Digital Social Hour: The Modern World Is Making You Unhealthy

Guests: Mick Safron & Olia Chernova (Co-founders, Biohackers World)
Host: Sean Kelly
Episode: DSH #1889 (March 26, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, Sean Kelly delves deep into the world of modern health, wellness, and “biohacking” with Mick Safron and Olia Chernova. The co-founders of Biohackers World share their insights on combating the increasing unhealthiness of modern life, democratizing high-tech self-care, and building supportive communities around personal optimization. The conversation covers everything from wearable tech and intuitive health practices to stress management, innovative wellness solutions, and the future of accessible biohacking events.

Key Topics & Insights

1. What is Biohackers World?

[00:58 – 03:10]

• Olia describes Biohackers World as an inclusive movement making biohacking accessible to all, focusing on wellness, longevity, and optimization through both simple and advanced means.
• Quote (Olia, 01:02): "Biohackers World is a movement and community focused events on biohacking, wellness, longevity. ...it’s for everyone who just wants to improve their life, who is looking for new techniques, new technologies, the way how we can optimize our living and also trying to be a little bit healthier, happier, and living longer."
• Community support and local events are emphasized as key to making these tools and mindsets widely available.

2. How Modern Life Challenges Our Health

[03:10 – 04:23]

• Olia points out our bodies haven’t changed in a century, but environmental factors have: EMFs, toxins, artificial foods.
• The necessity of “trying” to be healthy now, compared to the natural wellness of generations prior.
• Quote (Olia, 03:21): "We have the same body as we had 100 years ago. But what about the environment around...all the EMFs? ...We have toxins. Our food is not coming from your garden."

3. Preventative vs. Reactive Health Approaches

[04:36 – 05:30]

• Mick highlights the pervasiveness of microplastics and the importance of water quality.
• They contrast Western medicine’s focus on treating illness with biohacking’s preventative philosophy.
• Quote (Mick, 04:36): "There is so much microplastic right now, like everywhere...holistic approach and all kind of preventative medicine is so important. ...How can we not get sick?"

4. Technology, Wearables, and the Data-Driven Mindset

[05:30 – 08:33]

• Both guests use tracking devices but advocate for mindful usage, warning against reliance on quantified feedback at the expense of bodily intuition.
• Quote (Olia, 06:42): "...It's very easy to develop this dependency on numbers, you know. ...We rely on data so much right now that we basically cannot sleep without our ring or our watch telling you that you slept well."
• The key is to “test and personalize” rather than mindlessly add gadgets or supplements.

5. The Epidemic of Stress and Burnout

[08:33 – 10:36]

• Productivity pressures in society, especially in the U.S., are pushing people into chronic stress and burnout.
• Meditation, breathwork, and mindful daily practices are promoted as essential countermeasures.
• Quote (Mick, 09:23): "It comes to the very first and basic technique that our body has and our tool is a breathing. So meditation and right way of how do you making all these breaths. It's so important and it can calm down or it can activate you..."
• Both guests practice daily meditation and recommend trying simple 5-7 minute sessions for just a week to feel the results.

6. Upcoming Biohackers World Events & Community

[10:54 – 14:07]

• Announcement of prominent speakers like Dr. Nathan Bryan and Philip from Leela Quantum Tech.
• Introduction of innovative topics: quantum energy solutions, nitric oxide science, and even pet biohacking (“Pet Corner”).
• Emphasis on bringing together diverse experts and enthusiasts for knowledge exchange and support.
• Quote (Mick, 12:57): "Lila Quantum Tech, our sponsor for the Pet Corner...biohacking for pets. That's important part of our life as well. ...longevity for them is important."

7. Simple vs. Extreme Biohacking – Personalization is Key

[14:07 – 15:40]

• Not all biohacking is extreme or expensive; small daily habits (good water, meditation, moving your body) can yield big benefits.
• Quote (Olia, 14:07): "...In majority of it is just about something simple you can add to your routine to improve your life tremendously. So it's not necessarily has to be something complicated."

8. Tools, Technologies & the Democratization of Wellness

[17:10 – 20:33]

• The guests highlight growing interest in wellness-focused public spaces (hotels, coffee shops) and rapidly advancing tech like peptides, PEMF devices, red light therapy, AI-driven DNA analyses, and personalized supplements.
• Innovations are increasingly available, not just for elites—biohacking is becoming mainstream and community-driven.
• Quote (Mick, 18:54): "The technologies right now booming are peptides...liberalization of peptides become more and more visible...Of course all kind of AI integrated with red light therapy or with sauna or like everything."

9. Event Format & Impact

[20:37 – 27:48]

• Four major annual events (LA, New York, Chicago, Miami) and plans for expansion.
• Focus on education, networking, and access: intimate events (~1,000–1,500 attendees), luxurious venues, chance for meaningful speaker interaction.
• Sean personally shares how biohacking and regular testing (e.g., bloodwork) improved his cognitive performance and well-being as a podcaster.
• Quote (Sean, 21:25): "...biohacking and wellness is very important, especially someone like me, where I have to rely on my brain to host a podcast and be sharp and be, you know, present with the guests..."

10. The Importance of Baselines and Self-Awareness

[23:39 – 25:13]

• Olia points out how easy it is to forget what ‘normal’ can feel like; small improvements reveal how suboptimal one’s previous state was.
• Quote (Olia, 23:39): "...once you boost your productivity or ...think more clearly, ...But once you go again a little bit down, that's where you feel like, oh, God, I have to do that again....when you're always this, like, down ...you just kind of, you're brain fogged...how do people know that they're brain fogged? They don't really. They need to test, they need to observe."

Memorable Quotes

• Olia [06:42]: "We rely on data so much right now that we basically cannot sleep without our ring or our watch telling you that you slept well."
• Mick [09:23]: "Meditation and right way of how do you making all these breaths...can calm down or it can activate you...Just try it like constantly for seven days and you will feel the results."
• Olia [14:07]: "In majority of it is just about something simple you can add to your routine to improve your life tremendously. So it's not necessarily has to be something complicated."
• Sean [21:25]: "...biohacking and wellness is very important, especially someone like me, where I have to rely on my brain to host a podcast and be sharp..."
• Mick [12:57]: "Biohacking for pets. So that's important...because they are emotional support in many cases. That's why we have in Pet Corner sponsored by Alila Quantum Tech in all our events..."

Notable Timestamps

• 00:58 – 03:10 – Explaining the mission and inclusivity of Biohackers World
• 04:36 – 05:30 – Discussion of environmental toxins, water quality, and prevention versus treatment
• 05:30 – 08:33 – Wearable tech, the danger of data obsession, and trusting one’s intuition
• 09:23 – 10:36 – Meditation and breathwork tools for burn out
• 11:04 – 14:07 – Speaker announcements, pet biohacking, and event special features
• 17:10 – 20:33 – Excitement over new wellness technologies (peptides, PEMF, AI, personalized supplements)
• 23:39 – 25:13 – The importance of noticing and recalibrating personal baselines

Final Thoughts & Community Call

• Mick and Olia emphasize the value of community and critical thinking about wellness innovations.
• The events are shaped to enable people of all backgrounds and biohacking experience levels to connect, learn, and sample emergent health technologies in a supportive atmosphere.

Quote (Mick, 25:38): "We are building this community and the biohackers world is definitely about the community...give people the platform where they can critically thinking about different technologies, talk to people, talk to others who tried these technologies before or those who are just on their first steps into biohacking. It's open for everyone..."

In Summary

This episode provides a rich, motivating look at how the modern world is both challenging our health and offering new, accessible opportunities to reclaim it. From practical daily habits to cutting-edge advancements, the take-home wisdom is to personalize, remain mindful, seek out community, and never underestimate the power of simple, consistent self-care practices.