Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow ™

• Ep. 470 Your Midlife Hormone Survival Guide with Dr. Amy Killen

  Today, I am delighted to reconnect with my friend and colleague, Dr. Amy B. Killen, a board-certified physician with expertise in bioidentical hormones, personalized medication, and cutting-edge rejuvenation techniques. In our conversation, we dive into the spectrum of progesterone sensitivity, exploring why estrogen is considered the best longevity drug available and how it reduces the risk of heart disease. We discuss bone health and bioidenticals, outline ways to improve cognition, brain function, and cardiovascular health, and examine the ongoing debate around oral estrogen therapy. Dr. Amy also sheds light on slowing ovarian aging, explains the concept of hair pause and how to address it proactively, and offers her take on overrated or ineffective strategies for navigating perimenopause and beyond. You will not want to miss this insightful episode with Dr. Amy Killen, and I look forward to having her back for another conversation. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Dr. Amy sheds light on the spectrum of progesterone sensitivity. Progesterone treatment options for women with progesterone sensitivity Why estrogen is crucial for longevity How estrogen protects the heart and blood vessels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease When is the best time to start taking estrogen for optimal cardiovascular benefits? Estrogen and bone strength and flexibility Can starting estrogen treatments early help prevent dementia and cognitive decline? Pros and cons of using a combination of estriol and estradiol Slow ovarian senescence and prevent hormonal changes from affecting your hair health. Bio: Dr. Amy B. Killen, M.D., is a leading physician in regenerative and hormone optimization medicine, specializing in women's health and helping patients navigate their "Queen PhaseTM" with evidence-based interventions. As a board-certified emergency physician turned longevity specialist, she combines cutting-edge treatments, such as stem cell therapy, hormone optimization, and peptides, with practical lifestyle wisdom at her clinics in Utah and Texas, while sharing her expertise through international speaking engagements and educational content creation. Dr. Killen is the Chief Medical Officer of Humanaut Health, a longevity clinic franchise, and founder of the Human Optimization Project (HOP), a female-focused supplement company. She lives in Salt Lake City with her family of five. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Connect with Dr. Amy Killen On her website HopBox (Supplement Company) Subscribe to Dr. Amy’s Substack

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• Ep. 469 Revenge Addiction: What You Need to Know with James Kimmel Jr., JD

  Today, I am delighted to connect with James Kimmel Jr., a Yale psychiatry lecturer, a lawyer, and the founder and co-director of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies.  In our conversation, we explore the science of revenge, examining how it affects the brain and identifying risk factors that could contribute to extremes in revenge activity. James shares his journey from childhood to law and academia and offers his perspective on the intersection of justice, neuroscience, and human behavior. We talk about forgiveness, exploring how it reshapes the brain, counteracts revenge addiction, and serves as a tool for healing. We also cover specific interventions, including the non-justice system and the warning signs for extremes in addictive behaviors. This invaluable and insightful conversation with James Kimmel Jr. is an incredible resource for moms everywhere. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How revenge impacts the brain How psychological harm can lead to revenge cravings The link between addiction and revenge-seeking Why some individuals are more at risk for revenge-seeking than others Some common forms of revenge-driven behavior What does a revenge attack look like? James shares how revenge motivated his choice to become a lawyer and how he came to do the work he does now The benefits of forgiveness as an antidote to revenge cravings How social media platforms exploit the addictive process of revenge-seeking Interventions and support systems for managing revenge addiction Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on ⁠X⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Check out Cynthia’s ⁠website⁠ Submit your questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠ Connect with James Kimmel Jr. On his⁠ website⁠ Buy a copy of James’ latest book,⁠ The Science of Revenge⁠ ⁠SavingCain.org⁠: Preventing Murd

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• Bonus: How to Improve Your Brain Health and Performance with Louisa Nicola

  I am excited to connect with one of my favorite neuroscience experts today! Louisa Nicola is at the intersection of neuroscience and athleticism. She helps to bring a fresh understanding of what it takes to achieve peak performance through science-based tools and methods. She is also the host of The Neuro Experience podcast, which focuses on brain health, neuroscience, longevity, and athletics.  Louisa knows how to take complicated subjects related to brain physiology and hormones and explain them so that people can fully understand and appreciate them. In this episode, she and I dive into her background. We discuss her three pillars for peak performance, alcohol, and how sleep impacts the glymphatic system. We get into strategies for better sleep, the perimenopausal brain, how chronobiology impacts sleep, how to address jet lag, and how exercise improves brain performance and health. We also discuss the best foods and supplements for brain health and how creatine enhances performance.  I hope you enjoy listening to today’s conversation as much as I did recording it!  IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How an accident shifted the trajectory of Louisa’s life.  Louisa unpacks the various stages of sleep and explains why sleep is so important. How sleep impacts the glymphatic system. Some common characteristics of perimenopause. Some simple ways to aid the penetration of naturally secreted hormones into the brain.  How blood pressure fluctuations impact the brain. What is jet lag, and how can we combat it? How does alcohol affect the brain? Louisa explains cardiac remodeling. The value of different types of exercise for brain health. The difference between physical activity and exercise. How our food choices impact our brain health. How to mitigate the effects of traumatic brain injuries. How does creatine monohydrate improve brain performance? Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on X ⁠ ⁠Instagram ⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Check out Cynthia’s ⁠website⁠  Connect with Louisa Nicola On X and ⁠Instagram⁠  ⁠The Neuro Experience Podcast⁠ Book mentioned ⁠The XX Brain⁠ by Dr. Lisa Mosconi

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• Ep. 468 The Alzheimer’s Research Crisis with Charles Piller

  Today, I am thrilled to connect with Charles Piller, an award-winning investigative journalist for Science magazine whose work has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Sacramento Bee, and other major publications. Charles is the author of Doctored, and he has been honored with several national journalism awards. In our fascinating conversation, we dive into the trajectory of Alzheimer’s from its early framing as a diagnosis to its modern-day research landscape. We explore the concept of publish or perish within academic research, and we examine the dominant amyloid hypothesis, the forces shaping scientific narratives, and the role of institutions like the FDA, NIH, and research publishing in influencing research priorities. Charles shares his insights on the impact of falsified data and the broader implications for scientific integrity of the doctored images published in Nature in 2006. We also tackle the importance of lifestyle and risk factor modification in preventing neurocognitive decline.  You will not want to miss this compelling conversation with Charles Piller. His book is a gripping must-read on the fraud, arrogance, and tragedy in the quest to cure Alzheimer’s. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How Alzheimer’s impacts our society and affects the caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s  Charles gives a historical overview of Alzheimer's Some typical symptoms of Alzheimer's How the amyloid cascade hypothesis led to the development of drugs that removed amyloid from the brain but failed to halt or reverse dementia How doctored images can support experimental hypotheses and influence research  Charles highlights the need for more accountability within the scientific field.   How pressure to publish and perverse incentives have influenced Alzheimer’s research Why ethical concerns matter when developing potentially hazardous drugs with limited benefits Charles shares the potential benefits of GLP-1s for cognitive decline. Why a multi-factorial approach to understanding and treating Alzheimer's is essential Charles highlights the importance of self-criticism and humility within the scientific community. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Connect with Charles Piller On his website

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• Ep. 467 Bone & Joint Health Tips for Women 40+ with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein

  Today, I am delighted to connect with Dr. Joycelyn Wittstein, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Duke who conducts NIH-funded research into post-traumatic knee arthritis. She has shared presentations at many prestigious medical conferences, and her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals.  In our discussion, we dive into many of the joint pain symptoms Dr. Wittstein sees in her perimenopausal and menopausal patients, and we look at the impact of specific, targeted supplementations, including curcumin, collagen peptides, and creatine monohydrate. We explore effusions, the effects of osteoarthritic risk factors like prior injuries, obesity, the perimenopause to menopause transition, and the impact of GLP-1s on joint symptoms and bone physiology. We discuss REDS (Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome) and the causes of osteoporosis, and Dr. Wittstein also shares what she does to protect her bones and why she believes DEXA scans must get done early in the aging trajectory, why fractures can be problematic, and the significance of exercise and bone-building foods. You will not want to miss today’s valuable and super action-oriented conversation with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How women in their mid-40s and 50s often experience an acute increase in joint pain  How hormone therapy can help women improve their bone health, prevent osteoporosis, and overcome joint pain   Dr. Wittstein recommends supplements for reducing joint inflammation Various foods that can drive inflammation and cause joint health problems   How the inflammatory state of obesity impacts joint health The benefits of GLP-1s for those with joint pain from inflammation Why early bone density screening is essential for women in their 40s How creatine monohydrate improves cognitive function and muscle mass The value of strength training and balance exercises for improving joint health The best foods and beverages for bone-building Bio: Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein I am an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at Duke University Medical Center. I completed residency in 2009 and a fellowship in sports medicine in 2010 at Duke. Prior to medical school, I studied nutritional science at Cornell University. My practice focuses on sports medicine, with a particular interest in treating female athletes across the lifespan. I am currently president of the Forum: Women in Sports Medicine. I am part of the core leadership of the Duke Female Athlete Program. I am also a clinician researcher with NIH-funded studies of ACL and meniscus injuries and post-traumatic arthritis in knees. I am a co-author of the Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan, which was released on May 6, 2025. On a personal note, I am a former collegiate gymnast, lifelong athlete, and mom of five. I live in Raleigh, NC, with my husband, Tal Lassiter, who is also an orthopedic surgeon. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Connect with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein On the Duke Health website Instagram The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan, co-authored by Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, and Sydney Nitzkorski, MS, RD, is available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and from most bookstores.

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