"You cannot mindset your way out of a dysregulated nervous system."
-Kristen Olson
For years we've been told to think positive, push harder, and power through challenges. But what if the answer isn't changing your mindset first? In this solo episode of Turmeric & Tequila, Kristen Olson dives into the science of nervous system regulation, burnout recovery, emotional resilience, anxiety, addiction recovery, and stress management. Drawing from her experiences as a former Division I athlete, CrossFit Games competitor, entrepreneur, and podcast host, Kristen explores why so many high performers are exhausted despite doing everything "right."
You'll learn how chronic stress impacts the body, why trauma lives in the nervous system, how burnout affects performance and health, and practical tools you can use today to regulate your nervous system and improve your quality of life.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, athlete, parent, leader, or simply feeling overwhelmed, this conversation offers evidence-based insights and actionable strategies to help you move from survival mode into sustainable success.
In This Episode:
✔️ The difference between mindset work and nervous system regulation
✔️ Why burnout is more than just being tired
✔️ The science behind anxiety and stress responses
✔️ Trauma-informed approaches to healing
✔️ Addiction recovery through a nervous system lens
✔️ Evidence-based resilience practices
✔️ Breathwork, movement, sleep, community, and purpose as recovery tools
✔️ Why awareness is the first step toward healing
KO's Key Take Aways/ Life learned lessons:
- Many people think they need more motivation when what they really need is recovery.
- The issue isn't stress itself. The issue is becoming stuck in stress.
- Community may be the biggest biohack of all.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Welcome to Turmeric & Tequila
01:10 Sponsor shoutouts & Fit Expo announcement
03:00 Why nervous system regulation is the foundation of biohacking
04:45 Awareness: recognizing stress, burnout & chronic fatigue
06:30 You cannot mindset your way out of a dysregulated nervous system
08:15 Segment 1: What is nervous system regulation?
09:30 Fight-or-flight vs. rest-and-digest explained
11:30 Why chronic stress keeps us stuck
13:15 Segment 2: Burnout is more than being tired
15:00 Burnout, inflammation & physical health impacts
16:45 Segment 3: Why anxiety feels so physical
18:45 Entrepreneurs, athletes & high-performance stress
20:15 Segment 4: Trauma lives in the body
22:15 Why community may be the ultimate biohack
23:30 Segment 5: Addiction recovery through a nervous system lens
25:15 Social media, dopamine & modern-day addiction
27:00 Segment 6: Science-backed ways to build resilience
27:15 Movement & exercise for stress recovery
28:10 Sleep and nervous system health
28:55 Breathwork, vagus nerve activation & recovery
29:55 Social connection, community & longevity
30:45 Purpose, meaning & emotional resilience
31:30 Final takeaways: awareness, regulation & sustainable success
Kristen Olson
Kristen Olson is a former Division I athlete, 5-time CrossFit Games competitor, entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and host of the globally ranked Turmeric & Tequila Podcast. Through conversations centered around human optimization, mental health, resilience, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, Kristen's mission is to inspire a positive, radical social evolution—one gracefully disruptive conversation at a time.
Connect with T&T:
IG: @TurmericTequila
Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila
Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com
Host: Kristen Olson
IG: @Madonnashero
Tik Tok: @Madonnashero
Website: www.KOAlliance.com
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