Dr. Stephanie Cook on Cortisol and Chronic Stress

This week, Brent speaks with Dr. Stephanie Cook, a researcher specializing in stress and cardiovascular health, who breaks down the science of chronic stress, cortisol, and the body's stress-response system. She explains how stress can influence everything from sleep and inflammation to heart disease risk, why our perception of stress matters as much as the stressor itself, and how factors like relationships, social support, income, and environment shape our ability to recover. The conversation also explores the role of social comparison, the health consequences of discrimination and inequality, and the emerging impact of algorithms and digital life on modern stress. She's a wonderful guest, hope you enjoy. We will be dark next week for the holiday. See you on 7/10 for a brand new episode.