175. Melissa Wood: The Meditation Practice & Daily Ritual That Saved Her Life

The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka

Gary Brecka

Health & Fitness

4.8 • 2.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2025

⏱️ 79 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why do the most successful people swear by meditation, and how can you start if your mind never stops racing? Melissa Wood-Tepperberg reveals how she went from taking Adderall and living in constant anxiety to becoming one of the most trusted voices in wellness. We explore the science behind meditation's transformative power while Melissa demonstrates her exact morning practice that grounds her daily. Learn why perfectionism is a trauma response, how to catch anxiety spirals before they consume you, and why five minutes of intentional breathing can change your entire day's trajectory. Ready to take back control of your cellular biology? Join my FREE 3-Day Ultimate Detox Challenge starting June 23rd. I’ve simplified the protocols I use with pro athletes and CEOs for everyday implementation. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3ZgCW4u Join the Ultimate Human VIP community and gain exclusive access to Gary Brecka's proven wellness protocols today!: https://bit.ly/4ai0Xwg Listen to "Melissa Wood" on all your favorite platforms! YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TvgLEg Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4n2h3A3 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3TpYQ1T Connect with Melissa Wood: Website: https://bit.ly/3Zysohq YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TvgLEg Instagram: https://bit.ly/3HI2otW Facebook: https://bit.ly/4l7keov TikTok: https://bit.ly/4l5pZD1 X.com: https://bit.ly/4jY778f LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3Tq1yEB Thank you to our partners: H2TABS - USE CODE “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4hMNdgg BODYHEALTH - USE CODE “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: http://bit.ly/4e5IjsV BAJA GOLD - USE CODE "ULTIMATE10" FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3WSBqUa EIGHT SLEEP - SAVE $350 ON THE POD 4 ULTRA WITH CODE “GARY”: https://bit.ly/3WkLd6E COLD LIFE - THE ULTIMATE HUMAN PLUNGE: https://bit.ly/4eULUKp WHOOP - GET 1 FREE MONTH WHEN YOU JOIN!: https://bit.ly/3VQ0nzW MASA CHIPS - GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: https://bit.ly/40LVY4y VANDY - USE CODE “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: https://bit.ly/49Qr7WE AION - USE CODE “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4h6KHAD HAPBEE - FEEL BETTER & PERFORM AT YOUR BEST: https://bit.ly/4a6glfo CARAWAY - USE CODE “ULTIMATE” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3Q1VmkC HEALF - GET 10% OFF YOUR ORDER: https://bit.ly/41HJg6S BIOPTIMIZERS - USE CODE “ULTIMATE” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4inFfd7 RHO NUTRITION - USE CODE “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: https://bit.ly/44fFza0 GENETIC TEST: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Yg1Uk9 Watch the “Ultimate Human Podcast” every Tuesday & Thursday at 9AM EST: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPQYX8 Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3RQftU0 Connect with Gary Brecka: Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RPpnFs TikTok: https://bit.ly/4coJ8fo X.com: https://bit.ly/3Opc8tf Facebook: https://bit.ly/464VA1H LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4hH7Ri2 Website: https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU Merch: https://bit.ly/4aBpOM1 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/47ejrws Ask Gary: https://bit.ly/3PEAJuG Timestamps: 00:54 Melissa Wood’s Journey 12:33 Coping with Anxiety 15:51 Melissa’s Tipping Point and Overcoming It 26:06 Impact of Meditation 27:07 Melissa’s Journey in Meditation 32:50 How to Meditate 46:59 Meditation and Wellness Practices 52:41 Melissa’s Morning Routine 54:57 Meditative Exercise with Melissa 1:02:19 Going Back to the Basics 1:06:44 How and Where to Start 1:10:47 Connect with Melissa The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The Content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Since I was really young, when things were fucked up, it didn't feel right. Something fell off.
0:05.2	I now know it was anxiety. I have a lot of empathy for people that have truly suffered with
0:10.7	anxiety. The majority of the way that people cope with it is they just keep themselves hyper busy.
0:15.0	Because being alone is the answer, but it's the most uncomfortable place. I am not anxiety.
0:21.6	Anxiety is not me. These are feelings that I can feel.
0:23.6	And now I have the self-awareness to understand that.
0:27.6	The fact that you can face it and have tools to handle it, I think, is very empowering.
0:32.6	Where would they start?
0:33.6	I share walking meditations of breathwork, with mantra and stillness. There is something
0:40.2	really profound about sitting with yourself. Every person that I hold in high regard in my life
0:46.3	that meditates has told me how dramatically transformative it is. Meditation doesn't turn anything off. It tunes you into yourself.
0:57.0	I assume that you didn't have a lot of strong guides around you. So at some point, you said,
1:02.0	this isn't working out, and you took some kind of step towards fixing it. What was that tipping point?
1:07.0	When you say like people out here are listening and feel that exact way, the number
1:12.6	one thing that changes everything is. Hey guys, welcome back to the Ultimate Human Podcast.
1:29.9	I'm your host, human biologist, Gary Brecker,
1:32.0	where we go down the road of everything,
1:34.2	anti-aging, biohacking, longevity, and everything in between.
1:38.6	And if I don't start this podcast out by giving my wife the credit
1:42.8	for getting this guest on the podcast.
1:45.4	She's going to kill me. She's like, I needed to be known that I was responsible for getting Melissa
1:52.0	Wood-Teperberg on your podcast. So welcome to the podcast. Thank you. And thank you, Sage.
	...

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