Hardiness with Dr Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor
  • 4.7 (37)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

Host Dr Paul Taylor, a Psychophysiologist, Neuroscientist, Exercise Scientist, and Nutritionist interviews experts from around the world on cutting edge research and practices related to improving hardiness in your mind, body and brain to become your best self.

  1. 13h ago

    AI, Imaging, and the Future of Preventing Heart Attacks Early with Dr James Thompson

    Dr James Thompson joins me for a practical conversation about why heart disease still leads as a global killer, why cholesterol and calcium scoring have limits, and how advanced imaging is changing prevention. We also cover exercise, lifestyle, and the role AI is starting to play in cardiac imaging. Heart disease often starts silently years before a scan or cholesterol test raises the alarm. Dr. James Thompson reveals why a zero-calcium score can still miss dangerous plaque, and why the future of prevention may depend on looking much earlier, and much deeper. We break down the limits of total cholesterol, LDL, and calcium scoring, then show how APO B, LP little A, CT coronary angiography, and cardiac MRI change the picture. If you have ever been told you are "fine" because your cholesterol is normal or your calcium score is low, this conversation will make you rethink what that actually means.   Key topics Heart disease remains the biggest killer Dr Thompson explains why cardiovascular disease is still the number one public health issue and why it affects men and women differently, especially after menopause. Why cholesterol is only part of the picture They discuss why total cholesterol and LDL can miss risk, and why APO B and Lp(a) can be more useful markers in specific cases. What a calcium score can and cannot tell you A calcium score detects calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, but it can miss non-calcified, high-risk plaque. The problem with false reassurance A zero calcium score does not always mean zero disease, especially in younger people or those with early, vulnerable plaque. Why CT coronary angiography is more revealing Dr Thompson explains how contrast-enhanced CTA can show the actual coronary arteries, plaque burden, plaque composition, and flow-related risk. How CT imaging works in practice They cover heart-rate control, breath-holding, EKG gating, IV contrast timing, and why coronary CTA is technically demanding but highly informative. MRI of the heart brings different strengths Cardiac MRI is described as the best tool for tissue characterization, function, fibrosis, and flow, while CT still wins for spatial resolution of the coronary arteries. Exercise and movement are part of prevention Paul and Dr Thompson connect imaging with lifestyle, arguing that inactivity is not neutral and that movement is fundamental to cardiovascular health. AI is accelerating cardiac imaging Dr Thompson explains how AI is helping quantify plaque, flow, and inflammation, and why radiology is one of the main areas where AI is already being applied. Why early detection matters The conversation repeatedly returns to prevention, especially for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who may feel well but already have disease.   Timestamps (01:36) Dr Thompson’s background in radiology and cardiovascular imaging(06:43) Why no imaging test is perfect and what each modality does best(09:16) Why MRI found the injury that X-ray and ultrasound missed(11:49) Cholesterol as a screening tool and its limitations(16:45) APO B and Lp(a) as more useful markers for some patients(18:18) What a calcium score actually measures(20:31) Why calcified plaque is different from vulnerable non-calcified plaque(23:27) Why a zero calcium score can still miss dangerous disease(29:53) How calcium scoring lost ground to contrast CT angiography(33:14) What contrast-enhanced CTA reveals about plaque burden and composition(35:04) How coronary CTA is performed, including heart-rate control and breath-holding(37:49) How AI is being layered onto CT imaging(40:25) Why CTA can see both inside and outside the coronary artery(41:37) The heart as a pump and why the coronary arteries are so important(44:08) Why stenting and bypass are not perfect solutions(46:19) Exercise as prevention and inactivity as an active problem(49:22) The Dallas bed rest study and how quickly the heart can decondition(53:23) Why vigorous exercise may be far more protective than light movement(55:06) What “lung burn” means in Dr Thompson’s training language(57:18) What cardiac MRI adds beyond CT(60:36) Paul’s own cardiac imaging story and how MRI found scar tissue(63:55) Why coronary CTA is now a class 1A test for low-risk patients with no known disease(69:48) What’s next for AI, plaque characterization, and inflammation imaging(74:23) Why prevention is cheaper, easier, and more effective than late-stage treatment Action items Ask your doctor whether your current heart-risk assessment is enough for your age, family history, and symptoms. Consider whether cholesterol alone is giving you a false sense of reassurance. If you have questions about calcium scoring or CTA, discuss the difference with a clinician who understands cardiac imaging. Treat exercise and daily movement as non-negotiable parts of heart prevention. If you are in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, do not assume heart disease is a problem for later in life.   Resources Website - https://drjamesthomps.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjamesthomps/ X - https://x.com/DrJamesThomps Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drjamesthomps YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gamingcardiaccta Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drjamesthomps   Support the Podcast If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    AI, Imaging, and the Future of Preventing Heart Attacks Early with Dr James Thompson

  2. 3d ago

    Fascinating research on how breathwork can clean your brain: Wisdome Wednesdays

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  3. Sep 11

    How to reduce the toxic load on your body, with Dr Nicole Bijlsma

    Dr. Nicole Bijlsma explains why the built environment matters for health, from mould and air quality to electromagnetic fields and chemical exposures. She shares practical, high-impact changes for bedrooms, water, skincare, cleaning, and home setup that can reduce everyday exposure and support better sleep, immunity, and wellbeing. We discuss why old homes and new homes each have different risks, how Wi-Fi and electrical wiring can affect sleep, and why water filtration is a non-negotiable if you want to reduce chlorine, PFAS, and fluoride exposure. Nicole also covers the biggest chemical exposures on skin, the most useful cleaning swaps, and why over-sanitising may be backfiring on allergy risk. Key topics Nicole shares how personal health issues led her into building biology and why she started training people to assess homes for environmental hazards. The difference between old homes and new homes, including condensation, mould, poor maintenance, tight building envelopes, and off-gassing from imported furnishings. Why carpets can act like a reservoir for dust, pest debris, asbestos, lead paint, and chemicals, especially for infants crawling on the floor. The three EMF categories Nicole prioritises - radio frequencies, AC magnetic fields, and dirty electricity. Why a Wi-Fi router in the bedroom is a major issue, and why hardwiring or powering routers down at the wall is the best fix. Why the bedroom is the top health priority, and how to set it up for better sleep by removing Wi-Fi devices, phones, extenders, and boosters. Why inverter and solar battery placement matters, and why distance is the main defense against magnetic fields. Why reverse osmosis is the best option for drinking water when fluoride is a concern, while whole-house filtration helps with chlorine, sediment, PFAS, and many other contaminants. Nicole shares why alkaline water is not her recommendation, and why stomach acid matters for digestion, protein breakdown, and nutrient absorption. The biggest chemical exposures on the body, especially perfumes, aftershaves, artificial fragrances, and air fresheners. Why jojoba oil, rose hip oil, wool, hemp, cotton, and fragrance-free basics are the safer everyday choices for skin and home use. Timestamps00:32 - The personal health story that led to building biology01:54 - Discovering environmental triggers in the home03:21 - Training clinicians to look at air quality and built-environment hazards04:07 - Old homes versus new homes: where the risks differ05:54 - Maintenance, roof leaks, drainage, and rising damp in older houses06:50 - Why carpets collect dust, toxins, and biological debris07:28 - Why infants are the highest-risk group on carpeted floors08:25 - Tight new homes, hidden condensation, and off-gassing from furnishings10:59 - Natural materials and Australian-made products for lower exposure11:35 - The EMF problem in the bedroom12:44 - Why a router in the room can be a major radio-frequency exposure14:30 - Sleep, melatonin, and why hardwiring beats Wi-Fi15:32 - How to measure Wi-Fi properly with the right meter16:24 - Inverters, batteries, and magnetic fields from solar systems17:45 - Dirty electricity and why some people become electrically sensitive20:30 - Bedroom setup: no Wi-Fi devices, no extenders, no boosters21:20 - Building a master switch system to shut down bedroom fields22:47 - Why phones in the bedroom are a bad idea23:29 - The bedroom first rule: sleep before everything else24:55 - Timer switches and reducing router exposure26:00 - Electricity coming into the house and the importance of distance27:09 - The inverse square law and why bed position matters28:19 - Why shielding does not solve magnetic field exposure29:04 - Water as a major chemical exposure30:27 - PFAS and fluoride in water supplies32:48 - Why chlorine is a problem for the gut microbiome33:18 - What a basic but effective water filter should remove34:10 - Reverse osmosis, remineralisation, and why alkaline water is controversial36:40 - Skin exposure: why chlorine affects eczema and skin irritation37:32 - Whole-house filtration versus point-of-use RO40:26 - Skincare, moisturizers, deodorants, and sunscreen41:22 - Why jojoba and rose hip oil are better skin options42:19 - Parabens, detergents, and reducing cosmetic load43:18 - Sunscreen controversy and why covering up often works better46:29 - Perfume, phthalates, and why fragrance is a major exposure48:43 - Cleaning the home with detergent, microfiber, and HEPA filtration50:11 - Why white vinegar works well in the dishwasher rinse-aid compartment51:35 - Detoxification: sweat, sauna, and exercise52:50 - Why some chemicals need plasma donation or binders54:44 - The need for supervision when using binders55:41 - Why mould deserves its own conversation56:06 - Allergies, pet dander, and the role of dust mites58:17 - Birth, breastfeeding, microbes, and why farm exposure lowers allergy risk59:29 - Why over-cleaning and sanitizers can raise allergy risk61:00 - Where to find Dr. Nicole B and her training61:42 - Healthy Home, Healthy Family and the upcoming updated edition Action items Remove Wi-Fi enabled devices, extenders, boosters, and phones from the bedroom. Put the router on a timer or power it down at the wall overnight. Move the bed away from the wall closest to the meter panel or incoming electrical supply. Prioritise whole-house water filtration, and add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink if fluoride is a concern. Switch to fragrance-free personal care and cleaning products. Use microfiber cloths, detergent, and a sealed HEPA vacuum for routine cleaning. Favor natural materials like wool, hemp, cotton, and jojoba-based skin care where possible. Reduce over-sanitising at home and let kids get normal outdoor dirt exposure. Resources Website: https://www.buildingbiology.com.au/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/homehealthdoc/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicolebijlsma1/?fref=ts   Support the Podcast If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    How to reduce the toxic load on your body, with Dr Nicole Bijlsma

  4. Sep 8

    Not all cholesterol particles carry the same risk - here's what to really look out for: Wisdom Wednesdays

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Sep 6

    A Thirty Thousand Day Life With Carly Taylor

    A birthday, a bit of simple maths, and an idea borrowed from Gregg Krech of Vermont's ToDo Institute, whose own birthday falls the same week as Carly's. What happens when you put an actual number on the days you've got left. Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Sep 4

    The science of behaviour change and addiction, with Tara Hurster

    Most addiction advice is built for rock bottom. Tara Hurster says that misses the vast majority of people - the high-functioning drinkers, gamblers, and users who still have jobs, houses, and families, but know something is off. If you’ve ever wondered where “just a bit too much” becomes a real problem, this conversation gives you a clearer answer than shame ever could. Paul speaks with Tara Hurster, psychologist and founder of The TARA Clinic, about the low-to-high risk continuum of addiction, the 12 DSM criteria, and why “stopping” is not the same as changing. . Her approach is practical, non-judgmental, and built around helping people make real choices with real tools - not just white-knuckle their way through. Tara breaks down how tolerance, repeated failed attempts to cut down, negative consequences, and defensiveness can all signal a deeper issue, even when life still looks functional from the outside. You’ll discover: Why addiction can be invisible in high performers and professionals How the stages of change model explains denial, preparation, action, and maintenance The “stop you swap” trap and why focusing only on abstinence creates a void Why relapse is better understood as recycling, and relapse as a lesson How identity, values, and stress management drive the behaviours people keep repeating   Time Stamps 01:15 - Risk continuum and the question of where addiction begins02:12 - The clearest signs: tolerance, failed attempts, and consequences03:28 - Why questioning a behavior is already a signal worth taking seriously04:23 - Stages of change and why defensiveness matters05:34 - Why stopping is not the same as changing06:32 - “If you stop, you swap” and finding the driver behind the behavior08:34 - The myth that addiction only looks like rock bottom09:49 - Only two DSM criteria are needed over 12 months10:54 - Tara reads the DSM style addiction criteria in plain English13:25 - Why The Tara Clinic uses the criteria as education, not self diagnosis14:07 - Why Tara does not align with the 12 step model15:29 - Tara’s personal story: bullying, tallness, and smoking in year six17:02 - Why stopping smoking can coincide with a change stage, not just willpower18:02 - Recovery as a long term redefinition of stress and distress19:19 - How addiction looks from the outside versus the inside20:56 - Minimizing the problem and the brain’s self protection mechanisms21:27 - The brain’s threat response and why stress drives habitual behavior24:41 - Being the expert in your own life and using lifestyle as a mirror25:33 - Hello Sunday Morning and the power of noticing hangover regret26:25 - Tara’s non prescriptive approach: helping clients see their own choices27:06 - Why smart people often struggle more with change28:22 - How education works in pre-contemplation without shame29:25 - Why shame and guilt can push people backwards30:21 - The survival wiring behind addictive behavior31:50 - Early stage support and why community matters32:35 - Preparation stage and why The Tara Clinic starts there33:22 - The danger of stopping before change has actually happened34:16 - Dry drunk thinking and the limits of willpower35:47 - Real change means new routines, people, and environments36:11 - Why lapse and relapse are reframed as lesson and recycling37:35 - Can moderation work after addiction? Tara’s non absolute answer38:14 - Choice, agency, and not becoming another external force39:23 - Different substances and how the method of use changes the effect42:22 - Why ice is the hardest substance to manage socially43:26 - Ice detox, brain recovery, and the physical versus neurological timeline45:23 - The recurring “wobbles” in recovery from ice use47:32 - Why early recovery for ice effectively starts after a much longer practice period48:43 - Common drivers: pressure, stress, identity, and relief50:16 - Why Tara avoids labels and focuses on language, thought, and identity53:57 - Values work and why goals and values are not the same thing55:25 - Tara’s core values: justice, nonconformity, and safety56:26 - Why value incongruence creates major stress in work and life57:52 - Questions to ask yourself: have I questioned this, and what happens if I pause it?59:37 - Reality pants, judgment pants, and honest behavior tracking60:04 - How to track patterns in drinking and spot triggers61:37 - Using patterns to find gaps in knowledge, skills, and awareness62:32 - Where to go next: The Tara Clinic, Smart Recovery, and the ADIS phone line Resources Website - https://www.thetaraclinic.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarahurster/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetaraclinic/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetaraclinic SMART Recovery – https://smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au/ ADIS phone line: 1800 250 015 available 24/7 The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction.  Call 1800 250 015.   Support the Podcast If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The science of behaviour change and addiction, with Tara Hurster

  7. Sep 3

    Stunning new research on the impact of exercise intensity on our biology: Wisdom Wednesdays

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Aug 30

    The Best Stressed-Out Mum I Can Be With Carly Taylor

    This week Carly turns to something we all wrestle with, accepting our own human nature. She shares a personal example of what she's been struggling with lately, and the small shift in thinking that took the sting out of it. Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Host Dr Paul Taylor, a Psychophysiologist, Neuroscientist, Exercise Scientist, and Nutritionist interviews experts from around the world on cutting edge research and practices related to improving hardiness in your mind, body and brain to become your best self.

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