Welcome back to another in-between-isode, with one of my favorite formats: the good old-fashioned Q&A.

I answer questions submitted by the small-but-elite group of test readers of my upcoming THE NO BOOK. The community is closed for new members, as we have the right number of people now, but I hope to potentially expand it, once the book comes out. 

See below for show notes, links to everything discussed, and more!

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, or on your favorite podcast platform.

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SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Books & Media

• The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss: My book on health and the human body, which I reference when discussing the PAGG supplement protocol.
• The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss: My book about accelerated learning. I mention it in the context of sequencing and as a key resource for adapting in the AI era.
• The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss: My first book on lifestyle design, mentioned in the context of needing a phase of openness in your career.
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie: A book I reference for its advice on gathering more information to address fears and challenges.
• Sin City (Collector’s Edition) by Frank Miller: A coffee table book that I use for creative inspiration, noting how it shows the artist’s process.
• Hyde: An upcoming gothic horror graphic novel series starring Johnny Depp and created in collaboration with Ridley Scott, reimagining the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story as a sequel where Hyde has triumphed over his alter ego.
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: A book I recently finished listening to.
• The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: A Wes Anderson short film on Netflix, adapted from a Roald Dahl story that was recommended to me.
• Fast Like a Girl: A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones by Dr. Mindy Pelz: A book recommended by a listener for its focus on fasting for women.
• Eat Like a Girl: 100+ Delicious Recipes to Balance Hormones, Boost Energy, and Burn Fat by Dr. Mindy Pelz: Another book recommended by a listener for its focus on nutrition for women.
• The Resetter Podcast: Dr. Mindy Pelz’s podcast, also recommended by a listener.
• Fall of Civilizations Podcast: A podcast I mention to illustrate that most legacies, even of great empires, fade over time.
• “The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen (And Weapons of Mass Distraction)”: One of my older blog posts that I say is very relevant to how I live my life.
• “The Karmic Capitalist: Should I Wait Until I’m Rich to Give Back?”: Another of my older blog posts, which I reference when discussing my philosophy on philanthropy.
• Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli: Originally released in 1988 in four parts, these stories give us more insight into Batman’s origin.
• The Four Seasons: A modern, eight-part series adapted from the 1981 Alan Alda film The Four Seasons.
• Dirty Dancing: A 1987 romantic drama film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey about a young woman who falls in love with a dance instructor during a family vacation.

Health & Wellness Supplements

• AGG Stack (PAGG minus the P): A supplement combination consisting of:
  • Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
  • Green Tea Extract
  • Garlic Allicin Extract
• BPC-157: A peptide used to aid in elbow surgery recovery.
• Collagen & Vitamin C: Taken together prior to physical therapy or stretching to support tissue repair.
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC): A supplement taken for liver health, often between meals.
• Fish Oil (Pure Encapsulations ONE): Tested for purity by Kevin Rose and Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
• Magnesium L-threonate: A form of magnesium for cognitive support.
• Maca Root Extract: Taken for potential androgenic and reproductive health benefits.
• AREDS 2: A Bausch & Lomb supplement for ocular health being used experimentally for presbyopia.
• THC & CBN: A combination used at night for pain management post-surgery.
• Whey Protein: Used to supplement protein intake, especially within intermittent fasting windows.
• MCT Oil: A budget-friendly alternative to exogenous ketones for cognitive benefits.
• Ketone Ester (Monoester)/Keto Start (Ketone Salts): Expensive ketone monoesters vs. the more affordable Keto Start (a ketone salt product from Dominic D’Agostino).

Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drugs

(Disclaimer: I emphasize multiple times not to copy my protocol and to consult a doctor.)

• Uloric (Febuxostat): A prescription for managing uric acid to prevent future gout.
• Nexlizet (Ezetimibe and Bempedoic Acid): A prescription for managing my lipid profile.
• Famotidine (Pepcid): An over-the-counter medication I’m taking for its potential anti-COVID applications and as a mild vagal tone improver.
• DORA Class Sleep Medications: A class of prescription sleep medication I am researching for its potential to help clear amyloid plaque associated with Alzheimer’s.

Diets & Training Methods

• Intermittent Fasting: I have changed my mind on this and now practice it regularly, typically in a 16/8 format (eating within an eight-hour window).
• Ketogenic Diet: A diet I used to kickstart my intermittent fasting journey, which resulted in my best blood work in over a decade.
• Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training: A technique recommended by Kelly Starrett that I’m using to maintain muscle mass and flush tissue during rehab.
• Marc Pro Device: An electrical stimulation device used for decongestion and lymphatic drainage to aid healing.

Apps, Tools, & Technology

• Consensus.app: An AI-powered search engine specifically designed to find and summarize findings from peer-reviewed scientific papers.
• ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity: General large language models (LLMs) I use for initial research, which I then cross-reference.
• Zero: Kevin Rose’s app for tracking fasting periods.
• Discord: I mention using a Discord server to gather feedback from fans of Exploding Kittens games.
• Reddit: I note that subreddits can be a great place to cross-reference information and find very smart people (with the caveat that it is not medical advice).
• Ancestry.com: Mentioned as a tool for tracing family lineage for a potential family trip.

Games & Entertainment

• Coyote: The card game I created with Exploding Kittens, which is a central topic of discussion.
• Monopoly Deal: A fast-paced card game mentioned by a listener as a family favorite alongside Coyote.
• Dungeons & Dragons: I mention I still have all my old hardcover books, modules, and dice from when I was a kid.
• CØCKPUNCH/Legends of Varlata: My foray into fantasy fiction.

Companies, Organizations, & Brands

• Exploding Kittens: The game company that published Coyote.
• Saisei Foundation: My own foundation, which funds research into mental health therapeutics.
• Maui Nui Venison: A company I am a large investor in, which I describe as providing highly nutritious red meat.

People

• Roald Dahl: Author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More.
• Wes Anderson: American filmmaker who directed the short-film adaptation of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.
• Dale Carnegie: Author of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.
• Pablos Holman: Hacker and inventor known for talks on proper problem sequencing.
• Keith Baar: UC Davis researcher whose work informs collagen and vitamin C usage.
• Kelly Starrett: Performance coach and PT who recommended BFR training.
• Kevin Rose & Rhonda Patrick: Friends who have discussed testing the purity of fish oil supplements.
• Kevin Tracey: Neurosurgeon known for research on vagus nerve stimulation.
• Seth Godin: Author and entrepreneur quoted on the idea that “money is a story.”
• Naval Ravikant: Investor and thinker referenced with the question, “How many Sumerians do you know?”
• Charles Babbage: English mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer considered by many to be the “father of the computer.”
• Valter Longo: Director of the USC Longevity Institute and biogerontologist known for his research on fasting-mimicking diets, cellular protection, aging, and longevity mechanisms across species.
• Dominic D’Agostino: Researcher focused on ketogenic diets, metabolic therapies, and nutritional strategies for neurological disorders and human performance optimization.
• Henry Shukman: Zen teacher at Mountain Cloud Zen Center.
• Frank Miller: Legendary comics creator of Sin City: The Hard Goodbye and 300.
• Elan Lee: Game designer and co-creator of Exploding Kittens; partner on the Coyote project.
• Johnny Depp: American actor and producer known for transformative film roles.
• Ridley Scott: British filmmaker behind Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator.
• Tom Hardy: British actor known for The Dark Knight Rises and Mad Max: Fury Road.
• Timothée Chalamet: American actor known for Call Me by Your Name and Dune (2021).
• Josh Waitzkin: Chess prodigy and author of The Art of Learning.
• Andrew Huberman & Peter Attia: Neuroscientist and physician who have discussed nicotine and health tradeoffs.
• Albert Hofmann: Swiss chemist best known for first synthesizing LSD.
• Javier Milei: President of Argentina since 2023, known for his libertarian economic policies and efforts to combat hyperinflation through drastic austerity measures and deregulation.
• Michael Phelps: Widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, he captured 28 Olympic medals and set 39 world records over the course of his swimming career.
• Mindy Pelz: Author and podcaster focused on fasting, particularly for women.
• Robert Rodriguez: American filmmaker known for El Mariachi, Desperado, and Sin City.

Key Concepts & Ideas

• Sequencing: The crucial importance of breaking a problem down and solving its pieces in the right order.
• 80/20 Analysis: The principle of identifying the 20 percent of inputs that will yield 80 percent of the results.
• Saying “No”: The theme of turning down good opportunities to make space for “Hell, yes” moments.
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A topic I’m very interested in and would add a chapter about to The 4-Hour Body if I were to revisit it.
• Treating Philanthropy Like For-Profit Investing: My approach of applying rigorous, impact-driven analysis to my non-profit work.
• Extended Human Fasting: A neglected area of scientific research that I believe holds immense potential as a therapeutic tool.
• Fun as Recovery: The idea that delight, play, and laughter are not distractions but essential forms of recovery needed for high performance.

Places

• Austin, Texas: Capital city of Texas and the “Live Music Capital of the World,” known for its vibrant music scene, breakfast tacos, technology industry, and the slogan “Keep Austin Weird.”
• Silicon Valley, California: California’s tech-centric region stretching from Belmont to San Jose around the south end of San Francisco Bay, home to major technology corporations like Google, Apple, Meta, and Stanford University.
• Glacier National Park: Montana national park showcasing melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes with over 700 miles of trails, featuring the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and historic lodges.
• Mountain Cloud Zen Center: A Zen meditation retreat in Santa Fe, New Mexico, run by Henry Shukman, which I describe as a magical experience.
• Taiwan: Island nation situated in the West Pacific between Japan and the Philippines, renowned for its democratic government, advanced technology sector, and semiconductor industry.
• Estonia: Baltic state and EU member known as one of the world’s most digitally advanced countries, offering innovative e-governance services, e-residency programs, and serving as the birthplace of technologies like Skype.
• Lithuania: Baltic state and EU/NATO member in Northern Europe, known for its medieval capital Vilnius, strong digital innovation sector, commitment to regional security and defense cooperation, and fascinating basketball-Grateful Dead connection.
• Mohonk Mountain House: A resort in Upstate New York I recommend for large, extended family outings.

SHOW NOTES

• [00:00:00] Start
• [00:06:00] Coyote retail distribution challenges and data gathering.
• [00:09:12] Elbow surgery recovery: sequencing, decongestion, Marc Pro device, peptides, BFR training.
• [00:16:14] California vs. Austin for builders, mechanical engineers, and tech startups.
• [00:19:06] Using AI for medical advice workflow (and cross-referencing with professionals).
• [00:23:51] Current supplement regimen and PAGG/AGG status.
• [00:31:54] California vs. Texas considerations for aspiring parents.
• [00:32:48] Saying “No” to good things for “Hell, yes” moments.
• [00:34:34] Philanthropy lessons learned since starting Saisei Foundation.
• [00:37:45] Something I’ve changed my mind about recently: intermittent fasting.
• [00:42:44] Precious items from childhood I still keep: D&D relics and marine biology books.
• [00:43:03] Bucket list hike: Glacier National Park.
• [00:43:42] How the catalytic chaos of publishing The 4-Hour Chef led to launching this podcast.
• [00:45:52] Bringing delight vs. sixth-gear, high-performance focus.
• [00:49:05] Thoughts on extended human fasting research from the Soviet era.
• [00:52:58] Most magical New Mexico experience: Mountain Cloud Zen Center meditation retreat.
• [00:53:22] Meta skills for the AI era: Hyper-adaptability and world-class learning.
• [00:54:01] The (real and ideal) future of CØCKPUNCH/Legends of Varlata.
• [00:59:47] Competitive chess training enhancement: glucose management, intermittent fasting, MCT oil.
• [01:06:31] Behind-the-scenes projects: Fusion, algae feed additives, meat alternatives.
• [01:08:32] Countries I wish I had visited earlier, and places I’d still like to see.
• [01:11:06] “Not yet” vs. “No” in early growth phases.
• [01:14:14] Post Coyote, do I have any future games in the works?
• [01:14:46] Over-ear vs. in-ear headphones for podcasting.
• [01:15:16] What’s the uncrowded channel right now?
• [01:16:17] Recommendations for Dr. Mindy Pelz.
• [01:16:58] Robert Rodriguez and project juggling.
• [01:17:24] Fast neutron reactors and the Bugatti of ketones.
• [01:19:05] Extended family outings and Mahonk Mountain House.
• [01:20:31] NO BOOK meetup plans?
• [01:20:54] Parting thoughts.

Want to hear another episode where I answer questions directly from listeners? Have a gander at my recent Q&A session in which I discussed changing my mind about parenthood, identity diversification, how to find joy and live with urgency, career reinvention in the age of AI, avoiding complacency, getting unstuck, and much more.