272 Slowing Biological Aging Naturally: Autophagy, Diet and Longevity with Leslie Kenny
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 06/15/2026
Growing 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,...
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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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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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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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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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“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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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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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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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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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...
info_outlineWhat if one of the most powerful anti-aging tools already exists within your body? This episode explores autophagy, the body’s natural cellular renewal system, and how activating it can support healthy aging and longevity. Longevity expert Leslie Kenny shares her personal journey of reversing autoimmune disease and translating cutting-edge science into practical strategies. Listeners will discover how autophagy promoting spermidine, proper nutrition, and baseline lifestyle habits influence cellular repair, resilience, and biological aging.
Leslie Kenny is the founder of Oxford Healthspan, a company focused on translating longevity science into practical health solutions. She is a longevity researcher with expertise in cellular aging, autophagy, and immune system modulation. Her career includes work in finance and policy before a personal medical crisis led her to transition into health science. She specializes in spermidine research and its role in activating autophagy and influencing the hallmarks of aging. She is co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, a nonprofit dedicated to education in healthy aging.
Episode Timeline
00:00 – Welcome and introduction
02:00 – Reframing aging as a modifiable biological process
03:50 – Leslie Kenny’s autoimmune diagnosis and turning point
10:50 – Limitations of modern healthcare and the need for prevention
14:50 – What autophagy is and why it matters for longevity
17:00 – Spermidine and its role in cellular renewal pathways
21:30 – Nutrition, mushrooms, and dietary sources of spermidine
24:30 – Hallmarks of aging and systemic cellular decline
31:00 – Development of Primadine and supplement formulation science
37:00 – Practical strategies: fasting, diet, and supplementation
41:30 – Key takeaways on influencing biological agin
Connect with Leslie Kenny
Instagram:
@lesliesnewprime
@oxfordhealthspan
@oxfordlongevityproject
To try Primadine Spermidine Supplement:
Code: GOLY15 Link: https://www.oxfordhealthspan.
Please note that Dr. Lockitch retired from medical practice and does not diagnose, prescribe for or treat any medical conditions. Before ordering any product discussed in these podcasts, consult your health care practitioner.
Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch
at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: askdrgill@gmail.com
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