The Total Entrepreneur: Mind, Body, Spirit

Join Dr. John Torrens, an award-winning professor and entrepreneur, as he guides high-performing entrepreneurs, founders, and executives on a journey to redefine success. In The Total Entrepreneur: Mind, Body, Spirit, you'll learn how to balance business success with a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle. Each episode blends cutting-edge academic research with real-life insights from entrepreneurs, health experts, and researchers. Discover evidence-based strategies to prevent burnout, improve well-being, and create a life where purpose, productivity, and wellness thrive together.

The Total Entrepreneur: Mind, Body, Spirit is a business podcast hosted by John M Torrens, Ph.D., with 102 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

John M Torrens, Ph.D. hosts The Total Entrepreneur: Mind, Body, Spirit, a business show with 102 episodes published.

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  Episode #101

  Fix Leaky Gut Naturally with Dr. Sulaiman Bharwani

  Oct 1, 202657 min

  Most people think gut health is just about digestion - Dr. Sulaiman Bharwani says that's the smallest part of the story. In this episode, John interviews gastroenterologist and nutritionist Dr. Sulaiman Bharwani ("Dr. Sal") of Gut Rewire to unpack how the gut microbiome drives everything from heart health and brain function to anxiety, ADHD symptoms, and long-term disease risk - and exactly how to fix leaky gut naturally through food, sleep timing, breathing, and fasting. Dr. Sal breaks down his "7 Pillars" framework (A–G: Avoid ultra-processed food, Breathe diaphragmatically, Count colors and plants, Drink water, early sleep, Fasting, and Go with movement), explains why the body can't actually digest fiber (the microbiome does that work for us), and makes the case that 30 different plants a week matters more than counting macros. The conversation also covers the surprising, research-backed link between ADHD and gut symptoms, what really happens to the microbiome during a course of antibiotics, the current (and future) state of fecal transplants, and why the hours between 10 PM and 2 AM may matter more for gut repair than how many total hours of sleep you get. Key Topics: Why the gut microbiome is now considered the body's most influential organ system, and its role in heart, brain, and immune health. The real reason fiber matters (hint: it's not for you, it's for your bacteria). Why "eat more vegetables" isn't useful advice anymore, and what 30 plants a week actually looks like. What antibiotics do to your microbiome, and how to proactively protect it. The gut-brain axis: how microbiome health shapes anxiety, sleep, focus, and decision-making. A surprising research link between ADHD and GI symptoms in kids and adults.. What leaky gut actually is, how it develops, and its downstream effects on inflammation, heart disease, and cognitive decline. Fecal microbiota transplants: where the science stands today, and the open questions that still worry Dr. Sal. The physiology of intermittent fasting, why 12–14 hours is the evidence-backed sweet spot, and why fasting may help your body clear out damaged cells. Dr. Sal's "7 Pillars" (A–G) framework for rebuilding gut health. Why the window between 10 PM and 2 AM may be critical for gut and brain repair. Rising rates of fatty liver disease and gut-related symptoms in children, and what's driving it. Connect with Dr. Sulaiman Bharwani : LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sulaiman-bharwani-613653283 Email - doctorsal@gutrewired.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gutrewired Website - gutrewire.com Connect with Dr. John M. Torrens: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmtorrens/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnmtorrens/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drjohntorrens Website - Podcast.JohnMTorrens.com

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  Episode #100

  How to Build Real Relationships (Not Just Network) - Nida Leardprasopsuk

  Sep 25, 202641 min

  If you've ever collected 5,000 LinkedIn connections and still couldn't think of who to call at 2 a.m. in a crisis, this episode on how to build real relationships is for you. Nida Leardprasopsuk spent years in corporate roles at L'Oréal, Unilever, Reckitt, and Coach before leaving to become a certified executive and business coach, a Gottman-trained couples therapist, and a medical-school-trained sex therapist - an unusual combination she says all comes down to the same underlying subject: Human psychology. In this episode, she sits down with John to break down how to build real relationships in a world that's made us busier, more "connected," and lonelier than ever, and shares the practical framework she uses to audit, grade, and intentionally grow her own relationship portfolio. Key Topics: The real difference between networking and relationship building, and why the digital world has made us worse at the latter. Why the average human can only meaningfully maintain 150 - 250 relationships, and how that number holds up (or doesn't) in the age of social media. Nida's relationship "grading system", from A's (your closest people) to G's (general acquaintances), and why misclassifying people creates unnecessary hurt and wasted energy. How to do your own relationship audit, and what a healthy relationship portfolio actually looks like. Why "how you do anything is how you do everything", and what her dual work as an executive coach and sex therapist taught her about the same underlying human patterns. The surprising link between trauma and high achievement, and why so many successful people privately feel unfulfilled. What Harvard's longest-running study on adult development found is the #1 predictor of a long, happy, healthy life (it's not diet or exercise). How to "make new old friends" as an adult, including Nida's simple, repeatable dinner-hosting strategy. Why she believes being an initiator is one of the most underrated skills in business and life. What IRL is, the app Nida built to help people turn digital connections into real relationships, using AI to make the introductions humans rarely make for each other. Connect with Nida Leardprasopsuk: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nida-leardprasopsuk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nidaleardofficial/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nida.leardprasopsuk/ Website - joinirl.app Connect with Dr. John M. Torrens: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmtorrens/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnmtorrens/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drjohntorrens Website - Podcast.JohnMTorrens.com

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  Episode #99

  Understanding Chronic Inflammation and Free Radicals - Samuel Shepherd

  Sep 17, 20261h 14m

  Understanding chronic inflammation and free radicals starts with a question most of us never think to ask: why does the same biological process that keeps us alive also seem to slowly wear us down as we age? Samuel Shepherd spent decades as a chemist and engineer, holding 42 patents, working with NASA, and solving technical problems for government and industry, before a serious health diagnosis sent him deep into the biochemistry of free radicals and antioxidants. In this episode, he shares his personal story with John and walks through his perspective on understanding chronic inflammation and free radicals: what they are, how they differ from the acute inflammation that helps the body heal, and the antioxidant chemistry he spent years studying afterward. Key Topics: Samuel's personal account of his health diagnosis in 2003, and the path that led him to study free radical biochemistry. His explanation of the difference between acute inflammation (which keeps us alive) and chronic inflammation (which he connects to age-related disease). A breakdown of the four free radicals he focuses on, and the basic biochemistry of how antioxidants work at a cellular level. His explanation of astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment, and why he found its molecular structure compelling from a free radical chemistry standpoint. His personal research process, including how he arrived at the compound that became the basis of his company. His views on fructose, fruit, and inflammation, a more contested nutritional position worth weighing against mainstream dietary guidance. The story of his mother's experience with type 2 diabetes, told from his personal perspective. His account of the product's use during COVID, offered as his own observation, not a clinical finding. Connect with Samuel Shepherd: Website - https://valasta.net/ Connect with Dr. John M. Torrens: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmtorrens/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnmtorrens/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drjohntorrens Website - Podcast.JohnMTorrens.com

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  Episode #98

  Peptide Therapy for Longevity: What's Real vs. Hype - Dr. Jeff Gross

  Sep 13, 202652 min

  If you've heard the word "peptide" on a skincare label or a biohacking podcast and wondered what it actually means, this episode on peptide therapy for longevity breaks it down from someone who's spent his career at the intersection of neurosurgery and regenerative medicine. Dr. Jeff Gross is a former Berkeley biochemist, virology researcher, and spinal neurosurgeon who founded ReCELLebrate after growing frustrated with how little the traditional "sick care" system offered patients who wanted alternatives to surgery and prescription drugs. In this episode, he sits down with John to explain peptide therapy for longevity in plain terms - what peptides actually are, how they differ from stem cells and exosomes, and why the FDA's regulatory relationship with these compounds is more nuanced than most people realize. Key Topics: What a peptide actually is, and why your body makes them naturally throughout your life. The real story behind the BPC-157 "FDA ban" headlines, and what it actually means for patients. Why most of medicine isn't FDA-approved, and why that doesn't mean what most people assume it means. The difference between stem cells, exosomes, and peptides, and how they work together. What peptides are used for in musculoskeletal repair, skin health, immune resilience, and mitochondrial function. Dr. Gross's take on the health insurance industry's incentives, and why "insurance doesn't cover it" isn't the same as "it doesn't work" Why sourcing and third-party testing matter enormously if you're considering peptide therapy for longevity. A case study on chronic fatigue, brain fog, and mitochondrial repair. Why working with a qualified, experienced clinician is essential before starting any peptide protocol. Connect with Dr. Jeff Gross: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-gross-md-5605605/ Website - https://recellebrate.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/recellebrate Connect with Dr. John M. Torrens: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmtorrens/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnmtorrens/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drjohntorrens Website - Podcast.JohnMTorrens.com

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  Episode #97

  You Can't Out-Supplement Burnout | Katie Hardie

  Sep 3, 202658 min

  If you've ever powered through exhaustion because you're "tough" and "don't need the nap," this episode on strategic recovery for high performers might be the wake-up call you didn't know you needed. Katie Hardie is the founder of My Peak ( mypeak365.com ) - PEAK standing for Performance, Energy, Awareness, and Knowledge - and a former endurance athlete who completed multiple Iron Man triathlons before understanding the toll a lack of recovery was taking on her body. In this episode, she sits down with John to break down why strategic recovery for high performers isn't a luxury or a break from the work; it's part of the work itself, and skipping it quietly sets you up for burnout, injury, or worse, even while you look and feel perfectly fine on the outside. In this episode, you'll learn: The single biggest lie the wellness industry tells busy, high-achieving people about energy and nutrition. Katie's own wake-up call: a backcountry skiing injury that revealed her hormones were in a state of total breakdown, despite feeling "fine". Why strategic recovery for high performers matters more the older you get, and why symptoms take years or decades to surface. The PEAK framework: Performance, Energy, Awareness, and Knowledge, and how functional lab testing fits into it. Why "calories in, calories out" misses the real picture, and what fasting insulin reveals that a normal blood sugar reading doesn't. Bioindividuality: why the same banana can spike one person's blood sugar and barely affect another's. The truth about gut health, why most of your neurotransmitters are made there, and simple ways to support it. Why modern wheat and gluten hit differently than what earlier generations ate. How to find your own healthy "gray zone" instead of rigid all-or-nothing rules. What labs Katie actually recommends if you want to start investigating your own health. Connect with Katie Hardie: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mypeak365/ Website - mypeak365.com Connect with Dr. John M. Torrens: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmtorrens/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnmtorrens/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drjohntorrens Website - Podcast.JohnMTorrens.com

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