How can endurance thinking, environmental awareness, and small daily choices protect long-term health and performance? Today’s guest is a pioneering physician and educator who blends resilience, science, and real-world action to help people take control of their health. Introducing Dr. Aly Cohen, Integrative Rheumatologist, Environmental Health Expert, and Founder of The Smart Human. Aly partners with host Gregory McDonough to share how an endurance mindset shaped her career, why reframing challenges fuels resilience, and how everyday environmental exposures quietly impact immune health and performance. She also delves into practical, science-backed ways leaders and athletes can reduce toxic load, improve recovery, and create healthier environments for themselves and their communities.
Takeaways:
Endurance is built through resilience and reframing. Aly explains how viewing obstacles as “challenging” rather than “hard” helps leaders and athletes stay mentally flexible and forward-focused.
Past wins create future confidence. Building a mental library of small and large successes allows leaders to draw strength during difficult moments.
Environmental health affects performance more than most people realize. Athletes and high performers take in more air, water, and food, increasing exposure to toxins that can impact inflammation and recovery.
Water quality matters as much as hydration. Clean, filtered water is one of the most impactful and accessible changes for improving overall health and reducing toxic burden.
Small swaps create measurable results. Studies show that simple changes in food packaging, personal care products, and cleaning supplies can significantly lower chemical exposure in just weeks.
Support the body’s natural detox systems. Movement, sweating, sleep, clean nutrition, and hydration help the body eliminate toxins efficiently.
Leaders can shape healthier cultures. Executives and business owners have an opportunity to improve employee well-being through education, safer environments, and thoughtful wellness initiatives.
Quote of the Show:
“ You can do big things when you start with the little things.” - Aly Cohen
Links:
Aly’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aly-cohen-md-facr-0b570749/
Website: https://alycohenmd.com/
The Smart Human: https://thesmarthuman.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmarthuman/
Twitter: https://x.com/TheSmartHuman
Ways to Tune In:
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102
Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/HY7ZaCtwjow
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Join my Endurance Leadership Community: https://endurance-leadership-community.mn.co/share/_C3ZDRz7OX2vbCme?utm_source=manual
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