Advertise on podcast: Thrive State Podcast

Have you ever caught yourself reacting in a way you promised yourself you wouldn't anymore? Maybe you get defensive with your partner, shut down when someone criticizes you, or find yourself falling into the same patterns of people-pleasing, overthinking, or self-doubt. And the most frustrating part? You know better. You've done the inner work. So why does it keep happening? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu (Dr. V) explores the science of neuroplasticity, the nervous system, and why old emotional patterns can be so difficult to break. Drawing from his own experiences with relationships, self-worth, and personal growth, Dr. V shares a simple metaphor about how our brains form habitual responses, and how we can begin creating new pathways. You'll also discover a practical five-step framework to help you become more aware of your triggers, regulate your emotions, and consciously choose how you want to respond. In this episode, you'll discover: Why knowing better doesn't always lead to doing better How childhood beliefs and experiences shape our emotional reactions What neuroplasticity teaches us about changing old patterns Why getting triggered doesn't mean you haven't healed How your nervous system influences your thoughts, emotions, and behavior The five steps to change: Feel, Regulate, Listen, Choose, Repeat How unconscious emotional patterns can drain your energy Why healing is about awareness, not perfection A reminder from this episode: Growth isn't necessarily about never getting triggered again. Sometimes, it's about recognizing an old pattern sooner, responding with more intention, and returning to yourself a little faster each time. Your Thrive State Challenge: For the next seven days, identify one emotional pattern that no longer serves you. Instead of judging yourself when it shows up, practice noticing, regulating, listening, choosing, and repeating. You might be surprised by how much can change when you stop automatically reacting and start consciously responding. FREE THRIVE STATE RESOURCES Get a free PDF copy of Dr. V's bestselling book, Thrive State, along with practical tools to support your health, energy, and personal growth: https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State community: https://mythrivestate.com/join If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to the Thrive State Podcast and share it with someone who could use a little encouragement on their own journey. Remember, my friends: You are your best medicine. — Dr. Kien Vuu (Dr. V)

What if the thing aging you fastest isn't your diet or your genes, but the story running in the back of your mind? In this episode, Dr Kien Vuu and David Meltzer discuss the hidden link between mindset, the nervous system, and chronic disease. Dr V shares how, 13 years ago, he was a surgeon who was overweight, diabetic, hypertensive and on several medications, and headed toward his own operating table. Together they explore how the ego's search for safety, love and connection keeps the body stuck in "danger mode," and why choosing faith over fear may be one of the most powerful tools for longevity and performance. In this episode, you'll learn: How Dr. V's own diagnosis of diabetes and high blood pressure changed the way he practices medicine Why medical training focuses on matching drugs to symptoms, and what it misses How the ego forms when childhood needs for safety, love and connection go unmet The epigenetic messages chronic stress sends to your DNA, including more inflammation and less immunity Why "dis-ease" is mental, emotional and spiritual as well as physical How to spot the subconscious stories that trigger your nervous system, and how to question them Faith vs. fear: why both are invisible forces, and why the one you feed shapes your energy and health span The moment holding his newborn daughter dissolved Dr. V's belief that he wasn't enough How breathwork, stillness and connection help calm an inherited nervous system The message behind Dr. V's new book, I'm Possible Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd  Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com  Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com  Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join

You're eating healthy, but is your body actually absorbing any of it? Most people focus on WHAT they eat. Almost nobody thinks about whether those nutrients actually make it to their cells. In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. V sits down with Doug Grant, founder of Optimal Health Systems and former nutritionist for the Phoenix Suns, at SoFi Stadium to break down the real science of nutrient absorption, digestion, and why your mindset might be the missing piece in your health journey. From working with NBA athletes to training conventional doctors in nutrition-based health, Doug shares practical, immediately actionable strategies to get more out of every meal -- starting with something your grandmother already told you to do. In this episode, you'll learn: Why eating healthy food isn't enough and what actually determines whether nutrients reach your cells The #1 free habit that improves digestion immediately (no supplements required) How stress and "fight or flight" mode silently sabotage your physical health Why conventional doctors are leaving traditional medicine to study nutrition How to create a daily "non-negotiable floor" across mindset, nutrition, exercise, and supplementation A simple pre-meal ritual that activates your parasympathetic nervous system for better digestion What "focused, intense thought" has to do with longevity and optimal health Download free longevity resources: thrivestatestarter.com  Learn more about Doug Grant's work: theformulator.com  Explore Optimal Health Systems for custom vitamin packs: optimalhealthsystems.com  Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join

What if the secret to peak performance isn't pushing harder — it's recovering before you even start? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, recorded outside SoFi Stadium where high-performing athletes train, we break down the concept of pre-recovery — the practice of intentionally grounding your nervous system and setting your energetic state before a demand, rather than waiting until you're exhausted. Using the science of stress, recovery, and growth (from single-cell organisms to elite athletes), this episode gives you a practical framework you can apply in just 5 minutes before any high-stakes moment. In this episode, you'll learn: The science behind why stress + recovery = growth and resilience (and why constant stress without recovery breaks you down) What "pre-recovery" is and why elite athletes and high-performing entrepreneurs use it before every challenge The 5-55 method: a simple pre-recovery protocol you can use before any meeting, conversation, or performance The 4-7-8 breathing technique that resets your nervous system in under 5 minutes How to set an energetic intention that shapes the outcome of everything you do Try pre-recovery this week. Find one moment before a task, meeting, or conversation and take 5 minutes to breathe, walk, or set your intention. Then share your experience in the comments below! Did you show up differently? Subscribe to the Thrive State Podcast for weekly insights on performance, longevity, and human potential. Leave a 5-star review if this episode gave you value. It helps us reach more people looking to become their best selves. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join

In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. V sits down with Jill Schulman, former United States Marine Corps officer, positive psychology researcher trained at the University of Pennsylvania under Martin Seligman, and globally recognized keynote speaker on the science of bravery. Jill shares her remarkable journey from a small town in Minnesota to the Marine Corps, how she discovered bravery as her life's work, and the evidence-based framework she now teaches leaders and organizations around the world. This conversation dives deep into the psychology of fear, why avoidance destroys potential, how action actually creates confidence (not the other way around), and why the next generation needs more discomfort, not less.   In this episode, we cover: The Five to Thrive rapid-fire game show segment Jill's origin story: from small-town Minnesota to the United States Marine Corps How studying positive psychology at Penn led to her focus on bravery The Marine Corps lesson: act when you have 70% of the information, not 100% Why bravery is a trainable skill just like building strength in the gym Discerning between fears you should listen to and fears you should move toward The hidden cost of experiential avoidance (and its link to anxiety and depression) The Navy SEAL confidence course story and why action precedes confidence Discipline vs. motivation and why you should never "press snooze" Marcus Buckingham's "red threads" and how to follow what lights you up How fear shows up in business: difficult conversations and safe goal-setting Why young people need to feel fear more, not less (the biosphere palm tree analogy) What leaders must do: set high expectations and support people to rise Jill is offering a free audiobook to listeners. Just send her a message on LinkedIn or Instagram and her team will send you the link. You can also learn more about her keynote speaking and work at jillschulman.com. If this episode lit a fire in you, share it with someone who's been waiting for permission to be brave, and don't forget to subscribe to the Thrive State Podcast for more conversations that help you thrive. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join Learn more about Jhourney retreats: www.jhourney.io

What if the future of medicine means doctors stop asking "what's wrong with you" and start asking "what is your body trying to tell you?"   In this episode, Dr. V sits down with Dr. Gregoryory Burzynski, an integrative and functional medicine physician (Houston Concierge Medicine, Restore Longevity) who trained in internal medicine before pioneering a more personalized, prevention-first approach to health. Together they unpack why modern medicine reacts too late, what true "thriving" really looks like, and what the next decade of longevity science might bring. In this episode, we cover: Dr. Burzynski's path from internal medicine to integrative and functional care Where conventional medicine falls short — and how to bridge the gap The personal health crisis that changed how Dr. Burzynski practices medicine What "true health" really means beyond just the absence of disease Early warning signs your body gives before things go wrong The link between stress, mitochondrial efficiency, and telomere length Epigenetics today vs. the epigenetic drugs of tomorrow Personalized medicine and why age changes everything Longevity escape velocity and the future of aging How Dr. Burzynski would redesign healthcare from the ground up The one thing he hopes every healthy person remembers   Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join

Ever wonder why you still feel exhausted even after a "full night's sleep"? The answer might be sitting in your medicine cabinet or in a disorder you've never been tested for.   In this episode, Dr. V sits down with Dr. Meredith Broderick, a triple board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine physician (one of only four in the world boarded in neurology, sleep medicine, AND behavioral sleep medicine) and founder of Sound Sleep Guru in Seattle. Together they break down why modern life has broken our sleep, why common sleep meds may be doing more harm than good, and what actually works to restore deep, restorative rest.   In this episode, we cover: Why sleep apnea is the most undiagnosed sleep disorder in the world How sleeping pills like Ambien and Zolpidem block your brain's glymphatic "cleaning" system The link between anticholinergic sleep meds and dementia risk Why alcohol, benzodiazepines, and cannabis wreck your sleep architecture How artificial light and modern life decoupled us from our circadian rhythm New GLP-1/GIP medications now FDA-approved for sleep apnea How Ozlo Sleepbuds use audio and biometrics to improve sleep Rapid-fire scores on melatonin, naps, morning sunlight, exercise timing, and temperature How to build a simple, effective wind-down routine Where to actually go for help with a sleep problem Explore Sound Sleep Guru: https://soundsleepguru.com/ Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join

What if the biggest thing holding back your performance isn't your mindset, your training, or your work ethic, but your nervous system? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with Dr. Jo Brown, performance physiotherapist, nervous system expert, and Head of Human Performance at Nuropod, to explore why nervous system regulation may be the missing link between good performance and sustained excellence. Learn more about Nuropod and its work in nervous system regulation and human performance: https://nuropod.com/ After working with Olympic champions, NBA players, NFL athletes, and world-class competitors, Dr. Brown discovered that lasting success isn't simply about physical ability or mental toughness. It's about intentionality, nervous system regulation, and consistently recovering well enough to perform again. Together, Dr. V and Dr. Brown break down why so many high achievers stay trapped in "go mode," how chronic stress quietly erodes performance long before symptoms appear, and the practical tools anyone can use to regulate their nervous system and improve recovery. They also explore the future of performance medicine, including heart rate variability (HRV), wearable technology, vagus nerve stimulation, and why the nervous system may be the last frontier in optimizing human performance. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, athlete, or simply looking for more energy, resilience, and longevity, this conversation offers actionable strategies to help you perform at your highest level without sacrificing your health. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why nervous system regulation is the foundation of sustainable high performance • The difference between recovery and readiness • Why sleep remains the most underrated recovery tool • What separates legendary athletes from everyone else • Simple nervous system regulation tools you can start using today • How HRV should actually be interpreted • Common signs you're heading toward burnout • Why stress isn't the enemy, but poor recovery is • How wearable technology and vagus nerve stimulation are changing recovery • Why showing up as your authentic self improves performance Follow Dr. V: https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 Bestselling Book Thrive State: https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Thrive State Starter Guide: https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership: https://mythrivestate.com/join Learn more about Dr. Jo Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jo-brown-279311172/ https://performance-state.com/

What if the biggest thing holding back your growth isn't a lack of knowledge, but a lack of curiosity? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with keynote speaker, magician, and innovation expert Nash Fung to explore why curiosity may be one of the most powerful skills for thriving in today's rapidly changing world. From immigrating to the United States as a teenager to overcoming insecurities through magic, Nash shares how curiosity helped shape his journey and ultimately became the foundation of his work with organizations around the world. Together, they discuss the connection between curiosity and innovation, what children can teach us about creativity, how assumptions limit our potential, and why human connection may become even more valuable in the age of AI. Along the way, Nash reveals surprising lessons from nearly two decades as a crisis counselor, explains what magic teaches us about human perception, and shares practical ways to cultivate more wonder, creativity, and possibility in everyday life.   In this episode, we explore: * Why curiosity is the fuel behind innovation and growth * How childhood experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves * The surprising lessons learned from 18 years on a crisis hotline * What magicians understand about memory, perception, and human behavior * Why assumptions are the enemy of curiosity * How children naturally think differently than adults * The role of human connection in an AI-powered future * Simple ways to cultivate curiosity in your work and life If you've ever felt stuck, uninspired, or trapped by old ways of thinking, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that curiosity may be the doorway to your next breakthrough. Follow Doctor V: https://instagram.com/doctorvmd  Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State: https://thrivestatebook.com  Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide: https://thrivestatestarter.com  Join the Thrive State Membership: https://mythrivestate.com/join  Learn more about Nash Fung: https://nashfung.com

You're getting things done, but at what cost? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr Kien Vu breaks down the biology of stress and reveals the hidden middle stage that most high performers are unknowingly living in: a dangerous "coping zone" where productivity masks depletion. He explains why willpower alone won't save you, and introduces a powerful 60-second reset tool called the IMPACT framework to bring you back to your center without adding a single hour to your day. In this episode, we cover: The biological definition of stress and why it's not the enemy you think it is The 3 stages of stress: Anticipation, Coping, and Exhaustion and how to identify where you are The sleep paradox: why 8 hours of rest still leaves high performers waking up depleted Why high achievers are the most vulnerable to burnout and why it hits them the hardest The science of recovery: why growth never happens during stress, only after it How to engineer micro-recovery moments into your day without losing productivity The IMPACT Framework: a 60-second reset practice to ground your nervous system anywhere, anytime Ready to stop running on empty? Take the 7-day challenge: find one friction point in your day and add a micro-recovery moment before it. Then share this episode with a high performer in your life who needs to hear this. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join

Most people think mental health is "all in your head," but your nervous system is constantly syncing with every person in the room. That's why the right relationships can literally regulate your biology, and the wrong ones can burn you out. In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, we break down the science of co‑regulation, how human nervous systems connect, calm, and heal each other. You'll learn why a "best friend at work" isn't just nice to have, it's a biological necessity, and why chronic loneliness is as dangerous as smoking a pack a day for your long-term health, resilience, and performance. In this episode, we cover: What co‑regulation is and how your nervous system "talks" to other people's The difference between co‑regulation and emotional contagion Why having a "best friend at work" boosts engagement, resilience, and retention The shocking stat: chronic loneliness and the mortality risk of smoking 15 cigarettes a day Why high performers and leaders are often the most lonely and dysregulated A practical audit for your relationships (who calms your system, who constricts it) Scripts and practices to ask for support and co‑regulate with others How generosity and vulnerability attract safe, regulating relationships How to become the "strongest signal in the room" — calm, grounded, and contagious in the best way Whether it's a breathing exercise with your spouse or simply being a calm presence for your team, small acts of co-regulation can ripple out and transform the health of everyone around you. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd  Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com  Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com  Visit Dr. V's website https://kienvuu.com

Are you exhausted, stressed, or on the edge of burnout? What if your biggest problem isn't your circumstances… but the unconscious signal your nervous system is stuck in?   In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. V, triple-board-certified MD and performance & longevity expert, breaks down how your nervous system, epigenetics, and identity are silently shaping your health, relationships, and future.   You'll learn: Why most people are reacting to life instead of consciously living it How your energetic state becomes a signal your cells and relationships constantly respond to The role of the default mode network and old emotional wounds in your daily reactions The IMPACT Framework: I Am, Pause, Awareness, Choice, Take Action Practical tools to regulate your nervous system (including 4–7–8 breathing) How to create micro-moments of pause that shift you from survival into creation Why healing is not just supplements and protocols, but changing the signal you live from How to live in the Thrive State of health, longevity, and peak performance   Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join Learn more about Jhourney retreats: www.jhourney.io

Feeling exhausted despite your success? What if the real reason your performance is declining  isn't your work ethic, but your recovery? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr V breaks down the science of burnout, nervous system regulation, and why so many high performers hit a wall, even when they're doing everything right. From personal burnout and chronic disease to the biology of stress and resilience, this conversation will completely change the way you think about productivity, leadership, and longevity. Together, we unpack a counterintuitive but science-backed truth: the athletes, executives, and leaders who perform at the highest levels aren't just working harder, they're recovering smarter. In this episode, we dive into: Why high performers burn out even when they're "successful" The science of nervous system dysregulation and how it silently tanks your energy and focus How chronic stress creates the same biological damage as chronic disease Breathwork, sleep optimization, and micro recovery rituals that actually move the needle The difference between rest and true recovery and why most people never experience the latter Why hustle culture is costing you performance, not buying it This conversation challenges everything you've been told about what it takes to succeed and asks a bigger question: 👉 Are we blaming our workload… when the real issue is that we've forgotten how to recover? If you've been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, reactive, or disconnected despite your success, this episode will give you a new lens on what's happening beneath the surface. Because peak performance isn't built in the grind. It's built into the recovery. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd  Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com  Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com  Visit Dr. V's website https://kienvuu.com

What if the most powerful upgrade you could make isn't your routine, your diet, or your mindset, but your nervous system? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with Stephen Zerfas, co-founder of Jhourney, to explore the ancient science of jhana meditation, and how modern retreats are helping top executives, AI researchers, and high performers access peak states of consciousness without drugs, in under a week. Steven's journey started at an all-time low, a broken co-founder relationship, two lost jobs, and a 10-day silent meditation retreat that nearly broke him before it changed everything. What he discovered in those final hours became the foundation for a company dedicated to solving one of humanity's oldest and most overlooked problems: nervous system mastery. If you've ever felt like you're running on autopilot, surviving instead of thriving — this conversation is for you. In this episode, we explore: Why your nervous system is the most under-optimized system in your life What Jhanas are and why elite performers are calling them "MDMA without the drug" The #1 reason most people plateau in meditation (and how to fix it) Why time management is actually pain management How AI is being used to scale personalized meditation coaching to millions A live guided meditation experience you can follow along with Steven also walks us through a live jhana practice — so stay until the end for a 7–10 minute experience that could open a door you didn't know existed. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State https://thrivestatebook.com Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Join the Thrive State Membership https://mythrivestate.com/join Learn more about Jhourney retreats: www.jhourney.io