1st Optimal Podcast
1st Optimal Podcast is your premier destination for exploring peak performance and optimal health. We unite thought leaders and innovators—inviting top researchers, coaches, medical professionals, and entrepreneurs to share actionable strategies that elevate every aspect of life. Tailored for high achievers committed to self-optimization, helping set new standards of excellence. Our mission is simple: Optimize You, Uplift Others.
Episodes
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, Austin Stout, a coach with a deep focus on health optimization, shares his expert insights into gut health, fatigue management, and the unique challenges faced by high-level athletes. We dive into how gut issues can sabotage performance, how to balance stress, and practical tips for improving digestion. Whether you're a competitor or just looking to optimize your health, Austin'...
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, Dr. Basheerah Ahmad (@basheerah_ahmad), Celebrity Nutritionist to Steve Harvey, shares expert insights on mastering your comeback after 40! Discover how nutrition, movement, and mindset play a powerful role in achieving lasting health and vitality. Tune in for practical tips and inspiration to transform your wellness journey!
00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Basheerah’s Work and Philosoph...
Most people think detox is about buying the right supplement. The truth? Your body already has a powerful detox system, but it only works if your gut, hormones, and sleep are in balance.
In this conversation with Dr. Deanna Minich ( @foodandspirit )
and Joe Miller, dive into:
✅ Why gut health is the real foundation of detox and energy
✅ The hidden stressors (emotional, environmental, lifestyle) blocking y...
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, we sit down with Maddy Michielssen (@madsmichiefitness), a Functional Nutritionist (FNTP) and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN), to reveal the truth about hormone health, weight loss, and how advanced testing can transform your well-being.
Maddy shares her journey from struggling with severe health challenges to helping clients restore energy, balance hormones, a...
🧠💩 Ever feel like your digestion is off, and so is your mood? It might be your gut. In this episode, we sit down with Katie Morra, MS, RD, LDN, IFMCP, founder of Gut Honest Truth, to uncover the real connection between gut health, mental wellness, and nutrition.
🎙️ Katie shares her personal healing journey, debunks common gut health myths, and reveals underused strategies to support digestion, including stress managemen...
In this powerful episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with certified health coach and functional medicine expert Molly McKennedy to explore the intersection of personal healing and professional purpose.
Molly opens up about her own health journey, from the challenges that led her to functional medicine, to the breakthroughs that now guide her work with women seeking real, sustainable wellness.
...
What does it take to cut 100+ pounds, fight in the UFC, and come back as an elite coach? In this raw and tactical episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with guest Anthony “Tony Diamond” Christodoulou, a BJJ black belt, weight cut expert, and former UFC fighter, to unpack the science and the suffering behind performance at the highest level.
From brutal training camps and botched cuts to functional l...
Ever feel overwhelmed trying to decipher a scientific paper?
You’re not alone.
In this Episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with Ella the “Scientific Snitch” and Dr. Michael MacPherson to walk you through the science behind what goes into establishing accurate and effective medical research.
Whether you’re a coach, clinician, or just someone who wants to make sense of all the “e...
Host Joe Miller sits down with Allison Fahrenbach—Pro Figure Athlete, NBC-HWC Certified Health Coach, FDN-P, and the founder of Revive Wellness Health & Physique.
With nearly two decades of experience helping women over 35 transform their bodies, rebalance hormones, and heal their gut, Allison brings a powerful, faith-forward approach to wellness that bridges aesthetics and foundational health.
Whether you&a...
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, we sit down with Casie Leigh Shepherd, a former Division I basketball player, IFBB Women’s Physique Pro, and now a powerhouse in integrative hormone and performance coaching.
Together they discuss the latest trends in hormone optimization, gut health, and performance medicine—before diving into Casie’s powerful journey through elite athletics, personal health challenges, and her ...
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with the unstoppable Jen Thompson — 11x IPF World Champion, 68-time world record holder, and the definition of lifelong strength. At 51, she’s still benching over 325 lbs raw, breaking records, raising two boys, and teaching high school math — proving strength comes in many forms.
Whether you're chasing your next PR or just starting out, Jen’s story...
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with Dr. Ashley Dwyer —PharmD, former NPC competitor, and founder of TeamBDN Coaching — to break down the biggest health lies keeping women stuck, sick, and spinning their wheels.
From metabolic damage to hormone myths, this episode dives into the real science behind what works — and what absolutely doesn't — when it comes to optimizing your health....
Burnout isn't a badge of honor.
In this episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with nutrition coach and stress recovery consultant Anna Smirnova to unpack the real reasons so many high-performing professionals feel drained, foggy, and burnt out—despite doing “all the right things.”
Her method? No crash diets. No guilt. Just practical, science-backed strategies for people who expect a lo...
In our upcoming episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe Miller sits down with hormone health expert DJ Madson to discuss women’s health, the benefits of functional medicine, and signs primary care doctors often miss.
From misunderstood hormone markers like free testosterone to the impact of gut health and HRT, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4kaAdgubeiw
#1stOptimalPodcast ...
Tired of feeling off and not knowing why? This episode is for YOU.
Hormone shifts during perimenopause can feel like a rollercoaster — weight gain, brain fog, low energy, mood swings. But the good news? You’re not broken. And you’re not alone.
🎙️ On this week’s episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, we sat down with Anastasi Bennett, a Perimenopause Health Coach who’s changing the game for women 35+.
We tal...
Struggling with stubborn weight, low energy, or mood swings during perimenopause or menopause? You’re not alone—and there is a better way. 💪
In this powerful episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, host Joe dives deep with certified health coach Jane Burnette, a 1st Optimal Coaching Partner who specializes in guiding women through midlife transitions with evidence-based strategies that address hormone imbalance, fatigue, slee...
What does it really take to think, live, and perform like an Olympian?
In this powerful episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, we sit down with Jake Herbert — Olympic wrestler, NCAA champion, and mindset coach — to unpack the high-performance habits, mental frameworks, and daily disciplines that helped him reach the world’s biggest stage.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a father, a competitive athlete, or someon...
🎙️ Unlocking Peak Performance with Dr. Michael MacPherson | 1st Optimal Podcast
Join us on the latest episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast as we delve into the science and application of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training with renowned sport scientist Dr. Michael MacPherson, PhD, CSCS. With a rich background in health sciences and sports medicine, Dr. MacPherson brings a wealth of knowledge on optimizing athletic perform...
We’re thrilled to welcome Nathalia Melo — Ms. Olympia Champion and leading women’s health expert — to the latest episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast! 🔥
In this powerful conversation, Nathalia breaks down a holistic approach to women's health, covering everything from:
👉 Science-backed fitness and training strategies for real women
👉 Navigating hormonal shifts and metabolism in your 30s, 40s & beyond
👉 The criti...
In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode of the 1st Optimal Podcast, we dive into an unfiltered conversation with our guest Kolton Lukes who shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to serving in the military and becoming a respected coach and voice in the health and fitness space—all while navigating life with cerebral palsy. The group also tackles some of today’s most controversial health topics, social m...
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