The Untold Longevity Secrets of GLP-1s and Thyroid Health with McCall McPherson
How can GLP-1 medications reduce inflammation and improve long-term health outcomes for you beyond weight loss?
In this episode, JJ talks with thyroid and metabolic health expert McCall McPherson about the powerful connection between GLP-1 medications, inflammation, and thyroid function. Together they reveal why these therapies are about far more than weight loss and how they can unlock vitality, restore balance, and protect long-term health. This conversation will open your eyes to the overlooked truth about thyroid testing, the real benefits of GLP-1s, and practical strategies to age powerfully.
McCall McPherson has helped thousands of women regain energy and confidence through her Modern Thyroid Clinic and Modern Weight Loss. A TEDx speaker, Inc. 5000 entrepreneur, and host of the Modern Thyroid and Wellness podcast, McCall blends cutting-edge science with compassion to give women real answers and life-changing results.
What you’ll learn:
(00:50) Why weight loss alone isn’t the full story of GLP-1s.
(03:53) How the old “calories in, calories out” model fails women struggling with thyroid and metabolic issues.
(06:11) Why it can take up to a decade for hypothyroidism to be properly diagnosed and treated.
(08:31) The anti-inflammatory power of GLP-1s and their impact on autoimmune disease, dementia, and cancer risk.
(15:09) Why microdosing GLP-1s creates better results and fewer side effects compared to standard dosing.
(21:05) The truth about compounding pharmacies and why they’re under attack despite strict regulation.
(31:07) How GLP-1s help women break cycles of food guilt and restore a healthier relationship with eating.
(36:08) The essential thyroid labs you must request.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99/month or $49.99/year (save 17%!)
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/mccall
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
52:32
--------
52:32
What Your Plate Should Look Like for Fat Loss
In this episode, I break down the science of building a fat-loss-friendly plate. I share why protein is your anchor, why fiber is a game changer, and how healthy fats and slow, low carbs keep your body satisfied and your metabolism strong. With practical tips, research-backed insights, and my own tried-and-true strategies, I make it simple to eat in a way that supports fat loss without sacrificing muscle or sanity.
What you’ll learn:
(01:00) Why being in a caloric deficit is non-negotiable for fat loss.
(02:52) How ultra-processed foods impact metabolism, hunger, and fat-burning hormones.
(06:09) Why eating protein first sets the stage for fat loss success.
(08:03) How the protein leverage hypothesis explains overeating on low-protein diets.
(10:30) Why adults over 30 need more protein and how to calculate your target intake.
(14:45) The critical role of fiber in satiety, gut health, and detox during fat loss.
(19:46) Why healthy fats are essential for hormones, brain health, and satiety.
(25:21) How to visually build your plate with the right portions of protein, vegetables, carbs, and fats.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99/month or $49.99/year (save 17%!)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
34:25
--------
34:25
Lose Your Mind to Reclaim Your Health with Josh Pais
How can you transform stress and anxiety into creative energy?
In this episode, JJ Virgin talks with actor, teacher, and author Josh Pais to explore the surprising connections between emotions, health, and creativity. Josh shares how his struggles with anxiety led him to discover a new way of understanding feelings as vibrations rather than problems to fix. Together, they dive into how presence, play, and embracing the full range of human sensations can unlock creativity, authenticity, and better health.
Josh Pais is an actor (Joker, TMNT, and 150+ other film and TV credits) and the creator of Committed Impulse, a training method used by top performers, entrepreneurs, and Navy SEALs to master presence and overcome anxiety. His book, Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility, teaches practical tools to unlock creative flow and emotional resilience. Josh blends science and storytelling to help people show up fully alive—on stage, in business, and in life.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
(01:21) How Josh’s early struggles with anxiety and auditioning led him to reframe emotions as vibrations in the body.
(05:20) Why suppression is just another form of managing emotions.
(06:49) The seven-to-twelve-second window that allows emotions to naturally shift when you fully feel them.
(10:09) How I experience anxiety differently by leaning into the sensation rather than resisting it.
(12:41) The greatest myth of our time: that emotions can be categorized as good or bad.
(18:35) Why suppressing emotions can create “lock boxes” in the body that eventually manifest as tension or illness.
(25:38) Josh’s four access points to presence that anyone can practice daily to reconnect with their body and creativity.
(37:53) The one simple shift you can make today to open yourself to creativity.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99/month or $49.99/year (save 17%!)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
46:27
--------
46:27
Animal vs. Plant Protein
It’s not tofu versus steak. It’s both.
There’s a battle raging in the health world over plant vs. animal protein—but the truth is, this isn’t an either/or game. It’s about combining the best of both to fuel muscle, metabolism, and longevity.
In this episode, JJ Virgin breaks down the science of protein for women over 40 and shows how to use both plant and animal proteins to:
1. Hit your macros without overeating calories.
2. Burn fat while protecting hard-earned muscle.
3. Balance hunger hormones and control cravings.
4. Boost energy, brain health, and longevity with key nutrients.
5. Build delicious, satisfying meals that fit your lifestyle.
What you’ll learn:
(0:45) Why protein is more than fuel—it’s your body’s construction crew for muscles, skin, enzymes, and immune health.
(2:30) How inadequate protein intake leads to muscle loss, slowed metabolism, and accelerated aging.
(5:10) The role of protein in muscle protein synthesis and why your body needs more after age 40.
(7:20) How protein boosts metabolism through thermogenesis and helps regulate hunger hormones like GLP-1 and ghrelin.
(10:05) The science behind the protein leverage hypothesis and how it helps control overeating.
(12:40) Why animal proteins are complete, highly bioavailable, and rich in leucine.
(19:15) The critical nutrients in animal protein (e.g., choline, creatine) that are difficult to replace with plants alone.
(31:00) My favorite protein-packed meal combinations that blend animal and plant sources for delicious, balanced nutrition.
Love the podcast? Here’s what to do:
Subscribe to the podcast.
Leave a review.
Text a screenshot to me at 813-565-2627 and wait for a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to http://subscribetojj.com
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
When you’re ready, enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99/month or $49.99/year (save 17%!)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
20:03
--------
20:03
Ancestral Health for Women: Hunter-Gatherer Lessons with Eric Edmeades
"I struggled to complete the fifth pushup, and I was horrified because it used to be 50 on my knuckles per set. What happened to me?" - Eric Edmeades
I've been fascinated by ancestral nutrition since my early days studying with Dr. Loren Cordain, but nothing prepared me for what I learned from Eric Edmeades, who has spent 15 years living with the Hadza people in Tanzania. As an honorary member of one of the last true hunter-gatherer tribes, Eric has witnessed firsthand what our bodies were designed for—and why our modern approach to ancestral health for women is missing critical pieces. His insights about their three-day limit on depression, their natural relationship with food scarcity and abundance, and their incredible physical resilience have completely shifted how I think about midlife health challenges. What Eric discovered about their seasonal eating patterns and why they never develop the diseases plaguing our society will make you question everything about your current wellness routine.
Pick one "hard thing" and commit to it daily for the next 7 days. Whether it's cold exposure, a challenging exercise (pistol squats, anyone?), or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator – choose something that makes your inner voice say "I don't want to do this." Notice how your relationship with discomfort changes by day seven.
What you’ll learn:
How to unlock your body's three metabolic modes – including the "junk food fall" trap that keeps most women stuck in weight gain cycles
Why the Hadza people don't experience depression beyond three days – and the simple movement solution that could transform your mental health
The truth about executive function – how modern comfort is literally rewiring your brain for weakness (and what to do about it)
How seasonal eating patterns can reset your metabolism – without restrictive dieting or counting calories
Why "doing hard things" isn't just motivational fluff – the neuroscience behind building unshakeable confidence through physical challenges
The missing link in most exercise routines – how to move like your ancestors to boost lymphatic flow and prevent disease
How to break free from the "zoo mentality" – combining ancestral wisdom with modern convenience for optimal health span
The surprising connection between adventure and longevity – what anthropologists discovered about comfort versus vitality
Love the Podcast? Here’s what to do:
Make My Day & Share Your Thoughts!
Subscribe to the podcast & leave me a review
Text a screenshot to 813-565-2627
Expect a personal reply because your voice is so important to me.
Join 55,000+ followers who make this podcast thrive.
Want to listen to the show completely ad-free?
Go to subscribetojj.com
Enjoy the VIP experience for just $4.99/month or $49.99/year (save 17%!)
Click “TRY FREE” and start your ad-free journey today!
Full show notes (including all links mentioned): https://jjvirgin.com/eric
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Well Beyond 40 with JJ Virgin is the podcast for women who want to age powerfully and enjoy the best chapter of their lives. It’s YOUR turn now to focus on nutrition, wellness, fitness, mindfulness, and beauty. Refuel your body. Reignite your wellness. Renew your passion. Fall (back) in love with your life, and discover what it means to age powerfully. Every information-packed episode combines cutting-edge science, pearls of wisdom from JJ’s four decades as a health and wellness leader and the world’s leading experts on weight loss, metabolism, menopause, life transitions and much more. We dive deep into topics like cultivating mindfulness, building strong relationships and setting boundaries, and choosing health…in a nutshell, how we can AGE POWERFULLY into this second half of our lives. At Well Beyond 40, we empower women in their 40s, 50s, 60, 70s (and beyond!) to defy stereotypes and say, “It's my time now. It's my turn now. It’s my opportunity to step into my best life!” For four decades, JJ Virgin has helped people lose weight and stop weight regain by eliminating hidden food intolerances and lowering their sugar impact. As a triple-board certified nutrition expert and Fitness Hall of Famer, JJ helps you stay fired up and focused on being your healthiest rockstar self. In addition to hosting Well Beyond 40, JJ is a prominent TV and media personality. She was co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters and the on-camera nutritionist for Weight Loss Challenges on Dr. Phil. Over the years, JJ has made numerous appearances on PBS, Dr. Oz, Rachael Ray, Access Hollywood, and the TODAY Show. She also speaks regularly and has shared the stage with notables including Seth Godin, Lisa Nichols, Gary Vaynerchuk, Mark Hyman, Dan Buettner, and Mary Morrissey. JJ is the author of 4 New York Times bestsellers: The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, The Sugar Impact Diet, and The Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. JJ is also the author of Warrior Mom: 7 Secrets to Bold, Brave Resilience. She regularly writes for major blogs and other publications including mindbodygreen and Medium. Visit jjvirgin.com for hundreds of free recipes and resources, plus state-of-the-art programs, products, and plenty of support to help you rev up your metabolism, reignite your wellness, and step powerfully into the second half of your life. Love the Podcast? Here’s what to do: Make My Day & Share Your Thoughts! - Subscribe to the podcast & leave me a review - Text a screenshot to 813-565-2627 - Expect a personal reply because your voice is so important to me. Join 55,000+ followers who make this podcast thrive.
Ireland