EFR 961: Should You Buy a Home in 2026? The TRUTH About Mortgage Rates, Renting & the Housing Market with Gio Helou

For generations, the American Dream followed a familiar blueprint: work hard, get married, raise a family, buy a home, and build a better life—but what happens when one of the biggest pieces of that dream starts to feel financially out of reach? Luxury real estate agent and Selling the OC star Gio Helou joins us for a candid look at the state of homeownership in America and whether buying a home still makes sense in today's market. Gio breaks down why affordability has become such a challenge, what high mortgage rates are really doing to buyers and sellers, when renting may actually be the smarter financial decision, and why waiting for rates to fall could ultimately work against you. He unpacks how to recognize a buyer's versus seller's market, the importance of comparable sales before making an offer, the hidden costs of homeownership, and the negotiation mistakes that can cost buyers leverage before a deal even begins. Follow Gio @giovannehelou Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 Episode intro 01:10 Has homeownership become a luxury? 03:39 Who is responsible for America's housing problem? 05:31 Do Americans still want the traditional American Dream? 10:03 A realtor's perspective after nearly a decade in real estate 11:20 Why buying a home has become so difficult 12:08 Gio's unexpected first piece of advice: get married 15:00 When renting is actually smarter than buying 16:44 The hidden costs of owning a home 17:50 Is Southern California real estate still a good investment? 20:04 What predicts whether a housing market will appreciate? 21:20 How long should you own a home before expecting ROI? 24:09 Buyer's market vs. seller's market explained 27:00 Why you should visit open houses before you're ready to buy 30:57 The question every first-time homebuyer should ask 31:28 Why comparable sales matter more than a Zestimate 32:15 Can you actually trust your realtor? 33:56 America's declining culture of trust 38:18 Would lower mortgage rates actually make homes affordable? 40:00 Why mortgage rates are still so high 41:18 The metric every buyer should watch before making an offer 42:48 "The market speaks" — how sellers know they're overpriced 44:17 The opportunity buyers may be missing right now 45:33 The biggest negotiation mistake buyers make 49:28 How emotions can cost you a real estate deal 52:01 Gio's best negotiation lessons 54:49 The personality trait that gives Gio an edge 56:42 Confidence vs. cockiness on Selling the OC 59:22 Why your realtor is like a temporary marriage 1:00:36 Gio reveals what happened after Selling the OC 1:02:59 Why Gio says no to almost everything 1:05:17 Rapid fire: the biggest lies in real estate 1:05:36 Do you really need 20% down? 1:06:02 Should you wait for mortgage rates to fall? 1:06:40 Is renting throwing money away? 1:06:45 Should you buy the biggest house you can afford? 1:07:10 Is winter really the best time to buy? 1:07:55 Gio's biggest real estate commission ever 1:09:46 How much commission does a realtor actually keep? 1:10:27 What's next for Gio after Selling the OC? 1:12:36 What does Ever Forward mean to Gio? ----- Epiaode resources: Operation Podcast: Ready to launch your podcast, level up your current show, or create world-class content for your brand? Operation Podcast offers turnkey podcast studios and full-service audio/video production in Los Angeles. Save 20% off your first studio session with code EVERFORWARD. Timeline Nutrition: Support your cellular energy, mitochondrial health, muscle function, and healthy aging with Mitopure® from Timeline Nutrition. Mitopure now starts at just $79. ELVT Breath Control Patches: Optimize your breathing and support deeper, more restorative sleep with ELVT Breath Control Patches, designed to encourage nasal breathing while you sleep. Save 20% off your entire order with code CHASE.

What if your low energy, stubborn weight gain, brain fog, poor recovery, mood changes, and stalled progress aren't simply signs that you need to work harder—but clues that your thyroid isn't functioning optimally? Dr. Amie Hornaman, author of The Thyroid Fix, joins us to explain why she considers the thyroid the body's "master gland" and why standard thyroid testing may not tell the entire story. They break down TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies; the difference between "normal" and optimal lab results; Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism; and when thyroid hormone replacement may be appropriate. Amie also explains how gluten, over-exercising, chronic under-eating, nutrient deficiencies and aggressive GLP-1 use may affect thyroid health and metabolism. Plus, she explains the importance of iodine, selenium, magnesium, protein and dietary fat, detoxification, and so much more! Follow Amie @dramiehornaman Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 – WHOOP: Stop Guessing and Start Measuring 01:38 – Is Your Thyroid the Missing Piece? 03:20 – Why the Thyroid Is Your Body's "Master Gland" 06:12 – The Thyroid Labs You Actually Need 07:18 – Operation Podcast 08:15 – TSH, Free T3, Free T4 & Reverse T3 Explained 10:02 – Testing for Hashimoto's and Thyroid Antibodies 10:54 – "Normal" Labs vs. Optimal Thyroid Function 12:49 – When Thyroid Hormone Replacement Makes Sense 14:27 – Can You Improve Thyroid Function Naturally? 16:27 – Gluten, Hashimoto's & Your Thyroid 19:06 – What Happens If Your Thyroid Is Removed? 21:00 – C15:0 essential fatty acids 22:18 – Wellness Habits That Could Be Hurting Your Thyroid 23:01 – Can Too Much Exercise Damage Thyroid Function? 24:30 – Resistance Training vs. Cardio for Thyroid Health 25:57 – Foods That May Interfere With Thyroid Function 27:13 – Can You Take Too Many Thyroid Supplements? 27:55 – Amie's Foundational Thyroid Supplement Stack 29:38 – The Controversy Around Iodine 31:07 – Fluoride, Chlorine, Bromide & Iodine 33:22 – Thyroid Function, Detox & Sauna 34:58 – Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism 37:28 – Hashimoto's and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease 38:08 – The "Silent Thyroid Killer" 38:20 – GLP-1s, Under-Eating & Thyroid Function 40:53 – Why Eating Less Doesn't Always Mean Losing More 42:04 – Calories vs. Macros for Thyroid Health 43:32 – Protein, Fat, Carbs & Insulin Resistance 45:09 – Rapid Fire: Most Underrated Thyroid Fix 45:18 – Is Calories-In, Calories-Out Broken? 46:13 – The ONE Food Amie Says to Eat Every Day 47:09 – Where to Connect With Dr. Amie Hornaman 47:51 – What Does Ever Forward Mean to Amie? ----- Episode resources: FREE WHOOP activity tracker 15% off Fatty15 C15:0 essential fatty acids 20% off Operation Podcast studios with code EVERFORWARD

You consciously know what you should do, but your body keeps stopping you. Why? What if your anxiety, procrastination, self-sabotage, and limiting beliefs aren't signs that something is wrong with you—but signals that your nervous system doesn't feel safe? Jessica Ortner, co-founder of The Tapping Solution and co-author of Rewired, is here to explore the science and practice of EFT tapping and how regulating the nervous system may help change the way we respond to stress. Jessica breaks down why we can't always think our way out of anxiety, how tapping combines psychological principles with stimulation of acupressure points, and research examining its effects on cortisol, PTSD, food cravings, and emotional distress. We also explore why self-sabotage may actually be "misguided self-love," the difference between resilience and simply forcing yourself through discomfort, why self-criticism eventually stops working, how parents can help children regulate big emotions, and why our modern information environment may keep our bodies chronically overstimulated. Most importantly, Jessica explains how creating a sense of safety in the body can give us the freedom to make better decisions, face fear, and keep moving forward. Follow Jessica @jessicaortner Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 Intro 01:06 Why You Can't Think Your Way Out of Anxiety 02:44 What Is EFT Tapping and How Does It Work? 04:52 Fatty15 06:13 Can Tapping Actually Lower Cortisol? 09:08 Stress, Pain and the Body 10:22 Why Your Nervous System Doesn't Care About Your Goals 12:32 Self-Sabotage Is "Misguided Self-Love" 13:36 How to Tap Through Anxiety and Fear 16:13 Why Positive Affirmations Sometimes Don't Work 17:14 Tapping for Veterans, PTSD and Trauma 20:17 Tapping vs. Meditation, Breathwork and Therapy 22:45 Ketone-IQ 24:04 Using Tapping for Sleep and Feeling Safe 25:52 How Parents Can Use Tapping With Kids 28:34 The 9 EFT Tapping Points Explained 32:11 Using Tapping Before a Stressful Event 33:48 Is Tapping a Cop-Out? 34:25 Why Willpower and Self-Criticism Eventually Fail 36:25 Does Reducing Anxiety Make Us Less Resilient? 40:21 When Is Tapping the Wrong Choice? 42:29 Jessica's Personal Story of Rewiring an Old Wound 45:52 Tapping for "I'm Not Good Enough" 48:42 Tapping for "I'm Not Successful" 49:28 Is Tapping Becoming Mainstream Medicine? 51:42 What Brain Scans Reveal About Tapping and Food Cravings 54:18 The Research on Tapping, PTSD and the Brain 56:21 Could Lowering Cortisol Change Long-Term Health? 58:59 Why We're "Stressing About Stress" 59:46 Is Modern Life Making Us More Stressed? 01:02:17 Jessica's Book Rewired + The Tapping Solution 01:03:12 Hugh Jackman, Tapping and Peak Performance 01:05:02 What Ever Forward Means to Jessica ----- Episode resources: 20% off Operation Podcast studios with code EVERFORWARD 30% off Ketone-IQ energy shots with code CHASECHEWNING 15% off C15:0 essential fatty acids with code EVERFORWARD Watch and subscribe on YouTube

What if the greatest performance upgrade isn't another productivity hack—but learning how to pause Peloton instructor, former Buddhist monk, and author Sam Yo to unpack the principles behind The Monk's Mindset. We explore why stillness has become one of the most overlooked skills in modern life, how creating intentional "mindset moments" can reduce stress and anxiety, and why true peace isn't something you escape to—it's something you learn to carry with you. Follow Sam @yoiamsamyo Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 Introduction 00:47 Why We React Instead of Respond 03:55 Audible Sponsor 05:03 Creating Mental Space Between Moments 06:09 What Is The Monk's Mindset? 08:08 Building Daily Structure Through Stillness 09:08 Why Stillness Is the Ultimate Life Optimization Tool 11:14 Can Contentment Kill Ambition? 13:06 Technology Can Either Distract or Support Your Peace 14:06 Service, Purpose & Finding Meaning 16:11 Lessons Learned Living in a Monastery 18:02 Integrity When Nobody Is Watching 19:14 WHOOP Sponsor 20:27 Reflection: The Most Underrated Daily Practice 22:04 Sam Yo's Daily Monk Mindset Protocol 24:31 Handling Stress Without Losing Yourself 27:38 Staying Present During Success 29:14 Can Mindfulness Become Selfish? 30:10 What Happens When Self-Improvement Changes Your Relationships? 32:02 LMNT Sponsor 33:23 A Monk's Perspective on War 35:16 One Practice to Stay Calm During Uncertain Times 36:20 Creativity Through Stillness 38:03 Rapid Fire Questions 42:02 What Ever Forward Means to Sam Yo 43:08 How Social Media Steals Your Peace 43:42 Where to Connect with Sam Yo ----- Episode resources: FREE 30-day trial of Audible, my favorite audiobook platform 1-month FREE and FREE app for WHOOP activity tracker FREE variety sample pack with any purchase of LMNT elecrtroytes Watch and subscribe on YouTube

Can something invisible actually heal the body? Energy healing has long lived at the edge of mainstream medicine—dismissed by some, embraced by others. But what happens when hospitals begin integrating it, researchers start studying it, and emerging science begins asking questions that conventional medicine can't fully answer? Entrepreneur and energy healing advocate Romain Daumont explores one of the most controversial topics in health today. Romain unpacks the growing body of research surrounding energy healing, biofields, mitochondrial communication, consciousness, placebo science, quantum physics, remote viewing, trauma recovery, chronic pain, and why some of the world's leading medical institutions are quietly beginning to incorporate energy medicine into patient care. If you've ever wondered where science ends... and human potential begins... this conversation is for you. Follow Romain @luminara.care Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 — Is Energy Healing Real? 00:43 — Defining Energy Beyond the "Woo-Woo" Label 02:10 — Why Some People Reject Energy Healing Immediately 04:54 — The Science Behind Biofields & Cellular Healing 10:20 — Can We Ever Measure Consciousness? 14:18 — Quantum Physics Meets Human Healing 19:40 — Remote Viewing, Consciousness & Non-Local Information 30:12 — Building the World's First Energy Healing Talent Agency 35:58 — Is Energy Healing Becoming Mainstream Medicine? 39:25 — How to Avoid Fake Energy Healers 42:29 — Who Benefits Most from Energy Healing? 45:12 — Trauma, Intuition & Human Energy Fields 46:20 — Near Death Experiences & Consciousness 53:16 — What "Ever Forward" Means to Romain ----- Episode resources: FREE 30-day trial of Audible my favorite audiobook platfrom 20% off my favorite breath control patches (mouth tape) with code CHASE at ELVTBreath.com

Could the biggest threats to your health be hiding in plain sight? When Dan Huber suddenly developed debilitating brain fog, chronic fatigue, anxiety, digestive issues, and neurological symptoms, over a dozen doctors failed to identify the cause. Years later, he discovered the real culprit: toxic black mold hidden beneath his home. That experience launched an obsession with environmental health that expanded far beyond mold. Today, Dan researches how mold exposure, blue light, circadian disruption, poor sleep, and chronic stress silently influence our energy, hormones, cognition, immune function, and overall longevity. In this episode, we discuss: • The surprising symptoms of mold toxicity • Why mold is often misdiagnosed • The connection between mold and brain health • How blue light affects dopamine, melatonin, and sleep • Morning sunlight and circadian optimization • Why your home environment may matter more than supplements • Practical ways to improve recovery, resilience, and overall health ----- 00:00 – How Black Mold Destroyed Dan's Health 08:05 – Why Mold Is So Often Misdiagnosed 11:23 – How to Know If Mold Is Hiding in Your Home 16:27 – Detoxing From Mold Exposure 19:15 – Living With Mold Sensitivity 22:22 – The Best Ways to Test Your Home for Mold 27:23 – What To Do If Your Home Tests Positive 32:36 – Why Blue Light Became Dan's Next Obsession 34:45 – How Blue Light Impacts Sleep & Mental Health 37:23 – Morning Sunlight & Circadian Rhythm 39:02 – Why Sleep Changes Everything 41:11 – Practical Ways to Reduce Blue Light 46:09 – Can We Eliminate Too Much Blue Light? 47:16 – Is Blue Light Worse Than Mold? 49:09 – The Simplest Health Habit Anyone Can Start Today 52:12 – Why Dan Started Helping Kids 57:03 – What "Ever Forward" Means to Dan ----- Episode resources: 15% off my favorite collagen coffee with code CHASE at StrongCoffeeCompany.com 33% off your new favorite gut health support system with code EVERFORWARD at 38TERA.com/everforward

Most men aren't emotionally unavailable because they don't care. They're emotionally unavailable because they were never taught how to process emotion, navigate intimacy, or move through the transition from boyhood to manhood. In this conversation, relationship coach and author Stefanos Sifandos breaks down why high-achieving men often feel disconnected, why success can become emotional armor, and how unresolved childhood wounds quietly shape our relationships, ambition, confidence, and identity. Follow Stefanos @stefanossifandos Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- 00:00 – Why Successful Men Become Emotionally Unavailable 01:23 – Is Vulnerability the Final Frontier of Masculinity? 06:05 – A 3-Step Framework for Becoming More Vulnerable 11:26 – Why Your Partner Can't Be Your Therapist\ 15:01 – The Lost Rite of Passage From Boyhood to Manhood 20:15 – How Men Can Create Their Own Rite of Passage 22:30 – Did You Already Experience a Rite of Passage Without Realizing It? 26:00 – Finding Your Edge in Modern Masculinity 29:44 – The Hidden Insecurities That Drive Successful Men 33:26 – Father Wounds vs. Mother Wounds: The Difference Every Man Should Know 39:38 – Healing Childhood Trauma Before It Controls Your Relationships 40:20 – Does Vulnerability Actually Improve Your Sex Life? 43:37 – How to Regulate Your Nervous System (Simple Daily Practices) 50:55 – Is Male Ambition Just Unhealed Childhood Trauma? 51:34 – Why High-Achieving Men Often Struggle in Relationships 52:10 – Are Men Really Afraid of Emotion—or Losing Control? 53:07 – What "Ever Forward" Means & Living in Alignment With Your Truth 54:00 – Chase on Fatherhood, Emotional Regulation & Choosing Response Over Reaction ----- Episode resources: Fatty15 - save an additonal 15% on the 90-day starter kit of C15:0 essential fatty acids Watch and subscirbe on YouTube

What if almost everything you've been told about happiness is wrong? Most people spend their lives trying to avoid discomfort. Jerzy Gregorek argues the opposite: the harder the choices you willingly make, the happier, stronger, and more resilient your life becomes. World Champion weightlifter, philosopher, poet, therapist, and author Jerzy Gregorek explores the mindset principles that helped him survive political persecution in Communist Poland, overcome alcoholism, fight for freedom, coach elite athletes, and transform countless lives through what he calls the Happy Body philosophy. Jerzy explains why confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you earn through difficult choices. He reveals why most people sabotage their own happiness through expectations and complaint, why tiny daily improvements create extraordinary lives, and why true freedom begins the moment you take complete ownership of your choices. --- 00:00 Why Hard Choices Create an Easier Life 01:29 Recovering From Injury Starts With the Right Goal 05:22 Why Most People Never Build Real Resilience 07:02 The Stoic Philosophy of Constant Progress 08:01 Why You Need Bigger Goals 10:21 Building Confidence Through Personal Proof 13:19 The Power of Micro Progressions 15:18 The Incredible Story of Rebuilding a Life From Scratch 25:00 At 71 Years Old: Why Jerzy Still Olympic Lifts Every Day 30:03 How Poetry Became a Tool for Healing Trauma 36:18 "The Mind Makes the Body" 40:47 Viktor Frankl on Finding Meaning Through Suffering 45:20 Fighting for Freedom in Communist Poland 47:48 Helping People Recover From Addiction, PTSD & Darkness 54:54 Can You Become Your Own Hero? 56:17 The Books That Changed Jerzy's Life 58:12 Why Expectations Create Suffering 59:18 Stop Complaining, Start Taking Ownership 01:03:21 Choosing Happiness Is a Skill 01:07:22 What "Ever Forward" Really Means 01:10:47 The Value of Mentors 01:13:28 Jerzy's Daily Happy Body Practice ---- Episode resources: Timeline - get MitoPure with urolithin A for less than $75/month with code EVERFORWARD  Watch and subscribe on YouTube

What if anxiety, chronic pain, emotional overwhelm, and even trauma aren't signs that you're broken—but signs that your nervous system is trying to protect you? Ashleigh Di Lello, performance coach and Bio-Emotional Healing creator, shares one of the most powerful conversations ever featured on Ever Forward Radio. After surviving a mysterious illness that nearly took her life as a teenager—and later battling debilitating chronic pain that ended her professional dance career—Ashleigh discovered something that completely changed her understanding of healing. She explains why the brain is always trying to predict danger, how trauma quietly reshapes our identity, why resilience alone isn't enough, and what it actually takes to rewire your nervous system using evidence-based neuroscience. ----- 00:00 Why resilience eventually requires surrender 04:38 The mysterious illness that nearly took Ashleigh's life 09:16 Accepting reality vs. accepting defeat 13:44 Why unexpected trauma overwhelms the brain 16:02 A neuroscience-based protocol for processing bad news 22:44 The brain becomes what it repeatedly practices 24:03 Why toxic positivity doesn't heal trauma 29:42 How identity shapes your nervous system 35:27 When becoming "a fighter" eventually keeps you stuck 45:35 Trust, surrender and letting go of survival mode 57:35 Healing chronic pain by rewiring the nervous system 1:03:47 The Bio-Emotional Healing framework explained 1:06:08 The surprising way your reaction strengthens anxiety and pain 1:11:19 Why Ashleigh named her pain "Betty" 1:18:10 The invisible victory no one else could see 1:22:20 What "Ever Forward" means to Ashleigh ----- Episode resources: KETONE IQ - 30 % off brain fuel LMNT - free sample pack 38terra - 33% off gut health Watch and subscrbe on YouTube

What if one of the most powerful indicators of your overall health wasn't found in your blood—but in your sperm? Jeyla Sadikova, founder of Illumicell AI, is here to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming fertility medicine and why male reproductive health may become one of the most important biomarkers in preventative healthcare. We discuss the alarming worldwide decline in fertility, why nearly half of male infertility may be reversible through lifestyle changes, and how today's fertility testing is still largely built on technology from the 1970s. Jeyla also explains how AI can analyze millions of cellular data points that traditional microscopes simply ignore, opening the door to earlier detection of inflammation, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, prostate health, and even cancer risk. Whether you're planning to have children—or simply want to optimize your long-term health—this conversation will completely change the way you think about fertility, prevention, and the future of personalized medicine. ----- 00:00 — Why fertility is declining across the globe 02:02 — Why developing countries are seeing fertility collapse 03:30 — Ranking the biggest threats to reproductive health 07:38 — Why male fertility has been ignored for decades 11:11 — The hidden costs of IVF and fertility care 15:20 — AI's biggest opportunity in healthcare 17:00 — Why sperm is a biomarker of total body health 20:08 — Why healthcare innovation moves so slowly 22:10 — What traditional semen analysis completely misses 27:19 — The connection between prostate health and fertility 28:49 — How Illumicell AI works 31:10 — Public health implications of better fertility data 34:19 — Stem cells, temporary vasectomies and the future of reproduction 36:37 — What AI actually contributes beyond human analysis 42:52 — How AI analyzes sperm differently than humans 45:06 — The future of wearable fertility tracking 48:21 — Designer babies vs better healthcare 52:22 — Why fertility data could prevent future miscarriages 55:14 — Where this technology is headed next 56:23 — What "Ever Forward" means to Jeyla ----- Episode resources: Strong Coffee Company: Clean functional coffee with collagen, MCTs, adaptogens and sustained energy. Save 15% with code CHASE LMNT: Electrolytes for hydration, cognitive performance and recovery. Free Sample Pack with purchase Fatty15: C15:0 essential fatty acid supporting long-term cellular health. Save 15% on the Starter Kit