Podcast Summary: The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode: Built on Biohacking: Joseph Rivera and the MoreLife Movement

Release Date: October 8, 2025
Host: Shawn French
Guest: Joseph Rivera, Founder of MoreLife Biohacking Summit

Overview

In this episode, Shawn French sits down with Joseph Rivera, the founder of the MoreLife Biohacking Summit, for a deep conversation on biohacking, identity, wellness, the impact of social media, and the importance of community in personal growth. The episode explores Rivera’s personal journey, the philosophy behind the MoreLife movement, and offers actionable insights for listeners looking to improve their wellbeing, not just through information, but also through accountability and connection. The discussion is practical, raw, and uplifting, blending humor, vulnerable moments, and tangible strategies for healthier living.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biohacking, Distraction, and Modern Culture

• Rivera and French open with the pervasive influence of social media, especially the compulsive behaviors it triggers. Rivera notes how algorithmic content overload shapes self-perception and mood.
  • "When you go on your Instagram, what do you see? ... all of these things. And at some point, subconsciously, that can affect the way you're looking at, like, man, I'm not doing enough." — Joseph Rivera [00:00]
• Tech is compared to a casino, intentionally engineered to keep users hooked and off-balance.
  • "It's getting so sharp. It's almost like a casino game. How can I keep this person on our platform for as long as possible?" — Joseph Rivera [00:00, 16:58]

2. The Purpose and Structure of the MoreLife Biohacking Summit

• The summit is described as an expo-first event, focusing 90% on hands-on experiences with over 50 high-level exhibitors (some with $100k+ products), plus speakers like Gary Breck, Lara Trump, and Tito Ortiz.
• The summit is positioned as an antidote to health misinformation and confusion—participants get to try products and learn practical strategies.
  • "We’re really focused on the expo. That’s 90% of this agenda." — Joseph Rivera [01:21]
  • "Being at the event with our speakers… it’s personal. Someone like Tito, who's a legend… what does that person do for mindset before the stage? His health, his recovery…" — Joseph Rivera [02:35]

3. Defining and Demystifying Biohacking

• Rivera humbly frames himself as an “explorer,” not an expert, seeking truth through experience rather than dogma.
• The MoreLife team developed a “biohacking dictionary”—a practical handbook to help people navigate confusing industry terminology and ingredients.
  • "I don’t consider myself an expert in this space. I’m more of an explorer… We have something called… our biohacking dictionary." — Joseph Rivera [04:50, 05:32]

4. Personal Health Transformations and Sacrifice

• Both host and guest share the pitfalls of chasing outward success at the expense of inner health, illustrating with personal struggles with binge eating, body image, and discipline lapses.
  • "Most high-level people always get lost in this chase… You have no idea the doors that are going to open, man." — Shawn French [06:23]
  • "Who you’re around and what your focus is… is going to determine pretty much everything else in your life." — Joseph Rivera [09:44]
• The importance of identity, community, and boundaries in sustaining meaningful personal progress.

5. Community and Accountability as Change Catalysts

• Rivera highlights that the summit’s greatest value—and what he looks forward to most—is the cultivation of community: practitioners, attendees, and networking that leads to real, lasting change.
  • "For me, I get value when others get value. Right. And being able to provide this information…it's really making a difference." — Joseph Rivera [11:07]
• The event provides a free “biohacking dictionary” to all, hands-on demos, and removes purchasing pressure—emphasizing exposure over upselling.
• Post-event, a free online community will launch for ongoing accountability, live chats, check-ins, and mutual support.
  • "We have a community we’re building. It’s going to be announced at the summit…weekly check-ins, newsletters, live chat...That accountability is everything." — Joseph Rivera [19:48]

6. Action Beyond Inspiration: Avoiding the Motivation Trap

• Both speakers recognize the drop-off that happens after in-person events, where attendees feel pumped but lack implementation strategies.
  • "You can go to your summit, listen to speakers, get the book, try products. But if they don’t take action, that’s where the disconnect is." — Shawn French [18:37]
  • "There's something called accountability…that's what's going to drive them forward every day." — Joseph Rivera [19:49]

7. Social Media: From Algorithmic Drift to Intentional Living

• Both discuss practical strategies to reduce phone usage—charging devices outside the bedroom, setting app timers, and being wary of the “slot machine” nature of scrolling at night.
  • "Literally taking my phone out of the bedroom. I don’t even charge it in the room anymore." — Joseph Rivera [00:00, 14:07]
  • "The phone usage at night…could impact our mental health big time." — Shawn French [15:27]

8. Personal Development, Spirituality, and Big-Picture Purpose

• The role of faith and divine gifts is explored. Both guest and host credit God with granting their talents, encouraging listeners to honor and activate their own gifts.
  • "The reliance on him to do the impossible, right? For me, this entire journey has been the impossible. It's all him." — Joseph Rivera [27:45]
  • "Once I realized that was my gift, who am I to not use the gift that God gave me? That's the ultimate act of disrespect." — Shawn French [30:16]

9. Persistence, Resilience, and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

• The importance of persistence is emphasized—looking beyond tough moments, embracing the struggle, and seeing growth as the reward.
  • "Persistence, persistence, persistence. And I think that's where most people fail…when it starts to get tough." — Joseph Rivera [33:40]
  • "Think of how [struggle] is gonna serve you instead of how it's defeating you." — Shawn French [34:10]
• Limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome are universal. Supportive circles and mentors help call these out and move beyond them.
  • "A limited belief is only a limited belief until you label it as such…If there’s no one there to check you…how do I know?" — Joseph Rivera [39:48]
  • "The aspect of belonging...that’s the limiting belief. It’s like, am I in the right room? You have to get through it." — Shawn French [37:51]

10. Choosing Your Circle and Protecting Your Mindset

• Who you spend time with (and allow into your ears) is described as critical. Both stress protecting energy and disengaging politely from gossip and negativity.
  • "If someone's around me and they're gossiping about somebody, like, for me, that's a quick checkpoint. I just know where this is going to lie because that's not the time that I'm on." — Joseph Rivera [42:13]
  • "You got to listen to the empowering folks…that want to drive some more damn love into the society." — Shawn French [41:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media’s Impact:

  “When you go on your Instagram, what do you see?... At some point, subconsciously, that can affect the way you're looking at, like, man, I’m not doing enough.”
  — Joseph Rivera [00:00]

• On the Purpose of the Summit:

  “We’re really focused on the expo. That’s 90% of this agenda.”
  — Joseph Rivera [01:21]

• On Crying Out for Accountability and Community:

  “Accountability is everything, right? Most people hold themselves accountable, which is dangerous… we can lie to ourselves easily.”
  — Joseph Rivera [19:49]

• On Transforming Struggle into Growth:

  “I chose to take that moment of extreme emotional and financial pain and just wear it… What gift is there in that? … That’s the gift.”
  — Shawn French [34:10]

• On Using Your Divine Gifts:

  “Once I realized that was my gift, who am I to not use the gift that God gave me? That’s the ultimate act of disrespectful.”
  — Shawn French [30:16]

• On Identifying Limiting Beliefs:

  “A limited belief is only a limited belief until you label it as such… If there’s no one there to check you… how do I know?”
  — Joseph Rivera [39:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00-01:00] — The trap of social media: comparison, mood, and distraction
• [01:21-03:56] — MoreLife Summit goals, speakers, and hands-on expos
• [04:50-06:07] — Rivera’s "biohacking explorer" philosophy and the biohacking dictionary
• [06:23-08:45] — The toll of success-driven lifestyles and personal health journeys
• [11:07-12:58] — Community impact and attendee stories from the summit
• [14:02-15:22] — Practical phone boundaries; giving attendees free resources
• [16:58-18:37] — Algorithms, mental health, intentional inputs
• [19:48-21:45] — Building long-term accountability and ongoing community
• [27:45-30:16] — Spirituality, gifts, and divine purpose
• [33:40-34:10] — The necessity of persistence and embracing struggle
• [37:51-39:48] — Overcoming limiting beliefs in high-pressure rooms
• [42:02-43:14] — Selecting empowering friends and pushing away negativity
• [44:33-End] — Event details, surprise guests, gratitude, and closing notes

Conclusion

This episode is a resource-rich, candid exploration of what it means to “biohack” your life in a holistic sense—focusing less on gadgets and more on mindset, who you surround yourself with, managing distractions, and building structures of support and accountability. Rivera and French’s rapport brings humor and vulnerability, anchored by a shared belief in faith, resilience, and purposeful action. The MoreLife Summit aims to overdeliver on value, offering actionable knowledge and a vibrant community to carry attendees beyond fleeting motivation into real, sustained change.

Listeners walk away with fresh insight into personal growth, the importance of intentional information and relationships, and practical strategies for building a life—and a circle—that supports lasting wellness.