Social media feeds are built to keep you scrolling, but at what cost to your focus and wellbeing?

Dr. Andrew Fix sits down with Bryan Dobkin, a Principal People Scientist with expertise in organizational psychology, workforce strategy, and the future of work, to unpack how AI and social media shape the way we think, feel, and connect. Bryan is passionate about building systems that help people do their best work, and he brings that same lens to how technology influences our everyday lives.

From the way algorithms decide what shows up in our feeds to the rise of tools like ChatGPT, Bryan explains why our digital “diet” matters more than we realize. He shares practical steps for better digital hygiene, from muting the noise in your feed to setting limits on addictive apps, and examples of using AI intentionally, like creating custom bedtime stories for his three boys. Along the way, he highlights the simple drivers of fulfillment at work: growth, impact, and surrounding yourself with the right people.

With clarity and candor, Bryan shows how AI can either drain us or serve us — and what it takes to choose the difference.

Quotes

• "The technology itself is neither good nor bad. Technology is a tool and how we choose to use it, how we choose to let it influence us or the kind of impact that we let it have on us." (10:40 | Bryan Dobkin)
• "Feeds are optimized for engagement. They’re not optimized for well-being in any sense of the word." (24:14 | Bryan Dobkin)
• "We are up against industrial grade reinforcement loops. These are massive companies that are doing everything in their power to capture our attention and to keep us engaging with whatever content they want us to." (25:00 | Bryan Dobkin)
• “Curate your feed like you curate your home. Remove what doesn't serve you. People may remember during the pandemic, there was Marie Kondo. She got really popular…she had that quote, right? If it doesn't bring you joy, let it go. Get rid of it. The same is true of your online experience. Try to curate, and it doesn't have to necessarily be joy, but what is serving you in a productive way and what is not.” (26:26 | Bryan Dobkin)
• “Notifications are like sugar, right? They're okay in small doses, but they're corrosive by default.” (37:04 | Bryan Dobkin)

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Sauna sessions aren’t just about sweating it out — they can support cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and even play a role in longevity. But how hot does it need to be, and how long should you actually stay in?

Dr. Andrew Fix takes a closer look at deliberate heat exposure and what really happens when you step into a sauna or hot tub. From heart-healthy benefits that mirror light exercise, to the release of growth hormone and endorphins, he breaks down the science in simple terms. You’ll also hear practical protocols on temperature ranges, timing, and why consistency is more important than the type of sauna you choose.

This episode blends research with actionable steps so you can use heat exposure, whether through a sauna or hot tub, in a way that supports your health and performance goals.

Quotes

• “If you're hoping to reap any sort of health related benefits, being consistent is really what's going to take the cake. If you aren't, it won't matter what type of sauna you have, because you're not going to benefit from it if you're not using it.” (03:23 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “Research articles actually show a reduction in what's called all-cause mortality. And that basically just means no matter what you die from, it could be anything, People that use saunas regularly compared to those who don't see a reduction in all-cause mortality.” (06:05 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “In order for some of these benefits to peak, the sauna needs to be 80 to 100 degrees Celsius. Or for those of us who tend to measure things in Fahrenheit, like myself, that's 176 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit.” (13:06 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “When you break down how long you should be in there, it looks like a range of somewhere between five and 20 minutes a couple of times a week, two to three times a week.” (13:52 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “A slight difference in the protocol…was to use the sauna for at least 57 minutes or an hour a week, but with the recommendation being to split that up over multiple days.” (17:57 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

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David Amerland joins Dr. Andrew Fix to unpack why health habits so often fall apart, even when we know better. Why does motivation fade after the New Year rush? What makes some goals stick while others slip away? Drawing on his book “Built to Last,” David explains how our brains are wired to conserve energy, why logic alone rarely drives change, and how emotional connection becomes the deciding factor in long-term fitness.

The conversation pushes past fitness myths like “no pain, no gain” and shows how small, low-friction choices - walking farther, taking the stairs, moving while you watch TV - quietly raise the floor for your health. They also explore what it means to take real ownership of your well-being, building alignment between your values and daily actions, finding clarity about what fitness means to you personally, and developing the adaptability to keep going when life throws obstacles in the way.

What would change if you defined fitness for yourself, in a way that brings alignment, clarity, and adaptability - not just for today, but for the decades still ahead?

Quotes

• “We have this natural tendency to avoid the stressor when we don’t have a real reason to actually do it.” (11:00 | David Amerland)
• “It’s not that they don’t logically understand it. They understand it 100%. But when the emotional connection is not there, the calculus in our head, which calculates the energetic cost of an activity as opposed to the perceived value of the outcome, won’t change unless the emotional connection to that changes.” (11:24 | David Amerland)
• “The primary thing we’re willing to sacrifice without articulating it as such is us.” (24:03 | David Amerland)
• “When it comes to our own fitness, ultimately, the only experts and the only person responsible for that is us. Only we know how we feel. Only we know how capable we are. Only we are the ones who will be willing to force ourselves to do what we have to do. Ultimately, no one else cares.” (24:37 | David Amerland)
• “If the muscles work for 10 minutes, nonstop, and it doesn’t have to be intensive work, it can be light work, essentially they produce a hormone that affects the dopamine producing centers of the brain, which affect our motivation.” (52:00 | David Amerland)

Connect with David Amerland:

Visit David’s Website

David Amerland is a multidisciplinary author exploring the evolving relationship between human behavior, technology, and personal wellbeing. From bestselling marketing books to practical health guides and thought-provoking fiction, David Amerland's work helps readers understand and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

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Cold plunge, cryotherapy, and sauna have all gained attention as ways to push the body and mind, but what do they really offer beyond the shock of the cold?

Dr. Andrew Fix takes a closer look at deliberate cold exposure and why so many people turn to it for resilience, recovery, and focus. He unpacks what happens inside the body when you sit in icy water - the release of dopamine, the shift in metabolism, and the boost in energy and attention. He also reflects on the mental side: how choosing to step into discomfort can change the way you handle stress in daily life. How long do you need to stay in? When does timing matter most? What role can practices like sauna play alongside the cold?

This episode shares both the science and the steps so you can experiment with cold therapy in a way that fits your life and see how it might reshape your approach to health and performance.

Quotes

• “Our mind is extremely powerful. The mindset that you go into something with can have a huge effect on the effect that you get out of that activity or situation.” (11:22 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “Cold, whether you like it or not, has a chemical neurophysiological effect on us. And it is stressful. It’s a stressor to the body.” (12:10 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “One of the biggest reasons that people use cold exposure is to build resilience and grit.” (12:36 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “Getting into an ice bath has the same effect on our body. It has an effect of releasing dopamine, which can improve our mood.” (15:03 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “This is where some of the studies come from, if that water’s cold enough, the minimum effective dose to produce some of these effects in a noticeable manner on the body, is you want at least 11 minutes per week of total exposure to that cold.” (30:55 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

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​​Ultramarathon runner Don Reichelt opens up about how running has shaped his mindset, resilience, and sense of purpose.

Joining Dr. Andrew Fix, Don shares what it takes to move from the back of the pack to world records and a spot on Team USA at the 24-hour World Championships. What keeps someone going when the race lasts an entire day? How do you stay connected to the joy that first pulled you into the sport when training gets hard? Don reflects on the importance of surrounding yourself with the right team, using setbacks as teachers, and remembering your “why” when motivation fades. From mountain trails to flat looped courses, he shows how ultramarathon running is as much about mental strength as it is about physical endurance, offering lessons that reach far beyond the miles.

Quotes

• “I think the most important thing that I’ve learned and that I have implemented is that it’s okay not to have all the answers and to surround yourself with a team that does potentially have the answers.” (16:54 | Don Reichelt)
• “I simply wanted to be outside. And those are the things that you cannot forget. The more you get into the sport and it’s any sport or any activity is just remember that the first run you did and how probably terrible you were and how rewarding it felt to get done with that workout.” (19:42 | Don Reichelt)
• “It’s okay not to have all the answers. Surround yourself with a team, and also just remember where you came from, remember the passion and the joy and your why.” (20:03 | Don Reichelt)
• “I would rather never win another race than not to be able to walk and run when I’m 80.” (27:00 | Don Reichelt)
• “I’m deeply, deeply motivated on the idea of not being like old man Don and looking back and saying, what would have happened if I tried to do this? What would have happened? Or what could I have been capable of if I pushed myself in this area or this?” (44:30 | Don Reichelt)
• “There is going to be a positive takeaway from failure. And maybe it’s a, ‘Oh, I approached it the wrong way,’ or, ‘Oh, I wasn’t as prepared as I thought, so I needed to do X, Y, and Z.’ There should be some action item takeaway from failure.” (51:25 | Don Reichelt)

Connect with Don Reichelt:

Follow Don on Instagram

From Novice to Ultrarunning Champion with Don Reichelt | The Code Podcast

2025 IAU 24 Hour World Championship | USA Track & Field

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Forget the ice pack. There’s a better way to heal.

Dr. Andrew Fix challenges the old RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) protocol and shows how it can actually slow recovery instead of helping it. Ice and anti-inflammatories may ease pain in the moment, but they also keep the body from doing the work it’s built to do.

In this episode, Dr. Fix lays out PEACE (Protection, Elevation, Avoiding anti-inflammatories, Compression, Education) and LOVE (Load, Optimism, Vascularization, and Exercise), a framework that focuses on protecting the injured area, restoring blood flow, loading the body in safe ways, and leaning into an optimistic mindset. He explains how injuries can be turning points, moments to learn more about your body and build resilience for the future.

Have you ever thought about whether your recovery habits are helping you heal faster or keeping you stuck? Dr. Fix will make you rethink the way you care for yourself when injury strikes.

Quotes

• “If we take those things, if we ice, if we take anti-inflammatory medications, NSAIDs, just know that you are basically trading one thing for another. You’re trading some symptom relief, pain relief, and reduction in swelling for quicker healing, right? The term that I like to use a lot is you are effectively kicking the can down the road in terms of letting that injured area heal.” (07:13 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “We need to be positive. We need to think about what we can do, not what we can’t do. We need to be visualizing and imagining what our recovery is going to look like, what our performance is going to look like when we return from this injury, when we rehab, when we get back to doing things.” (18:02 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “Ditch the rice protocol. Instead, if you deal with an injury, we’re gonna do peace and love. We’re gonna give it peace and give it love. Protection, elevation, avoiding anti-inflammatories, compression, education, load optimism, vascularization, and exercise. It’s as simple as that.” (24:02 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “If you are dealing with an injury, especially if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, make sure you get it checked out by somebody so that they can point you in the right direction.” (24:33 | Dr. Andrew Fix)
• “Sometimes our body is going to need a little bit of TLC because of an injury or a breakdown that occurred. But if we can think about what’s the learning moment here in this injury, you, a lot of times, can wind up better after the fact than you ever were before.” (25:47 | Dr. Andrew Fix)

Links

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHTcTHQp1OC/?hl=en

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/2/72

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Walking begins with the foot, and Dr. Courtney Conley shows why building strength, mobility, and healthy gait mechanics is essential for lasting wellness.

Dr. Andrew Fix speaks with Dr. Conley, the founder of Gait Happens and a leading authority on foot health, about why our feet are the true foundation of human movement. From her early struggles with pain as a dancer and triathlete to her groundbreaking work helping patients worldwide, Dr. Conley shares how shifting the focus from orthotics and surgeries to natural function and strength creates lasting results.

Together, Dr. Fix and Dr. Conley explore why toe dexterity and foot strength are vital for balance, fall prevention, and independence, and how something as simple as walking can profoundly impact physical, mental, and emotional health. With strategies, compelling research, and insights into footwear and training, this episode challenges the way we think about gait and reframes walking as one of the most powerful tools we have to protect and enhance our health for life.

Quotes

• “Why are we treating the foot very differently than we treat everywhere else in the human body? We don’t talk about strength, we weren’t talking about mobility. And our feet are the first interface that we have with the ground when we move. We have thousands of sensory receptors on the bottom of our feet that are screaming for information to tell us how to move.” (05:01 | Dr. Courtney Conley)
• “If you do need to have the surgery, we want to make sure that on the other end of that, that you’re doing everything that you can to not have another one of those surgeries, which means the widest part of the foot is our toes, or should be. So whoever’s listening, look down at your foot. Your toes should be splayed, they should be wide, and they should be the widest part of your foot. And there’s a reason for that, because when we’re walking, we push off of our forefoot.” (10:09 | Dr. Courtney Conley)
• “There’s really great research looking at Karen Mickle’s work on the importance of toe strength and fall prediction, the risk of falls. And what they found was that a weakness in toe strength can be a very big predictor of falls as we age.” (22:37 | Dr. Courtney Conley)
• “I firmly believe walking is the most underrated and easily accessible tool we all have to improve not only our physical health, but also our mental and emotional well-being—yet the majority of us, globally, are not taking advantage of it.” (44:48 | Dr. Courtney Conley)

Connect with Dr. Courtney Conley:

Gait Happens

Dr. Courtney Conley is a leading expert in foot and gait health and the founder of Gait Happens, an education platform transforming how people understand and reclaim foot function. With over 25 years of clinical experience, she has worked with patients ranging from everyday movers to professional athletes in the NBA, MLB, and NFL. Dr. Conley holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine and dual bachelor’s degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology. Through Gait Happens, the Healthy Feet Alliance, and her global lectures, she is driving a paradigm shift in foot health, empowering individuals and practitioners worldwide to prevent unnecessary surgeries, optimize gait mechanics, and prioritize natural, science-backed approaches to foot care.

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Asking for help takes courage, and the right support and accountability can change the way you move through every part of your life.

Dr. Andrew Fix looks at why so many of us push to figure things out on our own and what happens when we finally let someone else in. Have you ever tried the same approach over and over, hoping for a different result, only to feel stuck in place? Through examples from fitness, business, and parenting, he shares how learning from people who have already navigated similar challenges can open new doors and offer a clearer way forward.

Asking for help means showing a part of yourself that isn’t fully figured out, and that kind of openness can feel risky, but it can also be the turning point for real progress. From mentors and coaches to supportive communities, this episode explores how the right people can keep you focused, push you when you hesitate, and hold you to the goals you’ve set. What could shift for you if you stopped going it alone?

Quotes

• “We will learn more by figuring out the answer ourselves and having them there as a guide, as opposed to them just giving, giving, giving the answer and us not having to really put any effort forward at all.” (05:28 | Dr. Andrew Fix )
• “Almost anybody who has gotten to a place that each of us would consider successful... has been in some sort of scenario where they’ve had a coach or a mentor or somebody that they look up to for mentorship and support.” (07:26 | Dr. Andrew Fix )
• “There’s a lot of vulnerability that is required of you when you’re going to ask for help. You have to share and be willing to put yourself out there and let other people know that you’re going through some challenges.” (15:30 | Dr. Andrew Fix )
• “Think of an area in your life where you have tried things for a long time… Uou have just been stuck on this hamster wheel, and now it’s time to ask for help. Find somebody who is where you want to be or has been where you want to be, and seek out guidance or mentorship from them.” (16:14 | Dr. Andrew Fix )
• “Many of us continually take advice and take guidance from people that are not in the place that we want to be, from people that don’t have the things that we want to have.” (19:07 | Dr. Andrew Fix )

Links

How to ask for help | Psyche Guides

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