Decoding Health

Send us Fan Mail In this Decoding Health episode, Dr. Urban A. Kiernan sits down with returning guest Dr. Micah Olson (pediatric endocrinologist turned longevity physician and founder of Valley HealthSpan in Phoenix) to unpack what DEXA scans can actually reveal about true health—not just aesthetics. They break down how DEXA goes beyond bone density to deliver actionable body-composition metrics l...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Decoding Health , Dr. Urban breaks down one of the most misunderstood—and most dangerous—topics in modern health: visceral fat . While most people focus on the fat they can see or pinch, Dr. Urban explains why peripheral fat is largely aesthetic, while visceral (also called ectopic) fat is metabolically toxic. This internal fat infiltrates organs like the liver,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Decoding Health , Dr. Urban A. Kiernan sits down with Tony Drake —lifestyle transformation coach, former WWF wrestler, and the man who lost 130 pounds and dropped from ~40% body fat to ~6% —to unpack what actually drives sustainable fat loss and lasting metabolic health. Tony shares the pivotal mindset shift that forced “Big T” to die, how consistent training an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Decoding Health , Dr. Urban Kiernan breaks down the science behind Urolithin A , a gut-derived compound gaining attention for its role in mitochondrial health, muscle performance, and metabolic function . The conversation explains what Urolithin A actually is (and what it isn’t), how it’s produced through the gut microbiome , and why it’s fundamentally diffe...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Kaitlin Castillo pulls back the curtain on why so many people can look healthy on the outside while quietly living in a metabolic “danger zone” underneath the surface. Using real-world clinical context, she breaks down what processed, packaged eating does to blood sugar regulation, why insulin resistance can progress for years before patients are clearly warned, and what “good...

Send us Fan Mail GHK-Cu (copper peptide) has surged in popularity across regenerative medicine, aesthetics, and biohacking—but what does the science actually say? In this episode of Decoding Health , Dr. Urban breaks down the real physiology behind GHK-Cu, a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide composed of glycine, histidine, and lysine. You’ll learn how this peptide supports wound healin...

Send us Fan Mail Ronald M. Krauss joins the show for a practical, myth-busting deep dive into cardiometabolic risk, lipidology, and why the LDL conversation is often framed in the wrong direction. Building on his long-standing advisory-level relationship with Dr. Urban and his “disruptor” approach to improving outcomes, Dr. Krauss clarifies the critical difference between LDL and LDL cholesterol,...

Send us Fan Mail GLP-1 is a gut-derived hormone designed to signal the pancreas to produce insulin—but in its natural form, it’s notoriously short-lived. In this Decoding Health segment, we break down why endogenous GLP-1 has an ultra-short half-life (about three minutes), and how the enzyme DPP-4 rapidly “clips” incretin hormones by targeting specific amino acids near the N-terminus—effectively d...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Robert H. Lustig joins the show to break down why today’s metabolic health crisis is not a personal failure problem, but an environment problem, and how the power structure shaping food, policy, and public health has shifted in ways most people have not tracked. From “poisonous calories” and ultra-processed food to microplastics, reactive species, and artificial sweeteners, Dr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Decoding Health , we examine a recent shift in CDC guidance regarding hepatitis B vaccination recommendations for newborns. Long criticized for lagging behind evolving science, the CDC has now revised its position after reviewing updated risk-benefit data presented during a publicly broadcast panel discussion. Sparked by the birth of the host’s second grandchild...

Send us Fan Mail This episode featuring Dana Swope explores the intersection of nutrition, movement, stress, and metabolic health through an open, thought-provoking conversation. The discussion highlights how prioritizing protein and whole foods can reduce overall calorie needs while significantly increasing satiety, signaling a meaningful shift in how we approach sustainable nutrition. The episod...

Send us Fan Mail This episode breaks down the Amylase test and its critical role in digestion, metabolic health, and personalized nutrition. The conversation explores how amylase activity impacts carbohydrate processing, energy levels, and blood sugar response, highlighting why a one-size-fits-all approach to diet does not work. Listeners learn how simple indicators like taste response and timing...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Decoding Health , Dr. Urban A. Kiernan is joined by Dr. Don Clum for an in-depth, science-driven discussion on fasting, insulin regulation, and metabolic health—cutting through popular misconceptions to explain what fasting actually is and how it impacts the body. The conversation begins with how early insulin research led to modern fasting protocols and clarifi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Decoding Health , Dr. Urban A. Kiernan breaks down the science behind vaccine adjuvants—what they are, why they are used, and how they influence immune responses. Drawing from his experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, he explains how adjuvants enhance antibody production and increase the body’s overall biological workload. We explore commonly...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Evan Nadler challenges some of the most common misconceptions surrounding childhood and adolescent obesity—starting with the idea that it’s simply a result of poor diet or lack of willpower. Drawing on more than two decades of clinical, surgical, and research experience, he explains why obesity is a chronic disease, why BMI is an unreliable diagnostic tool, an...

Send us Fan Mail What are the real side effects of Vyleesi —and how do they compare to Viagra ? In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Urban A. Kiernan breaks down what Vyleesi (also known as PT-141 ) is, how it works, and why it’s being discussed as a modern option for women experiencing low sexual desire, arousal challenges, or vaginal dryness (when prescribed for specific diagnoses). You’ll learn...

Send us Fan Mail Michal Ofer shares the personal turning point that reshaped her entire approach to health—going from taking 30 pills a day at 35 to stepping away from medications and focusing on root-cause inputs that actually move the needle. She breaks down how diet directly affects stress tolerance , which foods tend to be most inflammatory, and why food quality can feel dramatically different...

Send us Fan Mail In this holiday quick-hit episode of Decoding Health , Dr. Urban A. Kiernan sits down with Leila Adnani (PS Creative Studios) to close out 2025 and set the tone for a stronger 2026—without the fake “new year, new me” hype. Leila shares what PS Creative Studios is focused on heading into the new year, including a strategic reset around what to keep, what to cut, and what to build i...

Send us Fan Mail This Decoding Health episode follows the real-time journey of Keiran Meekins, a young athlete living with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, as he undergoes an integrated evaluation and treatment process combining advanced physical therapy and emerging V-cell therapy. Recorded on location in Arizona, the episode brings listeners inside a full clinical assessment, gait analysis, neur...

Send us Fan Mail This episode examines the complex relationship between cholesterol, statin use, and Parkinson’s disease through a data-informed and critically minded discussion. The conversation challenges common assumptions about cholesterol suppression, exploring how statins can interfere with the body’s natural cholesterol production and why that matters for brain and neurological health. The...

Send us Fan Mail  Gary Jackson joins Dr. Urban to unpack how discipline, mindset, and behavior patterns shape metabolic health. They explore why today’s “normal” encourages unhealthy habits, how marketing drives cravings, why the word “treat” programs reward behavior early in life, and how simple tools like label-reading can shift daily decisions. Gary shares the core coaching principles he teache...

Send us Fan Mail The internet is buzzing about “GLP-3,” but according to Dr. Urban, it doesn’t exist. In this episode, he breaks down why GLP-3 is nothing more than a marketing term tied to a still-experimental drug from Eli Lilly. Dr. Urban explains the real science behind GLP-1 and GLP-2, how these hormones naturally function in the body, and why the new triple-agonist compound being called “GLP...

Send us Fan Mail Modern medicine is facing a crisis — and Dr. Ankur Verma is sounding the alarm. In this groundbreaking episode, Dr. Urban Kiernan sits down with Dr. Verma, who reveals why 95% of his patients show metabolic symptoms … and why questioning the system nearly got him ostracized by his own peers. This conversation exposes the cultural, political, and scientific forces shaping global nu...

Send us Fan Mail  Tylenol is everywhere — in our homes, hospitals, and daily routines. But what do we actually know about it? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Urban Kiernan breaks down the real science behind Tylenol (acetaminophen) , how it differs from ibuprofen, and why its reputation for being “safe” deserves a closer look. We dive into: ⚠️ Why acetaminophen would fail modern clinical trial st...

Send us Fan Mail What if your biggest health problems aren’t caused by food alone — but by light, biology, stress, and hidden environmental triggers no one warned you about?  In this mind-shifting episode, Dr. Urban Kiernan and Shana Hussin dive deep into the overlooked science behind metabolic dysfunction, hormonal collapse, food sensitivities, and the quantum forces driving modern illness. Shana...