Health Fads and Fictions: VO2 Max, Supplement Mania, Sunlight, and Immortality

Today’s show is a critical look at some of the most popular health fads of the moment, with return guests Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg, from the Growth Equation and the FAREWELL podcast. We’re talking VO2 max, the benefits of sunlight, so-called morning and nighttime “stacks” (complex multivitamin routines for optimizing your energy and sleep), and Silicon Valley dreams of immortality. Plus, a rant from Derek about the supplement mania of independent media.

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com.

Host: Derek Thompson
Guests: Steve Magness & Brad Stulberg
Producer: Devon Baroldi

Links:

The FAREWELL podcast: https://thegrowtheq.com/farewell-podcast/

The FDA’s note on dietary supplement regulation: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/rumor-control/facts-about-dietary-supplements

Joe Rogan’s supplement stack: https://jrelibrary.com/articles/joe-rogans-supplement-stack/

Huberman’s sleep stack: https://www.nsdr.co/post/andrew-hubermans-sleep-cocktail

The Mayo Clinic on creatine: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20347591