The John Vincent Podcast

In Part 4 of John Vincent’s conversation with Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya, the focus turns to the Ayurvedic rituals that shape daily life, relationships, sleep, food and long term health. Bhaswati explains why lasting habits begin with values and belief systems, how Ayurveda approaches sexual intimacy and seasonal changes, and why human routines should respond to natural cycles of light, temperature and time.They explore tantra, intimacy, traditional herbal knowledge, regenerative farming, seasonal eating and Ayurvedic routines across different stages of life. Bhaswati also discusses morning sunlight, evening darkness, melatonin, thyroid function and inflammation, drawing connections between ancient Ayurvedic practice and emerging questions in modern medicine.In this episode you'll learn:◼ Why Ayurvedic rituals begin with values, beliefs and personal priorities◼ Atomic Habits, Stephen Covey and the deeper psychology behind routines◼ Ayurvedic perspectives on sexual desire, intimacy and seasonal intercourse◼ Why Bhaswati considers the mind central to sexual intimacy◼ Tantra, consciousness and the traditional meaning behind intimate connection◼ How Ayurveda can adapt to different cultures, climates and indigenous traditions◼ Medicinal herbs, regenerative farming and seasonal food practices◼ Daily, seasonal and life stage rituals within Ayurvedic medicine◼ Morning sunlight, evening darkness, melatonin and circadian rhythm◼ Bhaswati’s perspective on inflammation, thyroid health and post Covid illnessKey Moments0:00 Why rituals and routines matter in everyday life01:14 Atomic Habits and the Seven Habits approach to behaviour03:01 Why habits begin with your underlying belief system03:27 Values versus desire and how priorities shape behaviour05:44 Aligning routines with sunlight, moonlight and natural cycles08:01 Ayurveda’s surprising approach to sex during different seasons08:15 Why intimacy can matter more than intercourse10:18 Bhaswati’s unusual childhood connection to sperm research10:57 Sexual potency, polarity and creating deeper intimacy12:00 Intimacy, fertility and the Ayurvedic view of conception13:30 Empowered women, sexuality and freedom14:00 Kali, tantra, consciousness and the deeper meaning of intimacy15:22 What Paris taught Bhaswati about ritual, fresh food and seasonal living16:44 Can authentic Ayurveda work outside India?18:30 Using local herbs through Ayurvedic principles24:13 Seasonal wine, food, meat and traditional Ayurvedic guidance27:07 How Ayurvedic rituals change throughout different stages of life29:00 The thyroid experiences reported by readers of Everyday Ayurveda30:00 Morning sunlight, the pineal gland and daily biological rhythms31:17 Inflammation, post Covid illness and Bhaswati’s Ayurvedic approach

How much of our health is shaped by the way we live every day?In Part 3 of John Vincent’s conversation with Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya, they explore the Ayurvedic approach to sleep, daily habits, stress, resilience and the relationship between mind, body and consciousness.Bhaswati explains the Ayurvedic concepts of sattva, rajas and tamas and how periods of activity, harmony and rest form part of a healthy life. She challenges John’s habit of working from his phone late at night and explains why sleep became one of her priorities while training as a medical doctor.The conversation develops into a wider examination of Ayurveda and modern medicine. Bhaswati reflects on her Western medical training, the experiences that led her to study Ayurveda, and what she witnessed while filming a documentary about Ayurvedic medicine in India. John and Bhaswati discuss the microbiome, belief, medical evidence, chronic disease, spontaneous remission and the difficulty of investigating observations that sit outside established medical models.The episode closes with consciousness, the relationship between the microcosm and macrocosm, and why curiosity remains essential when exploring both ancient medicine and modern science.In this episode you'll learn:◼ Sattva, rajas and tamas and their relationship with the mind◼ Why late night phone use can interfere with rest and recovery◼ Sleep, stress and building greater physical and mental resilience◼ How Bhaswati protected her health during Western medical training◼ The experiences that led her from modern medicine towards Ayurveda◼ Ayurveda, the microbiome and the idea of changing the body’s terrain◼ Medical evidence, anecdotal observations and spontaneous remission◼ The historical relationship between Ayurveda and Western medical thinking◼ Natural dosha constitution versus Vata, Pitta and Kapha imbalance◼ Consciousness, nature and the relationship between microcosm and macrocosmKey Moments0:00 Understanding Kapha through connection and stability01:10 Sattva, rajas and tamas explained02:47 Why rest is essential for restoration and wellbeing03:14 John reveals his late night phone and email habit03:54 How modern lifestyles can push the body out of balance06:10 Why extraordinary achievement can come with a physical cost07:19 Bhaswati on resilience and the value of balanced parenting08:48 How to prepare the body for stressful periods of life10:28 Why Bhaswati prioritised sleep during medical school11:52 The family rituals that introduced Bhaswati to Ayurvedic thinking12:59 How an Ayurvedic doctor predicted Bhaswati’s future career14:14 The documentary that changed her view of Ayurveda14:55 Bhaswati’s observations of Ayurvedic treatment in India16:44 The microbiome and the gap between research and clinical practice18:32 Why beliefs can influence the way people approach health19:41 Challenging established assumptions about chronic disease22:35 Bhaswati’s experience filming Ayurvedic doctors treating illness27:23 Why controversial medical observations deserve careful investigation31:12 The possible historical connection between Ayurveda and Hippocratic medicine34:06 Your natural dosha balance explained with the 100 marbles analogy35:56 Why there is no perfect Vata, Pitta and Kapha ratio37:38 Ayurveda, consciousness and the physics of living systems39:59 Why doshas can be understood by observing nature42:00 Curiosity as a bridge between Ayurveda and modern science43:04 The Ayurvedic principle of microcosm and macrocosm

What can Vata, Pitta and Kapha tell us about the way our bodies and minds function?In Part 2 of John Vincent’s conversation with Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya, they explore the Ayurvedic concept of doshas and how these three forces are used to understand movement, transformation, stability and imbalance within the body.Bhaswati explains why Vata is associated with movement, from breathing and circulation to the nervous system and digestion, and how excessive movement may manifest through patterns such as constipation, anxiety, disrupted sleep and neurological symptoms. She explores practical Ayurvedic approaches to calming Vata through warmth, moisture, food, environment and more controlled forms of movement.The conversation then turns to Pitta, the force associated with heat and transformation. Bhaswati connects Pitta with metabolism, interpretation, inflammation and the communication between different systems of the body. John and Bhaswati also examine the gap between scientific discovery and clinical practice and question what can be lost when medicine studies biological processes in isolation.In this episode you'll learn:◼ What Vata, Pitta and Kapha mean in Ayurveda◼ Why Vata governs movement, flow, breathing, circulation and the nervous system◼ Signs Bhaswati associates with Vata imbalance and excessive movement◼ Using warmth, moisture, food and environment to calm Vata◼ Why quality of movement matters more than simply moving more◼ Pitta as the Ayurvedic force of heat, metabolism and transformation◼ The relationship between Pitta, inflammation, anger and perfectionism◼ Why scientific evidence can take years to influence medical practice◼ Kapha as the principle of stability, lubrication and connection◼ How Ayurveda approaches health through balance between movement, transformation and stabilityKey Moments0:00 What are the three Ayurvedic doshas?01:09 Vata explained as movement throughout nature and the body03:58 How excessive movement can push Vata out of balance07:33 Vata and the systems responsible for movement in the body11:33 Why warmth and moisture can help calm Vata14:55 Food choices for balancing Vata16:33 Combining Ayurvedic approaches with pharmaceutical medicine19:21 Why dance and rhythmic movement can be therapeutic20:27 What your movement during sleep may reveal21:39 Bhaswati on being labelled with learning difficulties as a child23:27 How environment can influence Vata25:40 Finding the right balance between movement and stillness27:42 Why children need structured opportunities to move29:43 Why Vata is considered the driver of the doshas30:24 Pitta explained as heat, metabolism and transformation34:55 Why medical knowledge can take years to reach clinical practice36:47 How Pitta influences interpretation, metabolism and bodily communication39:12 Pitta imbalance, anger, perfectionism and inflammation42:09 Why Bhaswati questions reductionist approaches to medicine43:10 Kapha explained through stability, connection and lubrication

What is Ayurveda, and what can this ancient system of medicine teach us about staying healthy today? John Vincent speaks with physician, scientist and Ayurvedic practitioner Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya to explore the foundations of Ayurveda and its approach to health, healing and everyday life.Drawing on her training in both modern medicine and Ayurveda, Bhaswati explains why Ayurvedic medicine looks at the whole person, including the body, mind, food, movement, sleep, relationships, environment and daily routine. They explore Dinacharya, the Ayurvedic concept of aligning daily habits with natural rhythms, the role of morning sunlight, and why prevention and treatment both form part of Ayurveda. Bhaswati also shares how filming Ayurvedic doctors in India for National Geographic transformed her understanding of what medicine could achieve.In this episode you'll learn:◼ What Ayurveda is and where this ancient system of medicine comes from◼ How Ayurvedic medicine approaches health, wellness and healing◼ The difference between ancient medical systems and modern pharmaceutical medicine◼ Dinacharya and the importance of daily routines in Ayurveda◼ How natural rhythms and morning sunlight influence Ayurvedic living◼ Food, movement, yoga, sleep and intimacy as foundations of wellbeing◼ Why Ayurveda considers both prevention and illness◼ Bhaswati’s journey from modern medicine into Ayurvedic medicine◼ How filming Ayurveda in India challenged her medical training◼ The relationship between the body, mind and surrounding environmentKey Moments0:00 Meet Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya01:00 Bhaswati’s background across modern medicine and Ayurveda01:48 Training in Ayurveda at Banaras Hindu University02:29 John’s personal introduction to Ayurvedic medicine04:16 Why Ayurveda remains unfamiliar to so many people05:00 Understanding Ayurveda through the history of medicine07:00 What we mean when we call a form of medicine traditional10:00 Understanding the foundations of Ayurvedic health13:00 Dinacharya and the role of daily routine15:00 Living according to natural rhythms and morning sunlight16:00 Food, movement, yoga and sleep in Ayurvedic wellness18:16 Why Ayurveda also addresses illness18:35 The National Geographic experience that changed Bhaswati’s perspective22:00 Asking how the body can heal23:00 The body, mind and human ecosystem30:00 Ayurveda as an individual approach to health34:49 Daily rituals, meditation and the practical ideas behind Bhaswati’s book

What happens when you achieve financial freedom, sell your business and realise that money hasn't given you the happiness you expected?In this episode of The John Vincent Podcast, LEON founder John Vincent sits down with entrepreneur, investor and HelpBnk founder Simon Squibb to explore the relationship between money, happiness, purpose, mental wellbeing and the courage to pursue your dreams.Simon shares his extraordinary journey from becoming homeless at 15 after his father's death to building 28 businesses, selling his company Fluid to PwC and achieving financial independence. Yet reaching his financial goals left him questioning his identity, searching for meaning and struggling with a lack of purpose.Together, John and Simon examine why financial success can leave people feeling unfulfilled, how the fear of failure prevents people from pursuing their ambitions and why developing a sense of purpose can change the way we experience life.The conversation also explores the psychology of success, the importance of personal growth, the difference between dreams and purpose, and the relationship between meaningful work and mental health.Can pursuing your dreams improve your mental health? Why do so many successful people feel empty after achieving financial freedom? And what does it really take to build a fulfilling life?In this episode you'll learn:◼ Simon Squibb's journey from homelessness at 15 to financial freedom and entrepreneurial success◼ Why achieving financial independence and selling a business can leave people feeling unfulfilled◼ The difference between happiness, purpose, personal mastery and pursuing your dreams◼ How fear of failure, financial pressure and traditional education prevent people from taking risks◼ Why finding your purpose and helping others can influence mental health and emotional wellbeing◼ Simon's plans to create a business bank that supports entrepreneurs and funds people's dreamsKey Moments0:00 Introducing Simon Squibb and his mission to help people achieve their dreams01:25 Simon reveals plans for a new business bank to fund entrepreneurs03:31 Why Simon believes the education system needs an alternative05:11 From homelessness at 15 to building 28 businesses07:00 Financial freedom, selling Fluid to PwC and losing his sense of purpose10:22 How Simon's viral social media strategy and dream movement began13:11 The conversation with his wife that inspired the question, What's Your Dream?16:21 Why Simon believes so many people in Britain have stopped dreaming18:00 Understanding the difference between dreams, purpose and personal skills19:41 Why chasing happiness can leave you feeling unfulfilled22:44 Simon explains why money and financial success failed to make him happy26:33 Overcoming fear of failure and why taking risks creates opportunities29:56 How the Macca Twins turned cleaning into a successful business34:44 The connection between personal growth, meaningful work and mental wellbeing35:54 Why helping others creates fulfilment and strengthens communities39:57 Simon questions John Vincent about selling and returning to LEON43:36 The hidden responsibilities of fame and having millions of followers44:45 Simon explains how to start a business without raising investment48:03 Why Simon believes people deserve access to free business knowledge50:14 When should you quit your job to pursue your business?

Mental health problems are rising across generations, but is the way we treat them actually helping people recover? John Vincent sits down with mental health practitioner Brendan Quinn to examine the realities of psychiatric care, medication and the systems built around mental illness. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience across nursing, private healthcare and mental health services, Brendan shares what he has learned from working directly with patients and families.Brendan reflects on his early work with people diagnosed with severe mental health conditions and the powerful effect that nature, space, movement and human connection could have on their wellbeing. The conversation explores psychiatric medication, institutional care, patient education and the pressures faced by doctors and nurses. Brendan also explains why he believes mental healthcare needs greater innovation and a stronger focus on sleep, nutritious food, relationships, routine, purpose and time outdoors.In this episode you'll learn:◼ Brendan Quinn’s 30 years of experience working in mental health and psychiatric care◼ How nature, movement, food, sleep and human connection can support mental wellbeing◼ The limitations Brendan sees within conventional psychiatric care and institutional treatment◼ Psychiatric medication, patient education and informed healthcare decisions◼ Why innovation within mental health treatment has been difficult to introduce◼ Social media, smartphones and the mental health of children and teenagers◼ Supporting young people experiencing anxiety, depression and eating disorders◼ Why Brendan believes people should become more informed about their own health and treatmentKey Moments00:00 Why John believes mental health challenges are becoming an epidemic04:53 Brendan’s childhood in Ireland and his first exposure to mental illness11:19 Working with severe mental illness and discovering the impact of nature22:04 Why some people can feel trapped within the mental health system39:22 Challenging conventional psychiatric care with food, sleep and nature42:56 Brendan’s vision for a different type of mental health facility57:25 The personal cost of challenging established healthcare practices59:21 Working with musicians experiencing addiction and mental health problems01:16:59 Simplicity, nature and the foundations of better mental wellbeing01:20:33 Why anxiety, depression and eating disorders are rising among young people01:21:02 Social media and its impact on childhood and mental health01:25:12 Phones, pornography, sport and changing childhood behaviour01:28:43 Creating open conversations about mental health at home01:30:39 What parents can do when a child is already struggling01:47:08 Taking greater ownership of your health and questioning the information you receive01:50:03 Sunshine, nature, relationships and purpose as foundations for mental wellbeing

What if changing your life didn’t begin with a dramatic overhaul, but with one small decision that made you feel a little more like yourself again?Actress, bestselling author and WillPowders co-founder Davinia Taylor joins John Vincent for a deeply personal, funny and refreshingly honest conversation about food, energy, behaviour and learning how to listen to your body.Davinia shares a period in her life when she simply wasn’t treating herself particularly well. She felt tired, flat and disconnected from the energetic person she remembered being. Then something surprisingly simple happened: she tried a Bulletproof-style coffee with MCT oil and felt a shift.It wasn’t a miraculous transformation. It was the beginning of a cascade.At the heart of the conversation is a wonderfully simple question: how do we eat like human beings again?John and Davinia explore why modern life can leave us disconnected from our bodies, why food should be about more than calories, and why sometimes the most powerful changes begin with something incredibly small.In this episode:◼ How one small change became the beginning of a much bigger personal transformation◼ Why Davinia describes her first Bulletproof coffee as a moment of “hope”◼ The positive cascade from food to walking, movement, music and self-esteem◼ What Davinia means when she says we should “eat like a human”◼ Why she believes traditional, recognisable foods can offer a useful guide◼ Learning to notice which foods leave you satisfied and which make you want more◼ Why Davinia prefers intuition to obsessing over calories◼ Meat, vegetables, natural fats, sourdough, potatoes and bringing back the humble stew◼ The importance of daylight, movement and starting the morning well◼ Why sleep is one of Davinia’s biggest priorities◼ The pressure to have the perfect life - and why Davinia has stopped pretending hers is◼ Connection, self-esteem and finding joy in ordinary life◼ Why being willing to make one change can sometimes be enough to startKEY MOMENTS:0:00 Questioning what we’ve been taught about food05:26 Why Davinia began challenging modern dietary advice10:56 Growing up energetic, curious and constantly looking for stimulation23:58 When food became comfort rather than nourishment27:38 The Bulletproof coffee that unexpectedly changed something28:30 “Something shifted” – the beginning of Davinia’s positive cascade31:59 How walking, music and movement helped bring her confidence back33:51 Why Davinia still eats bread, potatoes, pastry and proper dinners45:38 Why meaningful change can start somewhere surprisingly small56:20 John asks Davinia how to “eat like a human”58:37 Meat, two veg and bringing back traditional food01:07:40 Why the way you start your morning can change the rest of your day01:13:35 Sleep, motherhood and letting go of the perfect-life facade01:21:10 Why that first dietary change gave Davinia something she had been missing: hope01:32:08 Whole foods, intuition and asking what your great-grandmother would recognise

Tony Brown joins John Vincent to share his extraordinary journey from severe depression and psychiatric hospitalisation to rebuilding his health, relationships and sense of purpose. Tony recalls being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, receiving 17 courses of electroconvulsive therapy and eventually finding his way out of hospital with help from an old school friend.After leaving hospital, Tony continued to struggle with his physical and mental health, at one stage taking 24 pills a day while dealing with arthritis, sciatica, a slipped disc and prostate problems. His search for alternatives eventually introduced him to kinesiology and bioresonance- experiences that led him towards the work he now does at Total Body Health in Wimbledon. The conversation also turns to depression, loneliness, purpose and human connection. Tony shares why meditation, exercise, friendship and asking for help became important parts of his life, while John explores the role of community, nature and face to face conversation in supporting wellbeing.In this episode you'll learn:◼ Tony’s severe depression and psychiatric hospitalisation◼ His experience of 17 courses of electroconvulsive therapy◼ Rebuilding his life after leaving psychiatric care◼ Discovering bioresonance and frequency medicine◼ Bioresonance, hyperbaric oxygen and red light therapy at Total Body Health◼ The connection between physical health, emotional wellbeing and lifestyle◼ Depression, loneliness, friendship and the importance of community◼ Finding purpose through meditation, exercise, philosophy and human connectionKey Moments:0:00 Tony Brown’s story and his darkest period02:00 Christmas Eve 2011, financial collapse03:40 Psychiatric hospitalisation and 17 courses of ECT07:11 The old school friend who helped Tony leave hospital10:08 Rebuilding his life and reconnecting with his future wife11:30 Living with chronic pain, prostate problems and 24 pills a day15:09 Tony’s first experience with bioresonance24:16 Inside Tony’s Total Body Health clinic in Wimbledon26:41 The clinic’s holistic approach to physical and emotional health39:10 Client experiences, lifestyle changes and prostate health43:48 Men’s health, loneliness and why men struggle to talk46:16 Walking, nature, friendship and community connection50:14 Supporting recovery through multiple approaches to health59:12 Depression, mental health and the importance of purpose1:08:42 Meditation, exercise and Tony’s daily practices

What if the biggest problem with modern healthcare isn’t a lack of science, but the way science, regulation and commercial incentives are being used?Dr Robert Verkerk, scientist, ecologist and founder of the Alliance for Natural Health, joins John Vincent for a wide-ranging conversation about natural health, modern medicine, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, personalised healthcare, food as medicine and the future relationship between humans, nature and technology.Robert’s journey began with ecology and environmental science. His work investigating pesticides, agriculture and chemical exposure eventually led him to explore a much bigger question: if human health is completely dependent on the natural world, why are food, agriculture, nutrition and medicine so often treated as separate systems?The conversation explores the regulation of vitamins, supplements and natural substances, Robert’s work challenging European legislation, and his belief that healthcare needs to move beyond simply treating disease towards understanding the complex systems that create health. They discuss ivermectin and the COVID-era debate around medical evidence and informed consent, before exploring the difference between randomised controlled trials and real-world clinical evidence, why exceptional patient outcomes should be investigated rather than dismissed, and how personalised medicine could transform healthcare.The conversation then moves into bioelectricity, biophysics, the vagus nerve, energy medicine, AI, Neuralink and transhumanism, asking perhaps the biggest question of all: do we truly understand what a human being is?In this episode you'll learn:◼ How Robert Verkerk went from ecology, agriculture and pesticide research to becoming a leading advocate for natural and integrative health◼ Why Robert believes soil health, food quality, environmental health and human health cannot be separated◼ How regulation affects vitamins, supplements, botanicals and natural substances including ashwagandha◼ Robert’s perspective on GLP-1 drugs, semaglutide, intermittent fasting, muscle loss and long-term metabolic health◼ Why personalised medicine, continuous glucose monitoring, genetics and individual response could change how we approach nutrition and disease prevention◼ The difference between randomised controlled trials, clinical evidence, efficacy and real-world effectiveness◼ Why Robert believes unusual recoveries and medical outliers should be investigated more closely◼ How bioelectricity, the vagus nerve, biophysics and energy medicine could influence the future of healthcare◼ The ethical questions surrounding AI, Neuralink, transhumanism and technology becoming increasingly integrated with the human body◼ Why reconnecting with nature, movement, nutrition, intuition and personal responsibility remain central to Robert’s philosophy of healthKey Moments:0:00 Natural health, science and the systems shaping modern medicine03:30 Growing up in Africa and discovering ecology12:13 Aboriginal culture, pesticides and chemical sensitivity24:39 Stress, resilience and the health effects of adversity29:57 Supplement regulation and founding the Alliance for Natural Health39:34 Drug regulation, GLP-1 weight loss drugs and risk versus benefit46:38 GLP-1 drugs, fasting, muscle loss and long-term metabolic health51:57 Ivermectin, COVID and the debate around medical evidence55:36 From soil health to human health: why food is medicine1:03:25 AI, Neuralink, transhumanism and human enhancement1:07:56 Bioelectricity, the vagus nerve and energy medicine1:23:51 Personalised health, continuous glucose monitoring and genetics1:30:21 Intuition, happiness and learning to listen to your body1:35:23 Clinical evidence vs randomised controlled trials1:50:57 Biophysics, the future of medicine and the question: what is life?