Walking into the first-ever Don’t Die Summit in San Francisco, I had no idea what to expect. I knew Bryan Johnson was doing something big, but I didn’t realize I was about to witness the birth of a movement.
I was surrounded by people who weren’t simply interested in living a little longer. They wanted to reverse aging, optimize their bodies, and use cutting-edge science to push the limits of human potential. At the center of it all was Bryan Johnson, the man living the most measured and optimized life on the planet.
That first summit in San Francisco was the spark. By the time Don’t Die reached Los Angeles and then New York, the event had evolved. Each city brought a sharper focus, fewer outside speakers, more direct engagement with Bryan, and a growing sense that this was more than a conference.
After attending these three summits, it’s clear to me that the purpose behind Don’t Die is to redefine the way we think about longevity. It’s not just about living longer, it’s about optimizing every aspect of our bodies to function at their peak for as long as possible while continuously pushing the limits of human potential. But more than anything, it’s about building a community of like-minded individuals who are just as committed to this vision as Bryan himself.
Who is Bryan Johnson? The Man Redefining Aging
To understand why the Don’t Die Summit is so unique, you first have to understand the man behind it. Bryan Johnson is not your typical health guru. He’s not promoting fad diets, or preaching vague self-improvement advice. He is literally living the most measured life in human history.
Bryan’s story is one of radical reinvention. He first made his mark in the tech world, founding Braintree, a payment processing company that later acquired Venmo and was eventually sold to PayPal for $800 million. He could have retired at that point, lived the rest of his life in luxury, relaxing and enjoying the success he had built.
But instead, he chose a completely different path.
Rather than settling into a comfortable retirement, Bryan turned his attention to one of the most complex and ambitious challenges of our time: reversing the aging process. He didn’t just want to slow aging, he wanted to prove that we could measure, optimize, and completely control it.
Thus, Blueprint was born, the most data-driven, precise health regimen ever created. Unlike traditional wellness plans that rely on general advice or personal intuition, Blueprint is fully backed by quantifiable data, constant tracking, and real-time adjustments based on biometrics.
How Bryan Became the Most Measured Human in History
Every part of Bryan’s life is designed for precision. His nutrition is calibrated to deliver exactly 2,000–2,250 calories per day, avoiding all toxins, microplastics, and heavy metals. His sleep is engineered with temperature-regulating technology, circadian lighting, and a strict routine designed to lower his heart rate to 49 BPM at night. His exercise regimen is structured to maintain muscle mass, mobility, and metabolic efficiency without excess strain.
There are no “cheat days” in Bryan’s system. Every choice he makes either contributes to his biological age reversal, or it doesn’t. He doesn’t guess, he measures.
Even his hair and skin health are approached with the same meticulous strategy. After experiencing early-stage hair thinning, he tested multiple biotech solutions and restored his hair growth through regenerative treatments.
Every supplement, every food choice, every therapy he undergoes is tracked with real-time biometrics to show whether it’s actually reversing his biological age. And if something isn’t working? He cuts it out.
What Makes Bryan Johnson Different?
There are plenty of people in the wellness and longevity space claiming to have “hacks” for anti-aging, but what sets Bryan Johnson apart is that he doesn’t deal in theories, he deals in data. Every recommendation he gives, whether about diet, sleep, supplementation, or recovery, is something he has tested on himself first, down to the microgram.
Everything he does is measured, tested, and meticulously tracked, with no marketing gimmicks or half-measures. He is the experiment.
And unlike many others in the space, he doesn’t keep his findings to himself, he shares every single piece of data publicly, allowing the world to see what actually works and what doesn’t. This commitment to transparency is a big part of what makes people trust him.
Bryan’s Appearance
One of the most common misconceptions about Bryan Johnson is that he “looks unhealthy” in photos or videos. I’ve heard it over and over, people see him online and assume that his strict regimen is making him frail or tired.
But the reality is, Bryan looks incredible in person.
When you actually meet him, he doesn’t look like a 49-year-old man, he looks 36, maybe even younger. His skin is clear, glowing, and youthful. There’s zero puffiness, no signs of inflammation, no premature aging. His posture is strong, his eyes are bright, his energy is electric through the roof, and his presence is charismatic. The camera simply doesn’t do him justice.
I’ve ever heard it within my circle of friends, people who initially doubted him completely change their minds when they see him in real life, their reaction is always the same, “Wait… he actually looks amazing.”
People love to critique, but the truth is he’s living proof that radical health optimization is possible. It’s obvious his protocols are working, once you meet him in real life, there’s no denying it.
San Francisco – Sept 2024
The energy in the room was unlike any other health conference. There was urgency, a hunger for real change, and a collective excitement, not just about extending life, but reversing aging altogether. The crowd wasn’t just sitting back and listening, they were asking questions, taking notes, running their own tests, and sharing insights. There was a genuine sense of participation, as if everyone there wasn’t merely attending a conference but becoming part of something bigger.
It felt less like a conference and more like a movement forming in real time. Scientists, tech visionaries, biohackers, and longevity enthusiasts had flown in from around the world, united by the belief that human life could be radically extended through science and precision-driven health optimization. Booths showcased cutting-edge innovations, from biological age testing and DNA analysis to real-time metabolic tracking and regenerative therapies, offering a glimpse into the future of human health.
And the attendees weren’t the usual mix of doctors and wellness enthusiasts. The room was filled with young founders, investors, researchers, and biohackers, people at the forefront of health technology, ready to push the limits of what’s possible.
By the end of that first summit, it was clear that Bryan was building something special and I knew this was something I would follow closely. When you witness a shift this significant in the way we think about health and aging, it’s impossible to ignore.
See my full article on Bryan Johnson’s San Fran Summit here.
My Experience Speaking at the First Summit
One of the most memorable parts of the event was having the honor of speaking on stage alongside Alina Rui Su from Generation Lab. We presented on biological age testing, a topic that’s becoming increasingly critical in the longevity space.
We discussed inflammation as a the key driver of disease.
Most people think aging is something that just happens, an unavoidable part of life. But in reality, aging is a disease process, and inflammation is its fuel. By tracking biological age across all 19 organs, we can identify problem areas before they manifest as disease. I could see how engaged the audience was, not because we were talking about possibilities, but because this was real science, real testing, and real data.
The Food at the Event
If you’ve ever been to a wellness event, you know the routine, some “healthy” snacks, maybe a gluten-free option, but often nothing that truly meets biohacker standards.
But at Don’t Die? Every single meal was both delicious and meticulously tested for purity.
Everything served was:
1. Vegetarian (Bryan doesn’t eat meat, though he acknowledges bio-individuality).
2. Lab-tested for heavy metals, microplastics, and toxins.
3. Portioned precisely to align with longevity research.
It’s about precision nutrition, fueling the body with scientifically validated ingredients. I remember thinking, this is what food should be, not just labeled organic or marketed as healthy, but measured, optimized, and intentionally crafted to support optimal health and longevity
Los Angeles - Jan 2025
By the time the Don’t Die Summit made its way to Los Angeles, it was clear that this event was evolving. San Francisco had set the stage, but in LA, the entire experience felt tighter, more focused, and more immersive. Bryan Johnson had refined the formula, fewer speakers, more direct interaction with him, and an even stronger emphasis on the science behind longevity.
The LA summit revolved entirely around Bryan. He was the main attraction, the teacher, and the subject of study. On stage for hours, he broke down his Blueprint Protocol, answered questions, and took the audience deep into the numbers, his biomarkers, latest health optimizations, and continuous refinements. The crowd wanted to learn directly from him. And he delivered, walking everyone through his latest adjustments, what was working, what he had changed, and why data, not opinions, was the only thing that mattered.
The VIP Dinner
The VIP Dinner was an intimate, 50-person gathering held at Remedy Place, a high-end biohacking lounge in West Hollywood. Unlike a typical networking event or casual dinner, this was Bryan doing what he does best, asking questions, collecting data, and refining his understanding of what people actually need to live longer.
What stood out to me the most was how much Bryan listens. He’s not a guru preaching from a stage or dictating what people should do. He’s an experimenter, a student of human longevity. At this dinner, he spent more time asking questions than speaking, genuinely curious about what people thought, how they were experiencing health optimization, and what they wanted from the future of longevity science. His questions turned into philosophical discussions about human behavior, aging, and the real barriers preventing people from changing their health habits.
New York - Feb 2025
Held at the Javits Center, the New York Don’t Die Summit was the biggest one yet, with over 1,500 attendees, 25+ cutting-edge longevity companies, and a level of energy and engagement that felt like a movement in full force.
Unlike San Francisco and LA, which both kicked off with a morning rave, New York flipped the script and ended with one. Bryan, his parents, and his massive fanbase (yes, mostly guys shouting, “Bryan, we love you!”) danced together, laughing and celebrating this mission to redefine what it means to be human.
This summit had only two people leading the event, Bryan and Dr. Mike Mallin, his personal longevity physician. The entire focus was on Bryan’s protocol, the science behind it, and deep audience engagement.
While at the event, I also ran into Dr. Jonathan Kuo from Extension Health and had the chance to sit down with him for my Wellness is Life podcast. His clinic is at the forefront of regenerative medicine, specializing in advanced therapies like peptides, plasma treatments, and highly personalized longevity protocols.
A Cult-Like Following? Maybe. But It’s Different.
Most health and wellness conferences are predictable, the audience sits back, listens, maybe takes a few notes, and leaves with a couple of ideas to try. Not here.
At the Don’t Die Summit, the energy is next-level. People aren’t just curious about Bryan’s Blueprint, they’re fully invested in it. They don’t just respect Bryan, they adore him. I’ve been to countless conferences, but I’ve never seen men, successful, health-conscious, high-performing men, cheering for a biohacker the way fans cheer for a rockstar.
And I get it. This isn’t a celebrity selling a product they barely use or a guru making vague promises without results. Bryan Johnson is the product.
Everything he teaches, he lives. His data is public for the world to see. His body is a walking case study in human longevity. It’s easy to preach a lifestyle. It’s another thing to scientifically prove that what you’re doing works.
The Companies That Stood Out
One of the most exciting aspects of the Don’t Die Summit was discovering the companies that Bryan Johnson personally vets and invites. Unlike traditional health conferences where brands pay for exposure, every company at Don’t Die was there because Bryan himself uses, trusts, and believes in their products. That level of curation meant that every booth was worth stopping by, and I took full advantage, testing products, speaking to founders, and even bringing a few home with me.
ACORN
Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising fields in regenerative medicine, but traditional methods require invasive procedures like fat or bone marrow extraction. ACORN changes that by harvesting stem cells from hair follicles, making the process completely non-invasive.
The idea is simple: bank your stem cells now while they’re young and healthy, so they’re available for future regenerative treatments. Whether for injury recovery or anti-aging therapies, having access to your own preserved stem cells could be transformative.
8Sleep
If there’s one thing I took away from this summit, it’s that sleep is the foundation of longevity. Eight Sleep is an AI-powered mattress topper that automatically adjusts temperature throughout the night to optimize deep sleep and recovery.
I got to test it at the event, and it immediately made sense why so many biohackers swear by it. By cooling the body at night and gradually warming it before waking, it supports circadian rhythm alignment, improves sleep efficiency, and enhances recovery. If deep, restorative sleep is a priority, it’s one of the smartest investments you can make.
FlexBeam
We all know red light therapy has been well-documented for its ability to reduce inflammation, accelerate muscle recovery, and enhance cellular repair. But most red light devices are bulky and require standing in front of a panel for long periods. FlexBeam solves this by making red light therapy wearable and portable.
I tried it on my lower back at the summit and was immediately impressed by how deep the warmth penetrated. Unlike traditional devices, you can wrap it around specific areas, your spine, abdomen, or sore muscles, targeting recovery wherever you need it most. After hearing how others were using it daily for inflammation and pain relief, I decided to buy one on the spot.
Young Goose
Most skincare focuses on hydration and fine lines, but Young Goose applies the same longevity science we use for internal health to the skin. Their formulations use NAD+, peptides, and growth factors to enhance mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and epigenetic rejuvenation.
I had an in-depth conversation with their founder, Amitay Eshel, and was blown away by how much scientific precision goes into these formulas. They target all 12 hallmarks of aging, addressing oxidative stress, collagen breakdown, and cellular damage in a way that goes far beyond typical skincare. I’ve been using their products for over a year and can personally say they are amazing.
Parasym
The vagus nerve plays a critical role in stress management, inflammation control, and nervous system regulation. Traditional treatments involve injections, but Parasym offers a non-invasive way to stimulate the vagus nerve daily through a small device clipped to the ear.
I’ve done vagus nerve injections with my doctor before, so I know firsthand how powerful vagus activation can be. The ability to achieve similar results without needles was enough for me to buy one at the event and have since started integrating it into my daily routine.
Filterbaby
Most people think about their diet and supplements, but what about the water that touches their skin daily? Tap water often contains chlorine, microplastics, and heavy metals, which can damage the skin barrier and accelerate aging.
Filterbaby is a high-tech filtration system specifically designed for skin health. It attaches to your sink or shower, removing harmful contaminants before they reach your face and body. After hearing how unfiltered water contributes to premature aging, I bought one for my bathroom sink immediately and already notice my skin feels less dry and irritated after washing my face.
PNOĒ
Your VO2 max and metabolic efficiency are two of the best predictors of longevity. PNOĒ offers real-time breath analysis that measures how well your body processes oxygen, burns fat, and utilizes energy, giving users real-time insights into their overall metabolic function.
VO2 max, the body’s ability to use oxygen efficiently, is directly correlated with lifespan and disease prevention. The more efficiently you process oxygen, the stronger and more resilient your body is at a cellular level. PNOĒ’s breath testing provides deep insights into how efficiently your body burns fat, processes energy, and handles physical stress.
Carol Bike
Instead of spending hours on traditional cardio, Carol Bike promises maximum cardiovascular benefits in just 8 minutes using AI-driven high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
Research shows that short, high-intensity bursts of exercise can provide the same cardiovascular and metabolic benefits as longer workouts. Carol Bike optimizes resistance and timing based on your individual fitness level, ensuring every session is as effective as possible.
Everyday Dose
Instead of relying on caffeine spikes, Everyday Dose combines functional mushrooms, collagen, and nootropics for smoother, more sustained energy. Unlike traditional coffee, which can spike cortisol and cause crashes, this blend supports brain health, focus, and gut function without the side effects.
I’ve been drinking Everyday Dose for a while now, and it’s become one of my favorite daily nootropics. If you love coffee but don’t love the jitters, crashes, or acidity, this is one of the best alternatives out there.
Key Lessons from the Summits
Sleep is King
Exercise Daily
Food as Precision Science
Community is Health
Measure Everything
Final Thoughts
With a positive approach and a motivation mindset, you will reach your health goals, no matter how hard they may seem at first. Learn more about my one-on-one coaching program here.
