Brave New World

In today’s episode, Evgeny Lebedev talks about the remarkable potential of ketamine with Dr John Krystal, Professor of neuroscience at the Yale School of Medicine. 

Their discussion delves into the world of neurology, what ketamine actually does to our brain and the importance of glutamate receptors in treating depression. Ketamine may have gotten bad press after Friends actor Matthew Perry died of an overdose while receiving treatment with the drug, but for Dr Krystal, it is a critically overlooked solution to the epidemic of mental illness.

Also in this episode:

• Ketamine’s complicated history starting in the 1950s
• The real reason depression leads to suicide
• Why ketamine is effective at dealing with trauma
• The detailed procedure of ketamine therapy 
• The importance of ketamine’s “narrow window” dosage
• Ketamine’s reputation and why it needs to change

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, we are excited to be joined by Peter Attia: a longevity expert, physician, and bestselling author.

Peter’s podcast, The Drive, is one of the most popular in the world. Through it, he’s brought cutting edge science to the masses, sharing tips and tricks, some of which are still experimental, on how to boost your chances of ageing well.

Tune into Peter and Evgeny’s conversation on what the former calls “Medicine 3.0” — his blueprint for good health — and how happiness is essential to longevity, not just a bonus. “It doesn’t matter how healthy you are,” Peter says, “if the most important relationships in your life are not happy.”

Topics covered include: 

• The difference between health span and lifespan
• How AI can revolutionise clinical trials and the development of new medicines 
• ⁠How to regulate glucose levels
• Tips to reducing caloric intake
• Why cancer immunity is under-researched
• How to prevent heart disease
• ⁠Debunking the biggest myths around nutrition

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny Lebedev joins Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a visionary in biomedical gerontology and co-founder of the SENS Research Foundation.

Known for his radical approach to ageing, Dr. de Grey discusses why some need to awaken from a "pro-ageing trance".

What’s Aubrey’s biological age?

In this episode:

• Why we don’t “have” to age
• Reversing cellular aging
• The ethical questions surrounding life extension
• The societal shifts we might expect if ageing becomes a treatable condition
• The science behind extending the human healthspan

Plus more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s show Evgeny Lebedev is in conversation with the Oscar-winning actor, Dame Helen Mirren.

They discuss everything from the evolution of fashion to the contemporary media landscape.

“It’s so sad that Kurt Cobain died when he did, because he never got to see GPS”

Also in this episode:

• The evolution of technology and why Helen is grateful to have been around in a world without it
• How young people rediscover previously forgotten tech and bring it back to life
• Helen reflects on spirituality, the power of belief and how it shapes our lives, but why she doesn't believe in God.
• Russian heritage and the complexities of her identity
• How Helen stays youthful, both in body and mind

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Jim Poole, chairman, president and chief executive of neuroscience company Solace Life Sciences.

The company owns NuCalm, a technology designed to reduce stress and improve sleep without recourse to drugs.

You may have even spotted the Duchess of Sussex wearing one of their stress relief patches.

In this episode, Evgeny and Jim explore the evolution of the human brain, anxiety and how to deregulate the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped part of the brain that plays a central role, which Jim says ‘feeds on fear’.

In this episode:

• The current state of brain understanding
• Brain psychology and its evolution
• The autonomic nervous system and how it shapes everything from stress to relaxation
• Ho to control anxious thoughts
• How to downregulate the amygdala, the part of the brain that triggers intense fear responses
• Different frequencies in the brain and how they influence mental states
• Why “the Western world may be leading the cause” of anxiety

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined by one of the most famous faces of alternative medicine on the planet, Deepak Chopra. 

The world-renowned author, health and wellness expert has been at the intersection of science and spirituality for nearly 50 years.

Deepak sits down with host Evgeny Lebedev to mark the release of his 95th book ‘Digital Dharma’. He explains why artificial intelligence is the key to unlocking both personal and spiritual growth, and why humanity is at a crucial crossroads with technology. One of those roads, he says, "leads to the extinction of humanity."

Other topics discussed in this episode: 

• Ideas for a preventative health service in the UK & beyond
• How VR is going to lead the future of therapeutics 
• Why 'living our best life' needs to be more than just a soundbite 
• How technology can change our biology 
• What is consciousness, and why science alone doesn’t have the answer
• Digital Deepak, his new AI twin dispensing medical and spiritual advice
• Mortality and longevity 

Get in touch with us at [email protected] 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there such a thing as perfect sleep? Leading expert in circadian neuroscience from Oxford University, Professor Russell Foster, joins host Evgeny Lebedev, to explain the science behind nighttime slumber and why it's crucial to living our best lives awake. 

The pair discuss everything from sleep hygiene, our circadian rhythm and body clocks, the impact of technology before bed and whether it actually affects us, the myths, and even some tips to improve longevity. This episode also includes excerpts from Eight Sleep founder Matteo Franceschetti, the pop star Rita Ora, and the author and actress Davinia Taylor.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Is sleep an indulgence?
• How a bad culture of sleep was heightened in the 1980s
• Can poor sleep link to dementia?
• The different types of sleep: Deep and Rem
• The science of our dreams
• Understanding how circadian rhythms work and how they relate to our genetic makeup
• The perfect recipe for a nap
• Sleeping pills and memory loss
• Are sleep apps worth the hype?
• The critical role of body temperature
• Sleep myths: Cheese and dreams, sipping Horlicks and counting sheep
• Rita Ora’s sleep routine

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Brave New World, we’re turning our attention to nootropics and neuroscience. 

Nootropics are drugs and supplements which proponents say can boost alertness, increase focus, and improve memory. 

Today, Evgeny Lebedev meets Nootopia founder Mark Effinger, AKA Mr Noots. Since launching in 2004, Nootopia has helped 300,000 people- including doctors, biohackers, and fitness instructors- unlock their potential. 

The two discuss:

- The Nootopia lab and its research methods 

- Mark’s journey from child prodigy to entrepreneur 

- How the loss of his wife was the catalyst for Mark to start Nootopia

- Why everyone has an ‘inherent Achilles heel’

-The complexities of ADHD treatment

-Natural ways to rebuild neural pathways 

Plus more… 

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and rating. The next episode will drop on 22 Aug.

Drop us a line at [email protected]

Disclaimer: you should always seek own medical advice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brave New World, billionaire entrepreneur Christian Angermayer and Olympic athlete James Magnussen – who's been offered $1 million if he wins the competition's 100m freestyle swimming race – talk to Evgeny about taking part in the most radical sports event ever conceived; where doping is not just allowed but encouraged. 

Christian talks about: 

• Dropping out of university and becoming an entrepreneur 
• Why he believes medical psychedelics will be available to prescribe within a couple of years
• How psychedelics can help us cope with change, AI panic and our fear of the "new reality"
• How Ozempic has changed the game for pharmaceutical companies 
• Why alcohol is "the worse drug of all" 
• How the Enhanced Games will actually improve drug testing at the Olympics 
• How most athletes struggle to make ends meet – and how the competition will help them earn proper money 

James talks about:

• How the Enhanced Games have given him fresh purpose
• Why he isn’t worried about using testosterone to “juice to the gills” – safe for the impact on his fertility 
• Why stigma persists around performance enhancing drugs
• Why this could become one of the biggest industries in the world 

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, leave us a review and vote in the poll below. The next episode will drop on 8 August.

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to bestselling author and brain coach Jim Kwik. Kwik suffered a traumatic brain injury aged 5 and is now a world authority on brain optimisation. He shares his top tips on how to boost cognitive function. The two discuss:

• Why adding Omega 3s to your diet – and cutting out sugar – are vital to brain health.
• What to do with negative thoughts
• Why we need to keep moving throughout the day – and how
• Why a tidy work environment can help with clarity of thought
• How to deal with information fatigue and create boundaries between us and our devices
• Why we need to stop delegating organisational tasks to our phones

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and rating. The next episode will drop on 25 July. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to physician and longevity expert Mark Hyman. The two discuss the rise of functional medicine and what lifestyle changes we can make to enhance our healthspan. They cover: 

• The paradigm shift happening in medicine today 
• The underlying mechanisms that drive dysfunction and disease
• How nutrition and exercise impact the pathways of ageing 
• Insulin resistance and the effect of UPFs 
• Why we should be eating animal protein and fat for breakfast, and fasting overnight
• Why we need to pay more attention to mitochondria 
• The benefits of strength training, saunas and cold plunges 
• Why it's never too late to start making lifestyle changes to enhance longevity

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and rating. The next episode will drop on 11 July. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to author and podcaster Ryan Holiday about the modern media landscape, echo chambers and the value of Stoic leadership. The two discuss: 

• The common misunderstanding of stoicism as apathy
• Why we need stoicism now more than ever
• Why it's so hard to be stoic in the information age
• Why we ought to be more cautious about live news 
• What other world leaders can learn from President Kennedy during the 1962 Missile

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and follow. The next episode will drop on 27 June. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to researcher and podcaster Rhonda Patrick.

The two discuss anti-ageing, with Patrick sharing her unique insights.

Together they cover: 

• How experiments on genetic pathways in worms got Patrick interested in the science of anti-ageing in humans
• The impact of nutrition on our wellbeing
• Which brands they trust most for supplements 
• How to maintain adequate micronutrient levels
• Why nothing will ever be more effective than vigorous exercise 
• The benefits of intermittent fasting 
• The benefits of saunas and why we should use them more often. (With bonus guest Tamsin Lewis of Sunlighten.)

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and follow.

The next episode will drop on 13 June. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of our second season, Evgeny talks to professor Bill Irvine, an expert on stoicism whose books have democratised the ancient wisdom of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius for a new generation which, he says, can benefit from it greatly. The two discuss:

·     The unexpected success of his books and the “stoic renaissance” in the 21st century.

·     What it actually means to be a stoic and how this helps us rise to different challenges.

·     The core techniques of stoicism explored in his book The Stoic Challenge.

·     Stoicism as an antidote to offence-taking.

·     How stoicism helps us reframe setbacks as opportunities.

·     What Seneca would have to say about free speech on college campuses.

If you enjoyed the episode, please hit follow and leave us a review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s new book ‘The Anxious Generation’ argues we’re overprotecting our children in real life, and underprotecting them online. In this special episode he tells Evgeny why he believes smartphones and social media have led to rises in anxiety, depression and suicide among young people, and why we have to “put the technology genie back in the bottle”. They also discuss:

·      The polarisation of politics and how it began before social media

·      Why the evolution of social media has led to the return of “tribalism” in society

·      Why war between competing powers is “likely to return”

·      How ideas spread on US college campuses can go viral across the world

·      What happens when you introduce fear into a liberal democracy

·      How we “utterly failed” with the introduction of AI

·      Has social media “rewired our children’s brains”?

·      Why parents have to let their kids go out again, and learn to fend for themselves

·      Why he believes Mark Zuckerberg “could and should have done more” to protect young people

The second season of Brave New World is coming soon, hit the follow button on your podcast provider so you don’t miss an episode, and if you enjoyed this show please leave us a rating and review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of our first season, Evgeny talks to psychologist and researcher Bill Richards, whose book Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences is considered a seminal work in the field and is now in its 10th edition. In this discussion, they talk about:

·      Why science and spiritualism don’t have to be separate from each other

·      How he thinks transcendental experiences like those provoked by psychedelics are the "origin of most of the world's religions"

·      His research into their benefits for those near the end of their lives

·      Why is there a taboo against psychedelics research in health?

·      What is our definition of “normal” and should we think about it differently.

·      Bill’s summer as an ordained minister, and his first psychedelic experience

·      Why he doesn’t think people should “pop psychedelics” just for fun.

Brave New World will return after the Easter break. Make sure you’re following the channel to get the first episode of season two as soon as it drops. And please do leave us a rating and review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny meets Wim Hof to learn more about the Dutch athlete’s ‘Method’; a combination of breathing and cold-water immersion that he claims can have health and psychological benefits. Rita Ora also joins the show and talks about her own experience using Wim’s techniques as part of her wellness routines. And musician Marcus Flaherty tells us how he thinks the Method has helped him with some of the symptoms of MS. In this episode:

·      Wim Hof reveals he developed ‘The Method’ to recover from the “emotional agony” following the death of his wife

·      What happened the first time he entered ice cold water, and why did he want to do it again?

·      How he’s trained his body to stay under the ice “for up to seven minutes”

·      The scientific studies he says support his claims

·      Rita Ora tells us about the surprise birthday visit she arranged with Wim for her husband Taika Waititi – and how he stayed in an ice bath for 30 minutes

·      Her own use of both heat and cold as part of her wellness routine

·      Her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, and the techniques she uses to overcome them

·      Why she wants Wim to release a playlist of music he gave her as an album.

If you enjoyed this episode of Brave New World, please leave us a rating and review. Hit your follow button to make sure you never miss an episode. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is biohacking and are you already doing it without realising? Evgeny spends a day with the ‘world’s fittest man’, Ben Greenfield, to learn how exercise, diet and light contribute to wellness. He also meets actress and author Davinia Taylor, who tells him how biohacking helped her get over the alcoholism she developed at the height of her TV success in the 90s. In this episode we learn about:

·      Ben Greenfield’s journey from “fantasy novel reading, home-schooled kid” to ‘America’s Best Fitness Coach’

·      His six tips on how to improve your health

·      How and why to safely expose your body to heat and cold

·      The importance of his faith to his wellbeing and business

·      The genetic reasons why diets can work for some but not for others

·      Why Davinia Taylor’s declaring “war” on vegetable oil

·      How she’s turned her back on drink and drugs after years of addiction

·      Her teaspoon of collagen tip to help with intermittent fasting

Next week, Rita Ora and Wim Hoff join the show to talk about the benefits of cold-water immersion and breathing exercises. Hit your follow button so you don’t miss an episode. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny meets ‘anti-ageing poster boy’ Bryan Johnson, the entrepreneur whose ‘Project Blueprint’ aims to extend the human lifespan. He also talks to the 46-year-old’s doctor Oliver Zolman, who details how they’re approaching a controversial area of emerging science. In this episode we talk about:

·      How they slowed Bryan’s speed of ageing “by the equivalent of 31 years”

·      Why Oliver Zolman thinks humans “can live 25% longer”

·      Can we improve humans “at the speed of technology”?

·      How the emergence of AI has made “death our only enemy”

·      Oliver Zolman’s Six Principles for biohacking beginners

·      How Bryan achieved “8 months of perfect sleep” by designing his life around the need for it

·      What Dr Zolman sees as the biggest health threat to western countries

·      Is the resistance to longevity research more cultural than scientific?

If you enjoyed this episode please give Brave New World a rating and review. Hit the follow button on your podcast provider so you never miss an episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny Lebedev describes his experience at a psychedelic retreat in Costa Rica where he encountered Ayahuasca, a plant-based brew used by indigenous healers. Psychedelics researcher Professor David Nutt, psychologist Bill Richards and physician Gabor Maté return to the show to explain what’s happening to the mind when DMT is used and how some believe it can help with recovery from trauma. In this episode:

• Evgeny reveals that Ayahuasca brought old fears home to roost
• David Nutt tells us about the history of psychedelic use, dating back to 5,000 BC
• Bill Richards looks at the use of them by artists and writers
• Gabor Maté examines what Evgeny’s experience with Ayahuasca really says about his mental state

If you enjoyed this episode of Brave New World please give us a rating and review. New episodes are released every Thursday. Hit the follow button to make sure you don’t miss any.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.