Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson: The Secret Fat That Beats Omega-3, Slows Aging & Fights Disease

SuperLife with Darin Olien

Darin Olien

Activism, Motivation, Environment, Education, Self-improvement, Fitness, Wellness, Health, Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2025

⏱️ 91 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if everything we thought we knew about fat is wrong—and one molecule could change how we age, heal, and live?

In this cutting-edge episode of SuperLife with Darin Olien, Darin is joined by Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, a veterinary epidemiologist, former Navy scientist, and co-founder of Fatty15. Together, they unpack the discovery of C15:0, the first essential fatty acid identified in 90 years, and the tidal wave of science supporting its impact on longevity, inflammation, metabolic health, and cellular survival.

From accidental dolphin data to peer-reviewed clinical trials, Dr. Steph reveals how C15 could become one of the most important health breakthroughs of our time.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

(00:00:00) Introduction – What today’s episode is all about
(00:04:15) Meet Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson – Her origin story and the accidental discovery of C15
(00:07:45) What is C15 and how is it different from omega-3s and saturated fats?
(00:12:02) Why the USDA once told us to avoid fats—and how that caused unintended harm
(00:16:30) The Navy’s dolphin program & the surprising longevity connection
(00:20:12) The essential fatty acid problem – Why C15 is needed in modern diets
(00:24:45) C15 and inflammation – How this fat helps regulate immune response
(00:29:40) What clinical trials are showing – Type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and more
(00:34:01) Why our food system lost C15 – Industrial changes to dairy and livestock
(00:38:25) The mitochondria connection – How C15 supports energy and cellular repair
(00:43:10) Ferroptosis and cellular death – The antioxidant role of C15
(00:47:50) What “essential” really means – Revisiting the 1930s nutrient criteria
(00:52:15) Real-world use cases: pets, children, elders, and chronic illness
(00:56:40) Gut microbiome and metabolic syndrome – The C15 balancing effect
(01:00:55) Saturated fat confusion – Not all fats are created equal
(01:05:00) The science of “good fat” – What makes C15 fundamentally different
(01:09:45) Global research momentum – Who’s funding and validating the studies
(01:14:05) The future of C15 in agriculture, food, and longevity medicine
(01:18:45) What Dr. Steph wishes every doctor and nutritionist knew
(01:22:35) Practical ways to start – How to safely integrate C15 into your life
(01:28:10) Final thoughts – What happens when we redefine “essential”

Topics Covered:

Discovery of C15:0
Essential fatty acids
Dolphin research & human longevity
Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, liver disease
Cellular death & ferroptosis
Gut microbiome & metabolism
Mitochondrial repair & oxidative stress
Nutritional science and real-world application

Don’t Forget...

I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.
Shakeology: Premium whole-food nutrition shake for energy, immunity, gut health, and longevity. Get 15% off, free shipping, and a free shaker cup at Shakeology.com with code SUPERLIFE

Find More From Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson:

Website: fatty15.com
Instagram: @fatty15
Book: The Longevity Nutrient (available now)

Find More From Darin:

Website: darinolien.com
Instagram: @darinolien
Book: Fatal Conveniences

Key Takeaway:

"C15 isn’t just a supplement—it’s a paradigm shift in what we define as essential nutrition." – Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Super Life with me, Darren O'Lean, a podcast where we explore, discover, and share solutions that promote a healthier life and a better world.
0:13.0	Together will ignite possibilities, inspire change, and build sovereignty, creating a roadmap towards a super life for you and for all.
0:24.3	Get ready to start living your super life.
0:32.8	Before we start this podcast, I'd love to tell you about my new sponsor, my dear old friend, Shakeology.
0:40.1	You know, I've spent nearly two decades traveling the world searching for the most powerful
0:45.3	nutrient-dense superfoods on the planet. And one thing became very clear to me. Most people
0:51.4	are massively nutrient deficient without even realizing it. As I discovered
0:56.7	incredible superfoods and botanicals in remote corners of the world, I kept thinking, why isn't there a simple
1:04.5	way to get all of these powerful nutrients and botanicals into people's hands and bodies.
1:11.6	I knew I needed to create something that delivered a potent, complete nutritional foundation.
1:16.6	But no one wanted to pay for the high quality formula I envisioned until I met
1:22.6	Isabel and Carl Dijkler at Beachbody.
1:25.6	Carl looked at me and said, literally, don't worry about the cost.
1:30.4	We're not going to compromise on this formula. And that's when I knew we were about to create something
1:36.2	truly game-changing. So we did. That's when Shakeology was born. It's not just a protein shake.
1:43.1	It's a complete Superfood nutrition shake with an ideal
1:47.6	mix of proteins, fibers, prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes, essential vitamins,
1:55.9	essential vitamins and minerals, nutrient density. It takes the guesswork out of getting all of the right nutrients with all of the
2:04.3	botanicals. So even if my food choices or your food choices later aren't perfect, I know I've
2:11.1	already set myself up and set you up for success, which is why I created this stuff. And let's talk about taste. Because if it's
2:20.2	not delicious, no one's drinking it. Shakeology is so good, creamy, rich, super satisfying, and that
2:28.5	wasn't easy to do it right. Plus, it actually curbs cravings thanks to the high-quality protein and fiber that keeps
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