This blog post features a few key takeaways from Dr. Megan’s Wellness Your Way podcast interview with Dr. Rafael Gonzalez about how immune cells, stem cells, and exosomes influence aging, longevity, and disease. Find the full episode here and be sure to subscribe to Wellness Your Way so you don’t miss future episodes!

Guest Bio: Dr. Rafael Gonzalez

Dr. Rafael Gonzalez is a scientist and expert in regenerative medicine with more than 20 years of experience, especially in stem cell biology, immune health, and therapies for degenerative disorders. He earned his B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, where his research focused on immune system interactions after spinal cord injury, and he has worked extensively with stem cell culture and biology.

Dr. Gonzalez leads innovative clinical development efforts involving patented stem cell technologies and immune-based therapies, including natural killer (NK) cell applications, and he has contributed to multiple investigational new drug applications. He has published scientific work, holds several patents, and developed regenerative medicine products, including topical therapies that have influenced cosmetic rejuvenation. Throughout his career he has also taught internationally on age-related disorders, immune system function, cell therapeutics, and strategies to support health and longevity.

Top Insights from Dr. Gonzalez’s Interview

1. A specific immune cell is identified as key to longevity, and its behavior changes dramatically with age.
2. Stem cells are more than just repair cells. They actively communicate, direct healing, and influence how other cells behave.
3. Aging does not only reduce stem cell numbers. It also alters how well they receive and respond to signals in the body.
4. Diet and caloric restriction are discussed not as trends, but as tools that directly affect cellular behavior and aging.
5. The episode introduces the concept of so called zombie cells and explains why clearing them may matter more than creating new cells.
6. Exosomes are described as tiny biological messengers that may explain why some regenerative therapies are more effective than others.
7. The conversation highlights that not all stem cell or exosome products are created equally, and that lack of transparency in this space carries real risks.
8. Three specific biomarkers are mentioned as potential indicators of biological resilience, including two that are rarely discussed outside of research settings.

Want to hear the full episode, including Dr. Gonzalez’s explanation of the immune cell he believes plays an outsized role in longevity, how its function declines with age, why recovery feels slower, inflammation lingers longer, or illness hits harder than it used to and so much more?

Check out the podcast episode here!