Can a 20-minute session give you a “second day” of energy? NuCalm cofounder & CBO David Poole joins Ali Mehdaoui to unpack the patented neuroscience behind stress relief, deeper sleep, faster recovery—and why napping might be the ultimate productivity multiplier.
Episode Summary:
Ali sits down with David Poole—visionary operator, storyteller, and (self-proclaimed) “better twin”—to explore how NuCalm, the world’s only patented neuroscience system aimed at autonomic nervous system balance, helps athletes, first responders, entrepreneurs, and families manage stress without drugs or side effects. David shares hard-won lessons from 14 startups, the 3-year patent battle, Harvard research that saw parasympathetic dominance around the 14-minute mark, and the consumer UX push that’s turning clinical results into an everyday habit. Real talk on naps, hockey injuries, motorcycles, parenting, and why “word of mouth” beats celebrity endorsements. Plus: the Stress Assessment tool, why sleep is non-negotiable, and how to build trust at scale.
What You’ll Learn
Why chronic stress wrecks decision-making—and how downshifting your nervous system changes the day
- The story behind NuCalm’s patent and what “novelty + efficacy” means in plain English
- How pros (NHL, elite operators), lawyers, and single parents all describe the same problem—stress
- The 3-day adoption playbook David uses to convert skeptics into super-users
- How to balance hardware science with an app experience that anyone can actually use
- Why naps ≠ laziness (and how a 20–40 min session can create a “second day” of productivity)
- The role of data (HRV, ECG, voice-based stress scores) vs. “trust me bro” marketing
- David’s 2–5 year vision: make stress management a daily pillar—like diet, exercise, and sleep
Chapters
00:00 Cold open & setup
00:28 Ali’s intro: who is David Poole & NuCalm’s promise
02:10 Defining NuCalm for first-timers
04:45 Stress, naps, and the “second day” effect
10:50 Patent journey, Harvard collaboration & the 14-minute finding
19:40 Copycats, claims, and why IP matters
20:30 Athletes, operators, parents: the universal stress story
31:40 App UX, product lineup (Rescue, PowerNap, Deep Sleep, Focus, etc.)
34:55 Stress Assessment: quick test, practical feedback
38:00 Building trust: word-of-mouth means endorsements
40:10 David’s future vision & cultural shift toward rest
46:15 Ali’s take: family, culture, and why naps aren’t negotiable
48:30 Call to action & how to try NuCalm
Try it for FREE NuCalm.com
• Free trial + Stress Assessment: NuCalm.com
• Explore sessions: Rescue, PowerNap, Deep Sleep, Focus, Ignite, FlowState
• Pro tip: Do 3 days in a row to feel the difference.