How many carbohydrates does an endurance athlete really need—and when does more stop being better?

In this episode, molecular biologist and high-performance coach Claudia Garbutt talks with Aaron Gouw, PhD, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Carbs Fuel. Aaron explains why fat and carbohydrate are always contributing together, what actually happens when an athlete bonks, why upper-end carbohydrate targets are not universal and how athletes can build a fueling strategy without destroying their gut or budget.

They also explore fasted training, low energy availability, differences between women and men, and what Aaron learned while turning a kitchen experiment into a growing sports-nutrition company.

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• How many carbohydrates athletes need at different intensities and durations
• Why bonking happens and how to train the gut for race-day fueling
• When deliberate restriction becomes harmful underfueling

Aaron Gouw, PhD, is a lifelong endurance athlete and the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Carbs Fuel. While completing his PhD in Human Bioenergetics, Aaron developed the company's original 50-gram carbohydrate gel after co-founder Gabe Multer challenged him to make endurance fueling simpler, more carbohydrate-dense and more affordable.

Carbs Fuel now offers several gel formats and other sports-nutrition products. This conversation is educational only and does not replace individualized medical or sports-nutrition advice.

Carbs Fuel: https://carbsfuel.com/

Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gouwaaron

Wired For Success: https://wiredforsuccess.solutions/blog/

Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)
Disclaimer: Podcast episodes might contain sponsored content.

EPISODE SUMMARY

The qualities that help founders move fast, tolerate risk and pursue opportunities can also become liabilities under pressure. In this episode, psychiatrist, researcher and serial entrepreneur Michael A. Freeman joins Claudia to unpack the founder mental-health paradox: what the research really shows, when persistence becomes dangerous and how to catch warning signs before the founder—or the business—hits a wall.

WE TALKED ABOUT

• Why founder strengths can become hidden risks

• When persistence stops being productive

• How to spot and protect against mental-health warning signs

EPISODE NOTES

Michael A. Freeman, M.D. is a psychiatrist, researcher and serial entrepreneur who studies mental health, wellbeing and performance among business builders. He and his colleagues at Econa developed the Entrepreneur Well-being Check, a brief screening tool designed specifically for entrepreneurs. Michael has also served as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at U.C. San Francisco, founding Chief Medical Officer of United Behavioral Health, President of the Institute for Behavioral Healthcare and a mental-health team member of the White House Task Force on Health Care Reform.

This conversation is educational and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental-health care. If emotional symptoms are affecting your wellbeing, performance or relationships, please seek appropriate professional support.

LINKS

Econa: https://www.econa.net/

FounderScreen resources: https://founderscreen.org/resources

Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfreemanmd

Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and, if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review: https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Disclaimer: Podcast episodes might contain sponsored content.

What if your underwear could track changes in your reproductive health? Fibra founder Parnian Majd is developing smart textiles designed to collect continuous biological signals through something as ordinary as the clothes we wear.

We explore what Fibra's sensors measure directly, what its AI attempts to infer, and why more data does not automatically mean better health decisions. Parnian also shares how her experience with PCOS shaped the company, what it takes to create an entirely new product category, and why convincing investors can be harder than convincing the women who experience the problem.

• Turning underwear into a reproductive-health wearable

• Measuring the biomarkers other wearables miss

• Building a new category in women's health

Parnian Majd, B.Eng, M.Eng, is a biomedical engineer and the Founder & CEO of Fibra, a women's-health technology company developing smart-textile underwear for continuous reproductive-health monitoring and personalized insights. Her own experience with PCOS helped motivate her to build a wearable focused specifically on reproductive physiology.

• Fibra: https://myfibra.com/

• Parnian Majd on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/parnian-majd-b-eng-m-eng-84672b16a

• Fibra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myfibra/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfibra/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myfibra

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyFibra

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Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review:

https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

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Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

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Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.

We have more health data than ever — from wearables and biomarkers to genetics and AI. But does more data actually help us make better decisions?

I sit down with computer scientist, former IBM researcher and EVER Health founder Reiner Kraft, Ph.D., to explore the promise and limitations of AI-powered personalized health: what we can really learn from biomarkers, why an individualized recommendation can still be wrong, and where human expertise remains essential.

We also get into health optimization, behavior change, supplementation and the danger of turning our health into another full-time job. Because perhaps the best technology isn't the one that gives us the most data — but the one that helps us figure out what actually deserves our attention.

… Where AI helps — and where humans still matter

… When more health data doesn't mean better answers

… How to optimize your health without obsessing over it

Reiner Kraft, Ph.D., is a computer scientist, former Silicon Valley technology executive, researcher and inventor with more than 120 registered US patents. After more than two decades in technology, including roles at IBM Research, Yahoo and Zalando, he turned his systems-thinking approach toward personalized health, prevention and human performance.

Today, Reiner is the founder of EVER Health and Epigenetik-Praxis, where he applies a data-driven approach to helping people better understand and manage their health. His work explores how biomarkers, lifestyle data and AI can be combined with human expertise to create more personalized health decisions.

EVER Precision:
precision.everhealth.ai/en/

EVER app:
everhealth.ai/app

LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/reiner

Instagram:
@reinerkraftphd

Reiner's podcast:
Listen on Spotify

Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review:

linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Disclaimer: Podcast episodes might contain sponsored content.

EPISODE SUMMARY

What if the reason some leaders inspire people isn't because they have the perfect vision, the strongest personality, or the best communication skills?

What if it starts somewhere much quieter?

In this conversation, Dr. Yosi Amram explores a powerful contradiction: the leaders who are most capable of changing the world are not the ones constantly chasing external validation—they are the ones who have learned how to reconnect with themselves.

Because before you can build a movement, lead a team, or create something meaningful, there is a deeper question to answer:

Are you building from a place of inner alignment—or are you running on ambition alone?

WE TALKED ABOUT

… Why leadership is an "inside job"

… Why the same qualities that create exceptional leaders also create stronger relationships at home

… Why spiritual intelligence has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with meaning, connection and how you show up

EPISODE NOTES

Yosi Amram, PhD, is a distinguished psychologist, an executive coach catering to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other influential leaders, and a pioneer researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence. Holding an MBA from Harvard University and a PhD from Sofia University in Clinical Transpersonal Psychology, Dr. Amram is committed to enabling individuals to unlock their boundless potential through spiritual intelligence, which is a profound connection to the core of one's existence – their spirit, where inspiration and their deepest interconnectedness reside – that enriches their overall functioning, improves their effectiveness, and enhances their wellbeing.

Dr. Amram is also the author of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired, which offers a compelling roadmap that equips leaders with the means to connect with the true source of their authentic power and presence deep within themselves.

Links:

https://yosiamram.net/

Offering a 20-min survey and for personalized couples report — plus a chance to claim a free 1-hour coaching session (first 12 couples only). Visit yosiamram.net.

linkedin.com/in/yosiamram/y/

https://www.facebook.com/yosi.amram.7

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Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review:

https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

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Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

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Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.

EPISODE SUMMARY

What if the biggest threat to your business isn't your competition—but one decision you're making today without realizing the consequences?

In this episode, business attorney Matthew Fornaro shares what twenty years of working with entrepreneurs has taught him about lawsuits, partnerships, contracts, and the hidden patterns that separate thriving companies from expensive cautionary tales.

If you're building a business, this conversation could save you years of headaches—and a lot of money.

WE TALKED ABOUT

… The most expensive mistake entrepreneurs don't know they're making

… How NOT to ruin your friendships in business

… The legal investment every entrepreneur delays—and regrets

EPISODE NOTES

Matthew Fornaro provides practical, strategic legal guidance for businesses across South Florida. With over 20 years of experience, he helps entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies manage contracts, disputes, and risk—clearly and efficiently.

Links:

https://fornarolegal.com/

LinkedIn.com/in/MatthewFornaro

Instagram.com/Fornaro_Legal

Facebook.com/FornaroLegal

Tiktok.com/@FornaroLegal

X.com/FornaroLegal

LinkedIn.com/Company/16239137/

Bit.ly/FornaroLegal

Youtube.com/@MatthewFornarop.a.7953

MFornaro@FornaroLegal.com

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Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review:

https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

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Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

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Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.

EPISODE SUMMARY

What if your saliva could predict your brain health, stress resilience, and even your future risk of dementia?

In this episode, neuroscientist and biotech entrepreneur Dr. Lavinia Alberi reveals how the future of healthcare is shifting from reactive medicine to real-time precision diagnostics — and why so many ambitious entrepreneurs are unknowingly damaging their cognitive performance in the pursuit of success.

We explore the hidden neurological cost of hustle culture, the science of cognitive resilience, and how to build a million-dollar life without sacrificing your brain, body, or relationships.

WE TALKED ABOUT

… Why dementia may begin decades before the first forgotten name

… Neuroscience-based high-performance habits

… Why your saliva may reveal more about your health than you think

EPISODE NOTES

Dr. Lavinia Alberi is a neuroscientist and biotech entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience decoding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and dementia. Building on a distinguished academic career — including leadership roles at Johns Hopkins University, Heidelberg University, University of Fribourg, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) — she has translated deep scientific insights into innovations advancing precision health, preventive medicine, and therapeutic strategies.

As founder and CEO of multiple biotech ventures, including VitalizeDx, Dr. Alberi focuses on salivary biometrics and fluid diagnostics as accessible, non-invasive tools to transform brain health, performance, and disease prevention. Her mission is to leverage cutting-edge science into actionable solutions for athletes, patients, and society at large by strengthening:

• Cognitive resilience and brain health

• Muscular reserve and physical performance

• Immune and metabolic potency

Dr. Alberi has raised and managed multimillion-euro research projects, contributed to more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, and holds several patents in precision diagnostics and performance monitoring. In parallel, she serves on scientific and industry boards, including the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative, 5IronmenBeatAlzheimer's, and Chronic Infection Foundation, while actively advocating for democratizing access to precision health.

Her vision is to help build a future without sporadic dementia by uniting biotechnology, performance science, and preventive strategies into scalable, high-impact innovations.

Links:

https://vitalizedx.ch/

https://www.5ironmansbeatalzheimer.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberiauber-lavinia/

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Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review:

https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

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Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

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Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Professional athlete. BigLaw partner. Entrepreneur.

Most people spend their lives trying to become one of those things.

Dr. Angela Kerek became all three.

In this conversation, we unpack the surprising lessons she learned about performance, identity, reinvention, and sustainable success—and how those lessons led her to create ActiveGiving, a company turning movement into measurable impact.

This is a powerful conversation for founders, leaders, and ambitious professionals navigating their own next chapter.

We talked about...

• How Active Giving transforms movement into environmental action

• Lessons from transitioning out of multiple high-performance careers

• Why Success without self-awareness can become an endless chase

EPISODE NOTES

Dr Angela Kerek is Co-Founder of ActiveGiving, a performance and engagement platform that turns movement into measurable impact for people, organisations, and the planet.

She is a former professional tennis player, ex-BigLaw partner and finance lawyer, and now a mindset and performance coach for founders, executives, and leaders.

After 18 years advising on billion-euro transactions in high-pressure legal environments, Angela transitioned into entrepreneurship and coaching, integrating lessons from elite sport, law, and leadership.

Today, she helps high performers train mindset like a skill, navigate identity transitions, and build sustainable success without burnout. She is the author of Winning Inside and speaks globally on performance, leadership, reinvention, and sustainable high achievement.

LINKS

Website:

https://angelakerek.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelakerek/

Free resource:

https://angelakerek.com/makeithappenworkbook/

The Make It Happen Workbook is a free tool that helps high performers turn intention into action. It guides users to clarify priorities, overcome overthinking, and build simple, consistent steps toward sustainable performance without burnout.

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Click this link to listen on your favorite podcast player and if you enjoy the show, please leave a rating & review:

https://linktr.ee/wiredforsuccess

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Music credit: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

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Disclaimer: Podcast Episodes might contain sponsored content.