Libsyn Directory

124. Best of Strength Training: Why Strength Determines How You Age

Release Date: 12/25/2025

135. Sarah Ann Macklin: Self-Compassion and Sustainable Behavior Change

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people know what they should do to be healthy, yet still struggle to follow through. What if the real barrier is not discipline or knowledge, but mindset. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Sarah Ann Macklin, a nutritionist and health educator who blends nutrition science with psychology and self-compassion. Sarah shares her journey from high fashion modeling to nutritional science, and how burnout, illness, and neurodiversity shaped her approach to sustainable health. We explore why health changes often fail when driven by restriction and scarcity, how self-compassion creates...

134. Dr. Jessica Shepherd: Stop the Decline: Perimenopause Strategies

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people assume losing strength, energy, and bone health is inevitable as we age. But what if maintaining muscle, optimizing hormones, and protecting bone density were about targeting the right systems early rather than treating symptoms later? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in midlife health and longevity. With years of experience merging clinical medicine with functional approaches, Dr. Shepherd shares how resistance training, hormone therapy, nutrition, and modern therapies like GLP-1 medications can work together to...

133. Dr. Abid Husain: The Hidden Drivers of Heart Disease

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people focus on cholesterol and plaque when thinking about heart health. The truth is, there are hidden drivers that can silently damage your arteries and increase cardiovascular risk. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Abid Husain, cardiologist and expert in cardiometabolic health, to unpack how microvascular dysfunction, glycocalyx degradation, metabolic disease, and mental stress contribute to heart disease beyond traditional risk factors. We break down the role of nitric oxide, small dense LDL, clotting mechanisms, and the often overlooked impact of stress on...

132. Nathalie Niddam: Reverse Aging Signals with Bioregulators and Peptides

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people assume fatigue, low energy, and age-related decline are unavoidable. What if supporting your body, optimizing recovery, and enhancing longevity were about activating the right systems, rather than chasing symptoms? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Nathalie Niddam, holistic nutritionist, longevity educator, and host of the Longevity Podcast with Nathalie Niddam, to unpack how bioregulators, mitochondrial peptides, and targeted nutritional strategies can support cellular health, improve energy, and enhance resilience over time. We also explore how bioregulators influence...

131. Dr. Elizabeth Yurth: The Science of Ketones, Hormones, and Faster Recovery

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people assume joint pain, fatigue, and limited mobility are inevitable with age. But what if protecting your joints, optimizing recovery, and maintaining energy were about targeting the right systems early, rather than treating symptoms later? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, co-founder and chief medical officer of the Boulder Longevity Institute and a Stanford-trained sports and spine physician. With over 30 years of experience merging orthopedic expertise with longevity science, Dr. Yurth brings a unique perspective on preventing joint degeneration,...

130. Smarter Drinking: Cut Alcohol Without Sacrifice

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

How much control do you really have over your alcohol consumption and its effects on your health? Many people assume drinking is just part of social life, but science shows there are practical steps to reduce intake while still enjoying your routine. In this solo episode of Extend, Dr. Darshan Shah, longevity expert and founder of Next Health, breaks down why smarter drinking is a key strategy for improving sleep, metabolism, and long-term wellbeing. He explains how alcohol impacts the body, from disrupting sleep and recovery to impairing executive function, metabolism, and reward pathways....

129. Ashley Koff: The GLP-1 Conversation Most People Are Missing

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people think weight loss is about discipline, calories, or finding the right medication. But what if the real issue is that we’ve misunderstood how hormones, digestion, and recovery actually regulate metabolism in the first place? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with registered dietitian Ashley Koff to unpack what GLP-1 medications are really doing in the body and why bariatric surgery revealed metabolic changes long before significant weight loss ever occurred. We explore incretin hormones, vagus nerve signaling, and why appetite, blood sugar, and inflammation are part of a much...

128. Hidden Environmental Toxins Are Destroying Your Health

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

How much control do you actually have over the toxins in your daily environment? Most people assume chemical exposure is unavoidable, but the science shows there are practical steps that can significantly reduce your toxic load. In this solo episode, we break down why environmental detoxification is a key strategy for protecting your long-term health and longevity. We walk you through the main sources of exposure, from household cleaners and cookware to synthetic fragrances and clothing materials. We explore how these toxins affect your hormones, immune system, and metabolism, and why...

127. Allison Evans: Hidden Household Toxins That Are Making You Sick

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Toxin exposure rarely announces itself loudly, yet it quietly shapes hormone balance, immune resilience, mood, and neurological health long before a diagnosis appears. The real tension lies in the fact that these exposures are largely invisible, normalized, and happening inside the very spaces meant to keep us safe. We dive deeper into this in the Extend podcast with Allison Evans. We also chat about the “toxic bucket” concept, why synthetic fragrance and harsh disinfectants can act as endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins, how asthma, fertility challenges, and chronic symptoms can be...

126. How to Fix Your Metabolic Health at Any Age

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people think they’re doing “enough” for their health, yet nearly 90% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy and don’t know it. In this episode, I challenge outdated metrics like BMI, explain why sleep quality matters more than hours slept, and break down what actually moves the needle when it comes to long-term health. In this solo episode of EXTEND, I outline my five core health frameworks for 2026. I also walk through what it means to become the CEO of your own health, how to use simple biomarkers instead of guesswork, how to run personal N-of-1 experiments, and why muscle,...

More Episodes

Over the past year on Extend, I’ve had powerful conversations with experts who all kept pointing back to the same foundation: strength training. So in this episode, I’m bringing together a Best Of compilation featuring key moments from Andy Galpin, Vonda Wright, JJ Virgin, Louisa Nicola, and Kelly and Juliet Starrett to highlight why strength matters far beyond the gym.

This episode explores strength training from every angle that truly impacts longevity. I break down why muscle is a metabolic engine, how bone health shapes aging decades before problems appear, and how strength and movement directly support brain health and cognitive performance. You’ll also hear why mobility is a daily practice, not a workout add-on, and how small habits outside the gym often determine how strong, capable, and pain-free you stay over time.

Across these clips, the message is clear: strength training isn’t about aesthetics or chasing extremes. It’s about building a body and brain that can adapt, recover, and thrive for decades. Whether your goal is longevity, injury prevention, better energy, or aging with confidence, this episode brings together the most important insights to help you train smarter and move better for life.

What We Discuss:

(00:00) JJ Virgin, nutrition and fitness expert, explains why muscle is the foundation of metabolism, strength, and long-term vitality, and how protein intake and smart training support powerful aging.

(00:00) Andy Galpin, human performance scientist, breaks down how personalized training and understanding individual physiology can help you build strength more effectively and recover like a pro athlete.

(00:00) Dr. Vonda Wright, orthopedic surgeon and longevity expert, explores how strength training protects bone density, supports hormones, and reduces fracture risk as we age.

(00:00) Louisa Nicola, neurophysiologist and performance coach, connects strength and movement to brain health, explaining how exercise supports cognition, reduces inflammation, and protects against neurodegeneration.

(00:00) Kelly and Juliet Starrett, movement and mobility experts, share why daily mobility habits matter as much as workouts, and how strength, posture, and movement patterns shape longevity.

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

Pendulum: You can go to pendulumlife.com and use my code EXTEND for 20% off your first membership order.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Vonda Wright

Website: https://www.drvondawright.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvondawright
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrVondaWright

Learn more about Andy Galpin:

Website: https://www.andygalpin.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandygalpin/

Learn more about JJ. Virgin:

Website: https://jjvirgin.com/
Instagram: @jj.virgin