The Process with Dr. Masi

#018 - Kade Routolo - Who Am I Without My Sport?

Kade Ruotolo is one of the most dominant grapplers of his generation — a multiple-time world champion, elite martial artist, and rising MMA fighter known for his pace, creativity, and relentless belief in himself. But in this episode, Kade joins us during a much quieter chapter: recovering from the most challenging injury of his life. Coming off a full ACL tear and PRP treatment, Kade opens up about the mental side of being sidelined — not just from competition, but from movement, training, and the identity he’s carried since childhood. We talk about navigating recovery when everyone has an opinion, learning to trust your body’s intuition, and what happens when your sense of self is temporarily stripped away. This conversation goes beyond rehab protocols. We explore humility, discipline, martial arts, respect, and the belief system required to become one of the best in the world. Kade also reflects on the small moments that shaped him — including a brief interaction with Nate Diaz as a kid — and how gestures from role models can leave a lifelong impact. This episode is about recovery, identity, belief, and the discipline required to rebuild from the inside out. Follow Kade: https://www.instagram.com/kadekruotolo/ [https://www.instagram.com/kadekruotolo/] Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction 02:37 — ACL Injury & PRP Treatment 06:42 — Balancing Outside Voices vs Intuition 11:15 — Discipline, Respect, and Martial Arts 14:49 — The Power of Small Moments 19:07 — Identity Foreclosure After Injury 24:22 — Humility as a Competitive Edge 31:37 — Belief, Delusion, and Being the Best 39:12 — Recovery, Trust, and Long-Term Vision 46:57 — Legacy Beyond Competition 52:37 — Closing Reflections Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. The Process with Dr. Masi is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always seek the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns.

#017 - Bianca Valenti - How to Surf For Life

Bianca Valenti is one of the most respected big wave surfers in the world — and a pioneer who helped change the sport forever. She was a leading voice in the fight for equal pay in professional surfing, helped open doors for women in big wave competition, and continues to push the boundaries of what longevity in surfing can look like. But this conversation goes far beyond surfing. In this episode, Bianca sits down with Dr. MASI to talk about injury, resilience, burnout, spirituality, and the mindset required to build a sustainable career in sport. She shares lessons from her own recovery journey, the habits that allow her to continue performing into her 40s, and the experience of helping the oldest first-time surfer ride Mavericks. They also dive into the mental and spiritual side of performance — including how surrender, awareness, and discipline shape both recovery and long-term success. Dr. MASI also walks through his personal routine for preparing for surgery — from visualization to recovery habits — and how those same principles apply to athletes, professionals, and anyone who wants to perform at their best for the long haul. This episode is about how to build a life and career that lasts — physically, mentally, and spiritually. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How to recover and keep performing after injury • The habits that support longevity in surfing • Why burnout happens, even after success • The mindset required to stay in the water long-term • How spirituality and awareness support performance • Why young athletes are getting injured more often Follow Bianca Valenti: Instagram: [Instagram link] Surf Longevity: [Website link] Follow Dr. MASI: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.masi/ [https://www.instagram.com/doctor.masi/] Follow The Process Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_theprocesspodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/_theprocesspodcast/] Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:04 The Injury 09:34 Learning From Injury 18:02 The Spiritual Side 25:01 Surf Longevity 29:32 Preparing for Surgery 35:45 Burnout 45:09 Fighting for Equal Pay 48:49 Longevity Habits 54:22 Why Kids Should Play Multiple Sports 01:05:10 Closing Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition, injury, or treatment. The Process with Dr. MASI is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this content does not create a doctor–patient relationship. The views expressed are the opinions of the hosts and guests and may not reflect the views of any affiliated institutions. Guest & Sponsor Disclosures: Guests may have financial interests or affiliations with companies, products, or services mentioned in this episode. Any paid partnerships or affiliate relationships will be clearly disclosed. Production Note: The Process with Dr. MASI is independently produced. Sponsored segments or affiliate links may appear in episodes to support production.

#016 - Dr. Dino Del Mastro - The Gift of Injury

Dr. Dino Del Mastro has lived both sides of the athlete’s journey — first as a martial artist competing in judo and wrestling, and now as a clinician helping athletes recover and return to the sports they love. Dr. Dino is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Athlete Rehab & Performance Specialist, and Primary Spine Practitioner who has been serving athletes and active individuals since 2011. Based in Los Gatos, California, he works with everyone from elite competitors to weekend warriors who want to move and perform at their highest level. A lifelong martial artist, Dino is also a Judo Black Belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt, and former Pennsylvania wrestler, bringing firsthand experience of high-level training and injury to the athletes he works with. In this episode, Dr.Masi sits down with Dr. Dino to explore how martial arts shaped his life and ultimately led him into sports medicine. Dino shares stories from his early training, his time studying judo in Japan, and the injuries — including multiple ACL tears — that pushed him to pursue a career helping athletes recover and perform. The conversation also dives into Dino’s new venture, Matlete, a mobile and virtual practice designed to make high-level care more accessible to athletes — especially those in combat sports. This episode explores injury, discipline, and the deeper purpose behind helping others heal. --- How to find Dr. Dino https://www.instagram.com/drdinodelmastro/Dr. Dino's Practicehttps://www.losgatossportschiro.com/chiropractic/ --- Follow for moreDr. MASI https://www.instagram.com/doctor.masi/ The Process Podcast https://www.instagram.com/_theprocesspodcast/ --- Watch & Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C-jXbIxt6OU --- Chapters 00:00 — Intro + Theme 02:22 — Dr. Dino’s Martial Arts Background 07:05 — Almost Quitting Martial Arts 11:48 — Opportunities Through Judo & Traveling to Japan 18:21 — The ACL Injury That Changed His Path 24:07 — Tearing the ACL Again | “Like Paper Ripping” 29:54 — From Athlete to Clinician 35:18 — Treating Elite Athletes & Finding Purpose 41:42 — A Hard Question | Would the Work Still Matter Without the Prestige? 47:56 — Matthlete | A Mobile & Virtual Practice Model 53:41 — Advancing Chiropractic Medicine | University of Pittsburgh 59:22 — The Enhanced Games Discussion 01:05:10 — Closing Reflections --- Disclaimer This video is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns. Medical Disclaimer The Process with Dr. MASI is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening does not create a doctor–patient relationship. The views expressed are personal opinions of the hosts and guests. Always consult a qualified provider regarding your health. Guest & Sponsor Disclosures Guests may have financial interests or affiliations with companies mentioned. Any paid partnerships or affiliate relationships will be clearly disclosed. Production Note The Process with Dr. MASI is independently produced. Sponsored segments or affiliate links may appear to support production.

#015 - Shaun Lopez and Dr. April Mancuso Reynolds - Reclaiming Agency In Health

Shaun Lopez is a Maui-based renewable energy engineer, big-wave surfer, and the host of The Buoy Report, where he explores how energy moves through systems — from solar grids and island communities to the ocean and the human body. In this episode of The Process, Dr. Masi Reynolds sits down with Shaun and his wife, Dr. April Mancuso Reynolds, for a rare three-person conversation about injury, infertility, parenthood, and healing. What began as a knee injury at Jaws during a powerful Eddie swell became an unexpected turning point — one that reshaped how they think about medicine, effort, and trust. Shaun and April share their fertility journey with honesty, including the frustration of being told “nothing can change,” the importance of asking better questions, and how diet, regenerative medicine, and mindset helped restore balance. At the center of it all is energy — how it’s stored, depleted, renewed, and influenced by intention. In the second half of the episode, Shaun steps into his Buoy Report role and asks a defining question: What does energy mean to you? From there, the conversation expands into discipline, fatherhood, calculated risk, and learning when to push — and when to let go. This episode is about agency, resilience, and trusting the process in health, performance, and life. 00:17 — Introduction 01:12 — Three Voices, One Conversation 03:48 — Questioning Certainty 07:26 — Trust, Data, & Advocacy 08:20 — The Jaws Injury 11:24 — Injury as a Turning Point 14:10 — Infertility & “Nothing Can Change” 19:34 — Food Is Information 20:34 — The Egg Quality Reset 24:22 — Surrender & Spiritual Healing 29:00 — Fatherhood Changes Risk 39:32 — Calculated vs Reckless 49:44 — What Is Energy? 01:04:48 — Discipline as a System 01:18:14 — Letting Go as Power 01:32:29 — Closing Reflections Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaun.lopezzz/ [https://www.instagram.com/shaun.lopezzz/] Check out The Buoy Report: https://thebuoyreport.com [https://thebuoyreport.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.aprilm/ [https://www.instagram.com/doctor.aprilm/] This video is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns. The Process with Dr. Masi is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening does not create a doctor–patient relationship. The views expressed are personal opinions of the hosts and guests. Always consult a qualified provider with any questions regarding your health. Guests may have financial interests or affiliations with companies mentioned in the episode. Any paid partnerships or affiliate relationships will be clearly disclosed. The Process with Dr. Masi is independently produced and reflects the personal views of its creators. Sponsored segments or affiliate links may appear in episodes to support production. ChaptersFollow Shaun LopezFollow April Mancuso ReynoldsMedical DisclaimerGuest & Sponsor DisclosuresProduction Note

#014 - Makua Rothman - Becoming a Villain for Good

Makua Rothman ( @makua [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCu0H0q2nhezbtIBZLdH3Asw]) is a Big Wave World Champion, respected waterman, and musician from the North Shore of Oʻahu — a product of Hawaiian lineage, heavy surf, and the cultural roots that shaped him. But in this episode, Makua joins me to share a story far deeper than titles or waves. Though many know Makua for his accomplishments, few have heard the full truth behind his transformation. Injury, addiction, and personal unraveling forced him to confront who he was becoming — as an athlete, a father, and a man. What emerged was a renewed commitment to discipline, honesty, and living with intention.In this conversation, Makua and I explore identity, recovery, and the belief systems we inherit from our families, our culture, and sometimes our trauma. We talk about choosing your “hard,” how small wins create momentum, and why the best wave Makua ever experienced wasn’t one he rode, but one he watched someone ride for the first time. Makua also shares the deeper meaning behind Villains for Good — his movement devoted to truth, integrity, and living with aloha, even when misunderstood.We get into the connection between mindset, nutrition, and mental health, the spiritual side of healing, and the discipline required to rebuild a life from the inside out. This episode is ultimately about accountability, forgiveness, and the courage to become the person you were meant to be. --- Follow Makua: https://www.instagram.com/makuarothman/ Listen to Makua’s Music: https://www.youtube.com/@makuakairothman https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jLRWHcXHgVSx7Kith9jc0 --- Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 01:56 — Opening Theme & Disclaimer 02:20 — Makua’s Story Begins 07:32 — Choosing Your Hard 12:45 — Blessing or Burden? 14:18 — The Best Wave I Never Rode 15:09 — Legacy & Lineage 17:23 — Accountability & Truth 22:34 — Surgery Is Always an Option 20:11 — Belief Systems & Ancestry 24:59 — Discipline as Medicine 30:05 — Villains for Good 31:22 — Jesus Was a Villain for Good 33:40 — “I’m a Villain for Good” 43:56 — Parenting With Emotional Intelligence 46:04 — Youth Sports & Pressure 52:36 — The 1% Mindset 55:07 — Protecting Your Mind 56:06 — Forgiveness & Tough Love 1:06:14 — A Knee Is a Knee 1:08:16 — Closing Reflections --- This video is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns. Medical Disclaimer: The Process with Dr. Masi is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening does not create a doctor–patient relationship. The views expressed are personal opinions of the hosts and guests. Always consult a qualified provider with any questions regarding your health. Guest & Sponsor Disclosures: Guests may have financial interests or affiliations with companies mentioned in the episode. Any paid partnerships or affiliate relationships will be clearly disclosed. Production Note: The Process with Dr. Masi is independently produced and reflects the personal views of its creators. Sponsored segments or affiliate links may appear in episodes to support production.