The Optispan Podcast with Matt Kaeberlein

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Neuroscientist Reveals What's Actually Working for Brain Longevity (with Dr. Tommy Wood) Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

What if you had more control over your brain's future than you think? Dr. Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington, and head of science for motorsport at Hintsa Performance, joins Dr. Matt Kaeberlein to discuss his new book, The Stimulated Mind. From the science of neuroplasticity to the real drivers of dementia prevention, this episode is packed with evidence-based, actionable insight.Timestamps:0:00 — Introduction: Brain fog, burnout & why our brains feel under strain1:42 — Age-specific dementia incidence has been declining — why no one talks about it2:05 — Why Dr. Wood wrote The Stimulated Mind4:59 — Dr. Wood's background: Cambridge, Oxford, Oslo, and UW8:30 — How a PhD in neonatal brain injury led to elite athlete performance work11:20 — The Keto CTA Trial: ApoB, LDL, and plaque formation on a ketogenic diet15:50 — Can you still have metabolic dysfunction on a long-term keto diet?17:17 — What the keto trial actually found — and why the original results were retracted23:53 — Working with Formula One drivers: biomarkers, blood panels & performance29:51 — Magnesium: is everyone actually deficient?30:33 — The zinc-copper problem in athletes — and why B6 stacks up in their blood34:03 — Why elite athletes use fewer supplements than you'd expect35:19 — Sleep tracking with wearables: HRV, respiratory rate & what actually predicts performance39:53 — Why Dr. Wood wrote The Stimulated Mind (deeper dive)42:16 — Dementia: confluence of factors, individual trajectories & the Lancet projections44:23 — GLP-1s, metabolic disease & shifting dementia projections49:00 — The adult brain is NOT fixed: neuroplasticity across the lifespan52:44 — Is promoting neuroplasticity always beneficial? TMS and the "sledgehammer" problem57:02 — Exercise as a neuroplasticity tool: the 20–30 minute jog protocol58:26 — Arousal, the Yerkes-Dodson curve & how mistakes drive learning1:01:17 — Cold exposure, bright light & breathwork as arousal tools1:04:11 — Psilocybin and neuroplasticity: therapeutic promise vs. open questions1:06:39 — Can grief induce neuroplasticity? An unexpected connection1:08:03 — The 3S Model: Stimulus, Supply & Support for brain health1:15:26 — Education, cognitively stimulating jobs & making up for early deficits1:17:49 — The ACTIVE Study: the brain training game with 20-year dementia data1:23:31 — Video games, exercise & what's actually building cognitive reserve1:25:03 — Supply: why cardiovascular and metabolic health are critical for the brain1:26:29 — Key nutrients for brain health: omega-3s, B vitamins, vitamin D & iron1:27:14 — The Vitacog study: why omega-3 index and homocysteine must be optimized together1:29:59 — PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra/Cialis) and dementia risk — what the data says1:32:30 — Cognitive supplements: what actually has evidence (and what doesn't)1:35:41 — Rapamycin and cognitive function: cerebral blood flow & immune resilience1:38:43 — The best exercise for your brain: Zone 2, HIIT, resistance training & sport1:44:34 — Nutrition strategy for cognitive aging: whole foods, polyphenols & berries1:47:46 — Support: sleep, trophic factors & hormonal health1:48:31 — Testosterone, estrogen & menopause: what hormone therapy can and can't do for the brain1:52:21 — Air quality, chronic stress & environmental exposures as dementia risk factors1:54:19 — Chronic stress as "overtraining" for the brain

Longevity Doctors Rank the Most Hyped Supplements (AMA with Dr. Kaeberlein and Dr. Byrne) Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Matt Kaeberlein and Clinical Director Dr. Nicki Byrne tackle your most pressing supplement questions in this AMA episode, cutting through the hype to give you science-backed answers you can actually use. From CoQ10 and statins to sulforaphane influencer hype, creatine and kidney disease, and why a popular longevity doctor may be losing Matt's trust, this episode covers a lot of ground. If you've ever wondered which supplements are worth your money and which ones belong in the trash, this one's for you.Timestamps:00:00 — Cold open highlights01:18 — Episode intro: AMA focused on supplements01:57 — CoQ10: Does it help with statin-induced muscle pain?04:43 — Is there any reason to take CoQ10 on its own?05:23 — Taurine: Promising or overhyped?07:35 — Astaxanthin: What the evidence actually shows09:45 — Why supplement research is structurally flawed11:05 — Creatine for plant-based dieters12:22 — Creatine and kidney disease: What the data says15:48 — Matt, Nicki & Nick's current creatine doses17:00 — Vitamin D: Reference ranges vs. optimal ranges18:57 — Vitamin K2: Bone density, vascular calcification & dosing caution21:55 — Sulforaphane: Great biology, limited evidence, too much hype27:21 — Resveratrol, hormesis & plant defense chemicals27:58 — Fish oil & the omega index: Why Matt supplements even though he eats fish29:23 — Mark Hyman, sirtuins & the problem with longevity influencers32:08 — Lithium & SGLT2 inhibitors: Matt adjusts his dose live34:15 — Is lithium orotate safe? Addressing the liver carcinogen concern36:26 — Is there an OTC alternative to rapamycin?37:40 — Berberine vs. metformin: More similar than you think38:58 — What do Matt, Nicki & Nick actually take?41:48 — Wrap-up & teaser: Deep dive on magnesium coming soon

New Discovery: This Test Finds Cancer Before It Even Exists (Reaction to Galleri Trial) Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

The Galleri multi-cancer detection test made headlines when its landmark NHS trial failed to meet its primary endpoint, sending Grail's stock down nearly 50%. But does that mean Galleri is useless? Not exactly.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein breaks down what the NHS Galleri trial actually measured, why missing a primary endpoint doesn't tell the whole story, and what the results mean for three distinct groups: the general population, high-risk individuals, and people considering the test for themselves.Timestamps:0:00 — What is Galleri? Multi-cancer detection explained0:44 — Would Dr. Kaeberlein take the test? ($1,000 question)1:29 — Episode overview: defense, takedown, or something else?2:30 — How Galleri works: circulating tumor DNA and methylation3:23 — The core promise: early detection across 50+ cancer types4:20 — The NHS Galleri trial: 140,000 participants, 3 years5:15 — Trial results, the press release spin, and the stock drop5:59 — How OptiSpan currently uses Galleri in practice6:43 — Pre-trial take: not ready for population screening, but why?7:32 — The real risks: false positives, false negatives, and downstream consequences9:05 — What it takes to justify population-level screening10:48 — Inside the NHS trial design12:40 — Why the trial was set up to be difficult from the start13:29 — What the positive signals in the data actually suggest15:49 — High-risk individuals: does Galleri make sense for them?17:38 — Individual-level decision-making: what you need to consider18:33 — Sensitivity and specificity explained plainly22:07 — Walking through the math: false positives in the real world24:20 — Retesting after a positive signal: an open question25:00 — Sensitivity by cancer stage and aggressiveness25:45 — Final verdict: does Galleri have clinical value?27:25 — Dr. Kaeberlein's personal decision on taking the test

The Best Women’s Health Tips on the Planet with Dr. Jennifer Pearlman Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

What if menopause is one of the most important longevity events in human biology, and we've been ignoring it?

Dr. Matt Kaeberlein sits down with Dr. Jennifer Pearlman, founder of PearlMD and pioneer in female-centric longevity medicine, to unpack why women's health has been systemically underfunded, undertreated, and misunderstood and what a proactive approach actually looks like.

From the flawed science behind the Women's Health Initiative to the nuts and bolts of hormone optimization, testosterone for women, and the emerging field of ovarian tissue cryopreservation, Dr. Pearlman brings 20+ years of clinical expertise and a framework she calls FemSpan: harnessing the unique biology of female longevity while mitigating the risks most medicine ignores.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Cold open

00:47 — Welcome & Dr. Pearlman's origin story

02:33 — Why the medical system fails women

08:37 — How the women's health landscape has shifted over 20 years

09:26 — The Women's Health Initiative: what went wrong

13:07 — What drove the reemergence of menopause medicine

14:38 — Big Pharma, funding, and the micronized progesterone question

17:13 — "Medicine progresses one funeral at a time"

18:01 — From functional medicine to precision medicine

20:35 — Rebranding aging: from anti-aging to longevity

23:50 — Navigating the gray zone between frontier and fringe

27:46 — How to identify credible practitioners

33:32 — What every woman should know about the menopause transition

36:41 — Why take a proactive approach? Symptoms, disease risk, and aging

38:19 — The two simultaneous biology processes of menopause

41:46 — The role of FSH and hormone optimization

43:28 — Estradiol as the body's regenerative signal

47:24 — What to test and when

50:38 — The metabolic theory of menopause

55:08 — Visceral fat as an evolutionary adaptation

57:26 — How to navigate hormone therapy

01:00:24 — Bioidentical hormones: reclaiming the term

01:06:45 — Why route of administration matters

01:11:35 — Progesterone: the unsung hero of menopause management

01:23:19 — Testosterone for women: what the science actually says

01:34:25 — Introducing FemSpan: the female longevity framework

01:37:55 — The biological aging advantages women carry

01:46:46 — Can we close the healthspan gap?

01:53:05 — Could reversing menopause extend female lifespan?

02:00:29 — Regenerative medicine and the future of female longevity

02:03:10 — Ovarian tissue cryopreservation explained

02:10:39 — AI in women's precision medicine

02:15:50 — Medicine at scale: opportunity and risk

02:21:41 — Advanced cardiovascular diagnostics and the female gap

02:24:22 — Closing thoughts: your aging trajectory is more in your control than you think

THIS Helps Detect Heart Disease Before It Happens Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Kim Brockenbrough: https://www.cardiavision.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-brockenbrough-md-1b321a123/https://www.instagram.com/kimbromd?ighsh=YjVpcDcwdHA3ejVvYour calcium score came back zero. You're in the clear, right? Not so fast.In this episode, Optispan Clinical Director Dr. Nicki Byrne sits down with Dr. Kim Brockenbrough, board-certified cardiovascular radiologist, 25-year veteran of vascular imaging, and CEO of CardiaVision, for a conversation that challenges one of the most common assumptions in preventive cardiology.If you care about cardiovascular longevity, and you should, because heart disease remains the leading killer, this is the imaging conversation you didn't know you needed.Timestamps:00:00 — Cold open: The 48-year-old runner with an 80% blockage and a zero calcium score00:54 — Dr. Nicki Byrne introduces Dr. Kim Brockenbrough & CardiaVision01:45 — Dr. Brockenbrough's background: 25 years of vascular imaging02:35 — Cardiovascular disease through a longevity lens: imaging vs. labs vs. functional testing03:24 — The lifecycle of plaque: from fatty deposits to rupture and heart attack04:21 — Why soft plaque is more dangerous than calcified plaque (SCOT-HEART 2020)05:14 — How calcium scores are used in clinical practice — and where they fall short06:18 — The only way to see soft plaque non-invasively: coronary CT angiography (CCTA)07:08 — Which populations are most at risk of a false sense of security from calcium scoring08:03 — What a CCTA can tell you that a calcium score can't09:43 — How often should patients follow up with repeat scans?10:28 — Higher vs. lower dose radiation protocols — and why Dr. Brockenbrough chooses higher dose11:17 — Risks of CCTA: contrast reactions, kidney considerations12:15 — Stress tests vs. CCTA: why a negative stress test is a very low bar13:21 — Soft plaque that isn't flow-limiting: small emboli, dementia, and congestive heart failure15:36 — Medications that reverse plaque: statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, and the LOCATE trial16:23 — LDL reduction and plaque regression: what the data shows17:08 — High-intensity statins vs. Repatha — tolerability, efficacy, and the price drop18:27 — When OptiSpan reaches for PCSK9 inhibitors: ApoB, LDL, Lp(a), ApoE4, and significant disease19:22 — Why a rising calcium score on a statin is exactly what you want to see20:25 — AI plaque quantification tools: promise, limitations, and validation concerns22:54 — Has AI ever changed Dr. Brockenbrough's read? A real-world case23:40 — FFR-CT, the ISCHEMIA trial, and why stenting asymptomatic patients is no longer standard of care25:25 — The future of cardiac imaging and the case for universal CCTA screening26:52 — The patient experience: what to expect at a CardiaVision CCTA appointment28:18 — Why seeing soft plaque changes patient behavior — the power of treating disease, not numbers29:49 — Bridging the gap between longevity medicine and traditional cardiology33:11 — Testosterone, the TRAVERSE trial, and what you should know about your coronaries first35:41 — What causes coronary artery disease beyond cholesterol: sugar, inflammation, gum disease37:07 — Image walkthrough: soft plaque vs. calcified plaque on a real CCTA41:36 — Where to find Dr. Brockenbrough and CardiaVision

RFK Jr and Joe Rogan's Peptide Claims: Longevity Expert Reacts Mar 07, 2026

Show notes

Links to All Articles Mentioned:

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-riskshttps://www.fda.gov/media/174456/downloadRFK Jr. just appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast and peptides were front and center. Dr. Matt Kaeberlein breaks down the conversation in real time, fact-checking claims about peptide efficacy, FDA regulation, and the growing black market for compounded peptides.What does the science actually say? What did RFK get right and where did the conversation miss the mark? Dr. Kaeberlein cuts through the noise with a scientist's lens, covering everything from BPC-157 to GLP-1 agonists to the FDA's Category 2 bulk drug substances list.If you're navigating the peptide space and want clarity over hype, this one's for you.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro & Episode Overview01:06 — RFK on Joe Rogan: The Peptide Conversation Begins02:06 — First Fact Check: "We Know Peptides Work"03:50 — GLP-1 Agonists: The Exception, Not the Rule05:05 — RFK's Personal Peptide Experience06:32 — The FDA's Bulk Drug Substances List Explained08:32 — FDA Category 2: What It Actually Means09:21 — The Peptides That Were Banned From Compounding10:18 — Did the FDA Consider Safety? Here's What the Data Says12:03 — Real Cases of People Harmed by Compounded Peptides13:40 — Can the FDA Consider Efficacy? Reading Directly From the Guidelines15:44 — The Peptide Black Market: How It Emerged17:54 — Will Reversing the Ban Actually Fix the Problem?19:20 — RFK's Push to Move 14 Peptides Back to the Bulk List20:16 — Dr. Kaeberlein's Take: Informed Patient Access Matters21:51 — Who Created the Black Market?22:46 — What Would Actually Help: Funding Real Clinical Trials23:36 — Final Thoughts & Call to Action

Optispan Success Story: What 18 Months of Real Biomarker Data Actually Looks Like (With Carlos Pinto) Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

What does over 18 months of precision medicine actually look like in practice? In this episode of the Optispan Success Story Series, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein sits down with Carlos Pinto, a tech executive and early Optispan client, to trace his longitudinal health journey from metabolic warning signs to measurable, sustained transformation. Carlos shares how a decade of overlooked biomarkers, a post-pandemic health decline, and a single panic attack became the catalyst for a data-driven approach to his own biology. Together, he and Dr. Kaeberlein review real DEXA, lipid, metabolic, and environmental biomarker data, unpacking what moved the needle, what didn't, and why the answer was rarely simple. This conversation is a candid look at what it means to become your own best health advocate, not through quick fixes, but through personalized, longitudinal learning.Timestamps:0:00 – Cold open & highlights0:50 – Welcome & Carlos's background in tech leadership2:15 – How career ambition displaced health in his 20s and 30s3:39 – A panic attack as the turning point: connecting mental and physical health4:24 – A previous medical wellness program: what worked and what was missing6:34 – Arriving at OptiSpan: intention, mindset, and expectations7:15 – Gateway Day: comprehensive baseline testing and initial surprises8:51 – Early metabolic lessons: CGM data, glucose spikes, and dawn effect11:32 – Confronting white coat hypertension with 78 data points13:28 – How stress, sleep, and nutrition interact to drive metabolic dysfunction15:44 – Personal experimentation as methodology: berberine, time-restricted eating, and fish17:09 – Mercury toxicity from fish consumption: a case study in biomarker surveillance18:33 – Stress management protocols: walking, meditation, and measurable outcomes19:49 – Statin introduction: the role of medication as a tool, not a failure20:27 – DEXA results: visceral fat reduction, body fat loss, and lean mass gain24:17 – Lipid profile transformation: ApoB from ~115 to 70, LDL from 160 to 7425:57 – A1C trajectory and the complexity of glucose optimization30:01 – Reframing medication: proactive use vs. reactive disease management31:29 – Mercury biomarker deep dive: from 2.4 to 16 and back to 232:21 – Goals for the future: sustainability, muscle retention, and mental clarity36:30 – Lineage biological age algorithm: from mortality risk of 54 to 5239:27 – Closing reflections: health as a lifelong trajectory, not a program

Why Some Doctors Are Breaking Rules To Prescribe Peptides Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Peptides are everywhere in longevity and functional medicine, but what does the law actually say? In this episode, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein breaks down what a peptide is and the complex regulatory landscape governing peptides in the United States, from FDA approval frameworks to the legal gray zones surrounding compounding pharmacies and unapproved substances.Drawing on the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and real-world enforcement cases, this episode offers a clear-eyed, non-judgmental examination of what is legal, what is tolerated, and what carries genuine risk for physicians, pharmacies, and patients alike. An essential listen for anyone navigating the rapidly evolving world of peptide therapeutics.Timestamps:00:00 — The Tailor Made Compounding Case: Criminal Prosecution & FDA-Flagged Peptides00:54 — Welcome & Episode Overview: The Regulatory Environment of Peptides01:36 — What Is a Peptide? Definitions and Biological Context03:26 — Are Peptides Regulated by the FDA?04:16 — Two Regulatory Frameworks: Biologics vs. Chemically Synthesized Drugs05:17 — The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: Which Peptides Fall Under It?06:11 — Why Two Frameworks Exist: A Brief Legislative History07:06 — The Core Rule: FDA Approval vs. Unapproved Status07:54 — FDA-Approved Peptides: What Can Legally Be Prescribed09:11 — Compounding Pharmacies: When Is It Legal?10:01 — The Unapproved Peptide Bucket: A Long List10:55 — Legal Status of Unapproved Peptides Under U.S. Law12:34 — The Bulk Drug Substances List: What It Is and What It Isn't14:11 — FDA's "Significant Safety Risk" Flagged Peptides15:04 — Why Some Pharmacies Still Compound Unapproved Peptides16:44 — The Gray Area: Speeding Analogies and Cultural Norms17:38 — Degrees of Risk: Formulation, Approval Status, and Data Quality18:38 — Who Bears Legal Liability? Pharmacies, Physicians, and Patients19:39 — The Tailor Made Compounding Case: DOJ Action and Criminal Conviction20:34 — Risk to Physicians and Patients Summarized21:24 — Self-Sourcing Peptides Online: What Consumers Should Know22:14 — Prescription Drugs Without a Prescription: Legal Nuance23:06 — Final Thoughts: The State of Peptide Medicine Today23:58 — How Enforcement Norms Can Shift and Why It Matters Now24:48 — Questions to Ask Yourself: Risk Tolerance and Physician Choice25:21 — An Informed Consent Framework for Peptide Use26:03 — Coming Up: Individual Peptide Deep-Dives in Future Episodes

How Fighting Gives You A Bulletproof Mind with Noah Neiman Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

On this episode, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is joined by Noah Neiman, co-founder of Rumble Boxing and founder of Knuckle Therapy. From panic attacks and rock bottom to building global fitness brands, Noah and Matt explore the profound connection between physical training and mental resilience. Noah shares how structured movement became the foundation for managing ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and why the discipline of fight training translates directly into how we navigate life's hardest moments. A candid conversation on the neuroscience of presence, the therapeutic power of service to others, and what it truly means to train for longevity, in the ring and beyond.Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction & Cold Weather in New York01:04 — Pittsburgh Roots, Sports, and Life Metaphors02:22 — How Training Saved Noah's Life03:05 — ADHD, Physical Control, and Emotional Regulation04:36 — Early Influences: Boxing Gyms, Body for Life, and Therapy06:28 — Football, Identity, and Taking Control of the Body07:02 — College, Jiu-Jitsu, and Finding Purpose08:08 — Anxiety, Depression, and the Power of Presence09:22 — What "Training" Really Means: Sleep, Nutrition, and Mindset10:36 — How You Train Is How You Fight Is How You Live13:30 — The Turning Point: Giving to Others as Therapy14:10 — Selling Drugs, Materialism, and Misery15:23 — Muhammad Ali, Service, and Spiritual Rent17:23 — Failing Upwards: The Road to Barry's Bootcamp19:46 — Warren Stout, Jiu-Jitsu, and Rebuilding After Near-Overdose21:19 — The Craigslist Apartment and Moving to New York22:27 — Walking Into Barry's Bootcamp for the First Time25:44 — Vampire Fitness Hour: Building a Brand from One Class27:47 — Teaching Through Panic Attacks and Overcoming Them28:57 — Medication, Anxiety, and Finding the Root Cause31:12 — The Tattoo, King Henry VI, and "Fearless Minds"32:30 — The Birth of Rumble Boxing36:54 — Co-founding Rumble with Eugene Ram38:09 — Pandemic, Selling Rumble, and What Comes Next40:07 — Launching The Pack: Three Dogs, Three Modalities47:07 — Knuckle Therapy: Honoring Oz and Building a Brand52:55 — A Typical Week: Exercise, Walking, and Movement55:17 — Training at Henzo Gracie's and Teaching Daily57:03 — Recovery, Injury Prevention, and Longevity at 4101:02:37 — Nutrition: Eating a Lot, Eating Clean01:06:46 — Sleep, Balance, and Living in the Extremes01:11:43 — The Most Unexpected Part of the Journey01:16:24 — Advice for Anyone Going Through It01:19:46 — Choose Love, Not Fear: Closing Thoughts

Dr. Matt Ranks Longevity Supplements: The Winners and Total Scams Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

The longevity supplement industry is full of hype, marketing claims, and questionable science. In this episode, Matt breaks down 13 popular supplements through an evidence-based lens.Subscribe for more evidence-based longevity content.

Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction: 13 Supplements Ranked, 1:41 - How the Tier List Works (Strong, Good, Promising, Overhyped, Avoid), 2:27 - Fucoidin, 8:04 - Fisetin, 8:54 - Lithium Orotate, 12:34 - Resveratrol, 13:24 - Creatine, 14:58 - CoQ10, 15:53 - SS Peptides (SS-31/Elamipretide), 24:09 - Proprietary "Anti-Aging" Blends, 24:55 - NAD+ Precursors, 27:17 - Omega-328:47 - Vitamin D, 29:24 - Fatty 15 (Pentadecanoic Acid), 31:01 - Urolithin A, 32:31 - Final Rankings: All 13 Supplements Ranked 1-13, 34:41 - Closing Thoughts

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