Arjun Khemani Podcast

My conversation with Aubrey de Grey, a biomedical gerontologist, founder of the LEV Foundation, and author of Ending Aging.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Timestamps0:00 - SENS vs. the Hallmarks of Aging2:47 - The Robust Mouse Rejuvenation experiment5:48 - Is SENS falsifiable?7:12 - CMLase and extracellular matrix damage10:28 - VEGF and extending lifespan in mice11:37 - Why longevity studies rarely get replicated13:05 - Michael Levin, bioelectricity & aging as information loss15:03 - Is partial reprogramming overhyped?17:32 - The most neglected areas of longevity research18:56 - Longevity escape velocity explained20:28 - Will people alive today live long enough?23:42 - How far are we from dramatically extending mouse lifespan?24:54 - What happens to society if we solve aging?27:20 - How longevity could reshape the global economy28:44 - Does mortality give life meaning?30:00 - Aubrey on the “pro-aging trance”31:34 - What Aubrey would do after solving aging This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com

My conversation with Michael Levin, a biologist at Tufts University whose research explores bioelectricity, regeneration, morphogenesis, and how cells collectively process information to build and repair bodies.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Timestamps0:00 - Causes and downstream effects of aging3:31 - Bioelectric patterns and memory in regeneration9:30 - Cracking the bioelectric code12:10 - The boredom theory of aging23:11 - The germline is ageless25:45 - Bioelectricity and epigenetic reprogramming27:15 - What experiment could falsify Mike’s ideas?29:13 - The role of aging clocks and biological age31:06 - Top-down control in biological systems39:09 - Consciousness and its implications48:25 - Changing human goals and preferences51:30 - The future of medicine This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com

Karl Pfleger is the founder of agingbiotech.info and an investor in several rejuvenation startups.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Timestamps0:00 - Why lifespan is the wrong metric for aging progress7:28 - Is the hallmarks of aging expanding a problem?11:36 - Structures vs. processes: the key distinction in aging targets16:14 - Why Karl favors divide-and-conquer rejuvenation over slowing aging22:07 - Whole-body replacement and organ/cell-level rejuvenation26:56 - Is partial epigenetic reprogramming the kill-shot for aging? 35:24 - CMLase and reversing crosslink damage40:57 - Can AI just solve aging automatically?46:57 - Funding misallocation and the case for more aging biotech companies/VC57:28 - Objections to eliminating aging — and why none hold up1:01:27 - Karl critiques Bryan Johnson’s “Don’t Die” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com

David D. Friedman, anarcho-capitalist economist and author of The Machinery of Freedom, explores longevity, AI, and institutions. He talks about epigenetic reprogramming and cryonics. He debates privacy, cryptocurrencies, and surveillance. He examines taxes, money supply, education resistance, and political uncertainty in places like Argentina.

Sean Bowe, core Zcash cryptographer working on shielded design, Tachyon, and post-quantum recoverability, and Dev Ojha, cryptographer and Osmosis founder focused on ZK scaling and privacy-preserving DEXes. They discuss scaling encrypted money, PIR for private wallet sync, Tachyon’s role in reducing overhead, recursion for richer protocol features, and strategies for post-quantum recoverability and governance.

Sean Bowe and Jack Grigg aka str4d are both cryptographic engineers working on the Zcash protocol. Sean’s latest project is Tachyon, intended to bring encrypted money into the hands of 8 billion people. Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Timestamps0:00 - Project Tachyon10:20 - Privacy can’t be an afterthought for a protocol15:24 - Encrypted Bitcoin22:11 - Soundness bug in original sprout pool30:15 - Sapling33:00 - A decade of progress39:04 - Zcash’s anonymity set51:29 - Using private money as a passthrough doesn’t work56:04 - The importance of ledger indistinguishability58:30 - The ultimate privacy stack1:05:58 - Tachyon removes all cryptographic bottlenecks of encrypted money1:08:16 - What’s next after Tachyon?1:15:25 - Weightless blockchains?1:18:24 - Ragu1:19:44 - What the next 12 months look like for Jack and Sean1:31:22 - “Everything worth doing is worth doing on ambitious timelines.” — Sean1:32:16 - Sean’s advice for young engineers1:34:18 - What got Sean and Jack into Zcash? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com

Samo Burja, founder of Bismarck Analysis and chair of Palladium Magazine, discusses the dynamics of 'live players' who drive societal innovation versus 'dead players' clinging to norms. He unpacks the Great Founder Theory, exploring how exceptional individuals can trigger profound change. Burja emphasizes the fragility of knowledge and societal structures, critiques American bureaucracy, and reassesses the legacy of ancient Sparta. He also shares advice for young people on personal agency and the importance of mentorship.

Zooko Wilcox, legendary cypherpunk and co-founder of Zcash, joins Josh Swihart, CEO of the Electric Coin Company, to discuss the future of private money. They delve into how Zcash innovations enhance user privacy and tackle issues around centralized exchanges. The conversation highlights the importance of zero-knowledge proofs and the significance of turnstiles in reconciling fund transparency. They also explore the philosophical impact of sci-fi on our understanding of technology and financial freedom, advocating for the moral imperative of private money in advancing society.

Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries and a young tech entrepreneur, dives into the future of warfare. He discusses the impact of autonomous systems on military strategy and the need for decentralized supply chains. Thornton shares his experience raising $85 million at just 19 and why innovative technologies are crucial against threats like China. He examines the strategic advantages of his Viper aircraft and reflects on lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing resilience in military manufacturing.

In this discussion, philosopher Peter Boghossian, renowned for his critiques of modern education and moral relativism, delves into the key ideas from the Enlightenment and their relevance today. He warns about the dangers of moral relativism and critiques how modern education is falling short in promoting critical thinking. The conversation tackles complex topics such as the intersection of speech and violence in ideological debates, the ideological manipulation of science, and the need for stronger epistemology to foster meaningful dialogue.