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In this thought-provoking episode of “Everyday Epigenetics: Raw, Real, Relatable,” host Susan Robbins is joined by guest co-host Kate King and distinguished clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Mario Martinez. Together, they explore the groundbreaking intersection of psychology, culture, and epigenetics, revealing how our beliefs, emotions, and daily habits uniquely shape our health and lifespan.
The Cultural Coding of Longevity
The conversation opens with Dr. Martinez challenging the conventional view that genetics dominate our health outcomes. Drawing from decades of research with healthy centenarians, Dr. Martinez shares his discovery that only 15–25% of longevity can be attributed to genetics, the rest, he explains, comes down to lifestyle, environment, and crucially, cultural beliefs.
He reveals that centenarians aren’t necessarily following structured routines of exercise or diet; instead, they live actively, hold introspective mindsets, and avoid excess. “They live the things we try to structure,” he says, highlighting that it’s their approach to life, rooted in meaning and moderation, that sets them apart.
The Eight Epigenetic Factors
Dr. Martinez’s pioneering work identifies four perception patterns and four emotions consistently present in centenarians, forming what he calls the Centenarian Conscious Index (CCI). These are not just pleasant mindsets, they are anti-inflammatory and anti-stress on a biological level, as verified by his cross-cultural studies.
The perceptions include positive views of time, aging, health, and curiosity, while the emotions focus on gratitude, generosity, self-valuation, and curiosity. The implication? Living with these eight traits may be even more powerful for longevity than supplements or fitness fads.
The Power of Embodied Rituals
Another highlight of the episode is the distinction between routine and ritual. Dr. Martinez emphasizes that rituals, simple acts elevated with meaning, such as sharing a meal or lighting a candle, are fundamentally healthy for both mind and body. Rituals connect us to our epigenetic history and boost vital molecules like oxytocin. This ties directly into his broader point: our biology responds to symbols and meaning, not just to substances or routines.
Rethinking Aging, Health, and Identity
Susan and Kate probe the societal myths around aging, referencing Dr. Martinez’s notion that culture can prematurely code us for decline. He warns against letting numbers define us, noting how our expectations around age and ability become self-fulfilling biological scripts. Instead, adopting the mindset and habits of thriving centenarians, even later in life, can meaningfully shift our trajectory.
Takeaways and Action Steps
Listeners walk away from this episode with an empowering, evidence-backed roadmap: rethink what health means in your daily life, create meaningful rituals, and consciously embody the perceptions and emotions that foster resilience. Dr. Martinez’s work, including his CCI assessment and “The Mind Body Code,” offers actionable tools for anyone ready to influence their genetic expression for a more radiant, longer life.
Whether you’re interested in health, longevity, or breaking free from restrictive cultural narratives, this episode delivers relatable wisdom and concrete strategies to help you thrive, at any age.
Learn More about Dr. Martinez
Dr. Martinez is a clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in how cultural beliefs affect health and longevity. He proposes, based on multidisciplinary research evidence, that longevity is learned, and the causes of health are inherited. For the past 25 years, he has studied healthy centenarians (100 years or older) worldwide and found that only 20 to 25% can be attributed to genetics – the rest is related to how they live and the cultural beliefs they share. He is the author of the bestselling book The MindBody Code that teaches his theory and practice of biocognitive science for the general public as well as professionals in the life sciences. In addition to longevity, he also lectures on why our immune system is not just a protector. Instead, it responds to the cultural premises we learn to perceive and emote the world: How Meaning-Making Affects Biology.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Dr. Martinez
Website and Social Media
- Biocognitive Science Institute: https://www.biocognitiveculture.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindbodyculture/
- YouTube Channel (English & Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMarioMartinez
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mario-e-martinez-6451641a/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.mariomartinez/
- SoundCloud (English & Spanish): https://soundcloud.com/mario-martinez-477
Most Recent Media Appearances and Articles with Links:
- Deepak Chopra’s Curious Minds Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxUlwhMRF3M
- Articles in The Huffington Post: https://www.huffpost.com/author/bsi-368
- Articles in Thrive Global: https://community.thriveglobal.com/search/mario+martine
- Articles in Medium Magazine: https://medium.com/m/signin
- PBS Dr. Christiane Northrup’s Glorious Women Never Age: https://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/mar/04/dr-christiane-northrup-glorious-women-never-age/
- Interview on Steve Paikin’s The Agenda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnMdrzoHqLc
- Interview Ismael Cala’s CNN En Español: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNubwUvgoI0
- Interview Oso Trava: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwcwFrKxy7w&t=660s
- MindValley Webinars: https://help.mindvalley.com/en_US/mindvalley-events/mindvalley-health-and-body-summit-2024-
- Works on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mario-Martinez/author/B002BLPU6A?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
- Articles in Professional Journals: https://independent.academia.edu/TheMindBodySelf
Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast
Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links
SHOW NOTES: healthyawakening.co/episode55
Connect with Susan:
- Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching!
- To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
- Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
- Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach
Connect with Kate:
- Kate’s Website: https://TheRadiantLifeProject.com
- Kate’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theradiantlifeproject
- Kate’s Books:
- The Radiant Life Project (https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538181874/The-Radiant-Life-Project-Awaken-Your-Purpose-Heal-Your-Past-and-Transform-Your-Future)
- Use code RLFANDF30 at checkout for 30% OFF “The Radiant Life Project”!
- The Authentic Mother – Kate King
- Mend or Move On – Kate King
- Stay tuned for Kate’s newest book “Mend or Move On” that will be available later this year!
