RECAP

Don't Die Brunch

speaker

Jason Karp, Founder and CEO of HumanCo

Jason H. Karp, a Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania graduate with a B.S. in Economics, has an extensive background in both finance and entrepreneurship. He spent over two decades in the hedge fund industry, serving as Founder, CEO, and CIO of Tourbillon Capital Partners, managing over $4 billion. Before founding HumanCo, he co-founded Hu, a rapidly growing snacking company in the U.S., which was acquired by Mondelez International in January 2021. Beyond his business endeavors, Jason is deeply committed to promoting healthier living and sustainability. He is the Founder and CEO of HumanCo, a mission-driven holding company that invests in and nurtures brands with similar values.

Big Ideas from the Discussion:

1. Imagine this thought experiment: there’s a magical black box that if you open it, it will give you the protocol to maximize your physical mental and spiritual health. If you open it, you have to sign up for whatever the routine is and you will be able to have the willpower to get it done. Would you take the offer or not? There was a wide range of discussion on this topic and the group was divided.  Some who said no argued that part of developing good behaviors and part of achieving flourishing in life is actually the struggle to build new habits and hard things.

2. The AI revolution and threat to humanity: he believes that the development of AI is the most important technological and existential development of our lifetime. In a few decades from now on, we might look back to today with the same kind of perspective looking back at homo erectus carrying a stick hunting a wooly mammoth. His point is that acceleration is going to happen so quickly that we actually need to develop strategies for survival of our species. One idea was interplanetary development. Another one was acceleration of human computer interfaces.

3. Can you trust your brain? For a decade Brian was suicidal. Day in and day out he would want to take his own life, but didn’t only because of his children and their sake. That process taught him that he cannot trust his brain. So as he developed his new protocol, he wanted to find a person or a group or a thing to give authority over to. Despite how intelligent he is and how often he is reading things, he cannot trust his own brain.  That idea resonated with numerous guests as it up-ends the traditional model of: learn from leading experts, practice the strategies, see improvement. Rather, we should be looking for a person or a thing to turn that authority over to. This can have a dystopian sci-fi reality like turning yourself over to a chip or computer. It could also have a very anthropologically sound and deeply human model where you turn this over to a group of humans who deeply care for you.

4. A Don't Die Movement: Bryan has built 'death' scores for many major foods and fast food companies.  Imagine a genocide score on the door as you walk in!  Every time he eats something that causes death, he sees it as commuting violence against himself.  He wants to build a movement - a religion? - he called the 'don't die movement.'  It would have literature, maybe a liturgy, meet ups, and event a policy movement.  Potentially Austin, TX, could be a flagship HQ and launch city for the movement.

Some of Bryan’s main strategies:

1. Comprehensive Biomarker Monitoring:

• Johnson tracks over 70 biomarkers, including blood panels, hormone levels, and organ function indicators, to continually assess and optimize his health. This allows for precise adjustments to his health regimen based on real-time data  .

2. Diet and Supplementation:

• Johnson adheres to a strict diet designed to maximize health and longevity. His regimen includes nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods, and he takes a large number of supplements daily to address potential deficiencies and support various bodily functions .

3. Advanced Medical Interventions:

• He invests in and utilizes regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy and 3D bioprinting, aiming to repair and rejuvenate tissues. This is part of his broader strategy to combat aging at the cellular level .

4. AI and Technological Innovations:

• Johnson employs AI to enhance health monitoring, predict disease risks, and personalize medical treatments. His company, Kernel, focuses on developing neurotechnology to improve cognitive health and function.

5. Exercise and Physical Optimization:

• Regular, structured exercise is a crucial part of Johnson’s strategy. He follows personalized fitness routines to maintain physical health, muscle mass, and cardiovascular function.

6. Mental Health and Cognitive Function:

• Johnson emphasizes mental health through meditation, quantified with advanced technology, and experiments with hallucinogens under controlled conditions to potentially enhance mental well-being and cognitive longevity.

7. Scientific Collaboration:

• Collaborating with experts like biochemist Dr. Charles Brenner, Johnson explores scientifically validated methods to reduce biological age and improve healthspan. This involves continuous research and adopting the latest scientific discoveries into his regimen.

8. Data-Driven Decision Making:

• All aspects of Johnson’s health regimen are meticulously tracked and adjusted based on data. This approach ensures that any changes to his diet, exercise, or medical interventions are backed by measurable outcomes.

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