Tarek El Moussa: The Painful Secrets Behind His Wild Success

Change Your Brain Every Day

Dr Daniel Amen

Braintrauma, Healthtips, Sleep, Obesity, Anxiety, Braininjury, Depression, Ptsd, Mentalhealth, Mood, Brainhealth, Health & Fitness, Energy, Disease, Addiction, Mental Health, Healthadvice, Adhd, Memory, Focus

4.6 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“Flip or Flop” star Tarek El Moussa seemed to have it all—hit TV shows, fame, fortune—but behind the scenes, his life was falling apart. In this deeply revealing episode, Tarek opens up to Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen about the hidden brain struggles that shaped his life: birth trauma, multiple mental health diagnoses, alcoholism, cancer, toxic self-talk, and a near breakdown at the height of his career. After a revealing brain scan and emotional conversation, he begins to understand why he’s struggled for so long—and what he can do to finally heal. This is a relatable story of turning pain into passion and rebuilding from within.

00:00 Intro

00:44 Sponsor

01:08 Chance Encounter

05:45 Why I Am the Way I Am

08:13 Your Brain is Hurt

13:23 Coming Off of Meds

16:09 Turning Pain into Fuel

18:03 The Birth of the “Flip” Empire

24:04 The Brain’s Rejection of Success

26:06 The Last Day as a Family

31:46 Self-Medication

34:32 Tarek’s Brain SPECT Scan (Surface)

36:30 Neuropsychological Testing

42:04 Mental Hygiene

48:48 Parents/Self-Talk

51:33 The Plan

57:48 Sponsor

58:36 Wrap Up

Transcript

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0:00.0	I was living in a 7,300 square foot house, at a Lamborghini in the garage.
0:04.0	I grew up in Buoyna Park, California to immigrants.
0:06.0	I had everything, and I absolutely hated myself in my life.
0:12.0	And that's when I knew this isn't normal.
0:15.0	Tarek Olmousa is an American real estate investor and TV personality.
0:20.0	He is best known for co-hosting HGTV's Flip or Flop alongside his than wife Christina Hack.
0:26.6	And more recently for his new shows, The Flipping Al Musa's and the Flip Off.
0:30.6	When I was young, it was the fuel to prove that I'm not dumb.
0:34.6	I'm not bad and I am good.
0:36.6	Looking back in my life, 20-20 hindsight, I'm not bad, and I am good. Looking back at my life, 2020 in hindsight,
0:38.6	I'm like, man, give yourself a break.
0:40.8	I was so awful to myself.
0:43.1	Why do you think?
0:43.9	Because I hated myself.
0:45.3	Hated myself that I gained 60 pounds.
0:47.1	I hated myself that I was an alcoholer.
0:48.9	Hated myself that I was in high school.
0:51.7	I was in good shape and off popular.
0:53.8	And then within six months, my life was in high school, I was in good shape and all popular, and then within six months my life was in the toilet.
0:56.1	And I was just a really bad downhill spire.
1:01.8	Every day you are making your brain better or you are making it worse.
1:07.2	Stay with us to learn how you can change your brain for the better every day.
	...

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