In this comprehensive exploration of stress science, Dr. Steven Stolz unravels the complex relationship between stress, performance, and wellbeing. Discover why not all stress is created equal, how your body's ancient survival systems operate in modern life, and evidence-based strategies to transform stress from enemy to ally. Drawing on groundbreaking research from Robert Sapolsky, Kelly McGonigal, and other leading stress researchers, this episode provides a sophisticated understanding of stress physiology and practical tools for building genuine resilience.

Perfect for: Professionals dealing with workplace pressure, anyone seeking science-backed stress management, and curious minds wanting to understand the fascinating biology of human stress response.

Are you tired of failed diets and conflicting nutrition advice? Join Dr. Steven Stolz and nutrition expert Dr. Ahmad Saedisomeolia as they expose the truth behind diet culture myths and reveal evidence-based weight loss strategies that actually work.

In this game-changing interview, Dr. Ahmad—with decades of research at McGill University and as Associate Professor at Education Centre of Australia—separates nutrition science from marketing hype to help you achieve sustainable weight loss without obsessing over calories.

🎧 What You'll Discover:

• Why the Food Pyramid failed and what nutrition guidelines actually work

• The calorie counting trap and why it sabotages weight loss

• How your genetics affect weight (and when they don't matter)

• Evidence-based weight loss strategies for lasting results

• Why BMI is misleading and better ways to measure health

• The truth about trending diets: keto, intermittent fasting, Mediterranean

• How modern lifestyle sabotages healthy eating (and how to fix it)

• Food psychology secrets: why you crave certain foods and how to change

• Pharmaceutical weight loss options like semaglutide (pros and cons)

The gut-brain connection and its impact on mood and weight

In this compelling interview, we speak with Professor Gordon Parker AO, Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at UNSW and founder of the globally recognized Black Dog Institute. With over five decades of clinical experience and groundbreaking research, Professor Parker reveals crucial insights about workplace burnout that everyone should know.

🎧 What You'll Learn:

• The scientific difference between burnout and depression (and why misdiagnosis is common)

• How perfectionism and conscientiousness can make high-achievers more vulnerable to burnout

• The physiological stages of burnout and their impact on your brain and body

• Validated assessment tools including the Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM)

• Practical, evidence-based strategies for prevention and recovery

• How workplace cultures either protect against or accelerate burnout

Are your high standards helping you excel or secretly sabotaging your success? In this eye-opening episode of Deep Thinking, Dr. Steven Stolz explores the critical distinction between healthy striving and self-destructive perfectionism. Through compelling case studies featuring The Beatles' legendary creative tensions, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor's artistic struggles, and relatable stories like "Andy the Academic" and "Mick the Magician," you'll discover the surprising psychology behind perfectionist tendencies.

Drawing on groundbreaking research from leading experts including Dr. Brené Brown, Drs. Gordon Flett & Paul Hewitt, and Professor Tracey Wade, this episode unpacks perfectionism as a multidimensional concept that impacts creativity, relationships, and mental wellbeing. Whether perfectionism manifests as external validation-seeking or internalized self-criticism, you'll learn evidence-based strategies to break free from these patterns while maintaining excellence without the psychological costs.

Perfect for anyone struggling with impossibly high standards, creative blocks, or helping others with perfectionist tendencies, this episode provides actionable insights to transform your relationship with achievement and self-worth.

We live in the most connected era in human history, yet loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. In this episode, Dr. Steven Stolz explores this modern paradox, examining why social media and digital connectivity often leave us feeling more isolated than ever. Discover the science behind loneliness and evidence-based strategies to build meaningful connections in our hyperconnected world.

Key Takeaways

• Biological Reality of Loneliness: Scientific evidence confirms loneliness as a universal human experience with measurable neurological and immunological effects

• Quality Over Quantity Principle: Research consistently shows that meaningful connections with few people better combat loneliness than numerous shallow interactions

• Patience and Intentionality Requirement: Long-term studies demonstrate that sustainable relationship building follows predictable phases requiring both deliberate action and realistic timelines

• Internal-External Balance: Psychological research confirms effective loneliness intervention requires both cognitive restructuring (internal) and behavioral engagement (external)

• Evidence-Based Intervention Efficacy: Clinical studies show implementing structured approaches can reduce subjective loneliness by 20-30% within 8-12 weeks when consistently applied

In this deep dive, Dr. Steven Stolz explores the science of attention and why it's increasingly under siege in our modern world. Drawing on cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and practical research, this episode examines how our attentional systems work, what undermines them, and evidence-based strategies to regain control of our most precious cognitive resource in an age of endless distraction.

Join Dr. Steven Stolz as he converses with sleep neuroscientist Dr. Mark Kohler about the crucial role of quality sleep in cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and physical health. This evidence-based discussion explores sleep architecture, brain restoration processes, and practical sleep optimization techniques. Dr. Kohler breaks down complex sleep science into accessible insights, offering research-backed strategies for improving sleep quality, understanding circadian rhythms, and enhancing brain function through better rest. Whether you're battling insomnia, experiencing sleep disruption, or simply curious about the science of restorative sleep, this conversation provides valuable knowledge for achieving deeper, more rejuvenating rest.

Burnout: When Your Mind Says No | Deep Thinking with Dr. Steven Stolz

In this premiere episode, Dr. Steven Stolz explores the psychology and reality of burnout—a condition affecting millions yet often misunderstood.

What you'll discover:

• Is burnout officially recognized as a psychological condition?

• Why has burnout become a modern epidemic?

• How to identify burnout before reaching breaking point

• Which workplace factors drive unprecedented burnout rates

• The connection between perfectionism and burnout

• Evidence-based strategies for recovery and prevention

Dr. Stolz breaks down complex research into practical wisdom, offering both intellectual framework and actionable strategies for overcoming burnout while maintaining excellence.