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Highly Optimized

Highly Optimized

By: Ryan Sprague
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About this listen

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.

© 2025 Highly Optimized
Hygiene & Healthy Living Science Spirituality
Episodes
  • Ep. 150: “The Hero’s Journey: From Rock Bottom to Revolutionary Innovation” (feat. Adam Schell)
    Sep 12 2025

    Send us a text

    Today’s guest is the creator of one of my all-time favorite supplement brands, one that has pioneered psilocybin microdoses blended with herbs, adaptogens & nootropics into truly revolutionary formulas you won’t find anywhere else in the world. But his journey to this point has been anything but easy. After finding major success in the Cannabis industry, a series of bad decisions left him high & dry. Instead of giving up, he found the courage & drive to rebuild from the ground up.

    What unfolded from there is the essence of the hero’s journey, a story of loss, resilience, and rebirth. In this conversation, we explore that journey in depth: his perspective on the arc of human evolution & how to recognize the phase you’re currently in, how to win friends & positively influence people, and so much more.

    He’s not only a visionary entrepreneur but also one of my favorite people in the world, and by the end of this episode, I’m confident you’ll understand exactly why.

    Connect with Adam:

    Brainsupreme.co (USE CODE HIGHLY FOR A DISCOUNT)

    This Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.

    Purchase Organic High Quality THCA Hemp Flower (use code HIGHLY at checkout for a discount):

    https://sacredsmokecollective.com/

    visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep. 149: “Strength, Surrender & the Courage to Follow Your Calling” (feat. Mike Salemi)
    Sep 5 2025

    Send us a text

    At just 19 years old, today’s guest was already obsessed with powerlifting, squatting an incredible 605 pounds completely naturally. On the outside, it looked like he was destined for greatness. But behind the records and medals, injuries began piling up. He bounced from practitioner to practitioner, each one promising answers, yet leaving him with the same nagging pain. Hope was fading fast…until he discovered the work of Paul Chek. That moment became a turning point. His focus shifted from simply working out to also working in, sparking a whole new vision for his life.

    That vision led him to realize his true dream: supporting men in their journey of healing and growth. But to pursue it, he had to make one of the toughest choices of his life, walking away from his family’s successful business. On paper, it offered good money and security, but deep down, he knew it was slowly eating away at him. Stepping into the unknown, he set off on his own path, committed to men’s work, and in the process, found his soul.

    In today’s episode, we’ll explore his powerful journey, the wisdom he carries for others walking a similar path, and what it truly means to align with your calling.

    Connect with Mike:

    IG: @mike.salemi

    Book a call with Mike: brand.mikesalemi.io


    This Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.

    Purchase Organic High Quality THCA Hemp Flower (use code HIGHLY at checkout for a discount):

    https://sacredsmokecollective.com/

    visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Ep. 148: “From Wall Street to Inner Peace: Rewriting the Meaning of Success” (feat. Cal Callahan)
    Aug 29 2025

    Send us a text

    On the outside, today’s guest looked like he had it all, a thriving career as a financial trader in Chicago, a life that many would envy, and the kind of success that makes people assume you’ve got everything figured out. But behind that polished exterior, he carried a heavy truth: a constant drive to push harder, do more, and prove himself. That pressure left him feeling unfulfilled within, disconnected from his family, and trapped in a cycle of striving without peace.

    Everything changed in 2017, when he found himself caught in the middle of the Las Vegas mass shooting. In that life-or-death moment, he was struck with the realization that if it had all ended right then, he would leave this world profoundly unhappy. That awakening set him on an inner quest, one that would take him from chasing outer success to uncovering true peace, self-love, and freedom within.

    In today’s episode, you’ll hear the story of that journey, the lessons he learned along the way, and how life feels now that he’s come through to the other side. This conversation will pull on your heartstrings & inspire you to find your own version of peace.

    This Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.

    Connect with Cal:

    thegreatunlearn.com

    https://linktr.ee/cal.callahan?fbclid=PAdGRleAMdtkpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp3YQrUklcY_VW9npY9uxKs3UDqYVsxITQfXrmalEsoSA5Rlb8vEqq7K7vaJC_aem_cV5znUPwacIyV7dOpABr8A

    Purchase Organic High Quality THCA Hemp Flower (use code HIGHLY at checkout for a discount):

    https://sacredsmokecollective.com/

    visit https://www.FreedomBuilderz.com for more info!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 28 mins
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