Mayo Clinic On Human Optimization
Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
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This podcast from Mayo Clinic explores the concept of Human Optimization, which aims to achieve more while improving wellness and well-being. It covers topics like exercise, nutrition, culture, emotional intelligence, and finding joy. The series addresses the challenge of balancing productivity with rest and recovery in modern life.
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E68 Quiet the inner critic: Mastering self-compassion 09.09.2026 50dkAmbitious people often credit their success to a strong inner critic. They take pride in “staying hungry” and talk about complacency like it’s an existential threat. But that same voice can steal the joy from our happiest moments – moments in life where we should feel proud and accomplished, but all we can see are the little missteps we took along the way. Or the things we haven’t yet accomplished. So how do we make room for joy and positivity without eroding our motivation and ambition? This episode, we’re joined by two experts from the Compassion Institute – Program Director Aproteem Choudhury, and Executive Director Stephen Butler – to talk about how mastering the art of self-compassion can fight burnout, increase satisfaction, and propel sustained achievement. The three big questions we have for Apro and Stephen are: 1. What is self-compassion, and why is it important? 2. Why do we tend to be our own harshest critic, and why is it so hard to be kind to ourselves? 3. How can people develop more self-compassion while maintaining high standards and fueling growth? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E67 Forward-thinking leadership: Stop reacting, start leading 26.08.2026 47dkDo you feel that you’re creating the future for yourself and your team? Or are you spending your time just reacting to the crisis of the day? While it’s critical to keep the ship from sinking, we also need to do some work to ensure that we’re steering the ship in the right direction. This requires forward-thinking. This episode, we’re joined by Coen A. Wijdicks, Ph.D. He holds a Ph.D. in biomedical science and an executive MBA with a focus on strategy and leadership. He now serves as the VP of research at Gillette Children’s, where he actively manages more than 100 research studies, many clinical trials, and multisite academic partnerships. The three big questions we discuss with Dr. Wijdicks are: What is forward-thinking leadership, and why is it essential for leading yourself and your team? Why do so many leaders and teams struggle to think forward in a proactive rather than reactive way? What practical steps can we all take to become more forward-thinking to develop ourselves and our teams? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimization YouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTube Email: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E66 Become the CEO of your own health with Dr. Shah 12.08.2026 40dkEveryone knows that our health is fundamental to our whole experience of life. So why does it always seem like it’s the first thing to get deprioritized when life gets busy? And when we do try to make it a priority, why does it feel like our efforts don’t lead to meaningful change? This episode, we’re joined by Dr. Darshan Shah. He’s a surgeon, author, entrepreneur, and host of his own podcast, Extend. And he’s here to help us learn to take control of our health, form healthy habits, and increase our health span. The three big questions we discuss with Dr. Shah are: 1. How much of our health is shaped by our own actions, mindset, and decisions? 2. Why do so many of us fail to take ownership of our health, and what beliefs or habits are keeping us stuck? 3. What practical steps can we take to assume more ownership of our health and start making better decisions? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at: https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E65 The mental game of physical fitness 29.07.2026 49dkYou don’t need anyone to tell you that working out is hard. That’s the whole point. But for many of us, the hardest part isn’t physically lifting the weights or running the laps. It’s getting to the gym in the first place. It’s knowing that we can do hard things. It’s staying motivated to keep working at it, even when day to day progress feels hard to measure. So how do we work on our mental fitness with the same dedication we bring to our physical fitness? This episode, we’re joined by Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D., CPMC, a clinical and sport psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He’s also the Team Clinical and Performance Psychologist for the New England Patriots, and Behavioral Sport Psychologist for the Boston Red Sox. And he’s the author of the book “Mentality Wins: The Athlete’s Playbook for Thriving in Sport and Life.” The three big questions we discuss with Dr. Jenkins are: 1. What is the "mental game" of fitness, and why is it just as important as physical training? 2. Why do so many people struggle with the psychological friction of staying physically fit? 3. How can we actively train our minds to overcome these blocks and elevate our physical fitness? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E64 Building trust: A powerful performance multiplier 15.07.2026 51dkNew relationships are hard for a reason – no trust. You’re starting from scratch with no common understanding, no established shared goals, or history of goodwill. Everyone’s feeling vulnerable. But also suspicious. It feels hard to take risks or even just relax and be yourself. So, how do we get past the awkwardness and start building trust? Or rebuild it after it’s been lost? This episode, we’re joined by Dr. Karen Mellum. She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and is a Human Resources Administrator and Executive leadership coach at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. And she’s here to help us stop waiting for others to prove themselves and start being the first mover. The three big questions we discuss with Dr. Mellum are: 1. What is trust? And why is it crucial for high performance teams? 2. Why is trust so hard to build and maintain? 3. How do we move from being "suspicious by default" to "trusting by design" while still maintaining healthy boundaries? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at: https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E63 A framework for understanding good leadership 01.07.2026 43dkEveryone loves a good leader. But they’re often held up as these singular examples of success, vision, inspiration, and perseverance. And we struggle to learn from their stories and distill them into a practical, repeatable blueprint for good leadership. This episode, we’re joined by Dr. James Hebl, Medical Director for Leadership and Talent Development at Mayo Clinic and a certified executive coach for healthcare leaders. He’s here to break down the somewhat nebulous concept of leadership into something that we can define, measure, and get better at. The three big questions Dr. Hebl is going to help us tackle are: 1. What is leadership really, and how can we move it from a vague concept into something concrete? 2. Why do so many of us struggle to develop ourselves as leaders and to teach others about leadership? 3. How can we use this framework to better lead ourselves and others? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. -
E62 Self-care for busy people: Productivity demands recovery 17.06.2026 54dkSelf-care is one of the most commonly used, but poorly understood concepts today. For some, it brings to mind indulgence, luxury, or performative wellness culture. For others, it feels selfish, soft, or unrealistic. However, self-care, when done properly, helps fuel us to be our best selves and will maximize performance gains and achievement. Our expert guest for this episode is Dr. Amy Oxentenko. She’s the Vice Dean of Practice and Vice Chair of the People and Culture Committee at Mayo Clinic. She’s an educator, researcher, leader, and avid distance runner who credits much of her success to intentional self-care practices. The three big questions we discuss with Dr. Oxentenko are: What exactly is “self-care” and why do we need it? What do we commonly get wrong when it comes to taking care of ourselves? What practical strategies can we use to take care of ourselves amid our crazy busy lives? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E61 How to define your personal values 03.06.2026 46dkLife offers plenty of nice, concrete, mostly attainable goals for us to chase and boxes to check – good job, life partner, maybe a house, maybe kids. But that’s also the classic recipe for a midlife crisis: you work your butt off to get a bunch of those boxes checked only to find yourself exhausted and unfulfilled. Or wondering, “Now what?” So, how do we ground our goals to make sure we’re putting our energy into things that really matter? This episode, we are joined by Bridget Berkland, Manager of Employee Well-being at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She’s a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, and she’s here to help us learn to combat burnout by aligning our daily actions with our deepest personal and professional values. The three big questions we discuss with Bridget are: 1. What are personal values and what role do they play in our daily life? 2. Why do so many of us struggle to define our values and put them into action? 3. What practical steps can we take to clearly articulate our values and then use them to drive meaning and inform behavior in our lives? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-human-optimization Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E60 Unlocking Potential: The Art of Talent Development 20.05.2026 48dkImagine: you get yourself a sweet new sports car, hop in for your first drive, only to realize you have no idea how to drive stick. So you drive around town in first gear, going super slow, making tons of noise, stalling out at every stop sign. You finally make it home, hop out and proclaim, “This car’s a piece of junk!” Well, that’s the challenge we face with talent development, where the ceiling of your potential — or your team's potential — isn't dictated by innate ability, but by your capacity to unlock it. So to help us learn to shift out of first gear, this episode, we’re joined by Adam Thompson. He’s the Vice Chair of Administration for the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida. The three big questions we discuss with Adam are: What is talent, and what are we talking about with “talent development?” Why do people and teams fail to develop talent well? What can we do to maximally develop our own talent, as well as that of everyone on the team? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions here. Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E59 The Sleep Paradox: Why Trying Harder Makes It Worse 06.05.2026 43dkWhy is it that the more we think about falling asleep, the harder it becomes? Our mindset around sleep plays a huge role in our ability to fall asleep, the amount of sleep we get and the quality of that sleep. So how can we use our mindset to our advantage? This episode, we speak with Bhanu Kolla, M.B.B.S., M.D., the co-author of the Mayo Clinic Guide to Better Sleep. He’s also a professor of psychiatry and psychology with clinical appointments in the Center for Sleep Medicine and the Division of Addiction Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The three big questions we discuss with Dr. Kolla are: 1. What is the connection between sleep and psychology, and how does that relationship affect our sleep? 2. What are the most common mental traps that negatively impact our sleep? 3. What steps can we take now to optimize our mindset to help us get the best sleep? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions at https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: On Human Optimization - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E58 Being in Charge vs. Being a Leader 22.04.2026 37dkJust having a title that sounds authoritative doesn’t make someone a leader. And you don’t have to be a CEO to lead, either. So what actually inspires people to take action? In this episode, we’re joined by Thom Mayer, M.D., to explore how to stop waiting for authority and start leading. Dr. Mayer is medical director for the NFL Players Association and author of the book Leadership Is Worthless, but Leading Is Priceless. Here are three questions we explore with Dr. Mayer: What’s the difference between being in charge and being a leader—and why does it matter? Why do so many people struggle to move from boss to leader, and where do they fall short? How can you move beyond managing and start leading, regardless of your title? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod-Club questions here. Instagram: @MayoHumanOptimizationYouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
E57 The State of Flow: How to Maximize 08.04.2026 40dkHopefully, you’ve experienced getting so absorbed in work or an activity you enjoy that you lose track of time. We tend to be most productive in what is often called a “state of flow.” When harnessed effectively, flow can act like a superpower for personal fulfillment and progress. To help us better understand and maximize moments of flow, we’re joined by Biju Samkutty, chief operating officer of international and enterprise automation at Mayo Clinic. Known for aligning people, processes and technology, Biju leads Mayo Clinic’s global expansion efforts, including managing international patients, building strategic collaborations and establishing new international entities. In this episode, we explore three key questions: What is the state of flow, and why is it critical for performance and well-being? Why do we struggle to access flow consistently, and how does that impact productivity and happiness? What proven methods can help us maximize flow in daily life and work? Learn more about On Human Optimization and access Pod Club questions here. Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books. Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. -
Tomorrow's Cure - When Algorithms Meet Empathy: The Future of Patient-Centered AI 01.04.2026 49dkToday, we are sharing an episode from our sister podcast Tomorrow’s Cure. Produced by our Mayo Clinic colleagues, this chart-topping and Ambie Award-finalist podcast explores the future of medicine – from the rise of chronic disease and autoimmune disorders to innovations in AI, 3D bioprinting, and cancer research. In this specific episode, you’ll hear from Mayo Clinic physician leader Dr. Anjali Bhagra and human centered AI expert Dr. Ravi Bapna about how automation and AI are changing the way care teams work, how patients access care, and what it takes to keep people at the center of these advances. Featuring real stories from clinic and hospital settings, this conversation tackles the hard questions around trust, bias, and burnout. You listen to other episodes of Tomorrow’s Cure here: https://play.megaphone.fm/uk0u00jeqjandeotmblt0a -
E56 How to Get More Mileage from Your Brain 25.03.2026 54dkHow often do you feel that your brain is functioning at its highest level? If you are like most of us, it’s not as often as you would like. Given the high-pressure world we live in, it’s critical for us to ensure our brain is firing on all cylinders, as often as possible. To make that happen, we need to help our brains be more efficient. Just like mileage on a car, we want to optimize the mileage we get out of our brains. To help us do that, our expert guest today is Dr. Amit Sood, the creator of the Resilient Option program and executive director of the Global Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing. The three questions he is going to walk us through are: 1. What does it mean to "get more mileage" out of our brain, and why are we currently so inefficient? 2. Why is it so hard to stay in "Focused Mode" as our brain tries to pull us towards distraction? 3. What is the solution and what are the specific steps we can take to get the most out of our brains? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. The podcast defines "getting more mileage out of your brain" as accumulating more experience, learning, insights, and making a difference, rather than just increasing intelligence. How does this broader definition of "brain mileage" resonate with your personal goals for growth and impact? 2. Dr. Sood states that our biggest challenge is our "inability to influence our attention and emotions." In what specific areas of your life do you feel this lack of influence most acutely? 3. The discussion highlights that we spend 60-80% of our time in the "default/automatic mode," which is linked to unhappiness and anxiety. What are some common triggers that pull you into this default mode? 4. The podcast explains that our negativity bias, while once crucial for survival, now often protects our "emotional body." What emotional "threats" do you find yourself constantly guarding against? 5. The concept of "willpower depletion" is linked to poor sleep, nutrition, and lack of exercise. How do your daily lifestyle choices impact your ability to exercise self-control and stay in a focused, intentional mode? 6. Dr. Sood suggests that overthinking occurs when "thinking is happening to you" rather than you choosing your thoughts. What strategies do you currently use, or could you commit to trying this week, to regain control and choose your thoughts more intentionally? 7. The "rum" analogy (Rest, Uplifting emotions, Motivation) is presented as a way to be kind to your mind. Which of these three elements do you find most challenging to incorporate into your daily routine, and why? 8. The podcast suggests that progress in brain optimization can be measured by feeling lighter, less cynical, and experiencing deeper connections. What specific indicators would signal to you that you are successfully "getting more mileage out of your brain"?
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Tomorrow's Cure - 3D Bioprinted Skin: Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine 18.03.2026 40dkToday, we are sharing an episode from our sister podcast Tomorrow’s Cure. Produced by our Mayo Clinic colleagues, this chart-topping and Ambie Award-finalist podcast explores the future of medicine – from the rise of chronic disease and autoimmune disorders to new research revealing how early immune changes can develop into certain types of leukemia. In this particular episode, you’ll hear from dermatologist and regenerative medicine expert Dr. Saranya Wyles of Mayo Clinic and biomedical engineer Dr. Adam Feinberg of Carnegie Mellon University about “SkinSpan” and the fast-moving world of 3D bioprinted skin. They explore how layered, living skin models built from human cells and collagen are helping researchers study conditions like eczema, chronic wounds, burns, and age-related changes in skin structure and pigment. You listen to other episodes of Tomorrow’s Cure here: https://play.megaphone.fm/3qwbajhmswc0jz1xfy7dbg
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E55 Overcoming Self Doubt and Imposter Syndrome 11.03.2026 57dkIf you’ve ever experienced self-doubt, felt like you didn’t have what it takes, or were fearful of being “found out”, this episode is for you. We have all had the unfortunate experience of improperly doubting ourselves and our abilities to the extent that they had a negative impact on how we feel about ourselves and diminished our performance. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome can be paralyzing, but life is too short for us to live with constant fear and doubt about our abilities. Our expert guest here to help us with this is author and executive consultant, Cade Cowan. The three big questions Cade is going to walk us through are: 1. What exactly is “imposter syndrome”? What are the downsides? 2. How common is self-doubt and how can we tell if it’s impacting us? 3. What steps can we take to overcome imposter syndrome and develop healthy confidence to become our best selves? Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project Guest: Cade Cowan, Managing Partner | Executive Development Consulting – Atlanta, GA How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. The podcast distinguishes between imposter syndrome (high competence, low confidence) and low self-confidence (global lack of belief in ability). Think about a time when you experienced one versus the other. How did your actions or feelings differ in those situations? 2. Cade mentions the Dunning-Kruger effect as the opposite of imposter syndrome (low competence, high confidence). How might recognizing both imposter syndrome and the Dunning-Kruger effect help us achieve a more balanced and realistic self-assessment? 3. The discussion highlights the "cycle of imposter syndrome" – a trigger event leading to anxiety, overwork or procrastination, success, and then explaining that success away. Think about a time when you experienced this cycle. What was the most challenging aspect for you? 4. The speakers discuss how environmental factors, such as work culture or societal pressures (like social media's "highlight reels"), can exacerbate imposter syndrome. What specific aspects of your current environment might be contributing to feelings of self-doubt? What is one way you might address this? 5. Cade shares a personal story about presenting to a CEO at 28, realizing he should "stay in his zone of expertise." Consider your own "zone of expertise." What helps you feel comfortable sharing what you don't know in professional or personal settings? 6. The idea of "confident humility" is introduced, emphasizing the ability to say "I don't know" while still being confident in one's ability to learn. How can you practice this balance in your daily interactions? 7. The podcast suggests that imposter syndrome is a "universal experience" and that "everybody else is doing it." How does knowing this change how you interact with others who might be experiencing imposter syndrome? 8. Cade shares his "keepers file" of positive emails and notes. What is one tangible way you could start collecting and revisiting evidence of your own successes and positive impact to combat imposter syndrome? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: [email protected]
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E54 How to Set Your Personal Vision: Define What You Want to Accomplish in Life 04.03.2026 49dkCan you easily and clearly answer the following question...WHAT do you want to achieve with your life? The question is simple, but it’s challenging for most of us to answer in a clear, concise, and convincing way. While we may have a rough or general idea of what we want to accomplish as human beings, very few of us can clearly articulate that in a way that is at the forefront of our minds and drives our behaviors. Time for that to change, and our guest here to teach you how is Dr. Greg Couser, the creator and director of the Mayo Clinic “Optimizing Potential” course. The three big questions Greg is going to answer for us are: 1. What exactly is “vision” and why do we need one? 2. Why do so many of us struggle to clearly articulate what we want to accomplish in life? 3. What practical steps should we take to set the ideal vision for ourselves? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. The podcast defines a personal vision as a "big want" that fuels you, rooted in values and purpose. How might your core values inform what your "big want" for your life truly is? 2. Dr. Couser suggests that a good vision should be simple, clearly articulated, and concise (1-2 sentences). Why do you think it's so challenging for many people to distill their life's aspirations into such a brief statement? 3. The speakers emphasize that having a personal vision can bring joy, meaning, and motivation, and make life "easier" by providing direction. Can you recall a time when a clear sense of purpose or direction made a difficult situation in your life feel more manageable or even enjoyable? 4. The discussion highlights that many people struggle with vision setting due to perfectionism or fear of failure, especially in a "left-brain information society." How might you overcome these tendencies to allow yourself to explore and articulate your personal vision without judgment? 5. The "ideal retirement party" exercise is suggested as a way to brainstorm your vision. If you were at your ideal retirement party, what would you want friends, family, and colleagues to say about the legacy you've built and the person you've been? 6. The podcast encourages making your vision "not specific to your vocation" because jobs can change. How can you craft a personal vision that is universal enough to apply across different roles and stages of your life, rather than being tied to a specific career? 7. The idea of "Greg the automaton" is how Dr. Couser describes himself when living on autopilot. What are some of your own "autopilot" behaviors or reactions? This week, commit to asking "why" (as suggested in the podcast) to help you uncover deeper insights for your personal vision. 8. Once a vision is crafted, the advice is to "look at it often" and "visit it often." What practical strategies could you implement in your daily life to keep your personal vision at the forefront of your mind and guide your actions? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: [email protected]
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E53 How to Make Friends and Genuine Social Connections as an Adult 25.02.2026 55dkHost: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project Guest: Katherine A. Meese, PhD, Researcher | Author | CEO - HuMargin Group – Nashville, TN If you are someone over the age of 22, you’ve likely noticed that it’s harder to make friends than it was when you were younger. Some of this is due to societal changes, but much of it is because life starts to pull us in so many directions that it’s hard to pin down time to make true friends and genuine social connections. However, social connections are critical fuel to our joy and fulfillment, so we have to find a way to keep them going late into life. To show us how, our expert guest is award winning author and speaker, Katherine Meese. The three big questions Katherine is going to answer for us in the episode are: 1. Why is friendship and social connection so important for us as adults? 2. Why is it so hard to form and maintain these friendships as adults? 3. What practical, repeatable behaviors help adults form, deepen, and sustain real friendships in modern life? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. The podcast uses the analogy of a tree's root system (fibrous roots for acquaintances, taproot for deep friends) to describe social connections. How do you currently balance these two types of relationships in your life? 2. The discussion highlights how the importance of social connection changes across different life stages (childhood, young adulthood, middle age, and later life). How have your needs and expectations for friendship evolved as you've gotten older? 3. The podcast states that social isolation and loneliness can be as detrimental to physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. What are your personal reflections on the physical and mental health impacts of your social connections (or lack thereof)? 4. The speakers discuss how modern factors like technology, career demands, and polarizing worldviews make adult friendships challenging. Which of these factors do you experience in your life? 5. The concept of "firing friends" is brought up, especially when beliefs diverge. How do you navigate friendships with people who hold different values or worldviews than your own, and when do you decide a friendship might not be worth continuing? 6. The podcast suggests a four-step plan for building friendships: 1) Assess where you are, 2) Become a regular somewhere, 3) Be responsible for your own fun, and 4) Be the friend you want to have. Which of these steps do you feel you already do well, and which could you focus on improving? 7. When discussing maintaining friendships, the advice includes understanding what the other person needs, making a routine, seeing people as having "layers like an onion," and showing grace. Which of these maintenance strategies do you find most challenging or most rewarding? 8. The call to action encourages listeners to recognize that building friendships is a choice and to assess their current social network. What is one concrete action you could take this week to either assess your friendships or intentionally invest in one? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: [email protected]
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E52 Daily Skin Care Routines We Should Be Doing for Life Long Skin Health 18.02.2026 56dkYour skin is the largest organ in your body, and it does a lot more than just make you look good! It is our primary defense against the outside world and regulates many of our body's internal functions. Given the major role it plays in our health and overall performance, it is important that we take care of our skin to keep it healthy for as long as possible. Dr. Saryna Wyles is our expert guest here to answer these big questions for us: What does our skin actually do for us and why is skin care so important? How do we make sense of the most common skin care options out there and sort fact from fiction? What are the regular skin care practices we should be doing to help us have healthy, vibrant skin life long? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: Dr. Wyles describes skin as our largest organ and a primary defense against the outside world. How does this perspective change your view of your skin's importance? The skin's functions include acting as a barrier, aiding absorption, regulating temperature, producing Vitamin D, and providing sensation. Which of these functions do you find most surprising or impactful? Dr. Wyles explains that skin aging involves a decline in function, leading to issues like dryness, itchiness, and reduced healing. How might understanding these functional declines influence your approach to skincare? It's stated that only 25% of skin aging is genetically fixed, leaving 75% modifiable. What is one of the key modifiable factors that impact skin health that you can begin incorporating into your routine this week? The podcast categorizes skincare approaches into Protection, Repair, Signaling, and Lifestyle. Which of these categories do you feel you currently excel in, and which needs the most attention? The "bare bones minimum" skincare routine involves washing, sunscreen, and moisturizer in the morning, and washing, a retinoid, and moisturizer in the evening. How does this compare to your current routine? Dr. Wyles emphasizes that consistency is key in skincare, comparing it to brushing your teeth. What strategies can help ensure consistency in a daily skincare routine? The discussion highlights that skincare benefits extend beyond appearance to disease prevention and early signal detection for systemic health. How does this broader perspective on skin health influence your priorities? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: [email protected]
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E51 Things You Should Stop Doing to Improve Your Mental Strength 11.02.2026 56dkHost: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project Guest: Amy Morin, LCSW, Psychotherapist / Mental Strength Coach / International Bestselling Author | Mentally Strong One of the biggest limiters of our mental strength is our very common (usually unintentional) struggle with self-sabotaging behaviors. Since we all feel too busy to do more, maybe the answer is to actually do less? For some behaviors, that is absolutely the case. To help us better understand how we can do less, and be better for it, our expert guest for this episode is bestselling author, Amy Morin. The three big questions she is going to answer for us today are: 1. What exactly is “mental strength?” 2. What are the things we are doing that commonly sabotage our mental strength 3. How can we remove these things from our lives in order to maximize our mental strength? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. Amy Morin defines mental strength as finding the courage to live the life you want according to your values. How does this definition resonate with your personal understanding of mental strength? 2. Morin breaks mental strength into three components: thinking, feeling, and behaving. Which of these areas do you find most challenging to manage? 3. The podcast highlights that venting can sometimes reinforce negative thought patterns rather than alleviate them. How do you typically process frustrating experiences? 4. Morin suggests that giving away our power, often through language like "I have to," can be self-sabotaging. What is one instance where you've used this language? How could you rephrase it to reclaim your power? 5. The concept of focusing energy on what we can control, rather than what we can't, is discussed. What is one area of your life where you tend to focus on the uncontrollable? 6. Morin identifies making the same mistakes repeatedly as a common self-sabotaging behavior. What is one recurring mistake you've made, and what strategy could help you break that cycle? 7. The pressure for immediate results is identified as a common societal challenge. How does this expectation impact your approach to personal growth or habit formation? 8. Amy emphasizes that mental strength is a spectrum and requires ongoing effort, not just a destination. What is one small, proactive step you can take this week to build your mental strength? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: [email protected]
