Straight Talk For Real Life

Dr. William Li gave a groundbreaking TED Talk in 2010, titled “Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?” To date, it has garnered more than 11 million views. In it, Dr. Li explained that there are microscopic, pre-cancerous cells in most human bodies, just waiting to grow. The good news is that our bodies are equipped with strong health defense systems that, if nourished with the right foods, can prevent more than 70 diseases, including diabetes, blindness, heart disease, and obesity. Guest: William Li, MD, physician, scientist, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself and Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, and Live Longer. Dr. Li is also co-founder, president, and medical director of the Angiogenesis Foundation.

Dr. Sue Varma talks about her groundbreaking work showing that “optimism” goes beyond just having a positive outlook—it brings about better outcomes: more success, higher incomes and job satisfaction, healthier habits, stronger relationships, and greater overall life satisfaction. And it ultimately can lead to increased happiness. In this episode, we discuss the 8 pillars of Practical Optimism—from creating purpose and processing emotions to cultivating healthy habits and strong social connections. Guest: Dr. Sue Varma, MD, PC, DFAPA, psychiatrist and cognitive behavioral therapist, and author of Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being.

Is there more to life than happiness? For decades, positive psychologists have agreed that there are two crucial dimensions to living a happy and fulfilling life: An overall sense of happiness, and a sense of purpose. In recent years, Dr. Oishi has uncovered a third dimension needed to have a fuller, better life: psychological richness. A psychologically rich life prioritizes curiosity, exploration, and a variety of experiences. Learn how anyone can build a fuller, more authentic life. Guest: Shigehiro Oishi, PhD, positive psychology and happiness expert, and author of Life In Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life.

For over 100 years, scientists have searched for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Now, for the first time ever, there is hope. Dr. Dale E. Bredesen, a neuroscientist and neurologist, has announced groundbreaking results from decades of research and a precision-medicine-based protocol that has not only reversed cognitive decline, but has even improved brain function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode, we provide scientifically based advice for ending Alzheimer’s and living a long, healthy life, free of dementia. Guest: Dale E. Bredesen, M.D., author of The End of Alzheimer’s Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline At Any Age.

The foods we eat are directly linked to our health and health issues. Recently, scientific studies have shown that what you eat can have a big impact on your mind: how clearly you think, how much energy you have, how you feel . . . even your mood. Learn how to eat a brain-healthy diet. It can optimize your thinking today and can even help prevent brain disorders like MS, ALS, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s in the future. Guest: Brenda Navin, registered dietitian, and founder and president of Launch My Health.

Dr. Elisa Song is a trusted pediatrician who provides science-based, easy-to-understand ways to raise happier and healthier kids—starting with a healthy gut microbiome. After training to be a medical doctor, Dr. Song realized that conventional medicine was missing some key components to raising resilient kids with strong immune systems. Today, Dr. Song is an integrative pediatrician who has shared her learning through a comprehensive guide to whole child resilience. Guest: Elisa Song, M.D., author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

Many new mothers experience “baby blues” after giving birth. However, some new moms—and even dads!—experience more intense and prolonged feelings of depression that can interfere with their ability to care for their baby and perform other daily tasks. This condition is known as postpartum depression (PPD), sometimes referred to as peripartum depression or perinatal depression in certain countries. The encouraging news is that PPD can be effectively treated. Guest: Dr. Linda Kim, founder and CEO of Moon Mental Health.

What are the secrets of living a longer, more fulfilled life? Answering that big question has been the quest of a company called Blue Zones for more than 2 decades. “Blue zone” is a term coined by its founder, Dan Buettner, to describe specific locations around the world where people regularly live to be 100 years old and beyond. The company examines how and why these people live far longer and happier lives than the average. Guest: Dexter Shurney, M.D., president/chief health and well-being officer, Blue Zones Well-Being Institute.

In today's fast-paced society, many of us spend our days balancing countless meetings and endless work with school and family responsibilities. If we have any free time, we might complete a few more errands or perhaps squeeze in some exercise. But something critically important to your health and happiness is missing: Social connection. Loneliness is at epidemic levels. How do we break the barriers of loneliness and lay the cornerstone of a more satisfying and connected life? Guest: Brad Shuck, PhD, University of Louisville.

Is there truly a road to happiness? And if so, how can we get there? You might be surprised! This episode contains many practical tips—“happiness hacks”—that can help you increase the happiness level in your life. Guest: Stella Grizont, positive psychology and happiness expert.