• Conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia may be driven in part by metabolic dysfunction in the brain
  • Neuroinflammation is real, but fasting and a ketogenic diet can help 
• The benefits of supplementing exogenous ketones:
  • (1) Quick energy – they give your body a fast fuel source, especially for the brain and muscles
  • (2)  Support ketosis – they can help raise blood ketone levels even if you’re not fully on a strict keto diet
• Benefits of fasting: helps to augment the control of the immune system, relaxes the gut and enables the body’s repair processes to occur, reduces the body’s general state of inflammation 
• There is a ketone-synergistic effect when delivering caffeine with MCT; it stimulates lipolysis and also fat oxidation in the liver 
• The short-list of essential supplements:CoQ10, creatine, ketones, vitamin D, and melatonin
• The benefits of metformin and GLP-1 drugs may arise from their influence on metabolic function
• A low-carb Mediterranean-style diet is conducive to upgrading your metabolic machinery while keeping biomarkers in check
  • Diet: No sugar, no starch, fibrous vegetables, aim for 25% of carbohydrates consumed should be from fiber, high-protein + low glycemic breakfast and lunch, then a pound of protein for dinner with some fibrous vegetables 
• The protocol and surprising benefits of ‘Sardine Fasting’: 
  • Eat 1-2 cans of sardines per day for one week; can be repeated monthly or as needed. May need to supplement with vitamin C and magnesium  
  • Why it helps: Provides essential nutrients and omega-3s while keeping calories/protein low enough to activate autophagy, support immunity, fight brain fog, and promote overall metabolic health 
• Movement is critical for optimal metabolic health; get outside and walk first thing in the morning, and try to move after dinner for the sake of glucose metabolism 

As a listener of TOE you can get a special 20% off discount to The Economist and all it has to offer! Visit https://www.economist.com/toe

MIT physicist Max Tegmark argues AI now belongs inside physics—and that consciousness will be next. He separates intelligence (goal-achieving behavior) from consciousness (subjective experience), sketches falsifiable experiments using brain-reading tech and rigorous theories (e.g., IIT/φ), and shows how ideas like Hopfield energy landscapes make memory “feel” like physics. We get into mechanistic interpretability (sparse autoencoders), number representations that snap into clean geometry, why RLHF mostly aligns behavior (not goals), and the stakes as AI progress accelerates from “underhyped” to civilization-shaping. It’s a masterclass on where mind, math, and machines collide.

Join My New Substack (Personal Writings): https://curtjaimungal.substack.com

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e

Timestamps:

Links mentioned:

SUPPORT:

SOCIALS:

Guests do not pay to appear. Theories of Everything receives revenue solely from viewer donations, platform ads, and clearly labelled sponsors; no guest or associated entity has ever given compensation, directly or through intermediaries.

#science

• Optimal exercise balance: Excessive exercise, especially beyond 150 minutes of moderate or 70 minutes of high-intensity activity per week, may increase inflammation and risk
  • Moderate daily movement (like walking) combined with super-slow resistance training is ideal for health 
• Diet trends and protein: Extreme dieting, such as excessive intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, or fear of carbohydrates, is often unnecessary
  • A balanced combination of low-carb days with higher evening carbohydrate intake promotes glycemic stability
  • Prioritize clean, high-quality protein at about 1g per pound of bodyweight, favoring animal sources (with nose-to-tail consumption and collagen), and be cautious with plant proteins due to digestibility concerns
• Anti-aging and recovery approaches: Techniques such as micro-needling, red light therapy, peptide serums, and even salmon DNA serum are highlighted for youthful skin
  • Cost-free hacks like barefoot walking outdoors in sunlight and breathwork can deliver impressive benefits for inflammation and sleep
• The power of community & spiritual health: Social connection is described as the most powerful “biohack” for longevity and well-being, rivaling the impact of major risk factors like smoking
  • Meaningful relationships and a sense of spiritual or higher purpose are crucial for emotional and biological health
• The 5 Core Principles for Longevity: Ben Greenfield’s main advice centers on balanced movement, clean eating, exposure to hot and cold, taking care of one’s personal environment (air, water, light, electricity), and prioritizing community and spiritual life as the foundation for lasting health and happiness

It’s been five years since Ben Greenfield joined me on The Dr. Hyman Show, and a lot has changed. Ben isn’t doing many of the things he once swore by. In fact, he’s discovered that some of the most powerful practices for health and longevity are simpler and more sustainable than the extreme routines he became known for. 

In this episode, we talk about the biohacks he’s left behind, the innovations he still uses, and the deeper priorities that now guide his life. Join us on YouTube for the full talk or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[YOUTUBE THUMBNAIL]

We discuss:

• How much exercise is truly healthy, and when it starts working against you

• Simple training shifts that build strength and stamina while protecting long-term health

• What recovery tools can actually speed healing and reduce inflammation

• Can light and oxygen really reset your body’s rhythms and improve sleep?

• Why community, family, and spiritual health may be the most overlooked keys to longevity

True longevity isn’t found in extremes—it’s built through balance, connection, and simple daily practices that stand the test of time.

View Show Notes From This Episode

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman

https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal

https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast

Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health

https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox

Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Resultshttps://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive

This episode is brought to you by  Sunlighten, Paleovalley, Function Health,Timeline, AirDoctor and LMNT.

Visit sunlighten.com and save up to $1400 on your purchase with code HYMAN.

Get nutrient-dense, whole foods. Head to paleovalley.com/hyman for 15% off your first purchase.

Join today at FunctionHealth.com/Mark and use code HYMAN100 to get $100 toward your membership.

Support essential mitochondrial health and save 10% on Mitopure. Visit timeline.com/drhyman to get 10% off today.

Get cleaner air. Right now, you can get up to $300 off at airdoctorpro.com/drhyman.

Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order—just head to drinklmnt.com/hyman.

• To some degree, insulin resistance is a common root cause for most chronic diseases 
• A low-carb diet may offer a metabolic advantage by reducing insulin levels, which enhances metabolic flexibility and improves energy regulation
  • Fat tissue has a much higher metabolic rate when insulin levels are low
  • Since there is much more metabolic uncoupling, the body’s engine revs up to burn energy just to create heat   
• How to reverse a diabetes diagnosis in 90 days 
  • Control carbs – focus on whole fruits and vegetables, limiting sugary or starchy choices like bananas, pineapples, and mangoes 
  • Prioritize protein and do not fear fat – eat protein-rich foods regularly, and do not worry too much about naturally occurring fats 
  • Time meals and exercise – Eat more calories earlier in the day, avoid late-night eating, and take short walks after your biggest meals to reduce blood sugar spikes
• Eating an evening snack spikes your blood sugar and ramps up the sympathetic nervous system, thus increasing body temperature and increasing the likelihood of insomnia and poor sleep; so do not eat within the 3-4 hours before bed 
• Muscle is a great glucose consumer: The more muscle you have, the more metabolic wiggle room you have because muscle serves as a glucose sink 
• Blood-sugar-lowering supplements that work:magnesium,alpha lipoic acid (ALA),berberine, andapple cider vinegar 
• Eating too much linoleic acid (from seed oils) can lead to the production of a toxic substance (4H&E) that prevents your body from creating new small fat cells, and instead forces existing fat cells to just swell up
• Concerning GLP-1 dosing, caution is warranted; it is probably better to microdose these powerful drugs and think of them as short-term behavioral modification tools instead of lifelong prescriptions  
• The top biomarkers to measure to determine metabolic health and aging:(1) fasting insulin; want below 6 µIU/mL), (2) Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio; want ratio under 1.5, and (3) Uric acid; want lower levels generally
• Lower your insulin by starting with tomorrow’s breakfast: 
  • Either fast through breakfast and drink coffee, tea, or yerba mate
  • Or if you do want to eat, then choose low-glycemic-load vegetables and berries, and consume more protein and fat  
• Do whatever you can to keep your insulin in check for as long as possible throughout the day; the longer the insulin is low, the more you will improve your insulin sensitivity 

Get access to 130 episodes of my premium podcast, The Aliquot, as a FoundMyFitness Premium Member

Insulin resistance silently shapes the trajectory of nearly every major chronic disease, yet it's often overlooked until blood sugar abnormalities become obvious. In this episode, Dr. Ben Bikman exposes the dietary culprits that drive metabolic dysfunction and highlights actionable, evidence-based tactics for improving metabolic health. Ben also addresses pressing questions about popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists: Are they groundbreaking solutions, or shortcuts with hidden metabolic consequences?

Timestamps:

• (0:00) Introduction
• (4:51) Can you be insulin resistant with normal glucose levels?
• (8:30) Can glucose monitors detect hidden insulin resistance?
• (10:01) What your skin reveals about insulin resistance
• (11:25) Why is insulin resistance behind so many chronic diseases?
• (15:46) Does obesity cause insulin resistance—or vice versa?
• (22:38) Insulin’s surprising roles beyond blood sugar control
• (23:36) What’s driving weight gain—insulin or calories?
• (30:30) Do saturated fats cause insulin resistance?
• (37:02) Why refined carbs amplify risks from saturated fat
• (40:04) Fructose vs. refined sugar—which spikes insulin more?
• (41:01) High-carb vs. keto—which diet controls hunger better?
• (45:27) Why low-carb diets might provide a metabolic advantage
• (47:36) Does exercise give you metabolic ‘wiggle room’?
• (52:00) Why strength training beats cardio for insulin sensitivity
• (54:03) Should you lower insulin before cutting calories?
• (57:12) Does meal frequency drive insulin resistance?
• (1:00:32) Is nighttime snacking giving you insomnia?
• (1:02:24) Can a sugary breakfast lead to overeating later?
• (1:07:19) Does late-night eating disrupt sleep more than blue light?
• (1:08:59) Can one bad night’s sleep trigger insulin resistance?
• (1:12:23) Can air pollution cause weight gain?
• (1:16:15) Vaping vs. smoking—which is worse for metabolic health?
• (1:17:40) Can statins and antidepressants trigger weight gain?
• (1:20:22) How to reverse insulin resistance in 90 days
• (1:26:59) Does apple cider vinegar really lower blood sugar?
• (1:30:54) Ketone supplements—are the metabolic benefits real?
• (1:36:34) Why some ethnicities get diabetes without obesity
• (1:44:28) How oversized fat cells trigger metabolic chaos
• (1:49:28) Do seed oils silently promote insulin resistance?
• (1:52:44) Seed oils—always harmful or only when heated?
• (1:58:35) Fat, muscle, or liver—where does insulin resistance start?
• (2:04:21) Do fat cells shrink or disappear with weight loss?
• (2:07:05) Are shrunken fat cells still insulin resistant?
• (2:08:15) Can exercise and cold therapy specifically shrink visceral fat?
• (2:09:40) Injecting insulin for muscle—are the risks worth it?
• (2:12:45) Are drugs like Ozempic a shortcut or solution for obesity?
• (2:19:12) Are current GLP-1 agonist doses too high?
• (2:20:02) Microdosing GLP-1 drugs—a solution for carb cravings?
• (2:26:01) Do these medications cause muscle loss—or is it poor nutrition?
• (2:28:30) Do GLP-1 agonist benefits extend beyond weight loss?
• (2:30:41) Could these treatments actually promote longevity?
• (2:36:12) The dark side of GLP-1 drugs—can they trigger depression?
• (2:39:31) Insulin vs. glucose—what really drives accelerated aging?
• (2:44:34) How high glucose levels damage cells—from glycolysis to sorbitol
• (2:46:40) How insulin shuts down your body’s stress defenses
• (2:51:15) Which biomarkers best predict biological aging?
• (2:55:05) One simple breakfast change to lower insulin
• (2:57:19) Does eating dinner early improve insulin sensitivity?

Show notes, transcript, and summary are available by clicking here

Watch this episode on YouTube

• Histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) can be the hidden drivers behind a wide range of chronic conditions, such as fatigue, brain fog, food sensitivities, and skin issues – yet, histamine intolerance is often overlooked by conventional medicine
  • MCAS is a condition where certain immune cells – called mast cells – release too many chemicals (like histamine) at the wrong times
• Using diet as a short-term therapeutic tool: A low-histamine diet or Low-FODMAP Dietis not a lifelong diet because tons of healthy foods have histamine in them

• Consume the freshest foods possible and avoid leftovers, as histamine levels in food rise over time after preparation

• Even though they are generally healthy, consuming them is like throwing gas on your histamine fire 

• Foods to avoid: Garlic, onions, wheat, legumes, milk, soft cheeses, apples, honey, sorbitol, xylitol, stone fruits, artificial sweeteners
• Foods to consume: Carrots, spinach, bananas, chicken, rice, cheddar cheese, eggs

Many people struggle with mysterious symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, food sensitivities, and skin issues—only to be misdiagnosed or dismissed altogether. This conversation highlights how histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome can be the hidden drivers behind a wide range of chronic conditions, and why they're often overlooked in conventional medicine. From the role of gut health, food triggers, and environmental toxins to deeper root causes like Lyme disease or mold exposure, it’s clear that personalized, Functional Medicine is key to uncovering real answers. Understanding the immune system’s role in histamine reactions—and how even “healthy” foods can be inflammatory for some—is a critical step toward healing.

Dr. Todd LePine graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, specializing in Integrative Functional Medicine. He is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. Prior to joining The UltraWellness Center, he worked as a physician at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, for 10 years. Dr. LePine’s focus at The UltraWellness Center is to help his patients achieve optimal health and vitality by restoring the natural balance to both the mind and the body. His areas of interest include optimal aging, bio-detoxification, functional gastrointestinal health, systemic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and the neurobiology of mood and cognitive disorders. Dr. LePine enjoys skiing, kayaking, hiking, camping, and golfing in the beautiful Berkshires, and is a fitness enthusiast.

Dr. Elizabeth Boham is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Albany Medical School, and she is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner and the Medical Director of The UltraWellness Center. Dr. Boham lectures on a variety of topics, including Women’s Health and Breast Cancer Prevention, insulin resistance, heart health, weight control and allergies. She is on the faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Mark Pimentel is a Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology through the Geffen School of Medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Pimentel is also the Executive Director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) program at Cedars-Sinai, an enterprise of physicians and researchers dedicated to the study of the gut microbiome in order to develop effective diagnostic tools and therapies to improve patient care. 

This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers.

Full-length episodes can be found here:

• For every new time zone that you cross, it takes approximately one day for your body to acclimate 
• The difference between circadian rhythm and chronotype: Circadian rhythm is your body’s internal 24-hour clock that regulates biological processes, while chronotype is your natural preference for when you feel most alert or sleepy within that rhythm
• Top sleep tips from the episode:
  • Maintain the same sleep schedule on weekdays and weekends
  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time, or at least within a 30 min window
  • Reduce effects of jet-lag by taking pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight measures
  • Know your chronotype so you can performance-peak at desired times 
• Over 40 NFL seasons from 1970-2011, during night match-ups, the West coast team was two-fold more likely to beat the East coast team 
  • This is due to the West coast team’s circadian advantage over the East team
• Leverage “Sleep Loading”: Before going into a high-stress period or an acute period in which you will be sleeping less, increase your sleep duration in the several days leading up the period of anticipated sleep-loss or higher-stress 
• While it is difficult to “pay back” sleep debt after-the-fact, it appears that you can build up “sleep credit” by front-loading sleep ahead of anticipated periods of high stress and sleep-loss
• Taking a hot shower or bath 90 minutes before bed can dramatically improve your sleep quality 
• A study conducted using the NBA schedule was able to predict game outcomes with 76-86% accuracy based on travel-induced fatigue criteria – completely independent of strength of team 
• Use the nappuccino to boost alertness and performance: Consume your favorite caffeinated beverage, immediately take a 20-30 minute power nap, then wake up when your alarm goes off and you will be in a heightened state of alertness 

Dr. Cheri Mah returns to the podcast today to explore a few different topics including how circadian rhythms shape athletic performance. She notes that these 24-hour cycles regulate sleep, hormones, and core temperature, with peak physical capacity often occurring between 4-8 pm—when many world records are set. 

Dr. Mah also discusses chronotypes, showing how tailoring training to one’s natural rhythm can enhance results. She reveals research on circadian disruption in sports, notably how West Coast NFL teams outperform East Coast teams in night games due to a three-hour body clock advantage. The episode also covers jet lag strategies, sleep loading, and managing fatigue, making it a must-listen not just for athletes and high performers, but truly for us all. 

Please note that Matt is not a medical doctor, and none of the content in this podcast should be considered medical advice in any way, shape, or form, nor prescriptive in any way.

Matt is only too happy to share the fact that launching his sleep-related merchandise sales was incredibly smooth, thanks to show sponsor Shopify and their integrated sales and inventory system. And now, just for you,  Shopify is generously offering an exclusive trial at shopify.com/mattwalker. Whether it's online or in-person sales, Shopify simplifies it all. So, be sure to stop in at shopify.com/mattwalker to start your exclusive journey now! 

One of our sponsors this week is the biochemical electrolyte drink company LMNT, and they are very kindly offering eight free sample packs when you purchase any one of their orders at drinklmnt.com/mattwalker. LMNT is an electrolyte sports drink that I can get behind - it's created from the basis of science, and it has no sugar, no coloring, and no artificial ingredients – all qualities that are so important to maintaining your blood biochemical balance. If you want to give LMNT a try, just head on over to drinklmnt.com/mattwalker and get your eight free samples with your first purchase. 

Another great sponsor of the show is AG1, a comprehensive nutritional drink trusted by thousands worldwide, including Matt! For nearly four years and counting, he has relied on AG1 to fuel his post-workout routine with its powerhouse blend of over 75 essential minerals, vitamins, probiotics, and prebiotics, meticulously crafted to support your daily nutritional needs. AG1 is registered and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, boasting GMP badges for quality assurance. As a special offer for our listeners, when you try AG1, you'll receive a complimentary one-year supply of both Vitamin D and K2, and with your first subscription, you'll also receive five free AG1 travel packs! Visit AG1 to explore AG1's range of offerings and claim your exclusive offer.

Matt: Instagram @drmattwalker or on X @sleepdiplomat

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@sleepdiplomatmattwalker9299

Connect with Dr. Mah: https://www.drcherimah.com/ or https://linktr.ee/drcherimah

Caffeine Nap Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/58-caffeine-nap/id1578319619?i=1000630666364

Chronotype Assessment: AutoMEQ: Automated Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (AutoMEQ)

• The insurance companies and big pharma complex monetize chronic disease
  • They benefit if more Americans are chronically ill because it means more prescriptions and therefore more kickbacks and rebates 
  • Approximately 30% of the revenue generated from opioid abuse in America went to the big five insurance companies 
• The insurance companies are incentivized to put you on drugs!
  • About 60% of United Healthcare’s annual revenue – $361 billion in 2024 – comes from prescription drugs via an entity called a pharmacy benefit manager 
  • The average American is on 4+ prescription drugs 
• SSRIs are one of the most worrisome drugs of the day: A metaanalysis of over 75 studies revealed that 85% of the efficacy of an SSRI was related to placebo

• On a 52-point depression scale, SSRIs differentiate from placebo by 1-2 points 

Brigham Buhler is a healthcare entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Ways2Well, and co-founder of ReviveRx Pharmacy.

American healthcare stands apart from any other system in the world. While some argue it has the potential to be the best, for many, it feels like the worst. Sky-high costs, an overreliance on prescriptions, and systemic inefficiencies suggest something is deeply broken. Why is this the case, and what can be done to fix it?

Expect to learn what the number one reason for bankruptcy in America is, what the average state of health is for the average American and how it compares to the rest of the world, why so many American’s are on Pharmaceutical drugs, what drugs Americans are taking that are causing the most damage, what is happening with the Food industry’s corporate capture of food, how much of an impact RFK can really have on changing the pharmaceutical and food system, the simple changes that can improve American healthcare and much more…

Sponsors:

• We are the only species that have forgotten what we are biologically-programmed to eat 
• Metabolic dysfunction, which exists on a continuum, underlies 90% of chronic illness; becoming metabolically healthy through diet and lifestyle change can cure most chronic illnesses 
• Every year, the government sends out $112 billion in food stamps, which serves an average of 42 million people monthly – about 12% of the U.S. population
  • About 70% of this budget is spent on junk food, and about 10% of it – $12 billion – is spent on soda 
• Additives in ultra-processed foods impair our ability to make energy from them; they are poisonous to our metabolism and to the very things that give us life as humans! 
• There is more to the story than calories: The ingredients in these processed foods are poisonous to humans; the quality of the “calories in” impacts the body’s ability to do “calories out” 
• Consuming monogastric animals such as pork and chicken is problematic for humans because these animals accumulate polyunsaturated fats, which are harmful to humans; ruminants are better for human consumption 
• In the 1900s, rates of chronic illness were a fraction of what they are today; during this time, about 99% of fat that humans ate were beef tallow, ghee, butter, and lard – there were no seed oils in the human diet! 
• Saturated fats are evolutionary consistent and cardioprotective; consuming excess polyunsaturated fats, like linoleic acid in seed oils, is the true culprit of chronic disease due to their oxidative potential  
• “If you are insulin sensitive and metabolically healthy, LDL is good for you. It ‘s an immune particle; it’s valuable. It’s when you become insulin resistant that it becomes a liability because it is part of the causal cascade.”  – Paul Saladino 
• Sugar in fruit is different than processed forms of sugar: There are naturally occurring chemicals in fruit and in honey that mitigate the adverse effects of sugar in the body 
• The solution is simple: We do not need medical breakthroughs to fix our health and cure chronic disease; we just need to return to eating the foods that humans have always eaten 

Paul Saladino, MD, is a double board-certified physician and a prominent advocate for an animal-based diet, known for his controversial views on nutrition and health. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Washington. Saladino is the author of *The Carnivore Code* and *The Carnivore Code Cookbook*, where he argues that many chronic illnesses are linked to poor dietary choices and can be prevented or reversed through proper nutrition. His professional philosophy emphasizes questioning mainstream medical narratives, focusing instead on optimal health through dietary changes.

In addition to his writing, Saladino hosts the *Fundamental Health* podcast, where he engages with various experts to discuss health optimization. He co-founded Lineage Provisions, which produces high-quality air-dried meat snacks, and Heart & Soil, offering desiccated organ supplements aimed at enhancing nutrient intake. Recently, he has been involved in projects like a collaboration with Raw Farm USA to create a raw kefir smoothie at Erewhon Market, further promoting his vision of ancestral nutrition and wellness through innovative products.

Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:

Paul Saladino Links:

• The ailments that people try to fix with prescription drugs can be addressed with lifestyle modification
• Walking is the quintessential human movement; everybody should walk as much as they can 
• Running is not the best way to lose weight, improve cardiovascular health, or reduce stress; it is not the health and fitness panacea that it has been advertised to be

• While running is catabolic, walking is anti-catabolic
• Walking helps to relax, realign, and strengthen the body’s kinetic chain

Mark Sisson is a best-selling author, founder of Primal Kitchen, and a former elite endurance athlete turned health advocate who inspires millions to embrace primal living for a vibrant and healthy life.

15 Daily Steps to Lose Weight and Prevent Disease PDF: https://bit.ly/46XTn8f - Get my FREE eBook now!

Subscribe to The Genius Life on YouTube! - http://youtube.com/maxlugavere

Watch my new documentary Little Empty Boxes - http://littleemptyboxes.com

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Manukora makes delicious, creamy, glyphosate-free Manuka honey that’s rich in MGO. Head to http://manukora.com/genius for $25 off a starter Kit, which comes with an MGO 850+ Manuka Honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook!

Momentous is a new supplement brand that holds its products to rigorous quality and purity standards set by the NFL and NBA. I use their creatine and protein regularly. Visit livemomentous.com/genius to get 20% off.

Puori provides IFOS-certified, high potency fish oil to satisfy all of your pre-formed omega-3 needs! Visit Puori.com/MAX and use promo code MAX to get 20% off site-wide.

• “The corporate capture of our institutions is the real cause of the chronic disease crisis that we’re facing.” –  Brigham Butler
• Roughly 30% of the cost of every prescription drug is because of the kickback that goes to a PBM; the drugmaker pays the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) the kickback in order to be placed on the preferred contract with the insurance company 
• The drugs that get put on formulary do not have to do with efficacy or what is best for the patient; instead, it is about which drugs have the biggest kickbacks for PBMs  
• America’s healthcare system in a trainwreck: The US makes up for ~60% of the pharma industry, but is ranked 40th overall in healthcare outcomes
• Surgical procedures are loss-leaders; the industry would rather have you on prescription drugs, because then the PBMs get kickbacks 
• Show me the incentives and I’ll show you the outcomes: Since there is so much money being made off “treating” chronic disease, there is no incentive to cure chronic disease 
• The three pillars of the chronic disease crisis: (1) Big Pharma (2) The food industry and (3) The insurance industry 
• They do not want to treat preventative: Health insurance companies are incentivized to keep people from discovering if they have a catastrophic illness; this is why they do not allow you to easily get comprehensive blood work 
• The quarterly-profit cycle that publicly-traded insurance companies operate on incentivizes them to delay or deny expenditures, such as paying for a patient’s surgery, as much as possible 
• Focusing on preventing metabolic disease will indirectly cure all of the chronic diseases that are killing so many Americans 
• Getting rid of the PBMs will remove a huge profit center for the insurance companies; this takes away the incentive to get and keep patients on prescription drugs 
• “This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue. This is a humanity issue.” – Brigham Buhler on the chronic disease crisis 

An unhealthy, over-medicated country means record profits for insurance companies. Brigham Buhler explains how they work to keep us sick and monetize chronic illness.

(00:00) The Assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO

Paid partnerships with:

• “Get away from our sons and away from our daughters. It’s not left or right. I don’t have a Republican bone in my body. Get the crazy people who do not understand human development away from our children.” – Eric Weinstein 
• “Everything worth doing is hard – and the more worth doing it is, the harder it is. The greater the payoff, the greater the hardship. If it’s hard, good. It means no one else will do it. More for you.” – Alex Hormozi 
• Dr. Mike Israetel –  Focus on getting tension in the muscle that you are targeting; getting tension in the muscle you are trying to grow is more significant than focusing on which exercise movement is best 
• Dr. Andrew Huberman – You can become a morning person in three days: Set your alarm to 5 AM, wake up and get out of bed when it goes off, get outside and safely view sunlight, do some form of exercise or movement while viewing the sunlight, ingest caffeine 60-90 mins after waking, and engage in some form of social interaction 
• “The only way that you cannot be humble in old age is when you refuse to look at the reality of your life up to today.” – Dry Creek Dewayne 
• Implement more exercise snacks, such as air squats, into your daily life; the positive effects of short bursts of vigorous energy expenditure through“non-exercise” methods will compound over time and can dramatically improve your health 
• Oliver Burkeman – We often try to attain an impossible level of control over our lives; accept that you will never get life completely sorted out
• Tim Ferriss – Develop identity diversification so that your self-worth is never dependent on just one thing, such as your job; this increases the resiliency and robustness of your mental health
• Joe Hudson – The more you are willing to welcome the range of emotions that you will inevitably experience as a human, the more you are likely to welcome joy as a natural part of existence 

2024 is nearly over, so I decided to put together a compilation of some of my favourite moments from the show over the last year. It was going to be a top 10, but I couldn't choose, so it's 11.