The Mental Fitness Podcast

Build mental strength for real life.

ElizaChat co-founders, Dave and Luke, share honest conversations about handling stress, anxiety, and the everyday challenges of being human. Each episode brings you science-backed strategies and expert insights you can actually use—no fluff, just practical tools for building mental resilience at school, work, and home.

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© 2025 The Mental Fitness Podcast
Lastest Episodes
February 17, 2026
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25
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00:38:54
The Emotional Intelligence Playbook | What Your Emotions Are Really Telling You
In this episode, Dave and Luke dive into emotional intelligence—what it really means and why it matters. They explain it as a trainable set of abilities that can significantly improve stress regulation, relationships, leadership performance, and...
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February 10, 2026
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24
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00:54:28
Reclaiming Your Mental Focus | The Neuroscience Behind Screens with Dr. Dan Lathan
In this episode, Dave and Luke sit down with neuroscientist Dr. Dan Lathan to explore how digital media is reshaping the way our brains function. Dr. Lathan explains how screens have become a common factor behind issues like poor sleep, reduced...
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February 3, 2026
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23
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00:33:19
Finding Connection in Loneliness | How to Navigate Growth Without Losing Yourself
Hosts Dave and Luke talk about the epidemic of loneliness present in the world today. Even in this era of modern connection, many people still find themselves battling deep loneliness.
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January 27, 2026
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22
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00:48:18
When Excellence Has a Cost | Performance, Pressure, and Identity with Brian Goodell
Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Brian Goodell, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world-record holder, to explore what happens when excellence, pressure, and self-worth become tightly intertwined...
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January 20, 2026
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21
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00:42:49
How to Improve Your Sleep Hygiene | A Practical Look at Sleep with Dr. Jade Wu
Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson welcome back sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu for a conversation about things that actually help people sleep better. Moving past rigid routines and “hacks,” their discussion reframes sleep hygiene.
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January 14, 2026
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20
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00:47:32
Finding Confidence After Setbacks | The Mental Toll of Athletic Performance with Joshua Aruya
Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Division I athlete Joshua Aruya for a conversation about the mental side of elite performance. Josh shares how his journey into men’s volleyball began unexpectedly and evolved rapidly, leading him to...
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January 6, 2026
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19
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00:39:18
A Smarter Way to Start the Year | How to Make Goals That Sustain Long-Term Change
As a new year begins, Dave Barney and Luke Olson look at why most New Year’s resolutions don’t stick. They show that failure is rarely a discipline or willpower issue. Together, they challenge the idea that goal-setting is a character test
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December 30, 2025
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18
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00:23:05
The Third Pillar of Mental Fitness | Health and Vitality
Rather than framing physical health as a fitness trend or lifestyle goal, their conversation grounds it in capacity. Dave and Luke explain how sleep, movement, and nutrition form the physical foundation for true Mental Fitness
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December 23, 2025
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17
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00:31:00
Connection to Others | The Second Pillar of Mental Fitness
In a world more digitally connected than ever, Dave and Luke explore how loneliness is quietly becoming one of the greatest threats to mental health. They unpack the second pillar of mental fitness - Connection to Others
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December 16, 2025
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16
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00:30:00
Connection to Self | The First Pillar of Mental Fitness
In this episode, Dave and Luke introduce the first pillar of mental fitness: connection to self. Rather than focusing on productivity hacks or motivation tactics, this conversation invites listeners to slow down and look inward.
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December 9, 2025
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15
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00:55:57
Rebuilding the Self: From Olympic Glory to Personal Recovery
This week, hosts Luke and Dave are joined by Bill Schuffenhauer, Olympic bobsled silver medalist and three-time Olympian, to explore the lesser-told story behind elite performance: the mental journey that follows the medals, the press, and the...
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December 2, 2025
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14
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00:40:48
Connection to Self, Connection to Others, and Health and Vitality | The Three Pillars of Mental Fitness
Dave and Luke take a deep dive into the concept of mental fitness. What it is, why it matters, and how to build it. They explain that mental fitness isn’t about being “unwell” or “well” but more about your ability to handle lifes challenges.
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November 25, 2025
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13
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00:41:12
Beyond Thanksgiving: The Science of Gratitude with Todd Olson
Back by popular demand, trauma and nervous system specialist Todd Olson is back to explore the deeper power of embodied gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.
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November 18, 2025
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12
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00:49:00
Can AI Cure Loneliness? The Promise and Peril of Digital Companions with Br33 Jon3s
Artificial intelligence is changing everything, including how we connect, cope, and care for ourselves. In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Br33 Jon3s, tech anthropologist, AI ethicist.
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November 11, 2025
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11
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00:49:52
Food, Mood, and the Mind: How Nutrition Shapes Mental Health with Dr. David Wiss
Nutrition isn’t just about physical health, it’s about how you think, feel, and show up every day. In this episode, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. David Wiss, to explore the powerful connection between food, inflammation, and mental wellness.
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November 4, 2025
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10
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00:51:28
Time, Trust, and True Care: Rebuilding Healthcare From the Inside Out
Hosts Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. John Sanders, a family physician pioneering a preventive, human-centered approach to healthcare. True wellness begins long before symptoms appear.
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October 21, 2025
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9
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00:51:03
Burnout vs. Depression: How to Recover, Recharge, and Build Real Resilience
In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with psychologist Dr. David Morgan, who brings over two decades of experience in forensic and workplace mental health. Together, they unpack one of today’s most misunderstood
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October 14, 2025
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8
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00:45:35
When the Game Ends | Finding Identity Beyond the Field with Sae Tautu
Former NFL and BYU linebacker Sae Tautu spent years chasing the dream that defined his life, until one injury changed everything. What happens when your identity is built on something that suddenly disappears? In this episode, Sae opens...
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October 7, 2025
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7
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00:56:01
Small is Bigger, Slow is Faster: Nervous System Wisdom with Todd Olson
When life moves too fast, our bodies often tell the story before our minds catch up. In this episode, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with trauma and nervous system specialist Todd Olson, who brings more than 35 years of experience helping people heal
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September 30, 2025
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6
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00:45:25
Teens, Technology, and Resilience with Dr. Jenna McGinnis
Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. Jenna McGinnis of the University of Utah to discuss why the teenage years are such a critical window for mental health.
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September 23, 2025
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5
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00:45:51
Code Switching, Identity, and Mental Fitness with Dr. Kimberly Applewhite
Guest: Dr. Kimberly Applewhite In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, hosts Dave and Luke sit down with Dr. Kimberly Applewhite, a licensed clinical psychologist and community leader, to explore the hidden emotional costs of code switching.
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September 16, 2025
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4
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00:50:56
Sleep, Mental Fitness, and Everyday Resilience with Dr. Jade Wu
Guest: Dr. Jade Wu Hosts Dave and Luke welcome Dr. Jade Wu, an internationally recognized behavioral sleep medicine specialist and author of Hello Sleep. Together, they explore why sleep is a foundation for mood, focus, creativity, and resilience.
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September 10, 2025
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3
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00:37:31
What Is Mental Fitness? Building Strength for the Modern World
In the first full episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke dive into the concept of “mental fitness” and why it matters now more than ever. They explore the parallels between physical and mental health, highlighting how habits like sleep,
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September 10, 2025
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2
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00:40:28
From Tech to Mental Health: The Story Behind ElizaChat
In this episode of The Mental Fitness Podcast, co-founders Dave and Luke share their personal and professional journeys that led them to create ElizaChat.
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September 9, 2025
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1
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00:18:06
Welcome to the The Mental Fitness Podcast
The Opening trailer of The Mental Fitness Podcast, Dave and Luke set the stage for a journey through history, culture, and the ongoing struggle to understand what it really means to be mentally strong.
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