Lifers with Christina Farr

Ash Zenooz and Luba Greenwood interview Dr. Dean Ornish, a cardiologist, researcher, and advocate for lifestyle medicine who notably treated Bill Clinton. They discuss his journey into preventative medicine, the development of the Ornish Diet, and his data showing reversal of chronic diseases and improving overall health and longevity.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse  —SPONSOR: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.—LINKS: Ornish Lifestyle Medicine: https://ornish.com/ Michael E. DeBakey, M.D.: https://www.bcm.edu/about-us/our-campus/debakey-museum/legacy-of-excellence Books by Dr. Ornish (mentioned):Love and Survival: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Survival-Scientific-Healing-Intimacy/dp/0060172134 Undo It: https://www.amazon.com/Undo-Lifestyle-Changes-Reverse-Diseases/dp/052547997X The Spectrum: https://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Scientifically-Proven-Program-Better/dp/0345496310 Eat More, Weigh Less: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-More-Weigh-Less-Abundantly/dp/006109627X  Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/ —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-ornish-m-d-1057167/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/preventive-medicine-research-institute/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/—HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: Dr. Ornish took a year off medical school to conduct a pilot study, finding that 8 out of 10 patients showed improved blood flow to their hearts through lifestyle changes alone. The landmark Lifestyle Heart Trial proved that arteries could become less clogged through lifestyle changes. The program crystallized into four key elements: whole foods plant-based diet, moderate exercise, stress management through meditation/yoga, and social support groups. It took 16 years of effort to get Medicare to cover the program, demonstrating that changing medical practice required changing reimbursement structures. The program achieved a remarkable 93% completion rate because participants felt better quickly, compared to only one-third of people staying on statins after a few months. Research with Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn showed these lifestyle changes could lengthen telomeres, potentially reversing aging at a cellular level. Recent studies demonstrated the same program could stop or reverse early-stage Alzheimer's progression in 71% of participants within 20 weeks. Data from health insurers showed significant cost savings: 80% of cardiac patients avoided surgery, saving $30,000 per patient in the first year. Studies of over 20,000 participants revealed a nearly 50% reduction in depression scores through the program. President Clinton's adoption of the program helped demonstrate its effectiveness to a broader audience and influenced healthcare policy. The program's core philosophy emphasizes joy and immediate benefits over fear of future consequences, making the changes more sustainable. For disease reversal (versus prevention), patients need 80-100% adherence to the program's principles.

In a captivating discussion, Jonathan Bush, serial healthcare entrepreneur and CEO of Zus Health, shares his insights on practical uses of AI to streamline healthcare. He believes the true value lies in tackling mundane administrative tasks instead of lofty goals like curing cancer. Jonathan emphasizes the need for organized patient data and critiques the focus on distant innovations over immediate operational improvements. He champions rule-breakers and diverse thinkers, arguing that successful innovation comes from those who embrace risk and rejection.

In this engaging discussion, John Zutter, CEO of Lantern, and Matt Harmon, a benefits executive veteran, delve into the skyrocketing costs of healthcare. They explore how large employers are tackling expensive treatments like cell and gene therapies. The duo discusses the rise of centers of excellence to direct patients towards quality care, the challenges faced by small employers in covering costly therapies, and the balance between employee choice and employer strategy. Their insights reveal the complex landscape of healthcare spending today.

In this episode of Second Opinion, Christina Farr and Luba Greenwood chat with Mike Desjadon, CEO of Anomaly Health, about the state of American healthcare heading into 2025. Mike breaks down how health insurance companies actually make money and explains why we spend $500 billion just processing medical bills. They discuss the security concerns around J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference after a tumultuous 2024, explore why pharma companies really aren't making money from vaccines, and unpack how Ozempic transformed endocrinology from an overlooked specialty to the most coveted medical fellowship in the country. The conversation wraps with realistic predictions for healthcare in 2025. Thanks to our sponsor, Midi Health.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —SPONSOR:  👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.—RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod—LINKS: Anomaly: https://www.findanomaly.com/Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/ —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-desjadon-4a0a21a/https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/—HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: 2024 was marked by several major healthcare events including a massive Change Healthcare cybersecurity breach, increased PBM scrutiny, Trump's election, and the tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. While security concerns exist for the upcoming JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, high hotel costs remain the primary deterrent for attendees, with many companies opting for nearby meetings instead of conference attendance. The Change Healthcare hack exposed a critical transparency issue when Americans learned that a single company had access to half of the nation's health data. The U.S. healthcare system spends $4 trillion annually, with $500 billion going to administrative costs in a complex third-party payment system where insurance companies operate on 4-6% margins and health systems on 0-4% margins. While the U.S. healthcare system is more expensive and less efficient than other countries', it offers advantages like shorter wait times and fewer age-based restrictions on procedures. The pharmaceutical industry faces significant challenges in drug development, with high failure rates and complex manufacturing processes for modern drugs, while vaccines typically don't generate major profits. For 2025, industry experts predict an increase in biotech IPOs, expansion of Medicare Advantage, potential separation of PBMs from vertically integrated entities, and greater scrutiny of PBM relationships by employers. The healthcare industry needs better transparency in pricing and in insurance plan coverage. The system incentivizes volume-based care rather than preventive care, which is evident in both payment structures and professional specialization trends. The rise of GLP-1 drugs has transformed endocrinology from one of the least desired medical specialties to the most coveted fellowship program.

Ash Zenooz and Luba Greenwood interview Andrea Ippolito about her extensive career in healthcare spanning academia, government, and the private sector, as well as her current role as founder and CEO of SimpliFed. They discuss the intricacies of government roles, the importance of women's health, and the evolving landscape of maternal health care and entrepreneurship. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/2c96255c-b8e5-4469-855f-dc5c22f6a339—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod—SPONSORS: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.—LINKS: SimpliFed: https://www.simplifed.com/Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/ —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreakippolito https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(02:04) Andrea's government experience(02:41) Impact of political transitions(03:25) Challenges and opportunities in women's health(10:52) SimpliFed: A journey in women's health(14:12) Scaling SimpliFed(16:43) Fundraising in women's health(20:55) The future of women's health(23:09) Impact of abortion regulations on valuations(23:56) Trends in fertility and IVF(24:22) High-risk conditions in maternal health(25:14) Veterans' healthcare benefits(26:20) Advocating for change through Congress(29:53) Drug pricing and international policies(39:37) Encouraging innovation in women's health(41:11) The Debrief

Luba Greenwood and Ash Zenooz discuss the evolving biotech landscape, the impact of AI on drug discovery, the importance of using real-world evidence in drug development, and personal motivations for continuing efforts in the biotech field. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/f4d42739-65df-42d9-a6b4-6c1327705d7a —📰Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  —RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod—SPONSORS: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today.📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ECON102 at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/econ102—LINKS:Gallup Oncology: https://www.galloponcology.com/PureTech Health: https://www.puretechhealth.com/ —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/

Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood are joined by Zeke Emanuel, a prominent oncologist, bioethicist, and influential voice in healthcare to discuss the impact of GLP-1 drugs, healthcare affordability, Trump's appointments, and AI in medicine. The second half of the episode was recorded a week after Trump's election victory. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/dd71470c-2a01-4cfa-a011-5597a86efdf5—🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse.—RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Unpack PricingDive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg—SPONSORS: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today.📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeke-emanuel-6ab78a1b0/https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/

Christina Farr and Ash Zenooz discuss the recent departures of prominent female CEOs from major healthcare companies and explore why progress in female leadership representation has been challenging in the healthcare industry. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/f0e550de-d7d5-49bd-96ea-700dde222ccc —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess  —RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg—SPONSORS: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today.__LINKS:HLTH: https://www.hlth.com/ —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/

In this episode of Second Opinion, hosts Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood interview Rob Perez, founder of Life Science Cares, about his work bridging the biotech industry with poverty alleviation efforts. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/f3eb77b0-b71c-40fe-817e-bd3c1b4dc5b4 —RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg__SPONSOR: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.__LINKS:Life Science Cares: https://lifesciencecares.org/Project OnRamp: https://lifesciencecares.org/project-onramp/Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/ —FOLLOW:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-perez-93707916/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/

Dr. Lloyd Minor, Dean of Stanford School of Medicine joins Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood to discuss the various transformative advancements and challenges in healthcare, focusing on the equitable use of AI and technology to enhance patient care, improve medical training, and address labor shortages. They dive into AI’s role in imaging, pathology, and electronic health records, as well as innovative approaches in medical education. —SPONSOR: 👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ to book your virtual visit today.—LINKS: Stanford Medicine: https://med.stanford.edu/RAISE Health: https://med.stanford.edu/raisehealth Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/  —FOLLOWhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lloydminor/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(03:50) Challenges in healthcare and potential solutions(06:49) AI in medical practice(11:01) The future of medical education(19:33) Encouraging careers in medicine(28:56) Preventative care and health policy(31:46) Advances in cancer treatment(32:48) Innovations in early diagnosis and preventative strategies(33:18) Challenges in the US healthcare system(34:17) Reflections on academic leadership during Covid-19(35:50) Stanford's response to the Covid-19 crisis(38:49) Balancing academic freedom and public health(40:37) Practical solutions during the pandemic(41:20) Innovations in healthcare(42:37) The future of ai and digital health(49:11) The debrief