The Optimized Mind

Latest Episodes:

An Athlete's Journey with Nick Karwoski Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Nick Karwoski, an entrepreneur and former professional athlete. The discussion focuses on Nick’s inspiring story which emphasizes how he evolved as a professional athlete over time. Key themes which emerge throughout this powerful discussion include – mindset and performance, overcoming challenge and moving through set-backs, maximizing potential in sport and in life, Life, connecting with others through fitness and lessons in entrepreneurship.

Nick Karwoski is an entrepreneur and former professional athlete. As a 3x All American Track and Field athlete at Dickinson College in the Steeplechase and 5000m, he helped lead his team to their first ever Triple Crown title (XC, Indoor, Outdoor T+F) before going to work at NBC and receiving $300K from Mark Cuban on ABC’s Shark Tank. After that venture, he decided to give his athletic career another attempt and became the 9th ranked American Triathlete in 2016. After failing to qualify for Rio, Nick came up with the idea of Tagalong, a platform for amateur athletes to work with professional athletes who share their skills and expertise. From there, Nick joined Hydrow in 2018 as an early employee and an on screen athlete, leading on water workouts. After 5+ years building Hydrow, Nick left to continue building Tagalong and other ventures.

To learn more about Nick, visit:
@Tagalongwithapro
@nickkarwoski

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

Leading with Courage with Ken Eslick Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Ken Eslick, Co - Founder and CEO of The Leaders Lab an Executive Leadership Recruiting Firm and is the host of "The Leaders Lab Podcast," a weekly show that delves into the world of leadership and personal development. The discussion focuses on the challenges Ken faced in his early life and how these became a catalyst for personal growth and becoming a successful entrepreneur. Central themes which emerge through the discussion include the ways in which challenge often fosters growth, beating addiction and navigating life without alcohol, the evolution of Ken’s business The Leader’s Lab, the power of personal development and the importance of taking the first step forward when seeking change.

Ken Eslick is the Co - Founder and CEO of The Leaders Lab an Executive Leadership Recruiting Firm and is the host of "The Leaders Lab Podcast," a weekly show that delves into the world of leadership and personal development. As a Tony Robbins Trainer and President/Founder of The Leaders Lab, Ken shares actionable advice and lessons from great leaders across all walks of life.

Ken is an expert in leadership and team building, with extensive experience leading teams as large as 1000 in both public and private companies. As a C-Suite Coach & Talent Acquisition Specialist, Ken has had a successful F500 exit and has placed over 500 executives.

Ken is a father of 2, grandfather of 3, and resides in New York City. He has been married to his high school sweetheart Shannon for 35 years. In addition, Ken is in recovery and is passionate about sharing his story of strength and hope with others. With his experience and expertise, Ken is the ultimate guide to your leadership journey. Tune in to "The Leaders Lab Podcast" for a fresh take on personal growth and development.

To learn more about Ken, visit:
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keneslick/

You can reach him at:
Email: ken@theleaderslab.co

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

The Power of Polysaccharides with Dr. John Lewis Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with John Lewis, past full-time and current Voluntary Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Founder and President of Dr Lewis Nutrition™. The discussion focuses on Dr. Lewis’ work in nutritional research, with emphasis on the power of polysaccharides in optimizing human health. Dr. Kate and Dr. Lewis dive into the ways in which polysaccharides modulate the immune response, serving as a protective factor in overall health and wellness. Dr. Lewis describes his groundbreaking research on the power of polysaccharides in combating Alzheimer’s Disease and a range of other neuro-degenerative conditions.

John E. Lewis, Ph.D. is the Founder and President of Dr Lewis Nutrition and past full-time and current Voluntary Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate, Faculty Member, and Advisor of the Medical Wellness Association. He has been the principal investigator of over 30 different studies in his research career, focusing on evaluating the effects of nutrition, dietary supplementation, and exercise on various aspects of human health.

Dr. Lewis has been an invited national and international lecturer at conferences and as a guest on television shows, where he discusses not only the findings of his research, but to provide guidance and recommendations as a health expert. He has over 180 peer-reviewed publications in some of the world’s leading scientific journals. A seminal publication from his Alzheimer’s study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, not only spurred him to leave academics and pursue a science-based business career, but also enabled him to be selected for a widely-acclaimed TEDxMiami talk about how dietary supplementation can improve brain health. Dr. Lewis embodies the model of health by eating a whole-food, plant- based diet for over 26 years, taking certain key dietary supplements, and through a rigorous, daily exercise training program. John has a passion for educating others about the value of nutrition, exercise, and health, and he will continue to study the application of clinical nutrition for the benefit of mankind.

To learn more about Dr. John E. Lewis, visit:
https://www.DrLewisNutrition.com

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

Self-Mastery with Ryan Quirk Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Ryan Quirk, author of An 18 Year-Old’s Guide to Self-Mastery: How to Master Your Life from the Inside Out. The discussion takes a deep dive into Ryan’s book, focusing on his ideas and teachings related to self-mastery. Ryan talks candidly about some of his past struggles which were, in many ways, a catalyst for his journey towards self-mastery and ultimately his book. Central themes which emerge through this powerful discussion include defining self-mastery through a four-pillar system outlined in the book which includes the mental-emotional-physical and spiritual domains. Dr. Kate and Ryan take a close look at how mastering these pillars leads us to a life of love and joy, along with the importance of learning to quiet the mind, finding power within, the perils of self-criticism and the idea that change does not have to be complicated.

Ryan Quirk is a 19-year-old author, motivational coach, and speaker. His book, An 18-Year-Olds Guide to Self-Mastery: How to Master Your Life from the Inside Out was recently published. Ryan’s goal is to help the younger generation develop the skills necessary to live happy and fulfilled lives.

To learn more about Ryan,visit:
rqselfmastery.com

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

Power in Movement with Mandy DiMarzo Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

This week, Dr. Kate talks with Mandy DiMarzo, life-long athlete and creator of Burn by Mandy. The discussion focuses on Mandy’s story as a life-long athlete, along with her path to building a thriving fitness community. Dr. Kate and Mandy dig deep into the power of movement and the ways we can make exercise opportunities accessible to everybody, while helping people to define their best within their own unique context. Dr. Kate and Mandy also discuss the power of routine and the power of why and the reasons why it is important to focus on progress not perfection in exercise and in life.

Mandy DiMarzo is an athletic powerhouse from New York. She’s been a passionate athlete her whole life. As a former division one soccer player who later transitioned into distance running and triathlons to keep her competitive juices flowing, she knows a thing or two about pushing the body’s limits.

After enduring countless overuse injuries, as well as overcoming an eating disorder, Mandy made a conscious decision to stop striving for the unattainable and unhealthy, and instead shifted her focus to embracing her body and inner strength by giving both the love and nourishment they deserved.

Her extensive athletic background propelled her to create BURN, a challenging 45-minute HIIT-style workout that strengthens, sculpts, and leans out your entire body. She wanted to create an efficient, challenging, exhausting full-body workout that condensed as many of her favorite workout movements as possible into one. She structured BURN so that she would continue to challenge her entire body without hitting any lull or plateau.

In BURN, her main goals were to continually strengthen and lean out her muscles, include spurts of cardio throughout to hold an elevated working heart rate, and focus on invaluable core work. These all work in conjunction to maintain a strong physique while also avoiding boredom and prevention of injury from overuse doing the same continuous motion that most workouts tend to do.

To learn more about Mandy, visit:

Facebook: facebook/burnbymandy

Linkedin: LinkedIn/mandydimarzo

Instagram: Instagram/burnbymandy

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

The Moment That Defines Your Life with Chuck Garcia Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Chuck Garcia, founder of Climb Leadership, executive coach, and best-selling author. The discussion focuses on Chuck’s upcoming book, The Moment that Defines Your Life: Integrating Emotional Intelligence and Stoicism when your Life, Career and Family are on the Line. Dr. Kate and Chuck explore the many messages related to emotional intelligence and stoicism embedded in the book throughout this powerful conversation. Central themes include defining emotional intelligence and stoicism, along with the concept of a mental fortress and discussing why these are vital ideas in defining success and well-being; finding purpose and meaning in work by giving back and fostering success in others; the power in having the freedom to follow your own path and emotional intelligence in parenting. Chuck also shares powerful life-defining experiences which inform his life and work.

Chuck Garcia is the founder of Climb Leadership International and he coaches executives on leadership development, public speaking, and emotional intelligence. His clients include the world’s largest financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Bloomberg. Chuck is a professional speaker and has given keynotes in over 20 countries. He is an Amazon best-selling author, talk radio host and teaches leadership communication and Emotional Intelligence at Columbia University’s Graduate School.

A 25-year veteran of Wall Street, Chuck spent 14 years in sales and marketing at Bloomberg in a variety of leadership positions. He was Director of Business Development at BlackRock Solutions, an arm of the world’s largest investment manager, and was a Managing Director at Citadel, a prestigious alternative investment manager. Chuck is also a mountaineer and has climbed some of the world’s tallest peaks including Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, the Matterhorn, as well as mountains in Alaska and the Andes.

To learn more about Chuck, visit:
www.chuckgarcia.com

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

Living an Inspired Life with KL Wells Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with KL Wells, business and executive coach, podcast host and founder of VoicesInCourage. The discussion focuses on KL’s history navigating early challenges and how these experiences inform her outlook and approach today. In building a resilient foundation in her early years, KL recognized what brought her joy and fulfillment. From there she developed a focus on service and caring for others, learning in the process what living an inspired life means to her. Other themes which emerge throughout this powerful conversation include thriving in the midst of chaos, the power of a morning routine, the importance of authentic human connection in work and life, the ways in which self-compassion is at the core of resilient parenting and finally the importance of asking for help.

KL Wells is the daughter, wife, mother and sister of an addict, it’s part of her own DNA. Her mission for helping families and parents of addicted loved ones has inspired her to launch VoicesInCourage, which is an emerging community that provides instrumental resources for individuals who need to heal, connect and grow during some of the most challenging times in their lives. Her desire to elevate those courageous voices will be a big part of her professional evolution in the coming years.

In addition, for 30+ years, KL has built an executive coaching and consulting business that has collaborated with hundreds of non-profit organizations and companies by effectively leading initiatives with CEOs, senior executives, board directors, trustees and philanthropists that have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars to ignite organizational and community-wide change.

Today she spends hundreds of hours annually, facilitating powerful productive conversations, that help her clients grow as powerful leaders creating successful companies.

KL is a community leader, influential speaker and family advocate who now resides in Eugene, OR. She was raised both in the Washington, D.C. area and on a 20,000-acre Montana cattle ranch just north of Yellowstone National Park. As the daughter of an Episcopalian minister, she grew up surrounded by three generations of successful entrepreneurs, and cowboys.

To learn more about KL, Visit:
www.voicesincourage.com

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

Optimizing Health with Brian Shaw Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Brian Shaw, a health educator specializing in diabetes self-management education and goal-setting. The discussion focuses on helping patients live healthy lives to maximize potential, diabetes education and care as a way of maximizing lifestyle, health behavior change in diabetes, trust in the therapeutic relationship, the importance of connecting with patients on a human level in fostering health behavior change, the power of modeling healthy lifestyles and behaviors for children, self-care and the importance of believing that change is possible.

Brian Shaw is a Health Educator, specializing in Diabetes Self-Management Education and goal-setting around chronic conditions at Sacramento Native American Health Center in Sacramento, California. He started his Health Education journey in 1991 at the UC Santa Barbara Student Health Services, where he helped fellow students understand and treat common illnesses like colds and flu. During his career evolution, he has worked in HIV testing, smoking cessation, STD prevention, and teen pregnancy prevention & puberty education. In 2008 he earned a Masters Degree in Public Health from San Jose State University, and has since earned several professional Health Education certifications. His greatest passion is helping patients reach those “a-ha moments” of self-realization that they have the power and ability to improve their health with the right tools, guidance, and understanding of their condition. When he is not working, Brian enjoys swimming, running, music, and living the life he promotes.

To learn more about Brian Shaw, visit:

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzQqTwPo8emwQdthkpW5jG5uFqUCMTHTC

Email:
brsedu@aol.com

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund

Total Access Coaching with Marija Parente Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

This week, Dr. Kate talks with Marija Parente, a total access coach who works with people to access and live an authentic life. The discussion focuses on the ways in which Marija helps those she works with understand who they really are, while seeking a sense of meaning, purpose and belonging. Dr. Kate and Marija explore the ways in which early childhood experiences can influence one’s sense of self and ability to live authentically with freedom to express without barriers or expectations. Dr. Kate and Marija also consider the idea that when we know our true selves, we are naturally limitless, we create with ease and grace and our expression is magnetic and bright and people are drawn to it.

Naturally curious and passionate, I left my home country of Montenegro at 17 to complete my High School in the USA, and continued education in New York City receiving a BA in Film and Media Studies from Hunter College, and an MA in Liberal Arts (focusing on Film and Psychology) from CUNY Graduate Center.

While passion drove my choices, my creativity supported making things happen. My love of music, art, acting and writing gave me immense joy. I was also looking for ways to be true to myself in the world that is filled with so many expectations on how to be. I wanted answers, not just for myself but for all the souls who don’t want to conform because they know that what is within them is incomparable to what is outside, pulling.

My Purpose in life became clear: to support individuals to unleash their true expression and be free to create life and art according to their vision. I studied human behavior, motivation and spirituality and am certified as a Radical Result Coach, a Family Constellation and the Awareness Process Facilitator, and Reiki Master.

My education and training enable me to support individuals to break free from the existing paradigm of compromise, self-censorship and restraint, and just “go for it” in a way that is natural and effortless.

Having integrated all my expertise and experience, I am the Total Access™️ Coach who enables others to strip away their self-created barriers, blocks and limitations that bury the truth of who they really are, their authentic selves. Why? Because when we know our true selves, we are naturally limitless, we create with ease and grace and our expression is magnetic and bright and people are drawn to it.

Married, and raising our two sons in New York City, I am intent on igniting a movement of growing awareness, joy and inner peace that begins with one individual at the time that is free, expressive and tapped into their innate creativity.

To learn more about Marija, visit:

Website:
www.marijaparente.com

YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@MarijaParente

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

Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijaparente/

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lun

The Neuroscience of Change with Alice Penn Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with Alice Penn, an international speaker, and Executive Coach specializing in transition.

The discussion focuses on Alice’s journey from clinical medicine to financial consulting to finding her passion as an executive coach helping people to excel through change. Central themes discussed include the neuroscience of change, power of neuroplasticity, conquering self-limiting beliefs rooted in the past, and how to build a life defined by overall well-being.

Dr Alice Penn is an international speaker, and Executive Coach specializing in transition.

Using her neuroscience expertise and real-life experience, Alice helps high performing achievers amplify their excellence and be at their best in their work.

A sought-after medical doctor to C-suite executives in London for 10 years she then went on to accomplish what many said was impossible: with a desire to step into her full potential she pivoted successfully from clinical medicine into Corporate Finance consulting at one of the "Big 4" firms in London.

Now a keynote speaker, and coach, Dr Alice is a master in the art and science of change. Alice is a fully accredited Professional level NeuroplasticianTM and Brain Based coach and has successfully navigated change in her personal and professional life. She knows what it takes to level-up!

Dr Alice works with executives and high- level entrepreneurs to make more impact, excel through transition, find more purpose, and have the professional life of their dreams.

To learn more about Alice, visit:

Website: alicepennmd.com

Instagram: @alicepenn_md

LinkedIn: Alice Penn MD

Email: Alice@alicepennmd.com

To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lun