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Welcome to the lab, where the coffee is strong and the conversation is even stronger! This week on Mornings in the Lab with Keith and Friends, we dove headfirst into everything from border dramas and the surprising truth about baldness to the power of passion, the grit of golf, and the secret life of your gut. If you're looking for a live morning show that cuts through the noise and offers entertaining conversation and a dose of daily accountability partner energy, you've found your place. It's got that old-school radio vibe but packed with relevant men's conversation for today's world.
We kicked off the day with a look at setting our day up right, focusing on morning momentum men often seek. The challenge? Avoiding the snooze button and truly deciding how to start your day right men, emphasizing that our morning wake up habits and morning routine consistency aren't just for us – our kids are watching and learning from our actions, not just our words.
The Power of Passion: Music, Grit, and Timeless Energy
We were joined by two incredible guests who embody the spirit of pursuing what you love.
First up was Doc Wiley, a Grammy-winning producer, media magician, and the force behind America's favorite Tom Petty tribute band, The Waiting. Doc shared his journey, explaining that his band focuses on a "celebration" of the material, not just a tribute. He believes it's all about honoring the song, which is his passion as a "song guy". Doc's insights into the music world, having worked with legends like U2 and Prince, highlighted the importance of excellence and the drive that comes from within – that feeling that "it's in him and it's got to come out". Despite his 63 years, Doc projects a youthful energy that multiple people commented on, proving that doing what you love doesn't age you like a job you can't stand. His philosophy? If you're doing it right, all roads lead to room. His segment touched on personal development, goals, mindset, and the business side of music.
On the Fairway and Beyond: Progress, Relatability, and Collaboration
Next, we swung into conversation with Nick Domingo, the mastermind behind Rainmaker's Golf Club. Nick's journey from legacy media brands like Maxim and Golf Magazine to forging his own path as a "fairway Renegade" speaks to finding your authentic voice. His brand resonates deeply because he embraces being the "average golfer," relatable to the majority of people who know that golf is "fucking hard". Nick emphasized that golf, and life, isn't about perfection, it's about progress. He also offered invaluable advice on content creation – the need to always be on – and shared his belief in collaboration over competition in the media landscape. His focus on helping people and building a supportive community ties directly into themes of personal development, mindset, and the business of building a brand in the age of technology.
Gut Health, Brain Power, and What You Feed Yourself
Beyond the guest segments, we touched on crucial aspects of men's health and a healthy lifestyle. We explored the pervasive influence of junk food advertising, especially on children, and the potential benefits of limiting exposure to ads for high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt foods. In a surprising twist, we highlighted six "bad foods" that are secretly healing your gut:
Fermented foods (like sauerkraut, kefir, and kimchi) are rich in probiotics.
Beans and cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and Brussels sprouts) provide fiber and prebiotics that foster microbial diversity; the gas they cause is actually a sign your microbiome is thriving.
Potatoes and white rice, when cooked and cooled, convert to resistant starch, feeding gut bacteria and improving insulin sensitivity.
This segment encouraged exploring these options to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and support mental health through the microbiome.
We also touched on new research suggesting that working excessively (52+ hours per week) could physically change critical areas of your brain, potentially impacting cognitive abilities and emotional regulation. This ties into the broader conversation around men's mental health and finding balance.
Community, Connection, and Showing Up
Rounding out the show, we spotlighted voices from the Mornings in the Lab community on LinkedIn and Substack. These segments amplified conversations around:
Living for fulfillment, not just performance, and defining true wealth.
What happens when everything is handled for you, especially for young men.
Challenging the notion of dads as "helpers" and advocating for fathers as fully present parents.
Psychological habits that hold us back and the importance of taking ownership (accountability).
Saying "yes" before you're ready as a path to courage and unexpected opportunities.
Checking in with ourselves before spiraling into negativity, recognizing that sometimes the world isn't falling apart – you just need a snack.
These spotlights reinforce the show's commitment to featuring real talk, conversations, and motivating content from the community.
Until Next Time...
This episode was a testament to the show's core – providing insight, laughter, and tangible takeaways to help you show up better every day. It’s about building morning momentum, focusing on goals and audacious goals, embracing accountability, and applying insights to various aspects of life, from fitness and athletic performance (or lack thereof on the golf course!) to personal development and navigating business and technology trends like AI.
Tune in tomorrow as we dive into intermittent fasting and keep the momentum going!
Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.
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