The Thrivalist Manifesto: Human Performance... Unveiled.

About the episode: In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Ben V and DrG stay consistent with our series powerful woman.  We interviewed the person who put together a career that by combining the skills to be a classically trained ballerina, Knicks city dancer and world champion professional boxer.   Miyoko Olszewski is a remarkable athlete whose story is a remarkable tale of constantly adapting and course correcting toward a career that is passion driven, successful and joyful.  Miyoko is a pioneer in female combat athletics. MMA, Boxing and Olympic Wrestling are 3 sports that have seen a surge in participation and commercial viability. Miyoko tells a tale of what it took to get here. Here are some of the highlights from our interview. What do you do with a kid who probably has ADHD. Getting out of your town and making it to the big city. After performing at the Met, what’s next ?  Hip Hop of course. Knicks City Dancer during the golden age of basketball at Madison Square Garden. After a career in dancing is over, the next logical step? Combat sports, what else. First time in official kick boxing match against the top ranked fighter out of  New England. “I kicked her in the abdomen so hard, I felt her spine against my foot” Amateur titles.  3 NYC golden gloves, 3 national golden gloves, 3 National Boxing Championships. The real toll corruption and cheating has had on modern boxing. The failed attempt to promote female boxing with sex appeal. Going pro at 38 years old, when most people are retiring and unable to continue. Boxing skill and technique is what it takes to have longevity and to protect your brain. Training techniques to for speed and endurance. Using classical dance principles in her boxing routine. The artistry of boxing vs. the brutality of MMA. This episode is packed full of valuable actionable information.  Enjoy! If you’d like to comment on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Not only do we read every review, but positive reviews helps our message of “thriving” to reach more people. Questions? Send an email to thrivalistmanifesto@gmail.com.

About the episode: In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Ben V and DrG interview cofounder of Posturepro, postural analysis system, Annette Verpillot.  Straight from Quebec, Canada Anette brings her deep background in the science of posturology. An alumni of the TED talk experience, Annette ties in cognition, learning, focus, injury risk, performance, eye movements, and more to your posture.  Annette is another woman in our series who is an intellectual and physical powerhouse.   Here are some of the highlights from our interview. What is postural re-calibration How does posture relate to high performance What are the underlying mechanisms that control posture How can you change your posture. Did you know how important your eyes are to maintaining posture.   Is there a connection between posture and learning difficulties and if so what does that mean to all the kids walking around with their heads over their phones.   Are sports injuries changing because of postural changes seen with modern technology.   This episode is packed full of valuable actionable information.  Enjoy! If you’d like to comment on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Not only do we read every review, but positive reviews helps our message of “thriving” to reach more people. Questions? Send an email to thrivalistmanifesto@gmail.com.

 In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Ben V and DrG interview the greatest athlete no one has ever heard of.  That’s actually not true, Amy Palmiero-Winters is a legend in the world of endurance and ultra endurance athletics. But this podcast goes deeper than sports.  This podcast shatters your idea of what the limits of human abilities are and the limitations we collectively believe. Oral traditions and literature for the past 5000 years have told the stories of heroes. Heroes are those who are capable of godlike abilities and achieve immortal status. Heroes have names like Achilles, Hector, Leonidas, Pheidippides, Beowulf, Batman, Luke Skywalker.   When a runner was needed to tell the Greeks they had been victorious at Marathon, a hero emerges and Pheidippides inspired all of western civilization for 2500 years. Are the stories of these heroes based on actual people. Christopher McDougal in his book Natural Born Heroes says that the art of the hero has been a set of skills taught for millennia and passed down from generation to generation.  The heroic skills expressed at different times for different reasons by different people. McDougal says the hero is not someone interested in sacrificing their life to save another or for a cause. A hero wants to save a life or fight for a cause and live to see the outcome and take on the next challenge.   In this interview, Ben V and DrG will present to you a modern day living super hero born out of the very same traditions that gave us the superheroes in ancient stories, novels, movies and comic books. Amy Winters would not appreciate this type of introduction. She is a woman who is literally one in a million with achievements that are so unbelievable you would think that they are result of exaggerated storytelling. She’s as humble as they come but people like Amy don’t come very often. We are grateful to Amy for sharing with our audience how some of the most emotionally and physically challenging events in her life are used to propel her forward to accomplish more, when others would find it difficult to carry on. In this podcast : What are the attributes of someone who defies all ideas of medical logic.  Someone whose medical doctors cannot explain how she can get up in the morning and make breakfast for her kids let alone beat the best in the world, male or female, in ultra endurance racing. Why are Amy’s medals, trophies award in boxes in the garage. In the time when athletes are paid to train as their full time career through endorsement contracts,  can a single mother of 2, working full time, really become a such and accomplished athlete. Learn how to show up when life punches you in the face…. repeatedly! How does an amputee become the first to qualify as an able bodied athlete for the World 24 US  team. A 24 hour event. Amy beat out the next female competitor by 36 miles and the next male competitor by 14 miles.   Amy discusses her motivation to set certain goals, like qualifying for, then winning  the Western States, the world's oldest 100 mile race. Considered the Boston Marathon of ultra marathons. After winning  the coveted Bronze Buckle at the Western States, find out what she did with the award and why she does not have it on display in a trophy case in her home that does not exist. .   Can you keep going if you are an amputee and you then shatter your “good” foot, resulting in fusion and pins. Barkley Marathons, the race that eats its young.  Why after 20 years, over 1000 participants and only 14 have completed the 60 hour event.   Badwater.  Say no more.  twice? are you kidding. Why did Joe, Disenna, the founder of Spartan Races, need Amy Winters to help his top athletes complete a grueling 72 hour event.   How would your body respond to 3 spinal surgeries that were based on a misdiagnosis.   If you’d like to comment on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Not only do we read every review, but positive reviews helps our message of “thriving” to reach more people. Questions? Send an email to thrivalistmanifesto@gmail.com.

 In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Ben V and DrG interview diet expert, American fitness model, fitness trainer and  television personality who replaced Jillian Michaels on the hit show The Biggest Loser. Jennifer Widerstrom is also the Author of the book, Diet Right for Your Personality Type.   Fitness director for Shape magazine. Former American Gladiator, Phoenix. Instagram fitness phenomenon. Jennifer is an infectious powerhouse personality.  You can’t help but feel her energy through her voice.  She’s a millennial who not only is in tune with her own generation, she has the ability to understand the struggles, needs and desires of those who came before and after. In this episode: Why the biggest loser is such a successful show.  The importance of community. The psychology of motivation. The importance of support and accountability when trying to achieve goals. What Tough Mudder, Spartan and CrossFit got right. The human condition; Obesity is merely one symptom of the human condition. Jen discusses the isolation/connection paradox. Why gymnastics for children can benefit the development of all athletes in nearly every sport. The term “Physical Literacy” You get an appreciation for the mindset that makes a great coach You will understand how important it is to recognize your gifts and strengths and leverage that into success, rather than forcing an outcome that was not meant to be. You will hear what high energy sounds like and feel how infectious it can be. If you’d like to comment on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Not only do we read every review, but positive reviews helps our message of “thriving” to reach more people. Questions? Send an email to thrivalistmanifesto@gmail.com.

 About the episode: In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Ben V and DrG interview world record setter Lorna Kleidman.  Lorna’s greatest accomplishments are certainly not her multiple gold medal awards in her sport, her world record title, set when she was in her mid 40’s.  Lorna’s greatest accomplishment was throwing off the shackles of a perception by others and of herself being a sickly person who spent decades unable to participate in any physical activity whatsoever due to severe, activity induced asthma.   Our series on women really highlights the “Hero” that exists in all of us.  The ability to do the seemingly impossible is often done by those around us who are just like us with one exception, they tap into an ancient physiology that we all have.  How do they do that?  Lorna Kleidman tells us of her journey or odyssey so to speak.  In this episode you will understand limitations are self imposed. Age is less of a barrier than others would have you believe. Learning from past experiences and improving outcomes Learn the storied history of the kettlebell workout.  There is nothing new under the sun. Is there competition after joint replacement surgery.  If you’d like to comment on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Not only do we read every review, but positive reviews helps our message of “thriving” to reach more people. Questions? Send an email to thrivalistmanifesto@gmail.com.  

About the episode: In the world of natural healthcare and the “alternative” healing arts, there is a great deal of effort made by the practitioner in order to have someone make all the necessary changes in their life that would “move the needle” so to speak, on their health in a meaningful way.  Whether we are talking about their objective medical tests as well as their subjective experience. People seeking healthcare, desire to turn their life around and actually feel like they have restored their health. The practitioner has to get involved in one way or another with diet, supplements, posture, exercise, manual therapies, sleep hygiene, relationships, work environments, etc.  All of this requires a professional who is either naturally intuitive and in tune with their clients needs or they had to have had a health crisis of their own in which they used natural means to restore their health. In the case of this weeks interview, our guest has both of these qualities, of being both naturally intuitive as well as having her own challenges to overcome.  Danielle Pashko is generous enough to go into detail about her personal journey as someone who had lost her mother to cancer while she was still a child and her mother was in her 30’s.  Danielle had learned about alternative healing from those years with her mother who was researching lifestyle change to heal herself. This experience stuck with her and she had followed at different times in her life what she thought were best practices based on her education and the science of the day.   The true mark of a skilled healer is one who can adapt and change based on their clients or patients needs.   While Danielle thought she was doing everything right, you an imagine the shock she experienced when she herself was diagnosed with cancer in her 30’s.  This interview not only tells the remarkable personal story of someone who had been blessed with gifts and cursed with serious challenges. At 5’11” Danielle has the looks and stature of a fit super model, actually she is one, but this was not always the case.  Instead of trying one way and it not working, Danielle discovered there are many ways to achieve your goals. She’s the author of 2 books and has practiced in 2 of NYC’s most famous clinics providing 1 on 1 care to very high profile clientele.   Please enjoy, download, subscribe and share this podcast with your friends and please tell us what you think.  Enjoy.

About the episode In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Ben V and DrG interview Robert Pastore PhD. A Biomedical detective whose journey started with wanting to heal himself from a disease that is more prevalent than you think; Celiac Disease. Its rare to hear such a unique perspective because Dr. Pastore has years of clinical experience working with patients, years of laboratory experience being a published researcher, years of entrepreneurial experience as the formulator of remarkable nutraceuticals and in the world of celiac disease, years of personal experience. If that wasn’t enough, Dr. Pastore is a musician, a drummer specifically and avid fan of one of the greatest rock groups of all time, Rush. In this episode you will have the following questions answered. How does celiac disease manifest when there are not GI symptoms. How prevalent is celiac disease Exactly how many people out there have celiac disease and may never find out, why. Can celiac disease cause disease of other organs and systems in the body. Is there a link between celiac disease and cancer. What lab tests do and don’t tell you. Can you personalize your healthcare once you know your risk. Why is Europe far more advanced than the U.S. when diagnosing celiac disease. If you’d like to comment on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Not only do we read every review, but positive reviews helps our message of “thriving” to reach more people. Questions? Send an email to thrivalistmanifesto@gmail.com.

About the episode: In addition to the many accomplishments Noel Thompson has in wrestling, business, leadership, family and life, Noel Thompson in my opinion is a storyteller of the highest order. He will suck you into the passion he has for the stories he shares with us. He will guide you to understanding the far reaching implications these stories have, beyond the obvious subject matter. To paraphrase author and business leader, Donald Miller, “the human brain effortlessly follows the pattern of story, rather than burning calories trying to make sense of data”. There is no better way to learn. I have met very few people in my life with the combination of confidence, intelligence and passion that Noel Thompson has for life, family, education, sport & business. In this episode you will hear: Noels thoughts about losing and how losing is a ‘choice’ you make. How a young boy immigrated to the USA from Jamaica under the very real threat of violence and the need to break up a loving family, all precipitated by the dynamics of cold war in the 1980’s between the former Soviet Union and the United States. How an underprivileged high school athlete identifies and solves the problem of paying for a university education by winning a state wrestling title and why it became necessary to post pictures on his bedroom wall of upcoming opponents rather than posters of celebrities. Learn why wrestling is so different from other sports that Noel had excelled at while in high school like football, track and field. At the highest levels, wrestling is not about strength, speed and agility. Being a great wrestler is more like being a great chess player. The role of wrestling in politics, war and diplomacy from modern day negotiations with Iran and Russia going all the way back through world history for 3000. The amazing true story of how wrestling was removed from the Olympic games in 2013 and the herculean effort led by Noel Thompson and others to bring it back repackaged, remarketed and better than ever with the added role of women in the sport. The bullet point list of accomplishments below is impressive, and outlines his many roles in life from athlete, international businessman, UN ambassador for the sport of wrestling, coach, International Olympic Comittee (IOC) member, father and philanthropist. But the best way to begin to know who Noel Thompson is would be to listen to this podcast. Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Thompson Global LLC Trustee of Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc He operates Thompson Global Sports which provides advisory, financing and consulting services to investors and companies in the sports industry Founder of Thompson Global Special Situations which participates as adviser, lender and principle in commodity, energy, infrastructure projects globally. Mr. Thompson serves on the Board of Directors for the World Anti-Doping Agency Charitable Foundation Mr. Thompson also serves on the Board of Trustees for The United States Olympic and Para Olympic Foundation, Executive Board member of the Board of Governors for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and on the Board Directors of Hofstra University Athletics and the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club Mr. Thompson also sits on The Board of Directors for Beat The Streets NY, which develops the full athletic potential for inner city kids in NYC using wrestling as a vehicle.

About “A girl trying to get a scholarship for soccer is not different than a boy getting a scholarship for football, highly competitive and attracting the best athletes in the country”. This episode of The Thrivalist Manifesto talks about children in sports. In this day and age where being involved in sports is like an unsaid rule, Dr. G and Ben V talk about a professional sports career, the obstacles faced due to the competition in popular sports, their impact on young athletes, and much more. Ben V. has an extensive career in athletic training and rehabilitation, he talks about how he has witnessed a drastic change in the way children are involved with sports these days-starting from a very early age. Children are pressured into sports specialization, putting them at risk. One has to ask, are you aiming to make their sport their profession? This episode talks about the neurological advantages of being involved in multiple sports. Why limit your brain to information from a singular set of instructions. Dr. G says very correctly “Just making your muscle bigger doesn’t contribute to your athletic abilities”. Thus, by discussing the importance of understanding and implementing the correct science, neuroscience, while training adolescents, this episode aids parents who are looking into finding the right approach to coaching/using a trainer/and scheduling sports into the lives of our children. “Athletic preparation is primarily science sprinkled with art and experience” –Ben V Bookmarked minutes 0:12- Introduction of the episode 7:10- Specialization in sports and its obstacles 8:30-Why specializing in just one sport could be a disadvantage for a young athlete. 15:20-Neurological implications on the brain when you focus on a single sport 18:05-Ben’s experience with training kids 20:04-Adolescents’ athletic preparation 21:24-Normative data for a specific age-group

About the episode: In this remarkable interview with international trainer of some of the most elite athletes in the world, Paul Gagne shares with us many of the ideas, tools and methods used internationally for olympic and professional athletes looking for an edge in their sport.  Methods that have also contributed to his own remarkable fitness and longevity and what you can do for yourself. See Paul for yourself in this video working out with a professional athlete 15 years younger than Paul.  It’s hard to believe he is 57 years young.   Show notes: Min: 4:00.  Paul discusses the importance of evaluating the feet.  Read this blog post where Paul shares a specific case of how the feet play a role in injury, sports performance and his assessment process.   Min: 9:00-14:00.  3 important tools Paul uses for training posture, strength, speed, vision and balance. Isoinertial technology from Italy.  Desmo-tec Strobe glasses Animal movements Optojump.  Italy   How decoaptation exercises used by E.L.D.O.A. practitioners trained by Paul’s mentor Dr. Guy Voyer,  like our very own Ben Velazquez, can address the cause of why teenage athletes today have the same postural imbalances Paul used to observe in 50 year old athletes twenty  years ago and the role it plays in focus, concentration and IQ.   Min: 22:00-32:00:  Simple principles related to breathing, will give Paul’s athletes and you the most bang for your buck.  Here are the top 5 benefits of applying this principle: Increased nitric oxide Increased neurotransmitter activation of acetylcholine. Balanced sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.  Heart math coherence Improved sleep, blood pressure, and heart rate Brain wave and heart coherence   Min: 33:00:  Discover how athletes use breathing and coherence to get into “the zone”.   Min 34-38: Top 3 secrets to training and anti-aging.     Min 38:00-42:00:  The best athletes in the world don’t know anything about warming up.  How long does it take to warm up. What is the best technology for warming up  used by Justin Gatlin and NHL players.     Min 43:00-End- 30-60 minute physical and mental preparation and  warm up used by Olympians. Including E.L.D.O.A. Paul’s top 3 secrets to his own personal success.    

About   The foundational episodes of the Thrivalist Manifesto, introduces the audience to some concepts that will be a recurring theme in the upcoming episodes.  The foundational episodes include basic topics such as, principles in biology, neurology, psychology, genetics, nutrition etc.   The principle discussed in this episode is called Hormesis-a term used to refer to a biphasic dose response to an environmental agent characterized by a low dose stimulation or beneficial effect and a high dose inhibitory or toxic effect.  Dr. G’s uses simple terms and analogies to describe why Hormesis is important to you.  Hormsis explains the beneficial effects of low-level exposure to an agent that would otherwise be toxic at a higher dose but not in lower and controlled doses.   From Hormesis to voluntary discomfort, this episode gives you a scientifically supported overview of how our body reacts to pain, inflammation and oxidation; how that affects our overall performance.   This episode covers not just the physiological but also psychosocial effects of pain and discomfort on the various parts of our body.     Bookmarked minutes   1:18- Introduction to the concept of Hormesis. 2:30- Example of types of ‘Hormetic’ responses. 9:00- Body’s reaction to cold exposure 10:38- Voluntary discomfort 11:15- Dr. G and Ben V talks about their personal experience with voluntary discomfort (cold shot) 13:48-Infrared sauna 18:16-Intermitent fasting 26:55-The drug like effects of fasting to cure ADHD symptoms (among other brain based challenges)

About This episode of The Thrivalist Manifesto focuses on ELDOA-postural self-normalizing techniques, which aims to leverage the fascia in the body to produce a type of active traction for spinal joints.  Of particular interest is the tremendous neurological benefit of this revolutionary technique, the brain actually changes how it controls and positions joints.  A new understanding of this now 35+ year old teschnique is discussed.  Ben Velazquez has been working hand in glove with the founder, Dr. Guy Voyer for nearly 20 years; they have a close professional relationship.  Our own Ben V. has worked more closely with Dr. Voyer than anyone in the US.  ELDOA is an acronym that stands for ‘Longitudinaux avec Decoaptation Osteo-Articulaire’.  This is French of cousrs and if that is a mouthful, the English translation is, Longitudinal Osteo-Articular Decoaptation Stretches (LOADS). Ben talks about his personal interactions with Dr. Guy Voyer, the mastermind behind the ELDOA technique and how this technique slowly made its place in the world of strength training, osteopathy, neurology and rehabilitation.  Ben has almost single handedly brought this technique to world of professional sports and concussion rehabilitation. A detailed breakdown of the ELDOA postures is discussed in this episode and the biomechanics the postures involve which link all parts of your body. Bookmark minutes 0:55- Introduction to the episode 1:12-What is ELDOA? 2:00-Dr. Voyer, the mastermind behind the ELDOA technique 5:53-What is osteopathy as it relates to Dr. Voyer’s education in France? 12:20- Breakdown of the ELDOA postures 14:01-How everything can be explained in neurotransmission

About the episode:   Sean Ringold is an Actor, athlete, motivational speaker, philanthropist, surfer and more.  This larger than life character comes straight outta Queens NY where Sean learned from an early age to have fun, be himself and follow the golden rule.  This episode is packed full of what should be common sense principles of success.    Sean Ringgold is best known for his six-year portrayal of Shaun Evans on One Life to Live (ABC). Additional television credits include Damages with Glenn Close (FX), Gotham with Jada Pinkett Smith (FOX), Gossip Girl (CW), Ugly Betty with America Ferrera (ABC), 30 Rock (NBC), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit with Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni (NBC), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC), Are We There Yet? with Ice Cube (TBS), Taxi Brooklyn (NBC), The Carrie Diaries with AnnaSophia Robb (CW), NYC 22 (CBS), Blue Bloods with Donnie Wahlberg (CBS) and 106 & Park (BET).   Big screen credits include his role in NOTORIOUS alongside Angela Bassett as CEO & music mogul of Death Row Records, Marion “Suge” Knight as well as his work in American Gangster, The Smurfs, Before I Disappear, and most recently, No More Mr. Nice Guy. Ringgold has appeared in numerous national advertising campaigns and commercials for brands including Budweiser, Burger King, Dr. Scholl’s, Dunkin Donuts, Delta Airlines, Kia, Fiat 500 by Gucci, Nexium, Nike, Tampax, Time Warner Cable and Spike TV.   Sean has lent his time and voice to support and speak on behalf of several causes including The Men’s Health Summit for The Whittier Street Health Center, Get Reel with Your Dreams, The Island of Grenada, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. He serves on the Board of Directors for HeartShare Human Services of New York and the Board of Advisors for The Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology.   In addition to his work on camera, the 6’3” former New York State Arm Wrestling Champion has worked as a celebrity bodyguard, stuntman, model and personal trainer. His interests include martial arts, motorcycling, precision driving, boxing, skydiving, scuba diving, jet skiing, surfing, cycling, skiing and snowboarding.   Born in Rockaway Beach, he now resides in Long Island City, Queens.   Special shout outs in this episode to: https://www.seanringgold.com/ http://www.silvermodels.com/ https://www.bet.com/shows/106-and-park.html @cadelofficial  (Cadel Evans, 2011 Tour De France winner) Books: The Magic of Thinking Big Rich Dad Poor Dad How to Win Friends and Influence People Relentless:  Tim S. Grover.    Bookmark minutes:   2:30: Sean discusses the role his mother played introducing him to audio tapes while still in high school, of  Anthony Robbins and Deepak chopra.  He and his mom are self proclaimed self help junkies. 4:30:  Sean discusses the value of real life mentors that he learned from and how he went about doing so.  7:40:  Sean discusses how being blessed enough to have relationships with giants in his industry like Glenn Close and how he had dealt with super stars in his life. 10:30: Sean talks about the role his competitive nature has played in his career and contributed to moving up.  11:30:  Sean tells us how he went from from an armwrestling challenge in White Castle on Queens Blvd to getting a Security job to becoming a highly paid working actor with no training. 14:00: Sean discusses getting out there and meeting people, letting them know who you are. 16:00: Sean reveals that much of his skills came from not merely the self help books he had read, but also participating in network marketing companies as a teenager. 16:40, 24:30:  Sean discusses how he made large investments in himself, money he could barely afford to spend, in order to stand out as a security guard to secure more and more positions with celebrities.  Then leveraging the exposure to further advance his career. 19:20:  Sean was motivated by Sly Stallone in the film ‘Over the Top’ 20:00 Sean Ringold demonstrates how trash talking gave him an edge to become champion in a sport where he had little technique.  He then proceeds to take down DrG in an arm wrestle where DrG lasted a total of 2 seconds. 22:00:  Personal qualities of success. 26:50 Spiritual health 29:00 Physical fitness practices.  Sean lost over 100 lbs and is training with the best cyclists in the world.  31:00 Sean stumbles on to the benefits of intermittent fasting. 34:00: Seans opinions on Bitching moaning and complaining 35:00-39:00  “Know your Value”.  When to say no to an opportunity. 40:00: Advice to young actors.  Invest in yourself, seek mentors, work hard.  Be comfortable in your own skin. 45:00+:  The role of money as motivation and being willing to work for little to get started.  Ego (Edge God Out)      

About the episode:   16 year NFL veteran, playing at the highest level.  Bill holds 4 super bowl championship rings and played in an astounding 5 super bowls.  He had held the record for the most consecutive  games played at 243.  This is a remarkable record considering the injury rates experienced by linebackers in the NFL.  His record of consecutive games was eventually broken by a kicker/punter in 2006.  Bill Romanowski is the owner of Nutrition 53,  a company he started because of his passion for sports nutrition and unique insight to what has worked for him, his teammates and clients over the years.  Bill is an acclaimed commentator, accomplished Hollywood actor at times, and a proud, active father and family  man.    In this episode of the Thrivalist Manifesto, Bill Romanowski discusses how individuals (athletes or non-athletes) improve and utilize different aspects of human performance to allow them to thrive in their everyday life.   This conversation hosted by Dr. Geanopulos and Ben Valazquez, underlines the keen attention athletes need to pay to their bodies in mental and physical preparation for games, and life in general. “The better I took care of my body, the better I performed, the more money I made, the more I was able to play the game that I loved, longer.” Is the spectacular way in which Bill starts off to open the audience to his journey from chiropractic to acupuncture to massages to saunas to Vitamin IV drips; looking for the next greatest way that could help him perform, heal, and recover so he could do it again the next day even better!   Bill introduces us to the idea that very rarely are all facets of the game and training acknowledged; right from the nutritional element to the emotional element; that there is more to it than just training, but educating yourself of all the elements of the game and yourself.    “You’re either getting better or getting worse..I like it better”-Bill Romanowski   Bookmarked minutes:   0:15: Ben introduces Bill Romanowski 4:16: How Bill was introduced to massage therapy, acupuncture etc. 14:21: Bill talks about that one component that every athlete needs to take a harder look at 17:25: Bill talks about the Olympian athletes’ training routine that influenced how he himself trained 20:44: “Not only was I going to play longer, but when I did get finished playing, I was going to have a better quality of life” 26:48: Dr. G asks the impact of inflammation on concussions 27:48: Bill discloses the supplements he consumes to get rid on inflammation 28:50: Dr. G talks about Omega 3 for inflammation 31:35: Bill talks about sauna’s benefits 43:02: Dr. G talks about a paper he co-authored on neuroinflammation in persistent post-concussion syndrome 43:38: Dr. G talks about the nutritional supplement at Nutrition53 called ‘Neuro 1’ for repairing damage caused by concussion . 45:09: Bill talks about his daily practices at this stage in his life to keep his performance running at the highest level 47:57: Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris 49:28: Bill’s advice to not just young players, but entrepreneurs also, to thrive in whatever they do

About   Certified Nutritional consultant, Founder and CEO of 5 Square food delivery service, Monica Lynn joins Dr. G and Ben V in this episode of The Thrivalist Manifesto. Heading such a revolutionary food delivery service in New York and Connecticut that focuses on nutritionally sound and healthy food, Monica talks about her journey with 5 Square and making it what it is today!   In the present day and age, right from celebrities to teenagers, everyone is selective about what they put into their bodies. Monica wanted to come up with a system that would ensure her clients were getting their desired results without compromising on the food and other nutritional needs of their bodies. She talks about how she experimented with herself first about 17 years back and the astonishing results-she was never starving her body, her head was clear, she was never tired, always had the energy to work, her skin was healthy, and in turn, SHE was healthy.   She tells Dr. G and Ben V about why it is important to know your own individual needs and not rely on trends and fads. But as a general idea, the basic rule of thumb should be that food should be non-processed and as natural, to fulfill one’s nutritional needs. But at the same time Monica mentions how she doesn’t want people to just…stop living their lives. You can eat all those ‘treats’ you really love as long as the majority of what you eat is healthy. Nobody has ever felt tremendously good after eating something extremely unhealthy anyway!     “We’re going to source really good quality food, portion it out, and deliver it right at your doorstep!”   Episode Summary   0:30- Dr. G introduces Monica Lynn 1:58- Monica talks about why she started 5 Square 2:28- How Monica started this idea by trying it out on herself first, almost 17 years ago 7:45- How Monica scaled her product adapting to the technological advances etc. 16:35- Monica stresses on the importance of why it’s necessary to be specific on your nutritional needs 20:46- “If you’re putting 90% in, you’re going to reap 90% of the benefits” 20:54- Dr. G talks about why people face problems while maintaining a diet 32:20-Dr. G talks about the importance of getting back the sense of wholesome foods 37:40- “It takes just 3 days to feel a difference” 40:55- Monica talks about her book “The 20-Day Makeover Plan”  

About the episode:   An American theatre, television, and film actor, named on People Magazine’s fabulous 50.  With all of his film, television and theater accomplishments, and there are many, Kamar may be most known to many of our young listeners for his role as the voice of Raul Menendez, from Call of Duty Black Ops 2, the most successful video game of all time, a role that took Kamar to military bases around the world to meet with the heroic men and women of the American military, a deeply meaningful and significant experience.  Kamar de los Reyes talks about how he assembles all the elements that go into refining his preparation for his acting roles.     Not just surviving, but thriving professionally, personally, and spiritually is the main premise of this episode. He talks about managing his nutrition, workouts, emotional stability, being a father of twins; all of this and still not leaving him exhausted at the end of the day.    “I train like I’m in my 30s (Kamar is in his late 40’s), but I don’t recover like that anymore” is when Kamar takes a closer look at nutrition and feeding his body properly in order to recover the best he can. He talks about how focusing on the right nutrition has played a huge role in his ability to thrive as he has become a more seasoned actor in his profession.    As he talks about the benefits of the ELDOA technique he says, “Every time I do it I f#@*ing hate it..but it WORKS!” and it’s the one practice Kamar follows regularly.   From chiropractic to cupping, acupuncture, and massage therapy to sauna and ELDOA, Kamar talks about his journey of struggles and accomplishments to thrive to his highest potential.   “I not only enjoy hitting but I also enjoy taking a hit”-Kamar de los Reyes   Bookmark minutes:   0:32: Ben introduces Kamar de los Reyes 2:30: Kamar talks about what goes into preparing for his roles 6:43: Kamar talks about thriving, not just ‘surviving’ 10:17: Dr. G asks Kamar when fitness and nutrition became a vital part of his regular life 14:06: The topic on MSG (Monosodium glutamate) is introduced 16:38: Kamar talks about the right nutrition to help his body heal and recover 17:41: Kamar talks about using the ELDOA technique  18:09: Description of the ELDOA technique  24:00: Kamar talks about his tour for Call of Duty: Black Ops and how he used this opportunity to meet and salute the soldiers 31:27: Kamar talks about being simple and following the basics 38:12: Ben talks about voluntary discomfort  40:29: Rapid fire round with Kamar  

Dr Steven Geanopulos (Dr. G) and Ben Velazquez (Ben V) are in private practice in NYC.  Ben V. is a South Bronx native with over 25 years experience working as a strength and conditioning coach to some of the best athletes in the world. Dr.G is born and raised in Queens NY with advanced degrees in neurology and expertise in functional medicine.  Both Dr.G and Ben V. have expertise in providing strategies and solutions for post concussion care and concussion prevention.  They provide exercise solutions, biomechanical solutions, biochemical and immunological solutions.    This episode talks about medicine in today’s age, putting into perspective what can be expected from your medical and alternative health care providers; Ben V. and Dr.G introduce their audience to The Thrivalist Manifesto, its principles and ideas.   “Can ordinary people achieve extraordinary results”-Thrivalist Manifesto     Episode Summary:    0:51- Dr. G introduction  2:14- What is functional medicine and what this unique practice can mean to your health and performance?  5:58- Ben V talks about his journey into the profession he now loves, working with the best and the brightest  19:40- Value of warming up before exercising