Master Stress with Dr. S
Welcome to Master Stress with Dr. S, the podcast that empowers high-achievers to unlock their full potential by mastering stress and achieving burnout-proof success. Hosted by Dr. Safia Debar, a renowned stress expert, medical doctor, speaker and coach. Each episode dives deep into the neuroscience of stress, blending logic and intuition to give you practical tools for thriving in a fast-paced world. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of leadership, striving for peak performance, or yearning for a life of balance and freedom, Dr. Safia Debar will guide you through powerful strategies, expert insights, and personal stories to help you regain control, nurture your well-being, and live authentically. Tune in to discover how to stop stress from holding you back and start living your best, empowered life.
Master Stress with Dr. S
From Addiction to Matt Damon: The Reinvention of Charlie Engle
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Dr. S interviews ultrarunner and author Charlie Engle about addiction, wellness, and the choices people make in response to hardship. Engle recounts his years of crack cocaine and alcohol addiction, prison time, and later extreme endurance running, and discusses how “healthy” addictions can still be criticized due to others’ fear of losing belonging. He traces contributing factors to insecurity, loneliness, and early life experiences, describing how alcohol initially brought comfort but led to predictable cycles of destruction and attempted resets. He explains the codependent dynamics with his first wife, argues ultimatums don’t work, and emphasizes caregiver self-care, avoiding enabling, and letting consequences land. Engle lists prior attempts to change (AA, church, a shaman, meditation) and describes a final binge after his son’s birth that led to a sincere prayer to stop feeling his inner burden. He advises asking how a behavior is serving you rather than debating labels.
00:00 Meet Charlie Engle
03:38 Addiction and Wellness
06:29 Fear and Tribe Dynamics
11:35 Roots of Addiction
19:15 Wiring and Binge Patterns
22:01 Codependency and Enabling
29:02 The Moment of Sobriety
32:35 What He Tried Before
36:57 Ask the Right Question
39:17 Part One Wrap Up
Connect with Dr Safia Debar
Dr Safia Debar
Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator
One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020
www.drsafiadebar.com
contact@drsafiadebar.com
IG: @drsafiadebar
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Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource