The LIVING Room Podcast | Inside The WNDR Lab

Chris Wharton

What if longevity wasn’t owned by a single voice—but shaped by many? Our host, Chris Wharton, brings together the world’s leading scientists, doctors, performers, and cultural icons—each offering a distinct perspective on the art of living better, longer.  From cutting-edge, data-backed research to lived experience, we explore the habits, mindsets, and breakthroughs that truly move the needle when it comes to elevating both the quality and length of your life. Built on collective expertise, not individual opinion, The Living Room is where science, experience, and insight come together—bringing the most trusted thinking in longevity to your living room, whether that’s your couch or your commute… This is not about shortcuts. It’s not about hype. It’s about understanding the full picture—and giving you the clarity to act on it. Because a long life, well lived, is never one-dimensional—and neither is the path to getting there. Step into The LIVING Room, where the future of LIVING comes alive.

  1. 5d ago

    The Biggest Myth About Female Sex Drive That Women Still Believe

    What if the real reason millions of women struggle with desire isn't hormones, and the solution isn't a pill? For decades, the conversation around women's sexual health has been shaped by the male model: desire first, then arousal. But what if that model is fundamentally wrong for most women? Dr. Lori Brotto, PhD, a UBC professor, Canada Research Chair in Women's Sexual Health, and registered psychologist joins The LIVING Room Podcast to share why female sexual desire remains one of the most misunderstood, underfunded, and undertreated areas in modern medicine. In this conversation, Dr. Brotto explains why 43% of women experience clinically significant sexual dysfunction, yet less than 10% seek help compared to 80% of men. She unpacks the mind-body disconnect that makes female physiological arousal rarely match subjective arousal, why the two FDA-approved drugs for women deliver mediocre results at best, and how mindfulness — present-moment, non-judgmental awareness — directly addresses both the inhibitory and excitatory sides of desire in ways medication cannot.  She challenges the myth that desire must be spontaneous, introduces the concept of responsive desire, and explains why separating sexual health from overall health is a mistake with real consequences for research funding, clinical care, and how women understand their own bodies. In this episode you'll learn: Why 43% of women experience sexual dysfunction, and why less than 10% seek help while 80% of men doThe mind-body disconnect: why women's physiological arousal rarely matches their subjective experience, and why "not feeling in the mood" is often a brain problem, not a body problemHow mindfulness — not meditation apps, but specific clinical techniques like the body scan and raisin exercise — directly improves sexual desire and responseWhy responsive desire, desire that emerges in response to arousal, is normal and expected, especially in long-term relationships, and why waiting to "feel horny first" is a losing gameThe two FDA-approved drugs for female sexual dysfunction, why their efficacy is modest at best, and why mindfulness outperforms them without side effectsWhy sexual health research receives less than 7% of national health funding, and what that underinvestment means for women's health and wellnessWhat men can be doing to foster more moments of intimacy in a relationshipDr. Lori Brotto, PhD, is a professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada Research Chair in Women's Sexual Health, and a registered psychologist. She is the author of Better Sex Through Mindfulness and has spent over two decades researching the intersection of mindfulness and female sexual health, running one of the world's leading psychophysiology labs studying sexual response and arousal. Book: Brotto, L. A. (2018). Better sex through mindfulness: How women can cultivate desire. Greystone Books: https://www.loribrotto.com/ eSense digital program  esensehealth.com  Melinda French Gates Is Donating $215 Million to Women’s Health Want more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's  actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't. Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list  The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/

  2. Jul 29

    The #1 Exercise to Stay Physically Independent as You Age | World's Top Strength Training Researcher

    On The LIVING Room, host Chris Wharton sits down with Brad Schoenfeld, PhD, Professor of Exercise Science at Lehman College and one of the world's most influential resistance training researchers, to unpack what decades of evidence actually say about building muscle, maintaining strength, and aging well. They explore the minimum effective dose of strength training, why effort matters more than volume, the truth about protein timing and daily protein intake, why cold plunges immediately after lifting may blunt muscle growth, how GLP-1 medications affect lean tissue, the supplements that actually work, and why it's never too late to start, even if you've never lifted a weight before. Whether you're trying to build muscle, improve performance, lose fat, or simply maximize your chances of remaining strong and independent into your 80s and 90s, this conversation is packed with practical, evidence-based advice you can apply immediately. HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why resistance training may be one of the most important interventions for healthy aging, and how it helps protect against frailty, falls, hip fractures, and the loss of physical independenceWhy as little as two challenging 30-minute strength sessions per week can deliver meaningful health and strength benefitsHow to build a "bone bank" before menopause and help preserve bone density as estrogen declinesThe truth about women and "bulking"—including training volume, rep ranges, and what the science actually says about muscle growthWhy soreness isn't proof of an effective workout—and why training to failure isn't always necessaryHow resistance training and higher protein intake can help preserve lean tissue during weight loss, including while using GLP-1 medicationsWhat the latest research says about creatine, protein timing, cold plunges, sauna use, and some of the biggest myths surrounding strength trainingWant more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't. Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list.  The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/   RIR (Repetitions in Reserve) — perceived number of reps left before failureRPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) — 1–10 scale of perceived training intensityDEXA scan — used to measure lean tissue/body compositionAnabolic window — the (now largely debunked) ~45-minute post-workout protein timing windowGLP-1 receptor agonists — referenced broadly (e.g., Ozempic-class drugs), not a specific named productCreatine — supplement discussed at length as the only muscle-building supplement with strong evidenceStudies:  High-Intensity Strength Training in Nonagenarians: Effects on Skeletal Muscle  Brad Schoenfeld, PhD, CSCS-D, CSPS-D, NSCA-CPT-D, FNSCA LinkedIn: @bradschoenfeld Website: lookgreatnaked.com Most Popular Books:  Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy (New Edition) - preorder available Connect with our host Chris Wharton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswharton1

  3. Jul 22

    Personalized Nutrition, Blood Tests & Dementia Risk: A Harvard Scientist Explains the Science

    Gene Bowman, ND, MPH, explains why nutrition, blood-based biomarkers, and personalized testing could change how we think about protecting brain health, and that people with suboptimal levels of just three blood markers may have a four-to-five-fold higher risk of dementia.  Brain health is often treated as something to worry about only after memory, focus, or processing speed begins to decline. But Gene Bowman explains that the biological changes associated with cognitive decline begin decades earlier, and that emerging blood-based biomarkers and personalized nutrition could help identify risk and guide intervention much sooner. Gene Bowman, ND, MPH, is Clinical Trials Director at the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, where his research focuses on nutritional neuroscience, cognitive aging, metabolic health, and blood-based biomarkers of brain health. On The LIVING Room Podcast, he joins Chris Wharton to explain why brain health is influenced by nutrient patterns rather than one "miracle" supplement, how APOE4 risk may interact with omega-3 status and lifestyle, and why ultra-processed foods, trans fats, refined sugars, and poor metabolic health may contribute to long-term brain aging What we cover in this conversation: • Why cognitive decline may begin decades before symptoms appear • How blood tests could reveal nutritional and metabolic risks to brain health • The combination of three nutritional markers linked to a four-to-five-fold higher risk of dementia • How personalized nutrition could support the future of Alzheimer's and dementia prevention • What APOE4 means for omega-3s, genetics, and long-term brain health • Why one supplement is rarely enough to protect cognitive function • How trans fats, refined sugars, and ultra-processed foods may affect the brain • What to eat for sharper focus today and greater cognitive resilience over time • Why "normal" nutrient levels may not be optimal for brain performance • How future brain-health testing could make prevention far more personalized and precise For anyone concerned about brain fog, family history, cognitive decline, or protecting their brain as they age, this episode offers a more proactive way to think about brain health: test earlier, understand your individual biology, and build the nutritional foundation that may help preserve cognitive function over time. Want more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't. Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list.  The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/   Connect with our host Chris Wharton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswharton1 Gene L. Bowman, ND, MPH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-bowman-64b10b8/ Harvard Profile:  https://researchers.mgh.harvard.edu/profile/31831698/Gene-Bowman https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/215473 Episode References Individuals: Rudy Tanzi — Harvard neurogeneticist who co-discovered the Huntington's and Alzheimer's genes and helped build the amyloid hypothesis. Martha Clare Morris — Developed the MIND diet and co-founded the AA-ISTAART Nutrition, --Metabolism, and Dementia group with Gene. Frank Sacks — Harvard researcher who developed the DASH diet. Diets / Frameworks: MIND diet — Dietary pattern (berries, leafy greens, seafood, nuts/seeds) linked to lower dementia risk observationally, but underperformed in its clinical trial. DASH diet — Diet designed for cardiovascular disease reduction; blended into the MIND diet. Neuroprotective diet (in development) — Gene's forthcoming review paper proposing a diet combining the best of MIND, DASH, and Mediterranean patterns. Studies: Multi-domain Alzheimer's Prevention Trial — Observational study where Gene's nutritional risk index predicted cognitive decline/enhancement. Framingham cohort study — Used by a Dutch research group to validate the same three biomarkers, finding a 4–5x dementia risk increase with suboptimal levels. Oregon Brain Aging Study — Gene's ~15–20-year-old study of exceptionally healthy elderly "superagers" showing optimal (not just non-deficient) nutrient thresholds matter. Omega-3 RCT (APOE4) — Gene's 3-year placebo-controlled trial showing omega-3s especially benefit APOE4 carriers' neuronal integrity.

  4. Jul 17

    Peptides, FDA Approval & Longevity Trends: Dr. Myles Spar Separates Science From Hype

    The peptide space is exploding. Claims are everywhere. But for most peptides, the human evidence is still surprisingly limited. Dr. Myles Spar is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, Integrative Medicine physician, and Clinical Translator at The WNDR Lab. He has spent his career helping translate longevity science into practical medicine, and in this conversation, he breaks down one of the most talked-about topics in health today: peptide therapy. From BPC-157 and TB-500 to MOTS-c and GHK Copper, Dr. Spar explains why the excitement has outpaced the evidence, what the FDA's proposed recategorization of certain peptides actually means (and what it doesn't), and how to evaluate health claims before putting anything in your body. The conversation also explores how to separate evidence from hype, why correlation isn't causation, and why the fundamentals of health still outperform any shortcut. This episode also marks the launch of a new recurring series: The Truth Behind the Trend”  on The LIVING Room Podcast. In this series, Chris Wharton sits down with leading experts in their fields to examine what's making the news, what the science says, and what it actually means for your health. These shorter conversations are designed to help you think more critically, ask better questions, and separate evidence from hype.  What we cover in this episode: Why most peptide research is still limited—and why that mattersBPC-157, TB-500, MOTS-c, and GHK Copper: what we know todayWhat the FDA's proposed peptide recategorization means—and why it does not mean FDA approvalThe difference between FDA-approved, FDA-cleared, and compounded productsWhy injectable peptides have more evidence behind them than patches, creams, and sublingual formulationsThe risks of buying peptides from unregulated sourcesWhy therapeutic plasma exchange may be overhyped in longevity medicineThe "proof commensurate with harm" principle for evaluating health interventionsWhy correlation does not equal causation in health researchHow to run your own N-of-1 experiment to determine what actually works for youWhy exercise, sleep, nutrition, stress management, and other fundamentals remain the foundation of longevityIf you're trying to make sense of the rapidly growing world of peptides, biohacking, and longevity medicine, this episode offers a practical, evidence-based framework for thinking critically about the latest health trends. Want more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't.  Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list.  Connect with Dr. Myles Spar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drspar/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drspar/  Connect with our host Chris Wharton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswharton1  Follow The LIVING Room Podcast on Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.living.room.pod/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/wndrlab/ The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/

  5. Jul 15

    Healthspan, Not Lifespan: Harvard Researchers on Why Staying Healthy Matters More Than Living Longer

    What if the greatest opportunity to prevent cancer, Alzheimer's disease, frailty, and many of the chronic conditions that shorten our lives isn't treating them one by one, but addressing the biology of aging itself? Harvard researchers Raiany Romanni-Klein, PhD and William Mair, PhD join The LIVING Room Podcast to explore why biological aging may be one of the most consequential, and most overlooked, modifiable risk factors in modern medicine, and why rethinking how we age could fundamentally reshape the future of healthcare. For decades, medicine has focused on treating age-related diseases one at a time. But what if the biology driving many of those diseases could itself become a target for prevention? In this conversation, Raiany Romanni-Klein, PhD, and William Mair, PhD, explain why extending healthspan, the years we spend healthy and functional, may matter far more than simply extending lifespan. They unpack the emerging science of biological aging, the ethical and economic questions surrounding longevity research, and why slowing the aging process could have profound implications for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, frailty, and cognitive decline. They also examine the enormous societal cost of chronic disease, the burden placed on unpaid caregivers, and why aging research receives only a fraction of the funding directed toward individual age-related diseases despite its potential to influence many of them simultaneously. In this episode you’ll learn: Why eliminating all cancers would increase life expectancy by only about 2.5 years, while targeting biological aging could have a far greater population-wide impactThe $2 trillion per year economic opportunity of slowing biological aging by just five yearsWhat the 23-year life expectancy gap between two Boston neighborhoods just two miles apart reveals about health inequity and agingWhy aging research receives only a small fraction of the funding devoted to diseases like Alzheimer'sThe difference between lifespan and healthspan, and why that distinction changes everythingThe "41 is the new 40" concept and the extraordinary economic value of making people biologically younger by just one yearRaiany Romanni-Klein, PhD, is a researcher and bioethicist whose work focuses on the ethics, economics, and public policy of human longevity. William Mair, PhD, is a professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health whose laboratory studies how metabolism and nutrition influence aging, healthspan, and age-related disease. If you've ever wondered whether aging itself should become a target of medicine, or what the future of longevity science could mean for how we live, work, and stay healthy, this conversation offers one of the most thought-provoking perspectives you'll hear. Timestamps: 00:00 Why aging is the health risk no one's treating 04:08 Why do we accept aging and decline? 05:43 How aging affects work, caregiving, and the economy 11:04 Healthspan vs. lifespan: the gap that changes everything 12:32 Can aging be treated as a risk factor? 17:08 The $2 trillion per year case for slowing aging 21:57 Why aging gets pennies while Alzheimer's gets billions 26:09 Longevity science, inequality, and who benefits most 36:47 What can you do now for healthspan? 56:02 Operation Warp Speed for aging — the case for urgency Resources mentioned:  Silverlinings Bio: https://silverlinings.bio/  Connect with Raiany Romanni-Klein: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raianyromanni/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raiany.si LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raiany-romanni-klein-phd-60baa93a/ Website: https://www.raianyromanni.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB1IFGYaYXo X: https://x.com/RaianyRomanni Connect with William Mair: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_mairi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willmair/ Website: https://willmair.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB1IFGYaYXo X: https://x.com/william_mair

  6. Jul 8

    A Harvard Psychiatrist & Zen Priest on Why Relationships Are More Powerful Than Any Longevity Hack

    What if one of the strongest predictors of a longer, healthier life isn't hiding in your bloodwork, but in the quality of your relationships? After following 724 people for 87 years, the world's longest-running study of adult development uncovered a finding that continues to reshape how we think about longevity. Description Robert Waldinger, MD—Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, Director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an ordained Zen priest—joins host Chris Wharton on The LIVING Room Podcast to explore what 87 years of research reveals about happiness, health, and living a longer, more meaningful life. Together, they unpack the study's two defining discoveries: why taking care of your physical health remains essential, and why the quality of your relationships may be just as important to healthy aging. Dr. Waldinger explains how chronic loneliness influences stress, cortisol, inflammation, and disease; why men from disadvantaged backgrounds lived an average of 10 years fewer than Harvard graduates yet reported similar levels of happiness; why wealth beyond meeting your basic needs has surprisingly little impact on long-term happiness; and how nearly 40% of our happiness is shaped by choices and habits that remain within our control. The conversation also explores meditation, worry, optimism, generosity, and practical ways to build deeper relationships in an increasingly disconnected world. Robert Waldinger is Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the world's longest longitudinal study of adult life, following 724 original participants since 1938 with an extraordinary retention rate. He is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, co-author of The Good Life, and an ordained Zen priest. His TED Talk on the Harvard Study has been viewed more than 40 million times, making it one of the most-watched TED Talks ever, and his work has been featured by leading publications including The New York Times. Connect with Robert Waldinger here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.waldinger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertwaldingermd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-waldinger-90012169/ Website: https://www.robertwaldinger.com/ YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@RobertWaldingerTheGoodLife X: https://x.com/robertwaldinger Harvard Second Generation Study: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/  Want more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't. Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list. The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/

  7. Jul 1

    Anti-Aging Brain Health Myths Most Believe: A Stanford Doctor Debunks Dementia, Brain Aging & More

    Your brain starts changing earlier than most people realize. A Stanford neuroscientist explains how emerging technology could reshape the future of cognitive health. What if protecting your brain has less to do with chasing the next breakthrough, and more to do with taking action on the science we already know. In this episode of The LIVING Room Podcast, host Chris Wharton sits down with Walter Greenleaf, PhD—behavioral neuroscientist and medical technology developer at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab—to explore what's happening to your brain as you age, why measuring cognitive health has been so difficult, and how AI, virtual reality, wearable technology, and personalized feedback systems may transform the future of prevention. Here's what you'll walk away with: Why cognitive decline begins long before symptoms appear—and why neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's develop over many years before they're detectedHow virtual reality is already being used to help treat PTSD, chronic pain, addiction, and phobias—and why the brain often responds to virtual experiences as if they're realThe research from Adam Gazzaley's lab showing that specific cognitive training can improve executive function, with some adults in their 60s performing similarly to much younger adults on certain cognitive measuresWhy today's AI health advice can sound convincing while still being inaccurate—and what must change before it can be trusted in healthcareHow wearables, smart glasses, and passive health monitoring could make personalized brain health recommendations part of everyday lifeWhy behavior change isn't just about knowing what to do—and how immediate, personalized feedback may be the missing link to lasting habitsThe evidence-based habits that still matter most for protecting your brain—and why even experts struggle to consistently follow them This conversation explores where the science stands today, where it's headed next, and how evidence—not hype—can help us build healthier brains for the decades ahead.   Connect with Dr. Walter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltergreenleaf/  Want more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't. Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list. The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/

  8. Jun 25

    Tiffany Haddish: The Mindset Shift That Took Her From Sleeping in Her Car to Thriving in Hollywood

    Before she made the world laugh, Tiffany Haddish had to use humor just to survive. Growing up, Tiffany navigated homelessness and childhood trauma that would have broken most people. But it didn't break her, it built her. In this episode of The LIVING Room Podcast, Chris Wharton sits down with one of Hollywood's most fearless voices for a conversation that goes far beyond the punchlines, and headlines… Tiffany opens up about how comedy became a coping mechanism before it ever became a career, why she made a conscious decision to choose joy over bitterness, and how her unshakeable belief in manifestation took her from sleeping in her car to the cover of Sports Illustrated. She also shares what it really took to land her breakout role in Girls Trip, and why she refuses to let pain write her story. Tiffany Haddish is a comedian, actress, and New York Times bestselling author of The Last Black Unicorn and Curse You With Joy. She is best known for Girls Trip and for a career built on turning suffering into strength. If you've ever had to fight to rise above your circumstances and fight for your dreams, this one's for you. Follow Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyhaddish/  Book: “I Curse You with Joy”  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thaddish  Want more? Each month, we send a newsletter curated by our scientific council on what's actually advancing the science of human longevity — and what isn't. Subscribe at https://www.thewndrlab.com/mailing-list. The WNDR Lab: https://www.thewndrlab.com/

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

What if longevity wasn’t owned by a single voice—but shaped by many? Our host, Chris Wharton, brings together the world’s leading scientists, doctors, performers, and cultural icons—each offering a distinct perspective on the art of living better, longer.  From cutting-edge, data-backed research to lived experience, we explore the habits, mindsets, and breakthroughs that truly move the needle when it comes to elevating both the quality and length of your life. Built on collective expertise, not individual opinion, The Living Room is where science, experience, and insight come together—bringing the most trusted thinking in longevity to your living room, whether that’s your couch or your commute… This is not about shortcuts. It’s not about hype. It’s about understanding the full picture—and giving you the clarity to act on it. Because a long life, well lived, is never one-dimensional—and neither is the path to getting there. Step into The LIVING Room, where the future of LIVING comes alive.

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