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Optimizing Performance and Sobriety with Dr. Douglas Brackmann and Steve Distante

Release Date: 02/18/2025

Why Anxiety Is Not Your Enemy With Dr. Nicole Cain

I Love Being Sober

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How To Love Yourself Again After Addiction

I Love Being Sober

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Validating Your Struggle: The Objective Science That Destroys Stigma In Data-Driven Addiction Recovery With Dr. Evelyn Higgins

I Love Being Sober

The era of saying “you got yourself here, now get yourself out” is over—the true future of data-driven addiction recovery is paved with objective science. Tim Westbrook, MS welcomes , a certified addictionologist, former Olympic team doctor, and founder of , who is moving the entire field past its stigmatized, trial-and-error past. Dr. Higgins dives into how understanding an individual’s unique biological blueprint, including 85 biomarkers and genetic snips, provides clinical proof that addiction is a healthcare problem. Discover how this scientific validation takes the shame...

Someone Saved Me… Now It’s My Turn

I Love Being Sober

How do you turn 35 years of absorbed pain and rage into peace? It all starts with the radical act of healing from shame and complex trauma. Tim Westbrook sits down with his personal therapist, Ken Wells, a nationally recognized expert in treating sex addiction, intimacy disorders, compulsive behaviors, and trauma. Ken shares his raw journey from a cult-like childhood, abuse, and clinical depression to 35 years of sobriety. He explains his powerful method of giving shame back to its source. Learn how he transformed his rage into compassion and found unconditional self-worth by focusing on...

Martha McSally: No One’s Coming To Save You, Take Back Your Power & Find Purpose

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Deep personal healing requires facing the self with as much courage as one faces the world. Former US Senator and trailblazing military leader , the first American female fighter pilot and the first to command a US Fighter Squadron, shares her raw, intimate story of navigating profound loss, emotional volatility, and a painful cycle of abuse that began after the death of her father and childhood dog. She discusses the critical shift from seeking external saviors to taking radical responsibility for her own recovery, a journey that involved disconnecting from a victim frequency and pursuing a...

Healing The Brain Through TMS

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You must know the right type of depression that a person is going through to provide them with appropriate treatments – but not with TMS. Tim Westbrook, MS sits down with , who breaks down how Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation works even without knowing someone’s exact medication or diagnosis. He explains how TMS rebalances neurotransmitters without limitations of traditional pharmacologic approaches to help patients freely feel their emotions. Dr. Robbie also discusses how TMS differs from ketamine-assisted therapies and what must be done to make this treatment method more accessible to...

Ketamine Therapy: The Door That Brought Me Back To Life

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Ketamine therapy has become a turning point for many who once believed change was impossible—and for , it opened the door that changed everything. After years of addiction, trauma, and self-destruction following a devastating military accident, Chad found healing and clarity through his recovery journey and the transformative effects of ketamine therapy. He shares how this experience helped him break lifelong patterns, rediscover purpose, and channel his renewed strength into , a movement that uses apparel to start conversations about mental health, addiction, and healing. His story is a raw...

Removing Everything That Isn’t You: A Journey Back To Yourself

I Love Being Sober

Embracing your most authentic version is not about adding things to yourself, but instead removing everything that is not you. Through healing and mindfulness, unleashing the real you is possible. Joining Tim Westbrook, MS is composer and musician , who guides people on cultivating awareness, emotional balance, and peace through the power of breath and presence. He shares his work at Zen Wellness, where he teaches how breathwork and meditation can quiet the mind, reconnect the body, and open the heart. Jason also presents how he uses his musical skills to elevate meditation practices to...

Turning Tragedy Into Purpose Through Collegiate Recovery

I Love Being Sober

Collegiate recovery is more than a program—it’s a lifeline for students trying to rebuild their lives while pursuing their education. ’s story is one of transformation, gratitude, and service. After a near-fatal drunk driving accident became her turning point, she committed to sobriety and to helping others do the same. Today, as Associate Director for Student Conduct and Recovery at , Angela leads a powerful Collegiate Recovery Program that’s changing how universities support students in sobriety. In this conversation with host Tim Westbrook, she opens up about her personal journey,...

More Episodes

I’m joined by two amazing guests: Dr. Douglas Brackmann and Steve Distante. Dr. Brackmann is a psychologist, meditation expert and author who works with high performing entrepreneurs, athletes and creatives. He has a deep understanding of neuroscience and human behavior and helps individuals harness their unique brain wiring to overcome obstacles and achieve peak performance.

Steve is an entrepreneur, author and investor who has built and scaled multiple businesses. He’s passionate about leadership and impact driven entrepreneurship and helps business owners with the tools they need to succeed while staying true to their values.

We dive into the intersection of neuroscience, addiction recovery and peak performance. Dr. Brackmann goes into the effects of THC and modafinil on the brain, how they create illusions of clarity and connection while dampening long term well being.

Steve shares his entrepreneurial journey, how mindset, leadership and adaptability have been key to his success. We talk about the challenges and opportunities that come with high performance thinking whether in business or in recovery.

We also talk about powerful wellness strategies, cold plunging and breathwork, how they increase mental clarity, resilience and emotional regulation. We also talk about self awareness, discipline and being able to confront challenges head on. Whether you’re in recovery, personal growth or professional development this episode will give you valuable insights to building a life of purpose and strength.

[03:38] Dr. Douglas Brackmann went into recovery in April of 1986. THC did enter his world so now he's 2 years sober again.
[04:56] The THC woke up the monster so to speak.
[07:22] Modafinil is actually artificial flow.
[11:02] Steve Distante has been an entrepreneur since he was 6 years old. He loves to work with entrepreneurs. He's also written three books. He also has a 400 acre farm in Georgia where he offers retreats. He also offers Airstream experiences.
[15:59] the anterior cingulate is the part of our brain that regulates willpower. Buddhist monks and Navy Seals have very well developed anterior cingulate areas.
[22:45] The benefits of cold plunging. It helps eliminate stress and makes you more grounded.
[25:21] Entrepreneurs have so much going on it's good to put your spirit or your soul in the driver's seat.
[28:54] Have checks and balances but always give the illusion of control as a leader.
[35:37] Holding values like gratitude, respect, innovation, teamwork, and trust worthiness dear.
[37:05] THC dampens the light of the spirit and disconnects you from your soul.
[52:47] The pros and cons of taking Vyvanse.
[54:22] The Sleep Eight mattress can track your sleep.
[58:57] TMS helps stimulate your brain in a positive way. It was surprising how targeted they made it with brain mapping.
[01:04:03] Tim does three sessions a day.
[01:06:30] Being in flow and attracted to clarity and opportunity.

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