Podcast · Health
by Docs Who Lift · English · Health
Drs. Spencer and Karl Nadolsky talk about nutrition, medicine, and fitness through the lens of two physicians who lift weights. Both doctors are former NCAA division 1 wrestlers who have gone into medicine. Dr. Spencer Nadolsky is a board certified family physician specialized in obesity medicine an
7 Oct 2026 · 58 min
Dr. Ken Custer, President of Lilly's Cardiometabolic Health, joins Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Dr. Karl Nadolsky for the first big pharma executive interview in Docs Who Lift history. He breaks down the new retatrutide and eluralintide data out of EASD, why Lilly bet on a selective amylin agonist, what drug development actually costs, and where pricing and access are headed.
E159 · 22 Sep 2026 · 49 min
Obesity researchers Dr. David Allison and Dr. Emily Dhurandhar explain how they defined and built a validated questionnaire for food noise, the persistent and distressing thoughts about food that many patients say disappear on GLP-1 medications. They break down how food noise differs from hunger and cravings, where the research is going next, and why the term came from patients, not pharmaceutical companies. A quick check: the transcript never states the questionnaire's official name, so I kept it generic. If it has a published title or acronym, dropping it into the description would help…
E158 · 30 Aug 2026 · 48 min
Dr. Christian Rodriguez unpacks his review on metabolically healthy obesity, showing why the concept is mostly a temporary phase rather than a stable protective state. He and the hosts compare the new Lancet Commission obesity criteria against the ACE staging system, then debate GLP-1 stigma and the ethics of treating obesity before it turns severe.
E157 · 3 Aug 2026 · 40 min
Is severe, insatiable hunger a failure of willpower or hardcoded into your biology? In this episode of Docs Who Lift, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl Nadolsky speak with obesity specialist Dr. Jesse Richards to uncover Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS), the updated 2024 diagnostic criteria, and how targeted therapies offer hope when standard GLP-1s and willpower aren't enough.
E156 · 7 Jul 2026 · 37 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with Dr. Susan Brian to break down one of the most significant proposed changes in women's health in decades, the potential renaming and reclassification of polycystic ovarian syndrome to anovulatory androgen excess, and what that shift means for the millions of women who have been diagnosed, misdiagnosed, or dismissed under the current framework.
E155 · 17 Jun 2026 · 57 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl bring on Dr. Austin Baraki and Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum from Barbell Medicine to cut through the peptide hype and explain why most of the research peptides people are currently injecting have no randomized controlled trial data in humans, were abandoned by pharmaceutical companies because they failed or showed harm signals, and may not even contain what is on the label. The core message is simple: calling something a short chain amino acids does not make it safe, natural does not mean studied, and having a standard of evidence before putting something in your body…
E154 · 8 Jun 2026 · 45 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with David W, a nurse practitioner who was actually enrolled in the Triumph 1 retatrutide phase 3 trial, to break down data just presented at the American Diabetes Association conference showing average weight loss of up to 30 percent and cardiometabolic benefits that go well beyond anything tirzepatide or semaglutide produce on their own. David went from 240 pounds to 167 in the trial and walks through exactly what the experience felt like from the inside while Spencer and Karl explain what the numbers mean for patients and clinicians waiting for this…
E153 · 25 May 2026 · 40 min
2:26 PMClaude responded: Dr.Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl break down two brand new randomized controlled trials, Surmount-Maintain and Attain-Maintain, that put hard numbers on what actually happens to patients when they try to lower their tirzepatide dose, switch to oral orforglipron, or come off GLP-1 medicines entirely after significant weight loss. The data confirms what they have been seeing clinically for years: obesity biology fights hard to pull weight back up, only about 17 percent of people can come off these medicines and maintain their results, and for most patients the…
E152 · 18 May 2026 · 32 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with Dr. Susan Brian, a Yale-trained endocrinologist and certified menopause provider who runs a bone fragility fracture clinic, to break down whether GLP-1 medicines are actually causing bone loss or whether the viral panic around this topic is getting ahead of the evidence. The short answer is that the medicines themselves do not appear to be the problem, the weight loss is, and there is a clear and well-established playbook for protecting your bones while on them.
E151 · 5 May 2026 · 53 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with Dr. Eryn Russo, a board-certified occupational and environmental medicine physician with nearly 20 years of experience treating real toxic metal exposures, to break down exactly why the heavy metal detox industry is built on tests that are not supported by any medical standard and treatments that can cause genuine harm. If an influencer has ever made you wonder whether lead, mercury, or cadmium is behind your symptoms, this is the episode that puts that fear to rest with actual science.
E150 · 21 Apr 2026 · 25 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with Dr. Adam Auton, geneticist at 23andMe, to break down a brand new paper using data from over 27,000 people that identified specific genetic variants in the GLP-1 receptor and GIP receptor that predict both how much weight someone loses on these medications and how likely they are to experience side effects. This is one of the first studies to show that precision medicine for GLP-1 drugs may already be closer than most people think.
E149 · 14 Apr 2026 · 36 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with Dr. Henning Langer, a PhD researcher at the Charité in Berlin, to break down his newly published paper combining rodent and human data to look directly at what GLP-1 medicines actually do to skeletal muscle beyond what a DEXA scan can tell you. From mice running to exhaustion on semaglutide to maximum voluntary contraction data in humans, this is the most granular conversation yet on whether these drugs are doing something to muscle that nobody fully understands yet.
E148 · 2 Apr 2026 · 52 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Karl sit down with Dr. Stuart Phillips, senior author on the newly updated American College of Sports Medicine position stand on resistance training, to break down what 137 systematic reviews and over 30,000 participants actually tell us about building muscle, getting stronger, and improving function across the lifespan. From rep ranges and training frequency to power development, eccentric loading, and why periodization may matter less than you think, this is the evidence-based conversation that cuts through 17 years of social media noise in one episode.
E147 · 23 Mar 2026 · 39 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, Karl, and chief science officer Dr. Grant Tinsley sit down with Dr. Steven Heymsfield, physician at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and lead author on the BELIEVE trial, to break down what happens when you combine bimagrumab with semaglutide and why over 90 percent of weight lost in the combination group was pure fat.
E146 · 13 Mar 2026 · 50 min
Dr. Spencer Nadolsky sits down with exercise physiologist and menopause researcher Dr. Alyssa Olenick to cut through the pseudoscience targeting women in the fitness space and break down what actually happens to body composition during the menopausal transition. From rep ranges to cortisol myths to why women should train more like men, this is the conversation most coaches are too busy selling pink packets to have.
E145 · 6 Mar 2026 · 35 min
In this episode of the Docs Who Lift podcast, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl welcome exercise physiologist Dr. Lauren to discuss the science behind creatine supplementation. They explore its benefits for high-intensity exercise, debunk common myths, and emphasize the importance of combining creatine with a solid workout regimen for optimal results.
E144 · 23 Feb 2026 · 49 min
Most "sleep advice" on social media is generic filler. In this deep dive, we break down the difference between sleep hygiene and clinical CBT-I, the truth about how alcohol and caffeine actually metabolize, and why your sleep tracker might be your worst enemy. If you’ve struggled with "busy brain" or middle-of-the-night wakefulness, this is the manual you’ve been looking for.
E143 · 12 Feb 2026 · 54 min
Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl sit down with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lucky Sekhon to break down what’s actually evidence based in fertility care, how to avoid myths and predatory “add ons,” and what most people misunderstand about PCOS, insulin resistance, and IVF. They also discuss her new book The Lucky Egg, a practical, science backed fertility guide designed to cut through misinformation and help patients make smarter decisions on their path to pregnancy.
E142 · 30 Jan 2026 · 45 min
Brad Stulberg breaks down how real excellence is not biohacker style optimization or perfectionism, but consistent focus on fundamentals and a worthwhile pursuit that aligns with your values. He explains that progress eventually plateaus, so sustainable success comes from shifting motivation from external scoreboards to intrinsic purpose, curiosity, community, and a broader identity.
E141 · 20 Jan 2026 · 25 min
Oral GLP 1 Wegovy is finally here, so Spencer and Dr. Karl break down how it actually works, how to dose it, and how they are switching people from injections like Wegovy and Zepbound in real clinic settings. They also walk through new SURMOUNT 4 data on what happens when people stop tirzepatide, including who maintains, who regains, and why a personalized plan matters.
E140 · 12 Jan 2026 · 30 min
The new U.S. Dietary Guidelines just dropped, and the internet is freaking out over the updated food pyramid. In this episode, we break down what the guidelines actually say, who they’re really written for (hint: mostly policymakers, not everyday people), and why the pyramid graphic can be more confusing than helpful. We also dig into the biggest inconsistencies like the push for more protein and “natural fats,” the mixed messaging on saturated fat, and the messy “processed foods” debate without a clear definition. Bottom line: there’s some reasonable advice here, but a lot of the hype is…
E139 · 7 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
We hear “high cortisol” blamed for everything, but your adrenal glands are supposed to make cortisol in a daily rhythm that helps you wake up, fuel exercise, and handle illness. In this episode, we break down what cortisol actually does, how real adrenal disorders like Cushing’s are diagnosed, and why random at home cortisol tests and “adrenal fatigue” claims are usually misleading.
E138 · 5 Dec 2025 · 32 min
In this episode, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl break down some of the strangest and most misunderstood GLP-1 side effects, from slimmer’s paralysis and foot drop to bladder spasms and post-bariatric reactive hypoglycemia. They walk through real patient cases, why these issues happen, and what clinicians and patients can do to spot them early and manage them safely.
E137 · 19 Nov 2025 · 34 min
In this episode, we sit down with leading lactation researcher Dr. Kaytlin Krutsch break down the first real human data on GLP-1 medications in breast milk. She explains what the studies found, what women should consider before starting these medications postpartum, and why the actual risk may be far lower than most people think.
E136 · 12 Nov 2025 · 35 min
In this episode, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl talk with Dr. Karin Nordin, behavioral change specialist and founder of Body Brain Alliance, about why most advice on motivation, discipline, and habits gets it wrong. They break down the science of behavior change, exploring how identity, self-efficacy, and “future self thinking” can help people finally follow through on healthy routines that last.
E135 · 3 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
In this episode, Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Dr. Karl engage with Dr. Susan Davis, a leading endocrinologist and researcher in testosterone therapy for women. They explore the complexities of sexual dysfunction, the role of testosterone in women's health, and the nuances of diagnosing and treating low sexual desire. The conversation delves into the importance of understanding psychosocial factors, the limitations of current testosterone testing, and the appropriate dosing and administration of testosterone therapy. Dr. Davis emphasizes the need for evidence-based practices and the importance of…
E134 · 23 Oct 2025 · 32 min
Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl sit down with Dr. Sean Wharton, lead author on the OASIS-4 and ATTAIN-1 trials, to unpack the groundbreaking data behind the new oral GLP-1 medications. They discuss how oral semaglutide and orforglipron compare to injectables, what makes these molecules unique, and why 2026 could be the year obesity care changes forever.
E133 · 13 Oct 2025 · 48 min
Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl break down the brand-new ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Algorithm, which redefines how clinicians approach obesity as an adiposity-based chronic disease. From de-emphasizing BMI to focusing on personalized health, staging severity, and prioritizing strength training and lifestyle therapy, they unpack what these updates mean for both patients and providers.
E132 · 25 Sep 2025 · 58 min
In this episode, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Karl sit down with Dr. Kevin Hall and Julia Belluz to break down the science behind metabolism, weight loss, and their new book Food Intelligence. They clear up the myths around the Biggest Loser study, explain why appetite biology matters more than a “broken metabolism,” and explore how our food environment, from ultra-processed diets to cultural norms, shapes health outcomes.
E131 · 1 Sep 2025 · 39 min
Does menopausal hormone therapy change how women respond to GLP-1 medicines like tirzepatide and semaglutide? In this episode, Dr. Spencer Nadolsky and Dr. Karl Nadolsky sit down with Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade and Dr. Regina Castaneda to discuss their latest research, the nuances behind the findings, and what it means for women navigating menopause and obesity care. Do you also want me to generate a few alternative title options that highlight their names (for authority) while still keeping the engagement factor?
Drs. Spencer and Karl Nadolsky talk about nutrition, medicine, and fitness through the lens of two physicians who lift weights. Both doctors are former NCAA division 1 wrestlers who have gone into medicine. Dr. Spencer Nadolsky is a board certified family physician specialized in obesity medicine an
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