#265 - Time, productivity, and purpose: insights from Four Thousand Weeks | Oliver Burkeman
Release Date: 08/07/2023
#355 – Skincare strategies, the science of facial aging, and cosmetic-intervention guidance | Tanuj Nakra, M.D. & Suzan Obagi, M.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Tanuj Nakra and Suzan Obagi, two leading experts in aesthetic medicine, join Peter to explore the science of facial aging and skin health as well as the responsibilities physicians face in the world of cosmetic procedures. In this episode, they examine the biological and hormonal drivers of facial aging, the evolutionary and psychological foundations of attractiveness, and the impact of modern media on beauty standards. They discuss the rise in cosmetic procedures among adolescents and the ethical responsibilities of physicians in these cases. The conversation then shifts to a practical,...
info_outline
#354 – What the dying can teach us about living well: lessons on life and reflections on mortality | BJ Miller, M.D. and Bridget Sumser, L.C.S.W.
The Peter Attia Drive
BJ Miller, a hospice and palliative care physician, and Bridget Sumser, a licensed social worker specializing in serious illness and end-of-life care, join Peter to share insights from their decades of work supporting people at the end of life. In this episode, they explore the emotional and physiological processes of dying, the cultural barriers that prevent meaningful conversations about death, and how early engagement with mortality can lead to greater clarity and connection. The conversation highlights the distinctions between hospice and palliative care, the nature of suffering beyond...
info_outline
#353 - AMA #72: Fasting: benefits for body composition and disease prevention, potential risks, and Peter’s updated practical framework
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter revisits the topic of fasting, sharing how his thinking has evolved over time. The episode explores fasting-related terminology and common types of fasting, as well as the various reasons individuals might choose to fast. Peter explores potential benefits including improvements in body composition, metabolic health, lifespan extension, cardiovascular disease, cancer prevention and treatment, neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and autoimmune symptoms like arthritis. He also examines the risks and potential...
info_outline
#352 ‒ Female fertility: optimizing reproductive health, diagnosing and treating infertility and PCOS, and understanding the IVF process | Paula Amato, M.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
This is part two of a two-part mini-series on fertility and reproductive health. Paula Amato is a leading expert in female reproductive health and infertility, widely recognized for her contributions to advancing fertility treatment and research. In this episode, which follows last week's conversation on male fertility, Paula explores the biology of female fertility, including how hormonal changes regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation, what those patterns reveal about fertility potential, and why both partners should be evaluated early in infertility workups. She discusses the role of...
info_outline
#351 ‒ Male fertility: optimizing reproductive health, diagnosing and treating infertility, and navigating testosterone replacement therapy | Paul Turek, M.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
This is part one of a two-part mini-series on fertility and reproductive health, with next week's guest, Dr. Paula Amato, focusing on the female side of the equation. Paul Turek is a world-renowned expert in male fertility and reproductive health, the founder and medical director of the Turek Clinic, and host of the Talk with Turek podcast. In this episode, Paul explores the topic of male fertility, offering a detailed look at the complex and highly coordinated process of conception and the many challenges sperm face on their journey to fertilizing an egg. He shares fascinating insights...
info_outline
#350 ‒ Injury prevention, recovery, and performance optimization for every decade | Kyler Brown, D.C.
The Peter Attia Drive
Kyler Brown is a sports rehab chiropractor who specializes in injury recovery, pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, and guiding clients from rehab back to peak performance. As co-founder of the private training program 10 Squared alongside Peter, Kyler shares his approach to injury prevention and performance optimization—highlighting how overlooked movement patterns can quietly lead to chronic issues over time. He outlines a practical framework for assessing and treating individuals, highlights the importance of understanding movement dynamics and asymmetries, and discusses personalized...
info_outline
#349 - AMA #71: Building strength and muscle mass: how to optimize training, nutrition, and more for longevity
The Peter Attia Drive
In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter dives deep into the topic of muscle mass and strength, examining their essential roles in both lifespan and healthspan. Drawing from over 30 hours of prior discussions with experts including Layne Norton, Andy Galpin, and Mike Israetel, this episode distills the most important insights into one comprehensive and up-to-date conversation. Peter explores why muscle matters for longevity, metabolic health, and injury prevention, and clarifies the differences between muscle mass and strength, including which is more vital for aging well. He...
info_outline
#348 ‒ Women’s sexual health, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) | Rachel Rubin, M.D.
The Peter Attia Drive
Rachel Rubin is a board-certified urologist and one of the nation's foremost experts in sexual health. In this episode, she shares her deep expertise on the often-overlooked topic of women’s sexual health, exploring why this area remains so neglected in traditional medicine and highlighting the critical differences in how men and women experience hormonal decline with age. Rachel explains the physiology of the menstrual cycle, the complex hormonal shifts of perimenopause, and the wide-reaching health risks associated with menopause, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease,...
info_outline
#347 – Peter’s takeaways on mastering sleep, dealing with chronic pain, developing breakthrough cancer drugs, transforming healthcare with AI, advancing radiation therapy, and healing trauma | Quarterly Podcast Summary #5
The Peter Attia Drive
In this quarterly podcast summary (QPS) episode, Peter summarizes his biggest takeaways from the last three months of guest interviews on the podcast. Peter shares key insights from his discussions with Jeff English on the journey to healing from trauma; Ashley Mason on improving sleep and CBT-I; Sanjay Mehta on misconceptions around radiation and its use in cancer therapy and treating inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis and tendonitis); Sean Mackey on understanding and treating acute and chronic pain; and Susan Desmond-Hellmann on insights from her extraordinary career that pertain...
info_outline
#346 - Scaling biotech and improving global health: lessons from an extraordinary career in medicine | Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H.
The Peter Attia Drive
Susan Desmond-Hellmann is a physician and scientist whose remarkable career has spanned clinical medicine, oncology, biotech innovation, and global health leadership. In this episode, Susan shares insights from her journey training in internal medicine during the early AIDS crisis, treating HIV-related cancers in Uganda, and developing groundbreaking cancer therapies like Herceptin and Avastin. She reflects on her leadership roles at UCSF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, offering lessons on guiding large-scale health initiatives, navigating uncertainty, and fostering scientific...
info_outlineView the Show Notes Page for This Episode
Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter
Oliver Burkeman is the author of The New York Times best-seller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In this episode, Oliver delves into the pervasive idea that time can be mastered, exploring whether maximizing productivity is an attainable goal or a perpetual trap. He discusses the allure of attempting to control time—and, therefore, the future—and shares his personal journey of experimenting with diverse time management techniques that failed to deliver the emotional satisfaction he sought. Ultimately, they explore the mismatch between being a finite human and existing in a world of infinite possibilities and how all of these concepts intertwine with finding a sense of purpose and meaning. Additionally, Oliver shares insights from his book on productivity, using our time wisely, and embracing our finitude to live a more fulfilling life.
We discuss:
- Oliver’s experience that led him to write the book Four Thousand Weeks [3:15];
- Human’s relationship with time and the struggle with the finite nature of time [7:15];
- How productivity can be a trap [11:00];
- The fallacy that being more efficient will open up more time and bring a feeling of control [16:45];
- The paradoxical nature of trying too hard to be present in the current moment [22:45];
- The value of relationships in meaningful experiences and fulfillment, and how time gets its value from being shared [26:45];
- The importance of time synchronicity [36:00];
- Identifying your biggest priorities and the paradox of wanting to do more than you have time for [41:00];
- Oliver’s moment of clarity in 2014 [47:15];
- The role of a sense of purpose in fulfillment [50:15];
- Reconciling the finite nature of time and letting go of trying to master your time [59:00];
- Why we tend to have a future-focused attitude and how to combat that with atelic activities [1:05:45];
- The power of shifting your perspective about time and your experiences [1:12:45];
- How to operationalize the three principles for the dilemma of finite time [1:20:15];
- Harnessing the power of patience in the face of a problem or experience [1:28:00];
- The value of incrementalism for being productive [1:34:15];
- Embracing your finitude with curiosity [1:38:00];
- Acting on an idea in the moment rather than letting the idea be the obstacle [1:41:15]; and
- More.
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube