The Health Upgrade Podcast

Welcome back to the Health Upgrade Podcast! In this colab episode, host Ben Greenfield dives deep into the mysteries and science of the vagus nerve with Dr. Navaz Habib and JP Errico. Together, they break down what the vagus nerve actually does in your body, including its powerful influence on immune function, gut health, inflammation, and how you feel day-to-day. The episode clears up myths, like...

On this episode of the Health Upgrade Podcast, we sit down with our guest, Tom O'Bryan, to dive into the core of what it takes to truly upgrade your health. We explore the limitations of modern healthcare, contrasting disease management with the proactive creation of genuine wellness. Tom shares his expertise on the impact of toxins, stress, and functional medicine, emphasizing the need to address...

In this episode, we sit down with nutrition expert Ashley Koff to dive deep into the world of optimal health for high performers. Together, we explore the real science behind weight management, focusing on GLP-1 medications and the broader ecosystem of weight health hormones. Ashley shares her personal journey, stresses the power of understanding the vagus nerve, and explains why digestion and the...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, Dr. Navaz Habib reflects on the top five episodes of the year, featuring insightful discussions with renowned guests. The episode highlights clips from conversations with Dr. Davis Brockenshire, Dr. Deanna Minich, Dr. Scott Sherr, Dr. Aimie Apigian, and others, covering topics such as functional medicine, melatonin's role beyond sleep, mitochondrial o...

In today’s episode, we are joined by our special guest, Valerie Driscoll, and we open up a lively conversation about the hidden benefits of boredom and mindfulness. Valerie Driscoll shares her journey from interior design to functional health coaching and highlights how real personal change begins with small, consistent habits and paying attention to the mind’s natural patterns. Together, we explo...

In this inspiring episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, I welcome the "holistic kids" who share their journey of writing The Teen Health Revolution , a guide to empower teens to take charge of their health.  Together, we dive into why adolescence is a uniquely challenging time for wellness and how lifestyle changes can have a profound, lasting impact. The guests break down the book’s easy-to-foll...

In this powerful episode, we welcome the brilliant Dr. Jolene Brighten to tackle some of the most pressing topics in women’s health.  Dr. Jolene Brighten shares her journey from gut health to becoming a passionate advocate for empowering women, explaining how conventional medicine has often left their voices unheard. Together, we dig into misunderstood conditions like endometriosis and PMDD, highl...

We sit down with Dr. Davis Brockenshire to explore the power of optimizing health at every stage of life. Together, we unpack strategies for unlocking genetic potential with a focus on the role of the nervous system, immune system, and metabolic balance. Our conversation takes you from preconception and childhood wellness all the way to performance tips for adults and managing stress, blending sci...

In this special episode, I dive into the world of bloodwork and the crucial markers that can reveal a lot about your vagus nerve health. By focusing on inflammation and metabolic stress, I break down the top three markers you should pay attention to: high sensitivity CRP, hemoglobin A1C, and the triglyceride to HDL ratio. I explain how these markers impact vagal tone, metabolic function, and overa...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we dive deep into the science behind longevity, focusing on the FOXO3 gene, a newly hot topic in genetic research for long and healthy life. Together, we break down how FOXO3 acts as a master regulator of the body’s stress response, coordinating processes like autophagy, DNA repair, and cellular protection. We also explore how the sympathetic and para...

In this episode, I welcome Zora Benhamou for an inspiring conversation about healthspan, resilience, and embracing a holistic approach to aging well. Zora shares her journey from dealing with early loss in her family to becoming a gerontologist and biohacker, blending science, nutrition, the mind-body connection, and practical lifestyle shifts. We discuss blue zones, the unique menopausal journey...

In this episode, we share highlights from a recent Biohacker Expo talk, exploring why we age and how the autonomic nervous system, especially the vagus nerve, plays a central role in the process. We break down compelling research, like Nobel Prize-winning discoveries by Shinya Yamanaka and the promising work of experts in reversing aging. Together, we sort aging’s hallmarks into categories includi...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of the Cell Danger Response, your body’s built-in alarm system designed to protect cells from threats like pathogens, toxins, stress, and metabolic imbalances. We break down how mitochondria (your cell’s powerhouses) trigger this response and why factors like leaky gut, chronic stress, and exposure to toxins ramp up inflammation and disrupt your cellula...

In this insightful episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we are joined by Dr. Matthew Antonucci for a wide-ranging conversation about optimal health, chiropractic neurology, and the science behind brain and body integration. Together, we explore the roots of chiropractic and osteopathic medicine, the importance of holistic healing, and the fascinating connections between the nervous system, immun...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade Podcast, we dive deep into the groundbreaking world of anti-aging medicine, exploring the fascinating science behind partial cellular reprogramming using the Yamanaka factors, also known as OSKM. We discuss how these four proteins, discovered by Nobel laureate Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, can reverse a cell’s biological age and potentially rejuvenate organs and tissue...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we dive deep into the misunderstood world of body fat, breaking down the key differences between subcutaneous and visceral fat. We discuss why “fat isn’t just fat,” clarifying how where fat is stored in the body can dramatically influence your health, from increasing the risks of chronic diseases to affecting mood, cognition, and even longevity. We sh...

In this episode, I introduce the Vegas Protocol, a new program designed to help high performers and health seekers find more resilience and vitality in their daily lives. I share how the Vegas Protocol evolved, the five key steps: Validate, Activate, Gut Brain Immune Optimization, Unburden, and Sustain, and why each plays a valuable role in optimizing well-being. I also discuss practical tools lik...

In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked root cause behind many common health complaints: autonomic nervous system dysfunction. We break down how symptoms like brain fog, poor sleep, gut issues, and even mood changes can all be interconnected, with autonomic imbalance acting as the missing link. Using easy-to-understand analogies, such as dimmer switches and warning lights, we explore ho...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade Podcast , we sit down with Aimie Apigian MD, to explore the biology of trauma . Dr. Aimie shares her personal journey, from adopting a foster child with severe trauma to her own struggles with burnout, chronic fatigue, and autoimmunity, which pushed her to uncover how trauma imprints itself on the body at a cellular level. Together, we discuss how trauma diffe...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we chat with Don Moxley about heart rate variability (HRV) as a powerful tool for optimizing performance and driving better recovery. Don shares his journey from the wrestling mats of Ohio State to pioneering real-world applications of HRV for elite athletes, coaches, and everyday high performers. He tells engaging stories from his work in collegiate...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we dive deep into the incredible world of mitochondria - the true powerhouses of our cells - and explore why their efficiency is so crucial for optimal health and high performance. We break down mitochondrial uncoupling, the roles of different macronutrients as fuels, and why modern shifts in our diets and lifestyles have impacted our cellular energy...

In this episode, we have the pleasure to sit down with special guest Dr. Felice Gersh for an insightful discussion on the intimate connections between fertility hormones, the autonomic nervous system, and optimal health.  Dr. Gersh shares her pioneering perspective on how estradiol and the balance of hormones influence everything from energy production to fertility, pregnancy, and beyond. Together...

In this episode of, we take a thoughtful look at mast cell activation syndrome and why it can be such a persistent challenge for so many people. We unpack what mast cells are, how they function in the body, and why they sometimes become hypervigilant, causing everything from allergic reactions and food sensitivities to skin issues and even emotional stress responses. We also explore how the autono...

In this enlightening episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we sit down with Dr. Deanna Minich to take a deep dive into the misunderstood world of melatonin. Known by most as the “sleep hormone,” melatonin is revealed as so much more an essential, multifunctional molecule supporting mitochondrial health, immune balance, and even spiritual well-being. Dr. Minich shares her journey from traditional...

In this episode of the Health Upgrade podcast, we welcome Cathy Eason, Chief Science Officer at Berkeley Life, for a deep dive into the crucial role of blood flow and nitric oxide in overall health. Cathy shares her journey from bodywork and exercise physiology to functional nutrition, emphasizing how optimal blood flow supports everything from digestion and metabolic health to cardiovascular func...