The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman
Insulin IQ
Welcome to The Metabolic Classroom, a nutrition and lifestyle podcast focused on metabolism, which is how our bodies use energy, and the truth behind why we get sick and fat. Every week, Dr. Ben Bikman shares valuable insights that you can apply in your own life and share with friends and loved ones. The Metabolic Classroom is brought to you by BenBikman.com and InsulinIQ.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
9 snips
May 11, 2026 • 30min
The Hidden Signals That Make Fat Cells Grow
A deep dive into how nuclear receptors in fat cells read lipid signals to decide who becomes a fat cell and how it stores energy. Focus on PPARγ as the master switch for fat‑cell formation and how insulin drives that whole program. Discussion of diabetes drugs that activate PPARγ, dietary fats and obesogens that modestly influence receptors, and cortisol’s role in visceral fat.
8 snips
May 4, 2026 • 23min
Why Neuropathy Isn’t Just About Blood Sugar
They explore why nerve damage is more than just high blood sugar. Topics include how insulin resistance harms nerve support cells and myelin. They cover glucose swings and why variability matters beyond A1C. Practical strategies to improve insulin sensitivity and stabilize post-meal glucose are discussed.
44 snips
Apr 27, 2026 • 28min
How Your Brain Talks to Your Pancreas (The Vagus Nerve Explained)
A deep dive into how the vagus nerve links brain and belly to control digestion, liver glucose, and insulin release. Short explanations cover vagal anatomy, sensory signaling from gut to brain, and the cephalic phase insulin response. The podcast also explores how obesity, inflammation, surgery, or electrical stimulation can alter vagal communication and metabolic outcomes.
42 snips
Apr 20, 2026 • 34min
The Muscle Biology Behind Diabetes Risk
They explore how different skeletal muscle fiber types shape insulin sensitivity and diabetes risk. The talk covers type 1 oxidative vs type 2 glycolytic fibers and why molecular machinery like GLUT4 matters. Listeners hear about human variation in fiber proportions, ethnic patterns in risk, and why building total muscle mass with resistance training can protect metabolic health.
14 snips
Apr 13, 2026 • 34min
How Insulin May Be Silencing Your GLP-1
A deep dive into how high insulin levels may silence the gut hormone GLP-1. Short explanations of GLP-1’s main meal-time roles, and why its loss removes the body’s gastric brake. Evidence linking chronic hyperinsulinemia to impaired GLP-1 secretion is explored. The lecture outlines a vicious cycle where elevated insulin blunts L-cell function and how therapies can bypass but not fix the root cause.
68 snips
Apr 6, 2026 • 31min
Why Creatine Is One of the Most Important Brain Nutrients
A deep dive into creatine as a vital brain nutrient that rapidly regenerates ATP to support cognition. Discussion of who benefits most, including vegetarians, older adults, and women. Coverage of creatine’s role in protecting cognition during sleep loss, aiding recovery after brain injury, and enhancing antidepressant response. Practical notes on dosing, form, and safety.
28 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 33min
Why Gum Disease Raises Your Blood Sugar
They explore how gum disease becomes a systemic problem by letting oral bacteria and toxins enter the bloodstream. Detailed mechanisms connect periodontal pathogens to chronic inflammation, mitochondrial damage, and impaired insulin signaling. Studies linking periodontal treatment to improved blood sugar and connections to cardiovascular disease are also discussed.
6 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 29min
Ivermectin Explained: The Science Behind the Controversy
A science-first tour of ivermectin’s biological actions beyond antiparasitic use. Discussion covers its Nobel-linked origins, effects on mitochondria and complex I, and why that creates an energy crisis in cancer cells. They explore anti-inflammatory and metabolic signaling through AMPK, NF-kappaB, and FXR, plus preliminary human observations and safety versus politicized narratives.
15 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 22min
How Sleep Loss Rewires Your Hunger Hormones
They explore how short sleep rewires hunger hormones, lowering satiety signals and boosting hunger drivers. The conversation covers why sleep loss heightens cravings for calorie-dense, rewarding foods and the role of the endocannabinoid system. You’ll also hear about orexin, cortisol, melatonin, and why early-night deep sleep is especially protective for metabolic health.
37 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 30min
Why Alzheimer’s May Be a Metabolic Disease
A metabolic take on Alzheimer’s: the talk challenges the amyloid plaque story and explores brain insulin resistance as a central driver. It covers how APOE4 may impair insulin signaling, why glucose use falters while ketone use stays intact, and how diet, ketones, and lifestyle might prevent or support brain health.
