LEVITY

There are countless reasons to admire Mark Hamalainen, and one of them is his brutal honesty. While many longevity influencers confidently declare that longevity escape velocity and indefinite lifespans are just around the corner, you won’t get such easy assurances from Mark.

That’s because, and this might seem counterintuitive at first, he’s one of the most deeply committed advocates for solving aging that I’ve encountered. Mark, a former director of science at Synthego and a former researcher at SENS Research Foundation (Aubrey de Grey has called him his protégé), has dedicated over two decades to tackling humanity’s greatest challenge.

You see, Mark's honesty doesn't stem from pessimism, but from a deep commitment to reality-based thinking. His mission isn’t driven by hype but by a relentless pursuit of tangible progress in the fight against aging.

I (Peter) first met Mark at the Longevity Biotech Fellowship (LBF) retreat in Sweden in January 2024, where I had the opportunity to witness his vision and dedication firsthand. It left a lasting impression, not only on me but likely on everyone who attended. Here was someone who wasn’t just dreaming about a future where aging is solved - he was meticulously planning it, working hard to remove the roadblocks that stand in the way.

His work with the LBF, the Longevity Acceleration Roadmap, and his broader efforts in the longevity community are all about taking concrete, actionable steps toward a future where the passing of time is not a death sentence - all the while knowing that this goal is one of the most complex challenges humanity has ever faced.

In this episode, Mark discusses several key strategies that he believes are essential to making real progress. These include advancing bioengineering to gain precise control over biological processes, developing comprehensive data sets to better understand aging at a molecular level, and exploring visionary ideas like the replacement strategy. He also highlights the potential of biostasis and cryopreservation as a last resort, potentially offering a way to preserve life until future technologies can fully reverse aging.

So, while Mark may not offer the easy assurances that some in the longevity space do, he offers something far more valuable: a realistic and deeply informed plan of action, a commitment to truth over convenience, and above all, a profound hope that by facing the realities of aging head-on, we can one day overcome them.

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In this podcast we are not only concerned with how we can prolong human life, but also whether it is a good idea, morally speaking.

Professor John K. Davies of California State University in Fullerton. He has written a book called New Methuselahs - the ethics of life extension published by MIT Press in 2018. In it he defends the conclusion that life extension science should be promoted.

He has been quoted on life extension in interviews with The Daily Beast, Science News, Newsweek, The Financial Times of London, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Allure Magazine, among other places.

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Prof. Alexandra Stolzing is a pioneer in biogerontological engineering at Loughborough University. With over two decades of experience, including work at SENS Research Foundation, Prof. Stolzing shares insights on:

Targeting senescent cells for anti-aging therapies

Revolutionizing cryopreservation techniques

Developing breath-based aging biomarkers

Harnessing AI for rapid drug discovery in aging research

Learn how her journey from Germany to the UK shaped her multidisciplinary approach to solving aging. Discover the challenges and opportunities in longevity research, including the critical need for basic science funding.

Show notes here: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/

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Would you want to live as long as you want to and in optimal health? Do you believe that Life and health are good. Death is humanity’s core problem? If so, you may be a Vitalist!  

Our guest in this episode is Adam Gries who is a serial entrepreneur and software engineer; he has sold four companies and built apps and games reaching over 80 million users. Together with Nathan Cheng he is the founder exciting concept of Vitalism - and the movement of Vitalism. Vitalism describes itself as "a moral philosophy and community of action, forming a revolutionary movement to get humanity to fight as hard as possible to achieve unlimited lifespans in peak health.”

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Want show notes for this and earlier episodes? You'll find them here: peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/

I (Peter Ottsjö) started paying close attention to aging biology and longevity around ten years ago. At that time, in Sweden, it felt kinda lonely. There was no big sprawling community of longevity enthusiasts back then. That’s how it felt to me anyway.

But certain names consistently appeared in my research. One that stood out was Linus Petersson.

And he probably felt the same way. Linus Petersson, a technical biology engineer, has just recently co-founded of the Swedish Longevity Cluster and he’s on a mission to get as many people as possible interested in and working on the problem of solving aging.

And not only that, he’s also written a book that is coming out very soon. It’s called Läkemedel mot åldrande: Hur modern vetenskap ger oss obegränsad livslängd. In English that would translate to Medicine against aging: How modern science gives us unlimited lifespan.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of longevity research. Linus brings a unique perspective to the field, combining his background in pharmaceutical development with a passionate advocacy for solving the problem of aging. We talk about the hallmarks of aging, drugs like rapamycin and metformin and cutting-edge approaches like growing non-sentient bodies for transplantation. He argues compellingly for classifying aging as a disease and offers insights into the economic and societal impacts of increased healthspans. Linus addresses common concerns like overpopulation and societal stagnation with data-driven responses. He also discusses the role of AI in longevity research and the urgent need for more talent and resources in the field. Whether you're a science enthusiast, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about the future of human longevity, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the forefront of anti-aging research.

I don't feel lonely anymore because the Swedish Longevity Cluster has not only brought together enthusiasts and researchers, but has also ignited a broader interest in longevity science across Sweden, creating the sprawling community I once yearned for. I am sure Linus would agree with me. But there is lots more work to do.

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Longevity escape velocity, zombie cells, senolytica, mTOR, rapamycin and Yamanaka factors, whether these are familiar concepts or they are new to you, Peter Ottsjö, who is an author and a science and technology reporter at Ny Teknik and co-host of this podcast, has written a book that explains them and connects them to a project that might be the greatest revolution in the history of humanity: the longevity revolution.

Not content with learning about the theory of longevity, Peter has also put what he has learnt into action. His goal is to live beyond 120 years, or, more precisely, his goal is to stay young forever, as is also the title of his book, Evigt ung in Swedish; Forever Young in English. In this episode we will hear from Peter how he plans to accomplish this goal. The interview will take us from the history of ideas of longevity to the latest science and thereby provide a great base and overview of the topic. Peter has a great gift of explaining science and technology in a clear and vivid, and even fun way. 

• Reprogramming cells to become young again
• Animals that do not age
• How the search for the Fountain of Youth became scientific
• What to do to survive

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Not only is philosopher and author Patrick Linden the insightful co-host of the LEVITY podcast alongside me, Peter Ottsjö, but he’s also the perfect first guest in this inaugural episode.

We call it ”The Longevity Podcast”. There are pros and cons with that subtitle. On the one hand, ”longevity” is associated with hope and with health, both good things. On the other hand it can also mean different things to different people.

Some may, for example, advocate for enhancing healthspan without necessarily extending lifespan, suggesting a quality life limited to eight or nine decades, minimally burdened by the diseases of old age. Patrick and I diverge sharply from this perspective. For us, longevity means:

• Recognizing that life is inherently valuable and that death, at any age, is a loss. Or, as Patrick likes to say: Life is good and death is bad.
• Rejecting the notion that anyone should succumb to age-related diseases.
• Championing the cause to postpone death indefinitely.

Achieving this ageless era hinges not only on the advancement of science and the necessary funding but also on shifting societal mindsets.

This is where Patrick's prowess truly shines. Having lived and taught in the US, notably at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, his academic and philosophical insights challenge the prevailing norms.

In this episode, as well as in his provocative book The Case Against Death, Patrick challenges the pervasive ”wise view” that has been a cornerstone of Western philosophy since at least the days of Epicurus. This philosophical tradition, which spans millennia and includes many of Patrick's predecessors as well as some contemporaries, often portrays death as an inevitable, even natural part of life. Through his sharp analysis and moral reasoning, Patrick exposes the flaws in this view, urging us to rethink our acceptance of mortality as a foregone conclusion.

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LEVITY is a podcast offering high-quality, science-informed editorial content focused on aging science and radical life extension. This includes discussions on biotechnology, geroscience, lifestyle, ethical considerations of life extension, healthcare innovations, and AI in drug discovery, among many other topics.

Our mission is to explore and communicate the scientific and societal pathways toward solving aging.

LEVITY is co-hosted by journalist and author Peter Ottsjö and philosopher and author Dr. Patrick Linden.

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