Why do smart people overeat—especially at night? In this episode we unpack the gut–brain reinforcement loop that silently trains your body to crave chips, cookies, and couch-time snacks. It’s not “weak willpower” or just loving food; it’s dopamine pathways, vagal nerve signaling, and cue-driven habits (think: lights low + TV on = snack now).
You’ll learn how to break the cue → crave → consume cycle without extreme rules:

• Cue exposure + response tweaks: keep the ritual, delay the snack, or swap to slower-digesting options.

• Slow the entry: start meals deliberately (1 big breath), eat for 25–30 minutes, lead with fiber/protein, then add the fun food.

• Space dessert 60–90 min from dinner to weaken reinforcement.

• Pair smart: two Oreos + fruit beats “no Oreos” (and prevents rebound binges).

• Turn on rest-and-digest: simple breathwork to engage the parasympathetic system so appetite self-modulates.

If you’ve tried plans and macros and still find yourself raiding the pantry, this conversation reframes overeating from education and willpower to wiring and practical rewiring—so you can enjoy food and regain control.

In this Simple Healthy Life episode, Ryan and MJ unpack gratitude—why it feels awkward, why “should” thoughts secretly fuel entitlement, and how a simple daily practice can shift mood, perspective, and relationships. They map gratitude and entitlement as a spectrum you can notice in real time, then share actionable tools: catching “should” language, swapping it for one concrete thank-you, journaling micro-wins, and building short, repeatable “gratitude reps” you can do anywhere (yes, even while drinking coffee). Expect real stories, psychology you can use, and a practical challenge to raise your baseline well-being—without pretending life is perfect.

In this Simple Healthy Life episode, Ryan and MJ unpack the hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, and why new jobs, houses, or wins feel great at first then fade back to a happiness set point. They break down what actually shapes baseline happiness (genes, circumstances, and mindset), why comparison and social media warp perspective, and how to raise your baseline with actions that stick. Expect real talk and practical tools: presence and journaling, meaningful work, relationships and connection, gratitude reps, breath and meditation, and the rule that clarity comes after action. If you have ever thought, “Once I get X I’ll be happy,” this conversation shows how to build durable well-being instead of chasing short highs.

Keywords: hedonic treadmill, hedonic adaptation, happiness set point, baseline happiness, psychology, mindset, habits, gratitude, connection.

On this episode, MJ and Ryan riff about Fall, seasonal change, and what that means for them.

In this Simple Healthy Life episode, Ryan and MJ unpack self-actualization and its paradox: the more you fixate on becoming your “best self,” the more you slide into comparison, box-checking, and self-rejection. They explore how to pursue growth without eroding acceptance, drawing on Maslow, growth mindset, real training examples from jiu-jitsu and the gym, and a powerful Kobe Bryant reflection on feeling first, then choosing action. You’ll get a practical reframe for identity over outcomes, plus present-moment tools like journaling, meditation, and meaning-making in daily work and relationships so progress feels authentic, not performative.

In this episode of Simple Healthy Life, Ryan and MJ dive into the CIA’s secret Stargate Program and the strange world of remote viewing. From Cold War psychic spies sketching Russian submarines to Carl Jung’s synchronicities and the placebo effect, they explore what lies beyond the five senses — and why science may just be catching up to what mystics have said for centuries. Can anyone learn to “see” without eyes? Why did the government fund a program it claimed didn’t work for over 20 years? And what might future generations laugh at us for not understanding today? Join us as we unpack the esoteric, the unprovable, and the deeply human search for meaning in the unseen.

On this more 'interesting' rather than insightful episode, MJ and Ryan discuss what it might be like during an Alien encounter, on MJ's belief (or lack thereof) regarding dinosaurs, and much more...

Many people mistake self-punishment for discipline — and wonder why habits never stick. In this episode of Simple Healthy Life, Ryan and MJ unpack the difference between discipline rooted in self-respect and punishment rooted in self-rejection. Drawing from philosophy, neuroscience, and real-world coaching, they explore how to shift from fear-based motivation to future-facing discipline that actually lasts.