The Loop Podcast: Peptides, Longevity & Women’s Wellness

EP 55: How Grief Changes Your Body, Brain & Identity | Peptides, Healing & Widowhood | Michele Barnowski

Peptides, nervous system regulation, trauma healing, and GLP-1 support are all explored in this deeply vulnerable episode of the Loop Podcast. Stephanie sits down with longtime friend and fitness instructor Michele Barnowski for one of the most emotional conversations yet. Michele shares her journey after unexpectedly losing her husband at 45, navigating grief while raising two children, and learning how chronic stress impacts the body, brain, hormones, and overall health. Together, they dive into the realities of widowhood, perfectionism in healing, nervous system dysregulation, therapy, somatic healing, and the role peptides played in helping Michele regain her energy, clarity, and resilience. Michele also opens up about the importance of community, why she joined the Loop coaching world, and how she’s now helping others through their own wellness journeys. This episode is raw, inspiring, heartbreaking, hopeful, and ultimately about rebuilding yourself after life completely changes. Topics discussed: * Grief and trauma healing * Nervous system regulation * Chronic stress and inflammation * GLP-1 microdosing * BPC-157 and mitochondrial support * Widowhood and identity loss * Somatic healing and therapy * Community and wellness * Fitness, hormones, and aging * Healing through connection Peptides discussed in this episode: * NAD+ (energy + cognitive support research) * GLP-1 / Loop Lean (metabolic health + inflammation support) * BPC-157 (recovery + gut health research) * SS-31 (mitochondrial support research) ••MOTS-c (metabolic + mitochondrial optimization research)

EP 54: Peptides, Burnout & Building Loop in Public | Dr. Sarah Sarkis Returns

Peptides, burnout, wellness culture, and social media pressure… this episode gets real. In Episode 54 of the Loop Podcast, Steph sits down with returning guest Dr. Sarah Sarkis for an honest conversation about the emotional side of building a wellness brand in public while navigating peptides, business growth, social media scrutiny, leadership, and burnout. Steph opens up about the rapid growth of Loop, the pressure of running a health-focused company, dealing with Instagram bans and shadowbans, and the emotional toll that comes with constantly showing up online. Together, she and Dr. Sarkis unpack the complicated relationship between wellness culture, body image, ambition, perfectionism, and self-worth. They also dive into: * The dangers of peptide misuse and misinformation * Why wellness is NOT one-size-fits-all * The pressure women face online around body image * Leadership, boundaries, and protecting your energy * Burnout, overcommitment, and founder fatigue * Why community matters more than ever * The future of Loop and peptide education * Building a business ethically in a crowded industry This episode is vulnerable, reflective, funny, and deeply human. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, wellness enthusiast, peptide user, or simply someone trying to balance ambition with real life, this conversation will resonate. Peptides & Supplements Discussed * GLP-1 peptides (metabolic health + weight management) * Creatine (strength + recovery support) * Amino acids (muscle recovery + protein support) * Research peptides vs compounded peptides * Peptides for inflammation, recovery, and optimization * Hair growth + skin support discussions Signup for a free 3 month trial of the Loop Health membership here: www.loop.health

EP 53: The Future of Spine Surgery Is Here | Peptides, AI & Minimally Invasive Healing | Dr. Jeffrey Roh

Spine surgery is changing fast… and peptides may play a major role in the future of healing and recovery. In Episode 53 of Loop Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Jeffrey Roh, MD, MBA, MSc of Excel Health to talk about minimally invasive spine surgery, AI in medicine, preventative healthcare, peptide therapy, and why the future of surgery may happen “through a needle.” Dr. Roh shares how traditional open spine procedures are evolving into highly advanced endoscopic surgeries with smaller incisions, faster recovery times, and less damage to the body. The conversation also dives into how peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 could potentially support recovery, reduce inflammation, and transform orthopedics and spine care in the years ahead. They also discuss:  • Why medicine is often slow to adopt innovation  • AI, robotics, and the future of healthcare  • Preventative healing vs reactive medicine  • Why peptides are gaining attention in orthopedics  • The overlap between regenerative medicine and surgery  • Recovering faster after injuries and operations  • Stem cells, biologics, and inflammation research  • The future of spine surgery technology  • Entrepreneurship in medicine  • Mountaineering, discipline, and personal growth If you’ve ever dealt with back pain, wondered about peptides, or wanted a glimpse into where modern medicine is heading, this episode is packed with insight. Peptides discussed in this episode: * BPC-157 (recovery + inflammation research) * TB-500 (healing + recovery research) * GHK-Cu (skin + repair research) * SBO1 / Spine BioPharma peptide research

EP 52: Peptides Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All… Here’s What Actually Works | Telehealth Mistakes + Custom Protocols | Anthony Castore

Peptides aren’t one-size-fits-all—and that’s exactly why most people aren’t getting results. In this episode of the Loop Podcast, Steph sits down with returning guest Anthony Castore for Part 2, diving deep into the real strategy behind peptide protocols, telehealth pitfalls, and why personalized coaching matters more than ever. If you’ve ever felt like peptides “aren’t working” or you’ve been handed a generic plan with no real support, this conversation breaks down exactly why. Steph and Anthony unpack: * Why cookie-cutter peptide protocols fail * The biggest mistakes happening in telehealth right now * How to actually build a personalized peptide plan * Why “less is more” when it comes to training and recovery * The truth about GLPs—and why they don’t work for everyone * How mitochondria health impacts everything from energy to fat loss They also walk through a real case study of a perimenopausal woman struggling with fatigue, hormones, and plateaus—and how dialing in her protocol, lifestyle, and training changed everything. This episode is part education, part reality check, and part roadmap for anyone serious about optimizing their health the right way. Because at the end of the day—it’s not about doing more… it’s about doing what actually works for your body. Peptides discussed in this episode: SS-31 (mitochondrial support research) MOTS-c (metabolic + longevity research) Tesamorelin (fat metabolism + GH signaling research) Ipamorelin (recovery + GH pulse support research) CJC-1295 (growth hormone support research) Thymosin Alpha-1 (immune support research) 5-amino-1MQ (metabolic support research)

EP 51: What Actually Works for Recovery & Performance | Peptides, Nutrition & Training | Anthony Castore

Peptides, performance, and recovery are at the center of this conversation. In Episode 51 of the Loop Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Anthony Castore, whose journey into health and wellness started with a simple goal: transform his body. What began as a pursuit of fitness evolved into a deep dive into peptides, cellular health, and performance optimization. Anthony shares how he went from being a 117-pound high school graduate to immersing himself in the world of peptide therapy, conferences, and education, eventually connecting with leaders in the field like Dr. Seeds and contributing to the growing peptide conversation. In this episode, we cover: • Anthony’s transformation from bodybuilding to peptide education  • What peptides actually do and how they support recovery and performance  • The importance of lifestyle, nutrition, and training alongside peptides  • Real-world case studies, including athletes and everyday clients  • Simple nutrition frameworks like the “hand system” and 5-10-15-20 rule  • Why recovery and mitochondrial health matter more than people think  • The role of strength training in long-term health  • Anthony’s go-to peptides and how he approaches protocols This episode is a powerful reminder that peptides aren’t magic — they’re tools, and the foundation will always be built on consistency, education, and understanding your body. As always, remember that everyone’s health journey is different. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or protocol. Peptides discussed in this episode: BPC-157 (recovery + gut research) TB-500 (tissue repair + recovery research) GHK-Cu (skin + repair research) CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin (growth hormone support research)