Digital Social Hour — Episode Summary

Podcast: Digital Social Hour
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Baran Dilaver, Co-founder of Wonderfeel
Episode: Baran Dilaver: Why Your Biological Age Test Might Be Lying To You (DSH #1774)
Date: January 21, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the science—and the hype—around anti-aging supplements, with a focus on NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and biological age testing. Host Sean Kelly sits down with Baran Dilaver, founder of Wonderfeel, to discuss the limits of current longevity technology, common misconceptions about biological age, how supplements like NAD and NMN work, and why a healthy lifestyle remains at the core of living well, regardless of what the latest test or trend might market.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Myth of the “Magic Pill” and Importance of Lifestyle

• [00:00–00:12] Both host and guest emphasize there is no shortcut to health.
  • Quote: “People think there's a magic pill. The magic pill is exercise.” — Baran Dilaver [00:01]
  • Dilaver stresses that mindset, nutrition, and exercise are fundamentals that no supplement can replace.

2. Mindset, Community, and Self-Discovery at Burning Man

• [02:21–06:52] Dilaver shares his 19-year experience with Burning Man, recounting its role in fostering innovation, community, and even pivotal tech connections (e.g., Google’s hiring of Eric Schmidt).
  • Quote: “Burning Man, for a lot of people, is self-discovery and community.” — Baran Dilaver [06:50]
  • Also discusses the demanding process of building art installations and personal growth achieved through effort and adversity.

3. Understanding Biological Age: Tests, Challenges, and Confusion

• [01:28–02:21] Biological age tests yield different results—sometimes drastically so.
  • Quote: “Some of them are significantly different. ...When you're 60 and one result says 35, one says 50, that's a big difference.” — Baran Dilaver [02:12]
  • The best tests provide direction for major issues but can’t fully capture the complexity of aging.

4. The Science and Role of NAD in Aging and Longevity

• [08:11–11:10] Dilaver uses analogy to explain NAD’s function, likening it to a life-giving river for the body.
  • Quote: “NAD is something you produce... in billions every day. It’s so crucial that without NAD, you’d be dead in 10 seconds.” — Baran Dilaver [08:21]
  • NAD levels start declining in our 30s, affecting various functions/organs as if parts of the river-fed valley dry up.

5. How Wonderfeel Came to Be

• [10:09–11:14] Inspiration came from personal aging, meeting scientific experts, and leveraging research originally focused on genetic repair (e.g., BRCA gene).
• The guest admits it’s tough for him to isolate how much NAD supplements were responsible for improvements since lifestyle elements played a huge role too.

6. The NAD Hype: Celebrity Use and Age Recommendations

• [12:14–14:56] Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Kendall Jenner reportedly use NAD, but Dilaver cautions against supplement use too young.
  • Quote: “If I were 22, I wouldn’t take it. ...I’d start taking it maybe 29, 30.” — Baran Dilaver [13:52]
  • He references lack of studies for users under 25–30, recommending lifestyle optimizations first.

7. Scientific Evidence & Anecdotal Surprises

• [15:09–17:17] Recent clinical trials show promise across many fields—women’s health, inflammation, rare diseases—but much is still being learned.
  • Customer feedback includes reports of gray hair returning to color, eyelash and eyebrow regrowth, and improvements in gut microbiome.
  • Quote: “People’s gray hair starts turning back. ...We did not expect that at all.” — Baran Dilaver [16:18]

8. Diet, Nutrition Trends & the Role of Moderation

• [18:06–21:12] Dilaver advocates for moderate, mixed diets (favoring Mediterranean), warns against extremes like carnivore or vegan, and notes the importance of adjusting nutrition to the individual.
  • Discussion includes analysis of large-scale diet data (from Viome) suggesting vegetarian diets as the healthiest, yet Dilaver remains cautious about generalizing.

9. Mindset, Depression, and Physical Health

• [21:43–22:58] Cites scientific and anecdotal evidence connecting mindset to both disease outcomes and aging processes.
  • Quote: “If I cannot control their nutrition and mindset, I cannot heal them.” — Baran Dilaver [21:44]
  • References stories and studies showing that negative mindset or depression can lead to poor health behaviors and even death.

10. NAD, NMN, and How They Work

• [23:14–26:57] Explains the difference between NAD, its precursors NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), NR, and why direct NAD supplementation via pill or IV doesn’t work effectively.
  • Analogy: Adding NAD is like refilling a leaky cup—must both add and prevent loss (certain enzymes eat up NAD).
  • Some ingredients derived from olives, resveratrol, and mushrooms (ergothioneine for cognition and repair).

11. Measuring NAD and Creatine Advocacy

• [27:01–28:34] Measuring NAD directly is difficult and prohibitively expensive (tissue analysis needed), unlike other simple blood markers.
• Creatine is highlighted as a cheap, effective supplement for energy, cognition, and muscle performance, especially beneficial after age 40.
  • Quote: “Creatine is one of the least expensive supplements, most available. … It’s a supplement 101.” — Baran Dilaver [28:26]

12. The Future of Anti-Aging: Incremental vs. Radical Approaches

• [28:34–32:25] Real breakthroughs (living to 150+) will require radical inventions, not just incremental improvements.
  • Dilaver cites projects growing organs from one’s DNA (cloning), providing backup organs/stem cells compatible for transplants as game-changing.
  • Quote: “That’s a radical invention that will definitely add so many more years to that higher ceiling.” — Baran Dilaver [31:38]

13. Product Development, Safety, and Innovations at Wonderfeel

• [33:38–37:28] Discusses new supplement formats (e.g., healthy chocolate), safety standards (testing for heavy metals in chocolate), and future pharmaceutical/nutraceutical crossovers.
  • Plans to make pharmaceutical-grade versions accessible, aiming for products with minimal to no side effects.

14. Final Thoughts on Longevity, Moderation, and Making Changes

• [38:01–38:32] All current Wonderfeel products are reported as safe and well-tolerated, with the guest emphasizing the continued need for moderation—even with healthy substances.

Notable Quotes

• On NAD as the "life force":
  “NAD is something you produce... in billions every day. It’s so crucial that without NAD, you’d be dead in 10 seconds.” — Baran Dilaver [08:21]

• On the biological age test confusion:
  “Some of them are significantly different. ...When you’re 60 and one result says 35, one says 50, that’s a big difference.” — Baran Dilaver [02:12]

• On radical future tech in anti-aging:
  “That’s a radical invention that will definitely add so many more years to that higher ceiling.” — Baran Dilaver [31:38]

• On the power of mindset:
  “If I cannot control their nutrition and mindset, I cannot heal them.” — Baran Dilaver [21:44]

• On moderate, sustainable health:
  “The magic pill is exercise.” — Baran Dilaver [00:01]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–00:12] Debunking the magic pill myth; central role of exercise and lifestyle
• [02:21–06:52] The real impact of Burning Man (innovation, self-discovery, resilience)
• [08:11–11:10] How NAD works, age-related decline, and origins of Wonderfeel
• [12:37–14:56] Celebrity endorsements, age for NAD supplementation, preference for lifestyle 25–30+
• [15:09–17:17] Surprising user feedback; evidence for effects like hair color return and gut health
• [18:06–21:12] Debate over diet effectiveness, importance of moderation
• [21:43–22:58] The crucial effect of mindset and optimism on health/longevity
• [23:14–26:57] How NAD and NMN supplements really work; issues with IV and oral NAD
• [27:01–28:34] Creatine's wider benefits for aging adults
• [28:34–32:25] Radical breakthroughs in longevity: cloning organs, stem cell potential
• [33:38–35:46] Wonderfeel’s future products: healthy chocolate supplements, safety testing
• [37:28–38:32] Business model: pharmaceuticals vs nutraceuticals, ensuring accessibility & safety

Tone and Language

The episode is lively, accessible, and conversational with a balance of scientific explanation and anecdotal story-telling. Baran’s tone is candid, cautious, and evidence-based—often qualifying statements where scientific consensus is incomplete, while Sean Kelly interjects humor and curiosity.

Conclusion

This episode offers an honest, wide-ranging look at the realities and limits of anti-aging science today. Dilaver underscores the primacy of lifestyle, the current gaps in age-testing and supplement research, and the need for moderation—while expressing cautious optimism about radical future interventions like organ cloning. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in health trends, longevity science, and separating truth from hype in the quest for a longer, healthier life.

Find more from Baran Dilaver:

• Website: getwonderfeel.com
• LinkedIn & Instagram: Search “Baran Dilaver”