"Second Opinion" with Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz MD & Luba Greenwood JD

• The fertility conversation we're not having (but should) with Carrot's Dr. Asima Ahmad

  In this episode of Second Opinion, Christina Farr interviews Dr. Asima Ahmad MD, MPH, FACOG, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot, discussing her journey as a fertility specialist and entrepreneur. They explore the challenges and advancements in fertility treatment, the importance of early fertility education, and the impact of new technologies on making fertility care more accessible and affordable. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess   🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse    — SPONSORS: 🏋🏻‍♀️Strengthen your cells from the inside-out with Fatty15, a pure C15 supplement proven to boost energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic, heart, and liver health – without the downsides of fish oil. Ready to restore your long-term health? Get 15% off your 90-day subscription Starter Kit at fatty15.com/SECONDOPINION using code SECONDOPINION at checkout.  👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today. — LINKS: Carrot: https://www.get-carrot.com/  Dr. Marcelel Cedars: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/dr-marcelle-cedars  The End of Sex by Hank Greely: https://www.amazon.com/End-Sex-Future-Human-Reproduction/dp/0674728963  Pilot Study Evaluates Weekly Pill to Slow Ovarian Aging, Delay Menopause: https://www.nyp.org/advances-womenshealth/pilot-study-evaluates-weekly-pill-to-slow-ovarian-aging-delay-menopause @doctor_asima on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_asima/   Leslie Schrock episode on Second Opinion: https://youtu.be/LmZAoLqMSmc?si=djwXFJ0KhgZV-_ia  — FOLLOW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asima-ahmad-md/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/ — HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: Asima Ahmad is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot and practices as a fertility specialist at Reproductive Medicine Institute in Chicago. Only about 40-50 reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialists graduate per year in the US. OB-GYNs often handle initial fertility workups in rural areas and some countries before referring to specialists. Virtual care has significantly improved access to fertility treatment since the pandemic. "Revenge egg freezing" is a trend where employees use fertility benefits right before leaving companies. Asima considers egg freezing safe and supports access to fertility preservation options. Both Asima and host Chrissy experienced delayed PCOS diagnoses, highlighting the importance of early detection. PCOS diagnosis requires two of three criteria: irregular cycles, polycystic ovaries, or signs of elevated androgens. PCOS has implications beyond fertility including increased risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Fertility education should be taught alongside contraception education in schools. Women experience ovarian aging and declining egg quality with age, which impacts family planning. In vitro maturation (IVM) allows eggs to be retrieved earlier with fewer medications, reducing physical and financial burden. Research is being conducted on delaying ovarian aging to extend the fertility window.

  --------  

  40:46
• Are there better alternatives to Ozempic with Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health

  This week on Second Opinion, we're featuring Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz, and Luba Greenwood's conversation with Sami Inkinen, CEO of Virta Health. They discuss the company's mission to reverse type 2 diabetes and obesity through personalized nutrition and intensive telemedicine. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess   🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse    — SPONSOR:  👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today. — LINKS:  Virta Health: https://www.virtahealth.com/  PHTI: https://phti.org/ Caroline Pearson on Second Opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbo3T654g6c — FOLLOW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiinkinen/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/ — HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: Sami Inkinen is an "accidental healthcare entrepreneur" who founded Virta Health after discovering he was pre-diabetic despite being a world championship triathlete. Sami's key insight was that "you cannot outrun a bad diet" – excessive processed carbohydrates lead to insulin resistance regardless of exercise level. Virta Health's mission is to reverse type 2 diabetes and obesity in 1 billion people through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and telemedicine support. Virta spent five years running clinical trials that demonstrated they could reverse type 2 diabetes and deliver sustained weight loss (13% at one and two years). They highly individualize treatment plans based on each person's circumstances, whether they're eating from a casino, a 7-Eleven, or McDonald's. Unlike traditional quarterly doctor visits, Virta provides 2-3 interactions daily, monitoring biomarkers and adjusting in near real-time. Their approach doesn't rely on willpower – patients eat to satiety, which is key to long-term success. Patients typically get free access to Virta, with employers or health plans paying because Virta saves them about $600/month per patient. The Peterson Health Technology Institute found Virta was the only digital diabetes program that actually worked. Sami believes the ideal obesity treatment combines nutrition (as first-line defense) with GLP-1 drugs when necessary, not an either/or approach. Virta employs full-time doctors and coaches who form long-term relationships with patients, empowered by software and AI. The company is focusing on scaling their current services, becoming profitable in 2025, and potentially becoming a public company.

  --------  

  43:50
• Why health care entrepreneurs need to be missionaries, not mercenaries — with angel investor Zen Chu

  This week on Second Opinion, Christina Farr sits down with healthcare investing legend Zen Chu, who shares his framework for backing resilient entrepreneurs and insights from early investments in companies like Abridge and PillPack. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess   🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse    — SPONSOR:  👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today. — LINKS:  Zen Chu (MIT): https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/zen-chu  MIT Hacking Medicine: https://hackingmedicine.mit.edu/  — FOLLOW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hackmed/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/ — HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: According to Zen, technology is essential to scale medicine and achieve the quadruple aim: better quality, lower cost, better access, and reduced burnout. When investing, Zen looks for entrepreneurs who have weathered crises and shown adaptability and resilience. He prefers "missionaries over mercenaries" - founders whose personal identity connects with their business mission. Zen believes in "founder-market fit" where entrepreneurs deeply understand the problems they're solving. Determined founders refuse to give up during challenging periods and find ways to pivot successfully. Zen highlights examples of his successful investments, including Abridge and PillPack. Zen recommends securing a personal "FU fund" that provides the financial security to take entrepreneurial risks. Investing in friends can be effective but may alter the dynamics of personal relationships. Zen advises investors to only put money in startups they're willing to lose entirely. Health systems make challenging customers because they often "pilot things to death." Most physicians aren't suited to be startup CEOs as they're typically trained for individual decision-making rather than collaborative leadership. The best physician entrepreneurs often come from resource-constrained healthcare settings. "Algorithmic care" enables automated, guideline-based treatment for patients who know what they need. The healthcare system frequently underestimates patients' understanding of their own health needs. In his rapid assessment, Zen considers AI in medicine appropriately hyped with incredible potential. He sees point solution care delivery businesses as likely overhyped with many failures ahead. Consumerization of healthcare is "about right" though possibly receiving too much funding. Medical devices are "under invested" with insufficient venture capital expertise in the sector. Many healthcare technology tools struggle as standalone products, pushing startups to vertically integrate and deliver care directly.

  --------  

  40:39
• Distribution advantage: Are influencers the new moat in healthcare? with Headline VC's Georgina McMillan

  The week on Second Opinion, Christina Farr and Luba Greenwood sit down with Georgina McMillan to discuss the impact of celebrities and influencers on the healthcare and longevity sectors, exploring how their endorsements and social media presence can both promote health awareness and lead to misinformation, and the need for authentic and scientifically-backed partnerships. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess   🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse    — SPONSOR:  👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today. — RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod  — LINKS:  Headline: https://headline.com/  Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81637595  Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/  — FOLLOW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-mcmillan/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/ — HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: There's a distinction between celebrity doctors starting their own businesses and traditional celebrities getting involved in health companies. Social media has become crucial for healthcare distribution, allowing doctors to grow their practices by building online authority. Celebrity partnerships may solve rising customer acquisition costs by offering startups access to built-in audiences. Trust and authenticity are essential for effective celebrity involvement in healthcare. The longevity trend raises concerns, particularly when physicians promote products without clinical evidence. Social media rewards extreme content, which can lead to health misinformation. Vanity and aesthetics can positively motivate health behaviors. There's a trend shifting from artificial fillers toward natural-looking solutions based on real science. The beauty industry draws healthcare resources away from traditional care into more lucrative aesthetic practices. Celebrity motivations range from authentic interest to financial incentives. Olivia Munn's breast cancer diagnosis post demonstrates the powerful positive impact celebrities can have on public health education. Celebrity attention to rare diseases can be crucial for driving research and finding cures. Celebrities and influencers can be powerful patient advocates when connected to scientifically-backed products and services.

  --------  

  38:19
• Let's talk about men's health: hormones, longevity, and cultural shifts, with Hone CEO Saad Alam

  In this episode of Second Opinion, Christina Farr and Luba Greenwood discuss men's health with Saad Alam, co-founder and CEO of Hone Health. They cover the rapid cultural shift in attitudes toward men's wellness, Alam's personal journey with hormone imbalances, and the emerging trends in health treatments for men, including testosterone therapy and lifestyle changes. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess   🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse    — SPONSOR:  👩‍⚕️ Hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog? You don't have to accept these as just another part of aging. Midi Health is the virtual care clinic for women navigating midlife hormonal transition, offering FDA-approved medications, supplements and lifestyle coaching - all covered by insurance. Visit joinmidi.com to book your virtual visit today. — RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod  — LINKS:  Hone Health: https://honehealth.com/  Subscribe to Second Opinion Newsletter: https://secondopinion.media/  — FOLLOW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-alam-a146b311/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/ — HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE: Saad Alam started Hone Health after personally experiencing dismissive medical care when seeking help for his hormone-related health issues at age 35. Modern men have 26% less testosterone and 50% fewer sperm compared to men 30 years ago. Hone's treatment approach starts with lifestyle fundamentals (sleep, hydration, stress, movement) before considering medication. The company performs comprehensive testing of 50 biomarkers and requires double testing before prescribing treatment. Men's health stigma has decreased significantly in the past 4-5 years, partly due to influencers normalizing hormone discussions. Men are increasingly open to wellness treatments like contrast therapy and Botox, with male Botox being the fastest-growing category. The average Hone patient is 39 years old, significantly younger than the national average testosterone user age of 52. Men strongly prefer testosterone treatment over weight loss medications, with 80% rejecting weight loss prescriptions. Urban living is associated with a 30-40% higher likelihood of hormone imbalance due to environmental contaminants. Hone conducts 45-minute consultations to create a safe space for men to discuss their health concerns openly. Treatment monitoring includes regular checks for estrogen-related side effects and red blood cell counts. Environmental factors like plastics, phthalates, and PCBs can significantly disturb hormone production. The top concerns for male patients are energy, muscles, and libido, while women prioritize brain fog, night sweats, and mood. The standard starting dose for testosterone treatment is 50-75mg per week, far lower than the 1000-2000mg used by bodybuilders.

  --------  

  44:13

More Technology podcasts

Trending Technology podcasts

About "Second Opinion" with Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz MD & Luba Greenwood JD