The Beyond Tomorrow Podcast with Julian Issa

Longevity Scientist: Aging Is A Disease. We Just Don’t Know How to Treat (yet)

Joe Betts-LaCroix and Retro Biosciences recently raised funding at a $1.8 billion valuation. In his first podcast appearance since the announcement, Joe shares his vision for extending healthy human lifespan and the breakthroughs driving the longevity industry forward. Joe Betts-LaCroix explains why aging is becoming a legitimate scientific target. He shares how new discoveries are turning longevity from speculation into measurable biology. The conversation explores how AI is accelerating research, while highlighting why biology remains one of the hardest problems to solve. Even with smarter models, real-world testing and clinical trials still take time. Joe also discusses Alzheimer's, partial cellular reprogramming, and the future of longevity medicine. He shares why exercise remains the best longevity tool available today and what the next decade could look like for human health. Joe is the CEO of Retro Biosciences and a longtime entrepreneur focused on science and technology. His mission is to extend healthy human lifespan and accelerate breakthroughs in aging research. This episode is brought to you by NADclinic, the go-to destination for longevity and human performance. Check them out at https://nadclinic.com [https://nadclinic.com]. What You’ll Learn * Why Sam Altman backed Retro Biosciences * The discovery that changed aging research forever * How AI is transforming biotech and longevity * Why curing all diseases in 10 years is unlikely * What Retro's Alzheimer's programs are targeting * Why biology is harder than most people realize * The longevity intervention Joe recommends today * How aging may become a treatable condition * What the longevity industry could look like by 2030 * Joe's vision for the future of human health and AI ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:16 AI's Role in Longevity 03:26 Will AI Cure All Diseases? 09:41 Why Biology Is So Hard to Solve 13:17 Building Technology That Matters 15:06 Adding 10 Healthy Years to Life 18:08 Inside Retro's Clinical Trial 19:31 The Different Types of Longevity Companies 22:10 Are We Already in the Singularity? 24:46 Why Investors Are Betting on AI Biotech 26:15 AI as the New Electricity 27:01 The Biggest Risks Facing Longevity 30:54 Why More Competition Is Good 32:44 Solving Alzheimer's Disease 34:26 Aging Biology and Future Therapeutics 38:25 The Biggest Aging Myth 39:41 The Most Underrated Voices in Longevity 40:25 The Best Longevity "Hack" 46:13 The Future of Longevity by 2030 50:49 If Tomorrow Was Your Last Day... Follow Joe: Website: https://www.retro.bio/ [https://www.retro.bio/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettslacroix [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettslacroix]  X: https://x.com/bettslacroix [https://x.com/bettslacroix]  Connect with Julian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ [https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/]   LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa]   Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [http://www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Email: bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

Derya Unutmaz: Human Death is Actually a Solvable Engineering Problem

Could AI help humanity cure aging and dramatically extend human life? Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming medicine and longevity research. Scientists now believe AI could dramatically accelerate drug discovery, personalized healthcare, and treatments for aging itself. In this episode, Derya Unutmaz explains why he believes humanity could reach “longevity escape velocity” within the next decade. He discusses digital twins, AI-powered drug discovery, superintelligence, and the future of human health. Derya also explores the risks of advanced AI, arguing that the greatest danger is not the technology itself, but how humans choose to use it. Derya Unutmaz is an immunologist and longevity researcher whose work focuses on aging, human immunology, and AI-driven biotechnology. His research explores how artificial intelligence could transform disease treatment, lifespan extension, and the future of human health. This episode is brought to you by NADclinic, the go-to destination for longevity and human performance. Check them out at https://nadclinic.com [https://nadclinic.com]. What You’ll Learn * Why Derya believes aging could soon become reversible * How AI is speeding up drug discovery and healthcare * What digital twins could mean for personalized medicine * How AI-powered labs may transform scientific research * The biggest risks and opportunities of advanced AI * Why tools like AlphaFold are changing biology forever * How AI could help prevent disease and extend human lifespan ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:02 Can Humans Live Indefinitely? 02:09 How AI Could Accelerate Longevity 08:09 Why Biology Needs Dynamic Data 12:18 AI-Powered Labs and Robot Scientists 16:36 How AI is Empowering Ordinary People 20:51 Why Humans Not AI Are the Real Threat 25:40 The Possibility of Curing Every Disease 28:43 How AI is Revolutionizing Drug Discovery 35:04 The Biggest Risk Over the Next Decade 40:49 The Economic and Social Impact of AI 46:36 AI, Nuclear Weapons, and Existential Risk 52:53 Why Aging is Humanity’s Biggest Threat 55:06 Do You Fear Death? 56:55 Religion, God, and Human Purpose 58:45 Could AI Become Conscious? 01:00:08 What Happens if Humans Stop Aging? 01:05:29 Why Accelerating Science Matters 01:08:54 Why You Should Embrace AI 01:11:46 Can AI Help Cure Cancer? 01:14:23 The Best Advice for the Future 01:16:48 Never Lose Hope Follow Derya: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derya/about [https://www.facebook.com/derya/about]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derya_unutmaz_md/ [https://www.instagram.com/derya_unutmaz_md/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deryaunutmaz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deryaunutmaz]  X: https://x.com/DeryaTR_ [https://x.com/DeryaTR_]  Connect with Julian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ [https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/]   LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa]   Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [http://www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Email: bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

Cuba Expert: This Will START the US Attack on Cuba SOON!

Could Cuba become America’s next geopolitical flashpoint? Cuba remains one of the most politically charged issues in American foreign policy. More than 60 years after the Cuban Revolution, debates around sanctions, regime change, and military intervention are once again intensifying. In this episode, Mikael Wolfe explains why Cuba is fundamentally different from Venezuela and Iran, and why a U.S. intervention would be far more complicated than many assume. He discusses Donald Trump’s approach to Cuba, the influence of Marco Rubio and Cuban-American politics, and how decades of sanctions have shaped Cuba’s economic crisis. Mikael also explores Obama-era diplomacy, the growing influence of China and Russia in the region, and whether peaceful political reform in Cuba is still possible without foreign intervention or regime change. Throughout the conversation, he challenges common narratives surrounding democracy, sovereignty, and America’s long relationship with the island. Mikael Wolfe is a historian, author, and lecturer at the Department of History at Stanford University whose research focuses on modern Latin America, Cuba, environmental history, and U.S.-Cuba relations. His work examines how politics, ideology, and resource conflicts have shaped Cuban society and its relationship with global powers. This episode is brought to you by NADclinic, the go-to destination for longevity and human performance. Check them out at https://nadclinic.com [https://nadclinic.com]. What You’ll Learn * Why Cuba still matters strategically to the U.S. * How Cuba’s system differs from Venezuela’s * Why Florida politics heavily shape Cuba policy * Why a U.S. intervention could happen but fail * How sanctions deepened Cuba’s economic crisis * Why Obama’s Cuba policy briefly changed everything * Whether Cuba can reform without regime change ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:14 Trump’s Intentions for Cuba 02:25 Cuba vs. Iran vs. Venezuela 06:10 Why Cuba Still Matters to the US 10:34 The Politics Behind Regime Change 16:26 Can Cuba Be Compared to Taiwan? 20:23 Chances of a US Military Intervention 24:42 What Happens Over the Next Six Months? 25:46 Why Cuba Could Be the Next Target 28:48 What Happened to “America First”? 31:47 Rubio’s Influence on Cuba Policy 38:04 The Castro Legacy 40:47 Why an Intervention Could Fail 41:33 Cuba’s Deepening Economic Crisis 45:55 Is Cuba Really a National Security Threat? 49:13 What Happens if the US Intervenes? 51:19 Cuba, Iran, China & Russia 53:36 Will Cuba Ever Become Democratic? 57:34 Final Thoughts for the World Follow Mikael: Website: https://history.stanford.edu/people/mikael-wolfe [https://history.stanford.edu/people/mikael-wolfe]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikael-wolfe-5789952aa [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikael-wolfe-5789952aa]  Connect with Julian: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ [https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/]   LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa]   Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [http://www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Email: bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

LONGEVITY SCIENTIST: Peptides Are Getting OUT of CONTROL! Here’s Why You Should Be Worried..

Can we really slow aging or even reverse it? Aging is no longer viewed as an untouchable part of life. According to Eric Verdin, scientists are beginning to treat aging itself as a biological process that can be slowed and potentially reversed. In this episode, Eric explains why longevity research is entering a new era. He discusses how AI, women’s health, metabolic therapies, and partial reprogramming are reshaping medicine. He highlights GLP-1 drugs as one of the most promising tools today and explains how resetting cells to a younger state may one day restore function in aging tissues. He also shares the most effective strategies available right now: exercise, sleep, nutrition, mental stimulation, and social connection. While supplements like Creatine may help, Eric stresses that lifestyle remains the foundation of long-term health. Eric Verdin is a physician-scientist and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, where he leads research focused on extending human healthspan. What You’ll Learn * Why aging may be treatable * How AI is transforming medicine * Why menopause plays a major role in women’s aging * How GLP-1 drugs may extend healthspan * What partial reprogramming could mean for rejuvenation * The best habits for protecting brain health * Which supplements Creatine, vitamin D, omega-3s, and magnesium Eric Verdin uses * Why he cautions against peptides and IV Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide therapies ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:01 You Want to Be Immortal? Go to Church 02:12 What Excites Eric Verdin Most Right Now? 05:34 How AI Is Transforming Medicine 07:24 Billions Pouring Into Longevity Research 09:12 Why Aging Research Is Hitting an Inflection Point 13:44 Why GLP-1 Drugs Are Changing Longevity 18:50 The Hidden Side Effect: Loss of Pleasure 20:25 Why Metabolic Drugs Protect the Whole Body 21:41 Partial Reprogramming Explained 27:38 Why Brain Aging Matters Most 29:55 The Best Anti-Aging Medicine Available Today 33:24 Fix Your Lifestyle Before Taking Supplements 36:57 Nothing Can Replace Sleep 39:02 The Truth About Peptides 42:32 Why NAD IVs Don’t Make Sense 43:42 The Placebo Effect and NAD Hype 45:16 Can NR IV Therapy Actually Work? 46:09 Health Podcasts: Helpful or Harmful? 47:27 The $101 Million XPRIZE for Longevity 49:26 Eric Verdin’s Final Message to Humanity Follow Eric: Website: https://www.buckinstitute.org/ [https://www.buckinstitute.org/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericverdinmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/ericverdinmd/]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-verdin-490212 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-verdin-490212]  Check out Eric’s podcast, We're Not Getting Any Younger... Yet. Visit https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/were-not-getting-any-younger-yet/id1650690747 [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/were-not-getting-any-younger-yet/id1650690747]  Connect with Julian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ [https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/]   LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa]   Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [http://www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Email: bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

Political Scientist: The Dangerous Side of Believing in Conspiracy Theories

Are conspiracy theories really increasing or are we just noticing them more? Conspiracy theories feel more visible than ever. From politics to public health, it seems like belief is rising fast. But the data says otherwise. According to Joseph Uscinski, belief has stayed mostly stable and sometimes even declined. In this episode, Joseph explains why events like COVID-19 didn’t create more believers. They made existing views more visible. When uncertainty rises, people pay closer attention to others’ beliefs, especially when those beliefs affect them. He also breaks down the psychology behind conspiracy thinking. These beliefs help people cope with loss or uncertainty. They protect identity. Most conspiracy theories fade quickly. Very few gain traction. The real risk comes when powerful people act on them. Joseph Uscinski is a political scientist who studies conspiracy theories and public opinion. His work explores why people believe them and how those beliefs shape society. Joe’s book, Conspiracy Theories: A Primer, is available on Amazon. Visit: https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Theories-Primer-Joseph-Uscinski/dp/1538173247 [https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Theories-Primer-Joseph-Uscinski/dp/1538173247]  This episode is brought to you by NADclinic, the go-to destination for longevity and human performance. Check them out at https://nadclinic.com [https://nadclinic.com]. What You’ll Learn * Why conspiracy belief feels higher but isn’t * How COVID made beliefs more visible, not more common * How conspiracy thinking protects identity and eases loss * Why more information doesn’t change minds * Why most theories fade and never go mainstream * When conspiracy thinking becomes dangerous * Why power, not belief, is the real risk ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:00 What Are Conspiracy Theories? 04:27 Why People Believe Them 06:58 Did COVID Change Everything? 11:44 The JFK Conspiracy Explained 14:04 When Conspiracies Are Proven True 15:46 The Trump Assassination Theory 18:18 Why Evidence Doesn’t Change Minds 22:20 The Psychology of Belief 25:58 Do Conspiracies Go Mainstream? 28:24 Why Most Theories Die Fast 31:27 The Future of Institutions 33:37 Biggest Risks Ahead 39:02 How Conspiracy Thinking Shapes You 40:40 When Conspiracies Become Dangerous 43:52 Who Believes More, Left or Right? 46:35 What’s Next for Conspiracy Theories  Follow Joseph: Website: https://www.joeuscinski.com/ [https://www.joeuscinski.com/]  Connect with Julian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ [https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/]   LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa]   Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [http://www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Email: bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com [bookings@beyondtomorrowpodcast.com]  Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.