Almost Forever

Ovaries Are a Longevity Organ with Dr. Felice Gersh

Dr. Felice Gersh is a board-certified OB-GYN, also board certified in integrative medicine. She has spent her career helping women through every hormonal stage of life. She joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to make the case that menopause is a transition, not a decline, and that the ovaries are a woman’s best longevity organ. Along the way: why estradiol is the body’s “master of metabolic homeostasis,” why women going through menopause live in a kind of “perpetual jet lag,” how she uses the fasting-mimicking diet in her practice, and the strange history of hormone therapy. In our Mailbag: whether women in their 40s and 50s should take creatine every day, whether phytoestrogens like soy, flax and red clover really help with hot flashes, and how much vitamin D is too much. Myth or Method: Cortisol cocktails. Does the viral “adrenal cocktail” really balance your stress hormones, or is it just a tasty way to hydrate? Chapters: 0:00 Cold open: your ovaries are a longevity organ 0:21 Welcome and what’s ahead 0:59 Myth or Method: Do cortisol cocktails work? 5:42 Meet Dr. Felice Gersh 6:51 Menopause is a transition, not a decline 11:28 “It’s not if, it’s how much”: how hormone shifts touch the whole body 17:56 Start early: treat your health like a retirement account 23:28 Your cycle and fertility as vital signs 25:30 Who’s most motivated to change, and why 29:41 Menopause as “perpetual jet lag” 31:29 Inside her toolbox: bioidentical hormones 35:31 Time-restricted eating and the 13-hour overnight fast 36:07 Why she uses fasting-mimicking diets with patients 38:00 Vagal tone, heart rate variability and the stress response 43:59 The history of hormone therapy, from cow ovaries to horse estrogen 49:14 What the Women’s Health Initiative got wrong 57:05 “Less is best” vs. “best is best” 1:01:54 Her one mindset shift: love your ovaries 1:03:02 Phytoestrogens and a plant-forward diet 1:04:30 Where to find Dr. Gersh 1:06:35 Mailbag: Should women in their 40s and 50s take creatine? 1:10:33 Mailbag: Do phytoestrogens help with hot flashes? 1:12:15 Mailbag: How much vitamin D is too much? Guest Bio: Dr. Felice Gersh is a board-certified OB-GYN, also board certified in integrative medicine. She founded and directs the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine in Southern California, where she cares for women through fertility, metabolic health, perimenopause, menopause and beyond. She is the author of PCOS SOS, PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track and Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know, and she teaches regularly on YouTube and Instagram. Find Dr. Gersh at https://integrativemgi.com/. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Should We Treat Aging Like a Disease? with Dr. William Hsu

An endocrinologist who spent nearly two decades as a vice president at Harvard's Joslin Diabetes Center, Dr. William Hsu is now Chief Medical Officer at L-Nutra, the makers of Prolon, and the founder of its medical division, L-Nutra Health. He joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to make the case that aging itself should be treated like a disease, and that the real root cause of diabetes, heart disease and dementia is a body that has lost its ability to heal. Along the way: the patient who flew in on a private jet and changed the course of his career, the biosphere experiment that revealed the secret of periodic fasting, and the study showing three five-day cycles a year lowered biological age by two and a half years. In our Mailbag: whether GLP-1s can be safely combined with the fasting-mimicking diet, if the days of carb counting are over for diabetes management, and how to advocate for yourself when your doctor has never heard of the FMD. Myth or Method: Tongue scraping — does the Ayurvedic morning ritual really improve your breath, taste and gut health, or is your toothbrush enough? Chapters: 0:00 Cold open: the longevity problem nobody is planning for 0:45 Melanie's 15-year dairy experiment 2:40 Why this episode is close to home 3:32 Myth or Method: Does tongue scraping actually work? 9:22 Meet Dr. William Hsu — endocrinologist, Joslin VP, L-Nutra CMO 10:35 The longevity hill he'll die on: will you have enough money to live to 110? 12:00 "We've cracked the code": nutrition as the new frontier of medicine 12:57 Lifespan vs. health span — and why modern medicine ignores the root cause 15:21 Should we treat aging like a disease? 18:49 Biological vs. chronological age: the car-mileage analogy 20:54 Polypharmacy, the "life sentence," and the patient who flew in on a private jet 27:12 Diabetes remission is now an official goal — the 2021 consensus 29:40 The Nobel Prize-winning science of nutrient restriction 31:31 The biosphere experiment — why continuous calorie restriction fails 34:02 Timing is the new dimension of nutrition 35:23 Intermittent fasting vs. periodic fasting — and how cells put up a shield 39:36 Longevity genes: how autophagy recycles the cell and makes it younger 44:49 Fasting is a double-edged sword — enter Valter Longo and fasting mimicking 48:08 Behavioral fasting vs. molecular fasting: a "stealth technology" 49:13 Why no single nutrient can do it — and the 40+ clinical trials behind the FMD 51:27 Remission through nutrition: the Crohn's data and the biological-age study 1:00:04 The benefit-risk case for 15 days a year 1:01:33 Dr. Hsu's why: his father's dementia 1:03:26 Three levels of benefit — metabolic, cellular and mental 1:07:07 Mailbag: Can GLP-1s be safely combined with the FMD? 1:12:12 Mailbag: Are the days of carb counting long gone? 1:17:59 Mailbag: My doctor doesn't know about the FMD. How do I advocate for myself? 1:19:29 Why he wants to be on the right side of history Guest Bio: Dr. William Hsu is an endocrinologist and the Chief Medical Officer of L-Nutra, the longevity technology company behind Prolon, where he also founded its medical division, L-Nutra Health. He trained at Yale and Harvard and spent nearly two decades as a vice president at Harvard's Joslin Diabetes Center, one of the world's leading diabetes institutions. His work today centers on nutrition as medicine: using clinically validated fasting-mimicking protocols to address the root cause of age-related chronic disease and drive conditions like type 2 diabetes into remission. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Burnout Isn't Your Fault with Kelsey Patel

Former U.S. Senate press secretary, Fortune 500 crisis communicator, and founder of the Pure Joy app, Kelsey J. Patel has reinvented herself more than once, and she was one of the early voices to bring burnout into the modern conversation. She joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to talk about why there's no one-size-fits-all body, what burnout really looks like, and how to come back to yourself when life knocks you sideways. Along the way: the toxic mold poisoning that left her without a single second of sleep for two nights, the 20-minute "micro breaks" that can change your week, a pair of bent kitchen tongs that became a monument to her rage, and two simple rules for using AI without handing over your autonomy. In our Mailbag: what to do if you hate meditating, and whether loneliness is really as bad for you as smoking. Myth or Method: Does 16 ounces of celery juice on an empty stomach every morning really detox your liver, heal your gut and clear your skin? (Our hosts don't agree on this one.) Chapters: 0:00 "We need physical touch to survive" 0:24 Day three of the FMD, and why fasting together feels easier 3:29 Myth or Method: Does morning celery juice really detox your liver, heal your gut and clear your skin? 10:40 Meet Kelsey J. Patel: from Capitol Hill to Reiki master 11:54 The hill she'll die on: there's no one-size-fits-all body 13:49 Isn't that overwhelming? Embodiment vs. outsourcing your health 15:45 Toxic mold poisoning and two nights of zero sleep 19:24 Finding the mold, and being the "canary in the coal mine" for her family 22:12 Do we all need a crisis to connect with ourselves? 24:43 The hosts' own wake-up calls: IBS, mold and the end of a relationship 28:05 "Nothing lasts forever": first steps through a hard season 30:29 Acute stress vs. burnout, and the signs you're burnt out 33:29 "You didn't do anything wrong": why we weren't built to do this much 35:51 Does a workout count as a micro break? 39:04 The Artist's Way: morning pages and artist dates 44:16 A daily micro-practice: what do my body, mind and spirit need today? 46:25 Taking responsibility, and walking away from Capitol Hill 48:48 Growing up in North Dakota, where your work equals your worth 50:53 How to change course when change feels hard 54:54 The community problem, and why AI may push us back together 56:42 "I need a takeoff and a landing": telling your partner what you need 1:00:44 Should we be turning to AI for answers? 1:03:38 Kelsey's two AI rules: journal first, then set a timer 1:05:12 AI for mental health and companionship: what are we losing? 1:08:58 Hugs, physical touch and the Pure Joy app 1:11:50 What is EFT tapping? 1:15:12 Inside the Hoffman Process 1:17:14 What Hoffman taught her about rage, and the bent kitchen tongs 1:20:15 Mailbag: I hate meditating. Is it for everyone, or am I doing it wrong? 1:22:58 Mailbag: Is loneliness really as bad for you as smoking? 1:29:18 "You're doing great": Kelsey's parting words 1:30:34 Hosts' wrap: the micros and macros of longevity Guest Bio: Kelsey J. Patel is a wellness expert, Reiki master, author and the founder of the Pure Joy app. She began her career as a press secretary in the U.S. Senate and in corporate crisis communications for a Fortune 500 company before turning to energy work, and she became one of the first voices to bring burnout into the mainstream conversation. She recently launched Miracle Manor, a wellness retreat in Desert Hot Springs, California, and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Goop, mindbodygreen and People. Find Kelsey on Instagram @kelseyjpatel, at kelseyjpatel.com, and on the Pure Joy app. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Betting on Yourself with Corey Calliet

Celebrity trainer and body transformation specialist Corey Calliet — the man behind Michael B. Jordan's physique in Creed — joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie for a conversation that's far more about mindset than muscle. Corey makes the case that the body is the one thing we can truly control, and that lasting change starts in the mind long before it shows up in the mirror. He traces his own improbable path from delivering mail in Louisiana to training Hollywood's biggest stars, and shares why he believes anyone — regardless of genetics, history, or where they're starting from — can transform if they're willing to bet on themselves. Equal parts trainer, motivator, and minister-in-the-gym, Corey delivers a genuinely moving reminder that consistency, faith, and showing up are available to all of us. In our Mailbag: how much of an actor's dramatic transformation is realistic for someone with a normal job and no private chef, what Corey does when a client's motivation fizzles around week three, and whether lifting heavy will really make a woman in her 40s "bulky." Myth or Method: Grounding — does sleeping on a grounding sheet or walking barefoot really reconnect you to the Earth's electrons and reduce inflammation, pain, and stress? 🕐 Chapters 0:00 "You can change your body. I don't care your genetics — you can change your body if you really want to." 2:12 Myth or Method: Do grounding sheets and walking barefoot actually work? 7:52 Meet Corey Calliet — the trainer behind Michael B. Jordan's Creed transformation 9:06 The longevity hill he'll die on: consistency, and never stopping 9:58 What actually counts as "I did it today" 12:14 Where to start when it feels too hard — the 21-day approach 13:10 Why the mind comes first, and the physical follows 14:52 "Nothing magic" about training Michael B. Jordan — just relentless consistency 16:41 Why the first transformation is the hardest — and his last bodybuilding show 18:56 A trainer is a therapist: the mental work behind the reps 23:50 From rough beginnings to Hollywood — betting on himself 26:00 The first ab, quitting the Postal Service, and trusting the leap 30:15 "I'm not a goal setter, I'm a go getter" 33:20 Making transformation accessible for people with real jobs 34:34 Where a busy, stressed beginner should actually start 39:06 Manifestation, the power of the tongue, and speaking it into being 41:38 The reality of contest prep, body dysmorphia, and training for the next thing 43:44 Getting comfortable with discomfort — "change doesn't happen in the cool zone" 46:49 The moment he was finally proud of himself 49:44 Mailbag: How much of that physique is realistic without a private chef? 50:22 Mailbag: If you've only got 30 minutes, what should you actually do? 51:47 Mailbag: What do you do when motivation fizzles around week three? 53:52 Mailbag: I'm scared lifting heavy will make me bulky — real or holding myself back? Guest Bio Corey Calliet is a celebrity trainer, body transformation specialist, and actor best known for transforming Michael B. Jordan for the Creed franchise and Black Panther. A former amateur boxer and competitive bodybuilder from New Orleans, Corey has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after trainers, with credits including the Netflix series Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian and work with artists like A$AP Rocky and Wale. Beyond the physical, Corey is known for the mindset-first, "bet on yourself" philosophy he brings to every client — and for mentoring the next generation of trainers. Follow Corey on Instagram and TikTok @MrCalliet and on Facebook at Corey Calliet.. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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What We Know About Rapamycin with Matt Kaeberlein

One of the world's most respected gerontologists, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein has published more than 250 research papers and spent nearly three decades studying what slows aging. He joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to separate what's real in longevity from what's hype, and to explain why he's staked his reputation on telling people the truth. Along the way: the remarkable study tracking tens of thousands of dogs, the compound he believes is the field's most promising, and a candid guide to telling a real expert from a talking head. In our Mailbag: whether a healthy 45-year-old should consider rapamycin, if metformin really slows aging in people who aren't diabetic, and — if you could keep just one longevity supplement — which? Myth or Method: Detox foot pads and castor oil packs — do they really draw toxins out of your body, or is something else going on? Chapters: 0:00 The signal-to-noise problem in longevity 2:40 Myth or Method: Do detox foot pads and castor oil packs actually pull toxins out? 9:40 Meet Matt Kaeberlein — one of the world's leading aging scientists 10:33 The longevity hill he'll die on: the field's signal-to-noise problem 13:48 How to spot longevity misinformation — and the shift back toward science 17:42 The origin of the Dog Aging Project — and the light-bulb moment 22:32 Why companion dogs are the perfect model — and what 55,000 dogs reveal 28:29 Dobby: the German Shepherd who inspired it all 31:42 What rapamycin is, and why he chose it 37:09 mTOR as a "volume knob" — and why ours is always turned up 39:04 Rapamycin vs. caloric restriction — and why 800 calories isn't the answer 42:38 Cycling, dosing, and what we still don't know about rapamycin in humans 45:40 Rapamycin, fasting, the FMD, and autophagy — overlapping but distinct 51:16 What we can safely say about rapamycin in people 52:47 "Everything has side effects" — even exercise 54:10 The real evidence: dementia risk, vaccines, and the immune question 1:00:16 mTOR, protein, and the high-protein trend 1:04:33 Does rapamycin work better for women? The sex-difference data 1:07:47 Muscle, exercise, and what the New Zealand trial actually showed 1:11:20 What's next: the big trials that will finally give us answers 1:13:22 Mailbag: Should a healthy 45-year-old consider rapamycin? 1:15:06 Mailbag: Does metformin actually slow aging in healthy people? 1:20:00 Mailbag: If you could keep only one longevity supplement, which survives? Guest Bio: Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is one of the world's foremost researchers on the biology of aging, with more than 250 peer-reviewed publications. He is the co-founder of the Dog Aging Project — a landmark study following tens of thousands of companion dogs to understand aging in real time — and a longtime investigator of rapamycin and the mTOR pathway. He has become a leading voice for scientific rigor and honesty in a field crowded with hype. Learn more about the Dog Aging Project at dogagingproject.org. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Olive Leaves and Ancestral Wisdom with Josephine Musco

Josephine Musco holds two patents, runs a biodynamic winery, and has spent more than a decade sounding the alarm on something hiding in plain sight in most of our kitchens. She joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie for a wide-ranging conversation about getting back to basics — why longevity isn't a pill or a once-a-year reset but a daily practice, how her family's ancestral wisdom shaped her career, and the surprisingly simple swaps that can lower your everyday exposure to microplastics. Equal parts entrepreneur and storyteller, Josephine makes the case that some of the most powerful longevity tools are the ones we've overlooked. In our Mailbag: what VO2 max actually is and how to raise it, how to weigh your social life against the risks of alcohol, whether the viral sitting-rising test deserves the hype, and which sweetener is actually the healthiest. Myth or Method: Dry scooping — is downing your pre-workout, protein, or creatine without water a shortcut, or a genuinely bad idea? Chapters: 0:00 "Longevity is not one thing. It's not a pill — longevity is every day." 0:42 Myth or Method: Is dry scooping dangerous, or does it actually work? 7:07 Meet Josephine Musco — two patents, olive leaf science, and an ancestral throughline 7:53 The longevity hill she'll die on: it's every day, not a once-a-year reset 9:18 The one kind of stress she's actively removing from her life 11:24 Right out of college: how she got the USDA to back her research 13:49 The olive leaf patent — honoring her father's belief that nature holds our remedies 16:14 Stumbling into the microplastics problem hiding in your tea and coffee 17:14 Why antioxidants may be the most underused longevity tool 18:07 The story behind her teas — and the kids' tea her daughter designed 20:31 What's really inside a teabag, and the plastic-free strip she invented 25:57 The everyday microplastic swaps that matter most 28:32 The one nobody talks about: pads, tampons, and absorption 30:10 Voting with your dollars to drive real change 31:01 The skincare "secret" that's really about how you eat 31:49 The wellness and longevity trends she says to skip 35:33 From non-drinker to biodynamic winery owner 40:19 What she's most excited about: the return to basics 43:50 Mailbag: What is VO2 max, and how do I actually improve it? 46:08 Mailbag: How should I weigh my social life against alcohol's risks? 49:00 Mailbag: How seriously should I take the sitting-rising test? 51:00 Mailbag: Agave, honey, monk fruit — what's the healthiest sweetener? 54:07 A sweet surprise: where you'll find her tea strips next Guest Bio: Josephine Musco is an entrepreneur and holder of two patents rooted in her family's ancestral wisdom — including a patented process for stabilizing the antioxidants in olive leaves, inspired by her father's belief that nature holds our remedies. Drawing on that work, she created a line of plastic-free tea strips designed to deliver those compounds without the microplastics found in conventional teabags. She is also the owner of a Demeter-certified biodynamic winery in California's Bay Area, and a passionate educator on reducing everyday microplastic and nanoplastic exposure. A note on Prolon’s tea bags: Our filter tea bags are made from a mixture of natural wood pulp and abaca plant fiber material, oxygen-bleached (no chemicals are used to treat/sanitize the filter bag), free from plastics and plasticizers, FDA-, USDA- and NOP-approved, as well as bio-degradable and compostable. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Biology is Now an Engineering Problem with Dr. Darshan Shah

Board-certified surgeon, longevity specialist, and Next Health founder Dr. Darshan Shah — named Longevity Doctor of the Year — sits down with Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to make the case that the sickcare system is built to save your life, not keep you healthy, and what to do about it. Dr. Shah walks through the 10 to 15 biomarkers everyone should be tracking and why 50% of people don't know they have heart disease until their first heart attack. He also opens up about his own turning point and purpose that changed everything. Plus AI in healthcare: digital twins, the Yamanaka factors, and why the smartest minds in tech believe biology is about to become "an engineering problem" we can finally solve. In our Mailbag: which peptides are worth using, whether cold plunging is bad for you, why Dr. Shah does a quarterly Prolon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet, and whether those mushroom coffees are really doing anything. Myth or Method: Fluoride in your water — a necessary mineral for your teeth, or a neurotoxin we should be filtering out? The dietitians dig into dosage, the 2024 research, and who should be most cautious. Chapters: 0:00 "Our whole mission is to reverse chronic disease — and keep you so healthy you never get one in the first place." 1:04 Myth or Method: Is the fluoride in your water helping or harming you? 14:00 Meet Dr. Darshan Shah — Longevity Doctor of the Year, Next Health founder, MD at 21 16:04 Inside Next Health: the "Apple Store of health" built to reverse chronic disease 17:28 Making prevention accessible — the $99/month membership and using your HSA 19:24 The 10–15 biomarkers everyone should track (and why your doctor doesn't) 23:45 Why 35% of executive physicals uncover a hidden, life-threatening condition 24:33 Heart disease: why 50% don't know until their first heart attack — and the $150 scan that catches it 28:07 No Next Health nearby? How to understand your own biology 33:53 The longevity hill he'll die on: a daily routine — and how it took him from 5 chronic diseases to Longevity Doctor of the Year 41:11 How AI will personalize medicine and end one-size-fits-all care 44:45 Digital twins: predicting what a therapy will do to you before you try it 47:11 The data gap for women — and why he donates his own health data 51:20 Biology as an "engineering problem": Yamanaka factors, AI, and the future of therapies 1:03:06 The future of human doctors in an AI world 1:06:14 The one thing Dr. Shah says AI should not do — yet 1:08:57 What's next: Your New Health OS and Next Health's global expansion 1:10:33 Mailbag: Which peptides should you actually use — and how to source them safely 1:14:32 Mailbag: Cold plunge vs. cryotherapy — and why it's different for women 1:18:46 Mailbag: How to explain autophagy (and the Prolon 5-Day FMD) to your partner 1:22:47 Mailbag: Are mushroom coffees and functional-mushroom drinks worth it? Guest Bio: Dr. Darshan Shah is a board-certified surgeon, longevity specialist, and the founder and CEO of Next Health, a health optimization and longevity center with locations across the US, Canada, and Dubai. A health-tech entrepreneur who earned his medical degree at 21, Dr. Shah was named Longevity Doctor of the Year for his work making preventative, root-cause medicine accessible. He is the host of the Extend podcast and the author of the forthcoming book Your New Health OS, a guide to using AI and your own biomarkers to take control of your health. His mission is simple: reverse chronic disease, and keep people so healthy they never develop one in the first place. Listen to the Extend podcast with Dr. Darshan Shah wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more and grab his free biomarker guide at drshah.com, and find Next Health at next-health.com. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Loneliness is Killing Your Longevity with Darin Olien

Emmy-winning documentary host, "superfood hunter," and author Darin Olien sits down with Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to explore the most overlooked pillar of longevity: human connection. Drawing on decades spent traveling to remote corners of the world and living alongside indigenous cultures, Darin explains that the through-line to a long, healthy life isn't optimization or biohacking — it's community, whole foods eaten together, and the simple act of pausing to be present with people you love. Darin shares how a daily practice of breathwork and stream-of-consciousness journaling shaped his life's work, he unpacks the "toxic load" behind rising autoimmune and fertility issues, why he's eaten plant-forward for 20 years, how giving your body a pause — like Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet — creates space to reset, and why joy, play, and self-love may be the most radical longevity tools of all. In our Mailbag: whether two cups of black coffee a day are helping or hurting your longevity, and if a 10-minute walk after meals really blunts your blood sugar spike. And in our Myth or Method: Are seed oils toxic? 🕐 Chapters: 0:00 "No one's alone in this. Loneliness is a really big deal — but it can be curbed quite quickly." 2:51 Myth or Method: Are seed oils toxic? 9:26 Meet Darin Olien — Emmy-winning host, superfood hunter, and author of Fatal Conveniences 9:52 The longevity non-negotiables he's found across every culture: community and whole foods 12:32 How to rebuild community and connection in the Western world 15:55 Loneliness as a pillar of longevity — the internal and external kind 20:30 Self-knowing: breathwork, journaling, and learning to listen inside 25:12 How Down to Earth with Zac Efron was born from his journaling 31:48 Fatal Conveniences: his father's story and the toxins we can't see 36:04 Toxic load, autoimmune conditions, and the "thousand tiny things" 38:36 Why he's eaten plant-forward for 20 years — "you don't need that much protein" 44:52 Sustainability you can actually do: sprouts, farmers markets, and eating in season 50:58 The radical longevity power of joy, play, and the Roadmap to Happiness series 56:56 "Joy is the mother of all emotions" — feeling it all to get there 59:02 Staying hopeful in a doomsday world — boundaries and surrounding yourself with inspiring people 1:07:03 The Darin Olien daily recipe for longevity 1:12:44 Self-love, forgiveness, and "what if I'm enough?" 1:17:36 Mailbag: Two cups of black coffee a day — helping or hurting my longevity? 1:21:17 Mailbag: Does a 10-minute walk after meals really blunt the blood sugar spike? Guest Bio: Darin Olien is an author, environmental activist, and co-host of the Netflix series Down to Earth with Zac Efron, which won an Emmy in 2021. Known as the "superfood hunter" for his decades spent sourcing nutrient-dense foods from remote regions around the world, Darin is the host of the SuperLife podcast and the author of SuperLife and Fatal Conveniences, which exposes the everyday toxins hiding in our food, water, homes, and products. He is currently creating Roadmap to Happiness, a new series exploring the essential pillars of contentment and community. Through all of his work, Darin champions whole-food, plant-forward living, sustainability, and the belief that connection — to ourselves and to each other — is the foundation of a long, thriving life. Listen to the SuperLife podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about Darin at superlife.com, and follow his upcoming series Roadmap to Happiness at roadtohappy.net. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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You're Thinking About Protein All Wrong with Simon Hill

Nutritionist, physiotherapist, and host of The Proof podcast (40M+ listens) Simon Hill sits down with Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to challenge the way we think about protein, plaque, and what's actually in our control when it comes to aging. Drawing on two landmark Harvard studies, Simon explains why the protein conversation has become "way too reductionist." He shares the formative moment that set his life's work in motion — and how he reframed cardiovascular disease as a largely modifiable, not purely genetic, fate. Simon walks through testing his own arteries, dropping his own ApoB through diet alone, and achieving real plaque regression. He also reveals the two most surprising dementia risk factors and why resistance training, not more protein, may be the most important missing piece for the average person. In our Mailbag: the right sauna dose for women (and how it may differ from male protocols), whether fruit is bad for you in the age of CGMs and blood-sugar fears, the "personal fat threshold" and how Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet can support metabolic markers and reduce visceral fat while protecting muscle, and how much of our longevity is actually written in our genes. Myth or Method: Seed cycling — does eating specific seeds across your follicular and luteal phases actually balance hormones? 🕐 Chapters: 0:00 "Small amounts add up over decades — and that's where you get these risk reductions." 2:16 Myth or Method: Does seed cycling actually balance your hormones? 9:53 Meet Simon Hill — nutritionist, physiotherapist, and host of The Proof 10:54 The longevity hill: it's the source of your protein, not just the amount 13:04 Two Harvard studies: why plant protein wins for healthy aging 21:30 Plant-to-animal ratio vs. protein density — what matters most for your heart 25:56 Why resistance training beats simply eating more protein 28:22 From physiotherapy to nutrition — and his dad's heart attack at 41 34:44 Testing his own arteries: plaque, ApoB, and rewriting the family script 37:11 Plaque regression is real — how he did it with diet alone 45:07 The fear of losing cognition — and the hidden dementia success story 47:47 Lancet's 14 modifiable risks: uncorrected vision and hearing loss 52:11 Unregulated peptides and GLP-1s — the promise and the risk 1:00:53 Mailbag: What's the right sauna dose for women? 1:06:21 Mailbag: Is fruit bad for me? CGMs, blood sugar, and the real story 1:14:02 Mailbag: Prolon's 5-Day FMD, the personal fat threshold, and restoring insulin sensitivity 1:17:51 Mailbag: How much of longevity is genes vs. everything else? Simon Hill is a qualified physiotherapist and nutritionist with a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Deakin University, and the founder and host of the wildly popular podcast The Proof (40M+ listens). After his father's heart attack inspired him to study nutrition's role in preventing disease, Simon built an evidence-based platform translating the latest peer-reviewed science on nutrition, cardiovascular health, and longevity for a global audience. In 2024, he released The Living Proof Challenge, a zero-cost 12-week challenge to help people optimize important biomarkers to lower their risk of disease and live better for longer. He is also the author of The Proof Is in the Plants — a #1 non-fiction bestseller on debut in Australia — and a leading voice for a more plant-forward, nuanced conversation about how we eat to live longer, healthier lives. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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"What is the Estrobolome?" with Cynthia Thurlow, NP

Nurse practitioner, intermittent fasting expert, and TEDx speaker Cynthia Thurlow (15M+ views on her talk "Intermittent Fasting: Transformational Technique") sits down with Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to explore the overlooked connection between gut health, hormones, and aging. Drawing from her new book The Menopause Gut, Cynthia reveals that your ovaries are the most mitochondrial-dense organ in your body and the "pacemaker of aging" — not just a fertility organ. She introduces the estrobolome, the collection of gut bacteria that metabolize estrogen, and explains why estrogen is the "mortar" holding your gut lining together. She also shares why she revised her intermittent fasting recommendations to 12–13 hours of digestive rest, discusses HRT and why every woman should know about vaginal estrogen, and reveals how adverse childhood events can shape your gut health decades later. In our Mailbag: intermittent fasting vs. Prolon's 5-day Fasting Mimicking Diet for perimenopausal women, the removal of the black box warning on HRT, and whether chronic stress from 20 years ago can still be reversed. Myth or Method: Should you track your poop? What your bowel movements and urine actually tell you about your health. 🕐 Chapters: 0:00 "Our ovaries set the pacemaker of aging in our bodies, full stop." 0:18 Myth or Method: Should you be tracking your poop? 9:53 Meet Cynthia Thurlow — NP, TEDx speaker, author of The Menopause Gut 11:06 The longevity hill: sleep — the unsexy hack no one's selling 22:42 Adverse childhood events (ACEs) and how childhood trauma shapes gut health 31:21 Why she wrote The Menopause Gut — the missing link in perimenopause 41:43 Ovaries as the pacemaker of aging — and the estrobolome explained 44:11 HRT, vaginal estrogen, and why every woman deserves this conversation 51:54 Revised intermittent fasting: 12–13 hours, not 16+ for women 1:01:42 Mailbag: IF vs. Prolon's 5-day FMD for perimenopausal women 1:05:55 Mailbag: The black box warning was removed from HRT — should I try it? 1:13:22 Mailbag: Can I fix chronic stress from 20 years ago? Guest Bio: Cynthia Thurlow, NP, is a board-certified nurse practitioner, TEDx speaker, host of the Everyday Wellness Podcast (500+ episodes), and author of Intermittent Fasting Transformation and The Menopause Gut. Her second TEDx talk on intermittent fasting has over 15 million views. She is the CEO and founder of the Everyday Wellness Project, dedicated to empowering women to optimize their health in perimenopause and beyond. Listen to the Everyday Wellness Podcast. Read The Menopause Gut by Cynthia Thurlow. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Strong is the Longevity Plan with Jennifer Cohen

Entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and best-selling author Jen Cohen joins Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie for a no-BS conversation about why we overcomplicate health — and what actually moves the needle on longevity. Jen coined "Strong Is the New Skinny" back in 2014, years before the muscle-and-longevity wave hit mainstream wellness. In this episode she breaks down why exercise is "the gateway drug" for neuroplasticity and confidence, makes the case for all-day movement over one big gym session, and shares her perspective on GLP-1s and why we still don't know enough about their long-term effects. Plus: why loneliness may be the most underrated threat to your lifespan, and the simple non-negotiable that keeps Jen walking everywhere in car-obsessed L.A. In our Mailbag: is intermittent fasting actually bad for women, how to get through Prolon's 5-day Fasting Mimicking Diet, and a no-equipment hotel room strength routine you can do anywhere. Myth or Method: Fiber maxing — is loading up on fiber a real strategy or a recipe for disaster? 🕐 Chapters: 0:00 Jen Cohen on why movement trumps everything 0:36 Welcome to the very first episode of Almost Forever 3:56 Myth or Method: Is fiber maxing legit? 14:28 Meet Jen Cohen — entrepreneur, author, and Habits & Hustle host 15:32 The longevity hill: stop majoring in the minors 23:36 Exercise as the gateway drug — neuroplasticity and the ripple effect 37:27 "Strong Is the New Skinny" — how she saw the muscle-longevity wave coming in 2014 48:35 "When you die, you look like your decisions" — community, loneliness, and joy 52:57 Mailbag: Is intermittent fasting bad for women? 56:39 Mailbag: How to get through the 5-day Fasting Mimicking Diet 1:00:58 Mailbag: Hotel room strength routine with no equipment Guest Bio: Jen Cohen is an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, best-selling author of Strong Is the New Skinny, Bigger, Better, Bolder, and No Gym Required, and host of the Habits & Hustle podcast. She sold a fitness app to Weight Watchers and has spent over 15 years in the health and wellness space helping people build sustainable habits through mindset shifts and practical frameworks. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

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Almost Forever Trailer

You've heard a hundred different answers to the same longevity question. That cold plunges will save your life. That they won't. That seed oils are killing you. That they're not. That you should fast for sixteen hours. Or eat every two. That coffee is medicine. That coffee is poison. So which is it? That's exactly what Almost Forever is here to answer. Hosted by longevity dietitians Melanie Murphy Richter and Renee Fitton, Almost Forever brings together leading scientists, clinicians, researchers, and experts to separate evidence from opinion and science from social media noise. From nutrition and exercise to sleep, stress, metabolic health, and the latest wellness trends, each episode takes a deeper look at what actually supports a longer, healthier life. Plus, we'll be answering your questions in our listener mailbag segment. Have something you'd like us to cover? DM @prolon on Instagram. Almost Forever premieres Wednesday, June 17 Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Brought to you by Prolon the people behind the first-ever nutrition program clinically proven to trigger autophagy in humans. Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.

Almost Forever Teaser

Welcome to ALMOST FOREVER the brand-new podcast from Prolon the people behind the first-ever nutrition program clinically proven to trigger autophagy in humans. ALMOST FOREVER is where experts, clinicians, and thought leaders in the world of longevity are discussing the question, What does it actually take to live a long and healthy life? We discuss every facet of the six pillars of longevity including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, social connection, and toxicity avoidance. We dive in to wellness 'trends' and put them to the science to decide if they're myth or method. We answer your questions on the show through our mailbag segment (DM us @prolon on Instagram!). Our hosts Melanie Murphy Richter and Renee Fitton are the longevity dietitians you love to hang out with making the science accessible. Friends since they studied under Dr. Valter Longo at USC's Longevity Institute, they came to their love of this work through their lived experiences. Episodes drop biweekly Wednesdays starting June 17, 2026 wherever you get your podcasts. Follow so you never miss an episode! Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag! Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.