sonic The Hedgehog, Rosebud Baker, dopamine, Robert De Niro, Sigmund Freud,Béarnaise, Dirty Grandpa, marshmallow test, The Waterboy, yoga, Siri

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with one of their heroes, actor/comedian/good egg Andy Richter, to talk about managing depression, how New York City can keep you in shape whether you’re trying or not, what the work of being a dad means to them, and Andy gets real about a past health scare. Plus, Pally has a desperate situation in a UCB janitor’s closet, and Gabrus talks about his first-ever TV credit (“Wedgie Bully” on Late Night with Conan O’Brien).

Follow Andy on socials (@richtercommaandy on Insta, @AndyRichter on Twitter, @andyrichter.co on BlueSky)

Listen to The Andy Richter Call-In Show HERE

Listen to The Three Questions with Andy Richter HERE

Full video episodes available HERE

Check out Staying Alive merch at siriusxmstore.com/stayingalive

This episode was recorded June 3, 2025 at SiriusXM studios in Los Angeles

Special thanks to Jared O’Connell and Brendan Byrnes

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Wellbutrin, Trintellix, premature ejaculation, Halloween candy, Cheez-Its, Alec Baldwin, tennis, Peloton, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, hiking, Griffith Observatory, Allan McLeod, stroke, Adderall, Labyrinthitis, Friars’ Club, Siegfried & Roy, CPAP Machine, Kevin Dorff, Celebrity Family Feud, Andy Richter Controls The Universe, Amy Sedaris, Rob Riggle, Andy Daly, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser, Jon Glaser, Harrison Ford

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with their good friend, actor, comedian, and personal trainer Ryan Stanger, to talk about the benefits of hyperbaric chambers, barrel saunas vs infrared, what to look for when choosing a trainer, and Stanger really tries to make his Three Pigs metaphor work. Plus, Gabrus wants a Gym Tycoon video game, and Pally owns OK Computer on vinyl.

Follow Ryan @stonestanger on Insta

Find The Action Boyz’ Patreon at ActionBoyz.biz

Check out Staying Alive merch at siriusxmstore.com/stayingalive

This episode was recorded February 6, 2025 at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles

Special thanks to Lee Nason and Brian Baldinger

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Sacramento, Kevin Bacon, Sean Hayes, Bernie Madoff, LeBron James, Donald Sutherland, Tudor, Rolex, all cause mortality, Dr Rhonda Patrick, resistance training, flexion, Harrison Ford, home gym design, Peloton, Norwegian 4x4 HIIT Protocol, extended effort, push/pull/squat, thigh circumference, sarcopenia, V02 Max

Hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally want you to know that you can watch these episodes as well as listen to them! Full video episodes are available on SmartLess Media's YouTube channel. And also, we now have merch! Pally & Gabrus explain why it goes up to 11XL (big Na'vi listenership). 

Full video episodes available HERE.

Check out Staying Alive merch at siriusxmstore.com/stayingalive

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with celebrity dietician and nutritional therapist Kim Shapira MS, RD, to talk about her six simple rules for changing your relationship with food, knowing what time zone your mind is in, the psychology of binging, the issue with intermittent fasting, and just how important consistency is (in all kinds of ways). Kim also drops a bombshell: Food is boring. The boys’ big takeaway here: flaxseed oil.

Follow Kim @kimshapiramethod on Insta, kimshapiramethod.com

Buy her book This Is What You’re Really Hungry For: Six Simple Rules To Transform Your Relationship With Food To Become Your Healthiest Self

This episode was recorded January 30, 2025 at SiriusXM studios in Los Angeles

Special thanks to Jared O’Connell

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Tulane, kinesiology, Kaley Cuoco, Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale, Black Francis, intermittent fasting, Clean Plate Club, Parker House rolls, chyme, Pop’ums, Veruca Salt, 10,000 steps

Hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally have an important announcement that they’ll get to…eventually! But before they let you know about our first Live Staying Alive, 7:30pm on Tuesday, August 5th at The Bell House in Brooklyn NY (and streaming around the globe on the Veeps platform), Gabrus has a report card he’d like to talk about, and Pally has a pitch for a new show called Kill TBD.

In-person tickets available HERE.

Streaming tickets coming SOON.

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with stuntwoman and American Ninja Warrior competitor Jessie Graff to talk about choosing superhero moves over acting accolades, why she doesn’t own a couch or any chairs, making sure to schedule time for fun, and they ooh and ahh over her stylish new invention. Plus, Adam doesn’t know how to measure anything and Jessie challenges the very way they sit.

Follow Jessie @jessiegraffpwr, website JessieGraff.com

This episode was recorded March 28, 2025 at Team Coco in Los Angeles

Special thanks to Joanna Samuel and Team Coco

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Eric Hörst, Training For Climbing, Game Theory Performance, jerk vests, Xena Warrior Princess, Theragun, Mission Impossible, foam rolling, hip flexors, Boyz II Men, Swiss Ball, Army Of The Dead, Hawaii Five-O, incumbent toilets, Hero Heels

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with their good friend Zach Cherry (Severance, Fallout), to talk about how he doesn’t do anything special to stay alive, nothing at all. Except for everything. They’ll talk about working with Ben Stiller, never rushing anywhere, smart scales, and do a deep dive on sweating. Pally also has some questions about why eggs aren’t meat, and Gabrus talks about how you spoil yourself differently in your 40s.

Follow Zach @zachcherrysuperstan on Insta

This episode was recorded April 30, 2025 at SiriusXM studios in New York City

Special thanks to Jared O’Connell

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Dr Perry, Dr Pepper, Kingston, The Price Is Right, Bruce Lee, Champaign ILL, Sam Richardson, Craig Robinson, veganism, Withings Smart Scale, health span, sleep hygiene, strength training, Brett Goldstein, Planet Fitness, One Bone Clothing, Tommy Bahama, Merritt Wever   

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally meet up at Team Coco studios with one of their favorites, actor/writer and now director Jillian Bell, to talk about being background artists, being mistaken for background artists, taking a half hour a day to just sit in the sun, giving up things that drive you crazy, the hormonal rollercoaster of late life birth control, and Jillian’s experience directing her first feature, Summer Of 69. Plus, an appearance by all three Wahlbergs.

Follow Jillian @jillianbell on Insta

Watch her new movie Summer Of 69 on Hulu!

This episode was recorded March 27, 2025 at Team Coco in Los Angeles

Special thanks to Joanna Samuel and all at Team Coco

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Soho House, Primal Fear, Lindsay Lohan, New Kids on the Block, Steph Curry, Baby Reindeer, Zepbound, Las Vegas, birth control, perimenopause, Jordan Knight, Cheesecake Factory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

On this episode of Staying Alive, hosts Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally sit down with National Institutes Of Health-funded immunologist (and fellow omakase enthusiast) Dr. Shruti Naik to talk about the glowing bacteria that made her become a scientist, the heroic mice who really give us our medications, the benefits of cruciferous vegetables, and much more. Then, they have Dr. Shruti back for a quick catch-up about what’s been happening at the NIH in the first few months of this year. Big takeaway: Tell your congressional representatives and Senators that funding science is very important to you!

Follow Dr Shruti on Twitter @DrShrutiNaik
 

This episode was recorded January 22 and April 7, 2025 at SiriusXM studios in New York City

Special thanks to Jared O’Connell

Staying Alive is produced by Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris

Engineered and edited by Devon Torrey Bryant, who also wrote the music

Associate producer and video editor is Maddie McCann

Executive produced by Jon Gabrus, Adam Pally, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Bernie Kaminski, and Rich Korson

Keywords for this episode: Phish, red meat, Jimmy Buffett, mice, research scientist, innovation, Big Pharma, Mouse Wahlberg, glow-in-the-dark bacteria, quorum sensing, bald eagle meat, Omakase, cruciferous vegetables, gut bacteria, Aura ring