Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project Podcast By Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development cover art

Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

By: Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Listen for free

About this listen

 The bar for human performance is higher than it’s ever been. As a result, we all feel the need to do MORE. At the same time, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of sleep, rest, recovery, and wellness. Accordingly, we also feel the need to do LESS. If you’re like most people, it can be challenging to reconcile this conflict of feeling the need to do MORE and LESS simultaneously, and that is likely contributing to high rates of burnout and decreased performance. So how do we reconcile these seemingly competing desires? That is where Human Optimization comes in. Human Optimization is the process of achieving more (however you define that for yourself) while simultaneously improving your wellness and well-being. Although it’s not easy, it’s certainly possible. Not only is it possible, but it is becoming increasingly essential. In this Mayo Clinic Talks Mini-Series, we are going to dive into the topic of Human Optimization and will focus on a few key areas including: exercise, nutrition, culture, emotional intelligence, and finding joy in all you do. Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: optimize@mayo.edu Listening is free and no CME Credit is available for this series.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Motivating Others: How to Connect With, Inspire, and Motivate the People Around You

    Motivating Others: How to Connect With, Inspire, and Motivate the People Around You
    Jun 4 2025

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

    Guest: Pablo Lopez, Professional Baseball Pitcher | Minnesota Twins Baseball Club

    If you’ve ever been a part of a team, group, organization, or family, it’s obvious that much of your progress, success, and happiness in heavily influenced by the people around you. This can be a major blessing if you are surrounded by the right kind of people. But if you aren’t, it can be a major challenge and roadblock to success. One of critical elements to ensure success of the group is having the ability to appropriately motivate those around you. This is a critical element to group success, but it isn’t easy. That’s what we are going to focus on in this session as we sit down with Major League Baseball player, Pablo Lopez. The three big questions are working through with Pablo are: 1. What does it really mean to motivate others, and why does it matter? 2. Why do most people struggle to effectively motivate their peers, and what common challenges keep us from inspiring others? 3. What practical steps can the average person take to become better at motivating those around them?

    Connect with us! Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize

    X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube

    Email: optimize@mayo.edu

    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • Understanding the Basics of Sleep: What Everyone Should Know about Sleep Needs and Stages

    Understanding the Basics of Sleep: What Everyone Should Know about Sleep Needs and Stages
    May 28 2025

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

    Guest: Stuart J. McCarter, M.D., Sleep and Cognitive/Behavioral Neurologist | Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN

    In the past, we’ve discussed the circadian rhythm and how it sets your clock for the day. Both when you are awake, and when you are asleep. Today, we are going to focus in on what happens to us when we go to sleep. We all know that for sleep to be truly restorative, we need a certain amount of it, and that sleep needs to be high quality. So, it’s a problem that concerns both quality and quantity. But if you want to optimize the quality and quantity of your sleep, you need to start by understanding what sleep is and what happens to our bodies while we are snoozing. This knowledge is foundational to you becoming the best sleeper you can be. Our guest this week is Dr. Stuart McCarter, who is a Neurologist and Sleep Expert from the Mayo Clinic. The three big questions Dr. McCarter is going to answer for us this week are: 1. What is sleep and why is it so important? 2. What are the different stages of sleep and their functions? 3. How can I tell how if I am getting enough high-quality sleep?

    Connect with us! Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize

    X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube

    Email: optimize@mayo.edu

    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • Unwrapping the Truth About Processed Foods: Impact on Your Health and How to Overcome the Temptation

    Unwrapping the Truth About Processed Foods: Impact on Your Health and How to Overcome the Temptation
    May 21 2025

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

    Guest: Katherine A. Zeratsky, RDN, LD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Registered Dietitian | Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN

    Would you describe yourself as someone who is busy, wants to save money, and likes things that taste good? That describes a lot of us, and those are some of the most common reasons many of us rely on processed foods. However, these foods can have a major impact on us in ways that are obvious, and others that are not so obvious. Not only does what we eat impact our weight, but overconsumption of processed foods impacts nearly every domain of human performance. To tell us more about this topic, our quest this week is Mayo Clinic Registered Dietician and Nutritionist, Kate Zeratsky. The three big questions she is going to walk us through include: 1. What exactly are processed foods and why do they matter so much to our overall health? 2. Why do so many of us rely on processed foods despite the known downsides? 3. What are the practical steps we should take right now to minimize processed foods in our diets?

    Connect with us! Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize

    X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube

    Email: optimize@mayo.edu

    Show more Show less
    52 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_T1_webcro805_stickypopup
No reviews yet