The Made to Thrive Show

What if the mental health crisis isn’t simply a crisis of the mind—but a crisis of the environment we’ve created for the brain? In this fascinating conversation with Dr. Dave Rabin, one of my best podcasts ever, we explore why our nervous systems are being pushed beyond what they evolved to handle, how chronic overstimulation is fueling everything from burnout to dementia, why HRV is one of the most important biomarkers of longevity and the remarkable science and results of the ApolloNeuro.
Dr. David M. L. Rabin, MD, PhD, is a translational neuroscientist, psychiatrist, entrepreneur & inventor on a mission to cure mental illness. He has been studying the impact of chronic stress in humans for over 20 years, focusing on trauma, addiction, and human performance. Dr. Rabin is a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder at Apollo Neuroscience, the Executive Director of The Board of Medicine nonprofit medical board, and the Medical Director of The Apollo Clinic.  Dr. Rabin is also the author of A Simple Guide to Being Alive (2026). At the Apollo Clinic, Dr. Rabin and his team collaborate with clients and patients, empowering them to take control of their mental and physical health by tapping into the natural ability for the body to adapt and heal itself. 

Contact
Website - https://www.drdave.io
Website - https://apolloneuro.com

Join us as we explore:
Why the mental health crisis is at the core a cognitive and neurological habitat mismatch emergency - things are too much, too fast and too loud and we are overstimulated, overwhelmed and overreactive.
How an overstimulated world has crashed the glympathic system and led to the fact dementia is now the number one killer in multiple countries.
The three major categories of chronic, acute nervous system overstimulation.
Measuring overstimulation subjectively and critically objectively with data and using technology to curate the habitat required for a healthy nervous system.
Why HRV is the true longevity signal, and how ApolloNeuro can elevate your HRV sustainably.
How Dr Rabin used ApolloNeuro to move his HRV from the 20s to averaging over 100 ms and hitting heights of 220 ms.
Dr Rabin’s 17 clinical trials prove scientifically the ApolloNeuro works to improve REM, deep sleep, decrease burnout and elevate HRV.
Dr Rabin’s new book “A Simple Guide to Being Alive”, and his three most important guidelines.
Mentions
Science - ApolloNuero Backed by Science, https://apolloneuro.com/pages/apollo-neuro-research

Support the show
Follow Steve's socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Support the show on Patreon:

As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShow

Send me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308.

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

We’ve been taught that stress is the enemy! And I have been trying for years to break that dogma. Because stress is actually one of your greatest performance tools. And there is one data point that encapsulates stress - HRV.  In this episode, we explore why HRV may be one of the most powerful biomarkers for improving not only personal health and resilience, stopping the burnout epidemic and improving employee wellbeing, engagement, and performance in the modern workplace.

Matt Bennett is a keynote speaker, author, and trainer who brings trauma-informed care, neurobiology, behavior change, and resilience to life for professional audiences. Through compelling stories, practical frameworks, and research-based insight, he helps people see their work — and the people they serve — through a more hopeful, effective, and transformational lens. His presentations are energetic, thought-provoking, and actionable, designed to inspire audiences while giving them tools they can use immediately.

Contact:
Website - https://www.optimalhrv.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bennett-584abb3 

Join us as we explore:
What is stress, and why we need it to succeed.
HRV, defining it, why it goes up and down, measuring burnout with HRV and the 4 stages of burnout.
The vagus nerve, vagal tone, a “good” HRV, how to improve it and HRV’s connection to emotions and cognition.
How HRV is the best data point to improve employee wellbeing while improving employee productivity and performance.
The demonization of stress, differentiating between distress and eustress and why a majority of stress is happening automatically and subconsciously.
The best and worst HRV wearables
Support the show
Follow Steve's socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Support the show on Patreon:

As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShow

Send me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308.

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

What if one tiny molecule played the central role in your blood pressure, heart health, brain function, exercise performance, and even your risk of diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease? Dr Nathan Bryan believes that molecule is nitric oxide. And he walks the walk, having used his N101 products for decades testing shows his endothelial health to be of someone half his biological age! This is an incredible, illuminating podcast that deserves worldwide attention.

Dr. Nathan Bryan has been involved in nitric oxide research for the past 25 years and has made many seminal discoveries in the field. His many seminal discoveries have resulted dozens of issued US and International patents and the product technology resulting from his discoveries and inventions has improved patient care worldwide. His companies and product technology are responsible for more than one billion dollars in product sales worldwide. Bryan is an international leader in molecular medicine and nitric oxide biochemistry.

Contact: 
Website - https://n1o1.com

Join us as we explore:
The secret power of nitric oxide - the root causes of deficiency, the #1 symptom of insufficiency and why it’s molecularly a hormone.
Nitric oxide’s causation to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Eliminating deadly soft arterial plague with nitric oxide lozenges.
Why most nitric oxide promoting supplements are false marketing.
How your toothpaste and mouth wash are destroying your nitric oxide.
How exercise creates nitric oxide.
The key enzyme for nitric oxide and how to keep it in high supply.
Mentions
 Podcast - Dr Robert Elliot, https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/the-made-to-thrive-show/id1509452847?i=1000718543359 

Podcast - Dr John Osborne, https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/the-made-to-thrive-show/id1509452847?i=1000766332388

Study - Elrod JW, Calvert JW, Gundewar S, Bryan NS, Lefer DJ. Nitric oxide promotes distant organ protection: evidence for an endocrine role of nitric oxide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 12;105(32):11430-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800700105. Epub 2008 Aug 6. PMID: 18685092; PMCID: PMC2516252

Support the show
Follow Steve's socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Support the show on Patreon:

As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShow

Send me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308.

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Surgery doesn’t end when you leave the operating theatre. And in fact, it begins long before you step into the hospital. Dr Rob Whitfield is a surgeon intent on doing things differently for his patients aka doing things better. From informed consent, to holistic and personalized post-op care and removing toxic implants, he is setting a new standard. With AI, regenerative medicine, and direct-to-consumer biotechnology the future isn’t just better surgery but smarter preparation and recovery.

Dr. Robert Whitfield understands what you're going through. He has listened to thousands of patients describe the same experience: symptoms that don't add up, doctors who dismiss them, and a desperate search for someone who will take them seriously.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Whitfield has published the largest PCR-tested explant capsule series in the world, presented at major medical conferences, and built a patient education library with over 26 million views. He created the SHARP Method specifically because standard surgical care wasn't enough for his patients.

Contact
Website - https://www.drrobertwhitfield.com

Join us as we explore:
The unappreciated risks of breast implants, breast implant illness and genuine informed consent.
What Dr Whifield’s has learnt removing implants and testing them, and his unique SHARP method. 
Genetic sequencing, AI, genomic supplementation and where the standard of care is heading, including surgical robots.
Mentions
Science - Dr Whitfield’s research and publications, https://www.drrobertwhitfield.com/media/research

Support the show
Follow Steve's socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Support the show on Patreon:

As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShow

Send me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308.

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

No professional athlete in 2026 goes into a game under-slept, under-nourished and overstimulated. So why are business execs and entrepreneurs still doing that every single day? It’s because they don’t recognize they are actually executive athletes. And just like sport athletes, business athletes need healthy bodies and minds to the same degree if they want to avoid being another burnout statistic.  

Nicole Elizabeth Ward combines twenty-five years of sales leadership experience with her passion for wellness and performance optimization. Her unique background enables her to address the specific health challenges facing sales professionals with practical, evidence-based solutions. Through her book, podcast, and coaching, she helps sales professionals transform into Sales Athletes who can sustain peak performance without sacrificing their health.

Buy her book “Biohacking for the Sales Athlete” on AMAZON: https://tinyurl.com/biohacksalesathlete 

Contact:
Website - https://www.nicoleelizabethward.com/biohack

Join us as we explore:
Why it is critical business leaders and executives look beyond IQ and EQ and  understand they are executive athletes with a real responsibility to manage and optimize their physiology.
The executive athletes gym bag - hacks to do functions, social events and traveling healthier. 
How feedback loops from data is the key to unlock the corporate burnout puzzle.
The trapping of the all or nothing mentality, the ROI of health coaching and why execs need to decelerate to accelerate to competitive advantages.
The power of keeping a food journal for 2 weeks, and the cost of choices.
Why HRV tracking made Nicole go wow, and how she got hers unstuck.
Mentions
Resources - The Executive Athlete’s Gym Bag, https://www.nicoleelizabethward.com

Support the show
Follow Steve's socials:

Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Support the show on Patreon:

As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I’d be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShow

Send me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308.

Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/