Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and trauma related disorders remain difficult to treat, especially when underlying cognitive and emotional patterns persist over time. Emerging research suggests psychedelic assisted therapies may work by temporarily changing how the brain processes information and the sense of self.
In this episode of Extend, we continue our conversation with Dr. Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS, to explore the mechanisms behind psychedelic therapy. We break down how compounds like LSD may reduce activity in the default mode network, how this shift affects perception and emotional processing, and why integration is essential for translating short term insights into lasting change.
We also explore how traditional practices like ayahuasca combine psychological and spiritual frameworks, and how these approaches are shaping new perspectives on trauma, behavior change, and mental health treatment.
Dr. Rick Doblin is the founder and executive director of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), the organization leading global research into psychedelic assisted therapies and working to develop evidence-based treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions.
What We Discuss:
(1:01:22) LSD therapy for trauma and addiction

(1:10:10) Psilocybin, creativity, and cognition

(1:12:05) DMT, ego dissolution, and consciousness

(1:18:21) Ayahuasca traditions and addiction recovery

(1:26:39) MDMA therapy and intergenerational trauma

(1:31:36) Ketamine clinics and treatment resistant depression

Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Timeline: Go to timeline.com/drshah to get 20% off your order.
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: drshah.com
Clinic: next-health.com
Instagram: darshanshahmd 



Learn more about Dr. Rick Doblin:
Website: maps.org 
Instagram: rickdoblinphd 
X: @RickDoblin

Depression, PTSD, and trauma related disorders continue to challenge modern medicine, even as our understanding of the brain and consciousness rapidly evolves. New research suggests that certain therapies may help unlock deeper healing by combining neuroscience, psychology, and carefully guided experiences.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS, to unpack the science and history behind psychedelic assisted therapy and its potential role in mental health treatment. We break down the research behind MDMA assisted therapy for PTSD, how psychedelics influence neuroplasticity and emotional processing, and why therapeutic context, preparation, and integration are essential for safe and meaningful outcomes.
We also explore how psychedelic research is reshaping conversations around trauma, healing, and the future of psychiatry.
Dr. Rick Doblin is the founder and executive director of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), the organization leading global research into psychedelic assisted therapies and working to develop evidence-based treatments for PTSD and other mental health conditions.
 
What We Discuss:
(01:55) The political origins of psychedelic prohibition

(04:40) Ancient psychedelic traditions and the Eleusinian Mysteries

(08:01) Dr. Rick Doblin's path to founding MAPS

(10:34) Science, policy, and the future of psychedelic medicine

(11:00) Expanding research on MDMA therapy

(12:21) Psychedelic churches and religious freedom laws

(15:42) Why context and safety shape psychedelic outcomes

(16:20) Neuroplasticity and emotional processing

(17:36) Bromo-LSD and non-psychedelic therapeutic compounds

(20:39) Psychedelics and rewriting personal narratives

(23:22) The Good Friday Experiment and mystical experiences

(25:23) MDMA therapy and trauma processing

(27:47) Psychedelics and alternatives to alcohol

(30:30) Ketamine therapy and pharmaceutical incentives

(36:16) MAPS, MDMA development, and commercialization

(41:56) The FDA pathway for MDMA therapy

(47:00) Global psychedelic research initiatives

(56:51) Early LSD research in psychology

…to be continued

Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Timeline: Timeline powered by Mitopure just dropped the price. Check it out at timeline.com/drshah and get an additional 20% off your first month with code DRSHAH.
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: drshah.com
Clinic: next-health.com
Instagram: darshanshahmd 

 
Learn more about Dr. Rick Doblin:
Website: maps.org 
Instagram: rickdoblinphd 
X: @RickDoblin

Cholesterol remains one of the most debated biomarkers in cardiovascular medicine, yet many people still misunderstand what it actually tells us about metabolic health and disease risk. As research evolves, the conversation is shifting from simple cholesterol numbers toward deeper drivers of cardiometabolic dysfunction.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Nick Norwitz, metabolic health researcher and physician scientist, to unpack the science behind cholesterol, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk. We break down the difference between LDL and ApoB, why insulin resistance may be a stronger predictor of heart disease, how statins work beyond cholesterol lowering, and what emerging research reveals about metabolic health, biomarkers, and individualized risk.
We also explore how curiosity driven experimentation, data tracking, and deeper metabolic literacy can help people move beyond simplistic cholesterol narratives and better understand their own cardiometabolic health.
Nick Norwitz is a physician scientist and metabolic health researcher who graduated valedictorian from Dartmouth College before earning a PhD in Human Metabolism from the University of Oxford and an MD from Harvard Medical School. Following a personal battle with inflammatory bowel disease, he became a leading voice in metabolic health education and the author of the widely read newsletter StayCuriousMetabolism.com.
 
What We Discuss:
(02:14) The biggest misconception about cholesterol, LDL, and cardiovascular risk

(06:03) How sleep, inflammation, and plaque formation connect to heart disease

(08:18) Why insulin resistance may predict cardiovascular risk more strongly than LDL

(10:40) The atorvastatin study that showed suppressed GLP-1 levels

(16:54) Statins, pleiotropy, and why lowering LDL is only part of the story

(22:16) Coronary calcium scans and how imaging can change treatment decisions

(24:48) The Lancet statin meta-analysis and how headlines distorted the findings

(33:20) CoQ10, TUDCA, and supportive strategies for people taking statins

(35:15) Ezetimibe, how it works, and why it may have neuroprotective potential

(46:09) Bempedoic acid and how it compares with statins

(51:47) PCSK9 inhibitors, pros and cons, and who may benefit most

(54:20) ApoB versus LDL and why particle count matters

(56:15) The Oreo experiment, lean mass hyper-responders, and individualized cholesterol responses

(59:19) What to do after a high LDL result instead of automatically defaulting to a statin

(1:02:00) Berberine, nattokinase, and other non-prescription options for cardiovascular support

(1:06:03) The challenge of communicating nuance in health content online

(1:10:18) Why personalized experimentation matters more than one-size-fits-all medicine

(1:12:36) Lp(a), waist-to-hip ratio, and why cardiometabolic context changes risk


Thank You to Our Sponsors:
IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. 
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website:drshah.com
Clinic:next-health.com
Instagram: darshanshahmd 
 
Learn more about Nick Norwitz:
Newsletter: staycuriousmetabolism.com 
YouTube: nicknorwitzMDPhD   
Instagram: nicknorwitz 
Twitter: Nick Norwitz MD PhD

Chronic stress, cognitive overload, and neurodegenerative disease are rising as modern life pushes the brain beyond what it was designed to handle. At the same time, most people still have almost no visibility into how their brain is actually performing day to day.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Ramses Alcaide, founder and CEO of Neurable, to unpack how brain computer interface technology is moving from research laboratories into everyday wearable devices. We break down how non-invasive EEG sensors built into headphones can track brain age, cognitive speed, mental recovery, focus, and stress, and how AI is making brain data accessible without the complex lab equipment historically required.
We also explore how continuous brain monitoring could transform prevention by identifying early patterns linked to burnout, ADHD, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegeneration years before symptoms appear.
Ramses Alcaide is the founder and CEO of Neurable, a neurotechnology company developing non-invasive brain computer interfaces built into everyday wearable devices. He earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, where his research on EEG biomarkers and brain computer interfaces laid the scientific foundation for Neurable's technology.
What We Discuss:
(06:00) What brain computer interfaces are and how EEG measures brain activity

(10:45) How Neurable uses AI to isolate and upscale brain signals

(14:00) The limits of snapshot brain testing and the value of continuous brain data

(18:00) ADHD, attention patterns, and biofeedback training for focus

(22:00) Brain training through gaming and performance optimization

(26:30) Why brain wearables may become the next generation of health trackers

(28:00) The cognitive metrics Neurable measures including brain age and cognitive speed

(30:00) Tracking brain age and how daily habits influence cognitive aging

(35:00) Meditation training and future sleep optimization tools

(39:00) How people can start using brain wearables in everyday life

(40:00) Personal experiments to reduce brain age including sleep, exercise, and creatine

(45:00) How clinics may use brain data to personalize treatments

(50:00) Stress detection and the future of wearable brain monitoring

(52:00) Barriers to adoption and the future of neurotechnology

Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Next Health: Your destination for cutting-edge health optimization—from IV therapy to hormone balancing. Explore at https://www.next-health.com/ 
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram: darshanshahmd 

Learn more about Ramses Alcaide:
Website: neurable.com 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neurable 
Instagram: ramsesalcaide

Chronic inflammation, environmental toxins, and metabolic dysfunction continue to accelerate aging and chronic disease across modern populations. Many of the biggest drivers of health decline remain invisible, quietly accumulating in the body for decades before symptoms appear.
In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Terry Grossman, physician, longevity expert, and co author of Transcend and Fantastic Voyage with futurist Ray Kurzweil, to unpack the science behind therapeutic plasma exchange and its emerging role in longevity medicine. We break down how environmental toxins, microplastics, heavy metals, and chronic inflammation influence aging biology, why traditional medical testing often misses these risks, and how therapies like plasma exchange may help remove harmful compounds while improving key biomarkers linked to healthspan.
We also explore how advanced diagnostics, hormone optimization, peptide therapies, and targeted longevity protocols may help individuals move beyond disease management toward true biological optimization.
Dr. Terry Grossman is a pioneer in anti aging and longevity medicine who operates longevity clinics in Colorado and co authored two best selling books with Ray Kurzweil. He is also the author of Plasma Reset, the first book focused on therapeutic plasma exchange as a strategy for detoxification, anti aging, and long term health optimization.
What We Discuss:
(01:54) How Dr. Terry Grossman entered longevity medicine

(05:19) The shift from traditional care to prevention and wellness

(12:45) The core pillars of longevity and health optimization

(16:30) VO2 max, HRV, and modern longevity metrics

(20:00) Genetic testing and personalized lifestyle strategies

(22:40) Environmental toxins and the rise of microplastics

(33:20) Simple detox strategies for daily life

(37:55) What therapeutic plasma exchange actually does

(46:55) Plasma exchange for toxins, autoimmunity, and long COVID

(51:45) Senescent cells, inflammation, and biological aging

(1:06:00) Hormone optimization and healthspan

(1:14:20) Peptides and emerging longevity therapies

(1:20:10) Rapamycin and metformin in longevity medicine

(1:24:00) Foundational supplements for long term health

(1:29:00) AI and the future of longevity medicine

(1:34:30) Longevity escape velocity and the future of aging

 
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH.
Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/ 
 
Learn more about Dr. Shah:
Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram: darshanshahmd 

 
Learn more about Dr. Terry Grossman:
website: grossmanwellness.com