Peak Performance Life Podcast

Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:27) Background and functional psychiatry
(5:28) False anxiety vs. true anxiety
(10:09) Blood sugar, food, and sleep support
(23:08) Nutrient gaps, fats, gluten, and processed foods
(32:07) Caffeine, light, and better sleep habits
(37:54) Community, purpose, grief, and spirituality
(41:29) Therapy and antidepressants
(47:59) Where to find Dr. Vora and learn more
(49:08) Outro



Who is Dr. Ellen Vora?
 
Dr. Ellen Vora, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher. She earned her BA from Yale University and her MD from Columbia University Medical School. In her work, she uses a functional medicine, whole-person approach to mental health, focusing on root causes that may affect anxiety, mood, and overall well-being. She is the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety and is based in New York City.



Connect with Dr. Vora
Website: https://ellenvora.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-vora-md-a89b8a47
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellenvoramd/
 
Grab a copy: https://ellenvora.com/book/



Links and Resources:
Peak Performance Life 
Peak Performance on Facebook
Peak Performance on Instagram

Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:34) Dr. Voss's background and personal health story
(3:48) What Longevity Health Clinic tests and why it is different
(10:48) CCTA heart scans, AI plaque analysis, and deeper cholesterol testing
(18:31) Full-body MRI benefits, limits, and what to watch for
(30:17) Commonly missed tests, plaque reversal, and Repatha
(40:14) Food, low-carb diets, red meat, fasting, and longevity
(50:16) Where to find Dr. Vass and his resources
(51:31) Outro



Who is Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos?
 
Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos, M.D., also known as Dr. Vass, is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Longevity Health in Colorado, where he focuses on preventive, longevity, and regenerative medicine. He earned a neuroscience degree with honors from Trinity College, then served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Solomon Islands and worked with the World Health Organization on malaria and filariasis control projects. He later earned his medical degree at Cornell, completed a surgical internship at the University of Colorado, and finished an emergency medicine residency at Denver Health. After years as a board-certified emergency medicine physician, he shifted toward personalized, data-driven care designed to improve long-term health and performance.



Connect with Dr. Vass
Website: https://longevityhealth.clinic/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassily-eliopoulos-m-d-5b8015143/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.vassily/
 



Links and Resources:
Peak Performance Life 
Peak Performance on Facebook
Peak Performance on Instagram

Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:05) Dr. Joanna Moncrieff and the serotonin myth
(2:45) How SSRIs were marketed and what the research found
(8:58) What may really cause depression
(13:16) Trials, placebo, and emotional numbing
(19:46) Withdrawal, dependence, and long-term risks
(27:50) Concerns about teens on SSRIs
(29:53) Better ways to help people with depression
(37:43) Final takeaway
(39:42) Where to find Dr. Moncrieff



Who is Dr. Joanna Moncrieff?
 
Dr. Joanna Moncrieff is a psychiatrist, academic, and author. She is a Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London and also works as a consultant psychiatrist in North East London. Her work focuses on the history, philosophy, and politics of psychiatry, especially how psychiatric drugs are used, understood, and explained to the public. She is also a founding member and co-chair of the Critical Psychiatry Network. Dr. Moncrieff is known for her research and writing on antidepressants and psychiatric medication, and her recent book, Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth, examines the history of the serotonin theory of depression and the evidence behind it.
 
Connect with Dr. Joanna:
Website: https://joannamoncrieff.com/
X: https://x.com/joannamoncrieff
 
Grab a copy: https://tinyurl.com/2xx3r5my




Links and Resources:
Peak Performance Life 
Peak Performance on Facebook
Peak Performance on Instagram

Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:04) Dr. Naidoo's background and why she joined nutrition psychiatry
(4:27) Real patient story on anxiety, travel, and gut imbalance
(9:17) Foods that harm gut and mental health
(13:47) CALMS foods that support anxiety and mood
(16:39) Lifestyle habits that improve mental health
(26:16) Her honest view on SSRIs and safe deprescribing
(31:08) The S.A.W. method for feeling better every day
(35:38) Going extremely low carb
(42:04) Where to find Dr. Uma
(42:39) Outro
 
Who is Dr. Uma Naidoo?
 
Dr. Uma Naidoo is a trained psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutrition specialist who serves as Director of Nutritional & Metabolic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and Director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy. She is also an Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In her role as a clinical scientist, she founded and directs the first hospital-based clinical service in Nutritional Psychiatry in the United States. Dr. Naidoo is also the author of This Is Your Brain on Food and Calm Your Mind with Food.
 
Connect with Dr. Uma
Website: https://umanaidoomd.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umanaidoomd/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/drumanaidoo/
 
Grab a copy: https://umanaidoomd.com/pages/calm-your-mind-with-food




Links and Resources:
Peak Performance Life
Peak Performance on Facebook
Peak Performance on Instagram

Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:15) From modeling success to discovering inner happiness
(5:47) Why meditation feels hard and what it really does
(8:29) Creating "spaciousness" between reaction and response
(12:20) Why most people struggle to stay consistent with meditation
(15:16) Different types of meditation explained simply
(20:35) The tortoise approach to building lasting habits
(25:01) Inside The Year You Transform and its life challenges
(31:30) Examples of challenges: addiction-free, forgiveness, and more
(38:09) How stress affects the brain and body
(41:11) Why meditation could be the "toothbrush" of mental health
(45:55) Where to follow Light Watkins and learn meditation
(47:12) Outro



Who is Light Watkins?
 
Light Watkins is an American meditation teacher, author, and speaker known for helping people simplify mindfulness and personal growth. He grew up in Alabama and first worked in advertising before moving to New York City to pursue modeling. During that time, he discovered yoga and meditation, which sparked a deep interest in inner well-being and spiritual practice. He later studied meditation in the Vedic tradition, including time in India with a meditation teacher, and eventually began teaching meditation in Los Angeles. Watkins gained recognition for his approachable style and has since taught workshops, retreats, and keynote talks around the world. He is the author of several bestselling books, including Bliss More, The Inner Gym, Knowing Where to Look, Travel Light, and The Year You Transform, all focused on mindfulness, happiness, and living with greater presence.



Connect with Light Watkins
Website: https://www.lightwatkins.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lightwatkins/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/lightwatkins



Grab a copy: https://www.lightwatkins.com/books




Links and Resources:
Peak Performance Life
Peak Performance on Facebook
Peak Performance on Instagram