The Aging Well Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton interview Erik Newsholme, the 2021 Men's overall winner of the Race Across America, the world's toughest bicycle race. Erik is the first American to win the men's division since 2003 and the oldest person to ever win. His official time to cross the country, 3,037 miles, was 11 days 19 hours, 28 minutes. He did this at 56 years of age., proving it is...

If one looks at the normative data for physical fitness, one will see that the expectation would appear that one should see declining performance as one ages. On the Aging Well Podcast, we challenge this idea. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss the importance of achieving and maintaining a level of performance that will allow one to maintain a moderate to high level of perfor...

Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton interview the author of Counterclockwise: Using Peptides to Renew, Rejuvenate, and Rediscover, Dr. Suzanne J. Ferree. Dr. Ferree is the senior physician at Vine Medical Associates, in Atlanta, Georgia. She is double board certified in Family Medicine, Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Ferree uses bioidentical hormones, peptide therapy, neural therapy, and re...

A question that is often asked is “How many exercises should I do in my work out?” This is a question addressed in a recent article in Men’s Health. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton consider this question as it relates to the health- and neuromotor skill-related components of physical fitness according to one’s goals, to the time one is willing and able to commit to exercise, and,...

Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social well-centeredness are common topics on the Aging Well Podcast. We encourage reading and stimulating the mind for… aging well. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton interview New York Times bestselling author and founder of Faith, Hope, and Fiction, Patricia Crisafulli. Tricia received a Master of Fine Arts degree at the age of 52...

On The Aging Well Podcast, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton have interviewed quite a few interesting guests. In this episode, the hosts reflect on what they have gained from these episodes and, more specifically, how aging well requires a proactive rather than reactive approach. With proactive aging every decision and every action or inaction comes at a cost to our health and well-being. Aging well...

Intellectual wellness is a key component to what we refer to as well-centered fitness and… aging well. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke University and the other 125 institutions founded by the Bernard Osher Foundation seek to “engage the minds, elevate the spirits and foster the well-being of its members through numerous educational programs and opportunities for volunteer serv...

A Life Yet to Live: Finding Health, Vitality, and Joy after 60 (Hansbury Press) is a book that shares one man’s journey to enhance his longevity and to… age well. Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton are joined by the author, Ron Kastner, to discuss his practices and the wisdom he has gained on this journey. In the book, Ron discussed his approach to setting goals for practice and training according to...

We have addressed the importance of maintaining muscle mass for aging well in previous episodes. This is the focus of the article, “13 Habits That Hurt Your Chances of Gaining Lean Muscle Mass.” In this episode Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton extend the discussion to “13 Habits That Hurt Your Chances of… aging well." (So, technically, we discuss 14 habits, but who's counting?)Send us a textTruDiag...

To lose weight, you must be in a hypocaloric state (i.e., calories out must exceed calories in), correct? So, logic might tell us to “just do more cardio.” But is that the best advice? What role does cardio play in losing weight? Many people say that cardio exercise is essential to weight loss. Others are saying that cardio is not the answer. Confusing? It need not be. In this episode, Dr. Armstro...

Personal growth is a continuous journey. On The Aging Well Podcast, we refer to this as “well-centered fitness.”In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss well-centered fitness, specifically, the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social (SPIES) component of wellness. Included in the discussion are topics like “grattitude journaling” and a morning/daily ritual for bein...

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays a crucial role in various physiological processes. Cortisol is an important regulatory hormone. It is often referred to as the "stress hormone," but it is probably better labeled as the “readiness hormone.” Chronically elevated cortisol, however, is associated with a number for negative effects. Among these is the storage of fat, part...

Some believe that it is simply too late for older adults to build muscle. On the Aging Well Podcast, we believe otherwise. A listener shared an article from the Washington Post titled, “It’s never too late to lift weights: Older bodies can still build muscle.” It is based on a research study that concluded that 12 weeks of progressive whole-body resistance exercise training can effectively increas...

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Gaétan Chevalier, Director of the Earthing Institute. Grounding, also called earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities such as walking barefoot, lying on the ground, swimming in the ocean, or using a variety of grounding devices that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. The purported benefits include reduced inflammation...

According to the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, dementia is not inevitable, and it is never too late to manage one’s health. Twelve medical conditions and health behaviors have been identified that can significantly reduce the risk of all-cause-dementia. In this episode, we are joined by Drs. Emily and Mitchell Clionsky. Dr. Mitch Clionsky is a board-certified ne...

US New & World Reports recently published their list of the “Best Diets for 2024.” In addition to their top three “Best Overall Diets”, the publication ranks the Best Weight-Loss Diets, the Best Fast Weight-Loss Diets, the Best Diets for Diabetics, the Best Heart-Healthy Diets, the Easiest Diets to Follow, the Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health, the Best Family-Friendly Diets, the Best Diets...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton are joined by Dr. Alan Reznik to talk about the care and prevention of injuries of the extremities related to an active lifestyle and, well,… aging. Dr. Reznik is a Board-Certified Orthopedic surgeon specializing in Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Connecticut Magazine has named him a “Top Doc” for more than two decades. He is also recogniz...

In Episodes 64 and 65, The Aging Well Podcast addressed "Resolutions for Aging Well." In this final episode of Season 2, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton wrap up 2023 by reflecting on their resolutions and lists “Must have equipment” for a home gym. In addition, the hosts offer their Exercise Recommendations for Aging Well in 2024.We hope everyone aged well in 2023 will our listeners a very happy n...

What is the deal with ‘old man strength’ and why does Dr. Armstrong find it somewhat offensive? The concept of “old man strength” suggests that as men age, some may develop strength beyond what would be expected based solely on their muscle mass or apparent physical condition. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss “old men strength”, why some men (and we don’t ignore the women)...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong is joined by (former) bodybuilder, fitness trainer, mother, and self-proclaimed foodie, Sandi Griffin. Listeners might recall her from Episodes 8 & 28. She shares with us insights on how to manage our fitness and body composition goals over the holidays, including exercise recommendations, meal planning and preparation, and desserts and alcohol. Of course, she al...

On The Aging Well Podcast, we often discuss the importance of weight training (resistance training). In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss the importance of tempo, range of motion, and intensity in weight training for... aging well. Some related research articles include:Exploring the Dose-Response Relationship Between Estimated Resistance Training Proximity to Failure, Strength...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton share their impressions of a Tedx talk by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon. In the talk, titled “The Midlife Muscle Crisis: why we’ve gotten obesity all wrong”, Dr. Lyon discusses the issue of being overfat v. under-muscled and the concept of muscle-centric medicine. She shares three strategies for maintaining the health of your muscle, including: resistance exer...

In the wake of the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us might be shocked to step on the scale. Weight is just a number, and we should not punish ourselves for holiday indulgences. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss body mass index (BMI), healthy body weight (and a healthy perception of body weight), and strategies to manage weight fluctuations during the holidays. Send us a text...

Humor is a powerful tool that can help older adults navigate the challenges of aging, enhance their well-being, and continue to enjoy life to the fullest. It is an important aspect of overall health and happiness as we age. In this episode Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton explore the ways in which humor and laughter contribute to a healthy and fulfilling aging process. In addition, the hosts provid...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss the content of a pamphlet Corbin received from his work's human resources department that discusses exercise. The pamphlet gives some tips on what to do, but does it tell us any more than what most of us already know we should be doing? For many, it is not a matter of what to do. It is a matter of how, as well as access and opportunity. Send...