The Tim Ferriss Show

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino (@DominicDAgosti2) is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and a Visiting Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. This episode is brought to you by: Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (27% off all mattress orders) Momentous high-quality creatine: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for up to 35% off) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs) Timestamps: [00:00:00] Start. [00:14:43] Why I'm interested in ketogenic strategies for neurodegenerative prevention. [00:16:18] Mary and Steve Newport's ketone-linked temporary cognitive improvements. [00:18:18] A mechanisms overview for Alzheimer's/dementia. [00:21:25] The immune system as longevity's "fifth horseman" — and why metabolic control is key. [00:22:04] How to measure ketones and GKI. [00:23:00] Fasting vs. ketogenic diet. [00:24:18] There's nothing fishy about sardine fasting. [00:28:32] My hiatal hernia discovery and increased cancer risk concerns. [00:30:04] HSCRP as a superior biomarker to LDL for cardiovascular risk. [00:31:57] Glucose tolerance testing revelations and CGM importance. [00:31:57] Upgrading the metabolic machinery through keto without getting bored. [00:42:07] What do do if you, like Dom and me, are among the 30% who suffer from cholesterol hyperabsorption. [00:43:42] Dom's day-to-day diet regimen. [00:45:56] How Dom optimizes his aging dogs with ketones, SARMs, and supplements. [00:51:30] Supplementing for sleep disruption while fasting. [00:55:41] Why Dom doesn't have misgivings about melatonin. [00:59:15] Shingles prevention through fasting protocols. [01:00:15] Immune system modulation: Innate vs. adaptive, vegan vs. ketogenic. [01:03:54] Dom at 50-something: Current meal timing and composition. [01:05:57] Blue zone observations: Greek and Sardinian longevity habits. [01:08:16] Ketogenic diet initiation tips: MCT, electrolytes, and fasted cardio. [01:15:18] Ketone metabolic therapy for cancer. [01:18:15] The metabolic psychiatry revolution. [01:22:10] The soothing effects of hyperbaric oxygen and ketosis on seizure sufferers. [01:28:27] Metformin vs. berberine. [01:31:43] The low-dose neuroprotective potential of GLP-1 drugs. [01:34:58] NAD research: MIB-626 and stabilized forms for mitochondrial health. [01:39:48] Idebenone, CoQ10, and the Deanna protocol for ALS. [01:42:05] Dom's supplement short list: CoQ10, creatine, ketones, vitamin D, melatonin. [01:44:43] KetoNutrition.org, Metabolic Health Summit, Audacious Nutrition, veteran-focused research protocols, and other parting thoughts. * Show notes for this episode: https://tim.blog/2025/07/24/dr-rhonda-patrick/ For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast. For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday. For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts. Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss  Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin J. Tracey, MD is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, a pioneer of vagus nerve research and author of the recent book, The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes. This episode is brought to you by: Eight Sleep Pod Cover 5 sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: EightSleep.com/Tim (use code TIM to get $350 off your very own Pod 5 Ultra.) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs with your first subscription purchase.) Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim (Start earning 4.00% APY on your short-term cash until you’re ready to invest. And when new clients open an account today, you can get an extra fifty-dollar bonus with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more.) Terms apply. Tim Ferriss receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage, LLC for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage. See full disclosures here. Timestamps: 00:00 Tim’s intro: why he dismissed vagus-nerve hype 06:34 What the vagus nerve actually is, plus common myths 11:31 Breaking news: FDA approval for SetPoint’s RA implant + Kelly Owens’s turnaround 21:11 Inflammation 101: when healing turns harmful 31:37 Bioelectronic medicine: from lab insight to real devices 55:26 TNF, IL-1, and IL-6: immune drivers and what VNS modulates 56:06 Exercise & recovery: vagal signals, IL-6, and adaptation 56:30 Cold exposure & breathwork: sympathetic spike, parasympathetic payoff 59:04 Chronic inflammation today: prevalence, diagnostics, and uncertainty 59:53 Autoimmunity: genes, environment, infections 01:01:08 Stress hormones, personality traits, and metabolic fallout 01:05:41 VNS tech landscape: implants, focused ultrasound, and what’s just TENS 01:11:14 Ear maps, revisited: the real science behind auricular stimulation 01:27:52 Ulf Andersson: auricular TENS, famotidine, and a depression turnaround 01:36:48 Depression & inflammation: where VNS helps (and where it doesn’t) 01:41:38 Body-brain loop: how inflammation signals ride the vagus nerve 01:42:56 Why VNS can lift mood: a working theory 01:43:22 Ulf’s setup: electrode placement and twice-daily routine 01:44:37 Acupuncture, fertility, and plausible vagal links 01:47:23 Chronic pain through an inflammation lens 01:48:34 Neural “engrams”: how the brain can store inflammatory memories 02:02:35 Cervical TENS vs. true VNS: mechanisms and open questions 02:12:15 On stage with the Dalai Lama: blue energy and two vagus nerves 02:16:55 Closing thoughts: self-care vs. medical devices, and what’s next * For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast. For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday. For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts. Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss  Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg is Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology and Director of the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, a leading scientist in the development and degeneration of the visual system from eye to brain, and a practicing ophthalmologist and surgeon. This episode is brought to you by: Gamma AI design partner for effortless presentations, websites, social media posts, and more: https://gamma.app (Use code TIM at checkout for 30% off any plan.) Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (27% off on all mattress orders.) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs with your first subscription purchase.) Timestamps: [00:00:00] Start. [00:05:30] How do you solve a problem like presbyopia? [00:08:34] The athletic benefits of training supranormal (better than 20/20) vision. [00:11:49] Indigenous eye drops and FDA-approved pilocarpine for presbyopia. [00:14:05] Understanding basic eye anatomy. [00:17:27] Exploring AREDS 2, CoQ10, ginkgo, vitamin B3, and other supplements for vision. [00:23:00] Visual training devices and psychedelic-prompted brain plasticity. [00:25:12] Thoughts on visual training effectiveness and motor action requirements. [00:28:29] Concussion rehabilitation and visual perception exercises. [00:32:36] Red light and violet light therapy for myopia and mitochondrial health. [00:36:07] Vision loss correlation with cognitive decline and depression. [00:39:36] Presbyopia progression and psychological dependence on readers. [00:41:15] Cognito Therapeutics headset for Alzheimer's treatment. [00:46:46] Glaucoma basics: neurodegenerative disease and risk factors. [00:48:53] Eye pressure variability and diurnal cycles. [00:50:02] Cannabis effects on eye pressure and compound isolation. [00:51:47] Stem cell research for vision restoration. [00:53:09] Anti-inflammatory effects and immune system role in eye diseases. [00:55:15] Gut microbiome connection to glaucoma in animal models. [00:58:43] Metabolic syndrome and GLP-1 receptor agonists. [01:00:50] Microbiome sharing and future therapeutic possibilities. [01:03:31] Dry eye treatment: preservative-free tears and serum drops. [01:08:43] Vision screening recommendations and UV protection. [01:11:22] Full-spectrum light benefits vs. UV exposure. [01:13:27] Paradigm shifts: irreversible vision loss becoming reversible. [01:17:18] Convergence of neuroscience advances and biotech investment. [01:21:58] Miraculous mitochondria: health, transplants, and three-parent babies. [01:26:24] My family history concerns and metabolic health screening. [01:29:26] Exercise's biggest gain: going from none to some. [01:33:03] Clinical trial participation resources and parting thoughts. * For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast. For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday. For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts. Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss  Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to another wide-ranging "Random Show" episode that I recorded with my close friend Kevin Rose (digg.com)! We cover Kevin's sobriety journey and marking 100 days without alcohol, my results with the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, GLP-1 agonists, home security, the future of Venture Capital, AI, authenticating yourself online in a world of deepfakes and anonymity, the cultural shift toward human-to-human connection, Roblox, and more. Enjoy! This episode is brought to you by: Momentous high-quality creatine for cognitive and muscular support: https://livemomentous.com/Tim (Code TIM for up to 35% off.) David Protein Bars with 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar: https://davidprotein.com/Tim (Buy 4 cartons, get the 5th free.) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs with your first subscription purchase.) Timestamps: [00:00:00] Start. [00:06:54] Kevin celebrates 100 days sober! Why and how? [00:15:16] Nanoblocks: Kevin's new Japanese micro-building hobby. [00:18:16] The Slow TV movement and Craig Mod's ambient recordings. [00:20:58] Craving analog experiences and wilderness trekking. [00:22:24] Writing with background movies. [00:23:42] High hopes for The Naked Gun reboot. [00:24:35] Kevin's improved communication since quitting alcohol. [00:26:28] My health interventions for cognitive protection. [00:29:00] How ketogenic diet and 16/8 intermittent fasting led to my best lab results in 10+ years. [00:33:35] Weight control regimens we don't recommend. [00:39:51] Exogenous ketones: Qitone vs. premium options. [00:50:32] How glucose tolerance tests work. [00:51:58] Microdosing GLP-1 (tirzepatide) for glucose control. [00:54:12] DORA sleep medications and neuroprotective effects. [00:56:55] Belsomra trial and cost considerations. [00:57:52] Sauna temperature optimization based on Rhonda Patrick's research. [01:00:28] There are no biological free lunches. [01:03:27] The time Kevin found a homeless person in his closet. [01:06:11] Modern home security and privacy measures. [01:19:42] Pondering how we survived childhood. [01:24:23] AI-driven venture capital landscape changes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a very special episode for me. My brand-new card game, COYOTE, created in collaboration with Elan Lee and Exploding Kittens, is here. It is available in ~8,000 locations worldwide, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, and many others. Learn more: https://coyotegame.com. This episode is brought to you by: Gamma AI design partner for effortless presentations, websites, social media posts, and more: https://gamma.app (Use code TIM at checkout for 30% off any plan.) Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: https://shopify.com/tim (one-dollar-per-month trial period) Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim (Start earning 4.00% APY on your short-term cash until you’re ready to invest. And when new clients open an account today, you can get an extra fifty-dollar bonus with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more.) Terms apply. Tim Ferriss receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage, LLC for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage. See full disclosures here. Timestamps: [00:00:00] Start. [00:05:21] Coyote: a game 47 years in the making. [00:08:41] Who is Elan Lee? [00:09:37] How our motivations behind game creation intersect. [00:12:41] The nutshell view of pitching a game to a retailer. [00:14:40] Salesmanship is a learnable skill, but Elan’s a natural. [00:15:53] Why I’ve always wanted to make my own game and how development began in earnest. [00:26:00] First contact with Elan and our fast-forged, fun-focused friendship. [00:32:28] The Hanabi and Rock, Paper, Scissors-inspired Toronto trip breakthrough. [00:39:40] Early prototyping and testing. [00:45:34] The Zero Effect. [00:47:37] Recommended game design rationales, resources, and reading. [00:53:00] The beginner’s mind approach to writing effective game instructions. [00:56:26] A simple fact: less complication = more fun. [00:57:49] Cooperative vs. competitive play. [00:58:24] Leveling the playing field with attack cards and sabotage mechanics. [01:01:34] Tricking people into cognitively bettering themselves by gaming. [01:08:04] Finding the sweet spot. [01:10:44] It takes a lot of work to make a game effortlessly fun. [01:13:40] How many games does Exploding Kittens publish per year? [01:14:36] Exploding Kittens’ number-one seller was designed by Elan’s four-year-old daughter. [01:18:30] Prototypes and pitching. [01:22:26] Improving on the industry’s fundamentally flawed testing procedure. [01:24:58] Analyzing passing/failure with play testers’ video and feedback. [01:28:41] Risks of internal testing. [01:31:47] Coyote’s first positive signs from the wild. [01:34:22] Online vs. physical store sales and tweaking variables to gauge market interest. [01:41:22] What a successful line review looks like. [01:43:51] Line review hoops through which lesser-proven companies have to hop. [01:48:04] Elan’s field-tested line review meeting strategies. [01:54:15] The importance of finding proper agent representation. [01:59:35] In modern marketing, social media (especially short-form video) is king. [02:04:48] The best and worst ways for an aspiring designer to sell a game. [02:13:05] Crowdfunding pros and cons, and Kickstarter alternatives. [02:19:57] Dealing with deal terms. [02:23:56] The Exploding Kittens attitude toward rare partnerships. [02:25:45] The types of games that capture Elan’s attention. [02:27:40] Common game design mistakes. [02:29:49] How we tried to avoid these mistakes when packaging Coyote. [02:33:55] Self-publishing vs. conventional publishing. [02:38:40] Business considerations and risks. [02:44:59] Parting thoughts and a tantalizing offer. * For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast. For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday. For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts. Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books. Follow Tim: Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss  Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.