Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Modern life tells us that more freedom should make us happier. More independence, more control, more convenience, more space to do life on our own terms. But what if the thing we keep chasing is also the thing quietly pulling us away from what our brain and body still need most: connection. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. William Von Hippel to talk about the conflict between two of our most basic human motives: connection and autonomy. We get into why connection used to be built into survival, why autonomy used to be rare, and why modern life has flipped that balance in a way that can leave people feeling lonely, empty, or disconnected even when they seem to "have everything." We also talk about why loneliness is not just an emotion, how it can affect the immune system, and how to build connection back into everyday routines without overcomplicating your life. Dr. William Von Hippel is an evolutionary psychologist, researcher at WHOOP, and the author of The Social Paradox and The Social Leap. After three decades as a psychology professor in the United States and Australia, he has published more than 150 academic articles, with work cited over 15,000 times and featured in outlets including The New York Times, The Economist, USA Today, Der Spiegel, and The Australian. What's Discussed: (02:23) What hunter-gatherer life reveals about how humans evolved to survive through connection. (12:34) Why modern life has created evolutionary mismatches our biology has not caught up with. (16:02) The conflict between connection and autonomy, and why both needs matter. (18:39) Why more people are living alone and spending more time disconnected than ever before. (23:08) Why even introverts still need meaningful human connection. (31:23) Why loneliness is not the same as being alone, and why the body can read disconnection as danger. (36:11) How emotions can affect immune function and physical health. (39:34) How to build connection into the things you already do instead of adding more to your schedule. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand why having more freedom does not always create more happiness, and why rebuilding connection into daily life may be one of the most important things you can do for your health, relationships, and sense of meaning. Thank you to our sponsors: Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. William Von Hippel Website: researchwithimpact.com/

Hormone symptoms are usually treated like a problem with levels. Progesterone is low. Estrogen is shifting. Cortisol is high. Testosterone is dropping. So the conversation often becomes about what to replace, what to supplement, or what protocol to follow. But there is a deeper layer that rarely gets brought into the room: the body is also responding to the stress, grief, resentment, trauma, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and survival patterns it has been carrying for years. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Sonya Jensen to talk about the connection between mental health and hormonal health. We get into why anxiety can suddenly feel louder in perimenopause, why rage may be years of suppressed resentment asking to be expressed, why grief is not always about losing a person, and why some women still feel stuck even after doing the nutrition, supplements, herbs, or hormone therapy. The aha moment here is that hormones may not be creating a brand-new problem. They may be revealing what the body has been trying to manage in silence. Dr. Sonya Jensen is a naturopathic physician, international speaker, author of Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself, and founder of the HER Method and HER Community. Her work brings together naturopathic medicine, hormone therapy, herbs, nutrition, trauma-informed healing, ancestral healing, longevity medicine, and nervous system support to help women understand the emotional and generational patterns behind hormonal imbalance. What's Discussed: (02:11) Why hormone imbalance is not only a chemistry issue. (03:11) Why women can still feel stuck after doing "all the right things." (05:45) How shifting hormones can reveal emotions that were easier to manage before. (06:32) Why anxiety can become the symptom women finally cannot ignore. (09:09) How stress can show up as isolation, tension, gut issues, and insomnia. (13:03) Why perimenopause rage may be suppressed resentment coming up. (15:07) How grief in midlife can be tied to identity, motherhood, aging, and transition. (30:32) Why hormone therapy can help, but it cannot replace the deeper emotional work. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand how hormones, stress, trauma, grief, and the nervous system are connected, and why healing may require looking at the patterns the body has been holding long before symptoms showed up. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Function Health: Learn more and join using my link. Visit functionhealth.com/drshah and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Sonya Jensen: Book - Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself: healyourhormonesbook.com Website: drsonyajensen.com Instagram: @drsonyajensen

When we talk about health, longevity, and performance, the conversation often starts with the body. We look at biomarkers, sleep, nutrition, exercise, recovery, and protocols, hoping that if we get enough of the physical pieces right, we will finally feel better, stronger, and more alive. Yet there is another layer that can quietly shape everything from the way we handle stress to the way we heal, lead, love, perform, and experience our own potential. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Peter Crone to explore why true vitality is not only about what is happening in the body, but also about the subconscious stories shaping the mind. We get into the patterns of inadequacy, insecurity, and scarcity, how they can keep the nervous system in survival, why health is not simply the absence of disease, and how the narratives we live inside can affect our physiology, relationships, performance, and ability to feel free. This conversation matters because it challenges the idea that physical optimization alone is enough when the mind is still operating from old constraints. Peter Crone is a renowned thought leader in human awakening and potential who helps people dissolve the subconscious constraints shaping their behaviour, health, relationships, and performance. As a transformation coach, writer, speaker, and Ayurvedic practitioner, he has become one of the most trusted voices helping elite athletes, CEOs, and people from all walks of life move beyond survival patterns and access greater freedom, clarity, and ease. What's Discussed: (01:42) How Peter's early life shaped his understanding of survival, isolation, and belonging. (03:53) Why true vitality starts with freeing the mind. (07:28) The three patterns that keep people in survival: inadequacy, insecurity, and scarcity. (09:40) Why modern healthcare often focuses on disease management instead of true health. (10:50) Why health is not simply the absence of disease. (14:15) How unconscious stories can quietly drive your life. (18:44) Why some people do not want life to end, but want an old story to end. (46:09) Why self-improvement can still keep people inside the same limited identity. Listen now and learn why the story you keep living in may be one of the biggest factors shaping your health, vitality, relationships, and what you believe is possible for your life. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Function Health: Learn more and join using my link. Visit functionhealth.com/drshah and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Peter Crone: Website: petercrone.com Linktree: linktr.ee/petercrone

If you think your skincare routine is protecting your skin, this conversation may make you look at your bathroom shelf differently. You've been taught to treat your skin like something cosmetic, something you maintain for how it looks. But your skin is your largest organ, it has its own biological age, and if you are not supporting it properly, it can become a constant source of inflammation and damage that goes far beyond appearance. We dive deeper into this in Extend with Carolina Reis de Oliveira, PhD. We also break down why most skincare products are not built to target the biology of aging, how senescent cells drive visible and invisible skin aging, and how OS-01, discovered through machine learning, is designed to slow the spread of these dysfunctional cells so you can actually support your skin as part of your longevity strategy. Carolina Reis de Oliveira, PhD, is a stem cell biologist, tissue engineer, and co-founder and CEO of OneSkin. She has spent over a decade researching cellular aging, building human skin models in the lab, and developing epigenetic clocks to measure biological skin age, with her work on OS-01 validated through peer-reviewed research, making her one of the leading voices translating longevity science into real-world applications for skin. For a limited time, you can try OneSkin for 15% off with code EXTEND at oneskin.co/EXTEND That's 15% off oneskin.co with code EXTEND What's Discussed: (2:02) Why OneSkin started by asking what actually targets skin aging at the cellular level. (4:02) How popular anti-aging products can cause inflammation and damage. (9:25) The three main drivers of skin aging: senescence, inflammation, and collagen breakdown. (11:24) Why UV exposure is responsible for most visible skin aging. (21:33) How OS-01 was discovered through machine learning and peptide screening. (26:33) Why too many actives can overwhelm the skin instead of helping it. (32:58) How aging skin can contribute to inflammation inside the body. (37:12) How skin biological age can be measured with epigenetic clocks. Listen to this episode of Extend with Darshan Shah, MD on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to understand why skin is not just cosmetic, what actually drives skin aging at the cellular level, and how to start treating your skin like the longevity organ it really is. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Timeline: Timeline powered by Mitopure just dropped the price. Check it out at timeline.com/drshah and get an additional 20% off your first month with code DRSHAH. IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about OneSkin: Website: www.oneskin.co/ Instagram: @oneskin.co TikTok: @oneskin.co

A lot of us are doing everything we can to stay healthy, taking supplements, wearing trackers, getting our labs done, and still ending up sick. And if you are like most people, you probably thought that was on you, that you were not disciplined enough, not consistent enough, or simply not doing the right things, but that is not the case. The system we have been relying on was never designed to keep us well in the first place, and expecting the Western medical system to manage your long term health is like expecting a fire department to landscape your garden. We dive deeper into this in the Extend with Steve Martocci, Pranitha Patil, and John Sullivan. We also chat about why 30% of people have dangerously high blood pressure and have no idea, why four out of six top selling creatine products on Amazon contain zero creatine, and why doctors receive zero training on supplements in medical school yet are expected to advise patients on them every single day. Steve Martocci is the founder of SuppCo, a platform that has catalogued over 300,000 supplement products and built the industry's first independent trust scoring system. Pranitha Patil is the co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Function Health, which offers comprehensive lab testing across hundreds of biomarkers for $365 a year. John Sullivan is a senior leader at Whoop, the performance wearable that introduced medically cleared continuous health monitoring to everyday consumers. If there is any panel qualified to tell you the truth about what it actually takes to stay healthy in 2026, it is this one. What's Discussed: (13:12) The supplement industry's trust problem and why four out of six top selling creatine products on Amazon contain zero creatine. (20:17) How to build your own N-of-1 health roadmap using lab work, wearables, and supplements working together. (39:58) The single highest leverage investment you can make for your health right now that has nothing to do with money. (43:26) Why 30% of people have dangerous blood pressure and have no idea. (46:50) The FDA, the supplement industry, and where the line should actually be drawn between regulation and innovation. (53:12) Why the Western medical system was never built to keep you healthy and what to do instead. Listen to this episode of the Extend Podcast and finally understand why the system you have been trusting with your health was never designed to keep you well, and what it actually looks like to take that power back into your own hands. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about John Sullivan: Instagram: @johnjsulli LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/johnjsulli/ Learn more about Pranitha Patil: Instagram: @pranitha/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pranithapatil Learn more about Steve Martocci: Instagram: @smart LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stevemartocci

A lot of people are walking around exhausted, foggy, moody, and struggling with their cardiovascular health blaming stress, diet, age, and everything in between, never once considering that the real culprit might be happening in the eight hours they are not even awake for. And in children, what is being labeled as ADHD and treated with medication could in many cases simply be an undiagnosed sleep disorder that nobody thought to look for. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Meredith Broderick for a conversation that is going to completely reframe the way you think about sleep and what ignoring it is actually costing your health, your brain, and your children. Walk away finally understanding what is driving your symptoms, why the medications most people reach for are quietly making things worse, and what actually works to fix your sleep for good. My guest today is Dr. Meredith Broderick, a triple board-certified sleep neurologist and one of only four practitioners in the world to hold certifications in neurology, sleep medicine, and behavioral sleep medicine. What makes her truly unique is how she brings together holistic, preventative, and behavioral approaches to sleep medicine in a way that almost no one else in this field can.There is truly nobody more equipped to have this conversation than someone who has spent her entire career at the exact intersection of the brain, the body, and the behavior of sleep. WHAT'S DISCUSSED: (7:29) Why children with sleep disorders are being misdiagnosed with ADHD and put on medication before anyone checks their sleep. (8:45) The signs of a sleep breathing problem in children that most parents and pediatricians completely miss. (13:48) Why sleep apnea is not just a snoring problem and how it silently drives cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and even cancer. (18:35) The surprising connection between mouth breathing, tongue position, and sleep apnea that nobody is talking about. (36:34) What chronic insomnia actually is, why one in three people has it, and why most people are treating it completely wrong. (40:19) What cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia actually is and why it outperforms every sleeping pill on the market. (55:01) Why Ambien may be blocking the brain's ability to clear the toxins linked to dementia while you sleep. (1:11:03) The two or three sleep environment changes that make an immediate and measurable difference in sleep quality. Listen to this episode of Extend and finally understand why your exhaustion, brain fog, and mood issues may have nothing to do with stress or age, what your sleep is actually doing to your long term health, and what it takes to fix it in a way that changes everything. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Function Health: Learn more and join using my link. Visit functionhealth.com/drshah and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Meredith Broderick: Instagram: @thesleepneurologist TikTok: @thesleepneurologist Website: www.soundsleepguru.com

Biological aging is no longer just a concept tied to time. It is something we can now measure, track, and influence through data, lifestyle, and targeted interventions that directly impact how our cells function and age. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, functional medicine leader, researcher, and author, to unpack how diet and lifestyle can directly influence epigenetics and biological age. We break down the difference between chronological and biological aging, how epigenetic clocks work across organs and systems, and why aging may be driven by both environmental exposures and deeper programmed mechanisms. We also explore how polyphenols, nutrient-dense diets, and emerging interventions like Yamanaka mimetics may begin to shift the trajectory of aging at the cellular level and open new pathways for extending healthspan and peak performance. Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is a functional medicine physician, researcher, and author of Younger You, known for her pioneering clinical studies demonstrating how targeted nutrition and lifestyle interventions can reverse biological age and reshape long-term health outcomes. What We Discuss: (01:36) Aging, performance, and menopause (05:01) Healthspan vs peak span (08:39) The dark matter of nutrition (11:36) Polyphenols and urolithin A (13:12) Biological age and epigenetics (15:41) Epigenetic clocks and measurement (21:02) Exposomic aging (25:03) Programmed aging (28:20) Yamanaka factors (33:24) Yamanaka mimetics (36:29) Polyphenols and caloric restriction (40:33) Nutrition and biological age reversal Thank You to Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Kara Fitzgerald: Website: drkarafitzgerald.com Podcast: New Frontiers in Functional Medicine Webinars: webinars Instagram: drkarafitzgerald Facebook: Dr. Kara Fitzgerald You tube: @Drkarafitzgerald X: @kfitzgeraldnd Pubmed: Potential reversal of epigenetic age using a diet and lifestyle intervention: a pilot randomized clinical trial Pubmed: Potential reversal of biological age in women following an 8-week methylation-supportive diet and lifestyle program: a case series Pubmed: Dietary associations with reduced epigenetic age: a secondary data analysis of the methylation diet and lifestyle study

Modern life is quietly accelerating biological aging, from posture and movement patterns to sleep disruption, chronic stress, and constant digital stimulation. Many of the symptoms people experience daily, like pain, fatigue, brain fog, and disconnection, may reflect a deeper misalignment with how the human body was designed to function. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Kavin Mistry, board-certified neuroradiologist and author of Primal Health Design, to unpack how modern lifestyles are reshaping our biology and accelerating aging. We break down how posture, movement, circadian rhythm, nutrition, and environment influence brain and spine health, and why reconnecting with our primal design is essential for long-term resilience and performance. We also explore how daily practices like morning sunlight, grounding, deep work, and intentional routines can help restore alignment with your biology and create more energy, clarity, and longevity in a fast-moving, AI-driven world. Dr. Kavin Mistry is a board-certified neuroradiologist, author, and thought leader in longevity and human performance, known for developing the Primal Health Design framework to help individuals reconnect with their biology and reverse the hidden effects of modern living. What We Discuss: (05:04) Seeing accelerated biological aging in brain and spine scans (06:02) Childhood exposure to primal tribes and longevity insights (10:19) Tech neck, posture, and modern spinal degeneration (12:09) Nerve compression, numbness, and daily symptoms (15:03) Primal posture and how alignment reduces aging (18:07) Strength training, hanging, and back development (21:17) Deep squat and reversing sedentary damage (24:14) Walking, movement, and daily activity patterns (25:01) Grounding, inflammation, and connection to earth (28:01) Morning sunlight and circadian rhythm optimization (31:27) Sleep, stress, and parasympathetic recovery (32:11) Nutrition, microbiome diversity, and prebiotics (36:44) Stillness, presence, and flow state (42:20) Tribe, relationships, and loneliness in modern life (48:44) Purpose, service, and greater cause (51:02) Finite life awareness and long-term decision making (56:07) AI, time leverage, and becoming more human (59:47) Morning and night routines as the foundation Thank You to Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Mistry: Website: kavinmistrymd.com Instagram: kavinmistry.md LinkedIn: Kavin Mistry MD YouTube: @kavinmistrym.d

High-performing individuals often appear successful on the outside while quietly experiencing a loss of joy, emotional numbness, and chronic internal stress. This disconnect, often overlooked in traditional diagnostics, may signal a form of depression that goes unrecognized for years. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Judith Joseph, psychiatrist, researcher, and author of High Functioning, to unpack the science of high-functioning depression and how anhedonia can manifest even in highly productive individuals. We break down why traditional mental health models often miss these patients, how pathological productivity masks deeper issues, and how the biopsychosocial model helps identify where joy is being lost across biological, psychological, and social domains. We also explore Dr. Judith Joseph's 5 Vs framework and how tools like validation, venting, values, vitals, and vision can help systematically restore daily points of joy and long-term emotional resilience. Dr. Judith Joseph is a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher, and media educator specializing in high-functioning depression and the science of happiness, known for translating complex psychiatric concepts into practical, evidence-based tools that help individuals reclaim joy and optimize mental well-being. What We Discuss: (06:03) High-functioning depression explained (08:50) Pathological productivity and busyness (10:07) Limits of traditional diagnosis (12:28) Anhedonia and loss of joy (14:00) Happiness vs joy (16:45) Biopsychosocial model (19:57) Biological drivers of mood (21:56) Metabolic health and inflammation (24:00) Social factors and relationships (26:09) Validation and venting (29:07) Values and meaning (31:39) Vitals and lifestyle factors (35:29) Technology and disconnection (37:18) Vision and planning joy (42:02) Psychoeducation and awareness Thank You to Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Judith Joseph: Website : Dr. Judith Instagram: drjudithjoseph LinkedIn: Dr. Judith Joseph MD MBA

Mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and trauma related disorders remain difficult to treat, especially when underlying cognitive and emotional patterns persist over time. Emerging research suggests psychedelic assisted therapies may work by temporarily changing how the brain processes information and the sense of self. In this episode of Extend, we continue our conversation with Dr. Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS, to explore the mechanisms behind psychedelic therapy. We break down how compounds like LSD may reduce activity in the default mode network, how this shift affects perception and emotional processing, and why integration is essential for translating short term insights into lasting change. We also explore how traditional practices like ayahuasca combine psychological and spiritual frameworks, and how these approaches are shaping new perspectives on trauma, behavior change, and mental health treatment. Dr. Rick Doblin is the founder and executive director of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), the organization leading global research into psychedelic assisted therapies and working to develop evidence-based treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions. What We Discuss: (1:01:22) LSD therapy for trauma and addiction (1:10:10) Psilocybin, creativity, and cognition (1:12:05) DMT, ego dissolution, and consciousness (1:18:21) Ayahuasca traditions and addiction recovery (1:26:39) MDMA therapy and intergenerational trauma (1:31:36) Ketamine clinics and treatment resistant depression Thank You to Our Sponsors: Timeline: Go to timeline.com/drshah to get 20% off your order. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Rick Doblin: Website: maps.org Instagram: rickdoblinphd X: @RickDoblin

Cholesterol remains one of the most debated biomarkers in cardiovascular medicine, yet many people still misunderstand what it actually tells us about metabolic health and disease risk. As research evolves, the conversation is shifting from simple cholesterol numbers toward deeper drivers of cardiometabolic dysfunction. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Nick Norwitz, metabolic health researcher and physician scientist, to unpack the science behind cholesterol, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk. We break down the difference between LDL and ApoB, why insulin resistance may be a stronger predictor of heart disease, how statins work beyond cholesterol lowering, and what emerging research reveals about metabolic health, biomarkers, and individualized risk. We also explore how curiosity driven experimentation, data tracking, and deeper metabolic literacy can help people move beyond simplistic cholesterol narratives and better understand their own cardiometabolic health. Nick Norwitz is a physician scientist and metabolic health researcher who graduated valedictorian from Dartmouth College before earning a PhD in Human Metabolism from the University of Oxford and an MD from Harvard Medical School. Following a personal battle with inflammatory bowel disease, he became a leading voice in metabolic health education and the author of the widely read newsletter StayCuriousMetabolism.com. What We Discuss: (02:14) The biggest misconception about cholesterol, LDL, and cardiovascular risk (06:03) How sleep, inflammation, and plaque formation connect to heart disease (08:18) Why insulin resistance may predict cardiovascular risk more strongly than LDL (10:40) The atorvastatin study that showed suppressed GLP-1 levels (16:54) Statins, pleiotropy, and why lowering LDL is only part of the story (22:16) Coronary calcium scans and how imaging can change treatment decisions (24:48) The Lancet statin meta-analysis and how headlines distorted the findings (33:20) CoQ10, TUDCA, and supportive strategies for people taking statins (35:15) Ezetimibe, how it works, and why it may have neuroprotective potential (46:09) Bempedoic acid and how it compares with statins (51:47) PCSK9 inhibitors, pros and cons, and who may benefit most (54:20) ApoB versus LDL and why particle count matters (56:15) The Oreo experiment, lean mass hyper-responders, and individualized cholesterol responses (59:19) What to do after a high LDL result instead of automatically defaulting to a statin (1:02:00) Berberine, nattokinase, and other non-prescription options for cardiovascular support (1:06:03) The challenge of communicating nuance in health content online (1:10:18) Why personalized experimentation matters more than one-size-fits-all medicine (1:12:36) Lp(a), waist-to-hip ratio, and why cardiometabolic context changes risk Thank You to Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website:drshah.com Clinic:next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Nick Norwitz: Newsletter: staycuriousmetabolism.com YouTube: nicknorwitzMDPhD Instagram: nicknorwitz Twitter: Nick Norwitz MD PhD

Chronic inflammation, environmental toxins, and metabolic dysfunction continue to accelerate aging and chronic disease across modern populations. Many of the biggest drivers of health decline remain invisible, quietly accumulating in the body for decades before symptoms appear. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Terry Grossman, physician, longevity expert, and co author of Transcend and Fantastic Voyage with futurist Ray Kurzweil, to unpack the science behind therapeutic plasma exchange and its emerging role in longevity medicine. We break down how environmental toxins, microplastics, heavy metals, and chronic inflammation influence aging biology, why traditional medical testing often misses these risks, and how therapies like plasma exchange may help remove harmful compounds while improving key biomarkers linked to healthspan. We also explore how advanced diagnostics, hormone optimization, peptide therapies, and targeted longevity protocols may help individuals move beyond disease management toward true biological optimization. Dr. Terry Grossman is a pioneer in anti aging and longevity medicine who operates longevity clinics in Colorado and co authored two best selling books with Ray Kurzweil. He is also the author of Plasma Reset, the first book focused on therapeutic plasma exchange as a strategy for detoxification, anti aging, and long term health optimization. What We Discuss: (01:54) How Dr. Terry Grossman entered longevity medicine (05:19) The shift from traditional care to prevention and wellness (12:45) The core pillars of longevity and health optimization (16:30) VO2 max, HRV, and modern longevity metrics (20:00) Genetic testing and personalized lifestyle strategies (22:40) Environmental toxins and the rise of microplastics (33:20) Simple detox strategies for daily life (37:55) What therapeutic plasma exchange actually does (46:55) Plasma exchange for toxins, autoimmunity, and long COVID (51:45) Senescent cells, inflammation, and biological aging (1:06:00) Hormone optimization and healthspan (1:14:20) Peptides and emerging longevity therapies (1:20:10) Rapamycin and metformin in longevity medicine (1:24:00) Foundational supplements for long term health (1:29:00) AI and the future of longevity medicine (1:34:30) Longevity escape velocity and the future of aging Thank You to Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/ Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Terry Grossman: website: grossmanwellness.com

Strength is the foundation of longevity. When muscle, cardiovascular fitness, mobility, balance, sleep, and nutrition align, performance improves, metabolism sharpens, and aging becomes something you influence rather than fear. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Fitz Koehler, founder of Fitzness.com, keynote speaker, race announcer, and five time author, to unpack her Four Pillars of Fitness and the exact formula for sustainable weight loss and long term vitality. We break down the difference between activity and deliberate exercise, why toning is a myth, how the grunt, huff, wince, and wobble signal true adaptation, and how a simple calorie budget paired with high quality nutrition preserves muscle while reducing fat. We also explore how discipline outperforms motivation, why sleep and strategic naps accelerate recovery, how strength training protects bone and balance during menopause and aging, and how tracking weight, reps, and daily habits creates measurable progress over time. Fitz Koehler is one of America's most electrifying keynote speakers, a premier race announcer, fitness innovator, host of The Fitzness Show podcast, and five time author whose latest book You Supercharged! The Exact Formula for Fitness, Weight Loss, and Longevity is helping people worldwide build strength, resilience, and lasting health. What We Discuss: (01:35) Fitz's Origin Story: From Teen Fitness Instructor to Industry Leader (03:42) Cancer Recovery and Rebuilding Strength After Treatment (09:20) Why Strength Training Is the Fountain of Youth (12:00) "Toning" vs Real Muscle Adaptation (13:42) The Four Pillars of Fitness: Strength, Cardio, Flexibility, Balance (17:15) Activity vs Deliberate Exercise (21:08) How to Start Again and Improve 1% Per Day (26:10) Discipline Over Motivation (29:02) You Supercharged and the Exact Formula for Weight Loss (32:28) The Calorie Budget Strategy Explained (40:09) Muscle Preservation, Protein, and GLP 1 Considerations (42:41) Sleep, Recovery, and the Power of Strategic Naps (48:00) Tracking Progress: Scale, Strength, Hydration (52:00) Menopause, Hormones, and Building Strength at Any Age Thank You to Our Sponsors: Function Health: Learn more and join using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/drshah and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram:darshanshahmd Learn more about Fitz Koehler: Website: https://www.fitzness.com Podcast: The Fitzness Show Instagram: fitzness Linkedin: Fitz Koehler Facebook: Fitzness You Tube: @fitzness Tik Tok: @fitzness13