Longevity Optimization with Kayla Barnes-Lentz

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Dawn Mussallem, DO, an integrative oncologist, lifestyle medicine specialist, cancer survivor, heart transplant recipient, and the newly appointed Chief Medical Officer of Fountain Life.
We talk about why cancer rates are rising, what we actually know about prevention, and why early detection matters so much when it comes to long-term outcomes. We also discuss the role of exercise, sleep, fiber, metabolic health, toxins, alcohol, gut health, screening tools, mammograms, full-body MRI, liquid biopsies, and why the basics still matter more than most people want to admit.
Dr. Dawn also shares her extraordinary personal story: She is a stage 4 cancer survivor who went through chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at 26, developed cardiac toxicity from treatment 18 years later, received a heart transplant, and became the first person in the world to run a marathon within a year of receiving a new heart. 
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/checkout/become-a-member
If you’re already paying attention to protein, blood sugar, and longevity nutrition, fiber is one of the biggest gaps to fix. Zen Basil makes it simple to add more fiber, minerals, and prebiotic support into your routine with certified edible basil seeds that are tested for glyphosate and over 400 pesticides.Use the code KAYLA20 for 20% off.
https://zenbasil.com/shopzenbasil/zenbasilseedbag
In this episode:
- Why cancer is rising in younger people
- The lifestyle factors linked to cancer prevention
- Why exercise matters during and after cancer treatment
- The role of sleep, insulin, and metabolic health- Fiber, gut health, and the microbiome
- Mammograms, breast MRI, full-body MRI, and liquid biopsies
- Soy, breast cancer myths, and plant protei- Hormone therapy, breast cancer risk, and screening
- Why connection and purpose matter for longevity

Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Dr. Dawn Mussallem:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdawnmussallem/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-mussallem-do-dipablm-2b360b57/
Website: https://www.fountainlife.com/
#cancerprevention #breastcancer #femalelongevity #womenshealth #longevity #integrativeoncology #cancersurvivorship #earlydetection #breastcancerawareness #hormonehealth #metabolichealth #exerciseandcancer #soyandcancer #perimenopause #menopause #cancerresearch #preventivemedicine #healthoptimization #womenslongevity #fountainlife

Brian Kennedy is one of the world’s leading researchers studying the biology of aging.
In this conversation, we break down what longevity science actually shows about extending healthy lifespan and the everyday habits that appear to influence how we age.
Dr. Brian shares insights from decades of aging research, explaining how scientists study longevity, how interventions like rapamycin and biological age testing are evaluated, and how lifestyle factors such as exercise, nutrition, fasting, and sleep continue to shape the foundation of long-term health.
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/checkout/become-a-member
5 key longevity habits discussed in this episode:
- Exercise and physical activity
- Nutrition and metabolic health
- Energy balance and fasting
- Sleep and recovery
- Longevity interventions and emerging therapies
Together, these factors form the foundation researchers believe will have the greatest impact on healthspan as longevity science continues to evolve.
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22...
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Dr. Brian Kennedy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kennedy-69777318/
Website: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/trp/healthy-longevity/

We're back with Dr. Szal! Today we are discussing a variety of topics: Gut health, peptides, hormone health , GLP-1's, bone health and so much more!In this conversation, Dr. Sara G dives into the gut-brain connection and explains how disrupting the microbiome can directly affect mood, anxiety, and overall mental resilience. She breaks down why even a single course of antibiotics can shift the balance of your gut in ways most people never consider, and what that means for how you feel day to day.This is where the gut-brain connection becomes practical, not theoretical. Instead of treating symptoms in isolation, understanding how the microbiome regulates neurotransmitters and inflammation changes the way these issues are approached.Rebuilding that system requires more than random probiotics or diet changes. The Weed, Seed, Feed framework focuses on restoring gut balance in the right order, removing what doesn’t belong, reintroducing beneficial bacteria, and supporting their growth long-term.This episode is sponsored by Zen Basil. Their certified edible basil seeds are designed for human nutrition, deliver 15g of fiber per serving, and are batch-tested for glyphosate and over 400 pesticides. Use code KAYLA20 for 20% off.https://zenbasil.com/shopzenbasil/zenbasilseedbagJoin the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/female-longevity-communityIn this conversation:-Antibiotics and anxiety (25–50% increase)-The gut-brain connection explained simply-What happens when the microbiome is disrupted-Why most gut protocols don’t work-Weed, Seed, Feed framework-How to rebuild gut health properly
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Dr. Sara:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saragottfriedmd/
Website: https://saraszalmd.com/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SaraSzalMD
Follow her on Substack:https://saraszalmd.substack.com/

Bérénice Benayoun, PhD, explains why ovarian aging may be one of the earliest and most important drivers of female aging, influencing the brain, immune system, metabolism, and long-term disease risk far beyond reproduction. She breaks down what we actually know so far, including DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, fibrosis, hormonal signaling, and why the ovary appears to age faster than other tissues.
We also get into one of the most surprising findings in the field right now: a brand new study from her lab found that post-reproductive gut microbiota unexpectedly improved ovarian reserve and lowered inflammatory signals in young mice, raising a completely new set of questions about the gut-ovary connection and what may eventually be possible for ovarian health.
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/female-longevity-community
In this conversation:
-Why the ovary may be the fastest aging organ in the female body
-Why menopause is a healthspan issue, not just a fertility issue
-DNA damage, mitochondria, fibrosis, and the hallmarks of ovarian aging
-The new microbiome finding that surprised even the researchers
-Why later menopause predicts longer and healthier life
-Rapamycin, hormone therapy, and what may actually help

If you’re already paying attention to food, sleep, and overall health, cleaning products are another place where exposure adds up quickly. Branch Basics is a simple way to clean your home with fewer unnecessary ingredients and less clutter under the sink.
Check them out: https://branchbasics.com/KAYLA15For 15% off use code: KAYLA15
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Bérénice Benayoun:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b%C3%A9r%C3%A9nice-benayoun-a374a74b/en/Website: https://gero.usc.edu/labs/benayounlab/Her New Study (Estropausal gut microbiota transplant improves measures of ovarian function in adult mice): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41776310/

Most people can feel when stress is affecting them. Far fewer know whether their body is adapting well or quietly being pushed toward dysfunction.
In this episode, Dr. Deb Rivera, PhD in neuroengineering, explains the hidden biological system that helps determine how well your body handles stress. Her research focuses on redox balance and the glutathione ratio, a biomarker that may reveal whether your body is adapting to stress or slowly moving toward dysfunction.
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/checkout/become-a-member
In This Conversation
-How to tell whether stress is helping or harming the body-The glutathione ratio and what it reveals about resilience-The role of redox balance in aging and metabolic health-Why recovery capacity determines how you respond to stress-How lifestyle factors influence mitochondrial and cellular health-Microplastics, environmental stressors, and biological resilience-Practical ways to support your body’s stress-adaptation system

Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22...
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Dr. Deb Rivera:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/journeymetrics/
Website: https://journeymetrics.io/