Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Hey, ChildFree Life by Design, today we’re talking about longevity and the Longevity Science Foundation and what it means to people who are building a Childfree life on their own terms. I’m Dr. Jay Zigmont, here with Joshua Herring, and in this episode we’re covering how to fund lifesaving research, the difference between lifespan and healthspan, and how to take agency in your own health journey.
If you’ve ever wondered how to ensure your golden years are actually healthy and active without a traditional family support structure, this conversation will give you clarity and tools to make the intentional decisions that support the life you want.
Intro: From Childfree Insights, this is Childfree Life By Design, the go-to resource for building the Childfree life you want. Every episode gives you practical guidance, clear direction, and meaningful conversations to help you live intentionally and design a future on your terms. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your advisor before implementing any ideas heard on this podcast.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Joining me today is Joshua Herring, the president and CEO of the Longevity Science Foundation. Josh brings a unique perspective to the table. Prior to leading the LSF, he managed over $2 billion in assets for ultra high net worth clients at Alliance Bernstein. Today, he’s taken that expertise in wealth planning and pivoted towards the ultimate asset, our health. Josh, welcome to the show.
Joshua Herring: Thanks for having me on Jay. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Josh and I met recently, and I heard what you’re doing and I was like, you got some cool stuff going on over there at the LSF. Can you give me the short elevator pitch of what it is and what you’re doing?
Joshua Herring: We have a very simple mission: to help people live healthier for longer. We’ve identified that one of the biggest things keeping us from doing so is a fundamental lack of research funded at the earlier stages, particularly from the preventive and predictive medicine standpoints. We partner philanthropic capital with high-quality research projects globally aimed at specific diseases like Alzheimer’s or systems aging.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: I was talking with a client in the pharma world recently, and we discussed how pharma really only researches stuff they think they can make money on. Longevity and healthspan aren’t always a “financial win” for a corporation, but they are a win for humanity. Is that fair?
Joshua Herring: That’s super fair. Financial systems in pharmaceuticals and healthcare are not designed to fund prevention; they make money by treating people over the life course of their disease. For us, the longevity equation is not necessarily a financial conversation. We talk about it in terms of “return on health” and “return on value” rather than ROI.
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Joshua Herring: Something I hear all the time is you can have the best research in the world, but it doesn’t mean it’ll make the best company. Sometimes the best research makes the most meaningful impact, but it can’t be done in silos. We need to marry the world of intention with the world of impact.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: My wife and I are both PhD researchers. Getting research funded is a skill and a massive challenge. People don’t realize how hard it is to go from an idea to actual patient care. Can you talk about that “valley of death”?
Joshua Herring: Everyone talks about “bench to bedside.” What they don’t talk about is “head to bench.” We found that about 85% of researchers spend the vast majority of their time looking for money instead of doing research. It’s part of our job to alleviate that burden by stepping in as a capital partner and connecting those ideas to real people at the end of the day.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: When I was looking at your website, my “financial hat” poked up because it said 100% of the money I give goes to research. Most charities have 10-20% overhead. How is that possible?
Joshua Herring: It is our “100% promise.” Our founding venture team has committed to covering 100% of our operational expenses—including my salary and the vetting process—so that every donation dollar goes directly to the research. This gives us a deeper level of trust with our donors.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: So the VC firm is paying for this partly out of goodness, but also to build a pipeline of innovation that might one day be commercialized? It’s a win-win marriage?
Joshua Herring: That’s exactly right. Not all projects will result in a commercial venture, but by pushing the boundaries of what we know, we create a better world and a better pipeline. We also partner donors with the VC if they are interested in investing commercially alongside their donations.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Let’s pull apart some terms. Longevity, lifespan, healthspan—how do these mix together in your view?
Joshua Herring: Lifespan is the total years you live. Healthspan is the years you live without chronic disease. Longevity is healthy life extension. If you’re going to live to 85, our goal is to ensure all 85 of those years are vibrant and healthy. We aren’t “immortalists”—the science isn’t there—but we are building a future where you can live all your years without the complexities of aging like Alzheimer’s or heart disease.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: There’s a big difference between that and the “sensationalized” longevity stuff we see on TV. You have an LSF Education Bank. How does that help everyday people?
Joshua Herring: We created two series: “Hype versus Reality” and “Spotlight.” We take popular trends—like red light therapy or keto diets—and break down what the science actually says versus the marketing. We want to equip people with information so they can make an educated decision. Simple things like exercise, sleep, and diet still move the needle more than any “magic pill.”
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Was there anything in building that education bank that surprised you personally?
Joshua Herring: The gender disparities in research. Certain women are twice as likely for Alzheimer’s and three times as likely for MS. Yet, only about 8% of research expenditure goes toward women’s health. It is staggering and categorically wrong. We have a dedicated vertical at the foundation to focus exclusively on women’s health to start moving that needle.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: If someone has $100 to donate, which research study should they look at?
Joshua Herring: I’ll pick two. First is a study at the University of Copenhagen on “cellular senescence”—learning if we can reverse the damage of cells that harm surrounding cells, which could stave off Alzheimer’s. Second is building a “menopause clock” to predict when a woman will enter menopause. Women who enter menopause before age 40 have a 43% higher risk of Alzheimer’s, so this tool would be a game-changer globally.
[Image of cellular senescence process]
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Why is philanthropy the only way to fund things like the research on psychedelics or these earlier stage predictive tools?
Joshua Herring: Because government and pharma aren’t willing to take those risks. Philanthropy can “de-risk” these ideas and explore areas others simply won’t go. You don’t have to be a billionaire to help; if enough people pool together $1,000, we can fund an entire project very quickly.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: We’ve reached the final segment: Our Deliberate Detail. Joshua, what is one small thing you’re doing to design your life?
Joshua Herring: Two things: being intentional with relationships and protecting my sleep. Loneliness is strongly correlated with how long and well you live. And sleep is the core tenet of health. I’m willing to splurge on a good mattress or temperature-adjusting pads because you spend a third of your life in bed.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: Where can people find the foundation and reach out?
Joshua Herring: Visit Longevity.Foundation or find me on LinkedIn. My email is jh@Longevity.Foundation. We are always happy to talk and share our scientific advisory board’s work.
Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®: That’s all for this episode. Remember, intentionally choosing to invest in moments of joy is just as important as investing in your future. Happy designing.
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