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Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #73 – Dustin Whitney – The Demographic Deception.

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Demographic Deception
This week I sit down with Dustin Whitney to discuss population growth and its relevance to everyday life.

Dustin is an author, an entrepreneur and a man looking at the world through a different lens. He recently published book the Demographic Deception which outlines the reality that the global population is contracting as opposed to the rapidly expansion that has been espoused by many over the past 40 years. He gives us a politically agnostic but incredibly optimistic view of the demographic problem.

Dustin graduated from Boston College with a BA in marketing from Carrol School of Management in 1995. He subsequently entered the business world achieving business acumen while growing various companies. He is described as a modern-day business executive with balance in his life. Innovative thinking and good use of common sense have helped his businesses succeed. As a people person as well as a business person, Dustin has always been interested in what people do, and how they do it. Dustin is focused on building teams and fostering collaboration. The goal is to bring people and ideas together to facilitate progress and success.
Dustin brings his 25+ years of business executive experience paired with a passion and mission to uncover and analyze global trends to help us understand how those trends impact long-term business growth and human life. We dive into all things population based covering healthcare, history and an optimistic future. In a word, this conversation is expanding.
Please enjoy my conversation with Dustin Whitney,
Dr. M
Dustin Whitney Website
LinkedIn Link

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 17

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Literature Review
1) In a first of its kind study in mice, we see concrete evidence for how the mitochondria in obese individuals are a root cause of disease based on nutritional input. This fascinating animal translational study gives us insight into how a high fat diet is also a major component of mitochondrial damage through fission and fragmentation leading to worsened cell bioenergetics. The cells have reduced fatty acid oxidation or fat burning capacity due to a single gene’s actions. The end result is a tilt toward fat cell production, fat storage and fat cell inflammation which are associated with diabetes and insulin resistance and ultimately metabolic syndrome. This starts to explain the paradox that is obesity where the person has a ton of stored energy, but has limited capacity to utilize it. It is like having a gas tank of fuel with a gas line that only allows for 1/10th of the flow required for optimal function. Science Daily has an excellent review of this paper. Link below. 
2) Women’s brains change during pregnancy as per a new study. The authors looked at brain changes before and after birth as well as with or without a vaginal delivery route. Their study findings noted transient changes in some brain regions as well as permanent changes in other brain regions that turn on self-reflection and empathy for others…… and a recipe of the week.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 15

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Micro/nano-plastics (MNP) – the new ultra threat to our health
In a first of its kind study, a group out of Italy has found quite disturbing results in the hearts of a few hundred tested individuals. From the study: 257 patients completed a 35 month study where they detected polyethylene in the 59% of the patient’s heart’s carotid artery plaque. In addition, 12% of the patients had detectable amounts of polyvinyl chloride. “Electron microscopy revealed visible, jagged-edged foreign particles among plaque macrophages and scattered in the external debris. Radiographic examination showed that some of these particles included chlorine.” (Marfella et. al. 2024) Individuals with micro/nanoplastics in the carotid atheroma were at significantly higher risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, or death than those without detectable MNP. The hazard ratio is 4.5 which is to say that the risk is 4.5 X higher for the plastic exposed people…..plus a literature review.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #69 – Stephen Porges, Ph.D. – Polyvagal Theory

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This week I sit down with Dr. Stephen Porges,
He is a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.
He served as president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse. In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders.
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He is the author of multiple books on his Polyvagal Theory: including the Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation, as well as Polyvagal Safety: Attachment, Communication, Self-Regulation. His newest book cowritten with his son is called Our Polyvagal World, How Safety and Trauma Change Us. Dr. Porges is the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol ™ (SSP), which is used by therapists to improve social engagement, language processing, and state regulation, as well as to reduce hearing sensitivities.
This is such a fascinating conversation. He brings the worlds of psychiatry and anthropological physiology into union for us to understand the why of trauma reactions and the future unwinding that is now possible. This is a must listen to conversation if you know anyone with trauma history.
Please enjoy my conversation with Professor Porges,
Dr. M
His recent paper in Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
Website for Dr. Porges
Newest Book – Our Polyvagal World

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 9

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Light and It’s Impacts on Health – Circadian Rhythms
Circadian comes from the latin Circa Diem or about the day
I have long believed that indoor sedentary behavior is profoundly bad for us beyond just the lack of movement and outdoor natural education. Today, we will look at another major concern: light. We will also get into a circadian rhythm post looking at Dr. Panda’s work. A final addition of a recipe of the week.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #63 – David Clarke, M.D. – Pain, Psychology and Trauma

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This weeks guest is Dr. David D. Clarke. Dr. Clarke is President of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association where he teaches the science of the mind body connection as it relates to GI related diseases that do not fit a traditional diagnostic nor pathological framework. For three plus decades, he conducted detailed interviews with over 7000 people whose symptoms were not explained by diagnostic testing, but were significantly affecting their lives in a negative way. He realized that these individuals often suffered from severe traumas in childhood that built the foundation of current health struggles. We dive into his work and the successes built upon the recognition of, intervention for and resolution related to the issues and physiological manifestations of disease.

Dr. Clarke graduated from Williams College with honors before attending the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he received his medical degree and the Mosby Award for Clinical Excellence.  He completed internship and residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Gastroenterology at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Clarke has lectured extensively on Psychophysiologic Disorders to specialists and the public across North America and Europe. He has appeared on syndicated broadcasts hosted by Rosie O’Donnell, by Montel Williams and by Michael Roizen(author of You: The Owner’s Manual).

He is the Author of “They Can’t Find Anything Wrong” and co-author of “A Diagnostic Guide for Psychophysiological Disorders” and Psychophysiologic Disorders”.

Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. David Clarke,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 13 Issue 50

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Literature Review
1) Pericytes are critical cells that sit around the tiny blood vessels called capillaries of the body especially in the brain. They are involved in regulating blood vessel activity. They communicate directly with the endothelial cells making them super important in the activity of the blood vessel and metabolism at the local tissue interface. From the journal Cell Death and Disease we see: “Crosstalk mechanisms….And some other discussions on Cancer detection at physicals as well as the recipe of the week.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

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