September 19, 2026 • 53 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following is a paid podcast. iHeartRadio's hosting of this
podcast constitutes neither an endorsement of the products offered or
the ideas expressed.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to A Moment of Zen. Time to sit back
and relax as model, actress, mentor, and supermom Zen Sams
takes you on a sexy and wild ride covering the
latest in film, fashion, pop culture, cryptocurrency, fintech, cannabis, and
entertainment from the millennial mom's perspective. Here's your host, Zen Sams.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
We have another incredible show lined up for you tonight,
so let's get right into it. First up, In Beyond
the Signal series brought to you by Lila Quantum Tech,
we're joined by Aaron Alexander, bestselling author of The Align
(00:53):
Method and host of The Align Podcast. Our headliner is
your nervous system being hijacked. And of course, our topic,
the invisible signals keeping your body stressed and how to
take back control. Then in the Legacy Blueprint series brought
to you by ProVest Innovative Wealth Strategies, I'm joined by
series founder and co-contributor Michael D'Antonio alongside Anthony de la Ventura,
(01:17):
founder of Deluxe Fitness and Nutrition, former FDNY firefighter and
retired professional bodybuilder. We're going to be chatting about the
Ozempic exit plan. Your body is part of the estate.
And our topic, well, very fitting. Health is wealth, building
the nutrition, strength, and discipline that outlasts the shot. Next,
(01:39):
in our Better Brighter You series brought to you by Cispera,
we're joined by Dr. Corey Hartman, board-certified dermatologist, founder and
medical director of Skin Wellness Dermatology, and nationally recognized expert
in treating all skin types. We're going to be breaking
down hyperpigmentation and melasma, why more aggressive doesn't always mean better,
and how smarter topicals inside out skin health and even
(02:02):
some of our everyday skincare habits may completely change the
way we approach pigmentation. And finally, in the Hydration with
Heart series brought to you by Once Upon a Coconut,
we're joined by Devin Kennedy, Princeton graduate professional basketball player,
former Orlando Magic Guard, and the first undrafted player to
earn NBA G League Finals MVP honors. Our headliner, run
(02:27):
your own race. The NBA comeback that refused to die.
And a very fitting topic. We're going to go beyond
the NBA dream. Devin Kennedy is going to talk to
us about resilience, recovery, fatherhood, and fueling the race that's
uniquely yours. Stay tuned. We'll be right back after this.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
A Moment of Zen is sponsored by Fintech TV.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Fintech TV, the newest streaming channel focused exclusively on the
business of blockchain, digital assets and sustainability. Broadcasting from our
studio on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
with daily reports from NASDAQ, global expansion and 24-7 coverage.
Become part of the launch. Head to fintech.tv slash invest.
fintech.tv slash invest.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Tune in to a moment of Zen, Saturday nights from
9 to 10 p.m. on 710WOR, The Voice of New York.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
The Voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to Beyond the Signal series brought to you
by Lila Quantum Tech. We constantly talk about our phones
being hacked, our accounts being hacked. even algorithms hacking our attention.
(03:36):
But what if the system we should be paying closer
attention to is the one running inside our own bodies?
Is your nervous system being hijacked? That's the question. Modern
life is an extraordinary experiment in stimulation. Notifications, screens, artificial light,
work stress, poor sleep, constant connectivity, and then there's an
(03:56):
entire invisible electromagnetic environment surrounding us that most of us
rarely even think about. This is precisely where I think curiosity,
good science, and an open conversation belong. And my guest
today has spent two decades thinking about the body from
a very different perspective. Aaron Alexander is the bestselling author
of The Align Method and host of The Align Podcast.
(04:18):
It's a top 10 philosophy show generating more than 1
million monthly views. He spent two decades helping elite athletes
such as Lance Armstrong, Aaron Rodgers, and And performers like
Usher and even CEOs improve how they move, breathe, and
regulate their nervous systems. Aaron has also personally used Leela
Quantum Cube products, ranging from the heel capsule, just like
(04:39):
the one I'm wearing, and EMF-focused clothing to a Leela
Cube pet collar. I mean, we've got it all here.
So today... We're going beyond breathwork, which I did right
before this introduction, beyond posture and quite literally beyond the
signal to ask what is influencing our nervous system? What
can we control and how can we begin taking that
(05:01):
control back? Aaron, welcome to the show, superstar.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
All right. I want to talk about the hijacked nervous system.
So your work really starts with the idea that that
the body is constantly receiving information. And I think people
hear nervous system dysregulation everywhere right now without necessarily understanding
what it actually means. So our autonomic nervous system is
continuously adjusting things we don't consciously command, like our heart rate,
(05:29):
our blood pressure, digestion, and our physiological response to stress.
That is why heart rate variability, or HRV, what they call,
has become such a popular recovery metric. It gives us
a window into how adaptable that autonomic system may be.
But modern life can feel like we're asking that system
to process inputs all day long without ever fully switching off.
(05:52):
So Aaron, when you look at the average person today,
what is actually hijacking our nervous system? And what are
the earliest signs that somebody has been living in a
chronically dysregulated state for so long that they've started calling
it normal?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
Trauma.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
It's the thing that's originally hijacking a person's nervous system,
repressed emotions, feelings that they've repressed since they've been a
very young person. And it might be repressed from their
mother or their father, their mother's father, their father's father,
et cetera, all the way back. If you look at
the country as a whole, as the United States and
a lot of other westernized countries in general were rooted
(06:27):
in a pretty traumatizing upbringing and background, and life is
an opportunity to slowly unwind some of those impressions, which
is like a Sanskrit word, samskara, those impressions that we're
holding on to. Most people, especially men, they just need
to freaking cry. We need to be able to be
(06:48):
seen and felt and heard at a deeper level than
what we allow ourselves to be seen and felt and heard.
Many people carry a tremendous amount of weight on themselves
and they don't really know what to do with it.
I read a statistic yesterday, 727,000 suicides annually. So there's
a lot of people quietly suffering, feigning to be very strong,
(07:10):
feigning to be in control, feigning to have the right
Rolex or the right rented Lamborghini. I live in Miami.
And underneath the muscles, underneath the peptides, underneath the steroids,
underneath the boobs, underneath the butts, underneath all the chest
out confidence, all that stuff, say with your chest up
is a little boy and a little girl. And they
just want to be loved.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
That word normal is what gets me. I mean, because
we've normalized being exhausted but wired and scrolling until we
fall asleep and waking up and immediately reaching for a
phone and shallow breathing and tension in our shoulders and
then wondering why relaxation feels almost foreign. And that little
boy or little girl, to your point, never got to relax.
And I love your philosophy here because regulation isn't necessarily
(07:52):
something we have to buy. Before we get into any technology,
we have a nervous system that already comes with its
own tools. We're forgetting that, right?
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
So I want to talk about the reset button. Your
aligned breathing work, which I just experienced a small slither
of before backstage, essentially says your nervous system has a
reset button. Breathing is fascinating because it sits at this
intersection between the automatic and voluntary nervous system. We breathe
without thinking, but unlike our heartbeat, we can consciously change
(08:24):
the pattern.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
If somebody listening right now feels anxious, overstimulated, or completely fried,
what can changing the breath actually do to shift their physiology?
And what are most of us getting wrong about the
way we breathe?
Speaker 5 (08:40):
People over-breathe. People breathe too much and breathe too fast.
They breathe up into their chests. You've got vertical breathing,
if you want to put labels on it, versus horizontal breathing,
when you're breathing out more Lower ribs, really accessing, kind
of getting that breath. You start to bring your breath
out of the vertical and into the horizontal, into the
lower diaphragm. It'll make every system in your entire body
(09:03):
work more efficiently immediately. It's a huge deal. And it'll
also project to the world that you're safe. It'll also
project to yourself that you're safe. So you're always creating
a feedback loop. The way that we're communicating to each
other isn't through our words. That's a very small percentage
of our actual communication. The tone of how we communicate
our body language and how we express is actually how
(09:24):
the bulk of our communication to each other so if
i'm telling someone like it's okay baby you're safe i'm
talking to my child or whoever but i'm breathing in
a way that's stressed and panicked and short and up
into my upper chest i'm actually at a deeper level
telling that person i don't believe what i'm saying i
don't trust myself and in a deep inherent level i
do not feel safe though therefore you are not safe
(09:46):
with me So this gets into the realms of manifestation
and such. If you can bring yourself into a space
of allowing, of ease, of acceptance, of visualization, of the
true genuine belief, suddenly you can start to change. change
and rewire your autonomic nervous system to become one of safety.
When you become an autonomic nervous system of safety, the
(10:07):
world becomes attracted to you because you're no longer a threat.
And so if you just bring your hands around your
lower ribs and just do it with me once right now,
really quick, and just be do an inhale through the
nose and try to direct that breath into your lower ribs.
Deep breath in. Better. So as you're exhaling, this is
(10:30):
called respiratory sinus arrhythmia. As you're exhaling, you're slowing down
the rate of your heart. You're increasing activity of the
nerve you mentioned before, the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve innervates
all the organs in your body. When you are exhaling,
You're physiologically pulling on the lever of your autonomic nervous
system or your physiology, your body, whatever you want to
call it, to that I'm calming down, I'm relaxing, I'm
(10:51):
going into rest, I'm going into digest, I'm going into repair.
On the inhalation, particularly if it's through the mouth, but
on the inhalation, respiratory sinus, people can look it up,
you are accelerating the rate of the heart and you
are actually decreasing the activity of the vagus nerve. So
that's a good thing to oscillate in and out of
brakes and throttle throughout the day. Most people are stuck
(11:12):
on the throttle and they don't know why they're continually
exhausted and feel fatigued and have trouble with sleeping. Your
breath is the longest lever, most effective tool to begin
the process of gaining control of your autonomic nervous system.
It's a huge deal.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
And that's so empowering right there because we spend so
much money trying to regulate ourselves from the outside in
when most of our immediate interventions is something we're already
doing roughly all day, every day.
Speaker 6 (11:38):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
But here's where I want to complicate the conversation. What
happens when you've worked on the internal inputs, but you
haven't thought about the external ones? So the invisible environment,
let's talk about that. This is where Beyond the Signal
gets really interesting. So our bodies have always existed within us.
electromagnetic fields. Nature itself is electromagnetic. What's different today is
(12:02):
the extraordinary number of man-made resources incorporated into daily life,
like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and phones and laptops and wearables
and increasingly connected homes. And the World Health Organization itself
describes electromagnetic fields as one of the most common and
fastest growing environmental influences as technology advances. But we need
(12:23):
to separate the fact from claims of harm. Who in
the FDA currently say the overall evidence has not established
that low level radio frequency exposure within guidelines causes adverse
health effects?
Speaker 7 (12:36):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Now, Lila Quantum Tech approaches the question differently. The company
says its tech is designed not to block technology or
directly heal the body, but to create what it describes
as a coherent field, reduce disruptive environmental interference, and support
the body's biofield and natural regulatory processes, right? So Aaron,
(12:59):
once somebody is breathing well, moving well, sleeping well and
doing all the obvious things right, how much attention should
we be paying to the environment around that nervous system?
And when did you personally become curious about things like EMFs,
biofields and frequency? Talk to me.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Well, EMF, electromagnetic field is a super healthy thing. There's
native and non-native. The non-native ones, the ones coming off
of your cell phone or your router or the cables
that you might have running behind your bed, That is
where I think it becomes a little bit more tricky.
And the greatest thing a person possibly can do is
(13:37):
just spend more time in those native fields. And so
the greatest way to reset a person's nervous system is
to go the freak outside, take your shoes off, ground yourself,
get your body to be able to actually access earth.
Earth is you are receiving millions of free electrons that
(13:57):
can be neutralizing free radicals in your body. So spending
more time outside is a really great way to reset
and tune your autonomic nervous system by way of electromagnetic fields.
When you're inside, you are blocking out the full spectrum
of light that your body absolutely runs on. The way
that your mitochondria are able to generate energy is through sunlight.
(14:20):
You are literally a walking battery that runs on sunlight.
And so we are getting these artificial versions of sun
in the form of light bulbs, alternating current flickering light
bulbs that we get inside of our house. And the
lumens or the intensity of that light is absolutely minuscule
in comparison to what you're getting from the actual sun.
Nature is medicine. It is the absolute most paramount foundation
(14:44):
for your entire health.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
I love this conversation because we're living in a world
obsessed with connection while so many people feel increasingly disconnected
from their own bodies and whether the signal we're talking
about is physiological, psychological, digital, or something science is still
working to understand. I think the takeaway is that our
biology is listening and we should become much more intentional
(15:08):
about what we're asking it to listen to.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Now, Aaron Alexander is the bestselling author of The Align
Method and host of The Align Podcast. You can learn
more about his breathing work and certification programs at alignbreathing.com.
You can watch The Align Podcast on YouTube and follow
Aaron on Instagram at AaronAlexander.com. And to explore the research technology,
(15:32):
HEAL360 capsule, frequency cards, quantum clothing, and the rest of
the Leela quantum tech ecosystem, you can head directly to leelaq.com.
That's L-E-E-L-A-Q.com. This has been the Beyond the Signal series
brought to you by Lila Quantum Tech. You're listening to
A Moment of Zen right here on 710WOR. The voice
(15:53):
of New York iHeartRadio. We'll be right back after this.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
A Moment of Zen is brought to you by Lila
Quantum Tech. Today's wireless screen-filled world leaves many people feeling
depleted and stressed. Lila Quantum Tech's science-backed technology supports energy, performance,
and well-being while helping mitigate harmful EMF effects. Trusted by
world-class analysts, biohackers, and functional medicine practitioners, Leela Quantum Tech
(16:17):
helps people unlock their potential through science and frequency. Discover
what's possible for your energy, focus, and well-being. Go to
LeelaQ.com and use code AMOX for 10% off.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to the Legacy Blueprint series brought to you
by Probest, Innovative Wealth Strategies. Today, we're expanding our definition
of wealth. We spend our adult lives planning for the future.
(16:51):
We build businesses, invest our money, protect our assets, and
eventually start thinking about what we're going to leave behind.
But what about the one asset we actually need to
enjoy any of it?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Our body.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
And right now, That conversation is being completely rewritten by
GLP-1 medications. Whether you're taking a GLP-1, considering one, or
want absolutely nothing to do with one, today's conversation is
really about something much bigger. How do we build a
body and a life that actually lasts? Back with me
is Michael D'Antuono, founder of the Legacy Blueprint series and
(17:27):
Wealth Strategies with ProVest Innovative Wealth. Mike works with individuals
and families on the decisions that don't necessarily show up
in today's bank balance, but can dramatically affect tomorrow's life.
wealth strategy, protection, retirement, estate considerations, and ultimately what we're
building for the people coming after us. And joining Mike
is Anthony De La Ventura, founder of Deluxe Fitness and Nutrition,
(17:50):
a kingdom-driven health and performance coaching company. Anthony is a
former FDNY firefighter and retired professional bodybuilder who now helps
clients create lasting transformations through evidence-based nutrition, metabolic health, and
sustainable lifestyle strategies. And I love his philosophy. God, family,
and health first, physique second. Anthony, Mike, welcome to the show, superstars.
Speaker 7 (18:12):
Hey, nice to be on. Thank you.
Speaker 6 (18:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Nice to have you on. Okay, so I'm going to
jump right in here. I want to talk about the
exit plan, what happens after the shot. So Anthony, I'm
going to start right inside our headliner because this isn't
an anti-GLP-1 conversation. These medications can be extraordinarily effective for
appropriate patients. But here's the part that fascinates me. In
the step one extension study, after semiglutide was withdrawn, participants
(18:41):
regained roughly two thirds of their previous weight loss within
one year. So maybe the question isn't simply, does the
medication work? It's what are you building while it works?
So what does an ozempic exit plan actually look like?
And whether somebody stays on GLP-1 long-term or eventually comes off,
what needs to exist underneath that medication for their transformation
(19:04):
to actually last?
Speaker 7 (19:05):
This is not a sexy exit strategy by any means,
but it is the correct one and the most effective.
You're always going to come back to the basics because
they yield the most results. Let me also stress to
our audience, when you hire me, this is non-negotiable. You
need a clear understanding of the fundamentals. Number one, you
(19:26):
need a structured nutrition plan. Number two, you need some
sort of resistance training. Number three, you need to get moving.
You need to get your daily step count up and
you need to implement a consistent cardio routine. Let me
put it to you this way. When you're building a house,
you don't start from the roof down. You pour a
foundation and build up. This requires you to roll up
(19:48):
your sleeves and get to work. so you don't become
reliant on a short-term tool. This creates long-term sustainability. And
when you put this into action, you now have an exit.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Strategy with zero rebound.
Speaker 8 (20:06):
Building that structure internally from a physical and mental standpoint,
and then correlating it into how we're going to build
that legacy down the road, what we're doing financially with
that is all married together. But how we get to
that point or how we take that journey has become
very significant and sometimes even doesn't warrant the medications or
(20:28):
the path that has been chosen by some people because
of lack of education or misinformation, or not being guided
by the right person in that realm. So when we
build our legacy itself, we sort of head down that
road into, okay, how did we get to this point
and where do we want to wind up?
Speaker 6 (20:46):
What is our goal?
Speaker 8 (20:48):
It's not just mental and physical, but it's a financial
goal as well. But you can't have one without the other.
They have to be co-joined. And I think when Anthony
brings up these points of how, and further through the show,
of how we try to build ourselves physically And mentally,
it's how do we alleviate the stress moving forward of
trying to retire properly into that realm of happiness and health, right?
(21:12):
Being mindful of what we've built down the road going
through it. And, you know, consistency compounds, right? So we
talk about making intelligent decisions, using education, being more learned
into the realm that we're going ahead. So if I'm
reaching out to Anthony, I want to know more about X, Y,
and Z. Why am I doing this? And where is
this going to head? Clients come to me. They want
(21:34):
to know, OK, if I'm healthy or I'm not healthy,
how do we build this game plan or what's sustainable
for our future for retirement? And I think, you know, Anthony,
when I think about you, I think about how do
people delve into a program or say they want to
choose an extreme plan or do they just want to
build a less dramatic system in 10, 20 or 30
(21:56):
years down the road? How do you come about with that?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (21:59):
So we know extreme cells, right? People want to do
something that they feel like is drastic where it's maybe
six days of cardio or I'm not going to eat
carbohydrates ever. I'm not going to indulge. That's just not realistic.
Like there's no sustainability there because people don't understand that
the first two things that they need are structure and accountability.
(22:20):
And that's basically what I supply. But more importantly, adherence.
Because if you have a plan that looks perfect on paper,
but you can't adhere to it, it brings nothing of
value to you.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
That commitment.
Speaker 6 (22:32):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I love the parallel you both just made because that's
exactly why expertise matters. Anthony isn't simply handing somebody a
meal plan. And Mike, you're not simply looking at an
investment account. You're looking at the human being behind the
numbers and asking, what can this person actually sustain? What
changes are coming? Where are their vulnerabilities? Because consistency compounds
(22:55):
in our bodies and in our money. You can't, you know,
you can't have the cake and eat it too. So
I think, you know, the balance is the best way
to go about it. Which brings me to the next
question for you, Anthony. The muscle problem. Are we losing
the wrong weight is the question. Here's something I think
consumers need to understand. When somebody proudly says, I lost
30 pounds, well, my next question is 30 pounds of what? Anthony,
(23:19):
if somebody is using a GLP-1 or simply trying to
lose significant weight, how do you protect muscle, metabolism, and
strength while still achieving the fat loss results they came for?
Speaker 7 (23:31):
I think this is severely distorted because people are so
locked into a number on a scale. And if you
lost 50 pounds, hypothetically, how much of that was muscle?
So when you look at the big picture, if we're
looking to increase lean tissue, muscle protein synthesis is a
big part of that. Keyword there being protein. So you
need to at least cover your body weight in protein
(23:54):
if you're going to entertain this type of therapy because
muscle Without covering that protein, you are setting yourself a
fifth area because if you look at the big picture
of why people are probably using it in the first place,
systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Protein alleviates a
lot of that or at least puts you on the
(24:15):
right path. So you need to make sure that you're
having structured meals, that you're eating consistently, and most importantly,
that you're actually going to put that protein to work
and do some type of resistance training, something where you're
creating a stimulus. It doesn't have to be going to
the gym like a hardcore bodybuilder, but you should be
putting your body through a challenging situation so you can
(24:36):
create an environment that needs protein to induce muscle protein synthesis.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
And I think women especially need to hear that. I mean,
I don't want us obsessed with simply becoming smaller and thinner.
I want us thinking about becoming stronger. Can I carry
my groceries? Can I travel? Can I pick up my
grandchildren someday? Can I maintain my independence? That's the body
we're actually investing in, right? And I think, Mike, independence
has a financial definition too. So when Anthony starts talking
(25:04):
about longevity, suddenly your side of the conversation becomes very interesting, right?
Speaker 8 (25:10):
Yeah, so longevity, it changes the entire equation because longevity
is the biggest risk in life, right? The longer we live,
the more we have.
Speaker 7 (25:18):
To worry about.
Speaker 8 (25:19):
It's not just from a financial standpoint.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
It's from a physical standpoint.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
Anthony can gear plans for only so long, but people
have to follow them. We don't know if we're going
to live till we're 80, 90, 100. Now people, I've
stated in my last episode, there's somebody alive right now,
according to Time Magazine, that's going to be 140 years old.
They're alive today. So how do we plan for that,
for that longevity risk? And it starts with the health
(25:43):
and it starts with the wellness, right? But financial ways
of going about that, we have to sit. And again,
I could preach this till the day I die about education, right?
Learning more about what's out there, learning about the programs,
not just in the health side, but the financial side.
So health span, wealth span, right? We're trying to build
(26:05):
that network internally. And then we want to bring that
to fruition. We want to put that in our lives.
So building a better body, right. It go, it correlates
with building a plan, right? So I tell clients foundation
and focus equals fun. And when we're talking about health
in conjunction with the state planning, it co-joins perfectly. So
(26:25):
we need to have all the pieces in play before
we head down that road. And, um, you know, when
I think about Anthony, about like, when I got to
ask you about like somebody in their thirties or forties, um,
What would they be doing today if the goal wasn't
to look good for next summer? How do we actually
build that for them to make them functionally independent for
decades from now? How do you approach that with a client?
Speaker 7 (26:46):
So what we're doing right now, I mean, in your 30s,
your 40s, your 50s, you're basically setting a blueprint for
your 80s and your 90s. It all comes back to
the fundamentals. It's not really anything that's pretty, but a
lot of people don't understand what the fundamentals are. So
if you're far into following... a food plan, if you've
(27:06):
never held yourself accountable, if you've never hired a coach,
if you've never stepped foot in a gym, these are
the things that you're going to have to start doing.
And I have a lot of people that come to
me now that never did any of those. And the
first time that they're doing this is in their 30s
and their 40s. So it's important that you understand it's
never too late to start something. But the reality of
the situation is that you have to start something in
(27:28):
order for you to be functional, like you said, Zen,
later in life. I don't want to just be able
to get up and live because I'm 90 years old.
I want to be able to play with my kids,
play with my grandkids. I want to be able to
do things around the house. I would like to be
able to train into my 80s and 90s. And I
think people have a very skewed view of what life
could look like if they did apply themselves. A lot
(27:53):
of people are happy by just getting by. And I'm
here to basically push them to be the best version
of themselves.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
For those of you listening, Anthony De La Ventura, founder
of Deluxe Fitness and Nutrition. Thank him for reminding us
that transformation isn't simply about losing weight. It's about building
a lifestyle you can actually sustain. You can follow him
on the gram at Anthony underscore Deluxe. That's two L's, D-E-L-L-U-X-E,
Anthony underscore Deluxe. And for Michael D'Antuono, founder of the
(28:22):
Legacy Blueprint Series and wealth strategist with ProVest Innovative Wealth Strategies.
Thank you, Mike, for continuing to remind us that building
wealth is only one part of the equation. Understanding what
that wealth needs to do for you, your family, and
the generations coming behind you is where the blueprint really begins.
To learn more about Mike, you could go directly to
(28:42):
proveststrategies.com and you can also check him out on the
gram at proveststrategies. Protect your health, protect your wealth, and
don't wait for a crisis to start building the plan.
You're listening to A Moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. We'll be right back
after this.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
A Moment of Zen is brought to you by Your
Home TV with Kathy Ireland and their channel partners. Head
to yourhometv.com for free, family-friendly programming, streaming 24-7.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
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Tune in to a moment of zen, Saturday nights from
9 to 10 p.m. on 710WOR, The Voice of New York.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
The Voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to the Better, Brighter You series brought to
you by Cispera. Today, our expert on the microphone is Dr.
Corey Hartman. He's Alabama's number one ABD certified dermatologist and
(29:59):
founder and medical director of Skin Wellness Dermatology. A nationally
recognized expert in treating all skin types, Dr. Hartman specializes
in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and hyperpigmentation. Serves on the
board of directors of the Skin of Color Society and
is an adjunct associate professor of dermatology at UAB. Today,
(30:19):
he joins us to break down the complexities of hyperpigmentation
and melasma, why more aggressive doesn't always mean better, and
how we can rethink pigment care from smarter topicals and
inside-out skin health to avoiding the skincare mistakes that may
actually be creating more pigmentation. Welcome to the show, superstar.
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (30:39):
I'm so happy to be here. Always a good time
with you.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
So much fun. Welcome back. So let's talk about the
hidden pigment triggers because hyperpigmentation affects millions worldwide, yet many
still don't fully understand what's happening beneath the surface or
what's actually causing it. We often focus on the obvious triggers, sun, exposure, inflammation,
or skin injury, but there can be much more happening
(31:02):
beneath the surface. So what are some lesser known or
maybe even overlooked factors that can drive pigmentation? And why
is identifying and addressing those underlying triggers so important to
treating hyperpigmentation effectively and even preventing it before it comes back?
Speaker 9 (31:19):
So I think the biggest thing that can drive pigmentation
that people don't always realize is those hormones that are
working in all of our bodies that interplay with the sun,
like you mentioned, but also heat, which is another hidden
trigger that can trigger at least melasma to be its
worst self. These triggers work together to increase the inflammation
(31:40):
that then drives the hyperpigmentation that we see with regard
to conditions like melasma, where we get this lace-like reticular
pattern on the cheeks. the upper lip, the forehead, it
can affect really any part of the face and even
the upper arms, all the way over to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
that results from very common conditions like acne to just
(32:04):
the run-of-the-mill sun damage that we see from being out
without sunscreen and proper protection for prolonged periods of time.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
So let's talk about when treatment backfires and melasma in
particular is can be incredibly frustrating because sometimes the very
treatments intended to improve the skin can actually trigger more pigmentation.
It's like a catch-22. And this rebound effect can leave
patients really feeling like they're caught in a cycle, unsure
of what the right path forward even is. And this
(32:34):
becomes even more complex for patients with darker skin, as
you know. where hyperpigmentation can be particularly persistent and even
relatively minor inflammation or irritation can trigger additional pigment, right?
To my understanding. So Dr. Hartman, as an expert in
both laser and hyperpigmentation, and as a member of the
board of directors of the Skin of Color Society, when
(32:54):
you're treating these patients, how do you balance effectively targeting
existing pigmentation while minimizing the risk of triggering even more
pigment in the process?
Speaker 9 (33:05):
The first thing that you have to do is really
educate patients about the nature of the disease and let
them know that it is a chronic condition that does
not have a cure. Once you set that sort of
foundation for them, they understand that our treatment needs to
be targeted, but it also needs to be moderate enough
that it creates an improvement without being so aggressive that
it either corrects the problem too quickly and leads to
(33:27):
rebound hyperpigmentation. or increases inflammation because the treatment can be irritating,
which then just triggers the cascade of hyperpigmentation to begin
all over again. So I'm glad that you mentioned laser.
Laser is a quick fix option, but the wrong laser
can actually be terrible. You can see an immediate improvement
that will then rebound really, really quickly, which is frustrating
(33:50):
because lasers can be uncomfortable and they can also be expensive.
And then the former gold standard treatment was hydroquinone forever.
Hydroquinone is a wonderful tool in the armamentarium, but we
know now that it has a very limited role in
how we treat since we have so many other options
that do a better job. Hyperpigmentation can be worsened by
(34:11):
chronic reuse of hydroquinone and hydroquinone use when it's stopped,
which it has to be stopped at some point, can
also lead to a lot of rebound, which is again,
very frustrating for patients.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Now, when it comes to treating stubborn pigmentation, there's often
a temptation to reach for the strongest or most aggressive option.
But as we know, more aggressive doesn't necessarily mean more effective.
And consistency and long-term care are really key to keeping
pigmentation under control. And going back to what you just said,
the hydroquinone, I mean, I've had this debate on social
(34:43):
media posts with top derms. You know, they're still arguing
it's the gold standard. And it is, has been considered
a gold standard in pigment correction. But you said something
extremely important. important. We're seeing growing interest in the non-hydroquinone
alternatives because it's more sustainable. And I think it's patients
looking for an approach that they can incorporate into the
(35:05):
long-term skincare strategy, right? So Suspera, for example, uses cysteamine
as its key active ingredient in its topical. So Dr. Hartman,
what stands out to you about having non-hydroquinone options such
as Suspera? Are they just as effective? And why do
you think consistency and, again, long-term care are so important
in this equation?
Speaker 9 (35:26):
Well, first of all, we look at the data. We
look at the clinical trials, which establish that products like Cispera,
which contains cysteamine, can be as effective as hydroquinone. So
let's just start there with effectiveness. And like any good
clinical trial, you're going to establish effectiveness. You want to
go against the gold standard and show at least equivalency,
if not superiority. But then you have to step back
(35:48):
and look at the side effects and the long-term adverse
effect profile. For hydroquinone, we know that it is cytotoxic.
If you use it on a long-term basis, it is
something that will destroy your cells and stop them from
proliferating in a very healthy way. And you cannot continue
that forever. And it's crude because it only works on
one part of the pathway that leads to hyperpigmentation in
(36:10):
the first place, where a product like Suspera works on
four different pathways. It elevates the good pigment. It downgrades
the dark pigment that's, you know, causing the discoloration in
the first place. It is able to be used in
a more generalized manner so that it's not so, you
don't have to be so specific about how you put
it on. And then it just gives your skin this
(36:31):
overall evenness, which is what you're going for really. And
it gives you a glow when you're done with it.
Now add to that the fact that once you get it,
how you want it to look, your skin, you achieve
the goal. You can use this as maintenance therapy by
decreasing the frequency of the use. So products like Suspera
have really changed the game on how we treat hyperpigmentation. Very,
(36:54):
very rarely now is hyperpigmentation a part of the equation,
and it's hardly ever a first-line therapy for me. I
go to Suspera most of the time.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
And that's a major mindset shift, especially with melasma, which
has recurrence rates reported as high as 50% or even
more after treatment. It really becomes less about chasing a
quick fix and more about having options that fit into
sustainable pigment management, to your point. And now I want
to talk about beauty from the inside out. So let's
go back to the beginning of our conversation where we
talked about the complexities of hyperpigmentation and why addressing the
(37:26):
underlying drivers matters, right? We're also seeing the conversation around
skin health expand beyond simply treating what we see on
the surface and move toward a more comprehensive inside-out approach.
So Suspera is, again, a great example of this evolution.
It's expanding its portfolio to include the Total Skin Supplement.
(37:46):
This is fascinating. It's an oral approach designed to support
skin tone, evenness and overall luminosity from within everything we're
talking about. So now in your expert opinion, how important
is it to you to think about skin health from
the inside out? And is this going too far, right?
To take an oral supplement?
Speaker 9 (38:04):
No, absolutely not. In fact, there is an existing oral
medication on the market, but it has some side effects.
It can lead to blood clots. It can be very effective.
But again, like hydroquinone, It's used as a last option
and it's not something that you can use on an
ongoing basis. So remember efficacy, right? But what about the safety?
(38:24):
So it's always a good idea and so exciting for
those of us in the hyperpigmentation area of dermatology and
aesthetics because we have not had a lot of other
options for some of these more standard treatments in the past.
Now we see this tyrocutin ingredient, which is included in
total skin and a little glutathione. which we know has
(38:44):
always been a powerful antioxidant, just like cysteamine. And we've
been able to incorporate that to not only help with hyperpigmentation,
but really augment the effects that we see with the topical.
So great product, but also in combination, it's worked wonders
in my patients to just take them to that next level.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
That was the incredible Dr. Corey Hartman, Alabama's number one
ABD certified dermatologist. You definitely want to check him out
on the gram at dr.coreyhartman. That's dr.coreyhartman. And his practice
is at skin.wellness.derm. And you can hit the skinwellness.com. And
of course, to learn more about Suspera, you can head
directly to their website at suspera.com. That's C-Y-S-P-E-R-A. And you
(39:26):
can check them out on the gram at Suspera. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. We'll be right back
after this.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
A Moment of Zen. is brought to you by Cyspera.
If you're struggling with stubborn dark spots, uneven skin tone,
or pigmentation, meet Cyspera, a Swiss science-driven skin health brand
redefining pigmentation and skin health through clinically proven innovation. Cyspera's
innovative formulas target pigmentation at the source for a more
even and radiant complexion. From intensive and sensitive to ageless
(39:59):
and total skin, there's a solution for every skin need.
Discover the science behind more luminous skin at Cyspera.com.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to the Hydration with Heart series brought to
you by Once Upon a Coconut. Devin Kennedy is a
Princeton graduate, professional basketball player currently competing for Mykonos BC
(40:27):
in Greece, former Orlando Magic Guard, and the first undrafted
player to even earn NBA G League Finals MVP honors.
After going undrafted in 2019, Devin coined a philosophy that
would come to define his journey. Run your own race.
Less than two years later, he was a G League
champion and final MVP and earned his NBA call-up with Orlando.
(40:52):
But his race was about to take another turn. Just
weeks into his NBA breakthrough, Devin suffered a devastating open
fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, an injury that
required surgery and took him away from competition for nearly
10 months. He fought his way all the way back
to the NBA. Today, His race continues in Greece alongside
(41:13):
his wife, WNBA player Katie Lou Samuelson, and their daughter.
He's also taken that philosophy off the basketball court through
the Run Your Own Race brand and his children's book,
Aaliyah Khan. Our headliner today fits quite perfectly. Run Your
Own Race, the NBA comeback that refused to die. Devin Kennedy,
(41:34):
welcome to the show, superstar.
Speaker 6 (41:36):
Thank you for having me. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I'm so excited to interview you today, all the way
from Mykonos, Greece. All right, so let's chat about the
dream nobody guaranteed. So, Devin, I love that. Run Your
Own Race wasn't created after you became successful. You coined
it after going undrafted in 2019. when your future was
anything but certain and your story goes back even further,
(42:01):
you've talked about you and your mom literally shoveling snow
off a basketball court in Indiana so you could get
shots up. I mean, take me back to that kid
with the shovel. When you look at everything that followed, Princeton,
going undrafted, the G League, and ultimately the NBA, where
did that belief that your race didn't have to look
(42:21):
like anybody else's actually come from?
Speaker 6 (42:23):
Yeah, no, that's, Even just talking about it brings me
back to a freezing cold day in Indiana. I was
a freshman in high school, the only freshman on varsity
at the time. So all my teammates, juniors and seniors,
they had cars, they had licenses. But that day specifically
was a state of emergency in Indiana. No one was
allowed on the road. So that meant no practice, which
(42:44):
meant no shots for the day. And I give a
lot of credit to my mom, my dad for pushing me,
always continuing to keep my fire going. knowing, hey, like
we can go to the park, we can shovel. And,
you know, me just even having that as an option
was like, all right, well, let's go. And so shoveled
that day, made my consistent daily 100 free throws while
(43:07):
everyone else was inside, drinking hot chocolate, you know, with marshmallows.
And I just think back to that kid who had
a dream to make it to the NBA, who's out
here in the freezing cold with gloves on, scarf on,
hat on, just making free throw after free throw. mind you,
I ended up becoming one of the top 10 free
throw shooters of all time in college, shooting around 90%.
(43:29):
So that's something I've always hung my hat on. And
it's like, I'm doing things other people aren't doing because
I have goals that other people may not have, dreams
that other people may not have. And even those who do,
I just always relied on my faith, relied on my work.
So I definitely think back to that kid from time
to time. And this summer actually was back home and
(43:50):
that court with They used to have a lot of
cracks in it. Now it actually says Kennedy Court. It
has my Run Your Own Race logo on it. You know,
I walked up there, unassuming, watching 20 kids playing on
the court. And one person was like, wait, is this
your court? And that feeling just meant everything because it
just reminded me of the whole journey, the whole race, which,
(44:11):
like you said, still has a long way to go
and has brought me to Greece.
Speaker 8 (44:15):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (44:16):
I got chills. Congratulations. I mean, you've come such a
long way. Now, when your moment finally arrives. So then
comes this incredible sequence. You help Lakeland win its first
G League championship. You put up 22 points, six rebounds
and four assists in the final. I read the whole thing.
I did. I did my research.
Speaker 6 (44:38):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
Yeah. You then become the first undrafted G League finals MVP.
And suddenly the Orlando magic call. So after spending years,
I mean, literally years being told indirectly where you ranked
through recruiting the draft and roster decisions. What happens internally
when the NBA finally calls and says, you're ready? Did
(45:02):
it validate the dream or did you already know you
belong there?
Speaker 6 (45:07):
It kind of goes back to when I was in
high school, two years after the shoveling the snow, I'm
now a junior on my high school team. I'm kind
of the captain, the leader now. I played behind someone
named Demetrius Jackson, played in the NBA. So I got
to see someone get recruited by Kansas, Duke, Notre Dame,
all these big time schools. And okay, like I can
(45:29):
do this too. And then none of those schools came
calling me. So I felt overlooked. I felt undervalued. I
want to make it to the NBA. Again, the four
years throughout Princeton, overlooked, undervalued, but constantly believing in myself.
That all led to the G League Championships. you know,
the finals MVP, kind of God's timing matching perfectly with
(45:50):
my preparation. And then when I got that call, my
agent's number comes across my screen. And that's when I heard,
you know, Orlando's going to sign you to a 10-day contract.
Get ready. It's time to go to the NBA. So
that day was amazing. And to your question, it validated
the dream because I wasn't crazy. I wasn't delusional, but
I had an unwavering belief in myself. My work ethic
(46:14):
never changed. And again, that faith mixed with the work,
the consistent work, you know, it came together at the
right time. So, you know, it validated it. And at
the same time, I knew I belonged there the whole time.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
So now let's talk about the moment everything changed. And
then comes the part of your story that really stopped me.
On April 25th, 2021, you're playing for Orlando when you
land awkwardly contesting a layup and then suffer an open
fracture on your right ankle.
Speaker 8 (46:41):
I mean, oof.
Speaker 3 (46:43):
So you're taken off on a stretcher and need surgery.
I mean, you'd finally reached the NBA and suddenly your body,
the very thing your career depended on, couldn't do its job.
What was harder during those months, the physical process of
rebuilding your ankle or rebuilding the trust in your own
body and mind that you could still be the athlete
(47:05):
you were before that moment?
Speaker 6 (47:07):
So those next few months for me were very challenging
because it was like, I knew how difficult, how hard
it was to just make it there to begin with.
You talk about the stars aligning. How is it possible
for lightning to strike twice? I'm an unassuming guy. If
you saw me in the street, you wouldn't think basketball player,
let alone NBA player. I went to Princeton, I put
(47:29):
on a suit and tie, you'd think I'd work in
consulting or finance. So six foot one, 180, the NBA
size is usually six foot seven. So the odds of
me making it back were very low, But for some reason,
and I have to believe it was my faith, because
in that moment, instead of cursing, I actually gave thanks
(47:49):
to God. I said, thank you for giving one of
your strongest warriors this test, because this now will be
my testimony. And it's only going to show Jesus' love.
It's only going to showcase what God can do when
you're assumed to be down and out. So I kept
that with me. I actually documented a lot of that
journey through YouTube, my series, the Run Your Own Race
(48:12):
docuseries on YouTube. You can go see kind of six
episodes of what that behind the scenes looked like. Gained
a pretty big following on TikTok because I was just open.
I was authentic and said, hey, it's possible I never
make it back. but you're here early because I'm, I'm
going to, and I ended up coming back being second
in the G league and three point percentage that year.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
So that is the comeback story because the comeback wasn't symbolic.
You actually did it. So 13 games into your return,
you were averaging 15 and a half points and shooting
almost 40% from three. I mean, that's where resilience stops
being a motivational word and becomes something measurable, right?
Speaker 6 (48:51):
Okay. The reality.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
That's the reality. So now let's talk about the NBA
all the way that led you to Greece. People are
listening that you're in Mykonos and they're like, wait, she
skipped over a huge chapter. So the NBA to Greece,
is success allowed to change is the question. So now
your race has taken you somewhere completely different. You're entering
your third consecutive year playing professionally in Greece. You're learning
(49:15):
the language. You're raising your daughter abroad and embracing an
entirely different culture. And I find this chapter fascinating because
American sports culture can make athletes believe there's only one
definition of, quote unquote, making it, right? The NBA. So
has living and playing in Greece changed your definition of success?
(49:35):
And what has the Mediterranean life taught you about food
and family and wellness or simply slowing down that the
NBA grind never could?
Speaker 6 (49:43):
My mindset has always been, I'm not going to settle
for just making it. I'm going to raise the standard
and try and make the playoffs, try and beat some
of these best teams out here, which we've done. And
we've made the playoffs two years. I'm back in Mykonos now.
Our goals are still high. But something that I'm learning
is the art of slowing down and really how much
that can actually benefit me as a person, me as
(50:05):
a player. I don't have to have the 5 a.m.
wake up, super regimented routine, although I still do have
elements of that. I think I can't change that. But
the day to day, stopping and having conversations, not setting
a schedule where I have to be here exactly at
one o'clock. That's something the Greeks do very well. Something
that I actually have a hard time adjusting to, but
(50:28):
slowing down for my family means going to the beach.
We finished practice, you've done your work, but now you
get a chance to relax. And I think as I
was approaching my NBA journey and even to the kid
that was shoveling the snow and all the things that
led me to the success that I found to make
it to the NBA, were some of the limiting factors.
(50:48):
And I think if I gave myself a little bit
of grace along the way, took more time to build
deeper connections, not stay kind of superficially and then move
on to the next thing and always be in this
fast-paced kind of mindset, you find value, you find deeper connection.
Even with my family, you talk about family and wellness
and those types of things. My family's proud to be
(51:13):
in Greece. We call Greece our home. This is our home.
And so we're learning. I'm embracing the culture. It's been amazing.
Speaker 3 (51:23):
You can follow Devin at... devin underscore canady three and
follow the movement at the run your own race of
course this is all on instagram and today's conversation is
part of the hydration with heart series brought to you
by once upon a coconut you can go directly to
once upon a coconut.com to get your favorite flavor and
incredible taste of coconut water and of course you can
(51:44):
check them out on the gram as well at once
upon a coconut you're listening to a moment of zen
right here on 710 wor the voice of new york
iheart radio we'll be right back after this A moment
of Zen is brought to you by Once Upon a Coconut.
Speaker 4 (51:56):
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actually tastes great.
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Speaker 4 (52:05):
It's packed with electrolytes to keep you hydrated throughout your day.
And with 10% of profits going to charity, every sip
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Pure taste, pure goodness. Experience nature's Gatorade. Visit Once Upon
a Coconut or naturesgatorade.com. Well, that's a wrap, my dear friends.
We are at the end of our date. Thank you
for listening to A Moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
It's been a pleasure. Thanks again for listening to us.
(52:34):
Remember to join me right here every Saturday, or you
could head directly to amomentofzen.com for live listening links and
episode downloads in your city. And also remember that we're
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Moment of Zen are available on your home TV streaming platform.
(52:55):
You can go directly to our channel. It's family-friendly, free
programming to you, mox.yourhometv.com. Thank you for listening to us.
It's been an absolute pleasure being your host. Thanks again
to all of our partners, advertisers, and sponsors that continue
to make this show possible.
Speaker 1 (53:11):
The preceding was a paid podcast. iHeartRadio's hosting of this
podcast constitutes neither an endorsement of the products offered or
the ideas expressed.
The following is a paid podcast. iHeartRadio's hosting of this
podcast constitutes neither an endorsement of the products offered or
the ideas expressed.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to A Moment of Zen. Time to sit back
and relax as model, actress, mentor, and supermom Zen Sams
takes you on a sexy and wild ride covering the
latest in film, fashion, pop culture, cryptocurrency, fintech, cannabis, and
entertainment from the millennial mom's perspective. Here's your host, Zen Sams.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
We have another incredible show lined up for you tonight,
so let's get right into it. First up, In Beyond
the Signal series brought to you by Lila Quantum Tech,
we're joined by Aaron Alexander, bestselling author of The Align
(00:53):
Method and host of The Align Podcast. Our headliner is
your nervous system being hijacked. And of course, our topic,
the invisible signals keeping your body stressed and how to
take back control. Then in the Legacy Blueprint series brought
to you by ProVest Innovative Wealth Strategies, I'm joined by
series founder and co-contributor Michael D'Antonio alongside Anthony de la Ventura,
(01:17):
founder of Deluxe Fitness and Nutrition, former FDNY firefighter and
retired professional bodybuilder. We're going to be chatting about the
Ozempic exit plan. Your body is part of the estate.
And our topic, well, very fitting. Health is wealth, building
the nutrition, strength, and discipline that outlasts the shot. Next,
(01:39):
in our Better Brighter You series brought to you by Cispera,
we're joined by Dr. Corey Hartman, board-certified dermatologist, founder and
medical director of Skin Wellness Dermatology, and nationally recognized expert
in treating all skin types. We're going to be breaking
down hyperpigmentation and melasma, why more aggressive doesn't always mean better,
and how smarter topicals inside out skin health and even
(02:02):
some of our everyday skincare habits may completely change the
way we approach pigmentation. And finally, in the Hydration with
Heart series brought to you by Once Upon a Coconut,
we're joined by Devin Kennedy, Princeton graduate professional basketball player,
former Orlando Magic Guard, and the first undrafted player to
earn NBA G League Finals MVP honors. Our headliner, run
(02:27):
your own race. The NBA comeback that refused to die.
And a very fitting topic. We're going to go beyond
the NBA dream. Devin Kennedy is going to talk to
us about resilience, recovery, fatherhood, and fueling the race that's
uniquely yours. Stay tuned. We'll be right back after this.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
A Moment of Zen is sponsored by Fintech TV.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Fintech TV, the newest streaming channel focused exclusively on the
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Speaker 2 (03:08):
Tune in to a moment of Zen, Saturday nights from
9 to 10 p.m. on 710WOR, The Voice of New York.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
The Voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to Beyond the Signal series brought to you
by Lila Quantum Tech. We constantly talk about our phones
being hacked, our accounts being hacked. even algorithms hacking our attention.
(03:36):
But what if the system we should be paying closer
attention to is the one running inside our own bodies?
Is your nervous system being hijacked? That's the question. Modern
life is an extraordinary experiment in stimulation. Notifications, screens, artificial light,
work stress, poor sleep, constant connectivity, and then there's an
(03:56):
entire invisible electromagnetic environment surrounding us that most of us
rarely even think about. This is precisely where I think curiosity,
good science, and an open conversation belong. And my guest
today has spent two decades thinking about the body from
a very different perspective. Aaron Alexander is the bestselling author
of The Align Method and host of The Align Podcast.
(04:18):
It's a top 10 philosophy show generating more than 1
million monthly views. He spent two decades helping elite athletes
such as Lance Armstrong, Aaron Rodgers, and And performers like
Usher and even CEOs improve how they move, breathe, and
regulate their nervous systems. Aaron has also personally used Leela
Quantum Cube products, ranging from the heel capsule, just like
(04:39):
the one I'm wearing, and EMF-focused clothing to a Leela
Cube pet collar. I mean, we've got it all here.
So today... We're going beyond breathwork, which I did right
before this introduction, beyond posture and quite literally beyond the
signal to ask what is influencing our nervous system? What
can we control and how can we begin taking that
(05:01):
control back? Aaron, welcome to the show, superstar.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
All right. I want to talk about the hijacked nervous system.
So your work really starts with the idea that that
the body is constantly receiving information. And I think people
hear nervous system dysregulation everywhere right now without necessarily understanding
what it actually means. So our autonomic nervous system is
continuously adjusting things we don't consciously command, like our heart rate,
(05:29):
our blood pressure, digestion, and our physiological response to stress.
That is why heart rate variability, or HRV, what they call,
has become such a popular recovery metric. It gives us
a window into how adaptable that autonomic system may be.
But modern life can feel like we're asking that system
to process inputs all day long without ever fully switching off.
(05:52):
So Aaron, when you look at the average person today,
what is actually hijacking our nervous system? And what are
the earliest signs that somebody has been living in a
chronically dysregulated state for so long that they've started calling
it normal?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
Trauma.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
It's the thing that's originally hijacking a person's nervous system,
repressed emotions, feelings that they've repressed since they've been a
very young person. And it might be repressed from their
mother or their father, their mother's father, their father's father,
et cetera, all the way back. If you look at
the country as a whole, as the United States and
a lot of other westernized countries in general were rooted
(06:27):
in a pretty traumatizing upbringing and background, and life is
an opportunity to slowly unwind some of those impressions, which
is like a Sanskrit word, samskara, those impressions that we're
holding on to. Most people, especially men, they just need
to freaking cry. We need to be able to be
(06:48):
seen and felt and heard at a deeper level than
what we allow ourselves to be seen and felt and heard.
Many people carry a tremendous amount of weight on themselves
and they don't really know what to do with it.
I read a statistic yesterday, 727,000 suicides annually. So there's
a lot of people quietly suffering, feigning to be very strong,
(07:10):
feigning to be in control, feigning to have the right
Rolex or the right rented Lamborghini. I live in Miami.
And underneath the muscles, underneath the peptides, underneath the steroids,
underneath the boobs, underneath the butts, underneath all the chest
out confidence, all that stuff, say with your chest up
is a little boy and a little girl. And they
just want to be loved.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
That word normal is what gets me. I mean, because
we've normalized being exhausted but wired and scrolling until we
fall asleep and waking up and immediately reaching for a
phone and shallow breathing and tension in our shoulders and
then wondering why relaxation feels almost foreign. And that little
boy or little girl, to your point, never got to relax.
And I love your philosophy here because regulation isn't necessarily
(07:52):
something we have to buy. Before we get into any technology,
we have a nervous system that already comes with its
own tools. We're forgetting that, right?
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
So I want to talk about the reset button. Your
aligned breathing work, which I just experienced a small slither
of before backstage, essentially says your nervous system has a
reset button. Breathing is fascinating because it sits at this
intersection between the automatic and voluntary nervous system. We breathe
without thinking, but unlike our heartbeat, we can consciously change
(08:24):
the pattern.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Right.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
If somebody listening right now feels anxious, overstimulated, or completely fried,
what can changing the breath actually do to shift their physiology?
And what are most of us getting wrong about the
way we breathe?
Speaker 5 (08:40):
People over-breathe. People breathe too much and breathe too fast.
They breathe up into their chests. You've got vertical breathing,
if you want to put labels on it, versus horizontal breathing,
when you're breathing out more Lower ribs, really accessing, kind
of getting that breath. You start to bring your breath
out of the vertical and into the horizontal, into the
lower diaphragm. It'll make every system in your entire body
(09:03):
work more efficiently immediately. It's a huge deal. And it'll
also project to the world that you're safe. It'll also
project to yourself that you're safe. So you're always creating
a feedback loop. The way that we're communicating to each
other isn't through our words. That's a very small percentage
of our actual communication. The tone of how we communicate
our body language and how we express is actually how
(09:24):
the bulk of our communication to each other so if
i'm telling someone like it's okay baby you're safe i'm
talking to my child or whoever but i'm breathing in
a way that's stressed and panicked and short and up
into my upper chest i'm actually at a deeper level
telling that person i don't believe what i'm saying i
don't trust myself and in a deep inherent level i
do not feel safe though therefore you are not safe
(09:46):
with me So this gets into the realms of manifestation
and such. If you can bring yourself into a space
of allowing, of ease, of acceptance, of visualization, of the
true genuine belief, suddenly you can start to change. change
and rewire your autonomic nervous system to become one of safety.
When you become an autonomic nervous system of safety, the
(10:07):
world becomes attracted to you because you're no longer a threat.
And so if you just bring your hands around your
lower ribs and just do it with me once right now,
really quick, and just be do an inhale through the
nose and try to direct that breath into your lower ribs.
Deep breath in. Better. So as you're exhaling, this is
(10:30):
called respiratory sinus arrhythmia. As you're exhaling, you're slowing down
the rate of your heart. You're increasing activity of the
nerve you mentioned before, the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve innervates
all the organs in your body. When you are exhaling,
You're physiologically pulling on the lever of your autonomic nervous
system or your physiology, your body, whatever you want to
call it, to that I'm calming down, I'm relaxing, I'm
(10:51):
going into rest, I'm going into digest, I'm going into repair.
On the inhalation, particularly if it's through the mouth, but
on the inhalation, respiratory sinus, people can look it up,
you are accelerating the rate of the heart and you
are actually decreasing the activity of the vagus nerve. So
that's a good thing to oscillate in and out of
brakes and throttle throughout the day. Most people are stuck
(11:12):
on the throttle and they don't know why they're continually
exhausted and feel fatigued and have trouble with sleeping. Your
breath is the longest lever, most effective tool to begin
the process of gaining control of your autonomic nervous system.
It's a huge deal.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
And that's so empowering right there because we spend so
much money trying to regulate ourselves from the outside in
when most of our immediate interventions is something we're already
doing roughly all day, every day.
Speaker 6 (11:38):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
But here's where I want to complicate the conversation. What
happens when you've worked on the internal inputs, but you
haven't thought about the external ones? So the invisible environment,
let's talk about that. This is where Beyond the Signal
gets really interesting. So our bodies have always existed within us.
electromagnetic fields. Nature itself is electromagnetic. What's different today is
(12:02):
the extraordinary number of man-made resources incorporated into daily life,
like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and phones and laptops and wearables
and increasingly connected homes. And the World Health Organization itself
describes electromagnetic fields as one of the most common and
fastest growing environmental influences as technology advances. But we need
(12:23):
to separate the fact from claims of harm. Who in
the FDA currently say the overall evidence has not established
that low level radio frequency exposure within guidelines causes adverse
health effects?
Speaker 7 (12:36):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Now, Lila Quantum Tech approaches the question differently. The company
says its tech is designed not to block technology or
directly heal the body, but to create what it describes
as a coherent field, reduce disruptive environmental interference, and support
the body's biofield and natural regulatory processes, right? So Aaron,
(12:59):
once somebody is breathing well, moving well, sleeping well and
doing all the obvious things right, how much attention should
we be paying to the environment around that nervous system?
And when did you personally become curious about things like EMFs,
biofields and frequency? Talk to me.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Well, EMF, electromagnetic field is a super healthy thing. There's
native and non-native. The non-native ones, the ones coming off
of your cell phone or your router or the cables
that you might have running behind your bed, That is
where I think it becomes a little bit more tricky.
And the greatest thing a person possibly can do is
(13:37):
just spend more time in those native fields. And so
the greatest way to reset a person's nervous system is
to go the freak outside, take your shoes off, ground yourself,
get your body to be able to actually access earth.
Earth is you are receiving millions of free electrons that
(13:57):
can be neutralizing free radicals in your body. So spending
more time outside is a really great way to reset
and tune your autonomic nervous system by way of electromagnetic fields.
When you're inside, you are blocking out the full spectrum
of light that your body absolutely runs on. The way
that your mitochondria are able to generate energy is through sunlight.
(14:20):
You are literally a walking battery that runs on sunlight.
And so we are getting these artificial versions of sun
in the form of light bulbs, alternating current flickering light
bulbs that we get inside of our house. And the
lumens or the intensity of that light is absolutely minuscule
in comparison to what you're getting from the actual sun.
Nature is medicine. It is the absolute most paramount foundation
(14:44):
for your entire health.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
I love this conversation because we're living in a world
obsessed with connection while so many people feel increasingly disconnected
from their own bodies and whether the signal we're talking
about is physiological, psychological, digital, or something science is still
working to understand. I think the takeaway is that our
biology is listening and we should become much more intentional
(15:08):
about what we're asking it to listen to.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Now, Aaron Alexander is the bestselling author of The Align
Method and host of The Align Podcast. You can learn
more about his breathing work and certification programs at alignbreathing.com.
You can watch The Align Podcast on YouTube and follow
Aaron on Instagram at AaronAlexander.com. And to explore the research technology,
(15:32):
HEAL360 capsule, frequency cards, quantum clothing, and the rest of
the Leela quantum tech ecosystem, you can head directly to leelaq.com.
That's L-E-E-L-A-Q.com. This has been the Beyond the Signal series
brought to you by Lila Quantum Tech. You're listening to
A Moment of Zen right here on 710WOR. The voice
(15:53):
of New York iHeartRadio. We'll be right back after this.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
A Moment of Zen is brought to you by Lila
Quantum Tech. Today's wireless screen-filled world leaves many people feeling
depleted and stressed. Lila Quantum Tech's science-backed technology supports energy, performance,
and well-being while helping mitigate harmful EMF effects. Trusted by
world-class analysts, biohackers, and functional medicine practitioners, Leela Quantum Tech
(16:17):
helps people unlock their potential through science and frequency. Discover
what's possible for your energy, focus, and well-being. Go to
LeelaQ.com and use code AMOX for 10% off.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to the Legacy Blueprint series brought to you
by Probest, Innovative Wealth Strategies. Today, we're expanding our definition
of wealth. We spend our adult lives planning for the future.
(16:51):
We build businesses, invest our money, protect our assets, and
eventually start thinking about what we're going to leave behind.
But what about the one asset we actually need to
enjoy any of it?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Our body.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
And right now, That conversation is being completely rewritten by
GLP-1 medications. Whether you're taking a GLP-1, considering one, or
want absolutely nothing to do with one, today's conversation is
really about something much bigger. How do we build a
body and a life that actually lasts? Back with me
is Michael D'Antuono, founder of the Legacy Blueprint series and
(17:27):
Wealth Strategies with ProVest Innovative Wealth. Mike works with individuals
and families on the decisions that don't necessarily show up
in today's bank balance, but can dramatically affect tomorrow's life.
wealth strategy, protection, retirement, estate considerations, and ultimately what we're
building for the people coming after us. And joining Mike
is Anthony De La Ventura, founder of Deluxe Fitness and Nutrition,
(17:50):
a kingdom-driven health and performance coaching company. Anthony is a
former FDNY firefighter and retired professional bodybuilder who now helps
clients create lasting transformations through evidence-based nutrition, metabolic health, and
sustainable lifestyle strategies. And I love his philosophy. God, family,
and health first, physique second. Anthony, Mike, welcome to the show, superstars.
Speaker 7 (18:12):
Hey, nice to be on. Thank you.
Speaker 6 (18:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Nice to have you on. Okay, so I'm going to
jump right in here. I want to talk about the
exit plan, what happens after the shot. So Anthony, I'm
going to start right inside our headliner because this isn't
an anti-GLP-1 conversation. These medications can be extraordinarily effective for
appropriate patients. But here's the part that fascinates me. In
the step one extension study, after semiglutide was withdrawn, participants
(18:41):
regained roughly two thirds of their previous weight loss within
one year. So maybe the question isn't simply, does the
medication work? It's what are you building while it works?
So what does an ozempic exit plan actually look like?
And whether somebody stays on GLP-1 long-term or eventually comes off,
what needs to exist underneath that medication for their transformation
(19:04):
to actually last?
Speaker 7 (19:05):
This is not a sexy exit strategy by any means,
but it is the correct one and the most effective.
You're always going to come back to the basics because
they yield the most results. Let me also stress to
our audience, when you hire me, this is non-negotiable. You
need a clear understanding of the fundamentals. Number one, you
(19:26):
need a structured nutrition plan. Number two, you need some
sort of resistance training. Number three, you need to get moving.
You need to get your daily step count up and
you need to implement a consistent cardio routine. Let me
put it to you this way. When you're building a house,
you don't start from the roof down. You pour a
foundation and build up. This requires you to roll up
(19:48):
your sleeves and get to work. so you don't become
reliant on a short-term tool. This creates long-term sustainability. And
when you put this into action, you now have an exit.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Strategy with zero rebound.
Speaker 8 (20:06):
Building that structure internally from a physical and mental standpoint,
and then correlating it into how we're going to build
that legacy down the road, what we're doing financially with
that is all married together. But how we get to
that point or how we take that journey has become
very significant and sometimes even doesn't warrant the medications or
(20:28):
the path that has been chosen by some people because
of lack of education or misinformation, or not being guided
by the right person in that realm. So when we
build our legacy itself, we sort of head down that
road into, okay, how did we get to this point
and where do we want to wind up?
Speaker 6 (20:46):
What is our goal?
Speaker 8 (20:48):
It's not just mental and physical, but it's a financial
goal as well. But you can't have one without the other.
They have to be co-joined. And I think when Anthony
brings up these points of how, and further through the show,
of how we try to build ourselves physically And mentally,
it's how do we alleviate the stress moving forward of
trying to retire properly into that realm of happiness and health, right?
(21:12):
Being mindful of what we've built down the road going
through it. And, you know, consistency compounds, right? So we
talk about making intelligent decisions, using education, being more learned
into the realm that we're going ahead. So if I'm
reaching out to Anthony, I want to know more about X, Y,
and Z. Why am I doing this? And where is
this going to head? Clients come to me. They want
(21:34):
to know, OK, if I'm healthy or I'm not healthy,
how do we build this game plan or what's sustainable
for our future for retirement? And I think, you know, Anthony,
when I think about you, I think about how do
people delve into a program or say they want to
choose an extreme plan or do they just want to
build a less dramatic system in 10, 20 or 30
(21:56):
years down the road? How do you come about with that?
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (21:59):
So we know extreme cells, right? People want to do
something that they feel like is drastic where it's maybe
six days of cardio or I'm not going to eat
carbohydrates ever. I'm not going to indulge. That's just not realistic.
Like there's no sustainability there because people don't understand that
the first two things that they need are structure and accountability.
(22:20):
And that's basically what I supply. But more importantly, adherence.
Because if you have a plan that looks perfect on paper,
but you can't adhere to it, it brings nothing of
value to you.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
That commitment.
Speaker 6 (22:32):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I love the parallel you both just made because that's
exactly why expertise matters. Anthony isn't simply handing somebody a
meal plan. And Mike, you're not simply looking at an
investment account. You're looking at the human being behind the
numbers and asking, what can this person actually sustain? What
changes are coming? Where are their vulnerabilities? Because consistency compounds
(22:55):
in our bodies and in our money. You can't, you know,
you can't have the cake and eat it too. So
I think, you know, the balance is the best way
to go about it. Which brings me to the next
question for you, Anthony. The muscle problem. Are we losing
the wrong weight is the question. Here's something I think
consumers need to understand. When somebody proudly says, I lost
30 pounds, well, my next question is 30 pounds of what? Anthony,
(23:19):
if somebody is using a GLP-1 or simply trying to
lose significant weight, how do you protect muscle, metabolism, and
strength while still achieving the fat loss results they came for?
Speaker 7 (23:31):
I think this is severely distorted because people are so
locked into a number on a scale. And if you
lost 50 pounds, hypothetically, how much of that was muscle?
So when you look at the big picture, if we're
looking to increase lean tissue, muscle protein synthesis is a
big part of that. Keyword there being protein. So you
need to at least cover your body weight in protein
(23:54):
if you're going to entertain this type of therapy because
muscle Without covering that protein, you are setting yourself a
fifth area because if you look at the big picture
of why people are probably using it in the first place,
systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Protein alleviates a
lot of that or at least puts you on the
(24:15):
right path. So you need to make sure that you're
having structured meals, that you're eating consistently, and most importantly,
that you're actually going to put that protein to work
and do some type of resistance training, something where you're
creating a stimulus. It doesn't have to be going to
the gym like a hardcore bodybuilder, but you should be
putting your body through a challenging situation so you can
(24:36):
create an environment that needs protein to induce muscle protein synthesis.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
And I think women especially need to hear that. I mean,
I don't want us obsessed with simply becoming smaller and thinner.
I want us thinking about becoming stronger. Can I carry
my groceries? Can I travel? Can I pick up my
grandchildren someday? Can I maintain my independence? That's the body
we're actually investing in, right? And I think, Mike, independence
has a financial definition too. So when Anthony starts talking
(25:04):
about longevity, suddenly your side of the conversation becomes very interesting, right?
Speaker 8 (25:10):
Yeah, so longevity, it changes the entire equation because longevity
is the biggest risk in life, right? The longer we live,
the more we have.
Speaker 7 (25:18):
To worry about.
Speaker 8 (25:19):
It's not just from a financial standpoint.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
It's from a physical standpoint.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
Anthony can gear plans for only so long, but people
have to follow them. We don't know if we're going
to live till we're 80, 90, 100. Now people, I've
stated in my last episode, there's somebody alive right now,
according to Time Magazine, that's going to be 140 years old.
They're alive today. So how do we plan for that,
for that longevity risk? And it starts with the health
(25:43):
and it starts with the wellness, right? But financial ways
of going about that, we have to sit. And again,
I could preach this till the day I die about education, right?
Learning more about what's out there, learning about the programs,
not just in the health side, but the financial side.
So health span, wealth span, right? We're trying to build
(26:05):
that network internally. And then we want to bring that
to fruition. We want to put that in our lives.
So building a better body, right. It go, it correlates
with building a plan, right? So I tell clients foundation
and focus equals fun. And when we're talking about health
in conjunction with the state planning, it co-joins perfectly. So
(26:25):
we need to have all the pieces in play before
we head down that road. And, um, you know, when
I think about Anthony, about like, when I got to
ask you about like somebody in their thirties or forties, um,
What would they be doing today if the goal wasn't
to look good for next summer? How do we actually
build that for them to make them functionally independent for
decades from now? How do you approach that with a client?
Speaker 7 (26:46):
So what we're doing right now, I mean, in your 30s,
your 40s, your 50s, you're basically setting a blueprint for
your 80s and your 90s. It all comes back to
the fundamentals. It's not really anything that's pretty, but a
lot of people don't understand what the fundamentals are. So
if you're far into following... a food plan, if you've
(27:06):
never held yourself accountable, if you've never hired a coach,
if you've never stepped foot in a gym, these are
the things that you're going to have to start doing.
And I have a lot of people that come to
me now that never did any of those. And the
first time that they're doing this is in their 30s
and their 40s. So it's important that you understand it's
never too late to start something. But the reality of
the situation is that you have to start something in
(27:28):
order for you to be functional, like you said, Zen,
later in life. I don't want to just be able
to get up and live because I'm 90 years old.
I want to be able to play with my kids,
play with my grandkids. I want to be able to
do things around the house. I would like to be
able to train into my 80s and 90s. And I
think people have a very skewed view of what life
could look like if they did apply themselves. A lot
(27:53):
of people are happy by just getting by. And I'm
here to basically push them to be the best version
of themselves.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
For those of you listening, Anthony De La Ventura, founder
of Deluxe Fitness and Nutrition. Thank him for reminding us
that transformation isn't simply about losing weight. It's about building
a lifestyle you can actually sustain. You can follow him
on the gram at Anthony underscore Deluxe. That's two L's, D-E-L-L-U-X-E,
Anthony underscore Deluxe. And for Michael D'Antuono, founder of the
(28:22):
Legacy Blueprint Series and wealth strategist with ProVest Innovative Wealth Strategies.
Thank you, Mike, for continuing to remind us that building
wealth is only one part of the equation. Understanding what
that wealth needs to do for you, your family, and
the generations coming behind you is where the blueprint really begins.
To learn more about Mike, you could go directly to
(28:42):
proveststrategies.com and you can also check him out on the
gram at proveststrategies. Protect your health, protect your wealth, and
don't wait for a crisis to start building the plan.
You're listening to A Moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. We'll be right back
after this.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
A Moment of Zen is brought to you by Your
Home TV with Kathy Ireland and their channel partners. Head
to yourhometv.com for free, family-friendly programming, streaming 24-7.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
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Watch luxury Barn Dominium tours on your home TV and
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Speaker 2 (29:30):
Tune in to a moment of zen, Saturday nights from
9 to 10 p.m. on 710WOR, The Voice of New York.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
The Voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to the Better, Brighter You series brought to
you by Cispera. Today, our expert on the microphone is Dr.
Corey Hartman. He's Alabama's number one ABD certified dermatologist and
(29:59):
founder and medical director of Skin Wellness Dermatology. A nationally
recognized expert in treating all skin types, Dr. Hartman specializes
in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and hyperpigmentation. Serves on the
board of directors of the Skin of Color Society and
is an adjunct associate professor of dermatology at UAB. Today,
(30:19):
he joins us to break down the complexities of hyperpigmentation
and melasma, why more aggressive doesn't always mean better, and
how we can rethink pigment care from smarter topicals and
inside-out skin health to avoiding the skincare mistakes that may
actually be creating more pigmentation. Welcome to the show, superstar.
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (30:39):
I'm so happy to be here. Always a good time
with you.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
So much fun. Welcome back. So let's talk about the
hidden pigment triggers because hyperpigmentation affects millions worldwide, yet many
still don't fully understand what's happening beneath the surface or
what's actually causing it. We often focus on the obvious triggers, sun, exposure, inflammation,
or skin injury, but there can be much more happening
(31:02):
beneath the surface. So what are some lesser known or
maybe even overlooked factors that can drive pigmentation? And why
is identifying and addressing those underlying triggers so important to
treating hyperpigmentation effectively and even preventing it before it comes back?
Speaker 9 (31:19):
So I think the biggest thing that can drive pigmentation
that people don't always realize is those hormones that are
working in all of our bodies that interplay with the sun,
like you mentioned, but also heat, which is another hidden
trigger that can trigger at least melasma to be its
worst self. These triggers work together to increase the inflammation
(31:40):
that then drives the hyperpigmentation that we see with regard
to conditions like melasma, where we get this lace-like reticular
pattern on the cheeks. the upper lip, the forehead, it
can affect really any part of the face and even
the upper arms, all the way over to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
that results from very common conditions like acne to just
(32:04):
the run-of-the-mill sun damage that we see from being out
without sunscreen and proper protection for prolonged periods of time.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
So let's talk about when treatment backfires and melasma in
particular is can be incredibly frustrating because sometimes the very
treatments intended to improve the skin can actually trigger more pigmentation.
It's like a catch-22. And this rebound effect can leave
patients really feeling like they're caught in a cycle, unsure
of what the right path forward even is. And this
(32:34):
becomes even more complex for patients with darker skin, as
you know. where hyperpigmentation can be particularly persistent and even
relatively minor inflammation or irritation can trigger additional pigment, right?
To my understanding. So Dr. Hartman, as an expert in
both laser and hyperpigmentation, and as a member of the
board of directors of the Skin of Color Society, when
(32:54):
you're treating these patients, how do you balance effectively targeting
existing pigmentation while minimizing the risk of triggering even more
pigment in the process?
Speaker 9 (33:05):
The first thing that you have to do is really
educate patients about the nature of the disease and let
them know that it is a chronic condition that does
not have a cure. Once you set that sort of
foundation for them, they understand that our treatment needs to
be targeted, but it also needs to be moderate enough
that it creates an improvement without being so aggressive that
it either corrects the problem too quickly and leads to
(33:27):
rebound hyperpigmentation. or increases inflammation because the treatment can be irritating,
which then just triggers the cascade of hyperpigmentation to begin
all over again. So I'm glad that you mentioned laser.
Laser is a quick fix option, but the wrong laser
can actually be terrible. You can see an immediate improvement
that will then rebound really, really quickly, which is frustrating
(33:50):
because lasers can be uncomfortable and they can also be expensive.
And then the former gold standard treatment was hydroquinone forever.
Hydroquinone is a wonderful tool in the armamentarium, but we
know now that it has a very limited role in
how we treat since we have so many other options
that do a better job. Hyperpigmentation can be worsened by
(34:11):
chronic reuse of hydroquinone and hydroquinone use when it's stopped,
which it has to be stopped at some point, can
also lead to a lot of rebound, which is again,
very frustrating for patients.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Now, when it comes to treating stubborn pigmentation, there's often
a temptation to reach for the strongest or most aggressive option.
But as we know, more aggressive doesn't necessarily mean more effective.
And consistency and long-term care are really key to keeping
pigmentation under control. And going back to what you just said,
the hydroquinone, I mean, I've had this debate on social
(34:43):
media posts with top derms. You know, they're still arguing
it's the gold standard. And it is, has been considered
a gold standard in pigment correction. But you said something
extremely important. important. We're seeing growing interest in the non-hydroquinone
alternatives because it's more sustainable. And I think it's patients
looking for an approach that they can incorporate into the
(35:05):
long-term skincare strategy, right? So Suspera, for example, uses cysteamine
as its key active ingredient in its topical. So Dr. Hartman,
what stands out to you about having non-hydroquinone options such
as Suspera? Are they just as effective? And why do
you think consistency and, again, long-term care are so important
in this equation?
Speaker 9 (35:26):
Well, first of all, we look at the data. We
look at the clinical trials, which establish that products like Cispera,
which contains cysteamine, can be as effective as hydroquinone. So
let's just start there with effectiveness. And like any good
clinical trial, you're going to establish effectiveness. You want to
go against the gold standard and show at least equivalency,
if not superiority. But then you have to step back
(35:48):
and look at the side effects and the long-term adverse
effect profile. For hydroquinone, we know that it is cytotoxic.
If you use it on a long-term basis, it is
something that will destroy your cells and stop them from
proliferating in a very healthy way. And you cannot continue
that forever. And it's crude because it only works on
one part of the pathway that leads to hyperpigmentation in
(36:10):
the first place, where a product like Suspera works on
four different pathways. It elevates the good pigment. It downgrades
the dark pigment that's, you know, causing the discoloration in
the first place. It is able to be used in
a more generalized manner so that it's not so, you
don't have to be so specific about how you put
it on. And then it just gives your skin this
(36:31):
overall evenness, which is what you're going for really. And
it gives you a glow when you're done with it.
Now add to that the fact that once you get it,
how you want it to look, your skin, you achieve
the goal. You can use this as maintenance therapy by
decreasing the frequency of the use. So products like Suspera
have really changed the game on how we treat hyperpigmentation. Very,
(36:54):
very rarely now is hyperpigmentation a part of the equation,
and it's hardly ever a first-line therapy for me. I
go to Suspera most of the time.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
And that's a major mindset shift, especially with melasma, which
has recurrence rates reported as high as 50% or even
more after treatment. It really becomes less about chasing a
quick fix and more about having options that fit into
sustainable pigment management, to your point. And now I want
to talk about beauty from the inside out. So let's
go back to the beginning of our conversation where we
talked about the complexities of hyperpigmentation and why addressing the
(37:26):
underlying drivers matters, right? We're also seeing the conversation around
skin health expand beyond simply treating what we see on
the surface and move toward a more comprehensive inside-out approach.
So Suspera is, again, a great example of this evolution.
It's expanding its portfolio to include the Total Skin Supplement.
(37:46):
This is fascinating. It's an oral approach designed to support
skin tone, evenness and overall luminosity from within everything we're
talking about. So now in your expert opinion, how important
is it to you to think about skin health from
the inside out? And is this going too far, right?
To take an oral supplement?
Speaker 9 (38:04):
No, absolutely not. In fact, there is an existing oral
medication on the market, but it has some side effects.
It can lead to blood clots. It can be very effective.
But again, like hydroquinone, It's used as a last option
and it's not something that you can use on an
ongoing basis. So remember efficacy, right? But what about the safety?
(38:24):
So it's always a good idea and so exciting for
those of us in the hyperpigmentation area of dermatology and
aesthetics because we have not had a lot of other
options for some of these more standard treatments in the past.
Now we see this tyrocutin ingredient, which is included in
total skin and a little glutathione. which we know has
(38:44):
always been a powerful antioxidant, just like cysteamine. And we've
been able to incorporate that to not only help with hyperpigmentation,
but really augment the effects that we see with the topical.
So great product, but also in combination, it's worked wonders
in my patients to just take them to that next level.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
That was the incredible Dr. Corey Hartman, Alabama's number one
ABD certified dermatologist. You definitely want to check him out
on the gram at dr.coreyhartman. That's dr.coreyhartman. And his practice
is at skin.wellness.derm. And you can hit the skinwellness.com. And
of course, to learn more about Suspera, you can head
directly to their website at suspera.com. That's C-Y-S-P-E-R-A. And you
(39:26):
can check them out on the gram at Suspera. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. We'll be right back
after this.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
A Moment of Zen. is brought to you by Cyspera.
If you're struggling with stubborn dark spots, uneven skin tone,
or pigmentation, meet Cyspera, a Swiss science-driven skin health brand
redefining pigmentation and skin health through clinically proven innovation. Cyspera's
innovative formulas target pigmentation at the source for a more
even and radiant complexion. From intensive and sensitive to ageless
(39:59):
and total skin, there's a solution for every skin need.
Discover the science behind more luminous skin at Cyspera.com.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Welcome back, beautiful New York tri-state area and beyond. You're
listening to a moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
Welcome back to the Hydration with Heart series brought to
you by Once Upon a Coconut. Devin Kennedy is a
Princeton graduate, professional basketball player currently competing for Mykonos BC
(40:27):
in Greece, former Orlando Magic Guard, and the first undrafted
player to even earn NBA G League Finals MVP honors.
After going undrafted in 2019, Devin coined a philosophy that
would come to define his journey. Run your own race.
Less than two years later, he was a G League
champion and final MVP and earned his NBA call-up with Orlando.
(40:52):
But his race was about to take another turn. Just
weeks into his NBA breakthrough, Devin suffered a devastating open
fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, an injury that
required surgery and took him away from competition for nearly
10 months. He fought his way all the way back
to the NBA. Today, His race continues in Greece alongside
(41:13):
his wife, WNBA player Katie Lou Samuelson, and their daughter.
He's also taken that philosophy off the basketball court through
the Run Your Own Race brand and his children's book,
Aaliyah Khan. Our headliner today fits quite perfectly. Run Your
Own Race, the NBA comeback that refused to die. Devin Kennedy,
(41:34):
welcome to the show, superstar.
Speaker 6 (41:36):
Thank you for having me. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I'm so excited to interview you today, all the way
from Mykonos, Greece. All right, so let's chat about the
dream nobody guaranteed. So, Devin, I love that. Run Your
Own Race wasn't created after you became successful. You coined
it after going undrafted in 2019. when your future was
anything but certain and your story goes back even further,
(42:01):
you've talked about you and your mom literally shoveling snow
off a basketball court in Indiana so you could get
shots up. I mean, take me back to that kid
with the shovel. When you look at everything that followed, Princeton,
going undrafted, the G League, and ultimately the NBA, where
did that belief that your race didn't have to look
(42:21):
like anybody else's actually come from?
Speaker 6 (42:23):
Yeah, no, that's, Even just talking about it brings me
back to a freezing cold day in Indiana. I was
a freshman in high school, the only freshman on varsity
at the time. So all my teammates, juniors and seniors,
they had cars, they had licenses. But that day specifically
was a state of emergency in Indiana. No one was
allowed on the road. So that meant no practice, which
(42:44):
meant no shots for the day. And I give a
lot of credit to my mom, my dad for pushing me,
always continuing to keep my fire going. knowing, hey, like
we can go to the park, we can shovel. And,
you know, me just even having that as an option
was like, all right, well, let's go. And so shoveled
that day, made my consistent daily 100 free throws while
(43:07):
everyone else was inside, drinking hot chocolate, you know, with marshmallows.
And I just think back to that kid who had
a dream to make it to the NBA, who's out
here in the freezing cold with gloves on, scarf on,
hat on, just making free throw after free throw. mind you,
I ended up becoming one of the top 10 free
throw shooters of all time in college, shooting around 90%.
(43:29):
So that's something I've always hung my hat on. And
it's like, I'm doing things other people aren't doing because
I have goals that other people may not have, dreams
that other people may not have. And even those who do,
I just always relied on my faith, relied on my work.
So I definitely think back to that kid from time
to time. And this summer actually was back home and
(43:50):
that court with They used to have a lot of
cracks in it. Now it actually says Kennedy Court. It
has my Run Your Own Race logo on it. You know,
I walked up there, unassuming, watching 20 kids playing on
the court. And one person was like, wait, is this
your court? And that feeling just meant everything because it
just reminded me of the whole journey, the whole race, which,
(44:11):
like you said, still has a long way to go
and has brought me to Greece.
Speaker 8 (44:15):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (44:16):
I got chills. Congratulations. I mean, you've come such a
long way. Now, when your moment finally arrives. So then
comes this incredible sequence. You help Lakeland win its first
G League championship. You put up 22 points, six rebounds
and four assists in the final. I read the whole thing.
I did. I did my research.
Speaker 6 (44:38):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
Yeah. You then become the first undrafted G League finals MVP.
And suddenly the Orlando magic call. So after spending years,
I mean, literally years being told indirectly where you ranked
through recruiting the draft and roster decisions. What happens internally
when the NBA finally calls and says, you're ready? Did
(45:02):
it validate the dream or did you already know you
belong there?
Speaker 6 (45:07):
It kind of goes back to when I was in
high school, two years after the shoveling the snow, I'm
now a junior on my high school team. I'm kind
of the captain, the leader now. I played behind someone
named Demetrius Jackson, played in the NBA. So I got
to see someone get recruited by Kansas, Duke, Notre Dame,
all these big time schools. And okay, like I can
(45:29):
do this too. And then none of those schools came
calling me. So I felt overlooked. I felt undervalued. I
want to make it to the NBA. Again, the four
years throughout Princeton, overlooked, undervalued, but constantly believing in myself.
That all led to the G League Championships. you know,
the finals MVP, kind of God's timing matching perfectly with
(45:50):
my preparation. And then when I got that call, my
agent's number comes across my screen. And that's when I heard,
you know, Orlando's going to sign you to a 10-day contract.
Get ready. It's time to go to the NBA. So
that day was amazing. And to your question, it validated
the dream because I wasn't crazy. I wasn't delusional, but
I had an unwavering belief in myself. My work ethic
(46:14):
never changed. And again, that faith mixed with the work,
the consistent work, you know, it came together at the
right time. So, you know, it validated it. And at
the same time, I knew I belonged there the whole time.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
So now let's talk about the moment everything changed. And
then comes the part of your story that really stopped me.
On April 25th, 2021, you're playing for Orlando when you
land awkwardly contesting a layup and then suffer an open
fracture on your right ankle.
Speaker 8 (46:41):
I mean, oof.
Speaker 3 (46:43):
So you're taken off on a stretcher and need surgery.
I mean, you'd finally reached the NBA and suddenly your body,
the very thing your career depended on, couldn't do its job.
What was harder during those months, the physical process of
rebuilding your ankle or rebuilding the trust in your own
body and mind that you could still be the athlete
(47:05):
you were before that moment?
Speaker 6 (47:07):
So those next few months for me were very challenging
because it was like, I knew how difficult, how hard
it was to just make it there to begin with.
You talk about the stars aligning. How is it possible
for lightning to strike twice? I'm an unassuming guy. If
you saw me in the street, you wouldn't think basketball player,
let alone NBA player. I went to Princeton, I put
(47:29):
on a suit and tie, you'd think I'd work in
consulting or finance. So six foot one, 180, the NBA
size is usually six foot seven. So the odds of
me making it back were very low, But for some reason,
and I have to believe it was my faith, because
in that moment, instead of cursing, I actually gave thanks
(47:49):
to God. I said, thank you for giving one of
your strongest warriors this test, because this now will be
my testimony. And it's only going to show Jesus' love.
It's only going to showcase what God can do when
you're assumed to be down and out. So I kept
that with me. I actually documented a lot of that
journey through YouTube, my series, the Run Your Own Race
(48:12):
docuseries on YouTube. You can go see kind of six
episodes of what that behind the scenes looked like. Gained
a pretty big following on TikTok because I was just open.
I was authentic and said, hey, it's possible I never
make it back. but you're here early because I'm, I'm
going to, and I ended up coming back being second
in the G league and three point percentage that year.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
So that is the comeback story because the comeback wasn't symbolic.
You actually did it. So 13 games into your return,
you were averaging 15 and a half points and shooting
almost 40% from three. I mean, that's where resilience stops
being a motivational word and becomes something measurable, right?
Speaker 6 (48:51):
Okay. The reality.
Speaker 3 (48:52):
That's the reality. So now let's talk about the NBA
all the way that led you to Greece. People are
listening that you're in Mykonos and they're like, wait, she
skipped over a huge chapter. So the NBA to Greece,
is success allowed to change is the question. So now
your race has taken you somewhere completely different. You're entering
your third consecutive year playing professionally in Greece. You're learning
(49:15):
the language. You're raising your daughter abroad and embracing an
entirely different culture. And I find this chapter fascinating because
American sports culture can make athletes believe there's only one
definition of, quote unquote, making it, right? The NBA. So
has living and playing in Greece changed your definition of success?
(49:35):
And what has the Mediterranean life taught you about food
and family and wellness or simply slowing down that the
NBA grind never could?
Speaker 6 (49:43):
My mindset has always been, I'm not going to settle
for just making it. I'm going to raise the standard
and try and make the playoffs, try and beat some
of these best teams out here, which we've done. And
we've made the playoffs two years. I'm back in Mykonos now.
Our goals are still high. But something that I'm learning
is the art of slowing down and really how much
that can actually benefit me as a person, me as
(50:05):
a player. I don't have to have the 5 a.m.
wake up, super regimented routine, although I still do have
elements of that. I think I can't change that. But
the day to day, stopping and having conversations, not setting
a schedule where I have to be here exactly at
one o'clock. That's something the Greeks do very well. Something
that I actually have a hard time adjusting to, but
(50:28):
slowing down for my family means going to the beach.
We finished practice, you've done your work, but now you
get a chance to relax. And I think as I
was approaching my NBA journey and even to the kid
that was shoveling the snow and all the things that
led me to the success that I found to make
it to the NBA, were some of the limiting factors.
(50:48):
And I think if I gave myself a little bit
of grace along the way, took more time to build
deeper connections, not stay kind of superficially and then move
on to the next thing and always be in this
fast-paced kind of mindset, you find value, you find deeper connection.
Even with my family, you talk about family and wellness
and those types of things. My family's proud to be
(51:13):
in Greece. We call Greece our home. This is our home.
And so we're learning. I'm embracing the culture. It's been amazing.
Speaker 3 (51:23):
You can follow Devin at... devin underscore canady three and
follow the movement at the run your own race of
course this is all on instagram and today's conversation is
part of the hydration with heart series brought to you
by once upon a coconut you can go directly to
once upon a coconut.com to get your favorite flavor and
incredible taste of coconut water and of course you can
(51:44):
check them out on the gram as well at once
upon a coconut you're listening to a moment of zen
right here on 710 wor the voice of new york
iheart radio we'll be right back after this A moment
of Zen is brought to you by Once Upon a Coconut.
Speaker 4 (51:56):
Discover the refreshing taste of 100% pure coconut water that
actually tastes great.
Speaker 3 (52:02):
Naturally sweet with no artificial flavors or added sugar.
Speaker 4 (52:05):
It's packed with electrolytes to keep you hydrated throughout your day.
And with 10% of profits going to charity, every sip
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Speaker 3 (52:13):
Pure taste, pure goodness. Experience nature's Gatorade. Visit Once Upon
a Coconut or naturesgatorade.com. Well, that's a wrap, my dear friends.
We are at the end of our date. Thank you
for listening to A Moment of Zen right here on 710WOR,
the voice of New York iHeartRadio. I'm your host, Zen Sams.
It's been a pleasure. Thanks again for listening to us.
(52:34):
Remember to join me right here every Saturday, or you
could head directly to amomentofzen.com for live listening links and
episode downloads in your city. And also remember that we're
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Moment of Zen are available on your home TV streaming platform.
(52:55):
You can go directly to our channel. It's family-friendly, free
programming to you, mox.yourhometv.com. Thank you for listening to us.
It's been an absolute pleasure being your host. Thanks again
to all of our partners, advertisers, and sponsors that continue
to make this show possible.
Speaker 1 (53:11):
The preceding was a paid podcast. iHeartRadio's hosting of this
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