

Longevity by Design
Gil Blander PhD
Longevity by Design is your go-to podcast for unlocking the secrets to a longer, healthier life. Hosted by Dr. Gil Blander, a renowned scientist and entrepreneur in the fields of aging, nutrition, and personalized health, this show dives into cutting-edge research and practical strategies for optimizing your healthspan and lifespan.In each episode, Dr. Blander sits down with leading longevity and health scientists to explore how we can live better, longer lives. From unpacking complex scientific concepts to sharing the latest advancements in aging research, Longevity by Design offers science-backed insights and actionable advice to help you add years to your life—and life to your years.Dr. Blander is the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of InsideTracker, a healthspan company that leverages blood tests, DNA analysis, fitness tracker data, and other biomarkers to deliver personalized health recommendations. With a Ph.D. in biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science and postdoctoral research at MIT, Dr. Blander brings decades of expertise and passion to every conversation.Tune in to Longevity by Design and discover how to live a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

9 snips
Jun 21, 2023 • 1h 9min
Dr. Jennifer Lovejoy—How Hormone Balance and Optimal Metabolism Promote Healthy Aging
Dr. Jennifer Lovejoy, a seasoned translational scientist specializing in nutrition and behavioral change, shares eye-opening insights on hormone balance and metabolism. She discusses how factors beyond diet can drive insulin resistance and weight gain. Dr. Lovejoy highlights the importance of specific foods for managing menopausal symptoms, often misrepresented in media. The conversation also covers the critical relationship between exercise, hormonal changes, and their impact on aging. Tune in for a fresh perspective on optimizing health through informed choices!

Jun 7, 2023 • 1h 3min
Dr. John Oliffe—Overlooking Men’s Mental Health: A Threat To Longevity
In this episode of Longevity By Design, Dr. Gil Blander welcomes guest Dr. John Oliffe, a renowned expert on men’s mental health. Dr. Blander and Dr. Oliffe discuss the intricacies and challenges regarding mental health faced by men in today’s world, and how when left unaddressed, can threaten men’s longevity. They delve into the complexities of modern masculinity and how traditional expectations impact men’s emotional well-being. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Oliffe shares insight into health disparities faced by men and the challenges stigmas men face. Dr. Oliffe shares actionable prevention strategies for men and offers valuable advice like establishing daily routines, gaining awareness of emotional health, and prioritizing meaningful relationships and connections. And while this episode discusses men’s mental health—people of all sexes can benefit from learning more about how men’s mental health impacts longevity.This episode of Longevity by Design discusses men’s physical and mental health. The following topics are discussed: depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, risk-taking, divorce, domestic violence, and more. The subject matter may be distressing or triggering for some individuals. Please proceed with caution if you continue to read this article. Longevity by Design is produced by InsideTracker, your data-driven wellness guide for optimizing your healthspan. Longevity by Design is produced by InsideTracker, your data-driven wellness guide for optimizing your healthspan. For a limited time, visit insidetracker.com/podcast for 20% off any InsideTracker plan.

May 24, 2023 • 1h 8min
Dr. Emma Teeling—DNA Repair Mechanisms and Aging: Lessons From Bats
In this episode of Longevity By Design, Dr. Gil Blander interviews Dr. Emma Teeling, a leading bat researcher from the University of Dublin. They delve into the extraordinary world of bats, discussing how these mammals hold the key to understanding disease resistance, immunity, and longevity. Dr. Teeling explains the unique immune system of bats and their ability to suppress inflammation—which is considered one of the primary drivers of aging. Many lessons from bats can be applied to humans, including how bats manage the immune response to viruses. In this conversation, Dr. Teeling also explores the impressive DNA repair mechanisms bats possess and its contribution to bats’ healthspan. Dr. Teeling shares insights into her groundbreaking research, which has the potential to uncover innovative treatments for aging and various health conditions. Listen to the full episode to discover how understanding bats can help improve human health and longevity.Longevity by Design is produced by InsideTracker, your data-driven wellness guide for optimizing your healthspan. For a limited time, visit insidetracker.com/podcast for 20% off any InsideTracker plan.

May 10, 2023 • 1h 30min
Dr. Renee Deehan—Why Everyone Should Care About Women’s Health
In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Renee Deehan discusses pertinent topics of women's health—and why women's health should matter to all. Hormone levels shift throughout a woman's lifespan, and the symptoms and risks associated with suboptimal hormone levels have an economic burden worth addressing. Tune in to learn how Dr. Deehan integrates blood biomarker testing, genomics, and fitness tracker data to steer conversations regarding health outcomes.To learn more about critical hormone markers to measure during a woman’s reproductive and menopausal years, visit insidetracker.com/womenshealthLongevity by Design is produced by InsideTracker, your data-driven wellness guide for optimizing your healthspan. For a limited time, visit insidetracker.com/podcast for 20% off any InsideTracker plan.

Apr 26, 2023 • 1h 25min
Dr. Leroy Hood + Dr. Nathan Price—How Assessing Biological Age Improves Wellness
In this episode of Longevity By Design, Dr. Leroy Hood and Dr. Nathan Price discuss their approach to scientific wellness—distilling data into a simple, actionable measurement: biological age. Their goal is to leverage technology to compile data from the brain, body, gut microbiome, and more to create a model for scientific wellness. Dr. Leroy Hood and Dr. Nathan Price aim to integrate scientific wellness into the healthcare system—shifting the focus from disease-care to preventative lifestyle habits that promote wellness. Tune in to hear from the leading experts in the field of Longevity. For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast

Apr 12, 2023 • 56min
Dr. Rachele Pojednic—How Exercise Improves Healthspan
In this episode of Longevity By Design, Dr. Rachele Pojednic describes the mechanism behind how exercise improves healthspan—discussing different modes of exercise and how each caters to a key health metric. Muscle integrity declines as we age, and Dr. Pojednic shares why preserving this tissue is critical for healthspan. She encourages listeners to choose the best physical activity type for themselves and quantifies how much exercise they should get per week. Finally, Dr. Pojednic discusses a passion of hers—how the scientific community can improve communication with the general public and vice versa.For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast

Mar 29, 2023 • 1h 38min
Dr. Kate Wolin—How To Use Behavioral Science To Build Healthy Habits
In this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Kate Wolin discusses the tactics of behavior change science that can promote sustainable healthy habits. As a behavioral epidemiologist, Dr. Wolin provides actionable advice for health promotion in many contexts. She explains the science of motivation and how leveraging one’s motivation can promote behavior change. She also dives into how our environment facilitates positive or negative health behaviors and how to alter them. Tune in to hear the latest science on behavior change and forming healthy habits. For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast

Mar 15, 2023 • 40min
Dr. Noah Davidsohn—Gene Therapies for Age-Related Diseases
This episode of Longevity by Design discusses groundbreaking research on the use of gene therapies to target common diseases of aging. Dr. Noah Davidsohn leverages genes associated with aging as targets for de-aging cells and reducing the burden of age-related diseases. The research appears promising—Dr. Davidsohn is confident that these findings will eventually improve human lifespan and healthspan. Tune in for conversations that dissect the latest research in the field of longevity. For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast

Feb 22, 2023 • 42min
Dr. Joan Mannick—mTOR's Role in Aging
During this episode of Longevity by Design, Dr. Joan Mannick explains how mTOR influences the aging process. She explains that this evolutionarily conserved protein is involved in several cellular functions in the body and acts on longevity-promoting pathways like autophagy. Dr. Mannick also discusses the connection between mTOR and the immune system, sharing her research on how low-dose mTOR inhibitors can upregulate antiviral immunity, creating an opportunity for more targeted vaccines for older adults. After extensive research on mTOR across many species, Dr. Mannick shares impressive insight into how mTOR inhibitors like rapamycin can promote longevity. Tune in to learn more about the latest research in the field. For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast

Feb 8, 2023 • 51min
Dr. Andrea Maier—Mechanisms of Aging
This episode of Longevity by Design discusses topics related to longevity medicine, including mechanisms of aging, biological aging clocks, organ-specific aging, and factors that impact healthspan. With impressive clinical and research experience, Dr. Maier explains the importance of integrating longevity medicine into general practice as well as the current state of diagnostic tools within the field. For science-backed ways to live a healthier longer life, download InsideTracker's Top 5 biomarkers for longevity eBook at insidetracker.com/podcast