087: "The Hack of Seeing Things as Signals Instead of Symptoms" (lessons from Eric Collett)

🧠 Erik’s Take

In this follow-up to his interview with Eric Collett, Erik shares his personal reflections on the most powerful takeaways—especially the deceptively simple IA/E framework (inflammation over energy). He explores how this model shifted his thinking around brain fog, burnout, and everyday performance, and why brain health isn't about trying more—it's about understanding more.

From metaphor-rich science to real-life health pivots, Erik distills a dense interview into a lens that makes brain optimization feel actionable, not abstract.

🎯 Top Insights from the Interview

• IA/E is a game-changer: Brain health can be reframed as a ratio—how much immune activation (inflammation) are you generating per unit of energy you're using?
• Exhaust isn't just emotional—it’s biological: External and internal “exhaust” (smoke, alcohol, poor fuel, heat) can derail your performance without you realizing it
• Diagnosis ≠ understanding: Many “mental health” diagnoses may actually be hardware issues like nutrient absorption or inflammation
• Wearables can help—but not alone: Data is only helpful if you know how to interpret it; most people don’t have a system or guide for translating biofeedback into action
• Small tweaks can lead to massive clarity: From swapping a B-vitamin format to using glutathione to clear toxic load, the right interventions create real results fast

🧩 The Personal Layer

Erik reflects on how this conversation activated the "science brain" he rarely gets to use, connecting it to years of high-level leadership and performance coaching. He shares how wearables helped him reframe his relationship with alcohol and why more data isn't always more useful—unless you're guided by the right framework.

This episode isn't just about health—it's about owning your agency.

🧰 From Insight to Action

• Reframe symptoms like fog, fatigue, or forgetfulness as a signal, not a flaw
• Ask: Am I experiencing an IA/E imbalance right now?
• Identify your sources of exhaust (e.g., smoke, poor sleep, glucose spikes, alcohol)
• Choose one wearable or diagnostic tool—and pair it with interpretation support
• Experiment with one biological intervention (e.g., upgraded supplements) and track how you feel

🗣️ Notable Quotes

“The next time I feel foggy, I’ll ask: what inflammation am I not seeing?” — Erik

“Wearables can tell you what happened, but not what to do about it.” — Erik

“We’re swimming in diagnostics. But you still need a guide to navigate the data.” — Erik

“Exhaust isn’t just metaphorical—it’s literal. And it’s making your brain underperform.” — Erik

“IA/E gave me a whole new lens for thinking about mental sharpness.” — Erik

🔗 Links & Resources

• Free Brain Health Assessment: amindforallseasons.com/energy
• Text OPTIMIZE to 72000 for a free intro video series