Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

What if your eyesight is 20/20—but your vision still isn't working the way it should? Dr. Bryce Appelbaum specializes in functional vision and the connection between the eyes and the brain. In this conversation, he explains why seeing clearly is only one piece of vision—and how the brain's ability to process what we see can influence reading, focus, coordination, balance, motion sickness, athletic performance, and everyday life. We also explore what hours of daily screen time may be doing to our visual system. Our eyes and brains weren't designed to spend all day focused on a screen inches from our faces, and Dr. Appelbaum explains how sustained near work can contribute to eye strain, headaches, fatigue, and visual stress—especially in children. In this episode, you'll learn: • The difference between eyesight and vision—and why 20/20 vision doesn't tell the whole story • How screen time may be affecting the eye-brain connection in both children and adults • Why reading difficulties, poor focus, clumsiness, and motion sickness can sometimes have a visual component • The connection between functional vision problems and symptoms associated with ADHD and dyslexia • How concussions and traumatic brain injuries can disrupt visual function • Why vision, balance, spatial awareness, and healthy aging are closely connected • Three simple vision exercises Dr. Appelbaum recommends for training focus, peripheral awareness, and eye movement We also discuss the 20-20-20 rule, functional vision evaluations, vision therapy and training, reading glasses, neuroplasticity, and practical ways to give your eyes a break in an increasingly screen-dominated world. If you spend hours every day staring at a phone or computer—or have a child growing up surrounded by screens—this conversation may completely change the way you think about protecting and training your vision. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Bryce Appelbaum: Website: myvisionfirst.com Instagram: @drbryceappelbaum Thank you to our sponsors! Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to get tickets to our first ever Next Health Longevity Summit happening September 12th at the Conrad Hotel Nashville! Timeline: Timeline, powered by Mitopure, just dropped in price. Check it out using the link shop.timeline.com/DRDARSHANSHAH for up to 20% off when you subscribe! IM8: Try IM8 with 30-day moneyback guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at check out im8health.com/drshah

What if the fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, or unexplained symptoms you're experiencing aren't starting inside your body—but in the environment around you? Dr. Jill Carnahan knows this story from both sides of the exam room. At just 25, while still in medical school, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Months after aggressive chemotherapy, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Her search for answers ultimately transformed the way she practiced medicine and led her deep into the connections between gut health, environmental toxins, mold exposure, and chronic illness. In this conversation, we unpack the hidden environmental exposures that may be affecting your health and Dr. Carnahan's "toxic bucket" theory for understanding why the same exposure can affect two people very differently. We go deep on mold toxicity and mycotoxins: where mold can hide in your home, symptoms that may warrant a closer look, why a single mold test doesn't tell the whole story, and what a more comprehensive evaluation can involve. We also discuss why detoxification needs to be approached carefully—and why doing too much too quickly can sometimes make you feel worse. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Dr. Carnahan's breast cancer and Crohn's diagnoses changed her approach to medicine • The "toxic bucket" theory and why environmental exposures affect everyone differently • Hidden sources of toxins in your home and why indoor air quality matters • Signs of potential mold exposure and how mold can be evaluated • Why one person can become sick from mold while others in the same home feel fine • How reducing exposure and supporting the body's elimination pathways fit into mold recovery We also explore air filtration, water damage, mycotoxins, glutathione, binders, sauna, phosphatidylcholine, and advanced approaches being explored in functional medicine. If you've been dealing with unexplained symptoms—or wondering whether your environment could be playing a role—this episode will help you understand what to look for and where to start. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: www.drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Jill Carnahan: Website: jillcarnahan.com Youtube: youtube.com/c/jillcarnahanmd Instagram: @drjillcarnahan Thank You to Our Sponsors! Next Health Longevity Summit: Join us at Next Health Nashville Summit next-health.com/summit for a one day event of incredible speakers, activations and a wellness community like no other! Pendulum: You can go to pendulumlife.com and use my code EXTEND for 20% 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/DRSHAH

What if the reason you're still sick isn't because there's no answer—but because no one has looked deeply enough for the root cause? My guest, Dr. Mark Hyman, is one of the world's leading voices in functional medicine, a bestselling author, physician, and founder of The UltraWellness Center. After navigating serious health challenges himself, he built his career around a different approach to chronic illness: stop simply naming the disease and start asking why it happened in the first place. We break down what functional medicine actually is—and why people struggling with mold illness, Lyme disease, MCAS, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, brain fog, and unexplained inflammation can spend years moving from specialist to specialist without getting to the underlying problem. We also discuss the new partnership between The UltraWellness Center and Next Health. The UltraWellness Center specializes in deep functional-medicine evaluation for complex chronic conditions, while Next Health provides physician-led longevity care, advanced diagnostics and access to therapies that may be recommended as part of a personalized treatment plan. Together, we are joining forces with a goal to bridge the gap between identifying the root cause and accessing the therapies needed to address it. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why getting a diagnosis is often only the beginning of understanding chronic illness • How functional medicine searches for root causes instead of treating symptoms in isolation • What mold, Lyme disease, MCAS, toxins, gut dysfunction, and inflammation can have in common • How advanced testing can uncover toxins, infections, nutritional deficiencies, microbiome dysfunction, and other factors standard labs may miss • How therapies including hyperbaric oxygen, ozone, phosphatidylcholine protocols, IV therapies, and plasma exchange are being used in complex cases • Why understanding what's happening "under the hood" can help us take a more proactive approach to our health One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that a diagnosis shouldn't be the end of the investigation—it should be the beginning. The future of medicine isn't just about treating disease once it appears. It's about better diagnostics, deeper personalization, understanding the interconnected systems of the body, and giving people the tools to address dysfunction at its source. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @darshanshahmd and @extend_podcast Learn more about Dr. Mark Hyman: Website: drhyman.com Clinic: ultrawellnesscenter.com Instagram: @drmarkhyman and @ultrawellnesscenter Thank You to Our Sponsors: Function Health: Learn more and join at functionhealth.com/drshah! Use my code DRSHAH25 at checkout for $25 credit towards your membership!

What if your risk of Alzheimer's isn't predetermined by your genes—but influenced by the metabolic health of your brain? My guest, Dr. David Perlmutter, is a board-certified neurologist, six-time New York Times bestselling author, and one of the world's leading voices on brain health and neurodegenerative disease. His latest work reveals a fascinating shift in how we understand Alzheimer's and Parkinson's: the role of the brain's own immune cells. At the center of our conversation are microglia—specialized immune cells that can either protect your neurons or contribute to inflammation and neurodegeneration. Dr. Perlmutter explains why their function is closely connected to metabolic health, and how insulin resistance, obesity, poor sleep, gut dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and environmental toxins may influence the way your brain ages. We also challenge the idea that carrying APOE4 means Alzheimer's is inevitable and examine research showing how lifestyle interventions can influence cognitive function—even later in life. In this episode, you'll learn: • How microglia can shift from "brain defenders" to drivers of neuroinflammation • Why metabolic health and insulin resistance are connected to Alzheimer's risk • How the gut microbiome, leaky gut, antibiotics, and inflammation can affect the brain • What emerging research says about GLP-1 drugs for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's • Why current amyloid-targeting Alzheimer's drugs may not address the underlying problem • How sleep, exercise, nutrition, and environmental exposures can influence cognitive aging We also explore emerging approaches to brain health, including 40 Hz light and sound therapy, TREM2, mitochondrial health, and metabolic monitoring. The biggest takeaway for me is that protecting your brain starts long before memory loss appears. Your genetics matter—but so do your metabolism, sleep, exercise, environment, and the choices you make every day. You have more influence over how your brain ages than you may think. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. David Perlmutter: Website: drperlmutter.com Dr. Perlmutter's groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders, is now available. Discover how to protect your brain and future health - order today at braindefenders.com Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on September 12th! Timeline: Timeline powered by Mitopure just dropped the price. Check it out using link shop.timeline.com/DRDARSHANSHAH for up to 20% off when you subscribe and save. IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/drshah

What if one of the most important markers for your heart, brain, and longevity is something most people have never measured? AND roughly 90% of Americans aren't in the optimal range for? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. William Harris, one of the world's leading experts on Omega-3 fatty acids and the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index, a test he helped develop more than 20 years ago. Dr. Harris has spent decades researching how omega-3s influence cardiovascular health, inflammation, cognitive health, chronic disease, and longevity. And his message is surprisingly simple: you can't know whether you're getting enough omega-3 just by looking at your diet or supplement routine. You have to measure it. We break down what omega-3s actually do inside your cells, why Dr. Harris believes an Omega-3 Index of 8–12% is the target, and why measuring EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes gives you a more stable picture of your status than plasma testing. We also tackle some of the biggest controversies in nutrition today—including seed oils, omega-6s, saturated fat, LDL cholesterol, fish versus supplements, EPA versus DHA, and whether you really need to worry about the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Dr. Harris also explains why some of the conventional wisdom circulating online simply doesn't match what decades of research actually show. In this episode, you'll learn: Why roughly 90% of Americans may be below the optimal Omega-3 Index What the Omega-3 Index measures and why the target range is 8–12% Why red blood cell testing can provide a better picture of omega-3 status than plasma testing How omega-3s help maintain healthy, flexible cell membranes What EPA and DHA actually do—and why you need both What the research really says about omega-6s and the seed oil controversy Why Dr. Harris doesn't recommend focusing on the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio How chronically elevated LDL contributes to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease Why low omega-3 levels have been associated with earlier mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and other chronic diseases Why eating "fish" doesn't necessarily mean you're getting enough omega-3 The best food sources of EPA and DHA, including salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, and albacore tuna What to look for when choosing an omega-3 supplement Why vegans can still get EPA and DHA through algae-based omega-3s How often Dr. Harris recommends retesting once you're optimizing your Omega-3 Index Listen to this episode if you take omega-3s, eat fish, care about your heart and brain health—or simply want to know whether you're actually getting enough of one of the most important nutrients for healthy aging. Because when it comes to omega-3s, taking a supplement isn't the goal. Getting your biology into the optimal range is. Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: www.drshah.com Clinic: https://www.next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. William Harris: Website: www.faresinst.org Omega-3 At Home Test Kit: https://omegaquant.com/ Thank You To Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Our speakers include Dr. Shah, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Louisa Nicola, Dr. Vonda Wright and many more! This will be one day packed with activities like blood tests, recovery modalities, IV's and brands we love that will completely change the way you think about health. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order! IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/drshah

We're living in a culture that celebrates being busy. More coffee. More hours. More hustle. But what if those things are actually making you less productive? The truth is, many high performers are stuck in a cycle of chasing energy instead of creating it. We rely on caffeine to wake up, push through stress, and squeeze more into each day - only to end up burned out, distracted, and wondering why success still feels exhausting. My guest James Beshara, is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder of multiple Magic Mind, one of the fastest-growing mental performance brands. After experiencing burnout firsthand, he set out to rething what sustainable productivity really looks like. Together, we explore why optimizing your energy matters more than optimizing your schedule, the hidden costs of caffeine and stimulant dependence, and how adaptogens, functional mushrooms, intentional routines, and timeless philosophy can help you perform at your highest level - without sacrficing your health. In this episode, we discuss: Why sustainable productivity beats hustle every time The "Pin Action" framework for creating outsized results with one simple habit How a consistent morning routine can transform your energy and focus Why process-not goals- is the real key to long - term fulfillment The surprising downsides of caffeine and other stimulants How adaptogens and functional mushrooms can support cognitio, stress resilience, and performance Practical strategies to overcome procrastination and reduce chronic stress Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply trying to feel your best every day, this conversation will change the way you think about productivity - and what it actually takes to perform at your highest level. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about James Beshara Website: jjbeshara.com Instagram: @jamesjbeshara Try Magic Mind for 50% off new subscriptions to enhance your mental performance with clincally backed multivitamins for your mind at www.magicmind.com ! Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit, featuring keynotes by Dr. Shah, Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Jeremy London and Dr. Louisa Nicola! September 12th in Nashville, see you there! Function Health: Learn more and join using my link - www.functionhealth.com/drshah using gift code DRSHAH25 for $25 credit towards your membership.

A leader's unresolved pain rarely stays contained within that leader. It can show up as control, aggression, emotional distance, relentless pressure, or a workplace where people are treated as resources rather than human beings. The organization may still perform, but the cost is often carried by employees, families, customers, and the leader's own health. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Raj Sisodia to examine the relationship between personal healing and conscious leadership. We discuss why a company's culture often reflects the inner state of the people guiding it, how purpose changes the way work affects people, and why leadership built around fear, ego, or extraction eventually creates suffering. Raj Sisodia is a co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism movement, a business professor, speaker, and author of numerous books on purpose-driven organizations and leadership. His work has challenged the idea that companies must choose between financial performance and human well-being, while his personal healing journey has led him to explore what leaders must address within themselves before they can create healthier systems around them. What's Discussed: (2:57) Why self-interest and greed are not the same, and what happens when a business is built around extraction. (7:18) The four principles behind companies that create value without treating people as costs to minimize. (13:02) How healthcare loses its purpose when profit is placed above patients and practitioners. (20:18) The first question every leader should ask before trying to change company culture. (35:26) Why leaders cannot create healthy organizations without examining their own unresolved pain. (43:07) How qualities you learned to see as weaknesses may be the strengths you are meant to contribute. (51:06) Why unhealed trauma can keep driving your reactions, relationships, and leadership without your awareness. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand why leadership is not only about what you build, but also about what you bring into the room while building it. Thank You to Our Sponsors Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Pendulum: You can go to pendulumlife.com and use my code EXTEND for 20% off your first membership order. Learn More About Dr. Darshan Shah Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn More About Raj Sisodia Website: rajsisodia.com/ Facebook: rsisodia Podcast: theconsciouscapitalists.com/podcast Instagram: @rajsisodiacc

Millions of people wear a CPAP machine every night, the standard breathing device prescribed for sleep apnea. They trust the number on the screen to tell them their sleep apnea is under control. I've had patients tell me they stopped using theirs because it felt pointless, and it turns out that feeling was often correct. We dive deeper into this in this episode of Extend with Dr. Sahil Chopra and Sagar Chopra, co-founders of Empower Sleep. We also chat about why palate shape and mouth breathing are driving more sleep apnea in kids, how GLP-1 medications are changing the CPAP conversation, and the truth about lip taping. Dr. Sahil Chopra is a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine physician trained at UCLA and Loma Linda, with fellowship training in sleep medicine at Harvard. He is co-founder of Empower Sleep, a longitudinal home sleep testing platform used by physicians and patients nationwide. Sagar Chopra holds an MBA from the Wharton School, previously worked on product growth at Uber, and co-founded Empower Sleep alongside his brother, Dr. Sahil Chopra. What We Discuss: (8:04) The Landmark Study: 25,000 Nights of Data and the CPAP Discordance Problem (13:43) Inside the Empower Sleep Device and How It Differs From Wearables (25:27) Palate Shape, Mouth Breathing, and the Rise of Pediatric Sleep Apnea (30:31) Menopause, Andropause, and Why Sleep Apnea Shows Up Later in Life (41:53) Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulators and Central Sleep Apnea (47:27) How GLP-1 Medications Are Changing Sleep Apnea Treatment (51:13) The Truth About Lip Taping and Nasal Breathing Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. 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. Sahil Chopra and Sagar Chopra: Empower Sleep: empowersleep.com/ Sagar Chopra on LinkedIn: choprasagar/ Sagar Chopra on X: schopsss More Resources: Quality sleep is the most underestimated longevity accelerator. Download this sleep optimization workbook to transform sleep into a powerful longevity practice: drshah.com/sleep

A lot of people do not need to be convinced that the stairs are better than the escalator, walking is better than sitting all day, and reaching for the phone every quiet second is probably not helping their focus. The harder question is why the easier option still wins so often, even when someone cares about their health. This episode starts there, with the strange gap between what we know is good for us and what modern life quietly trains us to choose. In this episode of Extend, I sat down with Michael Easter to look at the hidden cost of a life designed around ease. The conversation asks what happens when discomfort, movement, boredom, load, scarcity, and friction are removed from daily life, and why putting some of those inputs back may change the way we think about resilience, behavior, and long-term health. Michael Easter is the author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain, and the creator of the Two Percent newsletter and podcast. His work sits at the intersection of science, human behavior, fitness, and real-world experience, making him the right person to explain why the modern world can pull us away from the very things that help the body and brain stay adaptable. What's Discussed: (8:12) The striking gap between how much humans move today versus how much we evolved to move and what that gap is quietly doing to our health. (9:42) The one statistic that explains why most people consistently choose the thing they know is worse for them even when the better option is right in front of them. (11:41) The exercise that humans are uniquely built to do, that has almost completely disappeared from modern life and why bringing it back changes everything. (21:52) The specific treadmill protocol Michael uses that builds endurance and strength simultaneously without the injury risk most people associate with cardio. (32:11) Why solitude and loneliness are not the same thing and what the research actually shows about what happens when you learn to be alone with yourself. (38:14) The three-part psychological loop behind slot machines that was deliberately engineered into the technology most people use every single day. (50:46) What a study on one of the most unlikely populations in America revealed about why movement and community can offset almost everything else we get wrong about health. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand why the healthier choice is not always a knowledge problem, why comfort can quietly shape behavior, and how the right kind of friction may help your body and mind become more resilient over time. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. Next Health Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Learn More About Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn More About Michael Easter: Website: TWOPCT.com Substack: Two Percent with Michael Easter Book: The Comfort Crisis Book: Scarcity Brain

When labs look normal, it is easy to assume the body is fine or that the biggest risks have been ruled out. Dr. John Kim's story challenges that belief. At 33, after a normal lipid panel and without the classic heart attack picture, he ended up with an 85% blockage in his LAD. That experience forced him to ask what standard markers were missing. The answer led him into the deeper cellular stressors that can keep the body in defense mode: mold, mycotoxins, chronic infections, biofilms, heavy metals, emotional trauma, gut dysfunction, damaged cell membranes, and mitochondrial stress. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Kim to talk about how these stressors can push the mitochondria away from energy production and into the cell danger response, where the body is still trying to protect itself but starts paying the price through brain fog, fatigue, inflammation, hormone disruption, gut issues, and hypersensitivity. Dr. John Kim is a functional pharmacist whose work focuses on mold toxicity, mitochondrial health, lipid membrane medicine, chronic infections, gut health, and structured detox support. This episode gives listeners a new framework for symptoms that do not make sense on standard labs, from brain fog and fatigue to chronic inflammation, hormone disruption, gut issues, and hypersensitivity, while showing why recovery has to happen in the right sequence before the body can fully rebuild. What's Discussed: (03:39) The heart attack at 33 that doctors almost missed. (05:01) Why a normal lipid panel did not explain what was happening underneath. (09:52) Why heart disease goes beyond cholesterol. (12:26) How biofilms can hide chronic infections from the immune system. (17:43) What the cell danger response does to mitochondria and energy production. (23:41) Why mold and mycotoxins can affect the brain, gut, immune system, and hormones. (42:01) How the ENCORE method helps sequence recovery from mold and cellular stress. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand why "normal" does not always mean resolved, how hidden stressors can keep your cells on defense, and why recovery may need to start with the environment, nervous system, gut, detox pathways, and cell membrane before deeper healing can happen. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Logevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. 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. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. Learn More About Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn More About Dr. John Kim, Pharm.D. Website: drjohnkim.com/ Instagram: @john.pharmd

If you care about longevity, you have probably seen the same pattern over and over again. A new peptide, supplement, biological age test, off-label drug, or protocol starts gaining attention, and suddenly it sounds like the missing piece everyone should be using. The hard part is not wanting to be proactive. The hard part is knowing which claims have real evidence behind them, which ones are still early signals, and which ones may carry risks no one is measuring carefully enough. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Matt Kaeberlein to talk about how to think about longevity when the answer is rarely a simple yes or no. This conversation helps separate excitement from certainty, and shows why the real question is not only whether something might work, but whether the evidence, safety data, product quality, and risk-reward equation are strong enough to act on. Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is a scientist in the biology of aging and one of the most respected voices bringing scientific discipline to the longevity conversation. He has been involved with the Interventions Testing Program, which rigorously tests aging interventions in mice, and is one of the leaders behind the Dog Aging Project, a large-scale study looking at aging, health, and longevity in companion dogs. His work sits at the intersection of curiosity and caution, which makes him the right person to talk about what is promising, what is overhyped, and what still needs better evidence. What's Discussed: (03:24) Why longevity marketing can move faster than the science. (06:31) The risk-reward question most people skip before trying a new therapy. (09:39) Why years of peptide use does not automatically mean safety is proven. (20:00) The "research use only" peptide problem and why product quality matters. (34:51) How the Interventions Testing Program separates stronger longevity signals from noise. (38:39) Why rapamycin changed the field, and why some popular interventions failed to replicate. (58:43) What the Dog Aging Project may teach us about rapamycin, healthspan, and human aging. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand how to evaluate longevity claims with more clarity. You will hear what deserves excitement, what deserves caution, and what to ask before turning the next promising intervention into your personal health protocol. 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 Dr. Matt Kaeberlein & the Dog Aging Project: Website: dogagingproject.org/ Instagram: @mkaeberlein

When a couple is trying to get pregnant and it is not happening, the conversation can become very intense very quickly. Suddenly, you are hearing about IVF, egg freezing, AMH, sperm count, hormones, age, cost, and timing. But before the conversation jumps straight to the next procedure or the next number to panic over, there may be a deeper question worth asking: What is fertility trying to tell us about the health of the mother, the father, and the future child? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Labib Ghulmiyyah to talk about fertility and pregnancy through a much bigger lens. This conversation looks at infertility not as a failure, but as information. It helps explain why fertility struggles, sperm health, ovarian reserve, placental function, and pregnancy complications can all give clues about metabolic health, inflammation, cardiovascular health, hormones, sleep, stress, toxins, and long-term risk. Dr. Labib Ghulmiyyah is an OB-GYN and residency director at Broward Health who brings together reproductive medicine, pregnancy care, longevity, and functional health. That combination matters because fertility is often treated like a separate category, when in reality, it is connected to the whole body. His approach helps couples think beyond "How do we get pregnant?" and start asking what their reproductive health may be revealing before, during, and after pregnancy. What's Discussed: (02:30) Why health optimization should happen before or alongside IVF. (04:55) How long couples may need to optimize health before fertility treatment. (07:17) Why the placenta may be one of the most overlooked biomarkers in pregnancy. (10:40) Why pregnancy complications should be debriefed after delivery. (18:40) Why the father's health matters far more than sperm count. (26:15) How testosterone therapy can affect sperm production. (41:29) Why low AMH does not automatically mean you cannot get pregnant. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand why fertility is not only about having a baby. It may be one of the earliest windows into your health, your partner's health, and the health of the next generation. Thank You to Our Sponsor: FunctionHealth: 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. Labib Ghulmiyyah: Website: drlabib.com Instagram: drlabibghulmiyyah

A lot of people are trying to do the right things. They are learning more, tracking their health, working on their stress, trying to be more present, and using the tools they have been told should help. But if the advice is available, the science is clearer than ever, and the tools are right in front of us, why do so many people still feel overwhelmed, burned out, disconnected, or unable to make those changes stick? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Dave Rabin to talk about one of the biggest missing pieces in how we understand stress, healing, and what it actually takes to feel better in the modern world. We get into the questions so many people are quietly carrying: why being human feels harder than it should, why knowing what to do does not always mean your body can follow through, and what it may take to finally turn information into something your body can actually use. What's Discussed: (04:28) What Dr. Rabin realized Western medicine left out of his training. (07:01) Why trauma may be understood differently when viewed through the lens of learning. (13:42) What parents need to know about screens, discomfort, and regulation. (21:54) Why stillness is so difficult for many people today. (27:44) How productivity became tied to worth, and what the body loses when recovery is ignored. (33:25) Why emotional wounds can be harder to address when they are invisible. (45:47) Why connection and community may matter more to longevity than many people realize. Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Logevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. 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 Dr. Dave Rabin: Website: drdave.io Instagram: @drdavidrabin The Board of Medicine: boardofmedicine.org The Psychedelic Report podcast: podcast/the-psychedelic-report/ Dr. Rabin's new book: ASimpleGuideToBeingAlive.com