Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

What if medicine could do more than manage disease—and actually help the body repair itself? Regenerative medicine is moving quickly, but the world of stem cells, PRP, exosomes, and cellular therapies can be incredibly confusing. In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Wiggers to separate what we can do today from what may be coming next. We start with the basics: what stem cells actually are, how PRP and orthobiologics work, and the difference between using your own cells versus donor-derived products. Then we go deeper into one of the most fascinating areas of regenerative medicine: MUSE cells, a unique population of stress-enduring stem cells being studied for their ability to respond to injury and support tissue repair. In this episode, you'll learn: • How stem cells, PRP, exosomes, and other regenerative therapies differ • What MUSE cells are and why researchers are so interested in them • How stem cells may respond to signals from injured tissue • Why the age and source of biological material can matter • What Yamanaka factors taught us about cellular reprogramming and rejuvenation • Where regenerative medicine is being studied for joint, cardiovascular, and other applications • The safety concerns and quality-control issues everyone should understand before considering stem cell therapy We also explore why regenerative therapies have faced regulatory hurdles, the difference between exciting laboratory research and treatments available today, and why safety, manufacturing, and proper handling are critical as this field evolves. Stem cells aren't magic—and many potential applications are still being researched. But our growing ability to understand and influence the body's own repair systems could fundamentally change how we approach injury, aging, and disease in the years ahead. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @darshanshahmd and @extend_podcast Learn more about Dr. Jeffrey Wiegers: Website: musecellinnovations.com Instagram: @jeffwiegers Thank You To Our Sponsor! 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 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 happens when optimizing your health starts taking over your life? Ben Greenfield has spent decades at the forefront of biohacking, fitness, human performance, and longevity—testing the technologies, tracking the biomarkers, competing at an elite level, and pushing his body to its limits. But after years of relentless self-optimization, he realized something important: living longer means very little if the pursuit of longevity takes you away from the people and experiences you're trying to live longer for. In this conversation, Ben opens up about the side of biohacking we don't talk about enough. He shares how his obsession with performance and optimization affected his marriage, his relationship with his children, and his own sense of fulfillment—and the moment he realized his priorities had to change. We explore how to find the line between taking care of your health and becoming consumed by it, why relationships and community may be among the most powerful longevity tools we have, and how Ben has radically simplified his approach to fitness while remaining exceptionally strong and healthy. In this episode, you'll learn: When biohacking and self-optimization can go too far Why Ben nearly lost his marriage—and the wake-up call that changed his priorities Why relationships, family, community, and purpose belong in the longevity conversation How to know when you're "healthy enough" instead of endlessly chasing better biomarkers Ben's current approach to strength, mobility, VO2 max, power, mitochondrial health, and cardiovascular fitness How he now stays fit with roughly an hour a day instead of allowing optimization to consume his life We also discuss body composition, wearables, sauna and cold exposure, healthy aging, family legacy, grief, and what losing his father taught Ben about our obsession with trying to outrun aging. The goal of longevity isn't to spend your entire life trying not to die. It's to build a body that allows you to fully participate in the life, relationships, and experiences that make those extra years worth having. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @darshanshahmd and @extend_podcast Learn more about Ben Greenfield: Website: bengreenfieldlife.com Instagram: @bengreenfieldfitness Thank You To Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Join us on September 12th at the Conrad Nashville for the FIRST Next Health Longevity Summit. Head to next-health.com/summit to purchase tickets, for my listeners only, I would love to offer you a discount code! Use code EXTEND25 at checkout and get a Summit Access Pass for $25 ! See you there! Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com and use my code DRSHAH at checkout for up to %35 off at checkout!

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

Walk into any supplement aisle—or scroll through social media—and you'll find thousands of products promising better energy, performance, brain health, and longevity. But which supplements actually work? And how do you know what's really inside them? My guest is Jeff Byers, a former NFL athlete and the co-founder of Momentous , a performance nutrition company built around rigorous standards for supplement quality, sourcing, testing, and efficacy. His path into health and performance started long before Momentous. As a freshman football player at USC, a devastating hip injury led to two major surgeries and the possibility that he might never play again. That experience forced him to rethink his identity beyond football, eventually earning his MBA before going on to play in the NFL—and later channeling that same resilience into entrepreneurship and human performance. In this conversation, we clear up the confusion around supplements and get practical about what actually matters. We break down four foundational areas— creatine, protein, omega-3s, and fiber —and why consistency, proper dosing, sourcing, and product quality can matter just as much as the supplement itself. We also discuss when supplements like vitamin D, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins should be guided by bloodwork rather than guesswork. In this episode, you'll learn: • The four foundational supplements we believe can have the biggest impact • How to choose a high-quality supplement—and what NSF and USP certifications actually mean • Why creatine goes far beyond building muscle, including its emerging role in brain health and cognition • How much EPA and DHA to look for in an omega-3—and why "fish oil" doesn't necessarily mean you're getting enough • Why fiber is critical for gut, metabolic, and cardiovascular health • How bloodwork can help determine whether you actually need vitamin D, magnesium, iron, B vitamins, or other targeted supplements We also explore why more isn't always better. Taking dozens of supplements you don't need isn't the goal. The goal is to master the fundamentals, identify your individual deficiencies, choose products you can trust, and build a routine you can actually stick with. If you've ever looked at your supplement cabinet and wondered, Do I actually need all of this?—this episode will help you cut through the noise. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @darshanshahmd and @extend_podcast Learn more about Jeff Byers: Website: livemomentous.com Instagram: @live.momentous Thank You to Our Sponsors: Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com to discover more about Creatine, Fiber, Omega-3 and Protein, use DRSHAH at checkout for up to 35% off! Next Health Longevity Summit: Visit next-health.com/summit to get tickets to our first ever Next Health Longevity Summit! You will have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Shah, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Louisa Nicola, Dr. Will Cole and more. You will also be able to taste products from Momentous and experience the top brands in longevity!

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 w hy 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 ADHD isn't just an attention problem—but also a problem of emotional regulation? My guest, Dr. Sasha Hamdani, is a board-certified psychiatrist, ADHD specialist, author, and someone who has lived with ADHD herself. She brings a unique perspective to a part of ADHD that often gets overlooked: emotional sensitivity. We explore why some people feel emotions faster, more deeply, and for longer —and what's actually happening in the brain when a small trigger sends you into an emotional spiral. Dr. Hamdani explains the relationship between the amygdala, frontal lobe, dopamine, executive function, and emotional regulation, and why ADHD can sometimes be confused with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other conditions. But this conversation goes far beyond diagnosis. We get into practical tools for managing emotional overwhelm in real time—from delaying your response to a triggering text to moving your body when your nervous system is activated—and why practicing these skills can actually help rewire the brain over time. In this episode, you'll learn: • The overlooked connection between ADHD and emotional sensitivity • Why ADHD can be mistaken for anxiety, depression, or other conditions • What happens in your brain during an emotional spiral—and how to interrupt it • How to strengthen emotional regulation, executive function, and resilience • Why sleep, movement, screen time, and your physical health affect how your brain functions • How neuroplasticity allows you to build healthier emotional patterns over time We also discuss the impact of short-form content and highly stimulating screens on attention and anxiety, especially in children, and why understanding your own emotional patterns may be one of the most powerful places to start. My biggest takeaway is that the goal isn't to stop being sensitive or eliminate difficult emotions. It's to understand how your brain responds to them so you have more control over what happens next. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: www.drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Sasha Hamdani: Website: drhamdanimd.com Instagram: @thepsychdoctormd What if sensitivity isn't something to suppress, but something to understand? Dr. Hamdani's new book "Too Sensitive" is available now! Get your copy today at: drhamdanimd.com/toosensitive 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 on September 12th in Nashville! Speakers include: Dr. Shah, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Louisa Nicola, LeAnn Rimes, Dr. Will Cole and more! This one day will give you the opportunity to try the latest in longevity! Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/drshah and use code DRSHAH at checkout for up to 35% off your first order!

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 the biggest mistake we're making with gut health is treating the microbiome like a list of bacteria instead of a living ecosystem? Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that influence inflammation, metabolism, immune function, hormones, brain health, and longevity. But modern life—from ultra-processed foods and antibiotics to pesticides, chronic stress, and inadequate fiber—may be systematically stripping away the microbial diversity we need to stay healthy. My guest, Kiran Krishnan , is a research microbiologist and microbiome expert who has spent nearly two decades studying these complex microbial ecosystems. He co-founded Microbiome Labs and has helped develop microbiome testing and clinically studied probiotics. Kiran introduced me to the concept of the holobiome : the idea that we aren't simply human cells and human DNA, but walking ecosystems containing millions of microbial genes that perform essential functions throughout the body. We explore what's actually damaging that ecosystem, how poor gut health can contribute to leaky gut, endotoxemia, systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, and most importantly, what we can do to rebuild it. Kiran breaks down how much fiber we should actually be eating, the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber, why resistant starch and polyphenols matter, what fermented foods really do, and how to think about probiotics and microbiome testing. We also discuss how fasting, sleep, resistance training, outdoor exposure, and even social connection can influence microbial diversity. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why microbial diversity may be one of the most important markers of gut health • How antibiotics, ultra-processed foods, pesticides, and stress can disrupt the gut microbiome • How leaky gut, endotoxemia, chronic inflammation, and metabolic health are connected • How fiber, resistant starch, fermented foods, polyphenols, and probiotics support the gut • Why sleep, fasting, exercise, outdoor exposure, and social connection can help build a more resilient microbiome We also explore the future of gut health, including the limitations of current microbiome testing and how Kiran is using AI and machine learning to develop targeted probiotic combinations around specific biological pathways. My biggest takeaway is that gut health isn't something we fix with one supplement . We are guardians of an incredibly complex ecosystem—and the choices we make every day can either support it or slowly dismantle it . If we want to improve longevity, metabolic health, inflammation, and chronic disease prevention, taking care of our microbiome may be one of the most powerful places to start. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: www.drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Kiran Krishnan: Website: biomelc.com Instagram: @kiranbiome Special offer from Kiran! Join the free Circe community here to get the FREE Leaky Gut Guide and The 5 Pillars to Building a Resilient Gut. 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, LeAnn Rimes, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Louisa Nicola, Dr. Vonda Wright and many more! This is 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!

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

What if aging isn't something you simply accept - but something you can measure, predict, and even reverse? Most of us are told our lab work is "normal," yet chronic disease often develops silently for years before symptoms appear. Dr. Florence Comite, one of the world's leading pioneers in precision medicine, is explaining why conventional medicine often misses the earliest signs of diesease- and how personalized data can completely change your health trajectory. Drawing from more than three decades of experience at Yale, the National Institutes of Health, and her own precision medicine practice, Dr. Comite shares how treating every patient as an "N-of-1" allows her to identify hidden risks years before they become heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, or hormonal decline. Together, they explore the biomarkers that matter most, the surprising role of insulin resistance in nearly every chronic illness, and why your genes are far less predictive than the choices you make every day. If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to stay stronger, sharper, and healthier as you age, this conversation offers a practical roadmap backed by decades of research and real-world clinical results. In this episode, you'll learn: Why precision medicine is replacing the outdated one-size-fits-all approach The seven biological patterns of aging-and how to identify your own The biomarkers that reveal disease years before symptoms appear Why fasting insulin may be one of the most important tests your doctor isn't ordering How continuous glucose monitors uncover hidden metabolic dysfunction The truth about testosterone and estrogen optimization for both men and women How to reverse muscle loss and protect your bone density as you age Why standard thyroid testing often misses underlying dysfunction The daily habits that create exponential improvements in long-term health How to build a personalized longevity strategy based on your own biology-not population averages Your biology is unique - your approach to aging should be too. Learn More About Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Florence Comite: Website: florencecomite.com Instagram: @drflorencecomite Book: theinvinciblebook.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.

Hashimotos isn't just a thyroid disease-it may actually begin in the gut. If you've been told your thyroid labs are "normal" but you still struggle with fatigue, bloating, constipation, IBS, or autoimmune symptoms, this episode could change the way you think about your health. I sit down with Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD -better known as the Thyroid Pharmacist and one of the world's leading experts on Hashimoto's disease - to uncover the powerful connection between gut health, autoimmune disease, and thyroid function. Dr. Wentz explains why IBS is often not a true diagnosis, but a collection of symptoms with more than 30 possible root causes . Together, we explore why conventional medicine frequently misses these underlying issues and how identifying the real drivers - from intestinal permeability and SIBO to food sensitivities, medications, infections, and even heavy metal exposure - can help people finally find lasting relief. Whether you're living with Hashimoto's, IBS, or another autoimmune condition, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for uncovering the root cause and supporting long-term healing. In this episode, you'll learn: Why gut health is critical for thyroid function and autoimmune healing The surprising connection between Hashimoto's disease and IBS Why IBS is a symptom - not a diagnosis The 30+ root causes that may be driving digestive symtpoms How intestinal permeability ("leaky gut") contributes to autoimmune disease The biggest food, medication, and lifestyle triggers for IBS Which functional medicine tests can uncover hidden gut dysfunction How targeted treatment can improve symptoms and support long-term remission If you've been searching for answers beyond symptom management, this episode provides an evidence-based look at the gut-thyroid connection and what it really takes to restore health. Thank You to Our Sponsors Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to www.next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12! IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/drshah 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. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Clinic: next-health.com Learn more about Dr. Izabella Wentz: Website: thyroidpharmacist.com Instagram: @izabellawentzpharmd Book: thyroidpharmacist.com/ibs-book-order/

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

I have operated on patients whose bodies had been sending them warning signals for years before a crisis ever put them in front of me. Stress alone causes or worsens more than 80 percent of the illness I see, and most of it traces back to one skill almost nobody was ever taught: how to actually listen to their own body. We dive deeper into this in the Extend Podcast with Dr. Neha Sangwan. We also chat about the five questions she asks every patient before sending them home, why your boss has more influence on your health than your doctor does, and the five levels of connection that determine whether a relationship heals you or drains you. Dr. Neha Sangwan is an internal medicine physician and former hospitalist who also trained as a mechanical and biomedical engineer. She is the founder and CEO of Intuitive Intelligence, where she works as an executive health and performance coach for corporate leaders and their teams. She is the author of TalkRx: Five Steps to Honest Conversations that Create Connection, Health, and Happiness, and Powered by Me: From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life. What We Discuss: (1:09) Why training as both a mechanical engineer and a physician led straight to burnout at 34. (2:29) The Awareness Prescription: the five questions she asks every patient the night before discharge. (9:59) The Body Map: how physical signals are data your doctor never sees. (16:54) Why your leader has more influence on your health than your doctor does. (22:48) The five-step framework for walking into any hard conversation clearly and calmly. (30:34) The five-hour shift and the question from a nurse that first told her she was burning out. (34:13) Net gain versus net drain: mapping where your energy leaks and where it grows. (40:07) The five levels of exchange, from broken to sacred. 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. 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: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Neha Sangwan: Website: intuitiveintelligenceinc.com/ Instagram: @doctorneha LinkedIn: drnehasangwan Book: intuitiveintelligenceinc.com/powered-by-me/

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

For most people, an ADHD diagnosis, an anxiety diagnosis, or a depression diagnosis is made entirely from a symptom checklist. No one looks at the brain producing those symptoms. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel and Angie, co-founders of BrainCode Centers, to talk about quantitative EEG brain mapping and neurofeedback, and why measuring the brain's actual electrical activity changes the picture so often. We look at why the majority of people carrying an ADHD diagnosis do not show the neurological pattern for it, what depression and anxiety actually look like on a brain scan, and how reward-based neurofeedback training retrains those patterns without medication. Rachel and Angie are licensed professional counselors and board certified in neurofeedback. Over seventeen years, they have mapped and trained roughly 25,000 brains, built in-person clinics across Denver, Boulder, Tulsa, and Dallas, and developed a remote kit that lets anyone get a brain map and begin neurofeedback training from home. What's Discussed: (0:47) What a brain map actually measures, and why it is not a CT scan or a blood flow test. (1:52) The five brain waves everyone produces, and what happens when the brain gets stuck in one of them. (4:26) How a remote EEG kit lets someone map their own brain from a swim cap at home. (9:11) How neurofeedback works as reward-based training instead of willpower or medication. (16:14) What depression actually looks like on a brain scan, and why the DSM diagnosis often misses the real driver. (25:07) Why the majority of people carrying an ADHD diagnosis do not show the neurological pattern for it. (29:51) What anxiety looks like across ten completely different brain patterns. (38:26) Angie's own bipolar diagnosis as a teenager, and how forty sessions of training changed the scan. Listen to this episode to learn why a diagnosis deserves an actual look at the brain behind it, before medication becomes the only conversation. 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. IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. 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. 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. Learn More About Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd Learn More About BrainCode Centers: Website: braincodecenters.com Instagram: @braincodecenters

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

For many women, the hormone conversation starts only when something becomes hard to ignore. Painful periods. Irregular cycles. Acne. Hair loss. Fertility struggles. Perimenopause symptoms. Too often, the answer is a quick fix for the symptom in front of them, without anyone asking what the body was trying to signal years earlier. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Taz Bhatia MD to talk about why women's hormone health needs to be understood across the entire lifespan, not as separate problems that show up during adolescence, fertility, perimenopause, or menopause. We look at why symptoms like bad periods, PMOS, fatigue, mood changes, inflammation, weight gain, and hormone shifts should be connected back to the gut, metabolism, stress, nutrient status, inflammation, and emotional health. Dr. Taz Bhatia MD, brings a rare mix of conventional medical training and integrative medicine experience to this conversation. She began her career in emergency medicine, then expanded her work through holistic medicine, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, and integrative medicine training through Dr. Andrew Weil's fellowship. Her own experience with fatigue, hair loss, joint pain, weight changes, and PMOS also shaped the way she helps patients look beyond symptom management and understand the full body story behind their health. Important note : This episode was recorded before PCOS was formally renamed PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome). Throughout this conversation, you'll hear the term PCOS, as it was the standard name at the time of recording. The new name was adopted to better reflect that the condition is a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder affecting multiple body systems—not just the ovaries—and because many people with the condition do not actually have ovarian cysts. What's Discussed: (01:15) Dr. Taz Bhatia's own health struggles and why conventional medicine did not give her the answers she needed. (10:02) Why people need a medical home that helps them stay well, not just emergency care when something goes wrong. (16:36) How symptoms act as early signals from the body, and why health needs to be looked at across physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and community layers. (26:25) Why women's hormone health should start in adolescence, not when perimenopause or infertility begins. (30:40) Why PMOS is not just about ovarian cysts and how blood sugar, insulin resistance, gut health, stress, and inflammation can drive symptoms. (37:17) What women need to understand about long-term birth control use, nutrient depletion, inflammation, and hormone suppression. (41:13) Why birth control options should be part of a deeper conversation about the individual, not an automatic prescription. Listen to this episode to learn why women deserve a better hormone conversation before they reach the crisis points of birth control, IVF, or HRT. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health: Your destination for cutting-edge health optimization—from IV therapy to hormone balancing. Explore at next-health.com/ 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. Taz Bhatia MD Website: doctortaz.com Instagram: @drtazmd

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