Mitochondria, Leaky Gut & Hyperbaric Oxygen: The Longevity Conversation Most Doctors Don’t Have
Richer Soul Podcast • Episode 478 • Featuring Dr. William Haas
Most people are trying to “get healthier” by doing the obvious things—eat better, work out, maybe take a supplement or two. But what happens when you’re doing the right things and still feel exhausted, inflamed, foggy, or stuck?
In this episode of Richer Soul, Rocky sits down with Dr. Will Haas to talk about what’s often happening beneath the surface: your mitochondria, your gut, your hormones, and the hidden stressors (including toxins and medications) that can quietly change how your body performs—long before conventional labs catch it.
“Medical school is teaching how to manage disease. And that was a rude awakening.”
From “Go Be a Doctor” to Questioning the Entire System
Dr. Haas shares what shaped his early relationship with success and money: he grew up in a first-generation educated family, with parents who were the first to go to college, and a strong push toward “the professions”—doctor, lawyer, dentist. He even remembers his father opening U.S. News & World Report to the top liberal arts colleges and telling him to pick one.
That pressure did lead him to medicine—but a key turning point was realizing that medical school wasn’t centered on “health optimization.” It was centered on disease management—often through pharmaceuticals—with little emphasis on nutrition or the mind-body connection.
The Real Cost of Becoming a Doctor (Time, Money, and Delayed Earnings)
One of the most striking moments is when Dr. Haas talks about the delayed payoff: he says he was about 38 when he made his first “real doctor paycheck.” Meanwhile, his brother started working right after college and had a head start financially (car, house, family, retirement savings).
Mitochondria 101: The Cellular “Powerhouse” That Impacts More Than Energy
Dr. Haas breaks mitochondria down in simple terms: mitochondria produce ATP, the body’s energy currency. But he also emphasizes they influence inflammation pathways and immune function—so mitochondrial dysfunction can show up as much more than “low energy.”
Then the conversation goes where most people have never heard a doctor go:
- Some antibiotics (he specifically mentions Cipro and Levoquin) can be “terrible” for mitochondrial health.
- Even over-the-counter anti-inflammatories can “uncouple” mitochondria (reducing their ability to produce ATP).
- He mentions metformin as a medication that may impact mitochondria and can also contribute to nutrient issues like B12 deficiency—important because B12 is a co-factor relevant to mitochondrial function.
“Is Your Gut Leaky?” Why Food Sensitivities Often Point Back to the Gut
Rocky asks about food reactions that aren’t obvious allergies—but build slowly over time.
Dr. Haas explains that broad food sensitivity testing often just shows you’re reacting to many foods (the ones you eat frequently), and that this commonly points back to gut barrier issues—what many people call “leaky gut,” where intestinal cells “gap apart,” allowing particles through and triggering immune reactions. His approach is: go fix the gut rather than spend money chasing endless sensitivity panels.
Hormones & Testosterone: Start With Sleep, Stress, Alcohol, and Protein
When Rocky brings up testosterone, Dr. Haas acknowledges that testosterone therapy can become a “for life” decision for some people—but he prefers starting by optimizing the body naturally first.
He highlights fundamentals that consistently come up in his work:
- Hormone production at night during deep sleep
- Alcohol disrupting sleep and compounding hormone issues
- High stress elevating cortisol and creating what he calls a “cortisol steal” phenomenon (at the expense of testosterone)
- Protein intake and targeted micronutrients (he mentions boron, zinc, selenium, magnesium)
Want a Faster Metabolism? Build Lean Muscle
Rocky asks the question everyone asks: can you increase metabolic rate?
Dr. Haas’ answer is direct: the single best way is building lean muscle mass, because muscle increases calorie burn at rest.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Why Pressure Is the “Magic,” Not Just Oxygen
HBOT is one of the most interesting and practical sections of this episode.
Dr. Haas describes it as breathing oxygen under pressure—and he explains that pressure allows oxygen to move into plasma and tissues in a way that changes the physiology of delivery. He then explains the “relative hypoxia” concept after leaving the chamber, and links HBOT to antioxidant response, stem cell mobilization, and angiogenesis (new blood flow development).
He also emphasizes real-world considerations:
- It requires time (sessions of 60–90 minutes, accumulated hours).
- There are only 14 FDA-approved indications, and he gives carbon monoxide poisoning as an example of a classic indication.
- Plastic surgeons are often more aware of HBOT for healing support, and he wishes more physicians understood it.
- He won’t recommend it just to “sell sessions”—it has to match the person’s goals and be medically appropriate.
About the Guest: Dr. Will Haas
Dr. Will Haas, MD, MBA is redefining what it means to age well. He is the Founder and CEO of VYVE Wellness in Charlotte, NC, where he helps high-achieving professionals reclaim energy, focus, and vitality through cellular optimization.
Board-certified in Integrative and Family Medicine, Dr. Haas blends advanced therapies—IV nutrient infusions, therapeutic peptides, hyperbaric oxygen, and red light therapy—to deliver measurable results that help patients feel decades younger.
Beyond VYVE, he co-founded OvulifeMD, creating natural fertility protocols, and serves as Chief Medical Officer at Infusive, supporting wellness practices nationwide. His expertise has been featured in Men’s Journal, Daily Mail, Yahoo Life, and Woman’s World Magazine.
Passionate about bridging science with practical results, Dr. Haas empowers high-performers who want more than just longevity—they want their best years ahead of them.
Links:
Website: https://vyvewellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VYVEWellness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vyvewellness
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VYVEWellness
Blog: https://vyvewellness.com/blog/
Listen to the Full Conversation
This post only scratches the surface—especially on mitochondria, gut testing, toxins, hormone optimization, and hyperbaric oxygen. Listen to the full episode to hear how Dr. Haas connects these “health KPIs” to real-life fatigue, performance, and longevity.
Ep 478 Mitochondria, Metabolism & Modern Medicine with Dr. William Haas: https://richersoul.com/ep-478-mitochondria-metabolism-modern-medicine-with-dr-william-haas/
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul
Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let’s talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let’s figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It’s about personal freedom!
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