In this episode of the Brain Fitness Podcast, I am joined by Steve and Wendy McGough, co-founders of Human Innovations and creators of the hi® system. We explore how vagus nerve stimulation and parasympathetic activation may influence brain detox, sleep recovery, and heart rate variability.

Steve and Wendy are co-founders of Human Innovations and creators of the hi® system, a science-informed approach to pelvic, reproductive, and sexual health. Over the past 15 years, they have worked with thousands of women and couples navigating challenges related to pelvic-floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, chronic UTIs, intimacy, and fertility.

Steve holds a BS in Biochemistry from UNC Chapel Hill and conducted graduate research at Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Center for Investigative Neuroscience. He later earned a doctorate in Human Sexuality with a focus on reproductive physiology and served as an associate professor for nine years. He has published peer-reviewed research, authored multiple books, and holds six patents related to women’s health technology.

After experiencing a personal tragedy, Steve and Wendy developed the hi® system to address post C-section adhesions. Their work expanded into broader applications for pelvic and reproductive health and led to the founding of Human Innovations in 2010, where they focus on translating Asian and alternative health practices into practical, science-based solutions. Together, they teach nationally and internationally, collaborate with urologists, pelvic-floor physical therapists, and fertility specialists, and guide couples through their hi® 3-Step Method and First Step for Fertility programs to restore connection, function, and long-term vitality.

Could gentle vibration and targeted nervous system stimulation support cerebrospinal fluid flow and glymphatic clearance?

If you’d like to try the system we discussed, you can receive $150 off the regular $499.95 price using the link below. It includes step-by-step routines designed to help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and support healthy brain recovery.

Get $150 OFF: https://www.womenandcouples.com/product/hi-braintap/

Connect with Steve and Wendy McGough:

https://www.instagram.com/womenandcouples/

https://www.youtube.com/c/womenandcoupleswellness

https://www.facebook.com/womenandcoupleswellness

Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter:

https://drpatrickporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/

https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/

https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter

Other helpful links & information:

http://www.braintap.pro/

*Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition.

#BrainFitnessPodcast #brainfitness #BrainOptimization #VagusNerve

Brain inflammation doesn’t always start in the brain.

Today, I sit down with microbiome researcher Martha Carlin to explore how the gut may be driving inflammation, brain fog, and long-term neurological stress.

Martha Carlin is a microbiome researcher and entrepreneur whose work was inspired by her husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2002. After teaching herself the science behind gut health, she founded The BioCollective and BiotiQuest to advance research on the gut–brain connection and chronic disease. A recipient of a $1.2 million NIH grant and named a Colorado Titan 100 CEO, Martha is a respected voice in microbiome science and advocates for a systems-based approach to health.

In this episode we discuss:

• How gut bacteria influence dopamine, serotonin, and mood
• What endotoxin (LPS) is and why it fuels systemic inflammation
• Why antibiotics and environmental exposures can weaken microbiome resilience
• The connection between chronic constipation and neurological health
• How gut imbalance may contribute to brain fog and reduced cognitive performance

If you’re focused on optimizing brain performance, improving mental clarity, or protecting long-term neurological health, understanding the gut–brain connection is essential.

Connect with Martha Carlin:

https://biotiquest.com/

https://www.instagram.com/biotiquest/

Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter:

https://drpatrickporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/

https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/

https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter

Other helpful links & information:

http://www.braintap.pro/

*Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition.

#BrainFitnessPodcast #brainfitness #mindfullness #guthealth

Ever feel like your workplace is draining your focus, mood, and energy?

Dr. Patrick Porter sits down with Reverend Jodi to explore a practical, education-first approach to workplace wellness: starting with brain breaks, healthier environments, and simple daily resets that support performance and resilience.

Rev. Jodi Suson is an ordained minister and brain health–focused wellness educator who transitioned from a 35-year career in marketing and finance into holistic health after years of misdiagnosis and disability led her to study how food, water, and environment affect brain and emotional wellbeing. She is the author of Emotional Healing, Toxic Free Living, and now teaches mindset and lifestyle-based approaches to support brain, emotional, spiritual, and physical balance, drawing on her training in NLP, nutrition, essential oils, and frequency-based modalities.

In this show, Dr. Porter and Rev. Suson discuss how “brain breaks” can replace the mid-afternoon coffee run, why workplace culture and environment matter (air, water, stress patterns), and how wellness rooms can encourage employees to take 20 minutes to decompress and recharge, without making medical promises.

Question for you: If your workplace had a wellness room, would you use it? Drop a comment with what you’d want included.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Misdiagnosis, overmedication, and why diagnostics matter

01:00 – Introducing Reverend Jodi + the mission for workplace wellness

02:40 – Jodi’s story: early brain injury, speech support, and long-term challenges

06:40 – Rebuilding health habits + learning wellness tools (educational discussion)

08:40 – Vision: wellness rooms + 20-minute decompression breaks

10:30 – Brain breaks vs. coffee breaks + workplace experiences

16:50 – Workplace “hidden exposures” (air/water) and practical steps

20:50 – Air filtration, scent, and common indoor air considerations

27:00 – Pets, nervous system states, and shared calm (general discussion)

33:00 – Mold awareness in buildings + testing/cleanup resources (education)

37:30 – Functional lifestyle program overview + next steps

Connect with Jodi Suson:

https://susonessentials.com/

Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter:

https://drpatrickporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/

https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/

https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter

Other helpful links & information:

http://www.braintap.pro/

*Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition.

#BrainFitnessPodcast #BrainFitness #WorkplaceWellness #CorporateWellness #BrainBreak