LDL may get all the blame — but there’s a darker twin hiding in the shadows.
Same cholesterol core. Same ApoB backbone.
But with one sinister twist: a sticky tail called apolipoprotein(a).
That extra piece transforms an ordinary LDL particle into something far more dangerous.

Meet Lipoprotein(a) — or Lp(a) — one of the strongest, most under-recognized genetic drivers of premature cardiovascular disease.
It’s pro-atherogenic, pro-thrombotic, and pro-inflammatory — a triple threat that can quietly turn even the healthiest-looking lipid panel into a ticking time bomb.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we’ll uncover

1. What is Lp(a)?

2. How and when to test for it?

3. What to do when Lp(a) is high?

We’ll walk through genetics, testing strategy, and real-world management — plus a glimpse into the promising therapies now in late-phase trials.
By the end, you’ll understand why Lp(a) is the ghost in the lipid story — invisible on a standard panel, but capable of haunting even the fittest hearts.

Bonus: For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

LDL-C is the number we’ve all been trained to chase. But what if the real culprit isn’t the cholesterol itself… but the number of particles carrying it?

Meet ApoB — the quiet truth-teller of lipidology.
It doesn’t care how perfect your LDL number looks. It counts every atherogenic particle capable of injuring the arterial wall — the true measure of risk hiding beneath the surface.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we’ll dig into what makes ApoB the stronger, sharper, and more honest marker of atherogenic burden:

1. Why ApoB is a better measure of atherogenic burden
2. How ApoB drives atherosclerosis
3. How ApoB fits into clinical practice

We’ll also explore practical takeaways — when to order ApoB, what cutoffs to use, and how to apply it when your LDL and ApoB numbers don’t agree.
By the end, you’ll see why every atherogenic particle counts — and why ApoB just might be the number that finally tells the truth about cardiovascular risk.

Bonus: For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

For decades, HDL — the so-called “good cholesterol” — has been celebrated as the body’s knight in shining armor. Patients brag about their high HDL levels like it’s a shield against heart disease. But is HDL truly the hero we once thought?

In this episode of LipidCurious, we’ll separate myth from science and uncover the real story of HDL:

1. Why is HDL called the “good cholesterol” — and is that nickname really fair?
2. What exactly is reverse cholesterol transport, and why does it matter?
3. Why did drugs that raise HDL fail to improve cardiovascular outcomes?

We’ll also explore clinical twists: how HDL can become dysfunctional in high-triglyceride states, and why extremely high HDL might not always be protective.

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

Picture an atherosclerotic artery as a crime scene. Cholesterol piles up on the walls — thick deposits blocking what should be a free-flowing highway of blood. For decades, cholesterol was blamed as the culprit. But here’s the twist: cholesterol is just the passenger. The real suspects are the lipoproteins — the vehicles smuggling cholesterol into places it doesn’t belong.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we’re stepping into the role of detective. We’ll assemble a lipoprotein from scratch, meet the different lipoproteins, and follow their pathways through the body.

Here’s what we’ll cover together:

1. Structure and types of Lipoproteins

2. Exogenous and endogenous pathways of lipid metabolism

3. How cholesterol-lowering medications leverage lipid biology

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

Cholesterol is one of the most talked-about molecules in medicine — and one of the most misunderstood. It’s essential for life, but when carried in the wrong lipoproteins, it becomes the driving force behind atherosclerosis.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we step away from the headlines and hype to explore what cholesterol really means for clinical practice and board prep.

Here’s what we’ll unpack together:

1. The Cholesterol paradox — why it’s both essential and dangerous.

2. How cholesterol is carried and measured in blood.

3. LDL-C in clinical practice — Targets, Percent Reduction, and How Low is Too Low

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

We tell patients to “eat more healthy fats” — but what does that actually mean?
Why is coconut oil villainized while olive oil gets the heart-healthy halo — even though both come from plants?
Why does cheese get a pass on the charcuterie board, but butter gets the side-eye — even though both are saturated fats?

The truth is, fatty acids aren’t just a diet label. They’re central players in inflammation, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and even gene expression.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we go beyond the good-vs-bad debate and unpack what clinicians really need to know about fatty acids — from molecular structure to bedside application.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. What are fatty acids?

2. The major types of fatty acids

3. How they show up in clinical practice

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

When you see elevated triglycerides on a lab report, what’s your first move? Diet talk? Lifestyle handout?

It’s time to pause — because triglycerides aren’t just about carbs and alcohol. They can be a clue to deeper issues: insulin resistance, hepatic strain, even pancreatitis risk.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we take a deep dive into:

• What triglycerides actually are?
• Why triglycerides go up — and when you should worry?
• Whether they really cause atherosclerosis, or are just guilty by association

We’ll also walk through a 5-question framework you can use in clinic to make sense of elevated TGs, and what to prioritize when the number is >150 mg/dL.

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 1 of LipidCurious — the podcast dedicated to demystifying lipids for medical boards and real-world clinical practice. If you’ve ever looked at a lipid panel and felt unsure what it really means, this episode is your starting point.

In this kickoff episode, we cover:

1. What are lipids?

2. Their defining “superpowers.”

3. How are lipids classified — and why that matters in clinic

Whether you’re preparing for boards or managing complex patients, understanding the lipid family gives you a better grasp on diagnosis and treatment. This is foundational knowledge—built for real-world clinical practice.

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.