
Hosted by Doug Bopst · EN

Jonathan Avery, M.D., is the Vice Chair for Addiction Psychiatry, the Stephen P. Tobin and Dr. Arnold M. Cooper Professor in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and the Program Director for the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also the medical director for the NBA/NBPA's Anti-Drug Program. Today on the show we discuss: why today’s weed is far more potent and risky than the marijuana many people grew up hearing about, how high-THC products can impact anxiety, depression, sleep, psychosis, withdrawal, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, why cannabis addiction is often dismissed and misunderstood, how social media is rewiring kids’ brains through dopamine-driven attention loops, why porn, OnlyFans, AI girlfriends, and loneliness are becoming a major crisis for young men, and how sports betting has become one of the fastest-growing behavioral addictions because of constant access through phones and much more. ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica Baum, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist whose journey began with a lifelong curiosity about the “Whys” of life: why we feel, connect, and experience the world the way we do. This passion led her to specialize in trauma, attachment theory, and interpersonal neurobiology. Jessica believes that connection to ourselves and others is at the heart of healing, and she uses a range of modalities to help individuals and couples return to wholeness. She is the founder of the Relationship Institute of Palm Beach, a private group practice, and she leads the Conscious Relationship Group, a global coaching company offering support to clients worldwide. Jessica is a certified addiction specialist and Imago couples therapist with advanced training in EMDR, experiential therapy, CBT, and DBT. Today on the show we discuss why people keep choosing familiar partners instead of healthy ones, how childhood attachment wounds can shape adult dating patterns, why anxious and avoidant attachment get misunderstood and overused, how intensity can be mistaken for intimacy, why true safety in a relationship can feel boring or uncomfortable at first, and how healing happens through safe “anchor” relationships that help people build earned security and stop repeating the same painful cycles and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darshan Shah, MD is a board-certified surgeon, published author, and Founder and CEO of Next Health – the first, largest and fastest-growing health optimization and longevity clinic. He earned his medical degree at the age of 21 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, becoming one of the youngest doctors in the United States at the time. He continued his training at the Mayo Clinic and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. As a longevity medicine specialist, he has advised thousands of patients on how to optimize their well-being and extend their healthspan and lifespan. Today on the show we discuss why living longer means nothing if your health span is broken, the biggest mistakes people make when chasing longevity, why most people should focus on metabolic health before biohacking, the blood markers Dr. Shah believes everyone should track, how strength training, walking, sleep, and nutrition protect your future, why ultra-processed foods are quietly wrecking your health, the truth about alcohol, weed, caffeine, fasting, sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy, wearables, supplements, NAD, and how toxins, stress, relationships, and circadian rhythm all impact how well you age. And much more. Today’s sponsor: Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DOUG and using code DOUG at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Richardson is a negotiation expert who has worked with the Harvard Negotiation Project and taught negotiation at institutions including Harvard and MIT. His work focuses on helping people understand the psychology of influence, persuasion, manipulation, and conflict resolution. In this conversation, John breaks down why asking better questions is often more powerful than making better arguments, how to negotiate with people who have more power than you, how to say no without damaging relationships, and why everyday life is full of negotiations—from work and money to marriage, parenting, and self-discipline. Today on the show we discuss why asking better questions is the key to getting what you want, the difference between influence, persuasion, and manipulation, how to negotiate with people who have more power than you, why learning to say no builds confidence and self-respect, how to calm someone down when they’re angry or emotional, and why self-discipline is really negotiation with your future self and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stacey Lindsay is a multimedia journalist, editor, and writer specializing in women’s issues and culture. Recognized for her empathetic approach, Lindsay has interviewed hundreds of public figures and civilians for national outlets, from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper to goop. Previously, she was a CBS affiliate news anchor and reporter. Today on the show we discuss why so many people feel trapped living a “should life,” how turning 40 can become a wake-up call instead of a crisis, the pressure around marriage, kids, career, and success, the complicated truth about choosing not to have children while still feeling grief and longing, why social media and dating apps can make people feel even more behind, and how getting quiet, listening to your body, and rebuilding self-worth can help you finally create a life that actually feels like your own and much more. ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Redman is a retired Navy SEAL, New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized speaker who teaches leadership, resilience and the mindset required to overcome adversity. During his 21-year SEAL career, Jason led high-risk combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before surviving a life-threatening enemy ambush that left him severely wounded. Today on the show we discuss: why emotional control is a superpower for men, how victim mentality keeps people stuck after trauma and failure, the brutal leadership mistake that nearly destroyed Jason Redman’s life, why discipline and small wins rebuild confidence when life falls apart, how to develop an “overcome mindset” when chaos hits, and why true strength is built through discomfort, accountability and purpose and much more. ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Nicole LePera is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Do the Work and How to Be the Love You Seek, as well as the workbook How to Meet Your Self. She was trained in clinical psychology at Cornell University and the New School for Social Research and studied at the Institute for Modern Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia. She is a holistic psychologist whose work addresses the connections among the mind, body, and soul, incorporating overall lifestyle and psychological wellness practices. She is the creator of the #SelfHealers movement where people from around the world are joining together in community to take healing into their own hands. Today on the show we discuss: how childhood patterns silently shape your adult relationships, why awareness without action keeps people trapped in self-sabotage, the connection between nervous system regulation and emotional healing, how overachievement and people pleasing are often survival responses, the dangerous trap of relying on external validation for self-worth, and what it actually takes to build healthy relationships through honesty, boundaries and self-connection and much more. ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a veterinary epidemiologist, author of The Longevity Nutrient, and the world’s leading expert on C15:0—the first essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years. Formerly with the WHO and U.S. Navy, she holds 70+ patents, has 80+ peer-reviewed publications, and is Co-Founder/CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics. Her work has been featured on NPR, CBS, BBC, and National Geographic. A 2025 CNBC Changemaker, she has received the HHS Secretary’s Award for Innovations in Disease Prevention and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Innovation Award, advancing groundbreaking science to help people age healthier. Today on the show we discuss: the real science behind healthy aging and what actually impacts your biological age, why sitting, chronic stress and poor sleep may be accelerating aging faster than you realize, the surprising connection between loneliness, community and long-term health, how movement, relationships and daily habits shape quality of life as you get older, the controversy around longevity supplements and the science behind C15 fatty acids, and why healthy aging is about living better longer not just living longer and much more. Get 15% off your first order of fatty15: https://fatty15.com/DOUG ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lindsey Metselaar is the host of the hit dating podcast We Met at Acme, where she explores modern relationships, dating dynamics, and personal growth. She’s also been open about her journey in recovery, sharing how quitting weed transformed her life, relationships, and overall well-being. Today on the show we discuss: why weed addiction is more real than people admit, how being “functional” keeps you stuck, what actually happens when you quit, why weed can worsen anxiety and relationships, how weed culture is impacting dating, the truth about the friend zone and modern dating dynamics and much more. ⚠ WELLNESS DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics related to health and mental health in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you’ve consumed. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Courtney Conley holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine as well as two bachelor’s degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology. The founder and creator of Gait Happens, she has worked with professional athletic teams including the Phoenix Suns, New York Yankees, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings. Dr. Conley is Head of Patient Care at Total Health Solutions and Total Health Performance, premier healthcare destinations renowned for their comprehensive and science-based approach to patient care. Dr. Milica McDowell holds two Bachelor of Science degrees (Exercise Physiology and Health Promotion, (Montana State University), a master’s degree (Physical Therapy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center), and a Doctorate degree (Physical Therapy, Idaho State University). She served as a university faculty member in Human Performance for nearly a decade, has developed numerous medical education curricula and has been an invited speaker on many national stages, including the American Physical Therapy Association and American College of Sports Medicine’s conventions. Today on the show we discuss: why the 10,000 step rule is a myth rooted in marketing not science, how walking is a biological necessity that impacts your metabolism brain and mental health, why small “micro walks” can dramatically improve mood confidence and long-term consistency, the truth about fat loss and why walking works when you stack it with better sleep breathing and nutrition, how modern shoes are weakening your feet and what to do instead, and how to build a simple walking routine that actually improves longevity reduces depression and lowers your risk of disease and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices