In this episode of The Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Amen and Tana give a glimpse into their personal lives and habits in the form of a revealing Q&A session. Moderated by Amen Clinics’ own Natalie Buchoz, Daniel and Tana discuss role models, differences growing up, qualities they admire in each other, and even what they do on dates!
Dr. Daniel Amen: Welcome to the Brain Warrior's Way Podcast. I'm Dr. Daniel Amen.
Tana Amen: And I'm Tana Amen. In our podcast, we provide you with the tools you need to become a warrior, for the health of your brain, and body.
Dr. Daniel Amen: The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast is brought to you by Amen Clinics, where we have been transforming lives for 30 years. Using tools like, brain spect imaging, to personalize treatment to your brain. For more information, visit amenclinics.com.
Tana Amen: The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast is also brought to you by BrainMD. Where we produce the highest quality nutraceuticals, to support the health of your brain and body. To learn more, go to brainmd.com.
Tana Amen: Welcome back. We are on episode two of love. We are talking about love. So, you wanna start off with-
Dr. Daniel Amen: Love week.
Tana Amen: Yes.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Alright, so let's do a podcast review, first. And, this is from [Casey Crystal Spore 00:01:02], although, this post is from early December, 2018. I noticed that it still effects me on a daily basis. A black belt is just a white belt, who never quite.
Tana Amen: Yep.
Dr. Daniel Amen: This is so true for so much of my life. Showing up makes all the difference. Simply keeping at things, no matter what drawbacks pop up. You don't lose until you quit. Thank you Tana Amen for having shared this. It accompanies me in my days. You and Daniel are such wonderful examples. I draw strength from all that both of you do in order to aim my life in the direction of the Brain Warrior's Way.
Tana Amen: Wow.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Thank you and congratulations on your new black belt in Kenpo.
Tana Amen: Thank you. So cool.
Dr. Daniel Amen: You, are a warrior. And, being married to a warrior, is very scary.
Tana Amen: It's not.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I know she could take me out at a moments notice. So, you go, "Why is he so nice?" Well, it's because he's scared. No, that's actually not true. You were not a black belt when we met.
Tana Amen: No.
Dr. Daniel Amen: You certainly got your first black belt in TaeKwonDo, and then another one in Kenpo, and just got your second degree.
Tana Amen: Yes, I love it.
Dr. Daniel Amen: You are a very dangerous individual.
Natalie Buchoz: She is the person in the office that, if anything happens, we would hide behind. So, we all joke about that. We're thankful for her every day. But, I wanted to start off this episode with a couple of rapid fire questions, so we're gonna go to you first, Daniel. If you and Tana, as a couple, had a theme song, what would the theme song be? And I'm gonna ask you first, because I know her answer is going to be very different than yours.
Tana Amen: This is a joke in our family. Oh my gosh.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Well, actually, for our wedding dance, we couldn't decide on what to do. So, we did two. We did one for me, which was The Prayer by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. It's sweet, it's beautiful-
Natalie Buchoz: Gorgeous.
Dr. Daniel Amen: And that-
Tana Amen: And then we did a record scratch, right through it, and broke into Santana. So-
Dr. Daniel Amen: Santana, Smooth.
Tana Amen: I would have done Def Leopard-
Natalie Buchoz: Yes.
Tana Amen: But he wouldn't let me do that. So, Santana, we could agree on.
Natalie Buchoz: It's an interesting transition from Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, to Def Leopard.
Tana Amen: It really describes our personalities to a T. So, it's often a joke with us, 'cause he loves very sweet music, and I just like rock. So, [inaudible 00:03:33].
Natalie Buchoz: Now, next question goes to you, Tana. Is there anything that you could think of that moves you to this day? So, it could be whether it's karate, whatever it is.
Tana Amen: Alright, oh. You're not talk about relationship.
Natalie Buchoz: No.
Tana Amen: Oh, yeah, definitely martial arts.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: Is one of my big passions in life. I mean, I love being a mother. My relationships are number one.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: And, starting with my relationship with God, and working its way down. But, as far as the thing I do for fun?
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Tana Amen: Martial Arts.
Natalie Buchoz: Daniel?
Dr. Daniel Amen: The thing I do for fun? Hang out with Tana.
Natalie Buchoz: Yes. I love that.
Tana Amen: But you're supposed to say something besides that.
Natalie Buchoz: I love that.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Why?
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah, something besides that. Outside of your relationship.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I'm speaking. I'm going to Atlanta.
Tana Amen: But you like ping-pong.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I've got a couple of talks. Yeah, but I mean, what really sort of moves my groove, is hanging out with you, and I love lecture.
Natalie Buchoz: Yes.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Yeah, that's true. And you love writing. You can't stop him.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah. So, kinda transitioning to being unstoppable, do you two have any role models that you look to? I know Tana and I have talked about mentors. Tana's one of my mentors. Do you guys have anybody that you look to for advice? Life, work, business, relationships?
Tana Amen: Mm-hmm (affirmative). I have different people in different categories.
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Tana Amen: So, whether it's relationships, I've got ... Or spiritual advice, I have a dear friend, Sandra, that she was on our [crosstalk 00:04:55], yeah.
Natalie Buchoz: She was on our podcast. Yes. Yes.
Tana Amen: If it's business, I have other ... It just depends on who, like, what area I'm looking at.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Tana Amen: So, we're blessed to have so many cool guests on our show, that I'm able to sort of reach out to. So, I have different mentors in different areas. And one thing I've always said, is you can have mentors, that don't know that they're mentors.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: You can follow them. You can read their books, or follow them on Facebook, or whatever. I just think that's a really important thing. So, I don't necessarily think it's one person in all areas.
Natalie Buchoz: Do you have any advice to people that are looking for maybe a role model, or a mentor, or something that they can kind of, hone in on. If they're unsure of what they're looking for exactly, do you have any recommendation [crosstalk 00:05:38].
Tana Amen: So, my recommendation is, find someone who has accomplished what you're trying to accomplish.
Natalie Buchoz: Oh, I like that.
Tana Amen: So, when I was really depressed, super depressed ... It can be, I don't care who it is, just follow the person that you know has accomplished what you've tried to accomplish. I was really depressed. I had thyroid cancer, and someone handed me a Tony Robbins thing.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: And like, oh, roll eye roll. Right? Oh, big commercial thing. But when I listened to it, it just made sense at the time.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Tana Amen: It was just, it was enough to crack the thought.
Natalie Buchoz: It's what you needed.
Tana Amen: Right. It's what I needed. I needed to hear that message at the time, and it sort of pulled me out of the thinking I was in.
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Tana Amen: Just the idea that I could change my thinking, was a whole new thought for me. Now that's like our whole thing. But, just at that time in my life, I started following his work, because I'm like, I need someone who actually speaks this way, who does this.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: So, find someone who's accomplished what you need to accomplish.
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Tana Amen: And follow them. And I love what he says. Success leaves clues. It's that simple.
Natalie Buchoz: I love that. Daniel? Any role models that you love, aspire-
Dr. Daniel Amen: Well, probably the most important one's been my dad.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Dr. Daniel Amen: And my mom over the years.
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Daniel Amen: But, you know, with business, my dad. And the rest of my life, it's really Tana. I'm just very good at listening.
Tana Amen: He is very good at listening.
Dr. Daniel Amen: So-
Natalie Buchoz: He is a good listener.
Tana Amen: Yeah, no, and he's ... He has been my rock, for the past 13 years.
Natalie Buchoz: So, speaking of rock, Daniel will go first, what are three qualities of Tana, that you most admire and why?
Dr. Daniel Amen: She has a huge heart. So, she has a tough exterior. I mean, it's true, she can scare people.
Tana Amen: Shh. Don't tell anybody.
Dr. Daniel Amen: But, she has a tough exterior. But, she's so caring-
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Daniel Amen: And she's so smart. I really appreciate that.
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Daniel Amen: And she's an out of the box thinker.
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Daniel Amen: So, she doesn't think like everyone else does, just because everyone else does.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Dr. Daniel Amen: And, of course she's beautiful and makes my heart go fast.
Natalie Buchoz: Tana?
Dr. Daniel Amen: That only sort of gets you in the door.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Dr. Daniel Amen: It absolutely doesn't keep you there.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Tana Amen: That's so sweet.
Natalie Buchoz: That is sweet. Tana?
Tana Amen: So, Daniel is my rock, there's no question. Since I met him, it took me awhile to trust just how kind he is, just how nice he is.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Tana Amen: But, the thing about him I think that is one of the most amazing things, is his heart. His heart and his ... How much he does for family, is honestly, I don't even know that it has a limit. It's crazy.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: So I don't think most people would do half of what he does, for people that he cares about.
Natalie Buchoz: I love that.
Tana Amen: And it's actually mind boggling. And it's ... When things feel crazy to me, or out of control, he's probably the only person, that can make me always think it's going to be okay.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: It's going to be fine.
Natalie Buchoz: You guys have that perfect balance. You know?
Tana Amen: Oh, Yin and Yang. No doubt.
Natalie Buchoz: Yes.
Tana Amen: So-
Natalie Buchoz: Absolutely. You couldn't be more different in certain areas, but the way that you work together as a team is so adorable.
Tana Amen: Oh, it's definitely a Yin and a Yang.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah. It's incredible. I love that.
Dr. Daniel Amen: And even though our backgrounds are very different, I'm one of seven-
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Dr. Daniel Amen: And, she's an only child. My growing up was relatively stable, but I have five sisters, so it can't be that stable.
Tana Amen: He had such a lovely family, it's unbelievable.
Dr. Daniel Amen: But, yours was really unpredictable. So mine was-
Tana Amen: Chaotic.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Predictable.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Dr. Daniel Amen: That as long as we-
Tana Amen: Scary.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Start with, what do we want? Kind, caring, loving, supportive, passionate relationship, does my behavior today, get me what I want?
Natalie Buchoz: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Dr. Daniel Amen: It really helps to balance out some of those differences.
Tana Amen: Yeah.
Natalie Buchoz: I love that. You know, we get a lot of questions on social media about dating. And, of course, the dating sphere, is much different then it was ten years ago, then it was twenty years ago, then it was thirty years ago. Do you guys have anything that you do weekly? So, whether it's like a designated date night, or a movie night, or something that you guys look forward to doing weekly? And, is that something that's planned by Daniel? Is that something that's planned by Tana? Or, you know-
Tana Amen: People are gonna think we're so boring, but the thing is, is we both like the same things. And I think that's the key.
Natalie Buchoz: Yes.
Tana Amen: We love being home, and watching movies. We love going for walks, and we love going to the movies, and going to dinner.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: I mean, that's really our routine.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Tana Amen: But, we want to do the same things. We don't go out drinking. We don't ... We go to concerts, sometimes. But, we don't-
Dr. Daniel Amen: We just heard [Joel Gotler 00:10:16], who's our agent.
Natalie Buchoz: Yeah.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I think Joel's like 74, or something, play the harmonica.
Tana Amen: He was amazing.
Natalie Buchoz: In LA?
Tana Amen: Yeah.
Dr. Daniel Amen: At Vitello's in Studio City.
Tana Amen: It was really great.
Dr. Daniel Amen: He was the bomb. I was just shocked.
Tana Amen: Yeah.
Dr. Daniel Amen: At how good he was.
Tana Amen: But we do stuff like that. But we both ... I think the key is if one of you is like, a party animal, or wants to go, you know ... There are things I like to do that he won't do. And that's okay. We give each other that space.
Natalie Buchoz: Right.
Tana Amen: He doesn't like to camp. He's never gonna camp.
Natalie Buchoz: I don't like to camp either.
Tana Amen: He doesn't like my survival classes. That's okay.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I camped. I was in the Army.
Tana Amen: Yeah. So, he doesn't like all the weird stuff I do. And he gives me that space, and I give him the space to do the things he likes to do.
Natalie Buchoz: Right. I love that. So, this is our last question, then we'll move on to our next episode. But, is there ... What is one thing that Tana's done this week, Daniel, that's made you just so proud to be her partner? I think that ... I love our ... Our social media, our gurus, they ask us all the time this question.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Well, she made kale citrus salad, last night for dinner-
Tana Amen: I made dinner.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Oh no, it's that dinner. It's of all of her recipes, this is like in the top five.
Tana Amen: I know, and it's not my favorite, but I made it for him.
Dr. Daniel Amen: You could just eat it, over and over.
Natalie Buchoz: Sounds delicious.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I actually didn't tell you. I tried to call you to say, "Hey, I'm bringing leftovers for lunch." I didn't bring them all. So, she doesn't like it when I take all of it.
Tana Amen: He takes everything. Like, there's none left for anybody.
Dr. Daniel Amen: But, it's ... You know, when I first met her, she couldn't cook.
Tana Amen: At all.
Natalie Buchoz: I love that. I love this story.
Dr. Daniel Amen: I prayed she wouldn't cook, 'cause she was so awful, and would just create this bomb in the kitchen. It's like, how does ... It's like, we're just dating, and I'm, "You cook, I'll clean up." I'm like, two hours cleaning up. Really? But, since then, she really learned about food, and she's smart. Out of the box, right? I'd said that.
Natalie Buchoz: Yes.
Dr. Daniel Amen: That she can really take high quality food that is medicine quality, and make it taste awesome. And I just love that recipe.
Natalie Buchoz: And I think for me too, you know, when I started working here, it was almost four years ago, I ... I'm a picky eater. And, I remember Tana's previous assistant telling me a little bit about the Amen way of eating. And, I remember thinking, oh wow, I'm so plain, I, you know ... This couldn't be much different, and I remember trying a couple of recipes, and thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh. It doesn't even taste any different. Like, everything is so tasty, everything is so good. I'm full, you know. I'm not hungry. I don't feel like I'm going on a diet. And, I feel like I have so much more focus and energy throughout the day."
Tana Amen: Energy. Yeah.
Natalie Buchoz: Which is incredible.
Tana Amen: You know, the funny thing is-
Dr. Daniel Amen: And so, you're not suffering.
Natalie Buchoz: At all.
Dr. Daniel Amen: It's an act of love.
Tana Amen: Yeah, that's why I do it.
Dr. Daniel Amen: Of doing the right thing, is an act of love. Eating bad food, a low quality food, is an act of self hatred. Drew Carey actually said that. I put his quote in my new book, The End of Mental Illness. It's eating bad food. It's not a reward, it's a punishment. And when you get that in your head, everything changes.
Tana Amen: Yeah, I believe that. And, so that is one of the things that I do for him, even when I ... It's like, making dinner. Like, no one would think of that as an act of love, but I don't really love to cook, in spite of writing eight cookbooks, right?
Dr. Daniel Amen: Yes.
Tana Amen: Right? I don't want to. I do it for my health, and my family. So, it's an act of service.
Natalie Buchoz: And it's also something that you guys are able to enjoy, together.
Tana Amen: Oh, and he gets all excited. I'm like, I'm just making dinner. And he gets so excited. It's still like, ten years later, and he's all excited about it.
Natalie Buchoz: It's the little things that count. Well, we'll be right back everybody. Thanks so much for joining us.
Tana Amen: If you're enjoying The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast, please don't forget to subscribe, so you'll always know when there's a new episode. And while you're at it, feel free to give us a review, or five star rating, as that helps others find the podcast.
Dr. Daniel Amen: For more information, give us a call at 855-978-1363.
