EP 1358
1358. How to Have a Superhuman Baby After 40
In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Host Dave Asprey talks with Dr. Ann Shippy, a board certified internal medicine physician, functional medicine practitioner, and former IBM chemical engineer, about why preconception is the most powerful window to shape lifelong health for future children. Dr. Shippy explains how fertility acts as a biological check engine light that reflects mitochondrial health, hormone balance, toxin exposure, sleep quality, and stress load long before pregnancy begins. Dave and Dr. Shippy lay out a clear roadmap for men and women to prepare their bodies months or years before conception, treating sperm and egg quality as biological time capsules that influence brain development, immune function, and long term resilience. They explore the role of environmental toxins and mold, circadian rhythm disruption, thyroid and testosterone health, targeted supplements, and when IVF makes sense versus when it bypasses essential biological intelligence. This conversation reframesfertility as a cornerstone of longevity, human performance, and generational health, offering practical insight for anyone who wants healthier kids and a stronger biological future.
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In this Episode of The Human Upgrade™...
This episode lays out the blueprint for having healthier children later in life by treating preconception as the most important window for human health. You’ll learn why fertility is not just about getting pregnant, but about building the biological foundation that shapes a child’s brain development, metabolism, immune function, and long term resilience. This conversation reframes infertility as a meaningful signal to pause, repair, and prepare, instead of something to override or rush past.
** Dr. Shippy’s New Book ‘The Preconception Revolution’: https://annshippymd.com/the-preconception-revolution/ **
Dr. Ann Shippy is a board-certified internal medicine physician, certified functional medicine practitioner, and a leading expert in preconception health and fertility optimization. A former IBM chemical engineer, she brings a rare systems-based and data-driven approach to uncovering the root causes of infertility, chronic disease, and hormonal dysfunction. Through her Austin-based medical practice, she has helped men and women restore fertility naturally and conceive healthy children well into their 40s using advanced lab testing, precision supplements, and targeted functional medicine strategies.
Together, Dave Asprey and Dr. Shippy explore why childhood illness and infertility are rising at the same time, and how environmental toxins, mold exposure, microbiome imbalances, sleep disruption, and chronic inflammation undermine fertility in both men and women. They discuss the role of mitochondria, circadian rhythms, thyroid health, testosterone, and epigenetics in reproductive health, and why IVF should not be the first step without addressing underlying biological dysfunction.
You’ll Learn:
- Why preconception matters more than pregnancy for long term child health
- How sperm and egg quality act as biological time capsules for future generations
- Why infertility functions as a warning signal instead of a random failure
- How environmental toxins and mold exposure disrupt fertility and mitochondrial health
- The connection between fertility, longevity, and overall human performance
- Why sleep, circadian rhythm, and stress strongly influence reproductive hormones
- The role of thyroid function and testosterone in fertility and metabolism
- When IVF makes sense and why it should not bypass foundational health work
Keywords: preconception health, fertility optimization, healthy pregnancy preparation, sperm and egg quality, epigenetic inheritance, generational health, infertility root causes, environmental toxins fertility, mitochondrial health fertility, functional medicine fertility, hormone balance fertility, IVF alternatives, natural fertility strategies, longevity and reproduction, human performance biology, sleep and fertility, circadian rhythm health, supplements for fertility, smarter not harder health, Dave Asprey fertility, Human Upgrade fertility, Dr. Ann Shippy, Ann Shippy MD, Ann Shippy fertility expert, Ann Shippy preconception, The Preconception Revolution
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Resources:
- Dr Shippy’s New Book ‘The Preconception Revolution’: https://annshippymd.com/the-preconception-revolution/
- Dr Shippy’s Website: https://annshippymd.com/
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“Infertility is the body’s check engine light. Don’t proceed. The egg and the sperm are a time capsule for everything you’ve been doing before conception.”
Ann Shippy
0:00 — Trailer
A preview framing fertility as a powerful signal of long-term health, longevity, and the foundation for future children.
1:45 — Introduction
Dave Asprey and Dr. Ann Shippy set the stage for preconception as the roadmap for healthier parents and healthier kids.
2:49 — Rising Childhood Illnesses
They connect the rise in infertility with increasing rates of autism, metabolic disease, and chronic illness in children.
5:47 — Ann’s Fertility Journey
Dr. Shippy shares her personal experience with infertility, failed treatments, severe illness, and how restoring her health led to pregnancy.
10:41 — Environmental Toxins & Mold
A deep look at environmental toxins, especially mold, as a leading and overlooked cause of infertility and miscarriage.
12:42 — Circadian Rhythms & Sleep
How light exposure, poor sleep, and circadian disruption interfere with hormones, melatonin, and reproductive health.
16:42 — IVF Considerations
A functional medicine perspective on IVF, including potential risks and why addressing root causes should come first.
19:54 — Infertility as Warning Sign
Infertility is reframed as the body’s check engine light signaling the need to pause and repair before conception.
22:20 — Egg Selection & Biology
Why eggs are not identical, how the body selects the right egg, and what biological intelligence IVF can bypass.
26:43 — Men’s Role in Fertility
Why sperm quality matters just as much as egg quality and how men influence generational health.
28:16 — Supplements for Fertility
Specific supplements discussed that support mitochondrial function, sperm health, and egg quality.
36:49 — Thyroid & Fertility
The critical role of thyroid health in metabolism, energy, and reproductive function.
42:20 — Testosterone & Fertility
How testosterone affects sperm production, fertility, and overall metabolic health.
50:40 — Stress & Trauma
The impact of chronic stress and unresolved trauma on fertility, hormones, and epigenetic signaling.
53:56 — Spiritual Aspects
A discussion on intuition, conscious conception, and the deeper dimensions of preparing for parenthood.
59:15 — Relationship Health
Why emotional safety, relationship stability, and alignment matter before bringing a child into the world.
Enjoy the show!
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