Why Ketones Are the Next Big Thing in Human Optimization | Michael Brandt DSH #1226

Summary

Digital Social Hour Episode Summary

Title: Why Ketones Are the Next Big Thing in Human Optimization | Michael Brandt DSH #1226
Release Date: March 8, 2025
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Michael Brandt, Co-Founder of Ketone IQ

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Introduction to Ketones and Brain Health

The episode features an in-depth conversation between host Sean Kelly and Michael Brandt, co-founder of Ketone IQ. Michael delves into the significance of ketones in human metabolism, particularly focusing on their impact on brain health and overall energy optimization.

Key Points:

• Role of Ketones in the Brain: Michael explains that ketones are a crucial energy source for the brain. In cases of concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), ketones can mitigate energy deficits caused by impaired metabolism.
• Metabolic Rescue: Ketones easily penetrate the brain, providing essential energy even when oxygen delivery is compromised.

Notable Quote:

"Ketones rescue a lot of what would otherwise be an energy deficit. They just get in your brain really easily."
— Michael Brandt [00:56]

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Ketone IQ: Product Innovation and Market Disruption

Michael introduces Ketone IQ’s flagship product—a pure ketone shot designed to boost mental and physical performance without the drawbacks of traditional energy drinks.

Key Points:

• Product Composition: Unlike typical energy shots laden with caffeine and artificial sweeteners, Ketone IQ offers a clean, high-performance energy alternative.
• Unique Selling Proposition: The ability to consume pure ketones in liquid form, providing immediate access to ketones without adhering to a strict ketogenic diet.
• Product Variants: While the main product is caffeine-free, a stacked version with 100 milligrams of caffeine is available for those seeking a mild caffeine boost.

Notable Quotes:

"A lot of it just, you know, caffeine plus sucralose or sugar... we're all about making the best, healthiest energy."
— Michael Brandt [02:26]

"We were the first ever to figure out how to make it in a shot. We ferment it, make it in a shot and it's just super fuel. It's high performance energy."
— Michael Brandt [02:00]

---

Caffeine vs. Ketones: Rethinking Energy Sources

The discussion shifts to the drawbacks of caffeine consumption and the advantages of ketones as a smarter energy source.

Key Points:

• Negative Effects of Caffeine: Michael highlights how excessive caffeine intake can lead to anxiety, disrupted sleep, and energy crashes.
• Shift in Consumer Preference: Increasing numbers of people are seeking alternatives to caffeine, turning to ketones and other natural energy boosters.
• Ketone IQ’s Advantage: By providing energy without the negative side effects of caffeine, Ketone IQ positions itself as a superior choice in the energy market.

Notable Quotes:

"Caffeine is going through a moment right now, kind of a negative moment where people are realizing it's not just this wonder drug."
— Michael Brandt [02:54]

"We have a version where we stack ketones and caffeine. If you want a little bit caffeine, it's not too cracked out."
— Michael Brandt [03:47]

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The Energy Market and Competitive Landscape

Michael discusses the booming energy drink market and Ketone IQ’s strategy to carve out a niche by offering a healthier alternative.

Key Points:

• Market Size: The energy drink market is valued at approximately $85 billion, with major players like Alani New (acquired by Celsius) and Ghost experiencing significant growth.
• Competitive Edge: Ketone IQ differentiates itself through purity, effectiveness, and a focus on long-term energy optimization rather than quick, sugar-laden boosts.
• Future Prospects: With strategic partnerships and endorsements from high-profile athletes, Ketone IQ aims to expand its market presence and accessibility.

Notable Quotes:

"Energy is the most important problem on the face of the planet. If you can help people with better energy, you can help them solve all the other problems in their life."
— Michael Brandt [10:47]

"The energy drink market is huge. It's like 85 billion dollar market. ... We're just stoked we're here bringing something new to the market."
— Michael Brandt [10:35]

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Personal Biohacking and Fasting Experience

Michael shares his personal journey with biohacking and fasting, which inspired the creation of Ketone IQ.

Key Points:

• Seven-Day Fast: Michael recounts his experience fasting for seven days to explore human performance optimization, which highlighted the benefits of ketones.
• Mental Sharpness: Fasting enhanced his focus and mental clarity, reinforcing the potential of ketones in cognitive enhancement.
• Entrepreneurial Insight: This personal experimentation led to the innovative idea of creating a pure ketone supplement accessible without rigorous dietary restrictions.

Notable Quotes:

"Fasting for seven days was honestly, it was one of those things. Like, it was hard, but it didn't get harder."
— Michael Brandt [08:10]

"What if you could get access to this magical molecule without having to fast for seven days or do a keto diet..."
— Michael Brandt [09:26]

---

Entrepreneurial Journey and Strategic Growth

The conversation delves into Michael’s entrepreneurial path, securing significant contracts, and navigating the challenges of bringing Ketone IQ to market.

Key Points:

• Department of Defense Contract: In 2019, Ketone IQ secured a $6 million contract with the Department of Defense to research ketones for high-performance energy among special operators.
• Investor Relationships: Strategic investments from notable figures like Mark Andreessen and endorsements from athletes like Jon Jones have been pivotal.
• Scaling Challenges: Initially expensive, the product aims to become more accessible by reducing costs and expanding distribution channels, including major retailers like Costco and Vitamin Shoppe.

Notable Quotes:

"In 2019, we got a $6 million contract with the Department of Defense to do the biggest ever R and D on ketones as high performance energy for special operators."
— Michael Brandt [14:10]

"If you can find a market for that and then slowly, like sand down the friction on it, then you will probably have something that's going to be really good."
— Michael Brandt [14:30]

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Integration of AI and Technology in Business Operations

Michael discusses the role of AI in optimizing business processes and maintaining competitiveness.

Key Points:

• AI Utilization: Using AI tools like ChatGPT for tasks such as generating Twitter threads, scriptwriting, and managing team productivity.
• Entrepreneurial Efficiency: Implementing AI to overcome challenges like writer’s block and streamline operations, ensuring the company remains agile and innovative.
• Future-Proofing: Emphasizes the necessity of embracing AI to stay relevant, suggesting that proficiency in AI usage will be crucial for job security and business success.

Notable Quotes:

"You're going to have something that's going to be really good and, you know, broader means to 100%."
— Michael Brandt [14:30]

"You're always going to have the need for that human operator to stitch things together, but you got to be, like, active in that spot."
— Michael Brandt [38:06]

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Cardio, Metabolic Health, and Public Health Concerns

The discussion shifts to the importance of cardiovascular health, the prevalence of metabolic disorders, and societal health trends.

Key Points:

• Cardio as a Longevity Drug: Michael underscores the critical role of cardiovascular fitness (VO2 max) in reducing all-cause mortality by 45%, citing a New England Journal of Medicine study.
• Metabolic Health Crisis: Highlights alarming statistics, noting that 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy, primarily due to sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary habits.
• Societal Implications: Reflects on the decline in general health compared to previous decades, attributing it to increased consumption of processed foods and lack of physical activity.

Notable Quotes:

"Cardio is the longevity drug."
— Michael Brandt [17:35]

"88% of people in America are metabolically unhealthy, meaning they're diabetic or pre diabetic."
— Michael Brandt [22:14]

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Future of Brain Health and Ketones in Medical Applications

Michael elaborates on the potential applications of ketones in treating brain injuries and enhancing cognitive functions.

Key Points:

• Concussion Recovery: Ketones can provide vital energy to the brain post-concussion, aiding in recovery and mitigating long-term damage.
• Military and Athletic Applications: Ongoing research with the Department of Defense and partnerships with athletes aim to harness ketones for optimizing performance and resilience.
• Chronic TBIs: Exploring ketone therapy for individuals with chronic traumatic brain injuries, offering hope for improved cognitive health.

Notable Quotes:

"Ketones rescue a lot of what would otherwise be an energy deficit. They just get in your brain really easily."
— Michael Brandt [00:56]

"We're working on... a big contract with the Department of Defense for... ketones and traumatic brain injury."
— Michael Brandt [33:44]

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Closing Remarks and Future Plans

In the concluding segment, Michael shares upcoming initiatives and the vision for Ketone IQ’s expansion.

Key Points:

• Retail Expansion: Recent nationwide launch into Vitamin Shoppe, with plans to enter Costco and other major retailers.
• Strategic Partnerships: Continued collaborations with high-profile athletes like Jon Jones to enhance brand visibility and credibility.
• Ongoing Research: Submission of new contracts with the Department of Defense’s Navy Health Research Center to further investigate ketones’ benefits for brain health.

Notable Quotes:

"We just launched nationwide into Vitamin Shop. We're working on a couple other ones... get you in Costco."
— Michael Brandt [31:22]

"We're submitting a big contract, another one with the Department of Defense for... ketones and traumatic brain injury."
— Michael Brandt [33:44]

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Conclusion

The episode of Digital Social Hour provides a comprehensive exploration of ketones as a transformative tool in human optimization. Michael Brandt articulates the science behind ketones, Ketone IQ’s innovative product offerings, and the broader implications for health and performance. The conversation highlights the intersection of personal biohacking, entrepreneurial strategy, and public health, positioning ketones as a pivotal element in the next wave of health and wellness advancements.

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Follow and Connect:

• Ketone IQ Instagram: @Ketone.MichaelBrandt
• Michael Brandt’s Podcast: Fast Ones
  A show featuring rapid-fire interviews with diverse guests, blending physical activity with insightful conversations.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the "Why Ketones Are the Next Big Thing in Human Optimization" episode of Digital Social Hour, providing a detailed overview for those who haven’t listened to the podcast.

Transcript

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[Michael]

Keto is really interesting for the brain. Like, a big part of why you already make ketones is because your brain uses a ton of ketones. And when you have a concussion, you get hit in the head, you interfere with your brain's ability to do metabolism to basically, like generate oxygen because you have like broken blood vessels and stuff like energy can't get in. But ketones rescue a lot of what would otherwise be an energy deficit. They just get in your brain really easily. And so people have been trying different ketogenic diet or what if I have a bunch of MCT oil that your body can kind of convert MCT oil into ketones. People have tried a lot of stuff, like in and around what we're doing with ketone iq. We do our jobs right? Then every single one of those blue tents on the side of NFL sidelines will be pouring out ketones every time someone gets hit. Like, I think, wow, brain health is, I think, going to be the next frontier for just everyone in the next like five years.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. All right, guys, we got Michael from Ketone here today. Cheers, brother.

[Michael]

Cheers, bro.

[Podcast Host]

Tastes good, man. So what did we just take? Can you explain what's going on here?

[Michael]

We just took a shot of pure ketones, and ketones are something your body already makes. A lot of people know about the ketogenic diet, right? Where if you don't eat any carbs, you force your body to make a lot of ketones. The truth is we all already have ketones flowing around our body and then it's really powerful Metabolic source of fuel that your brain especially loves. We were the first ever to figure out how to make it in a shot. We ferment it, make it in a shot and it's just super fuel. It's high performance energy.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. You're going to disrupt the space because a lot of energy shots and drinks don't use the highest quality ingredients, right?

[Michael]

Yeah, they don't. A lot of it just, you know, caffeine plus sucralose or sugar just like photocopy and then to that point a lot of times it's got a lot of, a lot of other weird stuff that gets you cracked out.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Michael]

We're all about, I'm a marathon runner, I'm run 10 miles a day. I care a lot about high performance. And so I wanted to make the best, healthiest energy.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I don't know what it is with coffee, but sometimes I get anxiety on it.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Weird. Like my heart will start like racing.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I think caffeine is going through a moment right now, kind of a negative moment where people are realizing it's not just this wonder drug. You can't just like have more and more and more and more caffeine that like for a lot of people it actually has some drawbacks. It's, it can be anxiety inducing. It interferes with your sleep. A lot of people are wearing, you know, 50 million Americans have a aura or a whoop or a Apple Watch.

[Podcast Host]

50 million, 50 million.

[Michael]

And they're, and they're measuring their sleep score and they're saying, hey, caffeine messes me up. And so I think caffeine got this like pass basically for the last. Oh, caffeine's been around for all the human history and it's gotten this passive like okay, well it's the go to thing to keep you focused and dialed. But like a lot of people want a better boost, smarter form of energy.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Michael]

They're turning to different kinds of mushrooms. Obviously what we're doing with ketone iq, like different ways to get a better boosts that are maybe more, more better for your long term energy optimization than.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. So no caffeine in the shot, right?

[Michael]

No caffeine in the shot. We have a version where we stack ketones and caffeine. If you want a little bit caffeine, it's not too cracked out. It's just 100 milligrams of caffeine on top of the ketones. But our main, our biggest seller is honestly just the straight ketone.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. It's so easy to Just take a shot and you're good for how long on average?

[Michael]

Yeah, a few hours. If you're doing something active, you're running, you're going to burn it off sooner. A lot of people have it just at their desk and.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, a few hours. I'm big on mental performance, so I'll take this, like, before I film and I, I, I kind of notice it. I don't know if it's placebo or not, but, yeah, I definitely feel like there's something.

[Michael]

It's got this nice, like, dial in feel. People have done intermittent fasting or a keto diet. You get this, like, mental sharpness and.

[Podcast Host]

It just, it's a, I mean, for me, as a podcaster, that's important. You want to be on top of your game. Right. You don't want to be feeling like when you're going into an episode.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And there's a ton of people who see their body that way, like mental athletes, people that see their body as an asset to optimize. That's. That's our people.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, Yeah, I played chess too, and something like this could give you that little 1% edge, you know?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Did you see the Magnus interview?

[Podcast Host]

I love that one. I was nerding out on that one. On Rogan.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Because he doesn't do pods. No, that was his, like, first big podcast.

[Michael]

Yeah. Super interesting.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Because people think of him as he is. He, he said about himself that he's like, has a reputation for being, like, quote unquote lazy. But he's the goat.

[Podcast Host]

I know. It's not.

[Michael]

It's actually really inspiring. I think the biggest takeaway for me from that one was like, that obsession beats discipline. Because he talked about all these other people that were, like, more disciplined than he was, but he was just obsessed. So he didn't need to be told to do his homework or whatever to, like, check his chest. He's just like, think about. He's like, joe is. I'm talking to you right now. I'm playing out chess moves in my head. He's just like, obsessed and obsession. I think he's disciplined for lunch any day.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. That one felt like a throwback Rogan episode to me.

[Michael]

Like, classic. Instant classic. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Instant classic. Shout out to Magnus, man. He is the best player in the world at chess. For people that don't know.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Do you play any chess?

[Michael]

I'm not that good. I. To me, it's one of those things where it's like slippery slope. Like, I start getting into it, you know, like chess.com and then I'm just like not doing my job job. But I played a lot of sport, a lot of games as a kid, tons of Starcraft, Civilization, Counter Strike, all that stuff. And once I started becoming an adult, like to me, my Shopify store is my video game. I love that because I'm just trying to click on stuff and like make the number go up.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And so every time I start getting into chess or any other game, it's.

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[Michael]

Starts peeling my attention away. If I ever, you know, whatever, get FU money and retire and all that, maybe I'll get into chess, but for me right now I just try to get all my calories into like the main video game, which is Shopify Store.

[Podcast Host]

All right, shout out to today's sponsor, Ketone iq. Ketone IQ is a clean energy shot that boosts mental and physical performance. It helps your body access ketones without needing a strict keto diet. There's no sugar, no caffeine, no crashes or jitters, and it supports recovery. It aids in reducing inflammation and accelerating muscle recovery after workouts, which is great for me as a basketball player. Also, it keeps me mentally sharp. I feel energized with no crash when I take this, I take this when I'm filming podcasts. As you guys know, I film a ton of podcasts Back to back. This product's an absolute game changer. And I love that it's all natural shout out to ketone IQ. I actually had to delete the Chess.com app a few days ago because I like you. I'm too addicted, dude. Because the thing is, if you lose, you don't want to end on a loss.

[Michael]

No.

[Podcast Host]

So you got to keep playing till you win. And sometimes you lose like seven straight.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

That's how chess is. It's a brutal sport. It's so funny.

[Michael]

It's like a mind virus in there.

[Podcast Host]

And it takes years to actually get good at it.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

I'm two years in and I'm only like a 1400, which is like still pretty bad.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You know, Magnus is like 2800.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Crazy dude. You mentioned fasting earlier. So you did a seven day fast, which is the longest I've heard in a while.

[Michael]

Yeah, yeah, I did a seven day fast early on when I was starting the company. I was, I've always been really interested in performance optimization. I'm an engineer, studied engineering at Stanford. And when I got out, I was just really curious about the human body as a platform. We got all these devices and sensors that are more accessible than ever before. Like we're able to actually see what's going on in our body. And so I just started trying out a lot of stuff. Like, okay, what happens if you go and run 10 miles a day? What happens if you fast for seven days? What happens if you take this nootropic. That thing? And I just started looking at myself as an N of one biohacker tester trying these different things out. Fasting for seven days was honestly, it was one of those things. Like, it was hard, but it didn't get harder. Like you, you kind of hit this wall at day like two.

[Podcast Host]

Was day two. The hardest.

[Michael]

It was the hardest. And then, and then you just kind of like, like, have you ever been on like a long hike where like you get tired but then like you still gotta keep hiking but like doesn't necessarily get harder. It just like stays at like a 7 outta 10. It's like there's no point where I was like, oh my God, shoot me like this.

[Podcast Host]

You were on autopilot?

[Michael]

Yeah, I got seven. And sometimes, sometimes it was swing actually like you just felt completely fine. Like zero pain.

[Podcast Host]

Damn, zero.

[Michael]

You just feel based. You just feel like. I kept thinking about how like Plato would have his students fast because it made them mentally sharper and they could memorize more. More of the, like Scripts and stuff that they were working on. I felt like this really based like level focus mode when I was fasting. And that was part of what actually inspired the idea of making a pure ketone. Because one of the things that happens when you fast is that your body starts making a lot of ketones.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And so I started saying, okay, well what if you could get access to this magical molecule without having to fast for seven days or do a keto diet or put butter in your coffee and hope that that turns into ketones? And so it was really informative to me, just as an entrepreneur. Like right now it's all obvious in. In hindsight, but early days I was just trying stuff out and it's like, okay, what, what could be interesting here? And then. And then now it's like, well, you.

[Podcast Host]

Solved a major problem because you said no one was able to get it in liquid form before, right?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

No one had done this like this level, like purity at this cost. The ability to just directly you drink this, you're in ketosis in 15 minutes.

[Guest]

Wow.

[Podcast Host]

It's that quick?

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Holy crap. Because if you fast, how long would that take to get to ketosis?

[Michael]

Like two, three days.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Guest]

Wow.

[Podcast Host]

And that's the reason people fast basically, right, Is to get to that point.

[Michael]

Yeah, yeah. To get the ketones flowing and you just feel really locked in and it's cool. Like the energy drink market is huge. It's like 85 billion dollar market. And I don't know if you saw Alani New just got bought by celsius for like $1.8 million.

[Podcast Host]

And Ghost got bought in Vegas.

[Michael]

Yeah, Ghost got bought by Kirk. Dr. Pepper bought them up for another 400.

[Podcast Host]

Right. Or was it more?

[Michael]

I think they bought like a chunk of the company for like 400 or 600 mil, but the implied value of the whole company was billions.

[Podcast Host]

Damn.

[Michael]

So it's a beefy market. Everyone wants energy. It's the most important problem on the face of the planet. Because if you can help people with better energy, you can help them solve all the other problems in their life.

[Podcast Host]

100%. Most people wake up feeling like terrible, right?

[Michael]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Most people don't feel good. We're all trying to optimize our energy because yeah, once you can optimize your energy, it's like, oh, you can be better at your job, you can be a better parent, you can be better at this, that better grades. So energy is the most important thing. It's a massive, like super lucrative market and it's growing and I'm just stoked we're here bringing something new to the market. I'm just. As an entrepreneur, I'm fired up. It's very. There's a lot of ways to make money as an entrepreneur. Like some people make, you know, the Jonas Brothers popcorn flavor. And I don't want to, like, knock anyone. There's a lot of ways to make money in the world. But for me, it was really important to really invent something. Like, I think America needs more actual inventors, like making a new thing that didn't already exist.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Michael]

Not just like a, you know, different flavor of what already did exists. Like, I. So, so to me, I've just been stoked and it gets. It's really hard in the early days because no one, in the early, early days, no one knew what a ketone was. And now, you know, we're working with Jon Jones, we're working with the US Military, we're working with some, like, big names.

[Podcast Host]

Crazy.

[Michael]

And so it's interesting because I spent a few years, honestly, dude, like, this felt like a science fair project.

[Podcast Host]

Damn.

[Michael]

I was just like in the dark. Just me and my co founders, like, grind, grind, grind. And now it's like, cool. Now it's like, yo, I was. I got flown off to France last year. I was at the Tour de France because a lot of the. That one of the best teams in the Tour de France is big into ketone iq. Like, wow, it's gotten really fun. If I had any message to share with entrepreneurs out there, it's like if you're in the dark for like several years, you might actually be on the right track. You just got to really believe in what you're doing. And then at some point you see it kind of flip over and then it's like, oh, wow, you're that person that invented that thing.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Like, the education caught up. I feel like that's with mushrooms. That's going to be the next thing. Once that's legal. If you were there for years before. Same with AI, right? People that were doing AI for years.

[Michael]

Dude, people bought Nvidia like five years ago. Look mad smart, right?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, they're geniuses. So this thing didn't take off right away.

[Michael]

Yeah, a few things do, right? You always hear that, like seven year overnight success. Like some things do for sure. Like some things you just hit lightning in a pan and boom, go. But yeah, we've been working on this and just the early days and in 2019, the way I really knew that we were onto something within 2019. We got a $6 million contract with the Department of Defense to do the biggest ever R and D on ketones as high performance energy for special operators. And we had to go and actually, like, spend that money on R and D. It wasn't like I went and bought a fricking Porsche. We got the money and it was like, all right, now you got to do $6 million worth of research. So we did all this stuff with like, hypoxia, which is like, you know, like the, in Batman Bane, like that mask, like you. You see people exercising with one of those. We did a ton of research on that. And like low oxygen, measuring different biomarkers, seeing how people perform at stress. And then, okay, what if you give them ketones versus what if you give them a placebo? And so we were able to really see some amazing results. And that was, that was what kicked this all off. And there was still a lot of grind for several years and really, like, brought the technology out in 2022.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

So for, for a little while, it was really this, like, research kind of hypothesis and early signals. Like, it's always really good. As a entrepreneur, if like an extreme. If like special forces are buying and at the time it cost $30. You got special forces buying your stuff for $30. Like you might be on to something.

[Podcast Host]

Damn. One shot was 30.

[Michael]

One shot was 30 bucks. You, you got to figure it out. It's probably not going to go mainstream if it's $30 shot, but like, if you can get it going, it's always get it going. Like the first, the first computer was like the size of. You seen those photos?

[Podcast Host]

It's the size of a room.

[Michael]

Yeah, it's the size of a room. It's the size of a U haul. And then like now you got that much in your, your pocket. So early innovations often start, like, too big, too expensive, too hard to use, all that stuff. But if you can find a, a, a market for that and then slowly, like sand down the friction on it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Then you will probably have something that's going to be really good and, you know, broader means to 100%.

[Podcast Host]

I love that. How'd you get that contract? Was it luck or was it. Did you really pursue that?

[Michael]

I mean, you know how it is, like luck, hard work, it's like everything, right. I think the harder you work in life, the more lotto tickets you get.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And you can't determine your success on any one lotto ticket, but, like, if you work hard and get more lotto tickets, you're like bound to. It's bound to click. So, yeah, we had Andreessen Horowitz, you know, like Mark Andreessen. Yes. He's one of the smartest guys in Silicon Valley. He's one of our early investors. He had some connectivity into Department of Defense. We had just a few different, like, lines in through our networks and through some investors.

[Podcast Host]

And yeah, you got some interesting investors I saw on the site. Jake Paul. Right. Joe Montana.

[Michael]

Joe Montana's investor. Got some really cool people on the table.

[Podcast Host]

That's smart that you just didn't take money. You took like strategic money.

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

There's a lot of just, you know, it sounds crazy to say because it's, you know, a lot of people are, you know, tight for cash, but like, there's a lot of money in the world. There's a lot of capital out there. There's a lot of rich people who want to put their money into something that's going to multiply. And what's actually rare in the world is good businesses, good assets that you can put, you know, a million dollars into and see it return is 2 million or put 100 million and see it come out as too super rare.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

So I, I would say for any entrepreneurs out there, like, if you actually have a good idea, there's actually a lot of capital out there. If you have something like real meaningful, legit. And then when it, if you're really good as an entrepreneur, like, you should be choosy about who you bring in because like, yeah, like, so any old person can write a big check, but you want like some, you know, people who that are actually into your brand, who aren't just looking at you as like an asset that's going to double their money, but someone who can, you know, be actually helping to popularize it. It's like cool stamp of approval. Intros to other cool people, intros to retailers.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Michael]

You want someone who can actually help carry the water with you.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. Yeah. I heard the VC space is struggling right now, actually.

[Michael]

Yeah, I mean, it's a, it's a tough market. It's tough to find good companies. A lot of people got burned because there was that big bubble in like the middle of COVID Right. Everyone was like, the tech bubble, right?

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

Like crypto and all these like crypto enablement platforms.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Web3 flopped.

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

So a lot of people, like, they raised a whole ass fund invested into a bunch of web3 stuff at like peak, it all cratered and now a lot of those people are like wrecked.

[Podcast Host]

OpenSea got like a 5 billion valuation or something. Crazy.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And I don't think they're back anywhere near that.

[Podcast Host]

Nah. NFTs kind of tanked, you know. Yeah. And crypto is down bad right now. Crypto is so volatile though.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Crypto has been a head scratcher for me because it's like I own some. I think most people, you know, at.

[Podcast Host]

This point do it. Yeah.

[Michael]

And it's been weird to me cuz I thought it was supposed to be more like of a hedge against the economy, but it really seems like it goes up and down the economy. So it's like, what's the point?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

But you know, it's also hold, but.

[Podcast Host]

It'S like if you're looking at it daily, it's not a fun thing to hold.

[Guest]

No.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Um. How important is cardio?

[Michael]

Dude, Cardio is so important. Cardio is the longevity drug. And I think anyone who's not doing cardio is honestly just coping. Like, cardio is so freaking important. There's this study published in the New England Journal of Medicine where they showed that they measured VO2 max, which is the measure of basically how good your cardio is. It's like how much oxygen you can take at your maximum, which is a mark for how healthy is your heart, how healthy is your lungs, how healthy are your blood vessels? Basically they said in the top third of cardio fitness people versus the bottom third, you're 45% less likely to die from all cause mortality if you're in the top third of VO2 max.

[Podcast Host]

Damn.

[Michael]

And so literally, cardio is the longevity drug. It's really funny, Sean, because you see a lot of different, you know, influencer types out there that are doing like, oh, I'm measuring my nighttime boners biomarker. And it's like you're just inventing something. Like VO2 max is what scientists have been looking at for 50 plus years, is the marker for cardiovascular health. And that's the thing to actually optimize for. If you can optimize that, that is the longevity drug. All these other things, it's like, dude, okay, you can measure your, your online, your overnight boners, and then like take some calis to optimize your nighttime boners. It's like you're optimizing the, the wrong thing. Like that having a better nighttime boner isn't what makes you live longer. It's like it correlates. Because, yeah, if you have better blood flow and better functioning overall body system, you're gonna have better Nighttime bonus. But it's like you can't optimize for. It's like, if you see, like, a bunch of fast cars and they're all red, and then you go paint your car red, it's like, that's not what actually makes your car.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Guest]

Red.

[Michael]

And so I think. I think there's been this interesting, I think pendulum swing away from cardio, and I just. It's the obvious longevity drug. I think literally the reason more people don't do more cardio is just hard.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. People are lazy.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

People want to pill. People want to just maybe lift and then go in the sauna.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. But, yeah, cardio is huge, man. I took a VO2 max test, and my results were terrible.

[Michael]

Oh, yeah?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. My chronological age was higher than my biological age, so I was like, damn, you're gonna.

[Michael]

Do you run at all?

[Podcast Host]

I started running more, playing basketball more, and sauna more. But, yeah, I've heard from reputable people that VO2 max test is one of the most important metrics for health.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

It's how much oxygen can your body take in at its maximum level of exertion. And so it just means, you know, how healthy is your whole system, your heart, your lungs, your blood vessels, all that stuff. And that correlates with overall just whole body health.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Now you're out here running marathons, though.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You're taking it extreme.

[Michael]

Yeah, I run 10 miles a day. I try to run fast for a marathon, too. I'm not just trying to, like, finish it.

[Podcast Host]

240 is really fast.

[Michael]

Yeah, yeah, it's like 6,0 something per mile. Still 8.

[Podcast Host]

That's crazy.

[Michael]

I'm trying to get under 6, so I'm trying to really get, like, even faster. And, yeah, it's fun. I don't think you gotta do my level of cardio to be, like, normal, fit person, but I just really love it. It's like a fun game for me. I'm addicted to it. It's like, really fun. But I do think in general, a lot of people overlook cardio. A lot of people, like, when we think about fitness, it's like, okay, you want to be really, like, jacked. But honestly, I think. I mean a couple things on that. I think. I think, like, longevity is not the same as being jacked. And I also think a lot of. A lot of guys get, like, super jacked a lot of times. It's like, it ends up being for the. The dudes you talk to. Most women, like, they. They care about fitness up to a point. But once you're like, Chris Bumstead level, like, super swole, like, women don't like that. That's for the dudes. Like, I. I know a lot of, you know a lot of these guys. I. I'll ask, like, what's the craziest DM you've gotten from a chick? They're like, Bro, it's 90 dudes. It's. It's always dudes. And no, it's all. It's all love. Like, if you're into that, like, by all means, get into that. But I would say, like, for just general fitness and just being like, who's the. Like, the hottest guy in America right now is like, Timothy Chalamet.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Like, love them.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Women, ladies love them. So, like, I would say, like, don't put so much pressure on yourself to have to be like, like, super jacked. And that's what it takes to be attractive. Like, get some cardio in there too. Like, it's gonna help you live longer. You'll feel amazing. And yeah, I think there's. I think there's. Let's make running cool again.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. Is it true 88 of Americans are unhealthy?

[Guest]

Yes. Yeah.

[Michael]

Americans are massively, metabolically unhealthy. Combination of stagnant, we don't move around enough, and we just eat a lot of the wrong stuff. We eat hyper processed stuff. The more really processed food, especially processed carbohydrates that you eat, you're just spiking your blood glucose all day long if you're not moving. If you combine that factor with not moving, then what your body does when you have a lot of sugar in your system is you really release a lot of insulin, and then you need insulin to process the sugar. The insulin stops working if you keep spiking it.

[Guest]

Again, again, again.

[Michael]

You keep eating sugar. You go get a Slurpee, don't exercise, go get a Kit Kat bar, don't ex. You keep doing that, your insulin just stops working. And then you just be. You get fat.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And you have low energy, and you're just considered metabolically unhealth. You're considered metabolically unhealthy at that point. And so, yeah, there's epidemic. 88% of people in America are metabolically unhealthy, meaning they're. They're diabetic or pre diabetic. When it's just to connect the concepts. They're like, once your insulin stops working, that's just diabetes.

[Podcast Host]

Like, that's insane.

[Michael]

That's what diabetes is.

[Podcast Host]

Wow. That's so crazy, man. 88%, like, that's so high.

[Michael]

It's, it's crazy. You ever see those videos from, like, the 40s, 50s, where, like, everyone was super jacked?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

On the beach.

[Guest]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael]

Like, you watch. I saw some video of, like, when, when we went to space, and, like, it was a video of the people watching.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

The spaceship. And it's just like, normal people having a picnic out in Fort Lauderdale or whatever, watching the spaceship. And, like, everyone just looks healthy and, like, why, like, what, did we lost something? Yeah, like, we lost some, like, I guess, sense of, I guess, pride or just the way that our society is or something where we're not in shape. I think that's why a lot of people like rfk, whether they love his policies or pro vax, anti vax, whatever. It's like, I think you look at RFK and you're like, okay, that guy is, like, fit. He actually just cares about his body in a way that a lot of Americans used to like. I, I, I'm more inclined to listen to that person than, like, a totally out of shape, 100, like, doctor lady. I don't know. Could you go to a doctor that was obese? No.

[Podcast Host]

I remember having gym teachers in school that were fat. Like, what is that?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Why are you teaching gym?

[Michael]

Yeah, I, like, do as I say, not as I do. Like what?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, like, gym teachers. There should be a weight requirement for gym teachers.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You know?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

We got to make that a bang rfk. Yeah.

[Michael]

I'm sure he's. I mean, that's the thing. He's a little crazy. I don't agree with him on 100 stuff, but I think directionally he's trying to say, yo, let's like, just be healthier, move around more, eat better.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Let's not just, like, throw pharmaceuticals down everyone's throat.

[Podcast Host]

For real. Are you on the methylene blue wave?

[Michael]

I'm not on it. Personally, I think methylene blue is probably reasonable. I think it's like.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Have you tried it?

[Podcast Host]

I tried it once because I was flying. He said it would help because I get sick when I fly sometimes.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So I took it and I, I didn't get sick, so.

[Guest]

Cool. Cool.

[Podcast Host]

Only one experience. I don't know if that's a judge all be all, but, you know, he's drinking it every day.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Biohacking is like, you could take it extremely. For sure. Like, you could take 100 supplements a day, and I think that's pretty crazy.

[Guest]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael]

You can definitely. There's a diminishing returns for most people. But most people don't want to take more than like five.

[Guest]

Five?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, five, 10 max.

[Michael]

Take some omega 3s, take some some magnesium for C, vitamin D3. Yeah, yeah. Take a few things and you're good. I think most people don't want to be tracking like a bunch of stuff. It just gets complicated at a certain point. Like all the metrics and markers and blood tests, it's just data porn.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Like you're just getting info, but like, for the sake of info, what are you actually doing? It's been cool to see the evolving user experience around the wearables where people are really honing in on a few things. Like sleep score is important.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I have eight sleep.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Yeah. And that tells you your.

[Podcast Host]

Your sleep score and your hrv.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Dude, Mateo, there is a gene. He's actually an investor in my top.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, small world.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Mateo is super. Their CEO founder guy. Wow. He's super sharp. They sent over a bunch of mattresses to Doge.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, really?

[Michael]

Apparently all the like. You know how like the whole meme with the Doge, they don't sleep, right? Yeah. Three year olds like not sleeping.

[Podcast Host]

I heard there's a teenager now that's reviewing the financial information.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Y funny.

[Podcast Host]

It's Elon's good at finding these young geniuses.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

He finds like young and people who.

[Podcast Host]

Are being agiist towards these guys. I saw.

[Guest]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael]

A lot of people are like, oh man, they're like young whiz kids. What do they know? It's like.

[Podcast Host]

Well, that's not a good reason in my opinion.

[Michael]

I don't think. I. I think, yeah, I think it's aegis or ad hominem just to attack someone like strictly on age.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Because you and I are young founders.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And a lot of what these. A lot of what they're doing is like database work. It's like you have a bunch of crazy, unstructured, messy data that like no one's ever. When was last time you had like best in class computer science people like crunching through the. The numbers.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. It's a younger job for sure.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And it's like. I don't know. I think people are. Want to like conflate a lot. It's like. I think there are serious policy questions. I'm not saying I agree with everything going on. I think there's a lot of stuff that like, like, I think just personal policy. I think, I think like foreign aid is a good idea. I think that like if you invest more in like books versus bombs to like spread American influence in the world, that's probably a good thing. So I don't necessarily agree that like I think we overcut on some of the aid just per. On my personal belief on things. But in general like it's a good idea to have like smart, smart number muncher type people running the actual database work so that we even know what's going on. So that the people in charge of policy have an informed way of looking at what's going on. And then just the transparency, like the ability to just see like I think we all viscerally know when you go to the post office or the DMV that shit sucks.

[Podcast Host]

Yes. Ass.

[Michael]

And you know that like that probably extends to other parts of the government. So like, like sunlight is the best disinfectant. I, I'm a believer in like I do think that like government has a role and like good government is good.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I'm not a guy that says like okay, compress it all down, burn it all down. Like really tiny government is the way.

[Guest]

I.

[Michael]

That's not what I believe. But I do think you need an effective government. There needs to be accountability. You need. I'm supportive of trimming all the fat, all the weird waste. Like I don't think we need to be putting on like yeah. Random.

[Podcast Host]

I don't know.

[Michael]

It's just some crazy stuff that, that the doge has surfaced that we were putting our money towards.

[Podcast Host]

The transparency has been awesome because we've never seen where the money goes.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Ever.

[Michael]

I think, I think it's so American like that we just want to know what's our tax dollars.

[Podcast Host]

It's awesome.

[Michael]

Tea Party, right? It's like where's our taxes going?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I mean we're spending, you know, a lot of money on taxes. 40%. Your state's 50% right.

[Michael]

California's nuts.

[Podcast Host]

52%. So you're spending more than you make on taxes.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

People got to be I think stomping their feet on like what's it going to again? I think taxes that make society better are good. I think you know something like public schools that whether you have a kid or not a kid, like a better public school system, probably better for society is my, my personal belief. I do think like taxes are helpful to a degree to help society and then we all win. Like better schools. Okay. Better, smarter workforce, better gdp. China doesn't peel out ahead like good, good thing to do there. But like let's make sure it's actually going where we think it's even going.

[Podcast Host]

Facts.

[Michael]

Like even if you are a like pro, you know, common good pro government should do stuff person, you should still want accountability.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, yeah. I'm not opposed to taxes. If it was being used correctly.

[Guest]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Which it hasn't been.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

That's why people hate taxes, you know. But I wouldn't mind if it was going towards great things.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

I want good schools.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I think we want American exceptionalism. We want American industry to thrive. We want to be leaders in the world and yeah, we need it. I think it was on a scary course where like if things are plateauing and then like we're just racking up debt and it's not clear where that stuff's going.

[Podcast Host]

I'd love to see how Cali spends their money.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

The homelessness budget didn't do much.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Dude, I don't know. I look at it honestly as like a California. It's just like it's I think the nicest place to live. Coastal California.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, it's by far the nicest weather wise. Yeah.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Perfect weather year round. Super nice. It's like just good, good place and the networking's great.

[Podcast Host]

It's good for business.

[Michael]

Yeah, it's huge. Like I lived in, in Silicon Valley for a while and now I live in la. Like I got no complaints on lifestyle. This is awesome. I look at like my co founder lives in Miami, you know, plus or minus. I don't know. You got some crazy.

[Podcast Host]

I got Miami over la.

[Michael]

Well, it's like, I don't know, I like not having to evacuate for hurricanes or like.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Michael]

Miami's just crazy. You just see some like there's like Florida in general. It's just like. You'll just see an alligator.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

You just got some crazy bugs, some crazy mosquitoes, crazy humidity. You'll just like walk around the block and get sweaty. I'm not trying to yuck my Miami's. It's all good. I just think like California is on its own really like special place. And I think that they kind of, I think they kind of take advantage that because like they know that because it's. A lot of people consider it the best place to live that like they're willing to pay more taxes. But I think a lot of people are upset now because I think we just had these fires.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Half of my daughter, I got a daughter. My have my daughter's school burned down.

[Podcast Host]

Holy crap.

[Michael]

In the wildfires, like a lot of people are displaced. Like I had another friend who he owned his house outright. And then the insurance company like in September just pulled his coverage or like, yo, he's too high risk and. And the state won't let us raise your insurance rate, so we got to be out. He probably would have said yes to like a little bit more expensive insurance, but the state has some rules where the insurance company can't raise. Is supposed to protect consumers, but it has the opposite effect.

[Podcast Host]

So he had no insurance.

[Michael]

He had no insurance and you know, own his house outright. So it's a real problem. Real people got affected. And I think there's going to be a reckoning. I definitely.

[Podcast Host]

There has to be because that's millions of dollars. There's probably like hundreds of families that happen to too.

[Michael]

Yeah, it's. It's bad. So hopefully, hopefully it corrects out in California because it's. It is an awesome place. I know it's got its haters. This is that. But like, yeah, it's a. It's beautiful. And I think. I. I hope.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, I'm there once a month because it's so good for business. The food's amazing.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Like, the food's good. The weather's good, the scene's good.

[Podcast Host]

It's like just living there, though, with the politics for me is tough.

[Michael]

Yeah, it's a. It's definitely a different place.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, it's different. What's next for Ketone? Are you anything fun planned?

[Michael]

Yeah, we got some big launches. We just launched nationwide into Vitamin Shop. That's nice. And we're working on a couple other ones.

[Podcast Host]

Let's get you in Costco.

[Michael]

Yeah, that'd be huge.

[Podcast Host]

I'd be huge.

[Michael]

Yeah, I love Costco.

[Podcast Host]

I'll hit up the big justice guy. You seen that?

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

He's coming on the podcast.

[Michael]

Okay, cool.

[Podcast Host]

I feel like they have some polar Costco these days. Yeah, they blew them up, right?

[Michael]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Working on some big retailers. You know, we've been doing a lot of work with Jon Jones.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. So he takes us before Vites.

[Guest]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael]

Wow. He's. He's cool.

[Podcast Host]

That's the goat right there.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

No, truly. And he's awesome. He's like gotten spent some good time together. He's like, he's total. A gentle giant.

[Podcast Host]

He's one of the most misunderstood athletes of all time.

[Michael]

Once you're around him, he's just like, so based, like actually just very wise and like mission driven and kind and like, I think he's been through some ups and down. No doubt. Like, he's Been through.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I think if you were 19 years old and like goat at anything. Like he was actually the UFC heavyweight champ at age 19, which is crazy. Yeah, it's crazy. And he's held on to that for he's in his 20 years, right? Yeah, like, and I don't think you get good at fighting by being, by having like a normal upbringing too, by the way. I think that you go through some and that's why you got that dog in you.

[Podcast Host]

You need an edge.

[Michael]

You need an edge. And I think, but net of all of that, like, I think at this point he's very self aware of like who he is, what he's been through and what his mission is. Very like God oriented, very there for his kids. Very much just thinking about he's still fighting, like he still has fights left in him. And he's also thinking about like, you know, what's next, what's. Because you look at people like Shaq or Martha Stewart or these people that have had like a kind of second, third act in their life. And so he's I think really smartly thinking ahead. Like he doesn't just want to be one of those like former athlete kind of washed up people. He's already, he's like shooting some movies. We're doing a lot of stuff together. He's really thinking seriously about his business career. So it's really cool to see him morphing his like go energy inside the octagon into like broader everyday. But I also don't think he's done with octagon.

[Podcast Host]

I think he'll have a couple more and I think he'll probably end up making more money outside of the ring.

[Guest]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

I think he'll invest in the right things and you know, I think he.

[Michael]

Plays his cars right. He'll be doing that. And so yeah, we're, we're doing a lot together. Would we have a bunch of research going on? We just submitted a big contract, another one with the Department of Defense for that with the Navy Health Research center for ketones and traumatic brain injury. So.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Michael]

Ketones are really interesting for the brain. Like a big part of why you already make ketones is because your brain uses a ton of ketones. And when you have a concussion, when you get hit in the head, you interfere with your brain's ability to do metabolism to basically like generate oxygen because you have like broken blood vessels and stuff like energy can't get in. But ketones rescue a lot of what would otherwise be an energy deficit. They just get in your Brain really easily. And so people have been trying different than ketogenic diet or what if I have a bunch of MCT oil that your body can kind of convert MCT oil into ketones. People have tried a lot of stuff, like in and around what we're doing with ketone iq. So really, we're really excited to be doing actual ketone IQ after a concussion, after tbi, and seeing some of the results there. Not just like for one time, but also for people who've had chronic TBIs, seeing how ketones can help there. So, yeah, it's a. It's an exciting time, for sure.

[Podcast Host]

That's really exciting. These veterans need something like that, man.

[Michael]

Yeah, I'm big on brain health. I think, like, if we do our jobs right, then every single one of those blue tents on the side of NFL sidelines will be pouring out ketones every time someone gets hit. Like, I think, wow, brain health is, I think, going to be the next frontier for just everyone in the next, like, five years.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. It's exciting now because I think growing up, we thought once you had concussions, it was permanent.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And you couldn't fix it.

[Guest]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

But now there's some new stuff coming, right.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

That different ketones are helpful. People have seen different things with different.

[Podcast Host]

Oxygen.

[Michael]

Oxygen. Yeah. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. People have seen different things with different types of mushrooms that you're able to basically stimulate neural activity and redevelop different pathways that previously people thought were compromised. So it's exciting.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, man. Because some of these fighters, seeing them get older, oh, it's tough.

[Michael]

It's tough. And I think, especially in a world where, like, AI is coming up and all that, like, you gotta. You gotta have an edge. Like, you gotta be able to, like, connect the dots because a lot of the, like, basic level stuff is gonna get taken over by a robot.

[Podcast Host]

100%. It already started.

[Michael]

It's already.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

Like, I already. I use AI for, like, a ton of stuff.

[Podcast Host]

I use it daily.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Constantly.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Whenever I travel, I use it for restaurants.

[Guest]

Yeah, dude.

[Michael]

I have. I have chat GPT on my, like, bottom on my dock. Oh, you could do that like, on my.

[Podcast Host]

You got to show me how to.

[Michael]

Do that, like, on the.

[Podcast Host]

So you could just search on your.

[Michael]

Homepage, like on the. Yeah, on the bottom.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Michael]

I just use it.

[Guest]

That.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, on the. Okay.

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michael]

Like, it's just, like. So it's one of your text notes. Is one of my top four.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

My starting. Starting lineup.

[Podcast Host]

What do you use it mainly for?

[Michael]

Everything. I'll use it for, like, I mean, if I want to read something really quickly, I'll just like load it into ChatGPT and be like, yo, give me the five points.

[Podcast Host]

Damn.

[Michael]

And I'll use it for, you know, making little scripts, little like Twitter threads, this and that, social media scripts. I use it for, like job interviews. Like, yeah, I got, I want to assess this candidate. Here's their LinkedIn. Here's what I need to assess them for. For. Here's. Wow. I'll upload their LinkedIn and the job description and be like, okay, give me some question. It's never going to do the perfect full job, but it gets you like 70% there. The biggest thing for me is it solves that blank page thing. Like, you don't have that writer's block of like, oh, gosh, where I say you get something like decent, then you can immediately. For me, I just immediately am in there. Oh, like number three out of four, not that good. Let me brush it up. But it's like, it gets the ball rolling in a really positive way. I got, I got an AI thing. It looks at my, you know that, that thing in Doge or. Elon Musk sent that email. What are the five things you did this week? Yeah, yeah, I've been doing that at my company for like five years.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, really?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Where every Friday we have our all hands and we open up a notion doc.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And everyone has a little. It has their name there and they gotta like write in, what'd you do this week? And this wasn't controversial at all. We've been doing it forever. Like, we're fully remote culture. We're not all in the office together. So just every Friday we get together, everyone writes in. What are the top, you know, three, four, five things you did this week? I actually made a little AI script that does that. There's this little tool called Lindy where basically it pulls from my emails, pulls from my calendars, and writes my top things. I did this.

[Podcast Host]

No way.

[Michael]

And again, it's not, it's not all the way 100 perfect, but it's like I did today. It was like four out of five.

[Podcast Host]

Wow, good.

[Michael]

And I just like brushed up the other one. And so I'm starting to see all these areas that it's like. Like I want everyone on my team instead of their next hire, then their next hire. I want them to think about, like, what AI you could use instead. Like, how do you, how do you take whatever problem you're trying to solve and like, using AI for it. I don't think that people are going to get replaced by AI, but I think people are going to get replaced by people that can use AI.

[Podcast Host]

I see that. Yeah.

[Michael]

So I think. I think you're. There's job security as long as you're, like, on top of it. It's like, if the Internet comes and there's email and Excel files and all that, like the past generation, like, whatever happened 20, 30 years ago, like, if that happened, you were just stuck on, like, fax machines and handwritten notes. Like, you're gone, you're dead. Like, there's no. There's no job. But if you can adapt to the new tools, I think there is job security. You just got to be plastic with it. You got to be, like, able to. To morph around the tools, be able to use the tools. There's, I think, always going to be the need for that human operator to stitch things together, but you got to be, like, active in that spot.

[Podcast Host]

Agreed.

[Michael]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You got to embrace it. I know a lot of people are opposed, but you should at least learn how to use it.

[Michael]

I don't even get that point. Like, how do you be opposed? It's like being opposed to the rising tide in the ocean. There's some things that are just, like, inevitable. Like, it doesn't matter your opinion about it. Like, the tide is gonna rise. Like, clearly AI is having a moment. Like, it's one of those things. I think I just wonder, like, what. It's not productive to have an opinion. It's like when it's raining out, like, I don't feel mad or sad or happy or anything. It just is.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Like, wear an umbrella, dance in a puddle. Like, enjoy it. Like, you might as well enjoy it. You might as well, like, take advantage of what objective reality actually is.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Like, if you see it right, go buy some Nvidia and go learn some tools.

[Podcast Host]

That's the entrepreneur in you.

[Michael]

Yeah, Just like. Like, it. It's not productive to have a strong opinion about it. It's just like, see that it's happening and do something about it or don't. Or sit it out. But, like, being anti. Like, what? No one care. The universe doesn't care if you don't like AI. Yeah, like, it's going to. Clearly. It's like saying that you don't like freaking Microsoft Excel. Like, okay, you want to go back to graph paper and Excel and paper, like that.

[Podcast Host]

It's inevitable.

[Michael]

There's.

[Podcast Host]

There's gonna be AI girlfriends. Have you seen that? Yeah, that's the robots.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So they're saying 30 to 40 of the market will be dating those in like 20 years.

[Michael]

Yeah, like that movie her.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, that was a good one. Yeah, that was the Megan Fox one, right?

[Michael]

Scarlett Johansson.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, is it? Okay, I might be thinking of something else.

[Michael]

So she never comes on screen. It's always just her voice. And then it's Yokim. I can never say his name.

[Podcast Host]

Joachim. Phoenix.

[Michael]

Phoenix is on he's. And he falls in love with her. It's voiced by Scarlett Johansson. But you never see her face because. Interesting computer. Yeah. That's gonna be crazy. What do you think of that?

[Podcast Host]

Like, that's some black mirror, bro. That scares me.

[Michael]

I mean I, I think it's still. I think what's gonna happen is across the board, the premium thing is always going to be the human to human connection. Like you'd have a robot make your sushi or you could go to like the five star restaurant and have like an actual like inventive human person doing it. Yeah, I think the same thing with girlfriends. The same thing with everything. Like you can get the robot version. That's probably like 80, 20. It's probably like almost as good and like way cheaper. But I think you're always going to have. I think what's going to happen is like, like the human to human stuff is always going to be the premium and the stuff that people really, really want. I think you're going to be able to go and get like a really nice steak, really nice sushi, really nice, whatever you want made by a robot in like a few years, maybe sooner than we even think. But I think that the like ultra high and I think if you're gonna go pay 500 for a meal, yeah, that's going to be human and that's going to be part of the like premium aspect of it. Aspect of it. And I think just across the whole board, I think people are still going to want to watch sports. I actually think you're still going to want to watch like if we're surrounded by robots all day, robots doing all this, you're like, it's gonna be such a breath of fresh air to go to an NBA game and see like human to human doing something. Like, do you actually, you think people would want to watch like robot teams playing basketball?

[Podcast Host]

It's just not yet. Stupid. Not yet. Maybe way in the future.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

And at that point it's just like, I guess you're watching. You're like a fan of the programmer.

[Podcast Host]

Of the robot there Are battlebots out here? Have you seen that?

[Michael]

It's true.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. They battle each other.

[Michael]

It's kind of cool.

[Podcast Host]

That's cool. Yeah. I went.

[Michael]

It was cool because you get to see, like, the kind of inventiveness and. But it's its own separate thing. I don't think that's taking market share from no NBA.

[Podcast Host]

And humans are inventing those, too.

[Michael]

Yeah. It has, like, that human feel to it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Yeah. So I think. I think, like, the human. Human stuff is always going to be there as, like, the premium.

[Podcast Host]

I agree.

[Michael]

Basis stuff. The most expensive stuff is going to be the human touch.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. For food, I prefer human, I think, because I think there's a spiritual component.

[Michael]

To making food interesting.

[Podcast Host]

I think there's like, an energy component.

[Michael]

Whoa.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I don't know if you're spiritual at all, but, like, when someone you love makes the food, it just tastes better, dude.

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You know what I mean?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

There's always something that feels like the vibes aren't totally there when you get takeout.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

It's yummy, but it's like it doesn't.

[Podcast Host]

Taste as good as when you sit in the same restaurant, Right?

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Because they're making it to go.

[Michael]

There's something to that. Apparently there's like, even just right after you cook food, if you eat it immediately, you get more of the nutrients from it.

[Podcast Host]

Really?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

I forget what it's called. This Japanese, like, stone grill thing where you, like, grill it right there and you eat it and apparently it's way better for you. And like, cavemen used to always a slight. Like, you grill it at the fire and you eat it right away. But it wasn't like sitting in some Uber for 45 minutes.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Some Styrofoam box.

[Guest]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael]

Because I believe it. I think. I think having, like, that per. That time to, like, with someone that you love and like, making a meal together.

[Podcast Host]

I agree.

[Michael]

I think that's still going to be. I think. I don't think you're going to be able to replace it. I think it'll be to replace, like, the. Remember Soylent? Like the mule in a bottle.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Michael]

We'll get better. I think, like, the. The cheap robot meal will get better and better, but I think the premium, like, best in class experience is always going to be, like, handmade stuff with people that you have. Kinship.

[Podcast Host]

Agreed. 100. Michael. It's been awesome, man. Where can people find ketone and keep up with you?

[Guest]

Yeah.

[Michael]

So you can check us out. We're on Instagram at Ketone. I'm at Michael Dbrandt. I love hearing from people, whether entrepreneurs, athletes, just curious people. I love hearing from people. So yeah, definitely. Yeah, definitely say.

[Podcast Host]

And check out the pod too.

[Michael]

Oh yeah, I got a podcast. It's called Fast Ones. Yeah, my first guest and I was Jon Jones. I got Stevo was on there. Riley Reed, adult entertainer, was on there. We've had some really fun guests on there. We've got a bunch of episodes coming out too. It's called Fast Ones. It's a show where we ask 10 questions in 10 minutes and we do it on a treadmill. Every minute it goes up by one mile an hour. So we start at one, we're just walking and every minute it goes up by one. So by the end of 10 minutes we're doing a 10 miles an hour, which is a six minute mile. So we're cooking by the end of it. Sean, you gotta come out. I'll come out in la. Come out.

[Podcast Host]

I will. I'll try not to throw up like Steve.

[Michael]

Oh, dude, he was probably the closest to puking out.

[Podcast Host]

I love it, man. We'll check out, check it out. We'll link the pod below. Thanks for watching, guys.

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[Chris Gethard]

Hi, I'm Chris Gethard and I'm very excited to tell you about Beautiful Anonymous, a podcast where I talk to random people on the phone. I tweet out a phone number. Thousands of people try to call, talk to one of them. They stay anonymous. I can't hang up. That's all the rules. I never know what's gonna happen. We get serious ones. I've talked with meth dealers on their way to prison. I've talked to people who survived mass shootings. Crazy funny ones. I talked to a guy with a goose laugh. Somebody who dresses up as a pirate on the weekends. I never know what's going to happen. It's a great show. Subscribe today. Beautiful. Anonymous.