Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

What happens when elite fitness doesn't equal health? In this episode of Extend, Ben Greenfield joins me to discuss how blood tests showed he was metabolically compromised despite being an Ironman competitor, and shares the comprehensive testing protocols that changed his approach to wellness.

We discuss the critical difference between fitness and health, Ben's biomarker testing strategy using wearables an...

What if everything you've been told about longevity supplements is based on hype rather than science? Dr. Eric Verdin, CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, joins me on the Extend podcast to separate fact from fiction in the longevity field. 

We explore epigenetic reprogramming, why the immune system controls aging, and the reality that no supplements are proven to extend human lifespan. We also...

What if the blood tests you're not getting are more important than the ones you are? In this episode of Extend, Dr. Jeremy London joins me to explore the three lifestyle modifications that prevent most cardiac disease. 

We dive into how a continuous glucose monitor revealed his own pre-diabetes despite feeling perfectly healthy. We also share the blood tests your doctor isn't ordering, why vaping may be mo...

After spending years at a monastery, meditation expert Scott Schwenk discovered the way most people approach meditation is exactly what keeps them from succeeding. The myths around emptying your mind, sitting in painful positions, and chasing mystical experiences sabotage practice before it begins.

In this episode of Extend, Scott and I discuss the 4-lens framework that transforms meditation from mystical ...

Most people think thyroid issues are just about taking a pill, but over 90% of hypothyroid cases are actually Hashimoto's—an autoimmune condition attacking your thyroid gland.

In this episode of Extend, I’m joined by Dr. Izabella Wentz to dive deep into why standard TSH tests fail for years, how artificial sweeteners trigger thyroid dysfunction, and the gut infections that could be destroying your thyroid....

What if the most basic safety research on childhood vaccines has never actually been done? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Joel "Gator" Warsh, an integrative pediatrician who's asking the questions about vaccine safety that medicine has avoided for decades.

We explore why vaccines are studied against other vaccines instead of true placebos, the shocking absence of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated...

What if the device in your pocket is secretly sabotaging your metabolism, sleep, and longevity? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Rupy Aujla, a medical doctor turned lifestyle medicine pioneer who reversed his own heart condition through food and lifestyle changes alone.

We explore the "cocaine phone vs. kale phone" strategy for digital wellness, why fiber maxing on TikTok is backfiring, and h...

What if three minutes in cold water could give you more confidence than years of therapy? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Kristin Weitzel, a breathwork expert and cold plunge coach who has certified over 325 instructors worldwide in her approach to nervous system regulation.

We explore how to use breathwork to downregulate your nervous system instead of just surviving the cold, and why women sho...

What if the depression, brain fog, and weight gain you're experiencing isn't "just aging" but actually a treatable hormone deficiency? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Sara Szal, MD, a Harvard-trained gynecologist who has revolutionized how we approach women's health.

We dive into why 80% of women experience brain dysfunction during menopause, the shocking failure of conventional medicine's "birt...

93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy and don't even know it. In this episode of EXTEND, I sit down with Ben Azadi, metabolic health expert and New York Times bestselling author who transformed his life by losing 80 pounds after facing obesity, depression, and pre-diabetes at just 23 years old.

We explore how one out of every four healthcare dollars is spent on diabetes and why your doctor probably ...

What if I told you that an 18-year-old athlete had a testosterone level of 26 - when it should be near 1,000? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Layne Kilpatrick, a pharmacist with over 30 years of experience who has been sounding the alarm about environmental toxins for years.

We dive into the alarming decline in testosterone levels, how microplastics are literally everywhere, and why young, healt...

Did you know that functional practitioners have been using GLP-1 peptides safely for years—long before the Ozempic phenomenon hit mainstream medicine? In this episode of Extend, I talk with Dr. Tracey Stroup, a naturopathic doctor and peptide therapy expert, who reveals how the pharmaceutical industry's approach to semaglutide created unnecessary controversy. 

We dive into what peptides actually are, why y...

What if the symptoms you've been told to "just deal with" during perimenopause could actually be addressed? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Cynthia Thurlow, a nurse practitioner who left traditional cardiology to focus on women's health and metabolic medicine. 

We explore why the medical system has failed women during menopause, the critical biomarkers your doctor probably isn't checking, and ho...

The top 10 grossing drugs only help 1 in 4 to 1 in 25 people who take them. Yet they're still considered "evidence-based" and prescribed to millions. In this episode of Extend, I talk with Dr. Nick Norwitz, who reveals why you can't rely on population averages to fix your individual health problems.

We explore why the medical system isn't designed to figure out what makes you unique, why "calories in, calo...

What if everything you've been told about preventing heart disease is only half the story? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Joel Kahn, a pioneering preventive cardiologist who's spent decades challenging the traditional approach to cardiovascular medicine.

We explore why the 1961 Framingham risk factors represent an incomplete picture of heart disease, and the hidden culprits damaging your bl...

Why can't you open that jar anymore? Why does getting up from a chair feel harder than it used to? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Amy Shah to explore the strength crisis happening to women in perimenopause. 

We dive into the simple tests that reveal where you're losing ground—and why most women are shocked by their results. We also share the exercise formula that actually works for perimeno...

What if I told you there's an organ in your body with more cells than the Milky Way has stars—and most doctors barely think about it? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Zain Kassam, a gastroenterologist turned microbiome researcher who's pioneering how we understand the trillions of organisms living in and on us. 

We dive into why your gut bacteria aren't just bystanders—they're actively produc...

Oxidative stress. Toxin overload. Immune dysfunction. These aren't separate problems—they're all symptoms of your body working overtime on one exhausting job.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Nayan Patel, a pharmacist who's dedicated his career to understanding glutathione—the molecule your body produces more than any other. 

We break down the three proven ways glutathione protec...

Low energy, brain fog, and poor recovery aren’t just part of getting older—they’re often signs that your cells are underperforming. And one major reason? They’re starved for oxygen.

In this episode of Extend, I talk with Dr. Scott Sherr, a hyperbaric medicine specialist who helps patients and doctors worldwide use oxygen therapy to restore cellular health. We get into what hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) ...