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

Release Date: 02/18/2025

How Sobriety Transformed His Life and Performance

I Love Being Sober

A life transformed through sobriety—today’s guest has not only overcome addiction but has turned his journey into a mission to help others. As a TEDx speaker, best-selling author and dedicated endurance athlete Nick’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery and community. In this episode, we get into his personal battle with alcohol, the moment he hit rock bottom and the strategies that have kept him sober for the long haul. Beyond his sobriety journey Nick shares how he rebuilt his life through physical fitness and personal development. From doing Ironman’s before he was sober to...

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

I Love Being Sober

Building New Beginnings: Matt Waltz on Entrepreneurship and Embracing Sobriety

I Love Being Sober

For most, success is built by hard work and smart decisions, but for Matt Waltz it’s been a journey of self discovery, resilience and transformation. As a seasoned entrepreneur Matt built a successful business with Waltz Construction and then turned his focus to making a difference through his work with New Freedom. But beyond the professional achievements Matt’s personal story is one of overcoming deep seated fears, dealing with addiction and creating a new way of being. Today Matt joins us to share his story of innovation, leadership and personal renewal. He talks about his struggles...

Revolutionizing Mental Health: Exploring TMS and Beyond

I Love Being Sober

I’m honored to have Dr. Richard Bermudez, the National Medical Director at Brainsway, joining us. Dr. Bermudez is a pioneer in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a groundbreaking treatment for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. With years of expertise in neuroscience and psychiatry, he has made it his mission to expand the accessibility and efficacy of innovative mental health therapies. Today, he’ll share his journey from electrical engineering to medicine and how it shaped his passion for non-invasive brain stimulation treatments. We dive into the science behind...

Breaking Through: How Deep TMS Transforms Mental Health and Addiction Recovery

I Love Being Sober

I'm so excited to welcome Ross Mitchell, the Vice President of Global Marketing at BrainsWay, to the show today! Ross is leading the charge in healthcare marketing, especially in mental health, where he’s helping to spread the word about innovative treatments that make a real difference in people’s lives. Ross has been working with Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or Deep TMS, a groundbreaking therapy that’s changing how we approach conditions like depression, OCD, and smoking addiction. With his experience from leadership roles at companies like Medtronic and Clorox Healthcare,...

Rewiring the Brain: How Deep TMS and Ketamine Are Revolutionizing Mental Health and Addiction Recovery

I Love Being Sober

Have you ever wondered how brain science is influencing mental health treatment? In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Colleen Hanlon, the Vice President of Medical Affairs of Brainsway. Dr. Hanlon, who specializes in neurobiology and has pioneered work in therapies such as deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine, discusses how these creative approaches are helping people recover from depression, PTSD, and addiction. Dr. Hanlon and I talk about the science behind TMS and ketamine therapy, why they're effective, and who might benefit the most. We look at how TMS activates...

Healing Through Hidden Trauma: A Personal Journey To Transformation

I Love Being Sober

Terra Holbrook is the founder of TerraVista Retreats in Idaho, a unique healing space dedicated to helping individuals recover from trauma, addiction, and other life challenges. With over two decades of experience as a therapist, Terra specializes in trauma-informed care, focusing on guiding people through the often hidden layers of trauma that can affect every aspect of their lives. I want to share that I personally attended Terra's program, and it was a profound experience. We begin with Terra briefly explaining her work and how she came to open TerraVista Retreat in Idaho. Then, we dive...

Struggling with Despair: The hard road to finding happiness

I Love Being Sober

“You will believe without a doubt, you will achieve what others doubt.” That is a quote from my guest today, Tony Grebmeier. Tony built up a multimillion-dollar business in ShipOffers, which was ranked as one of Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., all while battling addiction with drugs and alcohol. Tony's determination and resilience led him to not only build a successful business but also to become a beacon of hope and motivation for others. As the host of the Be Fulfilled Podcast: The Real Stories Behind Success, Tony has spent six seasons redefining what it means...

When should you give up and stage an intervention for your loved one?

I Love Being Sober

I’m happy to introduce you to Amy Moore, a beacon of hope and transformation in the world of addiction recovery. Amy's personal journey from struggle to sobriety ignites her passion for healing others. Her heart-centered approach turns interventions into acts of love, promoting family unity and personal growth through education, group therapy, and compassionate support. When she's not in the therapy room, Amy embraces life and nature with open arms. Whether she's hiking with her family, snowboarding, or capturing the beauty of a sunset, she finds joy and renewal in the great outdoors. A...

Breaking Barriers: Exploring Psychedelics and the New Frontiers of Recovery

I Love Being Sober

I have a deeply moving and inspirational story to share with you. My guest, Todd Belfer, has been on a remarkable journey of transformation and healing. Todd has been clean and sober for over two decades, successfully overcoming his struggles with drugs and alcohol. However, his path took an unexpected turn a little over a year ago when he faced the unimaginable pain of his son’s suicide. This profound loss led Todd to explore a realm he was once firmly against—psychedelics. In this episode, Todd will share how this exploration has significantly impacted his life and recovery. Despite his...

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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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