The Health Investment Podcast with Brooke Simonson

EPISODE 100 | I know people always say this, but it feels like just yesterday that I decided to start this podcast—with absolutely no idea what I was doing or what it would entail! And honestly, if I knew then what I know now—how much work it takes behind the scenes—I maaaaay not have started it...so I guess I’m glad that I was ignorant! Ignorance is bliss, right? But in all seriousness...I’m so grateful to have started it because I’ve connected with truly AMAZING, INFORMATIVE guests, and I’ve also created deeper relationships with you: my listeners! Speaking of you...this podcast wouldn’t exist or thrive without you, so please know how truly grateful I am that you’ve subscribed and joined me for this exciting ride. The Health Investment Podcast community is the best of the best, and I’m just happy to be part of it. For this 100th ep, I wanted to do something special and a little different, so I decided it’d be fun to share some of the most mind-blowing things I’ve learned about nutrition, weight loss, fitness, sleep, stress, and more from the *expert* guests I’ve had the honor of speaking with. Before starting this podcast, I believed some things to be true that I’ve now reconsidered, so I wanna highlight some of the brilliant people who’ve changed my mind! Sound good? Good. Enjoy!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/100

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Listen to the previous episodes I mention:

Episode 14 with Shawn Vance

Episode 43 with Ellen Vora

Episode 50 with Marion Nestle

Episode 53 with Jessie Inchauspe, "Glucose Goddess"

Episode 79 with Dr. Barry Popkin

Episode 84 with Dr. Jud Brewer

Episode 90 with Dr. Anthony Pearson

Episode 55 with Dr. Ted Naiman

Episode 96 with Herman Pontzer

Episode 98 with Stephen Simpson

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time so you can start showing up as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 99 | Lodro Rinzler is a meditation teacher and the author of seven books, as well as the co-founder of MNDFL meditation studios in New York City. His books Walk Like a Buddha and The Buddha Walks Into The Office both have received Independent Publisher Book Awards. Lodro has taught meditation for twenty years in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and travels frequently for his books, having spoken across the world at conferences, universities, and businesses as diverse as Google, Harvard University, and The White House. Named one of 50 Innovators Shaping the Future of Wellness by SONIMA, his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Good Morning America, CBS, and NBC. In the episode, Lodro demystifies meditation and makes it less intimidating, sharing actionable tips for meditating even when you’re at your busiest, walking meditations, finding guidance...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/99

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

QUESTIONS I ASK LODRO IN THE EPISODE:

What's your story/background? (Specifically, what led to your interest in meditation?)

What is meditation, in your words?

If someone listening is a skeptic, how would you respond to these statements?

"I don't need to meditate."

"I don't have time to meditate."

"I've tried meditating before and I'm bad at it."

What's the difference between mindfulness and meditation?

How can meditation be especially helpful for someone struggling with anxiety and chronic stress?

How can meditation flow into other areas of your life and enhance physical health?

From personal experience—and from what you've heard from others—how are you/people different now than before you started meditating?

How often do you have to meditate to see benefits?

Let's say a listener still isn't convinced and doesn't want to meditate. What else can they do to manage anxiety and stress?

Is there anyone who should not meditate?

There are so many types of meditation? How do you figure out which type is best for you?

What does your meditation practice look like? Are there any days you just don't feel like it and skip it?

What do you recommend to someone who's never meditated? What's the best way to start? An app??

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Lodro's website and follow him on Instagram

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time so you can start showing up as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 98 | Stephen Simpson is Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre and Professor in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. After graduating as a biologist from the University of Queensland, Steve undertook his PhD at the University of London, then spent 22 years at Oxford before returning to Australia in 2005 as an Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, then ARC Laureate Fellow. Stephen developed an integrative modeling framework for nutrition, which was devised and tested using insects. This has since been applied to a wide range of organisms (from slime moulds to humans) and problems (from aquaculture and conservation biology to the dietary causes of human obesity and aging). He has also revolutionized understanding of swarming in locusts, with research spanning neurochemical events within the brains of individual locusts to continental-scale mass migration. Together with his colleague and friend David Raubenheimer, Stephen wrote Eat Like The Animals: What Nature Teaches Us About The Science Of Healthy Eating. In the episode, Stephen shares the single macronutrient every animal craves to satisfy above all else, the real reason why we overeat things like chips and ice cream, tips for reconnecting with our taste buds that can feel like they’ve been “hijacked”...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/98

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

QUESTIONS I ASK STEPHEN IN THE EPISODE:

Can you explain your education and background? How did you eventually team up with David Raubenheimer to write Eat Like The Animals?

What is a calorie? What are some common misconceptions about calories?

How do each of the macronutrients (fat, carbs, protein) serve us in different ways? How do micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) serve us?

You write, "All mammals, including ourselves, are lucky to start life in such ideal circumstances — because mother’s milk is as close as we’ll ever come to a perfectly balanced diet. It contains, in proper proportions, everything a newborn needs to grow. But after a mammal is weaned, nutrition becomes a much trickier undertaking." Why does it get so tricky? How do our brains get so confused?

What are our FIVE appetites?

Why do we end up overeating fat and carbs?

Are plant sources of protein as effective and efficient as animal sources?

Ultimately, what should we be eating most of the time? What should we be avoiding?

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Read Stephen Simpson and David Raubenheimer's book Eat Like The Animals: What Nature Teaches Us About The Science Of Healthy Eating

Follow Stephen on Twitter

Visit the website of The Charles Perkins Centre

Get a bottle of sugar- and additive-free wine for a penny!

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 97 | Paul Salter is a Registered Dietitian, Coach, and Author who’s passionate about helping high-achieving men and women bring awareness to what's really holding them back from achieving their sustainable weight-loss goals and feeling, looking, and being the best version of themselves—like their negative self-talk, toxic thought patterns, limiting beliefs, counterproductive habits, and self-sabotaging behaviors. Since 2013, he’s worked 1:1 with 1,453 men and women who have collectively lost more than 10,000 pounds and kept them off. In the episode, Paul shares exactly WHY people get caught up in the yo-yo-dieting cycle; common nutrition and exercise mistakes clients make before working with him; his go-to breakfasts, lunches, and dinners...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/97

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

QUESTIONS I ASK PAUL IN THE EPISODE:

What’s your story? (Specifically, what led you to become a registered dietician and help people specifically with weight loss?)

In your Instagram bio, you say, "I help yo-yo dieters transform their mindset & behaviors to maintain weight loss for good." Let's dissect that a bit...

Why do people get caught in the yo-yo dieting cycle?

What are some of the most common misconceptions about weight maintenance?

Why is it important to work on your mindset in addition to behavior change?

Which nutrition mistakes do you find most people are making before working with you?

What mistakes are people making in terms of exercise?

Other common mistakes, like in terms of sleep or stress management?

Have you changed your mind about anything (re: nutrition/weight loss) over the years?

What are some of your go-to breakfasts? Lunches? Snacks? Dinners?

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Follow Paul Salter on Instagram

Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success by Carol Dweck

Get f.lux for your computer

Listen to the previous episode I mentioned where Dr. Jud shares expert tips on mindset and habit change

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 96 | Herman Pontzer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and Research Associate Professor of Global Health at Duke University, investigates how our species’ evolutionary past shapes our lives today. His team conducted the first measurements of daily energy expenditure in traditional hunter-gatherers and in non-human apes, with findings that have challenged the way we think about diet, exercise, metabolism, and health. Dr. Pontzer’s new book, Burn: New Research Blows the Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Lose Weight, and Stay Healthy, was published in March, 2021. In the episode, he shares why “eat less, exercise more” is flawed advice for fat loss, what we should be relying on BESIDES exercise for weight loss and maintenance, a new-and-improved tv show structure that’d work better than The Biggest Loser...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/96

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

QUESTIONS I ASK HERMAN IN THE EPISODE:

What’s your background? (Specifically, how did you become interested in studying human evolution? Energy expenditure?)

What does "energy expenditure" mean? How is it similar or different from metabolism?

How much does energy expenditure differ, human to human?

Is it possible to get a "higher" or "boosted" caloric expenditure?

Can you explain how our metabolism "adjusts," making it tougher to lose weight over time?

What do we have right about energy expenditure? About metabolism? What do we have wrong?

What do we have right about exercise? What do we have wrong?

I know you say exercise is more critical for weight maintenance than it is for weight loss. Can you explain that?

You include a section in your book about the issues with the tv show The Biggest Loser. If you could create a new-and-improved show about weight loss, what would it look like?

Do diets like keto and paleo work? (Or, do parts of them work?)

What's your recommended strategy for weight loss?

Aside from your takeaways on energy expenditure, what are some other lessons we can learn from hunter-gatherer communities like the Hadza?

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Read Herman Pontzer's book Burn: New Research Blows the Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Lose Weight, and Stay Healthy

Follow Herman on Twitter

Donate to hadzafund.org

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” - save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 95 | Katie Clack is a personal chef and restaurateur specializing in healthy meal prepping. With her unique meal plans, she teaches people how to batch cook individual ingredients that can be mixed and matched throughout the week to create a variety of delicious and healthy meals. She focuses on teaching people helpful and time-saving habits to take the stress out of their weekly cooking so they can spend LESS time in the kitchen and MORE time doing what they love! In the episode, Katie shares a few ingredients you can batch cook ONCE and use all week, tips for maintaining variety without things getting too complicated, how to fit meal prepping into your chaotic life with kids...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/95

P.S. - If you're liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit "subscribe/follow" so that you never miss an episode :)

 

QUESTIONS I ASK KATIE IN THE EPISODE:

What’s your story? (Specifically, how did you get started with batch cooking, and what led you to want to make the process simpler for people?)

First of all, what’s the difference (if any) between batch cooking and meal prepping?

Why batch cook/meal prep?

What do you think is the most difficult thing about meal prep, and how do you overcome it?

How do you balance meal prep with family demands? 

What if someone doesn't want to spend an entire day (Sunday is usually popular) prepping ingredients? Any time-saving tips?

How do you keep variety without things getting too complicated?

What do you say to the person who says healthy food costs too much? Are there apps or coupon programs that help you save?

What are some of your go-to, prep-ahead breakfasts? Lunches? Snacks? Dinners?

What are some pantry staples you always keep on hand? Freezer staples?

What tools do you absolutely recommend for anyone starting out with meal prep?

What advice would you give a complete beginner just starting to batch cook?

How can someone stay motivated and make meal prep/batch cooking a habit?

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Follow Katie on Instagram and visit her website

Listen to my previous interview with Megan Barrett for tips on how to make healthy eating more affordable

Get a bottle of sugar- and additive-free wine for a penny!

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 94 | Tracey Showalter is the founder of The Lighthouse Co., a home wellness consulting firm. “Home wellness” is a new concept that’s taken Columbus, Ohio, by storm! Whether it’s through organization, deep cleaning, or education, Tracey is steadfast in her mission to help you live lighter. In the episode, she shares a foolproof 4-step system to reclaim any space that’s taken over your life, tips for avoiding clutter buildup, lesser-known appliances that need to be deep-cleaned regularly...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/94

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

QUESTIONS I ASK TRACEY IN THE EPISODE:

What’s your story? (Specifically, what led you to become a professional declutterer/organizer?)

Can everyone benefit from a “lighter” home? Why? How do clients find that a lighter home affects other areas of their lives?

On your website, it reads: “There are three pillars that make up the foundation of The LightHouse Co: Organization, Deep Cleaning, and Education. Each of these pillars is offered to help you begin to enjoy the benefits of living lighter in a clean, clutter-free space.” Let's tackle each!

Organization: You say you “have a foolproof system with 4 easy steps to reclaim any space that has taken over your life.” Tell me more! What are the 4 easy steps? Why is it such a struggle to get and stay organized? What are some common WHYs behind the clutter? What can someone do when they come across something they intellectually know they don’t need, but emotionally they’re struggling to let go of?

Deep Cleaning: What happens if we don’t clean those appliances? What are the usual suspects that require deep cleaning?

Education: You teach a virtual course on “adulting.” What are some of the topics you cover most, and what are your top tips relating to those topics?

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Tracey's website and follow her on Instagram

Get a bottle of sugar- and additive-free wine for a penny!

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 93 | Lisa Sylvestri has 20 years of experience as a physical therapist, over 12 of which are in the lymphedema and oncology arena. Her passion is working with the lymphedema, breast cancer, and oncology patient population, and her mission is to ensure every patient who has received a cancer diagnosis is able to have a great quality of life. Lisa works with patients one on one to help them eliminate their fears, gain strength, reduce swelling, and achieve their personal goals. Ultimately, she wants to help bridge the gap from pre-hab to long-term care in the cancer community. In the episode, she shares why everyone who’s been diagnosed with cancer or lymphedema should work with a physical therapist, common misconceptions about cancer diagnoses and treatment, why the “rest is best” mentality is outdated when it comes to cancer and lymphedema diagnoses...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/93

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

QUESTIONS I ASK LISA IN THE EPISODE:

What’s your story? (Specifically, what led you to become a physical therapist? And to eventually focus on therapy in the lymphedema and oncology arena?)

So just a basic question: What's the difference between cancer and lymphedema?

Can physical therapy help some/all people during treatment, or is it something survivors should seek out?

How is physical therapy for lymphedema helpful? For cancer?

Do most cancer patients/survivors know that physical therapy for lymphedema is a helpful option?

What are some of the specific treatments you'd do for a cancer patient/survivor that are different from typical physical therapy exercises?

Can you share one or two client success stories?

What are some of the most common misconceptions about being diagnosed with cancer? About treatment?

For newly diagnosed cancer patients just beginning their journey, what advice do you have?

I'm sure everyone listening knows at least one person who currently has or has had cancer, unfortunately. How can we as family members and friends be most supportive? What do we say??

There are a lot of resources out there for cancer patients. Are there any in particular that you recommend? 

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Visit Lisa's website and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

National Lymphedema Network

Lymphology Association of North America

Find a LANA Certified Specialist near you!

Get a bottle of sugar- and additive-free wine for a penny!

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 92 | Dr. Ted Naiman is a board-certified Family Medicine physician in the department of Primary Care at a leading major medical center in Seattle. His personal research and medical practice are focused on the practical implementation of diet and exercise for health optimization. He is the author of The P:E Diet. In the episode, Dr. Naiman shares why protein is the most important macronutrient to get right, how to set up your meals so that you eat enough protein, why he changed his thoughts on diet soda...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/92

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

QUESTIONS I ASK DR. NAIMAN IN THE EPISODE:

What’s your story (specifically, what led you to become a board-certified Family Medicine physician)?

How much did you learn about nutrition in med school?

Not all doctors have as much of an interest in diet and exercise as you do—what led you to research these areas more in depth? 

It’s been said about your book, The P:E Diet, that it’s “the SIMPLEST and MOST PRACTICAL diet and exercise book ever written.” What dietary pattern should we be following, most of the time?

Why is protein important? How much protein should we be eating on a daily basis? Do you find that most of your patients are eating enough?

What are your thoughts on an 80/20 or 90/10 eating pattern, allowing room for indulgences here and there?

What about some of the buzz terms out there—like “gluten-free”? Your thoughts?

Any recommendation as to when we should eat? Or how many meals per day? Your thoughts on intermittent fasting?

What about diet soda? Yay or nay?

What types of exercise should we be doing? How often?

What are your recommendations for making exercise simple, practical, and approachable for everyone?

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Follow Dr. Ted Naiman on Twitter

Read Dr. Naiman's book The P:E Diet

Get a bottle of sugar- and additive-free wine for a penny!

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 91 | Are you ready to lose weight by focusing on what TO eat rather than dieting, "detoxing," exercising a ton, and other nonsense? If so, this WORKSHOP is for you! That's right—this isn't your normal podcast episode...it's a WORKSHOP!! By the time this episode/workshop ends, you'll know *exactly* how to show your weight loss + nutrition goals who's boss, *exactly* how to set up your plate so that you can reach your goals WITHOUT cutting out carbs/sugar/wine, and *exactly* how to make your new habits sustainable. You'll also have some personalized, handwritten, tangible action steps that you can start implementing ASAP! Pretty cool, right?! Be sure to click through the show notes to download the accompanying cheat sheet and follow along with the presentation slides. Enjoy!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/91

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

IN THIS WORKSHOP, YOU'LL LEARN... 

Exactly how to show your weight loss + nutrition goals who's boss!

Exactly how to set up your plate so that you can reach your goals WITHOUT counting calories/points, cutting out carbs/sugar/wine, “detoxing,” or other B.S.

Exactly how to make small, gradual changes that work for YOUR unique likes, dislikes, time constraints, and lifestyle so that your new habits become sustainable

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Cheat sheet to print

Workshop slides (so that you can follow along)

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)