Libsyn Directory

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

Release Date: 01/29/2026

136. Dr. David Luu: How AI Is Reshaping Preventive Care

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people think medicine is about treating disease. What if the real future of healthcare is preventing illness and optimizing human potential long before symptoms appear. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. David Luu, physician, former pediatric cardiac surgeon, and founder of the Longevity Docs movement. Dr. Luu shares his journey from high intensity surgery to longevity medicine, shaped by firsthand exposure to preventable disease, global health missions, and the realization that the current medical system is built for sick care, not health. We explore where longevity medicine...

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...

More Episodes

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 help women thrive through midlife and beyond.

We talk about why muscle is the “organ of longevity,” how bone quality and hormonal balance impact strength and metabolism, and why small, consistent lifestyle changes such as squats, grip exercises, and functional movement can have massive long-term effects. Dr. Shepherd also explores strategies to boost energy, preserve functionality, and support overall health so you can age stronger, healthier, and more resilient.

What We Discuss:

(04:00) Why many physicians leave traditional medicine for longevity-focused care
(07:50) Menopause, the WHI study, and how hormone therapy was misunderstood for decades
(11:45) Perimenopause explained: early symptoms like brain fog, sleep disruption, and emotional changes
(18:45) When women should start thinking about perimenopause and why conversations should begin in the late 30s
(23:30) Patient autonomy: ruling out thyroid, mental health, stress, and nutrition before starting hormones
(27:40) Hormones as optimization fuel for brain, bone, muscle, and metabolic health
(30:15) Why muscle is the organ of longevity and how resistance training protects metabolism and strength
(33:00) Bone health beyond density: early DEXA scans, bone quality, and osteoporosis prevention
(36:30) Functional longevity tests: sit-to-stand, grip strength, farmer’s carry, and real-world strength
(39:50) Motivation and quick wins: how HRT and GLP-1 therapies can accelerate lifestyle change
(41:15) The synergy between hormone therapy and GLP-1 medications in perimenopause
(44:40) The future of hormone therapy: individualized delivery and integrated longevity care models
(46:45) Creating a well space for proactive health instead of reactive disease treatment

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

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: https://www.drshah.com/

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

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Jessica Shepherd:

Instagram: jessicashepherdmd

Website: https://www.jessicashepherdmd.com/

Linkedin: Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG

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