The Energy Blueprint Podcast

Most people think weight loss is simple: eat less, move more, push through the fatigue. But what if that approach is exactly why so many diets fail? Today, I'm joined by Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson, a PhD in brain and cognitive sciences who studies the neuroscience of eating behavior and long-term weight loss. According to Dr. Susan, fatigue during dieting is a short-term feeling that should ease over time…with the right approach. When you cut calories, your body doesn't just burn fat and carry on. It responds. Metabolism slows, energy drops, and hormones shift in ways that are normal but may make you feel tired. However, Dr. Susan's work challenges the idea that dieting has to mean constant hunger and fatigue. According to her data, hunger actually drops to very low levels when the right strategy is in place. Her approach is different. She believes sustainable results don't come from pushing harder. They come from working with your biology in ways that reduce fatigue, stabilize appetite, and support long-term adherence. In this episode, Dr. Susan and I break down why dieting so often leads to rebound weight gain and what to do instead. (This episode was initially released in May 2017)

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, a positive psychology scholar who taught one of Harvard's most popular courses, explains happiness as whole-person well-being using his SPIRE framework. He contrasts fleeting pleasure with deeper meaning, shares the janitor vs doctor study on calling vs job, highlights curiosity and lifelong learning, and offers practical practices like mindfulness, purpose work, and small weekly meaningful acts.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Alan Christianson, a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist and the founding president of the Endocrine Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the American College of Thyroidology. We'll discuss his new book, the Hormone Healing Cookbook, and specific foods for resolving pesky symptoms driven by hormonal changes in midlife.

Caroline Allen, founder of Beam Minerals and author known as the 'Mineral Geek', reclaimed her health through plant-based fulvic and humic minerals. She explores why minerals are overlooked, how they power mitochondria, and the difference between fulvic as a cellular delivery agent and humic as a binder. The conversation covers mineral interactions, absorption challenges, testing, safety concerns, and whole-spectrum replenishment.

Dr. William Li, physician-scientist and author known for research on angiogenesis and food-as-medicine. He reframes fat as an active organ, explains how excess fat becomes inflammatory, and explores metabolic switching, brown fat activation, and practical strategies like time-restricted eating and plant-forward choices. He also connects foods and drugs to blood-vessel and metabolism effects.

Dr. Christopher Pickard, a hypertension expert with decades of experience in nutrition and lifestyle, reveals fascinating insights about managing high blood pressure. He discusses the link between hypertension and COVID-19 risks, emphasizing it's a warning sign rather than a disease. Listeners learn about unexpected causes of hypertension, the importance of breathing through the nose, and practical steps to lower blood pressure naturally, including dietary recommendations and enhancing nitric oxide levels for better health.

Dr. Eric Gordon, physician known for treating complex chronic illness like Lyme, ME/CFS, and mitochondrial dysfunction. He discusses chronic illness as a stalled healing state and the cell danger response. The conversation covers plasmapheresis—what it is, what it removes, safety and prep, and how shifting circulating signals might reset biology. Practical tips on who might consider the therapy and how to prepare are also explored.

Mark Waldman, a renowned neuroscientist and bestselling author, shares groundbreaking insights on network neuroscience and mental well-being. He highlights practical steps for reducing mind-wandering and enhancing therapy outcomes. The conversation dives into the brain's evolutionary disconnect relating to anxiety and depression, emphasizing mindfulness as a crucial tool. Waldman also critiques the simplistic views around antidepressants and discusses the profound impacts of dopamine on behavior, urging listeners to embrace curiosity and presence in their lives.

A 2018 study found that 88% of the population is metabolically unwell. But more recent studies estimate the number is closer to 92%! My guest today is Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, founder of the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology. She has 30+ years of clinical experience and sees imbalanced blood sugar and disordered insulin regulation as the underlying cause of so many people's problems. Her bottom line is that to get fuel into your mitochondria, good insulin and blood sugar control is a non-negotiable. Most people think of insulin resistance as the diagnosis you get from your doctor, but by that point, there's already been retinopathies (damage to retinas), neuropathies (damage to peripheral nerves), damage to kidneys, and damage to blood vessel linings. Dr. Loscalzo focuses on "pre-insulin resistance," catching the breakdown decades before diagnosis, when you can actually prevent it. This episode was initially released in November 2022

Dr. Amie Hornaman, The Thyroid Fixer, is a functional medicine clinician who turned personal Hashimoto’s struggles into a specialty in thyroid and hormone optimization. She discusses why standard TSH testing misses autoimmune thyroid disease. Short takes cover triggers that flip on autoimmunity, the importance of free T3 and reverse T3, testosterone’s protective role, and when hormone replacement and cautious supplements make sense.