In this Mental Health Awareness Month special, host Thoryn Stephens sits down with celebrated sports & celebrity agent Darren Prince—author of the bestseller Aiming High and founder of the Aiming High Foundation—for a raw, inspiring conversation about turning adversity into purpose.

Darren shares his remarkable journey: from selling a baseball-card company for $1 million at 19 and representing icons like Magic Johnson and Muhammad Ali to spiraling into opioid addiction and hitting rock bottom in 2008. A single “God shot” set him on the road to lasting sobriety, service, and a new definition of wealth rooted in inner peace.

We unpack the exact micro-habits and protocols that keep Darren “uncommon among the uncommon,” including hydrogen water, grounding, frequency therapy, New Calm meditation, and a six-day-a-week workout routine—plus why he believes consistency beats discipline every time. Darren also reveals how his newly launched Aiming High Protocol on the Brain.One platform helps anyone build brain-first habits that ripple out to physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

Finally, learn how the Aiming High Foundation is funding treatment scholarships, and hear Darren’s challenge to help us reach one billion brains optimized.

Brain Fitness One is your go-to podcast for unlocking the full potential of your mind.

Links & Resources

• Darren’s Aiming High Protocol on Brain.One
• Aiming High (book)
• Aiming High Foundation (donate or apply for scholarship)
• Brain.One newsletter & personalized brain-fitness platform
  
  
  

Tune in and discover how aligning purpose, gratitude, and science-backed routines can transform your brain—and your life.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

https://missionmatters.com/author/thoryn-stephens/

In this groundbreaking episode of Brain Fitness One, host Thoryn Stephens welcomes Dr. Galen Buckwalter — AI pioneer, research psychologist, and one of the first humans in history to have six chronically implanted neural arrays for brain-computer interface (BCI) research.

From his early days as Chief Scientist at eHarmony—where he helped revolutionize human matchmaking through psychometrics and machine learning—to his current role as Chief Brain Futurist at Brain One, Galen has spent his career at the intersection of data, neuroscience, and human potential.

Now participating in a world-leading clinical trial at Caltech, Galen shares what it’s like to be wired directly into the cloud, control robotic limbs with his thoughts, and stimulate long-dormant neural circuits after a 50-year spinal cord injury. His story is a remarkable blend of science, spirit, punk rock, and possibility.

Key Topics Covered

• Galen’s journey from eHarmony to becoming a neural interface pioneer
• How psychometrics and machine learning reshaped online matchmaking
• The science behind brain-computer interfaces and spinal cord research
• What it feels like to control robotic limbs using only brain signals
• Stimulation in the prefrontal cortex and unlocking new neural insights
• The ethics of neural data: “My brain, not my data”
• The BCI Pioneers Collective and fighting for ethical tech development
• How BCIs may evolve to upload knowledge or enhance memory
• The power of creative expression in recovery and brain health
• The making of “Domino,” the world’s first punk rock song using BCI
• Daily protocols and routines for optimal cognitive function

Connect with Dr. Galen Buckwalter:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-galen-buckwalter-04139510/

Music Release: “Domino” (Coming May 2025)

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

https://missionmatters.com/author/thoryn-stephens/

In this powerful episode of Brain Fitness One, host Thoryn Stephens welcomes the inspirational Frank Parisi — heart transplant survivor, recovered addict, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of Emotion Wellness.

Frank shares his unbelievable story of growing up amidst addiction and violence in NYC, battling a decade-long opiate addiction, surviving an overdose, experiencing divine transformation through recovery, and ultimately receiving a life-saving heart transplant in 2023.

His raw, unfiltered story is one of pain, purpose, and profound spiritual awakening. From near-death experiences and misdiagnoses to walking five miles a day in the ICU with 13 staples in his chest — Frank's message is one of hope, discipline, love, and radical resilience.

Key Topics Covered

• Frank’s journey from the streets of NYC to global stages of influence
• How addiction, trauma, and recovery shaped a new purpose
• The non-negotiable habits that helped him rebuild his life
• His spiritual near-death experience & what it taught him
• Daily disciplines that lead to abundance in every area of life
• The power of belief, service, and surrounding yourself with the right tribe
• Launching a mental health and addiction recovery center: Emotion Wellness

Connect with Frank Parisi:
Book: Embrace Abundance on Amazon
Website: https://frank-parisi.com/
Instagram: @frankparisi2011
Learn more: emotionwellness.com

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

https://missionmatters.com/author/thoryn-stephens/

In this inaugural episode of Brain Fitness One, host Thoryn Stephens welcomes Ashley Grimmel, a leading expert in functional health, performance optimization, and integrative nutrition. Together, they dive into the power of daily health routines, exploring science-backed protocols for brain optimization, resilience, and peak performance.

Ashley shares insights into her personal health and training regimen, covering everything from morning routines, supplementation, and workout strategies to wearable technology and habit formation.

If you’re looking to fine-tune your cognitive and physical performance, this episode delivers actionable tips and expert advice you won’t want to miss.

Key Topics Covered

• Daily Health & Brain Optimization Routines – How Ashley structures her mornings for peak performance
• The Role of Supplements – Her go-to minerals, adaptogens, and nootropics for mental clarity and endurance
• Training & Endurance Prep – Insights into her preparation for the Grand Traverse and Power of Four ski mountaineering race
• The Science of Habit Formation – How small, incremental changes create long-lasting health transformations
• Wearable Technology & Data Tracking – Comparing the accuracy of Aura, Whoop, and Garmin for biofeedback
• Managing Health While Traveling – Simple protocols to stay on track even with a busy schedule

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:

https://missionmatters.com/author/thoryn-stephens/