Longevity Starts With the Basics | Zach Dancel, NAVA

What does it mean to take a proactive approach to health—and where should you start? On this episode of The HealthCast, Phil Zappone speaks with Zach Dancel, COO of Nava Health and former Division I football player, about functional medicine, longevity, and the everyday habits at the center of Nava’s approach. Zach shares the family health experience that inspired Nava Health and explains how his football background influences his approach to leadership, teamwork, and overcoming adversity. He also discusses Nava’s emphasis on personalized care, its plans for growth through clinics and telemedicine, and its vision for bringing more health and wellness services together. Throughout the conversation, Phil and Zach return to the foundations: sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management, and community. In this episode: • Lessons from football that translate to healthcare leadership • The family story behind Nava Health • Zach’s perspective on functional medicine and proactive care • Why lifestyle habits remain central to the longevity conversation • Looking beyond individual treatments to the whole person • Building a team and operational systems that support growth • Nava’s plans for franchising and expanding virtual care • Connecting medicine, fitness, recovery, and oral health • The role of patient education and ownership of health CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:43 What is Nava Health? 01:50 Football, leadership, and handling adversity 04:23 Building a team that believes in the mission 08:59 The family health crisis that inspired Nava 13:16 From a personal experience to a healthcare business 18:28 Functional medicine and the foundations of health 20:54 Looking beyond hormones and peptides 22:37 Building the team and systems for growth 26:26 Nava’s expansion and franchising plans 28:29 Telemedicine and convenient access to care 29:20 Connecting oral health, fitness, and longevity 34:06 Opportunities and challenges ahead 37:12 Taking ownership of your health 38:20 Where to learn more Episode Resources: Website | https://navacenter.com Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/navahealth/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/navahealth/home/ Zach D. | https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachdancel/ Check out what I do helping small businesses here: Website | https://nxaihealth.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-zappone-647957379/ Subscribe to The HealthCast for more conversations with the people shaping healthcare. #TheHealthCast #Longevity #FunctionalMedicine #HealthcareLeadership