LEVELS – A Whole New Level

You probably spend more time thinking about protein than friendships. According to today's guest, you’ve got it backward. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, one of the world's leading researchers on social connection and health. She explains how data now unequivocally show that social isolation drives early mortality. And why simply ...

High cholesterol. Elevated ApoB. A positive CAC score. Now what? Most people quickly find themselves trapped between two extremes: simplistic advice to “cut saturated fat” and online influencers insisting cholesterol doesn’t matter at all. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Mike Haney sits down with clinical research scientist Dr. Kevin Maki to cut through the confusion. Drawing on more than 3...

What are GLP-1 drugs actually doing in the body, who are they for, and why might some people want to think twice before treating them like a six-month shortcut? For years, obesity treatment focused largely on behavior: eat less, move more, stay motivated. Yet many people lost weight only to regain it. According to obesity medicine pioneer Dr. Robert Kushner, that wasn’t a failure of willpower. It...

Most athletes are told the same basic rule: the harder you train, the more carbs you need. But Dr. Andrew Koutnik argues the science is more complicated. In this episode, Mike Haney talks with Dr. Koutnik about how the body fuels exercise, why muscle glycogen may not explain “hitting the wall” as neatly as many people think, and why blood glucose, brain energy, insulin, and metabolic flexibility m...

We can measure more about our health than ever before. Wearables track everything from heart rhythms to glucose trends, and AI can now identify patterns clinicians might miss. But more data does not automatically mean better health outcomes. In this episode, cardiologist and digital health expert Dr. Ami Bhatt joins Mike Haney to explore why medicine still struggles with prevention, how continuous...

Metabolic health is often simplified to a matter of blood sugar, but at its root, it is a complex system of energy substrate signaling. While many view chronic disease as an inevitable part of aging, a systems-thinking approach reveals that maintaining high "flux"—the capacity to efficiently move and clear energy through the body—is the primary lever for longevity. Without the stimulus o...

Protein is often hailed as the ultimate nutrient for health and longevity, but the science suggests it is only half of the equation. While social media influencers debate the minutiae of protein grams, researchers have found that the vast majority of protein's benefits are "baked in" only when combined with physical activity. Without the stimulus of exercise, even the most optimized...

Preconception health is one of the most powerful—yet overlooked—windows for influencing a child’s lifelong wellness. While fertility is often discussed in the context of age or medical intervention, emerging research suggests that the months leading up to conception are a critical "time capsule" for epigenetic health. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Levels Founder and CEO Josh Clemente sits...

High cholesterol is one of the most widely discussed—and established—risk factors in medicine. But reams of research now show that while it is key to cardiovascular risk, it is not the whole story. In this episode of A Whole New Level , editorial director Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Ronald Krauss , one of the world’s leading lipid researchers and a pioneer in understanding how different forms of...

You can’t outrun a bad diet—but it turns out you might not even be able to outrun a good one. In this episode of A Whole New Level , evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Herman Pontzer joins Mike Haney to dismantle the "armchair view" of metabolism and explain why more exercise doesn't necessarily mean more calories burned. Drawing on his groundbreaking research with the Hadza hunter-gath...

Heart disease risk isn’t just about cholesterol. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Dr. Matthew Budoff explains why coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring may be the most important test most people aren’t getting—and why imaging your arteries directly can reveal risk that blood tests alone can miss. Drawing on decades of research and data from the landmark MESA study, Dr. Budoff explains how ca...

In this episode of  A Whole New Level ,  Christopher Gardner , PhD , joins Mike to discuss his decades in nutrition research, the challenges of conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on diet, and how to communicate complex science to the public. Gardner has led some of the most rigorous research ever comparing dietary approaches in real-world conditions, so his insights about what works (c...

In this episode of A Whole New Level , Dr. Eric Ravussin , PhD , explains the physiology of energy expenditure, metabolic adaptation, and why the body strongly defends its prior weight. Drawing on decades of research, including the Biggest Loser study, CALERIE, and work with metabolic chambers, Ravussin walks through what actually happens when we lose weight—and why willpower alone isn’t enough. S...

According to investigative science journalist Gary Taubes, m uch of what we “know” about nutrition is built on weak evidence, bad assumptions, and decades of groupthink. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Taubes joins Mike Haney to examine how nutrition science went off the rails—and why he remains convinced the carbohydrate–insulin model still offers the most coherent explanation for obesity....

Hormones influence far more than reproduction—they shape energy, mood, metabolism, sleep, and long-term health. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Dr. Anjali D’Souza joins Mike Haney to explain how women’s hormones actually work, why so many symptoms are dismissed as “normal,” and how to interpret labs in a way that reflects real physiology. They discuss why standard hormone panels often miss...

In this episode, Dr. Jesse Mills , Director of the UCLA Men’s Clinic, joins Mike Haney to explain what’s driving that shift and what today’s data-driven approach to men’s health looks like. He breaks down the testosterone “revolution,” what’s really happening in low-T diagnoses, and how lifestyle, sleep, and stress management can influence hormones as much as prescriptions can. They discuss: - How...

Your annual labs can reveal far more than most people realize—if you know how to interpret them. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Dr. Rich Joseph walks through how to read basic blood work like the CBC, electrolytes, and urinalysis, and how to use those numbers as feedback loops , not pass/fail judgments. He explains which values matter most, what trends reveal over time, and how to connect...

Your immune system isn’t just about fighting infections—it’s a mirror of your overall metabolic health. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Dr. Sharon Bergquist , physician and Director of Emory’s Healthy Aging and Resilient Aging Center, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of immune resilience —how chronic inflammation, white blood cell patterns, and metabolism intertwine to shape long-term...

If you want to improve your energy and long-term health, start by understanding how your body uses glucose. In this episode of A Whole New Level , Dr. Benjamin Bikman , scientist and author of Why We Get Sick , joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance —and why blood sugar isn’t the whole story. Dr. Bikman explains how insulin regulates energy balance , wh...

Alzheimer’s and dementia aren’t just a matter of age or genetics. Increasing evidence shows that metabolic health—particularly insulin resistance—plays a key role in cognitive decline. In this episode of A Whole New Level , neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter joins Mike Haney to explore the links between brain health and metabolism. They discuss the role of insulin resistance a...

Longevity is a hot health topic, but what factors move the needle on not only how long you live but how long you experience relatively good health? Some lab and other tests can help assess how healthy you’re aging and provide context for what lifestyle and other changes to make. Dr. Matt Kaeberlein and Mike Haney discuss the tests that help assess healthy aging, how mental health and physical heal...

Your thyroid test results explained: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that affects many facets of health. When it doesn’t function optimally, symptoms can ensue. That’s where testing comes in, but the results can be tricky to interpret (and treat if necessary) without a knowledgeable clinician. Dr. Angela Mazza and Mike Haney discuss thyroid function, thyroid hormone and relate...

Greater accessibility to glucose biosensors has led to their use to improve metabolic health, prevent disease, and feel better. Historically, these biosensors for monitoring glucose were only available with a prescription, often reserved for people with diabetes, but now with brands like Stelo, they are available over the counter. Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol discuss how biosensors can be a...

Our kidneys filter out waste while retaining substances the body needs, such as electrolytes. Kidney health, which can be assessed with blood and urine biomarker tests, is paramount to overall health. Yet lifestyle, such as the Western diet and other factors, can damage the kidneys, leading to either a slow progression of issues or acute injury. Dr. Rick Johnson and Mike Haney discuss the role of...

Your gut microbiome affects everything from your mental health and cognitive function to your immune system and metabolic health. Gut health symptoms, such as bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, could be a sign that you have low species diversity. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Mike Haney discuss how the gut and brain communicate, how the gut microbiome affects the gut barrier and therefore your im...