The Macro Perspective

The Macro Perspective

By Marcos Rivera and Seamus SullivanHealth & Fitness
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The Macro Perspective episodes

  • Maintaing 100lb Weight Loss w/ Megan Gaul EP 225

    Megan Gaul joins Marcos and Seamus to share how she lost 100 pounds and why lasting weight loss meant changing more than what she ate. They cover stress eating, food guilt, tracking without perfection, and making room for favorite foods. Megan also reflects on identity, patience, and maintenance, and on how coaching or GLP-1 medication can support, but not replace, the work of building healthy routines.

    Timestamps

    • 0:00 – Sustainable change
    • 2:00 – Megan’s story
    • 2:57 – Split-shift stress
    • 8:22 – Stress eating
    • 12:59 – Tracking: tool or barrier?
    • 14:33 – Flexible tracking
    • 21:14 – Saying no backfires
    • 22:50 – Calorie banking
    • 27:08 – Coaching and commitment
    • 30:13 – Frustration to action
    • 31:33 – Other decompression
    • 43:00 – Patience with progress
    • 44:50 – Losing 100 pounds
    • 46:06 – Planning maintenance
    • 48:01 – Sustainable habits
    • 50:08 – Identity and strength
    • 53:34 – GLP-1s and habits
    • 1:01:28 – Maintenance habits
    • 1:08:30 – Closing thoughts


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 


    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

    1 hr 11 min
  • Oral GLP-1 Medications, EP 224

    In this episode of The Macro Perspective, Marcos and Seamus cover Oral GLPs: why aren’t oral GLP-1 medications as popular as injectables? They cover bioavailability, stomach acid, liver effects, cost, and trial data showing more GI side effects with orals. They also cover the “pill burden” and the dosing rules for orals, like fasting and waiting 30 minutes. From there they move on to nasal peptides, insurance and microdosing, and a 36-week oral trial with 8–11% weight loss. They also discuss the generations of GLP-1 drugs, trials moving overseas, and future delivery options like patches and custom blends. They close on whether this conversation will look different in five years.

    Timestamps

    • 0:00 – Intro and topic
    • 0:51 – Missing episodes
    • 1:16 – Why not orals?
    • 1:40 – Seamus’s first guesses
    • 3:11 – Orals still new
    • 4:01 – Daily versus weekly
    • 4:51 – Bioavailability and food noise
    • 5:32 – Cost and trial data
    • 6:47 – Dosing and SLU-PP-332
    • 8:27 – Auto-injector pens
    • 9:35 – Injection scars
    • 10:41 – Nasal NAD, Semax
    • 12:21 – BPC-157 nasal spray
    • 12:51 – Iron and ferritin
    • 14:05 – Optics and vials
    • 14:48 – Insurance and microdosing
    • 16:10 – Starting doses
    • 17:32 – Oral dosing rules
    • 20:27 – Plug and play
    • 21:05 – Oral convenience
    • 22:25 – Time-release patches
    • 23:47 – Plan coverage
    • 24:31 – 36-week oral results
    • 26:44 – GLP-1 generations
    • 28:48 – Receptor density
    • 30:05 – Trials in China
    • 31:26 – Why orals lag
    • 33:00 – Custom supplement blends
    • 34:41 – Peptide stacking
    • 36:03 – The VO2 mask
    • 37:11 – Calibrating VO2 machines
    • 38:51 – Five years out
    • 39:07 – Outro


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 



    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.


    40 min
  • Gut Health and GI Protocols w/ Evan Boydstun, EP 223

    On this episode of The Macro Perspective, Seamus and Marcos talk with Evan Boydstun of Geviti about gut health. Evan shares how extreme habits, from a 100,000-pull-up challenge to a macro-obsessed diet and a gallon of raw milk a day, led to dysbiosis and flatlined cortisol. He also reads Marcos’s wife’s GI-MAP stool test live on screen. His main advice for the type-A, over-trained crowd: take rest days, eat before coffee, and give yourself grace. 

    Timestamps

    • 0:05 Episode intro
    • 1:29 Evan’s background
    • 2:47 100,000 pull-ups
    • 6:44 Macro addict days
    • 13:18 Raw milk bulk
    • 17:25 Evan’s own labs
    • 20:36 Elimination diet protocol
    • 27:13 Drizzlers snack tangent
    • 29:57 Sympathy weight talk
    • 32:05 Strength numbers
    • 38:55 Live GI-MAP
    • 44:10 H. pylori and PMS
    • 45:42 Secretory IgA
    • 46:34 Chronic stress HPA
    • 49:13 Vital reserve analogy
    • 52:10 Antibiotics and minerals
    • 54:07 H. pylori stomach acid
    • 56:03 Evan’s three takeaways
    • 59:19 Thyroid and homocysteine
    • 65:07 GI-360 test
    • 66:06 Gut-hormone cycle
    • 69:19 Async coaching clients
    • 74:17 Sleep and parenting
    • 84:35 Sign-off


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 

    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.


    1 hr 22 min
  • Biohacking Backlash, EP 222

    Intro:
    Biohacking is everywhere, but are we optimizing before we’ve nailed the basics? Marcos and Seamus unpack the backlash around peptides, GLP-1s, wearables, and tracking, and ask when these tools help versus when they become another source of pressure. They make the case for simpler, more sustainable health built on what actually works.

    Timestamps

    00:00 Biohacking backlash
    02:05 Defining biohacking
    03:42 Foundation over horsepower
    04:27 Nutrition basics struggle
    06:21 AI food logging
    09:15 GLP-1s, changing conversation
    11:08 GLP-1s: cheating?
    14:14 Body autonomy, judgment
    15:12 Focus and nootropics
    16:24 Quick fixes, quality
    18:43 Biohacking for simplicity
    19:23 Free versus paid
    21:45 Struggling through basics
    25:19 Knowledge versus learning
    26:58 Tracking’s mental toll
    29:23 Checking in less
    31:14 Long-term investor mindset
    32:19 Habits as dollar-cost averaging
    33:59 Sleep and morning light
    36:12 Quantified-self data overload
    38:48 Community and competition
    42:51 Effort over intellect
    46:21 The tools paradox
    48:26 Final take


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 



    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.


    47 min
  • Evryday Club w/ Evyyn and Ryan O'Leary, EP 221

    In this roundtable episode, Marcos and Seamus talk with Ryan and Evynn O’Leary of Evryday Club about building a social brand around interviews with older adults who stay active and strong. They explore how a spontaneous gym interview became a viral hit, what goes into making content people want to share, and how authenticity, persistence, and community can matter more than perfection. The conversation also touches on longevity, blood work, TRT, peptides, health content, and the value of hearing people’s stories at every age.

    Timestamps

    00:00 — Meet Evryday Club
    01:40 — Music Career Skills
    03:03 — Evryday Club Origins
    04:26 — First Gym Interview
    06:16 — Unexpected Viral Success
    07:28 — Finding The Format
    09:29 — Creative Marketing Idea
    12:19 — Finding Conversational Style
    15:23 — Virality Is Unpredictable
    16:57 — Changing The Opening
    18:14 — Shares, Saves, Reach
    21:03 — Details Spark Conversation
    23:06 — Authenticity Drives Engagement
    24:39 — Content Creation Pressure
    28:13 — Positive Health Stories
    29:54 — Space For Perspectives
    35:29 — Misread Text Messages
    42:05 — Bringing Content To YouTube
    43:24 — Qualifying For AdSense
    45:24 — Minimal Podcast Editing
    47:35 — A Good Hang
    49:56 — Interviewing Different Experiences
    52:16 — Longevity And Wisdom
    55:16 — Hydrogen Inhalation Therapy
    58:48 — Tracking Health Changes
    61:59 — Beyond Bodybuilders
    63:04 — Transformation Through Community
    64:18 — Wellness Fits Naturally
    66:19 — TRT, Peptides, Bloodwork
    67:47 — Personalized Guidance Matters
    73:24 — Wearable Health Data
    76:22 — Creativity And Persistence


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 



    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.


    1 hr 15 min
  • KetoneIQ for Body, Brain and Business w/ Michael Brandt, EP 220

    Ketones are moving from niche biohacking circles into the mainstream. Michael Brandt, CEO and co-founder of KetoneIQ, joins to explain how he built a new category—and why ketones may have a role beyond sports performance.

    Michael traces his path from Stanford and YouTube to the run that sparked KetoneIQ, breaking down ketones as an energy source, how they differ from caffeine, and why he calls them a "fourth macronutrient." The conversation turns practical: using ketones for workouts and focused work, pairing them with carbs, and what to know about fasting and blood glucose.

    Beyond the science, Michael shares what it took to create demand for a brand-new product, educate consumers, and stay focused on one core offering—plus how AI might make future wellness tools simpler and more personalized

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introducing Michael Brandt
    01:29 Building New Category
    03:24 Stanford To Performance
    07:35 The Spark Run
    08:54 Problem Ketones Solve
    09:48 Energy Source Explained
    11:14 Who Uses Ketones
    14:24 Ketones Plus Carbs
    15:43 Fourth Macronutrient Explained
    17:05 Nutrition Fundamentals Defined
    19:37 Ketone Product Landscape
    22:09 Convenience Matters Most
    27:37 Reducing Wellness Friction
    29:12 AI And Biology
    35:18 Health Still Complicated
    44:30 Why 10 Grams
    48:00 Ketones And Glucose
    51:10 Ketones While Fasting
    53:42 Growth And Strategy
    55:07 Focus On One
    61:50 Educating Building Trust
    67:03 Matching Message Audiences
    70:27 Knowledge Workers Key
    74:09 Where To Find
    74:46 Closing Thoughts


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 



    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.


    1 hr 12 min
  • Brown's Gas for Energy Efficiency and Inhalation Therapy w/ George Wiseman, EP 219

    George Wiseman joins Marcos and Seamus to discuss invention, mechanical problem-solving, and Brown's gas. The conversation traces Wiseman's path from fuel-efficiency experiments to claims about hydrogen therapy, with the hosts pressing on the science, safety, and need for further research behind Brown’s Gas.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 — Guest Introduction
    01:32 — Ranch Origin Story
    03:57 — Early Mileage Results
    05:54 — Problem-Solving Thinking
    07:15 — Parenting And Confidence
    14:52 — Fuel Injection Shift
    15:22 — Defining Brown's Gas
    16:21 — Fuel Economy Claims
    17:20 — Electrolysers For Cutting
    18:13 — Plant Growth Experiments
    21:07 — Drinking Gas Water
    22:34 — Inhalation Safety Limits
    23:59 — Caring For Wife
    25:51 — Beginning Inhalation Story
    28:19 — Lupus Testimonials Shared
    29:42 — Cancer Testimonials, Aquacure
    31:09 — Hydrogen And Body
    33:32 — Brown's Gas Vs. Hydrogen
    36:30 — Microbiome Hydrogen Support
    37:27 — Biohacking Possible Testing
    40:01 — Why No Patents
    45:49 — Tesla, Suppressed Tech
    47:16 — Self-Running Engine Challenge
    49:05 — Fuel Vaporization, Hycosystem
    50:02 — Hydrogen Therapy Basics
    52:03 — Practitioners Using Tech
    53:53 — E5 Device Signals
    55:19 — Heart Pressure Questions
    56:16 — EZ Gel, Pollack
    58:43 — Research Account Shared
    60:02 — Peer Review Questions
    64:59 — 2007 Ionizer Study
    66:26 — Hydrogen Versus pH
    67:56 — COVID Claims, Testimonials
    70:27 — Hosts' Skepticism Voiced
    71:51 — Long-Term Use Changes
    73:48 — Exposure Safety Risks
    75:37 — Duration Over Concentration
    77:07 — Using While Traveling
    79:41 — Yule Brown, Applications
    82:43 — Where To Find


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 



    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.


    1 hr 19 min
  • VO2 and Benchmark Body Metrics w/ Stephen Olsen, EP 218

    Marcos and Seamus sit down with Stephen Olson of Benchmark Body Metrics to dig into VO2 max testing, metabolic carts, DEXA scans, blood work, and wearable accuracy. Stephen breaks down what VO2 testing can and cannot tell us, why protocols should be individualized, and what his sauna experiments revealed about metabolism. They also cover aerobic base training, zone two, and why the right data helps people drop their ego and train for their actual goals.

    Timestamps:

    • 00:00 — Meet Stephen Olson
    • 01:00 — Stephen's wellness clinic
    • 02:15 — Testing women accurately
    • 04:35 — Metabolic carts explained
    • 06:32 — Walking vs running
    • 09:08 — VO2 testing equipment
    • 10:04 — VO2 Master limitations
    • 12:54 — Reliable VO2 protocols
    • 13:55 — SkiErg rower bike
    • 14:47 — Goal-driven testing
    • 16:38 — Zone two intervals
    • 18:33 — Stephen's wattage tests
    • 20:21 — Sauna metabolism test
    • 22:01 — Sauna experiment results
    • 25:41 — Blood work markers
    • 28:21 — Genetics and VO2
    • 30:26 — VO2 isn't fitness
    • 32:39 — Protocols distort results
    • 36:00 — Adapting client protocols
    • 37:48 — No universal protocol
    • 40:36 — VO2 test length
    • 42:34 — Assessments drive change
    • 43:31 — Stephen's training journey
    • 45:27 — Data helped Stephen
    • 48:23 — Aerobic base building
    • 51:10 — Individualized endurance training
    • 53:36 — Body composition changes
    • 57:54 — Concept2 calorie accuracy
    • 59:13 — Wearable calorie accuracy
    • 63:25 — Don't trust wearables
    • 64:46 — Step count differences
    • 70:30 — Stephen's biggest lessons
    • 71:56 — Can't outrun diet
    • 73:23 — Future experiment ideas
    • 77:26 — Nutritional periodization fueling
    • 78:08 — Closing thoughts follow



    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 

    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.



    1 hr 17 min
  • CrowdHealth, Health Shares and Insurance, EP 217

    Marcos and Seamus dig into CrowdHealth, the fast-growing healthcare crowdfunding model marketing itself as a secular, for-profit alternative to both traditional insurance and faith-based health shares. From $300 specialist bills to a $32,000 NICU stay, they stress-test the model against real financial stakes — and ask the question most people avoid until it's too late: are you actually buying protection, or just funding a system built to be confusing?

    TimeStamps

    00:00 — Intro to CrowdHealth
    00:31 — How CrowdHealth Works
    01:28 — Fees and Rates
    02:16 — Pros and Cons
    03:22 — Premiums vs Coverage
    04:35 — Hidden Admin Costs
    05:02 — Funding Preventive Care
    06:32 — Cost of Screenings
    07:18 — Copays Over Time
    08:39 — NICU Cost Story
    09:50 — Healthcare Investment Fund
    10:57 — Self-Funded Healthcare
    12:10 — Negotiating Medical Bills
    13:11 — AI for Negotiation
    14:11 — CrowdHealth's Limitations
    15:35 — Faith-Based Alternatives
    16:33 — Pre-Existing Conditions
    17:14 — Risk Without Coverage
    18:09 — Who Pays In
    19:25 — No Price Transparency
    20:13 — Emergency Care Pressure
    21:19 — In-N-Out Lesson
    22:38 — Misaligned Incentives
    24:25 — Shopping for Healthcare
    25:20 — EpiPen Pricing
    27:08 — Future of Pricing
    28:09 — Functional Medicine Testing
    31:29 — Concierge vs Affordability
    33:01 — Crowdfunding Pros/Cons
    34:18 — When Insurance Wins
    35:42 — Tax Deductions Explained
    37:41 — Negotiation Benefits
    38:47 — Review Your Bills
    39:25 — Tax Strategy Tips
    40:48 — Listener Experiences Wanted
    41:10 — Closing Thoughts


    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 

    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.



    40 min
  • FitFlation In a Physique Attention Economy, EP 216

    Marcos and Seamus break down how social media inflates fitness standards, why "average" now feels low, and why comparing yourself to your past self beats comparing yourself to the algorithm.

    Timestamps
    00:00 - Defining fitflation
    01:20 - Weight gain, body image
    03:10 - Attention economy content
    04:05 - Idealized aesthetic creation
    05:03 - Content triggers action
    05:31 - Image becomes product
    05:53 - Competing for attention
    08:26 - Repeated content formats
    09:37 - Looksmaxing conditioning effects
    10:07 - Progress feels insufficient
    11:04 - Guilt and optimization
    11:59 - DEXA scans, progress
    12:53 - GLP meds, regain
    13:37 - Aesthetics vs performance
    14:34 - Training to look good
    15:01 - Aesthetics in fitness culture
    16:02 - Chasing better physique
    17:02 - Training as checklist
    17:56 - Action movies' influence
    18:12 - Old-school body ideals
    19:14 - Superhero physique standards
    21:02 - Larger-than-life bodies
    23:27 - Childhood identity, insecurity
    25:05 - Interests shape belonging
    26:04 - Genetics, family comparison
    27:28 - Pre-social-media training
    28:38 - Fitflation in real-time
    29:08 - Lifelong improvement pursuit
    30:12 - Performance goals freeing
    31:11 - Physique follows performance
    32:42 - Comparing past self
    33:40 - Coaching, everyday movement
    34:36 - Fueling endurance training
    35:48 - Real coaching conversations
    36:36 - Always someone better-looking
    37:14 - Healthier social media diet
    38:13 - Positive engagement online
    39:04 - Final thoughts, values

    You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

    Instagram 

    Marcos  

    Seamus  

    TikTok 

    YouTube  

    Facebook  

    Apple Podcast 

    About the Podcast:

    The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.



    38 min

About The Macro Perspective

From the publisher's feed

Join Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan as they share insights about health perspectives including fitness, nutrition, and self-awareness from a macro lens.