Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD - podcast cover

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Darshan Shah, MDdrshah.com
Extend with Darshan Shah, MD is a podcast dedicated to cutting-edge science, research, tools, and protocols designed to help you extend your healthspan. Starting my medical journey at 16 and becoming one of the youngest doctors in the country, studying and training at the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Business School, Singularity University and other prestigious institutions, becoming a board certified surgeon and accumulating over two decades of practice, I have discovered that a mere 20% of health knowledge yields 80% of the results. That's why this podcast is all about cutting through the noise on how to turn back the aging clock. I interview world-renowned medical practitioners, doctors, experts, and thought leaders, offering you a step-by-step guide and actionable advice to proactively avoid disease and optimize your health. Plus, I share weekly solo episodes giving you quick, digestible protocols for successfully extending your healthspan.
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Episodes

132. Nathalie Niddam: Reverse Aging Signals with Bioregulators and Peptides

Most people assume fatigue, low energy, and age-related decline are unavoidable. What if supporting your body, optimizing recovery, and enhancing longevity were about activating the right systems, rather than chasing symptoms? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Nathalie Niddam, holistic nutritionist, longevity educator, and host of the Longevity Podcast with Nathalie Niddam, to unpack how bioregulators, mitochondrial peptides, and targeted nutritional strategies can support cellular hea...

Jan 22, 202650 minEp. 132

131. Dr. Elizabeth Yurth: The Science of Ketones, Hormones, and Faster Recovery

Most people assume joint pain, fatigue, and limited mobility are inevitable with age. But what if protecting your joints, optimizing recovery, and maintaining energy were about targeting the right systems early, rather than treating symptoms later? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, co-founder and chief medical officer of the Boulder Longevity Institute and a Stanford-trained sports and spine physician. With over 30 years of experience merging orthopedic expertise w...

Jan 20, 20261 hr 4 minEp. 131

130. Smarter Drinking: Cut Alcohol Without Sacrifice

How much control do you really have over your alcohol consumption and its effects on your health? Many people assume drinking is just part of social life, but science shows there are practical steps to reduce intake while still enjoying your routine. In this solo episode of Extend, Dr. Darshan Shah, longevity expert and founder of Next Health, breaks down why smarter drinking is a key strategy for improving sleep, metabolism, and long-term wellbeing. He explains how alcohol impacts the body, fro...

Jan 15, 202626 minEp. 130

129. Ashley Koff: The GLP-1 Conversation Most People Are Missing

Most people think weight loss is about discipline, calories, or finding the right medication. But what if the real issue is that we've misunderstood how hormones, digestion, and recovery actually regulate metabolism in the first place? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with registered dietitian Ashley Koff to unpack what GLP-1 medications are really doing in the body and why bariatric surgery revealed metabolic changes long before significant weight loss ever occurred. We explore incretin h...

Jan 13, 20261 hr 2 min

128. Hidden Environmental Toxins Are Destroying Your Health

How much control do you actually have over the toxins in your daily environment? Most people assume chemical exposure is unavoidable, but the science shows there are practical steps that can significantly reduce your toxic load. In this solo episode, we break down why environmental detoxification is a key strategy for protecting your long-term health and longevity. We walk you through the main sources of exposure, from household cleaners and cookware to synthetic fragrances and clothing material...

Jan 08, 202621 minEp. 128

127. Allison Evans: Hidden Household Toxins That Are Making You Sick

Toxin exposure rarely announces itself loudly, yet it quietly shapes hormone balance, immune resilience, mood, and neurological health long before a diagnosis appears. The real tension lies in the fact that these exposures are largely invisible, normalized, and happening inside the very spaces meant to keep us safe. We dive deeper into this in the Extend podcast with Allison Evans. We also chat about the "toxic bucket" concept, why synthetic fragrance and harsh disinfectants can act as endocrine...

Jan 06, 20261 hr 13 minEp. 127

126. How to Fix Your Metabolic Health at Any Age

Most people think they're doing "enough" for their health, yet nearly 90% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy and don't know it. In this episode, I challenge outdated metrics like BMI, explain why sleep quality matters more than hours slept, and break down what actually moves the needle when it comes to long-term health. In this solo episode of EXTEND, I outline my five core health frameworks for 2026. I also walk through what it means to become the CEO of your own health, how to use simple...

Jan 01, 202629 minEp. 126

125. Best of Mental Health: The Foundation of Brain and Whole Body Health

Mental health is shaped by how well the brain produces energy, how well the nervous system remains under stress, and how effectively the mind adapts over time. When these systems begin to break down, problems often appear years before a diagnosis, showing up as anxiety, brain fog, distraction, burnout, or emotional dysregulation that are frequently treated in isolation. This is a special Best Of episode of Extend, where I've compiled the most important insights from conversations with leaders ex...

Dec 30, 202546 minEp. 125

124. Best of Strength Training: Why Strength Determines How You Age

Over the past year on Extend, I've had powerful conversations with experts who all kept pointing back to the same foundation: strength training. So in this episode, I'm bringing together a Best Of compilation featuring key moments from Andy Galpin, Vonda Wright, JJ Virgin, Louisa Nicola, and Kelly and Juliet Starrett to highlight why strength matters far beyond the gym. This episode explores strength training from every angle that truly impacts longevity. I break down why muscle is a metabolic e...

Dec 25, 202531 minEp. 124

123. Best of Metabolic Health: Why Metabolic Health Changes Everything

Metabolic health is the foundation that determines how your body produces energy, manages inflammation, regulates hormones, and protects you from chronic disease. When it breaks down, problems show up years later, long after the real warning signs were missed. This is a special Best Of episode of Extend, where I've compiled the most important insights from conversations with leaders in metabolic health and longevity, including Cynthia Thurlow, Ben Azadi, Dr. Mark Hyman, Casey Means, Josh Clement...

Dec 23, 202524 minEp. 123

122. Dr. Mayim Bialik on Stress, Mental Health, and Human Connection

What if the stress you feel every day is not a personal failure, but a biological response to how modern life pulls at your nervous system? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mayim Bialik to explore why so many people feel overwhelmed, distracted, and disconnected, even when they are doing everything they were told should make them happy. We talk about how stress lives in the body, how technology quietly rewires attention and dopamine, and why mental health cannot be separated from gut health,...

Dec 18, 20251 hr 19 minEp. 122

121. How to Protect Your Brain at Every Age

How much control do you actually have over how your brain ages? Most people assume memory loss and cognitive decline are inevitable, but the science tells a very different story. In this solo episode, I break down why brain health is something you can actively protect decades before symptoms ever appear. I walk you through the core systems that shape how your brain functions over time, from blood sugar regulation and inflammation to sleep, stress, circulation, and daily movement. We explore how ...

Dec 16, 202536 minEp. 121

120. Jess Kane: Your Cells Are Leaking, Here's How to Fix Them

Have you ever wondered why you can be "doing everything right" with your health and still feel inflamed, foggy, or depleted? The more I study longevity, the more I am convinced this has less to do with the latest hack and more to do with something very basic that we almost never talk about: the integrity of the cell membrane. Every process in the human body begins at the level of the cell membrane, and in today's world, that membrane is under constant attack from toxins, infections, chemicals, a...

Dec 11, 202546 minEp. 120

119. Dr. Rocio Salas Whalen: How To Lose Weight On GLP-1s Without Losing Muscle

Most people still think GLP-1s are "weight loss shots," but what we are really doing is changing biology at the level of appetite and inflammation, with ripple effects across future generations. In this conversation, I sit down with endocrinologist and obesity specialist Dr. Rocio Salas Whalen to unpack what these medications do inside the body and how to use them responsibly as part of a long-term health strategy. We get into why "eat less, exercise more" failed so many patients, how family his...

Dec 09, 20251 hr 1 minEp. 119

118. Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum: A New Roadmap to Female Heart Health

Most people think heart disease is obvious and predictable, yet women often present with completely different warning signs that traditional testing fails to catch. We now have the tools to identify risk decades earlier and reverse disease before it becomes dangerous. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, cardiologist and leading voice in women's cardiovascular prevention, to uncover why standard testing misses female heart disease, how microvascular dysfunction deve...

Dec 04, 202555 min

117. Dr. Steven Gundry: The Microbiome War Shaping Your Mind

Most people think about the gut as a digestive system, yet emerging research shows it functions more like a command center shaping immunity, metabolism, mood, and even coronary artery calcification. The surprising twist is that your gut may be influencing your brain more than your brain influences your gut. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Steven Gundry, cardiac surgeon and world leading expert on the microbiome, to uncover how gut bacteria communicate with your mitochondria and b...

Dec 02, 20251 hr 11 min

116. Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson: The New Essential Fatty Acid

Most people hear "saturated fat" and think of something harmful, yet emerging research reveals that one specific fatty acid supports stronger cell membranes, healthier metabolic function, and better long-term resilience. C15 plays a unique role in the biology of aging and may help explain why certain populations experience longer, healthier lives. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, veterinary epidemiologist and co-founder of Fatty15, to uncover how Navy dolphi...

Nov 27, 202548 minEp. 116

115. Dr. Shivani Gupta: Heal Inflammation Through Ayurvedic Science

Most of us think inflammation is something we can fix with supplements, lab tests, or the latest diet trend. But what if the real solution comes from ancient wisdom that modern science is finally catching up to? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Shivani Gupta, Ayurvedic practitioner, author, and founder of Fusionary Formulas, to explore how Ayurveda bridges timeless principles with modern longevity science. We break down how your dosha or "elemental design" shapes digestion, energy...

Nov 25, 20251 hr 6 minEp. 115

114. Julia Putzeys: The App That Decodes Your Food Lies

Most of us grew up thinking anything sold at the grocery store was safe to eat. But behind every "heart healthy," "high protein," or "low fat" label lies a different truth one built on ultra-processed ingredients, chemical additives, and marketing tricks. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Julia Putzeys, founder of the Trash Panda App, to uncover what's really in our food and how to make smarter choices that protect our long-term health. We break down what defines an ultra-processed foo...

Nov 20, 202545 min

113. Dr. Karan Rajan: Why Gut Health Shapes Your Longevity

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,...

Nov 18, 20251 hr 12 minEp. 113

112. Josh Clemente: Why Energy Crashes Keep Happening and How to Stop Them

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 shar...

Nov 13, 20251 hr 29 minEp. 112

111. Dr. Amir Vookshoor: Neurosurgeon Secrets For Bulletproof Brain Health

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...

Nov 11, 20251 hr 15 min

110. Dr. Josh Axe: The Hidden Connection Between Faith, Emotion, and Aging

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 Traditiona...

Nov 06, 20251 hr 31 minEp. 110

109. Dr. Gladys McGarey: What 103 Years of Life Can Teach Us About Longevity

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...

Nov 04, 202540 minEp. 109

108. Dr. Vonda Wright: Why Women Need a New Approach to Aging, and How to Start Now

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 ...

Oct 30, 202545 minEp. 108

107. Dr. Will Cole: Gut Issues and Anxiety? Functional Medicine Is Finally Connecting the Dots

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, l...

Oct 28, 202545 minEp. 107

106. Siggi Clavien: Why Your Liver is Slowly Killing You (And You Don't Even Know It)

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 hid...

Oct 23, 20251 hr 15 minEp. 106

105. Gabby Bernstein: Why Safety Is the Most Powerful Longevity Protocol

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 Fam...

Oct 21, 20251 hr 18 min

104. Dr. Jeffrey Bland: The Science of Immune Rejuvenation and Aging in Reverse

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...

Oct 16, 20251 hr 41 minEp. 104

103. Maya Raichoora: Train Your Brain Like Your Body + The 5 Types of Visualization

What if your brain's biggest limitation isn't its capacity, but your failure to train it? In this episode of Extend, Maya Raichoora joins me to share how visualization techniques helped her reverse debilitating ulcerative colitis. We explore the neuroscience behind visualization, from rewiring neural pathways to regulating the immune system through thought. We dive into five distinct types of visualization and why mental fitness deserves the same daily dedication as physical fitness. Maya Raicho...

Oct 14, 20251 hr 13 min
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