The best and worst of biohacking | Melanie Avalon

The best and worst of biohacking | Melanie Avalon

Author: Marty Kendall October 28, 2021 Duration: 1:10:00

I’ve been super impressed with Melanie Avalon’s ability to synthesise complex topics and bring them to life for her listeners.   All of her podcast episodes are a fascinating DEEP dive into the topic to elucidate the practical application.

We had a ton of positive feedback from my interview on her podcast.  Our Data-Driven Fasting Facebook Group exploded after she and Gin Stephens started raving about it all the time on their Intermittent Fasting Podcast.

After binge-listening to her podcast with a wide array of fantastic guests, I had a ton of questions for Melanie.

It was great to get her on the other side of the interview mic for a rare video interview including:

  • How did you get interested in biohacking?
  • Why did you start the biohacking podcast?
  • How did you deal with imposter syndrome?
  • How long did it take to feel like you owned the role?
  • You have experimented with a lot of different nutritional extremes.  What have you learned from each?
  • What do you eat most often these days?  Do you identify with a particular dietary camp now?
  • What is “biohacking”?  How do you define it?
  • Is there any free lunch in biology?  Or are we just trying to align our modern environment to align with our evolutionary biology?
  • How can technology help us live in line with our evolutionary roots?
  • What biohacks have you found most helpful?
  • What biohacks have you found least useful?
  • Supplements vs nutrients from food - what are the pros and cons of each?
  • What have you learned from tracking glucose and ketones?
  • What eating routine have you found that works best for you?
  • What biohacks are you most excited about in the future?
  • How do you think big data and artificial intelligence will change the future of healthcare?
  • What wisdom do you have when guiding someone to find the minimum effective dose of biohacking for them?
  • What are the pitfalls that you have encountered on your biohacking journey that you would recommend others avoid?
  • What is the most exciting thing you learned from one of your guests that changed your life?
  • Who are your biggest inspirations in nutrition and biohacking?
  • How does someone find the balance between biohacking to live a better life vs living their life without overcomplicating it?

Watch now on YouTube at https://youtu.be/d5uSeKMH49E

You can also check out my brain bending epic chat with Melanie on her podcast here.  Some people have told me they have listened to it three times!

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Marty Kendall hosts the Optimising Nutrition Podcast, cutting through the noise of diet trends and dogma. Here, nutrition isn't about following a rigid belief system or the latest branded plan; it's fundamentally about ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs to thrive. Marty applies a clear-eyed, engineering mindset to the complex world of food, breaking down the science into actionable strategies. In each episode, you'll hear detailed conversations with researchers, doctors, and other experts diving deep into the mechanics of weight loss, the practicalities of fasting, and the core principles of effective nutrition. These interviews are balanced with candid stories from real people who share their personal journeys, offering relatable insights into what works and what doesn't outside the lab. This podcast serves as a grounded resource for anyone tired of conflicting advice and looking for a substantive, evidence-based path to better health. It’s a space where data meets human experience, all focused on the tangible goal of optimisation. You can expect every discussion to return to that central, uncomplicated idea: strip away the labels, and focus on nourishment.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 36

Optimising Nutrition Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Learning to Nourish (Rather than Deprive) Yourself   | Debra Cleveland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:43
I had a great time talking to fellow Optimiser Debra Cleveland about her journey through the Data-Driven Fasting Challenges and Masterclasses. During our live Q&As, Debra was always full of enthusiasm, inspiration, and p…
Losing 20 kg (44 lbs) in 5 Months! | Sidi Riza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:52
It’s been fascinating watching Sidi’s journey progress since initially taking part in our Data-Driven Fasting Challenge and then hopping into the Nutritional Optimisation Masterclass. Sidi has shed an incredible 20kg (44…
Troubleshoot Your Diet with a Single Blood Test | Chris Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:57
Chris Kelly is the founder of Nourish Balance Thrive. Building on his experience as a programmer for hedge funds and large internet companies, he has done amazing things in the health space. After experiencing his own he…
Finding peace with data | Chris Kawaja [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:56
Chris has a fascinating background. After studying economics, business and psychology at Stanford and Harvard, he worked as a trader Ray Dalio at Bridgewater Capital, the world’s biggest hedge fund (now with $150b under…
The Pursuit of Happiness | Paul Burgess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:49
Paul Burgess has been a great mate, supporter, and mentor throughout my journey to quantitatively define optimal nutrition. When he first invited me on his podcast, I put him off. I felt I still had more work to do befor…
The End of Craving | Mark Schatzker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:11
It was an honour to chat with Mark Schatzker about his new book, The End of Craving: Recovering the Lost Wisdom of Eating Well. I’ve been a MASSIVE fan of his work since reading The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Trut…
Build Habits to Crush Your Goals in 2022 | Matty Lansdown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:02
This chat with Matty Lansdown was part interview, part therapy session as I’ve been working on focusing on getting the essential things done in a world designed to distract and monetise your attention. I hope this episod…
The Origins of Our Nutritional Guidelines | Belinda Fettke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
What really underpins our beliefs about nutrition and the food we eat? The truth might shock and surprise you! Our nutritional guidelines and beliefs about food reflect a mixture of cultural, ritual, and religious belief…
Protein Leverage | Professors Stephen Simpson and David Raubenheimer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:25
University of Sydney Professors Stephen Simpson and David Raubenheimer’s work in protein leverage is perhaps the most important body of research around, empowering us to understand our appetite and what leads us to eat m…
The Future of Keto | Craig Emmerich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:36
Craig Emmerich is the author of the book “Keto: The Complete Guide” and the PMSF Cookbook and hubby to Maria Emmerich. Mariah and Craig have been at the forefront of the keto movement since way before it was trendy. Crai…