We're not getting any younger... yet.

What if removing and replacing part of your blood could turn back some of the measurable signs of aging? Brianna Stubbs talks with Dr. Brad Younggren — emergency physician, former Army doctor, and CEO of Circulate Health — about therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). They cover how the procedure works, what the blinded Circulate trial found (including an average 2.6-year reduction in biological age over three months), TPE's unique potential to clear microplastics from the bloodstream, and the bro...

Eric Verdin sits down with Dr. Cynthia Kenyon, a true pioneer in the field of geroscience and the Vice President of Aging Research at Calico. Dr. Kenyon recounts the revolutionary discovery that aging is not merely a process of "wearing out," but is a genetically regulated biological program. In 1993, Cynthia’s pioneering discovery that a single-gene mutation could double the lifespan of C. elegans roundworms while preserving function sparked an intensive study of the molecular biology of agi...

XPRIZE Healthspan Executive Director Jamie Justice joins Brianna Stubbs to discuss the $101 million race to restore 10 years of muscle, cognitive, and immune function within a single year. Moving past binary "alive or dead" metrics—famously called the "toes test" in animal research—the conversation focuses on reclaiming functional independence through clinical trial innovation. Together they explore the potential of accessible markers like RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width), the risks of overl...

What if aging is less a fate and more an engineering challenge? We sit down with George Church to unpack a future where gene therapy, cellular reprogramming, and AI-driven delivery systems converge to extend healthspan—and possibly lifespan—without sacrificing identity or safety. From bowhead whales and cancer risk to ethics, trial rigor, and how to deliver rejuvenation to the brain, this is a deep dive into what’s coming next and what it will take to get there. George Church is Professor of ...

What do we really want from our healthcare system, and how can AI help us get it sooner? In our final episode of season two, Gordon talks with visionary systems biology expert Nathan Price about the emergence of scientific wellness, what we can learn from our digital twins, and how using AI to predict health outcomes can help us transform our understanding of aging and disease—potentially adding years of healthy life. Dr. Nathan Price is a distinguished scientist and leader in the field of h...

The movement to integrate longevity treatments into clinical care is making strides. How can we ensure they are evidence-based, accessible, and personalized? World-renowned geroscientist Andrea Maier has been leading the way with innovative clinical trials and cutting edge research. In this episode, she talks with Gordon about the current state of the field, why we need a variety of clocks and interventions, what we can all do now to age better, and what the future of clinical practice looks ...

Of all the biochemical changes that occur with aging, what really matters? How can we use the incredible amount of health data available today to discover the best targets for interventions? In this episode, Kristen Fortney of BioAge talks with Gordon about the latest research in proteomics and metabolomics, the importance of muscle loss, and the challenge of measuring the right endpoints for effective treatment and regulatory approval. Kristen Fortney is the co-founder and CEO of BioAge, a ...

Our modern world is full of potential disruptions to sleep. But as we learn more about circadian rhythm, we find that it influences everything from metabolism to mental health in different ways as we age. In this episode, Satchin Panda of the Salk Institute guides Gordon through the many interactions between sleep behavior and biology. Together they explore how new insights can help us improve our sleep health, and how researchers might target circadian rhythm to modulate the effects of aging...

We're back! In season one, we investigated the biology of aging in many different organisms to learn why and how we age. This season we'll take a close look at potential interventions that modify mechanisms of aging biology and may dramatically change the way we age in our lifetimes. Get ready for season two of the Buck's podcast We're not getting any younger... yet. with scientist Gordon Lithgow. Subscribe today! Support the show

What role does the immune system play in aging? How do senescent cells evade it and promote inflammation? And what does it reveal about developing effective interventions? Immunologist Arne Akbar joins Gordon to break down the array of actors and pathways involved, including sestrins, immune memory, the gut microbiome, and more. Along the way, Arne highlights the need to connect across research areas, and shares why courage is the most important quality for a scientist to cultivate. Support t...

How do different cells in our bodies age differently? What exactly happens when a neuron takes out its trash? In this episode, neuroscientist Monica Driscoll takes Gordon on a tour through her serendipitous career. Topics include sloppy developmental biology, enigmatic exophers, worms in space, and the importance of studying things no one else is thinking about. Support the show

Is aging truly inevitable? Can we study the genetics of long-lived people to learn how to delay or reverse aging? In this episode, Gordon talks with Dr. Nir Barzilai about his research on centenarians, insulin signaling pathways, and moving aging interventions out of the lab and into the clinic. Support the show