Healthspan Digest

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Healthspan Digest

Aaron Shaw

75 episodes

2 days ago

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! I trained for months. I thought I could handle it. But on Day 3 of one of America’s toughest mountain bike races, I didn’t even start. In this episode, I take you inside my attempt at the Breck Epic—a high-altitude sufferfest that chewed me up and taught me more about toughness, humility, and goal-setting than any race I’ve done before. You’ll hear: • How it feels to realize mid-race that you’re in over your head • The moment I knew quitting was...

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Health & Fitness

All content for Healthspan Digest is the property of Aaron Shaw and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! I trained for months. I thought I could handle it. But on Day 3 of one of America’s toughest mountain bike races, I didn’t even start. In this episode, I take you inside my attempt at the Breck Epic—a high-altitude sufferfest that chewed me up and taught me more about toughness, humility, and goal-setting than any race I’ve done before. You’ll hear: • How it feels to realize mid-race that you’re in over your head • The moment I knew quitting was...

Show more...

Health & Fitness

Episodes (20/75)

Healthspan Digest

Why I Quit on Day 3—and Still Count It as a Win

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! I trained for months. I thought I could handle it. But on Day 3 of one of America’s toughest mountain bike races, I didn’t even start. In this episode, I take you inside my attempt at the Breck Epic—a high-altitude sufferfest that chewed me up and taught me more about toughness, humility, and goal-setting than any race I’ve done before. You’ll hear: • How it feels to realize mid-race that you’re in over your head • The moment I knew quitting was...

3 days ago

27 minutes

Healthspan Digest

90% of Women Make These Arm Toning Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! If your arms still look soft and flabby no matter how many curls or kickbacks you do, you’re not alone—and it’s not your fault. Most women have been sold the wrong approach to toning their arms, leaving them frustrated, underloaded, and stuck with zero results. Message me for a consult and personalized plan HERE. Subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE for more. In this episode, I’ll reveal the two simple but insanely effective exercise...

1 week ago

28 minutes

Healthspan Digest

7 Genius Ways to Waste Time at the Gym (And Stay Weak Forever)

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Want to waste an hour in the gym and see zero results? Perfect—this episode is for you. If sarcasm were a sport, this would be the Pro Bowl. Join Healthspan Coach Aaron Shaw as he breaks down the most popular (and useless) ways people burn time in the gym pretending to train. From high-rep fluff workouts to BOSU ball biceps and influencer copycat routines, this episode roasts them all—with science, sass, and just enough truth to sting. You’ll Lear...

2 weeks ago

3 minutes

Healthspan Digest

High Reps vs High Resistance. Why You're Weak.

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! If you’re doing 20 reps with baby weights and calling it strength training, you’re not getting stronger—you’re just getting tired. In this episode of Healthspan Digest, strength & healthspan coach Aaron Shaw pulls zero punches. Backed science, he breaks down the real difference between high reps and high resistance—and why most people over 40 are training completely wrong for strength, longevity, and resilience. Whether you’re chasing toned arms...

3 weeks ago

16 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Weakness Will Kill You Before Disease Does

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! If you’re over 40 and still think jogging, yoga, or stretching will save your health—this episode is your wake-up call. Most people don’t end up in nursing homes because they lack flexibility. They end up there because they’re weak. If you’re not doing resistance training multiple times a week, you’re accelerating the decline of your strength, balance, bone density—and even your brain. In this unapologetically real episode, Healthspan Coach Aaron Sh...

1 month ago

19 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Can AI Fix Your Fitness? Only If You’re This Type of Person…

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Everyone’s talking about AI. But can it actually be your health and fitness coach? If you’re struggling with motivation, follow-through, or building lasting habits—this episode is your wake-up call. Aaron breaks down exactly how AI can build shockingly good workouts, nutrition plans, and even sleep routines in seconds. But there’s a catch: If you’re not already doing the basics consistently, AI will be as useless as scrolling Instagram hoping to get...

1 month ago

22 minutes

Healthspan Digest

You’re Doing Protein Wrong: 3 Critical Mistakes Sabotaging Your Progress

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Most protein powders are trash. Some are irritating your gut. Others are loaded with junk that’s actually slowing down your results. In this no-fluff episode, Concierge Health Coach Aaron Shaw breaks down 3 must-know rules for choosing the right protein supplement—without getting lost in the hype. Whether you’re over 40 and trying to build muscle, lose fat, or just extend your healthspan, this 10-minute masterclass gives you the filter you didn’t kn...

1 month ago

6 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Fasting vs Exercise: Which One Activates Your Body’s Cellular Cleanup Crew?

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Your body has a built-in janitorial crew—an internal system that clears out damaged cells, broken proteins, and toxic waste. It’s called autophagy, and it plays a key role in preventing disease, improving brain function, and extending your healthspan. But here’s the problem: Most people never give this crew the signal to clock in. In this episode of Healthspan Digest, host Aaron Shaw breaks down: What autophagy is (and why it matters for your energy...

1 month ago

11 minutes

Healthspan Digest

DOMS Demystified: What Soreness Really Means and How to Train Smarter

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! You crushed your workout—but two days later, you’re hobbling down the stairs like you’re 90. That deep, aching muscle soreness? That’s DOMS—Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness—and it’s not the sign of a great workout you think it is. In this episode, we unpack: What actually causes DOMS (spoiler: it’s not lactic acid)Why eccentric movements trigger more sorenessThe most common mistakes that make DOMS worseHow to prevent that can’t-move-my-legs feelingSmar...

1 month ago

35 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Why I Don’t Stretch—and Never Get Injured | Stretching vs. Mobility for Healthspan

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Here’s something controversial: I’m a strength and conditioning specialist in my 50s, a competitive athlete, and I don’t have a stretching routine. Yet I don’t pull muscles, strain hamstrings, or tweak my back. Why? In this episode of HealthSpan Digest, I unpack the stretching debate: The real science behind flexibility and injury preventionWhy most people stretch with the wrong expectationsHow to build mobility through strength (and why that matter...

2 months ago

25 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Burnout, Boundaries, and Career Identity: How to Reclaim Your Emotional Health with Dr. Amber Parks

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Feeling overwhelmed at work? Thinking about quitting your job—or even your entire career—because of stress? In this powerful episode of Healthspan Digest, host Aaron Shaw sits down with Dr. Amber Parks, a veterinarian turned burnout and stress coach, to explore why changing your job might not be the answer… and what to do instead. You’ll learn: • Why high-achievers are often the most vulnerable to burnout • How blurred professional identity can ...

2 months ago

44 minutes

Healthspan Digest

5 ‘Healthy’ Habits That Might Be Wasting Your Time (Here’s What to Do Instead)

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Are you doing all the “right” things—but not seeing results? In this solo episode, I break down 5 popular health and wellness habits that might be holding you back. From fasted cardio to overhydration, we’ll unpack what the science really says—and what to do instead if you want more energy, strength, and longevity. Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, this is for high-achievers who want to cut through the wellness noise and focus on what actu...

2 months ago

27 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Grit Is a Health Tool: Daniel Gospodarek on Resilience, Recovery & Healthspan

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! When it comes to extending your healthspan, most people focus on the physical pillars—exercise, nutrition, sleep. But there’s one mental trait that quietly drives it all: grit. In this episode, Aaron Shaw is joined by Licensed Clinical Social Worker Daniel Gospodarek, founder of Revitalize Mental Health. Daniel shares his extraordinary story of surviving a traumatic brain injury at age 17 and how that experience shaped his work with men, first respo...

2 months ago

41 minutes

Healthspan Digest

You’re Not Too Old—You’re Just Out of Practice

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! The Second Half Can Be the Best Half… If You Train for It You’re not too old to feel strong, energized, and in control again—you might just be out of practice. In this episode, Healthspan coach Aaron Shaw breaks down why most of the physical decline we associate with aging is actually due to disuse—not destiny. And more importantly, how to flip the script in your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. If you’ve been feeling tired, heavy, or off-track… this is ...

3 months ago

29 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Most Doctor Visits Are Useless -- Here's How to Fix That in 5 Questions

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Tired of rushed doctor visits and generic advice? In this episode, Healthspan PhysioCoach Aaron Shaw shares five powerful questions to bring to your next primary care appointment—so you don’t just get treated, you get prevented. Learn how to spark real conversations about longevity, optimize your blood markers, explore VO₂ max testing, and shift your care from reactive to proactive. This is the episode your future self will thank you for. FREE Coach...

3 months ago

16 minutes

Healthspan Digest

How Community Can Add Years to Your Life

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! “Don’t Go It Alone: How Community Can Add Years to Your Life and Healthspan” Feeling disconnected or going solo on your health journey? You might be missing the most powerful tool for living a longer, healthier life: community. In this raw and real episode, recorded just 24 hours after moving across the country, Healthspan Coach Aaron Shaw reflects on the power of community—especially during times of transition. From cycling tribes in North Carolina...

3 months ago

22 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Take Control Before It’s Too Late

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond and coasting with your health, it’s time for a wake-up call. Most of the health issues we face later in life—chronic pain, disease, low energy—are preventable. But only if you stop outsourcing your health and start acting like the CEO of your life. In this short, no-nonsense episode, Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, cuts through the noise with two powerful concepts and four real-world action items you can start tod...

3 months ago

17 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Overcoming Gym Anxiety: 4 Steps to Build Confidence and Get Started

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Does the thought of walking into a gym stress you out? You’re not alone—and today’s episode of HealthSpan Digest is your guide to overcoming gym anxiety and getting started with resistance training the right way. Whether you’re brand new to fitness, returning after a long break, or just feel out of place in the gym environment, Aaron Shaw—Healthspan coach, occupational therapist, and strength & conditioning specialist—breaks down 4 simple and pr...

4 months ago

26 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Crohn’s, Comebacks, and the Grit of Middle-Aged Fitness: Back in the Saddle with Evan St. Clair

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! What happens when life throws you off the bike—literally and figuratively? In this powerful episode of Healthspan Digest, I sit down with Evan St. Clair: lifelong cyclist, business owner, and local legend, as he shares his journey through Crohn’s disease, injuries, family challenges, and the road back to fitness in his 50s. We talk about: 🚵 Overcoming chronic illness through movement 💥 What breaking your back teaches you about resilience 🥗 Nutrition...

4 months ago

50 minutes

Healthspan Digest

Breaking Fitness Myths

Got a question or feedback? Send me a text! Getting fit after 40? Chances are, you’ve been lied to—by outdated science, bad Instagram advice, or even your own memories of a younger, fitter you. In this episode of Healthspan Digest, Aaron Shaw—occupational therapist, strength coach, and founder of Healthspan PhysioCoaching—exposes the 3 biggest myths that derail middle-aged adults from getting strong, staying energized, and living pain-free. 🔥 Here’s what you’ll learn: • Why motivation and w...

4 months ago

28 minutes