Libsyn Directory

#356 - AMA #73: Preserving brain health, optimizing exercise programming, improving body composition, and more

Release Date: 07/14/2025

#379 - AMA #79: A guide to cardiorespiratory training at any fitness level to improve healthspan, lifespan, and long-term independence

The Peter Attia Drive

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter brings together his most up-to-date thinking on cardiorespiratory fitness into a single, practical guide designed to help listeners structure training for maximal impact on healthspan, lifespan, and long-term independence. He explains why cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the strongest modifiable predictors of longevity, clarifies what zone 2 training actually represents and how it differs from higher-intensity work, and addresses persistent confusion around exercise volume, intensity, and time constraints. The discussion covers how to...

#378 ‒ Women’s health and performance: how training, nutrition, and hormones interact across life stages | Abbie Smith-Ryan, Ph.D.

The Peter Attia Drive

Abbie Smith-Ryan is a leading researcher in exercise physiology whose work focuses on how training and nutrition influence body composition, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and women’s health across the lifespan, with particular attention on perimenopause and post-menopause. In this episode, Abbie explains how early exercise and play help build the foundation for bone health, muscle development, and cardiorespiratory fitness in girls, as well as how puberty and menstruation shape athletic performance, motivation, and recovery. She also explores how women can tailor training and...

Building & Changing Habits | James Clear (#183 rebroadcast)

The Peter Attia Drive

James Clear is the author of the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. His extensive research into human behavior has helped him identify key components of habit formation and develop the “Four Laws of Behavioral Change.” In this episode, James provides insights into how both good and bad habits are formed, including the influence of genetics, environment, social circles, and more. He points to changes one can make to cultivate more perseverance and discipline and describes the profound impact habits can have when tying them into one’s self-identity. Finally, James breaks down his...

#377 ‒ Special episode: Understanding true happiness and the tools to cultivate a meaningful life—insights from past interviews with Arthur Brooks

The Peter Attia Drive

In this special episode of The Drive, Peter presents a curated “best of” conversation with bestselling author and previous guest Arthur Brooks, organized around four core themes: happiness itself, the forces that undermine it, the tools and practices that help cultivate it, and the courage required to live and love well. The episode brings together the most meaningful moments from two past interviews into a single, focused discussion that distills Brooks’ most insightful ideas and offers practical takeaways for building a life that's both successful and deeply happy. We discuss: ...

#376 - AMA #78: Longevity interventions, exercise, diagnostic screening, and managing high apoB, hypertension, metabolic health, and more

The Peter Attia Drive

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter tackles a wide-ranging set of listener questions spanning lifespan interventions, exercise, cardiovascular risk reduction, time-restricted eating, blood pressure management, hormone therapy, diagnostics, and more. Peter reveals the single most important lever for extending healthspan and lifespan, and explains how he motivates midlife patients using the Centenarian Decathlon framework. He discusses the importance of addressing high apoB and cholesterol even in metabolically healthy individuals with calcium scores of zero, how to manage high...

#375 - Ketogenic diet, ketosis & hyperbaric oxygen: metabolic therapies for weight loss, cognition, Alzheimer’s & more | Dom D’Agostino, Ph.D.

The Peter Attia Drive

Dom D'Agostino is a neuroscientist and professor at the forefront of metabolic therapies, including ketogenic diets, exogenous ketones, and hyperbaric oxygen. In this episode, Dom breaks down nutritional versus supplemental ketosis, defines meaningful ketone thresholds, and outlines practical ways to achieve ketosis. He explains how a ketogenic diet can support metabolic health and weight loss, and advises on how to maintain adequate protein and avoid common mistakes. Dom surveys the growing landscape of exogenous ketones—from salts and esters to 1,3-butanediol—and effective pairings...

#374 - The evolutionary biology of testosterone: how it shapes male development and sex-based behavioral differences, | Carole Hooven, Ph.D.

The Peter Attia Drive

Carole Hooven is a human evolutionary biologist whose research centers on testosterone, sex differences, and behavior. In this episode, she explores how prenatal testosterone orchestrates male development in the body and brain, how early hormonal surges shape lifelong behavioral tendencies, and what rare natural experiments—such as 5-alpha-reductase deficiency—reveal about the biology of sex differentiation. She discusses distinct male and female aggression styles through an evolutionary lens, how modern environments interact with ancient competitive drives, and the implications of...

The impact of gratitude, serving others, embracing mortality, and living intentionally | Walter Green (#288 rebroadcast)

The Peter Attia Drive

Walter Green is a remarkable philanthropist, mentor, author of This Is the Moment!, and founder of the impactful “Say It Now” movement. In this episode, Walter delves into the unique insights gained from his challenging upbringing, discusses embracing mortality, and highlights the mindset of “finishing strong.” He shares insights on intentionality, thinking in reverse, saying “no,” prioritizing relationships, and the essence of focusing on others. The conversation focuses on the “Say It Now” movement, which stresses the importance of expressing sentiments to loved ones well...

#373 – Thyroid function and hypothyroidism: why current diagnosis and treatment fall short for many, and how new approaches are transforming care | Antonio Bianco, M.D., Ph.D.

The Peter Attia Drive

Antonio Bianco is a world-renowned physician-scientist and expert in thyroid physiology and metabolism. In this episode, Antonio explores the complex biology of thyroid hormone production, conversion, and regulation—highlighting how deiodinase enzymes modulate hormone activity at the tissue level and why that matters for interpreting lab results. He discusses the shortcomings of relying solely on TSH as a marker of thyroid function, the ongoing debate around combination therapy with T3 and T4 versus standard T4 treatment, and how genetics, tissue sensitivity, and individual variability...

#372 - AMA #77: Dietary fiber and health outcomes: real benefits, overhyped claims, and practical applications

The Peter Attia Drive

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter breaks down the science of dietary fiber, moving beyond the blanket advice to “eat more fiber” to uncover what it actually does in the body and where its benefits are truly supported by evidence. He explains how different types of fiber—soluble, insoluble, viscous, and fermentable—affect digestion, satiety, weight management, and glycemic control, and compares their impact to other, more potent metabolic tools. Peter also examines how certain fibers influence lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk, evaluates the strength of...

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View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

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In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter addresses frequently requested topics, including brain health, exercise programming, and body composition. He explores the factors that influence dementia risk—including metabolic health, fitness, sleep, hearing, cholesterol levels, and more. He explains how to implement zone 2 training and VO₂ max intervals for cardiovascular fitness and also covers how to combine cardio modalities, how to stay in zone 2, and special considerations for women. Peter highlights the benefits of light movement after meals and offers strength training tips for those managing injuries. Additional insights include how to maintain fat loss, the truth about so-called “slow metabolisms,” and how to set appropriate daily protein goals while managing the trade-off between lean mass and body fat over time.

If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #73 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

Overview of episode topics on brain health, cardiovascular training strategies, and body composition [2:15];
Understanding dementia risk: modifiable vs. non-modifiable contributors to cognitive decline [5:00];
The causality between metabolic health and dementia [9:45];
How diet and exercise influence brain health: energy balance and exercise as key preventative tools [13:30];
Why combining aerobic, resistance, and cognitively engaging activities offers the most comprehensive benefits for preventing cognitive decline [17:00];
Additional lifestyle factors that influence dementia risk: smoking, head trauma, alcohol, and sleep [19:45];
The link between hearing loss and dementia: dose-dependent risk and the case for correction [25:15];
How poor oral hygiene may contribute to neuroinflammation and dementia risk [27:30];
Supplements for brain health: which ones matter and when they’re worth considering [28:45];
Low LDL cholesterol and brain health: debunking the myth of cognitive risk [33:45];
How to approach zone 2 training: the importance of staying in zone 2 and tailoring intensity based on your time and goals [38:00];
Lactate testing for zone 2: clinical protocols and at-home approaches [43:00];
Zone 2 training for women: addressing the misconception that zone 2 training is unnecessary or ineffective for postmenopausal women [49:30];
Effective strategies for VO₂ max training: short vs. long intervals [51:45];
The benefits of post-meal walking for glucose management, and why spikes in glucose during exercise aren’t harmful [56:45];
The role of stability training in supporting resistance work and healthy aging [1:00:15];
Adapting strength training to manage chronic back injuries and train for longevity [1:02:00];
The role of aerobic exercise (like zone 2) in fat loss, metabolic health, and weight maintenance [1:06:30];
Debunking the “fast vs. slow metabolism” myth: why energy balance and protein matter most for fat loss [1:09:45];
Lean mass vs. body fat: why both matter for health and longevity [1:12:15];
How protein intake impacts muscle mass and why pairing it with resistance training is significantly more effective [1:15:15]; and
More.

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