Dr. Peter Fedichev: Why Aging Is Functional Decline, Not Just Disease

More from Longevity by Design All episodes →

1. 

   S1 · E100 · 3 Dec 2025 · 1 hr

   The Gut–Brain Axis: A New Frontier in Longevity with Dr. Emeran Mayer

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Emeran Mayer, Executive Director at the UCLA Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience and founder of Mayer Interconnected. They explore the science behind the gut-brain connection and its role in shaping health and longevity. Emeran explains how signals flow between the brain, gut, and microbiome, influencing everything from digestion to emotions. He breaks down how modern diets, especially ultra-processe...

2. 

   S1 · E99 · 19 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

   Dr. Barabási Explains Nutritional Dark Matter, Food Networks, and Aging

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Albert-László Barabási, Professor at Northeastern University, to explore how networks shape health, aging, and nutrition. Barabási explains how biological and social networks influence resilience, robustness, and our ability to recover from stress or disease. He describes aging as a gradual loss of resilience, where the body becomes less able to bounce back from small disruptions. The conversation moves into the ...

3. 

   S1 · E98 · 5 Nov 2025 · 57 min

   Building Joyspan: How Purpose and Connection Extend Healthspan with Dr. Kerry Burnight

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Kerry Burnight, Gerontologist, Chief Gerontologist, New York Times best-selling author, and researcher. They explore what it truly means to age well, focusing less on resisting the passage of time and more on embracing vitality, curiosity, and joy throughout life’s second half. Dr. Burnight explains why the common “decline” mindset around aging misses the full story. She shares research showing that meaningful gr...

4. 

   S1 · E97 · 22 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

   Why Sleep Trumps Exercise for Long-Term Health with Dr. Florence Comite

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Gil Blander sits down with Florence Comite, MD, physician-scientist and founder of the Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity. They explore why a one-size-fits-all approach to longevity falls short and how personalized data, from biomarkers to genetics, can spot early signs of disease before symptoms appear. Florence explains her “Nof1” method, which uses deep testing, wearables, and personal history to craft precise health p...

5. 

   S1 · E96 · 8 Oct 2025 · 1 hr

   Building a Blueprint for Longer Lives Through Public Policy

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, our host, Dr. Gil Blander, sits down with Dylan Livingston, CEO at the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives, and Dr. Brenda Eap to explore how public policy shapes the future of aging research. Dylan and Brendan share how their team pushes for legislation that supports healthy lifespan extension, aiming to bring longevity science into the center of national health priorities. Dylan and Brendan explain why policy advocacy is crucial for securing funding f...

6. 

   S1 · E94 · 3 Sep 2025 · 53 min

   Dr. Eric Verdin on the Effects of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange on Longevity

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Gil Blander welcomes Dr. Eric Verdin, President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Eric discusses the science behind therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and its potential to slow biological aging in humans. The conversation explores findings from a recent clinical trial, including measurable age reversal using epigenetic clocks. Eric explains how removing and replacing plasma can dilute pro-aging factors in the blood, a concept insp...

7. 

   S1 · E93 · 20 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

   What Happens to Your Body When You Sit All Day, with Dr. Keith Diaz

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Keith Diaz, Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, to unpack the hidden health risks of prolonged sitting. Keith explains why even daily exercise isn't enough to counteract the effects of sedentary behavior. Drawing on his lab's findings, he shares a simple but powerful prescription: five minutes of light walking every hour. That small change can lower blood pressure, ...

8. 

   S1 · E92 · 6 Aug 2025 · 56 min

   Acetylation Insights: Unlocking Longevity Secrets with Dr. Haim Cohen

   In this episode, Dr. Gil Blander welcomes Dr. Haim Cohen to Longevity by Design to explore his revolutionary approach to understanding aging. Haim's team analyzed acetylation sites across 107 mammalian species, creating its most extensive comparative study. This computational approach revealed specific post-translational modifications that evolved exclusively in long-lived animals. The research identifies critical pathways where evolution engineered longevity solutions. These acetylation cha...

9. 

   23 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 19 min

   Karl Pfleger Explains the Aging Biotech Explosion

   On this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Karl Pfleger, aging biotechnology investor and creator of AgingBiotech.info, to dissect the rapidly evolving field of aging therapeutics. Karl breaks down the sector into two main categories: interventions that slow aging rates versus rejuvenation strategies that repair accumulated damage. Karl highlights the most promising areas in his investment portfolio, including senolytics for clearing senescent cells and epigen...

10. 

    S1 · E90 · 9 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 13 min

    How to Extend Your Healthspan with Dr. Eric Topol

    Gil and Eric discuss Eric’s book, Super Agers, and the inspiration behind it: a 98-year-old patient who exemplified healthy aging. They explore the five dimensions of healthspan optimization: lifestyle, omics, the immune system, and the role of data and AI in personalized medicine. Eric highlights how AI can analyze multi-layered data to provide personalized recommendations for preventing age-related diseases. The conversation also explores the importance of exercise, sleep, and social conne...