You can eat healthy, exercise daily, and still struggle with fatigue, inflammation, or brain fog. Why? Because every system in your body is connected. The gut, brain, and immune system are constantly communicating, and most health plans ignore that network.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Karan Rajan to explore how the gut microbiome shapes everything from digestion and immunity to mood, skin, and longevity. We unpack the science behind leaky gut, fiber diversity, fermented foods, and the connection between microbiome imbalance and chronic inflammation.

We also dive into practical steps such as how to feed all three layers of your colon, the right way to use fiber supplements, the truth about probiotics, and how daily habits like sleep timing, stress, and even phone use in the bathroom affect gut health.

Dr. Karan Rajan is a surgeon, educator, and gut health expert with more than five million followers across social media. His research in microbiome science and human health has made him one of the most trusted voices translating complex medicine into actionable steps for modern life.

What's Discussed:

• (00:00) From Surgery to the Science of the Microbiome

• (05:18) How Fiber Diversity Fuels a Healthy Gut

• (12:14) The Link Between Leaky Gut, Skin, and Inflammation

• (19:49) What Destroys the Microbiome and How to Rebuild It

• (27:56) Poop, Circadian Rhythms, and Real Gut Health Markers

• (40:13) Fiber Supplements, Fermented Foods, and Smart Probiotics

• (54:05) Inside the Future of Gut Health and the Loam Project

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. Pendulum: Go to pendulumlife.com and use code EXTEND at checkout for 20% off all Pendulum membership first orders.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Karan Rajan:

Instagram: drkaranrajan

YouTube: Dr Karan

Linkedin: Dr Karan Rajan

LOAM: www.loamscience.com

What if the future of medicine isn't about diagnosing disease, but preventing it entirely? For decades, our healthcare system has only reacted once things go wrong. We measure when there are symptoms. We intervene when there is a crisis. But what if we could see the shift before it becomes an illness?

In this episode of EXTEND, I'm joined by Josh Clemente, founder of Levels and former SpaceX engineer, to explore how continuous health monitoring is about to change human health at scale. Josh shares how engineering principles—not traditional medicine—first revealed the hidden metabolic patterns that were draining his energy, affecting his cognition, and pushing him toward disease long before any lab test reflected it.

We discuss why continuous glucose monitoring is only the first step in this revolution, how data empowers individuals instead of the healthcare system, and why the next era of health will be defined by observability—real-time insight that lets you adjust, course-correct, and optimize your biology every single day.

Josh Clemente is the co-founder of Levels, a metabolic health platform bringing continuous glucose monitoring and real-time lifestyle coaching to the mainstream. Previously, he led life support systems engineering at SpaceX, where he developed safety technology for astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

What's Discussed:

(00:00) Why You Should Own Your Health Data — Not Your Doctor (05:50) The Tech That's About to Replace Annual Checkups (17:47) The Medical System Won't Fix Chronic Disease — You Will (26:02) AI + Biology: The Turning Point We've Been Waiting For (35:15) Learning to "Read" Your Body in Real Time (45:54) How Small Daily Inputs Create (or Reverse) Disease (57:05) What's Coming Next in Wearable Health Tech (01:06:57) Continuous Monitoring: The Future of Metabolic Health (01:13:57) Metabolic Health = Energy. And Energy = Life. (01:27:11) Final Takeaways: Empowerment, Data, and Ownership

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

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:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Josh Clemente:

Instagram: @levels Instagram: @josh.f.clemente

Website: https://www.levels.com/

What if the real key to longevity has nothing to do with your workouts or supplements, but with how well your brain is wired to adapt, repair, and thrive?

In this episode of EXTEND, I sit down with Dr. Amir Vookshoor, a board-certified neurosurgeon and founder of NeuroVella Brain Spa, to explore how modern neuroscience and biohacking are merging to shape the future of brain health.

We dive into how trauma, inflammation, and stress rewire the nervous system and how to reset it. From neurofeedback and TMS to breathwork, sleep, and emerging tools like plasmapheresis and light-based neuromodulation, this conversation reveals the most powerful, science-backed ways to reprogram the brain for focus, resilience, and longevity.

Dr. Amir Vookshoor is a pioneering neurosurgeon integrating modern neuroscience with holistic medicine to help patients achieve optimal brain function. His work bridges surgery, neuroplasticity, and mind-body science to unlock new pathways for healing and human potential.

What's Discussed:

• (00:00) From Neurosurgery to the Future of Brain Health

• (10:42) How Stress and Trauma Rewire the Nervous System

• (19:58) Neurofeedback, Brain States, and Consciousness

• (31:25) Advanced Imaging and Early Alzheimer's Prevention

• (40:16) Plasmapheresis and the Science of Brain Renewal

• (50:27) Breathwork, Sleep, and the Brain-Body Connection

Thank You for 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. 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:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about : Instagram: @drvokshoor Website: NEUROSURGERY & SPINE GROUP

What if the key to living longer and feeling younger has been hidden in ancient medicine all along? Long before supplements, peptides, or wearables, healing was about restoring balance through food, movement, belief, and nature. Today, those same principles are being shown by modern science to protect your cells, extend your healthspan, and reverse root causes of disease.

In this episode of EXTEND, I'm joined by Dr. Josh Axe and we explore how ancient healing systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine intersect with today's most advanced longevity research. We dive into the biology of faith and mindset, how chronic stress and emotion impact gene expression, and the connection between gut health, inflammation, and aging.

We also discuss how to bridge natural and modern medicine, the surprising role of peptides and stem cells in regeneration, and why true longevity begins with the everyday habits you practice, not just the protocols you chase.

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS, is a doctor of chiropractic and natural medicine, a clinical nutritionist, and the co-founder of Ancient Nutrition. He is also the host of the podcast The Dr. Josh Axe Show and the bestselling author of Ancient Remedies and The Biblical Diet.

We Also Discuss: (00:04) Traditional vs. Western medicine and where real healing happens (08:51) Ancient nutrition and the science of longevity (14:31) The emotional biology of healing in Eastern medicine (25:55) Biblical health codes and the roots of longevity (38:06) Mold toxicity, early signs, triggers, and recovery (52:26) Illness, purpose, and the path to healing (01:12:38) Regenerative therapies using peptides and stem cells (01:27:59) The future of wellness through ancient wisdom and modern science

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Timeline: Go to timeline.com/drshah to get 20% off your order.

Function Health: Learn more and join using functionhealth.com/drshah. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/drshah or use gift code DRSHAH100 at sign-up to own your health.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Josh Axe:

Website: www.draxe.com

Instagram:@drjoshaxe

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@DrJoshAxe

What if the real secret to longevity isn't found in science alone, but in how we choose to live, love, and connect every day?

In this special posthumous episode of EXTEND, I revisit one of the most meaningful conversations I've ever had — with Dr. Gladys McGarey, the 103-year-old physician known as the Mother of Holistic Medicine and author of The Well-Lived Life. Before her passing, Dr. McGarey shared a century's worth of wisdom on what truly heals us, from the inside out.

We talk about how she helped create the holistic medicine movement, the deeper meaning behind her "Five L's" — love, life, laughter, labor, and listening — and how energy, purpose, and community shape both health and happiness. She also shares powerful stories from her early life in India, her encounter with Gandhi, and how compassion became the foundation of her medical practice.

Dr. Gladys McGarey reminds us that medicine isn't just about curing disease — it's about nurturing the human spirit, and remembering that love itself is one of the most powerful healing forces we have.

We Also Discuss:

(00:00) A Century of Healing: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Gladys McGarey

(09:45) Growing Up in India and Meeting Gandhi

(20:23) How Holistic Medicine Was Born, and Why It Still Matters

(25:32) The Physician Within: What True Healing Really Means

(27:20) Energy, Purpose, and the Secret to Staying "Alive" at Any Age

(33:55) Turning Setbacks into Teachers: Finding Growth in Pain

(37:46) Why Community Is the Medicine We're Missing

(43:54) The Vision for a Healing Village, Where Love and Life Lead Medicine

Thank You to Our Sponsor:

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:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Gladys McGarey:

Website:https://gladysmcgarey.com/Instagram: @livingmedicinedr

What if the real turning point for women's health isn't menopause itself, but the decade before it? Long before the symptoms hit, your brain, bones, and heart are already changing, silently. You can train hard, eat clean, and still lose strength, bone density, and cognitive sharpness if you're not addressing the biology underneath it all.

In this episode of EXTEND, I'm joined by Dr. Vonda Wright, orthopedic surgeon, researcher, and author of Unbreakable, to talk about how women can take control of midlife long before the "change." We get into what actually happens when estradiol starts to fall, why bone is an active endocrine organ (not just structure), and how to measure what really predicts longevity: VO₂ max, grip strength, sit-to-stand, and bone quality.

We also discuss her FACE framework, flexibility, aerobic base, carrying load, and equilibrium, a smarter way to train for longevity that protects your brain, bones, and hormones.

Dr. Vonda Wright is a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon, researcher, and author of Unbreakable. She's a leading expert in active aging and musculoskeletal longevity, known for helping midlife women build strength, preserve bone health, and optimize performance through data-driven prevention.

What's Discussed:

(00:00) Why Women Need to Rethink Midlife Health (05:54) The Longevity Equation: Strength, Hormones, and Prevention (17:39) The Forgotten Organ Driving Women's Aging: Bone\ (28:44) How to Build Bone Quality (Not Just Density) (34:55) Training Smarter in Midlife: The FACE Protocol for Strength and Power (44:45) How to Find Real Fitness Inspiration Online, and Filter Out the Noise

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Vonda Wright:

Website: https://www.drvondawright.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvondawright

You can eat clean, track your labs, take supplements, and still feel anxious, inflamed, tired, or flat. Why? Because the gut, brain, immune system, and hormones are in constant conversation, and most of us are only treating one side of that story.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Will Cole to uncover the science behind the gut-brain axis, and why nervous system dysregulation might be the reason your biomarkers won't budge. We unpack how microbiome imbalances, silent inflammation, low vagal tone, and stored trauma show up as anxiety, constipation, brain fog, and burnout… even when you're "doing everything right."

We also get practical: testing beyond standard blood work, HRV as a window into resilience, breathwork vs. meditation, EMDR, "ugly journaling," and when devices like Apollo Neuro and Sensate actually help.

Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional medicine expert, a pioneer in gut-brain health, neuroimmune disorders, and autoimmune healing. He is also the host of the top-ranked podcast The Art of Being Well and the New York Times bestselling author of books including Gut Feelings, The Inflammation Spectrum, and Ketotarian.

What's Discussed:

(00:00) From Functional Medicine to the Gut-Brain Revolution (13:14) How Trauma, Serotonin, and the Vagus Nerve Shape the Mind-Gut Connection (21:13) Healing the Nervous System: Journaling, EMDR, and Wearable Vagus Nerve Tech (30:15) Why Real Health Change Starts with Individuals, Not Institutions (35:07) Food Deserts, Misinformation, and Taking Your Health Back (43:04) Regenerative Supplements, Soil Health & The Future of Functional Medicine

Thank You for 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. 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:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Will Cole: Instagram: @drwillcole Instagram: @theartofbeingwell_

Youtube: @DrWillCole

You have brain fog. You're gaining weight faster and losing it slower. You think it's stress, aging, or just life… But what if it's your liver screaming for help?

In this episode of Extend, I'm joined by Siggi Clavien, liver health expert and founder of The Liver Clinic, to uncover the silent epidemic destroying our health from the inside out.

We explore why 70% of liver disease today has nothing to do with alcohol, the actual damage done by Tylenol, and why your "normal" blood work might be hiding liver damage. We also dive into technology that can detect damage years before blood tests, and what might be your key to reversing chronic disease.

Siggi Clavien is a liver health specialist with 28 years in phytomedicine development and founder of The Liver Clinic. He combines ancient Eastern medicine wisdom with modern technology to help people detect and reverse liver damage.

We Also Discuss:

(00:00) Health and Liver Function Discussion

(07:12) Toxins, Diet, and Fatty Liver Impact

(17:13) Liver Damage Detection and Management

(28:27) Toxic Exposure and Health Protection

(37:28) Liver Health and Protection Strategies

(45:17) Understanding Liver Scan Technology and Risks

(56:20) Diet, Exercise, and Liver Health

(01:00:56) Detoxification, Liver Health, and Deliverance

(01:10:39) Liver Health Tracking and Advancements

(01:16:36) Health Care Access and Support

Thank you to our Sponsors:

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: @darshanshahmd

Learn more about Siggi Clavien:

Website: https://us.loveyourliver.com/ https://theliverclinic.com/

Instagram: @deliverance.elixir @siggiclavien

We track our sleep, count our macros, optimize every supplement, yet most people's bodies are still stuck in survival mode. What if true longevity starts not with another biohack, but with safety? When your nervous system feels safe, inflammation drops, digestion normalizes, and recovery accelerates.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Gabby Bernstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of the Dear Gabby podcast, to explore how emotional regulation, breathwork, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy rewire the nervous system for resilience. Together, we break down how HRV reflects longevity, why "soft" tools like breath and meditation have hard science behind them, and how pairing spiritual practice with functional medicine creates lasting health transformation.

Gabby Bernstein is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, host of the Dear Gabby podcast, and a leading teacher in self-help and spiritual development. For 20 years she's democratized tools like meditation, trauma-informed healing, and IFS for everyday life. In this episode, she shows us how to make emotional safety a daily practice, and why that might be the most powerful longevity intervention we have.

What's Discussed:

(00:00) From Burnout to Breakthrough: A Spiritual Path to Sobriety (03:39) What Safety Really Feels Like, and How to Create It (12:14) Turning Pain Into Peace: Healing Trauma Through Spiritual Practice (18:20) Meeting Your Protector Parts Instead of Fighting Them (30:42) Radical Self-Compassion as the Fastest Way to Heal (33:59) How to Reprogram Your Inner Protectors for Real Wellness (46:30) When Doctors Need Healing Too: Trauma Inside Medicine (51:22) Where Science Meets Spirit: The Biology of Belief (57:55) Faith, Energy, and the New Language of Healing (01:08:44) Manifestation as Medicine: How Your Mind Shapes Biology (01:14:49) The App That's Redefining Daily Spiritual Practice

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.

Function Health: Learn more and join using functionhealth.com/drshah . The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/drshah or use gift code DRSHAH100 at sign-up to own your health.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Gabby Bernstein:

Instagram: @gabbybernstein Website: https://gabbybernstein.com/

Book: 7 Habits of a Super Attractor: Effortlessly Attract Your Desires

What if your immune system could actually age backwards? For decades, we've accepted that inflammation, fatigue, and slower recovery are inevitable with age, but new research proves otherwise. Your immune system isn't doomed to decline; it can be retrained to act younger, stronger, and more resilient.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the father of functional medicine, to explore the groundbreaking science of immune rejuvenation. We break down how chronic inflammation accelerates aging, why gut health holds the key to immune balance, and the nutrients that can literally reprogram gene expression. We also discuss how a 90-day nutrition protocol led to a 47% reduction in immune aging, and what that means for your longevity.

Dr. Jeffrey Bland is widely recognized as the father of functional medicine, a thought leader who's spent over 40 years redefining how we understand health and disease. He's the founder of the Institute for Functional Medicine and Big Bold Health, where he's pioneering new research on immune rejuvenation and personalized nutrition.

We Also Discuss:

(00:00) The birth of functional medicine and how it reshaped modern healthcare (08:45) Why traditional medicine overlooks the body's interconnected systems (18:22) How your immune system drives aging, resilience, and recovery (28:09) The gut-immunity connection and why inflammation accelerates aging (38:40) The science behind reversing immune aging and restoring balance (49:33) How diet and polyphenols influence immune gene expression (01:00:18) The epigenetic switch that controls healthy aging (01:11:42) Data, biomarkers, and the rise of personalized health (01:25:30) The future of collective health and community immunity (01:36:39) How to apply immune rejuvenation principles in your daily life

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

Pendulum: Use code DARSHAN or use the link https://pendulumlife.com/discount/DARSHAN to get 20% off Pendulum membership first orders.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Jeff Bland:

Instagram: @drjeffreyblandBig Bold Health: @bigboldhealth Website: https://bigboldhealth.com/