557. Why Your Brain is Sabotaging You with Dr. Don Wood

Your body is keeping score — and it may be losing. Unresolved trauma doesn't just affect your emotions. It drives chronic inflammation, suppresses your immune system, and quietly blocks your body's ability to heal. And most people have no idea it's happening. In Episode 557 of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Dr. Don Wood — founder of the Inspired Performance Institute and creator of the TIPP program — whose daughter was told she had two incurable diseases. Instead of accepting that verdict, he spent a decade researching, earned his PhD, and developed a method that resolves trauma at the neurological level, often in a single session. What we unpacked together: Why chronic inflammation — not just inflammation — is the real driver of disease The difference between capital-T Trauma and the small-t 'emotional concussions' most of us carry without realizing it How the subconscious mind keeps looping old trauma as if it's happening right now — and what that does to your genes Why conventional therapy often falls short, and what faster, neurological alternatives look like The role of hyperbaric oxygen, theta chambers, and PEMF in locking in the healing If you've ever felt stuck — in your health, your performance, or patterns you can't seem to shake — this episode will change how you think about why. 🎧 Listen now www.getyourselfoptimized.com/557  

New Get Yourself Optimized episode: Neuroscientist + Doctor of Chinese Medicine Dr. Amy Albright reveals why your nervous system—not your strategy—is the real bottleneck. Free 3-step reset included.  The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/556

Your phone isn't a habit. For millions, it's an addiction. Jim Sugel spent 22 years in recovery & wrote the 12 Steps for Smartphone Addiction. We walked through every step live in this Get Yourself Optimized episode.

Most people open ChatGPT and ask it a question. The ones getting extraordinary results? They start by telling it who they are. In this episode of Get Yourself Optimized, I sat down with Dr. Gary Sanchez — founder of the Why Institute and creator of the WHY Operating System — and he will completely reframe how you think about AI as a tool for personal and professional growth. "Who first, then what." Before you ask AI to help you write your LinkedIn profile, plan your business strategy, or create your next campaign, you need to give it the language of you. Your why. Your how. Your what. Without that, you're getting advice built for everyone, not for you. In this episode, we cover:  → How to use your Why assessment as an AI upload to personalize every output  → Meta prompting: getting AI to write the perfect prompt for you  → Using NotebookLM to decode relationship and team dynamics  → Why the future belongs to those who know themselves deeply — and use AI intentionally If you've ever felt like your LinkedIn profile doesn't really sound like you, or that AI keeps giving you generic answers… this episode is the missing piece. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/554.

He was rejected 268 times. Couldn't spell. Barely write. Today, Greg Reid has published 157 books in 45 languages and has a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame. His secret? Stop trying to fix your weaknesses. Double down on your strengths — and hire the rest. In Episode 553 of Get Yourself Optimized, Greg pulls back the curtain on the systems, mindsets, and unconventional moves that turned a dyslexic kid who couldn't get a publisher to call him back into one of the most prolific authors in the world. Here's what we unpack:  → Why ghost writers aren't cheating — they're a strategy  → How rigorous honesty saved his relationships (even his divorces)  → The Web3 opportunity most entrepreneurs are completely ignoring  → Why he pays his 13-year-old son for TikToks instead of chores  → The Hollywood "maybe rule" that got his Oscar-contending film made in 7 months If you've been told you're not the right fit, don't have the right background, or don't have the right skills — this episode is for you. Tune in! The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/553.

Ever notice how the most meaningful connections seem to happen "by accident"? They're not accidents. They're collisions you can engineer. James Eder—entrepreneur, coach, and author of The Collision Code—reveals the exact framework for creating serendipitous moments that change your business and life. His story: Built Student Beans to 200+ employees. Diagnosed with a heart condition. Told he might need a transplant. Instead of slowing down, he wrote a book, donating 100% of royalties to charity, and created a coaching practice serving entrepreneurs worldwide. The Collision Code breaks down to three elements: Permission - Give yourself permission to start conversations (or blame this podcast for making you do it) Confidence - Built through practice, not preparation Context - Create conversation starters through what you wear, carry, or say In our conversation on Get Yourself Optimized, James shares how he met his longest-running client (8+ years, £20,000+ engagement) by asking a stranger on the street, "Are you looking for a job?" because the man had a resume in his hand. Real connections. Real results. Real impact. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/552.

From facing jail time and bankruptcy to owning a stake in a professional sports team with an NBA championship ring, Joel Steele's journey proves that your lowest moments can become your greatest catalysts. In this week's episode of Get Yourself Optimized, Joel shares the exact framework that took him from $500,000 in debt at age 24 to financial independence in under two years. His "Life Switch" methodology isn't about positive thinking—it's about tuning into the emotions most people suppress and using them as your personal roadmap. Key insights you'll discover:  ✅ Why your uncomfortable emotions are "gold" (and how to decode them)  ✅ The two-step success formula Joel used to escape bankruptcy  ✅ How to delete doubt the same way you skip a bad song  ✅ The 3 P's that power transformation: Potential, Passion, Purpose Joel didn't get lucky. He got intentional. And he's breaking down exactly how he did it. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/551.  

What if the key to better decisions isn't just willpower—it's how we support our daily performance? I just interviewed James Schmachtenberger, co-founder of Neurohacker Collective and creator of Qualia, who went from severe adrenal failure at 21 to pioneering a new approach to human optimization. After a life-changing experimental IV therapy in Mexico transformed his brain function, James asked himself a powerful question: 'Could we make cutting-edge cognitive enhancement accessible to everyone—not just those who can afford $250K/year in precision medicine?' The answer led to a complete reimagining of supplement science, using complex systems modeling rather than the standard "one problem, one pill" approach. James found that when he started exploring nootropics during his burnout period, they helped give him the foundation to start making better choices in exercise, nutrition, and other areas of life—creating powerful compounding effects. If you've ever felt like you're capable of more but can't consistently access that potential, this conversation will give you a completely new framework The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/550.

The IRS has a new weapon: AI Audits that move at lightning speed And most taxpayers have no idea it's coming. Here's what's happening: The IRS is using artificial intelligence to match 1099s and other reported income against tax returns. When there's a mismatch, you get a letter—but here's the catch: you might have only 5 days left to respond by the time it reaches your mailbox. Don't respond in time? They can freeze your bank account faster than you can say "tax audit." I just released the Get Yourself Optimized episode with Diane Kennedy, a CPA who's been in the tax strategy game for decades. She's seeing the AI audit revolution firsthand—and she's here to help you navigate it (and save money in the process). Diane's philosophy is simple: The same legal tax strategies available to billionaires should be available to everyone. The difference? Knowledge and implementation. Financial stress blocks your potential. When you're constantly worried about money or caught off guard by tax problems, there's less bandwidth for personal growth, health optimization, and the things that actually matter. This episode gives you concrete actions to reduce your tax burden legally, protect your assets, and free up money to invest in yourself. The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/549.

What if you could give yourself an extra week every year? That's exactly what my guest, Sam Richter, did by automating just ONE repetitive task in his business. Sam, a keynote speaker and AI-powered sales intelligence pioneer, discovered that by creating a custom AI assistant for his presentation slides, he reduced his prep time from 25 minutes to 5 minutes per presentation. Across 100 presentations per year, that's 2,000 minutes saved—essentially a free 53rd week in his year. In this Get Yourself Optimized episode, Sam breaks down:  ✅ The GUIDE framework for writing prompts that reduce AI hallucinations ✅ Why treating AI like an intern gets better outcomes than treating it like a search engine  ✅ How a retail company used AI to optimize staffing in under 5 minutes (a task that would have taken days manually)  ✅ The difference between traditional AI and generative AI—and why it matters  ✅ Custom GPTs, system prompts, and memory features that personalize your AI experience This isn't about replacing humans—it's about amplifying what makes us human. What repetitive task in your business could you automate this week? The show notes, including the transcript and checklist to this episode, are at getyourselfoptimized.com/548.