Ep. 18: Alignment Isn’t Woo — It’s Biology (with Dr. Birgit Rauchbauer)

In this episode, I’m joined by someone who was my very first guest on Code 3 — Dr. Birgit Rauchbauer — and I’m excited to share a big announcement: she’s officially joining MORE as our Head of Research. Together, we dig into the question that’s been driving my work: What actually happens when you live and work in alignment — and what does the science say about it? We break down what people get wrong about purpose (hint: it doesn’t have to be heroic), how I define alignment as when your authentic truth, ambition, and actions are in harmony, and why grounding this work in evidence matters — especially for high achievers who want more than inspiration. We explore key findings from our research, including how alignment is associated with lower all-cause mortality, reduced cardiovascular risk, healthier lifestyle choices, and even increased cognitive flexibility. Then we go into the real obstacle: resistance. Birgit explains what’s happening in the brain when fear and uncertainty take over — the “amygdala hijack” — and how to work with fear instead of fighting it. We close with practical tools for moving toward alignment through small, values-based steps, nervous system regulation (breathing and body signals), and why community support makes change stick. If you’re a high achiever who looks successful on paper but feels something is off inside, this episode is for you. Want the paper we discuss? You can find it at bemorealigned.com or email me at [email protected] with the subject line “paper.”