Scott and Warren return with a timely solo episode of The Evexia Exchange—a wide-ranging conversation on the full evolution of the health and fitness industry, and what it reveals about where wellness is headed next.

From ancient survival-based movement and the first Olympic Games, to the Strongman era, the rise of the YMCA, the bodybuilding boom of the 80s and 90s, Jane Fonda aerobics, boutique fitness, and today’s wearables + AI obsession—this episode tracks how fitness culture has constantly shifted with society’s values, fears, and incentives.

Along the way, they unpack a “dirty secret” of the gym business model (sign ’em up and hope they don’t come), why intimidation keeps people from starting, and why the future of fitness isn’t just aesthetics or performance—it’s longevity, healthspan, and community.

In this episode, we explore:

* Fitness as survival—and the origins of spectator sport (including the first Olympic Games)

* The Strongman era, “spectacle strength,” and early influencer culture

* YMCA + post-war training: discipline, routine, and the rise of communal fitness

* Bodybuilding’s explosion: machines, supplements, steroid culture, and “the perfect body” myth

* Jane Fonda, aerobics, and how group fitness opened the door for women

* Boutique fitness (CrossFit, Barry’s, Orangetheory, Pilates) and why people plateau

* Gym intimidation, etiquette, and what actually makes people *stick*

* Personal training as coaching—movement education, accountability, and mental health support

* Wearables + AI: what to measure, what to ignore, and how data can become a trap

* Where it’s all going: functional movement, healthspan, cognition, and community-first spaces

About the Evexia Exchange

A podcast by Club Evexia—a wellness community in Southern Marin focused on fitness, longevity, and belonging. Founders Scott Raymond & Warren Gendel interview practitioners, members, and thinkers on living well together. Produced by Resonate Studio, LLC.

If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s trying to rebuild their relationship with fitness—and wants something more sustainable than hype, shortcuts, or intimidation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott and Warren welcome Dr. Shauna Shapiro—clinical psychologist, author, TED Talk speaker, and one of the leading researchers on mindfulness and the neuroscience of wellbeing—for a powerful conversation on how we actually rewire the brain for greater peace, resilience, and happiness.

The episode begins with real life: Warren shares the grief of losing his dog, Otis, and Shauna offers grounded, compassionate tools for meeting grief without suppressing it or trying to “get over it.” From there, the conversation expands into the science of neuroplasticity, why our brains are wired for negativity, and how simple daily practices can shift our baseline emotional state over time.

With warmth, clarity, and deep research-backed insight, Shauna reframes mindfulness as mental fitness training—a practice that helps us create space between stimulus and response, break habitual thought loops, and cultivate more freedom in the way we live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Shauna’s personal story: injury, depression, and discovering mindfulness as a lifeline

• Why happiness isn’t external—and how to redefine what it actually means

• The neuroscience of neuroplasticity and why change is always possible

• Negativity bias, fight-or-flight, and why high achievers get trapped in restlessness

• “Glimmers” and the nervous system: micro-moments that create safety and joy

• Gratitude as a tool for shifting neurochemistry (and why receiving gratitude matters most)

• The “name it to tame it” method for calming anxiety and fear in real time

• Embodied mindfulness: how to feel gratitude instead of intellectualizing it

• How mindfulness supports grief, emotional regulation, and self-compassion

• Why shame shuts down learning centers in the brain—and blocks real change

• The idea of “mental hygiene” as essential daily care, like brushing your teeth

About Dr. Shauna Shapiro

Dr. Shauna Shapiro is a clinical psychologist, professor, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and compassion science. She is the author of Good Morning, I Love You and has spent decades researching how mindfulness changes the brain and supports resilience, emotional wellbeing, and healing. Her work bridges ancient contemplative practices with modern neuroscience, offering practical tools for transformation rooted in evidence-based research.

About the Evexia Exchange

A podcast by Club Evexia—a wellness community in Southern Marin focused on fitness, longevity, and belonging. Founders Scott Raymond & Warren Gendel interview practitioners, members, and thinkers on living well together. Produced by Resonate Studio, LLC.

If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s navigating stress, grief, or burnout—and ready to build a more grounded, resilient inner life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott and Warren welcome Dr. Molly Maloof—physician, educator, entrepreneur AND Evexia’s new Health Advisor—for a deeply practical conversation on stress: what it really is, how it affects the body at a cellular level, and why learning to manage it may be one of the most powerful longevity tools we have.

Dr. Maloof breaks down the difference between healthy, adaptive stress and chronic allostatic overload, explaining how unrelenting stress disrupts the nervous system, immune system, hormones, and mitochondria. Using real-world examples—from entrepreneurship and burnout to viral reactivation and shingles—we explore how stress shows up long before disease, and what people can actually do about it.

In this episode, we explore:

• What stress really is—and why some stress is necessary for growth
• Allostatic load, burnout, and the “cell danger response”
• How chronic stress impacts immunity, hormones, and mitochondrial function
• The role of nervous system regulation in healing and resilience
• Stress, viral reactivation, and why shingles and mono often appear during burnout
• How genetics, childhood experiences, and lifestyle shape stress tolerance
• Practical tools for measuring stress: HRV, sleep, glucose, and cortisol
• Why community, circadian rhythms, and sleep are non-negotiables for recovery
• High vs. low cortisol states—and how nutrition, movement, and caffeine differ for each
• Why loneliness and disconnection are major, underappreciated stressors

About Dr. Molly Maloof

Dr. Molly Maloof is a physician, entrepreneur, and leading voice in personalized health optimization, resilience science, and longevity medicine. Her work focuses on the intersection of stress physiology, mitochondrial health, hormones, and performance medicine—helping high-performing individuals build sustainable energy, adaptability, and long-term health. She has taught at Stanford, advises founders and executives, and is the author of The Spark Factor.

About the Evexia Exchange

A podcast by Club Evexia—a wellness community in Southern Marin focused on fitness, longevity, and belonging. Founders Scott Raymond & Warren Gendel interview practitioners, members, and thinkers on living well together. Produced by Resonate Studio, LLC.

If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s feeling stretched thin—and ready to build real resilience, from the inside out.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.