Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Most women are taught that aging means decline, less energy, less strength, and less desire. What if the real problem has never been age itself, but untreated hormone loss and outdated medical narratives.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, hormone expert, and leading voice in women's sexual health, to uncover how hormones shape longevity, muscle, brain health, and quality of life across midlife and beyond. We break down why estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone matter far beyond symptom relief, how the WHI was misinterpreted, and why modern hormone therapy changes the trajectory of aging.
We also explore how mindset, muscle preservation, vaginal estrogen, blood flow, wearables, and responsive desire redefine what healthy aging and sexual health can look like for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.
Dr. Kelly Casperson is a board certified urologist, author of You Are Not Broken and The Menopause Moment, and host of the You Are Not Broken podcast. Through clinical care, education, and media, she helps women reclaim agency over their hormones, sexuality, and long term health with science driven, compassionate guidance.
 
What We Discuss:
(02:22) Why aging is driven by hormone and muscle loss, not age

(05:30) How mindset shapes longevity, vitality, and sexual health

(08:15) Why estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect the entire body

(12:40) The WHI study, fear based medicine, and what the data actually shows

(18:20) Muscle, hormones, and their role in bone, brain, and metabolic health

(23:40) Perimenopause, menopause, and why symptoms are often dismissed

(30:10) Vaginal estrogen, pelvic health, and preventing long term decline

(36:50) Wearables, biomarkers, and how data empowers better decisions

(42:30) Exercise, blood flow, and preserving sexual function with age

(48:15) Responsive desire, desire mismatch, and the orgasm gap

(55:40) Why sexual health is biopsychosocial, not just hormonal

(01:02:20) How education, communication, and prevention redefine women's longevity

 
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. Kelly Casperson:
Website: https://kellycaspersonmd.com/
Podcast: https://kellycaspersonmd.com/you-are-not-broken-podcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youarentbroken/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellycaspersonmd

Most people are told to lose weight to get healthy. What if that mindset is the reason metabolic health keeps getting worse, muscle keeps disappearing, and fat loss never lasts.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with JJ Virgin, triple board certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer, to unpack why muscle, not weight loss, is the true driver of metabolic health and longevity. We break down why calorie counting and macro percentages fail, how protein first nutrition reshapes metabolism, and why building muscle changes insulin sensitivity, fat loss, and aging at every stage of life.
We also explore how simple strength tests, time efficient training structures, and a muscle first framework can reverse metabolic decline, guide safe GLP-1 use, and help people stop dieting and start rebuilding their health.
JJ Virgin is a New York Times bestselling author, media personality, and founder of multiple multimillion dollar health brands, including the Mindshare Collaborative. As host of the Well Beyond 40 podcast and a leader in nutrition, fitness, and longevity, she has helped millions rethink aging, build resilient bodies, and optimize healthspan through science driven strategies.
What We Discuss:
(04:10) Why weight loss focused thinking worsens metabolic health

(09:05) The difference between losing weight and losing muscle

(14:00) Why the scale is the wrong metric for health

(18:45) Muscle mass, strength, and metabolic resilience

(23:10) Simple strength tests that predict longevity

(30:00) Time efficient training using push pull hinge frameworks

(36:40) Why steps and daily movement matter more than people think

(41:50) HIIT vs zone two and how to prioritize exercise

(47:10) Protein first nutrition and why macro percentages fail

(55:00) GLP-1s, muscle loss, and how to use them safely

(01:06:30) Hormones, thyroid health, and recognizing early warning signs

(01:14:20) Why improving metabolic health leads to sustainable fat loss

 
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. 
Timeline: Go to timeline.com/drshah to get 20% off your order.
 
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 JJ Virgin:
Website: https://jjvirgin.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JJVirginOfficial/ 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jj.virgin/ 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jjvirginvideos 
Podcast: https://jjvirgin.com/main-podcast/ 
7 Day Challenge / Protein Calculator: jjvirgin.com/proteinfirst

Most people assume viral health advice is backed by solid science. What if much of it is built on cherry-picked studies, misleading mechanisms, and narratives designed to sell certainty rather than protect long-term health.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Idrees Mughal, UK-trained medical doctor and nutrition researcher, to unpack why so many viral health and nutrition claims fail under real scientific scrutiny. We break down how influencers misuse studies, why single papers rarely overturn decades of evidence, and how mechanistic and animal research is often exaggerated to make claims about human health.
We also explore how to evaluate health information more clearly, from spotting credential misuse and false equivalencies to understanding why human outcome data matters more than anecdotes, trends, or social media engagement.
Dr. Idrees Mughal, widely known as Dr Idz, is a physician and educator who has built a global following by confronting health misinformation with evidence-based science, helping millions learn how to think critically about nutrition and wellness claims through his platforms and the School of Dr Idz.
 
What We Discuss:
(04:00) How wellness influencers misuse nutrition science



(07:28) Why one study cannot overturn decades of evidence



(11:21) Credential misuse and cherry-picked research



(15:48) Rodent and preclinical studies vs human outcomes



(20:30) Mechanistic speculation and longevity myths



(25:22) Social media echo chambers and diet tribalism



(30:11) False equivalencies in carnivore and plant-based debates



(38:06) Sugar vs artificial sweeteners and what the evidence shows



(49:07) Why N=1 anecdotes are not evidence



(55:25) When extreme elimination diets may help short term



(01:03:59) Why nutrition science is not actually confusing

 
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: 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. Idrees Mughal:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dr_idz/?hl=en 
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_idz 
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@dr_idz

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