The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Developing a Rationale Approach to Supplementation for Health & Performance
In this episode, I explain how to design a supplementation protocol to support maximum mental and physical health and performance depending on your specific needs, nutrition, lifestyle and finances. When most people hear about “supplements,” they think they are vitamin supplements, but there are many compounds that are powerful and sold over-the-counter that can enhance our health in performance and that can’t be obtained from foods. First, I discuss “foundational” supplements to support overall health, including water and fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, adaptogens, and prebiotics/probiotics. Then I explain how to use single-ingredient supplements to enhance specific aspects of your physiology, such as aiding sleep, cognitive enhancement, and focus supporting healthy hormone levels (e.g., testosterone, estrogen and growth hormone, thyroid). Finally, I explain when it makes sense to add supplements to your lifestyle and discuss how best to use supplements, including how to determine dosage, sourcing, continuous schedules and cycling, and how to layer different supplements most effectively. This episode will explain how to design the safest, most biologically effective, cost-effective supplementation protocol to meet your particular goals and support your overall health, including vitality and longevity. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Supplements (00:03:38) Hierarchy of Tools/Interventions, Developing a Supplementation Protocol (00:11:51) Momentous, LMNT, Helix Sleep (00:15:38) Role of Supplements, Foundational Supplements, Water/Fat-Soluble Vitamins (00:21:07) Supplement Considerations: Cost, Nutrition & Schedule (00:25:25) Foundational Supplements, Digestive Enzymes, Adaptogens (00:28:04) Gut Microbiome, Probiotics/Prebiotics & Nutrition (00:33:06) Supplements for Gut Microbiome, Brain Fog (00:35:59) InsideTracker (00:36:44) Adaptogens & Broad-Spectrum Foundational Supplements (00:38:35) Core Supplement Questions & Meeting Foundational Needs (00:43:45) Supplements to Support Sleep: Myo-Inositol, Theanine (00:50:52) Supplements for Falling Asleep: Magnesium Threonate/Bisglycinate, Apigenin (00:55:55) Melatonin Caution (00:58:11) Supplement Dependency?, Placebo Effects (01:02:45) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (01:03:53) Nutrition & Behavior for Hormone Health (01:08:59) Hormone Health: Shilajit, Ashwagandha, L-Carnitine, Maca Root (01:12:48) Growth Hormone: Behaviors, Arginine, Prescriptions (01:16:04) Testosterone/Estrogen: Fadogia Agrestis; Bloodwork (01:23:06) Testosterone Supplement: Tongkat Ali, Libido (01:27:24) Menstrual Cycle, Birth Control & Fertility (01:30:54) Cognitive Enhancement & Focus, Sleep, Stimulants: Caffeine (01:36:57) Adrenaline & Stimulants: Yohimbine, Rauwolscine (01:38:55) Adjusting Neurotransmitters: Alpha-GPC, L-Tyrosine; Layering Supplements (01:43:58) Cognitive, Mood & Metabolic Support: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (01:47:25) Food-Mimic Supplements, Protein (01:50:09) Kids, Aging & Supplements (01:55:25) A Rational Supplementation Protocol (01:58:36) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Dr. Sam Harris: Using Meditation to Focus, View Consciousness & Expand Your Mind | Episode 105
My guest is Sam Harris, Ph.D. Sam earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stanford University and his doctorate (Ph.D.) in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is the author of multiple best-selling books and is a world-renowned public-facing intellectual on meditation, consciousness, free will, psychedelics and neuroscience. He is also the creator of Waking Up and the host of the Making Sense podcast. In this episode, we discuss meditation as a route to understanding “the self” and experiencing consciousness, not just changing one’s conscious state. Sam describes several meditation techniques and their benefits, including how meditation fundamentally changes our worldview and how it can be merged seamlessly into daily life. It can help us overcome universal challenges such as distractibility and persistent, internal dialogue (“chatter”) to allow for deep contentment and pervasive shifts in our awareness, all while acknowledging the more immediate stress-lowering and memory-improving effects of meditation. We also discuss the therapeutic use of psychedelics and the mechanistic similarities between the benefits of a psychedelic journey and long-term meditation practices. And we discuss the rationale behind Sam’s recent decision to close his social media (Twitter) account. This episode should interest anyone wanting to learn more about the higher order functions of the brain, the brain-body connection, consciousness and, of course, meditation and why and how to meditate for maximum benefit. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Levels: https://levels.link/huberman WHOOP: https://join.whoop.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Sam Harris (00:04:36) Levels, WHOOP, Eight Sleep, Momentous (00:08:54) Sense of Self & Meditation, Dualism of Self (00:18:07) Sense of Self in Brain & Body (00:25:28) Consciousness vs. Contents, Meditation (00:28:25) Interrupting Sense of Self & Attentional Focus, Visual Saccade (00:33:30) Observer & Actor, Default Mode Network & Meditation, Blind Spot (00:40:48) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:41:57) Mediation & Paths to Understanding Consciousness, Non-Dualistic Experience (00:57:32) Sense of Self throughout Evolution (01:07:40) Sense of Self from Human Development, Language (01:18:42) InsideTracker (01:19:46) Internal Dialogue, Distractibility & Mindfulness (01:26:27) Time Perception & Mindfulness, Vipassana Meditation, Resistance & Pain (01:37:13) Consciousness & Sense of Control, Free Will (01:43:14) Authoring Thoughts: Storytelling & Ideas, Free Will (01:52:11) Meditation & the Paradoxical Search for Self (02:06:44) Meditation & Concentration Practice (02:11:58) Mindfulness, “Skylike Mind” & Thoughts (02:15:11) States of Self & Context, Dualistic Experiences (02:32:39) Distraction & Identification of Thoughts, Meditation & “Flow” States (02:42:58) Eyes-Open Meditations, Sense of Self, Visual Cues & Social Interactions (02:54:59) Paths to Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation Step-Functions (03:05:58) Psychedelics, MDMA & Experiences in Consciousness, Religion (03:21:11) Meditation, Psychedelic Journeys & Inner Truths (03:29:48) Psilocybin, Ego-Dissolution & Thought Expansion (03:40:09) Process vs. Achievement of Goals, Fulfillment in Present (03:54:29) Leaving Twitter; Conflict, Life Interruption & Politics (04:06:14) Social Media, Attentional Disruption & Deep Work (04:15:39) Meditation & Sense of Self (04:19:02) Sam Harris & Waking Up App, Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Jocko Willink: How to Become Resilient, Forge Your Identity & Lead Others | Episode 104
My guest is Jocko Willink, a retired Navy SEAL officer and author of multiple books on effective leadership and teamwork, self-discipline and mindset, and host of the Jocko Podcast. We discuss how people can build and sculpt their identity and psychology through specific mindsets and actions and how to adapt the self to novel and challenging situations, using specific daily routines. We consider how “energy” actually stems from physical action and describe practical tools and scientific mechanisms for leveraging exercise, cold exposure, nutrition, fasting, hydration, sunlight, mindset and music to make us feel more energized and what that, in turn, does for our life. Jocko explains how discipline and specific daily routines allow for productivity and creativity. And we discuss the qualities of successful leaders, including how to build confidence and real bonds when working with a team or family/friends. Jocko describes a particularly powerful tool of using perspective shifts to allow for ‘detachment’ as a unique way to identify novel solutions to problems. We also discuss the power of early developmental narratives and how experiences of friendship, love, connection and loss can serve as pillars for making us better human beings in all aspects of life. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics, including mental health, physical health and performance, and provides actionable tools that anyone, regardless of age or profession, can apply to live a more effective and meaningful life. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Jocko Willink (00:03:50) Maui Nui Venison, Eight Sleep, LMNT, Momentous (00:08:42) Sense of Self, Discovery & Autonomy (00:19:11) Mindsets in the Military: Garrison vs. Combat (00:25:02) Military Divisions (00:29:34) Daily Workouts & Discipline (00:35:39) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:36:53) Energy & Movement, Cortisol, Nutrition (00:52:10) Exercise & Energy, Deliberate Cold Exposure (00:59:05) Win vs. Loss Mindset, Leadership, Action & Energy (01:12:07) InsideTracker (01:13:11) Confidence, Generators vs. Projectors, Family (01:24:01) Restoring Motivation: Social Connection & Play (01:32:44) Self-Identity & Context, Alcohol, Music, Dopamine (01:45:10) Motivation Sources & Recovering from Loss (01:54:05) Suicide, Navy SEALs, Social Contagion (02:09:00) Suicide, Alcohol, Positive Action (02:15:03) Meditation, Detachment (02:20:30) Adaptability & Opportunities, Navy SEALs (02:30:43) Ambition & Love, Likeability, Leadership (02:40:18) Building Teams, Detachment, Family (02:50:20) Detachment: Problems & Perspective (02:55:55) Tools: Strategies to Detach from Situation (03:08:31) Tool: Situational Awareness & Detachment (03:17:49) Social Media, Personal Flaws (03:23:01) Falling Asleep & Detachment (03:27:02) Resilience Calibration, Navy SEAL Training & Combat (03:39:16) Deliberate Discomfort & Mental Resilience (03:42:21) People & Animals, Personalities (03:51:25) Political Leadership & Military, Social Media (04:01:38) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
The Science of Creativity & How to Enhance Creative Innovation | Episode 103
In this episode, I explain how the brain engages in creative thinking and, based on that mechanistic understanding, the tools to improve one’s ability to think creatively and innovate in any area. I discuss how convergent and divergent thinking are essential for generating creative ideas and provide three types of meditation tools (open monitoring meditation, focused attention meditation & non-sleep deep rest; NSDR), which improve our ability to engage in these creative thinking patterns in specific and powerful ways. I also discuss how dopamine and mood contribute to the creative process and describe behavioral, nutritional and supplementation-based approaches for increasing dopamine to engage in creative thought and implementation. I explain how movement and storytelling (narrative) approaches can generate novel creative ideas and how substances like alcohol, cannabis, and psilocybin impact our creative ability. Excitingly, creativity is a skill that can be cultivated and enhanced; this episode outlines many tools to help anyone access creativity and apply creative patterns of thought to different domains of life. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Creativity (00:04:30) ROKA, Thesis, LMNT, Momentous (00:08:51) What is Creativity? (00:11:16) Creativity in Visual Arts, Escher & Banksy (00:23:37) Neural Circuits of Creativity (00:31:58) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:33:13) Creative Ideas & Divergent Thinking (00:42:09) Testing Creative Ideas & Convergent Thinking (00:46:41) Dopamine, Convergent & Divergent Thinking Pathways (00:57:02) InsideTracker (00:58:06) Tool: Open Monitoring Meditation & Divergent Thinking (01:07:38) Tool: Focused Attention Meditation & Convergent Thinking (01:11:06) Mood, Creativity & Dopamine (01:16:00) Tool: Mood Calibrating, Caffeine & Dopamine (01:23:41) Dopamine Supplementation; L-Tyrosine, Caffeine (01:30:15) Tool: Non-Sleep Deep Rest, Mesocortical Dopamine & Divergent Thinking (01:43:130 Serotonin, Psylocibin & Creative Thinking (01:49:13) Alcohol & Autobiographical Scripting; Cannabis (01:52:04) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) & Creativity (01:54:45) Tool: Movement & Divergent Thinking (02:01:02) Tool: Narratives & Storytelling for Creativity (02:14:47) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
LIVE EVENT Q&A: Dr. Andrew Huberman Question & Answer in New York, NY
Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a live event in New York, NY. This event was part of a lecture series called The Brain Body Contract. My favorite part of the evening was the question & answer period, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from the attendees of each event. Included here is the Q&A from our event in New York, NY. Thank you to our sponsors Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:17) You've Said Before That Stress Can Be Good for Us. How Do We Know When It's Too Much? (00:07:44) How Has Hypnosis Been Impacting Your Life? (00:12:51) What Are the Most Effective Protocols for Boosting the Microbiome? (00:18:38) Why Do Humans Love/Need Dogs so Much? (00:23:21) How Can "Night Owls" Best Function in a Society Made For "Morning Birds" (00:27:04) How Do You See Your Podcast Growing Over the Next Few Years? (00:31:12) What Is a Stress Inoculation Protocol for Workplace Anxiety? (00:33:04) What Do You Think Will Be the Next Hot Topic/New Trend in the Field of Neuroscience & Behavioral Therapeutics Within the Next 10-20 Years? (00:37:53) What Changes Have You Made to Your Fitness Protocol That Include Nutrition That You Wish You Knew Before Starting the Podcast? (00:40:11) For Things That Take a Long Time — Career, Pursuing a Degree, Etc — Is There a Way to Know Were on the Right Path? (00:46:36) Conclusion The Huberman Lab podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com
Dr. Kyle Gillett: Tools for Hormone Optimization in Males | Episode 102
My guest is Kyle Gillett, MD, a dual board-certified physician in family medicine and obesity medicine and an expert in optimizing hormone levels to improve overall health. We discuss how to optimize male hormones using a range of nutritional and behavioral tools, exercise, and supplementation (including discussions on tongkat ali, fadogia agrestis, creatine, peptides and more). We explain how puberty and aging affect hormone levels, how to use bloodwork to monitor hormone levels, how hormone health impacts fertility, libido, hair loss, and prostate health, and describe behaviors that negatively impact testosterone levels. We also discuss how to approach prescription hormone therapies, including which biomarkers to monitor when using these approaches and how to optimize synergistic hormones (e.g., growth hormone and thyroid hormone) to support complete hormone health safely and rationally. Dr. Gillett offers numerous actionable tools that can be tailored to specific goals and age ranges to attain and maintain optimal levels of male hormones for overall health, well-being and longevity. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Kyle Gillett & Male Hormone Optimization (00:03:40) Thesis, ROKA, Helix Sleep, Momentous (00:07:43) Puberty: Height, Resistance Training, Childhood Obesity (00:15:14) “First” vs. “Second” Puberty (00:17:17) Hormone Optimization & Blood Work (00:22:14) Diet, Exercise, Sleep & Hormones (00:28:23) Hormones, Stress, Social Connection & Purpose (00:32:19) Hormones, Supplementation & Medication (00:34:08) Determining Individual Hormone Levels, ADAM Questionnaire (00:40:35) Libido, Masturbation, Pornography & the Dopamine “Wave Pool” (00:48:32) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:49:46) Sustainable Exercise Regimen for Hormone Health (00:58:12) Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) (01:01:02) Supplementation: Creatine & Hair Loss, Betaine, L-Carnitine & Allicin (Garlic) (01:11:45) Vitamin D, Boron; SHBG & Free Testosterone (01:15:34) InsideTracker (01:16:39) Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia; Longjack) & Steroid Pathways (01:22:09) Fadogia Agrestis & Testosterone (01:26:32) Optimize Growth Hormone & IGF-1: Diet, Fasting, Supplements & Exercise (01:31:52) Optimize Thyroid Hormone: Iodine & Goitrogens (01:33:56) Peptides: Growth Hormone, Tesamorelin, Ibutamoren & Gut Microbiome (01:42:06) Testosterone Therapy (01:47:03) Prescriptions & Hormones: Human Choriogonadotropin (HCG), Clomiphene (01:52:56) Testosterone Therapy + HCG, Fertility & Temperature (01:55:30) Hormone Health Q&A: Marijuana, Nicotine, Cycling, Pelvic Floor, Alcohol, Fat (02:06:08) Prostate Health & Tadalafil, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) (02:09:56) Hair Loss & DHT; Turmeric & Curcuminoids (02:18:13) BPAs, Phthalates & Hormone Health (02:21:55) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
AMA #2: Improve Sleep, Reduce Sugar Cravings, Optimal Protein Intake, Stretching Frequency & More
Welcome to a sneak peek of the second Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, part of Huberman Lab Premium. The Huberman Lab Premium subscription was launched for two main reasons. First, it was launched in order to raise support for the standard Huberman Lab podcast channel — which will continue to come out every Monday at zero-cost. Second, it was launched as a means to raise funds for important scientific research. A significant portion of proceeds from the Huberman Lab Premium subscription will fund human research (not animal models) selected by Dr. Huberman, with a dollar-for-dollar match from the Tiny Foundation. Subscribe to Huberman Lab Premium at https://hubermanlab.com/premium Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:54) Are there any science-backed protocols to increase deep sleep? (00:28:11) Huberman Lab Premium In the full 1.5 hour AMA episode, we discuss: What is your studying routine? What's the ideal amount of protein intake? Any tips to eliminate sugar cravings? What can we do when we wake up early in the morning before the sun is up and can’t benefit from direct sunlight exposure? Is it better to do shorter bouts of dynamic stretching more frequently throughout the day or longer bouts but multiple times per week? Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network The Huberman Lab podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Using Caffeine to Optimize Mental & Physical Performance | Episode 101
In this episode, I explain how to use caffeine to enhance mental and physical health and performance, including the optimal dosages and intake schedules for caffeine. I explain how caffeine powerfully reinforces the consumption of certain foods and drinks—thereby increasing how much we like their tastes and seek them out. I discuss the mechanisms by which caffeine increases focus, alertness and mood and reduces sleepiness. I also explain many practical tools for caffeine use, including delaying caffeine intake after waking, intermittent caffeine use, during fasting, before and during exercise, and the use of theanine to curb jitters caused by caffeine. I also discuss the positive effects of caffeine on overall health and longevity and address several myths about caffeine. Since caffeine is one of the most commonly used substances (more than 90% of adults use caffeine daily!), this episode provides actionable tips for adjusting caffeine consumption to positively impact performance and health, including sleep. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Levels: https://levels.link/huberman Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Caffeine (00:02:58) Tool: GLP-1, Yerba Mate, Satiety & Weight Loss (00:11:06) Levels, Eight Sleep, ROKA, Momentous Supplements (00:15:23) Caffeine Benefits for Mental & Physical Performance (00:20:23) Caffeine in Nature & Positive Reinforcement (00:26:44) Caffeine Effects on Brain; Reward Pathways (00:29:55) Caffeine as a Reinforcing Agent (00:36:47) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:38:01) Caffeine, Adenosine & Reduced Sleepiness (00:45:16) Tool: Caffeine Dosage, Caffeine Adapted (00:53:44) Tool: Delayed Caffeine Intake, Afternoon Crash & Sleep (01:04:46) Morning Exercise & Residual Caffeine Effects (01:07:56) Tool: Theanine & Jitteriness; Fasting, Intermittent Caffeine Use (01:13:00) Theanine: Effects & Dosage (01:18:41) InsideTracker (01:19:45) Other Effects: Osteoporosis, Hormone Levels, Depression (01:27:41) Afternoon Caffeine & Sleep (01:31:45) Tool: Caffeine & Mental/Physical Performance; Cortisol & Caffeine Abstinence (01:46:04) Caffeine, Performance & Menstrual Cycle (01:47:27) Tool: Memory & Caffeine Timing; Adrenaline & Cold Exposure (01:54:08) Caffeine & Naps (01:56:34) Tool: Exercise, Caffeine, Dopamine & Positive Reinforcement (02:01:55) Dopamine Stacking (02:06:04) Scheduling Caffeine to Maximize Its Effects (02:08:33) Pro-Health Effects of Caffeine (02:13:38) Tool: Sugar Cravings & Reinforcing Effects of Caffeine (02:20:17) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Dr. Lex Fridman: Navigating Conflict, Finding Purpose & Maintaining Drive | Episode 100
My guest this episode is Lex Fridman, Ph.D., a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT), an expert on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and the host of the Lex Fridman Podcast. We discuss Lex’s recent trip to the heart of the Ukrainian-Russian War, geopolitics, perspectives on people living in war zones, the shared human experience, and how information is communicated and controlled. As an experienced podcaster and public educator, Dr. Fridman offers unique insights into the art of holding conversations that grow understanding, especially when they involve people with opposing viewpoints. We also discuss the peer-review process for scientific research publications and how social media and podcasts are evolving the way science and technology are communicated. We consider how to find and follow your life’s purpose, maintain ongoing motivation and implement support systems to build and sustain momentum. Our conversation also covers capitalism, masculinity, chess and cheating, Lex’s idea for an AI robotics start-up and a Q&A from audience questions solicited on social media. As one of the main inspirations for the Huberman Lab podcast, hosting Dr. Fridman for this special centennial episode was an honor and a pleasure! Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Levels: https://levels.link/huberman Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Lex Fridman (00:04:30) LMNT, Levels, Eight Sleep (00:08:28) Podcasting (00:12:11) Ukraine, Russia, War & Geopolitics (00:23:17) Conflict & Generalized Hate (00:26:23) Typical Day in Ukraine; American Military & Information Wars (00:37:28) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:38:42) Deliberate Cold Exposure & Sauna; Fertility (00:46:44) Ukraine: Science, Infrastructure & Military; Zelensky (00:53:33) Firearms; Violence & Sensitization (00:57:40) MIT & Artificial Intelligence (AI), University Teaching & Pandemic (01:05:51) Publications & Peer Review, Research, Social Media (01:13:05) InsideTracker (01:14:17) Twitter & Social Media Mindset, Andrew Tate & Masculinity (01:26:05) Donald Trump & Anthony Fauci; Ideological Extremes (01:35:11) Biotechnology & Biopharma; Money & Status (01:45:08) Robotics, AI & Social Media; Start-ups (01:53:50) Motivation & Competition; Relationships (02:01:55) Jobs; A Career vs. A Calling; Robotics & Relationships (02:12:11) Chess, Poker & Cheating (02:22:25) Ideas of Lately (02:24:44) Why Lex Wears a Suit & Tie (02:27:50) Is There an AI Equivalent of Psychedelics? (02:29:06) Hardest Jiu-Jitsu Belt to Achieve (02:32:07) Advice to Young People (02:39:29) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Dr. Chris Palmer: Diet & Nutrition for Mental Health | Episode 99
My guest this episode is Chris Palmer, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He explains the important connection between nutrition, metabolism and mental health and his pioneering work using the ketogenic diet to successfully treat patients with various mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. Dr. Palmer explains how the ketogenic diet is an evidenced-based treatment for epilepsy, mimics the fasted state and can offset the cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. He describes the key roles of mitochondria in mental health, how certain conditions likely arise from mitochondrial dysfunction, and how low-carbohydrate diets increase mitochondrial turnover to improve mental health. He also explains how low-carbohydrate diets positively impact the gut microbiome and weight loss, important risk factors for mitochondrial health such as marijuana and alcohol, and the best way to increase circulating ketones depending on individual needs. We also cover how a ketogenic diet impacts mood, sleep, and fertility. Dr. Palmer’s work stands as a revolutionary approach to mental health and disease that, given the prevalence of mental health challenges, should be of interest to people of all backgrounds and ages. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Chris Palmer, Mental Health & Metabolic Disorders (00:03:25) Thesis, Eight Sleep, ROKA (00:07:18) Nutrition & Mental Health (00:20:43) Low-Carb Diets & Anti-Depression, Fasting, Ketosis (00:27:52) Schizophrenia, Depression & Ketogenic Diet (00:34:32) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:35:38) Psychiatric Mediations, Diet Adherence (00:42:35) Highly Processed Foods, Ketones & Mental Health Benefits (00:46:51) Ketogenic Diet & Epilepsy Treatment (00:56:10) Ketogenic Diet & Mitochondria Health (00:57:05) Nutrition & Benefits for Neurologic/Psychiatric Disorders (01:05:44) Mitochondrial Function & Mental Health (01:15:12) InsideTracker (01:16:23) Mitophagy, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Aging & Diet (01:25:09) Neurons, Mitochondria & Blood Glucose (01:31:54) Obesity, Ketogenic Diet & Mitochondria (01:40:00) Mitochondrial Function: Inheritance, Risk Factors, Marijuana (01:46:34) Alcohol & Ketogenic Diet (01:55:21) Brain Imaging, Alzheimer’s Disease & Ketones (02:01:05) Exogenous (Liquid) Ketones vs. Ketogenic Diet (02:06:27) Neuronal Damage, Ketones & Glucose (02:10:16) Alzheimer’s Disease, Age-Related Cognitive Decline & Ketogenic Diet (02:23:45) Ketogenic Diet & Weight Loss (02:35:47) Ketogenic Diet & Fasting, Hypomania, Sleep (02:46:37) Low Carbohydrate Diets, Menstrual Cycles, Fertility (02:52:23) Obesity Epidemic, Semaglutide & GLP-1 Medications (03:01:01) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Science-Based Tools for Increasing Happiness | Episode 98
I explain the science of happiness, including the different types of happiness and how our actions, circumstances and mindset control them. While it is difficult to standardize happiness from one person to the next, I outline a structured framework of what is critical to increasing your innate “natural happiness,” including financial security, purposeful work and relationships, and I explain specific tools to increase internal happiness (so-called “synthetic happiness”). I review how specific types of human connection and attention to our choices (or lack thereof) can increase or undermine our level of happiness. I also discuss the importance of certain types of physical contact, gratitude, financial choices and volunteer contributions that research shows can maximize happiness. And I discuss how factors such as children, pets, physical well-being, substance use, prior traumas and life-phase milestones affect our quest for and depth of happiness. Thank you to our sponsors Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Happiness (00:06:27) Tool: Light Exposure Timing & Brightness Timing (00:14:14) Thesis, InsideTracker, Helix Sleep (00:17:51) Imprecise Language for Happiness (00:20:26) Happiness: Neuromodulators & Neurotransmitters (00:26:32) Harvard Happiness Project (00:29:22) Income & Happiness; Social Interactions & Peer Group (00:37:20) Work, Sense of Meaning & Happiness (00:40:13) Toolkit for General Wellbeing (00:43:06) Happiness Across the Lifespan, Does Having Children Make Us Happier? (00:47:33) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:50:20) Birthdays & Evaluated Happiness (00:52:45) Smoking, Alcohol & Happiness (00:54:23) Trauma & Happiness, Lottery Winner vs. Paraplegic Accident (01:05:05) Synthesizing Happiness (01:09:18) Natural Happiness & Synthetic Happiness; Music (01:13:45) Tool: Synthesizing Happiness: Effort, Environment & Gratitude (01:24:50) Tool: Pro-Social Spending/Effort, Happiness (01:31:55) Tool: Focus, Wandering Mind & Meditation (01:39:40) Tool: Quality Social Connection (01:41:28) Brief Social Connection, Facial Recognition & Predictability (01:46:33) Deep Social Connection, Presence & Eye Contact (01:54:00) Physical Contact & Social Connection, Allogrooming, Pets (02:03:00) Freedom & Choice; Synthetic Happiness (02:11:57) Happiness Toolkit (02:22:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
LIVE EVENT Q&A: Dr. Andrew Huberman Question & Answer in Los Angeles, CA
Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a live event in Los Angeles, CA. This event was part of a lecture series called The Brain Body Contract. My favorite part of the evening was the question & answer period, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from the attendees of each event. Included here is the Q&A from our event in Los Angeles, CA. Thank you to our sponsors Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:52) Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Momentous (00:02:23) What Occurs in the Mind/Body When You Have ADHD? Are There Ways to Address It Without Medication? (00:11:55) As a Teenager, What Are 5 Things You Would Recommend to Physically Feel My Best? (00:14:42) Should We Wait to Feel the Rise of Adrenaline and the Fall of It Before Bailing From Cold Water? (00:24:03) What Is the Competing Mechanism Behind Bilateral Eye Movement (EMDR & Walking) That Helps Resolve Psychological Trauma? (00:28:07) What New Research or Interventions Are You Most Excited About in the Health & Wellness Realm? (00:37:30) What Lessons From Skateboarding Have You Learned That Can Be Applied to Neuroscience? (00:39:03) Favorite Feynman Story (00:42:10) Do You Suppose This Physiological Stress Regulator Transcends Species? (00:47:20) Is There Any Science Behind Staying Motivated or Developing Discipline? (00:50:48) What Would Be Your Biggest Piece of Advice for Achieving One's Dreams? (00:57:09) What's Your Opinion on Psilocybin? (01:01:07) Why Does My Desire to Eat Disappear After I Use the Sauna? (01:02:26) Conclusion Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
Dr. Layne Norton: The Science of Eating for Health, Fat Loss & Lean Muscle | Episode 97
My guest is Layne Norton, Ph.D. — one of the world’s foremost experts in nutrition, protein metabolism, muscle gain and fat loss. We discuss the science of energy utilization and balance, the efficacy of different diets (e.g., ketogenic, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, omnivore), and how best to build lean muscle mass and lose fat. We also discuss optimal protein and fiber intake, the best sources of protein, the correlation between appetite, satiety signals and exercise, along with male and female-specific needs. Dr. Norton also explains how to support a healthy gut microbiome and offers insight into sugar and artificial sweeteners, processed, cooked, and raw foods, supplements, seed oils, and the relationship of LDL/HDL levels to cardiovascular health. This episode serves as a master class in nutrition, metabolism and exercise and is sure to benefit people of all ages and with different health and fitness goals. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://www.drinklmnt.com/huberman ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Huberman Lab Premium https://hubermanlab.com/premium For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Layne Norton, Nutrition & Fitness (00:02:53) LMNT, ROKA, InsideTracker, Momentous (00:06:50) Calories & Cellular Energy Production (00:12:35) Energy Balance, Food Labels, Fiber (00:15:19) Resting Metabolic Rate, Thermic Effect of Food (00:19:04) Exercise & Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) (00:25:49) Losing Weight, Tracking Calories, Daily Weighing (00:29:24) Post-Exercise Metabolic Rate, Appetite (00:35:04) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:36:19) Exercise & Appetite, Calorie Trackers, Placebo Effects & Beliefs (00:43:46) Exercise & Satiety Signals, Maintain Weight Loss & Identity (00:56:32) Weight Loss & Maintenance, Diet Adherence (01:03:33) Restrictive Diets & Transition Periods (01:08:03) Gut Health & Appetite (01:16:23) Tool: Supporting Gut Health, Fiber & Longevity (01:23:59) LDL, HDL & Cardiovascular Disease (01:30:31) Leucine, mTOR & Protein Synthesis (01:37:31) Tool: Daily Protein Intake & Muscle Mass (01:44:24) Protein & Fasting, Lean Body Mass (01:55:38) Plant-Based Proteins: Whey, Soy, Leucine, Corn, Pea (02:04:28) Processed Foods (02:11:54) Obesity Epidemic, Calorie Intake & Energy Output (02:17:33) Obesity, Sugar & Fiber, Restriction & Craving (02:25:57) Artificial Sweeteners & Blood Sugar (02:38:55) Artificial Sweeteners & Gut Microbiome, Sucralose, Blood Sugar (02:50:19) Rapid Weight Loss, Satiety & Beliefs (02:58:13) Seed Oils & Obesity, Saturated Fat, Overall Energy Toxicity (03:08:15) Females, Diet, Exercise & Menstrual Cycles (03:14:05) Raw vs. Cooked Foods (03:16:32) Berberine & Glucose Scavenging (03:19:12) Fiber & Gastric Emptying Time (03:21:00) Supplements, Creatine Monohydrate, Rhodiola Rosea (03:30:33) Hard Training; Challenge & Mental Resilience (03:36:12) Carbon App (03:47:11) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer: https://hubermanlab.com/disclaimer Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com
AMA #1: Leveraging Ultradian Cycles, How to Protect Your Brain, Seed Oils Examined and More
Welcome to a sneak peek of the first Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, part of Huberman Lab Premium. The Huberman Lab Premium subscription was launched for two main reasons. First, it was launched in order to raise support for the standard Huberman Lab podcast channel — which will continue to come out every Monday at zero-cost. Second, it was launched as a means to raise funds for important scientific research. A significant portion of proceeds from the Huberman Lab Premium subscription will fund human research (not animal models) selected by Dr. Huberman, with a dollar-for-dollar match from the Tiny Foundation. Want your question answered? Subscribe to Huberman Lab Premium at https://hubermanlab.com/premium Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:09) How do you use ultradian cycles in your daily work? [Jackson Lipfert] (00:22:38) Huberman Lab Premium In the full 2 hour+ AMA episode, we discuss: Neuroplasticity and dementias (Alzheimer's, MS, Parkinson's) — Protocols for protecting the brain? Zone 2 training What do you do when you live in a northern climate and the sun doesn't rise until hours after you are up? Morning routine for people who work from 8 am to 5 pm Best productivity method: to-do list or time-blocking everything on a calendar? Seed oils and metabolic disease Do recommendations and protocols you give change with age (beyond 60)? What advice would you give to your younger self? Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
How Meditation Works & Science-Based Effective Meditations | Episode 96
In this episode, I discuss the biological mechanisms of the state changes that occur during different types of mediation and describe how to develop the mediation practice optimal for you. I explain key meditation principles, such as using specific breathwork patterns and adjusting your perception to specific locations along the continuum between interoception, exteroception and dissociation. I discuss how meditation practices lead to long-term trait changes and neuroplasticity, including changing your default mood, reducing baseline anxiety/depression, increasing your ability to focus, enhancing relaxation, improving sleep, and increasing your overall happiness level. I also explain the concept behind the “third-eye center,” what mindfulness is from a biological standpoint, the power of ultra-brief meditations and how to select the best meditation and time and duration to meditate to meet your need. I also explain a novel open-eyed perception-based meditation that may enhance focus, relaxation and task-switching ability. Whether you are a novice or an experienced meditator or simply interested in how our brain controls different aspects of conscious awareness and self-regulation, this episode should interest you. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman ROKA: https://www.roka.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Huberman Lab Premium https://hubermanlab.com/premium For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com Timestamps (00:00:00) Meditation (00:04:13) InsideTracker, Thesis, ROKA, Momentous Supplements (00:08:25) Brief History of Meditation: Consciousness, Psychedelics, fMRI (00:16:19) How the Brain Interprets the Body & Surrounding Environment; Mindfulness (00:26:07) Neuroscience of Mediation; Perceptual Spotlights (00:32:27) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:33:41) Interoception vs. Exteroception (00:42:20) Default Mode Network, Continuum of Interoception & Exteroception (00:53:30) Tools: Interoceptive or Exteroceptive Bias, Meditation Challenge (01:01:48) State & Trait Changes, Interoceptive & Exteroceptive Meditations, Refocusing (01:07:35) Tool: Brief Meditations, Waking Up App (01:10:30) “Third Eye Center” & Wandering Thoughts (01:20:46) Mediation: Practice Types, Focal Points & Consistency (01:24:10) Breathwork: Cyclic Hyperventilation, Box Breathing & Interoception (01:30:41) Tool: Meditation Breathwork, Cyclic vs. Complex Breathwork (01:39:22) Interoception vs. Dissociation, Trauma (01:47:43) Model of Interoception & Dissociation Continuum (01:53:39) Meditation & Dissociation: Mood, Bias & Corresponding Challenge (02:00:18) Meditation & Sleep: Yoga Nidra, Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) (02:11:33) Choosing a Meditative Practice; Hypnosis (02:14:53) Tool: Space-Time Bridging (STB) (02:25:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer