Circadian health, darkness, and fertility

This episode lays out the blueprint for having healthier children later in life by treating preconception as the most important window for human health. You’ll learn why fertility is not just about getting pregnant, but about building the biological foundation that shapes a child’s brain development, metabolism, immune function, and long term resilience. This conversation reframes infertility as a meaningful signal to pause, repair, and prepare, instead of something to override or rush past. 

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR 

Dr. Ann Shippy is a board-certified internal medicine physician, certified functional medicine practitioner, and a leading expert in preconception health and fertility optimization. A former IBM chemical engineer, she brings a rare systems-based and data-driven approach to uncovering the root causes of infertility, chronic disease, and hormonal dysfunction. Through her Austin-based medical practice, she has helped men and women restore fertility naturally and conceive healthy children well into their 40s using advanced lab testing, precision supplements, and targeted functional medicine strategies. 

Together, Dave Asprey and Dr. Shippy explore why childhood illness and infertility are rising at the same time, and how environmental toxins, mold exposure, microbiome imbalances, sleep disruption, and chronic inflammation undermine fertility in both men and women. They discuss the role of mitochondria, circadian rhythms, thyroid health, testosterone, and epigenetics in reproductive health, and why IVF should not be the first step without addressing underlying biological dysfunction. 

You’ll Learn: 

• Why preconception matters more than pregnancy for long term child health 

• How sperm and egg quality act as biological time capsules for future generations 

• Why infertility functions as a warning signal instead of a random failure 

• How environmental toxins and mold exposure disrupt fertility and mitochondrial health 

• The connection between fertility, longevity, and overall human performance 

• Why sleep, circadian rhythm, and stress strongly influence reproductive hormones 

• The role of thyroid function and testosterone in fertility and metabolism 

• When IVF makes sense and why it should not bypass foundational health work 

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Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. 

New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. 

Keywords: preconception health, fertility optimization, healthy pregnancy preparation, sperm and egg quality, epigenetic inheritance, generational health, infertility root causes, environmental toxins fertility, mitochondrial health fertility, functional medicine fertility, hormone balance fertility, IVF alternatives, natural fertility strategies, longevity and reproduction, human performance biology, sleep and fertility, circadian rhythm health, supplements for fertility, smarter not harder health, Dave Asprey fertility, Human Upgrade fertility, Dr. Ann Shippy, Ann Shippy MD, Ann Shippy fertility expert, Ann Shippy preconception, The Preconception Revolution 

Resources:   

• Dr Shippy’s New Book ‘The Preconception Revolution’: https://annshippymd.com/the-preconception-revolution/ 

• Dr Shippy’s Website: https://annshippymd.com/ 

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• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com  

Timestamps: 

0:00 — Trailer 

1:45 — Introduction 

2:49 — Rising Childhood Illnesses 

5:47 — Ann’s Fertility Journey 

10:41 — Environmental Toxins & Mold 

12:42 — Circadian Rhythms & Sleep 

16:42 — IVF Considerations 

19:54 — Infertility as a Warning Sign 

22:20 — Egg Selection & Biology 

26:43 — Men’s Role in Fertility 

28:16 — Supplements for Fertility 

36:49 — Thyroid & Fertility 

42:20 — Testosterone & Fertility 

50:40 — Stress & Trauma 

53:56 — Spiritual Aspects 

59:15 — Relationship Health 

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