Wellness Grifters and the Real Science Behind Longevity with Dr. Eric Topol
4/9/20261 hr 3 min
Dr. Eric Topol, the founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, joins Kara to discuss reality versus the hype in the booming longevity business ahead of her new CNN series "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever." Dr. Topol has written several books, including his latest, "Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity," which explores the science behind anti-aging and longevity. He explains why the biggest breakthroughs in aging science focus not on extending lifespan, but on extending health span and preventing the chronic diseases that affect most Americans over 65. And Topol takes aim at the “longevity lifespan circus” of pricey supplements and peptides sold by wellness grifters. Kara and Dr. Topol also talk about how inequality, poverty and the lack of universal healthcare in the US impact health span, and what can be done about it. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsKara Swisher· Host0:00
You know, the hyperbaric chamber stuff. I go into one, and I was like, they're... Uh, "What did you think?" I was like, "Are you fucking kidding me? Unless you have the bends or a wound, I wouldn't recommend it."
Eric Topol· Guest0:10
[laughs] Right. Right.
Kara Swisher· Host0:10
You know, "Oh, I get tired." I was like, "You don't need more oxygen. Just breathe."
Stephanie Wu0:14
[upbeat music] It's on.
Kara Swisher· Host0:15
Hi, everyone, from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network. This is On with Kara Swisher, and I'm Kara Swisher. My guest today is Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist, researcher, and the founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, one of the largest non-profit biomedical institutions in the country. He's also the author of several books, including his most recent called Superagers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity, which explores the actual science behind anti-aging and longevity. Spoiler, it's not found in pricey supplements. Dr. Topol is a physician scientist and an expert leader who oversees millions in research funding. He's uniquely positioned to distinguish the real breakthroughs from the hype and offer guidance on a topic rife with pseudoscience and fraud. It's also a timely conversation ahead of my new CNN series, Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever, premiering this Saturday, April 11th. It's gonna go on for six weeks. It is full of science and evidence and proof and reporting, and I urge you to watch it. But mostly, I want you to listen to Dr. Topol, 'cause he is