EP 60: Longevity & Meaning with Andrea Nakayama

Episode 60 of the The School Of Unlearning With Elisa Haggarty podcast, hosted by Elisa Haggarty, titled "EP 60: Longevity & Meaning with Andrea Nakayama" was published on September 2, 2025 and runs 57 minutes.

September 2, 2025 ·57m · The School Of Unlearning With Elisa Haggarty

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Summary

For episode 60, we sit down with Functional Nutritionist, Andrea Nakayama to explore the gaps in the ever present conversation around longevity and health. Andrea posits that storytelling, meaning and fulfillment are essential to a life well lived. Andrea is a prolific writer and storyteller in her own right, crafting a newsletter called, ”Mending” and runs a book club called, ”The Longview” exploring the intersection of storytelling and health and longevity. What we cover: Andrea’s new terrain in longevity, meaning and the role of storytelling Control vs influence Shift in perspective, a diagnosis isn’t a blame, fault overlay Reimagining longevity: longevity, and a life well lived isn’t about length but about meaning, fulfillment The role of narrative medicine within health and functional medicine Why pathologizing health is limiting and the role of storytelling in reclaiming health The role of interoception: how did this land and move within in me? Exploring completion: how our loved ones carry on with us Life and longevity, and legacy, and legacy can be defined however we wish to define it. How longevity and storytelling have inspired Andrea’ vision and presence within the Functional Medicine realm Why optimization at every turn Is limiting and draining vitality Connection has as many anti-inflammatory benefits as some of our top anti-inflammatory supplements Health and longevity has less to do with the things we take, things we do and things we measure Andrea shares some of her non-food and health activities that feed our soul and turns us on “Optimization tools are not appropriate for stabilization” Mentions: Andrea Nakayama website Share Blackie: Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin Elisa Haggarty is a Conscious Leadership Coach who works with executives and teams to shift the way people relate and collaborate through radical responsibility, curiosity and emotional intelligence. You can follow her work HERE and follow her on social at www.instagram.com/elisamaryhaggarty and www.instagram.com/thesoulpodcast

Episode Description

What we cover:

Andrea’s new terrain in longevity, meaning and the role of storytelling
Control vs influence
Shift in perspective, a diagnosis isn’t a blame, fault overlay
Reimagining longevity: longevity, and a life well lived isn’t about length but about meaning, fulfillment
The role of narrative medicine within health and functional medicine
Why pathologizing health is limiting and the role of storytelling in reclaiming health
The role of interoception: how did this land and move within in me?
Exploring completion: how our loved ones carry on with us
Life and longevity, and legacy, and legacy can be defined however we wish to define it.
How longevity and storytelling have inspired Andrea’ vision and presence within the Functional Medicine realm
Why optimization at every turn Is limiting and draining vitality
Connection has as many anti-inflammatory benefits as some of our top anti-inflammatory supplements
Health and longevity has less to do with the things we take, things we do and things we measure
Andrea shares some of her non-food and health activities that feed our soul and turns us on
“Optimization tools are not appropriate for stabilization”

Mentions:

Andrea Nakayama website

Share Blackie: Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

Elisa Haggarty is a Conscious Leadership Coach who works with executives and teams to shift the way people relate and collaborate through radical responsibility, curiosity and emotional intelligence. You can follow her work HERE and follow her on social at www.instagram.com/elisamaryhaggarty and www.instagram.com/thesoulpodcast