My Why! Why I Created the Thrive Metabolic Blueprint

In this episode, I share the moment that permanently changed how I view health, prevention, and responsibility.

Several years ago, a client and friend collapsed inside my fitness studio after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm. I was forced into a life saving role while waiting for paramedics. He survived.

But what followed that day changed everything.

That medical emergency was not random. It was the result of years of uncontrolled blood pressure and silent warning signs that went unaddressed. And it exposed a hard truth about our health system: most people are told they are “fine” long before they actually are.

This episode explains why I created the Thrive Metabolic Blueprint, not as another program, but as a bridge between the medical system and real life.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why most health emergencies are not sudden, they are silent
• The difference between being “normal” on paper and optimal in your body
• Why bloodwork without explanation leads to confusion and inaction
• How ignored deficiencies turn into unignorable diseases
• Why guessing at your health is a dangerous long term strategy
• What a true data driven, biology based health plan looks like
• How the Thrive Metabolic Blueprint connects lab data to real action
• Why prevention and understanding must come before emergencies

Key Takeaway:

You do not need more motivation.

You need clarity, confidence, and a strategy built around your biology, not trends, not guesses, and not generic advice.

The Thrive Metabolic Blueprint exists because emergencies should not be the first warning sign.

Ready to Learn More?

If this episode resonated with you, the Thrive Metabolic Blueprint was built for people who want to understand their health, take ownership, and become proactive instead of reactive.

This is not about perfection.
It is about awareness, education, and intelligent action.

🎙️ EP 321: Overwhelmed, Confused & Doing Your Best ~ Let’s Fix That

This week’s episode of Happy Hour With Jay is all about cutting through the noise, the nonsense, and the straight-up insanity that is today’s “wellness” world.

Because let’s be honest…
Health has become overwhelming as hell.

💥 The Wild West of Wellness

I open the show talking about the absolute circus happening on social media right now.
Every time you open your app, there’s:

• A “Peptide Professor” with zero credentials
• Some dude selling a “miracle stack”
• Another influencer pushing peptides like it’s Girl Scout Cookie season
• And 475 conflicting opinions on what to eat, drink, inject, avoid, or fear

It’s no wonder people feel confused, broken, and burnt out.

But here’s the truth…
You’re not crazy. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not alone.

🔥 Why Nothing Seems to Work (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” and nothing’s changing…
If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office more confused than when you walked in…
If you’ve ever said, “Why is nothing working?”…
This episode is FOR YOU.

Most people don’t struggle because they lack motivation.
They struggle because:

• The advice is contradictory
• The plans are generic
• The “solutions” don’t fit their biology
• Their labs are “normal” but they feel anything but normal
• The medical system is overloaded and can’t connect the dots for them

Which brings me to the BIG announcement…

🚀 Introducing: The Thrive Metabolic Blueprint (Launching 2026)

This is the solution to the overwhelm.
The answer to the confusion.
The system that finally makes your health make sense.

This is a fully personalized, science-backed, clarity-driven metabolic roadmap built around:

• YOUR bloodwork
• YOUR symptoms
• YOUR hormones
• YOUR lifestyle
• YOUR stress
• YOUR habits
• YOUR goals
• YOUR biology

No guessing.
No cookie-cutter plans.
No “try this, hope it works.”
Just data, clarity, direction, and results.

No two bodies are the same — so no two Blueprints are the same.

🔍 Why I Created This

Because people don’t need more fads.
They need answers.
They need support.
They need someone to connect the dots between their doctor and their daily life.

That’s us.
The Thrive Metabolic Blueprint fills the gap the traditional system can’t.

🎯 What You’ll Finally Have:

1. Clarity — You’ll know exactly why you feel the way you feel
2. Confidence — A plan made for you
3. Support — Step-by-step guidance
4. Education — You’ll understand your body like never before
5. Empowerment — No more guessing
6. Long-Term Success — Fix the root, and everything else changes

💡 Who This Is For

The person who’s giving max effort and getting minimum results.
The person who feels betrayed by their body.
The person who’s tried EVERYTHING and still doesn’t feel like themselves.
The person who wants answers — real, personalized, science-backed answers.

If that’s you…
2026 is the year everything changes.

🧠 Final Reminder

You’re not the problem.
Your metabolism has been stressed, confused, and unsupported for years.
The Thrive Metabolic Blueprint gives you clarity, direction, and a REAL path forward.

This is the bridge between where you are now…
and the health you’ve been trying to reach for years.

🎧 Tune in. Take a breath. You’re not alone — and I’ve got you.

Episode 320: The Truth About Red Light Therapy with Steve Marchese, CEO of LightStim

Guest: Steve Marchese
Website: www.LightStim.com
Exclusive Code: Use THRIVE for 10% off your order at LightStim.com

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jay sits down with Steve Marchese, CEO of LightStim, the largest manufacturer of red light therapy devices in the United States ~ trusted by over 50,000 professionals and more than one million consumers worldwide.

If you’ve ever been curious (or skeptical) about red light therapy, this conversation is your inside look at what’s real, what’s hype, and what actually moves the needle for recovery, performance, and longevity.

Steve pulls back the curtain on how LightStim became the gold standard in LED technology ~ from FDA-cleared handhelds to full-body wellness beds and how the company built its reputation on science, safety, and results.

What You’ll Learn

• The real science behind red and infrared light therapy ~ how it impacts mitochondria, ATP production, and circulation.
• Why the FTC recently issued warnings to the health and wellness industry about misleading claims, and what you should know before you buy any red light device.
• The difference between a legitimate medical-grade LED system and the cheap panels flooding social media.
• The LightStim story ~ how a family’s personal experience led to pioneering the modern red light movement.
• Why LightStim’s FDA-cleared devices set the standard for safety, efficacy, and long-term results.
• Practical takeaways for fitness, recovery, skin health, and performance and how to use red light therapy correctly for real benefits.

Key Takeaways

• Not all red light is created equal. Wavelength, intensity, and FDA clearance matter.
• Beware of marketing myths. Steve explains how to separate facts from internet fiction.
• LightStim’s approach is different. Backed by science, engineered for results, and built in the USA.
• Performance is cellular. When your mitochondria perform better, you perform better.

Connect with LightStim

• Website: www.LightStim.com
• Instagram: @LightStim
• Use code THRIVE for 10% off your purchase

Jay’s Takeaway

This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who’s serious about optimizing recovery and performance. The red light therapy industry is booming, but few companies are doing it right and LightStim is leading the charge with integrity, science, and results.

If you want to feel better, recover faster, and perform at your peak, this conversation is a must-listen.

🎙️ EP 319: Buzzed Buddy Turns 1, Building Businesses & Keeping It Real

This week’s a little different — I jumped on The Beauty Biz Show with Lori (yep, my better half) for a rare interview. Instead of me ranting solo, we sat down and talked about what it’s really like living, working, and building multiple businesses together.

And yeah… we also celebrated a pretty big milestone: Buzzed Buddy just turned ONE.

What We Got Into:

• The one-year birthday of Buzzed Buddy and what that wild ride has looked like.
• Why celebrating the small wins in business matters just as much as the big ones.
• The chaos (and fun) of being two entrepreneurs under one roof.
• Working with influencers, building brand trust, and how we’re making Buzzed Buddy a household name.
• The non-negotiables of customer service—because handwritten notes and real human connection still matter.
• The truth about what business growth looks like (hint: it’s not an overnight success story).

Jay’s Take:

Big goals are awesome, but if you can’t handle what’s right in front of you, you’ll never survive the next level. Keep dreaming, but stay grounded in the stage you’re in.

Shoutout:

Huge thanks to Lori for flipping the script and putting me in the hot seat—and for being the real MVP behind the scenes of everything we do.

Listen in for laughs, lessons, and the real story of Buzzed Buddy’s first year because building a business is messy, fun, frustrating, and worth every damn second.

🎙️ EP 318: Sleep Apnea at 35,000 Feet, Public Speakerphones & Muay Thai Man Buns

This week’s episode of Happy Hour with Jay is equal parts disaster, comedy, and brutal honesty. Buckle up—because we’re starting in the sky and ending in the gym.

🎉 Buzzed Buddy Turns 1
We’re officially celebrating our first birthday! 25% off all Buzzed Buddy for 48 hours starting August 20th. Code: BIRTHDAY. Stock up, party smarter, and wake up like you didn’t drink.

✈️ Disaster at 35,000 Feet
Imagine being stuck next to a 6’5”, 400-pound, bald dude with a monster beard and gauged ear holes… who then proceeds to… well, you’ll hear it.

📱 Public Speakerphone Psychopaths
Seriously—why are people still doing this? Stop. Just stop.

💤 Mile-High Sleep Apnea Showdown
I listened to a man fight death for an hour and a half on a flight. Spoiler: noise-canceling headphones weren’t enough.

🥊 Gym Chronicles
Spotted: Jean-Claude Van Dammit cosplayer in full Muay Thai get-up—aviators, man bun, tight tank…

🤖 AI Takeover Incoming
People are mad about AI, but honestly—have you driven on the freeway lately? Have you had a conversation with a human in public? Yeah… let the robots take the wheel.

😂 Jay’s Take:

From airborne disasters to gym clowns to why AI might actually be the upgrade humanity needs—this one’s a ride.

🎧 Grab your headphones, pour something cold, and let’s get into it.

🎙️ EP 317: Dadbod Veteran, Gen‑X Truths & Having The Time Of Your Life (Saying YES to Everything)

Jay’s usually flying solo… but this week we let Jon Wellington—aka The Dadbod Veteran—take the mic. If you’ve ever wondered what Gen‑X satire, Navy veteran stories, and Check Your Feelings podcasts look like in one person, meet your match.

👤 Meet the Guest: Jon Wellington

• U.S. Navy veteran turned viral Gen‑X storyteller.
• Creator of the Dadbod Veteran brand with over 5 million followers.
• Hosts Check Your Feelings with his sister and interviews creators on Coffee & Creators.
• A proud Charleston, SC guy who loves veterans causes, DIY life hacks, and nostalgia for “the times before.”

💥 What We Ranted About:

🧷 Why Host the name “The Dadbod Veteran” stuck—even before you hit 40.

📱 Gen‑X vs TikTok: That viral pizza delivery before GPS clip that put him on the map.

🧬 Veterans & Entrepreneurship: How he transitioned from military tech to becoming DBV Enterprises.
💤 The Power of Stories: Why Jon turned decades of personal memory into content that connects—and why we glorify weird duck calls more than wisdom.

🏁 Gen‑X Nostalgia vs Millennial TikTok: We traded avocado toast for VHS tape—and Jay’s asking: what’s wrong with us?

😂 Jay’s Take:

Interviewing Jon felt like finding my long-lost sardonic brother. He has that salty, sarcastic wisdom with a veteran’s backbone and a dad’s soft side—perfect for swiping the social media nonsense away.

👏 Shoutout of the Week:

Major applause to Jon Wellington~for keeping Gen‑X genuine, real funny, and unapologetically weird.

Don’t forget to check out the man himself at:
→ www.thedadbodveteran.com

🎧 Tap in for a deep dive into the mind behind the viral memes, the Navy-grade discipline, and the dad jokes that actually land.
You’ll laugh, you’ll relate—and you might even binge his TikToks tonight.

Play episode 317 now—and maybe call your own dad to say thanks.

🎙️ EP 316: Vodka in Your Celsius, Dry Weddings & "Are You Ryan Reynolds?"

Welcome to another round of Happy Hour with Jay — where the takes are hot, the drinks are cold, and the wedding invites better come with an open bar.

🎬 Celebrity Sighting of the Week:The cashier at the Cosmopolitan legit thought I was Ryan Reynolds and got flustered. I was just there for a More Energy drink and some peace, but apparently Deadpool lives rent-free in Vegas.

💍 Dry Weddings & Cash Bar Catastrophes:
Would you attend a wedding without booze? I wouldn’t.
Open bar or I’m RSVPing “HELL NO.”
And now Gen Z is doing cash bars? This is why aliens won’t visit us.

🌊 The Scream Club:
Yes, this is real. People in Chicago are now screaming into Lake Michigan every Sunday night. This is where we’re at as a society — unhinged, damp, and vocal.

👖 Sydney Sweeney vs. Internet Idiots:The American Eagle ad with Sydney somehow got compared to… Nazis. I don’t even have a joke for that. Just stop. Touch grass.

🥤 Celsius Vodka Recall — Accidental Marketing Genius:
Some cans of Celsius were recalled because they were surprisingly spiked with High Noon vodka.
I promise you — sales have never been better.
This was either a recall or the greatest PR stunt in beverage history.

🎸 Coldplay Creeps:
Friendly reminder: don’t cheat on your spouse.

🪦 Legends We've Lost:
Ozzy, Hulk Hogan, and Ryne Sandberg.

💬 Final Word:

If screaming into lakes, sipping accidental vodka, or canceling open bars sounds like a solution ~ you’re doing life wrong.
Grab some Buzzed Buddy, pour something worth drinking, and let’s raise a glass to keeping it weird in all the best ways.

🎧 Tune in. Laugh loud. Drink smart.

🎙️ EP 315: Hostage Tape, Joe Rogan Shoutouts & WTF Amazon?!

This week, we are switching it up.

No solo rant. No Jared nonsense.
Just a rare (and actually awesome) interview with a guy who turned tape into a sleep revolution.

Meet Alex Neist — former pro quarterback turned founder of Hostage Tape, the mouth tape taking over your TikTok, your sleep routine, and apparently, Joe Rogan’s nightstand.

• The wild story behind the name Hostage Tape (it’s exactly what you think... and not at all).

• Why Amazon banned them—and what that says about winning big and breaking rules.

• The real benefits of mouth taping (better sleep, better health, maybe even saving your marriage).

• Why top ENT doctors are now recommending Hostage Tape instead of surgery.

• Getting the Joe Rogan stamp of approval (and how UFC fighters are in on it).

• Alex’s journey from divorce and burnout to reconciliation, reinvention, and running one of the hottest brands in wellness right now.

This convo hits different. It’s fun, smart, real—and yes, it’ll probably make you tape your mouth shut tonight. (On purpose.)

Check out the tape at: www.hostagetape.com

And shoutout to Alex Neist for being a killer guest with a killer story.

🎧 Tune in now. Your sleep (and possibly your marriage) depends on it.

🎙️ EP 315: Hostage Tape, Sleep Hacks & Why Amazon Hates This Guy💥 What We Got Into:🔥 Jay’s Take: