How to Formulate an Energy Drink Without Caffeine

Get ready to fill your cups – literally and figuratively – with the knowledge and insight of Shawn Wells and Daniel Solomons, the minds behind UPDATE, an incredible new caffeine alternative which just may have become the official beverage of The Life Stylist podcast.

Shawn Wells is known as The World’s Greatest Formulator. He’s a biochemist and dietician who is nearly 1,000 supplements into his career, using something like 25 unique ingredients patented. He’s also a biohacker, himself, and the author of the bestselling book, The Energy Formula. 

Daniel Solomons is a former investment banker from Sydney, Australia. He moved to New York City to launch UPDATE and change the energy drink market forever. They’ve spent the last three years working out how to create the best, healthiest possible, energy solution – an evolution to caffeine.

If you’re feeling energized by the ideas presented in this conversation, shop with 10% off at drinkupdate.com/luke.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Luke or his guests. Please consult with your healthcare provider before using any products referenced. This podcast may contain paid endorsements for products or services.

00:00:07 — Meeting Our Guests & Mapping the Journey

• How Shawn became The World’s Greatest Formulator

• Background work in biochemistry, nutrition, and clinical settings

• From conceptualization to commercialization

• Caffeine as a $1 trillion market

• Other caffeine-focused brands in the space

• Testing and experimenting with nootropic ingredients 

• Incorporating paraxanthine into the formulation 

• Shawn’s personal pain-to-purpose journey 

• Luke honors Shawn’s vulnerability with his own 

• Radical Redemption & Total Transformation w/ Tah & Kole Whitty #331

• The moment he anchored love in his heart and soul

• Daniel’s personal journey of opening up to the world 

• His unique experience with ayahuasca 

• Letting go of expectation attached to psychedelic journeys 

• The Condor Approach by Tah Whitty and Kole Whitty

• Integration Is Not Optional: Future of Psychedelic Coaching & Humanity’s Healing w/ Tah + Kole #442

00:57:56 — Getting the UPDATE: What, Why & How?

• Chemistry deep dive – what is paraxanthine?

• Shop: Get 10% off at drinkupdate.com/luke

• How caffeine metabolizes and why it’s important 

• Why bigger person ≠ bigger dose

• Why your sleep is not at risk 

• Protecting the brain with new neurons 

• Have both — cleaner energy and better sleep

• Is adrenal fatigue real? (Yes)

• Biochemical addiction to stress 

01:51:42 — Stacking Ingredients for the Ultimate Nootropic 

• Breaking down some of the stacked ingredients in UPDATE

• Myth busting taurine’s role in our bodies

• Improving the formula for flavor

• Luke’s raw liver smoothies 

• What water is used in UPDATE?

• Shop: Get 10% off at drinkupdate.com/luke

• The natural beauty of green tea’s formulation 

• 5HTP’s role in the recipe – a key to swagger

• Deploying activated B12 for neurological benefit 

• DMSO: The Most Suppressed Natural Remedy & Best-Kept Secret in the World? w/ Amandha Vollmer #480

• What is the future vision for UPDATE?

• UPDATE as a post-journey recovery stack

• Luke asks about paraxanthine and microdosing

• Shawn introduces something new: echo dosing 

More about this episode.

Watch on YouTube.

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Resources:

• Shop: Get 10% off at drinkupdate.com/luke

• Instagram: @drinkupdate

• Instagram: @shawnwells

• Instagram: @danielsolomons_

• Are you ready to block harmful blue light, and look great at the same time? Check out Gilded By Luke Storey. Where fashion meets function: gildedbylukestorey.com

• Join me on Telegram for the uncensored content big tech won’t allow me to post. It’s free speech and free content: www.lukestorey.com/telegram

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• DMSO: The Most Suppressed Natural Remedy & Best-Kept Secret in the World? w/ Amandha Vollmer #480

• Integration Is Not Optional: Future of Psychedelic Coaching & Humanity’s Healing w/ Tah + Kole #442

• Radical Redemption & Total Transformation w/ Tah & Kole Whitty #331

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• Mindset & Emotional Freedom: The Inner Work Of Biohacking w/ Dave Asprey #237

The Life Stylist is produced by Crate Media.