Master Stress with Dr. S

Safia Debar
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Welcome to Master Stress with Dr. S, the podcast that empowers high-achievers to unlock their full potential by mastering stress and achieving burnout-proof success. Hosted by Dr. Safia Debar, a renowned stress expert, medical doctor, speaker and coach. Each episode dives deep into the neuroscience of stress, blending logic and intuition to give you practical tools for thriving in a fast-paced world. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of leadership, striving for peak performance, or yearning for a life of balance and freedom, Dr. Safia Debar will guide you through powerful strategies, expert insights, and personal stories to help you regain control, nurture your well-being, and live authentically. Tune in to discover how to stop stress from holding you back and start living your best, empowered life.

  1. 19 hrs ago

    Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Nobel Prize and the Ancient Map

    Dr. S continues a series on ancient medical systems by exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) through modern scientific parallels. The episode opens with Tu Youyou’s 2015 Nobel-winning discovery of artemisinin for malaria, traced to a 1,700-year-old text recommending Artemisia annua for fever. TCM is presented as a 2,500-year-old medical system including herbal medicine, acupuncture/acupressure, dietary therapy, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong, centered on qi flowing through meridians; fascia research is discussed as a possible physical substrate for meridians, and acupuncture is described as having mechanisms beyond placebo (endorphins, blood flow, inflammation, autonomic effects) with evidence for chronic pain and nausea. The script also notes a 2024 review on TCM for type 2 diabetes and highlights Qi Gong’s benefits for HRV and stress regulation. Listeners are given three practical takeaways: PC6 acupressure, adding bitter foods, and a 1:2 inhale-exhale Qi Gong breathing practice. 00:00 Nobel Prize Origins 03:18 What Is TCM 04:03 Qi Meridians Explained 05:27 Fascia Changes Minds 08:39 Acupuncture Evidence 10:33 Herbal Medicine Research 13:42 Qigong For Stress 15:46 Three TCM Practices 19:29 Longevity Routine Rant 21:00 Wrap Up And Next Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  2. Jul 20

    Ayurveda: The 3,000-Year-Old Science That Described the Vagus Nerve

    Dr. S begins a series on ancient traditions by exploring Ayurveda as a 3,000-year-old medical system, not “exotic wellness,” and highlights parallels with modern science, especially the vagus nerve, the gut-brain axis, and personalized medicine. Citing research from India’s National Ayurveda Research Institute (2019), the episode describes how five Vata subtypes in the Charaka Samhita map onto five primary vagus nerve functions described in Stephen Porges’ polyvagal theory. Key concepts include the doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and Prakriti (constitutional type), with mention of Ayurgenomics showing differing genetic expression profiles. The episode also covers Agni (digestive fire), ama, and Dinacharya aligned with circadian biology. Practical takeaways include assessing Prakriti, evaluating digestion and meal timing, and alternate nostril pranayama to support HRV, lower cortisol, and parasympathetic tone, while emphasizing integrative, not replacement, care. 00:00 Science Meets Ayurveda 06:02 Not Wellness Hype 08:09 Doshas Explained 10:50 Vata Meets Vagus 12:53 Agni And Gut Brain 14:34 Dinacharya And Circadian 17:19 Three Practical Takeaways 18:32 Prakriti Assessment 19:55 Agni Meal Timing 21:05 Pranayama For HRV 22:18 Integrative Closing Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  3. Jul 13

    What Did the Ancients Know That Your Doctor Doesn't?

    Dr. S introduces the “When Science Met Soul” series with an overview of major ancient medical traditions and the shared premise that humans are an integrated body–mind–soul system with an innate tendency toward balance, while disease reflects blockage or imbalance and the physician’s role is to remove obstacles rather than override healing. She contrasts this with the modern “body-as-machine” model, affirming modern medicine’s strengths in acute care while suggesting ancient systems may better frame chronic issues. She previews episodes on Mesopotamian, Egyptian (Imhotep; Ebers Papyrus), Ayurvedic (doshas, prakriti, pranayama and vagus nerve parallels), Traditional Chinese medicine (qi, meridians and fascia research), Greek/Hippocratic medicine (vis medicatrix naturae, gut focus, homeostasis), Islamic Golden Age medicine (Ibn Sina’s Canon; tabiyat; contagion; personalization), and Prophetic medicine (fasting, honey, olive oil, black seed, daily rhythm aligning with chronobiology). She closes with reflective prompts and small practice suggestions tied to whichever tradition resonates most. 00:00 Series Overview 02:12 Why Ancient Wisdom 04:38 One Shared Premise 07:43 Mesopotamian Medicine 10:54 Ancient Egyptian Medicine 15:50 Ayurveda Basics 19:24 Traditional Chinese Medicine 23:23 Hippocrates and Nature 27:31 Islamic Golden Age 32:39 Prophetic Medicine Evidence 38:17 Circadian Daily Rhythm 41:58 Your Takeaway Practices 44:00 Closing Reflection Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  4. Jul 6

    Who Decided Your Body and Soul Were Separate — And Why Should You Care

    The episode asks why, despite 30 years of peer-reviewed evidence linking spiritual practice to longer lifespan, better health span, improved immune function, and reduced mental health issues, spiritual health is absent from clinical guidelines, arguing the reason dates back to Descartes. After Galileo’s 1633 condemnation, Descartes suppressed a heliocentric manuscript and later proposed separating soul/mind/spirit (church) from body/material (science), publishing Meditations on First Philosophy in 1641 and enabling modern biomedical advances while excluding meaning and spirituality from medicine. The script highlights evidence challenging this split: Robert Ader and Nicholas Cohen’s 1970s rat experiments founding psychoneuroimmunology, and Candace Pert’s 1985 findings on neuropeptide receptors forming an integrated “bodymind.” It frames the gap as institutional and offers “soul prescriptions”: name the split, ask meaning-based questions, and engage the evidence. 00:00 Why Doctors Ignore Spirit 03:00 Galileo Sparks the Split 04:00 Descartes Draws the Line 06:24 Modern Medicine Wins Big 07:23 Where the Machine Fails 08:25 The Cost to Patients 11:05 Rats Prove Mind Immunity 14:53 Candace Pert and Bodymind 17:28 Evidence vs Institutional Gap 19:34 A Doctor Reunites Two Worlds 22:49 Medicine Is Incomplete Not Wrong 24:40 Your Soul Prescription 27:57 Closing and Next Episode Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  5. Jun 29

    I Believe in Something. I Just Don't Recognise the Version I Was Given." A different kind of consultation — on belief, belonging, and what the science says about coming home to yourself

    Dr. S revisits spirituality as a clinical intervention, acknowledging that the term can trigger memories of shame, coercion, or abuse within religious settings, and clarifying that harmful delivery by people and institutions is not the same as spirituality itself. She names religious trauma as a recognized clinical phenomenon, citing Dr. Marlene Winell’s Religious Trauma Syndrome (2011) and reporting estimates that 27–33% of adults have experienced religious trauma, with 15–20% still symptomatic, and a 2021 study finding 33% trauma symptoms among those leaving high-control religions. She discusses research on “innate belief,” including Oxford’s Justin Barrett, while noting contested aspects, and argues that spiritual practice benefits health regardless of theological content. Using a yoga-injury analogy, she invites listeners to explore belief with curiosity, attend to bodily responses, and separate essence from delivery to reclaim meaning, connection, and wellbeing. 00:00 Spirituality and Triggers 04:08 Separating Faith From Harm 08:36 Religious Trauma Is Real 10:45 Essence vs Delivery 13:58 Science of Innate Belief 17:17 Clinical Benefits of Practice 19:05 Reframing After Bad Experiences 20:55 How to Explore Safely 24:55 Invitation and Next Episode 29:23 Final Question to Sit With Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  6. Jun 22

    How Breathwork & brainwaves change everything

    In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar, despite battling pharyngitis, dives deep into the transformative potential of breath work. She shares a personal experience that revolutionized her understanding of stress and healing, connecting it to the science of brainwaves. Dr. Debar explains how different brainwave patterns—beta, alpha, theta, delta, and gamma—correlate to various states of being and how conscious breathing can facilitate the transition between these states. The episode offers profound insights into the interconnectedness of mind, body, and soul and sets the stage for forthcoming discussions on tailored breath work practices. 00:00 Introduction to Master Stress with Dr. S 01:24 The Life-Changing Power of Breath Work 01:47 A Personal Breath Work Revelation 02:08 Unlocking Hidden Memories 03:59 The Science Behind Breath Work 07:50 Understanding Brainwave Patterns 12:02 Navigating Brainwave States 17:30 Applying Brainwave Knowledge to Daily Life 20:36 Reflecting on Your Brainwave Patterns 22:35 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  7. Jun 15

    Why Do I Have Everything — And Still Feel Empty? The Science of Spirituality

    A medical doctor introduces episode one of “When Science Met Soul,” arguing that ancient medical systems treated body, mind, and soul as inseparable, while modern Western medicine adopted a body–soul split rooted in Descartes’ 1641 dualism deal with the Church. Drawing on research, she cites associations between religious/spiritual involvement and lower depression, longer lifespan (about 4–7 years), reduced mortality risk linked to purpose and life satisfaction, and Blue Zones findings that centenarians belong to faith communities. She explains psychoneuroimmunology (Robert Ader’s conditioning of immune suppression) and neuroscience findings from Andrew Newberg and Harvard showing spiritual practices affect the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, default mode network, and pathways relevant to depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. She reframes burnout as living against “factory settings” and prescribes three practices: a meaning audit, one minute of stillness, and naming your “why.” 00:00 Ancient Medicine Was Whole 01:53 Doctor Sees The Gap 02:43 Why This Series Exists 04:57 What Medicine Misses 07:18 The Data On Spirituality 09:55 Descartes And The Split 12:22 Science Proves Unity 14:42 Why Training Ignored It 16:22 Neuroscience Of Spirituality 20:16 Meaning Purpose And Longevity 23:08 My Burnout And Disconnection 27:12 Return To Factory Settings 31:53 Three Practices To Try 37:21 Closing And Next Episode Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

  8. Jun 8

    The Conversation That Changed Everything — Part 3 with Anna Bjurstam - Pausing, Compassion, and Integrating Science and Soul

    In the final episode of a conversation with Six Senses wellness pioneer Anna Bjurstam, she and the host discuss stepping out of the “hamster wheel” through intentional pauses and choosing accessible practices such as calming music, walking, breathwork, somatic therapy, and Sanctum classes that offer emotional, physical, and social release. Anna argues that societal wellbeing should start with cultivating compassion and curiosity, and personally with the first 30 minutes after waking—setting intentions, gratitude, journaling, sunshine, breathwork, and avoiding immediate phone use or coffee; she cites cold exposure as an endorphin boost. They explore awe and wonder as daily, trainable states supported by reframing thoughts and tools like Positive Prime. Anna shares leaving Six Senses to launch Waheyla (“power of the heart”), focusing on integrating spirituality, purpose, science, nature, and AI, rooted in a near-death experience and her purpose as a bridge between worlds. The host previews an upcoming series on the history behind the split between science and soul and critiques fear-driven, performative longevity culture. 00:00 Final Episode Intro 01:37 Pause and Pick Practices 02:01 Sanctum Class Explained 03:09 Morning Intention Ritual 05:06 Compassion and Society 06:41 First 30 Minutes Rule 08:19 Awe Wonder and Reframing 10:14 Tools to Reset Nervous System 12:44 New Chapter and Waheyla 15:18 Near Death Purpose Story 17:15 Wrap Up and Permission to Pause 18:21 Host Reflection and Next Series Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com contact@drsafiadebar.com IG: @drsafiadebar Tiktok: drsafiadebar Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource

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About

Welcome to Master Stress with Dr. S, the podcast that empowers high-achievers to unlock their full potential by mastering stress and achieving burnout-proof success. Hosted by Dr. Safia Debar, a renowned stress expert, medical doctor, speaker and coach. Each episode dives deep into the neuroscience of stress, blending logic and intuition to give you practical tools for thriving in a fast-paced world. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of leadership, striving for peak performance, or yearning for a life of balance and freedom, Dr. Safia Debar will guide you through powerful strategies, expert insights, and personal stories to help you regain control, nurture your well-being, and live authentically. Tune in to discover how to stop stress from holding you back and start living your best, empowered life.

Information

  • Creator
    Safia Debar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Safia Debar
  • Show Website
    Master Stress with Dr. S