The Art of Living Well Podcast®

When was the last time a conversation with a friend went deeper than kids, work and weekend plans? In midlife, our friendships are shifting along with everything else: kids leaving home, aging parents, changing careers and our own health. Most of us want deeper connection, but we don't always have more time. The answer isn't more time together. It's better questions. In this episode, Stephanie and Marnie share seven questions that take a friendship beyond small talk, some inspired by health journalist Liz Moody and a few of their own. Then they put every one to the test, answering them together, honestly and with plenty of laughs. A few are fun icebreakers. A couple go surprisingly deep. And one might change how you respond the next time a friend tells you she's struggling. 🎧 Think of this one as your conversation toolkit. Save it and come back to it before your next walk with a friend, coffee date, girls' weekend or family dinner. You'll want the questions handy, and you may be surprised what you learn about the people you know best, and about yourself.  Join us on Substack and receive a free printable document with the seven questions we share in this episode. In this episode, you'll hear: The quick-fire icebreaker that reveals a friend's hidden passion What a "dream scenario" answer says about what's missing in your life Why women need to celebrate the small wins The upside of midlife nobody talks about The question to ask before you give a friend advice Why vulnerability is the foundation of deep friendship Time stamps: 00:00 The quick-fire icebreaker we started with 01:39 Where these questions came from 02:23 Why friendships change in midlife 05:17 Something you've always wanted to try 11:19 The dream-scenario question (and what it reveals) 14:31 Looking back on how far you've come 16:33 Why women need to celebrate small wins 19:46 Why we stop following the crowd in midlife  21:15 Telling a friend what she brings to your life 24:21 The question to ask before giving advice 26:07 Why vulnerability builds deeper connection 27:40 How to try these questions this week Ask us anything: Join our Substack to get the link to our monthly Ask Me Anything session, plus episode updates, wellness tips and personal reflections from Marnie and Stephanie. https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/ Join the 14-Day Winter Vitality Reboot Start 2027 feeling clear, energized, and back in your body. We are guiding the Winter Vitality Reboot from Tuesday, January 5 to Monday, January 18th.  Early-bird pricing is $295 through December 11 ($325 after). Join us: https://l.bttr.to/vYa42 Do It Anytime Vitality Reboot: Ready to reset your energy, cravings and habits on your own schedule? Start our self-paced Vitality Reboot anytime. https://p.bttr.to/39XDmpQ If this episode resonated, share it with the friend you want to ask these questions, and tell us which one you tried. Connect with Us Subscribe to our Substack to get episode updates, wellness tips, and personal reflections from Marnie & Stephanie delivered straight to your inbox. Grab your free Midlife Travel Resilience Checklist here. If you love the show and want to support what we're building, consider a paid subscription for $30 annually. https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/ Follow & Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartoflivingwellpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartoflivingwel/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jOPdSHwrpM1BmxyJz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/id1482050468  Connect with your Hosts: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/about-us

What if the way we've been taught to think about aging is completely backwards? What if feeling exhausted, gaining weight, losing muscle, and struggling with brain fog isn't actually inevitable? In this episode of The Art of Living Well Podcast®, Marnie and Stephanie sit down with physician Dr. Jerry Mixon, who has spent the last 30 years focused on longevity medicine after realizing, at 50, that treating disease after it appears wasn't enough. Dr. Mixon shares his own turning point (including the office chair moment that finally got his attention), then walks through why testosterone, not estrogen, is actually a woman's primary hormone, why "normal" lab results don't always mean optimal, and why muscle functions almost like its own gland in the body. They also get into the real risks of losing muscle on GLP-1 medications, why BMI is a flawed metric for midlife women, and what walking pace can tell you about long-term health. This is a deep, detail-rich conversation, so if you've ever been told your labs are "normal" but still felt off, or you're curious about hormone therapy, muscle loss, or where to start with limited time and budget, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: Testosterone, not estrogen, is a woman's primary sex hormone by volume, and it declines sharply through midlife Muscle functions almost like an active gland, releasing proteins that influence immune function, brain health, and metabolism "Normal" lab results are often built around average reference ranges, not what's optimal for how you actually want to feel BMI doesn't distinguish muscle from fat, which makes it a poor metric for midlife women focused on body composition Walking pace is one of the simplest, most telling indicators of long-term physical function GLP-1 medications can come with meaningful muscle loss if protein intake and resistance training aren't part of the plan How a hormone is delivered (oral pill vs. topical cream) can matter as much as which hormone is used Regular lab testing against your own personal baseline, not just population averages, gives a clearer picture of what's actually changing Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction: Dr. Jerry Mixon  00:46 From Overweight Doctor to Longevity Physician: Dr. Mixon's Turning Point 01:48 The Story That Changed Everything: Stuck to His Own Office Chair 02:46 Why Longevity Medicine Was Once Only for the Ultra-Wealthy 04:44 30 Years Later: Life at (Nearly) 80 06:09 Testosterone: The Hormone Women Are Often Missing 07:26 Why Lab Reports Compare Estrogen and Testosterone in a Misleading Way 08:49 What Testosterone Actually Does for a Woman's Body 10:03 Addressing the "Will Testosterone Make Me Look More Masculine?" Question 11:52 Why So Many Midlife Women Are on an Antidepressant or Anti-Anxiety Medication 12:31 Do Testosterone-Boosting Supplements Actually Work? 13:04 Inside the Clinic: Custom Compounded Hormone Creams 14:36 Why Regular Lab Testing Against Your Own Baseline Matters 15:30 Dr. Mixon's Four Rules of Medicine 18:26 How Long It Takes Women (vs. Men) to Start Feeling Better 20:27 Why Muscle Is One of the Most Important Organs for Longevity 22:14 The Exercise and Cancer Survival Connection 23:25 Fat Tissue, Senescent Cells, and Why They Matter 25:04 Why Every Doctor's Office Needs More Than a Scale 25:55 The Problem With BMI, Even for Athletes 26:16 Fat-to-Muscle Ratios: What's Actually Healthy for Women 27:54 What Real Strength Training Looks Like (and Why Stairs Beat Treadmills) 29:49 Why Most Midlife Women Need to Walk Before They Run 30:47 Walking Speed as a Longevity Indicator 31:20 Why Height and Body Proportions Change the Numbers 33:58 A Simple Way to Track and Improve Your Walking Pace 36:09 The Biggest Mistake Women Make When Trying to Lose Weight 37:55 GLP-1s and the Real Risk of Losing Muscle Along With Fat 41:12 The Gold Standard for Measuring Body Composition: DEXA Scans 42:59 Why Bone Density Starts Declining Decades Before Menopause 44:16 How Hormone Testing Works Across the Menstrual Cycle 53:19 Patches vs. Compounded Creams: What's the Difference? 55:01 Where to Find a Doctor Who Actually Gets This 58:08 What Does the Art of Living Well Mean to You? 59:17 Where to Learn More From Dr. Mixon Resources and Links: Dr. Mixon's Book, Lifelong Longevity Medical Clinic This episode is brought to you by Human Powered Health. Marnie and Stephanie experienced their testing firsthand, including resting metabolic rate, DXA scans, VO2 max, and force plate assessments. Human Powered Health offers personalized assessments, including a new Women's Health Package designed to help women track muscle, bone density, and cardiovascular fitness through perimenopause and menopause. Book your free 15-minute physiologist consult here. Feeling tired, inflamed, or stuck in a cycle of cravings? Our 7-Day Vitality Reboot is also available anytime as a self-paced program, with the same support from us on your own schedule. Save your spot here: https://l.bttr.to/fNSbn Not sure where to start, or want to talk it through first? Book a free discovery call with Marnie and Stephanie. Subscribe to our Substack to get episode updates, wellness tips, and personal reflections from Marnie & Stephanie delivered straight to your inbox. Grab your free Midlife Travel Resilience Checklist here. If you love the show and want to support what we're building, consider a paid subscription for $30 annually. https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/ Follow & Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartoflivingwellpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartoflivingwel/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jOPdSHwrpM1BmxyJz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/id1482050468 Connect with Your Hosts: Marnie Dachis Marmet: https://www.instagram.com/zenfullifecoaching Stephanie May Potter: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemaypotter/  

What happens when you trade a typical college spring break for 10 days of silence, no phone, 4 a.m. wake-ups and hours of meditation? This week, we're joined by Lily Lev, a recent University of Michigan graduate who studied biology, health and society. While studying abroad, Lily traveled to Thailand for a 10-day silent meditation retreat—an experience that challenged her physically and mentally and ultimately changed the way she thinks about health, emotions and resilience. In this conversation, Lily shares what those 10 days were really like, why sitting still was harder than staying silent, and the lessons she brought home about non-attachment, loving-kindness, stress and becoming less reactive. We also explore Lily's evolving definition of holistic health, the connection between physical and mental resilience, and the routines she recommends for young adults navigating the transition to college and beyond. IN THIS EPISODE: ✨ What 10 days at a silent meditation retreat actually looked like ✨ Why discomfort became one of Lily's greatest teachers ✨ How non-attachment can change our relationship with difficult emotions ✨ The surprising power of loving-kindness ✨ Why health is about so much more than nutrition and exercise ✨ Lily's advice for creating healthy routines during college TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Why Lily chose a 10-day silent meditation retreat in Thailand 04:27 – What a typical day at the retreat looked like 10:20 – The hardest part: learning to sit with discomfort 13:55 – Mental resilience and the lessons Lily brought home 16:34 – Loving-kindness, compassion and letting go of anger 22:01 – Redefining health beyond diet and exercise 26:05 – HYROX, physical challenges and pushing yourself 28:27 – The connection between physical and mental health 29:20 – Lily's advice for navigating college and building healthy routines 32:53 – What the Art of Living Well means to Lily FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR A RESET Fall is the perfect time to press reset. Our 7-day Vitality Reboot gives you a clear, guided path to reducing inflammation and reclaiming your energy, with Marnie and Stephanie in your corner the whole way. You do the work, we provide the roadmap and the support. Join us at https://p.bttr.to/39XDmpQ CONNECT WITH THE ART OF LIVING WELL 💌 Substack Newsletter: https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jO 🍎 Apple Podcasts: The Art of Living Well Podcast 🌐 Website: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, leave us a rating and review, and share it with someone who could use this conversation.

Summer just happened, and by September, Marnie and Stephanie are usually scrambling to rebuild their routines from scratch. Not this year. In this episode of The Art of Living Well Podcast®, they recap the summer (the good stuff and the stuff that slipped), then get into what they call their non-negotiables: the floor, not the ceiling. The handful of things they protect no matter how chaotic life gets. They walk through the specifics: how they keep moving even on days with zero free time, why sleep is non-negotiable and how alcohol affects it more than people admit, the daily smoothie and protein-first habit that keeps their blood sugar and energy steady, and the no-phones-at-the-table rule that's harder to enforce than it sounds. Along the way, they talk about why they both still work with coaches themselves, and why that's true no matter how "figured out" your habits are. They close by introducing the Fall 7-Day Vitality Reboot, starting September 27, with both a live cohort and a self-paced option available. Key Takeaways: •Non-negotiables are the floor, not the ceiling — the few things you protect no matter how chaotic life gets •Movement doesn't require a full workout — stairs, short walks, and airport laps all count on the busiest days •Alcohol disrupts sleep more consistently than most people realize, even just one drink •Starting the day with protein, fat, and fiber helps stabilize blood sugar and energy for the rest of the day •Planning ahead, like packing salads or bringing a shaker bottle, makes healthy choices easier when travel throws off your routine •Working with a coach, in any category of life, tends to lead to better outcomes than going it alone •A phone-free table is one of the simplest ways to stay present with the people you're actually with •The Fall Vitality Reboot starts September 27 and offers both a live cohort and a self-paced option Episode Breakdown with Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Back: Summer Wrap-Up Begins 00:32 Three Things We're Covering Today 01:14 Marnie's Summer Highlights: Family Trip and Montana With Jordan 02:36 The Simple Things: Outdoor Dinners and a $40 Deck Table 04:38 Stephanie's Two-Week Family Trip and Learning to Slow Down 06:08 Introducing Our Non-Negotiables: The Floor, Not the Ceiling 06:40 Non-Negotiable #1: Movement, Even When the Day Falls Apart 08:20 Getting Creative With Movement While Traveling 09:42 Non-Negotiable #2: Sleep and Knowing Your Own Limits 10:53 Why One Drink Disrupts Marnie's Sleep Every Time 11:35 Midlife and Caring Less What Other People Think 12:54 Non-Negotiable #3: The Daily Smoothie and Protein First 14:16 The Backup Plan: Protein on the Go When Life Gets Chaotic 15:15 Hydration on the Road 16:08 Packing Ahead: The Salad-in-a-Jar Story 16:55 The TSA Ice Pack Incident 17:24 Why We Both Still Work With Coaches 19:06 What the Research Says About Coached vs. Non-Coached Outcomes 19:57 Coaches for Every Season of Life 20:38 Non-Negotiable #4: No Phones at the Table 22:24 What Marnie's Daughter's School Says About Texting Back Right Away 23:38 Introducing the Fall Vitality Reboot 23:55 Live Cohort or Self-Paced: Choose What Works for You 24:58 What's the One Non-Negotiable You'll Protect This Fall? Feeling tired, inflamed, or stuck in a cycle of cravings? Join our 7-Day Fall Vitality Reboot starting September 27 and discover how much better you can feel with simple daily habits and a supportive community beside you every step of the way. Click here to save your spot: https://l.bttr.to/fNSbn Not sure where to start, or want to talk it through first? Book a free discovery call with Marnie and Stephanie. Subscribe to our Substack to get episode updates, wellness tips, and personal reflections from Marnie & Stephanie delivered straight to your inbox. Grab your free Midlife Travel Resilience Checklist here. If you love the show and want to support what we're building, consider a paid subscription for $30 annually. https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/ Follow & Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartoflivingwellpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartoflivingwel/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jOPdSHwrpM1BmxyJz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/id1482050468 Connect with Your Hosts: Marnie Dachis Marmet: https://www.instagram.com/zenfullifecoaching Stephanie May Potter: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemaypotter/  

What if one tiny carbon molecule could help protect your cells from oxidative stress and support the mitochondria responsible for producing your energy? In this fascinating episode of The Art of Living Well Podcast®, we sit down with Ken Swartz, aka Ken the Scientist, co-founder of C60 Power, to explore Carbon 60 (C60)—a unique form of carbon that Ken first encountered while researching radiation protection in a fusion energy lab. Ken takes us inside the science of C60 and explains why this molecule has gained attention in the longevity and biohacking worlds for its potential role in antioxidant defense, mitochondrial health, cellular energy, inflammation and healthy aging. We break down oxidative stress in simple terms, why mitochondrial function becomes increasingly important as we age, and how C60 differs from familiar antioxidants such as CoQ10 and glutathione. Ken also shares what to look for when choosing a C60 product, including purity, third-party testing, sourcing and packaging. For our midlife listeners, we dig into an especially interesting question: Could supporting mitochondrial health influence the way we experience energy, brain fog and other changes associated with aging? In this episode, you'll learn: What Carbon 60 (C60) actually is—and its surprising connection to fusion-energy research How oxidative stress affects our cells, mitochondria and aging The relationship between mitochondrial function, cellular energy and aging Why brain fog, fatigue and inflammation may be associated with oxidative stress How C60 differs from CoQ10, glutathione and other antioxidants What Ken says about C60 and hormone production—and why women using HRT should discuss supplementation with their healthcare practitioner C60 oil vs. gummies and how the different delivery methods compare What to look for when choosing C60: purity, sourcing, third-party testing and packaging Ways to assess oxidative stress and mitochondrial function What the research does—and does not—tell us about C60 and longevity How topical C60 is being used in skincare Why no supplement replaces the foundations of nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – What is Carbon 60 (C60)? 03:45 – C60, mitochondria and oxidative stress 07:00 – Brain fog, fatigue and inflammation 11:00 – C60, hormones and midlife health 14:30 – How to use C60 and when to expect results 19:45 – How to choose a high-quality C60 product 21:30 – Safety, medications and who should use caution 23:30 – Testing oxidative stress and mitochondrial health 27:30 – C60 for skincare and healthy aging 29:30 – C60 vs. peptides 31:00 – How to get started with C60 Learn more + special listener offer C60 Power: https://shopc60.com Discount code: LIVINGWELL60 C60 research and education: https://www.whatisc60.org ---------------------------------------------------------- Feeling tired, inflamed, or stuck in a cycle of cravings? Join our 7-Day Fall Vitality Reboot starting September 27 and discover how much better you can feel with simple daily habits and a supportive community beside you every step of the way. Click here to save your spot: https://l.bttr.to/fNSbn Not sure where to start, or want to talk it through first? Book a free discovery call with Marnie and Stephanie. Subscribe to our Substack to get episode updates, wellness tips, and personal reflections from Marnie & Stephanie delivered straight to your inbox. Grab your free Midlife Travel Resilience Checklist here. If you love the show and want to support what we're building, consider a paid subscription for $30 annually. https://theartoflivingwell.substack.com/ Follow & Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartoflivingwellpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartoflivingwel/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jOPdSHwrpM1BmxyJz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/id1482050468 Connect with Your Hosts:  Marnie Dachis Marmet: https://www.instagram.com/zenfullifecoaching Stephanie May Potter: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniemaypotter/