260 From Self Doubt to Self Trust: Reframing Midlife through Biology, Beauty and Brain Science with Natalya Borakowski
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 03/23/2026
279 The Aging Immune System: Vaccines, Healthy Longevity and What We Can Learn from Covid with Michael T. Myers JR MD
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
How does our immune system change as we age, and what role can vaccines play in supporting healthy longevity? In this informative episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch welcomes physician, healthcare executive, and medical writer Dr. Michael Myers for a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion about immunosenescence—the age-related decline of immune function—and its implications for healthy aging. Together they explore how vaccines work, why vaccine recommendations evolve throughout life, and the importance of understanding both the science and the uncertainties...
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278 The Muscle-Longevity Connection: Strength Training Supports Metabolism, Bones, and Healthy Longevity with Jeanne Phares
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What role does muscle strength play in healthy aging, longevity, and independence? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Jeanne Phares about why maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important for women during and after menopause. Drawing on her personal experience as a leukemia survivor and decades of strength training, Jeanne explains the connections between muscle mass, metabolism, bone health, resilience, and recovery. Listeners will learn practical strategies for strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle habits that support vitality...
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FB 109 Anne Mullens: Fueling with Fat: Demystifying the Ketogenic Lifestyle
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the impact of low carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition on health and aging well. Today’s Featured Expert is Anne Mullens, an award winning Canadian journalist and author specializing in Health and Science Writing, At a time when the twin hazards of diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in our society that we say that there is a diabesity epidemic, we are bombarded with discordant messages about what, when, and how to eat, to stay healthy and age gracefully. A goal of this podcast is to cut through the noise and provide...
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277 Chronic Pain, Mobility and Healthy Aging: The Muscle-Longevity Connection with Stacey Roberts
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Is chronic pain really an inevitable part of aging—or could it be a warning sign that deeper imbalances are affecting your healthspan, mobility, and quality of life? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with physical therapist, registered nurse, educator, and functional wellness expert,Stacey Roberts, about the root causes of chronic pain and why conventional treatments often focus on symptom relief instead of true healing. Stacey explains how chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, hormone imbalance, gut health issues, biomechanics, and lifestyle...
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Flashback Friday 005 Susan Bock Smith and Judy Bjornson: Becoming Fall-Proof
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
“You got to just move. It doesn’t matter how efficient your movements are, what matters is that you are moving.” - Susan Bock Smith
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276 Why You Never Get Over Grief -and Why That's Good with Thomas Attig
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Grief is not a problem to be solved or something we simply “get over.” In this profound conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with philosopher and grief expert Thomas Attig about mourning as a lifelong process of relearning how to live in a world forever changed by loss. Drawing on decades of scholarship and personal insight, Thomas explains how grief can deepen our love, strengthen resilience, and help us find wisdom and meaning in life’s most difficult transitions. This episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone grieving a loved one or supporting someone through loss. Thomas...
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FB 026 Brian Morgan: Think Deeply, Speak Clearly, Bridge the Divide
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
I talk with Brian Morgan. President of Think Deeply, Write Clearly about bridging the many divides that are polarizing our society, through creative thought and communication.
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275 Reverse Diabetes and Restore Vitality Through Functional Nutrition with Lori Balue
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and declining strength after 50 are not inevitable signs of aging, but signals of underlying metabolic dysfunction that can be corrected? In episode 275, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with metabolic restoration practitioner, Lori Balue, about how women can restore energy, reduce inflammation, preserve muscle, and regain metabolic resilience through personalized nutrition and functional testing. Lori shares her remarkable journey of losing 100 pounds, reversing prediabetes and chronic inflammation, and transforming her health in midlife. Listeners will...
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FB 118 Dr. Douglas Scharre: Alzheimer's ? or Simply Aging ?
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the effect of aging on brain functions, affecting many attributes of cognition, like memory and processing speed; and on the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of dementia for early treatment. Today’s guest is neuropsychiatrist and creator of the SAGE test, Dr. Douglas Scharre. Dr. Scharre is board certified in neurology, behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry with special interests in cognitive assessment, degenerative dementias and dementia-related behaviors. He joined The Ohio...
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274 Can We Slow Aging? Perspectives from the Director of Forever Young- A Documentary - with David Donnelly
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if the future of aging is no longer defined simply by lifespan, but by how long we can remain mentally sharp, physically active, emotionally connected, and fully engaged with life? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with documentary filmmaker, David Donnelly, director of the acclaimed documentary, Forever Young, about the rapidly evolving science of longevity and the questions for humanity, emerging alongside the science. Together, they explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan, the growing role of biomarkers, wearables, epigenetics,...
info_outlineIn this conversation with Dr. Gillian Lockitch, Dr. Natalya Borakowski explains the neurological remodeling and hormonal shifts that occur during perimenopause and menopause — and why these changes can trigger identity disruption and appearance anxiety. You’ll learn how understanding the biology behind midlife can restore self-trust, reduce fear, and support aging youthfully. Midlife often arrives with an unexpected sense of instability. Women describe feeling anxious, self-critical, emotionally reactive, or disconnected from their reflection — even when medical tests show nothing “wrong.” Estrogen and progesterone influence neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin, and hormonal shifts temporarily alter emotional regulation, stress response, and self-perception This experience is not psychological weakness or hysteria. It is a biological and neurological transition that most women are never prepared for. If we misinterpret midlife symptoms as personal failure, we amplify stress and self-judgment — two drivers of accelerated aging. For women committed to healthy longevity and extending healthspan, understanding the hormonal remodeling of the brain is essential. When we understand what is happening, fear lessens. And when fear lessens, physiology follows. Natalya Borakowski is a naturopathic physician and founder of Desert Bloom Skincare. Her upcoming book, Emotional Esthetics: The Story of Aging, The Biology of Beauty, and the Art of Self-Trust, reframes midlife distress as a natural neurological transition rather than a cosmetic crisis.
Episode Timeline:
00:00 — Opening question: Is midlife distress biological, not psychological?
03:45 — Natalya’s journey into medicine and skin health
07:30 — Cultural pressures, appearance & identity
13:15 — The “identity perception split” explained
18:40 — Hormones, neurotransmitters & brain remodeling
23:50 — Wellness vs performance and self-surveillance
26:30 — Personal stories: health crises & device tracking
31:10 — Nervous system safety and the vagus nerve
32:10 — The essential mindset shift: aging as transformation
34:10 — Closing reflections and resources
Connect with Natalya Borakowski
We are happy to offer a complimentary download The Aging Out Loud Starter kit https://free-gift.unveilyou.
Instagram accounts @unveilyou.life @natalyaborakowski
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/
Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch
Download your guide to
Build Back a Better Body: Strengthen Bones, Muscles, Joint and Fascia
Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at askdrgill@gmail.com to request a phone conversation or zoom call
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