The Aging Project

Today you'll meet Dr Carli Axford, founder of the Spinal Flow Technique, about a new way of looking at back pain, spinal tension, stress, and the nervous system. We know around 4 million Australians live with back problems, and as we age, back pain can affect far more than movement. It can impact sleep, mood, confidence, independence, and overall quality of life. Dr Carli explains what Spinal Flow is, how it differs from traditional chiropractic or physiotherapy, and why more women in midlife are exploring nervous-system-based approaches to pain, tension, and healing. In this episode, we cover: What Spinal Flow is, in simple terms How the spine and nervous system are connected Why stress can show up physically in the body What “blockages” mean in The 7 gateways of the spine What actually happens during a Spinal Flow session Why some people experience emotional release or spontaneous movement The links between chronic stress, menopause, pain, sleep, inflammation, digestion, pelvic floor symptoms, headaches, jaw tension, and nervous system overload Whether Spinal Flow may be suitable for women with osteoporosis, post-surgical spines, or menopause-related symptoms What skeptics should know When back pain needs medical investigation Practical ways to support spinal health through posture, breath, stress reduction, and nervous-system care This conversation is a reminder that the body is deeply connected — and that pain is not always just about tissue damage. Sometimes, the body isn’t broken. It’s overloaded. Please share this episode with those who need to hear it. If we want to live 120 healthy years we must make better choices for our spine.  Join The Aging Project  👉 Get started with our FREE Scorecard or Join The 120 Club at https://theagingproject.com/  👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplement at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com  👉 Shop The Aging Project Starter Kit  at https://youmusttryit.com/collections/the-aging-project-method-products  Want to connect with Carli and learn more about Spinal Flow? Spinal Flow Website: spinalflowtechnique.com  Spinal Flow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spinalflow.technique/  Dr Carli Axford on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.carli.axford/

This episode is such an important listen. We’re joined by Professor Katherine Samaras — an Australian endocrinologist, medical researcher, and one of the country’s leading experts in metabolic health, obesity, diabetes, ageing, and body fat distribution. She’s spent years helping people understand that the waistline is not just about appearance — it can be one of the clearest early signs of what’s happening with our long-term health. In this episode, Katherine explains: why waist circumference can be a more useful vital sign than weight alone what visceral fat is and why it matters so much for women in peri and menopause how insulin resistance, hormones, stress, sleep, and muscle loss all connect what women should start measuring and asking for before disease quietly progresses where GLP-1 medications fit, without hype or fear If you’ve ever felt like your body changed and no one properly explained why, this episode will help connect the dots. It’s honest, eye-opening, and full of the kind of information every woman deserves to know. And most of all, it reminds us that ageing well won’t happen by accident. It will happen when we start paying attention, asking better questions, and doing it together. Join The Aging Project  👉 Get started with The Scorecard or Join The 120 Club at https://theagingproject.com/  👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplement at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com  👉 Shop The Aging Project Starter Kit  at https://youmusttryit.com/collections/the-aging-project-method-products 

Today’s episode is about something powerful — and often misunderstood. Your genetics. Not as a prediction of your future… But as the playing field you’re working in. Because the truth is this: Many of us spend years guessing when it comes to our health.  Trying different diets. Different supplements. Different routines. Hoping something works. Something helps.  But what if you could understand how your body is wired from the start? Today we’re joined by Dr Sam Shay — a functional medicine expert, speaker, and self-described “friendly lab nerd.” His work is deeply personal. After struggling for years with chronic fatigue, insomnia, digestive issues, sugar addiction and anxiety that began in childhood, Sam turned his own healing journey into a lifelong mission. Today, with more than 25 years of experience in nutrition science, mind-body medicine and genetic analysis, he helps people build health strategies based on something far more powerful than guesswork: their unique biology. Dr Sam is also the lead trainer for Fitgenes based the United States, helping practitioners around the world understand how to translate DNA insights into real-life health strategies. For many Australians genetics is still a new idea. But as you’ll hear today, understanding your DNA doesn’t limit you. It does something much more useful. It helps you understand: • your genetic boundaries • your genetic strengths • and the playing field your body is working within So you can stop chasing every new health trend… …and start focusing on the things that actually matter for you. And your body.  This conversation will help you see genetics differently. Not as destiny. But as information you can use to make better choices for your body, your energy, and your future health. Let’s dive in. 👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  or Join The Program here: https://theagingproject.com/offer/ 👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplement at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com 

We all want to age well. To live strong into our 80s, 90s — maybe even 120. But there’s one thing that can quietly steal the joy from those years: pain. Back pain. Hip pain.  Glute pain. Nerve pain that makes you stiff, cautious, and afraid to move. In Australia alone, millions are living with back problems — and for many women in peri and menopause, pain seems to arrive just as they’re trying to prioritise their health again. And here’s what makes it more frustrating: “My scans are clear… but I still hurt.” So what’s really going on? In this episode we sit down with Jim Bostock, founder of Nerve Locks to unpack: Why pain can exist even when imaging shows “nothing wrong” What “nerve locks” are (and why your body might be protecting you) Why hips, glutes and lower backs flare in midlife Why pushing harder at the gym can actually make things worse How to rebuild trust in your body — safely This conversation will change the way you think about pain. Because pain isn’t always damage. And your body isn’t broken. It may be protecting you. If you’ve ever felt stiff, inflamed, locked up, or scared to move — this episode will give you clarity, reassurance, and a practical starting point. 🎧 Listen now and unlock what your pain is really trying to tell you. 👉 Discover Jim Bostock here: https://www.instagram.com/jim_bostock/ and https://www.nervelocks.com/  👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  or Join The Program here: https://theagingproject.com/offer/ 👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplement at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com  👉 Follow The Aging Project on instagram and You Tube   

Today we’re joined by Nicola Laye — Australia’s leading breathwork teacher for women. This isn’t a long episode. It’s an invitation. Take five minutes with us… and just breathe. Breathwork is something our clinical nutritionist prescribes to every client — not as a “nice extra,” but because it matters. Your breathing patterns influence your nervous system, your stress response, and even markers like blood pressure. In a world where we live constantly switched on, overstimulated and cortisol-driven, learning to breathe well becomes a daily health habit — not a luxury. If you’d like to go deeper, join The 120 Club and you’ll receive free access to this Sunday’s 75-minute Introduction to Breathwork session with Nicola. As Nicola often says: “How you breathe is how you live.” Links to join are below. https://theagingproject.com/the120club/       

So much of what changes after 40 can’t be felt — it’s invisible says todays guest Dr Vonda Wright. Bones quietly thin. The heart and blood vessels shift. Blood glucose and insulin creep up. And before we know it, we can drift toward osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes without realising… unless we track what matters. In this episode, Dr Vonda Wright  breaks down the key “dashboard numbers” for us, including VO₂ max and the frailty line, resting heart rate the sit-to-rise test for strength and balance, and why DEXA scans matter for muscle and bone. Today's episode is practical, empowering, and designed to help you catch the drift early — and steer back on track. 👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  or Join The Program here: https://theagingproject.com/offer/ 👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplement at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com  👉 Follow The Aging Project on instagram and You Tube   

“The Vagus Nerve Whisperer” joins The Aging Project Podcast.  In this episode we go goes deep into one of the most important — and most overlooked — pillars of women’s health: nervous system care. Shelley welcomes Tracy Whitton, a practitioner with 22 years’ experience and a unique gift: the ability to feel, sense, and intuit what a woman’s body is holding. Her clients call her “the vagus nerve whisperer” because of her work helping women calm, repair, and restore their nervous system. Tracy has seen the same pattern in thousands of women: We’re living in constant overdrive — juggling kids, ageing parents, careers, rising stress, and the hormonal shifts of peri and menopause. Add past trauma or unresolved emotional load, and most women are living in fight-or-flight or shut-down mode without realising it. And here’s the truth she shares: 👉 Calm is not a luxury — it’s the foundation of aging well. What You’ll Learn in This Episode 1. What the nervous system actually is — and why women need to understand it Tracy explains the sympathetic (stress), parasympathetic (calm), and dorsal (shutdown) states in simple language. She introduces the vagus nerve — the body’s main communication superhighway — and why it’s the key to regulating stress, digestion, mood, energy, inflammation, and hormone balance. 2. Why peri & menopause amplify nervous system issues Estrogen changes make women more reactive to stress, less resilient, and more likely to experience anxiety, overwhelm, thyroid issues, sleep disruption and gut symptoms. 3. How dysregulation shows up in daily life Tracy shares the subtle signs women ignore, like: Constant rushing or urgency Feeling “tired but wired” Emotional numbing Bloating, constipation, or gut slowing Anxiety spikes, irritability, sleep issues Forgetting to breathe Feeling disconnected from joy She explains why so many women say “I’m fine, just busy” even when their body is begging for calm. 4. What happens when you ignore your nervous system Tracy breaks down how chronic stress leads to: burnout thyroid problems gut issues autoimmune flare-ups chronic fatigue emotional overwhelm Yes — a “nervous breakdown” is a real physiological collapse. The hopeful news? It’s reversible when women begin nervous system care. 5. Tracy’s unique method: Her work blends: clinical knowledge intuitive clairvoyance somatic wisdom deep vagus nerve activation 6. Simple rituals any woman can start today Tracy offers practical tools for women who feel overwhelmed or disconnected from calm: breathwork gentle movement warmth, quiet and stillness building pauses into the day creating safety in the body reconnecting with self-compassion She explains the qualities of repair — dark, quiet, warm, slow, soft, and still — and how to weave these into daily life. 7. The book: 365 Days of Nervous System Care Eight years in the making, this book is a daily companion filled with rituals, practices, and insights designed to help women shift from stress to safety. Tracy also shares her new Facilitator Training, helping more practitioners learn how to guide women through nervous system repair. 8. Tracy joins The 120 Club This month, Tracy leads an exclusive 2-hour Calm Body Workshop for members — live and with replay included. 9. One message for every woman 40–60 Tracy’s closing wisdom is simple and profound — a reminder that calm isn’t a luxury, it’s your birthright. Links Mentioned 🔗 Buy Tracy’s Book https://www.amazon.com.au/365-Days-Nervous-System-Care/dp/1764254619 🔗 Connect with Tracy https://www.stmt.com.au https://www.instagram.com/stillness_through_movement/ 🔗 Join The 120 Club and attend The Calm Workshop with Tracy. on Sunday 7th December, 4.00-6.00 AEDT You'll attend free as a member. Unlimited replay access as a member.  🔗 Join The Calm Workshop with Tracy only (Non members price) . 20 days replay access.  Register Here

The Aging Project (TAP) Mini Meditations are designed to feed the mind and calm the nervous system. Most of our guests have spoken about taking moments to stop and pause in the day. It's our hope you'll take 5 minutes to stop and breathe upon waking, and throughout the day, using our mini meditations to support you relax, and clear the mind. Please write a review, comment or email us at hello@theagingproject.com.au if you'd like to see more (or less) of these in the future.  👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  or Join The Fitgenes Program here: https://theagingproject.com/offer/ 👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplements at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com 

Caring for someone you love is one of the hardest — and most profoundly human — experiences we will ever face. And yet, most of us arrive at that moment unprepared, overwhelmed, and often deeply alone. In this episode we sit down with journalist, author, and health communicator Casey Beros, whose book Next of Kin shines a light on what it really means to step into the role of carer. Drawing from her own experience caring for her dad, Casey shares the raw truths of navigating a complex health system, surviving the emotional rollercoaster of care, and finding love and meaning in the midst of loss. We explore: ✨ Why caring, grieving, and loving are some of the hardest — and most important — human acts ✨ The hidden weight carers carry, from burnout to the “love drug” that keeps them going ✨ Practical ways families can navigate medical, legal, and financial challenges ✨ How grief can transform into meaning — and why conversations about death can be some of the most life-affirming we’ll ever have. This conversation is for anyone who has cared, is caring, or one day will care for someone they love. It’s a powerful reminder that while none of us can avoid loss, we can choose how we meet it — with courage, compassion, and connection. Tune in and let Casey’s story remind you: you are not alone. 💜 👉 Grab Next of Kin: Buy the Book https://www.amazon.com.au/Next-Kin-Expect-Expecting-Someone/dp/1394337973  👉 Connect with Casey https://www.caseyberos.com/  https://www.instagram.com/caseyberos/  👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  or Join The Program here: https://theagingproject.com/offer/ 👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplement at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com 

At 54, exhausted and running on empty, Monique van Tulder did something radical — she walked away from the life that was draining her. What started as a small step — changing lightbulbs in another house — turned into five months of solitude, adventure, and self-discovery. She calls it A Grown Up’s Gap Year. In this conversation, Monique shares the truth so many women over 50 will recognise: years of putting everyone else first, of pushing through fatigue and health scares, of saying yes when they wanted to say no. Her story begins not with adventure, but with depletion — thyroid cancer, low iron, invisible burnout — and a quiet longing to feel like herself again. What followed was a journey that was both terrifying and exhilarating: arriving alone in a silent Austrian village, leaping off cliffs to prove she still had courage, and slowly rediscovering joy, creativity, and her own voice. She came home renewed, lighter, and ready to name herself Project Fabulous Woman — a reminder that her own health, joy, and worth matter too. This episode is not just about leaving home. It’s about permission. Monique reframes midlife and shows how any woman, anywhere, can create her own version of a gap year. Even fifteen minutes a day can be the spark of transformation. Whether you’re feeling burnt out, invisible, or simply craving something more, Monique’s story is a powerful reminder: midlife is not the end of the story. It’s the perfect season to begin again. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why women so often hit burnout in midlife — and how to recognise the signs. How Monique turned a small act of escape into a life-changing adventure. The role of fear, courage, and joy in rediscovering yourself. What it means to become your own “Project Fabulous Woman.” Simple tools like “Kind Starts” and mini gap years you can use right now. Links: https://www.moniquevantulder.com/ https://www.instagram.com/moniquevantulder/   

The Aging Project (TAP) Mini Meditations are designed to feed the mind and calm the nervous system. Most of our guests have spoken about taking moments to stop and pause in the day. Its our hope you'll take 5 minutes to stop and breathe upon waking, and throughout the day, using our mini meditations to support you relax, and clear the mind. Please write a review, comment or email us at hello@theagingproject.com.au if you'd like to see more (or less) of these in the future.  👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery. https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  or Join The Fitgenes Program here: https://theagingproject.com/offer/ 👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplements at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com 

What if the stories you tell yourself… aren't even yours? In this powerful conversation, mindset coach and  A Life of Greatness host Sarah Grynberg joins us to unpack the hidden beliefs shaping our lives—often without us realising it. From the childhood messages we carry to the silent “I can’t” and “I’m not enough” that hold us back, Sarah shows us how to identify and rewrite the stories that no longer serve us. ✨ In this episode: Where your beliefs really come from—and how they shape your reality.  The most common limiting beliefs holding women back Real-life stories of transformation through mindset shifts Practical tools to rewrite your beliefs and create a life of joy and purpose If you’ve ever felt stuck in your story, this episode is your invitation to break free and start again—on your terms. 🔗 Learn more about Sarah: Website: sarahgrynberg.com Instagram: @sarahgrynberg  Podcast: A Life of Greatness Got a story of inspiration to share? We want to hear it! Head to www.theagingproject.com  and use our contact form to be part of the INSPIRE ME series. 👉 Join our FREE DNA webinar to learn more about The Fitgenes Program—register now to begin your DNA Discovery.  https://theagingproject.com/fitgenes-webinar/  👉 Shop our favourite skincare and supplements at our sister platform: www.youmusttryit.com  Podcast  Production https://www.cactusmarketing.com.au/