This is Hurting Your Brain
What does it take to perform 4 to 6 brain surgeries a day and stay mentally sharp under extreme pressure?
In this episode of Stronger, Don Saladino sits down with world-renowned Miami neurosurgeon Dr. Ricardo Komotar to break down the mindset, discipline, and daily habits required to operate at the highest level of brain surgery.
Dr. Komotar specializes in brain tumors and awake brain surgery, giving him a rare, firsthand understanding of brain health, cognitive performance, and mental resilience. He explains what actually causes brain tumors (and what we still don’t know), how sleep and stress impact cognitive decline, and the biggest mistakes people make that damage long-term brain health. The conversation also dives into:
How awake brain surgery works
The connection between physical fitness and cognitive excellence
How exercise improves memory, focus, and mental clarity
Why stress management is critical for brain health
The daily routine of a high-performing neurosurgeon (4:30AM wake-up, cold plunge, twice-a-day workouts)
Why nutrition education should be mandatory in schools
If you care about optimizing performance, protecting your brain, preventing burnout, or understanding the science behind brain surgery, this episode delivers real-world insight from someone who lives it every day. This is more than a medical conversation, it’s a masterclass in grit, resilience, discipline, and service.
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