LEVITY

Tom Ough tells us about the Big Things that may end humanity - and what we can do and in some cases have done to prevent these. Did you know that if all the risks, the one that is most likely to end you is aging? What are we doing to stop aging? Tom is a journalist and writer who is currently Senior Editor at UnHerd, a London‑based online magazine of culture and opinion. After several years working at The Telegraph, he moved into research on global catastrophic risks and wrote a nonfiction book titled The Anti‑Catastrophe League about individuals and efforts to prevent humanity’s extinction, and he also co‑hosts the Anglofuturism podcast.-- IN THIS EPISODE WE LEARN --Why aging itself can be understood as a catastrophic risk, and what it would mean to treat it with the same seriousness as other existential threats.What it would actually take to detect, deflect, or survive an asteroid impact.Why space expansion and Mars are a part of long-term civilizational resilience.Why some catastrophic risks may be overestimated, and how to think more clearly about climate change relative to other existential threats.What we know about super-volcanoes, why they’re rare but devastating, and why preparedness matters despite uncertainty.How nuclear war remains a central catastrophic risk, and why deterrence, miscalculation, and escalation still deserve serious attention.How to think about AI risk, what distinguishes it from past technological threats, and why uncertainty makes governance difficult.What p(doom) means, why people disagree so strongly about it, and how probabilities shape policy and public discourse.Who typically gravitates toward anti-catastrophe thinking, and what motivates people to focus on low-probability, high-impact risks.What Anglo-futurism is. 🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re diving into one of the strangest and most ambitious ideas in longevity: using crypto trading to fund real-time lifespan experiments.Benji Leibowitz, founder of pump.science, joins us to explain how decentralized science works, why tokens can finance studies in worms, flies and mice, and what happens when a single post on X suddenly turns Metformin into a viral experiment. That intervention, by the way, is being spearheaded by LEVITY friend Linus Petersson, founder of the Swedish Longevity Cluster, who also joins the discussion.In this episode we announce our new collaboration with pump.science. For now, that means they’ll contribute written content to the LEVITY newsletter - and later we may explore a dedicated Youtube format together.More info here: https://reachlevity.com/p/desci-is-exploding-we-re-partnering-with-pump-science-to-help-you-follow-itAnd check out pump.science's first post here: https://reachlevity.com/p/the-most-radical-idea-in-longevity-right-nowKey highlights in this episode:– How pump.science turns attention and trading volume into funding for worm, fly, and mouse experiments.– Why decentralized science emerged, and what problems in traditional science it tries to fix.– What tokens, smart contracts, and DAOs actually mean in practice.– Why Solana, not Ethereum, underpins the system.– How real-time experimental data (like fly racing) could change how we evaluate longevity interventions.-----🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro – How crypto could fund longevity & Pump Science × LEVITY05:14 DeSci 101 – fixing broken incentives in science07:00 Benji’s origin story: lucid dreams, superheroes & cancer genomics08:45 Discovering crypto & using incentives to fix healthcare15:52 What’s broken in science funding – and why DeSci might help30:20 Is crypto just belief? Money, gold and “Ponzi scheme” fears37:44 Linus Petersson joins + crypto glossary (tokens, smart contracts, NFTs)59:18 Vitalik’s retweet, 40× price spike & $14k for Linus’s experiments1:10:24: How to “play”: exchange accounts, Phantom wallet & buying a token1:17:50: Why does the website look like a retro video game forum?1:20:53 Network state for not dying – community, human trials & products1:27:45 Why scientists are skeptical & how to recruit labs and students1:32:15 Kings of the pill & the coming longevity leaderboard1:39:59 Skepticism vs optimism, call to action & book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valuable time is being lost because there is not enough funding for science with real life-extending potential. No major political party is promising to address aging, even though aging harms and kills more people than anything else. Most people—and most leaders—still do not understand that aging is both a problem and something that can be solved through science. We need a political movement that demands action and insists that something be done to save our lives. And this is where this episode's guest comes in. Felix Werth is the founder and chairman of the German Party for Rejuvenation Research — a political movement dedicated to accelerating scientific progress in regenerative medicine and longevity. Originally trained in biochemistry, Werth founded the party in 2015 (then called the Party for Health Research) to push for greater public investment in research aimed at combating aging-related diseases. Through his activism, Werth has helped bring the topic of longevity and healthy life extension into the political conversation in Germany and across Europe.In this episode you'll learn more about:The longevity scene in GermanyHow to start a longevity partyHow to get the message outA dating site for the longevity communityUsing AI to solve within SENS CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:08 Berlin and the global longevity community05:20 Who is Felix werth and why did he start the longevity party?15:00 How he started the party 21:49 The public's reaction27:16 Why change the message from health to longevity?32:50 Message strategy: posters and videos34:34 Funding issues39:20 Campaign video41:50 Dating site for longevity people44:45 Does Felix recommend forming a political party?54:20 What is the optimal outcome for the party?59:00 Is there any support for longevity among the German elite and government?01:04:20 Using AI to solve aging within the SENS approach01:10:16 Winning aging hacking contest with the West-Coast Vectors01:16:00 Using de-sci for funding, Pump-Science01:23:00 How do you keep in shape?01:24:29 Do you do any extreme risk-avoidance?01:25:22 Three good books🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Hägg, PhD is an associate professor at Karolinska Institutet, where she leads the Molecular Epidemiology of Aging Group. Her work focuses on human biomarkers of aging - especially biological age “clocks” built from epigenetic, proteomic, and metabolomic data - and on turning Nordic registry resources into clinically useful aging measures.In this episode:* What biological/epigenetic age clocks actually measure (and what they don’t)* Accuracy, error bars, and why clocks aren’t clinic-ready yet* Epigenetic vs. proteomic vs. metabolomic clocks - strengths and trade-offs* Organ-specific clocks (liver, ovary, kidney) and what they reveal* Why uncertainty spikes at life transitions; menopause as a natural “stress test”* PC (principal-component) clocks and noise reduction* Nordic registry & Swedish Twin Registry advantages; UK Biobank use* Direct-to-consumer tests: interpreting results and common pitfalls* AI’s role in building/validating clocks and handling uncertainty* What would move the field fastest (data, standards, trials) and where Sweden standsShow notes for this episode will be available after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.comLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction03:27 Why Sweden lags behind in longevity science08:04 Nordic registry & Swedish twin registry advantages; UK Biobank use10:05 What is biological age?16:33 The rise of epigenetic clocks24:22 The importance of aging clocks32:04 Beyond methylation: proteomic and metabolomic clocks35:12 Organ clocks39:37 Do aging clocks generalize?54:37 The cost of aging clocks01:03:18 Uncertainty and AI01:17:10 Solving aging - where do we stand?01:28:10 Book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are always excited about the next technological solution. But what if it does not come? Or what if it comes only for the few, or with terrible side-effects? And while we are waiting for the easy tech fix, are we neglecting what we can do now to better our lives?Many of our previous guests have been excited about the prospect of radically extending our lives, and some have been optimistic about the prospect of achieving this in our life time, perhaps even within a few decades. We are Levity, the real longevity podcast after all.Todays guest thinks that we should be less excited about radical longevity, and radical enhancements in general. And he does not think radical life extension is on the horizon.Nicholas Agar is a New Zealand philosopher specializing in ethics. He holds a BA from the University of Auckland, an MA from Victoria University of Wellington, and a PhD from the Australian National University. As of 2022, he is a Professor of Ethics at the University of Waikato. He is a prolific writer and the author of How to think about Progress, and Truly Human Progress, to mention two recent books.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction03:38 The hype and the reality06:02 Too much enthusiasm for radical life extension -- or too little?17:15 Distribution worries -- more life only for the rich?23:06 Pessimism about distribution and feasability29:00 Structural reasons for bad science and big promises33:30 Is it wise to spend money on radical life extension?37:13 Should we die if we have had good life?48:48 Deat as tool for solving housing crisis58:27 Liberal eugenics01:06:45 How to attract funding -- hype + conservative grant proposals01:09:40 What is enhancement?01:25:30 A mechanical Roger Federer with robot arms01:38:12 Is it bad to cease to exist?🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One idea I’ve had lately is to put together a list of people to trust in geroscience and the longevity field more broadly. (And I might do it - keep an eye on reachlevity.com- and subscribe while you’re at it!)Matt Kaeberlein would not only make that list - he’d likely be right at the top. He’s rigorous, precise in his wording, and always puts integrity ahead of hype. But, and this is important, I wouldn’t characterize him as a skeptic. He’s a realist who insists on evidence, yet at the same time he’s visionary and deeply optimistic about what aging science can deliver.Matt is probably best known for his pioneering work on rapamycin and for co-founding the Dog Aging Project. In this episode, though, we also talk about Optispan - his proactive healthcare company - and Ora Biomedical, where the WormBot platform is screening thousands of interventions for effects on lifespan. We get into therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), how artificial intelligence might accelerate discovery, and even his favorite science fiction books.And true to form, Matt doesn’t hold back. He calls out irresponsible use of biological age tests - going so far as to label it “medical malpractice” - and criticizes hype-driven actors, sloppy science communication, and the inertia of institutions like the NIH. At the same time, he shows how rigorous, honest work could move the entire field forward.-----🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membershipShow notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com-----CHAPTERS00:00 Teaser01:38 Introduction to Dr. Matt Kaeberlein11:50 mTOR and rapamycin21:37 The Dog Aging Project51:08 Personal experiences with rapamycin01:05:33 The inertia of the NIH01:08:54 The right to try law and access to experimental therapies01:13:21 Ora Biomedical and The WormBot Platform01:21:41 The role of AI in longevity research01:28:29 Optispan: A new approach to proactive healthcare01:33:56 Biological age tests01:39:39 Therapeutic plasma exchange: A personal experience01:46:39 Book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you give a child a pet, you also expose them to death—since most pets pass away long before their owners. But what if we could cryopreserve Buddy or Tiger, and bring them back from suspended animation once we have a cure for what ended their lives?Kai Micah Mills is a pioneering figure in radical life extension and biostasis. As the founder of Cryopets, he is leading efforts to make cryopreservation accessible for pets, with aspirations to extend these technologies to humans. He left high school early to pursue entrepreneurship, becoming a tech entrepreneur in his teens. A Thiel Fellow and co-founder of CryoDAO and HydraDAO, Kai is deeply involved in decentralized science initiatives aimed at advancing longevity research.00:00 Introduction04:44 Timeship in Texas05:36 Vitalism11:54 Bryan Johnson, Mormonism and Vitalism18:25 Dropping out of highschool to play video games24:25 Becoming a Thiel Fellow40:37 Why Cryonics?49:53 We want Immortality53:19 Cosmism01:01:36 AI01:05:47 Building Cryopets01:27:42 Cryonics science01:37:24 Cryo rat01:46:01 CryoDAO HydraDAO and replacement01:59:30 Talent shortage in cryogenics02:05:08 Book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As you may have heard, AI-designed medicines have crossed a historic line. In this episode, Alex Zhavoronkov - CEO of Insilico Medicine and founder of ARDD walks us through how Insilico’s rentosertib became the first AI-generated small molecule with peer-reviewed clinical efficacy, while arguing against AI hype and reminding us that biology still moves at “the speed of traffic.” That duality runs through the whole conversation. On one side: a pragmatic operator obsessed with credible science, biomarkers, and clinical benchmarks; on the other: an AI visionary investing in cryonics, sketching “pharmaceutical superintelligence,” and thinking in decades, not quarters.We start in Basel, home to Roche and Novartis, where ARDD was born, then trace how the conference morphed into a ”high-signal filter for longevity” - packed with startups (who also fund it), hard data, and mainstream pharma.Alex looks back at his 2014 Nvidia talk (”Can Nvidia solve aging?”) and explains why Insilico trains its AI to learn age first - so it actually grasps biology. Years of problem-solving with pharma turned into their Pharma.AI toolkit (Biology42, Chemistry42, Medicine42, Science42).Insilico now runs 40+ programs and in an early Phase 2 study for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), their drug rentosertib showed a dose-dependent boost in lung capacity.Compared with the old path - often $150–200M and ~5 years just to pick a lead molecule - Insilico says it can often reach that point for under $3M or even less. Still, Alex is cautious: no matter how smart the AI gets, real-world testing and regulation won’t speed up overnight.Also in this episode:What made Alex cry.Why he wouldn’t give his own drug to patients - yet.How a mirror on a conference poster led to a proposal.How ARDD became the “WEF of longevity”.Why internal “kill teams” try to stop their own drug candidates.Why labeling aging a disease helps - but won’t shortcut approvals.Why he writes to “feed AI”.How Nvidia threads through the story - from free GPUs to Jensen’s video.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membershipShow notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.comLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.CHAPTERS00:00 – Teaser03:08 – Introduction to Alex Zhavoronkov06:11 – Alex talks ARDD15:15 – Big-pharma starting to embrace ARDD17:31 – The proposal story24:52 – Why Alex decided to fight aging27:44 – Neuralink, humanoids and the brain-aging bottleneck30:52 – Keeping ARDD pharma-credible32:02 – The path to Insilico48:03 – The Zhavoronkov crystal ball57:29 – The Insilico platform1:07:16 – The rentosertib story1:16:42 – What made Alex cry1:17:44 – Aging-as-disease: rhetoric vs. regulation (GLP-1 analogy)1:26:53 – Culture check: Middle East momentum, China’s stance1:34:28 – Costs & timelines: what AI compresses - and what it can’t1:41:30 – Insilico’s fully automated lab1:47:21 – “I respect Demis, but…”1:51:10 – Why even superintelligence won’t skip clinical validation1:52:15 – Cryonics as plan B: organ preservation, TimeShift, use-cases2:00:56 – Writing Forever AI & the roadmap to “pharma superintelligence”2:06:42 – Book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anyone who is interesed in emerging science and futurism will come across the name Natasha Vita-More; a suggestive name for a charismatic and important philosopher and artist envisioning human possibilities. She wrote the Transhuman Manifesto in 1983. But did you know that she has also made a scientific discovery with big implications for cryopreservation?Natasha Vita-More is a trailblazing futurist, acclaimed author, and pioneering designer whose work stands at the thrilling intersection of science, technology, and art. Renowned for her visionary contributions to transhumanism and human enhancement, she has spent decades exploring how we can transcend biological limitations and reimagine what it means to be human. From her iconic “Primo Posthuman” prototype to her influential writings on life extension and ethical AI, Vita-More has inspired global audiences to think boldly about the future.🔍 In this conversation✅ Experiment show that memory can survive cryopreservation✅ The origin of transhumanism✅ What is stoic extropianism?✅ Pragmatic optimism and the concept of progress✅ How to feel and look great past 70✅ AI and the way to superlongevity✅ The bottlenecks for nanotechnology as a tool for health and longevity✅ Books that we need to readCHAPTERS00.00 Introduction04:27 Scottsdale Arizona05:21 Making a scientific discovery: memory survives cryonics16:13 The making of Natasha Vita-More33:00 Humanity+ and its critics41:04 Writing the Transhumanist Manifesto & origin of futurist movements50:58 Transhumanism today57:13 The soul of transhumanism - troubles with the concept of progressive01:04:05 Stoicism and extropy01:06:12 Knowing what you can change01:17:04 Solving aging with AI?01:24:29 Pragmatic optimism01:27:38 Hope and science01:34:50 Staying healthy and alive01:45:15 Bottlenecks for nanotechnology01:50:50 3 books we have to read🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even though it’s undeniably...aesthetic-challenged, the naked mole-rat is the envy of the longevity world. Its risk of death barely changes with time; it shrugs off cancer, stays fertile for decades and seems to skip every hallmark of aging that hobbles the rest of us.But why? What evolutionary forces gave a mouse-sized, subterranean rodent near-immunity to aging - and what can its biology teach us about extending healthy human life?Comparative biologist Prof. Rochelle Buffenstein (University of Illinois Chicago) - who has maintained the world’s largest captive colonies and authored 200+ papers - joins LEVITY to dissect the evidence.In this episode✅ Rochelle’s journey: from Zimbabwe farm kid to the pre-eminent naked mole-rat researcher.✅ Eusocial society: queens, worker castes and lethal succession battles.✅ No Gompertz slope: hard numbers that show mortality risk stays essentially flat for 40 years.✅ Cancer resistance → high-molecular-weight hyaluronan, unusual immune cell profiles.✅ Telomere maintenance and DNA-methylation reversal.✅ Proteostasis on easy-mode: slow translation, durable proteins, super-charged autophagy.✅ What actually kills a mole-rat?✅ Translational angles: small-molecule screens, CRISPR edits, and why funding is still an uphill battle.✅ Other long-lived species worth studying - and how young scientists can break into comparative gerontology.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membershipShow notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.comLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.00:00 Teaser02:37 Meet Prof. Rochelle Buffenstein07:04 Naked mole-rats crash course10:23 Eusocial life: Queens, workers, death matches11:46 Extreme underground lifestyle (Low O₂, High CO₂)18:12 Problems with inbreeding?26:07 Don’t call them cold-blooded!29:15 Keeping the world’s largest colony of naked mole-rats31:45 Eating naked mole-rats36:01 Lifespan of the naked mole-rat38:20 Two remarkable papers50:53 How long can they live?52:45 Resistance to cancer57:03 The Hallmarks of aging are no match for this rodent59:48 Surprising immune defense01:04:18 What’s the evolutionary rationale?01:10:08 Translating the research01:18:51 Other longevity champions🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎁 Our giveaway is live!10 winners will receive FMD kits from Prolon. It’s free to enter – just follow the link below 👇https://gleam.io/NaVa0/prolon-fasting-mimicking-diet-giveaway🔬 Can food rejuvenate you from within?In this special episode of LEVITY, Peter talks with Andrea Ghirardi, CEO of L-Nutra Europe — the company behind Prolon, the fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) developed from Dr. Valter Longo’s research.🧠 We cover:– How Prolon mimics fasting without starvation.– Real-world results: 2.5 years bio-age reversal.– Why FMD may beat GLP-1 drugs for long-term health.– What’s inside the new NextGen kit.– Prolon’s potential as a medical treatment.📘 Dive deeper with our companion article:https://reachlevity.com/p/the-fasting-mimicking-diet-explained-5ce17b65d00c14c1💌 Our newsletter: Weekly biotech + aging breakthroughs:https://reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.Note: Nothing in this post or episode is medical advice. We're not doctors. Before trying this, you should consult your physician. Prolon is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.CHAPTERS00:00 Teaser00:41 A message from Peter02:35 Introduction to L-Nutra and Andrea Ghirardi, CEO05:02 What is the fasting-mimicking diet?07:23 The clinically validated formulation08:32 The formation of L-Nutra13:22 How does FMD compare to other fasting methods?18:07 Are weight-loss drugs a tough competitor to Prolon?20:05 What's inside the 5-day Prolon kit?22:54 The next-gen formula25:41 Peter's and Andrea's experience of trying the FMD28:23 FMD studies35:15 The future of FMD and L-Nutra🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When is someone really dead? What does it mean to survive? Is mind-uploading really a possible future way of surviving? These are some of the questions we are discussing with Dr Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston.Dr Ariel Zeleznikow‑Johnston is a neuroscientist and Research Fellow at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, whose work delves into the neural basis of consciousness - from understanding how genetics and environment shape cognition to exploring the subtle qualities of perceptual experience such as color qualia. A 2019 PhD graduate from The University of Melbourne, he has published extensively on how cognitive function changes across the lifespan. He is the author of The Future Loves You: How and Why We Should Abolish Death, which advocates for brain preservation technology as a means to suspend death and revive individuals in the future.Check out Peter's review of the book here: https://reachlevity.com/p/a-clear-case-for-cryonics-a-review-of-the-future-loves-youHis multidisciplinary approach combines rigorous neuroscience with philosophy and ethics, positioning him at the forefront of contemporary debates about identity, mortality, and the future of human life.🔍 In this conversation:✅ When do we consider someone to be dead?✅ What is vitrifixation?✅ Cryonics.✅ Palliative philosophy.✅ Personal identity and the connectome.✅ Are neurons the same over time?✅ Teleportation as a test of the information view of personhood.✅ How do we make the future love us?✅ Survival and medical priorities.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com🚀 LEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.CHAPTER00:00 Intro03:45 Jonathan is 190-years-old07:00 Learned helplessness10:00 Incoherent medical strategies11:30 Aging is unhealthy14:22 Palliative philosophy20:44 The book in brief - how to cheat death23:30 Different ways of biostasis - vitrifixation35:01 Digital snap-shot emulation of our essense37:59 What is a person? Connectome preservation43:30 Do neurons stay the same over a life?47:00 Is mind-uploading preserving personal identity?01:03:52 We are not our brain - is the connectome model a dualist view?01:07:50 Teleportation and survival I01:14:19 Duplicate myself to increase utility01:15:31 Teleportation and survival II01:24:30 "Dead people" may not be dead01:33:30 Saving lives by biostasis brainpreservation01:36:04 Priority of medicine01:38:05 Saving everyone that can be saved01:40:07 Justice and survival - an unusual angle01:43:36 What kind of world will we wake up to?01:44:48 How to make the future love us01:44:59 What are the odds of today's cryonics working?01:49:10 What year is resurrection?01:56:33 Ariel's book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just about the hottest thing in longevity science right now is partial reprogramming - using Yamanaka factors to rewind the biological clock in our cells. Billion-dollar giants like Altos, Retro and New Limit are betting on it.But in this episode a far smaller player, Shift Bioscience, argues that the field may be looking in the wrong place. CEO Daniel Ives explains how his team used AI-powered virtual cells to uncover a single gene that seems to match OSK-level rejuvenation without the tumor risk that haunts classical reprogramming - and why their just-released data could change the game for aging research.🔍 In this conversation✅ Daniel’s journey from mitochondrial PhD work to founding Shift Bioscience.✅ Why Yamanaka-factor–based partial reprogramming excites the field and why it’s inherently risky.✅ Epigenetic clocks 101 — Horvath, single-cell versions, and what they really measure.✅ Building AI “virtual cells” (transformers / GNNs) to run millions of in-silico experiments.✅ Discovery of new rejuvenation factor sets - including SB000, a lone gene that rejuvenates without inducing pluripotency.✅ Early wet-lab validation across fibroblasts & keratinocytes; next-step mouse studies already under way.✅ How inhibition targets (not just over-expression) could slash timelines from 15 years to ~5 years.✅ Mapping a “risk landscape” of age-linked diseases and why fibrosis may be the fastest clinical entry point.✅ Funding Shift: from personal redundancy money to a $16 M seed and the next raise.✅ Timelines, escape-velocity hopes, and where cryonics still fits.✅ What Daniel would ask Jeff Bezos, and why the pharma ecosystem needs to “plug in” now.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com🚀 LEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Daniel Ives05:34 The Evolution of Shift's Focus13:25 Understanding Aging Clocks19:28 Commercial Clocks is ”Mostly Entertainment”21:03 A Pivotal Meeting with Steve Horvath24:35 A Brief Crash Course in Yamanaka Factors28:16 Finding Something Better Than Yamanaka Factors33:20 The Origin Story For This Approach36:50 What Does Shift’s New Results Show?37:33 Defining the Virtual Cell in This Context44:22 The Gene is Called SB00046:45 “This Could be Hugely Important”01:01:44 Speeding up Drug Development with AI01:11:12 What do Investors Say?01:17:15 What Daniel Hope Will Happen Next01:19:34 What Would Daniel Ask of Jeff Bezos?01:27:00 Why is the company called Shift?01:32:55 The Pride Day for Closeted Aging Biologists01:42:28 How Should We Think About Cryonics?🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We think that death is bad, but why exactly is it bad? We cannot suffer when we do not exist, so why would it be bad?In this episode we have a long, deep conversation with Professor Travis Timmerman, whose philosophical work delves deeply into the nature and ethics of death. An Associate Professor at Seton Hall University, Professor Timmerman has become a prominent voice in contemporary discussions about whether death is bad for us, how we should understand the harm of dying, and what moral obligations we might have surrounding death and dying. His work engages both timeless questions and urgent contemporary debates—offering fresh insight into topics like the timing of death’s harms, the ethics of procreation, and our attitudes toward mortality.What you'll learn in this episode:✅ Why death is bad✅ How it can bad to not have been born earlier✅ What the ancient Mirror Argument gets wrong✅ How it can be bad for a 95-year-old to die✅ Whether we should wait to have children✅ How an analytical philosopher thinks about death🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com--CHAPTERS--00:00 introduction00:50 Why is death bad? The Deprivation account15:30 Lucretius18:10 A reason to live is a reason to see death as bad20:20 James Stacey Taylor vs Travis Timmerman26:20 Deprivation account and mercy killing29:20 Counter intuitive implications of the Deprivation Account - overdetermination of death37:20 What would have happened if I had not died? Possible worlds and the badness of death40:40 The badness of a 95-year-old to die47:00 Thomas Nagel - death and normalcy51:49 Reasons and the good and the bad53:40 The Timmerman style of analytic philosophy01:00:49 Philosophers and prolongevity in history01:08:28 Philosophy as therapy01:09:40 Time and intrinsic good - what matters most?01:14:36 Is health overrated?01:16:27 The eternal philosophical dialogue01:17:56 If longevity were impossible, how would that change philosophy of death?01:21:35 The Mirror Argument01:26:55 Could I have been born earlier?01:39:22 When should we have children?01:42:47 Better never to have been?01:48:09 A world without consciousness01:52:27 Can we wish for the impossible?02:02:07 Meta-philosophy and ironing out the wrinkles of the Deprivation account02:03:00 What Travis is working on02:08:02 What what we should read🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There were two reasons why Dr. Valter Longo was featured so prominently in my longevity book Evigt Ung (2022).First, if you had to name a single scientific thread running through the history of longevity research, calorie restriction is hard to beat. And few have done more to modernize and translate that insight into real-world practice than Longo.Second, I hold Valter Longo in the highest regard. I've tried his Fasting-Mimicking Diet (FMD), I’ve followed his work on The Longevity Diet, and I find his scientific contributions both rigorous and unusually translational. He doesn’t just publish papers - he builds systems, tests interventions in clinical trials, and tries to implement science into healthcare.In this conversation, we cover the science, history, and application of fasting, nutrition, and longevity - including new work on cancer, metabolism, and organ regeneration. We also discuss the philosophical and political obstacles that stand in the way of real change.What you'll learn in this episode:✅ The story of Longo’s early music career - and why he left it to study aging.✅ How calorie restriction shaped modern longevity science.✅ Why Biosphere 2 and Roy Walford's work was both inspiring and cautionary.✅ The origins and mechanisms of the Fasting-Mimicking Diet.✅ What Longo learned about autophagy, stem cells, and organ regeneration.✅ Why protein intake before and after age 65 should be treated differently.✅ What the media and doctors get wrong about obesity, food, and metabolism.✅ The dangers of high-protein and ketogenic diets.✅ Why Longo is deeply skeptical of TRT, growth hormone, and biohacking shortcuts.✅ How fasting can enhance cancer treatment - and why Longo wrote his new book Fasting Cancer.✅ Why we need a new kind of “digital school” for lifestyle medicine.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com--CHAPTERS--00:00 Introduction to Dr. Valter Longo02:44 From Music to Aging Biology06:40 The Supposed Longevity Zones of Italy09:04 Personal Experiences Shaping Research12:04 The Path to Aging Biology13:15 Calorie Restriction and Roy Walford26:25 Transitioning to Fasting Mimicking Diet Research34:56 The Eureka Moment39:51 The Rationale For the 5-Day FMD52:54 The Un-conspired Conspiracy01:01:18 Conflicts of Interest01:04:52 Protein Intake: Balancing Muscle Health and Longevity01:14:30 Autophagy: The Body's Self-Repair Mechanism01:21:12 The Power of Genetic Variants in Longevity01:27:18 The Debate on Growth Hormone and Aging01:36:18 Insights from Laron Syndrome and Longevity01:40:10 Fasting Mimicking Diet: A Path to Health01:46:06 Valter's New Book, Fasting Cancer🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is our first — and probably our last — episode where the guest has brought with him an actual punch card and proceeds to explain why it is, in fact, caca (which is Spanish for 💩, by the way).Welcome to the wild world of José Cordeiro. Stick around and you might hear anecdotes about Robert Kennedy Jr. in Memphis 🎸, late-night karaoke sessions 🎤, and a man shouting “immortality!” to anyone and everyone. But behind the eccentric props and the shameless self-promotion (José didn’t just bring punch cards — he also brought his books 📚, his merch 👔, and his signature Death of Death tie — to the point where we had to clarify we’re not actually sponsored), there’s a deadly serious mission: José wants to end aging and defeat death.A futurist, MIT-trained engineer, and bestselling author, José Cordeiro argues that humanity is on the brink of longevity escape velocity 🚀 — the moment when medical advances will start adding more years to our lives than time takes away. In this episode, we explore his bold predictions, from reversing aging by 2045 to launching a global “war on aging.” We cover the science 🔬, the politics 🏛️, the money 💰, and the wild optimism driving the longevity movement — with cryonics ❄️, Martians 👽, and €10 immortality claims all making appearances.This might be our strangest — and most fascinating — conversation yet. Buckle up.-- IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT --✅ Why longevity escape velocity may be closer than we think✅ How AI will aid longevity✅ Why technological optimism is rational✅ How the Covid pandemic was a relatively minor pandemic✅ How the concept of work will change✅ What the future of energy may be✅ A personal history of Marvin Minsky, Ray Kurzweil and José Cordeiro✅ Where to meet Cordeiro and demonstrate against aging✅ Why immortality is probable by 2045🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com-- CHAPTERS --00:00 Introduction05:33 Cordeiro's struggle to end aging12:28 Traveling the world to spread the word of The Death of Death18:36 The small Covid Pandemic vs the huge aging pandemic26:00 Scientific optimism29:37 "Next time we meet we will be younger."32:28 The concept of work through history35:50 Exponentiality of progress - a personal history of computers43:30 Kurzweil and Cordeiro mentored by Marvin Minsky50:26 The future of energy57:56 When will we reach LEV and what happens 2045?01:03:00 Madrid as a Blue Zone01:06:30 AI coming and helping with science01:17:00 The amazing point of the human timeline we are on - biology can be immortal01:19:50 We are mostly water - immortality for 10 Euros per year01:22:40 Advanced bio engineering and disruption from outside01:24:30 Zuckerberg to cure all diseases in this generation - billionaires to the rescue01:28:40 Elon Musk will change his mind01:29:34 Trump administration and visiting Elvis with RFK01:36:40 The importance of campaigning for life - we need action now01:47:22 Cryonics01:51:56 Sing karaoke 01:53:00 What to read🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lately, there's been growing pushback against the idea that AI will transform geroscience in the short term.When Nobel laureate Demis Hassabis told 60 Minutes that AI could help cure every disease within 5–10 years, many in the longevity and biotech communities scoffed. Leading aging biologists called it wishful thinking - or outright fantasy.They argue that we still lack crucial biological data to train AI models, and that experiments and clinical trials move too slowly to change the timeline.Our guest in this episode, Professor Derya Unutmaz, knows these objections well. But he’s firmly on Team Hassabis.In fact, Unutmaz goes even further. He says we won’t just cure diseases - we'll solve aging itself within the next 20 years.And best of all, he offers a surprisingly detailed, concrete explanation of how it will happen:building virtual cells, modeling entire biological systems *in silico*, and dramatically accelerating drug discovery — powered by next-generation AI reasoning engines.🧬 In this wide-ranging conversation, we also cover:✅ Why biological complexity is no longer an unsolvable barrier.✅ How digital twins could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment.✅ Why clinical trials as we know them may soon collapse.✅ The accelerating timeline toward longevity escape velocity.✅ How reasoning AIs (like GPT-4o, o1, DeepSeek) are changing scientific research.✅ Whether AI creativity challenges the idea that only biological minds can create.✅ Why AI will force a new culture of leisure, curiosity, and human flourishing.✅ The existential stress that will come as AI outperforms human expertise.✅ Why “Don’t die” is no longer a joke — it's real advice.🎙️ Hosted - as always - by Peter Ottsjö (tech journalist and author of Evigt Ung) and Dr. Patrick Linden (philosopher and author of The Case Against Death).🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com-- CHAPTERS --00:00 Introduction to Derya Unutmaz05:22 Derya’s work at Jackson Laboratory09:37 The impact of AI on research15:04 AI as a collaborative partner20:50 The nature of creativity in AI30:21 Predictions for the future of AI and humanity37:46 The future of AI in medicine44:35 The impact of AI on professional identity47:45 Education in the age of AI01:01:32 The ethics of AI development01:14:46 Longevity and AI's role in accelerating science01:20:55 Virtual cells and digital twins01:29:02 Can we do it in silico all the way?01:33:08 Derya and Patrick will both talk at Vitalist Bay🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Fedichev is a visionary scientist, biotech entrepreneur, and physicist at the forefront of longevity research. With a background in theoretical physics, he has seamlessly merged cutting-edge science with real-world applications, making groundbreaking contributions to the fields of aging, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence in healthcare. As the co-founder and CEO of Gero, a pioneering biotech company, Fedichev is revolutionizing our understanding of biological aging, using AI-driven approaches to uncover ways to extend human lifespan and combat age-related diseases. His work has been featured in leading scientific journals, and his insights are shaping the future of personalized medicine and longevity science. Driven by a relentless curiosity and a passion for pushing the boundaries of human potential, Fedichev is not just studying aging - he’s working to redefine it.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode is available here: https://reachlevity.com/p/age-reversal-will-never-work-a-controversial-take-from-a-physicist-5935af91034fd123-- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS --✅ The founding of Gero✅ The physics of aging✅ Why age reversal will not work✅ What SENS gets right✅ What SENS gets wrong✅ AI and the longevity industry🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of LEVITY, we speak with Laurence Ion, a tech entrepreneur whose experience with a rare genetic disease led him to tackle one of humanity's greatest challenges: aging.Starting as a shy coder who 'couldn't talk to strangers,' Laurence has become a movement leader pioneering a bold new approach: creating specialized cities where extending human lifespan isn't just a goal - it's the future of humanity.-- EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS --✅ Laurence's personal journey with multiple hereditary exostoses and how it shaped his perspective on aging and mortality.✅ The founding and evolution of VitaDAO, a decentralized science organization funding longevity research.✅ How crypto-based communities are accelerating anti-aging research outside traditional funding models.✅ The concept of special jurisdictions for medical innovation where regulatory frameworks can move at "warp speed".✅ Viva City's vision to create physical communities and hubs focused on longevity.✅ The $2 million recursive finder's fee for anyone who helps secure a location for the first major Viva City jurisdiction.✅ How living in community environments like Zuzalu and Aevitas House naturally promotes healthier lifestyle choices.✅ The Frontier Tower project - a 16-story "vertical village" designed for longevity-minded living.✅ JellyfishDAO's mission to change cultural narratives around aging through film and media.✅ The relationship between AI advancement and longevity research.✅ How decentralized clinical trials could dramatically reduce the cost and time of bringing treatments to people.✅ Real-world examples of companies already offering experimental longevity treatments in special jurisdictions.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have another amazing guest for this episode: Anders Sandberg is a visionary philosopher, futurist, and transhumanist thinker whose work pushes the boundaries of human potential and the future of intelligence. As a senior research fellow at Oxford University’s Future of Humanity Institute until its closing in 2024 Sandberg explores everything from cognitive enhancement and artificial intelligence to existential risks and space colonization. With a background in computational neuroscience, he bridges science and philosophy to tackle some of the most profound questions of our time: How can we expand our cognitive capacities? What are the ethical implications of radical life extension? Could we one day transcend biological limitations entirely? Known for his sharp intellect, playful curiosity, and fearless speculation, Sandberg challenges conventional wisdom, inviting us to imagine—and shape—a future where humanity thrives beyond its current constraints.00:00 introduction04:18 exersise & David Sinclair06:10 Will we survive the century?18:18 Who can we trust? Knowledge and humility23:17 Nuclear armaggedon39:51 Technology as a double-edged sword44:30 Sandberg origin story56:54 Computational neuroscience01:00:30 Personal identity and neural simulation01:05:24 Personal identity and reasons to want to continue living01:09:39 The psychology of behind different philosophical intutions and judgments01:17:48 Is death bad for Anders Sandberg?01:25:00 Altruism and individual rights01:31:29 Elon Musk says we must die for progress01:35:10 Artificial Intelligence01:55:08 AI civilization01:02:07 Cryonics02:04:00 Book recommendations🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Aubrey de Grey discusses his Robust Mouse Rejuvenation (RMR) studies at the LEV Foundation and why he believes we're close to achieving the crucial RMR milestone within just three years - a breakthrough that could transform aging research forever.You'll also hear about:His predictions for reaching Longevity Escape Velocity by the late 2030sWhat he would change about Bryan Johnson's longevity algorithmHow reaching RMR could trigger a global "war on aging"Why AI won't solve aging without proper experimental dataHow Demis Hassabis is the smartest person Aubrey's ever metHis involvement in designing the XPRIZE Healthspan competitionHis rebuttal to Mark Hamalainen's "replacement strategy" approachThe divide-and-conquer approach to aging and why it's superior🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/-- CHAPTERS --00:00 Introduction and Welcome03:15 The Background to LEV Foundation and the Robust Mouse Rejuvenation Studies12:05 The Robust Mouse Rejuvenation Studies18:10 Latest Results from the Mouse Rejuvenation Experiments25:42 Reaching RMR soon and LEV in 12-15 years33:47 Healthspanners in public - lifespanners in private?37:03 The Replacement Strategy Debate with Mark Hamalainen45:40 The Very, Very Difficult Challenge of Gradually Replacing the Brain54:46 Advanced bioengineering57:34 The Debate with Peter Fedichev01:11:57 Understanding Aging from an Evolutionary Perspective01:17:05 Artificial Intelligence and Longevity Research01:26:42 Is believing in AI hopium?1:28:27 Aubrey’s Involvement in the XPRIZE Healthspan Competition1:38:56 Special Economic Zones and Regulatory Challenges1:47:27 What Aubrey would do with Bryan Johnson’s algorithm1:50:49 What Excites Aubrey Most About the Future1:51:57 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Justice takes us inside the $101M XPRIZE Healthspan competition - one of the world's largest efforts to develop therapeutics that could reverse aging.As Executive Vice President of XPRIZE Healthspan, Jamie reveals how teams must demonstrate they can restore muscle, cognitive, and immune function in older adults within just one year. The stakes? $81M for achieving a 20-year reversal of aging markers, with $71M and $61M prizes for lesser but still remarkable achievements.Jamie shares her fascinating journey from studying crickets' lifespans in elementary school to leading groundbreaking aging research, including work on the TAME trial with metformin. She explains why they chose these specific biological systems to measure, how they'll determine success, and what kinds of interventions teams are exploring - from repurposed drugs to gene therapies.We discuss:* Why Peter Diamandis pushed for more ambitious goals* How over 550 teams from 55 countries are approaching the challenge EDIT: Since we recorded this in late 2024 they've now reached over 600 teams.* The role of biomarkers in measuring aging* Why they chose to measure actual restoration rather than just preventing decline* The challenges and opportunities in aging clinical trials* Her vision for an integrated, multi-generational society that values aging populations🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction03:00 background21:30 XPRIZE sculpted by experience25:20 Collaborating with the entrant teams29:00 Why muscle, mind and immune functions as targets36:30 What if no one wins in 7-years?41:05 Investors attracted45:01 Does this give us increased longevity?51:05 What kind of approaches have been entered?01:00:30 AI01:09:20 Composit end-points01:13:10 TAME trial stuck because ...01:19:10 Biomarkers of aging01:26:50 AI and Biomarkers01:29:02 The longbio track (be lucky)01:36:20 Optimism about what?01:41:00 3 book you have to read🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A pediatric cardiac surgeon turned longevity pioneer, Dr. David Luu shares his journey from humanitarian medical missions to building a global network of physicians focused on prevention. Learn about critical health markers your doctor might be missing, how AI is transforming healthcare, the truth about longevity interventions, and why the future belongs to prevention rather than treatment. Plus, discover the vital link between community, lifestyle, and longevity, and why creating modern "blue zones" might be key to living longer, healthier lives.🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction 02:33 A Family Legacy in Medicine 10:41 From Heart Surgeon to Tech Innovator with JuiSci and Hearty 13:47 Building AI-Powered Medical Platforms 21:33 The Heart Fund: Surgery for Those in Need 35:06 The Role of AI in Healthcare 45:22 Creating Longevity Docs Community 01:07:13 Hidden Cardiovascular Risk Factors 01:10:38 The Lp(a) Test Everyone Should Know About01:18:50 Why Call it ”Longevity Docs” When We Have No Approved Aging Interventions? 01:28:14 Different Levels of Longevity Interventions 01:38:42 Risk vs. Reward in Preventive Medicine 01:43:30 Building Modern Blue Zones 01:47:11 The Future of Medicine 01:52:07 Connecting with David🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/Meet one of the true legends of the longevity space, James Strole, the visionary founder of RAADfest who embodies relentless optimism and dedication to advancing the frontiers of longevity and human potential. His passion for creating a world where individuals can live longer, healthier lives shines through in every aspect of RAADfest, inspiring countless people to embrace the possibilities of radical life extension.We will learn about RAADfest and the history of the longevity movement. We will also explore Strole's philosophy of immortality.- CHAPTERS --00:00 introduction to James Strole04:20 RAADfest is the largest longevity event in the world11:50 personal awakening and the early days of the longevity movement22:00 longevity as a counter-culture23:00 death-program vs superlongevity26:30 1960s spreading the word and rebirthing31.00 people unlimited and science of superlongevity33:00 a holistic approach science of mind-set34:00 alternative medicine not always taken seriously37:40 the immortality mindset38:50 aged by culture44:20 optimism vs pessimism46:10 optimism about longevity science?58:50 death-program runs deep01:03:30 Ray Kurzweil's optimistic prognosis01:11:00 social consequences of longevity01:12:30 cryonics is an ambulance to the future01:15:05 imaginary mortality01:18:18 immortality via children01:19:19 is superlongevity egoistic?01:23:10 handle the loss of near and dear as an immortalist01:37:50 advice on health and where to be in contact with People Unlimited and James Strole🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/-- IN THIS EPISODE --Nora Cavani, CEO of Alba Health, shares her journey from struggling with severe eczema and allergies to pioneering breakthrough solutions in children's gut health. After reversing her own chronic conditions through lifestyle changes, she learned how the first years of life critically shape our immune system, metabolism, and lifelong health through the gut microbiome.As the first company to collaborate with leading microbiome research institutions, Alba Health uses cutting-edge metagenomics technology to analyze children's gut bacteria and provide personalized recommendations. Cavani explains why modern factors like C-sections, antibiotics, and processed foods are leading to a concerning loss of essential gut bacteria in Western children - with many babies now lacking microbes crucial for immune development.Learn how the gut microbiome affects everything from common childhood ailments to chronic disease risk, why diversity in diet matters, and practical steps parents can take during the critical early window of their child's development. A vital conversation for parents, health optimizers, and anyone interested in preventing chronic disease through early intervention.-- CHAPTERS --00:00 Introduction to Nora Cavani05:08 Microbiome and child health07:16 Nora’s journey from Italy to Sweden10:43 Meeting the scientist and microbiologist Willem de Vos15:20 Laying the groundwork for Alba Health18:45 Gut microbiome is linked to afflictions in newborns19:29 The ecosystem of the gut microbiome21:00 The Ecosystem of the Gut Microbiome28:33 Gut-brain axis30:50 C-section and antibiotics35:10 Alba's testing methodology and insights41:38 Predicting health through microbiome analysis45:23 The best time to take the test54:20 Has Nora managed to get rid of her health issues?57:19 The role of diet diversity in gut health01:07:52 What can we still discover about the microbiome?01:10:05 The role of exercise, sleep and stress in adults01:12:40 Child health and longevity01:16:40 Nora’s personal longevity regimen and testing01:23:36 Oura’s investment i Alba Health01:28:18 Future of microbiome research01:32:28 Scientific consensus and controversy01:43:37 The future for Alba Health01:45:52 How to get in touch with Nora and Alba🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/🚀 Looking for LEVITY Merch? https://levity-7.creator-spring.com/Sergey Jakimov is a founding partner of LongeVC, a VC fund supporting early-stage biotech and longevity-focused founders who are changing the world.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/Niklas Anzinger is the founder of Infinita VC based in the charter city of Prospera in Honduras. He is the co-founder of Vitalia, a longevity focused community. His fund Infinita focuses on a new trend of charter cities and other forms of alternative jurisdictions. He also hosts a podcast about how to accelerate the future by unblocking “stranded technologies”.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/When I first met Emil Kendziorra at the Longevity Biotech Fellowship retreat in Sweden, I found myself captivated by his ability to explain every aspect of cryopreservation for hours. His deep knowledge, combined with his remarkable skill in communicating complex ideas, made me realize this conversation needed to reach a broader audience.In this comprehensive episode, Emil, CEO of Tomorrow Bio, takes us through the fascinating world of cryopreservation, leaving no stone unturned. We explore:The science behind cryopreservation and how it differs from simple freezingThe history of cryonics and its evolution into modern cryopreservationStep-by-step details of the preservation processThe logistics of emergency response and stabilizationLong-term storage solutions and safety measuresThe challenges and possibilities of future revivalEthical considerations and philosophical implicationsThe current state of research and future developmentsPractical aspects of signing up and fundingCommon misconceptions and concernsWhether you're curious about cryopreservation as a backup plan for longevity or simply interested in understanding this fascinating field, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of what might be our best bridge to a longer-lived future.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership#mobilize-sign-up🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available shortly after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/Todays guest is another California resident, distinguished Professor John Martin Fisher at University of California Riverside. Professor Fischer has as worked on the metaphysics of death and philosophy of religion and led a multi-year, multi-pronged research project on "immortality," funded in 2012 by the John Templeton Foundation. He is the author of several books including Death, Immortality, and Meaning in Life. (Oxford University Press, 2019). And Near-Death Experiences: Understanding Visions of the Afterlife (co-authored with Benjamin Mitchell-Yellin) (Oxford University Press, 2016)Learn about:✅ Near-death experiences✅ The fear of death✅ The desirability of immortality🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚀 Special offer for our LEVITY audience: Join Vitalism today and receive a 30% discount on your membership using the code LEVITY at checkout. https://www.vitalism.io/membership#mobilize-sign-up🚀 Show notes for this episode will be available Wednesday Oct 2. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: https://peterottsjo.beehiiv.com/Longevity superstar Bryan Johnson made waves when he traveled to the Bahamas for a stem cell treatment. But who's behind this cutting-edge therapy? Meet Maria Rankka, co-founder of Cellcolabs, the Swedish startup that's caught the attention of one of the world's biggest longevity influencers.In this episode of LEVITY, hosts Peter Ottsjö and Patrick Linden dive deep into Cellcolabs' ambitious mission: to revolutionize healthcare by producing cheap and abundant mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Could this be the key to combating inflammation and extending healthspan on a global scale?Maria Rankka shares the inside story of Cellcolabs' journey, from its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic to its current position at the forefront of regenerative medicine. Learn about:✅ The science behind MSCs and why they're creating buzz in longevity circles✅ Cellcolabs' innovative approach to scaling stem cell production✅ Maria's personal experience with MSC treatment✅ The potential of MSCs to transform preventative medicine✅ Making regenerative treatments accessible to the masses🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of the most amazing new discoveries: We can rejuvenate cells. Next step is to rejuvenate entire organisms, and ultimately human beings including our brains. Yuri Deigin, CEO of YouthBio Therapeutics, is a pioneering drug developer and longevity maximalist currently working on partial reprogramming gene therapies for Alzheimer’s and other diseases.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 therapiesRevolutionizing cryopreservation techniquesDeveloping breath-based aging biomarkersHarnessing AI for rapid drug discovery in aging researchLearn 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/🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.”🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 againAnimals that do not ageHow the search for the Fountain of Youth became scientificWhat to do to survive🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.🗞️ SUBSCRIBE to the LEVITY newsletter: reachlevity.com/subscribeGet all LEVITY DeSci content here: reachlevity.com/t/desci (sorry about the wrong link in the episode)📕 Check out Patrick's book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262543163/the-case-against-death/📗 Check out Peter's book (only available in Swedish): https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/evigt-ung-min-och-manniskans-drom-om-ododligheten-9789179652524-----Show notes for this episode will be available soon after this airs. Sign up for the LEVITY newsletter to get them straight to your inbox: reachlevity.com/subscribeLEVITY is co-hosted by Patrick Linden, philosopher and author, and Peter Ottsjö, journalist and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.