The Life Lab by Death Clock

This week, Brent speaks with his personal physician, Dr. Todd Dorfman, for an update on his own health journey. Using Brent as a real-world case study, they walk through the discovery of an anomalous coronary artery, the risks and benefits of advanced cardiac diagnostics, and why more testing isn't always better. The conversation then shifts to prevention. Dr. Dorfman shares how he thinks about ch...

Happy New Year! We're releasing this week's episode a day early to help you stay on top of your New Year's Resolutions. Our guest this week is Dr. John Norcross, a clinical psychologist and longtime researcher of behavior change. Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Norcross breaks down the science of goal setting, from choosing realistic resolutions to building action plans, accountability, and tr...

To close out 2025, Brent revisits some of the most impactful conversations of the year, highlighting ideas that challenge how we think about health, aging, and prevention. The clips touch on longevity hot spots, heart disease risk, cancer, metabolic health, fitness, supplements, and more. Thank you for a great 2025. We can't wait to bring you more episodes and insights in the new year. Hope you en...

This week, clinical psychologist and CBT expert Dr. Seth Gillihan returns to the show for a third time to have a conversation about how our thoughts, behaviors, and physical health are deeply intertwined. Drawing on examples from everyday life, Dr. Gillihan explains how cognitive behavioral therapy helps people build a healthier relationship with their thoughts and make real, sustainable behavior...

This week, Brent is joined by Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a physician-researcher known for some of the most comprehensive work on long COVID and its long-term impact on the body. Dr. Al-Aly explains what the latest data shows about lingering symptoms, who's most at risk, and how COVID increases the chances of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline long after infection. They discuss w...

In this solo episode, Brent takes a step back and explores the mission of Death Clock, reflecting on the journey of the company thus far. He then pulls together the biggest lessons from prior episodes and lays out the core principles experts agree matter most for living longer and staying healthy. He walks through the fundamentals and explains how science has changed his own approach to day-to-day...

This week's guest is William Porter, author of Alcohol Explained. He joins Brent to dismantle the myths that shape our cultural relationship with drinking. Drawing from his own history with addiction and the hyper-logical framework behind his books, Porter explains what alcohol actually does to the brain and body, to its impact on sleep, to why it feels addictive in the first place. They explore t...

In this episode, Brent is joined by endocrinologist and longtime FDA leader Dr. G. Alexander Fleming to break down one of the most consequential diseases of modern life: type 2 diabetes. Dr. Fleming explains the real difference between type 1 and type 2, why insulin resistance is the root problem, and how biomarkers like fasting glucose, A1C, and fasting insulin work together to reveal your true m...

In this episode of Death Clock, Brent talks with Dr. Michael Fredericson, a Stanford physician and co-director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, about how to stay fit, strong, and injury-free as we age. Drawing on decades working with Olympic athletes and Stanford's track team, Dr. Fredericson breaks down the core pillars of lifelong fitness and how they change over time. He explains the scienc...

This week, Brent speaks with Sir Adrian Bird, the pioneering geneticist whose discoveries on DNA methylation reshaped our understanding of how genes are regulated. Bird explains what DNA methylation actually is and why he's skeptical of popular claims that it determines "biological age" or can be easily hacked to reverse aging. They discuss his groundbreaking work on Rett syndrome, how CRISPR gene...

In this episode of Death Clock, Brent speaks with Dr. Nazish Sayed, a Stanford cardiologist and vascular biologist, to cut through the confusion about cholesterol, heart disease, and statins. Dr. Sayed breaks down what LDL, HDL, and ApoB really mean, why high cholesterol is more about your biology than your breakfast, and how inflammation and genetics drive plaque buildup long before symptoms appe...

This week, Brent speaks with Dr. John Buse, a leading endocrinologist at the University of North Carolina and one of the world's foremost experts on diabetes and metabolic health. Dr. Buse unpacks the science behind GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy. He explains their powerful benefits for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, along with the real risks. Drawing on his decades of research and...

In this episode of Death Clock, Brent speaks with Dr. Matthew Taylor, the director of the Brain Nutrition Lab at the University of Kansas Medical Center, to break down everything you need to know about the ketogenic diet. They talk about what it is, how it works, and what science actually says about its benefits. Dr. Taylor explains how shifting the body's fuel source from glucose to ketones can i...

In this episode, Brent speaks with Dr. Arthur Agatston, world-renowned cardiologist, creator of the South Beach Diet, and the pioneer behind the Agatston Score, better known as the calcium score. Dr. Agatston explains how this simple, low-cost CT scan can reveal hidden plaque in the arteries long before symptoms arise, offering a far more accurate predictor of heart attack risk than cholesterol nu...

This week's guest is Dr. Yaakov Stern, Florence Irving Professor of Neuropsychology at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Stern and Brent discuss the science and lived reality of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. They talk about what distinguishes normal cognitive aging from dementia, how biomarkers like amyloid and tau shape diagnosis, and why new drugs may slow the disease. Dr. Stern shares...

This week on Death Clock, Brent speaks with Dr. Gina Woods, an endocrinologist and osteoporosis specialist at UC San Diego, to demystify DXA scans and explain why bone density and body-composition testing matter for longevity. Dr. Woods walks through what a DXA actually measures, why visceral fat and low muscle mass can be invisible but metabolically dangerous, and how simple, practical steps can...

This week's guest is Dr. Craig Heller, a Stanford biology professor who has spent decades studying thermoregulation, circadian rhythms, and human performance. Dr. Heller explains his groundbreaking discovery that cooling specific hairless surfaces of the body (the palms, soles, and face) can dramatically extend endurance, strength, and recovery. From enabling athletes to push past muscle failure t...

In this episode, Brent speaks with Dr. Matthew Johnson about the use of psychedelic therapy for enhancing mental health. Dr. Johnson is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University and most recently a Senior Investigator in Psychedelics at Sheppard Pratt further. The discussion spans the fundamental aspects of these substances, their application in therapy, and wha...

In this episode, Brent sits down with Dr. B. Brett Finlay, a microbiologist at the University of British Columbia, to talk about the human microbiome. They explore how the trillions of microbes living in and on us affect everything from immunity to aging, why diversity is key to long-term health, and how diet, environment, and everyday habits can shape our microbial communities. Dr. Finlay also di...

In this episode of Death Clock, Brent speaks with Dr. Diana Hill, psychologist, author, and host of the Wise Effort podcast. They explore the intersection of movement and psychological flexibility, drawing from Dr. Hill's book, I Know I Should Exercise, But…. She explains how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help people overcome mental barriers to exercise, shifting the focus from rigid...

This week, Brent sits down with Nikki Mark, author of Tommy's Field: A Story of Love, Loss, and Transformation . Nikki shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 12-year-old son, Tommy, who went to sleep one night and did not wake up. She reflects on life before this tragedy, her close bond with Tommy, and how this unimaginable loss reshaped her world. As Nikki recounts her path forward, she des...

In this episode, Brent sits down with Dr. Richard Maurer, a naturopathic doctor and author of The Blood Code, a book about metabolic health. They discuss markers like A1C, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and how these impact risks for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Maurer shares his personal journey of reversing prediabetes and provides actionable insights on diet, exercise, and maint...

This week on Death Clock, Brent speaks with journalist and author Nicole Karlis about the connection between altruism and longevity. Nicole, author of Your Brain on Altruism, shares research-backed insights into how acts of kindness, generosity, and volunteering can positively impact both mental and physical health. They discuss how altruism isn't just about helping others – it also fosters a sens...

This week, Brent welcomes Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes, a clinical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in gastrointestinal cancers such as neuroendocrine, colorectal, and pancreas cancers. They discuss the cutting-edge landscape of cancer prevention and early detection, full-body scans, blood-based cancer screenings, and lifestyle interventions. Dr. Reidy-Lagunes goes in...

In this episode of Death Clock, Brent talks with Dr. Thomas Seyfried, an impassioned biologist and leading voice in the metabolic theory of cancer. Seyfried argues that the origins of cancer lie not in mutations, but in dysfunctional mitochondria, and that treating cancer as a metabolic disease opens the door to radically different therapies. They explore the promise and pitfalls of ketogenic diet...