This is Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Stephen G. Post, renowned researcher, author, and one of the world’s leading voices on altruism, compassion, and the science of love. As the founding director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University, Dr. Post has spent decades exploring how love, meaning, and generosity shape human flourishing.

In this episode, we move deeper into the philosophical and spiritual foundations of his book, *Pure Unlimited Love*. Dr. Post introduces the idea of “the one mind,” sharing powerful stories and scientific perspectives that challenge the belief that consciousness is produced solely by the brain. We explore how creativity, intuition, and insight emerge when people access deeper states of awareness—and why chronic fear, stress, and disconnection keep us from doing so.

We also discuss freedom as a spiritual quality rather than a purely material one, the healing role of nature and social prescribing, and why serving others is essential to restoring dignity, meaning, and joy in our lives.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

“I’m a believer that we need to have identifiable constituencies to which we apply our kindness and our callings.”

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Pure Unlimited Love (Book)
• The Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love
• Dr. Stephen G. Post – Stony Brook Bio
• Dr. Stephen G. Post – Official Website

Produced by NOVA

In a time marked by social tension and cultural fragmentation, we welcomed Dr. Stephen G. Post—founding president of the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love and director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine. With more than forty years of work exploring compassion at the intersection of science and spirituality, Dr. Post helps us move beyond reductionist ideas of altruism and into a richer understanding of what it means to truly care for others. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

We explore why empathy alone isn’t sufficient without moral direction, how different forms of helping shape our inner lives, and what research reveals about the emotional and psychological benefits of volunteering—especially during seasons of grief and loss. Dr. Post also invites us to reflect on what’s lost as human connection becomes increasingly mediated by screens, and why presence and intentional love matter now more than ever.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

“The security and well-being of others [is] as real or meaningful to us as our own, and sometimes more so”

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Pure Unlimited Love (Book)
• The Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love
• Dr. Stephen G. Post – Stony Brook Bio
• Dr. Stephen G. Post – Official Website
• 
  

Produced by NOVA

Writer, historian, and Emmy Award–winning host John T. Edge joins us for a powerful conversation about identity, inherited stories, and the emotional resonance of food. Best known for True South and his acclaimed books—including House of Smoke, the focus of our discussion—John T. shares how growing up in a home steeped in Confederate mythology shaped his early worldview, and how his adult life became an intentional act of rewriting those narratives.

As John T. explains, food is never just food—it’s memory, migration, and the emotional weight of history. He helps us understand how Southern cuisine is deeply rooted in West African traditions, why food becomes a meeting place for shared humanity, and how acknowledging its origins allows us to approach it with honesty and connection. He also opens up about grief, loss, and how emotional reckoning transformed his relationships and his trajectory as a writer and cultural leader.

John T. discusses the rise and collapse of his work with the Southern Foodways Alliance, sharing the humbling lesson of recognizing one’s own power, the pitfalls of hubris, and how accountability and reinvention shaped who he is today. His reflections on resilience—including two life-altering car wrecks—offer a grounded reminder that what matters most is how we choose to act on the other side of adversity.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

“Don’t save the word love for the people who are your blood kin. Tell your friends you love them—and why. And mean it.”

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• John T. Edge’s Website
• House of Smoke
• 
  

Produced by NOVA

Professor, speaker, and transformation strategist Dr. Danielle McGeough joins us to explore a powerful reframe that can reshape the way we plan, work, and show up in our lives. Known for her Rise Ritual Method and her podcast “Plan Goal Plan”, Danielle helps high performers reconnect with their core identities, navigate transitions with clarity, and build intentional practices that support real, sustained growth.

Danielle shares how she spent years building the career she thought she wanted—earning her PhD, securing her dream job, and achieving tenure—only to feel unexpectedly flat and disconnected once she arrived. That realization led her to revisit the research she’d been teaching for years on identity and ritual. By infusing her daily life with intentional sensory-driven rituals rather than automated habits, she rediscovered presence, joy, and meaning in the everyday moments.

She breaks down the full Rise Ritual Method:Reflect, Intentionally Plan, Sensory Activation, and Embody the Story—showing us how to use rituals to enter the states we want to inhabit, whether that’s calm, focus, creativity, or presence with our families. Danielle also shares common pitfalls, the importance of designing multiple “versions” of a ritual, and why flexibility and curiosity matter more than perfection.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

“What is your current state and what’s your desired state—and what is one small thing you could do, ideally through sensory activation, to move you closer to that desired state?

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Learn more about Dr. Danielle McGeough
• Listen to the Plan Goal Plan podcast
• Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

Pop culture commentator and YouTube creator Gary “Nerdrotic” Buechler joins us for one of the most candid conversations he’s ever shared publicly. Known for his massive presence on YouTube and Rumble, with millions tuning in for his unapologetic takes on fandom and culture. Gary opens up about the long, painful road that came before Nerdrotic. In his new book, Waiting for a Nerdrotic, he traces his story through early addiction, homelessness, crime, and a prison sentence that ultimately reshaped his understanding of freedom.

Gary describes growing up adopted, discovering alcohol and drugs before age 13, and spiraling into burglary to fuel his addiction. Multiple arrests and jail stints eventually led to prison, where recovery began to “seep in.” He shares the moment everything changed, realizing his kids might grow up without a father—and how gratitude, consistency, and rigorous honesty became the pillars of his lasting sobriety.

What began as a hobby podcast recorded in a San Francisco Starbucks grew into Nerdrotic, one of the most influential fandom channels online. Gary explains why authenticity resonated with viewers, how cultural polarization seeped into entertainment, and why he believes fans needed someone to speak up about it. Yet through every challenge—personal or cultural—gratitude remains the mindset that keeps him grounded.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

"What am I grateful for today? … It’s a mindset, and it works. That’s the thing that clicked for me in recovery that made it work to this very day by the grace of God."

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Read Waiting for Nerdrotic by Gary Buechler
• Watch Gary’s YouTube channel: Nerdrotic
• Follow Gary on Twitter: @nerdrotics
• Follow Gary on Instagram: @nerdrotic

Produced by NOVA

Licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and author Tonya Lester joins us to explore one of the most pervasive issues she sees in her practice: what happens when people stay silent for too long. Known for her Modern Love essay in The New York Times and her popular Psychology Today blog, Staying Sane Inside Insanity, Tonya has spent years helping individuals and couples navigate communication, conflict, and the fear of speaking their truth.

In our conversation, we dig into the patterns that inspired her new book, Push Back: Live, Love, and Work with Others Without Losing Yourself. Tonya describes the all-too-common dynamic where one partner quietly struggles while the other believes things are "fine"---until the relationship reaches a breaking point. She shares how clarity around values, direct communication, and what she calls "mutual empathy" can transform not only romantic relationships but workplace dynamics as well.

Tonya also offers practical guidance for anyone feeling lonely, unseen, or disconnected from their own needs. Whether through journaling prompts, identifying the next small step toward living your values, or learning to slow down heated conversations, she reminds us that emotional intimacy is built by honesty, not harmony at all costs.

The Biggest Helping: Today's Most Important Takeaway

"Speaking up and being clear about your needs and desires and being open to hearing that of the person sitting across from you is the pathway to emotional intimacy and a fulfilling life."

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Read Push Back: Live, Love, and Work with Others Without Losing Yourself by Tonya Lester
• Visit Tonya's website
• Follow Tonya on Instagram
• Read her Psychology Today blog "Staying Sane Inside Insanity"
• Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Produced by NOVA

Award-winning keynote speaker, author, and career development expert Andy Storch returns to The Daily Helping to share transformative insights from his newest book, Own Your Brand, Own Your Career. Andy has spent years helping professionals step out of “reaction mode” and take ownership of how they show up in the world. In this conversation, he explains why personal branding is no longer optional—every one of us already has a brand, and the question is whether we’re being intentional about it.

We explore Andy’s journey from drifting through his early career to discovering a framework for purpose, alignment, and growth. He shares how companies have shifted from resisting employee personal brands to embracing them, recognizing the impact on culture, recruitment, and performance. Andy also offers a simple but powerful starting point: define who you are today, decide what you want to be known for, and evaluate whether your daily actions reflect those values. As he reminds us, people remember how we make them feel—and the leaders who empower and develop others leave the deepest legacy.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

“You have a career, and you have a brand—whether you’re intentional about it or not. Nobody cares more about your career or your brand than you do. So you’ve got to own it. Get clear on what you want, set your intentions, and show up in alignment with that every day.”

--

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Read Own Your Brand, Own Your Career by Andy Storch & Mike Kim: Amazon
• Download the free workbook: ownyourbrandbook.com
• Follow Andy on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

Produced by NOVA

Award-winning strategy consultant and Harvard Business Review contributor Kyle Austin Young joins us to reveal the surprising math behind every success story. His new book, Success Is a Numbers Game: Achieve Bigger Goals by Changing the Odds, challenges the way we think about goals, risk, and achievement—showing that success is less about luck and more about probability.

Kyle shares how being laid off twice during an adoption journey pushed him to diversify his career and build a thriving consulting practice. Over a decade of helping entrepreneurs and leaders achieve ambitious outcomes, he discovered that every goal has two hidden numbers: a probability of success and a probability of failure. The key, he argues, is learning to “hack” those odds—by identifying potential bad outcomes and systematically reducing their likelihood. From business ventures to personal growth, his framework helps us shift from wishful thinking to strategic action.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

There’s real power in asking “what if.” Thinking through what could go wrong isn’t negativity—it’s strategy. When you remove the barriers that make success less likely, you change your odds and make your goals achievable.

—

Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Read Success Is a Numbers Game: Achieve Bigger Goals by Changing the Odds by Kyle Austin Young: Amazon
• Visit KyleAustinYoung.com
• Follow Kyle on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA