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Highly Optimized

Ryan Sprague
133 episodes   Last Updated: May 23, 25

The Highly Optimized Podcast is your backstage pass to the minds of modern-day wizards, creatives, and changemakers who’ve ditched the rulebook and designed life on their terms. 

I launched this show to help others (like you) break free from the boring box society tries to stuff us into—and to remind you that you’re not crazy for dreaming big. 

Through deep, real, and sometimes hilarious conversations, we explore the inner work, wild ideas, and bold moves that light the path of the hero’s journey. 

This isn’t about fitting in—it’s about tuning in and turning your life all the way up.

Episodes

A big part of the Highly Optimized brand is focused upon physical, emotional, mental & spiritual well being. Whether we’re talking about holistic health practices, supplements, biohacks, or otherwise, I have found a deep fascination in not only these topics, but also the others in the world who are also passionate about the same subjects for the entirety of my life & todays guest fits that bill to a T. From leading a life different than those around him from an early age & dealing with the frustrations of trying to pave his own path while being misunderstood from social circles he was in in high school, to ultimately creating the wellness brands he runs today, including CVC Wellness & his newest venture, the Bioculture retreats, it’s safe to say that whenever I speak with him, I get brought to church with regards to the latest & greatest methodologies for maintaining a Highly Optimized state of being & in this episode, we dove deep into his journey, the trials & tribulations he’s faced along the way, how he handles life’s many challenges, why he’s so fired up about community & its role in human optimization & many other topics as well. GUEST LINKS: WEBSITE - INSTAGRAM - COACHINGThis Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
One of my favorite aspects of the life we are all living is the mystery woven into it. From an early age, I was fascinated by the idea of aliens, the paranormal, UFO’s, psychic senses, psychedelics & more & as such, I have been a seeker who’s been looking to explore these mysteries for the better part of half my life at this point & when I first met todays guest, I knew I had found a dear brother as he not only finds interest in these topics, but is also on the cutting edge of research, direct experience & more of the aforementioned topics. In todays episode, we dove into how he first found interest in topics like these, some of the experiences he’s had along the way, the value he’s found in following his curiosity into exactly where he’s meant to be in life & much, much more.This Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
As a man, one of the biggest challenges I had in my early years was the courage to put myself out there with potential love interests. I find that many of the men I work with today also share similar challenges. Whether it’s lack of confidence, commitment challenges or otherwise, it’s clear to me that us men have a lot of confusion as a whole as to not only how to find the perfect partner for us, but also in how to become the perfect partner for the soulmate we wish to call into our lives & in todays episode, I sat down with a gentleman who faced many of these challenges himself until he finally decided to do something about it, figure out what was really going on & take the leap into turning what was once his mess, into the mission he now helps other men traverse & move through in his dating consultation services. Guest Links: https://consultantchris.com/This Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
Woooo! Today is a big day ladies & gents! Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Highly Optimized podcast. For some of you, it’s a returning & for others, it’s your first time here & as such, what you can expect each week is for me to interview someone who has truly created a life on their own terms. In these episodes, we’ll dive into how their journey led them onto a different path than the mainstream, what they’ve learned along the way, what practices they use to keep themselves balanced & the overall hero’s journey they’ve embarked upon to create the life they now live & todays guest is a very special one as he is a dear brother of mine & someone who is a BIG part of the last 5 years of my life. From first meeting him after entering the Enlifted program back in January of 2020, to countless get togethers, parties, epic adventures & more, it’s safe to say we’ve both been a big influence on one another in this inaugural episode back onto the show, we took a trip down memory lane & discussed how the last 5 years of us knowing one another has shifted both of our lives immeasurably. So, sit back, get your curiosity caps on, strap in for a wild ride & give me a hand in welcoming my man Adam Chin onto the show! Guest Links: https://www.enlifted.me/This Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
Alrighty ladies & gents, we’ve officially reached the final episode in our epic 130 episode season 1 & talk about an absolute banger to go out on with me & my beautiful partner in crime, Rachel Varitimos diving in & getting vulnerable about our relationship, our perspective on life & what it takes to be truly successful in life, amongst other things. Guys, when I say this has been one hell of a ride, words simply do not do it justice. I am SO grateful to each of you who have supported the show & everything I do & trust me when I say that this is just the beginning. That being said, it’s time for me to go full berserker mode into the “This One Time On Psychedelics” podcast & my hope is that all of you that have loved & supported this show can hop over to there & continue getting your batteries charged by stimulating, invigorating conversations until season two begins on the Highly Optimized podcast. So, with all of that being said, sit back, relax & enjoy the hell out of this epic dialogue with me & the beautiful Miss Rachel Varitimos. Show Notes:(3:40)  Having a healthy sex life.(12:25) The importance of being communicative in a relationship. (16:18) What makes us similar…(28:51) The ego & the heart.(37:35) Rachel gives some relationship advice.(57:15) Where you can reach Rachel.Connect with RachelIG: @rachel_varitimosThank you to our podcast sponsors!Freedom Builderz - https://www.freedombuilderz.com/Building profitable online programs FOR coaches using Kajabi so they can smoothly hit 10k months!This episode was produced by Mazel Tov Media in Quincy, Massachusetts.Subscribe to The Highly Optimized PodcastSubscribe to This One Time on Psychedelics Podcastvisit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
Well guys, as you will hear in this episode, the first season of the Highly Optimized podcast, which may be the longest running season in existence, is coming to a close. In this episode, I do a deep dive into the last 3 years of my life with my main man & man behind the curtain of every single podcast I have ever put out into the world, Shlomo Bowe. Shlomo is not only my producer, but he is also one of my dearest friends in the world & over the last 3 years, we have had some wild adventures & have both grown a lot in our own ways during that time. We will be doing one last episode next Wednesday to close out the season & then I will be moving into doing the “This One Time On Psychedelics” podcast full time, which I am SUPER stoked about. My intention is to put my full heart into everything I do & at this time, I am feeling the call to dedicate myself to this show but fear not! The “This One Time On Psychedelics” podcast is getting a re-brand as well & I will be infusing the best parts of the Highly Optimized podcast, including the guests own heroes journeys & tips for living an optimized life into this podcast so go subscribe to the show & as always, thank you all for your continued support & love, I would never be able to do this without that support & without all your kind words that remind me why I do this each & every day.Connect with ShlomoIG: @shlomoboweIG @massmusicradioIG @mazeltovmediaWebsite: https://www.mazeltm.com/This episode was produced by Mazel Tov Media in Quincy, Massachusetts.Thank you to our podcast sponsors!Freedom Builderz Building profitable online programs FOR coaches using Kajabi so they can smoothly hit 10k months!visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
In todays episode, I have the opportunity to dive in with my beautiful lady, Rachel Varitimos & one of me & Rachel’s dearest friends & Rachel’s business partner, Kimberly Kesting. These two women are doing some amazing work in the world with their Goddess Mind mastermind designed to help women gain confidence & start & scale their business & their Goddess Getaway retreats that help women dive deeper into this mission & embody a new, empowered way of living & in this episode, we riff on why they were led to this work, what their experience with this type of work has been & who they have been able to become as a result. This episode was an absolute blast to record & we were able to do it live at Mark Englands infamous lake house. So, with that being said, sit back, have a laugh & enjoy the show! visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
As many of you are aware after listening to this show for some time, my intention for each of these episodes is to bring forth the hero’s journey that we all embark upon in one way or another within our lives. For me, it is the hero’s journey that allows us to view our lives as a movie & todays guest on the show is a man who has not only created an epic movie out of his own hero’s journey, but has also dedicated his life to helping other men embark upon their hero’s journey & be able to do so with the proper tools, support & guidance to own the story of their lives through his Masculine Mastery brand, which combines workshops, retreats, immersions & the Masculine Mastery podcast. In addition, he is a master breathwork facilitator & has co-created his very own style of breathwork called Sonic Breathwork that he combines with music in his brand “Beats & Breath”, which is dedicated to helping its clients feel more alive, connected & free through guided experiences. In this episode, we will be exploring the path that led him into the work he is doing today, his tips for men listening who are looking to become the leaders of their lives, why he is so passionate about breathwork & music & much, much more.About Christopher August:Christopher August is on a mission to co-create a more conscious and connected world. With over 15 years experience in the fields of personal, business and leadership development, he has helped hundreds of people transform their pain into purpose. As a Transformational Coach, Speaker and Facilitator, his work blends somatic healing practices and intuitive guidance with actionable strategies to help other  experience the most free, alive and authentic versions of themselves.Connect with Christopher https://www.christopheraugust.co/ https://masculinemastery.co/ Thank you to our podcast sponsors!Freedom Builderz - https://www.freedombuilderz.com/Building profitable online programs FOR coaches using Kajabi so they can smoothly hit 10k months! Show Notes: (2:43) How Christopher got interested into the work he does today. (6:06) Christopher’s culture shock living in Africa. (10:30) Lack of modern rights to passage and immature views on masculinity. (16:30) Check out FreedomBuilderz.com! (18:36) When the beats and breathe got started. (28:50) Combing breathe work and psychedelics and the amazing effects from both. (41:00) A good starting point for men to find who they really are. (1:00:30) Where the listeners can find Christoper! (1:04:40) Christopher’s last piece of advice for listeners.https://www.highlyoptimized.me This episode was produced by Mazel Tov Media in Quincy, Massachusetts.visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
I feel it’s safe to say that we are currently living during a very exciting time. With the incredible increase in technology over a very short amount of time that has allowed us to connect with anyone around the world, coupled with the current raising of global consciousness, I personally feel as though I am very fortunate to be alive at this time in history. This being said, although things like technology have allowed us to, in theory, connect more with others from around the world & make our lives easier, it begs the question of why so many of us are so sick & tired? The challenge, as I see it, is that because so many of us are overstimulated & have the ability to distract ourselves effortlessly, the one individual in our lives we have ultimately become less connected with is ourselves. Todays guest on the show is an individual who has made it his life’s work to help those he serves be able to connect back to themselves & has done so by using technology to be able to bring forth frequency healing & musical creations that are not only beautiful to listen to, but that can actually help individuals on a cellular level to connect with themselves, heal from within & come back home to their divine nature as human beings. His mission was ignited by a deep calling to heal his own body & knowing full well that most meditation & healing music available at that time was based in entertainment, rather than healing, he got to work in, quite, literally, being the change that the world of healing was craving so desperately at that time. What resulted was his ability to create & share this type of music worldwide through his business, “Listening To Smile” & in this episode, we will be doing a deep dive into his journey, the unique ways in which he creates his music, the profound healing benefits associated with his music & much, much more!Show Notes:(3:10)  What originally got Ian into music?(8:01) Then vs. now for Ian. (12:26) Music acts as a carrier of emotions.(24:12) What is 432hz and why’s it important. (34:18) Ian’s speaker recommendations. (1:01:56) Where you can reach Ian.(1:03:45) Ian’s final piece of advice!Join the Highly Optimized Ceremony Circle on Facebook! https://www.highlyoptimized.me This episode was produced by Mazel Tov Media in Quincy, Massachusetts.visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!
I imagine that everyone tuning into this episode can relate to the notion that for many of us, we seemingly have many passions that might not feel as though they are connected, yet as we continue to move through our lives, the connections between them begin to become clearer. I know this has been my experience in being interested in psychology, spirituality, plant medicines & health for most of my life & it wasn’t until I began Highly Optimized that I began to see the through line between each of them. Todays guest on the show is a man who shares in this notion of having many passions that may not seem to fit together if you looked at each of them independently, however, actually fit together incredibly well when you look at them all from the unionized perspective that we will be diving in to today in this episode. I first found out about this individual when I discovered his work in shamanism, specifically with Ayahuasca & Cannabis, & was blown away at how many synchronicities we shared specifically in the ways in which we spoke about Cannabis & along with his work as a renowned master shaman, he is also a visionary leader, speaker & author who is the founder of Blue Morpho and Co-Founder of FullStock, LiquidEarth and Landslide. For the immense amount of people who have benefitted as a result of his immense wisdom in these areas, it is clear that he is a pioneer in Amazonian Shamanism, Web3 and NFTs who is linking these realms together in a way that I have yet to come across anywhere else in my travels.Show Notes:(3:25) How Hamilton first got into his field(s) of study.(6:44) Using NFT’s to support creators and creatives. (10:31) Creativity is the SOURCE.(18:05) Creating cannabis shamanism. (31:09) What Hamilton saw during a San Pedro ceremony…(37:52) The masculine, according to Ryan.(57:34) Where you can reach Hamilton.(58:23) Hamilton’s final piece of advice for the listeners!Join the Highly Optimized Ceremony Circle on Facebook! https://www.highlyoptimized.me This episode was produced by Mazel Tov Media in Quincy, Massachusetts.https://www.mazeltm.com/highlyoptimizedvisit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!