In this episode, Ted Schaeffer, Professor and Chair of the Department of Urology at Northwestern (youngest chairman in the country), presents the roadmap for the best way to screen for, and treat, prostate cancer. We also get into the "mass screening" controversy and all the risks involved with treatment. In addition, we discuss our evolving understanding of cancer and the most exciting areas of research to come. We discuss: Ted's unique path to get his PhD [5:15]; The exciting transition in sci...
Feb 04, 2019•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, Francisco Gonzalez-Lima, a Professor of Neuroscience and Pharmacology & Toxicology, explains the vascular hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease which says the central problem is a progressive neuronal energy crisis of impaired blood flow to the brain and impaired mitochondrial respiration. He walks us through the ways we can intervene in this process and also shares details of the exciting future of Alzheimer's treatment and prevention. We discuss: Background and interest in the...
Jan 28, 2019•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 38
In this episode, Zubin Damania, a.k.a. Zdogg MD, a Stanford trained physician and founder of Turntable Health, discusses his evolution from disillusioned doctor suffering burnout to leading the charge for a radical shift in how we practice medicine. We also go down the rabbit hole on all sorts of juicy topics from meditation to nutrition to the nature of consciousness itself. We discuss: Med school antics [7:00]; Hierarchies in healthcare, physician burnout, and a broken system [20:15]; Why Zubi...
Jan 21, 2019•2 hr 51 min•Ep. 37
In this episode, Dr. Eric Chehab, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, explains the measures we can take to live better and maintain our physical health through exercise and the avoidance of common injuries that prove to be the downfall for many. He also provides valuable insight for those weighing their treatment options from physical therapy to surgery to stem cells. We discuss: Favorite bands, musicians, and concerts [3:30]; Eric's upbringing, biggest influences, college life, a...
Jan 14, 2019•2 hr 39 min•Ep. 36
In this episode, Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research and expert in the genetics of longevity, discusses the evidence that metformin and rapamycin have anti-aging properties and how his TAME study aims to support this hypothesis in humans. Additionally, he describes the role of genetics in lifespan/healthspan and how it might affect important pathways such as IGF and insulin sensitivity. We discuss: Nir's background and interest in aging and endocrinology [3:30]; History of...
Jan 07, 2019•2 hr 48 min•Ep. 35
In this episode, Sam Harris, neuroscientist, author, and host of the Waking Up Podcast, walks us through the profound, yet practical, ways that meditation can transform our lives. Additionally, he helps to define the types of meditation and clarifies potential misconceptions with terms like happiness, pain, and suffering. We discuss: The transformative moment that led to Peter reaching out to Sam [3:45]; Comparing the two broad types of meditation, and Peter's favorite meditation apps [7:45]; Th...
Dec 20, 2018•2 hr 44 min•Ep. 34
In this episode, Dr. Rudy Leibel, an expert in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Genomics at Columbia University, discusses his role in the remarkable scientific story of discovering leptin. He also gets into the genetics of obesity, as well as a broader discussion of the causes and effects of obesity, energy expenditure, and metabolism. We discuss: Rudy's background, interest in obesity, and trying to understand the role and impact of adipose tissue [4:15]; Finding the first evidence of leptin by...
Dec 17, 2018•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 33
In this episode, Siddhartha Mukherjee, oncologist, researcher, and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer," discusses his writing process, his thoughts about medicine, cancer, immunotherapy, and his recent collaboration on a study combining a ketogenic diet with a drug in mice that provided remarkable and encouraging results. We discuss: Sid's background [ 5:00 ]; How Sid and Peter met [ 6:00 ]; Sid's Pulitzer Prize-winning book: The Emperor...
Dec 10, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 32
In this episode, Nav Chandel, a professor of medicine and cell and molecular biology at Northwestern University, discusses the role of mitochondria and metabolism in health and disease. Nav also provides insights into the mitochondria as signaling organelles, antioxidants, and metformin's multifaceted effects on human health, among many topics related to well-being. We discuss: What got Nav interested in mitochondria [ 5:00 ]; Reactive oxygen species (ROS) [ 16:00 ]; Antioxidants: helpful or har...
Dec 03, 2018•2 hr 22 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, Thomas Seyfried, a cancer researcher and professor of biology at Boston College, discusses a controversial view of cancer as a mitochondrial metabolic disease. Many topics related to the causes, treatments, and prevention of cancer are covered in this in-depth conversation. We discuss: How Tom got interested in cancer research [ 9:00 ]; Calorie-restricted ketogenic diets, fasting, and epileptic seizures [ 18:30 ]; Otto Warburg and the Warburg effect [30:45]; Germline mutations, ...
Nov 26, 2018•2 hr 48 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, 8-time Olympic medalist, Apolo Ohno, discusses the lessons he's learned from his remarkable career in speed skating and the extreme physical and mental training — and determination — required to reach greatness. We discuss: Apolo's childhood with his single dad, early success in sports, and falling in love with skating [7:30]; The differences between inline and ice skating, and short- & long-track speed-skating, and the evolution of the clap skate [21:00]; The mental game an...
Nov 19, 2018•3 hr 38 min•Ep. 29
In this episode, Mark and Chris Bell discuss their love of powerlifting, their unbelievable personal records, and what prompted the making of their now iconic film, Bigger, Stronger, Faster. They also very openly discuss steroid use, their tragic family history with addiction, the many inspirations that lead to their multifaceted success, and their dedication to having a positive impact on others in fitness and life. We discuss: The impact of Bigger, Stronger, Faster, how it got made, and how it...
Nov 12, 2018•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 28
In this episode, David A. Sinclair, Ph.D., a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging, provides insight into why we age and how to slow its effects based on his remarkable work on the role of sirtuins and NAD in health and diseases. He also presents the case that stabilizing the epigenetic landscape may be the linchpin in counteracting aging and disease. We discuss: How and why David moved...
Nov 05, 2018•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 27
In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter answers a wide range of questions from readers and podcast listeners. Bob Kaplan, Peter's head analyst, asks the questions. This also marks the first video release of the podcast. You can find it on YouTube ( https://youtu.be/kzs7GgxR_FQ ) and the website ( peterattiamd.com/ama03 ). If you have any questions for the next AMA, please submit them to the AMA section on the website ( peterattiamd.com ). We discuss: What references ranges does Peter cons...
Oct 29, 2018•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 26
We discuss: How Scott and Peter met [ 3:45 ]; Scott's tragic family story that shaped his life and altered his trajectory [ 8:00 ]; High school years, rebellion, and music [30:30]; Life as a club promoter, drug use, soul-searching, and a change of heart [41:30]; Mercy Ships [ 1:15:00 ]; The amazing transformations of Mercy Ships and the parallels to his own transformation [ 1:28:00 ]; Leveraging the art of storytelling to raise money and awareness while fighting temptations to fall into his prev...
Oct 22, 2018•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 25
In this five-part series, Thomas Dayspring, M.D., FACP, FNLA, a world-renowned expert in lipidology, and one of Peter's most important clinical mentors, shares his wealth of knowledge on the subject of lipids. In Part V, Peter and Tom talk about inflammation, endothelial health, and oxidative stress as they pertain to cardiovascular disease, and our attempts to monitor them using biomarkers. They also discuss a couple of very important risk factors that too few people (and doctors) know about. T...
Oct 19, 2018•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 24
In this five-part series, Thomas Dayspring, M.D., FACP, FNLA, a world-renowned expert in lipidology, and one of Peter's most important clinical mentors, shares his wealth of knowledge on the subject of lipids. In Part IV, Peter and Tom review the history and current use of drugs to prevent cardiovascular disease. They also discuss why some drugs appear to be more effective than others, an in-depth conversation about niacin, cholesterol and brain health, and the futility of using CKs (creatinine ...
Oct 18, 2018•2 hr•Ep. 23
In this five-part series, Thomas Dayspring, M.D., FACP, FNLA, a world-renowned expert in lipidology, and one of Peter's most important clinical mentors, shares his wealth of knowledge on the subject of lipids. In Part III, Peter and Tom dig into HDL, why "reverse cholesterol transport" is a lot more nuanced than what most of us are taught, lipid transport, apolipoproteins, and more. In addition, this episode highlights the complexity of HDL and a discussion about the CETP inhibitor trials. We di...
Oct 17, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 22
In this five-part series, Thomas Dayspring, M.D., FACP, FNLA, a world-renowned expert in lipidology, and one of Peter's most important clinical mentors, shares his wealth of knowledge on the subject of lipids. In Part II, Tom provides a 101 on lipids and lipoproteins. Tom and Peter also discuss the history and techniques used to measure lipoproteins, and more. We discuss: Lipoprotein basics [ 1:30 ]; Gofman and the ultracentrifuge [ 5:15 ]; Lipoprotein structure, function, metabolism [ 6:45 ]; L...
Oct 16, 2018•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 21
In this five-part series, Thomas Dayspring, M.D., FACP, FNLA, a world-renowned expert in lipidology, and one of Peter's most important clinical mentors, shares his wealth of knowledge on the subject of lipids. Part I serves as an introduction to Tom, his work, and an overview of lipid terminology. We discuss: Tom's recent and remarkable physical transformation [6:30]; The moving stories behind Tom's obsessions: firefighting, hockey, and, of course, lipids [20:30]; Tom's medical background [39:30...
Oct 15, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, Dave Feldman, discusses his journey from software engineer to n=1 experimenter, his experience with low-carbohydrate diets, and his hypothesis that cholesterol levels are influenced by energy metabolism. We discuss: Peter's synthesis of Dave's energy model [ 5:00 ]; Dave's journey from software engineer to cholesterol enthusiast [ 15:00 ]; Standard blood panels, sterol panels, and what moves the needle when it comes to particle numbers [ 18:30 ]; Hyper-responders [ 20:00 ]; Lipo...
Oct 08, 2018•3 hr 10 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, Richard Isaacson, a neurologist and director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, discusses strategies for staving off Alzheimer's disease. Richard shares a wealth of insight for people who want to know more about Alzheimer's and what you can do to help yourself and your loved ones – starting today and continuing throughout the entire lifespan. We discuss: Richard's fun-facts (and alter egos): "bling" phones, Doogie Howser, and...
Oct 01, 2018•2 hr 24 min•Ep. 18
In this episode, ultra-endurance athlete and entrepreneur, Mike Trevino, discusses the lessons he's learned from his remarkable athletic feats, and the training required to reach them. Not only is Mike's advice practical for those looking to take their endurance training to the next level, but his lessons and insight are extraordinarily applicable to living everyday life. We discuss: Mike's background, his crazy birthday tradition, and his transition from power to endurance [ 6:30 ]; Mike's brea...
Sep 24, 2018•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 17
In this bonus episode, Peter and med school colleague (and brilliant psychiatrist) Paul Conti reminisce on their favorite moments in Formula 1 history, their deep admiration for the late Ayrton Senna, and the remarkable careers of their all-time favorite drivers. Paul also helps to illuminate the psychological components that made the luminary drivers great, and the cautionary lessons we can take from their incredible lives. We discuss: Ayrton Senna [ 3:45 ]; How Senna's death changed the sport ...
Sep 20, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 16
In this episode, psychiatrist Paul Conti, M.D. discusses the impact of untreated trauma, the rising rate of suicide, and the influence of modern society on mental health, to name a few important topics covered. Paul also talks about how to deal with these challenges for yourself, your loved ones, and the community at large. We discuss: Paul's background, and what drove him to psychiatry [5:00]; How silent bravado and incessant striving can lead to a functional (and actual) death, and why Paul is...
Sep 17, 2018•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, Rob Lustig — a researcher, an expert in fructose metabolism, and a former pediatric endocrinologist — discusses what's wrong with the current food environment, and what we can do to reduce our chances of becoming part of the obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) epidemics. Rob recently earned a Master of Studies in Law because he believes that educating people about sugar from a scientific standpoint is only half the equation: the ot...
Sep 10, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 14
This episode explores the question of how we can maintain a naturally youthful look as we get older. Brett — a New York City oculofacial plastic surgeon who specializes in both non-surgical and surgical cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the eyes and face — shares some remarkably practical advice on everything from the most extensive procedural options, down to the simple steps one can do themselves, starting today, that can make a tremendous impact. Brett also discusses how to pick a pro...
Sep 03, 2018•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 13
Corey and Peter met when they visited North Kern State Prison in California together as volunteers for Defy Ventures. Peter was moved by Corey's remarkable story, who is a former inmate himself, and realized he had to have him on the podcast to share his experiences with a wider audience. You'll almost assuredly take away something very important from listening to this episode. Understanding how your experiences can define you, what forgiveness means of both yourself and others, and how good peo...
Aug 27, 2018•2 hr 27 min•Ep. 12
Consider this episode a cross between an ask me anything (AMA) and a show-and-tell. Peter discusses his fasting experiment in great detail and answers questions from listeners and readers. We discuss: Why Peter did a one-week fast and the rationale for front- and back-ending it with a week-long ketogenic diet [6:30]; What Peter's typical diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and supplementation looks like [11:00]; What labs (e.g., glucose, ketones, lipids, inflammation and oxidation markers,...
Aug 23, 2018•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 11
Matt is someone who is deeply interested in understanding the biology of aging. Why do we age? What happens to us as we age? What are the things we can do to slow the aging process? How can we delay or prevent the onset of age-related diseases? These are all questions that Matt thinks deeply about, and explores these questions with his research at the University of Washington. He is currently investigating many of these questions through the Dog Aging Project and the compound rapamycin—the only ...
Aug 20, 2018•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 10
