"Being authentic to oneself can be a superpower."

In this episode of the Unbreakable Podcast, Kait sits down with Dr. Ty McKinney (Ty the Neuro Guy), an Alberta-born neuroscience researcher and founder of 8Bit Cortex, to break down what burnout really is (spoiler: it’s not just “stress”), why our systems resist change, and how data + neurodiversity-informed thinking can reshape workplace wellness and addiction recovery outcomes.

We get into the brain side of modern life: media overload, survival mode vs abundance, emotional suppression, psychological safety, boundaries in white-collar culture, and why rest isn’t lazy, it’s biology. If you’ve felt fried, overstimulated, or like you can’t fully “turn off,” this conversation will hit.

This episode shows why burnout is often a body problem (hormones + recovery), not a motivation problem.

You’ll hear how social media and constant news can lock the brain into survival mode, and why “expressive suppression” (bottling it up) can backfire by revving the stress system even harder.

Ty also explains why white-collar work is uniquely vulnerable: no physical “end of shift,” blurred boundaries, guilt-driven availability, and the performance pressure that keeps people “on” late into the night.

And you’ll get a practical frame for sustainable wellbeing: rest + boundaries + psychological safety + presence, plus why better measurement matters in addiction recovery and human outcomes.

Want to ask a question for a future episode or be a guest? Drop a comment, DM us, or use the links on our website.

New episodes weekly. Protect your peace, chase your dreams, and stay Unbreakable.

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Follow Unbreakable:

Instagram: / ⁠⁠unbreakable_legacy ⁠⁠

TikTok: / ⁠⁠YourUnbreakableLegacy⁠⁠

Facebook: / ⁠⁠Unbreakable Legacy⁠⁠

LinkedIn: / ⁠⁠Unbreakable Legacy⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com ⁠⁠

Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: / ⁠⁠@yourunbreakablelegacy⁠⁠

Connect with Ty + 8Bit Cortex:

• 8Bit Cortex: @8bitcortex (LinkedIn/Instagram)

• Email: info@8bitcortex.com

• Ty: @tytheneuroguy (LinkedIn/Instagram)

• Ty email: ty@8bitcortex.com

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In this Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Ty McKinney

01:31 The Journey from Therapist to Researcher

03:45 Cultural Dynamics of Alberta: Calgary vs. Edmonton

12:23 Media Consumption and Emotional Regulation

21:18 Navigating a Multi-Generational Workforce

24:05 The Importance of Authenticity in Communication

30:00 Transitioning from Survival to Abundance

34:08 The Perils of Perfectionism

36:08 Authenticity and Excellence: A Balancing Act

39:02 Understanding Burnout in the Workplace

44:44 The Role of Psychological Safety

50:46 Self-Care and Holistic Well-Being

"Make every day count."

In this episode of the Unbreakable Podcast, Kait Dinunzio sits down with Denise Dmitruk, nurse, athlete, cancer survivor, Crohn’s warrior, and founder of SaskFit, for a powerful conversation about resilience when your own body becomes the battleground.

Denise shares how bodybuilding helped pull her out of severe Crohn’s flares, hospitalizations, and blood transfusions, and how discipline, mindset, and movement became tools for survival. Just as she found her footing, life delivered another blow: a cancer diagnosis that tested everything she thought she knew about strength.

Together, Kait and Denise unpack:

- Living with chronic illness while refusing to let it define you

- Cancer, fear, and the mental weight no one prepares you for

- Why discipline can be an act of self-respect, not punishment

- Advocacy, boundaries, and protecting your peace

- What it really means to be “Unbreakable” when life keeps swinging

This is an honest, grounded conversation about health, identity, resilience, and choosing to keep going, without toxic positivity, hustle culture, or pretending it’s easy.

Watch the full episode now and hear a story that will change how you think about strength.

👉 New episodes drop regularly, subscribe, leave a comment, and share this with someone who needs the reminder: you are stronger than you think.

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We’re always looking for thoughtful humans with lived experience to join the Unbreakable Podcast.

If you have a story rooted in resilience, leadership, growth, or reinvention, or you know someone who does, reach out ⁠here⁠.

And if you’ve got questions you want us to tackle on an upcoming episode, send those too. Click ⁠Here⁠.

This is a conversation, not a stage.

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Follow Unbreakable:

Instagram: / ⁠unbreakable_legacy ⁠

TikTok: / ⁠YourUnbreakableLegacy⁠

Facebook: / ⁠Unbreakable Legacy⁠

LinkedIn: / ⁠Unbreakable Legacy⁠

Website: ⁠www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com ⁠

Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: / ⁠@yourunbreakablelegacy⁠

Follow Denise Dmitruk:

Instagram: / Saskfit

Facebook: / Saskfit

LinkedIn: / Denise Dmitruk

Website: https://skft.ca/

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In this Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Strength

03:08 Denise's Journey with Crohn's Disease and Bodybuilding

06:14 Facing Cancer: A Turning Point in Strength

09:10 The Role of Ancestry and Personal History

11:58 Advocacy and Support for Cancer Patients

14:51 Navigating Health Challenges and Mental Resilience

17:59 Finding Peace in Nature and Self-Care

20:59 Closing Thoughts: Living Authentically and Positively

Welcome back to the Unbreakable Podcast Network, and welcome to one of our first episodes of 2026.

In this episode, Kait Dinunzio and Josie (producer) kick off the new year with a real conversation about what the holidays can bring up: grief, growth, chosen family, changing traditions, and the quiet pressure to “be fine” when life is shifting.

You’ll hear practical mindset tools that help when multiple areas of life feel heavy, including the Unbreakable mindset equation E + R = O (Event + Reaction = Outcome), why boundaries protect your peace (without disconnecting you from people), and how progress can be measured beyond outcomes, especially in mental wellbeing.

We also share an Unbreakable Legacy book update, what’s happening behind the scenes, and what’s coming next on the podcast (including upcoming guests from around the world).

If you’re starting 2026 thinking, “Where do I even begin?”, this episode is for you.📖 Unbreakable Legacy (Book Waitlist + Updates): Click Here

We’re always looking for thoughtful humans with lived experience to join the Unbreakable Podcast.

If you have a story rooted in resilience, leadership, growth, or reinvention, or you know someone who does, reach out here.

And if you’ve got questions you want us to tackle on an upcoming episode, send those too. Click Here.

This is a conversation, not a stage.

—

Follow Unbreakable:

Instagram: / unbreakable_legacy

TikTok: / YourUnbreakableLegacy

Facebook: / Unbreakable Legacy

LinkedIn: / Unbreakable Legacy

Website: www.YourUnbreakableLegacy.com

Subscribe to Unbreakable’s channel here: / @yourunbreakablelegacy

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In this Episode:

00:00 – Welcome back + Happy New Year

01:00 – Holiday chaos, travel stories, and reality check moments

05:20 – Grief + new traditions: holding two truths at once

10:30 – Boundaries during hard seasons (without blowing up the room)

14:40 – Doing the work while creating the work

16:30 – Fear, scarcity, and old survival patterns

20:10 – Letting go of “anchors” from the past (and why it’s freeing)

29:30 – Listener Q: Where do I start when everything feels hard?

30:10 – E + R = O (Event + Reaction = Outcome)

37:00 – Listener Q: morning pep talks + gratitude

41:00 – Listener Q: how to measure progress (beyond outcomes)

49:00 – Unbreakable Legacy book update + self-publishing plan

53:00 – Closing: Protect your peace, chase your dreams