Biohack-it with Iman Hasan

Episode: "I Was Crippled By Anxiety & Depression – This Is How I Fought Back"
Guest: Kris Fade
Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

In this candid, energizing conversation, Iman Hasan sits down with radio and TV personality Kris Fade to dissect his transformative journey through anxiety, depression, and burnout—culminating in his current, purpose-driven life as a wellness entrepreneur. Together, they tackle the hidden pressures of public success, draw out the importance of mindset, family, and gratitude, and challenge listeners to rethink how they approach well-being, relationships, and self-love. The episode is raw, unfiltered, and full of practical insights for anyone struggling with mental health or seeking to redefine what it means to be “well” in the modern world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beyond the Public Persona: The Real Kris Fade

(00:18 – 03:54)

• Sensitivity vs. Perception: Kris reveals that despite public perception, he's much more sensitive than people assume.
  • "I think I'm probably more sensitive than people think that I am. I think people sometimes from the outside... think I'm this arrogant guy that just thinks he knows everything." – Kris (01:45)
• Talks about the pressure to maintain authenticity in public life, especially during reality TV filming, where personal integrity and family protection conflicted with entertainment production.

2. Building a Brand, Reputation, and “Why”

(03:54 – 11:37)

• Journey of Empathy & Integrity:
  • Coming to Dubai with very little, Kris says the experience has instilled empathy, making him value integrity in business and relationships ("Your reputation is everything in this life, and you will not be successful if you have a bad reputation." – Kris, 05:25).
• Navigating Dubai’s Fast-Paced Culture:
  • The importance of choosing the right circle, vetting partners, and using swift communication (WhatsApp over email) to get things done.
• Purpose Evolves with Parenthood:
  • Kris’s core motivation (“why”) shifted dramatically after having children:
  • "Everything I do now is for my children… I want them to understand when they create content with me, they get paid… So I still want to keep that work ethic involved." (09:12)

3. On Relationships, Divorce, and Authenticity

(14:55 – 24:29)

• Kris, remarried after a difficult divorce, shares what he's learned: be respectful throughout, especially for the sake of children.
  • "Don’t get a divorce unless you really have to… because it’s the worst thing you can ever go through. But… if you’ve got to, be respectful throughout." (15:04)
• Mutual discussion on leaving relationships with love and maturity. Iman's own divorce provides perspective on evolving partnership and self-alignment.
  • "So many times people stay in relationships because they are so scared of what else is out there versus choosing themselves." – Iman (21:51)
• Kris observes, “Probably 60% of people are in relationships they don’t want to be in. But they're in it for comfort, children, or routine." (22:47)

4. Anxiety, Depression, and the Mind-Body Connection

(24:32 – 34:26)

• Kris’s first battle with crippling anxiety:
  • "The mind is so strong and powerful, right? It can really make you think things that aren't really happening… Anxiety lasted 18 months. I had to really build my way up to push through that radio door... It was really crippling." (27:41)
• Tried traditional routes—psychiatry, medication (Xanax), Ayurveda, meditation—but real breakthroughs came via exercise and lifestyle changes.
  • "When I went for a run or I went to the gym, I felt a little bit better… That was your journey. That’s what got me through it." (28:45)
• Iman aligns, narrates her resistance to quick-fix SSRI prescriptions, advocating instead for root-cause investigation (biomarkers, nutrition, peptides).
  • "With everything I know, living in the health space, knowing that SSRIs actually damage you more long term… I said, I'm not going to do it your way." – Iman (31:44)
• Both agree: Medication has its place but should not be the first/only answer. There’s a need to treat the whole person.

5. Biohacking, Peptides, Functional Health, and Supplementation

(34:27 – 41:48)

• Kris describes his use of cutting-edge interventions—BPC-157 peptides and light-dose testosterone—following optimized functional biomarker testing.
  • "I'm now at an optimal [testosterone] level. I feel the number one thing I get told is, ‘How do you keep going?’ …I feel the best I felt in probably 20 years." (34:27, 39:02)
• He became a partner in wellness company Everwell, motivated by his wife's journey with Graves’ disease and their success with functional interventions over strict reliance on pharmaceuticals.
  • "Maybe we don’t need to take that pill instantly." (44:24)
• Conversation highlights importance of sourcing, dosing, and education around new wellness tools (peptides, GLP-1s like Ozempic), and the pitfalls of misinformation and stigma.

6. Culture, Human Connection, and Empathy

(45:12 – 49:33)

• Kris on his Lebanese upbringing and how familial love shaped his worldview and success.
  • "I think love is so important… so many people that do bad in their later life is because they did not get love in their early life." (46:21)
• Human connection, both on and off air, is central to his work and happiness. He underscores the value of experiencing other cultures, dismantling fear of the unknown, and practicing empathy in everyday life.
  • "Xenophobia—the fear of the unknown—is why we have so many big issues in this world." (48:47)
  • Sharing how direct messages from struggling listeners remind him of his gratitude and perspective.

7. Mindset Shifts, Self-Compassion, and Daily Rituals

(51:34 – 53:57)

• Kris and Iman stress gratitude as a daily practice.
  • “Gratitude is our attitude.” (52:19)
• Kris’s final challenge to listeners:
  • "We’re really, really hard on ourselves first. You will tell yourself what you're doing wrong, but if you had your friend in the room, you will tell your friend what they're doing right… Wake up in the morning, go to bed at night praising yourself. Chris, you did it, man. Well done… Praise yourself, and keep doing that and celebrate yourself even more." (52:31-53:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family & Purpose:
  “Everything I do now is for my children… I started working at the age of 15… I still want to keep that work ethic involved.” – Kris (09:12)

• On Divorce & Respect:
  “Don’t get a divorce unless you really have to… But if you have to, be respectful throughout the journey because it can get real brutal real quick.” – Kris (15:04)

• On Mental Health Breakthroughs:
  “My advice is: try things that you want to give a go… For me, the peptide and the TRT was something that I was not against, but I was always a little fearful of. I feel the best I have in probably 20 years.” – Kris (33:59, 39:02)

• On Self-Love:
  “Praise yourself a little bit more. Change that in your life. Stop praising just your friends. Praise you. You're a good person… Celebrate yourself even more.” – Kris (53:39, 53:56)

• On Human Connection:
  “Human connection is everything for me. Our radio show… is very rare… We share a lot of our lives, and people share their lives.” – Kris (47:34)

• On Gratitude:
  “Gratitude is our attitude.” – Kris (52:19)

Essential Timestamps

• 00:18: Kris opens up about sensitivity, cultural taboos, and public misconceptions
• 04:08: How starting with nothing in Dubai shaped his character
• 05:18: Kris gives his three-word self-assessment: Driven, Loyal, Loving
• 08:48: Kris shares his ultimate “why”—his children and family legacy
• 14:55: Relationship challenges, divorce, maturity, and lessons in partnership
• 24:46: Anxiety and depression—impact, origins, and healing journey
• 31:44: Iman’s story of avoiding SSRIs, using diet and functional therapies
• 34:27: Kris on peptides, testosterone optimization, and supplement regimen
• 39:02: Breaking the stigma around biohacking, medication, and wellness innovation
• 46:19: The impact of a loving childhood and cultural background
• 48:47: Cultural diversity, empathy, and the quick lessons from fan interactions
• 52:31: Challenge to listeners: Replace self-criticism with self-praise; daily ritual of gratitude

Final Takeaways

• Holistic Wellness Is Essential: True health is physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
• Self-Awareness & Compassion Matter: Praise yourself like you would praise a friend; self-talk shapes your reality.
• Biohacking Isn’t Just Hype: If rooted in science and sourced safely, modern interventions can be transformative.
• Gratitude & Empathy Are Superpowers: Focus on what you have, not what you lack—and stay open to the world and one another.