In this episode, I talk with Dr. Paul Taylor, author, neuroscientist, exercise physiologist, and host of The Paul Taylor Podcast. He is an expert in hardiness, the science of turning stress into strength.

Modern life is quietly weakening us through the way we eat, move, sleep, socialize, and use technology. By introducing stress, challenge, and discomfort in safe and deliberate ways through exercise, nutrition, temperature, sunlight, and other natural experiences, we can regain our strength and hardiness. This idea is rooted in hormesis, the concept that exposure to manageable stress or challenge can strengthen the body and mind.

We also discuss Paul’s lessons from his upbringing in Ireland, his time in the military, and his experiences as a parent, in sport, and through personal challenges. He shares practical ways to build hardiness in daily life: move regularly, play outside, eat mostly minimally processed foods, limit screen time, set simple rules and routines, gradually increase effort, and reflect on how you spend your time. Seeing life as a challenge and viewing stress as a chance to grow helps us step out of our comfort zone, so we can strengthen ourselves physically and mentally and be better prepared for whatever life throws our way.

Connect and Learn More:

Website: paultaylor.biz

Instagram: @paultaylor.biz

Podcast: The Paul Taylor Podcast

Books: Death by Comfort, and the upcoming The Hardiness Effect

Resources Mentioned:

Books: Antifragile, Elite Minds, Enchiridion, The Black Swan,

People: Arrian, Bengt Saltin, Bente Klarlund Pedersen, Epictetus, Frank Booth, Friedrich Nietzsche, Grant Schofield, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Seneca, Stan Beecham, Walter Mischel

In this episode, I talk with Qi Gong practitioner and holistic life coach Tamas Konya. We discuss the philosophy and practice, Qi Gong, its benefits, how it has helped Tamas, and how it can help you too.

Connect and Learn More:

• Website: tamascoach.com
• LinkedIn: Tamas Konya
• Facebook: Tamas Konya
• Instagram: @tamascoach
• YouTube: @tamascoach

Resources Mentioned:

• Weightless by Marconi Union
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Fight Club (film)
• Avatar (film)
• Stephen Covey

What do you do when you have three interviews scheduled and no one shows up? You make a SOLOOOOO episode. Mikey’s back, in his classic state - all alone. This is a musing on what to do when you’ve planned, prepared, and done everything you could, but reality has other ideas. What do you do? Keep going, keep trying, re-channel that energy into something even more amazing, and love and embrace yourself that much more. This lone wolf is waking up from his long winter slumber, howling, roaring, and ready to roam.

In this episode, Lori Tsugawa, author of Let the Samurai Be Your Guide, shares her journey of overcoming traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) by drawing on her Japanese heritage and values. We explore Japanese concepts like bushido (the way of the warrior), ikigai, and ganbaru (never giving up), and discuss how you can apply these principles to your own life.

She also talks about her experiences working in a women’s prison, shares Japanese folk tales, and highlights her favorite places in Japan. Listen in, and let your inner samurai and otaku lead the way toward healing, resilience, and growth.

Connect and Learn More

• Website: loriwhaley.com
• Book: Let the Samurai Be Your Guide
• Podcast: The Samurai Way
• LinkedIn: Lori Tsugawa

Resources Mentioned:

• Attractions: Adachi Museum of Art, Dogo Onsen, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Kenrokuen, Nagoro Doll Village, Noguchi Museum, Pine Wind Japanese Garden, Ritsurin Garden, Shikoku Mura, SL Yamaguchi, Torrance Art Museum
• Books: Man's Search for Meaning
• Films: Fight Club
• Japanese folktales: Momotarō, The Mouse's Marriage, The Singing Turtle
• Organizations: Albert Camus, Amen Clinics, Ikigai Lab, Kinokuniya, The Ritz Carlton, Toastmasters International, Tuttle Publishing
• People: Ayano Tsukimi, Chiune Sugihara, Daniel Amen, Daniel Inouye, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Isamu Noguchi, Sam Ushio, Victor Frankl, Yayoi Kusama
• Places: Hokkaido, Iya Valley, Kochi, Matsue, Matsuyama, Naoshima, Naruto, Portland, Shikoku, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Torrance, Tsuwano

In this episode, I talk with Eric Zwigart, CEO of Rock Solid Capital Investments, about how ADHD has shaped his career, faith, and life. Eric shares how ADHD shows up for him — both the challenges, like distraction, difficulty listening, and time blindness, and the advantages, including intense focus, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving.

He reflects on running a $150 million-a-year oil company that collapsed during COVID, costing him $35 million personally, and how that experience changed his perspective.

We discuss entrepreneurship, real estate, and what it takes to thrive in a field full of risk and opportunity. Eric shares lessons from both successes and setbacks: leveraging strengths, recognizing weaknesses, working with others, having faith, balancing risk, and more. He explains how these experiences have helped him prioritize family, community, and faith, guiding him in building a life, career, and investments aligned with what matters most.

Connect and Learn More

Website: rocksolidcap.com

Email: (mentioned in the episode)

LinkedIn: Eric Zwigart

YouTube: @ROCKSOLIDPARTNERS

Instagram: @eric.zwigart

X: @EricZwigart

Resources Mentioned

People: Bernie Madoff, Donald Trump, Dr. Phil, Elon Musk, Grant Cardone, Søren Kierkegaard

Entertainment: Mad Men (TV show), Mario Kart (video game), Street Fighter (video game)

In this episode, I talk with ADHD specialist Jennifer Dall about ADHD in women. We discuss the symptoms, features, different forms, possible causes, benefits, overlaps with other conditions, tools that can help, and more.

Connect and Learn More

🔗Website: adhdholistically.com

📷Instagram: @adhd.holistically

💬Threads: @adhd.holistically

Resources

Books

• A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD – Sari Sulden
• Journeys Through ADDulthood – Sari Sulden
• Women with Attention Deficit Disorder – Sari Sulden

Organizations

• CHADD
• Understood.org

People

• Danielle Elliot
• Kristen Carder
• Sari Sulden

Podcasts

• Climbing the Walls
• I Have ADHD

In this episode, I talk with actress and entrepreneur Jenae Alt about cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and THC, terpenes, and the effects they can create — including relaxation, pain relief, better sleep, creativity, presence, focus, energy, immune support, beauty, sexual pleasure, and overall well-being. We also discuss delivery methods, other natural ways to experience a high, the risks involved, how to get started, cannabis for pets, and more.

Connect and Learn More

Jenae’s Instagram
📸 @jenaealt_

CalyFX
🌐 calyfx.com | 📸 @calyfxuk

Neo Sensual
🌐 neosensuality.com | 📸 @neo.sensualus

SkinnyWeed
🌐 skinnyweed.com | 📸 @skinnyweedinc

RESOURCES

• Dennis Dellesio (CEO of CalyFX)
• Eeyore (character)
• Jack Herer (cannabis rights activist)
• Pink Floyd (band)
• Scott Page (musician)
• Snoopy (character)

In this episode, I talk with Dustin Dunbar, author of You're Doing Great! (And Other Lies Alcohol Told Me) and founder of Alcohol-Free Revolution.

We discuss the illusion that alcohol benefits us, how calling it what it truly is—ethanol—can reframe our perspective, and why quitting doesn’t have to be a lifelong struggle. Dustin shares the dream that changed his life, how trauma often underlies drinking, and what happens when you stop numbing and start feeling.

We also get into:

• The difference between the AA model and joyful alcohol-free living
• Alcohol as a blocker of consciousness and connection
• Why quitting can lead to more energy, libido, clarity, and weight loss
• How to socialize without alcohol and what to say when people ask why
• The link between drinking and childhood trauma
• Tools like meditation, nature, infrared therapy, and travel
• An alcohol-free bar experiment where people had even more fun
• The role of family and industry culture around drinking
• "Sober" vs. "alcohol-free": a shift in mindset

Dustin’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible on the other side of alcohol.

Connect and Learn More

📘Book: You're Doing Great! (And Other Lies Alcohol Told Me)

📸Instagram: @DustinDunbarUSA

📺YouTube: @DustinDunbarUSA

🌐Website: dustin-dunbar.com

🤝Non-profit: Alcohol-Free Revolution (AFR)

RESOURCES

📚Books

• This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
• The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray

🐸 Characters

• Budweiser Frogs
• Spuds MacKenzie
• Superman
• The Guinness Toucan

👤 People

• Annie Grace
• Catherine Gray
• Coors Light Twins (Diane and Elaine Klimaszewski)
• James Swanick
• Janet Gourand
• Tony Robbins

🎙️ Podcasts

• Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
• This Naked Mind Podcast
• Tribe Sober

👥Programs

• Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
• Alcohol-Free Revolution (AFR)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Tribe Sober