How AI Is Redesigning Longevity | Systems Thinking with Dr. Ronjon Nag

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1. 

   S1 · E108 · 26 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

   Born to Live Longer? Inside the Genetics and Biology of Centenarians

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Paola Sebastiani, Professor of Biostatistics at Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute. They explore what centenarians reveal about reaching 100, and why there’s no single longevity gene. Paola explains that studies keep finding many small genetic effects, which makes polygenic risk scores hard to use for personal prediction. She says progress depends on bigger cohorts and new analyses that include st...

2. 

   S1 · E107 · 18 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

   Age Faster or Slower? The Surprising Role of Mental Health and Self-Control

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Terrie Moffitt, University Professor at Duke University. They explore the deep link between mental health, self-control, and the pace of biological aging, showing how early-life mental disorders can shape health decades later. Terrie describes her work with the decades-long Dunedin study, which tracks health from birth through midlife. She explains how people age at different rates, even when born in the same yea...

3. 

   S1 · E106 · 4 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

   Why Most Longevity Advice Gets Weight and Exercise Wrong

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. David Allison, Director of the USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Together, they examine what it takes to build public trust in nutrition and longevity science, and why clear, reproducible evidence matters more than ever. David highlights how public perception and scientific rigor can drift apart, especially in fields crowded with strong opinions and shifting trends. David sh...

4. 

   S1 · E105 · 18 Feb 2026 · 53 min

   Can Psychedelic Mushrooms Slow Aging?

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Louise Hecker, Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Together, they dive into Louise’s recent research exploring how psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may influence aging biology at the cellular and organismal level. Louise shares the story behind her curiosity about psilocybin, sparked by conversations with a friend and fueled by a lack of scientific answers. She e...

5. 

   S1 · E104 · 4 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

   Engineering Healthspan with Dr. Nathan Price: Is It Finally Possible?

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Nathan Price, Professor and Co-Director at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Together, they explore how systems biology, artificial intelligence, and deep health data are changing the way we approach aging and prevention. Nathan explains why looking at single biomarkers falls short and why a network view of biology gives a clearer path to understanding disease and resilience. Nathan shares how new tools, ...

6. 

   S1 · E102 · 7 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 21 min

   From Genomics to Healthspan: Dr. Wei-Wu He’s Vision for Preventing Disease

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dr. Wei-Wu, Executive Chairman at Human Longevity, Inc. Together, they explore how advances in genome sequencing, AI, and multi-layered diagnostics are changing the fight against age-related diseases. Wei-Wu shares why understanding your own genetic risks and combining them with other health data leads to better prevention and a longer healthspan. Wei-Wu explains the value of integrating genome sequencing, advanced i...

7. 

   S1 · E101 · 17 Dec 2025 · 21 min

   What Keeps You Strong at 90+: Real-World Longevity Lessons From Gil’s Parents

   In this episode of Longevity by Design, host Dr. Gil Blander sits down with Dalia Blander and Eprihm Blander, his parents, who are thriving in their nineties. Gil explores the daily routines, food choices, and mindsets that have kept Dalia and Eprihm active, independent, and healthy well into later life. Dalia and Eprihm share how simple habits like regular movement, home-cooked meals, and a Mediterranean diet have shaped their health. They talk about the power of walking, gardening, and sta...

8. 

   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...

9. 

   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 ...

10. 

    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...