Thrive State Podcast

Dr. Kien Vuu
  • 5.0 (91)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Kien Vuu MD Podcast is a fun and raw conversation with leaders in entertainment, business, sports, science, health, and literature - to explore the mindsets and habits of the world's highest achievers to learn their secrets to health, wealth, and success. The show will take a 360 view on success to not only reveal secrets to physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual wealth but explore the roles of human resilience, meaningful relationships, parenting, contribution and play. When the Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most about humanity, he said: "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health." In an era where more and more Americans suffer from chronic disease, this podcast reveals that success is possible without sacrificing health, and empowers to viewer to remember that THEY ARE THEIR BEST MEDICINE.

  1. 260. How Burnout, Stress & Chronic Inflammation Are Signals, Not Symptoms | Dr. Kien Vuu & Dr. Ann Maria Heston

    3D AGO

    260. How Burnout, Stress & Chronic Inflammation Are Signals, Not Symptoms | Dr. Kien Vuu & Dr. Ann Maria Heston

    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 deeper truth: many of the conditions we struggle with today are not inevitable. They are the result of how we live, think, and relate to the world around us. My conversation with her goes beyond surface-level wellness advice. It dives into the science and psychology of lifestyle medicine, and the often-overlooked role of identity, belief, and consciousness in shaping our biology. If you've ever felt stuck despite knowing what to do for your health, this episode will challenge how you think about change, and show you why knowledge alone isn't enough. In this episode, we explore: • Why burnout, brain fog, and chronic inflammation are signals, not failures • The six pillars of lifestyle medicine and how they drive long-term health • How chronic stress rewires the brain and impacts your body • The connection between identity, belief systems, and behavior change • Why information alone doesn't create transformation • How meaning, faith, and connection can become powerful forms of medicine • The truth about healing as an active, daily practice, not a passive process This episode is a reminder that healing isn't about fixing what's broken. It's about realigning with who you are, and consciously choosing how you live. If you're ready to take ownership of your health and step into a more intentional, energized way of living, this conversation will give you a new framework to start. Follow Doctor V https://instagram.com/doctorvmd Join the Thrive State Community https://mythrivestate.com/join Download the FREE Longevity & Human Potential Starter Guide https://thrivestatestarter.com Visit Dr. V's website https://kienvuu.com

    31 min

  2. MAR 30

    259. The Doctor Who Healed Herself: Reversing Cancer, Autoimmune Disease & Obesity Through Identity Work | Dr. Marianne Pinkston

    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 vitality. She is also the host of the Dr. P Better Life podcast, now in its fourth year. - New Bloom: mynubloom.com - Podcast: drpbetterlife.com - Instagram: @drmariannepinkston Key Takeaways: Chronic stress and adverse childhood events (ACEs) create a biological environment of inflammation that drives autoimmune disease, cancer, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Survival mode — the state of constantly being in fight-or-flight — is the root cause, not just a symptom, of most chronic disease. Identity is medicine. Changing your body requires changing the story you tell yourself about who you are and what you deserve. Emotional eating, people-pleasing, and overworking are survival mechanisms rooted in childhood experiences — not character flaws. Boundaries are not walls. They are a form of self-love that creates the biological conditions for healing. Dr. Pinkston lost 120 pounds over two years, reversed her diabetes and cancer, and is now an athlete at 57. Functional medicine addresses root causes — stress, identity, lifestyle, nutrition — rather than managing individual symptoms in isolation. Dr. Pinkston's Best Medicine: gratitude, paying it forward, and using lived experience to guide others. Resources Mentioned: - New Bloom: mynubloom.com - Dr. P Better Life Podcast: drpbetterlife.com - Film: *The Martian* (Matt Damon) — on solving one problem at a time - Book: *Gone With the Wind* — on resilience and perseverance

    39 min
  3. 258. 1-Day Brain Reset for Depression, Anxiety & Burnout with Dr. Georgine Nanos and Dr. Judson Brandeis

    MAR 23

    258. 1-Day Brain Reset for Depression, Anxiety & Burnout with Dr. Georgine Nanos and Dr. Judson Brandeis

    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 performance optimization to treatment-resistant depression. - Website: kindmindstms.com - Instagram: @drgeorginenanos  Dr. Judson Brandeis is a board-certified urologist, men's health specialist, and author of *The 21st Century Man*. Based in Northern California, he has integrated the Exo Mind TMS system into his practice and recently launched Global Men's Wellness — an AI-powered Men's Health large language model trained on curated medical literature. - Website: brandeismd.com - AI Platform: globalmenswellness.com Key Takeaways: TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) uses safe magnetic pulses — no electricity — to stimulate the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, the brain's emotional control center.  The traditional 40-day TMS protocol has been condensed into a single day with equal or better outcomes.  Dr. Nanos' published trial showed a 90% response rate and 72% remission rate — more than double the remission rate of antidepressants.  TMS is not just for depression. It treats anxiety, PTSD, burnout, brain fog, insomnia, perimenopausal symptoms, and performance optimization.  The one-day protocol costs approximately $10,000–$12,000 and is not covered by insurance (cash pay only for accelerated protocols).  TMS creates a "window of neuroplasticity" — the brain is most receptive to new patterns immediately after treatment. Dr. Brandeis' personal experience: woke up 15–20% happier, more creative, with greater mental clarity — sustained for months.  Dr. Nanos' Best Medicine: sleep and exercise. Resources Mentioned: - Kind Minds TMS: kindmindstms.com - Exo Mind TMS Device: exomind.com - Brandeis MD: brandeismd.com - Global Men's Wellness AI: globalmenswellness.com - Book: *The Happiness Project* — Gretchen Rubi - Book: *The 21st Century Man* — Dr. Judson Brandeis

    46 min
  4. 257. The Hidden Psychology Behind Burnout and Resilience with Alli Covington

    MAR 16

    257. The Hidden Psychology Behind Burnout and Resilience with Alli Covington

    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 vision for global workplace health, the story behind her career pivot, and how her role as a mom fuels her mission. Key Highlights: Why "training the head" makes training the body easier The hidden flaws in typical corporate wellness programs How Alli uses an app, community, and fractional Chief Health Officer model The power of identity, mindset, and gratitude in transforming health

    35 min
  5. 256. The Small Habit That Changes Everything with Light Watkins

    MAR 9

    256. The Small Habit That Changes Everything with Light Watkins

    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 heroic leaps Gratitude as a biological anchor The power of forgiveness sequencing Why awareness is more powerful than willpower The difference between being anti-something and pro-awareness   Most people plan for their perfect day. Light teaches you how to optimize for your average busy day.   That small shift changes everything. Follow @doctorvmd Get Thrive State (2nd Edition): https://thrivestatebook.com Download free longevity tools: https://thrivestatestarter.com

    44 min
  6. 255. Bringing the Aloha Energy to Life and Business | Wing Lam on Conscious Leadership

    MAR 2

    255. Bringing the Aloha Energy to Life and Business | Wing Lam on Conscious Leadership

    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 biological perspective, it matters more than most people realize.   We explore: • Why energy is biological, not just philosophical • How identity shapes health, leadership, and longevity • The connection between stress, cortisol, and emotional states • Building culture through authenticity • Why your presence is your competitive advantage in the age of AI   Everything is energy. The tone you bring into a room. The thoughts you repeat. The emotional baseline you live from. That energy becomes chemistry in your body and culture in your company.   If you want stronger health, better relationships, and more aligned success, this conversation will expand your perspective. Follow @doctorvmd Get the #1 bestselling book Thrive State (2nd Edition): https://thrivestatebook.com Download free longevity and performance resources: https://thrivestatestarter.com

    19 min
  7. 254. The Dark Side of Success (No One Talks About This) | Marshall Faulk

    FEB 23

    254. The Dark Side of Success (No One Talks About This) | Marshall Faulk

    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 primary identity disappears Reinventing yourself after success How your energetic state influences your DNA and mitochondria Your identity is not just psychological. It is biological. Every belief you hold creates a neurochemical cascade that affects your nervous system, immune function, and mitochondrial health. If your identity is built on performance, proving yourself, or constant productivity, your body may remain in survival mode long after the external success is achieved. This conversation is about conscious reinvention. Because success without alignment can quietly cost you your health.   In This Episode You Will Learn How identity influences gene expression and longevity The biological impact of chronic stress Why elite athletes struggle after retirement The science behind energy and mitochondrial function How to consciously evolve your identity   Resources Download the free Longevity and Performance Starter Guide: https://thrivestatestarter.com Get the 2nd Edition of Thrive State: https://thrivestatebook.com Join the Thrive State Membership: https://kienvuu.com/join Follow @doctorvmd for daily insights on longevity and performance.

    16 min
  8. 253. Heal Chronic Illness by Changing Your "Signal" (Not Just Diet) | Dr. Kien Vuu

    FEB 16

    253. Heal Chronic Illness by Changing Your "Signal" (Not Just Diet) | Dr. Kien Vuu

    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 functional medicine, neuroscience, and emerging longevity research, Dr. V explains how your body is constantly listening. Every thought, every interaction, every stress response sends a biochemical signal that either promotes inflammation or supports healing. In this episode, you will learn: Why chronic illness is often a signaling problem How stress hormones influence gene expression The connection between the default mode network and inflammation Why social isolation increases mortality risk How to shift your internal environment to activate healing If you are struggling with autoimmune issues, metabolic dysfunction, burnout, or chronic inflammation, this episode will change how you think about recovery. Follow Doctor V for more longevity insights: https://www.instagram.com/doctorvmd Get the 2nd Edition of Thrive State, a #1 Amazon bestseller: https://thrivestatebook.com Download the free Longevity and Performance Starter Guide: https://thrivestatestarter.com

    1h 2m
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5
out of 5
91 Ratings

About

The Kien Vuu MD Podcast is a fun and raw conversation with leaders in entertainment, business, sports, science, health, and literature - to explore the mindsets and habits of the world's highest achievers to learn their secrets to health, wealth, and success. The show will take a 360 view on success to not only reveal secrets to physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual wealth but explore the roles of human resilience, meaningful relationships, parenting, contribution and play. When the Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most about humanity, he said: "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health." In an era where more and more Americans suffer from chronic disease, this podcast reveals that success is possible without sacrificing health, and empowers to viewer to remember that THEY ARE THEIR BEST MEDICINE.

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