Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Dr. Matt Narrett, Chief Medical Officer for Erickson Living®

Broadcast and podcast starting: August 20, 2009 on webtalkradio.net. After 8-31-09 the podcast is also on the links below

 

 What Erickson Living® Can Teach Us About Aging [60:49m]: Play NowDownload

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To me, Erickson Living® is the Google of services for seniors. Its twenty communities are amazing, it’s medical services are the medical services we all wish we had, Erickson’s Retirement Living Television is only national TV network for seniors, the Erickson Tribune has a circulation of three million, and the Erickson School of Aging, Management and Policy at the University of Maryland and the Erickson Foundation conduct and support a lot of research on aging.

Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing John Erickson, a true visionary. He recently retired. When I learned that Erickson’s new COO and Erickson’s Medical Director, wrote a new book Old is the New Young: Erickson’s Secrets to Healthy Living, I knew it would be good and arranged to get Dr. Narrett on Ageless Lifestyles®.

I talk about John Erickson being a visionary because he doesn’t just see what people want and provide it. He envisions what we should want and makes it happen. Thus, Erickson Living®  has well-paid primary care doctors spending half an hour per patient visit, using electronic records networked with hospitals, and practicing holistic medicine and preventive medicine-all on a Medicare budget. If he had just created Erickson Living® it would be impressive. But to also create the Retirement Living TV, the Erickson Tribune, and the philanthropic and educational programs he has created, is stunning.

Happily, Erickson Living® isn’t the only visionary in senior healthcare. Bill Thomas, creator of the Eden Alternative and the Greenhouse Movement and Paul and Terry Klaasen of Sunrise Assisted Living also have visionary leadership. There are many more people making an impact on a smaller scale. I mention these people because of the size of their impact. It is an innovative time for seniors.

On the surface Old is the New Young isn’t a profound or visionary book. Much of the advice is advice commonly found in news reports and magazine articles. What is unique is that instead of piecemeal advice, the book weaves together a holistic picture of what seniors need, with an emphasis on having a life with purpose. The holistic picture is quite unique. Thus instead of advice like use your mind, do crossword puzzles; we are told crosswords are OK if you like them but what really matters is curiosity and interactive learning–and a reasonably good diet and reasonable amount of exercise to stay healthy mentally and physically.

Of course you never know where that curiosity and a little chutzpah will lead. After Erickson Living® community at Greenspring women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s  made the pin-up calendar, The Ladies of Greenspring Calendar, the men at Greenspring countered with The Hunks of Greenspring Calendar.

Erickson Living®’s website is www.Erickson.com. Dr. Brickey’s other websites are www.DrBrickey.com and www.Anti-Aging-Speaker.com.

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Natural Health Nutritionist Dr. Gary Null

Broadcast and podcast starting: June 8, 2009 on webtalkradio.net. After 6-15-09 the podcast is also on the links below

 

 Alternative Health Approaches to Better Health [56:08m]: Play NowDownload

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There is a rich literature on natural cures for headaches, digestive problems, allergies, and other health problems. But how do you tell help from hype? Is it safe and does it work? Natural Health Nutritionist Dr. Gary Null is the author of 70 books on health including his most recent book, Be a Healthy Woman, has been studying and advising millions on alternative health and natural healing for three decades. Today he shares his knowledge with us.

Dr. Null has never shared his real secret to health and longevity. With more than 70 books, more than 20 films, competing in marathons, counseling thousands, and bridging  nutrition, self-development, politics, and even pet care. I’m convinced that he has figured out how to clone himself. Dr. Null’s is a renaissance man who has an extraordinarily holistic view of health and wellness including physical, mental, and spiritual. He is into mindfulness and is a wonderful story teller.

His books excoriate  caffeine, alcohol, and meat. At a more controversial level, he advocates removing mercury fillings from teeth, chelation, magnet therapy, and questions the safety of vaccines. The sources he typically cites are experts he has interviewed. If you are looking for traditional research that footnotes lots of references, you will be frustrated. If you are looking for new ideas to consider or try, you are at a feast.

A note on his references to some people living well into Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Eastern countries living extremely long lives are controversial: The oldest well documented centenarian was Jeanne Calment, a Frenchwoman who lived to 122. There are many claims of people living much longer but researchers as skeptical as documentation is poor and their cultures revere living long which gives an incentive to exaggerate.

The concept that that the biggest factor in health and longevity is being happy is profound. Also profound is his epiphany that getting healthier starts with beliefs and values. I was also impressed with how Gary generally supported a Mediterranean diet but emphasized how you eat is as important as what you eat. Thus, slow leisurely meals with family do wonders for your health.

Dr. Null’s website is www.GaryNull.com. Dr. Brickey’s other websites are www.DrBrickey.com and www.Anti-Aging-Speaker.com.

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Preventive Health Researcher Dr. Duke Johnson

Broadcast and podcast starting: May 11, 2009 on webtalkradio.net. After 5-18-09 the podcast is also on the links below

 

 How to Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer, and Other Chronic Diseases [54:19m]: Play NowDownload

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When health study results are announced, the news feeds us sketchy, piecemeal results with little attention to the quality or limitations of the study. Radio and TV thrives on the diet of the week and sensationalism.  No wonder Americans are confused about what to do to be healthier. Research is becoming increasingly clear, however, that there is a common denominator to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and other chronic diseases. Dr. Duke Johnson, author of The Optimal Health Revolution, shares with us what that commonality is and how it can guide us in preventing chronic diseases.

Most health and wellness gurus and authors emphasize their niche or try to be comprehensive and cover diet and exercise. Dr. Johnson or Dr. Duke as he is often called, presents a very holistic approach with avoiding inflammation as a key integrating concept. In interviews, I try to focus on what is most unique about the expert and their area of greatest expertise. Consequently, time did not permit going into all of the issues and recommendations Optimal Health covers.

To recap Dr. Johnson’s big picture, a century ago, most Americans died from acute illnesses. Today modern medicine can prevent or cure most acute illnesses. We also are better educated, more informed, and have money to take care of ourselves. Consequently it is the chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes that kills most Americans. In the last decade, researchers are increasingly converging on inflammation as the common denominator of most chronic diseases. We also are seeing a convergence on the Mediterranean diet. Thus, Dr. Johnson’s comments on how few people in Mediterranean countries are following that diet anymore is an important heads up. We need to be following the principles and not the current practices.

Of course we are also seeing a convergence on the importance of exercise-both cardiovascular and strength (and I might add flexibility and balance). Most researchers also give a passing nod to the importance of stress. I really like way Dr. Johnson not only underscores stress, but also ties it to a sense of purpose and whether how you use your time fits with your values and purpose.

Some take aways are to, at least once, include a C-reactive protein test in your next physical, avoid high fructose corn syrup, and choose whole grain rather than multi-grain. I also note that in his book Dr. Johnson recommended investing in a whole house water filter. I heartily agree. Including the plumbing bill you should be able to do this for about $600 and about $15 a month in filters and charcoal material.

Dr. Johnson’s website is www.DrDukeJohnson.com. Dr. Brickey’s other websites are www.DrBrickey.com and www.Anti-Aging-Speaker.com.

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Gini Maddocks

Broadcast and podcast starting: 10-27-08 on webtalkradio.net. After 11-3-08 the podcast is also on the links below

 

 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress, Aches, and Pains [54:23m]: Play NowDownload

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Your body’s tissues other activities. become cold and stiff after being inactive for a mere 12 minutes. Muscles shorten and pull bones together, squishing the cushioning that keeps bones from rubbing against each other and rubbing against cartilage. The result is pain, swollen joints, arthritis and other health problems. Our guest, Gini Maddocks, is a genius at teaching how to prevent this from happening and how to reverse damage that has occurred-and she does it with easy to do, simple, sweatless movements. She is a licensed medical message therapist and the award-winning author of R&R: Rescue and Relief for Computer Users and those at Risk of Repetitive Motion Injury. Today she will help you learn how to be kind to your body and prevent or undo aches and pains from computer use, driving, gardening, and many other activities.

Ms Maddocks’ website is www.holisticmatters.net. Dr. Brickey’s other websites are www.DrBrickey.com and www.Anti-Aging-Speaker.com.

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Guest: Dr. Mark D. Brown

Broadcast and podcast starting: 8-25-08 on webtalkradio.net after 9-21-08 podcast availabe on the links below

 

 How to Overcome Back and Neck Pain [46:48m]: Play NowDownload

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Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Dr. Vincent Giampapa

Broadcast and podcast starting: 7-28-08 on webtalkradio.net after 8-4-08 podcast availabe on the links below

 

 Change Your Genetic Destiny, Reprogram Your Genes [50:27m]: Play NowDownload

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Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Dr. Ruthann Russo

Broadcast and podcast starting: 7-14-08 on webtalkradio.net after 7-21-08 podcast availabe on the links below (to download, right click download and select “save target as.”)

Dr. Ruthann Russo takes a very holistic approach to healthcare. Recently on Ageless Lifestyles Radio, she shared with us her health system advocacy strategies for getting what you need from doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies. In addition to her book, 7 steps to your best possible healthcare, she has done a very balanced study of the raw food movement. Her brand new book is The Raw Food Diet Myth. Frankly I didn’t know much about raw foods but I trusted Dr. Russo from our previous show. I also had a good friend tell me how he has gotten into raw foods and loves raw ice cream. When I read Dr. Russo’s book, I was so impressed with how instead of evangelizing for a movement, she gently makes the case with the perspective that most people who would consider raw food would want to wade in gradually and pick and choose what makes sense to them. Ten years ago organic foods were hard to find. Now we have supermarkets like Whole Foods and many mainstream grocery stores have organic food sections. It wouldn’t surprise me if ten years from now the raw food options are equally common.

Her website is www.RuthannRusso.com

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Amy Gorman

Broadcast: 4-1-08 on webtalkradio.net After 4-8-08 available on the links below

 

 How Art Can Help You Age Better [41:49m]: Play NowDownload

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A transcript of the interview is at Amy Gorman

Art keeps us young by lifting our spirits, challenging our minds, and giving us perspective. Today’s guest, Amy Gorman became fascinated with artists in their nineties and hundreds. That inspired her to profile twelve artists in her book, Aging Artfully and the documentary film about the artists titled Still Kicking. She is a sculptress, an historian, and a storyteller. Her career has spanned all age groups from developing and being Executive Director of Kidshows for eighteen years to being a medical social worker with dementia patients. In the first part of the show, we’ll learn about artists she has studied. In the second part of the show, we’ll focus on how you can pursue art to help keep you youthful and fulfilled. Her website is http://www.agingartfully.com/

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Dr. Christiane Northrup

Broadcast: 3-1-08 on webtalkradio.net After 3-8-08 available on the links below

 

 Good News About Menopause [46:20m]: Play NowDownload

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A transcript of the interview is at Christiane Northrup

Dr. Christiane Northrup is one of America’s most trusted medical advisors. She sees menopause as a life affirming –if a woman listens to her body and the wisdom it offers. She is an OBGYN physician who takes a holistic, mind-body-spirit approach to menopause, PMS, and women’s health. Dr. Northrup founded the trailblazing Women to Women health care center. She is author of The Wisdom of Menopause and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. She has appeared on Oprah, The View, Good Morning America, Rachel Ray, and hosted six PBS specials. Her website is http://www.drnorthrup.com/

Host: Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey

Expert Guest: Dr. Nicole Flora, Anti-Aging Physician

Broadcast: 2-24-08 on webtalkradio.net After 3-1-08 available on the links below

 

 Anti-Aging Medicine: What Works [48:02m]: Play NowDownload

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A transcript of the interview is at Nicole Flora

Medicine has focused on treating diseases. What we call healthcare has mostly been disease care. Anti-aging medicine emerged in the last ten years or so to ask what can doctors do to be proactive in preventing aging and diseases. As a new discipline, it has attracted both very dedicated physicians and frankly a few hucksters. Today’s expert is clearly one of the best anti-aging physicians, Dr. Nicole Flora. Dr. Flora was Board Certified in family medicine, obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health, and later specialized in age management and anti-aging medicine. She has been active in research and is on several policy boards. In the first part of the program, we will focus on what anti-aging medicine is and what it has to offer. In the second part of the program, we look at the pros and cons of different anti-aging treatments. Her websites are www.CincinnatiAgeManagement.com and www.Cenegenics-DrFlora.com