Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,

'You live as long as you dance'( Rudolph Nureyev)

'You got to just move. It doesn't matter how efficient your movements are, what matters is that you are moving.' (Susan Bock Smith)

In this early Flashback Friday episode from Growing Older Living Younger 05, Susan Bock Smith and Judy Bjornson indicate that though balance, strength and flexibility may decline as we grow older, if you're willing to learn and adjust, you can protect your body from this risk of falling that increases with advancing age.  Adversities may limit our abilities but if we're willing to le...

Grief is not a problem to be solved or something we simply "get over." In this profound conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with philosopher and grief expert Thomas Attig about mourning as a lifelong process of relearning how to live in a world forever changed by loss. Drawing on decades of scholarship and personal insight, Thomas explains how grief can deepen our love, strengthen resilience, and help us find wisdom and meaning in life's most difficult transitions. This episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone grieving a loved one or supporting someone through loss.
Thomas Attig is an internationally...

Albert Einstein wrote 'We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.' 

This Flashback Friday episode from Nov 2021 reminds us that too often we may listen but what do we actually hear?  The intent of the Growing Older Living Younger podcast is to introduce new ways of thinking about the problems of how we age, to help our listeners discover their personal roadmaps to aging well. As this episode kicked off Season 2, we reflect that we have listened to many experts, but what did we actually hear them say?

What if fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and declining strength after 50 are not inevitable signs of aging, but signals of underlying metabolic dysfunction that can be corrected? In episode 275, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with metabolic restoration practitioner, Lori Balue, about how women can restore energy, reduce inflammation, preserve muscle, and regain metabolic resilience through personalized nutrition and functional testing. Lori shares her remarkable journey of losing 100 pounds, reversing prediabetes and chronic inflammation, and transforming her health in midlife. Listeners will learn how to identify hidden barriers to wellness and take practical steps toward aging with strength, confidence, and vitality. 

THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the effect of aging on  brain functions, affecting many attributes of cognition, like memory and processing speed; and on the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of dementia for early treatment. Today's guest is neuropsychiatrist and creator of the SAGE test,  Dr. Douglas Scharre.
Dr. Scharre  is board certified in neurology, behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry with special interests in cognitive assessment, degenerative dementias and dementia-related behaviors. He joined The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center faculty in the Department of Neurology in 1993. Dr.  Scharre's publications cover a bro...

What if the future of aging is no longer defined simply by lifespan, but by how long we can remain mentally sharp, physically active, emotionally connected, and fully engaged with life? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with documentary filmmaker, David Donnelly, director of the acclaimed documentary, Forever Young, about the rapidly evolving science of longevity and the questions for humanity, emerging alongside the science. Together, they explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan, the growing role of biomarkers, wearables, epigenetics, and lifestyle medicine, and the ethical and emotional implications of extending human life. Listeners will gain...

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: A recurring theme in this podcast is the importance of mindset in supporting consistency, when making the small changes in lifestyle and habits that can have a big positive impact on your health and vitality as you age. Your beliefs shape how you think, feel and act. And if you are to overcome life's challenges when they strike, you have to believe in your ability to do so.
My guest today, Adena Sampson, is the founder of Outloud Productions & The Unbreakable Spirit movement,  a breakthrough coach, and best-selling author of the book. The Road Back to M...

Are the so-called "heart-healthy" vegetable oils in your kitchen truly supporting your health—or could they be contributing to inflammation and metabolic imbalance? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cherie Calbom, MS, CN, about industrial seed oils such as canola, soybean, sunflower, and corn oil, and the growing concerns surrounding their role in oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and healthy aging. Cherie explains how highly processed oils may affect metabolic health, brain function, and overall wellness, and shares practical guidance on choosing healthier fats and using nutrition strategies—including juicing—to suppor...

FLASHBACK FRIDAY FB 29 Dec 2021

Agnes de Mille, American dancer and choreographer expresses the power of dance: "To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking." 

Does dance also have the power to  ward off dementia?  Today's guest is Dr. Joe Verghese, Professor of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. His research centers around the effects of aging  and disease on gait and cognition in older adults, and whether cognitively stimulating activities such as...

What if one of the most powerful anti-aging tools already exists within your body? This episode explores autophagy, the body's natural cellular renewal system, and how activating it can support healthy aging and longevity. Longevity expert Leslie Kenny shares her personal journey of reversing autoimmune disease and translating cutting-edge science into practical strategies. Listeners will discover how autophagy promoting spermidine, proper nutrition, and baseline lifestyle habits influence cellular repair, resilience, and biological aging. Leslie Kenny is the founder of Oxford Healthspan, a company focused on translating longevity science into practical health solutions. She is a longevity researcher with expertise...

Flashback Friday - Episode 32  dates from Dec 2021 but ageism is still a hot topic in 2026

"Too old at 72? Careful. Ageism is out. We'll have the law on you! (Melvyn Bragg)"

Hubris? I avoid 'isms' but I open this conversation with an anecdote of the first overt instance of ageism that I personally encountered, just before recording this podcast. Today's guest explores the structural ways we tolerate and promote behaviors toward people based solely on their age and how cultural norms and prejudices unconsciously shape our treatment of others and expectations about our own aging.  

We...

What if aging is not only driven by what happens inside our cells, but also by factors circulating in our blood? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch talks with Brad Younggren to explore the emerging science behind therapeutic plasma exchange and its potential to influence inflammation, biological aging, and chronic disease. Drawing on human clinical trial data, including the Circulate Trial, he explains how removing pro-aging factors from plasma may impact biomarkers, biological age, and overall healthspan. This conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of longevity medicine while reinforcing the importance of foundational lifestyle strategies for...

FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE 008 May 2021

'A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.' (John Barrymore)
'Miracles are objects and events in nature and in our lives, that cannot be fully explained or recreated' (Dr. Harley Rotbart)

Dr. Harley Rotbart is the author of "No Regrets Living: 7 keys to a life of Wonder and Contentment", is an infectious disease specialist, Professor and Vice-Chair Emeritus of Paediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Having over 175 medical and scientific publications, his career is deeply rooted in science. Yet his experiences as a phy...

What if the most powerful determinant of how you age is not your biology, but your inner dialogue? In this episode, Anne Poirier explores how self-talk shapes emotional wellbeing, behavior, and ultimately healthspan. Negative inner dialogue can reinforce stress, limit confidence, and influence lifestyle choices that impact aging. Drawing from her lived experience and three decades of professional work, Anne explains how shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion can transform both mental and physical health. Listeners will learn practical strategies to reframe their inner voice, adopt body neutrality, and support healthier, more empowered aging. Anne Poirier is a nationally recognized b...

Flashback Friday:   'What creates our reality is not really the action we're taking. But the being state that stands behind the action.'  (Esra B. Ogut)

One of the seven key pillars of the Growing Older Living Younger roadmap to aging youthfully, is comprised of the 3 attributes Mindset, Mindfulness and Mindkeep. Earlier episodes of this podcast have focused on beliefs, behaviors and consequences, resilience and healing from trauma, living with purpose, and keeping your cognitive functions sharp.   

Today we talk about transformation. How the myths we create through our life experiences can hold us back, or he...

What if one of the most powerful tools for aging youthfully isn't found in a supplement, a diet, or even an exercise routine—but in how you think, play, and respond to life's most difficult moments? In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Kym Coco, who shares how profound loss became the catalyst for transformation, resilience, and renewed purpose. Drawing on her background in sports kinesiology, emotional awareness, and performance coaching, Kym reveals how mindset, movement, and intentional play can help rewire emotional responses and restore vitality. Listeners will discover how grief can become a...

FlashBack Friday THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on super aging - how to help transform longer lifespan into longer healthspan via  7 A Pillars of longevity.
Today's Featured Experts are David Cravit and Larry Wolf, co-authors of " SuperAging: Getting Older Without Getting Old - A Boomers Guide to living well after 65.
We discuss the 7 A's of the Pillars of Superaging, how default aging has been the - well- default, for past generations and continues to be for many today. And how social, cultural, political, and economic forces oppose living younger longer.
Episode Timeline
0:11 I...

What if essential carotenoid antioxidants you consume today, could protect your vision and cognitive functions now and in the future? In this episode, Professor John Nolan explains how specific carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin play a critical role in protecting the retina and brain from oxidative stress, a key driver of damage and age-related decline. As a leading researcher in ocular and brain nutrition, he shares ground- breaking insights from clinical trials showing how targeted supplementation can improve visual function and support cognitive performance. Listeners will learn why prevention must begin early, how to identify effective nutritional strategies, and...

 Flashback Friday: Episode 52 from Season 1 May 2022

Audrey Hepburn, a Screen Legend and a truly iconic beauty, said "The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years." 
I was reflecting on previous discussions I have had on ageism as I read yet another comment on beauty and aging youthfully. The debate centered around the question of whether we should accept and indeed celebrate the aging of our appearance as a reflection of the wisdom gained as we grow older, or whether, as I believe, we should do all we can to delay the wrinkling, dryness and loss of rad...

What if the fatigue, brain fog, and loss of strength many women experience after 50 are not simply hormonal, but reflect deeper shifts in metabolism, muscle, and mitochondrial function? In this insightful episode, Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink reframes midlife as a metabolic and neurological transition rather than a purely hormonal one. She explains how muscle acts as a longevity organ, how mitochondrial efficiency impacts both energy and cognition, and how targeted lifestyle and nutrition strategies can restore resilience. This empowering conversation offers practical, science-informed steps to help women take control of how they age. Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink is a naturopathic doctor...

Flashback Friday Episode 50 - May 2022
"Walk into any pharmacy and ask to examine a bottle of prescription medicine chosen at random. There is a one in four chance that the prescription medication you hold in your hand has an active ingredient derived from a plant. Most of these plant-derived drugs were originally discovered through the study of traditional remedies and folk knowledge of indigenous people." (M. Balick, P. Cox.)

 As I read this opening paragraph in the chapter on PlantsThat Heal, from the book, Plants, People and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany by  Drs. Michael Balick an...

What if one of the most powerful tools for protecting your brain health has been right under your nose all along? In this fascinating episode, Jonathan Askholm explores the science of olfaction and its direct connection to memory, emotion, and cognitive function. Drawing on emerging research and personal experience, he explains how intentional smell training may improve memory, mood, and even support healthy aging. This conversation opens a new and highly accessible pathway to brain health, reinforcing that a simple daily practice can have profound effects on how we age. Jonathan Askholm is a brain health educator and co-founder...

THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on sleep and the ways we can achieve sufficient natural sleep.

Today's Featured Expert is retired medical doctor and  longtime mindfulness teacher, Dr. Lucinda Sykes, on her approach to promoting deep natural sleep

We discuss the importance of natural deep sleep, what happens to our brains during the stages of sleep, the adverse effects of sleep medications, and the importance of consistent sleep habits in a sleep conducive environment.

Episode Timeline:
0:11 Introduction to today's episode.
7:18 Why is the quality of sleep so important?

What if the greatest threat to your independence, your brain health, and even your lifespan isn't aging itself—but the hours you spend sitting each day? In this powerful episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch explores a transformative approach to health with Dr. James Walter: the concept of "Move More Moments." Drawing from his expertise in cardiovascular exercise physiology, Dr. Walter challenges the traditional focus on structured exercise programs. Instead, he introduces a more accessible strategy—re-engineering your day to reduce sedentary time and integrate movement into everyday life. This conversation highlights how even small, frequent bouts of movement can improve card...

Flashback Friday Episode 66 from 2022

"Brains at any age are capable of rewiring and changing. No one should be aging, thinking that it's all downhill from here' (Dr. Henry Mahncke). This comment on brain plasticity, made by research neuroscientist, Dr. Henry Mahncke, in Episode 10: Rewiring Your Brain, echoes in my head, whenever I reflect on the goal of Growing Older Living Younger, namely to extend our health span by preserving a healthy mind in a healthy body. My brain is a year older since that episode but I'm sure that by following my personal roadmap for aging well...

What if one of the most powerful influences on your health, your hormones, and even your longevity was something you rarely think about—your posture? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch explores the profound connection between structural alignment and the biological systems that govern how we age. Joined by scoliosis specialist and spinal health expert Dr. Mark Morningstar, this conversation uncovers the science behind how chronic postural distortions—like forward head posture and slouching—can reduce lung capacity, alter nervous system balance, and disrupt stress hormone regulation. These subtle but persistent changes can contribute to fatigue, anxiety, reduced resili...

Flashback Friday's  EPISODE 176 of GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on a vital topic for all who want to age in good health, namely preventing falls, and potential fractures. Falls are a leading cause of injury, disability and loss of independence among seniors, often resulting in fractures, hospitalizations and long term health complications. Maintaining mobility and preventing falls is absolutely key to promoting a healthier, independent form of aging.

My guest today is Dr Wayne Gradman, author of The Fall Guy, How to Keep Gravity from Ruining your Day. Dr Gradman obtained his MD from Harvard Medical School, f...

Have you ever stepped on a scale and questioned whether the numbers truly reflect what is happening inside your body? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cheryl McColgan to unpack the confusion around body composition data, wearable devices, and the science behind tracking your health as you age. Together, they explore how to interpret trends rather than obsess over absolute numbers, and how lifestyle habits like sleep, stress management, and nutrition influence the data we see. This conversation empowers listeners to use technology wisely while focusing on the foundational habits that support vibrant, healthy aging...

THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE 132 OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on understanding how our unique internal circadian rhythms, derived from interaction of genotype with environment, define our chronotype, which can help us optimize the times at which we should sleep, eat, exercise, interact with others and much more. 

Today's Featured Expert is Dr. Michael Breus, Clinical Psychologist, diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Breus is the author of The Power of When, a biohacking guidebook showing that, based on your genetic, biological chronotype, there i...

Bone density loss and osteoporosis are among the biggest threats to independence after 50. In this episode, bone health expert Kyle Zagrodzky explains the science of bone remodeling, skeletal strength, fracture prevention, and how mechanical loading can help build stronger bones as we age. Bone health is often overlooked until a fracture occurs, yet skeletal strength is one of the most important factors determining mobility as we age. In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Kyle about how modern lifestyles contribute to declining bone density and muscle strength across generations, and why traditional approaches to bone health often miss...

One of the most important personal choices you can make about your health and about aging well, centres on nutrition. The reality is that we are what we eat. Food and the social aspects of eating together is an important aspect of daily life. And society's hunger for knowledge about food and health is reflected in the tsunami of contradictory information that floods our newspapers, magazines, computers and televisions every day. It's hard for even a dedicated researcher like me to make sense of it. Sadly, as for many important issues of the day, discussion about nutrition and health...

What if everything you're doing to stay healthy—your diet, your supplements, your exercise routine—is only part of the story? What if the real question is whether your body is actually absorbing, using, and benefiting at the cellular level? In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch invites you to rethink how you measure wellness and healthy aging by introducing a biomarker that is both completely personal and scientifically valid: your antioxidant protection score.Drawing from her background as a physician and specialist medical biochemist, as well as a life-changing personal health scare, Dr. Lockitch explains the invisible but...

In this Flashback Friday EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER, we focus on helping women to achieve sustainable weight loss through uncovering the underlying beliefs leading to excess weight gain.

Today's Featured Guest is Lori Aloisio, holistic health coach and registered nurse. Lori's passion for helping and healing initially led her to become a registered nurse but she always viewed health and well being from a holistic perspective. Knowing that she needed to look at a larger picture to understand the many factors that contribute to illness and disease, Lori went on to study alternative healing practices...

In this conversation with Dr. Gillian Lockitch, Dr. Natalya Borakowski explains the neurological remodeling and hormonal shifts that occur during perimenopause and menopause — and why these changes can trigger identity disruption and appearance anxiety. You'll learn how understanding the biology behind midlife can restore self-trust, reduce fear, and support aging youthfully. Midlife often arrives with an unexpected sense of instability. Women describe feeling anxious, self-critical, emotionally reactive, or disconnected from their reflection — even when medical tests show nothing "wrong." Estrogen and progesterone influence neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin, and hormonal shifts temporarily alter emotional regulation, stress response, and self...

THIS Flashback Friday EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on food addiction, in particular addiction to sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Today's Featured Expert is Dr. Vera Tarman, author of Food Junkies: Recovery from  Food Addiction,  cohost of the popular Food Junkies Podcast and founder of the Facebook group called "I'm Sweet Enough: Sugar-Free for Life."
We discuss the reality and the pathophysiology of sugar addiction, how to know whether you have an addiction and the impact that corporate sponsorship of research and disease-focused organizations have on the common narrative. 

Episode Timeline
0:11 Introduction to...

Why does weight loss feel harder with age—even when we "do everything right"? In this episode, award-winning health journalist Julia Belluz challenges the calorie-centric narrative of weight control and explains how metabolism, hormones, food environments, and ultra-processed foods shape how—and why—we eat. This conversation reframes weight, aging, and health through evidence rather than diet dogma.For decades, we've been told that weight control is simply a matter of discipline: eat less, move more, and the scale will comply. Yet for many people—especially as they age—this advice fails repeatedly, leading to frustration, guilt, and confusion. Midlife and...

Flashback Friday re-post of most popular episodes

THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on improving your cognitive functioning through playing computer brain training games.
Today's Featured Expert discussing the neuroscience of cognitive training and the Lumosity brain training program, is Bob Schafer, President of Lumos Labs Medical, and Chief Science Officer at Lumos Labs (Lumosity)
We discuss the neuroscience of cognition and Lumos Labs Human Cognition Project, how the Lumosity platform is built around training cognitive skills through engaging digital games, what you, the consumer, can learn from regularly training on Lumosity, and...

Back pain is one of the most common causes of reduced mobility and loss of independence as we age. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo explains the causes of back and neck pain, when conservative treatment is appropriate, and when spine surgery may become the best option for restoring mobility and quality of life. Chronic back and neck often trigger fear. Many people assume pain is inevitable, that surgery always leads to long downtime, or that recovery means permanent limitation. In this episode, we explore modern advances in spine care, recovery, and how the right mindset and...

EPISODE 147 OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on protecting eye, brain and overall health with the antioxidant carotenoid pigments, especially lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, as determined in the Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Clinical Trials (CREST).

Download my free Guide to the Colourful Antioxidants in Your Food that explains the wellness benefits and food sources of these protective nutrients.

To tell us how key nutrients can protect our eyes from macular degeneration, and  help preserve memory and mental acuity, I talk with today's Featured Expert, Professor John Nolan. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and a full p...

Modern medicine excels at treating disease, less so at prevention. In this episode, we explore how wearable technology powered by artificial intelligence is bringing together Western physiology biometrics and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support true preventive health. Ryan Yuen shares how continuous monitoring of subtle body signals can help identify imbalance long before symptoms appear—and what this means for healthy longevity. Aging well is not about acccepting decline—it's about identifying early warning signs and supporting body balance before disease is established. Traditional Chinese Medicine has emphasized this philosophy for thousands of years,. Modern wearable technology now allows us t...