270 The Hidden Driver of Aging: How Self-Talk Shapes Your Healthspan with Anne Poirier
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 06/01/2026
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Could difficulty hearing conversations today affect your brain health, independence and quality of life in the years ahead? Hearing loss is often treated as a minor inconvenience of growing older, yet it can affect communication, relationships, social connection, confidence and independence. In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with hearing-health advocate and author Robert “Bob” Keefer, MD, about the association between hearing loss and cognitive decline, why so many people delay seeking help for hearing deficits and what questions to ask before choosing a hearing-care provider....
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Health care professionals emphasize optimizing cholesterol, blood sugar and hormone levels and from that assessing biological age. These measurements can provide useful information, but do they tell us whether the body is still resilient, adaptable and capable of recovering from illness, injury or stress? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch and Dr. Sean Fletch explore the difference between moving a laboratory number into the desired range, and addressing the upstream conditions that caused it to change. Dr. Fletch reframes healthspan as more than the number of years lived...
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What does a physician-scientist actually do each day to support her own healthy aging? This is a question Dr. Gillian Lockitch hears often. Her answer is not a prescription, a shopping list or a collection of fashionable biohacks. Healthy longevity is personal: our genetics, health histories, medications, priorities and goals differ, so the most useful routine is one designed for the individual. In this solo episode, Dr. Gillian organizes her approach around the seven pillars of healthy longevity described in her book, Growing Older, Living Younger. She explains how epigenetics offers a more...
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Could retirement actually become the beginning of your most meaningful work? In this personal solo episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch shares how spinal surgery, ballroom dancing, entrepreneurship and podcasting transformed her understanding of healthy longevity. You’ll discover why curiosity, consistency and a renewed sense of purpose can help you remain mentally sharp, physically engaged and excited about the future at any age. For most of her professional life, Dr. Gillian Lockitch was a physician, medical biochemist, researcher, university professor and department head. She expected...
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What helps people stay active, strong, and independent as they age—luck, genetics, or habits built years earlier? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Carl Daikeler, co-founder and CEO of BODi, about why healthy longevity is rooted in consistency: regular movement, supportive nutrition, and the discipline to care for your body before a health crisis forces the issue. Carl shares his personal story of discovering a congenital heart block at age 59, receiving a pacemaker, and using that experience to deepen his commitment to healthspan...
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if the path to healthy longevity lies not in choosing between ancient healing traditions and modern science, but in learning how to integrate both? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Dr. Mao Shing Ni—38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, co-founder of Tao of Wellness, and author of Secrets of Longevity—about how Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement modern approaches to healthspan optimization. Dr. Mao explains the foundational principles of Chinese medicine, including balance, the five elemental systems, and the links between organ function,...
info_outlineGrowing 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...
info_outlineGrowing 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...
info_outlineGrowing 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...
info_outlineGrowing 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...
info_outlineWhat if the most powerful determinant of how you age is not your biology, but your inner dialogue? In this episode, Anne Poirier explores how self-talk shapes emotional wellbeing, behavior, and ultimately healthspan. Negative inner dialogue can reinforce stress, limit confidence, and influence lifestyle choices that impact aging. Drawing from her lived experience and three decades of professional work, Anne explains how shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion can transform both mental and physical health. Listeners will learn practical strategies to reframe their inner voice, adopt body neutrality, and support healthier, more empowered aging. Anne Poirier is a nationally recognized body image expert and founder of Shaping Perspectives. She is a certified Intuitive Eating counselor, self-talk trainer, and eating disorder specialist with a degree in Exercise Science. She is the author of The Body Joyful, Not a Fat Annie, and The Body Neutrality Playbook.
Episode Timeline
00:00 – Welcome and introduction
04:30 – The role of self-talk in shaping behavior and identity
05:06 – Anne’s early experiences with body image and eating disorder
10:32 – How childhood messaging and environment shape self-talk
16:39 – Body neutrality vs body positivity explained
18:37 – The “body bully” and transforming inner criticism 23:02 – Steps to heal your relationship with your body
25:16 – How self-talk impacts physical health and aging
30:03 – Overview of Anne’s books and frameworks
32:41 – One simple daily practice to shift self-talk
34:45 – Wrap-up and key takeaways
Where to connect with Anne Poirier
https://shapingperspectives.com
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/annepoirier11
Free gift: Body Confidence Unlocked
https://shapingperspectives.com/confidence/
Call to Action
Schedule a complimentary introductory call or video call
Contact Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch
Find Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably (North America only) or on Kindle
Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community
Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show.