The Optimized Mind
Dr. Kate Lund
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 The Optimized Mind Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Optimized Mind episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Optimized Mind for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Optimized Mind episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Creating Clarity and Peace with Holly McNeill
The Optimized Mind
10/22/24 • 32 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with mindfulness architect Holly McNeill. The discussion focuses on Holly’s evolution from exhausted and burned out to thriving within the context of life and business. Central themes which emerge through the discussion include the reality that we are not our emotions, thoughts and feelings, the ways in which the P.E.R.L.O.V.E Formula helps people to create clarity, peace and ultimately positive change.
Holly is a seasoned architect with 26 years of experience managing global projects, including billion-dollar hospitals. Alongside her career, she embarked on a 20-year transformative spiritual journey into how the mind works, studying neuroscience, psychology, spirituality, and Buddhism. This journey led to the creation of the P.E.R.L.O.V.E. Formula, a set of mindfulness practices that teaches people to pay attention to the hidden influences of the body and mind from moment to moment, helping them unravel destructive thoughts and patterns and make room for positive change. Now known as the Mindfulness Architect, Holly shares the power of Paying Attention, helping individuals break free from autopilot living to create a life of clarity, peace, and joy.
To learn more about Holly, please visit:
facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessblueprints
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
A Transplant Journey with Dan Bonner
The Optimized Mind
11/19/24 • 43 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with healthcare advocate and liver transplant survivor Dan Bonner. The discussion focuses on Dan’s journey from first getting sick through his liver transplant and beyond. Central themes which emerge through this powerful conversation include making sense of life- threatening illness, the physical and emotional experience of transplant and recovery, the complexities of navigating the medical system, the spiritual aspects of the transplant experience, and the complex and powerful connection with donor families.
Dan Bonner is currently 51 and living at the New Jersey Shore. He was diagnosed with a chronic illness at the age of 24 and a debilitating liver disease at age 29. While Dan was not in immediate danger, the liver disease would progress, and he would one day need a liver transplant to survive. On March 12, 2005, Dan received that life-saving liver transplant, which gave him a second chance to fulfill his life’s dreams. Approximately 16 months after his transplant, Dan married the love of his life, Sue, and the two began a new journey together.
In 2011, Dan self-published a book;Gifted: An Extraordinary Journey Through Illness and Liver Transplantation. Sharing the story of his medical journey leading up to and receiving his transplant. Then, after retiring from a corporate career in February of 2024, Dan embarked on starting his own business, Aegis Health Advocacy, to be a patient advocate that empowers patients, guides healthcare clinicians, and interacts with corporations and government agencies to promote a compassionate healthcare experience for all patients. In addition to running his business, Dan is a powerful keynote speaker that uses humor and empathy to engage others in promoting.
With a mission to help patients on their medical journeys “one person at a time,” Dan has transitioned from a survivor to a professional advocate who is passionate about improving patient outcomes. He leverages his unique insights to educate healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and patient advocacy groups, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to patient care. Dan’s work extends beyond one-on-one advocacy; he is also an engaging keynote speaker and consultant who collaborates with medical organizations to develop protocols that prioritize the patient experience.
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
Believing You Can with Megan Hanewald
The Optimized Mind
10/29/24 • 47 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with personal development coach and educator Megan Hanewald. The discussion focuses on Megan’s path into the coaching and education space and how she built on this passion to help others maximize their own potential in sports and in life. Central themes which emerge through the discussion include the idea that it is never too late to become an athlete, the importance of following your passion in sports and life, the ways that lessons from sports can transfer across domains, the importance of believing that you can ... whatever can means to you, the importance of authenticity and vulnerability and the power of focusing on the process not just the outcome in sports and life.
Megan has been in the coaching and teaching space for 28 years, with the past 14 years being dedicated solely to coaching and training adults. Megan started her career as an independent school-teacher and coach, hopped into the corporate world for nearly a decade and returned to her passion of coaching full time in 2018. As the founder of the program "Thrive Through Midlife", a holistic group coaching program that optimizes fitness and nutrition for women as they approach and navigate menopause, Megan is dedicated to helping women understand their body's changes and shift their actions and thoughts to serve their bodies during this time. Megan is a competitive rower and triathlete in Chattanooga, TN and has a daughter in the 8th grade.
To learn more about Megan, please visit:
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
Disaster Preparedness with Patrick Hardy
The Optimized Mind
10/08/24 • 39 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with emergency management expert, Patrick Hardy. The discussion focuses on Patrick’s path into emergency management and disaster preparedness and how this has evolved into a passion and thriving business. Central themes which emerge through the discussion include the power of grit and perseverance, the importance of maintaining a sense of control and self-efficacy when disaster hits, the importance of eliminating dependencies in a disaster, and how to empower people to take action in a disaster.
When disaster and disruption strike there are few voices in the world as knowledgeable as Patrick Hardy. Whether you’re reading his book Design Any Disaster: The Revolutionary Blueprint to Master Your Next Crisis or Emergency, or seeing his talks live, Patrick’s wealth of experience proves that he is the man with the plan to help you navigate and prevent disruptions. Not only is he a graduate of FEMA’s Advanced Academy, but Patrick has gone on to gain numerous certifications such as FEMA’s Master of Exercise®, Certified Emergency Manager®, Certified Risk Manager®, and Master Business Continuity Professional®.
Drawing from his deep expertise in disaster preparedness and response, Patrick Hardy equips audiences with practical strategies to break the Crisis Creation Chain, educating people on how to eliminate disasters by turning disruptions into opportunities.
Patrick actively collaborates across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to empower individuals to bolster their resilience and prevent minor disruptions from escalating into full-blown disasters. Having successfully led, managed, and advised teams around the globe through the greatest natural, technological, and security emergencies an organization or community can face, Patrick understands how proper leadership based on simple core principles can prevent a disaster from ever happening at all.
His first book: Design Any Disaster: The Revolutionary Blueprint to Master Your Next Crisis or Emergency was released late Spring 2023.
To learn more about Patrick, please visit:
www.inspiredperformanceinstitute.com
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
Congruent Living with Susan Lazar Hart
The Optimized Mind
11/26/24 • 31 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with mindset coach and speaker Susan Lazar Hart. The discussion focuses on how Susan’s path to coaching evolved over time through a vast array of experiences. Central themes which emerge through the conversation include the benefits and power of multiple experiences in shaping who we become, the power of congruent living in helping people to carve their authentic path, the importance of cultivating self-awareness in mind and body, the power of flexible thinking and the idea of living in the question.
Susan Lazar Hart has always had a different way of seeing the world, which is a catalyst that sparks curiosity and fosters sustainable change for her clients. As a transformational mindset coach and speaker, she has worked with thousands of women worldwide to change their thoughts, beliefs, and habits so they create a congruent life full of possibilities.
Susan founded the Congruent Living Method and Academy and is the author of her newest book, “Breaking Free: Your Unique Path to Fearless Living.” By integrating breakthrough coaching tools, spiritual principles, and accountability, Susan empowers women in midlife to create the life they’ve always longed for!
To learn more about Susan, please visit:
www.susanlazarhart.com
Link to her book - Breaking Free:
https://www.amazon.ca/Breaking-Free-Unique-Fearless-Living
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
Leveling Up with Peggy Van Der Plassche
The Optimized Mind
11/05/24 • 33 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with personal development coach Peggy Van De Plassche. The discussion focuses on the power of microdosing in stress, anxiety and mood management, performance and productivity. Central themes which emerge through the discussion include Peggy’s 90-day plan for integrating microdosing into one’s lifestyle in a safe and effective way, the importance of calming the nervous system, and moving out of fight or flight as a catalyst for changing mindset.
After spending over 20 years in the financial services and technology industries, Peggy Van de Plassche pivoted her activities to help entrepreneurs and corporate executives level up their well-being and performance through the use of psilocybin and alternative modalities; The Microdose Diet - a 90 Day Plan for Success and Happiness.
For many, top performance comes at the expense of mental well-being. Depression, anxiety, and stress are widespread among entrepreneurs and corporate executives. We’re not conditioned to think of mental wellness as a critical part of high performance, however it is the number one component that prevents top performers from reaching their peak potential. Peggy has experienced the highs and lows of the corporate world and is now helping countless professionals access their best self in the most effortless way.
Using her comprehensive background as a banker and venture capitalist, combined with her extensive experience with the medicinal powers of psilocybin, Peggy brings credibility and connection with the most skeptical crowds of all genders, ages, and occupations.
Success doesn’t depend on how many hours you put into the office. Thanks to The Microdose Diet, entrepreneurs and executives experience greater levels of success and happiness, giving them the keys to increased life satisfaction. With The Microdose Diet, Peggy’s facilitates growth that will exponentially increase productivity and performance in a healthy, balanced way, accessing an entirely new level of your life.
To learn more about Peggy, please visit:
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
Exploring the Next Chapter with Gina Schaefer
The Optimized Mind
10/17/23 • 31 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate brings Gina Schaefer back for the one-year anniversary of the show. This is particularly special as Gina was Dr. Kate’s very first interview on the podcast.
The discussion focuses on Gina’s next chapter after retiring from two decades at the helm of 13 hardware stores in the greater Washington, DC area. Dr, Kate and Gina take a deep dive into the lessons learned through building a successful hardware business focused on human potential and doing good in the community. The conversation also focused on Gina’s plans moving forward and the ways in which she will continue to focus on fostering human potential and giving back in a meaningful way.
Gina Schaefer is the Founder and Co-Owner of 13 hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and their suburbs. She and her team of 300 have helped millions of customers shop right where they live, in their urban communities, despite continuous pressure from bigger, stronger competitors.
Gina is a professional speaker and storyteller, engaging audiences on topics that include competing in a male dominated field, building a strong corporate culture, business succession planning, and all things small business.
In her book, Recovery Hardware, Gina chronicles her experiences building a business while learning from non-traditional teachers like folks from the recovery community and returning citizens. She serves as an advocate and spokesperson for causes directly related to raising wages, anti-monopoly legislation and small business development.
She draws her inspiration from fellow entrepreneurs who strive to be creative, think differently and help make a difference. People like Judy Wicks, founder of the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia who inspired her to use her voice as a force for good; Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig, founders of gourmet food group Zingerman's Community of Businesses in Michigan, from whom Schaefer learned innovative business strategies and Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, who taught her that nonprofit organizations need to think beyond simple charity.
Gina serves as board chair for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and is a member of CCA Global Partners’ Board of Directors. She spent 9 years on the corporate board of Ace Hardware and 12 with the House of Ruth. She relaxes by making greeting cards (she's a big believer in the power of the written note), kayaking, traveling, and reading.
Gina’s guiding principle comes from a treasured quote “I always wondered when somebody would do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody”.
To learn more about Gina, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-schaefer-56380a8/@recoveryhardware
To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund/
Infertility Saved my Life with Sarah Willoughby
The Optimized Mind
05/02/23 • 39 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with healer, coach and author Sarah Willoughby. The conversation focuses on Sarah's journey through secondary infertility and the lessons learned from this grueling experience. Dr. Kate and Sarah explore these lessons through a discussion of Sarah's book -- Infertility Saved my Life. This powerful discussion illustrates the power of tapping into the wisdom of the body, and learning how to connect with oneself on a deeper level.
Sarah Willoughby is Transformation Coach, Bestselling Author, Speaker, Reiki Practitioner and Infertility Coach passionate about empowering people to heal, love themselves, achieve more, and transform their lives from the inside out. Drawing on her multinational HR coaching experience, transformative life story and healing abilities, Sarah guides her clients to reconnect with themselves, find the answers that lie deep inside, and face their fears so they can live their best life. Sarah secured a New York publishing contract with Morgan James publishing for her newly released book ‘Infertility Saved My Life’ and is a co-author for the international bestseller Business, Life and the Universe, Volume 3. Her inspiring articles on life, spirituality, and infertility have reached millions of people worldwide over the past ten years. Sarah regularly shares her wisdom on global speaking panels, podcasts, internet TV and radio. Voted as one of the top 175 women B2B Thought Leaders you should follow in 2023 by Thinkers360, she has also ranked as the 8th Thought Leader in Health and Wellness and her book as one of the top 50 to read this year. Sarah emigrated from the UK to Australia in 2009 to begin a heart-centered life and business after recovering from ICU and being blessed with a second chance. Here she loves spending time in nature with her three beautiful children who are her greatest teachers.
To learn more about Sarah, visit:
www.sarahwilloughby.com.au
To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund/
Navigating Transitions with Dr. Elle Sullivan
The Optimized Mind
07/02/24 • 40 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate talks with psychologist and coach Elle Sullivan. The discussion focuses on helping women to maximize potential through life transitions. Themes which emerge throughout this engaging discussion include – helping women to manage through key decision points in their lives with courage and confidence, harnessing inner strength, the ways in which problematic thoughts can masquerade as values, empowering women to see possibility beyond challenge, the keys to managing self-sabotaging behaviors and helping women to find meaning and purpose across the domains of their lives.
Dr. Elle is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of Intown Therapy, a private practice located in midtown Atlanta. The practice serves clients in both Georgia and New York. She is also the co-founder of The Boldest Me, a transformative personal development coaching service for women, and co-founder of Mind Money Divorce, a boutique coaching firm for women navigating the emotional, financial, and logistical aspects of divorce. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Elle has cultivated a unique therapeutic approach that combines traditional psychotherapy with breakthrough work on the inner critic.
To Learn More, visit:
www.katelundspeaks.com
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/kate-lund
Cultivating Positive Change with Gina Schaefer
The Optimized Mind
10/15/24 • 36 min
In this episode of The Optimized Mind, Dr. Kate welcomes author and professional speaker Gina Schaefer back to celebrate the launch of the show’s third year. The discussion focuses on Gina’s shift into the professional speaking world after transitioning out of The Hardware Business she built over the past 20 years. Central themes which emerge through the conversation include the power of speaking for impact, the importance of never underestimating our potential or possibility, and of trusting yourself to take that first step forward, the power of curiosity and authentic human connection in business and in life.
Gina Schaefer is the author of Recovery Hardware, a powerful memoir that highlights her journey of transforming communities and creating inclusive workplaces. As a dynamic keynote speaker, she captivates audiences with her compelling stories, actionable insights, and unwavering passion for positive change. Gina's mission is to empower others to build thriving businesses and vibrant communities, making her a sought-after speaker and thought leader.
To learn more about Gina, please visit:
To Learn More, visit:
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does The Optimized Mind have?
The Optimized Mind currently has 113 episodes available.
What topics does The Optimized Mind cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Psychology, Mental Health, Podcasts, Education and Mental Illness.
What is the most popular episode on The Optimized Mind?
The episode title 'Empowering Girls with Shannon Addison' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Optimized Mind?
The average episode length on The Optimized Mind is 39 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Optimized Mind released?
Episodes of The Optimized Mind are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Optimized Mind?
The first episode of The Optimized Mind was released on Oct 4, 2022.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ