The Gabby Reece Show

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Aug 2026

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Navigate life's biggest challenges and unlock your full potential with former professional athlete and wellness advocate Gabby Reece as she dives deep with leading experts in health, nutrition, fitness, relationships, and business. Gabby cuts through the noise to deliver clear, actionable insights and realistic takeaways you can implement immediately to live a healthier, stronger, and more fulfilling life. thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

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September 7, 20261 hr 24 min

LONGEVITY EXPERT: The Minimum Effective Dose of Training For Fitness & Longevity at 73 | Mark Sisson

The people grinding hardest for their health are often the ones training themselves into breakdown. What if the endurance work you trust most is the very thing wrecking your heart? Mark Sisson is the founder of Mark's Daily Apple, Primal Kitchen, and Peluva, and one of the original architects of the ancestral health movement. He's a former elite endurance athlete who, at 73, now argues that the training that built his name nearly wrecked his heart. We talked about the minimum effective dose: why most people should stop running, how diet drives 80% of your results, and why your feet may be the most overlooked lever in staying strong for life. What we explore: - Why most people should stop running, and how endurance training drives overtraining and CNS stress. - How chronic cardio contributed to Mark's heart arrhythmias, common among lifelong endurance athletes. - What metabolic flexibility is, and why diet drives 80% of body composition. - Why foot health is the overlooked key to longevity and fall prevention. - How to tell a hack worth doing from biohacking noise. Chapters: 00:00 How to Get Healthy Without Chasing It 03:36 Why You Retire and Don't Feel Good 05:50 The Health Pillars Nobody Talks About 08:19 How to Build Metabolic Flexibility 11:51 The Minimum Effective Dose for Fitness 15:20 How to Read Your Blood Work 19:01 Signs You're Overtraining Your Nervous System 24:33 Get Ideal Body Composition With Less Effort 31:39 Why Most People Should Not Run 37:26 Why Foot Health Is the New Sleep 41:41 How Modern Shoes Destroy Foot Function 48:43 What Your Feet Do Barefoot on Sand 58:07 Why You Should Walk Backwards 59:27 How to Cut Through Biohacking Noise 01:07:40 Why High-Tech Shoes Won't Save You 01:22:22 The One Habit That Beats Everything About Mark Sisson: Mark Sisson is a former elite endurance athlete turned health educator and entrepreneur, author of Mark's Daily Apple and founder of Primal Kitchen and Peluva. At 73, he's one of the most credible voices on eating, training, and recovering for a long, strong life. Connect with Mark Sisson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marksissonprimal Substack: https://www.marksdailyapple.com Newsletter: https://marks-newsletter-4655f1.beehiiv.com Get your Peluva shoes here for barefoot freedom: 👉 https://peluva.com – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

August 31, 20261 hr 56 min

Nick Sweeney: The Breathwork Practice That Rebuilt His Body, Identity and Nervous System

Your doctor's prognosis was final: you'll never walk normally again and your career is over. But what if you could rewrite that recovery with the one tool you already carry with you, your breath? Nick Sweeney is the co-founder of Coherence and creator of the Vortex Method, but before any of that he was a Division 1 cross-country skier who couldn't walk for 10 months after a COVID-era injury. We talk about how he clawed his way out through daily breathwork done from bed, rebuilt enough to place top 20 nationally at Olympic trials, and walked away from the athlete identity to coach breathwork full-time. You are not your label, and the way back isn't always a treatment or a specialist. Sometimes it's the one tool you already carry with you. What we explore: - Breathwork for injury recovery: how Nick healed after 10 months unable to walk - Athletic identity loss: why it hurts more than the injury, and how to rebuild - Nervous system regulation: guarding your mind against the algorithm - Daily breathwork habit: why 5 minutes beats one long session - Overcoming comparison: the "timeline" reframe that breaks the loop Chapters: 00:00 Gen Z Olympic Skier Nick Sweeney's Backstory 03:58 How He Healed a Career Ending Injury With Breathwork 08:06 How to Find Your Identity Beyond Labels 11:40 Why He Left Oil and Gas for Breathwork 17:00 Can You Coach Breathwork Without Certifications 30:46 Why Accountability Matters More Than Information 32:20 How Daily Voice Memo Coaching Creates Change 35:05 Why Investing in Coaches Changed His Life 37:25 How to Let People Change and Release Attachment 41:40 How to Take Ownership and Stop Comparing Yourself 47:02 How to Get Clear on What You Really Want 58:11 How Past Trauma Shows Up in Relationships 01:17:45 How Focused Attention Healed His Foot 01:20:15 Fight Flight Freeze Fawn and Breathing to Regulate 01:23:53 How to Rewrite Pain and Trauma With Breathwork 01:26:21 Sun Gazing and Circadian Morning Routine 01:32:00 Realistic Breathwork for Busy Parents 01:38:00 Slow Breathing CO2 and Longevity Explained 01:45:15 What Is the Vortex Method Breathwork Program About Nick Sweeney: Nick Sweeney is a breathwork coach, former Division 1 cross-country skier, and co-founder of Coherence, a breathwork app he built with his brother. He's the creator of the Vortex Breath and Vortex Method, and he's leading a global movement to get large groups breathing in sync. Connect with Nick Sweeney: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@basedethos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basedethos Coherence App: https://www.coherencebreath.com Free Breathwork Course: https://www.polariscoaching.ai/newsletter – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

August 24, 20261 hr 18 min

Navy SEAL on PTSD, Ibogaine & Rebuilding His Marriage After War | Marcus & Amber Capone

Some marriages get tested by distance. This one got tested by war, by silence, and by a version of a man that combat left behind. In this episode, I sit down with Marcus Capone, a retired Navy SEAL of 13 years, and his wife Amber Capone, co-founder and CEO of VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions). We walk through the true cost of elite military service and their recovery, individually and as a couple. Marcus speaks candidly about compartmentalization, a survival skill that protects a SEAL in combat but erodes his home life, his drinking habits, treatments that failed him, and a period when suicide felt logical. Amber talks about her resentment and the personal work that freed her from waiting to be rescued. It's a story of refusing to stay stuck, and of a treatment that changed everything afterward. What we explore: - How deployment trains you to compartmentalize, and why that skill quietly erodes a marriage. - Why conventional PTSD treatments failed Marcus, and the undiagnosed traumatic brain injury behind it. - What ibogaine treatment actually involves and what shifts after. - How Amber healed through therapy, faith, and surrender rather than waiting on Marcus. - Why heavy drinking and pharmaceuticals became coping tools, and what finally broke the cycle. - Why roughly 17 veterans die by suicide daily, and what VETS is building to change it. Chapters: 00:00 A Navy SEAL Couple's Journey to Healing 02:17 Choosing the SEAL Path After 9/11 06:17 Raising Kids Alone as a SEAL Wife 11:41 The BUD/S Mindset That Changes You 16:21 What Constant Deployments Do to a Family 18:09 How SEAL Wives Compartmentalize Marriage 21:26 Life After the Teams and Losing Purpose 29:35 Why He Left the SEALs for Banking 35:24 The Therapy Breakthrough That Saved Amber 43:34 How Suicidal Thoughts Start With Numbing 45:57 Why Ibogaine Worked After Everything Failed 52:56 What Happens During an Ibogaine Trip 01:01:00 How Amber Saw Her Husband Change 01:05:08 Fighting FDA Barriers to Fund Veteran Healing 01:08:31 How to Support Veterans With PTSD About Marcus and Amber Capone: Marcus Capone served 13 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL before facing a harder battle at home: depression, TBI, PTSD, and treatments that never held. Amber Capone supported that career while raising their family, then drove the search for what conventional medicine missed. In 2019 they co-founded VETS, a nonprofit expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans through treatment grants, research, and policy reform Connect with Marcus and Amber Capone: Website: https://thecapones.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@conversationswiththecapones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcus_amber_capone Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ssUKN0CoCBU0SRDqFCYIu – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

August 17, 20261 hr 54 min

Dave Asprey: How Can You Upgrade Your Brain, Body and Longevity

Some biohacking gets sold as a shortcut, hacking the right levers and you'll coast to 180. But the most important thing learned in a lifetime of measuring everything is the one thing that never shows up on a blood panel. I sat down with Dave Asprey, the entrepreneur who named and organized "biohacking," founder of Bulletproof, Danger Coffee, Upgrade Labs, and 40 Years of Zen, and four-time New York Times bestselling author. Join me to talk about what it really takes to build a body and mind that holds up for the long run. We move from data-driven protocols to the parts most people skip: parenting without reactivity, forgiveness, surrender, and knowing when your intuition is telling you something your spreadsheet can't. Dave opens up about his autism diagnosis, losing a $100M business, and why he believes mitochondrial function shapes not just your energy but your capacity to think clearly and connect. Whether you're a parent, a founder, or just trying to stay sharp as the years add up, this one frames longevity around your character, not only your bloodwork. What we explore: - How to raise resilient kids by modeling non-reactivity and clear boundaries. - Why intuition-first decisions, validated by data, beat leading with data alone. - What surrender really means, and the lesson behind a $100M loss. - How mitochondrial function connects energy to focus, mood, and clear thinking. - Why deliberate discomfort is an underrated tool for building durability at any age. Chapters: 00:00 The Godfather of Biohacking Explains It All 02:20 How to Parent Teens Without Reactivity 10:23 How Biohacking Goes Beyond the Body 11:25 Can You Actually Hack Consciousness? 24:11 What Actually Helps Kids on the Spectrum 30:37 Why Deliberate Discomfort Makes You Stronger 33:42 The Surrender Lesson From a $100M Loss 47:47 Why 80% of Longevity Is Fear of Death 50:29 The Case for Living to 180 Years 52:47 Why Personal Sovereignty Matters Most 53:57 How Trauma Silently Drains Your Energy 57:06 The 5 F-Words Your Body Runs On 01:05:35 How to Actually Screen for Cancer Early 01:19:14 Travel Hacks Every Frequent Flyer Needs 01:42:52 The Peptides Behind His Longevity Stack 01:47:21 Why He's Hopeful About Human Potential About Dave Asprey: Dave Asprey is the entrepreneur widely credited as the "father of biohacking" and the founder of Bulletproof, Danger Coffee, Upgrade Labs, and 40 Years of Zen. He's a four-time New York Times bestselling author and host of the top-ranked podcast The Human Upgrade, known for blending rigorous, data-driven experimentation with a broader philosophy about human potential. Connect with Dave Asprey: Website: https://daveasprey.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DaveAspreyBPR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.asprey Get the 4x New York Best Selling Book: 👉 https://daveasprey.com/books – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

August 10, 20261 hr 10 min

Live Q&A: Gabby Reece & Dr. Abbie Smith Ryan Answer Women's Biggest Health Questions

The Reecet: Live Q&A, recorded in Los Angeles with 45 women after three and a half days of training, I sat down with Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan, exercise physiologist and professor at UNC Chapel Hill, to cut through the noise on supplements, menopause, AI, and what actually holds up in real life. What we explore: * Why AI accelerates health research but still needs human oversight to be useful. * How to prioritize supplements after menopause: omega-3, vitamin D, and magnesium. * What the omega-3 index test tells you and how to dose EPA and DHA. * How to time protein, creatine, and essential amino acids for better results. * Why worrying less, gratitude, and choosing relationships change your health. * Where menopause hormone therapy still has gaps, from the SSRI trial to unanswered questions. * How sunlight and red light tools fit into a real recovery routine. * Why reclaiming your time and attention matters more than any new trend. * How intuition and imposter syndrome shape the way women show up. * Why simple non-negotiables around training, sleep, and boundaries beat trends. Chapters: * 00:00 The Reecet One Health Q&A * 01:35 Should You Worry About AI and Your Health? * 05:56 The First Supplement to Take After Menopause * 08:29 How to Worry Less and Consistency Beats Doing It Perfectly * 13:46 Why Relationships Matter More Than Success * 20:00 How to Translate Health Science Into Real Decisions * 22:51 How to Time and Stack Your Supplements * 25:52 Why Sunlight Deserves a Spot in Your Routine * 34:24 The Biggest Unanswered Question in Women’s Health * 37:30 How to Spot Trends Worth Following * 47:51 How to Build Community and Keep It Alive * 50:13 The Simple Health Non-Negotiables That Matter * 01:05:00 Why Sweating Together Bonds Women for Life About Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan: Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan is a professor of exercise physiology and nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she directs the Applied Physiology Laboratory. Her research focuses on exercise and nutrition interventions for body composition, metabolism, and women’s health across the lifespan, including perimenopause and menopause. Connect with Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan: Website: http://asmithryan.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asmithryan/ – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabbyreece.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

August 3, 20261 hr 22 min

PARARESCUEMAN: How To Heal Trauma, Balance Your Masculine Energy, and Become Whole | Dominic Luke

I sat down with Dominic Luke, a former Air Force pararescueman of ten years and author of That Others May Love More , to talk about the formative trauma at seventeen, the shame and self-blame that followed, and how avoidance later surfaced as identity loss, heavier drinking, and strain in his marriage after leaving the military, how he reclaimed his power, from breathwork and yoga to professionally guided psychedelic ceremonies, and why healing eventually has to become service. What we explore: * How high capability can mask unhealed trauma * Why “it wasn’t your fault” unlocks real healing * What avoidance costs: identity loss, drinking, marriage strain * How breathwork, yoga, and psychedelics support recovery * Why healing has to become service Chapters: * 00:00 Dom Returns Solo to Open Up Fully * 02:15 The Italian Family Roots Behind His Story * 04:29 The Teen Trauma He Hid for Years * 09:11 Why Self-Blame Keeps You Stuck * 12:53 How to Parent Through Honest Conversations * 19:25 Why Being Capable Isn’t Being Healed * 21:58 How Opening Up Saved His Marriage * 25:04 Losing Your Identity After the Military * 29:52 How to Balance Masculine and Feminine Energy * 38:11 When Your Healing Becomes Your Purpose * 50:29 Why High Achievers Secretly Stall Out * 54:36 How Breathwork and CO2 Unlock Flow * 1:10:23 How Psychedelics Can Help You Heal * 1:17:59 Why Ben Roberts’ Story Still Matters About Dominic Luke: Dominic Luke served as a U.S. Air Force pararescueman for ten years. Today he’s an author, coach, yoga instructor, and XPT coach who works with high-performing leaders on the private struggles that capability tends to hide. His book, That Others May Love More , traces his own path through trauma, forgiveness, and reclaiming identity, and offers tools for anyone ready to stop repeating their patterns. Connect with Dominic Luke: Website: https://www.domluke.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dominicluke_ Get a copy of Dominic Luke’s Book 👉 https://a.co/d/0gocOAnw – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

July 27, 20261 hr 4 min

Kiana Danial: How She Turned $500 Into an 8-Figure Portfolio

Financial stress doesn't just live in your bank account, it lives in your body. In this episode, I sat down with Kiana Danial, founder of Invest Diva and creator of the Triple Compounding method to unpack why money is just as much a wellbeing issue as sleep, movement, or nutrition, and why investing confidently starts with understanding your own risk tolerance, not chasing hype. This episode gives you a system for thinking about risk, debt, and growth instead of a list of stock tips. What we explore: - Risk tolerance: separating personality from actual financial capacity - Candlestick psychology: reading market emotion instead of chasing headlines - Triple compounding: building wealth across self, business, and investments - Kids and money: Roth IRA, UTMA, 529 accounts, and hiring your own children - Portfolio borrowing: using leverage instead of selling and paying taxes Chapters: 00:00 Why Personal Finance Is a Wellbeing Issue 01:32 From Iran to an Eight-Figure Portfolio 07:07 The 3 Factors That Shape Risk Tolerance 10:46 Reading Stock Candles Instead of Headlines 13:21 How $50 a Month Builds Wealth 16:56 Roth IRA vs UTMA vs 529 for Kids 21:54 How to Borrow Against Your Portfolio Tax-Free 25:24 The Habit That Separates Wealth Builders From Everyone Else 32:09 Money Myths Keeping You From Investing 41:14 Robinhood vs Schwab vs Fidelity Compared 49:03 Overlooked Sectors: Energy, Defense, and Boring Giants 58:32 How She Prioritizes Sleep Despite a Busy Schedule About Kiana Danial: Kiana Danial is the founder and CEO of Invest Diva and the creator of Triple Compounding, a wealth-building framework that took her from $500 to an eight-figure portfolio. A former engineer and best-selling author of nine books, she's known for translating investing into plain, usable language without the hype. Connect with Kiana Danial Website: https://www.triplecompounding.com/yes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/investdiva/ This episode is sponsored by: TRUE NUTRITION: 👉 Get 20% off your first custom blend at truenutrition.com/GABBY with code GABBY – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com Produced by Dear Media . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

July 20, 20261 hr 5 min

How to Reset Your Nervous System in 2 Minutes with Dr. Abbie-Smith Ryan

Strength means nothing if your nervous system never gets the signal to rest. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan, exercise physiologist and professor at UNC Chapel Hill, to break down sympathetic versus parasympathetic states, why "central nervous system fatigue" shows up in athletes and high performers alike, and how recovery, not more output, is often the missing lever. We get into simple breathwork, the role of community and mindset in downregulation, and how nutrition, hydration, and hormones shape your capacity to handle stress at every life stage. This isn't about doing less. It's about learning to periodize the push so you can sustain it. What we explore: - Sprint-then-rest cycles, and why sustainable performance depends on both. - Sympathetic vs. parasympathetic states, explained in plain terms. - Diaphragmatic breathwork, the two-minute reset that works anywhere. - Burnout warning signs in high performers and athletes. - Recovery tech, from hyperbaric chambers to guided vibration therapy. - Hormones and midlife, and their direct impact on nervous system regulation. Chapters: 00:00 What Is Proof of Practice With Gabby and Abbie 03:19 Why You Can't Sprint Forever Without Burning Out 05:29 Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System Explained 07:47 How to Recognize Franticness Before It Takes Over 11:41 The Breathwork Trick: Belly First, Longer Exhale 18:12 Why Pushing Hard Without Recovery Backfires 25:03 Burnout Warning Signs in Athletes and High Performers 37:32 Inside the Hyperbaric Chamber and Shiftwave Chair Setup 44:29 Why Under-Eating Sabotages Cortisol and Recovery 47:41 Hydration, Supplements, and Microdosing After 50 54:39 How Hormones Affect Your Nervous System in Midlife 56:46 How to Regulate Your Nervous System Under Load About Dr. Abby Smith-Ryan: Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan is a professor of exercise physiology and nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she directs the Applied Physiology Laboratory. Her research focuses on exercise and nutrition interventions for body composition, metabolism, and women's health across the lifespan, including perimenopause and menopause. Connect with Dr. Abby Smith-Ryan: Website: http://asmithryan.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asmithryan/ This episode is sponsored by: TRUE NUTRITION: 👉 Get 20% off your first custom blend at truenutrition.com/GABBY with code GABBY – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Produced by Dear Media . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

July 13, 20261 hr 9 min

#1 Volleyball Coach John Cook: The Leadership System That Built Championship Teams

A great coach can change the entire direction of a person's life. I sat down with John Cook, a four-time national championship volleyball coach and the winningest coach in Nebraska volleyball history. We talk about coaching with love, building deep relationships with players, coaching his own daughter, and staying in the game for over three decades without losing yourself in it. What we explore: - Why burnout forced John to completely rebuild his coaching style after winning a national championship. - How "build deep relationships" became the foundation of a culture that won four national titles. - What changes when you coach your own daughter, and how they kept the relationship intact. - Why women need to bond before they compete, and what that means for leading any team. - How three daily questions kept John grounded through 25 years at the same program. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:36 Daughter Quits UCLA Volleyball, Comes Home 04:32 How to Learn a New Sport Fast 07:54 Why a Growth Mindset Wins Championships 10:45 Coaching Burnout: How I Learned to Coach With Love 14:02 How to Build Deep Relationships With Your Team 17:04 Coaching Men vs Women: Key Differences 18:20 How to Protect Your Team Culture 22:40 How to Build Leaders Using Team Themes 32:21 3 Daily Questions Every Leader Should Ask 40:18 How to Know When It's Time to Retire 4313 Is NCAA Money Bad for College Athletes 52:26 3 Ways to Beat Coaching Burnout 56:59 From Head Coach to General Manager 1:04:58 Why Athletes Struggle With Imposter Syndrome About John Cook: John Cook is the winningest coach in Nebraska volleyball history and a four-time NCAA national champion. Over 32 years as a college head coach, including 25 seasons at Nebraska, he built one of the most successful programs in college athletics and became known for developing leaders as much as athletes. He now serves as Co-Owner and General Manager of the Omaha Supernovas. Connect with John Cook: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johncook_2/ – This episode is sponsored by: ONESKIN: Skin longevity backed by real science, not a 10-step routine. 👉 Get 15% off OneSkin with the code GABBYREECE at https://www.oneskin.co/GABBYREECE #oneskinpod TIMELINE: Support your cells and how you age with Mitopure® Gummies from Timeline. 👉Get up to 39% off your Mitopure® Gummies https://timeline.com/GABBY – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Produced by Dear Media . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com

July 6, 20261 hr 39 min

Cesalina Gracie: My Guide Turned Out to Be a Predator | The Dark Side of Everest | Here's What Happened

Self-defense isn't about knowing the moves. It's about knowing yourself well enough to rarely need them. I sat down with Cesalina Gracie, a self-defense educator and first-time Everest summiter. We cover the fundamentals of women's safety, the Everest expedition, and the through-line that connects both: physical training builds emotional resilience. What we explore: - Women's safety: why mindset and presence matter more than technique. - The freeze response: why women freeze under threat, and how preparation overrides it. - Everest: what 50 days on the mountain taught about fear, self-advocacy, and decision-making under real pressure. - Physical training as emotional resilience: why strength in the body is the foundation for strength everywhere else. - Identity and self-trust: cutting the word "when" from your life and betting on yourself before anyone else does. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Awareness, Prevention, and Taking Up Space 05:00 How Engaging First Defuses a Threat 08:30 55% of Your Safety Is Non-Verbal 13:00 Why Avoidance Is the Real Self-Defense Skill 16:00 Why Women Freeze (And Why It's Not Their Fault) 20:15 The Modern Women Safety System Explained 26:00 Teaching Girls to Trust Their Gut 30:30 The One Belief Every Woman Needs 35:00 Champions vs. Winners: The Internal Constitution 40:15 Why Cesalina Said Yes to Everest 44:00 Training for Everest: Pull-Ups and 9-Hour Days 48:30 What Acclimatization Really Feels Like 51:30 The Invisible Contract She Made on the Mountain 57:30 Self-Defense at 20,000 Feet 01:05:00 What Everest Proved About Jujitsu 01:19:30 Why Preparation Creates Peace, Not Anxiety 01:24:00 "Your Life Will Find You" 01:28:30 Gabby's Leading Question: What's the Point? 01:31:00 Cesalina's Next Chapter About Cesalina Gracie: A self-defense educator and women's safety advocate from the Gracie family - the Brazilian jiu-jitsu dynasty that changed martial arts. She is the creator of the Modern Women Safety System and, in 2024, became one of the few women to summit Mount Everest on her first attempt. Connect with Cesalina Gracie: Website: https://cesalina.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cesalinagracie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cesagracie/ – The Gabby Reece Show This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age. If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it. Connect with Gabby Reece: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial Website: https://gabriellereece.com Produced by Dear Media . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegabbyreeceshow.substack.com