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The Dr. Greg Wells Podcast
The Dr. Greg Wells Podcast episodes
- #181. Joe Jacobi on Mindful Training
Welcome back!
Today I’m super excited to share my conversation with Joe Jacobi. Joe won America’s first ever Olympic Gold Medal in Whitewater Canoe Slalom, and combines his experience as an Olympic Gold Medalist and the spirit and values of his home life in Catalunya to build a one-of-a-kind lens that simplifies and shapes the next chapter of people’s lives.
Joe uses writing, coaching, and adventures to help seasoned leaders confront obstacles and bring focus to what matters most. He helps people reset, build effective routines, embrace challenging transitions, improve responses to uncertainty, and leverage states of flow.
In this conversatiaon, we talk a lot about his book "Slalom: 6 River Classes About How To Confront Obstacles, Advance Amid Uncertainty, & Bring Focus To What Matters Most," a book that transfers his reflections, experiences, relationships, and strategies from more than 40 years on the river to navigating the river of the life.
You can learn more about Joe on his LinkedIn page.
Enjoy the conversation!
31 min - #38 - The Responsibility Ethic: Turning Pain into Performance with Adam KreekAdam is tackling the problem of high achievers and leaders chasing big goals through grind, quick fixes, and toxic pressure—only to burn out, stall, or implode when failure hits. He’s working to show people how to convert adversity into fuel, align ambition with values, and pursue “Gold Medal Moments” in a way that is physiologically sustainable, emotionally healthy, and effective over the long term.In today’s conversation Adam Kreek explores what it really takes to be “built for hard” in sport, work, and life. He walks through his origin story from an “average kid in an average town” to a world and Olympic champion in the men’s eight, including the high school coach who told him, “You’re an Olympian, you just don’t know it yet,” and why staying multi-sport and not going too hard too early built his durability.Adam and Dr. Wells unpack the heartbreak of choking as favourites at the Athens Olympics, the emotional processing required after a deep failure, and how those lessons led to gold in Beijing via shared leadership, smarter preparation, and better physiology-informed race strategy.They also dive into his 73-day Atlantic rowing expedition, “adventure therapy,” and how he now coaches executives and organizations using the principles from his book The Responsibility Ethic and his threshold-style “healthy failure” workouts for corporate athletes.You will learn how Adam differentiates between cognitive learning from failure and physiological processing of failure—why long, steady aerobic sessions can be one of the best ways to metabolize the emotional load of a big loss so it doesn’t poison future performance.You will learn the science-backed logic behind his Olympic race strategy: the interplay of creatine phosphate, anaerobic and aerobic systems in a 5½-minute all-out effort, how lactic acid and perception of pain spike around the 45–60 second mark, and how his crew exploited that moment psychologically to move on their competitors.You will learn his concept of shared leadership—why great teams operate more like a jazz band than a rigid orchestra, passing influence around so no single leader’s breakdown sinks the boat—and how he translates that into executive coaching and strategic planning for organizations. You will also learn the structure of his threshold rowing workout for busy professionals, the idea of “healthy failure” versus unhealthy suffering, and how his Responsibility Ethic framework helps leaders set non-toxic, values-aligned “Gold Medal Moment” goals that take years—not weeks—to achieve.You will discover that your perception of “being done” is wildly inaccurate—whether it’s in an Olympic final or a demanding project at work, most of us hit the panic button long before our true physiological limits, as Adam’s coach liked to say, “you’re only four-fifths dead.”You will discover how pairing that understanding with clear values, deliberate recovery, and shared leadership lets you pursue big, hard goals without sacrificing health, relationships, or long-term performance.Adam’s expertise helps solve the challenge of sustaining high performance when the stakes are high, the failures are public, and the pressure never really goes away. He gives leaders and teams a practical roadmap to process setbacks, structure training (physical and professional), and build values-driven systems so they can keep showing up at a Gold Medal level for years, not just one season.1 hr 2 min
- #180. Stéphane Grenier on Creating the Care Culture
Welcome back!
This week I’m excited to talk with Stéphane Grenier. His vision is a world where people no longer face barriers to good mental health.
Stéphane’s riveting keynotes are thought-provoking and lead to tangible action and sustainable change for leaders who are prepared to rethink how they support their people.
His autobiography, After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture, tells his story from the day he landed amid the Rwandan genocide, through his journey of changing mental health culture in the Canadian military, developing national Guidelines for Peer Support with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, all the way to creating Mental Health Innovations (MHI); a consultancy that leads innovative and sustainable change in organizations to enhance the mental health of their people.
Today, he and his business partners, along with countless associates, develop non-clinical mental health interventions to complement traditional clinical care for private and public sector organizations and provincial healthcare systems.
As mental health is a huge challenge right now, this is a very applicable conversation and beneficial for all of us.
Enjoy!
22 min - #37 - You Got This: Self-Confidence, Belonging & Aligned Actions with Dr. Ivan JosephDr. Ivan Joseph is tackling a double-sided problem: people—especially those from marginalized communities—are battling self-doubt in systems that are stacked against them, while many well-meaning allies feel unsure how to move from guilt and outrage to meaningful, sustained action. In this episode he focuses on how to build real self-confidence and belonging, and how to turn tiny “1%” daily choices into both personal breakthroughs and tangible social change.In today’s conversation Ivan Joseph explores what it means to build genuine self-confidence and belonging in a world still shaped by systemic racism and bias. He shares his journey from growing up in Guyana and a tough Toronto neighbourhood to becoming a national championship coach, PhD sport psychologist, and university vice president—yet still hearing the “twice as good” mantra every Black kid knows. He and Dr. Wells dive into allyship, protests, and why performative, “tourist” activism isn’t enough; instead they talk about micro-behaviours, access to education, and the power of 1% changes that compound over years.They finish by unpacking Ivan’s core work on self-confidence—self-talk, affirmations, gratitude letters, and his “You Got This” letter—and how those same tools help us stay in hard conversations about race, leadership, and change.You will learn why Ivan defines self-confidence as a skill—the genuine belief in your ability to accomplish the task at hand and handle adversity—rather than a fixed personality trait, and how that belief drives performance in sport, work, and life. You will learn how he separates negative feedback that tears you down from critical feedback that still supports your growth, and why curating who you listen to is essential for high performers.You will learn the practical tools he uses with teams and executives: writing a “You Got This” letter listing your past wins, using three daily affirmations, and writing gratitude letters that boost optimism and rewire how you respond to setbacks. You will also learn his 1% approach to social change—simple daily acts like who you sit beside, who you greet, and where you offer free access to your work—that expand belonging and opportunity, especially through education.You will discover that confidence and allyship both grow the same way: through repeated reps under tension, not one-off grand gestures or viral posts. You will discover how changing the words you use with yourself—shifting from “I can’t” to “I’ve got this, and here’s the proof”—reshapes your beliefs, your behaviour, and ultimately the impact you have on the people and systems around you.Many people feel stuck between self-doubt (“Who am I to do this?”) and overwhelm about injustice (“It’s too big; nothing I do matters.”). Dr. Joseph’s work bridges that gap by offering concrete mental tools to build self-confidence and a clear roadmap of small, intentional actions so listeners can both pursue ambitious goals and contribute to a more equitable world—without burning out or checking out.46 min
- #179. Mitch Joel on The Great Compression
Welcome back!
This week we get to sit down with Mitch Joel.
Mitch helps leaders decode the future. Mitch is a Co-Founder of ThinkersOne - a platform that empowers companies with personalized and bite-sized thought leadership from the best Thinkers in the world. He is also an investor, author, trusted advisor, chronic reader and passionate speaker who connects with people worldwide by sharing his insights on business transformation, innovation and marketing.
Mitch and I dig into the Great Compression, and in decoding that, we establish a mission for how we can move forward and make the world a better place.
You can learn more about Mitch and his work at his website mitchjoel.com.
Enjoy the conversation!
20 min - #36 - From Grit to Growth: Explorer Bruce Kirkby on Adventure, Family and FocusBruce is tackling the modern trap of distraction, comfort and grind—how busy, screen-saturated lives quietly erode our sense of presence, adventure, connection and growth, especially with our families.In today’s conversation Bruce Kirkby explores what it really means to design a life around adventure, presence and growth instead of stress, traffic and endless grind. He shares how he walked away from a conventional career in engineering to become an expedition guide, writer and photographer, leading journeys across Arabia’s Empty Quarter, Ethiopia’s Blue Nile Gorge and remote mountain ranges around the world.Bruce and Dr. Wells dive into the family expeditions that reshaped his understanding of parenting and technology—from taking his young sons on horseback across the Caucasus to living for months in a Himalayan Buddhist monastery, the story behind his book Blue Sky Kingdom: An Epic Family Journey to the Heart of the Himalaya. They close by unpacking his “grit vs. grind” framework, his recovery from a major back injury, and how consistent, small practices can transform performance and wellbeing over the long haul.You will learn how Bruce intentionally rebuilt his life around wilderness expeditions, writing and speaking after leaving a traditional engineering career, and why time—not money—is the ultimate non-renewable resource. You’ll hear how traveling with his young family through places like Patagonia, the Republic of Georgia and the high Himalaya helped them unplug from screens, deepen their relationships and see fear and discomfort as gateways to growth.You will learn practical ways to bring “micro-adventures” and presence into everyday life—whether that’s paddleboarding between airport layovers, reclaiming your commute, or building small rituals that keep you connected to nature and your kids. You’ll also learn how Bruce reframed his performance after a serious back injury by focusing on mobility, sleep, breathing and consistency instead of heroics and willpower alone.You will discover how the same mindset that keeps a team safe in avalanches, deserts and whitewater can help leaders and organizations navigate distraction, change and uncertainty back home. You will discover why Bruce believes discomfort and fear are not problems to eliminate, but compasses that point toward the experiences and growth we value most.Bruce’s knowledge helps solve the challenge of feeling stuck in a life that looks successful on paper but feels rushed, distracted and uninspiring in practice. By translating lessons from 3,000+ days of wilderness expeditions into simple habits, he shows listeners how to escape grind culture, reconnect with what matters and create more meaningful adventures—at work, at home and in nature.44 min
- #178. Pete Bombaci on The GenWell Project
Welcome back!
This week I’m excited to share my interview with Pete Bombaci, the founder and executive director of the GenWell Project. The idea was inspired by the events witnessed during the summer blackout in 2003 - kindness, generosity, empathy, and human connection. Pete is proud to be leading a movement that he believes can make the world a happier and healthier place.
If you want to learn more you can check out genwellproject.org.
In this conversation we do a deep dive into gratitude, community building, and leveraging the power of human connection.
Enjoy!
23 min - #35 - From Soil to Soul: Paul Chek on Truly Holistic HealthPaul is tackling the problem that modern health, fitness, and medicine are overwhelmingly reductionist—treating bodies like isolated parts, food like inert calories, and symptoms like separate glitches—while the real issues lie in upstream root causes: depleted soil, processed food, dysfunctional breathing, chronic stress, and misaligned beliefs. His work in this episode is about helping people and practitioners shift from symptom-chasing to a truly holistic, “soil-to-soul” model of health that integrates body, mind, emotions, spirit, and environment.In today’s conversation Paul Chek explores his journey from growing up on an organic sheep farm with a yogi mother to training the U.S. Army boxing team, rehabbing “medical failures,” and ultimately founding the CHEK Institute. He explains why understanding living soil, organic farming, and vitamin complexes is essential for real nutrition, and how commercial agriculture leaves both food and humans energetically depleted. Paul and Dr. Wells dive into breathing mechanics, “working in” versus “working out,” and how most people’s chest-dominant, rapid breath keeps them stuck in fight-or-flight. They finish by unpacking his 1-2-3-4 framework, the “Last 4 Doctors You’ll Ever Need,” and his Four Quadrant coaching model that links beliefs, relationships, body, and environment into one coherent map for healing and performance.You will learn how Paul’s early life on a farm and deep study of soil science, mycorrhizae, and paramagnetism led him to see nutrition as starting in the microbiology and energetics of the earth, not in a supplement bottle. You will learn why he views commercial farming as producing “dead food,” why whole-food vitamin complexes differ radically from isolated vitamins, and how this changes the way we think about supplements and health claims. You will learn how dysfunctional breathing patterns—chest breathing, hyperventilation, chronically tight abs—lock people into sympathetic overdrive, impair digestion, and drive pain, and how diaphragmatic breathing and “working in” practices restore balance. You will learn the logic of his 1-2-3-4 system (Dream → Balance of forces → Three choices → Four Doctors) and his Four Quadrant model, which connects inner beliefs, social dynamics, physical findings, and environmental factors so that coaches and practitioners can finally address root causes instead of chasing symptoms.You will discover that lasting health and performance don’t come from one magic diet, exercise, or pill, but from aligning a few fundamental forces: real food from living soil, coherent breathing and movement, clear dreams, and daily choices that support them. You will discover that when you respect the body as a system-of-systems—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—complex “mystery” problems often become surprisingly solvable.Many people feel trapped in cycles of chronic pain, fatigue, gut issues, and anxiety despite seeing multiple specialists and trying endless protocols. Paul’s approach offers a way out by teaching listeners how to identify the true upstream drivers—nutrient-poor food, dysfunctional breathing, unresolved beliefs, and toxic environments—and then systematically address them using his 4 Doctors and Four Quadrant frameworks.1 hr 16 min
- #177. Dr. Susan Biali Haas on The Thriving Life
Welcome back!
This week I’m really excited to share my interview with Dr. Susan Biali Haas.
Susan is an award-winning medical doctor, health and wellness expert, coach, speaker, and author. She helps people world-wide to reduce stress, prevent burnout, improve mental health, and live with increased wellness and resilience.
She overcame burnout and depression at the beginning of her medical career, quickly becoming an internationally recognized influencer in health and wellbeing. With over two decades spent studying wellness and resiliency, twenty years of clinical experience with thousands of patients, and more than ten years coaching high performance clients worldwide, she expertly applies her experience and skills to equip people to live better lives.
In this conversation, we talk about everything to do with health, wellbeing, and especially resiliency. Her latest book, The Resilient Life is available today, October 25! You can learn more about it on her website.
Enjoy the conversation!
22 min - #34 - Every Moment Matters: Tommy Fleetwood on Confidence, Consistency & EnergyTommy is tackling a problem that every high performer faces: how do you stay confident, consistent, and energized when expectations rise, results dip, and life becomes a blur of travel, pressure, and comparison to others? His story in this episode is about rebuilding from a slump—using support, self-reflection, and better routines—so you can perform near your best far more often, not just in rare “hot streaks.”In today’s conversation Tommy Fleetwood explores what it really takes to come back from a slump and turn talent into long-term consistency at the very top of professional golf. He shares the story of rising quickly as a young pro, losing his way technically and mentally, and then rebuilding by returning to a childhood coach, bringing a close friend in as his caddie, and assembling a trusted performance team. Tommy and Dr. Wells unpack how confidence actually works, why “every moment matters,” and how journaling, visualization, and brutally honest stats help him lift his baseline on and off the course. They finish by exploring how to protect energy while traveling, build daily routines around what matters most, and stay anchored in the present when the stakes are highest.You will learn how Tommy climbed out of a career dip by simplifying his swing, going back to people who knew him best, and removing some of the pressure that came from trying to copy other stars. You will learn his nightly journaling framework—what was good, what could improve, and how he’ll start tomorrow—and how that practice closes each day so it doesn’t bleed endlessly into the next. You will learn how he uses vivid visualization (including emotions, heart rate, and specific scenes like watching a winning putt drop in scoring) to build confidence before he ever steps onto the first tee. You will learn why he’s built an integrated support team—swing coach, putting coach, short-game coach, fitness coach, psychologist, caddie, and agent—and how clear roles plus deep trust let him focus on playing. You will also learn why protecting energy, choosing events carefully, and raising your “worst day” performance may matter more than chasing occasional flashes of brilliance.You will discover that confidence is not a mysterious personality trait; it’s a memory bank of successful reps that you deliberately build through practice, visualization, and small wins. You will discover that the real competitive edge is raising your baseline—your bad days—by managing your team, your routines, and your energy so you rarely drop far below your best.Many driven people grind harder when things aren’t working—changing everything, pushing more, and silently beating themselves up—only to feel more exhausted and less confident. Tommy’s story offers a different route: surround yourself with the right people, debrief each day with honesty and self-compassion, and focus on controllable habits so you can perform well even when you don’t feel perfect.43 min
About The Dr. Greg Wells Podcast
From the publisher's feed
Healthy High Performance for a Limitless Life
You can get healthier, improve your wellness, and live a limitless life and physiologist Dr. Greg Wells would love to be your trusted guide on that adventure.
Dr. Greg is one of the rare scientists who can take research and make it understandable so that you can have a clear path to achieving your goals.
In every episode, Dr. Greg and his expert guests will explain the science of how your body and brain work in a way that you can understand so you that you can get healthy, perform better, and live a limitless life.
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