EPI 221: World Renowned Psychologist & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Expert Dr. Josh Spitalnick On How To Improve Your Mental Health, Reduce Anxiety, And Enjoy Your Life More.
Release Date: 10/14/2025
Peak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (0:41) Who is Dr. Michael Snyder, and what does he do? (3:44) Catching type 2 diabetes early through personal health tracking (5:59) Why knowing your health baseline matters more than one-time scans (8:49) Using smartwatches to detect illness before symptoms (12:02) Tracking health on a budget (17:04) Why glucose monitors may be the most powerful health tool (18:26) Diabetes subtypes and why one diet does not work for everyone (20:57) Figuring out your diabetic type (24:57) Diet and foods for diabetes (31:55) GLP-1 drugs, benefits, risks, and who they help most (40:26)...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (0:56) Dr. Longo’s surprising path from music student to aging expert (2:00) Early yeast studies and the 10x lifespan breakthrough (3:56) Launching the Fasting Mimicking Diet and supporting clinical trials (6:15) The dangers of long-term calorie restriction and yo-yo dieting (12:18) Why 12-hour fasting is safer than 16+ hours (18:22) Key differences in fasting for women (20:52) What’s actually in the Fasting Mimicking Diet (23:41) How often to do it and who benefits most (28:47) Regenerating organs with stem cells and fasting (34:55) The Longevity Diet (38:11)...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:00) Jim’s journey from pro athlete to elite coach (2:54) The desert years (4:18) How Inner Excellence went viral thanks to AJ Brown (7:17) Why performance training and life training are the same (8:09) The 3 mindset traps (8:56) “Selfless is fearless”: how to get out of your own way (12:28) The BFF framework (14:40) How to change your belief system and grow beyond your limits (16:23) The “secret hours” that shape your life (22:01) Morning routines, phone addiction & starting your day right (24:19) What The Best Possible Life teaches about joy, love,...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:05) Ryan’s journey from sports psychology to mindset research (2:41) The story of Cheryl and the difference between “doing” and “being” (6:37) Why mindset matters more than skillset (9:09) Fixed vs. Growth Mindset (11:54) Closed vs. Open mindset and the power of feedback (22:28) Prevention vs. Promotion mindset: how goals change your wiring (29:57) Inward vs. Outward mindset: seeing others as people, not objects (34:08) Trauma, healing, and upgrading your inner programming (35:50) Three levels of development: from journaling to deeper healing (41:40) How...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:17) Dr. Andrew Koutnik’s background & obesity struggles (5:00) Lifestyle’s surprising role in autoimmune disease risk (7:47) The rise of metabolic dysfunction in kids and adults (13:17) Key health markers to watch (18:55) Can a ketogenic diet reverse metabolic dysfunction? (30:04) 10-year ketogenic case study results (42:30) Advice for the “average” person looking to feel better (51:10) How to reduce carbs without giving up your favorite foods (57:50) Why short-term cravings can cost your long-term health (1:01:10) Why current diabetes guidelines may not...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:11) Mary’s global travels and ancestral healing approach (2:18) Exploring microbes and FMT in Norway (3:14) Why “fun” is vital to healing (5:17) How dance restores the body and mind (7:27) Why many tribes don’t get diseases (9:54) The healing power of sunlight (12:47) Mayan culture’s built-in gratitude practice (14:37) Birth microbes and their role in immunity (17:00) The Chaga tribe’s joyful, nutrient-rich lifestyle (19:57) How modern diets are failing and why (26:47) Safe carbohydrates depending on health issue (30:04) C-section births and rebuilding...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (0:43) The accidental discovery that launched it all (2:18) Why the palm, not the arm, is key to heat transfer (5:00) Pull-up performance nearly triples using hand cooling (7:56) How the CoolMitt works and why it matters (15:39) Why cold plunges aren’t the same as cooling during workouts (21:31) Circadian rhythms and peak performance timing (25:21) Tips to reduce jet lag and adjust your internal clock (29:42) The link between sleep, memory, and weight gain (31:29) Natural fixes for sleep apnea and insomnia (39:02) Why eating earlier helps your metabolism (43:08) Why...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (0:55) Mike Boyle’s journey from bartender to elite trainer (3:39) Why traditional body part splits don't make sense for most people (6:45) What “functional training” really means (13:00) One-legged exercises vs. heavy squats (16:39) Why sprinters look better than bodybuilders (18:56) The truth about Instagram fitness and drug use (21:53) How to transition from “gym bro” training to smart, full-body workouts (25:55) Why warming up matters more than you think (29:26) The importance of posture, mobility, and foam rolling (35:53) What real fitness should prepare...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:17) Sally’s return and her health journey (3:10) Discovering oxalates (6:11) What are oxalates, and the worst high-oxalate food to avoid (10:23) Symptoms of oxalate toxicity that most people miss (14:39) Safe daily oxalate intake (18:54) Why most doctors miss this (21:06) Other plant toxins: lectins, phytates, and more (24:28) How processed and plant-based foods damage gut health (27:01) Talor’s raw vegan diet gone wrong (30:35) Brown rice vs. white rice (34:52) Sally’s top recommended foods and swaps (38:08) Fruits and legumes: What’s safe, what’s not...
info_outlinePeak Performance Life Podcast
Show notes: (0:00) Intro (1:07) Meet Dani Conway and her personal health journey (2:34) Why “eat more to weigh less” actually works (4:17) Macronutrient tracking: the right way (5:26) What metabolism really is and how to improve it (6:50) The calorie debate (9:50) First steps Dani takes with new clients (11:36) When carnivore and elimination diets make sense (12:59) Gut health: testing, symptoms & what to look for (15:08) Is bloating real? Yes, and here's why (18:19) Building metabolism with food, strength training & sleep (20:39) Hormone balancing the right way (24:00) Detoxing,...
info_outlineShow notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:11) Why anxiety is on the rise and how Dr. Spitalnik got into psychology
(6:21) What CBT is and why it often works faster than other therapies
(10:42) The most common types of anxiety his clinic treats
(13:16) What exposure therapy looks like
(17:02) Parenting with anxiety and how it affects your kids
(22:38) Changing how you think vs. what you think
(27:34) The “manslaughter vs. man’s laughter” exercise
(35:29) Choosing your response instead of reacting
(38:51) Mental health is health, even if you’re not “sick”
(42:28) Simple, weird ways to add laughter to your day
(46:44) Curating your social media feed to protect your mindset
(50:03) Where to find Dr. Spitalnick and his team online & get help
(52:52) Outro
Who is Dr. Josh Spitalnick?
Dr. Josh Spitalnick is a licensed psychologist and board-certified expert in behavioral and cognitive psychology, serving as the CEO of Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta. He’s also a faculty member at the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI).
In his clinical work, Dr. Spitalnick uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to treat OCD, anxiety, mood disorders, phobias, trauma, and relationship difficulties. He works with children, teens, adults, families, and couples, with specialties in pediatric anxiety, health anxiety, psychosomatic and chronic health conditions, and less common OCD subtypes like harm OCD and moral scrupulosity.
He also supports executives, athletes, and media professionals facing performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, and career stress. Beyond his clinic, he runs a consulting business that helps healthcare practices improve efficiency, scalability, and profitability.
Dr. Spitalnick is the co-author of two books: The Complete Guide to Overcoming Health Anxiety and Raising Resilience: 25 Tips for Parenting Your Child with Anxiety or OCD, both recognized internationally.
Connect with Dr. Josh:
Website: https://www.anxietyspecialistsofatlanta.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/anxietyatldoc
Resources: https://www.overcominghealthanxiety.com/
Links and Resources:
Peak Performance on Facebook
Peak Performance on Instagram