Yahoo Lifestyle Inside Viral Biohacker Bryan Johnson’s Don’t Die Summit In New York City
Bryan Johnson is ready to live forever, and he wants others to do the same.
On Saturday, the viral biohacker hosted his Don’t Die Summit at the Javits Center, its first iteration in New York City after hosting events in San Francisco, Singapore and Los Angeles. While Johnson has been gaining traction for his goal to seemingly live forever, his recent Netflix documentary, “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever,” has increased the buzz.
More from WWD
Pomellato Taps Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu As New Global Ambassador
Cosmo and Bumble Team Up for Valentine's Day Love Ball at Boom at The Standard
While some have questioned Johnson’s approach, namely doing a plasma transfusion with his son or the fact he eats his last meal around 11 a.m., he’s also gained a loyal following, which was on full display as guests, many in “Don’t Die” T-shirts, swarmed the Javits Center.
The day’s events included a longevity park where guests could learn about new brands; panels, primarily about Johnson’s own biomarkers and his protocol,;a sing along; a dance party, and several opportunities to ask questions and get feedback. For Johnson, the goal was that everyone left with a friend and tangible health advice.
“Those that exist in the 25th century, I hope they look back at this moment and they say, ‘That was the flicker. You could see that humans were beginning to get the moment that something really big was happening. They were giving birth to super intelligence. Things were changing very quickly, and they were now reimagining what could they become? How long could they live?,’” he told WWD before the start of the event.
He continued: “We want a wonderful day to dance and to do tests and stuff like that, but really it’s this bigger moment of what we can become as a species.”
Throughout the day, attendees were able to explore longevity-focused brands, such as OneSkin, a skin care brand focused on healthy aging; Roots by Genetic Arts, a hair company that uses DNA-testing and personalized formulas to address loss; Extension Health, a longevity based clinic in New York that offers everything from peptide therapies to DEXA scans; Eight Sleep, best known for its customizable mattresses, and many more. Johnson’s brand Blueprint, which provides free resources, including his entire protocol, and sells supplements, snacks and meals, also had a booth. All guests were able to partake in a free fitness assessment that tested markers like grip strength to assign them a biological age.
During panel segments, Johnson took to the stage with his lead doctor Mike Mallin to discuss his own biomarkers and protocols. In addition, Blueprint cofounder Kate Tolo joined to outline what the Blueprint protocol looks like for women. These talks prompted specific questions from the audience, such as the safety of different seed oils, whether detoxes are worth it and if there’s a way to get the benefits of a full night’s sleep in just four hours (not yet, according to Johnson).
Although Johnson and Mallin discussed innovative treatments like NAD+ IV infusions and stem cell therapies, the ultimate suggestions were around maintaining sleep, healthy nutrition and an exercise routine; avoiding alcohol, and routinely doing bloodwork to assess what treatments do and don’t work — according to the team, it’s not a one size fits all approach.
These talks were often interrupted to keep the audience engaged — think moments to stretch and Johnson’s posture checks, which he periodically does with his family. At one point, Johnson was interrupted by a sing-along portion, which featured songs like “Don’t Stop Believing” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” While dance parties and sing-alongs may sound cringe-y at first, they are key parts of these events for Johnson, as community is crucial for one’s health — this concept of social wellness has recently been legitimized by the U.S. Surgeon General’s announcement of the loneliness epidemic.
“The people that it attracts are just amazing. They’re bright and they’re motivated. They’re successful,” he said. “We don’t do any screening, so it pulls in such remarkable people… It has a natural gravitational pull that is so strong.”
He added: “The best way to be healthy is for your friends to be healthy, and so when you’re around people who also are practicing health, it’s so much easier to make the good decision.”
For many, Johnson’s protocols may seem intimidating, but that’s not his goal. When asked whether he has a guilty pleasure, he thought for a long time before ultimately saying, “People frame these as cheat days or something like that. I don’t like the idea of eating a donut or a piece of pizza. It kind of makes me sick.”
That being said, he doesn’t want to scare people off and has worked to make his suggestions as accessible as possible.
“For those who are intimidated by this, we’ve made this so simple. I’ve taken everything I’ve done and I’ve made it into such easy things that are free that everybody can do,” said Johnson.
“I want people to be their best self,” he said. “I hope that I can cross that chasm soon where people will be like, ‘Oh, he’s not the untouchable, eccentric thing I thought he was. It’s actually very approachable.’”
Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
