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Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

By: Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
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The bar for human performance is higher than it’s ever been. As a result, we all feel the need to do MORE. At the same time, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of sleep, rest, recovery, and wellness. Accordingly, we also feel the need to do LESS. If you’re like most people, it can be challenging to reconcile this conflict of feeling the need to do MORE and LESS simultaneously, and that is likely contributing to high rates of burnout and decreased performance. So how do we reconcile these seemingly competing desires? That is where Human Optimization comes in. Human Optimization is the process of achieving more (however you define that for yourself) while simultaneously improving your wellness and well-being. Although it’s not easy, it’s certainly possible. Not only is it possible, but it is becoming increasingly essential. In this Mayo Clinic Talks Mini-Series, we are going to dive into the topic of Human Optimization and will focus on a few key areas including: exercise, nutrition, culture, emotional intelligence, and finding joy in all you do.

Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at:
https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize
X: @MayoHumanOpProj
Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj
YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube
Email: optimize@mayo.edu

Listening is free and no CME Credit is available for this series.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • E56 How to Get More Mileage from Your Brain

    E56 How to Get More Mileage from Your Brain
    Mar 25 2026

    Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

    Guest: Amit Sood, MD MS FACP, CEO - Global Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing | Fellow, Atria Health and Research Institute | Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Thrive Global | Industrial Fellow, U.C. Berkeley | Professor of Medicine (Retd.), Mayo Clinic

    How often do you feel that your brain is functioning at its highest level? If you are like most of us, it’s not as often as you would like. Given the high-pressure world we live in, it’s critical for us to ensure our brain is firing on all cylinders, as often as possible. To make that happen, we need to help our brains be more efficient. Just like mileage on a car, we want to optimize the mileage we get out of our brains. To help us do that, our expert guest today is Dr. Amit Sood, the creator of the Resilient Option program and executive director of the Global Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing. The three questions he is going to walk us through are: 1. What does it mean to "get more mileage" out of our brain, and why are we currently so inefficient? 2. Why is it so hard to stay in "Focused Mode" as our brain tries to pull us towards distraction? 3. What is the solution and what are the specific steps we can take to get the most out of our brains? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. The podcast defines "getting more mileage out of your brain" as accumulating more experience, learning, insights, and making a difference, rather than just increasing intelligence. How does this broader definition of "brain mileage" resonate with your personal goals for growth and impact? 2. Dr. Sood states that our biggest challenge is our "inability to influence our attention and emotions." In what specific areas of your life do you feel this lack of influence most acutely? 3. The discussion highlights that we spend 60-80% of our time in the "default/automatic mode," which is linked to unhappiness and anxiety. What are some common triggers that pull you into this default mode? 4. The podcast explains that our negativity bias, while once crucial for survival, now often protects our "emotional body." What emotional "threats" do you find yourself constantly guarding against? 5. The concept of "willpower depletion" is linked to poor sleep, nutrition, and lack of exercise. How do your daily lifestyle choices impact your ability to exercise self-control and stay in a focused, intentional mode? 6. Dr. Sood suggests that overthinking occurs when "thinking is happening to you" rather than you choosing your thoughts. What strategies do you currently use, or could you commit to trying this week, to regain control and choose your thoughts more intentionally? 7. The "rum" analogy (Rest, Uplifting emotions, Motivation) is presented as a way to be kind to your mind. Which of these three elements do you find most challenging to incorporate into your daily routine, and why? 8. The podcast suggests that progress in brain optimization can be measured by feeling lighter, less cynical, and experiencing deeper connections. What specific indicators would signal to you that you are successfully "getting more mileage out of your brain"? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: optimize@mayo.edu
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    54 mins
  • Tomorrow's Cure - 3D Bioprinted Skin: Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine

    Tomorrow's Cure - 3D Bioprinted Skin: Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine
    Mar 18 2026

    Host: Cathy Wurzer

    Guest: Dermatologist and regenerative medicine expert Dr. Saranya Wyles of Mayo Clinic and biomedical engineer Dr. Adam Feinberg of Carnegie Mellon University

    Today, we are sharing an episode from our sister podcast Tomorrow’s Cure. Produced by our Mayo Clinic colleagues, this chart-topping and Ambie Award-finalist podcast explores the future of medicine – from the rise of chronic disease and autoimmune disorders to new research revealing how early immune changes can develop into certain types of leukemia.

    In this particular episode, you’ll hear from dermatologist and regenerative medicine expert Dr. Saranya Wyles of Mayo Clinic and biomedical engineer Dr. Adam Feinberg of Carnegie Mellon University about “SkinSpan” and the fast-moving world of 3D bioprinted skin. They explore how layered, living skin models built from human cells and collagen are helping researchers study conditions like eczema, chronic wounds, burns, and age-related changes in skin structure and pigment.

    You listen to other episodes of Tomorrow’s Cure here: https://play.megaphone.fm/3qwbajhmswc0jz1xfy7dbg

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    41 mins
  • E55 Overcoming Self Doubt and Imposter Syndrome

    E55 Overcoming Self Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
    Mar 11 2026

    Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

    Guest: Cade Cowan, Managing Partner | Executive Development Consulting – Atlanta, GA

    If you’ve ever experienced self-doubt, felt like you didn’t have what it takes, or were fearful of being “found out”, this episode is for you. We have all had the unfortunate experience of improperly doubting ourselves and our abilities to the extent that they had a negative impact on how we feel about ourselves and diminished our performance. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome can be paralyzing, but life is too short for us to live with constant fear and doubt about our abilities. Our expert guest here to help us with this is author and executive consultant, Cade Cowan. The three big questions Cade is going to walk us through are: 1. What exactly is “imposter syndrome”? What are the downsides? 2. How common is self-doubt and how can we tell if it’s impacting us? 3. What steps can we take to overcome imposter syndrome and develop healthy confidence to become our best selves? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1. The podcast distinguishes between imposter syndrome (high competence, low confidence) and low self-confidence (global lack of belief in ability). Think about a time when you experienced one versus the other. How did your actions or feelings differ in those situations? 2. Cade mentions the Dunning-Kruger effect as the opposite of imposter syndrome (low competence, high confidence). How might recognizing both imposter syndrome and the Dunning-Kruger effect help us achieve a more balanced and realistic self-assessment? 3. The discussion highlights the "cycle of imposter syndrome" – a trigger event leading to anxiety, overwork or procrastination, success, and then explaining that success away. Think about a time when you experienced this cycle. What was the most challenging aspect for you? 4. The speakers discuss how environmental factors, such as work culture or societal pressures (like social media's "highlight reels"), can exacerbate imposter syndrome. What specific aspects of your current environment might be contributing to feelings of self-doubt? What is one way you might address this? 5. Cade shares a personal story about presenting to a CEO at 28, realizing he should "stay in his zone of expertise." Consider your own "zone of expertise." What helps you feel comfortable sharing what you don't know in professional or personal settings? 6. The idea of "confident humility" is introduced, emphasizing the ability to say "I don't know" while still being confident in one's ability to learn. How can you practice this balance in your daily interactions? 7. The podcast suggests that imposter syndrome is a "universal experience" and that "everybody else is doing it." How does knowing this change how you interact with others who might be experiencing imposter syndrome? 8. Cade shares his "keepers file" of positive emails and notes. What is one tangible way you could start collecting and revisiting evidence of your own successes and positive impact to combat imposter syndrome? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: optimize@mayo.edu
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    58 mins
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