What if everything you've been told about longevity supplements is based on hype rather than science? Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, joins me on the Extend podcast to separate fact from fiction in the longevity field.

We explore epigenetic reprogramming, why the immune system controls aging, and the reality that no supplements are proven to extend human lifespan. We also discuss how most people could live to 95 in good health using lifestyle interventions we already know work.

Dr. Eric Verdin is the CEO and President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, the world's first independent research institute focused solely on aging. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and is internationally recognized for his research on immune system aging and epigenetic regulation.

We Also Discuss:

• Why There Are No Proven Anti-Aging Supplements or Drugs for Humans Yet

• How Yamanaka Factors Can Reverse Aging by Reprogramming Cells Back to Youth

• The Discovery That Immune System Aging Controls Whole-Body Aging

• Why Your Blood Contains 600 Different Cell Types (Not the 12 You Learned About)

• How Lifestyle Factors Could Add 30 Years of Healthy Life for Most People

• The Problem With "Instagram Medicine" and Unproven NAD Infusions

• Why Brian Johnson's Self-Experimentation Matters Despite the Controversy

• The Coming Revolution in Precision Medicine and Digital Twins

• How Organ-Specific Aging Clocks Predict Your Individual Disease Risk

• Why the Brain and Immune System Are the Two Most Important Aging Targets

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

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 Dr. Eric Verdin:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericverdin.buck/?hl=en

Website: https://www.buckinstitute.org/

What if the blood tests you're not getting are more important than the ones you are? In this episode of Extend, Dr. Jeremy London joins me to explore the three lifestyle modifications that prevent most cardiac disease.

We dive into how a continuous glucose monitor revealed his own pre-diabetes despite feeling perfectly healthy. We also share the blood tests your doctor isn't ordering, why vaping may be more dangerous than cigarettes, and how functional medicine filled the gap that traditional surgery couldn't address.

Dr. Jeremy London is a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon with over 25 years of clinical experience. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his general surgery residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, Colorado, followed by a vascular and thoracic surgical fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center. Dr. London's mission is to provide accessible health information through his newsletter, podcast, and social platforms.

We Also Discuss:

• Why Vaping Is More Dangerous Than Cigarettes According to This Heart Surgeon

• The Three Blood Tests Your Doctor Isn't Ordering

• How a Continuous Glucose Monitor Revealed Pre-Diabetes in a "Healthy" Surgeon

• Why 50% of Americans Have High Blood Pressure and Most Don't Know It

• The Calcium Score CT Scan That Reveals Hidden Heart Disease Risk

• Why VO2 Max Is the Most Powerful Predictor of Longevity

• How Functional Medicine Saved This Surgeon from Career Burnout

• The Walking Desk Hack That Gets 10,000 Steps During Work Hours

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/

Timeline: Claim 10% off your first order now at https://www.timeline.com/partners/darshan-shah

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. Jeremy London:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjeremylondon /

Website: https://www.drjeremylondon.com/

After spending years at a monastery, meditation expert Scott Schwenk discovered the way most people approach meditation is exactly what keeps them from succeeding. The myths around emptying your mind, sitting in painful positions, and chasing mystical experiences sabotage practice before it begins.

In this episode of Extend, Scott and I discuss the 4-lens framework that transforms meditation from mystical pursuit to practical life skill. We explore his signature 6-point body softening technique that works in 30 seconds, why he stopped teaching fire breathing after becoming trauma-informed, and how to build a sustainable practice that integrates into real-world challenges.

Scott Schwenk is a meditation teacher, breathwork facilitator, and consciousness coach who has spent decades studying both Eastern spiritual traditions and Western psychological approaches. He lived at a monastery, teaches internationally, and helps individuals and businesses integrate contemplative practices into daily life.

We Also Discuss:

• Why "No Thoughts" is Meditation Mythology That Sabotages Your Practice

• The 6-Point Body Softening Technique That Works in 30 Seconds

• Why Your Hips Must Be Higher Than Your Knees for Proper Meditation Posture

• The Secret Taoist Water Meditation Scott Discovered by Accident

• Nadi Shodhana: The Daily Breathwork Practice That Changes Everything

• Why Scott Stopped Teaching Fire Breathing After Becoming Trauma-Informed

• How Mirror Neurons Transfer Meditative States Between People

• The 4 Lenses Framework: Waking Up, Growing Up, Cleaning Up, Showing Up

• Why Gurus Fall: Advanced States vs. Psychological Development

• Open-Eyed Meditation and Why Peak States Can Become Addictive

• The 3 Questions That Build Meditation Confidence in 30 Days

• Why You Should Stop While the Practice Still Feels Good

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 20% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH.

Function Health: 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: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/

Learn more about Scott Schwenk:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescottschwenk/

Website: https://www.scottschwenk.com/