Money, Health, and the Four “I’s” That Are Draining Your Wealth

In this episode of Upgraded Biology, I sit down with Garrett Gunderson—financial educator, best-selling author of Killing Sacred Cows, and creator of The American Ream comedy special on Amazon Prime. With over two decades in finance and ten published books, Garrett has helped countless entrepreneurs and families rewrite their money stories and reclaim control over their financial health.We explore how finance and functional medicine mirror each other, revealing that wealth—like health—depends on proactive habits, clarity, and consistency. Garrett breaks down his framework for financial resilience: from understanding your Investor DNA and money persona to eliminating the four major “I’s” that drain your wealth—IRS, interest, investments, and insurance.You’ll learn how to build lasting financial immunity, plug hidden leaks, and align your money strategy with your values and purpose. Garrett also shares how stress nearly cost him his life, how he reversed stage-four kidney failure, and why your financial wellbeing can’t be separated from your physical vitality.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or simply ready to become the CEO of your own financial health, this episode offers timeless strategies and a powerful mindset shift to help you grow your wealth—and your peace of mind.🔗 Free Resource: DM “upgraded” to @GarrettBGunderson on Instagram for his Financial Health Checklists🔗 Sponsor: Finnmark Designs Sauna📚 Chapters00:00 – Welcome to Upgraded Biology00:55 – Introducing Garrett Gunderson03:45 – From Finance to Functional Health04:47 – Stage-Four Kidney Failure & The Power of Stress Reduction05:46 – The Parallels Between Health and Banking07:29 – Discovering Your Investor DNA09:50 – The Four Money Personas12:01 – Choosing Your Financial Lane: Business, Real Estate, IP, Bitcoin14:00 – Cash Flow as the Bloodwork of Financial Health15:16 – Financial Freedom Starts with Awareness16:09 – The Two Financial Health Checklists17:28 – The Ignorance Tax: What You Don’t Know Costs You19:24 – Building a Six-Month Financial Safety Net20:48 – The Four “I’s” That Drain Your Wealth23:19 – The Ignorance Tax vs. Income Tax25:00 – How Insurance Companies Profit from Delay27:10 – Choosing the Right Insurance Agent29:53 – Sponsor: Finnmark Designs Sauna33:01 – Liquidity, Gold, and Bitcoin as Savings34:21 – Financial Goals for Your 20s35:00 – Why Losing Money Early Builds Wealth Wisdom36:02 – The Power of Sales Skills, Networks, and Masterminds38:00 – Money, Stress, and Identity: Lessons from Health Crises41:14 – Why Most People Chase Numbers Instead of Purpose43:55 – Redefining Wealth Beyond the Bank Account46:10 – Turning Pain into Purpose and Creativity49:28 – Comedy, Money, and the Human Condition52:43 – Letting Go of Scarcity and Embracing Flow55:21 – The Real Goal: Freedom, Not Fortune58:03 – Dr. Tami’s Closing Reflections59:12 – Episode Wrap-Up & Takeaways