Podcasts

Here is a list of talks and podcast episodes I watched and recommend.

• The State of Personal Online Security and Confidentiality | SXSW LIVE: This is a talk by Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, about Signal. Signal may not be perfect, but it is certainly the best alternative to WhatsApp/Meta/Etc for the masses;

• Introduction to Human Behavioral Biology, by the great Robert Sapolsky: Great talk by Robert Sapolsky, author of Behave. This is the first in Stanford’s course entitled Human Behavioral Biology and is essentially on Categorical Thinking. Mentions Egas Moniz, one of the two Portuguese Nobel Laureates (though not for good reasons, as you probably know);

• Paul Stamets on Joe Rogan’s podcast: The great mycologist, Paul Stamets, on Joe Rogan’s. Makes me want to read his books, explore florests and become a mycologist myself;

• Dr. Steve Horvath on epigenetic aging to predict healthspan: the DNA PhenoAge and GrimAge clocks: Awesome talk by the creator of the Horvath Epigenetic Aging Clock on the FoundMyFitness podcast. At times it is a bit too complex for non biology folk (such as myself) but it is, regardless, a must watch!;

• Q&A with Dr. Jed Fahey on Sulforaphane, Moringa and Chemoprotection: Really interesting talk of Dr. Jef Fahey answering questions regarding Sulforaphane;

• Optimize Your Microbiome: Dr. Will Bulsiewicz | Rich Roll Podcast: Interesting talk by a gastroenterologist and author of the book “Fiber Fueled”. He speaks about microbiome and its effects on health;

• Joe Rogan Experience #1109 - Matthew Walker: This is a talk regarding the importance of sleep. You seriously need to watch this. For those that prefer reading, Matthew Walker has a great book, “Why We Sleep”;

• Sulforaphane and Its Effects on Cancer, Mortality, Aging, Brain and Behavior, Heart Disease & More: After watching this, I bought broccoli seeds and mason jars with mesh lids to grow my own sprouts;

• Why air quality matters: Despite not being an academic talk, I enjoyed this one. Some of the references regarding air quality are quite interesting;

• Matthew Walker on Peter Attia’s podcast (The Drive). This is Matthew Walker speaking about the importance of sleep, again. He is such a charismatic guy and his talks will possibly change your life. This episode consists of 3 parts. I recommend watching them all:

  • Matthew Walker, Ph.D., on sleep – Part I of III: Dangers of poor sleep, Alzheimer’s risk, mental health, memory consolidation, and more;

  • Matthew Walker, Ph.D., on sleep – Part II of III: Heart disease, cancer, sexual function, and the causes of sleep disruption (and tips to correct it);

  • Matthew Walker, Ph.D., on sleep – Part III of III: The penetrating effects of poor sleep from metabolism to performance to genetics, and the impact of caffeine, alcohol, THC, and CBD on sleep;

• How to Win: A talk Daniel Gross gave on YCombinator. It’s really nothing mind-bending, just life-style suggestions to improve one’s productivity. Everyone knows this, yet it’s nice to be reminded of it every once in a while;

• Dendrology (TREES) with J. Casey Clapp: “Do trees have feelings? How do they talk? How old can they get? Possibly the world’s most enthusiastic tree expert, J. Casey Clapp, explains how roots communicate to each other, addresses “crown shyness” and schools Alie on the mental health benefits of tree proximity.”;

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I also try to keep a check on the following podcasts for new episodes. Generally, the guest makes the episode. I just check these for topics and/or guests that interest me.

• (A) FoundMyFitness by Rhonda Patrick: Cutting-edge health and wellness insights for optimized living. This is a very deep dive into the latest science of exercise and nutrition.;
• Dwarkesh Patel’s podcast: Dwarkesh Patel is one of my favorite interviewers. He really does research prior to each podcast episode and it definitely shows. This is a tech-related podcast, focused on AI, but that also includes episodes exploring history.;
• Ologies: A podcast by Alie Ward about different fields of study (ologies).;
• Lex Fridman’s podcast: Interesting conversations at the intersection of technology, science, and human experience.;
• Darknet Diaries: Gripping tales unraveling the world of cybersecurity and hacking.;
• The Drive by Peter Attia: In-depth explorations into health, longevity, and human performance.;
• The Rich Roll Podcast: Inspiring stories of transformation, wellness, and personal growth. Focused on plant-based living and endurance sports.;