The Decision Lab Podcast

In Today’s Episode: Are Smelling Salts Dangerous?

Join us as we break from our usual founder interviews and put a viral fitness product under the microscope. In this solo lab-style episode, Cody and CJ investigate the science, safety, and claims behind smelling salts—specifically the widely available brand Ward—and whether they actually improve athletic performance or pose serious risks.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• Smelling salts don’t “wake you up” — they trigger a fight-or-flight alarm in your nervous system by aggressively activating the sympathetic response.
• There is little to no credible evidence showing smelling salts improve strength, reaction time, or athletic performance, and they may even impair motor control.
• Smelling salts can be dangerous, especially after concussions, and raise serious concerns around safety, regulation, and misleading marketing claims.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• Are smelling salts actually improving performance, or just making you feel more alert?
• What does the science say about how smelling salts affect the brain and nervous system?
• Is Ward a trustworthy brand, and are smelling salts safe for athletes to use?

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: A Different Kind of Episode
01:05 What Are Smelling Salts and Why Should You Care?
04:16 The Ward Origin Story and Founder Background
07:40 The Gap in the Market: Stronger Salts?
08:30 The Science Problem: Do Smelling Salts Actually Work?
12:20 Competitive Analysis and Marketing Claims
16:59 FDA Warning Letter and Red Flags
23:58 The Website Deep Dive: Terms of Service Chaos
11:00 Health Risks and Concussion Dangers
27:29 Lab Results: Buy or Not Buy?

Apollo Link: https://apolloneuro.com/mbblab

Where to Learn More About TDL & Our Hosts:

The Decision Lab Socials: https://stan.store/thedecisionlab

Cody’s Socials: https://stan.store/mindbrainbodylab

Chloe’s Socials: https://stan.store/chloegoesinward

#TheDecisionLabPodcast #Wellness #MentalHealthMatters #HealthAndWellness #SelfCare #WellnessPodcast #HealthPodcast #WellnessTechnology #HolisticHealth

In Today’s Episode: Is 7-OH Safe?

Join us as we talk with Cody Isabel, neuroscientist and co-host of The Decision Lab, and CJ Evans, brand director and producer, as they break down the growing controversy around 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine)—a highly concentrated compound tied to kratom that’s been marketed as a “natural” wellness product.

Using a Decision Lab lens, we examine what the research actually says, how marketing hype accelerated real harm, and what this story reveals about deeper problems in the health and wellness industry.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• 7-OH behaves like a powerful opioid, with evidence of dependence and withdrawal—but lacks meaningful human safety data
• The “evidence gap” is often exploited as a business model in wellness marketing
• Scientific language and expert credentials are frequently used to mask weak or missing research

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• Is 7-OH actually safe to take, or is it an opioid in disguise?
• How did marketing turn a regulatory gray area into a public health issue?
• How can consumers spot dangerous wellness products before it’s too late?

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: The CBD American Shaman Controversy
03:16 What is 7-OH? Understanding the Compound
05:34 The Research Reality: What Science Actually Shows
08:31 FDA Warning Letters and Company Response
11:30 Marketing Tactics: How 7-OH Became a Crisis
19:07 The Evidence Gap as a Business Model
25:16 Science Washing: The New Snake Oil
31:42 Incentives Shape Outcomes More Than Intentions
35:18 How to Think Like Decision Lab: Critical Questions
42:51 Final Thoughts: Protecting Yourself in the Wellness Space

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2307410825000252?

https://www.issup.net/node/32674?

https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/fda-7-oh-scheduling-recommendation.html

https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/shaman-botanicals-llc-709622-06252025?

https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/31/kratom-7oh-fda-warning-kansas-missouri?

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article313090700.html

Apollo Link:

https://apolloneuro.com/mbblab

Where to Learn More About TDL & Our Hosts:

The Decision Lab Socials: https://stan.store/thedecisionlab

Cody’s Socials: https://stan.store/mindbrainbodylab

Chloe’s Socials: https://stan.store/chloegoesinward

#TheDecisionLabPodcast #Wellness #MentalHealthMatters #HealthAndWellness #SelfCare #WellnessPodcast #HealthPodcast #WellnessTechnology #HolisticHealth

In Today’s Episode: What Improves Brain Health?

Join us as we talk with Dr. Tommy Wood, MD, PhD — neuroscientist, medical doctor, and performance scientist, who shares his insights on how brain health is shaped by environment, expectations, and long-term habits rather than hacks or optimization shortcuts.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• Brain health is built through consistent skill use, supportive environments, and resilience, not perfect routines.
• Expectations directly influence physiology, cognitive performance, and long-term disease risk.
• Flow states and elite performance emerge from deep expertise and process, not motivation or shortcuts.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• What actually improves brain health across the lifespan?
• Can over-optimizing sleep, fitness, and biometrics make you more fragile?
• How do environment, mindset, and expectations shape cognitive performance and longevity?

Apollo link: https://apolloneuro.com/mbblab

Learn More About the Guest:

• Website: https://www.drtommywood.com/
• Socials: https://www.instagram.com/drtommywood/?hl=en
  
  https://substack.com/@betterbrainfitness

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Dr. Tommy Wood
00:38 Flow States: When Dr. Tommy Feels Most Dialed In
03:36 Dr. Tommy's Background: From Medical School to Neuroscience
06:30 Elite Performance: Nature vs Nurture in Athletes
25:12 Concussions and Brain Injury: The Physical and Psychological Impact
28:52 Social Connection and Immune Function: The Body's Response to Isolation
32:52 Expectations and Performance: How Beliefs Shape Reality
34:04 Wearables and Data: The Double-Edged Sword of Health Tracking
43:27 Blood Tests and Biomarkers: What to Measure and Why
48:40 The Enoughness Problem: Optimization vs Psychological Resilience
1:12:12 The 3S Model for Brain Health: Stimulus, Supply, and Support
1:15:50 Small Changes, Big Impact: The Power of Starting With One Thing
14:26 Baby Brains and Early Development: The Critical Role of Environment
57:36 Dementia Prevention: Challenging Conventional Wisdom
1:22:19 Neuroplasticity Throughout Life: Breaking the Age 25 Myth
1:27:21 White Matter and Resistance Training: Unexpected Brain Benefits
1:30:52 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Where to Learn More About TDL & Our Hosts:

The Decision Lab Socials: https://stan.store/thedecisionlab

Cody’s Socials: https://stan.store/mindbrainbodylab

Chloe’s Socials: https://stan.store/chloegoesinward

#TheDecisionLabPodcast #Wellness #MentalHealthMatters #HealthAndWellness #SelfCare #WellnessPodcast #HealthPodcast #WellnessTechnology #HolisticHealth

In Today’s Episode: Is AI Replacing Humans?

Join us as we talk with Dr. Christophe Morin, pioneering neuromarketing scientist, AI researcher, and professor at Johns Hopkins, who shares his insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping persuasion, work, education, mental health, and what it truly means to remain human in an AI-driven world.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• Why AI will transform every job—from marketing and HR to healthcare and education—and why this is creating deep anxiety, especially for Gen Z
• How neuromarketing AI can either manipulate human behavior or reduce cognitive overload by cutting through noise and distraction
• Why human consciousness, emotion, and connection may be the most future-proof skills we have as AI accelerates

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• Is AI actually replacing humans—or forcing us to redefine what makes us human?
• How is AI shaping our decisions, beliefs, and mental health without us realizing it?
• What do individuals, educators, and society need to prioritize to build a human-first future alongside AI

In Today’s Episode: Is Your Gut Healthy?
Join us as we talk with Jasmine, founder of FixBiome and a leader in gut-health innovation, who shares her insights on the surprising complexity of the gut microbiome, why IBS is so misunderstood, and how supplement standards differ drastically between Australia and the U.S.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• Why gut issues often stem from structural damage, not just “bad bacteria.”
• How Australian supplement regulations create a higher standard for safety and quality.
• What truly impacts gut health — from diet and stress to the hidden dangers of artificial sweeteners.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• What actually causes IBS and chronic gut symptoms?
• Are probiotics and gut supplements helping… or making things worse?
• How can you tell if your gut is damaged — and what can you do about it?

In Today’s Episode: Are You Ready to Date?
Join us as we talk with Cody Isabel — cognitive neuroscientist, IFS practitioner, TDL host, and founder of Becoming Her — who shares his insights on healing heartbreak, navigating “the gap,” and rebuilding your identity using neuroscience rather than cliché dating advice.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• Why social media programs your expectations and shapes your dating reality
• What “the gap” is and why most people get stuck there after a breakup
• How neuroscience + IFS can help you rebuild your patterns, identity, and confidence before you date again

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• How do you know if you’re genuinely ready to date again?
• Why do high-achievers struggle the most in heartbreak and healing?
• What makes Becoming Her different from traditional therapy or self-help content?

Becoming Her Sources:

IFS Research: https://ifs-institute.com/resources/research
Neuroscience:
Leaf, C., & Wasserman, C. (2024). Habit Formation and Automaticity: Psychoneurobiological Correlates of Sustained Behavior Change. NeuroRegulation, 11(1). https://www.neuroregulation.org/article/view/23416​
Leaf, C. (2021). Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking. Baker Books.
Lally, P., van Jaarsveld, C. H. M., Potts, H. W. W., & Wardle, J. (2010). How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40(6), 998–1009. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.674
Gardner, B., Lally, P., & Wardle, J. (2012). Making health habitual: The psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice. British Journal of General Practice, 62(605), 664–666. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3505409/​
Kaushal, N., & Rhodes, R. E. (2015). Exercise habit formation in new gym members: A longitudinal study. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 38, 652–663.
Kilb, K., et al. (2024). Time to form a habit: A systematic review and meta-analysis of health behavior automaticity. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11641623/​

In Today’s Episode: Do We Have Free Will?

Join us as we talk with Dr. Laura Beavin-Yates, cognitive psychologist and behavioral neuroscientist, who breaks down how brain states, history, emotions, and unconscious processes shape the decisions we think we're making on purpose.

• How behavioral neuroscience explains the “default settings” your brain uses to make decisions.
• Why emotions happen before feelings — and why most people misunderstand the difference.
• How psychological safety, trauma, family history, and stress shape behavior without your awareness.

• Do humans actually have free will, or does the brain decide before we do?
• How do our past experiences affect the choices we make today?
• What should consumers know about wellness products, marketing claims, and scientific data?

In Today’s Episode: Why Does Intimacy Feel Hard?
Join us as we talk with Freya Graf — intimacy educator, sex coach, and host of The Labia Lounge — who shares her insights on healing shame, understanding arousal, and creating safer, more connected intimate relationships.

• Why so many people feel shame or confusion around intimacy — and how to break that pattern
• The difference between physical arousal cues and emotional readiness (and why they rarely match)
• How the Seven Gates Framework helps partners slow down, build trust, and attune to each other

• Why do so many couples struggle to feel “in sync” during intimacy?
• What makes emotional safety essential for desire and connection?
• How can partners navigate intimacy without pressure, performance, or misunderstanding?

Free Mini Course: https://freya-graf.xperiencify.io/expiring-mini-course/order/

Stud in the Sack Training: https://www.freyagraf.com/productsonline-trainings/p/stud-in-the-sack-training

In Today’s Episode: What Products Actually Work? Join us as host Cody Isabel, cognitive neuroscientist and co-host of The Decision Lab Podcast, takes you inside his personal wellness routine to reveal which science-backed products have actually made it into his daily life. After interviewing nearly a hundred brands, Cody breaks down the tools, supplements, and habits that passed “the lab test” — and the even tougher “real life test.”

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

-Discover the science-backed products that actually work — from nervous system regulators like Komuso Shift and Apollo Neuro to focus-boosting nootropics like Magnetic Mind and Prepare Your Mind.

-Learn how data-driven apps like SIX can help you track oxytocin and dopamine spikes to identify key moments of social connection and joy.

-Hear Cody’s honest, first-hand experiences using these products — what impressed him, what surprised him, and what he actually buys again.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

-Which wellness products have truly integrated into Cody’s daily habits after interviewing dozens of brands?

-How do tools like Komuso Shift and Apollo Neuro activate the vagus nerve and calm the body?

-Are popular supplements and red-light therapies like Lumaflex and Prepare Your Mind really backed by neuroscience — or just hype?

Product Links:

https://www.komusodesign.com/MINDBRAINBODY

https://apolloneuro.com/pages/vip-deal-lp?sca_ref=8155555.ZEQ5kEnX66N3u4pq&utm_source=uppromote&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=cody-isabel-id8155555

https://youcanpym.superfiliate.com/CODYISABEL

https://getmindright.com/products/magnetic-mind

https://your6.com/

https://mojo.shop/

https://www.drdougs.com/

In Today’s Episode: Can You Trust Wellness Experts?

Join us as CJ Evans, producer of The Decision Lab Podcast, sits down with host Cody Isabel to revisit our viral ENERGYbits interview and unpack the bigger conversation it sparked about credentials, credibility, and science on social media.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode:

• The difference between correlation and causation — and why it matters in wellness claims
• How social media shapes who we trust more: credentials or familiarity
• Why The Decision Lab prioritizes transparency over titles in evaluating health products and research

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

• Do credentials still matter in the age of social media?
• What’s the difference between legitimate research and anecdotal evidence?
• How can you tell which wellness experts are actually evidence-based?