Corey Corpodian - Emotional Fitness: Building Resilience and Overcoming Depression - HMIO 323
Fri Jan 30 2026
In this powerful episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, hosts Sky Bridges and Ryan Heapy, LMFT sit down with Corey Corpodian—a board-certified orthodontist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate—to explore the hidden cost of high achievement and the life-changing power of emotional fitness.
Corey shares his deeply personal story of success on paper and depression behind the scenes. After graduating early, building a prestigious career, and checking every box of the traditional “American Dream,” Corey found himself burned out, unfulfilled, and struggling with severe depression. A turning point came through physical fitness, a melanoma diagnosis, and a radical shift in mindset that led him to redefine mental health as something that must be trained daily—just like the body.
In this conversation, Corey breaks down:
What emotional fitness really means and how to build itWhy information alone doesn’t change mental health—action doesHow daily habits, discipline, and mindset rewiring create lasting changeThe role of pain, discomfort, and responsibility in personal growthWhy leadership starts with leading yourself—especially as men, fathers, and entrepreneursHow screen time, comfort, and avoidance quietly sabotage fulfillmentThis episode is packed with actionable mental health tools, honest reflections on depression and burnout, and a refreshing take on leadership, purpose, and fulfillment. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or successful but empty, this conversation will challenge you to take ownership of your life and build resilience from the inside out.
🎙️ Because success without fulfillment isn’t success at all.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Hosts
00:20 Meet Corey Corpodian: From Orthodontist to Mental Health Advocate
01:01 Early Success, Burnout, and Depression
03:28 Physical Fitness as a Turning Point
04:59 Melanoma Diagnosis and Mortality Wake-Up Call
06:22 Discovering Emotional Fitness
07:54 Tony Robbins and Mindset Shifts
12:39 Rewiring the Mind and Overcoming Depression 1
7:24 Why Action Creates Change
20:40 Reinvention After Life’s Roadblocks
23:42 Breathwork, the Nervous System, and Resilience
25:23 Pain vs. Pleasure as Motivation
26:16 Escaping Comfort Zones and Mediocrity
26:55 Screen Time, Dopamine, and Mental Health
28:12 Using Future Pain to Drive Growth
31:06 Discipline, Identity, and Daily Habits
32:43 Cold Showers and Mental Toughness
36:05 Balancing Ambition, Family, and Purpose
38:01 Rethinking Mental Health and Leadership
46:36 Final Reflections and Emotional Fitness Resources
More
In this powerful episode of Hey Man; It’s Ok, hosts Sky Bridges and Ryan Heapy, LMFT sit down with Corey Corpodian—a board-certified orthodontist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate—to explore the hidden cost of high achievement and the life-changing power of emotional fitness. Corey shares his deeply personal story of success on paper and depression behind the scenes. After graduating early, building a prestigious career, and checking every box of the traditional “American Dream,” Corey found himself burned out, unfulfilled, and struggling with severe depression. A turning point came through physical fitness, a melanoma diagnosis, and a radical shift in mindset that led him to redefine mental health as something that must be trained daily—just like the body. In this conversation, Corey breaks down: What emotional fitness really means and how to build itWhy information alone doesn’t change mental health—action doesHow daily habits, discipline, and mindset rewiring create lasting changeThe role of pain, discomfort, and responsibility in personal growthWhy leadership starts with leading yourself—especially as men, fathers, and entrepreneursHow screen time, comfort, and avoidance quietly sabotage fulfillmentThis episode is packed with actionable mental health tools, honest reflections on depression and burnout, and a refreshing take on leadership, purpose, and fulfillment. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or successful but empty, this conversation will challenge you to take ownership of your life and build resilience from the inside out. 🎙️ Because success without fulfillment isn’t success at all. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Hosts 00:20 Meet Corey Corpodian: From Orthodontist to Mental Health Advocate 01:01 Early Success, Burnout, and Depression 03:28 Physical Fitness as a Turning Point 04:59 Melanoma Diagnosis and Mortality Wake-Up Call 06:22 Discovering Emotional Fitness 07:54 Tony Robbins and Mindset Shifts 12:39 Rewiring the Mind and Overcoming Depression 1 7:24 Why Action Creates Change 20:40 Reinvention After Life’s Roadblocks 23:42 Breathwork, the Nervous System, and Resilience 25:23 Pain vs. Pleasure as Motivation 26:16 Escaping Comfort Zones and Mediocrity 26:55 Screen Time, Dopamine, and Mental Health 28:12 Using Future Pain to Drive Growth 31:06 Discipline, Identity, and Daily Habits 32:43 Cold Showers and Mental Toughness 36:05 Balancing Ambition, Family, and Purpose 38:01 Rethinking Mental Health and Leadership 46:36 Final Reflections and Emotional Fitness Resources