Thrive State Podcast

What if the biggest thing holding back your growth isn't a lack of knowledge, but a lack of curiosity? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with keynote speaker, magician, and innovation expert Nash Fung to explore why curiosity may be one of the most powerful skills for thriving in today's rapidly changing world. From immigrating to the United States as a teenager t...

You're getting things done, but at what cost? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr Kien Vu breaks down the biology of stress and reveals the hidden middle stage that most high performers are unknowingly living in: a dangerous "coping zone" where productivity masks depletion. He explains why willpower alone won't save you, and introduces a powerful 60-second reset tool called the IMPACT...

Most people think mental health is "all in your head," but your nervous system is constantly syncing with every person in the room. That's why the right relationships can literally regulate your biology, and the wrong ones can burn you out. In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, we break down the science of co‑regulation, how human nervous systems connect, calm, and heal each other. You'll l...

Are you exhausted, stressed, or on the edge of burnout? What if your biggest problem isn't your circumstances… but the unconscious signal your nervous system is stuck in?   In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. V, triple-board-certified MD and performance & longevity expert, breaks down how your nervous system, epigenetics, and identity are silently shaping your health, relationships, a...

Feeling exhausted despite your success? What if the real reason your performance is declining  isn't your work ethic, but your recovery? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr V breaks down the science of burnout, nervous system regulation, and why so many high performers hit a wall, even when they're doing everything right. From personal burnout and chronic disease to the biology of stre...

What if the most powerful upgrade you could make isn't your routine, your diet, or your mindset, but your nervous system? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with Stephen Zerfas, co-founder of Jhourney, to explore the ancient science of jhana meditation, and how modern retreats are helping top executives, AI researchers, and high performers access peak states of con...

Still tired no matter what you try? The problem might not be your schedule—it might be your cells. In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, we explore why energy, aging, and performance all begin at the cellular level—and how declining levels of ubiquinol may be a hidden reason behind fatigue, brain fog, and accelerated aging. As we get older, our bodies naturally produce less ubiquinol—the ac...

Feeling more disconnected than ever? AI is getting smarter, but are we becoming less human? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with keynote speaker and relationship expert Thom Singer to explore a growing problem in the age of artificial intelligence: the loss of real human connection. As AI continues to transform how we work, communicate, and think, many people ar...

Feeling older after 35? What if the real reason your body is breaking down… isn't aging, but interference? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with nutritionist Stephen Heuer to explore what really happens to your body after 35, and why so many people begin to experience fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, slower metabolism, and declining energy despite doing "all the right things....

What if your fatigue, burnout, and chronic inflammation aren't problems to fix, but signals asking you to change the way you live? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with double board-certified physician Dr. Ann Maria Hester to explore a powerful shift in how we understand health, disease, and healing. After years in traditional internal medicine, Dr. Hester recognized a deepe...

  Dr. Marianne Pinkston is a board-certified family and functional medicine physician with nearly 30 years in solo practice, based in San Antonio, Texas. After personally overcoming rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, she transformed her practice and launched New Bloom, a personalized functional medicine platform focused on helping women reclaim their health, identity, and vitalit...

Dr. Georgine Nanos is a board-certified family physician based in Encinitas, California, and the North American Medical Director for Exo Mind — the world's most advanced TMS device. She has been practicing medicine for 24 years and pioneered the world's first single-day TMS protocol, publishing the landmark study in 2024. Her clinic, Kind Minds TMS, offers the full spectrum of TMS treatments from...

In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Alli Covington shares how she blends fitness, psychology, and technology to help individuals and organizations truly thrive. She unpacks why most corporate wellness programs miss the mark, how identity and mindset drive lasting behavior change, and why daily gratitude and simple mantras can literally rewire your brain. Alli also reveals her ambitious vi...

Why do most people quit their resolutions by February?   Because they sprint.   In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with Light Watkins, author of The Year You Transform, to explore the tortoise approach to lasting transformation.   Light shares a practical framework for change that actually sticks: Why 7-day experiments outperform long-term resolutions How infant steps beat her...

What if the real edge in life and business is not strategy… but energy?   In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with Wing Lam, founder and CEO of Wahoo's Fish Taco, to explore what it truly means to bring the Aloha energy into how we live and lead.   Aloha is not just a greeting. It is presence. It is a shared breath. It is generosity and grounded leadership. And from a biologica...

Success looks powerful from the outside. But what happens after you reach the top? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk to explore something rarely discussed publicly: The identity crisis that follows peak performance. We discuss: The hidden biological cost of hustle culture Why achievement can create chronic stress What happens when your pr...

Is chronic illness really about food alone? What if the real root cause is the signal your body is receiving every day? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu explores a powerful concept in longevity science: chronic disease is often driven not just by diet, but by the biological signals we send through stress, sleep, relationships, mindset, and environment. Drawing from functio...

What if healing is not something that happens to you but something you actively participate in every single day?   In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with Steve White, founder of Brae 100 and HomeTeams, to explore what real healing actually looks like beyond the clinic walls. Steve shares the moment in nature that changed the trajectory of his life, why forgiveness may be one...

What happens when you stop playing it safe and trust your inner knowing? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, Dr. Kien Vuu sits down with Robin Switzer, founder and CEO of Hack Your Health, to explore what it really means to bet on yourself and turn personal healing into a global movement. Robin shares her deeply personal journey from metabolic dysfunction, emotional eating, and identity p...

Are you tired of the "eat less, exercise more" mantra that leaves you fatigued and frustrated? In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with nutrition expert Dani Conway to debunk the biggest myths in women's health. We dive deep into why traditional diet culture fails women over 40 and how shifting from chronic restriction to nutrient density can actually unlock your best body and...

Are you tired of the mental fog that slows down your decision making and drains your drive? Most high performers treat fatigue as a cost of doing business, but it is actually a sign of chronic, low grade inflammation. In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, I sit down with Ayurvedic expert Dr. Shivani Gupta to discuss her new book, The Inflammation Code. We explore how to identify your unique...

We are living through a Joy Crisis. Leaders, physicians, high achievers, and everyday humans are waking up successful on paper, yet spiritually, emotionally, and energetically empty. In this episode, Dr. V sits down with executive coach Dianna Moore to uncover why joy has quietly faded from modern life and how to bring it back with intention. Dianna spent 25 years in aerospace, moved into executiv...

Hey Thrivers! Dr. V here, tackling a topic that is often labeled "shallow," but is anything but. I sit down with the internationally-renowned facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Susan Chobanian, to explore the deeper truths beneath "beauty"—truths about identity, biology, confidence, and self-expression. This transformative conversation is for anyone who has questioned the role of external appearance in t...

What if the most painful moment of your life became the doorway to your liberation? In this powerful episode, Doctor V sits down with transformational teacher Marina Galán to explore the moment she confronted her childhood abuser and discovered a new understanding of trauma, consciousness, healing, and personal power. Her story is raw, brave, and full of insight. This conversation will shift how y...