Taking My Health Into My Own Hands: Tests, Records, and What Actually Worked

Taking My Health Into My Own Hands: Tests, Records, and What Actually Worked

Author: Chris Hutchins June 3, 2026 Duration: 1:05:09
#281: Chris shares the full playbook he used to take control of his health after digging into his family historical and lab results. He breaks down which tests are actually worth your money and when each one matters. Plus, how he built a personal health AI from his own medical records to surface what doctors missed. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/personal-health-ai-diagnostics/. Partner Deals DeleteMe: ⁠20% off removing your personal info from the web Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today Copilot Money: ⁠Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Gelt: ⁠Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Bilt Rewards: ⁠Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Doctors & Medical Practices PrimaryMD One Medical Blueberry Zocdoc Biomarker & Blood Testing Function Health SuperPower InsideTracker InstaLab Ulta Lab Tests Quest Diagnostics Labcorp Specialized Diagnostics Nucleus 23andMe Levels Prenuvo Health Data Aggregators & AI Tools Apple Health Google Health Epic Claude ChatGPT Gemini PubMed Tech & Wearables Oura Ring Whoop ATH Podcast #097: Optimizing Your Health: Diagnostic Tests, Choosing a Doctor, Sleep, Longevity, Inflammation and More with Dr. Jordan Shlain Newsletter Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:46) Chris' Lifelong Battle with High Cholesterol (07:20) Switching to a More Proactive Doctor (09:39) Family Medical History: The Cheapest Diagnostic Tool (10:59) Why ApoB and Lp(a) Belong on Every Lipid Panel (17:04) Detecting Soft Plaque with a CT Angiogram (20:02) Moving Beyond Statins for Better Cholesterol Control (21:46) How Chris Got a $500/Month Drug Covered by Insurance (25:11) Branching Out to Other Health Diagnostics (26:15) Comparing the Major Biomarker Blood Work Services (32:31) What Whole Genome Sequencing Actually Tells You (34:36) The Real Value of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (36:08) Getting a Full-Body Skin Scan from a Dermatologist (36:32) Using a DEXA Scan to Baseline Body Composition (37:17) Benchmarking Fitness with a VO2 Max Test (37:51) The Case For (and Against) a Prenuvo Whole-Body MRI (39:51) Why You Still Need a Human Doctor in the Loop (44:02) Finding the Right Primary Care Setup for Your Budget (46:21) The Health Basics Worth More Than Any Fancy Test (48:40) Building a Personal Health AI From Your Medical Records (56:56) Smarter Ways to Track Your Diet with AI (01:01:43) Why Chris Records Every Doctor's Appointment (01:02:25) Final Takeaways on Modern Health Diagnostics Connect with Chris ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ | ⁠Membership⁠⁠ | ⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:35
#263: Chris breaks down exactly how he’s earned millions of points and miles, and why simplicity matters more than optimization. He covers signup bonuses, spending strategies, credit score impacts, business cards, cash-b…
Goals, Tools, and Mindset Shifts for a Better 2026 with Kevin Rose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:49
#261: Chris and Kevin reflect on 2025’s biggest wins and lessons, then dive into how they're planning 2026. They share their goals, the tools they're using, and why they're designing a year that’s easier, not just more o…
Top 10 Takeaways from 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:25
#260: Chris distills the most powerful lessons from over 50 episodes in 2025 into 10 actionable takeaways that changed how he thinks about money, time, health, relationships, purpose, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: h…
Choosing the Problems Worth Struggling For with Mark Manson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:11
#259: Learn how to pick the challenges in life that actually matter. We break down how to stop optimizing for the wrong things, why values trump goals in decision-making, practical strategies for building real friendship…
My Top 5 Mistakes with Points & Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:00
#258: The 5 biggest mistakes Chris has made in his points & miles journey. He dives into the hidden cost of status, the math behind point values, the power of opportunity cost, and why hoarding points quietly destroys va…
End of Year Checklist for Your Taxes, Points and Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:08
#257: We break down essential tax and financial decisions to make before year-end. Learn how to maximize deductions, optimize charitable giving, manage investment gains and losses, and take advantage of retirement and ho…
2025 Holiday Gift Guide and Top Ways to Save This Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:40
#255: Here are 100+ holiday gift ideas across tech, kitchen, home, clothing, fitness, kids, and games. I’ll also share tools and tactics to help you find deals and spend less this holiday season. For all the products, li…
The Cost of Always Optimizing with Chris and Amy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:42
#254: Chris and Amy share a candid look at their life together as two optimizers. They discuss everything from family finances and teaching their kids about money to managing their health, work, and travel. Link to Full…