#363 ‒ A new frontier in neurosurgery: restoring brain function with brain-computer interfaces, advancing glioblastoma care, and new hope for devastating brain diseases | Edward Chang, M.D.
September 8, 2025
Modern neurosurgery has evolved dramatically from its historical roots, transitioning from open procedures to minimally invasive techniques and advanced technologies like brain-computer interfaces, significantly improving patient outcomes and recovery times.
Lower Back Pain Causes Treatment And Prevention Of Lower Back Injuries And Pain Stuart Mcgill Ph D 287 Rebroadcast
September 1, 2025
The spine's discs, acting as a biological fabric, provide evolutionary efficiency by allowing movement and flexibility, but their layered collagen structure makes them susceptible to damage from repeated stress-strain reversals.
#362 ‒ Understanding anxiety: defining, assessing, and treating health anxiety, OCD, and the spectrum of anxiety disorders | Josh Spitalnick, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.
August 25, 2025
Avoidance is the unifying symptom across all anxiety disorders, signifying the transition from everyday worry to a clinical condition.
361 Ama 74 Sugar And Sugar Substitutes Weight Control Metabolic Effects And Health Trade Offs
August 18, 2025
The podcast episode focuses on evaluating sugar and its substitutes in the context of health, addressing common questions and providing a framework for understanding their impact.
360 How To Change Your Habits Why They Form And How To Build Or Break Them Charles Duhigg M B A
August 11, 2025
Habits are fundamental to behavior change, with about 40-45% of daily actions being habitual, driven by a cue, routine, and reward loop.
359 How Metabolic And Immune System Dysfunction Drive The Aging Process The Role Of Nad Promising Interventions Aging Clocks And More Eric Verdin M D
August 4, 2025
The immune system and the central nervous system are considered rate-limiting organs in the aging process, influencing the well-being of all other organs.
358 Peter S Takeaways On Navigating Hrt Rejuvenating The Face Understanding The Biology Of Aging Optimizing Fertility And Learning To Live Well From The Dying Quarterly Podcast Summary 6
July 28, 2025
The podcast "The Drive" releases quarterly summary episodes to highlight key learnings from recent interviews and discuss any behavioral changes made by the host.
357 A New Era Of Longevity Science Models Of Aging Human Trials Of Rapamycin Biological Clocks Promising Compounds And Lifestyle Interventions Brian Kennedy Ph D
July 21, 2025
The field of aging research has seen significant growth and funding since around 2017-2018, attracting more interest from Silicon Valley and increased philanthropic investment.
356 Ama 73 Preserving Brain Health Optimizing Exercise Programming Improving Body Composition And More
July 14, 2025
Modifiable risk factors like obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia significantly increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Navigating Bone Health Early Life Influences And Advanced Strategies For Improvement And Injury Prevention 214 Rebroadcast
July 7, 2025
Bone health is crucial throughout life, with prevention strategies needing to start decades before potential issues arise.
355 Skincare Strategies The Science Of Facial Aging And Cosmetic Intervention Guidance Tanuj Nakra M D Suzan Obagi M D
June 30, 2025
Facial aging is a complex process involving bone structure, fat atrophy, skin changes, and gravitational effects, with hormonal changes significantly impacting women's facial bone structure and skin integrity.
354 What The Dying Can Teach Us About Living Well Lessons On Life And Reflections On Mortality Bj Miller M D And Bridget Sumser L C S W
June 23, 2025
Death is a natural part of life, and preparing for it involves integrating it into our living rather than avoiding it.
353 Ama 72 Fasting Benefits For Body Composition And Disease Prevention Potential Risks And Peter S Updated Practical Framework
June 16, 2025
Fasting is a complex topic with various definitions and protocols, including time-restricted eating (TRE), alternate-day fasting (ADF), and periodic fasting.
352 Female Fertility Optimizing Reproductive Health Diagnosing And Treating Infertility And Pcos And Understanding The Ivf Process Paula Amato M D
June 9, 2025
Female fertility is complex, with women born with a finite number of eggs that decrease over time, unlike sperm production in men.
351 Male Fertility Optimizing Reproductive Health Diagnosing And Treating Infertility And Navigating Testosterone Replacement Therapy Paul Turek M D
June 2, 2025
Sperm production is a complex, highly evolved process that faces numerous challenges from conception to fertilization.
350 Injury Prevention Recovery And Performance Optimization For Every Decade Kyler Brown D C
May 26, 2025
The podcast emphasizes a holistic approach to health and longevity, focusing on injury prevention, recovery, and performance optimization through personalized strategies.
349 Ama 71 Building Strength And Muscle Mass How To Optimize Training Nutrition And More For Longevity
May 19, 2025
Muscle mass and strength are crucial for both lifespan and healthspan, impacting longevity, metabolic health, and injury prevention.
348 Women S Sexual Health Menopause And Hormone Replacement Therapy Hrt Rachel Rubin M D
May 12, 2025
Sexual health and hormone therapy, particularly for women, are often neglected and misunderstood in mainstream medicine, leading to significant health consequences.
347 Peter S Takeaways On Mastering Sleep Dealing With Chronic Pain Developing Breakthrough Cancer Drugs Transforming Healthcare With Ai Advancing Radiation Therapy And Healing Trauma Quarterly Podcast Summary 5
May 5, 2025
Trauma is defined as a moment of perceived helplessness that activates the limbic system, leading to disconnectedness and maladaptive coping strategies.
346 Scaling Biotech And Improving Global Health Lessons From An Extraordinary Career In Medicine Susan Desmond Hellmann M D M P H
April 28, 2025
Dr. Susan Desmond Hellman's career highlights her adaptability and leadership across medicine, biotech, and global health.
345 Chronic Pain Pathways Treatment And The Path To Physical And Psychological Recovery Sean Mackey M D Ph D
April 21, 2025
Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience, not just a physical sensation, and it serves as a fundamental survival mechanism.
344 Ama 70 Nicotine Impact On Cognitive Function Performance And Mood Health Risks Delivery Modalities And Smoking Cessation Strategies
April 14, 2025
The primary health risks associated with tobacco use, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, are largely due to components other than nicotine, like toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
343 The Evolving Role Of Radiation Advancements In Cancer Treatment Emerging Low Dose Treatments For Arthritis Tendonitis And Injuries And Addressing Misconceptions Sanjay Mehta M D
April 7, 2025
Radiation oncology has evolved significantly, with advancements in technology leading to more precise targeting and reduced side effects.
342 Aging Well Peter Shares Strategies For Improving Longevity With Residents At A Senior Living Center
March 31, 2025
Longevity is defined as maximizing both the length of life (lifespan) and the quality of life (healthspan), encompassing physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
341 Overcoming Insomnia Improving Sleep Hygiene And Treating Disordered Sleep With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia Ashley Mason Ph D
March 24, 2025
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) is a highly effective, non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia, with remission rates around 50-60%.
340 Ama 69 Scrutinizing Supplements Creatine Fish Oil Vitamin D And More A Framework For Understanding Effectiveness Quality And Individual Need
March 17, 2025
Supplements should be evaluated using a consistent framework rather than relying on anecdotal evidence or marketing claims.
339 Unpacking Trauma How Early Wounds Shape Behavior And The Path Toward Healing Jeff English
March 10, 2025
Trauma is defined as moments of perceived helplessness that activate the limbic system, and can manifest differently in individuals.
338 Peter S Takeaways On Aerobic Exercise And Vo2 Max Insulin Resistance Rising Healthcare Costs Treating Children With Autism And Adhd And Strength Training Quarterly Podcast Summary 4
March 3, 2025
The podcast summary episode covers insights from interviews with Olav Alexander Bu, Ralph DeFranzo, Som Sutaria, Trenna Sutcliffe, and Mike Isratel, touching on topics from athletic performance to healthcare costs and neurodevelopmental disorders.
337 Insulin Resistance Masterclass The Full Body Impact Of Metabolic Dysfunction And Prevention Diagnosis And Treatment Ralph Defronzo M D
February 24, 2025
Insulin resistance is a complex, multi-organ issue that underlies type 2 diabetes and contributes to cardiovascular disease.
336 Ama 68 Fasting Well Balanced Diets Alcohol Exercise For Busy People Wearables Emotional Health Assessing Cardiovascular Health And More
February 17, 2025
Assessing cardiovascular health involves understanding family history, utilizing tests like CAC scans and lipid profiles (APOB, LP-little A), monitoring blood pressure diligently, and avoiding smoking and metabolic dysfunction.
335 The Science Of Resistance Training Building Muscle And Anabolic Steroid Use In Bodybuilding Mike Israetel Ph D
February 10, 2025
Resistance training is highly beneficial for overall health and longevity, requiring only 1-3 hours per week for significant gains.
334 Cardiovascular Disease The Number One Killer Development Biomarkers Apob Cholesterol Brain Health And More Tom Dayspring M D
February 3, 2025
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death globally, characterized by cholesterol deposition in artery walls, which can lead to narrowing or rupture of arteries.
333 Longevity Roundtable The Science Of Aging Geroprotective Molecules Lifestyle Interventions Challenges In Research And More Steven Austad Matt Kaeberlein Richard Miller
January 27, 2025
The public interest in longevity science has surged, driven by scientific discoveries and the influence of tech entrepreneurs, though concerns about commercial exploitation of untested products exist.
332 Ama 67 Microplastics Pfas And Phthalates Understanding Health Risks And A Framework For Minimizing Exposure And Mitigating Risk
January 20, 2025
Microplastics and associated chemicals like BPAs, PFAS, and phthalates are ubiquitous and exposure is a growing concern, though the exact health impacts are still being researched.
331 Optimizing Endurance Performance Metrics Nutrition Lactate And More Insights From Elite Performers Olav Aleksander Bu Pt 2
January 13, 2025
Understanding performance metrics like FTP, critical power, anaerobic threshold, lactate threshold, and VO2 max is crucial for optimizing endurance sports performance.
330 Autism Adhd And Anxiety Understanding The Rise In Autism And A Multidisciplinary Approach To Diagnosis And Treatment Of Each Condition In Children Trenna Sutcliffe M D
January 6, 2025
Autism, ADHD, and anxiety are complex neurodevelopmental conditions with significant overlap, often requiring a personalized, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Building Changing Habits James Clear 183 Rebroadcast
December 30, 2024
Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement, with small, consistent actions leading to remarkable results over time.
329 Special Ama Peter On Exercise Important Labs Building Good Habits Promising Longevity Research And More
December 16, 2024
Grip strength is a valuable proxy for overall upper extremity and potentially whole-body strength, and while easy to measure, its importance is often underestimated in daily life and health outcomes.
328 Ama 66 Optimizing Nutrition For Health And Longevity Myth Of A Best Diet Complexities Of Nutrition Science And Practical Steps For Building A Sustainable Diet
December 9, 2024
Nutrition research is complex and often lacks the rigor of medical studies, leading to a high degree of certainty expressed by individuals despite a paucity of quality data.
#327 - Choices, costs, and challenges in US healthcare: insurance intricacies, drug pricing, economic impacts, and potential reforms | Saum Sutaria, M.D.
December 2, 2024
The U.S. healthcare system, consuming nearly 20% of the nation's GDP, is a complex web of consumer, employer, and government spending, with its current structure deeply rooted in historical decisions like the 1954 tax codification of employer-sponsored insurance and the 1965 creation of Medicare and Medicaid.
Optimizing life for maximum fulfillment | Bill Perkins (#237 rebroadcast)
November 25, 2024
Maximizing life fulfillment requires intentionally allocating finite resources of time, health, and money towards experiences, rather than solely accumulating wealth for an uncertain future.
#326 - AMA #65: Red light therapy: promising applications, mixed evidence, and impact on health and aging
November 18, 2024
Red light therapy primarily utilizes wavelengths between 620-780 nanometers, often combined with near-infrared light (790-1400 nm), which can penetrate the skin to varying depths depending on the light's coherence, collimation, and intensity.
#325 ‒ Peter’s key takeaways on bone health, calorie restriction and energy balance, dopamine and addiction, gene editing, and testosterone therapy safety with a prostate cancer diagnosis | Quarterly Podcast Summary #3
November 11, 2024
Addiction is approximately 50-60% heritable, with the remaining influence coming from nurture (how one is raised) and neighborhood (environment).
#324 ‒ Metabolism, energy balance, and aging: How diet, calorie restriction, and macronutrients influence longevity and metabolic health | Eric Ravussin, Ph.D.
November 4, 2024
Accurate measurement of energy expenditure, while technically demanding, is crucial for understanding energy balance, with metabolic chambers and indirect calorimetry serving as the gold standard.
#323 - CRISPR and the future of gene editing: scientific advances, genetic therapies, disease treatment potential, and ethical considerations | Feng Zhang, Ph.D.
October 28, 2024
CRISPR technology, initially observed as repetitive sequences in bacterial DNA, evolved into a powerful gene-editing tool by leveraging Cas9 enzymes guided by RNA to precisely target and modify DNA.
#322 - Bone health for life: building strong bones, preventing age-related loss, and reversing osteoporosis with evidence-based exercise | Belinda Beck, Ph.D.
October 21, 2024
Bone health is largely determined by peak bone mass achieved by the late teens/early twenties, making childhood and adolescence critical periods for building a strong skeletal foundation.
#321 – Dopamine and addiction: navigating pleasure, pain, and the path to recovery | Anna Lembke, M.D.
October 14, 2024
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is the final common pathway for all reinforcing substances and behaviors, acting as a key molecule in the brain's reward circuitry that drives pleasure, reward, and motivation.
#320 – AMA 64: New insights on GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) - efficacy, benefits, risks, and considerations in the rapidly evolving weight-loss drug landscape
October 7, 2024
GLP-1 agonists, initially developed for type 2 diabetes, have shown significant efficacy in weight loss, leading to their expanded use and research for obesity management.
#319 ‒ Peter's key takeaways on liver health, heart rate variability, AI in medicine, klotho, and lactate metabolism | Quarterly Podcast Summary #2
September 30, 2024
The liver is a uniquely vital organ for which there is no extracorporeal support, making its failure solely reliant on transplantation.
#318 ‒ Cycling phenom and Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar reveals his training strategies, on-bike nutrition, and future aspirations
September 23, 2024
Tadej Pogačar's remarkable 2024 season, marked by winning the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, highlights his exceptional ability to conquer diverse cycling challenges, a feat not seen in nearly 30 years.
#317 ‒ Reforming medicine: uncovering blind spots, challenging the norm, and embracing innovation | Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H.
September 16, 2024
Cognitive dissonance and effort justification explain why medical professionals and individuals often cling to established beliefs and practices, even when new evidence emerges, leading to resistance to change and the perpetuation of medical 'blind spots'.
#316 - AMA #63: A guide for hair loss: causes, treatments, transplants, and sex-specific considerations
September 9, 2024
Androgenic alopecia (AGA), the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women, is primarily driven by genetic susceptibility to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rather than absolute DHT levels.
Improve your decision-making, frameworks for learning, backcasting, and more | Annie Duke (#60 rebroadcast)
September 2, 2024
Poker serves as a superior model for real-world decision-making compared to chess because it inherently involves incomplete information and the influence of luck, mirroring the uncertainties we face in life.
#315 ‒ Life after near-death: a new perspective on living, dying, and the afterlife | Sebastian Junger
August 26, 2024
The origin of the word "blessing" from "blood" suggests that significant life events, even traumatic ones, can lead to profound personal growth and a deeper appreciation for life.
#314 ‒ Rethinking nutrition science: the evolving landscape of obesity treatment, GLP-1 agonists, protein, and the need for higher research standards | David Allison, Ph.D.
August 19, 2024
Despite significant effort, public health interventions for obesity have yielded unimpressive results, suggesting a need for radically different approaches within the public health paradigm.
#313 - AMA #62: Protein’s impact on appetite and weight management, and uric acid's link to disease and how to manage levels
August 12, 2024
Uric acid, a byproduct of purine and fructose metabolism, is causally linked to increased blood pressure and potentially cardiovascular disease, with its levels influenced by non-modifiable factors like sex and genetics, as well as modifiable factors including diet, certain medications, and even ketosis.
#312 - A masterclass in lactate: Its critical role as metabolic fuel, implications for diseases, and therapeutic potential from cancer to brain health and beyond | George A. Brooks, Ph.D.
August 5, 2024
Lactate, long misunderstood as a mere byproduct of anaerobic exercise, is now understood to be a crucial fuel source and signaling molecule involved in energy metabolism across various tissues, including the brain.
#311 ‒ Longevity 101: a foundational guide to Peter's frameworks for longevity, and understanding CVD, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and more
July 29, 2024
Longevity is best understood as a function of both lifespan (how long you live) and health span (how well you live), with health span encompassing physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
#310 - The relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer, testosterone replacement therapy, and tools for predicting cancer aggressiveness and guiding therapy | Ted Schaeffer, M.D., Ph.D.
July 22, 2024
The TRAVERSE trial suggests that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in hypogonadal men does not increase the risk of prostate cancer diagnosis, with prostate cancer detection rates being similar between TRT and placebo groups.
#309 ‒ AI in medicine: its potential to revolutionize disease prediction, diagnosis, and outcomes, causes for concern in medicine and beyond, and more | Isaac Kohane, M.D., Ph.D.
July 15, 2024
The evolution of AI, from rule-based systems to deep neural networks powered by large datasets and GPUs, has enabled significant advancements, particularly in pattern recognition tasks like image analysis, which are now performing at expert levels in medical specialties.
Zone 2 training: impact on longevity and mitochondrial function, how to dose frequency and duration, and more | Iñigo San-Millán, Ph.D. (#201 rebroadcast)
July 8, 2024
Elite cyclists like Tadej Pogačar exhibit exceptional physiological capabilities, including remarkably low blood lactate levels at high power outputs, indicating superior mitochondrial function and lactate clearance.