In this episode of the Alfi Podcast, Dr. David Alfi sits down with Brian Cain, elite mental performance coach and author of 45 books who’s helped develop UFC champions, MLB athletes, and high-performing leaders. Brian shares the turning point that changed his life (a July 4th bookstore moment) and the mentorship that taught him a core truth: mental performance isn’t a hype talk, it’s a system.

Together, they unpack why so many driven people “work hard” but still get stuck: hard work only works when it’s the right work. Brian breaks down the difference between motivation and discipline, the power of neutral thinking (not positive, not negative—neutral), and why anxiety spikes when we live too far in the future. Dr. Alfi connects mindset directly to patient outcomes, sharing a striking story of a surgical patient who used affirmations right up to anesthesia and recovered remarkably fast.

You’ll walk away with practical tools like control vs. can’t control, success checklists, and the framework to compete, not compare.

Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.

Call: 713-489-6984

Email: info@alporalsurgery.com

(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)

ABOUT THE ALFI PODCAST

Every week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.

Subscribe for more conversations on:

• Elite performance & recovery

• Airway, sleep and jaw health

• Biohacking, discipline and faith

• Raising strong, resilient kids

In this episode of the Alfi Podcast, Dr. David Alfi sits down with Brian Cain, elite mental performance coach and author of 45 books who’s helped develop UFC champions, MLB athletes, and high-performing leaders. Brian shares the turning point that changed his life (a July 4th bookstore moment) and the mentorship that taught him a core truth: mental performance isn’t a hype talk, it’s a system.

Together, they unpack why so many driven people “work hard” but still get stuck: hard work only works when it’s the right work. Brian breaks down the difference between motivation and discipline, the power of neutral thinking (not positive, not negative, neutral), and why anxiety spikes when we live too far in the future. Dr. Alfi connects mindset directly to patient outcomes, sharing a striking story of a surgical patient who used affirmations right up to anesthesia and recovered remarkably fast.

You’ll walk away with practical tools like control vs. can’t control, success checklists, and the framework to compete, not compare.

Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.

Call: 713-489-6984

Email: info@alporalsurgery.com

(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)

ABOUT THE ALFI PODCAST

Every week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.

Subscribe for more conversations on:

• ​ Elite performance & recovery
• ​ Airway, sleep and jaw health
• ​ Biohacking, discipline and faith
• ​ Raising strong, resilient kids

Like, comment and share this episode if it inspired you — it keeps the mission growing.

Vero is back and this time, the conversation goes deeper than symptoms and scans. Dr. Alfi sits down with Vero and her daughter Tammy to unpack the family impact of chronic pain, poor sleep, and years of confusing diagnoses. Tammy shares what it was like growing up “treading on ice,” carefully managing what she asked for because she never knew how much her mom could handle. She also admits she was angry and skeptical when Vero chose surgery, after multiple procedures, setbacks, and the fear of another long recovery.

Then comes the turning point: two years post-op, everything feels different. Energy is back. The house dynamic shifts. Their relationship transforms into real friendship — late-night talks, early mornings, and a mom who can finally be present. They connect the dots between airway health, nasal breathing, mental health, and why so many patients get missed and end with a message that hits hard: if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for the people who live with your suffering, too.

Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.

Call: 713-489-6984

Email: info@alporalsurgery.com

(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)

ABOUT THE ALFI PODCAST

Every week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.

Subscribe for more conversations on:

• Elite performance & recovery

• Airway, sleep and jaw health

• Biohacking, discipline and faith

• Raising strong, resilient kids

Like, comment and share this episode if it inspired you — it keeps the mission growing.

What if the “only option” you’ve been told for sleep apnea… isn’t the only option? In this powerful patient follow-up, Brandon joins Dr. Alfi six months after jaw surgery and shares what life looks like after seven years on CPAP. He opens up about the dependency, travel stress, power outages, “Santa Claus belly” from swallowed air, strap marks, and still waking up feeling like sleep never truly repaired him.

Then the turning point: the day after surgery, the CPAP went into the closet, done. Brandon describes deeper, more restorative sleep (tracked with Oura), effortless nasal breathing, clearer thinking, less irritability, and energy that actually lasts. The most surprising twist? Without changing his diet, he drops 20–30 pounds and builds muscle, highlighting how sleep impacts hormones, recovery, and metabolism more than any supplement stack.

They also zoom out to kids and early intervention why airway, tongue posture, and myofunctional therapy can change a life path. Real talk, real results, and a reminder: sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation.

Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.

Call: 713-489-6984

Email: info@alporalsurgery.com

(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)

ABOUT THE ALFI PODCAST

Every week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.

Subscribe for more conversations on:

• Elite performance & recovery

• Airway, sleep and jaw health

• Biohacking, discipline and faith

• Raising strong, resilient kids

Like, comment and share this episode if it inspired you — it keeps the mission growing.

In Episode 61 of The Alfi Podcast, Dr. David Alfi sits down with Dr. Claudia Pinter (Vienna, Austria) known by many as the “Airway Queen of Europe” for a deep conversation on airway-focused orthodontics, MARPE expansion, and how Europe approaches treatment differently than the United States.

We break down the real-world impact of jaw development on breathing, why extractions and retraction can be linked to reduced tongue space and airway issues, and how today’s technology is reshaping orthodontics + jaw surgery planning. Dr. Pinter also shares her MARPE protocol (precision screw placement first, lean appliances, aligner-friendly expansion) and what she’s seeing through airway-centered care, improved nasal breathing, less snoring, and better sleep quality.

If you’re an orthodontist, dentist, OMFS, airway provider or a patient trying to understand sleep apnea, expansion, and functional jaw position, this episode is for you.

Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.

Call: 713-489-6984

Email: info@alporalsurgery.com

(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)

ABOUT THE ALFI PODCAST

Every week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.

Subscribe for more conversations on:

• Elite performance & recovery

• Airway, sleep and jaw health

• Biohacking, discipline and faith

• Raising strong, resilient kids

Like, comment and share this episode if it inspired you — it keeps the mission growing.

In Episode 60 of The Alfi Podcast, Dr. David Alfi sits down with Dr. Mark Cruz, a true pioneer in airway-focused dentistry for a deep, wide-ranging conversation that challenges “orthodox thinking” in healthcare. Dr. Cruz breaks down what airway actually means (it’s not just expanders or devices), framing it as the intersection of structure, function, and behavior and why the airway acts as the keystone of facial growth.From the agricultural and industrial revolutions to modern convenience (soft diets, sleep habits, C-sections, allergies, tech exposure), they explore how our environment may be reshaping craniofacial development, fueling downstream issues like sleep fragmentation, anxiety, metabolic dysfunction, and TMJ breakdown. They also debate the limitations of “gold standards” like AHI and raise thought-provoking concerns about long-term CPAP implications while emphasizing measurable, outcomes-driven, interdisciplinary care.If you’re a provider, patient, or anyone “down the rabbit hole,” this is the airway conversation you’ll want to share.Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.Call: 713-489-6984Email: info@alporalsurgery.com(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)ABOUT THE ALFI PODCASTEvery week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.Subscribe for more conversations on:• Elite performance & recovery• Airway, sleep and jaw health• Biohacking, discipline and faith• Raising strong, resilient kidsLike, comment and share this episode if it inspired you — it keeps the mission growing.

In this episode of The Alfi Podcast, we’re joined in-studio by Drs. Celcines and Halepas from AOS Miami for a practical, no-fluff roadmap to modern jaw surgery built from thousands of cases and the questions patients (and providers) ask every day.You’ll learn exactly what happens at the first consult (CBCT + airway analysis, team coordination, and when a sleep study matters), plus how surgeons “quarterback” your full plan so you don’t get bounced between providers. The team breaks down the three major patient pathways, surgery-first, expansion-first (MARPE/SARPE/SFOT), and traditional ortho-first decompensation and why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.They also cover what recovery really looks like today: swelling peaks, numbness timelines, the no-chew rule (and why breaking it can cause non-union), typical follow-ups, and a common post-op med strategy (pain control, antibiotics, mouthwash, congestion support). Finally, they explain why jaw-first can change the need and outcomes for septoplasty/rhinoplasty, and how custom plates improve predictability, including TMJ outcomes. Our team can help you get to the ROOT cause — jaw alignment and airway.Call: 713-489-6984Email: info@alporalsurgery.com(Reference “The Alfi Podcast” when you reach out.)ABOUT THE ALFI PODCASTEvery week, Dr. David Alfi sits down with elite performers — athletes, entrepreneurs, creators and thought leaders — to explore how breathing, sleep, jaw alignment and mindset unlock the highest level of human performance.Subscribe for more conversations on:• Elite performance & recovery• Airway, sleep and jaw health• Biohacking, discipline and faith• Raising strong, resilient kidsLike, comment and share this episode if it inspired you — it keeps the mission growing.