Episodes

  • Your Teen’s Phone Isn’t Neutral (It’s Rewiring Their Brain)

    Your Teen’s Phone Isn’t Neutral (It’s Rewiring Their Brain)
    Jan 23 2026
    Your teen’s smartphone isn’t just “screen time.” It’s an engineered attention trap, built around notifications, novelty, dopamine rewards, and endless scrolling, hitting a developing brain at the exact stage where impulse control, emotional regulation, and attention are still being wired. In this episode of The Weaponized Body Podcast, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down why modern smartphone use is not a neutral tool for adolescents (and honestly… adults too). If you’ve noticed homework taking forever, rising anxiety, bedtime doom-scrolling, irritability when the phone is removed, or constant distraction from notifications, this conversation will hit home. We dig into how social media validation loops, variable rewards (the “pocket slot machine”), and constant interruptions fragment focus and increase stress, while also fueling sleep disruption, mood issues, and even physical problems like “text neck” and posture strain. Then we shift into practical solutions: simple boundaries, phone rules, sleep protection, and real-life dopamine habits that help your family use technology intelligently, without living like the Amish. What You’ll Learn: → Why adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to smartphone addiction and social media loops → How notifications fragment attention and reduce frustration tolerance → The “pocket slot machine” effect: variable rewards and compulsive checking → Warning signs your teen’s phone use has crossed into a behavioral loop → How doomscrolling disrupts sleep quality, hormones, and recovery → Physical impacts: text neck, posture strain, headaches, and wrist/hand issues → Real-world risks: distracted driving and notification reflexes → “Phone armor” rules: notification shutdown, phone windows, bedroom boundaries → Building real dopamine: sports, sunlight, hobbies, face-to-face friendships → Practical parenting strategies: private accounts, audits, dopamine fasts, DND driving Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website The Weaponized Body Program Weaponized wellness HRT InstagramYouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • 5 Rules for Using Nicotine Without Getting Dependent

    5 Rules for Using Nicotine Without Getting Dependent
    Jan 15 2026
    Nicotine is one of the most misunderstood performance compounds on the planet. Most people hear “nicotine” and instantly think cigarettes, vaping, cancer, addiction—and they’re right to hate the delivery methods. But pure nicotine, isolated from smoke and combustion, has a very different story. In this episode of the Weaponize Body Podcast, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down nicotine as a cholinergic stimulant that interacts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, influencing dopamine, norepinephrine (adrenaline), and acetylcholine signaling. Translation: nicotine can enhance focus, motivation, reaction time, alertness, and cognitive output—why high-performance professionals (athletes, pilots, surgeons, executives) have used it as a tool for decades. But there’s a line you don’t want to cross. Nicotine can raise heart rate and blood pressure, disrupt sleep quality, blunt parasympathetic recovery, and create tolerance/dependency if you use it wrong. We’ll cover the pros, the cons, what research suggests about potential neuroprotection (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, depression), and the smarter alternatives—so you can build performance without wrecking recovery. What You’ll Learn / Highlights What nicotine actually does (dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine) Nicotine benefits for focus, working memory, motivation, reaction time The real risks: sleep disruption, dependency, tolerance, cardiovascular load How late-day nicotine impacts HRV, resting heart rate, deep sleep The “tool vs crutch” mindset (performance boost without lifestyle addiction) Why delivery method changes addictiveness (fast delivery = higher risk) What research is exploring: neuroprotection, therapeutic microdosing, cycling Safer long-term options: caffeine + L-theanine, Alpha GPC, creatine, sleep Signs you’re using nicotine wrong (burnout masking, irritability, “need it” feeling) Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Why You Quit After 3 Weeks (And How to Fix It in 2026)

    Why You Quit After 3 Weeks (And How to Fix It in 2026)
    Dec 30 2025
    If you set goals every New Year… and then forget them by February, this episode is for you. In this final Weaponize Body podcast of 2025, I’m breaking down the exact goal-setting system that helped me stop drifting, stop quitting, and start hitting targets year after year. This isn’t hype—this is a practical framework you can use to plan your best year in 2026across the 4 areas that actually control your life: body (fitness/health), being (faith/spirituality), balance (family/relationships), and business (money/finances). You’ll learn how to start with a Fact Map (where you are right now), choose goals that actually excite you using reasonable / radical / ridiculous targets, and then chunk it back into quarterly missions so you don’t crash after the first few weeks. The real secret? Weekly review. If you don’t review it, you drift back to your default. This episode gives you a step-by-step way to build better behaviors, raise your standards, and stay on track—without needing motivation to carry you. What You’ll Learn / Highlights How to build a Fact Map so your goals start from reality (not vibes) The 4 core categories: Body, Being, Balance, Business What to write under “facts” for fitness, faith, family, and finances How to identify top 4 things working vs not working in each category How to choose 4 key adjustments that move the needle fast The reasonable / radical / ridiculous method to pick goals that stretch you How to chunk back yearly goals into Q1 quarterly missions The “Start / Stop / Sustain” behavior list that prevents quitting Why weekly review (Sunday reset) is the difference-maker for consistency Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 mins
  • TRT: The Complete Guide (Labs, Dosing & What Doctors Miss)

    TRT: The Complete Guide (Labs, Dosing & What Doctors Miss)
    Dec 18 2025
    Confused about Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)—or already on it and not feeling right? In this complete guide, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down when TRT makes sense, when it doesn’t, and why most TRT problems come from poor management—not testosterone. What You’ll Learn / Highlights (3–7 bullets) The 2 types of low T (primary vs. secondary) and how they show up on labs Why “testosterone crashes with age” is often a metabolic + lifestyle issue The bloodwork most men aren’t getting (and what it should include) The real risks of cookie-cutter TRT clinic protocols How TRT can impact lipids, blood pressure, hematocrit/hemoglobin (and common mistakes) Why crushing estrogen with aromatase inhibitors can backfire The truth about TRT + fertility and what to consider first A practical “6-month effort” framework before jumping on TRT (for many men) Educational content only. Not medical advice—talk to a qualified clinician for personal care. Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • Victim Mentality Is Killing Men: Here’s How to Break It

    Victim Mentality Is Killing Men: Here’s How to Break It
    Dec 11 2025
    Is victim mentality quietly wrecking your health, marriage, or business? In this episode, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down how victim thinking weakens men and women—and how radical personal responsibility can weaponize your body, mind, and spirit. If you’re tired of feeling stuck and repeating the same patterns, this is your wake-up call on victim mentality and personal responsibility. What You’ll Learn / Highlights The real definition of victim mentality (and why it’s way more subtle than crying in a corner) The everyday excuses—“I’m too busy,” “no one gets my situation,” “I don’t have support”—that are secretly destroying your progress How Dr. Ryan’s own injuries, business struggles, and near-divorce exposed his victim mindset The 6 core principles of personal responsibility that can transform your health, emotions, relationships, and money Why your emotions, your health, and your results are 100% your responsibility The difference between a renter’s mentality and an owner’s mentality in business and life How raising your standards and discipline creates more freedom than any quick fix or “perfect conditions” ever will Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • This Number Predicts Burnout Before You Feel It

    This Number Predicts Burnout Before You Feel It
    Dec 4 2025
    Training hard but still feeling cooked? In this episode, we break down heart rate variability (HRV) so you can stop guessing your recovery and actually see what your nervous system is telling you. If you’re a CEO, athlete, or high performer who pushes the limits, this is your blueprint for staying out of burnout and keeping your body “hard to kill.” What You’ll Learn / Highlights What HRV (heart rate variability) really measures and why it’s your nervous system’s “Wi-Fi signal” for stress and recovery. The difference between high vs. low HRV and how it predicts performance, injury risk, and burnout before you feel it. How to use morning HRV as a daily readiness score to adjust training intensity and workload. The lifestyle choices that tank HRV: poor sleep, alcohol, overtraining, under-fueling, emotional stress, late-night eating, travel, and more. The habits that boost HRV: high-quality sleep, breathwork, zone 2 cardio, strength training, sauna, sunlight, hydration/electrolytes, meditation, and micro-breaks. How illness, inflammation, aging, and women’s menstrual cycles affect HRV—and what “weird” spikes or drops can mean. Why relying on “how you feel” is misleading, and how to combine HRV, resting heart rate, VO2 max, and muscle strength to build a truly resilient body. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • The Lie You’ve Been Told About Peptides and “Quick Fix” Weight Loss

    The Lie You’ve Been Told About Peptides and “Quick Fix” Weight Loss
    Nov 26 2025
    Peptides are being called the future of modern healthcare—but most people are using them blindly. In this conversation with Dr. Lori Gerber, we break down how peptide therapy really works, who it’s for, and how to use it safely for performance, fat loss, brain health, hormones, and more. If you’ve been curious (or confused) about peptides, GLP-1s, BPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c and beyond…this is your deep dive. What You’ll Learn / Highlights The simple explanation of what peptides are and how they act as “light switches” in your body Why most primary care doctors aren’t talking about peptides (and what that means for your health) The best peptides for brain and cognitive performance: post-concussion, ADHD, anxiety, brain fog How Dr. Lori uses growth hormone secretagogues (CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin) for fat loss, muscle, sleep, and recovery GLP-1s vs Tirzepatide: who should use which, realistic weight loss expectations, and how to prevent nasty side effects Peptides for libido and sexual health: PT-141, oxytocin, kisspeptin and when to use them instead of (or before) hormones Thymosin alpha-1, TB-500, LL-37 and their role in immune health, long-haul issues, mold, Lyme & chronic inflammation Copper peptides, GHK-Cu, Epitalon/Epithalon and the skin, hair, and anti-aging side of peptide therapy The gut-healing stack: BPC-157, GLP-1 microdosing, MOTS-c and mitochondrial support The exact labs Dr. Lori runs before and during peptide protocols (IGF-1, thyroid, cytokines, metabolic markers & more) How to source peptides safely, avoid “research only” scams, and why sterile compounding matters Where clinicians can learn peptide therapy in a structured, case-based way Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Stay Weaponized: How To Stay On Track During The Holidays

    Stay Weaponized: How To Stay On Track During The Holidays
    Nov 20 2025
    Staying on track through the holidays isn’t about perfection — it’s about standards, intention, and a plan.In this Weaponize Body episode, Dr. Ryan Hewitt breaks down exactly how to stay fit, lean, and weaponized through the holidays without living like a monk.If you want to enjoy the food, the drinks, the travel and still feel dangerous on January 1st, this is for you. What You’ll Learn / Highlights Why the holidays quietly destroy your fitness, sleep, and discipline — and how to stop the slide before it starts The “standards” mindset: how weaponized people think about routines, slip-ups, and getting back on track fast The non-negotiable holiday workout rule (and how short/travel workouts still “count”) Strategic eating: how to pick your spots, consolidate meals, and avoid the all-or-nothing binge mindset A simple alcohol playbook: dessert or drinks, 2–3 drink max, and the 3-hour cutoff that saves your sleep Why protein, hydration, and post-meal walks are your secret metabolic weapons during the holidays Sleep tactics for parties and travel so you don’t start January feeling like a toxic waste dump How to avoid mindless grazing, leftover traps, and stress-eating while still enjoying friends and family The “minimum effective dose” workout you can do on the days you feel wrecked but still want to keep your identity as someone who trains Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: Dr. Ryan Hewitt Website: https://www.drryanhewitt.com/ The Weaponized Body Program: https://www.theweaponizedbody.com/ Weaponized wellness HRT: https://www.weaponizedwellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweaponizeddad/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theweaponizedbody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins