The Dr. Greg Wells Podcast

In today’s conversation Dr. Greg explores the decision he and his sixteen-year-old daughter Ingrid made to attempt seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. He shares how persistent injuries led them to stop, recover, and rebuild their health from the ground up before they were ready to begin endurance training again. The episode traces the project from a series of small rehabilitation sessions to a potential Guinness World Record attempt, while introducing the Great World Race as a living exploration of human physiology, adaptation, and possibility. The event is scheduled for November 15–21, 2026, beginning at Wolf’s Fang in Antarctica and finishing in Miami.

In today’s conversation Dr. Greg Wells shares the core ideas behind Rest, Refocus, Recharge and explains why true performance is built on cycles of stress and recovery rather than nonstop output. He shows how rest, reflection, focus, creativity, and flow are linked to different physiological and cognitive states, and why learning to move between them is essential in a high-pressure world. The masterclass blends neuroscience, physiology, and practical routines to help listeners recover deliberately, think more clearly, and perform with greater consistency. At its heart, this is a guide to slowing down strategically so you can speed up where it matters most. You will learn how deliberate recovery improves mental and physical performance, why sleep is foundational for health, learning, and emotional regulation, how reflection and metacognition sharpen decision-making, how mindfulness and movement improve focus and attention, and why creativity and flow emerge more easily when tension gives way to recovery. You will also learn how different brainwave states relate to recovery, learning, concentration, ideation, and extraordinary performance, and how small, repeatable rituals can help you access those states more consistently. You will discover that recovery is not a break from performance. Recovery is part of performance. When you deliberately create space for sleep, reflection, movement, and renewal, you give your brain and body the conditions they need to grow stronger, think more clearly, and perform at a higher level. This masterclass helps solve the challenge of feeling chronically busy, mentally overloaded, and physically depleted while still wanting to do meaningful work at a high level. Dr. Wells gives the listener a practical framework for escaping reactive busyness and replacing it with deliberate recovery, better focus, and healthier, more sustainable performance.

Chris Bailey is trying to solve the gap between setting goals and actually following through on them. In this episode, we dig into helping you to stop relying on vague motivation or willpower and instead align your goals, priorities, and daily actions with what matters most to you. In today’s conversation Chris Bailey explores why intention is deeper than goal setting and why follow-through depends on aligning daily actions with values and priorities. He and Dr. Wells unpack Bailey’s “intention stack,” the science of human values, and the hidden role of aversion in procrastination. They also examine how people can redesign goals so they feel more meaningful, attractive, and realistic. The conversation ultimately turns productivity into something more human: a way of acting with purpose instead of simply doing more. You will learn how Chris defines intention, how values quietly shape motivation and follow-through, why priorities sit between values and goals, how procrastination is often driven by aversion rather than laziness, and why time awareness is one of the most practical tools for becoming more intentional. You will also hear a simple daily practice he uses himself: setting three clear intentions for the day before the noise begins. You will discover that a goal is not just a wish or an ambition. In Bailey’s framing, it is a prediction about where your current and planned actions will take you, which means better follow-through depends on designing those actions far more carefully. This episode helps solve the challenge of knowing what you want but repeatedly failing to act on it. Bailey gives listeners a framework for making goals more doable by connecting them to values, reducing aversion, and translating them into concrete daily intentions. Key take aways: Goals fail when they clash with values. Priorities connect values to goals. Aversion drives procrastination. Time awareness creates better action. Three daily intentions sharpen focus.

Dr. Mitchell is trying to solve the problem that most people know what healthy behaviors are, but struggle to start and sustain them in real life. His work focuses on using behavioral science, digital health tools, and practical design strategies to help people make small, realistic changes that last and improve health at scale.

In today’s conversation Alex Hutchinson explores the mind-body relationship at the heart of endurance, effort, and human performance. He and Dr. Wells unpack how the brain interprets fatigue, why self-talk changes perceived effort, and how challenge can become a source of meaning rather than something to avoid. They also discuss adventure, curiosity, and the science of exploration, bringing the conversation back to a practical truth: consistent movement and a healthy relationship with effort are foundational for a better life.

In today’s conversation Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng explores how an ICU “aha moment” and the pandemic reshaped his mission toward prevention over prescription—keeping people healthier and out of acute care. He unpacks his PRESS Method™ (Purpose, Restoration, Eating, Strength, Social connection) and explains how to identify your personal “kryptonite” so you can plan around it instead of relying on willpower. Together, he and Dr. Greg discuss why consistency beats intensity, and why strength, protein, and community are foundational for healthspan and resilience. This episode helps solve the challenge of feeling overwhelmed by health advice by showing you how to pick the highest-impact habits (80/20) and apply them in a way you can actually maintain—without perfection.

Jake Ernst is focused on solving a modern, high-stakes problem: technology and algorithm-driven platforms are replacing real human attachment and co-regulation, contributing to distraction, distress, and disconnection—especially for kids and teens, but increasingly for adults too. In today’s conversation Jake Ernst explores how modern tech is reshaping our brains, relationships, and family life—and why many parents are effectively “co-parenting with the internet.” He breaks down the rising pattern of distraction, distress, and disconnection, and explains how screen-mediated communication can undermine the social and emotional signals we need to feel truly connected. Jake and Dr. Greg then pivot to solutions: digital hygiene, restoring face-to-face connection, and helping kids build the real-world skills that screens can quietly erode.

Dr. Scott Forbes is trying to cut through the hype and misinformation around creatine so listeners can understand what creatine actually is, what it truly does (and doesn’t do), and how to use it safely and effectively for performance, brain health, and healthy aging. In today’s conversation Dr. Forbes explores why creatine has become one of the most talked-about supplements—and how to separate real science from social-media noise. He explains what creatine is (and why it’s not a steroid), how it supports short-duration high-intensity performance, and what the research says about strength, muscle, endurance “bursts,” and recovery. Scott also dives into emerging findings on brain energy demands—especially under stressors like sleep deprivation and mental fatigue—and why creatine may matter more as we age. You will learn how creatine works in the body’s energy systems, what benefits are realistic (small but meaningful), and how those gains can compound over time. You’ll also learn practical dosing strategies (loading vs. steady daily use), why creatine monohydrate is the best-studied form, how timing fits into the routine, plus the science behind common concerns like hair loss and kidney markers. You will discover that creatine’s biggest strength is “quiet consistency”: it can modestly expand rapid-energy capacity and help maintain performance during physical or mental stress—without needing complicated protocols. Scott helps solve the challenge of making a confident, evidence-based decision about whether creatine belongs in your routine—without fear, myths, or marketing-driven confusion.

Dr. Elaine Chin is trying to solve the problem of people aging into chronic inflammation, fatigue, and disease because they are surrounded by confusing wellness advice and are guessing instead of using a science-based, personalized approach to healthspan. In this episode, she frames the answer as precision medicine built on measurable biology and consistent daily habits. In today’s conversation Elaine Chin explores how precision medicine and lifestyle medicine can work together to improve healthspan and lifespan. She and Dr. Wells discuss telomeres, inflammation, Mediterranean-style eating, hydration, movement, recovery, and the role of purpose in healthy aging. The conversation stays grounded in practical decisions people can make every day while also emphasizing the value of understanding biomarkers and hormones. Overall, this episode helps listeners cut through health misinformation and return to a more evidence-informed foundation for wellbeing. You will learn how Dr. Chin thinks about lifestyle medicine as an “orchestra” that requires sleep, nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and social wellbeing to work together. You will also hear her explain why she pays close attention to telomeres, chronic inflammation, hydration, ultra-processed foods, omega-3 fats, and biomarker testing. The episode also clarifies the difference between exercise and general activity, and why small daily habits can shape long-term health more than extreme interventions. You will discover that many of the most powerful longevity tools are still the fundamentals: sleep, purpose, movement, hydration, and food quality. Dr. Chin’s core insight is that these are not just “healthy habits”; they are biological signals that shape inflammation, recovery, and the pace of aging. This episode helps solve the challenge of not knowing where to start with health and longevity when the wellness space feels noisy, extreme, and contradictory. Dr. Chin brings the listener back to a simpler model: understand your biology, focus on the basics, and use data to guide smarter decisions. Key take aways: Lifestyle medicine works best in combination. Telomeres reflect the wear of aging. Ultra-processed foods drive inflammation. Movement all day matters. Know your biology before guessing.

Dr. Kang is tackling a modern, high-impact problem: our relationship with technology (and “perma-crisis” busyness) is driving stress, disconnection, and attention fragmentation—especially in kids and teens—unless we build a healthier “tech diet” and lifestyle that restores regulation, connection, and play. In today’s conversation Dr. Shimi Kang explores how brain science can help us thrive in a world shaped by stress, constant change, and persuasive technology. She shares her origin story—from early fascination with the brain to work with the World Health Organization—and explains why mind and body are inseparable in real life. Together, Dr. Kang and Dr. Wells unpack the “tech diet” (toxic, junk, and healthy tech), why kids are uniquely vulnerable, and how simple daily practices—movement, connection, downtime, and music—restore brain health and motivation.

People are navigating stress, setbacks, and uncertainty by trying to control everything and doing it alone—which amplifies anxiety and drains performance. Dr. Robyne’s work in this episode reframes hope as a trainable, practical skill (not “toxic optimism”), and gives listeners a grounded pathway to regain agency, build support, and move forward—especially when life feels wobbly. In today’s conversation Robyne Hanley-Dafoe explores why hope is not the same thing as optimism—and why clinging to outcomes can backfire when life gets hard. She and Dr. Wells unpack “agency thinking” as the antidote to control spirals, then translate that mindset into practical micro-steps: get safe, get resourced, and choose the next right move. You will learn how Dr. Robyne distinguishes hope from optimism and why that matters under pressure, how to replace control-chasing with agency, and how to use “pathway thinking” to identify one realistic next step instead of trying to solve everything at once. You’ll also learn her “get to the shore” approach for moments when you’re overwhelmed. You will discover that hope is a skill you can practice to keep moving forward without needing perfect certainty or a guaranteed outcome. This episode helps you break out of the loop of “I must fix this right now” and move toward a more proactive approach that is achievable and sustainable.

High performers are getting trapped in a modern loop of overdoing + cortisol + information overload, chasing “biohacks” while skipping the inner foundation (hope, self-worth, presence) and the recovery that makes performance sustainable. Dr. James Rouse’s work in this episode is about reclaiming control: building purpose-driven rituals, creating contrast (hard effort + deep rest), and protecting nervous-system regulation so you can perform better without burning out. In today’s conversation James Rouse explores why hope isn’t passive—it’s a personal responsibility you practice daily. He and Dr. Wells unpack the physiology of overdoing (especially living on cortisol), and why sustainable high performance depends on contrast: peak effort paired with deep rest. James shares practical frameworks—“do the one thing,” build self-efficacy, start your day inside (heart coherence before the phone), and close your day with rituals that help you land and recover. You will learn… • How James defines hope as an “inclination of possibility” you choose and cultivate. • Why “biohacking” only works when it’s built on self-love, intention, and responsibility (not shortcuts). • A simple performance strategy: do one thing, witness it, and build self-efficacy (Bandura-style). • The “contrast lifestyle” idea: peak performance + deep rest, plus hot/cold and recovery practices. • James’ real-world morning and evening bookends (heart coherence first; “landing” routine + self-recognition). You will discover that your best performance doesn’t start with more intensity—it starts with more regulation. When you protect peace and presence first, the physiology of focus, energy, and recovery becomes much easier to access. One big challenge this episode solves: This episode helps the listener stop living in the “35–80% zone” of constant effort and constant stimulation—and instead build a repeatable rhythm of all-in effort followed by real recovery, so performance climbs while stress load drops.

High performers often know what to do—but in decisive moments they get pulled into thoughts, feelings, fear, and outcome-focus, which breaks execution. Dana’s work solves the “pressure gap” by giving people a simple, repeatable plan to get calm-ish and refocus on task actions—so they can perform when it matters most. In today’s conversation Dana Sinclair explores why pressure doesn’t ruin performance—drifting into feelings and outcomes does. She breaks down her practical “shift when you drift” approach: get calm-ish (often with breath), identify what’s getting in your way, and lock onto a small number of task cues you can execute right now. Together, Dana and Dr. Wells unpack why confidence and rituals can be overrated if they distract from execution, and how tiny in-the-moment behaviors create better results under stress. You will learn… how to get “calm-ish” quickly using breathing (nose breathing + longer exhales), how to identify your top 2–3 pressure “hotspots” (fear, expectations, mistakes, outcome), and how to turn those into a simple sticky-note performance plan. You’ll also learn how to use performance cues (task actions), build a “facts list” to steady your self-talk, and use brief “daydreaming” (micro-imagery) to rehearse composure and execution. You will discover… that great performance is less about building the “right” feeling and more about choosing the “right” actions—especially when pressure spikes. Dana’s core idea: calm-ish + task cues = results, and results are what eventually build confidence (not the other way around). This episode helps the listener stop getting hijacked by pressure and outcome-thinking—and instead execute a simple in-the-moment reset that brings them back to what they can control: breathing, focus, and the next action.

In today’s conversation Philip McKernan explores what it really takes to move from “doing all the right things” to living from a deeper, more aligned place—what he calls SoulSet™. He and Dr. Wells unpack why so many driven people chase goals, money, and control…and still feel like something is missing. Philip shares how creating space, asking better questions, and trading judgment for curiosity can open the door to clarity and meaningful change. The result is a practical, courageous path toward the work (and life) you were actually built to live.

Hello everyone. Welcome back. This week I am trying an experiment. I gave 3 blog posts that I have written about heat exposure to Google's Notebook LM and asked it to make me a podcast. This podcast today is the result. I think it is pretty good and I actually listened to the whole conversation. I think you'll find this really interesting. Not just for the content but also that I literally gave the AI a few articles and it created this pretty good podcast episode. This is not the future of my podcast by any means but it is an interesting experiment I wanted to share with you. Have a listen and let me know what you think!

In today's productivity-driven world, taking time to have fun can feel like a guilty pleasure or an afterthought. However, recent research and expert perspectives highlight that having fun is essential for a balanced, healthy life. Fun isn't just about amusement; it's a cornerstone of mental and physical well-being, helping us relieve stress, strengthen social bonds, and boost creativity. This podcast explores why having fun is more important than you might think and offers ways to integrate play into your daily life. Enjoy the episode!

The need for social connection is ingrained in our biology. From early humans working in groups to survive, to today's collaborative workplaces and social networks, humans are hardwired to seek meaningful relationships. But in a world where we're more "connected" than ever through technology, real, quality connections are becoming rarer. This podcast explores why and how to build authentic connections that foster well-being, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Enjoy the episode!

We are constantly within arm's reach of our devices, often feeling the urge to check notifications, respond to messages, and scroll through social media. However, this perpetual connectivity can lead to stress, distraction, and burnout, making it essential to carve out mindful moments and embrace intentional disconnection. By unplugging and practicing mindfulness, we can foster deeper focus, mental clarity, and overall well-being. Enjoy the episode!

Many of us are constantly striving to "survive" rather than truly thriving. Yet, flourishing is within reach for everyone willing to cultivate a balanced approach to life. With a focus on nurturing both mental and physical health, this podcast explores how to thrive - achieving growth, resilience, and an abundance of positive outcomes. Enjoy the episode!

This week I am sharing a fun session I did with the incredible Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe at the EPIC conference in December. We presented our top 10 tactics for an EPIC 2025. After each of the tactics that we shared we opened it up for Q&A from the crowd and that took the conversation to another level completely. This is a long podcast but I know you will get loads of brilliant insights that you can put into practice right away. Enjoy the episode!