In this episode, we sit down with Paul Oneid, world-class powerlifter, bodybuilder, and founder of Master Athletic Performance and Coaches Corner University, to explore the psychology behind strength and performance. Paul shares how he weaves mindset, resilience, and personality into his coaching, what separates successful athletes from the rest, and why he continues to push himself to pursue more. From training philosophy to the deeper motivations that fuel both athletes and coaches, this conversation goes far beyond sets and reps into what it truly takes to succeed in sport and in life.

Beyond Strength: The Psychology of Drive and Coaching w/ Paul Oneid 

What if your first psychedelic trip wasn’t in adulthood, but at birth? In this episode, we explore the Birth Echo Hypothesis, a bold new theory proposing that DMT acts as a neurochemical interface between the brain and consciousness itself, triggered during life’s greatest transitions: birth and death. Drawing on neuroscience, developmental psychology, psychedelic research, and evolutionary biology, we ask whether the classic DMT "breakthrough" experience is more than a hallucination, could it be a symbolic memory of our own emergence into the world?

We dive deep into how DMT may shape early sensory development, the strange parallels between neonatal brain states and psychedelic brain scans, and the possibility that this molecule has been guiding consciousness since life began. Featuring ideas inspired by cell assembly theory, the entropic brain model, and archetypal psychology, this episode blends hard science with deep wonder. Whether you're a psychonaut, a scientist, or someone curious about where consciousness comes from, this conversation might just change how you see birth, death, and everything in between.

DMT and the Birth of Consciousness: The Birth Echo Hypothesis: A New Theory of Psychedelic Consciousness

n this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jason Moser, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Michigan State University and director of the Clinical Psychophysiology Lab, to explore what the brain’s response to errors, emotions, and internal conflict reveals about mental health. Dr. Moser’s groundbreaking research on cognitive control, anxiety, emotion regulation, and resilience sheds light on why some people struggle more with worry and perfectionism—and how simple tools like journaling, mindfulness, and even belief in placebo can help us manage emotional challenges. From neural biomarkers like the ERN and LPP to personalized, low-cost interventions, we dive into the science that connects our brains to our behavior, and what it means for creating a more compassionate, adaptive approach to mental health.

Dr. Jason Moser is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Michigan State University and the director of the Clinical Psychophysiology Lab. His research investigates the intersection of emotion, cognition, and behavior, with a focus on anxiety, resilience, and how the brain monitors mistakes and regulates emotion. He is widely recognized for his work on neural markers like the ERN and LPP, and has pioneered research translating laboratory findings into practical, scalable tools to improve mental health. His work has been featured in Scientific Reports, Nature Communications, Psychophysiology, and mainstream media outlets like VICE, Yahoo Life, and PBS KIDS.

Cognitive Control, Emotion Regulation, and the Psychophysiology of Anxiety w/ Dr. Jason Moser

In this episode I talk to Carlos Reyes, elite level strength athlete and firefighter. We discuss his path to becoming one of the best overall strength athletes. What it means to follow in his dad's footsteps of becoming a firefighter, along with how he carved his own path to success. We touch on what legacy he wants to leave behind and how he juggles all of his training and roles of being a father, husband, and firefighter without skipping a beat.

Carlos Reyes is a firefighter and competitive powerlifter. With a background in emergency response and strength training, he brings a practical perspective on resilience, discipline, and performance under pressure. His experience bridges the physical demands of firefighting with the mental focus required in high-level strength sports.

Carving Your Own Path w/ Carlos Reyes

In this episode I talk to Tom Griffen an adventurer, endurance athlete, writer, and artist. We talk about the life lessons he's learned from his adventures. How writing allows him to express himself and the freedom that brings. How nature gives back to him in so many ways, that can benefit anyone. 

As a long-time runner and former National Director of Training at Fleet Feet, he’s tackled grueling feats like walking across America in 2018 and thru‑hiking both the Appalachian and Arizona Trails. His writing—covering travel, self-awareness, and the art of trail life—appears on his WordPress blog and his Substack titled “With a Good Heart”, where he blends reflections on hiking, creativity, and endurance. He also carves wooden spoons as a creative outlet and hosts workshops and coaching around storytelling, kindness, and adventure. 

🔗 Key links

 * Website (Writer & Adventurer): tomgriffen.com
 * Substack “With a Good Heart”: withagoodheart.substack.com 

Walking Across the Country w/ Tom Griffen

In this episode, I talk to Sam Loch about what it takes to be an Olympian and the lessons he learned from that pursuit. Sam Loch is an Australian Olympian, world record-holding rower, and elite strength athlete known for his relentless work ethic and unmatched power on the erg. With a career spanning two Olympic Games (2008, 2012) and numerous world records in indoor rowing, Sam embodies the spirit of athletic resilience and high-performance mindset. Beyond the boat, he’s a dedicated coach, speaker, and advocate for pushing physical and mental limits. Join us as we dive into his journey, exploring the grit, discipline, and unwavering determination that fuel his success both on and off the water

Olympian Mindset and Lessons Learned w/ Sam Loch

In this episode I explore the idea of how our beliefs can impact our physiology, biology, and psychology.  How the research shows the power of changing our beliefs can have on our mind and body. Tangible tools to improve our mind and body. Lastly how storytelling can impact our creativity, education, and motivation to exercise.

Changing Our Beliefs to Improve Our Physical and Mental Health

In this episode I discuss the role of storytelling in shaping our beliefs and who we are in the world and the power to overcome it. Storytelling isn’t just how we entertain—it’s how we survive, connect, and make meaning. From an evolutionary standpoint, stories helped early humans bond in larger groups, transmit wisdom, and navigate danger. Neurologically, they activate empathy circuits, mirror sensory experiences, and even synchronize brainwaves between speaker and listener. But the real power of storytelling lies in its ability to shape belief and identity. Whether it’s a nation’s founding myth, a personal trauma narrative, or a viral conspiracy theory, stories determine how we see ourselves, others, and what we think is possible. And when people reclaim authorship of their own story—especially those who’ve been marginalized or silenced—it can restore agency, reshape mental health, and catalyze collective healing. Storytelling is not just reflection—it's revolution.

The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Who We Are and Our Beliefs

In this episode I explore the use of The Biopsychosocial Model for Mental Health. I break down each component of the model exploring the validity of biological, psychological, and social interventions. I go over the research comparing this model to single treatment options. Why the US health care system has not adopted yet and future directions on how we can push it into the US health care hemisphere for adoption.

The Biopsychosocial Model for Mental Health

In this episode I discuss how we can become more resilient through different protocols. Stress resilience is the ability to maintain or quickly regain mental health during or after adversity, and it depends on how well we regulate our emotional, physiological, and cognitive responses to stress. I discuss the different brain areas related to building resiliency and different techniques one can use to improve resiliency. Memory, attention, and emotion regulation training tools to immediately improve one's resiliency. Resilience isn't a fixed trait—it's shaped by experience and can be strengthened. At the brain level, key systems involved include the hippocampus (for distinguishing safety from threat), the prefrontal cortex (for cognitive control), and the reward system (for motivation and positive emotion). Together, these systems support positive appraisal—the ability to interpret stressors as manageable or meaningful—which helps keep stress reactions in check. To improve resilience, we can train cognitive control (e.g., through mindfulness or working memory exercises), shift attention and interpretation biases (e.g., using attentional bias modification), boost reward sensitivity (e.g., through exercise, social connection, or positive experience recall), and reduce inflammation and stress-related physiological wear (e.g., with anti-inflammatory diets, good sleep, and stress inoculation). Ultimately, resilience grows when we repeatedly adapt to challenges and learn that we can handle them.

How to Improve Stress Resilience

Conversations exploring the drive to be curious. Looking into the sciences, health, philosophy, history, and great conversations with people. 

The Tony Montgomery Podcast