How do I best protect my brain from cognitive decline?

Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist and the founder of Neuro Athletics, specialising in brain health, human performance, and longevity.

In this Moment, Louisa Nicola reveals how the right kind of exercise can help protect the ageing brain, why one often-overlooked measure of physical strength may be a powerful marker of cognitive health, and the training approach linked to remarkable changes in the middle-aged heart.

Listen to the full episode here!

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Former US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg says the American experiment is on the brink. He argues that the country is at risk of losing its democracy, the problems Americans feel every day are not accidents, and that fixing it will mean doing the hard things almost no one wants to do.

Pete Buttigieg is the former United States Secretary of Transportation, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a Rhodes Scholar, and a Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan. He ran for president in 2020 and is now widely regarded as one of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination for President in 2028. Out of office for the first time in years, he speaks with unusual candour about power, war, the economy, and where America goes next.

He explains:
◼ Why he believes American democracy is genuinely on the brink, and what it would actually take to save it
◼ The real story behind the strike on Iran and the "ceasefire" that wasn't
◼ Why a billionaire can pay a lower tax rate than a teacher or a firefighter, and whether a wealth tax is the answer
◼ How AI is about to disrupt not just jobs but people's identities, and who he thinks should share in the gains
◼ What he says the administration really hid about the American troops who died

The views expressed are those of the guest, and this conversation is intended for general informational purposes only. This podcast and its associated materials should not be used as a substitute for professional medical, legal, or financial advice.

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:27 Why America Feels So Politically Divided Right Now
• 00:04:10 Why Denmark Challenges the American Dream
• 00:05:30 Why Trump Still Resonates With Millions
• 00:07:12 What Democrats Missed About Voter Frustration
• 00:08:14 Could He Really Run for President?
• 00:11:16 What's Really Happening in Iran?
• 00:14:23 Why Trump Chose to Strike Iran
• 00:17:17 What Kind of President Can Handle Today's Crises?
• 00:19:02 How Could the Conflict With Iran Actually End?
• 00:22:01 What Happens If Iran Gets Nuclear Weapons?
• 00:23:05 Why Israel Is Always at the Center of U.S. Politics
• 00:26:42 The Real Story Behind Trump and Netanyahu's Relationship
• 00:31:48 Why the Situation May Be Reaching a Turning Point
• 00:32:40 Is There Anything to Respect About Trump?
• 00:36:01 How AI Could Reshape Society Faster Than Expected
• 00:41:21 What AI Means for the Future of the Working Class
• 00:46:38 Could Worker Ownership of AI Actually Work?
• 00:48:46 Ads
• 00:50:48 Is Socialism the Answer to Rising Inequality?
• 00:54:20 Would Wealth Taxes Solve the Problem?
• 01:00:18 Why Politicians Keep Passing the Debt Problem Forward
• 01:01:35 Could Political Disillusionment Lead to Trump in 2028?
• 01:06:27 Why the Left May Need Its Own Disruptor
• 01:13:30 The Personal Cost of Becoming President
• 01:17:34 Were Biden's Health Concerns Impossible to Ignore?
• 01:19:06 Did Democrats Make the Right Call Replacing Biden?
• 01:21:49 Why the Supreme Court Could Be Headed for Reform
• 01:25:08 Ads
• 01:26:26 What Elon Musk Gets Right—and Wrong
• 01:35:01 The Boldest Plan to Tackle Inequality
• 01:51:41 The One Truth the World Doesn't Want to Hear

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What do spies understand about people that most of us miss?

John Kiriakou is a former CIA officer, whistleblower, and intelligence expert who spent years working inside the world of espionage and national security.

In this Moment, John Kiriakou reveals the lessons the intelligence world teaches about human behaviour, how people can be read through subtle signals, and what years of studying others taught him about trust, deception, and understanding those around you.

Listen to the full episode here!

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The man who predicted the 2008 crash says the warning signs are flashing again! Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, reveals why we are in an AI bubble, why the US has already entered its decline, and what he thinks is coming next.

Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, which he grew from his two-bedroom apartment to roughly 150 billion dollars under management. He is the author of ‘Principles,’ ‘Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order,’ and ‘How Countries Go Broke'. 

He explains:
◼ Why he agrees we are in an AI bubble, and what actually makes bubbles burst
◼ Why he believes cash is the worst place to store your money over time
◼ The five forces behind his "big cycle”, and where he thinks we are now
◼ Why he says the US and UK are already in the decline, and what comes next
◼ What AI will do to jobs, and who ends up on each side of the wealth gap

The views expressed are those of the guest, and this conversation is intended for general informational purposes only. It should not be taken as financial or investment advice.

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:35 The AI Bubble: Are We Heading Toward an Economic Collapse?
• 00:12:17 Why Economic Bubbles Burst—and How to Prepare Before They Do
• 00:16:45 How to Diversify Your Income Before the Next Downturn
• 00:23:14 How to Secure Your Financial Future With Little or No Savings
• 00:27:52 Bitcoin vs. Gold: Which Asset Better Protects Your Wealth?
• 00:30:06 Who Will Be the Biggest Winners of the AI Revolution?
• 00:34:48 Will AI Replace Human Workers Faster Than We Expect?
• 00:43:18 Will AI Create Enough New Jobs to Offset Job Losses?
• 00:48:15 What Would You Tell Your Kids to Do Right Now?
• 00:58:44 Can Higher Taxes on the Wealthy Really Reduce Inequality?
• 01:03:47 Is the UK in Decline—and What Would Turn It Around?
• 01:08:41 Where Should Young Entrepreneurs Build Their Business Today?
• 01:11:06 Does a 2% Wealth Tax Actually Work?
• 01:13:11 The 80-Year Cycle: Are We Entering the Collapse Phase?
• 01:14:52 Can the Next World Order Have More Than One Superpower?
• 01:20:08 What the Iran Conflict Could Mean for the New World Order?

Follow Ray:
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You can find out more about Ray Dalio’s personality test, here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/4GnqnN5 

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Nearly 1 in 3 American adults now take vitamin D, but Dr. Stasha Gominak says many of them are taking it wrong, and that done carelessly, supplementing can leave you worse off than before.

Dr. Stasha Gominak practiced neurology for over 20 years. She earned her MD from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her neurology residency at the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. After working with her own patients, she believes that nearly everyone struggling to sleep shares the same hidden deficiency, a conclusion she published in 2 papers and built into RightSleep, the method she now teaches full time.

She explains:
◼ Why she believes your skin is the best producer of vitamin D, and why she says no amount of pills or salmon can replace it
◼ Why she believes insomnia isn't a behavior problem but a chemical deficiency, and what she thinks changed when we moved indoors
◼ The role she says your gut bacteria play in producing your B vitamins
◼ Why she believes taking vitamin D on its own can burn through your B vitamins, and what she says happened when she tried it herself
◼ Why she connects the rise in conditions like ADHD, depression, fatty liver and diabetes to the same period, and what she thinks links them
◼ Why she considers supplements a form of biohacking, and just as risky as any drug if you get them wrong

The views expressed are those of the guest, and this conversation is intended for general informational purposes only. This podcast and its associated materials should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician before making any changes to your diet, supplements or health regimen.

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:20 Why So Many People Are Suddenly Struggling With Sleep
• 00:03:22 Why Healthy Young People Are Waking Up Exhausted With Headaches
• 00:07:55 How Your Brain Secretly Controls Every Stage Of Sleep
• 00:15:15 How Vitamin D Could Be The Missing Piece For Better Sleep
• 00:20:42 Are Sleep Chronotypes Actually Real Or Just A Myth?
• 00:24:56 How Can You Prove Vitamin D Deficiency Causes Disease?
• 00:40:36 Why Vitamin D Isn't Actually A Vitamin
• 00:50:21 Ads
• 00:52:20 What Happened When I Started Treating Patients With Vitamin D
• 00:56:55 Does Vitamin D Deplete Your Body's B Vitamins?
• 01:00:26 Can Vitamin B Supplements Really Fix Your Gut?
• 01:14:38 Why Minerals Could Be The Overlooked Key To Better Health
• 01:15:25 Ads
• 01:16:34 Does Modern Medicine Accept This Vitamin D Theory?
• 01:19:43 What Your Gut Microbiome Reveals About Your Sleep
• 01:24:36 How To Build The Right Sleep Protocol For Better Rest
• 01:30:27 Is Sunlight And Nutrition Better Than Supplements?
• 01:34:37 Can Redheads Naturally Produce More Vitamin D?
• 01:36:44 Why Spending Too Much Time Indoors Is Hurting Your Health
• 01:39:47 Can You Still Make Vitamin D On Cloudy Days?
• 01:40:51 Can Vitamin D Lamps Replace Natural Sunlight?
• 01:42:43 The Best Diet To Boost Vitamin D And Improve Gut Health
• 01:48:47 What Actually Helps If You Have Sleep Apnoea Or Narcolepsy?
• 01:55:49 My Most Controversial Health Opinion Explained
• 01:57:50 The Best Day Of Your Life And Why It Matters

Independent Fact Check: https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DOAC-Dr-Stasha-Gominak-Independent-Research-Further-Reading.pdf

Dr. Stasha Gominak:
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Why comfort might be costing you more than you think.

Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award-winning actor, bestselling author, and a famously thoughtful voice on purpose, resilience and living with intention.

In this Moment, Matthew McConaughey shares why growth requires resistance, what our obsession with comfort is doing to us, and the mindset shift that changed the way he approaches life's biggest challenges.

Listen to the full episode here!

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The War everyone assumed was over may be about to become something far worse than we could have expected. Professor Robert Pape explains exactly why the deadliest phase of this war is still ahead, and how this could trigger a wave of terror across the world.

Robert Pape is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. A renowned political scientist, he has advised every White House since 9/11 on military strategy and is the author of the upcoming book “Our Own Worst Enemies: America and the Age of Violent Populism”.

He explains:
■ Why the US bombing campaign failed to topple Iran’s regime, even after killing its top leaders
■ How Iran seized control of 20% of the world’s oil supply within days of the war starting
■ Why the failed agreement handed Iran a path to becoming the most powerful country in the region
■ Why both China and Russia gain from America staying stuck in the Middle East
■ Why he thinks US ground troops could be next
■ Why he thinks there will be a clash between Congress and the president over who really controls the power to go to war

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:22 Why Robert Pape Isn't Surprised
• 00:04:04 Why the US Blocked the Strait of Hormuz
• 00:05:23 The Secret JD Vance Peace Deal (MOU)
• 00:08:13 Iran as Regional Hegemon, Explained
• 00:09:40 How Do We Know This Is the Real Document?
• 00:21:05 Did the War Actually Make Iran Stronger?
• 00:22:06 The Viral Tweet: How Is Iran Still Hitting US Bases?
• 00:24:37 Trump Says Iran Is Destroyed — So How?
• 00:25:39 Where Iran Hides Its Drones ("A Truck in California")
• 00:29:04 Iran Is Building New Drones the Whole Time
• 00:32:17 Are We on the Verge of a Global Economic Crisis?
• 00:36:27 What "Owning the L" Would Actually Look Like
• 00:38:37 Trump: The US Runs Out of Oil in 4 Weeks
• 00:40:32 The Midterm Elections Time Bomb
• 00:52:13 The Vietnam Parallel: LBJ's Trap
• 00:55:06 Can the US Force the Strait of Hormuz Open?
• 01:03:07 A 70% Chance of Boots on the Ground in Iran
• 01:14:39 Why Invading (Not Bombing) Sparks Suicide Attacks
• 01:24:05 When the Two Crises Collide: A New 1960s?
• 01:25:01 Will Trump Lose the Midterms?
• 01:26:40 Is the US Running Out of Weapons?
• 01:28:40 What Is Trump's Real Objective?
• 01:34:19 Pape's Prediction for the Next Few Months

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You can pre-order Robert's new book, ‘Our Own Worst Enemies: America and the Age of Violent Populism’ here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/9XIQBJ9 

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Every founder is being told to build an AI company. Alex Hormozi says almost all of them will be gone within months, that the best move is the exact opposite of what the market is saying, and that in a world of AI the only moat left will be reality and your reputation.

Alex Hormozi is a entrepreneur, investor and author. He is the co-founder of Acquisition.com, a portfolio of 16+ companies generating over $250 million a year, and the author of the $100M series: '$100M Offers', '$100M Leads' and '$100M Money Models', whose 2025 launch sold 2.9 million copies in a single day and broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book in history.

He explains:
◼ Why the practical businesses, like plumbing, are the real opportunity, not the ones built on top of AI models
◼ Why delegating your hardest thinking to a machine makes you weak
◼ Why reality and reputation are the only moats AI can't erode
◼ Why revenue retention matters more than marketing or sales
◼ Why marrying his wife Leila was the best financial decision he ever made, and how the right partner changes your odds
◼ He opens up about one of the hardest years of his life, in the same year he made more money than ever

The views expressed are those of the guest, and this conversation is intended for general informational purposes only. This podcast and its associated materials should not be used as a substitute for professional financial, legal or business advice.

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:02:12 How To Use AI As An Entrepreneur
• 00:04:40 Where Will Value Come From In An AI World?
• 00:06:52 How To Generate Great Ideas In The Age Of AI
• 00:08:16 Why Long-Term Thinking Wins In Business
• 00:13:18 Why Most Businesses Never Reach Million
• 00:18:10 How To Price Your Product Or Service
• 00:19:27 The Biggest Hiring Mistakes Founders Make
• 00:22:44 Why Starting Feels So Hard
• 00:25:13 What Alex Would Do Differently Starting Again
• 00:30:10 What To Do When You Feel Uncertain In Business
• 00:33:15 Why Alex Delayed Starting His Business
• 00:35:59 The Lessons Alex Learned From His Father
• 00:39:16 How To Know If Entrepreneurship Is Right For You
• 00:41:02 How To Beat Decision Fatigue
• 00:42:29 Is It Easier To Start A Business Today?
• 00:44:08 Ads
• 00:46:07 Is Doing Hard Things Always Worth It?
• 00:46:52 How To Succeed As A Content Creator
• 00:49:19 How Alex Is Adapting His Content For The Future
• 00:52:24 Why Credibility Is Your Biggest Competitive Advantage
• 00:55:42 The Value Equation Explained
• 01:01:17 Why Delayed Gratification Pays Off
• 01:03:48 How To Know You're On The Right Path
• 01:04:35 Does Your Business Need To Be Scalable?
• 01:09:09 Why Unscalable Businesses Can Be Great Opportunities
• 01:10:41 How To Know When It's Time To Quit
• 01:11:35 Ads
• 01:12:35 Why Self-Awareness Is A Business Superpower
• 01:17:04 Stop Planning And Start Doing
• 01:19:55 How To Incentivise People And Find The Right Audience
• 01:23:01 Business Ideas You Could Start Today
• 01:26:03 Why You Should Sell To People With More Money
• 01:32:12 Why Employees And Customers Deserve The Same Treatment
• 01:38:03 Why Hiring Is Everything
• 01:38:51 How To Choose The Right Romantic Partner
• 01:44:18 What If Your Partner Doesn't Support Your Business?
• 01:47:00 How To Figure Out What You Really Want In Life
• 01:50:09 Becoming A Dad: How Alex Feels About Fatherhood
• 01:57:09 How Alex Thinks About Death
• 02:09:02 Are You Actually Happy?
• 02:18:20 What Happens If Superintelligence Arrives In Just A Few Years?

Alex Hormozi:
◼ Acquisition.com -https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/6QgE53x (https://www.acquisition.com/)
◼ YouTube -https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/BEwaKl4 (https://www.youtube.com/@AlexHormozi)
◼ Instagram -https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/qSyA93 (https://www.instagram.com/hormozi/)
◼ X -https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/6LaEqiX (https://x.com/alexhormozi)
◼ LinkedIn -https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/2Vqmjxe (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhormozi/)
◼ Skool -https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/DLi0vBN (https://www.skool.com/)
◼ '$100M Money Models' - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/4ExripR
◼ 'The Game' podcast - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/9X40GGc

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What if the secret to better conversations is something most of us never think to do?

Alison Wood Brooks is a Harvard Business School professor, behavioural scientist and bestselling author of ‘Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves’.

In this moment, Alison Wood Brooks introduces the research-backed framework that can transform the way you communicate in every area of your life. She explains the subtle habits that quietly damage your likability, why people often leave conversations feeling unheard, and the small changes that can make every interaction feel more natural, engaging and memorable.

Listen to the full episode here!

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