What if the biggest risk factor for cancer, heart disease, and dementia isn't your genes, diet, or blood pressure but aging itself? Listen in as biogerontologist Dr. Matt Kaeberlein reveals how understanding the biology of aging could add not just years to our lives, but healthy decades, and why your dog might hold some of the most important clues.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Matt Kaeberlein discuss aging research. He explains that aging is characterized by damage accumulation and loss of resilience, leading to functional decline. Matt highlights the hallmarks of aging, such as deregulation of nutrient sensing and DNA damage, and the potential of interventions like rapamycin to slow aging. He notes that biological age is a significant risk factor for major diseases, and that understanding and addressing aging biology could significantly extend human lifespan. They also discuss the Dog Aging Project, with 55,000 participating dogs, which aims to uncover genetic and environmental factors influencing health and longevity in pets.

Key Takeaways:

• Our bodies are constantly being exposed to stress, and stress can move us out of the optimal zone of function. When we're young, we're very resilient and able to come back to optimal function. As we get older, we lose that resilience.

• When we slow aging in laboratory animals, we prevent the onset and progression of all of the major age-related functional declines and diseases simultaneously, because we've slowed biological aging. Based on what's possible in mice, it is estimated that we could potentially gain 2-3 additional decades of life if we can achieve this in humans.

• There is a genetic component to longevity; however, how big that genetic component is to longevity is hotly debated. The environment is also a large contributor.

"Biological age is the single greatest risk factor for nine of the top 10 killers in the United States, and it's not a small effect. The magnitude of effect from biological aging dwarfs all of the other risk factors combined…it's useful to appreciate how important biological age is to the risk of developing many of the chronic diseases and functional declines that limit quality and quantity of life for most people." — Dr. Matt Kaeberlein

Episode References:

• Dog Aging Project: https://dogagingproject.org/

• Dog Aging Institute: https://dogaginginstitute.org/

• Longevity for Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/@LongevityForDogs

Connect with Dr. Matt Kaeberlein:

Professional Bio: https://halo.dlmp.uw.edu/people/matt-kaeberlein/

Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22kaeberlein+m%22[author]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mkaeberlein

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkaeberlein/

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

In this episode, Therese Markow and psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Scott discuss narcissism, its clinical definition, and the characteristics of "malignant narcissism". Dr. Scott explains that narcissism involves patterns of grandiosity, a need for constant admiration, a lack of empathy, high levels of manipulation, and the narcissist's "kryptonite" - criticism. They view themselves as the victim, never at fault. Despite their arrogance, they are very insecure. Dr. Scott also discusses why treatment is challenging and why therapy often focuses on managing symptoms rather than the deeper core issues. They can't see that they have a problem, and thus are resistant to treatment.

Key Takeaways:

• The myth of Narcissus illustrates the danger of excessive self-focus, which is the hallmark of narcissism in clinical terms and is becoming increasingly common in some aspects of our modern society.

• Narcissists are very good at manipulation. They consciously will do things to sort of manage their image in the eyes of others. They may appear to show empathy at times in a relationship, but it's usually more of a means to an end than a genuine concern for the feelings of others.

• Criticism is like kryptonite to a narcissist, so even the mildest critique can provoke a strong defensive reaction: anger, denial, or shifting the blame to somebody else.

• You cannot change a narcissist's behavior, but you can control your own responses to it. Think about limits and then give yourself leeway within those to protect your own mental health.

"[Narcissists] might mimic empathetic behaviors to achieve their own ends, but it's more about manipulation than genuine caring. So they can understand maybe what empathy looks like, but not really get how it feels and how it's supposed to feel and how those behaviors are supposed to be rooted in something inside them." — Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D.

Connect with Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D.:

Twitter: https://x.com/ElizabethScott

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AboutStressManagement/

Website: https://drelizabethscott.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.elizabethscott/

Book: 8 Keys to Stress Management: https://www.amazon.com/Keys-Stress-Management-Mental-Health-ebook/dp/B00AJUKO5M

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Do you ever feel exhausted by home life, even when the chores look "even"? This episode uncovers the hidden mental load running beneath every household and reveals how it quietly shapes stress, careers, and relationships.

Today, Therese Markow and Dr. Allison Daminger discuss her research on cognitive labor, which reveals gender inequality in household decision-making. Allison interviewed 92 couples, and they discuss the results found between both queer and heterosexual couples throughout the study. These decisions were categorized into 10 domains, ranging from maintenance to health to childcare. Throughout the episode, Allison emphasizes the need for couples to recognize and address the imbalances, suggesting starting with low-hanging fruit and fostering a growth mindset to achieve a more equitable division of labor.

Key Takeaways:

• In different-sex households, cognitive labor is overwhelmingly shouldered by women, with roughly 80% of such homes being woman-led across domains like schedules, childcare coordination, finances, and home maintenance.

• Same-sex couples tend to divide cognitive labor more deliberately and flexibly, often discussing who does what and viewing roles as changeable rather than fixed by gender stereotypes.

• Unequal cognitive labor carries real costs - chronic exhaustion, career compromises, and relationship strain - making it crucial for couples to name this work, question "it just happened this way" narratives, and experiment with small, intentional rebalances in specific domains.

• Women's lives changed dramatically in the second half of the twentieth century, in a way that men's lives did not. However, there is now an emerging trend that seems to show more men feeling a pull toward the traditional household cognitive load often carried by women.

"One reason that my research has resonated with a lot of people is that it's given them language to explain something that they experience every day. People know that they're doing a lot, but until they recognize this as a form of work that is taxing, it can be easy to kind of downplay what you're contributing to your family, especially when it feels like you and your partner are sharing the physical work relatively equitably." — Dr. Allison Daminger

Connect with Allison:

Professional Bio: https://www.allisondaminger.com/about

Substack: https://allisondaminger.substack.com/

Website: https://www.allisondaminger.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisondaminger

Book: What's On Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life - https://bookshop.org/p/books/what-s-on-her-mind-the-mental-workload-of-family-life-allison-daminger/585e2aa7eac0a0ea

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

From testosterone craze headlines to myths about prostate cancer, fertility, and aggression, men are getting a lot of confusing messages about their sexual health. Today, urologist and men's health expert Dr. Justin Dubin cuts through the noise with science-backed answers to the questions men are often too embarrassed to ask.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Justin Dubin discuss listener questions regarding men's sexual health. Dr. Dubin explains the nuances of testosterone levels, noting that normal ranges vary and can impact overall health. He highlights the importance of addressing low testosterone, which can lead to significant health issues, including all-cause mortality. He dives into the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy, emphasizing the need for proper medical guidance. Additionally, Justin addresses the stigma around men's health, the role of direct-to-consumer testosterone sales, and the impact of prostate cancer treatments on sexual function.

Key Takeaways:

• Health is not just about living longer; it should also be about living better.

• There are different forms of testosterone. The majority of it, about 98%, is bound to other proteins. Free testosterone is what can bind to your receptors.

• There is really good data suggesting that men with low testosterone die at a younger age; they have a higher all-cause mortality. It's not just a mood; it's not just a sex thing. It is an overall marker for your health.

• If you are interested in future fertility and you have low testosterone, do not take real testosterone replacement therapy; there are alternative options.

• Before you go on any medication, you should know the risks and benefits of what you are thinking of taking.

"If I can stop making men think with their penises and start making them think about their penises, I think we can get a lot more guys healthier, a lot more guys happier, and a lot more guys doing the things that they want to be able to do inside and outside the bedroom." — Dr. Justin Dubin

Episode References:

• Guideline-Discordant Care Among Direct-to-Consumer Testosterone Therapy Platforms: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2799297

Connect with Dr. Justin Dubin:

Professional Bio: https://baptisthealth.net/doctors/justin-dubin/5921802

Website: https://www.themanuppod.com/

Man Up Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FkEhH04XdxruNg1xxsEdo

YouTube: http://youtube.com/@themanuppod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-dubin-m-d-9a9b7917/

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

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/JustinDubinMD

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Have you or someone you loved considered taking antidepressants for mental health, but had concerns? Listen in as Dr. Andrew Novick talks about the research and the science behind these drugs and other options for those struggling with MDD and other mental health concerns.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Andrew Novick discuss major depressive disorder (MDD) and its treatment options. Dr. Novick explains the key characteristics of MDD and discusses some of the many treatment options, which include psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pharmacological interventions like SSRIs. He highlights the effectiveness of esketamine for treatment-resistant MDD, and also addresses the controversy surrounding SSRIs and the potential of new treatments like psilocybin, noting ongoing research and regulatory challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) can begin in childhood, but can often show up as irritability rather than other traditional depressive symptoms that we would see in adults. It's also more common to see it manifest during puberty, rather than before.

• Treating MDD does not require starting with psychotherapy. Medication can help more immediately, especially because there is an obstacle to accessible therapy for a lot of people. It can also be a tool used in tandem with therapy.

• While there are no blood tests or simple diagnostic tests to see if you have depression, like with an infectious disease model, there are some brain scans that can show signs of depression, especially across wide populations of individuals.

• There is no one gene that is associated with MDD. However, through research, many different genes have been identified, often related to brain function and stress response.

"If depression goes untreated, the most awful consequence of that is potential suicide." — Dr. Andrew Novick

Connect with Dr. Andrew Novick:

Professional Bio: https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/29109

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Novick

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annovick

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

The last few decades have seen a continuing rise in really serious and often fatal health problems. The list is long: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, autoimmune diseases, and autism, just to name a few. While vulnerability to disease often has an underlying genetic predisposition, there have to be environmental triggers to set these diseases in motion. In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Aly Cohen discuss just these topics and what we can look for on a daily basis, as well as the small changes that we can, individually, do to make our lives a little healthier.

Key Takeaways:

• It's estimated there are about 95,000 chemicals available on the US market for everything we use from cleaning products, makeup, and everything we use.

• The US has only banned 5 chemicals since 1976. European countries have banned around 1200, on average.

• There are resources out there to help you to vet the products you are using in your life, such as The Environmental Working Group and Skin Deep Database.

"The goal is less is more - use fewer products, the products that you use, if you want to use them, just vet them." — Dr. Aly Cohen

Connect with Dr. Aly Cohen:

Website: https://thesmarthuman.com/

TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSCeP0hyuTI

Show: https://thesmarthuman.com/podcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSmartHuman

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574591840716

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb6NhglVIu6ruM19QNhpJDw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aly-cohen-md-facr-0b570749/

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

Book: https://thesmarthuman.com/dr-aly-cohen-and-dr-fred-vom-saals-new-book-available-now/

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Peptides are being sold online as miracle fixes for energy, healing, and longevity—but what if the science behind them is shaky, or even dangerous?

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Leigh Baxt pull back the curtain on the peptide craze, revealing what we really know (and don't know) about these heavily marketed "biohacks." They discuss the complexities and risks of unapproved peptides, which are often marketed for health enhancement. Dr. Baxt explains what peptides are and speaks to those drugs that are FDA-approved, like GLP-1 agonists and insulin, but also highlights the safety concerns of unapproved peptides, such as BPC-157 and TB-500, which lack appropriate clinical trial data and are often synthesized in unregulated labs. Dr. Baxt emphasizes the importance of proper clinical trial processes and regulatory oversight to ensure drug safety and efficacy.

Key Takeaways:

• A peptide is just a short chain of amino acids. They can be created synthetically, they can be isolated, and they are natural. The body doesn't care whether a peptide is "natural" or synthetic; what matters is its exact molecular structure.

• FDA-approved peptide drugs go through years of rigorous testing in animals and humans to prove both safety and effectiveness before reaching the market.

• Calling something "scientifically proven" can be misleading when the underlying evidence is weak, preliminary, or based only on rat studies. Especially as much of the "science" cited on peptide marketing sites comes from small, limited animal, or cell studies, not large, controlled human trials.

• Just because a product is available online or from a compounding pharmacy does not mean it is FDA-approved, well-studied, or safe; consumers must look beyond hype and ask what evidence truly exists.

• A naturally occurring peptide is generally not going to be suitable for use therapeutically.

"You can say that something is scientifically demonstrated because it showed something interesting in a rat. The key is that the people may not ask that, because a lot of times people hear 'scientific terminology' and it makes something sound really legitimate, but it doesn't mean that there's solid data." — Dr. Leigh Baxt

Evaluation of Research Grade Peptides Marketed Directly to Consumers Reveals Extensive Variability in Purity and Measured Abundance: https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202604.1748

Connect with Dr. Leigh Baxt:

Professional Bio: https://www.mskcc.org/profile/leigh-baxt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-baxt-314b877

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.