Hardiness with Dr Paul Taylor

Dr James Thompson joins me for a practical conversation about why heart disease still leads as a global killer, why cholesterol and calcium scoring have limits, and how advanced imaging is changing prevention. We also cover exercise, lifestyle, and the role AI is starting to play in cardiac imaging.
Heart disease often starts silently years before a scan or cholesterol test raises the alarm. Dr. James Thompson reveals why a zero-calcium score can still miss dangerous plaque, and why the future of prevention may depend on looking much earlier, and much deeper. We break down the limits of total cholesterol, LDL, and calcium scoring, then show how APO B, LP little A, CT coronary angiography, and cardiac MRI change the picture. If you have ever been told you are "fine" because your cholesterol is normal or your calcium score is low, this conversation will make you rethink what that actually means.

Key topics
Heart disease remains the biggest killer
Dr Thompson explains why cardiovascular disease is still the number one public health issue and why it affects men and women differently, especially after menopause.
Why cholesterol is only part of the picture
They discuss why total cholesterol and LDL can miss risk, and why APO B and Lp(a) can be more useful markers in specific cases.
What a calcium score can and cannot tell you
A calcium score detects calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, but it can miss non-calcified, high-risk plaque.
The problem with false reassurance
A zero calcium score does not always mean zero disease, especially in younger people or those with early, vulnerable plaque.
Why CT coronary angiography is more revealing
Dr Thompson explains how contrast-enhanced CTA can show the actual coronary arteries, plaque burden, plaque composition, and flow-related risk.
How CT imaging works in practice
They cover heart-rate control, breath-holding, EKG gating, IV contrast timing, and why coronary CTA is technically demanding but highly informative.
MRI of the heart brings different strengths
Cardiac MRI is described as the best tool for tissue characterization, function, fibrosis, and flow, while CT still wins for spatial resolution of the coronary arteries.
Exercise and movement are part of prevention
Paul and Dr Thompson connect imaging with lifestyle, arguing that inactivity is not neutral and that movement is fundamental to cardiovascular health.
AI is accelerating cardiac imaging
Dr Thompson explains how AI is helping quantify plaque, flow, and inflammation, and why radiology is one of the main areas where AI is already being applied.
Why early detection matters
The conversation repeatedly returns to prevention, especially for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who may feel well but already have disease.

Timestamps
(01:36) Dr Thompson’s background in radiology and cardiovascular imaging
(06:43) Why no imaging test is perfect and what each modality does best
(09:16) Why MRI found the injury that X-ray and ultrasound missed
(11:49) Cholesterol as a screening tool and its limitations
(16:45) APO B and Lp(a) as more useful markers for some patients
(18:18) What a calcium score actually measures
(20:31) Why calcified plaque is different from vulnerable non-calcified plaque
(23:27) Why a zero calcium score can still miss dangerous disease
(29:53) How calcium scoring lost ground to contrast CT angiography
(33:14) What contrast-enhanced CTA reveals about plaque burden and composition
(35:04) How coronary CTA is performed, including heart-rate control and breath-holding
(37:49) How AI is being layered onto CT imaging
(40:25) Why CTA can see both inside and outside the coronary artery
(41:37) The heart as a pump and why the coronary arteries are so important
(44:08) Why stenting and bypass are not perfect solutions
(46:19) Exercise as prevention and inactivity as an active problem
(49:22) The Dallas bed rest study and how quickly the heart can decondition
(53:23) Why vigorous exercise may be far more protective than light movement
(55:06) What “lung burn” means in Dr Thompson’s training language
(57:18) What cardiac MRI adds beyond CT
(60:36) Paul’s own cardiac imaging story and how MRI found scar tissue
(63:55) Why coronary CTA is now a class 1A test for low-risk patients with no known disease
(69:48) What’s next for AI, plaque characterization, and inflammation imaging
(74:23) Why prevention is cheaper, easier, and more effective than late-stage treatment

Action items
Ask your doctor whether your current heart-risk assessment is enough for your age, family history, and symptoms.
Consider whether cholesterol alone is giving you a false sense of reassurance.
If you have questions about calcium scoring or CTA, discuss the difference with a clinician who understands cardiac imaging.
Treat exercise and daily movement as non-negotiable parts of heart prevention.
If you are in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, do not assume heart disease is a problem for later in life.

Resources
Website - https://drjamesthomps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjamesthomps/
X - https://x.com/DrJamesThomps
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drjamesthomps
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gamingcardiaccta
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drjamesthomps

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Dr. Nicole Bijlsma explains why the built environment matters for health, from mould and air quality to electromagnetic fields and chemical exposures. She shares practical, high-impact changes for bedrooms, water, skincare, cleaning, and home setup that can reduce everyday exposure and support better sleep, immunity, and wellbeing. We discuss why old homes and new homes each have different risks, how Wi-Fi and electrical wiring can affect sleep, and why water filtration is a non-negotiable if you want to reduce chlorine, PFAS, and fluoride exposure. Nicole also covers the biggest chemical exposures on skin, the most useful cleaning swaps, and why over-sanitising may be backfiring on allergy risk.
Key topics
Nicole shares how personal health issues led her into building biology and why she started training people to assess homes for environmental hazards.
The difference between old homes and new homes, including condensation, mould, poor maintenance, tight building envelopes, and off-gassing from imported furnishings.
Why carpets can act like a reservoir for dust, pest debris, asbestos, lead paint, and chemicals, especially for infants crawling on the floor.
The three EMF categories Nicole prioritises - radio frequencies, AC magnetic fields, and dirty electricity.
Why a Wi-Fi router in the bedroom is a major issue, and why hardwiring or powering routers down at the wall is the best fix.
Why the bedroom is the top health priority, and how to set it up for better sleep by removing Wi-Fi devices, phones, extenders, and boosters.
Why inverter and solar battery placement matters, and why distance is the main defense against magnetic fields.
Why reverse osmosis is the best option for drinking water when fluoride is a concern, while whole-house filtration helps with chlorine, sediment, PFAS, and many other contaminants.
Nicole shares why alkaline water is not her recommendation, and why stomach acid matters for digestion, protein breakdown, and nutrient absorption.
The biggest chemical exposures on the body, especially perfumes, aftershaves, artificial fragrances, and air fresheners.
Why jojoba oil, rose hip oil, wool, hemp, cotton, and fragrance-free basics are the safer everyday choices for skin and home use.
Timestamps
00:32 - The personal health story that led to building biology
01:54 - Discovering environmental triggers in the home
03:21 - Training clinicians to look at air quality and built-environment hazards
04:07 - Old homes versus new homes: where the risks differ
05:54 - Maintenance, roof leaks, drainage, and rising damp in older houses
06:50 - Why carpets collect dust, toxins, and biological debris
07:28 - Why infants are the highest-risk group on carpeted floors
08:25 - Tight new homes, hidden condensation, and off-gassing from furnishings
10:59 - Natural materials and Australian-made products for lower exposure
11:35 - The EMF problem in the bedroom
12:44 - Why a router in the room can be a major radio-frequency exposure
14:30 - Sleep, melatonin, and why hardwiring beats Wi-Fi
15:32 - How to measure Wi-Fi properly with the right meter
16:24 - Inverters, batteries, and magnetic fields from solar systems
17:45 - Dirty electricity and why some people become electrically sensitive
20:30 - Bedroom setup: no Wi-Fi devices, no extenders, no boosters
21:20 - Building a master switch system to shut down bedroom fields
22:47 - Why phones in the bedroom are a bad idea
23:29 - The bedroom first rule: sleep before everything else
24:55 - Timer switches and reducing router exposure
26:00 - Electricity coming into the house and the importance of distance
27:09 - The inverse square law and why bed position matters
28:19 - Why shielding does not solve magnetic field exposure
29:04 - Water as a major chemical exposure
30:27 - PFAS and fluoride in water supplies
32:48 - Why chlorine is a problem for the gut microbiome
33:18 - What a basic but effective water filter should remove
34:10 - Reverse osmosis, remineralisation, and why alkaline water is controversial
36:40 - Skin exposure: why chlorine affects eczema and skin irritation
37:32 - Whole-house filtration versus point-of-use RO
40:26 - Skincare, moisturizers, deodorants, and sunscreen
41:22 - Why jojoba and rose hip oil are better skin options
42:19 - Parabens, detergents, and reducing cosmetic load
43:18 - Sunscreen controversy and why covering up often works better
46:29 - Perfume, phthalates, and why fragrance is a major exposure
48:43 - Cleaning the home with detergent, microfiber, and HEPA filtration
50:11 - Why white vinegar works well in the dishwasher rinse-aid compartment
51:35 - Detoxification: sweat, sauna, and exercise
52:50 - Why some chemicals need plasma donation or binders
54:44 - The need for supervision when using binders
55:41 - Why mould deserves its own conversation
56:06 - Allergies, pet dander, and the role of dust mites
58:17 - Birth, breastfeeding, microbes, and why farm exposure lowers allergy risk
59:29 - Why over-cleaning and sanitizers can raise allergy risk
61:00 - Where to find Dr. Nicole B and her training
61:42 - Healthy Home, Healthy Family and the upcoming updated edition
Action items
Remove Wi-Fi enabled devices, extenders, boosters, and phones from the bedroom.
Put the router on a timer or power it down at the wall overnight.
Move the bed away from the wall closest to the meter panel or incoming electrical supply.
Prioritise whole-house water filtration, and add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink if fluoride is a concern.
Switch to fragrance-free personal care and cleaning products.
Use microfiber cloths, detergent, and a sealed HEPA vacuum for routine cleaning.
Favor natural materials like wool, hemp, cotton, and jojoba-based skin care where possible.
Reduce over-sanitising at home and let kids get normal outdoor dirt exposure.
Resources
Website: https://www.buildingbiology.com.au/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/homehealthdoc/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicolebijlsma1/?fref=ts

Support the Podcast
If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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A birthday, a bit of simple maths, and an idea borrowed from Gregg Krech of Vermont's ToDo Institute, whose own birthday falls the same week as Carly's. What happens when you put an actual number on the days you've got left.
Carly is a counsellor and coach who specialises in building psychological hardiness, which is the ability to navigate challenge, stay engaged, and take meaningful action under pressure. Her work integrates modern psychology with Eastern and Stoic approaches, helping people build resilience, live with purpose, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity, courage and steadiness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.