Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most people assume mold exposure causes allergies or respiratory issues. What if it is actually driving chronic inflammation, hormone disruption, and neurological symptoms that standard labs fail to detect.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Ariana Thacker, founder and CEO of Moldco, to uncover how mold toxicity operates as a systemic, cellular-level illness and why so many patients are misdiagnosed or dismissed. We break down how mold impacts mitochondrial energy, immune signaling, gut health, and hormones, and why genetics determine who gets sick even within the same household.
We also explore the real diagnostic pathway for mold related illness, from symptom cluster questionnaires and targeted biomarkers to home dust testing, and why healing only works when medical treatment and environmental remediation happen together.
Ariana Thacker is a chemical engineer turned health entrepreneur who built Moldco after toxic mold exposure nearly destroyed her own health, creating an accessible care model that combines testing, telemedicine, and treatment to address one of medicine's biggest blind spots.
What We Discuss:
(03:46) Mold toxicity as a systemic, whole-body illness
(07:03) Ariana's health crisis and discovering mold at home
(11:40) Toxins, colonization, and chronic inflammation
(16:02) Genetic susceptibility and the canary effect
(19:22) Why standard medical testing fails mold patients
(22:04) Symptom clusters, CIRS, and diagnostic pathways
(26:41) Home dust testing and identifying exposure
(32:14) Treatment protocols and telemedicine care
(36:58) Addressing mold, Lyme, and long COVID
(42:39) Recovery timelines and rebuilding health
(47:34) Patient advocacy and ending medical gaslighting
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
MoldCo: Home Test and Starter Panel: Use code NEXTHEALTH20 for 20% off any lab order at https://access.moldco.com/labs .
IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH.
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ 
 
Learn more about Ariana Thacker:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/themoldcompany/ 
Website: https://www.moldco.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianadthacker/

Most people think brain aging is inevitable. What if the real future of longevity is protecting cellular health long before symptoms appear.
 
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Dayan Goodenowe, neuroscientist and biochemist, to explore the hidden role of plasmalogens in brain health, aging, and all-cause mortality. Dr. Goodenowe shares how his work in advanced metabolomics revealed that declining plasmalogen levels can predict dementia, cancer recurrence, and shortened lifespan years before disease is diagnosed, reframing aging as a loss of health rather than a disease itself.
 
We explore how restoring cellular membrane integrity can reduce neuroinflammation, rebuild brain structure, and improve resilience, along with how advanced MRI and lipid-based blood testing now make it possible to measure, track, and optimize brain health in a proactive way.
 
What We Discuss:
(01:39) What plasmalogens are and why cell membranes matter
(11:23) Predicting dementia and mortality years in advance
(14:52) Why aging is about losing health, not getting disease
(16:03) The concept of prodromes and early loss of resilience
(19:13) Plasmalogens, cancer recurrence, and systemic aging
(27:35) Advanced MRI, brain inflammation, and cortical thickness
(36:40) Muscle, mobility, and restoring functional resilience
(40:14) The three M's of longevity: mental acuity, mobility, mood
(53:42) Measuring true brain health beyond standard biomarkers
(59:05) Designing a life focused on function, purpose, and vitality
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/ 



Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ 
 
Learn more about Dr. Goodenowe:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drdayangoodenowe/ 
Website: https://drgoodenowe.com/ 
Website: https://prodrome.com/ 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayangoodenowe/ 
 
Keywords:
Longevity Medicine, Plasmalogens, Brain Health, Cellular Membrane Health, Preventive Care, Health Optimization, Aging Mechanisms, Neuroinflammation, Biomarkers, Advanced MRI, Metabolomics, Personalized Medicine, Proactive Health Monitoring, Functional Longevity, Human Potential Optimization, Extend Podcast, Episode 137, Dr. Dayan Goodenowe

Most people think medicine is about treating disease. What if the real future of healthcare is preventing illness and optimizing human potential long before symptoms appear.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. David Luu, physician, former pediatric cardiac surgeon, and founder of the Longevity Docs movement. Dr. Luu shares his journey from high intensity surgery to longevity medicine, shaped by firsthand exposure to preventable disease, global health missions, and the realization that the current medical system is built for sick care, not health.
We explore where longevity medicine is today, where it is heading, and why AI, wearables, and data access are transforming how people manage their health. Dr. Luu breaks down the shift from biohacking to bioliteracy, the need to train doctors as educators, and his Longevity Canvas framework for building a life that prioritizes both time and vitality.
What We Discuss:
(00:00) From surgery to longevity medicine and why sick care is broken
(06:30) A global health mission that changed Dr. Luu's view on prevention
(12:30) Bringing medicine closer to patients through technology
(18:30) COVID, wearables, and the rise of proactive health monitoring
(25:30) Why longevity medicine targets aging, not just disease
(32:30) The shortage of preventive doctors and the future of medical training
(40:30) AI, wearables, and why patients must become CEOs of their health
(47:30) Biohacking vs bioliteracy and the role of physician education
(54:30) The Longevity Canvas and designing a life worth living
(01:01:30) Community, purpose, and legacy as pillars of longevity
(01:07:30) Optimizing human potential and the next era of healthcare


Thank You to Our Sponsors:
IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH.
Nexthealth: NextHealth: Your destination for cutting-edge health optimization—from IV therapy to hormone balancing. Explore at https://www.next-health.com/ 

 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ 
 
Learn more about Dr. David Luu:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drdavidluu/?hl=en 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longevitydocsnetwork/?hl=en
Website: https://www.drdavidluu.com/ 
Website: https://longevitydocs.org/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidluu/

Most people know what they should do to be healthy, yet still struggle to follow through. What if the real barrier is not discipline or knowledge, but mindset.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Sarah Ann Macklin, a nutritionist and health educator who blends nutrition science with psychology and self-compassion. Sarah shares her journey from high fashion modeling to nutritional science, and how burnout, illness, and neurodiversity shaped her approach to sustainable health.
We explore why health changes often fail when driven by restriction and scarcity, how self-compassion creates lasting behavior change, and why ultra-processed foods, stress, and comparison culture sabotage both physical and mental health. Sarah also breaks down practical tools to reconnect with hunger cues, build healthier habits, and shift from self-criticism to an abundance mindset so health no longer feels hard, rigid, or overwhelming.
 
What We Discuss:
(00:00) Why people struggle to get healthy despite good advice

(02:30) Self-compassion as the foundation of sustainable health

(07:30) From high fashion modeling to nutrition and a major health wake-up call

(14:30) Dyslexia, neurodivergence, and the first moment of self-compassion

(18:30) Food and mental health, the SMILES trial, and omega-3 research

(26:30) Body image, thinness myths, and the reality of the modeling industry

(31:30) Social media, comparison culture, and rising body dysmorphia

(38:30) The neuroscience of self-compassion and why positivity alone fails

(43:30) Optimizers vs lapses and the shared feeling of not being enough

(49:30) Clinical tools, mindful food journaling, and emotional awareness

(54:30) Crash dieting, quick fixes, and why habits matter more than diets

(01:00:00) Stress, mindset, and how rigid health plans backfire

(01:03:30) Practical self-compassion tools and book announcement



Thank You to Our Sponsors:
IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH.

 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ 
 
Learn more about Sarah Ann Macklin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahAnnOfficial/ 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-macklin-3498a193/

Most people assume losing strength, energy, and bone health is inevitable as we age. But what if maintaining muscle, optimizing hormones, and protecting bone density were about targeting the right systems early rather than treating symptoms later?
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in midlife health and longevity. With years of experience merging clinical medicine with functional approaches, Dr. Shepherd shares how resistance training, hormone therapy, nutrition, and modern therapies like GLP-1 medications can work together to help women thrive through midlife and beyond.
We talk about why muscle is the "organ of longevity," how bone quality and hormonal balance impact strength and metabolism, and why small, consistent lifestyle changes such as squats, grip exercises, and functional movement can have massive long-term effects. Dr. Shepherd also explores strategies to boost energy, preserve functionality, and support overall health so you can age stronger, healthier, and more resilient.
 
What We Discuss:
(04:00) Why many physicians leave traditional medicine for longevity-focused care

(07:50) Menopause, the WHI study, and how hormone therapy was misunderstood for decades

(11:45) Perimenopause explained: early symptoms like brain fog, sleep disruption, and emotional changes

(18:45) When women should start thinking about perimenopause and why conversations should begin in the late 30s

(23:30) Patient autonomy: ruling out thyroid, mental health, stress, and nutrition before starting hormones

(27:40) Hormones as optimization fuel for brain, bone, muscle, and metabolic health

(30:15) Why muscle is the organ of longevity and how resistance training protects metabolism and strength

(33:00) Bone health beyond density: early DEXA scans, bone quality, and osteoporosis prevention

(36:30) Functional longevity tests: sit-to-stand, grip strength, farmer's carry, and real-world strength

(39:50) Motivation and quick wins: how HRT and GLP-1 therapies can accelerate lifestyle change

(41:15) The synergy between hormone therapy and GLP-1 medications in perimenopause

(44:40) The future of hormone therapy: individualized delivery and integrated longevity care models

(46:45) Creating a well space for proactive health instead of reactive disease treatment



Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Function Health: Learn more and join using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/drshah and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram:@darshanshahmd
 
Learn more about Dr. Jessica Shepherd:
Instagram:  jessicashepherdmd 
Website: https://www.jessicashepherdmd.com/ 
Linkedin: Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG