The Model Health Show

Liz Gleadle, a three-time Olympian and Canadian javelin record holder, discusses how to unlock physical potential through body awareness, movement efficiency, and stepping outside your comfort zone. The episode explores how joy, gratitude, and optimal movement patterns enhance athletic performance and overall well-being, with practical strategies for building confidence and expressing your body's full capacity.

Dr. Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist and neurologist specializing in the gut-brain connection, explores the rising rates of colorectal cancer in young adults. The episode examines environmental risk factors including microplastics, processed food, early-life trauma, and hormonal imbalances. Mayer discusses advances in colon cancer screening, the role of the microbiome and estrobolome in health, and practical dietary principles for reducing cancer risk through regenerative agriculture and elimination of ultra-processed foods.

For years, I’ve been passionate about helping folks worldwide get better sleep. And one of the most overlooked aspects of sleep wellness is our exposure to light.

There is an important distinction between weight loss and fat loss, and this key difference is often overlooked in our culture of quick fixes. Focusing exclusively on reducing excess body fat will improve your health, optimize your metabolism, and help you look better and live longer.

For decades, the transition of perimenopause and menopause has largely been ignored. But thanks to emerging data and passionate experts, the conversation is starting to shift and expand.

Building a strong and functional body goes beyond your basic bench press or logging miles on a treadmill. If you want to have a fitter body that will carry you through a long, healthy life, there are a few ways you should be supplementing your existing training regimen.

In many fitness spaces, particularly in the world of bodybuilding, it is widely believed that protein-dense animal foods are the only way to build significant muscle. But today’s guest is here to challenge conventional beliefs about what it takes to create a strong and muscular physique.

As the use of artificial intelligence has absolutely exploded in recent years, there are some important questions we should be asking ourselves. How can using AI impact things like our brain and our creativity? And is it possible to use AI for good?

Today, we’re going to dive into the science of what your leg size and strength can tell you about your overall health. Your legs can be an important indicator of what’s happening with your cardiovascular health, cognitive health, and more.

When faced with a challenging situation like a life changing diagnosis, it can be easy to feel defeated or go into denial.

For years, losing body fat has been overcomplicated in our culture. Myths like spot reduction, counting calories, and excessive cardio exercise have infiltrated the fitness space and have stopped folks from making real progress on their health goals.

Life is full of highs and lows, but it’s how you handle and reframe your challenges that can dictate the quality of your life. Today, you’re going to hear a testimony of what it takes to overcome life’s hardest moments and how to create a life you truly love. Our guest today is Ken Rideout.

Is sustainable, natural weight loss possible in a world of crash diets and weight loss medications? On today’s show, you’re going to learn about real, science-backed strategies that you can use to regulate your body’s internal weight regulation system.

For decades, traditional dentistry has treated dental cavities through strategies like placing fillings to replace the damaged tooth structure.

If you’re laying the foundation with healthy sleep hygiene habits, but quality sleep is still evading you, what should you do next? Many people suffer through this problem or turn to short-term solutions without getting to the root cause of the problem.

Getting better sleep can help you reach your health and fitness goals, operate at your highest potential, and feel better on a day-to-day basis. But for many people, getting high quality sleep is easier said than done.

There’s not one test that can measure your level of athleticism, but today you’re going to learn about what it takes to improve your strength, move better, and recover faster. No matter your preferred exercise or sport, this interview will help you take your skills to the next level.

Aging is an inevitable part of life, but is it possible to use healthy habits to slow down the aging process? On today’s show, we’re going to dive into science-backed habits and practices you can implement today for better health, higher quality of life, and slower, healthier aging.

What if I told you that eating certain foods that could help your body burn fat? On today’s show, you’re going to learn the exact science behind this process, including the specific ways that certain foods can aid in fat loss, and what to eat if your goal is to lose body fat.

Your self-image shapes your decisions, your perspective and your outcomes. And because your self-image is formed from a very young age, it can be difficult to change the habits, thoughts, and patterns that have been ingrained for decades.

Jimmy Choi on defying a Parkinson's diagnosis at 27: how he went from unable to hold his infant daughter to competing on American Ninja Warrior and setting world records. Exercise as the most effective Parkinson's management tool.

Breathing is a unique biological process because even though our breath is automatic, we also hold the capacity to control our breathing. When used correctly, your breath can be a powerful tool for self-regulation, pain relief, and so much more.

Our sexual health is a critical part of our overall health and well-being, yet it’s one that can be easily overlooked or dismissed. Understanding the role of sexual health can help you better understand yourself, your relationships, and your body.

For most folks, getting a grip on the foundations of health like nutrition, sleep and exercise, will make a huge difference in how they feel every day. But what do you do when you’re seemingly doing everything right, but still not feeling your best?

This year, the USDA released a new set of Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The redesigned food pyramid maintains some long-standing recommendations but also introduces a shift away from processed food and toward high protein and healthy fats.

It’s the time of year when most people begin to drop their New Year’s resolutions. The appeal of a new beginning has faded, and many folks realize the goals they originally set are not realistic or maintainable. But what does it actually take to create sustainable changes in your life?

Most people today realize the numerous health benefits that walking can provide. But in recent years, the trend of walking with a weighted vest has gained a lot of traction. Today, you’re going to learn how weighted walking can improve your health.

Your genes influence many things about you, including your traits, and how your body operates. But is it actually true that our genes can control our health outcomes?

Jessica Shepherd on the menopause knowledge gap: most doctors receive zero training in menopause management. Her Generation M thesis: the 1.3 billion women in menopause worldwide are medically underserved, and hormonal transitions drive cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline.

Aly Cohen on environmental toxins as the overlooked driver of autoimmune disease: how pesticides, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors trigger molecular mimicry, immune confusion, and the autoimmune explosion of the last 40 years.

William Li on the five health defense systems: angiogenesis, stem cells, microbiome, DNA protection, and immunity. How specific foods activate each system and why 'eat to beat disease' is literal, not metaphorical.

Shadé Zahrai on neuroscience-backed confidence building: how to overcome self-doubt, rewire imposter syndrome, and build the neural pathways that support bold action.

Jason Fung on why 'calories in, calories out' is technically true but clinically useless. Insulin is the fat storage hormone. Intermittent fasting resets the body weight setpoint by reducing insulin resistance. The hunger code: hunger is hormonal, not caloric.

Drew Canole on hidden environmental stressors (EMFs, mold, water quality) and the role of juicing as a concentrated nutrient delivery system — with caveats about fiber loss and blood sugar impact.

Stasha Gominak on the discovery that vitamin D deficiency is the primary driver of sleep disorders in her clinical practice. The vitamin D-microbiome-sleep triangle: how D deficiency disrupts gut bacteria that produce B vitamins needed for normal sleep architecture.

Daniel Pompa on cellular detoxification, the tongue as a diagnostic window into systemic health, and why excessive endurance exercise accelerates cellular aging through chronic oxidative stress.

Alexis Cowan on the sunlight deficiency epidemic: how indoor living disrupts circadian biology, suppresses vitamin D, and contributes to depression, metabolic dysfunction, and immune suppression. Morning light as the most underutilized health intervention.

Stevenson evaluates red light therapy (photobiomodulation): the evidence for wound healing, inflammation reduction, and mitochondrial stimulation — and the difference between clinical-grade devices and consumer-grade marketing hype.

Dominik Nischwitz on the oral-systemic health connection: how root canals harbor chronic infections, why the oral microbiome is as important as the gut microbiome, and the foods that strengthen teeth from the inside out.

Stevenson on the four mental habits that predict physical transformation: visualization, identity shifting, gratitude practice, and selective attention. Why the mind must change before the body can follow.

Jonny Bowden on the four pillars of longevity: manage stress, eat real food, move daily, and connect deeply. Why the simplest interventions outperform every supplement, biohack, and pharmaceutical for extending healthspan.

Claudine Cooper on community-based fitness: why people who exercise in groups show 26% better adherence, greater mood improvement, and stronger social bonds than solo exercisers.

Gabby Bernstein on the psychology of self-sabotage: how trauma creates 'Upper Limit Problems' that cause people to undermine their own progress the moment things start going well.

Stevenson's systemic analysis: why Americans spend more on healthcare than any other country but rank last in health outcomes among developed nations. The food system, healthcare incentives, and environmental factors driving the crisis.

Dr. Darshan Shah on the gap between longevity science and clinical practice: peptide therapies, NAD+ protocols, and advanced diagnostics that are available now but underutilized by mainstream medicine.

Tero Isokauppila on functional mushrooms: lion's mane for neurogenesis, chaga for immunity, reishi for sleep, and cordyceps for energy. The evidence base — what's strong, what's preliminary, and what's marketing hype.

Stevenson's evidence review on intermittent fasting: the metabolic benefits (improved insulin sensitivity, autophagy activation), the limitations (not suitable for everyone), and the practical protocols that produce the best outcomes.

Brad Kearns on the primal approach to fitness after 50: why chronic cardio accelerates aging, the power of sprinting for growth hormone, and micro-workouts throughout the day as an alternative to long gym sessions.

Stevenson's comprehensive sleep protocol: temperature regulation, light exposure timing, magnesium supplementation, and why your mattress matters less than your pre-sleep routine. The sleep-metabolism-weight connection explained.

Dr. Taz on the GLP-1 revolution: what Ozempic actually does, why natural GLP-1 production matters more than the drug, and the foods and lifestyle practices that boost endogenous GLP-1 without pharmaceutical intervention.

Ethan Kross on the neuroscience of inner dialogue: the voice in your head is not your enemy, but it needs management. Distanced self-talk, temporal distancing, and nature exposure as tools for emotion regulation.

Big Sean on how prioritizing mental and physical health transformed his music and relationships. From anxiety and burnout to clarity and creativity through meditation, fitness, and intentional living.

Dr. Michael Breus, The Sleep Doctor, joins Shawn Stevenson to discuss the metabolic connection between sleep quality and fat loss. They cover chronotypes, sleep architecture, the fat-burning properties of deep sleep, and why snoring is a metabolic red flag.

Stevenson presents research on exercise-induced neuroplasticity, covering BDNF production, hippocampal neurogenesis, and the cognitive benefits of resistance training versus cardio. He argues that exercise is the single most effective intervention for cognitive health.

Stevenson challenges the conventional wisdom about hydration, arguing that cellular hydration depends more on electrolyte balance and water quality than on total volume consumed. Covers structured water, mineral content, and why drinking more water is not always better.

Stevenson presents his framework for using food as a metabolic lever, arguing that specific nutrients at specific times can significantly influence whether calories are stored as fat or burned as energy. Covers thermogenic foods, meal timing, and the gut-metabolism connection.