Today, we discuss the new book “Heal Faster: Unlock Your Body's Rapid Recovery Reflex” with author Victoria Maizes, MD, an internationally recognized physician, author, and pioneering leader in the field of Integrative Medicine. Drawing on forty years of medical experience and cutting-edge research, Dr. Maizes shows that complete recovery is possible for a wide range of conditions when you know how to support your body’s natural healing processes. Dr. Maizes serves as the Founding Executive Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and is a Professor of Medicine, Family Medicine, and Public Health at the University of Arizona. She is also the author of “Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child,” and cohost, with Dr Weil, of the Body of Wonder podcast. ◘ Related Links Dr. Maizes' website, https://www.drvictoriamaizes.com/ ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The Baby Boom generation pioneered the counterculture movement of the 1960s so it's not so surprising that 50 years later they are using compounds like psilocybin and LSD with the goal to improve their overall quality of life. ​Today, we get into all of the above with Abbie Rosner, the author of the forthcoming book “Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging.” She researches and writes about how her generation of Baby Boomers is exploring the drugs of their youth to enhance their experience of aging. In "Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging," she suggests that the growing underground movement of older adults using psychedelics is helping rewrite the narrative around aging —as a time of healing, growth, spiritual deepening, joyous intimacy, supportive community, and acceptance of the inevitability of death. Abbie is a freelance journalist, writer, and public speaker based out of Washington, D.C., and she has written extensively on older adults, cannabis, and psychedelics for Forbes, Double Blind, and other journals since 2018. Her new book comes out in July 2026. ◘ Related Links Abbie Rosner's website https://www.abbierosner.com/ Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research https://www.hopkinspsychedelic.org/ NYU Langone Health’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine https://bit.ly/4dvwAG6 UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics https://psychedelics.berkeley.edu/ GW Integrative Medicine Podcast Medical Cannabis, Psilocybin, & More Playlist https://bit.ly/3RO8q0Z ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Boy howdy do we have something to talk about with our favorite medical cannabis subject matter expert today! On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) signed an order reclassifying (rescheduling) state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act). Let’s get into it with Dr. Mikhail “Misha” Kogan, chief medical officer of the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, associate professor of Medicine at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences, and author of the highly acclaimed book “Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD.” Along with being an internationally recognized expert on medicinal cannabis, Dr. Kogan has extensive training and expertise in internal medicine, geriatrics, palliative care, social and primary care medicine, integrative medicine, herbal medicine, and craniosacral therapy. He specializes in diagnosing and developing treatment plans for the most complex health challenges, offering hope to even the most desperate patients. His specific area of interest is utilizing cannabis as a solution to reduce polypharmacy in the geriatric patient population. He is a renowned international speaker in the field of medical cannabis. ◘ Related Links The Society of Cannabis Clinicians https://bit.ly/48xFsrR Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD https://bit.ly/4tMfWI1 GW Integrative Medicine Podcast: Medical Cannabis, Psilocybin, & More Playlist https://bit.ly/4n2A325 Science Friday interviews Dr. Kogan (25 min.) https://bit.ly/429HsTE Developing Medical Cannabis Competencies: A Consensus Statement https://bit.ly/4cN9wlK ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

When we think about loneliness, we don’t associate it with risks comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. But a growing body of research shows that loneliness significantly impairs physical and mental health. Loneliness is linked to a 29 percent higher risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, accelerated cognitive decline, and increased mortality. Chronic, profound loneliness triggers high inflammation, weakens the immune system, and contributes to depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Clinician researcher Alison Warren, DAOM, MSHS ’17, PhD student, of the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences, gave a wellness talk on loneliness and how it impacts your overall health–and ways to counteract it. An adjunct assistant professor in the SMHS, she specializes in the intersection of Integrative Medicine, neuroscience, and psychology. She is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Institute for Brain Health and Dementia in the GW Milken School of Public Health and an instructor with the Harvard Extension School. Dr. Warren’s research, particularly in 2025-2026, focuses on loneliness as a significant, modifiable determinant of health and a driver of physiological damage. Her work explains that chronic social disconnection causes wear and tear across multiple systems, including immune, neuroendocrine, and cardiovascular systems. ◘ Related Links: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s How Right Now (information and resources on loneliness and other emotions) https://www.cdc.gov/howrightnow/index.html; NIH Social Connection Toolkit https://www.nih.gov/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits/social-wellness-toolkit; GW Resiliency & Well-being Center’s resources page on loneliness https://rwc.smhs.gwu.edu/loneliness; Dr. Warren’s slide presentation on loneliness https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fdrc6v7kjua6y0j88og6j/UPDATED_Warren_GW-Resiliency-Center-Loneliness-1.pdf?rlkey=5fpz4h7naach2ss1anpxch7ea&st=k2k958gr&dl=0; Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation 2023, The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf; Warren, A. (2026). Loneliness as a sex-specific risk factor for cognitive aging. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 20, 1784613. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1784613; Warren, A. (2026). Loneliness as a Vital Sign: Toward a Biopsychosocial Reframing of Social Disconnection. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17, 21501319261426724. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319261426724; Warren, A., Wynia, Z., Corr, P. G., Devin, M. F., Celikkol, Z., Gordon, L., Farah, M., Karam, M., Villarreal, D., Jackson, S. A., & Frame, L. A. (2026). The microbiota–gut–brain axis in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: A scoping review of human studies. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 22(1), e71023. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71023; Warren, A. (2025). Loneliness as a driver of allostatic load: Mechanisms linking social disconnection to physiological dysregulation and health disparities. Stress, 28(1), 2594067. https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2025.2594067 ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that preventing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like abuse, neglect, household dysfunction could reduce the number of adults with depression by as much as 44%. ACEs are critical to identify and understand because they are highly common that cause lasting toxic stress that fundamentally changes brain development and health outcomes across a lifespan. Understanding them is crucial for preventing chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and, through early intervention, breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma. On today's show, we’re discussing ACEs with Clare Anderson, MSW, Senior Policy Fellow Emeritus at Chapin Hall, a policy research institution in Chicago that focuses on child welfare and family well-being. Clare is a national expert on child welfare policy and practice and national thought leader on economic and concrete supports. She was among the chief architects of the effort to address trauma, ACEs, and toxic stress in children known to the child welfare system. Also joining us for the conversation is Michelle Clausen, PhD, a nurse midwife, researcher, and fellow with the Primary Care Research Training Program and post-doctoral scholar at the GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Her research focus is on developing interventions that incorporate trauma-informed strategies and spirituality to improve health outcomes. ◘ Related Links: CDC's About Adverse Childhood Experiences page, https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html; Adverse California Surgeon General’s Clinical Advisory Committee' Childhood Experience Questionnaire for Adults, https://bit.ly/4aUJewT; California Department of Health Care Services' ACEs Aware information website, https://www.acesaware.org/; Navigating Economic Shocks: Public Policy Can Support or Stress Families with Clare Anderson, https://bit.ly/3ZH3dsA; Chapin white papers about ACEs, https://bit.ly/4kCQsc2 ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

A new study by a GW-led research team suggests gut bacteria may be linked to memory decline in mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, and some dementia diseases. Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, the scoping review is shedding light on the growing evidence that gut microbiome imbalances—known as dysbiosis—may play a key role in the development and progression of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease. Today, we have with us two of the study’s lead authors—Drs. Leigh Frame and Alison Warren of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Frame-Corr Lab. Dr. Frame is an expert on the gut microbiome, co-leader of the lab, executive director of the Office of Integrative Medicine & Health, and an associate professor here at GW. Dr. Warren is a doctoral student in the Translational Health Sciences PhD Program here at GW and an adjunct assistant professor. She is collaborating with the Frame-Corr Lab in microbiome studies associated with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Drs. Frame and Warren are all on the faculty of the Institute for Brain Health & Dementia at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. Dr. Misha Kogan, an integrative geriatrician, expert on dementia diseases, and also institute faculty, is the co-host on this episode. ◘ Related Links: GW Press Release: https://bit.ly/3NXSZ4l; Journal Article: The microbiota–gut–brain axis in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a scoping review of human studies, https://bit.ly/3ZsPmWV; Frame-Corr Lab: https://framecorrlab.smhs.gwu.edu/ ◘ Transcript: bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

The USDA and HHS just released new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We dig into the new guidelines with Dr. Leigh Frame, our favorite nutrition scientist, co-host of the pod, and co-director of the Frame-Corr Lab here at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. An Associate Professor in the departments of Clinical Research & Leadership and Physician Assistant Studies, Leigh combines nutrition and immunity through translational research, leveraging extensive experience in biomedical research and education. Dr. Frame earned her PhD in Human Nutrition and MHS in Immunology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and graduated with Distinction in Biochemistry from Mary Baldwin College. An expert on Integrative Medicine and the gut microbiome, she’s also the Executive Director of the GW Office of Integrative Medicine & Health. ◘ Related Links: New Food Guidelines for Americans, https://realfood.gov/; Harvard Healthy Eating Plate, https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-plate/; Dr. Frame's Nutrition Guide, https://rwc.smhs.gwu.edu/nutrition-guide; Canada's Food Guide, https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/ ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

We talk with Peter Grinspoon, MD—an internationally renowned expert on medical cannabis, drug policy, and addiction—about the U.S. Congress recriminalizing most hemp-derived products. The measure is set to take effect one year from enactment — around November 12, 2026. Dr. Grinspoon is a primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. A certified Health and Wellness Coach, he has provided medical cannabis care for patients for two decades. He is a board member of the advocacy group Doctors for Drug Policy Reform and an advisor to the Parabola Group, which advocates for social justice in the cannabis space. He spent two years as an associate director of the Massachusetts Physician Health Service, treating and monitoring hundreds of physicians with addiction. Dr. Grinspoon is the author of "Free Refills: A Doctor Confronts His Addiction," “Seeing Through the Smoke: A Cannabis Specialist Untangles the Truth About Marijuana,” and he has a new book coming out in May 2026—"Aging Well with Cannabis: Feel Better, Sleep Better, and Live Better with Marijuana and CBD." ◘ Related Links: Dr. Grinspoon's website, www.petergrinspoon.com ◘ Transcript: bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, who co-discovered the C15 essential fatty acid, returns to the podcast to discuss her new book “The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging.” In The Longevity Nutrient, She unveils the science behind the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in nearly a hundred years. Research on this ingredient shows that is may be crucial for combating chronic aging-associated diseases. Dr. Venn-Watson is a veterinary epidemiologist with more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 70 patents. She is the co-founder and CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics, a company that develops and sells health and wellness products based on the C15 fatty acid. She discovered the health benefits of C15 while working for the U.S. Navy to continually improve the long-term health of Navy bottlenose dolphins. While seeking to understand why some dolphins were aging at slower rates than others, Dr. Venn-Watson applied an advanced technology called metabolomics on archived dolphin serum to discover which molecules predicted the healthiest aging dolphins. Here, she discovered C15. ◘ Related Links: The Longevity Nutrient: The Unexpected Fat That Holds the Key to Healthy Aging By Stephanie Venn-Watson, https://bit.ly/4a43w75; GW Integrative Medicine podcast: What Do Dolphins Have to Do with Anti-aging?, https://bit.ly/4aljzxx ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

Chris Palmer, author of "Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, gave a wellness talk on Swedish death cleaning, or "döstädning" during the GW Office of Integrative Medicine & Health's A Mindfulness Experience. Swedish death cleaning is a trend resulting from the Swedish cultural tradition of decluttering and organizing one's life before passing away. Chris is also an activist, wildlife filmmaker, conservationist, retired American University professor, and grandfather. He is a hospice volunteer, runs an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village, and is obtaining a certificate in End-of-Life Care. ◘ Related Links: Chris Palmer's website: chrispalmeronline.com; Chris' handouts, including a free copy of his book and info on decluttering your home, how to write an ethical will (legacy letter), and more: bit.ly/4poQ4iT. ◘ Transcript bit.ly/3JoA2mz ◘ This podcast features the song “Follow Your Dreams” (freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Ho…ur_Dreams_1918) by Scott Holmes, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial (01https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) license. ◘ Disclaimer: The content and information shared in GW Integrative Medicine is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in GW Integrative Medicine represent the opinions of the host(s) and their guest(s). For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.