The Science of Aging: C15, Inflammation, and Living Longer with Fatty15

In this episode, Leana sits down with Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson — veterinary epidemiologist, scientist, co-founder of Fatty 15, and the woman who discovered C15 while working with aging Navy dolphins in San Diego. This conversation is equal parts science deep dive and deeply personal story, and Dr. Stephanie makes one of the most complex topics in longevity research genuinely easy to understand and exciting to care about.

This one is for every woman who wants to take her health seriously and actually understand what she is putting in her body and why.

Leana and Dr. Stephanie get into:

→ What C15 actually is — breaking down fatty acids, saturated fats, and why not all of them are bad → Why C15 is being called the first essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years since omega-3 → The difference between C15 and omega-3 EPA — and why C15 had 36 cellular benefits versus omega-3’s third of that in independent testing → How C15 strengthens cell membranes and why fragile cells are linked to faster aging and chronic disease → Why people with lower dairy fat intake — including vegans — may be sitting right on the edge of C15 deficiency → The surprising link between C15 levels and fertility, gestational diabetes, and women’s health through menopause → Why the quality of what an animal eats matters — grass-fed versus corn-fed dairy and how it affects C15 levels → How to get tested for C15 deficiency and what to look for in your blood work → The Navy dolphin study that started it all — and how aging dolphins led to one of the most exciting health discoveries in decades → Building Fatty 15 from scratch — licensing the patent from the Navy, naming it, and selling out in six weeks after being covered by the New York Times and Washington Post → Why 95% of Fatty 15 customers stay on it monthly and what results people are seeing within 16 weeks → The brand new Nature paper showing a gut bacterium that reduces artery plaques by 50% — and that the molecule it produces is C15 → What fail fast actually means — and why getting comfortable with being wrong is one of the most freeing things you can do → Going against her father’s expectations to become a veterinarian and how that moment shaped everything → Quieting the noise, tapping into inner energy, and the role spirituality and meditation play in staying grounded → Her book The Longevity Nutrient — and why the core message is to let the unexpected happen and lean in when it finds you → What it means to be human — and why her answer is empathy

“Chances are your purpose is going to find you versus you finding it. And so when it finds you, lean in and go do good things in the world.” — Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson

TOPICS DISCUSSED

(00:00) Intro: C15, Longevity & Healthy Aging
(01:22) What Is C15? Understanding the Longevity Nutrient
(05:31) C15 vs. Omega-3: What's the Difference?
(11:48) How C15 Supports Cellular Health and Aging
(15:30) C15, Fertility, Pregnancy & Women's Hormones
(19:06) How Studying Navy Dolphins Led to the C15 Discovery
(27:27) Building Fatty15: From Scientific Discovery to Business
(36:29) Overcoming Failure, Letting Go of Ego & Finding Success
(44:24) Meditation, Spirituality & Connecting With Your Purpose
(49:31) What It Means to Be Human: The Power of Empathy

Stay connected with Leana Deeb:

Instagram: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpodcast

TikTok: @leanadeebb / @beinghumannpod

Stay connected with Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson:

LinkedIn: Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson

Shop: https://fatty15.com

Science: https://discoverc15.com

Book: The Longevity Nutrient — available wherever books are sold

Use code LEANA for 15% off at https://fatty15.com

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