246 Stress, Burnout and Biological Aging. Simple Habits to Reclaim Energy and Longevity with Erica Jones
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 01/19/2026
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if the most powerful breakthroughs in reversing chronic disease had less to do with new drugs—and everything to do with understanding human behavior? Type 2 diabetes is widely treated as a lifelong, progressive condition. But what if that assumption is wrong? In today’s episode, we explore how reclaiming personal agency, supported by behavioral science and AI-driven personalization, can fundamentally reshape how you age—because age is just a number, but how you age is a choice. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases associated with aging, yet conventional...
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In recent years, headlines warning about microplastics in fish, water, and even the human body have triggered widespread anxiety. While fear-based narratives grab attention, they also keep the nervous system in a chronic stress state—driving inflammation, impaired decision-making, and accelerated biological aging. The question is no longer just environmental, but deeply personal: what happens when alarming headlines age us faster than reality? For those committed to healthy longevity, constant environmental alarmism can quietly undermine well-being. Chronic stress is a known driver of...
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Many people enter retirement feeling uncertain, disconnected, or afraid of becoming irrelevant. In this episode, author and conscious aging advocate Wayne Lehrer reframes later life as a powerful third act—one that can be consciously designed for purpose, vitality, and authentic happiness. You’ll learn how mindset, meaning, and daily practices shape not just how long you live, but how well you age. Wayne Lehrer is an author, sculptor, meditation teacher, and conscious aging advocate. A former World’s Fair and theme-park designer and IMAX filmmaker, he now leads international...
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Women entering perimenopause and menopause are often told to “do more cardio,” “eat less,” and “push harder” to stay fit. Yet for many, these strategies lead to exhaustion, stalled progress, injuries, and declining confidence rather than improved health. As estrogen declines, muscle loss accelerates, recovery slows, and stress hormones become more influential on weight, sleep, and inflammation. Following outdated fitness rules during this phase can quietly accelerate biological aging and undermine long-term healthspan. Today's guest, Alicia Jones, combines kinesiology,...
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Canada’s healthcare system is under unprecedented strain, with thousands of people experiencing serious harm—or death—while waiting for diagnostic procedures, specialist care, or life-saving treatments. Despite public trust in the system, delays have become a hidden personal risk that most Canadians fail to plan for. As we age, delays in diagnosis and treatment don’t just affect outcomes—they accelerate physical decline, cognitive stress, emotional exhaustion, and financial vulnerability. Loss of access means loss of control, which directly undermines resilience, independence,...
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Extreme diets dominate social media, but what actually happens inside your body when you follow them? In this episode, registered dietitian Andres Ayesta shares the results of a 60-day self-experiment comparing a carnivore diet with a whole-foods, minimally processed approach. Using lab testing, DEXA scans, and behavioral science, he reveals what truly changes—and what doesn’t—when it comes to weight, body composition, energy, and long-term health as we age. Andres Ayesta is a registered dietitian, sports nutritionist, and founder of Planos Nutrition. With...
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Chronic stress and burnout are often worn as a badge of honor, yet they can be powerful accelerators of biological aging. In this conversation, wellness entrepreneur and educator Erica Jones explains how persistent stress can disrupt sleep, increase inflammation, and influence mitochondrial function, hormones, and even gene expression through epigenetic pathways. Together, with the host, Dr. Gillian Lockitch, we focus on sustainable strategies that busy, high-capacity people can actually maintain - starting with the “unsexy basics” of hydration and sleep, plus boundaries that protect your...
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Early life trauma can leave lasting imprints on the brain, body, and emotional health well into later life, but healing is possible at any age. In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with memoirist and wellness practitioner, Wendy Correa about adverse childhood experiences, intergenerational trauma, and the profound healing power of self-awareness and creative expression. Wendy shares how writing her memoir, My Pretty Baby, became both a personal reckoning and a path to liberation. This conversation explores how movement, mindfulness,...
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Chronic stress and anxiety are not just emotional experiences; they can quietly accelerate biological aging and undermine brain health. In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with integrative mental health expert Dr. Nicole Cain about how anxiety, panic, trauma, and unresolved stress shape the nervous system across the lifespan. Dr. Cain explains the critical differences between fear, anxiety, and panic, and how symptoms often serve as meaningful signals rather than disorders to suppress. This rich conversation offers science-backed, compassionate...
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if the way you move could directly influence how well you age? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch is joined by movement specialist and chiropractor Dr. Edythe Heus to explore how intentional, brain-engaged movement can become one of the most powerful tools for longevity. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr. Heus explains how subtle changes in movement reorganize fascia, enhance balance, sharpen cognition, and reduce fall risk. This conversation reframes exercise not as punishment, but as a playful, intelligent practice that supports...
info_outlineChronic stress and burnout are often worn as a badge of honor, yet they can be powerful accelerators of biological aging. In this conversation, wellness entrepreneur and educator Erica Jones explains how persistent stress can disrupt sleep, increase inflammation, and influence mitochondrial function, hormones, and even gene expression through epigenetic pathways. Together, with the host, Dr. Gillian Lockitch, we focus on sustainable strategies that busy, high-capacity people can actually maintain - starting with the “unsexy basics” of hydration and sleep, plus boundaries that protect your nervous system. You’ll also leave with one simple “try this today” reset to restore perspective when you feel overwhelmed.
Erica Jones is a wellness entrepreneur and educator and the co-founder of Elevays, where she helps high performers build sustainable routines that support energy, focus, and longevity without burnout. With a background in biology and an early career in pharmaceutical sales, Erica transitioned into a root-cause approach to health through functional and holistic wellness. She has guided thousands of entrepreneurs, CEOs, and coaches toward greater clarity, balance, and resilience through practical, real-life strategies.
Episode Timeline
00:00 – Opening teaser: stress and biological aging. Why burnout and chronic stress can quietly accelerate aging, and why small daily shifts can help reverse the trajectory.
00:30 – Dr. Gillian Lockitch introduces the episode focus: stress, mitochondria, telomeres, hormones, inflammation, sleep, and longevity.
03:48 – Meet Erica Jones. Erica shares her work helping high performers build sustainable routines that support energy, focus, and longevity.
04:11 – From pharma to holistic wellness. Erica describes her biology background, early pharmaceutical sales career, and the pivot into holistic, root-cause health.
08:39 – The problem with “overwhelming wellness routines" Why drastic overhauls and intense routines backfire for busy people, and how to simplify to what’s doable.
09:55 – Non-negotiables: hydration and sleep. The “unsexy basics” that protect the cell: consistent hydration (often with electrolytes) and prioritizing sleep.
11:35 – Electrolytes: a practical tool. Erica recommends an electrolyte option (LMNT) and explains how it can support consistent hydration.
13:48 – Real-life challenges and cravings. Dr. Lockitch shares how health events and medication shifts can change appetite, cravings, and weight management.
16:10 – How stress ages us at the cellular level. Epigenetic alteration, chronic inflammation, and lifestyle patterns that can turn on disease expression over time.
25:05 – What to stop doing now. Protect sleep, reduce late-night screens and blue light, and create boundaries with devices and always-on digital life.
29:28 – A common myth: waiting for the perfect time. Why “I’ll get healthy after this busy season” keeps people stuck, and how constraints and commitment create change.
31:16 – Balancing work, family, and self-care. Erica’s approach to focus, guilt-free boundaries, and a nightly wind-down routine to prevent burnout.
33:53 – Try this today: step outside. Fresh air and nature as a fast nervous-system reset that restores perspective and supports momentum.
36:00 – Wrap-up and where to connect. How to find Erica’s free gift and resources, plus Dr. Lockitch’s invitation to schedule a roadmap call.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Erica Jones and Elevays: https://eleves.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@
Erica's 5-Minute Daily Detox for Burned-Out Entrepreneurs (Free Download) → https://elevays.kit.com/
Call to Action
Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform. Leave a review to help others discover the show and share the link
Contact Dr. Gillian Lockitch at askdrgill@gmail.com to explore your personal roadmap to longer healthspan and living younger longer.