664: High-achiever? Here’s how to prevent burnout | science writer Elizabeth Svoboda

"The diet you'll stay on is a diet that's enjoyable and not too hard,” says Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, MA, RDN.  Bazilian is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Doctor of Public Health. She's authored multiple bestselling books, as well as contributed to a New York Times bestseller and a James Beard-nominated cookbook. She’s a spokesperson for Avocados – Love One Today and a frequent nutrition expert cited in mindbodygreen articles.  00:00 - The value of the food we consume 03:06 - Why dietary fat was misunderstood for decades 07:47 - Nutrient density vs. calorie counting 09:56 - Why 94% of us fall short on fiber 14:26 - Heart health, satiety, & blood sugar control 16:48 - Why the best diet is one you enjoy 18:50 - Food synergy & nutrient absorption 21:51 - Unexpected ways to cook with avocados 26:58 - The glycemic load effect 31:28 - Serving size vs. portion size 35:41 - How to store avocados properly 40:06 - 3 rules for moving the needle on health Referenced in the episode:  The HAT trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34496276/  Glycemic load study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299126000557  For more about Bazilian, visit her website: https://www.wendybazilian.com/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does driving a sports car actually do to your hormones? In this episode, we break down a surprisingly revealing 2009 study in which researchers had men drive a bright red sports car and a beige sedan and measured changes in their testosterone before and after. The results weren't what anyone expected. And the real finding had nothing to do with speed, horsepower, or even the car itself. We dig into the evolutionary biology behind status signaling, why social context drives hormonal responses, and what this study quietly reveals about how we chase external validation in modern life. Ever seen someone rev a Ferrari at a stoplight and thought "midlife crisis"? This one's for you. 00:00 - Introduction 00:53 - The Experiment 01:44 - The Results (And Why They're Surprising) 02:41 - The Evolutionary Biology Behind Status Signaling 03:34 - Why the Audience Mattered More Than the Car 04:26 - What "Borrowed Status" Costs Us 05:33 - What Actually Sustains Us Long-Term Read the study here: ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597809000442⁠ We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on ⁠YouTube⁠! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: ⁠[email protected]⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“As your time commitment goes down, the importance of intensity goes up,” says Kristi Storoshuk. Storoschuk is a PhD candidate in Muscle Physiology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Her research focuses on the relationship between skeletal muscle metabolism and whole-body metabolism, with an emphasis on how nutrient–exercise timing influences physiological adaptations to exercise. Storoschuk has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and is passionate about translating complex scientific findings into practical, evidence-based recommendations. Outside of her academic work, Kristi is the founder of a women’s health coaching program focused on improving metabolic health through sustainable nutrition and exercise, particularly in the context of preconception health.  00:00 - What is Zone 2 training?  08:14 - The limitations of Zone 2 training 11:18 - Prioritizing intensity when time is limited 15:56 - All about interval training 19:16 - The truth about building your aerobic base 21:02 - We shouldn’t train cardio like elite athletes 24:48 - Fat burning & Zone 2 26:10 - Talking weekly cardio protocol 30:03 - Storoschuk’s habits 33:03 - Unpacking exercise culture & trends  37:22 - Recovery, wearables, & intuition  43:10 - HIIT above all else Referenced in the episode:  Read Storoschuk’s research about Zone 2: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-025-02261-y  For more about Storoschuk, visit her website: https://krististoroschuk.com/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It's way better to pull yourself back from the brink of burnout before it hits than to let yourself fall all the way in,” says Elizabeth Svoboda. Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons. Her new book, The Art of Pacing, is available now. 00:00 - Why high performers always push to 110% 05:58 - Physical signs of burnout 09:14 - Getting more comfortable with recovery 12:16 - Pacing & how to take advantage of energy rhythms  16:00 - What an Olympic runner taught her about rest 18:32 - Modulation & the importance of breathwork  28:30 - Why it’s so hard recover from burnout 31:48 - Boom-bust cycles 35:12 - Gold star culture & unsustainable achievement 40:34 - Why early sports specialization backfires 44:08 - How to pace yourself with rigid flexibility 50:32 - The next wise choice Referenced in the episode:  For more about Elizabeth Svoboda, visit her website: https://elizabethsvoboda.com/  Buy The Art Of Pacing here: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Pacing-Balancing-Short-Term-Long-Term/dp/1668022419/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Find the Maslach Burnout Inventory here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fecb650c2646617cb1e0599/t/6320f5325f757e4ad8bc0062/1663104306195/Maslach-Burnout-Inventory.pdf  For more about Joe Arpaia: https://www.centerfortransformativehealing.org/joseph Follow runner Ajeé Wilson: https://www.instagram.com/ajeelenee/?hl=en  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We can choose our brain’s destiny,” says David Perlmutter, MD. Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author whose work focuses on the intersection of neurology, nutrition, and brain health. He is on the Board of Directors of the American College of Nutrition and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. His books, including the #1 bestseller Grain Brain, has been published in 32 languages and sold over a million copies. Perlmutter lectures globally at leading institutions and has been featured on major media outlets including 20/20, CNN, The Today Show, and Oprah. His new book, Brain Defenders, focuses on the pivotal role of microglia, the brain’s immune cells, in protecting, repairing, and reprogramming the brain for lifelong resilience, and is now available for pre-order. 00:00 - Treating the symptoms, not the cause  02:37 - Microglial cells & their evil twin state  05:44 - How metabolism affects the brain  08:00 - Gut bacteria, inflammation, & brain degeneration  11:38 - Why lifestyle beats the APOE4 gene  16:25 - Perlmutter’s daily routine 23:55 - Loneliness & oxytocin  26:21 - The effects of long COVID on the brain 32:18 - Glyphosate & other environmental factors  39:20 - Reprogramming microglia & mitochondrial transplants  41:35 - Own your brain's destiny Referenced in the episode:  For more about Perlmutter, visit his website: https://drperlmutter.com/  For more about Perlmutter's upcoming book, visit: https://braindefenders.com/ Alzheimers & UPFs study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042  POINTER study - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837046  20-week Alzheimer’s study:  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13195-024-01482-z  Golf course & Parkinson’s study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833716  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"If you don't get those foundational behaviors down, there ain't nothing a peptide's gonna do for you,” says Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D. Pojednic is a professor of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Stanford University and is the Chief Science Officer at Restore. Her work examines nutrition, supplementation and physical activity interventions on muscle physiology, performance and recovery, as well as muscle related chronic disease, with a particular focus on women. Pojednic  holds a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is board certified Health Coach from the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC). She has a particular passion for science communication and has been a consultant and writer for many prominent news outlets, including NPR, Time, The Washington Post, and Popular Science. Show notes: 00:00 - The difference between science & wellness  06:30 - The big vs. little levers of health 08:40 - What we do & don’t know about peptides  11:45 - A study on supplement stacking gone wrong 13:55 - Next-gen peptides (BPC-157 & more) 18:20 - All about NAD, NR, & NMN 29:57 - Creatine for muscle & brain health 33:48 - Looking at leucine & amino acid profile in protein 36:48 - Why fasting advice for women often backfires 40:24 - Stop chasing perfection 43:45 - How to use wearables & lab testing 50:13 - Bridging science & wellness Referenced in the episode: For more about Pojednic, visit her website: https://www.rachelepojednic.com/  mindbodygreen’s creatine brain supplement: https://shop.mindbodygreen.com/products/creatine-brain  mindbodygreen’s whey protein: https://shop.mindbodygreen.com/products/clear-whey-protein  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I think structure is more liberating than it is stifling, and it often takes people losing it to sort of realize that,” says David Epstein. Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. He lives in Washington, DC. His newest book, Inside The Box, is out now.  00:00 - Why constraints drive creativity 06:35 - How mnemonics help you memorize 10:31 - The power of low-stakes practice 12:25 - The problem with youth sports  18:56 - The constraints-led approach in elite sports 22:25 - Good vs bad constraints 25:39 - Constraints at NASA & Pixar 31:07 - Why we always add instead of subtract 35:02 - The dizziness of freedom 41:29 - Experimentation as a practice 45:19 - The importance of self-reflection 49:02 - How to fix your fractured attention Referenced in the episode:  Read The Athletic’s article about the constraints-led approach: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6665943/2025/09/29/sports-training-cla-coaching-wembanyana-ohtani For more about David Epstein, visit his website: https://davidepstein.com/  Buy Inside The Box here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNDSKWMY/?/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Buy Range here: https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214506/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Every human being comes equipped with the capacity to flourish,” says Richard Davidson, Ph.D.  Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker, leading conversations on wellbeing on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he served on the Global Council on Mental Health.  In 2014, Davidson founded Humin (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations), a global nonprofit on a mission to make wellbeing real by translating science into action. 00:00 - What it means to flourish 05:48 - Using your mind intentionally 09:46 - Why informal practice works just as well 11:50 - A mindful walk 14:21 - The biology of loneliness 17:15 - The narrative you carry about yourself 20:38 - Mental reps & neuroplasticity 23:54 - Connecting purpose to small tasks 28:25 - The free Healthy Minds app 31:02 - How fast the brain actually changes 36:48 - Inflammation, dementia, & longevity 38:53 - Davidson's morning & evening ritual 43:13 - Setting kids up to flourish 44:43 - How a volleyball team connects Referenced in the episode:  The Healthy Minds app: https://www.humin.org/wellbeing-tools/app For more about Davidson, visit: https://www.richardjdavidson.com/  Purchase his book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668066238/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"When it comes to high-intensity interval training work, quality is much more important than quantity,” says Fraser Thurlow, Ph.D.  Thurlow is a high-performance coach, researcher, and lecturer with over a decade of experience helping people improve their fitness and performance. He holds a PhD in Human Performance, has published extensively on training, and has lectured at leading Australian universities in sport and exercise science. His work focuses on translating science into practical, evidence-based strategies that improve health, fitness, and athletic performance. 00:00 - How to actually raise your VO2 max 05:26 - Long vs short interval training 09:00 - Heart rate vs. perceived exertion 11:13 - Accurately monitoring heart rate  13:12 - The sprint interval training protocol 19:07 - A sample weekly plan 23:58 - Working exercise into the day-to-day 28:24 - Making the most out of supersets 31:58 - VO2 max mistakes 34:32 - How to train for HYROX 39:17 - Foot strength & barefoot lifting 43:37 - Overrated & underrated fitness 45:35 - Fraser's sprint research 50:40 - VO2 max vs. muscle for longevity Referenced in the episode:  For more about Thurlow & his personal training, visit: https://stan.store/drthurlow  Jan Helgerud sprint study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17414804/  Vollaard analysis of VO2 max studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28079707/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When we engage in the arts, it exposes us to a lot of emotions, which can have a tangible impact on the neurotransmitters released in our brains, the stress hormones in our bodies, and even the levels of inflammation in our immune system,” says Daisy Fancourt.  Fancourt is a Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London where she heads the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, and serves as the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. She is one of the most highly cited scientists in the world, having published 300 scientific papers and won over two dozen academic prizes. She is a multi-award-winning science communicator and has been named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and BBC New Generation Thinker.  00:00 - Art as the fifth pillar of health 01:21 - The benefits of arts engagement 08:10 - Your daily & weekly arts prescription 09:35 - Why attention is the key ingredient 11:12 - Visual vs. audio art 14:56 - Making the most of a museum visit 18:11 - Art for stress & mood regulation 19:09 - Using art to wind down 21:04 - Art & the brain 27:44 - Prescribing art for anxiety & depression 32:08 - Reconnecting with childhood creativity 34:14 - Finding art in the every day 36:45 - Biological evidence of art’s impact 40:14 - Art for joy & exercise 44:54 - The creative commute Referenced in the episode:  Greece’s art program for mental health: https://artonprescription.gr/en/   For more about Fancourt & her research, visit: https://sbbresearch.org/  Buy Fancourt’s book here: https://a.co/d/03ypycB7  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices