Peak Performance Life Podcast

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (0:56) Dr. Longo's surprising path from music student to aging expert (2:00) Early yeast studies and the 10x lifespan breakthrough (3:56) Launching the Fasting Mimicking Diet and supporting clinical trials (6:15) The dangers of long-term calorie restriction and yo-yo dieting (12:18) Why 12-hour fasting is safer than 16+ hours (18:22) Key differences in fasting for women (20:52) What's actually in the Fasting Mimicking Diet (23:41) How often to do it and who benefits most (28:47) Regenerating organs with stem cells and fasting (34:55) The Longevity Diet (38:11) Legumes, protein levels, and real-world advice (45:08) Fasting and cancer: what early research shows (48:15) Where to learn more from Dr. Longo (49:00) Outro   Who is Dr. Valter Longo?   Dr. Valter Longo is the Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences and Director of the Longevity Institute at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, a leading center for aging and disease research. Trained in biochemistry at the University of North Texas and UCLA, with postdoctoral work under longevity pioneers Roy Walford and Caleb Finch, Dr. Longo has built a multidisciplinary research career spanning genetics, immunology, endocrinology, and molecular biology. His laboratory has identified key genetic pathways that regulate aging and demonstrated how targeting these pathways can reduce disease risk and progression in both animal models and humans, including novel dietary and genetic strategies that protect healthy cells while making cancer cells more vulnerable to treatment.   Dr. Longo is widely known for developing the fasting mimicking diet, a five-day periodic dietary intervention shown in randomized clinical trials to reduce markers associated with aging and chronic disease, while promoting stem cell–based regeneration and longevity. His work has earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Glenn Award for Aging Research, and in 2018 he was named one of Time Magazine's 50 most influential people in health care. Deeply committed to public health and accessibility, Dr. Longo donates all proceeds from his bestselling books, including The Longevity Diet and Fasting Cancer, to research and education through his foundations in Milan and Los Angeles, advancing affordable strategies to prevent disease and extend healthy lifespan. Connect with Dr. Longo: Website: https://valterlongo.com/                 https://l-nutra.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profvalterlongo/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/prof_valterlongo/   Grab a copy: https://tinyurl.com/4h4mspmt                        https://tinyurl.com/j23u989b Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:00) Jim's journey from pro athlete to elite coach (2:54) The desert years (4:18) How Inner Excellence went viral thanks to AJ Brown (7:17) Why performance training and life training are the same (8:09) The 3 mindset traps (8:56) "Selfless is fearless": how to get out of your own way (12:28) The BFF framework (14:40) How to change your belief system and grow beyond your limits (16:23) The "secret hours" that shape your life (22:01) Morning routines, phone addiction & starting your day right (24:19) What The Best Possible Life teaches about joy, love, and purpose (31:35) The 4 daily goals to live by (37:27) Mastering the ego for inner strength (41:37) The difference between sports psychology and heart transformation (45:02) Why doing hard things and embracing suffering builds joy (47:06) How to connect with Jim (48:16) Outro Who is Jim Murphy?   Jim Murphy is a high-performance coach, bestselling author, and former pro baseball player. After his athletic career ended due to injury, he earned a master's in coaching science and began working with elite athletes, Olympians, and leaders. He's best known for his book Inner Excellence, which went viral after NFL star AJ Brown was seen reading it during a playoff game. His second book, The Best Possible Life, focuses on living with deep contentment and confidence. Jim now leads retreats and teaches others how to build inner strength, purpose, and peace. Connect with Jim: Website: https://innerexcellence.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/innerexcellencejimmurphy X: https://x.com/innerexcellence   Grab a copy: https://innerexcellence.com/jim-murphys-books/ Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram  

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:05) Ryan's journey from sports psychology to mindset research (2:41) The story of Cheryl and the difference between "doing" and "being" (6:37) Why mindset matters more than skillset (9:09) Fixed vs. Growth Mindset (11:54) Closed vs. Open mindset and the power of feedback (22:28) Prevention vs. Promotion mindset: how goals change your wiring (29:57) Inward vs. Outward mindset: seeing others as people, not objects (34:08) Trauma, healing, and upgrading your inner programming (35:50) Three levels of development: from journaling to deeper healing (41:40) How to work with Ryan and access the free mindset assessment (44:25) Outro Who is Ryan Gottfredson, PhD?   Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D., is a leading leadership development author, researcher, and consultant specializing in vertical development and mindset transformation. A Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, he wrote Success Mindsets and The Elevated Leader. Through his firm, Ryan Gottfredson LLC, he helps executive teams and organizations elevate performance and culture, working with major brands such as CVS Health, Deutsche Telekom, Experian, the Federal Reserve Bank, Nationwide Insurance, and Cook Medical. Ryan also serves as a leadership professor at California State University–Fullerton. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Indiana University and has published more than 20 scholarly articles across top journals. His research on leadership and organizational behavior has been cited over 4,000 times since 2018, establishing him as a respected authority in the field.   Connect with Ryan: Website: https://ryangottfredson.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-gottfredson-9a0b466 Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram  

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:17) Dr. Andrew Koutnik's background & obesity struggles (5:00) Lifestyle's surprising role in autoimmune disease risk (7:47) The rise of metabolic dysfunction in kids and adults (13:17) Key health markers to watch (18:55) Can a ketogenic diet reverse metabolic dysfunction? (30:04) 10-year ketogenic case study results (42:30) Advice for the "average" person looking to feel better (51:10) How to reduce carbs without giving up your favorite foods (57:50) Why short-term cravings can cost your long-term health (1:01:10) Why current diabetes guidelines may not reflect the latest science (1:08:36) Final thoughts and where to find Dr. Koutnik's resources (1:09:21) Outro Who is Dr. Andrew Koutnik?   Dr. Andrew Koutnik, PhD, is a biomedical researcher with expertise in metabolism, nutrition, and disease. He earned his PhD at Florida State University in Biomedical Sciences, studying how metabolism-based therapies like the ketogenic diet impact health and performance. He has worked with leading institutions, including NASA, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and the Department of Defense, translating cutting-edge research into practical tools for improving metabolic health, managing chronic disease, and optimizing physical and cognitive performance.   As someone living with type 1 diabetes, Dr. Koutnik combines deep scientific knowledge with personal experience. He has published extensively on topics such as metabolic therapy, insulin resistance, and the ketogenic diet's role in chronic disease. He is also an advocate for evidence-based lifestyle interventions and works directly with elite athletes, military professionals, and everyday individuals to help them thrive through science-backed nutrition and lifestyle strategies.   Connect with Dr. Koutnik: Website: http://andrewkoutnik.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/andrewkoutnikphd/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/@AKoutnik     Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:11) Mary's global travels and ancestral healing approach (2:18) Exploring microbes and FMT in Norway (3:14) Why "fun" is vital to healing (5:17) How dance restores the body and mind (7:27) Why many tribes don't get diseases (9:54) The healing power of sunlight (12:47) Mayan culture's built-in gratitude practice (14:37) Birth microbes and their role in immunity (17:00) The Chaga tribe's joyful, nutrient-rich lifestyle (19:57) How modern diets are failing and why (26:47) Safe carbohydrates depending on health issue (30:04) C-section births and rebuilding microbiomes (32:08) Determining which diet is for whom (34:21) The Quechua's diet and culture (38:41) Animal-based glyconutrients and healing soups (43:16) How "helping" can harm indigenous cultures (46:45) Rethinking charity and sustainable support (48:44) Where to find Mary and her work (49:43) Outro Who is Mary Ruddick?   Mary Ruddick is a Human Ecologist and microbiome expert known for reviving the ancestral human microbiome. Part researcher, part explorer, she has traveled through deserts, jungles, highlands, Arctic regions, and even conflict zones to study the diets and microbial patterns of the world's last traditional cultures. Her work reveals how these untouched tribes maintain extraordinary health across generations without modern medicine.   From scientific stages to remote ceremonial sites, Mary is sought after to explain why modern health is declining and how to restore what humans have lost. Her approach blends neurobiology with microbial science, using ancestral "birthright" microbes to rebuild resilience. Through her global practice, teachings, and 100+ podcast appearances, she guides people back to the original human blueprint—symbiotic, sovereign, and vibrantly alive.   Connect with Mary: Website: https://www.maryruddick.com/ Minnect: https://app.minnect.com/expert/MaryRuddick Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram