Dominic Chianese spent decades learning that real connection cannot be faked. Known for playing Uncle Junior on The Sopranos and for his role in The Godfather Part II, he joins Dr. Kavin Mistry on Primal Shots to talk about the life behind the performances.At 95, Dominic reflects on faith, family, acting, teaching, forgiveness, loss, and the importance of staying present.He shares how his grandfather taught him to sing from the heart, why a teacher once told him, “Maybe you shouldn’t be an actor,” and how learning to draw from his own life changed the way he performed. He also explains the role Al Pacino played in believing in his talent and opening doors early in his career.But some of the most personal moments have little to do with Hollywood.Dominic speaks candidly about his relationship with his son, learning to forgive himself, the legacy he hopes to leave, and why at this stage of life the little things matter most.His advice for younger generations is simple: stop rushing through life.Enjoy the coffee. Listen to the person in front of you. Stay in the moment.Because you can end up with thousands of pictures and very few moments.Primal Shots with Dr. Kavin Mistry explores what happens when conversations move from health into purpose, relationships, mortality, and what makes us human.Subscribe for more conversations from Primal Shots.Chapters:00:00 Al Pacino, authenticity, and living in the moment01:01 Meet Dominic Chianese03:00 Tension is the enemy: faith, relaxation, and life at 9512:13 Why young performers need to listen14:17 The teacher who rebelled against the curriculum25:22 The Sopranos, acting, and “you can’t fool the audience”36:24 Al Pacino, family, and learning to forgive yourself44:43 Mortality, legacy, and staying present at 95About Dr. Kavin Mistry, M.D.Dr. Kavin Mistry is a board-certified neuroradiologist, educator, and author of Primal Health Design: 7 Paradigms to Reverse Biological Age. His work blends neuroscience, medical imaging, and ancestral wisdom to help people reverse biological age, optimize healthspan, and live with greater clarity, energy, and purpose. Through grounded daily rituals and holistic lifestyle design, he empowers individuals to reconnect with their primal health intelligence.Follow Us on All Platforms:Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dr.kavinmistry?igsh=MXFkMHNxdHI1ejk0LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/kavin-mistry-md/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575613360306Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-of-mistry/id6786441215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033I86z3ETNwR6Kj8SjbH9#PrimalShots #DominicChianese #TheSopranos

Does success still require a four-year degree?Ken Rusk, author of Blue Collar Cash, joins Dr. Kavin Mistry on Primal Shots to challenge the assumption that college and white-collar work are the only credible paths to a successful life.Ken started working as a ditch digger at 15. Instead of following a traditional college route, he learned by building businesses from the ground up and developed a philosophy centered on three things: comfort, peace, and freedom.In this conversation, Ken explains why skilled trades and service businesses may become increasingly valuable as technology and AI reshape work.They discuss:• Why society pushes so many young people toward college• The difference between credentials and capability• Why skilled trades can offer income, autonomy, and control• How Ken went from mowing lawns to building businesses• Why he replaces traditional “goals” with timed pathways• How to design your life before choosing your career• Why entrepreneurs can become the limiting factor in their own companies• How to build teams that think like owners• Why family, gratitude, and perspective matter more than status• What his daughter’s cancer journey taught him about living now• Why nobody is promised 90 years• The legacy Ken wants to leave for the next generationKen’s message is not that everyone should avoid college.It is that we should stop treating one path as the definition of ambition.If your occupation cannot help create the life you actually want, Ken believes it is worth questioning the path.Watch the full conversation with Ken Rusk on Primal Shots.Chapters: 00:00 Why are we forcing everyone into white-collar work?03:20 Comfort, peace, and freedom13:25 From ditch digger to entrepreneur18:37 The case for blue-collar careers27:56 Stop setting goals. Build timed pathways.39:53 Why entrepreneurs become their own ceiling47:32 What his daughter’s illness taught him about life53:39 Legacy, family, and helping the next person upAbout Dr. Kavin Mistry, M.D.Dr. Kavin Mistry is a board-certified neuroradiologist, educator, and author of Primal Health Design: 7 Paradigms to Reverse Biological Age. His work blends neuroscience, medical imaging, and ancestral wisdom to help people reverse biological age, optimize healthspan, and live with greater clarity, energy, and purpose. Through grounded daily rituals and holistic lifestyle design, he empowers individuals to reconnect with their primal health intelligence.Follow Us on All Platforms:Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dr.kavinmistry?igsh=MXFkMHNxdHI1ejk0LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/kavin-mistry-md/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575613360306Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-of-mistry/id6786441215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033I86z3ETNwR6Kj8SjbH9#BlueCollarCash #SkilledTrades #CareerAdvice #Entrepreneurship #CollegeAlternatives #LifeDesign #Leadership #FutureOfWork

What happens when someone survives prison, loss, rejection, and violence, then chooses to spend his life pulling other people forward?Edwin Desamour joins Dr. Kavin Mistry on Primal Shots for a deeply personal conversation about second chances, grief, grit, fatherhood, community, mentorship, and the people who help us become more than the environment we were given.Edwin entered prison as a teenager.He describes prison as “a cemetery for the living” and says he came back from the dead to tell young people they do not want to go there.But this conversation is not only about where Edwin has been.It is about what he chose to build afterward.Today, Edwin works through Lighthouse 1893 to create opportunities for young people and expose them to experiences, mentors, environments, and possibilities that may exist far beyond the few blocks they know.Edwin and Dr. Kavin discuss:• How Edwin begins his day after losing a son• Holding grief and gratitude at the same time• The “invisible backpack” of trauma many young people carry• Why exposure can change what a child believes is possible• Why there is more to life than a three-block radius• How Edwin’s definition of status changed as he grew• The brutal prison boxing tryout that revealed his grit• Why having the right people in your corner matters• Why Edwin rejects the idea of being self-made• The people who opened doors for him after prison• How to find a tribe that pulls you forward• Why keeping your circle small can limit your growth• What Edwin learned about legacy from watching his own son• Why children often learn more from what we demonstrate than what we tell themOne of Edwin’s most powerful messages:“The worst thing to do is be dead while you’re alive.”And his advice to anyone standing at a crossroads:Evolve.Open the door.Ask questions.Meet people who can expand your world.Watch the full conversation with Edwin Desamour on Primal Shots.Educational and informational purposes only. This episode includes discussion of grief, violence, incarceration, trauma, and loss. It is not medical or mental health advice.Chapters:00:00 “The worst thing is to be dead while you’re alive”02:42 Grief, gratitude, and beginning the day05:40 The invisible backpack young people carry10:03 There is more to life than three blocks16:37 Prison boxing, blood, and discovering grit24:11 The people who pulled Edwin forward30:49 Fatherhood, legacy, and being the one who steps in34:11 Why keeping your circle small can hold you backAbout Dr. Kavin Mistry, M.D.Dr. Kavin Mistry is a board-certified neuroradiologist, educator, and author of Primal Health Design: 7 Paradigms to Reverse Biological Age. His work blends neuroscience, medical imaging, and ancestral wisdom to help people reverse biological age, optimize healthspan, and live with greater clarity, energy, and purpose. Through grounded daily rituals and holistic lifestyle design, he empowers individuals to reconnect with their primal health intelligence.Follow Us on All Platforms:Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dr.kavinmistry?igsh=MXFkMHNxdHI1ejk0LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/kavin-mistry-md/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575613360306Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-of-mistry/id6786441215Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033I86z3ETNwR6Kj8SjbH9#PrimalShots #EdwinDesamour #SecondChances