The Energy Blueprint Podcast

What if the popular narrative about trauma is incomplete? What if trauma isn't just a psychological phenomenon, but a fundamentally biological process that gets encoded in your cells, mitochondria, and nervous system? Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double board-certified physician in preventive and addiction medicine who's revolutionizing how we understand and treat trauma.  Her groundbreaking new book, "The Biology of Trauma," reveals the hidden physiological mechanisms behind trauma responses. In this conversation, she explains where traditional talk therapy falls short, how trauma creates a feedback loop of oxidative stress and cellular shutdown, and her innovative approach to healing trauma from the inside out, starting with cellular safety before diving into the emotional work.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with Børge Fagerli, creator of an innovative and highly efficient resistance training method called Myo-Reps, which is a way to create 80% of the results in a fraction of the time.    Børge has spent over 25 years as a fitness coach and is known for his evidence-based approaches to nutrition, training, mindset, and lifestyle optimization. We became friends about 10 years ago (through a funny story you’ll hear in the podcast) and we went on to have many years of fruitful discussions and debates on a variety of health topics, and worked together to produce content on the interface of nutrition and circadian rhythm. He’s a great expert on fitness and body composition, and I think you’ll gain a lot of insights from his thoughts on training.    In this podcast, Børge and I discuss:   His background as an engineer and bodybuilder and his research-backed reasons for focusing on fundamentals instead of getting caught up in wellness hype The 3 most essential factors you need to know to be successful in your exercise training…this is appropriate for ALL fitness levels! The number of exercise reps you should perform to see (and feel!) your body change and why this rep range is essential for women Why too many repetitions of one exercise might be the WRONG approach for most people The definitive answer to one of the most discussed questions in all of training: Will I get too big and bulky from lifting weights?? Why training that feels too hard or intense might actually be keeping you from achieving your goals If “muscle confusion,” i.e., training your muscles with different exercises every time you work out, is a legitimate concept or pseudoscience  Myo-Reps, Børge’s strategy for achieving 40 minutes of exercise in just 20 minutes! The #1 mindset tip you can implement today to keep you strong and fit as you age  

In this episode, Dr. Mike T. Nelson pulls back the curtain on some common keto myths, including how it’s connected to fat loss, athletic performance, and even ancestral eating patterns. You might be surprised to learn that smart athletes will do anything to win—except go keto. In this myth-busting conversation, you'll discover why the high-fat-eating Inuit peoples probably weren't in ketosis, how keto can slash your power output by up to 8%, and why metabolic flexibility—not extreme diets—is the real key to optimal health. After 20-plus years in the field, Dr. Nelson shares his unfiltered take on everything from exogenous ketones to the carbohydrate hypothesis of obesity, delivering the nuanced truth that diet influencers won't tell you.  

Your mitochondria and responses to stress are more connected than you think.  In this episode, Dr. Scott Sherr is back to tell us about why 94% of US adults have mitochondrial dysfunction and how chronic stress and inflammation deplete GABA, your brain's primary calming neurotransmitter. We also discuss why methylene blue has exploded from an obscure mitochondrial enhancer to a controversial biohacking trend, how GABA deficiency masquerades as anxiety and depression, and why healing requires shifting from sympathetic dominance to parasympathetic activation. Dr. Sherr shares his 20 years of clinical experience, demonstrating that within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, he can determine if someone can heal; it all comes down to the state of their nervous system.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with Steven Sashen, who founded minimalist shoe company Xero Shoes with his wife Lena Phoenix in 2009. His philosophy? Modern footwear is actively hurting you.  In this discussion (which was so fun and informative thanks to Steven’s lighthearted approach to his work), we explore what the shoe industry has been hiding about arch support, cushioning, and elevated heels, all while knowing these features actually increase injury rates. Steven's company exists because he wants to change people’s lives, and after 16 years of challenging the footwear industry's biggest myths, he's revealing how traditional shoes weaken your feet, destabilize your balance, and even contribute to falls that kill older adults. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about what to put on your feet. This conversation could literally save you from decades of unnecessary pain, injury, and disability.  

  In this episode, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Mel Hopper Koppelman back for the third time! Today, we continue our conversation on the overlooked importance of brain development but go on to explore heart rate variability (and how it can easily be misinterpreted), Polyvagal Theory, and her fascinating, physics-based thoughts on how our heart rate variability connects us to the universe! In this podcast, Dr. Mel and I discuss: An easy way to visualize brain development: the brainstem is the root that grows up into the trunk of our brain and branches off into the right and left hemispheres The underlying driver of illness for many people with chronic symptoms and why gut or immune health might continue to suffer if this isn’t addressed A clear, easy-to-understand explanation of heart rate variability and why this often-misinterpreted marker is crucial for vital health The 10-second at-home test Dr. Mel recommends to better understand your heart rate variability findings AND the functioning of your vagus nerve! Her physics-backed belief that our heart rate variability connects us to the “breath” or wave of the universe…and how this connection (or lack of connection!) relates to the vagus nerve, inflammation, nervous system development, and long-term health 2 major predictors of mortality, i.e., how long you will live and the interesting pattern often found in people with autism The extreme importance of working with the body and tracking test results versus cleverly attempting to biohack or manipulate the body with supplements or drugs   

After 25 years of being "Superman on the outside but a train wreck on the inside," John A. Mollenhauer has discovered the missing piece between high achievement and sustainable health.  John is an entrepreneur who started his first gym at 19 and worked with Tony Robbins in his 20s—he learned the hard way that our culture rewards the very behaviors that lead to burnout. In this episode, John reveals how he developed the Performance Lifestyle framework after checking himself into a hospital from complete exhaustion. His method isn't about work-life balance—it's about knowing what to do, why, how, and when at the right intensity for sustainable results in both health and achievement. This conversation offers a practical pathway to break free from the hidden lifestyle challenges keeping you stuck in the energy-debt cycle.  

I’m back again for my fourth conversation with Dr. Mark Cronshaw, an expert in the world of photobiomodulation (PBM), aka red light therapy. You know that when I have multiple conversations with a guest, I highly value their knowledge and want to go deeper with what they have to share. If you want to get VERY technical and go deep with the topic of PBM, this episode is for you, and I recommend you listen to the prior 3 episodes we’ve recorded together.  In this conversation, Dr. Cronshaw presents what he calls his "philosophy of care" for using photobiomodulation to enhance healing, manage pain, and prevent injury. His approach focuses on a few fundamental questions:  Are you treating surface or deep tissues?  Are you seeking to stimulate healing/tissue repair or provide pain relief?  His multi-dimensional approach explains why different devices produce different results, enabling more strategic use of both professional and at-home light therapy tools.  

In this episode, I’m back for a third installment of my conversation with Dr. Mark Cronshaw, one of the world’s foremost photobiomodulation (PBM) experts...what most people commonly refer to as red light therapy. He’s particularly one of the top experts when it comes to dosimetry (the details of how to properly “dose” light therapy). Have you invested in red light therapy but feel confused by contradicting information?  You're certainly not alone. In this conversation, Dr. Cronshaw challenges conventional wisdom about photobiomodulation with some insights that surprised even me! I deeply appreciate his highly informed and logical, yet relaxed, approach to this complex topic. WARNING: My conversations with Dr. Cronshaw are NOT a simple or practical how-to guide of “go buy this device and use it this way.” This podcast series intends to go deep into the scientific, technical, and theoretical nuances of PBM science. So it’s NOT for everyone. These podcasts are for people who want to nerd out on PBM science. So please don’t say I didn’t warn you! :)

In this episode of The Energy Blueprint podcast, I’m speaking with Dr. Melissa Sonners, host of the Be Inspired Mama podcast and creator of a movement that's transforming how women approach self-care.  After battling Lyme disease and mold toxicity while juggling motherhood, a chiropractic practice, and the pressure to "do it all," Dr. Sonners discovered that traditional self-care wasn't the answer—it was self-CONNECTION. Her practical approach helps busy women transform their relationship with themselves without adding more to their overflowing plates.  This conversation is essential for any woman feeling overwhelmed by life's demands.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with Nadine Artemis, author of Renegade Beauty and Holistic Dental Care. But most personally impactful to me is that she’s the woman behind Living Libations, an obsessively natural skincare line that has been creating and promoting pure products for over 30 years. My family and I really love and frequently use her products.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Julie Matthews, a Certified Nutrition Consultant and published researcher specializing in personalized nutrition for complex neurological conditions, particularly autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Scott Sherr, a board-certified internal medicine physician certified to practice Health Optimization Medicine (HOMe) and a specialist in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Sean Drake, a highly accomplished chiropractor with a fascinating career and life. His work now focuses on helping athletes, but don’t stop reading just because you’re not a high-level athlete. The beauty of Dr. Drake’s strategies is that they apply to everyone. I actually love what he says in the interview…”Everybody’s an athlete. If you have a body, you’re an athlete.” At the core of his approach is that modulating the nervous system holds the key to unlocking extraordinary performance and healing.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with Miriam Rahav, M.D., a triple-board certified physician in the fields of internal medicine, hospice, and palliative care, along with extensive training in functional medicine. During this conversation, Dr. Rahav and I catch up for the first time since the height of the COVID pandemic, when she and her team bravely worked on the front lines supporting patients.  We then shift to the primary focus of this episode: neural therapy. Dr. Rahav makes neural therapy easy to understand and gives us some interesting and practical stories of her clinical use of the technique.  If you’ve had a difficult time finding answers for your symptoms, I highly recommend you listen to this episode—neural therapy might be the solution you’ve been searching for.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Mike T. Nelson, a self-described research fanatic who has more than two decades of experience studying and obsessing over how the human body works. Dr. Mike has a Ph.D. in exercise physiology, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, and is an associate professor at the Carrick Institute and a university instructor at Rocky Mountain University.  He’s also the creator of the Flex Diet and Physiologic Flexibility Certifications, has published research in both physiology and engineering scientific journals, and has even been asked to share his techniques with top military agencies. Today, Dr. Mike and I go deep into the research and practical applications of heart rate variability. HRV has gained popularity as a performance metric, but after listening to our conversation, you’ll have a much broader understanding of HRV, how to apply it to your life (whether you’re athletic or not), and ways to improve your HRV score.  

In this episode, I’m back with Victoria LaFont, co-host of the Influenced to Death podcast. Be sure to listen to part 1 of our conversation if you haven’t already. In each episode of Influenced to Death, Victoria and her co-host, Hannah Wright, draw on their graduate-level education in nutrition and functional medicine. But they’re very upfront about their own biases and dive deep into the research to provide a more balanced view on controversial topics, particularly ones that have been portrayed in a one-sided way. Today, Victoria and I discuss specific topics they’ve covered, such as The Medical Medium, seed oils, the carnivore diet, the ketogenic diet, and, believe it or not, breatharianism!  I hope you enjoy the second part of our discussion! Be sure to follow Influenced to Death to get more insight into all the topics they cover.  

In this episode, I’m speaking with neuroscientist Ariel Garten, the co-inventor of Muse, a brain-sensing headband that makes meditation easier. Ariel’s research has mainly focused on Parkinson’s disease and hippocampal neurogenesis, but she also has a background as a fashion designer and artist! Honestly, I was extremely impressed with Ariel during our conversation; she was highly knowledgeable about meditation and the impact it has on our lives and health, but also because of her integrity and balanced view as a businessperson.  I’ve been using Muse for a few weeks now, and I have been absolutely loving it. Ariel is gifting us a generous 20% off both Muse devices! >> Click here to claim your special discount on the Muse S or Muse 2 and start 2025 with your new meditation practice.

Dr. Achacoso is double board certified in Nutritional Medicine and Interventional Endocrinology and is a world-renowned anti-aging, hormone, and mitochondrial expert. He also happens to be one of the most intelligent people alive (this isn’t an exaggeration—he’s known for having one of the highest IQ scores ever recorded!). So, while our discussion is a bit geeky and in-depth, it’s truly worth your time…especially as we condense Dr. Achacoso’s brilliance into practical steps for optimizing your mitochondria and beating fatigue! This podcast was first released in May 2018  

In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Heather Sandison, a naturopathic doctor, published researcher, and the author of a new book you’ll definitely want to read, Reversing Alzheimer's: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health. Dr. Sandison’s work is extraordinary in many ways, but, in my opinion, one of her most impressive achievements is creating Marama Memory Care, the first residential memory care facility to have the goal of returning cognitively declined residents to independent living! I loved speaking with Dr. Sandison, and I know you’ll learn a lot from this podcast. Enjoy!