The Random Show — Ketones for Cognition, Tim’s Best Lab Results in 10+ Years, How Kevin Hit 100 Days Sober, Home Defense, Vibe Coding Unleashed, and More (#822)

Welcome to another wide-ranging “Random Show” episode I recorded with my close friend Kevin Rose (digg.com)!

We cover Kevin’s sobriety journey and marking 100 days without alcohol, my results with the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, GLP-1 agonists, home defense and security, the future of Venture Capital, authenticating yourself online, AI, the cultural shift toward human-to-human connection, Roblox, and more.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, or on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the conversation on YouTube. The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

This episode is brought to you by Momentous high-quality creatine for muscular and cognitive support; David Protein Bars with 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar; and AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement.

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This episode is brought to you by AG1! I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. Right now, get a FREE Welcome Kit, including Vitamin D3+K2 and AG1 Travel Packs, when you first subscribe. Visit DrinkAG1.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive your 1-year supply of Vitamin D—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones!

This episode is brought to you by David Protein Bars! I’m always on the hunt for protein sources that don’t require sacrifices in taste or nutrition. That’s why I love the protein bars from David. With David protein bars, you get the fewest calories for the most protein, ever. David has 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar. Their bars come in six delicious flavors, all worth trying, and I’ll often throw them in my bag for protein on the go. And now, listeners of The Tim Ferriss Show who buy four boxes get a fifth box for free. Try them for yourself at DavidProtein.com/Tim.

This episode is brought to you by Momentous high-quality creatine! I’ve long benefitted from creatine for athletic and gym performance, and now I’m increasing my daily intake to enjoy the cognitive benefits. A pilot study in Alzheimer’s patients demonstrated that supplementing can increase brain creatine levels in just 8 weeks, improving measures of memory, reasoning, and attention. And a double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that creatine can restore aspects of memory and attention within hours in adults who are sleep deprived. I use Momentous Creatine made with Creapure®, which is sourced from Germany and has the strictest lab standards to ensure it’s at least 99.9% pure. And try Momentous’s Creatine Chews—clean chewable tablets with 1 gram of Creapure® creatine per chew—and their whey protein isolate and magnesium threonate, all of which meet their same, exacting standards. Check out Momentous for yourself and get 35% off your first subscription order with code TIM at LiveMomentous.com/Tim. 

Want to hear the last time KevKev and I did one of these Random Shows? Listen to our conversation here in which we discussed maintaining sobriety with a partner who still drinks, Taiwanese tea, finding magic in the ordinary, the ups and downs of accelerated TMS, the intersection of AI and life sciences, deepfaked side hustlers, when meditation retreats go right (and wrong), and much more.

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

• Connect with Kevin Rose:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Threads | Bluesky | Digg.com

The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

People

• Sigmund Freud: Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis who revolutionized our understanding of the human psyche.
• Hokusai: Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, famous for “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” and influential woodblock prints.
• Craig Mod: Writer, photographer, and publisher known for his thoughtful explorations of Japan, walking, and digital publishing.
• Liam Neeson: Irish actor known for dramatic roles in films like Schindler’s List and action films like the Taken series.
• Johnny Depp: American actor known for eccentric characters including Captain Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s adaptation.
• Gene Wilder: American actor and comedian famous for his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka in the 1971 classic film.
• Dr. Rhonda Patrick: PhD scientist and host of the FoundMyFitness podcast, specializing in nutrition, aging, and health optimization.
• Martin Berkhan: Fitness expert and founder of the Leangains intermittent fasting protocol that revolutionized flexible dieting.
• Dr. Peter Attia: Physician and longevity expert focusing on the science of healthspan and lifespan optimization.
• Desmond Tutu: South African Anglican archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner renowned for his anti-apartheid activism.
• Taran Butler: Competitive shooter and founder of Taran Tactical Innovations, known for custom firearm modifications.
• Keanu Reeves: Canadian actor beloved for roles in The Matrix trilogy and the John Wick action franchise.
• Jim Jefferies: Australian stand-up comedian and actor known for his provocative and observational comedy style.
• Steven Seagal: American actor, screenwriter, and martial artist known for action films in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Marc Andreessen: Co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz venture capital firm and co-creator of the Mosaic web browser.
• Josh Cook: Digital strategist and entrepreneur known for his work in technology and social media engagement.
• Sam Altman: CEO of OpenAI and prominent figure in artificial intelligence development and governance.
• Alexis Ohanian: Co-founder of Reddit and venture capitalist focused on early-stage technology investments.
• Justin Mezzell: Digg CEO, designer, and creative director known for his distinctive illustration style and branding work.

Movies, TV, and Media

• Shaun of the Dead: A 2004 British horror-comedy film that brilliantly parodies zombie movies while delivering genuine scares and laughs.
• Jason Bourne: An action-thriller film series following the amnesiac super-spy created by Robert Ludlum, starring Matt Damon.
• Snatch: A 2000 British crime-comedy film by Guy Ritchie featuring interconnected criminal plots and memorable characters.
• Babe: A 1995 family comedy-drama about a pig who learns to herd sheep, combining live-action with groundbreaking animatronics.
• The Naked Gun: A comedy film series starring Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Detective Frank Drebin, known for its slapstick humor.
• Taken: An action-thriller film series starring Liam Neeson as a former CIA operative with “a very particular set of skills.”
• Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory: A 1971 musical fantasy film starring Gene Wilder as the eccentric chocolatier in Roald Dahl’s beloved story.
• John Wick: An action film series starring Keanu Reeves as a legendary assassin seeking vengeance, known for stylized fight choreography.
• Slow TV: A television genre featuring real-time, unedited coverage of lengthy events like train journeys or knitting marathons.
• Playboy: An American men’s lifestyle and entertainment magazine founded by Hugh Hefner in 1953.
• Wired: A monthly magazine covering how emerging technologies impact culture, the economy, and politics.

Books

• The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss: A step-by-step guide to escaping the 9-5 grind through lifestyle design, automation, and the principles of working smarter rather than harder.
• The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss: An uncommon guide to rapid fat-loss, incredible sex, and becoming superhuman through data-driven body hacking and minimally effective dose principles.
• The 4-Hour Chef by Timothy Ferriss: A meta-learning manual disguised as a cookbook that teaches how to master any skill quickly using cooking as the vehicle for accelerated learning principles.

Brands, Companies, and Products

• Nanoblocks: A micro-sized building block system from Japan that makes LEGO look like giant boulders.
• LEGO: A line of plastic construction toys that bare feet have been stepping on since 1958.
• Coyote: A card game I made for strategic thinking and decision-making.
• Qitone: A brand of ketone supplement powder for metabolic optimization.
• N.O.-Xplode: A pre-workout supplement that promises to turn your gym session into a controlled explosion.
• Bronkaid / Primatene Mist: Over-the-counter medications containing ephedrine for respiratory relief.
• Belsomra: A prescription sleep medication (a DORA) that helps quiet the brain’s wake signal.
• Mounjaro / Zepbound: Brand names for Tirzepatide, a GLP-1 agonist medication for diabetes and weight management.
• Thorne: A health and technology company that sells research-backed supplements.
• Taser: A brand of conducted energy weapon manufactured by Axon Enterprise.
• Ring: A home security and smart home company owned by Amazon.
• Taran Tactical: A firearms training company specializing in competitive shooting techniques.
• Anduril: A defense technology company building autonomous systems for military applications.
• Cloudflare: A web infrastructure and website security company that keeps the internet running smoothly.
• Tools for Humanity: The company behind Worldcoin and the retina-scanning Orb for global identity verification.
• Oura Ring: A smart ring that tracks sleep and physical activity with impressive accuracy.
• Peloton: An exercise equipment and media company that brought the boutique fitness experience home.
• Fitbit: A company producing activity trackers and smartwatches, now owned by Google.
• Domino’s Pizza: An American multinational pizza restaurant chain known for delivery innovation.
• Coca-Cola: A multinational beverage corporation that has been refreshing the world since 1886.
• Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): A venture capital firm that backs bold entrepreneurs building the future.
• True Ventures: A venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies.
• Roblox: An online game platform and game creation system where users build virtual worlds.
• Amazon / Amazon Prime / Amazon Pharmacy: E-commerce and technology company that started with books and now sells everything.
• Costco: A multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big-box retail stores.
• Walmart / Target: Multinational retail corporations competing for America’s shopping dollars.
• UPS: A multinational shipping and receiving and supply chain management company in distinctive brown trucks.
• 1-800-FLOWERS: A floral and gourmet foods gift retailer that pioneered phone-based ordering.
• Etsy: An e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies.
• Bugatti: A luxury sports car manufacturer that creates automotive art for the ultra-wealthy.

Institutions and Organizations

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): An international fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
• Stanford University: A private research university in Stanford, California, founded in 1885 and consistently ranked among the world’s top academic institutions.
• Johns Hopkins University: A private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1876 and widely considered America’s first research university.
• TSA (Transportation Security Administration): A federal agency within the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for protecting the nation’s transportation systems and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Websites, Platforms, and Apps

• Leangains: Martin Berkhan’s website on intermittent fasting.
• YouTube: An online video sharing and social media platform.
• TikTok: A short-form video hosting service.
• Instagram: A photo and video sharing social networking service.
• Facebook: An online social media and social networking service.
• Reddit: A social news aggregation, content rating, and discussion website.
• Wikipedia: A free, multilingual online encyclopedia.
• Digg: A news aggregator with a curated front page.
• Coyote: The official website for the card game Coyote.
• River: An in-person event and social platform for communities.
• Cursor / Claude Code: AI-powered coding tools.
• Lovable / Base44: “Vibe coding” platforms for building apps.
• Vercel: A cloud platform for frontend frameworks and static sites.

Concepts and Terms

• 12-Step Programs: A set of guiding principles for recovery from addiction, most famously used by Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery organizations worldwide.
• Ketogenic Diet (Keto): A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that forces the body to burn fat for fuel instead of glucose, originally developed to treat epilepsy.
• Intermittent Fasting (16/8): An eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and fasting, with the 16/8 method involving 16 hours of fasting and an 8-hour eating window.
• Zone 2 Training: Low-intensity aerobic exercise performed at a specific heart rate zone that maximizes fat burning and mitochondrial efficiency.
• APoE (Apolipoprotein E) Gene: A gene associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, with the APOE4 variant significantly increasing susceptibility to cognitive decline.
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): A medical test to assess how the body processes glucose over time, commonly used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes.
• ApoB (Apolipoprotein B): A primary protein component of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol particles, considered a more accurate marker for cardiovascular disease risk than traditional cholesterol tests.
• Autophagy: The body’s cellular “housekeeping” process of breaking down and recycling damaged proteins and organelles to maintain cellular health and longevity.
• Exogenous Ketones: Ketone supplements taken orally to rapidly induce ketosis without following a strict ketogenic diet, though their effectiveness remains debated.
• GLP-1 Agonists: A class of medications that mimic the hormone GLP-1, used for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity by regulating blood sugar and appetite.
• DORA (Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist): A newer class of sleep medications that work by blocking orexin receptors in the brain to promote natural sleep patterns with fewer side effects than traditional sleep aids.
• ECA Stack: A controversial and now largely banned supplement combination of ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin once popular among bodybuilders for fat loss but associated with serious health risks.
• Vibe Coding: A modern approach to programming that relies heavily on AI tools and intuitive problem-solving rather than traditional computer science fundamentals, enabled by advanced code generation AI.
• Dead Internet Theory: A conspiracy theory suggesting that the internet is now predominantly populated by bots and AI-generated content rather than authentic human interaction.
• ZK Proofs (Zero-Knowledge Proofs): A cryptographic method that allows one party to prove they know specific information without revealing the information itself, crucial for privacy-preserving blockchain applications.
• DEXA Scan: A low-radiation X-ray scan that precisely measures bone density, body fat percentage, and lean muscle mass, considered the gold standard for body composition analysis.
• Venture Capital: A form of private equity financing where investors provide capital to startups and early-stage companies with high growth potential in exchange for equity ownership.

SHOW NOTES

• [00:00:00] Start.
• [00:06:54] Kevin celebrates 100 days sober! Why and how?
• [00:15:16] Nanoblocks: Kevin’s new Japanese micro-building hobby.
• [00:18:16] The Slow TV movement and Craig Mod’s ambient recordings.
• [00:20:58] Craving analog experiences and wilderness trekking.
• [00:22:24] Writing with background movies.
• [00:23:42] High hopes for The Naked Gun reboot.
• [00:24:35] Kevin’s improved communication since quitting alcohol.
• [00:26:28] My health interventions for cognitive protection.
• [00:29:00] How ketogenic diet and 16/8 intermittent fasting led to my best lab results in 10+ years.
• [00:33:35] Weight control regimens we don’t recommend.
• [00:39:51] Exogenous ketones: Qitone vs. premium options.
• [00:50:32] How glucose tolerance tests work.
• [00:51:58] Microdosing GLP-1 (tirzepatide) for glucose control.
• [00:54:12] DORA sleep medications and neuroprotective effects.
• [00:56:55] Belsomra trial and cost considerations.
• [00:57:52] Sauna temperature optimization based on Rhonda Patrick’s research.
• [01:00:28] There are no biological free lunches.
• [01:03:27] The time Kevin found a homeless person in his closet.
• [01:06:11] Modern home security and privacy measures.
• [01:19:42] Pondering how we survived childhood.
• [01:24:23] AI-driven venture capital landscape changes.
• [01:28:59] Vibe coding revolution: $250k projects now cost $50.
• [01:34:28] Education advice for kids in the AI age.
• [01:36:27] Empowering creative minds vs. traditional technical roles.
• [01:38:29] What Kevin’s crystal balls say about Cloudflare’s data marketplace for content creators.
• [01:42:02] The Digg reboot with Alexis Ohanian: a focus on in-person connections.
• [01:42:59] Dead internet theory and bot content proliferation.
• [01:43:25] Verifying humanity: the trust gradient.
• [01:54:28] My relief at the successful launch of Coyote.
• [01:58:03] Kevin’s Roblox addiction and Grow a Garden expenses.
• [01:59:56] Future meetup plans and parting thoughts.