Hardiness with Dr Paul Taylor

Latest Episodes:

Your Magical Mitochondria - and How to Optimise Them, with Dr Olivia Lesslar Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Your anxiety might be a signal, not the problem. Dr. Olivia Lesslar and I break down why chronic stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the body’s threat-detection systems can leave you exhausted, inflamed, and stuck in survival mode - and what to do about it. If you’ve been told your symptoms are “just stress,” this conversation will feel like a revelation. Olivia explains how the mind-body connection shows up in complex chronic illness, why mitochondria act like cellular decision-makers, and how the cell danger response can push the body into energy-conserving hibernation when it senses threat. Olivia also shares her framework for adaptive versus maladaptive responses, her thoughts on mitochondrial support nutrients like B vitamins, minerals, iron, copper, zinc, and ubiquinol, and why more is not always better when it comes to longevity tools, supplements, or training. She explains how light, heat, and frequency may be used to support healing in everything from wounds to neurodegenerative disease.

You’ll discover:

Why your brain, muscles, and mitochondria compete for finite resources
How exercise can help or hurt depending on volume, recovery, and intensity
The real science behind photo biomodulation, red light, near infrared, and sauna use
Why sun exposure, sleep, and circadian timing change how your body handles stress
How PEMF and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are being used in complex chronic conditions
Why breath work can either calm your nervous system or send you into overdrive

Time Stamps

00:00 - Introducing Dr Olivia Lesslar and her work in complex chronic illness

03:02 - Threat detection, stress appraisal, and why cortisol matters

05:40 - What mitochondria are and why they do more than make energy

10:48 - The cell danger response and how cells shift into repair mode

14:57 - Hormesis and why some stress can build resilience

16:07 - Muscle, mitochondria, and the problem with no ceiling on training

19:26 - Extreme exercise theory and the risks of too much volume

23:23 - What photo biomodulation is and how red light affects physiology

25:36 - Healing use cases for red and near infrared light

30:32 - Red light versus near infrared and when each is used

32:25 - Near infrared, heat shock proteins, and neurodegenerative disease

34:57 - Gut-brain axis applications and Parkinson’s research

36:36 - Mitochondrial support supplements and why personalization matters

41:05 - What PEMF is and why Olivia takes it seriously

47:11 - HBOT, pressure levels, and why more oxygen is not always better

52:43 - Breath work, nervous system control, and practical daily breathing

Resources

Website - https://www.drolivialesslar.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drolivialesslar/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drolivialesslar/?hl=en

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The Alcohol & Health Story Isn’t as Simple as You Think: Wisdom Wednesdays Aug 25, 2026

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Four Stoic Steps to Reduce Your Struggle Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

This week's Mojo Monday looks at four Stoic steps for cutting down unnecessary suffering, starting with Epictetus's dichotomy of control: sorting what's actually within your control from what isn't, redirecting your attention toward your own response, pivoting into useful action once you've accepted the facts, and taking the view from above for perspective. It also unpacks the difference between rumination and genuine processing, and includes a reflection on ego, injustice, and why choosing not to react can be its own kind of strength.

Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness.

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The Children We Leave Behind with Dr. Geoff Masters AO Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

The education system is sending kids the wrong message about learning, ability, and success - and it’s leaving far too many behind. Dr. Geoff Masters reveals why age-based schooling, narrow assessment, and one-size-fits-all teaching are failing students, and what a smarter redesign could look like. Geoff is the former head of the Australian Council for Educational Research, explains the hidden lessons schools teach children: that learning is for pleasing others, that the body is separate from the mind, that learning happens alone, and that progress is just a sequence of disconnected content chunks. He shows how those assumptions shape disengagement, frustration, and the belief that some kids are simply “good” or “bad” learners.

You’ll discover:

Why 40 to 50 percent of students are disengaged in the middle years

Why the top 10 percent in a year level can be five to six years ahead of the bottom 10 percent

Why that makes the current model nearly impossible for one teacher to meet.

Geoff also breaks down how assessment should change from “how well did you learn what I just taught?” to “where are you up to now, and what comes next?

“We also unpack what schools can borrow from Finland, Hong Kong, and Wales, including multi-year learning spans, progression steps, and greater teacher autonomy. Geoff and I explore why scripted lessons and rigid standardisation often backfire, how teacher expectations shape student outcomes, and why rebuilding self-efficacy starts with showing children the progress they are already making.

Key Takeaways

00:30 - From science teacher to educational research leader
01:27 - How educational research shapes policy and school systems
02:18 - Why The Children We Leave Behind was written
04:39 - What the system teaches students about learning
05:45 - Learning as cognitive only, and the body being left out
06:52 - Learning as isolated and competitive rather than social
07:52 - The problem with treating learning as disconnected content chunks
09:45 - Why the early years handle learning better than the senior years
10:52 - University, relevance, and preparation for the real world
12:03 - What schools teach students about their ability as learners
13:53 - Disengagement in the middle years and the loss of agency
15:13 - Why age is a poor proxy for learning needs
17:09 - Why the system needs redesign, not just small fixes
19:23 - Moving from age-based grouping to individual learning pathways
20:29 - Why assessment should measure progress, not just completion
22:40 - Building self-efficacy by making progress visible
23:30 - Teacher expectations and their impact on student outcomes
25:16 - Why this is a whole-school and system-level challenge
26:56 - How much autonomy schools actually have
27:25 - Rethinking learning across year spans instead of single year levels
29:37 - Examples from Finland and three-year schooling phases
31:41 - Wales and progression steps instead of year-level lockstep
32:46 - Why Finland’s teacher preparation and autonomy matter
34:15 - The downside of scripted lessons and excessive prescription
35:58 - Standardisation versus true evidence-based teaching
37:19 - What parents can do to support engagement and growth
38:44 - Whether learning styles are real and how schools should respond
40:22 - If education were redesigned from scratch
41:20 - Music, proficiency levels, and learning as a continuum
42:46 - Organising mathematics around proficiency levels
43:41 - Using growth data to guide teaching and communicate progress
44:58 - Why teacher quality and pay need to rise together
47:48 - What society values, and why education needs a new starting point

Resources

Geoff’s book: The Children We Leave Behind

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-masters-a8526a88/

Institute for Educational Reform: https://educationalreform.org.au/who-we-are/

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Here's a surprisingly effective, easy-to-do longevity and mental health practice the won't cost a cent: Wisdom Wednesdays Aug 18, 2026

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Emotions and Waves With Carly Taylor Aug 16, 2026

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How to Play the Role Life Gives You - Stoic Wisdom for Chaos with William C Spears Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Stoicism is not soft self-help - it's the philosophy that helped prisoners survive torture, submariners survive confinement, and warriors keep their heads when everything else is falling apart. William C. Spears shows why this ancient mindset still matters on the ocean floor, on the battlefield, and in your everyday life. I chat with William C. Spears, an active-duty US Navy submarine officer and author of Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy, to explore why stoicism resonates so deeply in military life. From the brutal reality of hot bunking and months underwater to the moral pressure of captivity, William explains why the Stoics were right about freedom, duty, and character - even when you have zero control over the situation around you.

You’ll discover:

Why the submarine environment is the ultimate test of composure and team culture
How Vice Admiral James Stockdale turned Epictetus into a survival framework in the Hanoi Hilton
The Stoic meaning of honour, and why it matters when nobody is watching
How the four cardinal virtues - wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice - work together in real life
Why the dichotomy of control is more than a slogan when your options are limited by pressure, fear, or fate

William also breaks down how to apply Stoicism outside the military, whether you're facing parenting stress, illness, grief, work pressure, or just trying to be the kind of person others can rely on. This conversation makes the case that virtue isn't abstract philosophy - it's practical training for being a better human under pressure.

Time Stamps

07:18 The Influence of Stoicism in the Military

18:14 The Dichotomy of Control in Submarine Operations

27:51 The Essence of Stoic Virtue

29:58 Understanding Virtue in Stoicism

35:46 The Cardinal Virtues Explained

38:42 Applying Stoicism in Daily Life

43:53 Choosing the Hard Path

46:39 The Warrior Mindset Beyond the Battlefield

51:39 Playing Your Role in Society

Resources

William’s Book: Stoicism As A Warrior Philosophy

Website: https://williamcspears.com/

X: htttps://X.com@WilliamCSpears

Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/william.c.spears/

Substack: https://williamcspears.substack.com/

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Your water bottle is influencing your response to stress: Wisdom Wednesdays Aug 11, 2026

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Choose Growth Over Discomfort With Carly Taylor Aug 09, 2026

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The Science of Aging, Nutrition, and Hormonal Optimisation with Dr. Michael Aziz Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

What if the key to living longer and feeling revitalised isn’t about cutting carbs or fats, but about comprehensively understanding and balancing your hormones, nutrients, and lifestyle? In this episode, I speak with anti-aging expert Dr. Michael Aziz as we challenge mainstream nutrition myths, revealing how saturated fats, seed oils, and stress influence the aging process and how you can turn the tide in your favour.

Key Takeaways

• Why fat is NOT the enemy, debunking myths about saturated fats and the truth behind their role in heart health, supported by surprising global longevity data from France and Switzerland.
• How sugar and seed oils cause oxidative damage and inflammation, and why balancing omega- 3 and omega-6 fatty acids is crucial for your arteries and lifespan.
• The profound impact of stress hormones like cortisol and leptin on weight, aging, and vitality, and practical strategies to optimise hormone balance.
• The groundbreaking hallmarks of aging and why epigenetics holds the secret to extending health span, including simple lifestyle hacks inspired by blue zones.
• The latest research on mitochondria, the cellular batteries, and how cutting-edge therapies like peptides, NAD boosters, and red light therapy could supercharge your cellular energy.
• Why the future of longevity may lie in advanced, doctor-prescribed peptides and hormones, and how to navigate the risks and benefits safely.

Time Stamps

00:55 - Misunderstandings about saturated fats and the demonisation of natural fats

02:05 - The French paradox and longevity linked to butter, cheese, and saturated fats

03:10 - The role of seed oils, processing impacts, and omega 6 fats in inflammation

04:30 - Interaction between sugar, high insulin, and saturated fat processing

07:00 - The importance of balancing hormones to prevent aging and manage weight

07:55 - The downstream effects of high cortisol levels and stress management strategies

09:20 - Evolutionary biology perspective on stress responses and modern health implications

11:00 - The comprehensive approach of The Perfect Ten Diet in hormone balance

12:30 - How updated food guidelines compare to Dr. Aziz’s foundational dietary principles

13:45 - Leptin's role in weight regulation, sleep, and hormonal health

15:00 - The importance of natural, whole foods versus processed chemicals

16:00 - The hallmarks of aging - mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and epigenetics

18:30 - The hierarchy of aging mechanisms with a focus on epigenetic alterations

20:00 - How lifestyle impacts genetic expression and longevity

22:00 - The role of sirtuins, fasting, and nutraceuticals in promoting healthy aging

24:30 - Blue zones and the importance of gut health through fermented foods

26:00 - Gut microbiome, vitamin K2, and mitochondrial support through diet

28:00 - The mitochondria’s critical role and how to support cellular energy

30:00 - Red and near-infrared light therapy benefits for mitochondrial health and testosterone

33:00 - Decline of testosterone levels in men and strategies for optimisation

36:00 - Hormone replacement therapy differences between synthetic and bioidentical options 37:30 - The importance of testosterone in women and hormonal balance

39:00 - The risks and benefits of testosterone therapy for young men

41:00 - The emerging role of GLP-1 drugs and their impact on weight and metabolic health

44:00 - Peptides: current landscape, regulation, and potential

48:00 - Future directions in anti-aging therapies and the need for rigorous research

50:00 - The impact of misinformation and the importance of credible health information

Resources

Books: The Perfect 10 Diet

The Ageless Revolution

Website: https://www.michaelazizmd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelazizmd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.aziz.184

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drmichaelaziz