The Life Lab by Death Clock

Today, Brent is joined by Dr. Arthur Caplan, a leading bioethicist, to discuss how ethics should shape the future of longevity medicine, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation. They discuss the promise and pitfalls of extending human lifespan, the responsibilities that come with new medical breakthroughs, and why scientific progress is only meaningful if it improves people's lives. The conversation also tackles controversial topics like organ donation, health misinformation, and government-mandated COVID vaccines, as Dr. Caplan shares his perspective on how society should navigate the next generation of medical advances. He's a terrific guest, hope you enjoy.

This week, Brent speaks with Dr. Marc Hellerstein, a physician-scientist and pioneer in metabolism research, to explore what insulin resistance actually is, why fatty liver disease has become one of the fastest-growing health problems, and how the body processes carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The conversation also examines popular topics like intermittent fasting and low-carb diets, separating what the evidence supports from what's still uncertain. Dr. Hellerstein also explains why metabolic health is about much more than glucose alone, offering a deeper understanding of how our bodies produce, store, and use energy over time. He's a wonderful guest, hope you enjoy.

In this episode, Brent discusses chronic inflammation with Dr. John Wherry, one of the world's leading immunologists. The conversation unpacks the emerging science of chronic inflammation, why more medical testing isn't always better, the surprising connection between vaccines and brain health, and how decades of immune research are paving the way for more personalized medicine. Along the way, Wherry explains why sleep, exercise, and nutrition remain the foundation of a healthy immune system, where technologies like blood biomarkers may eventually fit into preventive care, and why the most exciting breakthroughs in immunology are still on the horizon. He's a wonderful guest, hope you enjoy.

Today, Brent has a discussion with Dr. Paul Robbins, a pioneer in the field of cellular senescence, to explore how senescent cells contribute to aging and age-related disease, and why scientists believe eliminating them could help extend healthy years of life. Robbins explains the current state of senolytic therapies, the promise of partial cellular rejuvenation, and why breakthroughs like Yamanaka factors have generated so much excitement in longevity research. The conversation also examines GLP-1 drugs, metformin, supplements, and the risks of getting ahead of the science, while offering a realistic perspective on whether humans will ever live to 150. He's a wonderful guest, hope you enjoy.

This week, Dr. Brian Feeley, Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at UCSF and team physician for the San Francisco Giants, joins the shoe to share what decades of treating athletes and everyday patients have taught him about movement, strength training, and injury prevention. The discussion covers everything from running, skiing, cycling, and youth sports to shoulder impingement, ACL tears, and the realities of exercising in middle age. Feeley explains why many common beliefs about joint health and injury risk don't hold up to the evidence, how to think about strength training without getting sidelined, and why variety may be one of the most overlooked components of a sustainable fitness routine. They also discuss the hype surrounding peptides, the science of recovery, and the emerging research on muscle regeneration and healthy aging. It's a jam-packed episode and Dr. Feeley is a wonderful guest, hope you enjoy.

In this episode of Death Clock, Brent sits down with Dr. Edward Calabrese, the scientist who helped pioneer the modern understanding of hormesis: the idea that low doses of stress can trigger powerful adaptive responses that make the body more resilient. The conversation explores how hormesis shows up in exercise, fasting, heat exposure, cold exposure, and even surprising areas like radiation and toxicology. Along the way, Calabrese shares the lifestyle habits he has followed for decades, from daily exercise and intermittent fasting to an unconventional one-meal-a-day routine, and explains why he believes strategic stress may be one of the most underappreciated tools for improving health and longevity. He's a fascinating guest, hope you enjoy.

This week, Brent speaks with Dr. Stephanie Cook, a researcher specializing in stress and cardiovascular health, who breaks down the science of chronic stress, cortisol, and the body's stress-response system. She explains how stress can influence everything from sleep and inflammation to heart disease risk, why our perception of stress matters as much as the stressor itself, and how factors like relationships, social support, income, and environment shape our ability to recover. The conversation also explores the role of social comparison, the health consequences of discrimination and inequality, and the emerging impact of algorithms and digital life on modern stress. She's a wonderful guest, hope you enjoy. We will be dark next week for the holiday. See you on 7/10 for a brand new episode.

In this episode, Brent speaks with physician-scientist Dr. Loren Walensky to explore the rapidly growing world of peptides, GLP-1 drugs, and experimental health interventions. As compounds like semaglutide, BPC-157, and other peptides gain popularity in wellness and longevity circles, Walensky explains the critical difference between therapies that have been rigorously tested and those that are being used long before the science is settled. The conversation covers obesity, willpower, off-label prescribing, the role of the FDA, and why promising treatments still need evidence before they can be considered safe and effective. He's as credentialed as you can get on this topic, hope you enjoy.

In this episode, preventive cardiologist Dr. Ann Marie Navar, a member of the committee that helped shape the American Heart Association's new recommendations for earlier cholesterol management, explains why many experts believe cardiovascular prevention should begin decades before most people ever experience symptoms. Dr. Navar explains why lowering LDL cholesterol earlier in life can have lasting benefits decades later, how ApoB and lipoprotein(a) are reshaping the way experts think about heart disease risk, and why some of the most popular fears surrounding statins aren't supported by the evidence. The conversation also explores the growing divide between evidence-based medicine and the wellness industry and the challenges of separating compelling biological theories from treatments that have actually been proven to improve health outcomes. She's a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful guest. Hope you enjoy.

This week on Death Clock, Dr. Katherine Ramos of Duke University breaks down the growing body of research linking social connection to longevity, resilience, and quality of life. Dr. Ramos explains why meaningful connection is deeply individual, and why having people who truly understand, support, and ground you can shape both mental and physical health outcomes over time. The conversation moves from marriage and friendship to parenting, caregiving, support groups, and the psychology of belonging. This episode is ultimately about learning how to build relationships that don't just help us live longer and better. Hope you enjoy.