The Hidden Engineering Inside Your BodyGuest: Dr. Howard Glicksman Host: Allan CP Episode DescriptionWhat keeps you alive every moment of every day? Breathing. Blood sugar regulation. Calcium balance. Oxygen transport. Hydration. Hormone signaling. Organ coordination. In this episode, physician and author Dr. Howard Glicksman walks us through the hidden control systems inside the human body that must function precisely or life quickly fails. Instead of only asking how organisms look, this conversation explores how life actually works. From bone formation and oxygen delivery to hunger, thirst, and blood sugar regulation, we unpack the engineering challenges every living body must solve to stay alive. This episode makes complex physiology understandable and personally relevant for students, parents, and curious learners alike. ⏱ Chapters00:00 Introduction and welcome 00:33 Dr. Glicksman’s background and journey into medicine and science 02:27 Discovering intelligent design and irreducible complexity 04:57 Explaining complex medical science to everyday patients 07:21 Why museums show how life looks, not how it works 12:54 How bones actually form and maintain themselves 14:17 Why calcium control is essential for survival 17:26 Engineering principles and biological systems 24:26 Survival alarms: breathing, thirst, and hunger signals 27:23 Why multicellular organisms need complex support systems 36:14 The many ways the body can fail when systems break 37:13 Why health habits deeply affect survival systems 39:48 Oxygen transport and cascading biological solutions 43:50 Books, videos, and resources for deeper study 46:08 Episode closing thoughts Episode SummaryDr. Glicksman shares how decades of medical practice revealed the extraordinary coordination required for human survival. Every moment, bodily systems monitor and regulate oxygen, nutrients, fluids, and minerals through interconnected control networks. Listeners discover: • Bones are active metabolic organs, not just structural supports • Calcium levels must stay within tight limits for muscles and nerves to work • Breathing, hunger, and thirst act as survival alarms • Blood sugar is regulated continuously by opposing hormonal systems • Oxygen delivery requires coordinated lung, blood, and cellular functions • Multiple systems cooperate simultaneously to sustain life The episode reframes the human body as a dynamic network of systems working together constantly. Key Teaching Points1) Life Requires Constant RegulationSensors, feedback loops, and response systems operate continuously to maintain survival conditions. 2) Body Systems Depend on Each OtherRespiration, circulation, metabolism, hydration, and temperature regulation function together. 3) Precision MattersToo much or too little oxygen, sugar, calcium, or fluids can cause serious consequences quickly. 4) The Body Is DynamicBones, organs, and tissues are constantly being maintained and regulated. 5) Engineering Concepts Help Explain BiologyFeedback loops, sensors, and control logic are central to how life functions. Discussion QuestionsGreat for families or classrooms: • What surprised you most about how your body works? • Why do survival systems require precise balance? • How do hunger, thirst, and breathing signals protect us? • Why must organs cooperate instead of working independently? • How does learning physiology change how you think about health? Practical Takeaways• Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and exercise support multiple systems simultaneously. • Health habits influence complex...
