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1,000 Waking Minutes

1,000 Waking Minutes

By: Wendy Bazilian
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Every day, we experience 1,000 waking minutes on average. How are you spending yours? Join Dr. Wendy Bazilian on a journey to Eat well, Move daily, Be healthy.®, three pillars she believes can optimize these precious minutes toward your healthiest, most fulfilling life. With a healthy dose of Dr. Wendy’s infectious energy, she invites you to share time together to help you develop a real and compassionate connection to your health, your community, your environment, and most importantly, yourself. Dr. Bazilian is a Doctor of Public Health, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and certified Exercise Physiologist. She is a frequent expert contributor on LIVE with Kelly & Mark. Engage with Dr. Wendy at wendybazilian.com.Copyright 2026 Wendy Bazilian Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 54 - The Hidden Health Power of NEAT: Why Everyday Movement Matters More Than You Think

    54 - The Hidden Health Power of NEAT: Why Everyday Movement Matters More Than You Think
    Jun 17 2026

    Some of the most powerful health habits don't happen in the gym. They happen while carrying groceries, climbing stairs, walking the dog, folding laundry, standing up from your desk, or simply taking the long way around.

    In this episode of 1,000 Waking Minutes, Dr. Wendy Bazilian explores the surprising science behind NEAT, or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, the everyday movement that occurs outside of structured exercise. While many people focus on workouts, research suggests that the cumulative effect of daily movement may play an important role in energy expenditure, metabolic health, cognitive performance, mood, sleep, and even longevity.

    Wendy shares the fascinating story of a client who transformed her relationship with movement by learning to recognize and value the activity already built into her day. She also unpacks one of the most memorable studies in health psychology, where hotel housekeepers experienced measurable improvements in health simply by understanding that their physically demanding work counted as exercise.

    Along the way, you'll learn why fidgeting may be more meaningful than you think, how short movement breaks can support mental sharpness and mood, and why sitting for long periods may undermine health even when regular workouts are part of the routine.

    This episode also includes a guided Mindful Minute and practical strategies to help you increase movement naturally throughout the day without adding another item to your to-do list.

    The takeaway? Movement is not something reserved for a scheduled workout. It's something we live. And every step, stretch, carry, climb, and pause is an opportunity to invest in your health throughout your 1,000 waking minutes.

    CHAPTERS:

    (00:00) A Quiet Rebellion Against Sitting

    (4:03) What Is NEAT? Understanding Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis

    (7:43) The Busy Mom Who Changed Her Mindset About Exercise

    (12:39) The Hotel Housekeeper Study and the Power of Perception

    (2139) Your Body Is Paying Attention All Day

    (25:53) The Surprising Power of Fidgeting and Movement Breaks

    (31:06) Mindful Minute

    (34:54) Practical Ways to Move More Without Adding a Workout

    (39:47) Movement Is a Life Skill

    CONNECT WITH WENDY:

    Follow me on Instagram: @1000WakingMinutes

    Visit my website: wendybazilian.com

    Email me topics you want covered on the podcast: 1KWM@wendybazilian.com

    PLEASE SUPPORT:

    If you’re enjoying 1,000 Waking Minutes, help us grow!

    ● Subscribe to get new episodes as soon as they drop.

    ● Rate & Review the show. Your feedback helps others find the podcast.

    ● Comment & Join the conversation! Share your thoughts or questions by visiting wendybazilian.com or connecting with me on social media.

    Thank you for tuning in to 1,000 Waking Minutes and being part of this journey–together. A huge thank you to our amazing collaborators including our production and marketing teams and Gabriela Escalante in particular. To the ultra-talented Beza for my theme music, my lifelong friend and artist Pearl Preis Photography and Design, to Danielle Ballantyne, Jen Nguyen, Joanna Powell, and of course, my family and everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes.

    HEALTH DISCLAIMER:

    The information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered individual medical or health advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or medical treatment.
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    51 mins
  • 53 - Time, Friendship, and Being Present: A Conversation with Lori Schulweiss and Jenn Giamo

    53 - Time, Friendship, and Being Present: A Conversation with Lori Schulweiss and Jenn Giamo
    May 28 2026
    In this special guest episode of 1,000 Waking Minutes, Dr. Wendy Bazilian is joined by Lori Schulweiss and Jenn Giamo, the voices behind the podcast Everybody Talks, for a candid, funny, thoughtful conversation about time, friendship, stress, wellness, aging, work, movement, dogs, joy, and the challenge of being truly present while living modern life.Together, they explore what it means to spend our waking minutes well, from perfectionism and productivity to family, seasons of life, grief, movement, mindfulness, and the small everyday moments that quietly shape us.The conversation moves from Central Park cherry blossoms and dogs living fully in the moment… to the pressure to constantly “do,” the realization that time moves quickly, and the growing desire to slow down enough to actually experience life while we’re living it.This episode feels less like an interview and more like sitting at the table with friends sharing honest reflections about work, life, identity, aging, joy, and what really matters.Lori Schulweiss is a longtime television producer with Live with Kelly and Mark and co-host of Everybody Talks. Jenn Giamo is a wellness professional, certified trainer, yoga instructor, and co-host of Everybody Talks.WE DISCUSS:WE DISCUSS:(00:00) Why this conversation felt like the right first guest episode for 1,000 Waking Minutes(6:35) When work and personal life blur together in wellness, media, and modern life(17:19) Central Park, cherry blossoms, seasons, and the beauty of fleeting moments(31:09) Aging, perspective, friendship, grief, and realizing how quickly time moves(44:16) Productivity, perfectionism, and the pressure to optimize every minute(56:45) Dogs, joy, movement, mental health, and living more fully in the present(58:44) Looking up, slowing down, and appreciating the life unfolding around usYou can find Lori Schulweiss and Jenn Giamo at Everybody Talks and at EBT Podcast on YouTube.Thank you for spending a few of your waking minutes with us today.CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS:Lori Schulweiss and Jenn Giamo are the co-hosts of the wellness and lifestyle podcast Everybody Talks, where they explore health, mindset, relationships, aging, movement, and the everyday realities of trying to live well in modern life with honesty, humor, and heart.Follow Everybody Talks: Instagram: @every.body.talks https://www.instagram.com/every.body.talksYouTube: @EBTPodcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpVyhC-3qrhDWJ8wJleOjQPodcast: Every. Body. Talks.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/every-body-talks/id1697412102Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0n0tLPoheixkz8axq1zgdb?si=0dNp1FaWRm2lqDKUfKHLOg&nd=1&dlsi=c2971f182ef942f2Website: https://www.everybodytalkspodcast.com/ CONNECT WITH WENDY:Follow me on Instagram: @1000WakingMinutesVisit my website: wendybazilian.comEmail me topics you want covered on the podcast: 1KWM@wendybazilian.comPLEASE SUPPORT:If you’re enjoying 1,000 Waking Minutes, help us grow!· Subscribe to get new episodes as soon as they drop.· Rate & Review the show. Your feedback helps others find the podcast.· Comment & Join the conversation! Share your thoughts or questions by visiting wendybazilian.com or connecting with me on social media.Thank you for tuning in to 1,000 Waking Minutes and being part of this journey–together. A huge thank you to our amazing collaborators including our production and marketing teams and Gabriela Escalante in particular. To the ultra-talented Beza for my theme music, my lifelong friend and artist Pearl Preis Photography and Design, to Danielle Ballantyne, Jen Nguyen, Joanna Powell, and of course, my family and everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes.HEALTH DISCLAIMER:The information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered individual medical or health advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or medical treatment.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 52 - Science You Can Use: These 3 Daily Habits May Be Shaping Your Brain More Than You Think

    52 - Science You Can Use: These 3 Daily Habits May Be Shaping Your Brain More Than You Think
    May 6 2026
    What if the smallest, most familiar parts of your day are quietly shaping your brain?In this Science You Can Use episode of 1,000 Waking Minutes, Dr. Wendy Bazilian explores three fascinating studies that follow people over decades, scan the brain in real time, and track everyday habits most of us barely think about.From coffee and tea to fast, reactive movement like ping pong… to simply listening to music, this episode reveals how ordinary patterns—repeated over time—may influence memory, cognitive resilience, and how the brain adapts as we age.What makes this research so compelling is not what it asks you to add—but what it helps you see more clearly.Because these aren’t extreme interventions or dramatic overhauls.They’re already part of your day.This episode connects the science to real life—offering practical, thoughtful ways to engage with your routines differently, and perhaps more intentionally.A few sips. A few minutes of play. A song in the background.Over time, those moments may be doing more than passing time - they may be shaping how you think, feel, and remember.WE DISCUSS:(00:00) Intro: The unnoticed moments shaping your brain(8:03) Eat Well: Coffee, tea, and a 40-year look at memory and dementia risk(13:49) Why consistency - not intensity - matters in daily nutrition habits(14:37) Move Daily: What ping pong reveals about brain wiring, speed, and adaptability(21:02) Open-skill movement and why reaction-based activity engages the brain differently(25:44) Be Healthy: Music, memory, and a 39% lower risk of cognitive decline(36:02) Designing your day: how environment, rhythm, and “pastimes” shape your brain over time(37:13) The power of small, repeated choices across your 1,000 waking minutesCONNECT WITH WENDY:Follow me on Instagram: @1000WakingMinutesVisit my website: wendybazilian.comEmail me topics you want covered on the podcast: 1KWM@wendybazilian.comPLEASE SUPPORT:If you’re enjoying 1,000 Waking Minutes, help us grow!● Subscribe to get new episodes as soon as they drop.● Rate & Review the show. Your feedback helps others find the podcast.● Comment & Join the conversation! Share your thoughts or questions by visiting wendybazilian.com or connecting with me on social media.Thank you for tuning in to 1,000 Waking Minutes and being part of this journey–together. A huge thank you to our amazing collaborators including our production and marketing teams and Gabriela Escalante in particular. To the ultra-talented Beza for my theme music, my lifelong friend and artist Pearl Preis Photography and Design, to Danielle Ballantyne, Jen Nguyen, Joanna Powell, and of course, my family and everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes.HEALTH DISCLAIMER:The information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered individual medical or health advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or medical treatment.RESEARCH & REFERENCES(Insert your APA references here — happy to format once you confirm which studies you want listed exactly from transcript)Coffee & Tea Study (JAMA)Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Li, Y., et al. (2026). Coffee and tea intake, dementia risk, and cognitive function. JAMA, 335(11), 961–974. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.27259Optional refinement if you want full author listing (APA allows up to 20 authors before “et al.”): I can expand this if needed.Table Tennis / Brain Connectivity StudyZheng, C., Cao, Y., Li, Y., Ye, Z., Jia, X., Li, M., Yu, Y., & Liu, W. (2024). Long-term table tennis training alters dynamic functional connectivity and white matter microstructure in large-scale brain regions. Brain Research, 1838, 148889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148889Music & Dementia StudyJaffa, E., Wu, Z., Owen, A., Phyo, A. A. Z., Woods, R. L., Orchard, S. G., Chong, T. T.-J., Shah, R. C., Murray, A., & Ryan, J. (2025). What is the association between music-related leisure activities and dementia risk? A cohort study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 40(10), e70163. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70163
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    43 mins
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