In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Jed Fahey—one of the planet’s foremost experts in phytochemicals and sulforaphane (SFN) research. Retired from Johns Hopkins but still a powerhouse in the field, Dr. Fahey is here to deliver a true masterclass on all things SFN, particularly its game-changing potential against cancer. Joining Dr. Fahey is Dr. Brian Cornblatt, his protégé, who’ll provide frontline insights from the clinical studies behind Avmacol - the SFN supplement he designed.

[2:50] From Mars to Broccoli. Dr. Fahey recounts his journey from researching "Life on Mars" to sulforaphane research at Johns Hopkins.

[7:00] "He Had Me at Hello." Dr. Cornblatt recalls meeting Dr. Fahey at a Johns Hopkins journal club, where they bonded over research.

[11:25] Dismantling the NRF2 Myth. Dr. Fahey and Dr. Cornblatt debunk fears that sulforaphane protects tumors.

[21:10] Taming the "Red Devil." Sulforaphane shields the heart from toxic chemotherapy while making tumors more vulnerable to treatment.

[35:35] The Glutathione Paradox. A transient depletion in glutathione leads to a genetic rebound that supercharges cellular defenses.

[41:00] NRF2 101

[43:30] Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and NK-kB and SFN’s inhibitory effects on their pro-cancer pathways.

[47:09] Starving the Tumor. Sulforaphane cuts off a tumor's blood supply (HIF-1/VEGF) and flips the "kill switch" on silenced suppressor genes via HDAC inhibition.

[49:30] Sulforaphane’s antibacterial effects against H. pylori help reduce the risk of stomach malignancies.

[54:20] The 150-Mutation Trap. Why single-target drugs fail against complex tumors and why multi-modal plant compounds are necessary.

[58:35] Killing the “Root of the Cause”. Targeting the drug-resistant "cancer stem cells" that cause relapses by stripping away their ability to self-renew.

[1:03:40] Similarities between indolent cancers (slow-dividing cancers) and cancer stem cells.

[1:07:47] Why the bladder is the "ideal" target for SFN.

[1:17:50] Dr. Fahey and Dr. Cornblatt reveal their daily habits, from eating homegrown sprouts to using genomics for precision.

[1:22:00] Suppositories. Bypassing the digestive tract to deliver protective compounds directly to the colon, prostate and cervix.

[1:28:37] Reclaiming Research. How clinicians can use "N of 1" trials to bypass the NIH funding void to help prove phytochemical efficacy.

[1:31:34] Dr. Brian Cornblatt’s New Project. Revolutionizing healthcare with the first hospital-based, preventive clinic on the planet. Collecting 8 gigs of diagnostic data, including the patients full genome, with the help of AI.

[1:34:35] Ending Amputations. A breakthrough Bahamas protocol combining plasma rays, exosomes, and specialized blood flow supplements to save diabetic limbs from decay.

[1:36:00] Eradicating Cancer. A look at AI-driven clinics and the "Tzar" blood test detecting cancer at Stage 0, way before any advanced image detection, with 91% sensitivity (soon to be 95%).

Resources:

Dr. Jed Fahey’s website, Dr. Brian Cornblatt’s new project, Doxorubicin plus SFN clinical trial, HIF1 Inhibition, HDAC Inhibition, MMP/NFKB,

Health and fitness influencer Ben Greenfield provided animal-based diet proponent Dr. Paul Saladino a platform to discuss his dietary ideology via a guest-hosting solo episode on his popular podcast a few years back. A primary feature was Paul breaking down the perils, as he framed it, of phytochemicals. In this episode, I focus primarily on correcting the misinformation Paul presented on the phytochemical sulforaphane.

You can listen to Dr. Paul Saladino’s episode on Ben Greenfield’s podcast here.

Studies cited by Paul:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

Studies I cite on the benefits and benign nature of sulforaphane:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

There's so much talk about taking GLP-1 these days. But how does our bodies' own GLP-1 work? And how do you know if your GLP-1 levels are suboptimal? I dig into this very subject as well as how to restore your body's own GLP-1 function.

I also uncover the health implications - particularly blood sugar dysregulation - of low GLP-1 and how GLP-1 function is often the very first domino to fall on the path to diabetes.

I first discussed GLP-1 back in early 2020, before semaglutide was widely available on the market as a weight-loss drug, in an episode titled Blood Sugar Physiology 101. Listen to it here for a detailed explanation of the body's Phase 1 insulin response and its relationship to GLP-1.