Livelong Media

Join us along with Jane Fonda, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Stacy Sims, Dr. Vonda Wright & over 70 other experts at the Livelong Women's Health Summit™ , April 17-18, 2026, in San Francisco.* * * * * *Bone loss is often framed as a late-life problem. But it begins decades earlier, and it’s driven by more than calcium or strength training.On the Livelong Podcast™ , Solaria Bio CEO Catherine Balsam-Schwaber explains why the gut may be one of the most overlooked levers in skeletal health and longevity. We explore how inflammation, immune signaling, and the gut influence bone loss—and why women often feel the consequences first.We look at what this reveals about human aging, and how targeting our microbiome may help slow skeletal decline before fractures occur—and potentially reverse damage that’s already been done.Catherine breaks down:✦ The age at which bone loss starts to happen, and why✦ How gut inflammation accelerates physical decline✦ The problem with probiotics, and why they might not help bones✦ Why fractures can permanently impact independence and longevity✦ Biological factors that override health despite “doing everything right”✦ How to slow—or partially reverse—osteoporosis“We treat bone loss as structural, but it often starts as biological miscommunication.”Bone health, it turns out, isn’t just about bones. Emerging science suggests that protecting bone health may require looking beyond the skeleton itself—toward the gut, the immune system, and inflammation that quietly compounds over time.

What actually happens to our bodies as we age—and why do energy, recovery, and resilience decline over time?

In this episode of the Livelong Podcast, senior editor Erin Hunter sits down with Dr. Raleigh Duncan, founder and CEO of Clearlight, to explore the science behind infrared light, heat exposure, and how these tools may support healthier aging.

Dr. Duncan breaks down:

• Why aging is closely tied to mitochondrial function and cellular stress
• How infrared light and heat activate the body’s natural repair systems
• The role of inflammation, detoxification, and circulation in longevity
• Why modern life disconnects us from natural healing inputs like light and heat
• How simple, consistent practices can support energy, flexibility, and long-term health

This conversation cuts through wellness hype to explain how and why light-based therapies may help reduce disease burden, support recovery, and improve how we feel as we age.

Whether you’re curious about infrared saunas, interested in longevity science, or simply want to understand what’s happening inside your body over time, this episode offers a clear, grounded look at aging—and how to support it intelligently.

What if aging isn’t something to resist—but something to embrace?

In this episode of the Livelong Podcast, senior editor Erin Hunter sits down with Sanae Ishida, author of Shibui: The Japanese Art of Finding Beauty in Aging, to explore a Japanese philosophy that reframes aging as a source of beauty, wisdom, and joy.

Sanae introduces shibui—a quiet, refined beauty that can only emerge with time—and shares how Japanese perspectives on aging, menopause, imperfection, and even mortality offer a powerful alternative to Western “anti-aging” culture.

You’ll learn:

• Why aging is evolution, not decline
• How imperfection and impermanence create beauty
• What it means to bloom in your own time
• How embracing aging can bring more clarity, purpose, and peace

This conversation is an invitation to see aging not as something to fix—but as something to honor.

What if menopause didn't have to mean losing control of your body? In this eye-opening conversation, Erin Hunter sits down with Lauren Weiniger, founder and CEO of Menopause.ai, to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing women's health and aging.

Lauren shares her journey from interviewing a thousand women to building a platform that combines AI with community-driven intelligence to deliver personalized hormone, supplement, and peptide recommendations. Discover why meditation and magnesium matter, what the Dutch test reveals that standard blood work misses, and why broccoli might be women's secret weapon for healthy aging.

This isn't just about menopause—it's about longevity, agency, and giving women the tools to stay themselves for as long as possible. From peptide therapy to bioidentical hormones, learn what's actually working and how to take that crucial first step toward personalized care.

Key Topics: AI in healthcare, menopause, perimenopause, hormone optimization, peptide therapy, personalized medicine, women's longevity, functional medicine* * * * * *Join us with Jane Fonda, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Stacy Sims, Dr. Vonda Wright & and over 70 other experts at the Livelong Women's Health Summit, April 17-18, 2026, in San Francisco!Just go to https://www.livelongwoman.com and use the code "PODCAST" and get $50 off your order.

Is one drink really that bad? Join Senior Editor Erin Hunter and neuropsychologist Dr. Amber Deckard as they dive into the science behind Dry January and what alcohol actually does to your brain.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How alcohol impacts dopamine, sleep quality, and cognitive function
• Why taking a 30-day break can help your brain naturally heal and recalibrate
• The difference between being depressed and being "dopamine depleted"
• How to reintroduce alcohol mindfully (if you choose to)
• Why Dry January isn't about judgment—it's about gathering data on yourself

Dr. Deckard shares powerful insights from patients who discovered surprising truths about their mental clarity, mood, and stress tolerance after cutting out alcohol. Whether you're a social drinker curious about the effects or looking to optimize your brain health for longevity, this conversation offers a compassionate, science-backed approach to understanding your relationship with alcohol.

Remember: It's not a moral failing—it's neurochemical recalibration.

You know what you should do to live longer—eat better, exercise, take your vitamins—but why aren't you doing it? Clinical hypnotherapist Ursula James argues the missing link isn't more information, it's whether you truly like and love yourself enough to prioritize your health.

In this science-grounded conversation, Ursula reveals how clinical hypnotherapy works as a practical tool for longevity, helping bridge the gap between knowing what promotes healthy aging and actually implementing those behaviors.

With three decades of clinical experience, she explains the neuroscience behind hypnotic states and how they can rewire automatic habits that extend healthspan.

Key insights:

• The biology of hypnotic states: why the moments between sleep and wake are neurologically powerful
• How "artificial neurosis" (vivid future visualization) creates behavioral change at a subconscious level
• Why willpower fails under stress and what builds lasting health habits instead
• The three pillars of sustained health behaviors: focus, confidence, and motivation
• Evidence-based self-hypnosis techniques you can use daily
• How curiosity and continuous learning protect cognitive function as we age

If you're frustrated by the gap between longevity knowledge and action, this episode offers a neuroscience-backed approach to making healthy aging automatic rather than effortful.

Everything you were taught about strangers was wrong. Behavioral scientist Dr. Juliana Schroeder explains why avoiding that person on the train, texting instead of calling, and staying in your comfort zone might be slowly eroding your health and longevity.

Dr. Schroeder, an award-winning professor at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, has spent years studying how humans think about how other people think—and we're systematically getting it wrong. Her research reveals that we're suffering from "under-sociality": we're not as social as we should be, even for our own wellbeing.

In this conversation, she breaks down why we consistently misread social situations, why strangers actually want to talk to you, and how the simple act of using your voice instead of texting can make you seem more trustworthy, thoughtful, and human.

You'll learn:

✅ Why talking to strangers is more pleasant than you predict

✅ How first impressions stick (and why they matter for your health)

✅ The science behind why voice beats text for building connection

✅ What "social bravery" is and how to practice it

✅ Why AI companions can never replace real human interaction

Bottom line: Relationships are paramount for living longer and better. Every close relationship starts with a conversation. This episode gives you the tools to start more of them.

Dr. Juliana Schroeder joins Jane Fonda, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Stacy Sims, Dr. Vonda Wright, and other leading health advocates at the Livelong Women's Health Summit, April 17-18, 2026 in San Francisco.Get tickets here: https://livelongmedia.com/womenshealthsummit and save $50 on your order with the code "PODCAST"

Dr. Mary Pardee—founder of MDRN Med and host of The Modrn Wellness Podcast—joins the Livelong Podcast for a grounded, no-nonsense conversation about what actually helps us live longer and better.

In a longevity space flooded with hype, biohacks, and expensive shortcuts, this episode cuts straight through the noise. We unpack the truth behind popular “biological age” scores, longevity-focused IV infusions, pricey supplements, and other trends that often distract from the fundamentals that matter most.

Dr. Pardee also explores the quieter obstacles holding people back—how perfectionism, health anxiety, and over-optimization can actively work against long-term health. She shares the most important belief she’s changed her mind about in longevity medicine, along with an unpopular opinion that may be a game-changer for aging well.
This episode is a reset: a reminder that longevity isn’t about chasing every new metric or miracle—it’s about staying capable, connected, and clear-minded for as long as possible.

"There’s so much snake oil in this space. People are missing the 98% of things we know will actually make them healthier.”

If you’re overwhelmed by longevity advice—or questioning whether you’re focusing on the wrong things—this conversation will bring you back to what truly moves the needle.

This week’s episode of the Livelong Podcast features Amanda Krisher, the Associate Director of Behavioral Health at the National Council on Aging. She joins us for a candid and clarifying conversation about one of the hardest questions that midlife and older adults face:

What’s a ‘bad day,’ and what’s a sign it’s something deeper?

We explore the science of aging and mood, habits that predict emotional resilience, how to spot depression when its symptoms overlap with aging, and why optimism and honest emotional expression are longevity tools.

The heavy-hitter:

Depression is not a normal part of aging. It’s not inevitable, and it’s not something we all have to experience.

Most people save for financial retirement—but what about saving for your brain?

In this episode, Cathi Lamberti, founder and CEO of SMARTfit Inc., explains cognitive reserve: the neurological bank account you build by demanding more of your brain and body together. On her 71st birthday, Cathi shares why retirement should mean "changing gears" not backing off, and how modern technology is eroding the crucial connection between thought and movement.

Cathi's technology takes the opposite approach—it makes your body the input device, strengthening neural pathways through movement-based problem solving. The results are remarkable: seniors throwing away walkers after 12 weeks, stroke patients regaining arm function in minutes, and 90-year-olds outperforming younger people neurologically.

In this episode:

• Why cognitive reserve is like a 401K plan for your brain—and when to start building it
• How the brain-body connection evolved over 250,000 years (and why sitting is undermining it)
• The difference between creating new neurons and strengthening neural connections
• Why dual-task training transfers to real-life situations faster than other methods
• The role of diet, inflammation, and forgiveness in brain health
• What stroke patients, NFL quarterbacks, and people with dementia have in common
• Where to find brain-body training in your community (YMCAs, rec centers)