#267 Sander Brus — Sugar, Dopamine, Cravings & the Future of Metabolic Health

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieCan trauma become a source of strength, purpose, and growth?In this episode of The Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia speaks with Dr. Edith Shiro, licensed clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, co-founder of the Trauma and Resilience Center, and author of The Unexpected Gift of Trauma.Dr. Shiro has spent decades studying trauma, PTSD, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. Her work is also shaped by her family history as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and Syrian refugees, and by supporting people through 9/11, the Surfside building collapse, war, migration, and other collective traumas.Together, they explore why trauma is not only about what happens to us, but how it can reshape our beliefs, relationships, nervous system, and sense of self.Dr. Shiro explains why healing begins with radical acceptance, why trauma can live in the body, and why being heard, validated, and connected to others can be such an important part of recovery.They also explore post-traumatic growth and how pain can eventually become a source of purpose, compassion, resilience, and service to others.IN THIS EPISODE• What trauma really is• Big T vs small T trauma• Intergenerational and collective trauma• Why trauma can live in the body• How unresolved trauma affects relationships• Radical acceptance and emotional healing• Turning pain into purpose• Post-traumatic growth• Gratitude and nervous-system regulation• Psychedelics and PTSD• Why human connection matters for longevityTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction02:03 How trauma became Dr. Shiro’s life’s work03:58 Why some people grow after trauma06:12 Why trauma lives in the body08:42 Why trauma is relational12:35 Radical acceptance and healing14:53 Why we avoid painful emotions17:06 What actually counts as trauma?19:57 Big T, small T & intergenerational trauma21:33 How the body carries unresolved trauma25:04 How unresolved trauma shapes our reactions26:32 What is post-traumatic growth?29:10 Turning pain into purpose29:33 How your wound can become your superpower31:00 Claudia shares her childhood trauma34:02 Reframing childhood beliefs38:19 The power of gratitude41:32 Psychedelics and trauma healing44:33 Dr. Shiro’s book and work46:21 Mental health as a daily practiceABOUT DR. EDITH SHIRODr. Edith Shiro is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma, PTSD, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. She is the author of The Unexpected Gift of Trauma: The Path to Post-Traumatic Growth.#EdithShiro #TraumaHealing #PostTraumaticGrowth #MentalHealth #Resilience #PTSD #Longevity

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:Axolt, a daily brain drink with 46 carefully selected ingredients, no caffeine or stimulants, and formulated with input from neurologists and brain health researchers: https://axoltbrain.com/claudiaGet 20% off through the link aboveWhy is sugar so hard to resist, even when you know it is not helping your health?Claudia speaks with Sander Brus, scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of NoSu Health, about the biology behind cravings and how to change your relationship with sugar.After COVID temporarily took away his sense of taste, Sander stopped reaching for Coca-Cola, changed his eating habits, and lost 15 kilograms. This sparked his exploration of taste receptors, dopamine, and food reward.They discuss how ultra-processed foods keep us coming back, why willpower alone often fails, and how glucose swings, GLP-1 medications, and satiety influence appetite.Sander also explains NoSu Health and Gymnema sylvestre, the “sugar destroyer,” which can temporarily reduce sweet taste. Plus, discover how at-home diagnostics and AI-powered retinal imaging could support earlier detection of health risks.IN THIS EPISODE• Sugar cravings, dopamine, and the “bliss point”• Blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and GLP-1s• Gymnema sylvestre and sweet taste receptors• Practical ways to reduce sugar• At-home diagnostics and AI retinal scans• Prevention, behavior change, and enjoying lifeTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction01:29 Surfing, dopamine, and big-wave risk04:47 Claudia’s father’s stroke recovery09:45 How losing taste changed Sander’s relationship with food10:30 The “bliss point” and engineered food reward12:55 How appearance and texture change how much we eat14:22 Why sugar is so hard to resist15:00 Dopamine and the brain’s reward pathway15:55 Big Tobacco and Big Food17:00 Why willpower is not enough19:14 GLP-1s and addictive behavior20:25 Why ultra-processed food is so difficult to resist22:29 Why sugary breakfasts can trigger more cravings23:19 The glucose rollercoaster25:28 How quitting sugar changed Sander’s body26:26 The story behind NoSu Health27:00 Blocking sweet taste receptors28:49 Reducing glucose spikes and crashes29:32 Gymnema sylvestre and metabolic health31:08 Where to start if you want to reduce sugar31:56 How taste buds can reset32:39 Different ways to use NoSu35:55 Rewiring the reward response to sugar37:20 Is sugar really as addictive as cocaine?38:35 The science behind Gymnema sylvestre40:00 Sugar hiding under different names40:30 NoSu’s ongoing research42:17 Can NoSu complement GLP-1 medications?43:43 Sander’s other health-tech companies44:19 The future of at-home diagnostics47:14 Using the retina to assess cardiovascular health48:42 Retina scans vs CT calcium scoring50:38 Why early detection matters53:08 AI, health technology, and behavior change55:45 Where to follow Sander56:31 Sander’s final longevity adviceABOUT SANDER BRUSSander Brus is a Dutch scientist and entrepreneur working across metabolic health, diagnostics, sustainability, and AI. He founded NoSu Health and AUCAS Diagnostics and works with IRO on AI-powered retinal imaging for cardiovascular risk assessment.#SanderBrus #SugarCravings #MetabolicHealth #Dopamine #UltraProcessedFood #BloodSugar #Longevity #HealthyAging

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comGet 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.Axolt, a daily brain drink with 46 carefully selected ingredients, no caffeine or stimulants, and formulated with input from neurologists and brain health researchers: https://axoltbrain.com/claudiaGet 20% off through the link aboveWhat if your future self stopped feeling like a stranger and became someone you could talk to, learn from, and feel responsible for?Claudia speaks with Gazal Vakili, founder and CEO of Future Self, an AI-powered personal transformation platform that helps people connect with who they want to become.With more than 15 years of experience across clinical research, biotech, digital health, virtual reality, cognitive science, and AI-enabled health technologies, Gazal explores how our beliefs and identity influence today's choices.Discover how AI voice cloning, personalized meditations, visualization, and daily micro-actions can help bring your future identity into the present. Together, Claudia and Gazal explore purpose, intuition, self-worth, and learning to listen to yourself.IN THIS EPISODE• Imposter syndrome, identity, and the power of belief• Silent meditation, intuition, and self-awareness• Why we treat our future selves like strangers• The psychology of future-self continuity• Creating an emotionally meaningful future vision• AI voice cloning and future-self conversations• Personalized meditations and daily micro-actions• Why worthiness cannot come from achievementTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction04:33 Gazal’s journey into Future Self05:27 Imposter syndrome06:00 The placebo effect and belief07:38 Identity and expectations08:24 Childhood and self-belief09:17 Reprogramming identity11:34 The Future Self mission12:36 Voice cloning and inner wisdom14:21 Silent meditation15:28 Sitting with your thoughts17:27 Intuition vs the monkey mind18:08 Observing your thoughts18:58 Journaling for answers21:08 Your future self as a stranger23:38 Future-self continuity24:56 Connecting with your future identity26:50 Why identity is not fixed27:24 How beliefs filter reality29:16 Creating a bold future vision30:24 Making your future feel real31:00 Talking to your future self32:50 Daily guidance and micro-actions34:05 Multi-sensory visualization35:31 Meditations in your own voice36:29 Weekly future-self check-ins38:03 Gazal’s transformation39:08 An emotional future-self encounter40:38 Becoming an entrepreneur41:45 Gazal’s daily practice44:09 Questioning your identity45:17 Listening to yourself45:56 What’s next for Future Self46:58 Gazal’s final messageLEARN MORE ABOUT FUTURE SELFWebsite: https://www.future-self.ai/Join the waitlist for updates on beta access and future availability.#GazalVakili #FutureSelf #AI #Identity #Mindset #Visualization #HumanPotential #PersonalGrowth #LongevityPodcast

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieJoin Claudia at Eudēmonia in West Palm Beach this November! Get 10% off eligible Standard and Enhanced badges with code LONGEVITYANDLIFESTYLE → https://eudemonia.net/longevityandlifestyleWhat’s the point of living to 100 if you’re not truly enjoying your life?In this special episode of The Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia welcomes Sean Hoess, Founder and CEO of Eudēmonia, to explore why longevity is about more than living longer.From corporate law to co-founding Wanderlust and creating Eudēmonia, Sean shares his journey and the importance of purpose, community, fulfillment, and evidence-based wellness.They discuss the evolution of wellness, the power of human connection, navigating health information, self-experimentation, and what makes Eudēmonia a unique gathering for the longevity community.IN THIS EPISODE• Sean’s journey from corporate law to Wanderlust and Eudēmonia• Why purpose and fulfillment are essential to longevity• The evolution of evidence-based wellness• How community and connection influence well-being• Why failure and experimentation support growth• Navigating health information and scientific integrity• Peptides, self-experimentation, and safety• What makes Eudēmonia different and what’s new this NovemberTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction01:13 Sean’s journey into entrepreneurship05:24 Building Wanderlust and lessons learned11:40 The inspiration behind Eudēmonia13:15 Living well versus living longer15:13 The evolution of wellness17:48 Bridging wellness communities20:55 Encouraging respectful debate22:42 Why purpose matters for longevity25:58 Finding purpose through experimentation30:55 What makes Eudēmonia different33:22 Scientific integrity and commercial influence38:13 Peptides and self-experimentation44:01 What’s new at Eudēmonia46:15 Sean’s final message on purposeABOUT SEAN HOESSSean Hoess is the Founder and CEO of Eudēmonia and co-founder of Wanderlust. His work brings together longevity science, fitness, mindfulness, and community to help people make informed health decisions and live more fulfilling lives.COME JOIN US AT EUDĒMONIAJoin Claudia in West Palm Beach this November and enjoy 10% off eligible Standard and Enhanced badges with code LONGEVITYANDLIFESTYLE.https://eudemonia.net/longevityandlifestyle#SeanHoess #Eudemonia #Longevity #Wellness #Purpose #Biohacking #HealthyAging #LongevityPodcast

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comGet 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.Axolt, a daily brain drink with 46 carefully selected ingredients, no caffeine or stimulants, formulated with input from neurologists and brain health researchers: https://axoltbrain.com/claudiaGet 20% off automatically through the link above. No code needed.What if brain health depends on the entire infrastructure that keeps neurons alive, fueled, and protected?Claudia speaks with Martin Valovsky, co-founder of Axolt Brain, about the overlooked systems supporting long-term brain health, from glial cells and astrocytes to blood flow, the blood-brain barrier, the glymphatic system, and mitochondria.They explore how brain damage can accumulate silently, how APOE4 influences risk, and why daily habits matter before symptoms appear.Martin shares his experience with double-copy APOE4, why he stopped drinking alcohol, his concerns about sugar, and why he prioritizes movement. They also discuss Axolt’s formulation, polyphenols, bioavailability, and ingredient safety.IN THIS EPISODE• Glial cells, astrocytes, and the brain’s support systems• The blood-brain barrier and glymphatic clearance• Sleep, mitochondria, and brain energy• APOE4 and Martin’s personal journey• Movement, alcohol, sugar, and daily habits• Polyphenols, bioavailability, and Axolt’s formulation• Supplement safety and when to consult your doctorTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction03:54 Why brain health matters04:29 Brain health as an infrastructure problem05:30 Blood-brain barrier and brain protection06:30 The glymphatic system and brain cleaning07:49 Why glial cells matter08:55 Astrocytes: the brain’s “IT system”10:00 Oligodendrocytes and brain signaling11:37 Mitochondria and brain energy12:13 How much control do we have over brain aging?12:36 APOE4 and Martin’s personal motivation14:26 Axolt Brain partner message16:08 The fundamentals of brain longevity16:23 Why Martin stopped drinking alcohol17:00 Why he considers sugar a major culprit17:30 Why movement comes first18:30 Polyphenols and brain health19:47 Building the Axolt formula20:08 Three years of formulation work21:00 Safety and ingredient selection22:00 Bioavailability and the blood-brain barrier23:30 Spearmint, memory, and brain nutrition24:18 What users report25:27 Who should speak to their doctor25:50 Peptides and brain health27:11 Martin’s final messageABOUT MARTIN VALOVSKYMartin Valovsky is the co-founder of Axolt Brain, a daily brain nutrition company focused on long-term cognitive performance and brain health.After more than a decade in the high-pressure defense industry, Martin and his co-founder experienced burnout, brain fog, and poor sleep. This led them to explore the brain’s nutritional needs and develop Axolt with neurologists, researchers, and scientific advisors.#MartinValovsky #AxoltBrain #BrainHealth #Longevity #CognitiveHealth #APOE4 #GlymphaticSystem #HealthyAging #LongevityPodcast

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comGet 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.What if the choices that feel hardest today are the very ones that make your life easier tomorrow?In this episode of the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia speaks with Jerzy Gregorek, four-time weightlifting champion, poet, mentor, resilience teacher, and creator of The Happy BodyJerzy’s life has been extraordinary. He survived alcoholism and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, became a political rebel in communist Poland, led a strike against the government, lived underground after the uprising was crushed, became a refugee, rebuilt his life from nothing, and went on to become a champion athlete and internationally respected mentor.At the heart of his philosophy is a deceptively simple idea:Hard choices, easy life.Easy choices, hard life.IN THIS EPISODE• Jerzy’s battle with alcoholism and suicidal thoughts• Surviving communist Poland and becoming a refugee• The origin of “Hard Choices, Easy Life”• The negative and positive voices inside us• Jerzy’s 51% principle for changing your life• Why transformation happens through micro-progressions• The green tea story and learning to embrace discomfort• Why your lifestyle compounds over decades• Why exercise should be about joy, not weight loss• Strength, flexibility, leanness, and longevity• Meditation as part of physical performance• Human potential and neurodiversity• Why mentorship can change someone’s trajectory• The importance of having a dream• Why “deliver” may be one of the most important words in lifeTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction00:34 Longevity in Silicon Valley01:10 Jerzy’s extraordinary life journey02:07 Alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, and rebuilding his life03:30 Becoming a fireman and political resistance in Poland04:29 The warning that saved Jerzy’s life05:33 Darkness, angels, and resilience07:14 Finding meaning inside difficult experiences08:24 The origins of Jerzy’s work on self-talk11:00 The fatalist and the master13:16 The 51% tipping point15:09 What “Hard Choices, Easy Life” really means16:06 The green tea experiment20:09 Training yourself to embrace discomfort21:56 Why hard choices lead to improvement22:25 The philosophy of The Happy Body24:51 Strength, leanness, and preventing sarcopenia29:32 Why meditation belongs in The Happy Body30:37 Music as meditation33:11 Human potential and neurodiversity37:00 Aging, movement, and challenging the brain39:00 Exercise, breathing, and joy40:20 Why exercise is not for weight loss42:37 Meditation, poetry, and mentorship44:32 Living in the present moment46:23 The story behind Stand and Deliver49:26 Delivering goodness to yourself51:55 Why every dream needs action53:11 Where to find Jerzy53:50 Darkness, light, and mental healthSubscribe to the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast for conversations with leading thinkers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers exploring how to live healthier, longer, and better.#JerzyGregorek #HardChoicesEasyLife #Longevity #Resilience #TheHappyBody #SelfMastery #StrengthTraining #Mindset #HealthyAging #LongevityPodcast

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my FREE 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer: https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebie THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BYBioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut health, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing.Get 20% OFF with code CLAUDIA20: https://BioLongevitySupplements.com What if one of the most powerful longevity interventions isn't another supplement, test, or biohack, but JOY?In this episode of the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia speaks with Tina Woods, social entrepreneur, author, founder of Collider Health and Business for Health, and DJ Tina Technotic!Together, they explore how we can shift from reactive sick care to prevention and why joy, purpose, connection, and our environment may be some of the most overlooked factors in healthy ageing.Tina introduces the human exposome, the environmental, lifestyle, social, and psychological influences that shape our health throughout life. She also shares her inspiring journey of becoming a DJ at 60 and launching the Joy Score experiment, exploring whether music, dancing, belonging, and positive experiences can produce measurable biological and neurological changes.From AI and preventative healthcare to loneliness, biomarkers, and the limitations of obsessive self-optimization, this conversation challenges us to rethink what it truly means to live longer and better.IN THIS EPISODE• Moving healthcare from sick care to prevention • How AI could transform healthy longevity • The human exposome and its impact on ageing • Why loneliness, stress, and belonging matter • How our environments influence lifelong health • Tina's journey to becoming a DJ at 60 • Dancing, music, and the science of joy • The Joy Score experiment and what it measures • The biological impact of human connection • Why obsessive health tracking has limitations • The role of business, cities, and policy in prevention • Protecting human connection in the age of AITIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction03:42 Tina’s journey into longevity and system change06:00 Moving healthcare from sick care to prevention12:17 How to create change inside resistant systems14:35 Why healthcare solutions must extend beyond the NHS17:32 AI, health data, and prevention23:52 Why longevity is shifting from lifespan to healthspan24:46 What is the human exposome?26:04 Loneliness, stress, and the psychosocial exposome28:19 Why our environments matter for longevity30:21 The origins of the Joy Score31:30 Tina’s rediscovery of dancing and joy34:00 Becoming DJ Tina Technotic at 6036:02 Launching the Joy Score experiment39:42 What the Joy Score actually measures43:13 Measuring biomarkers, brain health, and emotional wellbeing47:20 Why joy matters for longevity49:00 The limits of self-optimization52:29 Burning Man, AI, and protecting what makes us human55:42 Tina’s final messageCONNECT WITH TINALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinamariewoods/ Subscribe to the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast for inspiring conversations with leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators shaping the future of health, longevity, and human performance.What brings YOU joy, and how are you making more room for it in your life? Share your thoughts in the comments!#TinaWoods #Longevity #Joy #HealthyAging #HumanConnection #Exposome #MentalHealth #AIHealth #Biohacking #LongevityPodcast

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comThis week’s picks: BioRetina, ShredMAX, BioGutPro, and BioRestore.Get 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.What if cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of getting older?In this episode of the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia speaks with Dr. Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, physician, researcher, performance consultant, and author of The Stimulated Mind.Tommy explains why dementia begins developing decades before diagnosis, why genetics such as ApoE4 are not destiny, and how much power we may have to change the trajectory of our brain health through lifestyle, environment, and targeted stimulation.IN THIS EPISODE• Why dementia may begin decades before diagnosis• How early-life environment shapes lifelong brain health• Neurogenesis vs neuroplasticity• Why the adult brain can still change• How Formula One drivers train for cognitive performance• Sleep, nutrition, exercise, HRV, and recovery• The Yerkes-Dodson arousal curve• Breathwork, caffeine, music, and visualization• Tommy’s “green, amber, red” health system• Why cognitive decline should not be considered inevitable• How much dementia may be preventable• ApoE4, genetics, and environmental risk• Why lifestyle can offset genetic risk• Exosomes, peptides, GLP-1s, and Cerebrolysin• Psychedelics and neuroplasticity• Transcranial magnetic stimulation and brain stimulation• Why stimulating the brain is only half the equation• Cognitive training and processing speed• How to future-proof your brainTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction01:51 Why brain health became personal for Claudia02:40 Tommy’s journey into neuroscience05:35 Why dementia starts decades before diagnosis06:47 Brain development and the power of environment09:45 Neurogenesis vs neuroplasticity12:48 Why adults can still learn and change14:52 Lessons from Formula One drivers16:32 The foundations of elite cognitive performance18:10 Blood tests, nutrition, and recovery18:55 The Yerkes-Dodson arousal curve21:19 Tommy’s personal brain-health routine25:24 The green, amber, red health system29:20 Visualization and neuroplasticity33:51 Why dementia is not inevitable36:08 Maintaining cognition into your 80s36:55 How much dementia may be preventable38:44 ApoE4 and genetic risk40:35 Why genetics interact with lifestyle43:32 Exosomes, peptides, and emerging therapies45:30 GLP-1s, Cerebrolysin, and brain health46:30 Psychedelics and neuroplasticity47:25 Brain stimulation technologies48:30 Transcranial magnetic stimulation explained50:44 Why integration matters after neuroplasticity52:33 Brain training and processing speed54:03 The Stimulated Mind55:07 The future of cognitive longevity57:07 Tommy’s final messageSubscribe to the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast for evidence-informed conversations with leading scientists, physicians, and innovators shaping the future of health, longevity, and human performance.#TommyWood #BrainHealth #DementiaPrevention #Neuroplasticity #Alzheimers #CognitiveHealth #Longevity #ApoE4 #BrainTraining #LongevityPodcast

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comGet 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.What happens when the brain temporarily lets go of the identity, memories, and personal story that make you feel like “you”?In this episode of the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia speaks with Tommaso Barba, psychedelic researcher at Imperial College London, whose work explores consciousness, ego dissolution, 5-MeO-DMT, mental health, relationships, and the nature of the self.Tommaso explains why psychedelics are returning to mainstream science after decades of prohibition, how psilocybin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine differ, and why pharmaceutical companies are now investing heavily in psychedelic medicine.They examine the limitations of conventional psychiatric treatment, including the idea that depression is simply a chemical imbalance, and explore why psychedelic experiences may reach psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions that existing medications often do not address.Tommaso also shares his personal high-dose psilocybin experience, describing the dissolution of his identity, a sense of boundless awareness, and the challenge of returning to ordinary life after experiencing profound presence and connection.This conversation does not present psychedelics as casual shortcuts. It explores the importance of preparation, set and setting, skilled facilitation, integration, contraindications, and the cultural structures needed to support these powerful experiences safely.IN THIS EPISODE• Why psychedelics are entering mainstream medicine• How psychedelic research was halted for decades• Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine• Why depression is more complex than a chemical imbalance• How set, setting, and integration shape outcomes• Why unsupported psychedelic use can become destabilizing• How 5-MeO-DMT is being used to study consciousness• What ego dissolution can feel like• Neuroplasticity, psychological flexibility, and mental health• Who may not be suitable for psychedelic treatment• Psychedelics, intimacy, sexuality, and relationships• The future of psychedelic medicine and psychiatryTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction02:28 Psychedelics enter the pharmaceutical mainstream05:27 Why psychedelic research was banned10:12 The major psychedelic compounds explained12:46 Why modern psychiatry needs new approaches15:34 Set, setting, and altered states18:56 Why support and integration matter20:23 Tommaso’s path into psychedelic research22:41 Psychedelics, religion, and The Immortality Key24:46 Using 5-MeO-DMT to study consciousness26:37 What happens when the self dissolves?27:49 Depression, neuroplasticity, and 5-MeO-DMT30:47 Psychedelics for depression, PTSD, and addiction32:39 Why psychedelics are not for everyone34:02 Tommaso’s experience of ego dissolution39:12 Psychedelics, intimacy, and relationships42:35 The future of psychedelic medicine44:16 Final message: stay curious#TommasoBarba #Psychedelics #PsychedelicScience #Psilocybin #5MeODMT #MentalHealth #Consciousness #Neuroplasticity

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comGet 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.What if the constant pressure to improve yourself is reinforcing the anxiety you are trying to escape?In this episode of the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia welcomes Jamie Clements, breathwork facilitator, speaker, educator, and founder of The Breath Space.Jamie shares how anxiety, depression, and panic attacks led him away from a high-performing career in finance and technology and toward a deeper exploration of breath, nervous system health, consciousness, and human potential.He explains how breathing influences the autonomic nervous system, why dysfunctional breathing can reinforce stress and anxiety, and how simple changes in breathing speed, depth, and rhythm can shift how we feel and perform.They also explore carbon dioxide tolerance, nasal breathing, breath holding, sleep apnea, altered states of consciousness, trauma-aware breathwork, and the risks of practicing deeper techniques without the right preparation or facilitator.This conversation also challenges the modern obsession with optimization. Jamie explains why high performers often find rest uncomfortable, how achievement can become tied to self-worth, and why slowing down may be one of the most powerful ways to improve creativity, energy, and performance.IN THIS EPISODE• How anxiety and panic attacks led Jamie to breathwork• Why the breath directly influences the nervous system• Signs that you may be breathing dysfunctionally• Why carbon dioxide is essential for oxygen delivery• Nasal breathing, mouth breathing, and cognitive health• Box breathing, extended exhales, and the physiological sigh• How breathwork can create altered states of consciousness• Trauma, emotional release, and breathwork safety• Why high performers struggle to rest• The link between achievement and self-worth• How slowing down can improve productivityTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction03:44 Jamie’s experience with anxiety and panic attacks06:15 Losing his job and discovering a different path09:26 Why we underestimate the power of breathing12:15 Ancient breathwork traditions15:43 How breathing controls the nervous system18:06 Using breath to change your internal state19:33 CO2 tolerance and stress resilience24:58 Signs you may be breathing incorrectly27:39 The three levels of breathwork31:13 Trauma release and breathwork safety33:54 What an altered-state breathwork session feels like38:29 Why high performers struggle to slow down41:43 Purpose, ambition, and self-worth43:24 Creating work-life harmony48:57 The Breath Space50:33 Why you do not need fixingABOUT JAMIE CLEMENTSJamie Clements is a breathwork facilitator, speaker, educator, and founder of The Breath Space. His work brings together functional breathing, neuroscience, psychology, trauma-aware practice, ancient wisdom, and nervous system regulation.#JamieClements #Breathwork #NervousSystem #Anxiety #StressRelief #MentalHealth #Consciousness #TraumaHealing #Burnout #LongevityPodcast