Dr Joe Unplugged

About Dr Joe Unplugged

Dr Joe Unplugged is your home for open commentary on health, wellbeing and life in the broadest sense. We will explore diet, exercise, sleep and stress amongst other health matters as well as issues that may impact you and your wellbeing in direct or indirect ways. Opinions expressed are my own and you may agree or disagree with them. Topics and comments on this podcast are general information only and are not in any way medical advice. Episodes are released weekly on Mondays.

Publisher

Dr Joe Kosterich

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jan 2024

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

172 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Ep 170: Stress Less, Live Better

   New work shows stress may be associated with cognitive decline. There are many simple ways to manage and even avoid stress Sources: https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaic/122252 (https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/aaic/122252) https://worldhealth.net/news/creative-activities-manage-stress-effectively/ (https://worldhealth.net/news/creative-activities-manage-stress-effectively/) Key Takeaways: - The fight or flight response suits short physical threats, but most modern stress (money, work, relationships, world events) has no physical solution, so it can linger. - A prospective study found higher cumulative stress, reflected in salivary cortisol, was associated with faster cognitive decline. It is an association only, not proof of cause and effect, and stress is not the only factor. - Focus your energy on what you can influence and accept what you cannot. Worrying about things beyond your control just makes the day worse and adds to your stress load. - Regular exercise is one of the best stress tools, partly because it helps discharge the hormones of the fight or flight response. - Simple, low-pressure creative activity (art, music, knitting, colouring in, journaling) gives you a reliable off-ramp from stress. A few minutes a day is enough, and no talent is needed. - Slow, deep breathing, time outdoors and staying present all help. They take practice and will never be perfect, but they are within your control. Follow Dr Joe Unplugged X - @drjoesDIYhealth LinkedIn - Dr Joe Kosterich Facebook - @DrJoeunplugged YouTube - @drjoeunplugged TikTok - @drjoeunplugged Instagram - @drjoeunplugged Substack - drjoeunplugged Rumble - drjoeunplugged 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Stress: the epidemic of the 21st century 01:41 Cortisol and faster cognitive decline (the study) 03:07 Association is not cause and effect 05:56 Focus on what you can control 08:05 Exercise and creative activities for stress 10:21 Journaling, music and three deep breaths 11:28 Get outdoors, even in the city 12:12 Eckhart Tolle and staying in the present moment 14:19 Outro About Dr Joe Unplugged: Dr Joe Unplugged is your home for open commentary on health, wellbeing and life in the broadest sense. We will explore diet, exercise sleep and stress amongst other health matters as well as issues that may impact you and your wellbeing in direct or indirect ways. Topics and comments on this podcast are general information only and are not in any way medical advice. Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/ (https://podwavestudios.au/) #drjoeunplugged #drjoekosterich #podcast #podwavestudios #perth #health #wellbeing #wellness #stress #stressmanagement #cortisol #cognitivedecline #dementiaprevention #brainhealth #mindfulness #creativity #breathwork #mentalwellbeing #healthyaging

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Ep 169: Children Deserve Better

   Off label use of GLP-1 medications is growing in 8 to 11 year olds. There is a better way. Sources: https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/obesity/122883 (https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/obesity/122883) Key Takeaways: - Prescriptions of GLP-1 medications for children aged 8 to 11 have risen 310-fold, but off a very low base: about 20,000 children, despite the weight loss formulations only being approved from age 12. - Children are not small adults. They are still growing, and nobody knows what these drugs do at that age, especially over years rather than a six-month trial. - The SSRI experience is a warning: drugs tested in adults later showed a higher risk of suicidality in teenagers, so caution is needed when the risks are unknown. - Nobody is born overweight. What children eat comes down to the adults feeding them, and healthy eating is neither complicated nor as expensive as claimed, with vegetables in season the cheapest food there is. - Reaching for an injection teaches children that the answer to a problem is a medication rather than a change in behaviour, and the better path is going back to basics. Follow Dr Joe Unplugged X - @drjoesDIYhealth LinkedIn - Dr Joe Kosterich Facebook - @DrJoeunplugged YouTube - @drjoeunplugged TikTok - @drjoeunplugged Instagram - @drjoeunplugged Substack - drjoeunplugged Rumble - drjoeunplugged Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Off-label GLP-1 use skyrockets in young children 01:36 A 310-fold increase, but off a very low base 02:23 Why children are not small adults 02:54 What the SSRI story teaches us about off-label use 03:51 Who is responsible for what children eat 05:30 Parents say no (hungry children will eat) 07:05 Teaching kids that a pill is the answer 07:46 Why prescriptions favour wealthier families 09:22 Is healthy eating really expensive? 11:14 Back to basics, not a pill or an injection 13:51 Outro About Dr Joe Unplugged: Dr Joe Unplugged is your home for open commentary on health, wellbeing and life in the broadest sense. We will explore diet, exercise sleep and stress amongst other health matters as well as issues that may impact you and your wellbeing in direct or indirect ways. Topics and comments on this podcast are general information only and are not in any way medical advice. Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/ #drjoeunplugged #drjoekosterich #podcast #podwavestudios #perth #health #wellbeing #wellness #glp1 #childhoodobesity #pediatrichealth #offlabel #healthyeating #parenting #nutrition #childrenshealth #obesity #backtobasics

3. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Ep 168: Back to Basics

   The health benefits of spending time in nature and getting some sunlight are significant. Why don’t we hear more about it? Sources: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/nature-prescriptions-when-should-doctors-prescribe-them-2026a1000r62 (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/nature-prescriptions-when-should-doctors-prescribe-them-2026a1000r62) https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/121893 (https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/121893) Key Takeaways: - Nature prescriptions turn familiar advice into a structured approach, but getting outdoors is simple and doesn't need to be complicated. - For most of human history we lived and worked outdoors. Urban life has left many of us disconnected from nature, so we now need to be reminded to get out there. - Time in nature is linked to lower stress and anxiety, and in one study people without their devices showed a significant drop in stress within three days. Research also suggests possible benefits for blood pressure, cardiovascular mortality and diabetes outcomes. - A suggested dose is 20 minutes or more, several times a week, adding up to more than two hours. A city park or garden is perfectly suitable, and even photos or a view from a window may help. - Higher daytime light exposure is linked to a lower risk of dementia, with a 16 percent relative reduction over eight years. That is far smaller in absolute terms, but it costs nothing and a backyard or balcony will do. - You don't need programs or expensive gear. Open the door, go for a walk in comfortable shoes, and you get movement, light and fresh air together. Follow Dr Joe Unplugged X - @drjoesDIYhealth LinkedIn - Dr Joe Kosterich Facebook - @DrJoeunplugged YouTube - @drjoeunplugged TikTok - @drjoeunplugged Instagram - @drjoeunplugged Substack - drjoeunplugged Rumble - drjoeunplugged Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction 00:27 Nature prescriptions: what the new article says 00:55 Why we shouldn't complicate something simple 01:13 How modern life disconnected us from nature 02:57 What time in nature does for stress, anxiety and thinking 03:46 The physical benefits: blood pressure, heart and diabetes 04:28 The suggested dose (and why a city park is fine) 04:44 Photos, window views and fresh air 06:36 Daytime light and a lower risk of dementia 07:57 What a 16 percent reduction really means 08:42 Science catches up with common sense 09:04 You don't need programs, just open the door 10:16 Outro About Dr Joe Unplugged: Dr Joe Unplugged is your home for open commentary on health, wellbeing and life in the broadest sense. We will explore diet, exercise sleep and stress amongst other health matters as well as issues that may impact you and your wellbeing in direct or indirect ways. Topics and comments on this podcast are general information only and are not in any way medical advice. Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios: https://podwavestudios.au/ #drjoeunplugged #drjoekosterich #podcast #podwavestudios #perth #health #wellbeing #wellness #naturetherapy #natureprescription #sunlight #dementiaprevention #mentalhealth #stressrelief #freshair #walking #outdoors #circadianrhythm #healthyliving

Who has been a guest on Dr Joe Unplugged

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Paul Faix
• Dr Arash Taheri
• Dr Ramya Raman
• George Eskander
• Neesha Seth

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

32,154

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 78 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

91

Social presence

90

YouTube

85

Engagement

32

Contact Dr Joe Unplugged

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Dr Joe Unplugged