Welcome to The Superhumanize Podcast.

I’m your host, Ariane Sommer—and in this episode, we explore a frontier of health that’s been quietly shaping our biology all along: the world of glycans.

My guest is Nikolina Lauc, co-founder and CEO of GlycanAge—a pioneering biotech company using glycan biomarkers to measure biological age and predict long-term health outcomes. Her work is helping to shift the paradigm of aging from something we passively endure to something we can actively understand—and even influence.

We dive into what glycans are—these complex sugar molecules that modify proteins and silently direct processes like inflammation, immunity, and aging.

Nikolina explains how they reveal a layer of biological communication most of us have never heard of… and how listening to that hidden language can help us prevent disease years before it begins.

We also explore GlycanAge’s breakthrough menopause biomarker, their personalized approach to longevity, and what it means to raise awareness around women’s health in a data-driven age.

If you’ve ever wanted to go deeper than genetics—

If you’ve sensed there’s more to your body’s story than your DNA—

This episode may open a new door for you.

Episode highlights:

-What glycans are and why they matter more than genes alone

-How chronic inflammation predicts disease up to 10 years in advance

-The science behind GlycanAge's biological age test

-Why exercise and diet affect everyone differently

-The coming revolution in menopause diagnostics

-Metformin, biohacking, and the myth of one-size-fits-all longevity

-The future of personalized health data and ethical enhancement

Resources mentioned:

Glycan Age https://glycanage.com/

Guest's social handles:

Nikolina Lauc

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolinalauc

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nikolinalauc/

Glycan Age

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/glycanage/

X https://x.com/glycanage

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/glycanage/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1OeXYKa-NmKr9AtczwN4Q

"If you spend all your time looking for the perfect person, you’ll struggle. A healthier mindset is to find someone you enjoy — and then work to build the relationship you want."

Welcome to The Superhumanize Podcast.

I’m your host, Ariane Sommer—and in this episode, we’re stepping into one of the most intimate intersections of modern life: where love meets technology.

My guest today is Dr. Liesel Sharabi, a leading researcher at Arizona State University and Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab. Her work dives deep into how digital tools—from dating apps to virtual reality—are reshaping not only how we meet, but how we connect, how we build intimacy, and how we sustain relationships in a rapidly changing world.

We explore the future of romantic connection—

How algorithms and AI companions are influencing attraction.

What happens when first dates take place in virtual reality.

And how the seemingly infinite choices on dating apps can sometimes leave us lonelier than before.

We also touch on the deeper threads:

The psychological impact of swipe culture,

The ethical tensions of love in a commodified system,

And whether technology is bringing us closer—or quietly rewriting what it means to relate.

If you’ve ever wondered how digital culture is shaping the soul of human connection…

This conversation is for you.

Episode highlights:

• Virtual reality as a new frontier for first dates and intimacy
• How AI companions are changing emotional connection
• The psychological impact of dating app culture
• Dating app burnout and how to avoid it
• The ethics and data privacy concerns of AI-driven romance
• Cross-cultural perceptions of digital dating
• The difference in satisfaction between online and offline-initiated marriages
• Future applications of VR in coaching, touch, and relationship building
• How younger generations are shaping the norms of modern connection

Resources mentioned:

Liesel's website https://www.lieselsharabi.com/

Dating In the Digital Age https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dating-in-the-digital-age

Guest's social handles:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/liesel-sharabi

X https://x.com/lieselsharabi

Welcome to The Superhumanize Podcast.

I’m your host, Ariane Sommer and today, we’re not just talking about heart health…

We’re decoding it.

My guest is Dr. Ronald Krauss, one of the most influential voices in cardiovascular research today. A professor of medicine at UCSF and a pioneer in lipidology, Dr. Krauss has reshaped how we understand cholesterol, inflammation, and the subtle particles that move through our blood and, often, determine our fate.

In this conversation, we go far beyond the standard cholesterol panel.

We explore the deeper nuances like the size and density of LDL particles, the overlooked power of ApoB and Lp(a), and how refined carbohydrates, not saturated fats, may play a much larger role in cardiovascular risk than we've been led to believe.

We also enter emerging frontiers:

How the gut microbiome shapes the heart, how our genes can guide more precise therapies, and how personalized nutrition may become one of the most powerful tools for prevention in the years to come.

This episode is not just for the curious, it’s for those who sense there’s more to the story of heart disease than numbers on a lab report.

It’s for those who believe science can be both evidence-based and visionary.

And for those of us who know the body carries not just risk, but memory, intelligence, and code.

Episode highlights:

• Why small, dense LDL particles are more dangerous than large ones
• The role of ApoB and Lp(a) as underused but powerful heart health indicators
• How metabolic syndrome and inflammation interconnect with lipid disorders
• The surprising truth about saturated fat vs. refined carbs
• The promise (and limitations) of personalized nutrition and genomics
• How physical activity and gut health shape lipid metabolism
• New frontiers in the fight against dementia linked to cardiovascular function

Resources mentioned:

Dr. Krauss' Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Krauss_(medical_researcher)

Dr. Krauss' professional profiles:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/ronald.krauss

https://amecenter.ucsf.edu/people/ronald-krauss-md