SuperLife with Darin Olien

In this special compilation episode, Darin curates some of the most powerful conversations ever featured on the SuperLife Podcast, all centered around one core truth: real transformation comes from small, consistent habits, not massive overnight change.
Drawing from neuroscience, trauma recovery, behavior change, breathwork, mindset training, and lived experience, this episode dismantles the myth of willpower and replaces it with something far more effective: environmental design, repetition, and self-awareness.
From world-renowned researchers to survivors, artists, and healers, each voice reinforces the same message: habits are the infrastructure of a super life.
 
 
What You'll Learn
Why chasing "quantum leaps" keeps people stuck

How small, boring steps outperform dramatic change

The science behind habit formation and behavior loops

Why willpower fails and what works instead

How environment shapes behavior before conscious choice

Why micro-movements can save a life

How trauma healing requires baby steps, not overwhelm

The role of breathwork in rewiring the nervous system

How repetition builds new neural pathways

Why discipline creates freedom, not restriction

How to reprogram negative self-talk into an inner ally

Why curiosity beats judgment in long-term growth

How mindset can be gamified to support progress

The "good, better, best" framework for sustainable habits

Why consistency matters more than recognition



 
 
Chapters
00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife and the philosophy of sovereignty
00:00:33 – Sponsor: Manna Vitality and frequency-enhanced wellness
00:02:03 – Why the obsession with overnight success is a trap
00:02:45 – The pattern Darin noticed across hundreds of guests
00:03:03 – Introducing the ultimate habits compilation
00:04:41 – Dr. Laurie Santos on the "arrival fallacy" and why circumstances don't create happiness
00:09:35 – Darin Olien (Solo): Why willpower is the wrong engine & designing your environment
00:13:54 – Chloe Temtchine: Rebuilding life from death's door through micro-movements
00:18:16 – Sponsor: Shakeology and foundational nutrition
00:21:52 – Dr. Aimie Apigian: Why trauma healing requires "baby steps" for the nervous system
00:27:35 – Darin Olien (Solo): Discipline as a container for freedom & the "One Thing" strategy
00:32:55 – Robyn O'Brien: The year-long discipline of rewiring your inner voice
00:41:07 – Sponsor: SuperLife Patreon community
00:42:39 – Juergen 'Jules' Horn: The math of breathwork (7.5 hours to rewire the nervous system)
00:44:57 – RedFoo: Gamifying your mindset with the "plus one" equation
00:48:41 – Alysa Conger: Intuition is a muscle built through reps (just like pushups)
00:50:23 – Darin Olien (Solo): The "Good, Better, Best" framework for reducing toxins
00:55:16 – Sheila Morovati: How asking one simple question can spark a global movement
00:56:47 – Jeff Turner: Relentless consistency and showing up when no one is watching
01:05:12 – Dr. Aly Cohen: The "4 A's" Framework (Assess, Avoid, Add, Allow) for non-toxic living
01:17:55 – Jennifer Cohen: The "Spit and Catch" story & why boredom breeds resourcefulness
01:32:04 – Johnny Graham: Overcoming fear of the future by asking "What am I doing right now?"
01:34:07 – Conclusion: We are not victims—you have agency over your biology and destiny
01:35:24 – Upcoming projects: Roadmap to Happiness & closing thoughts
 
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Shakeology: Get 15% off with code SUPERLIFE at Shakeology.com.

Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order.

 
 
Join the SuperLife Community
Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions:
Weekly voice notes

Ingredient deep dives

Wellness challenges

Energy + consciousness tools

Community accountability

Extended episodes

Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien
 
 
Find More From Darin:
Follow the New Show: Roadmap to Happiness

Instagram: @darinolien

Podcast: SuperLife Podcast

Website: superlife.com

Book: Fatal Conveniences

 
 
Key Takeaway
You don't change your life in one leap — you build it one habit at a time.

In this special solo episode, Darin shares a deeply personal announcement years in the making. After more than two and a half years of traveling, filming, listening, and immersing himself in cultures and conversations around the world, Darin officially invites listeners into a living project and movement: The Roadmap to Happiness.
This upcoming series features powerful conversations with voices like Jason Momoa, Elijah Wood, Shailene Woodley, and Alec Baldwin, alongside everyday people across the globe, all exploring what truly creates contentment, connection, and hope.
This episode is not about hacks or quick fixes. it's about what truly creates contentment, connection, and hope across cultures. From Sundance revelations to universal human needs, Darin lays out the foundational pillars that consistently show up wherever people are thriving, and why happiness isn't just personal, but collective.
 
 
 
What You'll Learn
Why this episode is different from a typical solo deep dive

The origin story of The Roadmap to Happiness

What Sundance revealed about the power of this project

Why happiness isn't about perfection or constant joy

The universal human needs that create contentment across cultures

Why generosity instantly shifts biology and emotion

How purpose extends beyond job titles and income

Why community and safety are non-negotiable for thriving

The biological and emotional importance of access to nature

How health creates energy, clarity, and resilience

Why freedom and time matter more than productivity

How hope counters fear and catastrophizing

Why happiness is contagious and scalable

The difference between a TV show and a living movement

How small increases in happiness can change the world



 
 
Chapters
00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife and the mission of sovereignty
00:00:33 – Sponsor: Mana Vitality and frequency-based wellness
00:02:04 – A different kind of episode: a special announcement
00:02:23 – Filming quietly for over two and a half years
00:02:55 – Revealing the project at Sundance
00:03:27 – Familiar faces and unfinished chapters
00:03:34 – The birth of The Roadmap to Happiness
00:04:16 – Sundance panel experience and audience reaction
00:04:44 – Bringing listeners inside the journey
00:05:16 – A question that stopped Darin cold
00:05:28 – What travel and immersion revealed about happiness
00:05:47 – Health, generosity, security, purpose, and balance
00:06:06 – Contentment vs constant joy
00:06:24 – Happiness as a global experience
00:06:50 – Safety, meaning, love, and connection
00:07:36 – Why most people are fundamentally good
00:07:42 – What connects every story across cultures
00:08:02 – Feeling seen, safe, and respected
00:08:40 – Pillars, not hacks, of happiness
00:09:08 – Subjective joy vs foundational needs
00:10:08 – Sponsor: Shakeology and nutrient density
00:13:12 – Generosity as a biological and emotional amplifier
00:14:13 – Purpose beyond titles and income
00:14:32 – Community and collective uplift
00:14:50 – Security and feeling protected
00:15:03 – Access to nature as a biological
00:15:34 – Health as energy, clarity, and resilience
00:16:07 – Freedom, time, and expression
00:16:30 – Happiness across cultures and belief systems
00:16:52 – Hope as the central message
00:17:18 – Why giving up hope gives up everything
00:17:26 – Creating a movement, not just a show
00:17:43 – Lessons from Down to Earth
00:18:06 – The ripple effect of collective happiness
00:18:35 – From TV series to living movement
00:18:52 – Invitation to join The Roadmap to Happiness
00:19:22 – Building community before the show airs
00:19:40 – An invitation to slow down and reconnect
00:19:49 – See you on the road
00:20:24 – Stop the scroll, start the roll
00:20:32 – Closing message and gratitude
 
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Shakeology: Get 15% off with code SUPERLIFE at Shakeology.com.

Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order.

 
 
Join the SuperLife Community
Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions:
Weekly voice notes

Ingredient deep dives

Wellness challenges

Energy + consciousness tools

Community accountability

Extended episodes

Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien
 
 
Find More From Darin:
Follow the New Show: Roadmap to Happiness

Instagram: @darinolien

Podcast: SuperLife Podcast

Website: superlife.com

Book: Fatal Conveniences

 
 
Key Takeaway
Happiness isn't a destination or a hack — it's a set of conditions we can build together.

In this wide-ranging and deeply grounded conversation, Darin sits down with Dr. Richard J. Brown to unpack some of the most pressing issues at the intersection of modern medicine, aesthetics, ethics, lifestyle, and personal responsibility.
From GLP-1 medications and obesity treatment to body dysmorphia, medical ethics, AI in healthcare, and the urgent need to integrate lifestyle medicine into traditional care, this episode explores what it truly means to help people heal — not just shrink symptoms.
Dr. Brown shares candid insights from the front lines of plastic surgery, preventative medicine, and fatherhood, offering a rare look at how discipline, community, and generational health can reshape both individuals and the healthcare system itself.
 
 
What You'll Learn
The real role of GLP-1 medications in obesity treatment

Why lifestyle change determines long-term success after weight loss drugs

The ethical dangers of cosmetic medicine driven by profit and aesthetics

How body dysmorphia is being amplified by social media culture

Why some patients should be turned away from surgery

The importance of mental health screening in aesthetic medicine

How AI is reshaping medical research and clinical decision-making

The risks of unverified online medical advice

Why doctors receive almost no training in nutrition and exercise

The disconnect between lifestyle medicine and the healthcare system

How preventative medicine could radically reduce chronic disease

The role of discipline, habit-building, and accountability in health

Why community is one of the most powerful drivers of lasting change

How generational health starts with parents modeling behavior

Why personal responsibility is the foundation of true sovereignty

 
 
Chapters
00:00:00 – Welcome to SuperLife and the mission of sovereignty
00:00:32 – Sponsor: TheraSage and frequency-based healing technologies
00:02:15 – Welcoming Dr. Richard J. Brown
00:02:55 – GLP-1 medications, obesity, and long-term use
00:03:31 – Why some people regain weight after stopping GLP-1s
00:04:20 – Lifestyle change as the differentiating factor
00:05:16 – Ethical concerns around GLP-1 misuse
00:06:02 – Body dysmorphia vs medical necessity
00:06:57 – GLP-1s as central nervous system drugs
00:07:37 – Compounding pharmacies and prescription risks
00:08:43 – Aesthetic pressure and social media distortion
00:09:31 – Ethics in plastic surgery and patient selection
00:10:05 – Saying no: turning patients away
00:11:19 – Weight loss, identity, and fear of letting go
00:12:20 – The need for qualified, ethical providers
00:13:13 – Exit strategies and long-term planning
00:14:22 – AI, ChatGPT, and medical misinformation
00:15:04 – How physicians are using AI responsibly
00:16:13 – Risks of self-diagnosis without medical context
00:17:17 – Empowered patients and the "Google MD" era
00:18:43 – Lifestyle medicine vs allopathic medicine
00:23:07 – Why lifestyle still isn't embraced by healthcare
00:24:21 – Doctors as educators, not just specialists
00:25:32 – The absence of nutrition training in medical school
00:27:17 – Redesigning medical education from the ground up
00:28:21 – Teaching exercise, VO₂ max, and resistance training
00:29:19 – How misinformation spreads through bad science
00:30:37 – Authority, algorithms, and ethical responsibility
00:32:12 – Debunking viral health claims
00:36:57 – Preventative medicine and generational health
00:38:26 – Parenting, discipline, and modeling health
00:39:35 – The 75 Hard program and mental resilience
00:42:15 – Planning, time management, and habit stacking
00:43:51 – Personal excellence as rebellion
00:45:25 – Health as agency and probability
00:47:22 – Community as the missing link
00:50:21 – A personal story on health consequences
00:52:03 – Accountability groups and shared momentum
00:54:12 – The future of plastic surgery and wellness integration
00:56:10 – Persistence, setbacks, and commitment
00:57:16 – Closing reflections and gratitude
 
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off

Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com.

Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order.

 
 
Find More From Dr. Ricky:
Instagram: @drrichardjbrown

Website: drrichardjbrown.com

YouTube: Dr. Ricky's YouTube

Book: The Real Beauty Bible

 
 
Find More From Darin:
Website: darinolien.com

Instagram: @darinolien

Book: Fatal Conveniences

 
 
Key Takeaway
True medicine doesn't just change bodies — it changes behavior, belief systems, and the trajectory of future generations.

In this solo episode, Darin dives into one of the most universal modern experiences: the feeling that time is accelerating. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, and lived experience, he breaks down why time doesn't actually speed up, but our experience of it radically changes.
From the impact of digital distraction and divided attention to the way novelty, memory, aging, and even COVID reshaped our internal sense of time, this episode offers both clarity and agency. Darin shows how reclaiming attention, breaking monotony, and creating richer experiences can give us the feeling of having our time back.
 
 
What You'll Learn
Why time measured by a clock is different from time experienced by the brain

How attention, memory, and emotion construct subjective time

Why boredom feels slow while flow states feel fast

How novelty creates richer memories and longer-feeling lives

The role of routine and monotony in time compression

How digital technology fragments attention and erases memory

Why social media scrolling makes time disappear without satisfaction

How COVID disrupted temporal landmarks and distorted time perception

Why time feels faster as we age

The neuroscience behind memory density and perceived duration

Whether time itself is an illusion or a constructed experience

Practical ways to slow down your experience of time

How breaking routine restores a sense of fullness and presence

Why life is measured in experiences, not seconds

 
 
Chapters
00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife and the exploration of time
00:00:32 – Sponsor: TheraSage and frequency-based healing
00:02:16 – Why time feels like it's speeding up
00:03:07 – Measured time vs experienced time
00:03:39 – Subjective time and how the brain constructs duration
00:04:38 – Boredom, flow, and why time feels slow or fast
00:05:20 – Memory density and time compression
00:05:42 – Clock models vs attention and memory models
00:06:13 – Novelty, travel, and rich experiences
00:06:34 – Routine, repetition, and unremarkable days
00:07:21 – Divided attention and disappearing moments
00:07:56 – The digital shift and fragmented attention post-2000
00:08:30 – Micro-stimulation and wasted time
00:09:12 – Why scrolling doesn't equal flow
00:09:46 – Social acceleration and modern life
00:10:25 – COVID as a global experiment in time perception
00:10:55 – Loss of temporal landmarks during lockdown
00:11:57 – Sponsor: Caldera Lab and clean skincare
00:13:39 – Research on monotony and time compression
00:14:40 – Aging, fewer neural events, and faster time
00:15:30 – Childhood vs adulthood time perception
00:16:22 – Is time real or constructed?
00:16:57 – Physics, relativity, and subjective experience
00:17:56 – How to slow down your experience of time
00:18:12 – Novelty, adventure, and memory creation
00:19:00 – Sustained attention vs multitasking
00:19:37 – Breaking monotony in daily life
00:20:06 – Reducing digital distraction
00:20:25 – Enjoying life as a scientific practice
00:20:49 – Time as memory, not seconds
00:21:08 – Gaining agency over your experience of life
00:21:29 – Creating a richer year through experience
00:22:10 – Curiosity, adventure, and Darin's fascination with time
00:23:27 – Closing thoughts and call to action
 
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off

Caldera Lab: Experience the clinically proven benefits of Caldera Lab's clean skincare regimen and enjoy 20% off your order by visiting calderalab.com/darin and using code DARIN at checkout.

 
 
Join the SuperLife Community
Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions:
Weekly voice notes

Ingredient deep dives

Wellness challenges

Energy + consciousness tools

Community accountability

Extended episodes

Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien
 
 
Find More from Darin Olien:
Instagram: @darinolien

Podcast: SuperLife Podcast

Website: superlife.com

Book: Fatal Conveniences

 
 
Key Takeaway
Time isn't speeding up — your brain is compressing it. When you change how you pay attention and what you experience, you change how long your life feels.
 
 
Bibliography & Research Sources
Droit-Volet, S., Gil, S., Martinelli, N., Andant, N., Clinchamps, M., Parreira, L., ... & Dutheil, F. (2020). Time paradox in COVID-19 lockdown: A web-based study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2185.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577735
Lugtmeijer, S., Geerligs, L., & Cam-CAN. (2025). Temporal dedifferentiation of neural states with age during naturalistic viewing. Communications Biology, 8, Article 123. (This is the "2025 brain study" on older adults having fewer distinct neural states).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08792-4
Ma, Q., & Wiener, M. (2024). Memorability shapes perceived time (and vice versa). Nature Human Behaviour, 8, 1–13. (The study showing memorable images dilate time).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01863-2
Matthews, W. J., & Meck, W. H. (2016). Temporal cognition: Connecting subjective time to perception, attention, and memory. Psychological Bulletin, 142(8), 865–907. (The core review often attributed to leading field researchers linking time to attention/memory).
https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000045
Ogden, R. S. (2020). The passage of time during the UK Covid-19 lockdown. PLOS ONE, 15(7), e0235871. (The longitudinal study showing 80%+ reported time distortion).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235871
Rosa, H. (2013). Social acceleration: A new theory of modernity. Columbia University Press. (The sociological framework on "social acceleration").
https://cup.columbia.edu/book/social-acceleration/9780231148344
Wearden, J. H. (2016). The psychology of time perception. Palgrave Macmillan. (Comprehensive overview by the author mentioned in your notes).
https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-40883-9
Winkler, I., et al. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on time perception. Scientific Reports. (Likely reference for "Scientific Reports" findings on content-dependent timing).

In this raw, wide-ranging conversation, Darin sits down with Frank Zummo, award-winning drummer for Sum 41, founding member of Street Drum Corps, and current touring drummer for Electric Callboy, to explore what it really takes to sustain creativity, health, and purpose inside the extreme demands of the music industry.
From high-pressure fill-in moments and massive tours to mental health, fatherhood, fear, discipline, and recovery, this episode is a masterclass in resilience. Frank opens up about grief, identity, panic, persistence, and how true success comes from staying available when opportunity shows up.
 
What You'll Learn
What it takes to master an entire arena-level set in less than 24 hours
The mental and physical demands of high-performance touring
How Frank manages recovery, inflammation, and stress on the road
Why breathwork, cold exposure, and routine are non-negotiable
Hidden health risks of pyrotechnics, heavy metals, and touring environments
How discipline becomes freedom when it's built into daily systems
Navigating panic, uncertainty, and career transitions at the top level
Turning fear into a tool instead of something to suppress
The difference between rational and irrational fear
How availability creates probability in life and career
Lessons from loss, grief, and complicated parent relationships
Why creativity can't be replicated by machines or algorithms
Staying present as a parent while living an unconventional life
Why persistence beats talent over the long run
How the music industry, and wellness culture, is changing

 
Chapters
00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife and the mission of sovereignty
00:00:32 – Sponsor: TheraSage and natural healing technologies
00:02:10 – Introducing Frank Zummo
00:02:40 – Life as a professional touring drummer
00:02:56 – Learning a full Electric Callboy set in under a day
00:03:21 – Creativity, technology, and focus
00:04:07 – Frank's respect for Darin's work and health advocacy
00:06:01 – XPT, breathwork, and lifestyle changes
00:07:05 – Heavy metals, pyrotechnics, and detox protocols
00:08:27 – Sauna, ice baths, and recovery on tour
00:10:49 – Down-regulating after high-adrenaline performances
00:12:10 – Warming up smarter, not harder
00:12:53 – Nutrition, protein shakes, and avoiding tour junk food
00:13:52 – Discipline, planning, and long-term consistency
00:15:10 – Frank's relationship with his father and grief
00:16:35 – Learning from trauma instead of repeating it
00:18:30 – Workshops, kids, and mental health conversations
00:19:51 – Writing the book and creative freedom
00:22:25 – Filling in for Tommy Lee and career-defining moments
00:24:07 – Presence, gratitude, and holding onto the good
00:27:13 – Fear, uncertainty, and career transitions
00:28:16 – Breathwork for anxiety and panic
00:29:18 – Staying open when plans collapse
00:30:34 – Electric Callboy and a new chapter
00:31:36 – Family, touring, and being present as a father
00:32:47 – Rethinking fear and emotional programming
00:35:08 – Rational vs irrational fear
00:36:32 – Availability, probability, and opportunity
00:37:29 – Tunnel vision, persistence, and staying the course
00:39:35 – Doing whatever it takes early on
00:41:40 – Building Street Drum Corps from the ground up
00:43:11 – Walking away from success for mental health
00:46:03 – Health, discipline, and longevity in music
00:50:18 – Passion, authenticity, and staying true
00:52:06 – Social media, bullying, and kids today
00:55:00 – Parenting, education, and real-world learning
00:57:06 – Travel, family, and perspective
01:00:14 – Small changes, fatal conveniences, and starting slow
01:01:26 – Closing reflections on persistence and purpose
 
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off
Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.
Caldera Lab: Experience the clinically proven benefits of Caldera Lab's clean skincare regimen and enjoy 20% off your order by visiting calderalab.com/darin and using code DARIN at checkout.
 
Join the SuperLife Patreon:
This is where Darin now shares the deeper work:
- weekly voice notes
- ingredient trackers
- wellness challenges
- extended conversations
- community accountability
- sovereignty practices
Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien
 
Connect with Darin Olien:
Website: darinolien.com
Instagram: @darinolien
Book: Fatal Conveniences
Platform & Products: superlife.com
 
Connect with Frank Zummo:
Instagram: @frankzummo
Spotify: @frankzummo
Watch Street Drum Corps live!
Book: Unbreakable Rhythm
 
Key Takeaway
When you stay disciplined, present, and available, life has a way of meeting you with opportunities you could never plan.