Added: Aug 3, 2023
In this podcast episode, Bryan Johnson, entrepreneur and founder of Braintree, discusses his mission to ensure the survival and thriving of the human race. He shares his personal journey, starting with a transformative experience in Ecuador at the age of 19, where he witnessed extreme poverty and realized he wanted to spend his life improving the human race. He then became an entrepreneur and sold Braintree at the age of 34, making a significant amount of money.Johnson talks about his struggle with depression for 10 years and how it led him to question his faith and the authority structures in his life. He eventually left the Mormon church and got a divorce, which lifted the cloud of depression. He realized that he couldn't trust his own mind and started focusing on his health and well-being. Johnson introduces the concept of "don't die" as the only objective for the human race in the 21st century. He believes that humans need to align themselves with AI and the planet to ensure their survival. He discusses his project called Blueprint, which is an algorithm that takes care of his health better than he can himself. He measures every organ in his body, looks at scientific evidence, and follows the algorithm to slow down his aging process. Johnson emphasizes the importance of not underestimating the alignment with AI and the need for humans to cooperate and work together. He believes that humans are a self-destructive species and need to change their behavior to ensure their survival. He mentions driving as one of the most dangerous activities humans engage in and emphasizes the need to be mindful and focused while driving. He also discusses the cultural norms that contribute to self-destruction, such as addiction to fast food, sugary drinks, pornography, and other addictive behaviors. He believes that society needs to change these norms and create an environment that promotes health and well-being. Johnson highlights the importance of sleep, stating that it is the most influential factor in how he thinks and feels about life. Johnson has become obsessed with optimizing his sleep and has made it a priority in his life. To achieve perfect sleep, Johnson has implemented several strategies. He goes to bed at the same time every night, without any exceptions. He also eats his last meal of the day between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., ensuring that he sleeps on an empty stomach. Johnson has experimented with different eating times, types of food, and exercise protocols to find what works best for him. He has found that certain foods, such as flour and red wine, negatively impact his sleep quality. Johnson also pays attention to other factors that affect sleep, such as room temperature and sound. He tries to minimize noise and create a temperature-controlled environment to optimize his sleep. Additionally, he avoids sleeping in the same bed as someone else, as it can be challenging to coordinate sleep schedules and disturbances can disrupt sleep quality. When asked about the cost of prioritizing sleep, Johnson acknowledges that it does come at a cost. He has had to make sacrifices, such as missing out on social events that occur past his bedtime. However, he believes that the benefits of prioritizing sleep far outweigh the costs. Moving on to nutrition, Johnson shares his unique approach to eating. He follows a strict protocol called Blueprint, which involves consuming specific meals and supplements designed to optimize his health and longevity. Johnson's daily caloric intake is limited to 2,250 calories, and every calorie must serve a specific purpose in his body. Johnson provides details about the meals he consumes, such as the "Super Veggie" dish, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, black lentils, garlic, ginger, hemp seeds, and chocolate. He also consumes a "Nutty Pudding" made from macadamia nuts, flaxseed, sunflower relation, pomegranate juice, berries, and pea protein. Johnson emphasizes that every ingredient is carefully chosen based on its nutritional value and its ability to serve his body's objectives. In addition to his meals, Johnson takes a variety of supplements, including 111 pills per day. These pills contain a range of substances, from basic vitamins to more advanced drugs. Johnson has experimented with different supplements to optimize his health, including NAD+ supplements to increase his intracellular NAD levels. Johnson encourages listeners to follow his Blueprint protocol and measure their own biomarkers to see if it works for them. He believes that his approach provides a starting point for individuals to optimize their health and longevity. Johnson emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making and encourages people to experiment and iterate to find what works best for them. Johnson goes on to share his motivation to reverse aging, explaining that he wants to experience the extraordinary future that may lie ahead. He believes that AI is the key to achieving this goal and emphasizes the importance of cooperation between humans and AI systems. Johnson then shares his personal journey of reversing aging, starting with his experiences with hair loss and gray hair. He advises against accepting the aging process and encourages listeners to fight against it. He shares his own hair protocol, which includes a custom formulation with minoxidil, red light therapy, platelet-rich fibrin injections, and supplements. Johnson emphasizes the importance of building habits and routines to make these interventions a seamless part of daily life. The conversation then shifts to the potential side effects of hair loss treatments, such as loss of libido. Johnson explains that the treatments he uses have not affected his libido and discusses his unconventional method of measuring libido using a high-frequency electromagnetic stimulation device. The topic of posture is then explored, with Johnson explaining that he became obsessed with it due to his narrow internal jugular veins, which caused brain-related issues. He emphasizes the importance of good posture for blood flow and overall brain health. Johnson shares his personal journey of learning how to improve his posture and the challenges he faced in strengthening the necessary muscles. The conversation then delves into the broader implications of posture on health outcomes. Johnson's collaborator believes that posture may have a significant influence on overall health, although there is limited evidence to support this claim. The discussion then turns to the role of AI in Johnson's work. He explains that AI is crucial for solving the cooperation problem and aligning the goals of all intelligent agents. Johnson argues that humans cannot act in their own best interest due to conflicting goals and self-destructive tendencies. He believes that AI can help overcome these challenges and ensure the long-term survival and well-being of humanity. Johnson expresses his optimism about the future, stating that he believes it is possible to solve existential threats and create a sustainable and cooperative future. He urges listeners to revolutionize their thinking and challenge sacred ideas about themselves, society, and existence. He emphasizes the need for individual and collective revolution against self-destruction and the culture of death. The conversation concludes with Johnson reflecting on his purpose and the potential impact of his work. He states that if he were to die soon, he would feel satisfied knowing that he has dedicated his life to creating value for humanity. He acknowledges that he is often misunderstood and hopes that his message of cooperation and revolution resonates with listeners. Overall, the podcast explores Bryan Johnson's journey to reverse aging and his vision for the future of humanity. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with AI and cooperating to overcome existential threats and ensure the survival and progress of intelligent life. Johnson's personal experiences and insights provide a unique perspective on aging, health, and the potential of human existence.