Degrees of Health

Cancer treatment isn’t one disease = one drug. It’s thousands of different stories playing out at a molecular level and yet when it comes to care, we’re still treating most of them the same way.Padman Vamadevan and Ben Whately, co-founders of Astron Health, are rethinking oncology from the ground up. Here we explore why recurrence is such an under-addressed problem, how AI can help oncologists cut through a tidal wave of research and what it looks like to track cancer like a chronic disease instead of a binary cure-or-palliative model.We cover:🧬 Why two 'identical' cancers can be worlds apart biologically🤖 How AI condenses 170,000+ research papers into actionable options🩺 The blank space after an 'all clear' and how to fill it📊 Longitudinal data: tracking disease drivers over time🛠️ Safe iteration with proven drugs, supplements & lifestyle changesFind Astron Health:Astron Health WebsiteMentioned in this episode:Book - Tripping Over the Truth by Travis ChristoffersonExploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this linkWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if everything we learned about water was missing its most important piece?In this episode, we speak with Professor Gerald Pollack - biomedical scientist, professor, and author of The Fourth Phase of Water - whose research reveals a side of water that’s been hiding in plain sight. From how cells create energy to what actually drives chronic disease, this conversation turns biology inside out - but stays rooted in how this changes our view of the practical day to day.Pollack’s ideas challenge convention. But they also unlock new ways to understand hydration, mitochondria, cancer, grounding, and even the link between consciousness and health.💧 Why 'hydration' is so much more than drinking water⚡ EZ (Exclusion Zone) water - the battery inside your cells🔬 Mitochondria, light, energy and the missing link in cellular health🎯 Cancer, chronic disease & the role of intracellular dehydration🧠 How grounding + infrared work - electrically🧪 Rejected science and the cost of going against the grain📚 Transmutation: can living beings create elements?This episode is big. And yes, we go there. Let us know your thoughts - we love hearing from you!Find Gerald:WebsiteBookExploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link: ⬇️ https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mnWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us were never taught what hormones actually do. We just noticed things getting weird - heavier periods, brain fog, random mood swings that made us question our entire personality.And when we asked for help, we got vague answers. A prescription. Maybe a “come back in 6 months.”That’s why we sat down with Pauline Cox, a functional nutritionist who’s actually good at explaining this stuff. She's worked with hundreds of women dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, low thyroid, fatigue, and all the “you’re fine” symptoms that so many of us learn to live with.This episode is about finally understanding what’s going on and how much control we do actually have here. Through food, light, movement, supplements… but also, through knowing what to look for, and what to question.🧠 The gut-hormone connection (it’s not all in your head)🥗 Food choices that support your cycle🩸 Endometriosis and why it’s often misunderstood💡 Oestrogen, thyroid, and the subtle signs we miss📉 What chronic inflammation does to your mood⚠️ When tracking your health makes you feel worse🧪 The supplements Pauline comes back to again and againThis is one for every woman - and for anyone who loves one.Let us know what hits home. We’re always listening!Find Pauline:InstagramSow and Arrow - Health Store and Education PlatformMentioned in this episode:Books - Hungry Woman: Eating for good health, happiness and hormones + Primal Living in a Modern WorldWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PART 2! If you missed it, we highly recommend checking out Part 1 before listening to this episode. We all age. But what if we could slow it down, reshape it, or even pause it altogether?After connecting over one of our most viewed episodes with Dr. Glen Jefferys, we got to hear from scientist and relentlessly curious longevity researcher Dr. Michael Lustgarten. He’s been tracking over 50 biomarkers for nearly a decade and has reduced his biological age by more than 20 years.In this episode, we explore what that process looks like for Michael with data. Lots of data.We cover:🧪 How to interpret and act on blood markers🔁 Supplement cycles, blood work feedback & knowing when to stop🧬 Hormones, hypothyroidism, and adjusting thyroid meds over time🧠 SHBG, testosterone & why 'high' isn’t always better☀️ The underestimated power of light, sleep, and rhythm🧊 Would he freeze himself? Yes - and here’s why🔮 What consciousness might teach us about agingThis episode is a goldmine for listeners who are already tracking labs, looking for more advanced interpretation strategies, trying to refine their own protocols and avoid over-supplementation or 'stack overload'.Find Michael:YouTubeWebsiteBookAcademic PublicationsMentioned in this episode:The 120-Year Diet by Dr Roy WalfordThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoDr. Morgan Levine’s PhenoAge Biological Age TestKurt JaiMungal’s Theories of EverythingWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all age. But what if we could slow it down, reshape it, or even pause it altogether?After connecting over one of our most viewed episodes with Dr. Glen Jefferys, we got to hear from scientist and relentlessly curious longevity researcher Dr. Michael Lustgarten. He’s been tracking over 50 biomarkers for nearly a decade and has reduced his biological age by more than 20 years.In this episode, we explore what that process looks like for Michael with data. Lots of data.We cover:🧪 How to interpret and act on blood markers🔁 Supplement cycles, blood work feedback & knowing when to stop🧬 Hormones, hypothyroidism, and adjusting thyroid meds over time🧠 SHBG, testosterone & why 'high' isn’t always better☀️ The underestimated power of light, sleep, and rhythm🧊 Would he freeze himself? Yes - and here’s why🔮 What consciousness might teach us about agingThis episode is a goldmine for listeners who are already tracking labs, looking for more advanced interpretation strategies, trying to refine their own protocols and avoid over-supplementation or 'stack overload'.Find Michael:YouTubeWebsiteBookAcademic PublicationsMentioned in this episode:The 120-Year Diet by Dr Roy WalfordThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoDr. Morgan Levine’s PhenoAge Biological Age TestKurt JaiMungal’s Theories of EverythingWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk a lot about nutrition, movement, and sleep when it comes to health. But there's a missing piece in most conversations: light.In this episode, we sit down with Bjørn Ekeberg - philosopher of science turned founder of Recharge Health - to explore how red and near-infrared light can support recovery, improve energy, and help us reconnect with our biology.We unpack what red light therapy is, how mitochondria drive everything from mood to metabolism, and why so many of us are unknowingly light-deficient. Athletes, health nerds, or if you're just tired of being tired - listen up. The conversation about energy, tech, and how we support the body’s natural intelligence.We cover:🔴 What red & near-infrared light do⚡️ Mitochondria, energy and light deficiency🧠 Cognitive function & mental clarity🏃‍♂️ Muscle recovery, inflammation, and pain🧬 Why movement isn't enough without light🚦 Safe, at-home red light therapyIf we promote something, we want to ensure it is genuinely something we a) trust in and b) use. This is no exception. The FlexBeam from Recharge Health is what Ben and I (producer Eloise) genuinely use for our own fix of red and infrared light. It is health-tech designed for real life. If you're exploring red light therapy, the team has offered our community 10% off via this link: ⬇️ https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn(this helps support the podcast and the conversations we’re building.) Let us know if you end up going for one - we're not sure there's a part of our body that hasn't reaped benefits from it.Find Bjørn/Red Light Devices:WebsiteRecharge Health or on instagramYouTubeMentioned in this episode:Study - Infrared Low-Level Laser Therapy (Photobiomodulation Therapy) before Intense Progressive Running Test of High-Level Soccer PlayersNIR effects on mitochondria and VO2 MaxSubstance: The Material World and the Making of the Modern Mind by Nick HawkesBjørn’s academic work in cosmology and the philosophy of science. His book - Metaphysical Experiments: Physics and the Invention of the UniverseWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We know health isn't just about the food you eat or the supplements you take. But do we really understand the other elements that are so crucial - the light we see, the water we drink, and even the way we think?Sara Pugh, PhD, Quantum Biologist and Ketogenic Coach shares how she has brought together physics and wellness. She explains why light and water are key players in how our bodies works and how simple daily choices can make a huge difference to our overall health and wellbeing.We cover:💧 How water in your body acts like a battery🧬 Mitochondria, movement and real energy🌞 Daily light routines to set your body clock🧠 Hypnosis, consciousness, and the power of belief📵 The hidden impact of EMFs and blue light🌍 Small changes that can make a big differenceThis episode is for anyone curious about how to align modern life with the natural rhythms we evolved for - and why it matters so much now.Find Sara:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramSubstackMentioned in this episode:Gerald Pollock’s 4th Phase of WaterThe Invisible Rainbow by Arthur FirstenbergDan Winter’s Golden Ratio & CoherenceRupert Sheldrake’s Morphic FieldsReality Is Plastic by Anthony JacquinWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered: Are we really safe in a wireless world?What if the invisible forces all around us - your phone, your Wi-Fi, even your toothbrush - were quietly shaping your health and the planet’s health too?In this conversation, EMF researcher Olle Johansson shares his decades of experience researching the health impacts of electromagnetic fields - the kind you can’t see but you might well be feeling. From rising chronic diseases to the decline of natural pollinators, Olle connects the dots between our modern tech-filled lives and the health of every living thing. He also shares why insurance companies won’t touch EMF risks, why screen dermatitis is on the rise, and - crucially - what we can do right now to protect ourselves.We cover:📡 The hidden health impacts of EMFs🧬 Why Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & cell phones matter🧒 Why kids might be at higher risk🐝 What happens to bees & bugs (and why it matters)🌿 How to live with tech - without losing your mind (or your health)🤝 Why human connection matters more than everFind Olle:Email - olle.johansson500@gmail.comWebsiteMentioned in this episode:Material submitted to UK parliament on EMF and 5GPolarization and Biological Activity: Study analyzing the role of polarization in EMFs and their biological effectsImmune System Disturbance: Research on how EMFs can disturb immune function, leading to potential health risksElectrohypersensitivity Recognition: Discussion on Sweden's recognition of electrohypersensitivity as a functional impairmentMyelin Damage from RF-EMFs: Review of evidence linking radiofrequency EMF exposure to myelin damage and electrohypersensitivityWHO Classification: The World Health Organization's classification of certain EMFs as possible carcinogensWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when your body completely crashes and you have no energy to get off the couch?For Julie Gibson Clark, that moment became the turning point. After being diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning, she began a journey that would transform not only her health, but how she thinks about aging, wellness, and self-discipline taking her to the leaderboard of the Rejuvenation Olympics worldwide (a public leaderboard ranking biological aging via epigenetic clocks), and currently ageing at only 65 days per 100 days. Julie shares her accessible approach to longevity - blending science, intuition, and a healthy dose of self-compassion. From structured routines and strength training to intuitive fasting, oxalates, supplements, and spiritual rituals, Julie unpacks the systems she uses to feel younger, stronger, and more grounded.This is a conversation about real-life longevity - without $10k-a-month protocols or lab coats. Just honesty, experimentation, and a deep respect for beauty and balance.We cover:🧬 Heavy metal poisoning🥗 The menu - 100g protein and 1lb of veggies💪 Why strength training is a longevity foundation🔄 Using fasting-mimicking diets to reset & recover🧠 The “inner general” vs. self-compassion - when to push, when to rest🧪 How to experiment with your own protocol (without perfectionism)This is longevity, lived.Find Julie:WebsiteInstagramYouTubeMentioned in this episode:Book - The Longevity Diet by Valter LongoBook - Lifespan by David SinclairBook - The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason FungNOVOS Core supplement - longevity blendRejuvenation OlympicsWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've ever felt like your anxiety was swallowing you whole - like something was broken inside but like you have to suck it up and get on with it anyway - you've got to know you don't have to stay there, and this episode might help to see how. In discussion here with leading expert in trauma-informed clinical psychology and holistic medicine for anxiety and panic, Dr Nicole Cain unpacks with us that anxiety isn’t the problem - yep, that's right. It's not the problem - it’s the signal. Through her personal and clinical journey, she reframes anxiety as the body’s way of showing us where healing needs to happen - that anxiety isn’t something to be silenced, but something to be understood.We explore anxiety through the lens of neuroplasticity, mitochondrial health, and trauma-informed healing and Dr. Cain shares her 4-step process for rewiring your nervous system, explains how anxiety manifests differently in each of us and reveals why addressing the root cause is the only real path we have to emotional well-being.We cover:🧠 Why anxiety is the body’s call for healing - not a disorder🌪️ How trauma shapes adult patterns🧘‍♀️ A 4-step method to stop panic in its tracks🧬 The link between mitochondria, energy & mental health🧪 Natural tools that work: Chamomile, Kava, L-theanine & more🧠 Neuroplasticity and the power to rewire your brainThis isn’t about quick fixes or suppression. It’s about healing at the root, meeting your anxiety with curiosity, and walking with it to support us in becoming panic-proof, present, and free.Find Dr Nicole Cain:WebsiteInstagramBookYouTubeMentioned in this episode:Study - Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) StudyStudy - Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine in humansPaper - Ideology and the Canadian health care systemQuiz - Take the 9 Types of Anxiety Quiz - find out how your anxiety manifests (e.g. gut-based, chest-based, thought-based, etc). This helps tailor the best response to your physiological presentation.Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here, heart surgeon Dr Philip Ovadia dismantles decades of medical dogma around cholesterol and heart disease. Once morbidly obese and pre-diabetic, Dr Ovadia shares his transformation and exposes why the traditional cholesterol-focused approach to heart health is failing millions.He speaks about the real root causes - insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation - and explains why diet, not drugs, is the key to long-term health. This conversation is a roadmap to reclaiming your health and staying off the operating table.We cover:🫀 Why cholesterol isn’t the root cause of heart disease🧬 The role of insulin resistance & inflammation in heart health🥩 Keto vs. Carnivore - what’s the difference, and who are they for?💊 The truth about statins and PCSK9 inhibitors🧠 How metabolic health connects to brain, hormone & immune function🔥 Reversing heart disease & taking control of your own healthFind Dr Philip Ovadia:Instagram / YouTube Website - services for U.S. and international patients focused on reversing metabolic diseaseMentioned in this episode:Book - Stay Off My Operating Table by Dr Philip OvadiaBook - Why We Get Sick by Dr. Benjamin BikmanBook - Good Calories, Bad Calories + The Case Against Sugar by Gary TaubesStudy - Carbohydrate Restriction-Induced Elevations in LDL-Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis: The KETO TrialDocumentary - Cholesterol Code (releasing soon)Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for an exploration of high-stakes innovation and athlete health, and learn how we might just be scratching the surface of what’s possible in the world of elite performance.Here we’re sitting down with Dr. Dan Turner, PhD, Director of Athletic Safety at the Enhanced Games, where athletes push the boundaries of human potential with performance-enhancing substances — under medical supervision. Dan, also a Lead Scientist for High Performance at Red Bull, is a leading expert in high-performance health and athlete safety, shares his pioneering work with the Enhanced Games and reveals how the use of substances like anabolic steroids, metabolic modulators, and even gene editing could reshape the future of athletics. With athlete health and fairness at the core, this conversation digs into the ethics of performance enhancement, the importance of sleep and recovery, and the science behind metabolic boosters.We cover:🧬 The Enhanced Games: A new arena for athletic competition with performance-enhancing substances💉 Medical Supervision: The importance of safe use, avoiding misuse, and ensuring long-term health through comprehensive monitoring.🛏️ Sleep: The ultimate performance-enhancing tool⚡ Rad Framework: Readiness, Emotional Efficiency, and Durability - a strategic approach to mastering high performance🧪 Innovative Substances: How metabolic modulators, botanicals, and even CRISPR technology could be the next frontier in sports.🧠 Mindset & Performance: Coaching high performers - overcoming mental blind spots, stress management, and building resilience.From the Enhanced Games’ mission to level the playing field to the future of human performance through genetic innovations, this conversation offers a glimpse into where sports and health optimisation are headed. It’s not just about competing harder - it’s about competing smarter.Find Dan:WebsiteEnhanced GamesWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do crisis negotiations, hostage rescues, and your everyday conversations have in common? More than you think.Former Scotland Yard detective, military intelligence operator, and globally recognised negotiation expert Scott Walker offers a masterclass in the art of influence, communication, and emotional self-regulation. Scott shares the tools he’s developed through decades of real-world experience - techniques that help us stay calm under pressure, navigate conflict with confidence, and bring more agency into how we show up in our life. These principles have been honed with elite teams under the most intense, high-stakes situations - this isn’t just about negotiation - it’s about living intentionally, leading with humility, and learning to choose your response, no matter what’s happening around you.We cover:🧠 The power of emotional regulation - pause, reset, choose🎯 Preparation for conversation - what are the 5 most likely challenges? And how will you handle them?🧍‍♂️ Agency - taking part in your own rescue, not outsourcing responsibility💬 Conversation types - do you want to be helped, heard or hugged?🤝 Empathy & influence - how to genuinely understand someone else before making your point🪞 Biases, blindspots & humility - how status and identity shape conflict🔁 Everyday negotiation - because we’re all in conversations with purposeNo esoteric, abstract theory here - it's a practical deep dive into how we can use communication as a tool for resolution, for growth, for leadership, and for health.Find Scott:WebsiteCourse - Thrive Under PressureInstagramBook - Order Out Of ChaosBook - Eye of the Storm - Scott Walker. Available for Pre-Order, Release 20th May 2025. Mentioned in this episode:Book - The Wisdom of Psychopaths by Kevin DuttonBook - Supercommunicators by Charles DuhiggBook - Taken on Trust by Terry WaiteBook - Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor FranklWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1, we laid the foundation for a new understanding of cancer - one that begins with mitochondrial dysfunction and the bioenergetic breakdown of cells. In Part 2, we move into the real-world implications: how we treat, manage, and potentially prevent cancer using a metabolic lens.Dr. Tomás Duraj explores the emerging tools and protocols being studied - from ketogenic metabolic therapies to glutamine inhibition, and how combining dietary strategies with systemic approaches might redefine cancer care completely. It is not throwing away what we already know, but rather using what we know works and disregarding what doesn’t. We also look at the failures of past trials, why so many therapies underperform, and what happens when the patient shifts from passive recipient to active participant in their treatment.In Part 2, we cover:🥑 The difference between dietary and pharmacological ketogenic therapy📉 Why traditional cancer treatment starts backwards - and what to consider instead📊 GKI (Glucose Ketone Index) as a key metabolic marker⚙️ Using fasting, exercise, and ketones to shift cellular metabolism🧬 How patient-led protocols could shape future cancer trials🧠 The potential of metabolism-based priming for immunotherapy success⏱️ Why time, compliance, and education are critical variables in successThis episode isn’t just about understanding cancer - it’s about reimagining how we treat it, measure it, and empower patients to become collaborators in their own care.Mentioned in this episode:PublicationsBook - Tripping Over The Truth by Travis ChristoffersonPaper The Warburg hypothesis and the emergence of the mitochondrial metabolic theory of cancerPaper - Successful application of dietary ketogenic metabolic therapy in patients with glioblastomaFind Dr Duraj:WebsiteKetogenic Metabolic Therapy ForumDr Seyfried’s lab at Boston CollegeDonate to the labWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been told for decades that cancer is a genetic disease - a matter of unlucky mutations. But what if we’ve been starting in the wrong place?In this two-part episode, medical doctor and cancer metabolism researcher Dr. Tomás Duraj takes us through a paradigm-shifting look at cancer - exploring the metabolic theory, how it contrasts with the prevailing somatic mutation theory, and why mitochondrial dysfunction may hold the key to both treatment and prevention.This episode covers the history of cancer theory, the evolutionary biology behind it, and why current models might be missing the mark by focusing on downstream symptoms instead of upstream causes.In Part 1, we cover:🧬 The somatic mutation theory vs. the metabolic theory of cancer🧠 Why mitochondria may be the origin, not a side-effect📚 The history of cancer theory - and why we got stuck on genetics🧪 Redefining the Warburg effect and oxidative phosphorylation🧬 BRCA mutations, mitochondrial signalling & inherited risk⚡ Energy before all else - how bioenergetics impacts everything🍽️ Why dietary interventions (like ketogenic therapy) are still so misunderstood This conversation is foundational - if you want to understand why cancer research has been stalling (and where the future might be), this is where to start and end.🎙️ Stay tuned for Part 2, where Dr Tomás dives into the potential of metabolic therapies in real-life application and treatment frameworks.Mentioned in this episode:PublicationsBook - Tripping Over The Truth by Travis Christofferson Paper The Warburg hypothesis and the emergence of the mitochondrial metabolic theory of cancerPaper - Successful application of dietary ketogenic metabolic therapy in patients with glioblastomaFind Dr Duraj:Website Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy ForumDr Seyfried’s lab at Boston CollegeDonate to the labWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.