The Optimal Life

Charlie Eisenstat is the founder and owner of Pour Cleveland , a multi-roaster and espresso bar located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Ohio.  Hear about Charlie's professional path, leaving behind a career in law to pursue his passion in coffee. Connect with Pour Cleveland on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter  

Rabbi Zushe Greenberg is an Orthodox rabbi who has amassed a significant following within the community.  He joined me for an intimate and spiritual conversation about fate and destiny to make sense of life in our forever changing world.    

Brogan Azriel is a Cleveland-based artist who specializes in figurative paintings and murals that communicate emotional content woven through narratives.  In this wide-ranging episode, hear about Brogan's journey of finding this intense passion and how her work is a product of her identity. Connect with Brogan on Instagram  

Youssef Zalal is a professional MMA fighter with a current unbeaten record of 5-0.  Hear about his path from Morocco to the United States, how MMA became a part of his life, the pain he experienced in losing his brother in an automobile accident three years ago, and how he uses that pain to fuel his fire to assure he achieves his goal of making it to the UFC. Connect with Youssef on Instagram  

Anthony Smith is currently the #3 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC.  In this episode, hear about his adversity-filled journey to get to where he is today, the people he holds responsible for helping him achieve success, and his outlook on his UFC future as he eyes a title shot in 2019. Connect with Anthony on Instagram  

Join me in the fight against cancer and put down your razors for the month of November!  Each person who donates at least $25.00 to the cause through The Optimal Life podcast No-Shave November page will have a chance to win a $100.00 Giant Eagle gift card.  Winner will be announced the first week of December! Donate via our NO SHAVE NOVEMBER PAGE HERE . Each day, 22,000 people die from cancer worl...

Eliot Sloan is the lead singer from the band Blessid Union of Souls, whose hit single "I Believe" topped the charts at #1 in 1995.  In this episode, hear from Eliot on how his band exploded onto the scene in the 1990's and get a peak into some of the intimate stories behind their music. Connect with Blessid Union on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  

Ryan Florio is the founder of Inca Tea , a brand formulated through purple corn blends containing powerful antioxidants that Ryan initially discovered in Peru.  Formed in 2014, Inca Tea has grown to over 800 locations worldwide. Connect with Inca Tea on Instagram | Facebook   Contact Ryan via email at ryan@incatea.com  

Carl Sullivan is the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) director of state prosecutions and assistant prosecuting attorney with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.  Connect with Ohio ICAC on Facebook  

Nathan Orchard is a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu black belt under Master Eddie Bravo.  Having recently married, he moved from Portland to Seattle with his wife and is set to open 10th Planet Seattle on October 1st.  In this episode, he talks about his Jiu Jitsu journey and sheds light into the martial arts way of life. Connect with Nathan on Instagram  

Michelle Diaz is a fashion, beauty and travel blogger who has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers across her social media platforms.  We cover a wide range of topics in this episode, including love interests, social media pros and cons, the importance of authenticity, how to handle judgment, and following your passions toward living out your goals and dreams. Connect with Michelle on Instag...

Kerri Kasem is a radio and TV host whose mission has become to seek elder abuse legal reform after having experienced difficulties being allowed to see her father at the end of his life.  Her father, Casey Kasem, was a famous disc jockey and radio broadcaster who became best known for his 'American Top 40' countdown that aired between 1970 and 2009.  During the later stages/years of Casey's life,...

Drew Manning is a fitness influencer and New York Times bestselling author who is best known for his Fit2Fat2Fit experiment.  He's been featured on shows such as Dr. Oz, Good Morning America and Jay Leno.  His experiment has since become a hit TV show that aired on A&E and Lifetime.  In addition to his fitness programs, Drew hosts a podcast called The Fit2Fat2Fit Experience that recently hit over...

Freshy Ramone is a Cleveland-based rap artist whose debut album, MyFoolishPride (MFP), is now streaming on all platforms.  In this episode, hear from Freshy on how music was always a part of his life from a young age, the connections he made throughout the years to help him continue to elevate, and how he has turned traumatic experiences from childhood and adulthood into the fire behind his music...

One of the saddest things so many of us do is allow the judgment and belief systems of others to control the way we live our lives.  There is absolutely no way you can live an optimal life with this type of mentality.  Take a listen carefully to this 17 minute solo podcast in which I plead with you to make changes so that you live your truth and create a life full of happiness, joy and success.  Y...

Ricky Mendez is an implementational speaker and business coach who implements mindset, prosperity planning and utopic health programs in order to build a culture and foundation that can support explosive sales and results-driven growth.  Ricky drops a lot of knowledge, insight and inspiration regarding what it takes to train our most powerful muscle so that a winning mindset is always present. Con...

Mel Yu's life was changed one fateful evening in 2014 when she found her boyfriend, Gus, hanging in their garage.  Gus had committed suicide.  The trauma experienced by Mel from that day forward was often insurmountable.  But slowly - through spiritual healing, time, prayer and community - Mel was able to regain normalcy in her life.  Ever since, she has been spreading suicide prevention awareness...

Tony Grossi is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and has been covering the Cleveland Browns for 35 years.  He currently is a Browns analyst for  ESPN Cleveland , 850 AM WKNR radio, and Fox Sports Ohio.  He also hosts the 100 Years Podcast available at  www.thelandondemand.com . Tony rejoins me for his second appearance on the podcast to provide observations of Browns pr...

Leah Hester is an aspiring philosopher and world traveler who will be attending San Diego State University this fall.  In this episode, we cover a wide array of topics, including what it was like to move from Chicago to Cleveland in 8th grade, the challenges of being the new/pretty girl in town, how to handle negative people, her dreams and aspirations, and her outlook on life and relationships. C...

Brian Windhorst is a sportswriter and analyst who covers the NBA for ESPN .  A graduate of St. Vincent-St. Mary high school in Akron, Ohio, Brian began his career as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat writer for the Akron Beacon Journal in 2003 and went on to work for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in October 2008.  In 2010, his career profile was greatly elevated after LeBron James left the Cleveland Caval...

Anne S. Frankel is a Philadelphia-based attorney specializing in defending hospitals, physicians, and long-term care facilities against professional and general liability claims.  In this episode, we focus on her passion for her craft, the challenges she faces as a woman with children in the legal profession, and the "juggle" she endures on a daily basis between work life and family life.     

In Ryan's second appearance on the podcast, we focus on relationships and life in this social media era.  We discuss the many challenges that come with and ways to avoid the always present pitfalls.  We hear about Ryan's journey from meeting his fiance one year ago to now getting married this coming weekend and the importance of following your heart when you are certain of a situation's eventual o...

Troy L. Smith is an entertainment reporter at the Cleveland Plain Dealer who also covers the UFC.  In this episode, we cover all things UFC, including talk on Cormier and Miocic, Dana White, the future of the sport and organization, and touch on some of the top fighters from each division. Connect with Troy on Instagram | Twitter    

"Because You Can."  Written by Nate Haber.  

Dr. Carly Day is a sports physician at Cleveland Clinic specializing in injury treatment and prevention.  She is an active voice on the disparity in gender pay within the medical profession and seeks continued reform within the system.  In addition to practicing, Carly works as the on-field doctor for sports events at Notre Dame College and Aurora High School .  In this episode we cover an array o...