Bonjour, I'm Julia.

I've always had a fascination with the intersection of technology and human potential. There's something compelling about watching people push boundaries - whether it's someone running their first marathon or a tech founder trying to hack mortality itself. So when Netflix surfaced "Don't Die" as my #1 recommended documentary, I couldn't resist.

For those who haven't encountered it yet, "Don't Die" follows Brian Johnson, the Braintree founder who, after selling his company, redirected his considerable resources toward radical life extension. He's essentially turned himself into a human laboratory - meticulously tracking biomarkers, consuming precise combinations of supplements, and submitting to experimental procedures in his quest to slow or even reverse aging.

why i finally paid attention

Honestly, I must have been living under a rock because I hadn't heard of Bryan Johnson until a few months ago during an interview with a mental health startup (an irony that wouldn't become clear until later). Since then, his name kept popping up in conversations, triggering that strange phenomenon where once you notice something, you suddenly see it everywhere. By the time Netflix's algorithm served up this documentary, my curiosity was primed and ready.

why it actually got to me

While I have zero plans to adopt a 100-step supplement regimen or measure my glucose levels every few minutes like I'm monitoring a nuclear reactor, parts of Johnson's journey resonated with me in unexpected ways.

The documentary doesn't just showcase his biological experiments—it exposes the social costs of his lifestyle. Johnson has optimized every variable in his day with military precision, but that level of discipline makes relationships difficult. He openly admits to struggling with loneliness, particularly when it comes to dating, and his closest relationship appears to be with his son. It reinforced something I intellectually know but often forget in practice: health isn't just about food, exercise, and sleep—it's about genuine human connection.

It made me think hard about the balance between ambition and enjoyment. Johnson is determined to push the boundaries of longevity, but watching him made me wonder—what's the point of extending life if you're sacrificing some of the things that make it meaningful in the first place? I tend to be quite structured with my own habits (sometimes to a fault), but seeing his extreme approach was a powerful reminder that optimization shouldn't come at the cost of spontaneity or relationships.

what i've taken away

🧪 Extreme experimentation

• The gap between cutting-edge research and mainstream accessibility is vast. What begins as a billionaire's experiment may eventually benefit the average person, but the path isn't straight or guaranteed.
• Self-experimentation lacks scientific rigor but still drives curiosity. Johnson changes too many variables simultaneously to draw clear conclusions, yet his approach generates valuable conversations about what we might prioritize.
• Marketing healthy behaviors, even when profit-motivated, might still be a net positive in a world that constantly normalizes marketing unhealthy choices. At minimum, it's forcing us to question our assumptions.

🤝 Relationships and longevity aren't separate pursuits

• Longevity without purpose raises uncomfortable questions. The documentary subtly asks whether adding years to life matters if those years lack connection and meaning.
• Extreme health optimization can create isolation when it prevents normal social interactions. Johnson's struggles finding compatible partners highlight how longevity practices can paradoxically diminish quality of life.
• Social connection isn't just nice to have—it's essential. Research consistently shows that strong social connections contribute to a longer, healthier life. By the documentary's end, Johnson himself begins building connections with like-minded individuals as he realizes the importance of this missing element.

other interesting bits

• Mortality gives life urgency and value. Johnson's quest raises the philosophical question of whether death's inevitability is what makes life precious in the first place. Memento Mori.
• This article on the importance of connections details the growing evidence around social connection, optimism, and community playing crucial roles in improving longevity and well-being.
• Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation.