
Because the vast majority of longevity research is based on white people, Mangesh asks the question, what about HIS body? He talks with a Yale researcher from Delhi who explains how centuries of colonialism have shaped South Asian epigenetics, leading to stark inequalities—and more big questions. And then, Mangesh heads to India, where he subjects himself to high-tech services at a biohacking lab and visits a traditional ayurvedic clinic. Back home in New York, his mom reflects on life after loss, and how much longer she really wants to live. Plus: Mangesh’s teenage son explains looksmaxxing and rates his dad’s face. Learn more about Raghav Sehgal’s longevity research Check out Reverse Infinity and Shree Shanti Wellness in Goa Try a recipe for pani puri Listen to the BBC audio documentary 3 Million, about the Bengal famine Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score. Episode collage art by Vahini Shori.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 21
59 min

The game’s afoot! Many powerful people—from world leaders to Silicon Valley billionaires—have been whispering about the possibility of living forever via organ replacement. But is their dream a reality, or is it still in the realm of sci-fi? Mangesh learns about Vladimir Putin’s longevity obsession from an exiled Russian journalist, spends an illuminating afternoon with a white-hat hacker, and meets a scientist who’s rebuilding brains, one cell at a time. Finally, he tracks down the co-founder of a mysterious start-up that’s rumored to be doing things no one ever thought possible… until now. Read Proekt’s coverage of Putin’s health, and Foreign Policy on death rates for Russian soldiers Read Nakoa Po’s Sundial Therapeutics Substack Support your local library Visit R3 Bio’s website, and read coverage in Wired and MIT Technology Review Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score. Episode collage art by Vahini Shori.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 14
1 hr

It’s a crossover episode! Skyline Drive: How to Live Forever x Part-Time Genius join forces to take on Blue Zones—like Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; or Sardinia, Italy—places said to hold the secret of longer, healthier life. But what makes them so special—and why are they blue?!?!? (Spoiler, it has nothing to do with the ocean.) Is their longevity power real or just a myth? And why did the researchers who started it all have a falling-out that might just last a hundred years, too? We’ll be back with a new HTLF episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, subscribe to Part-Time Genius wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 7
28 min

On a whirlwind trip to the Bay Area, Mangesh reconnects with a childhood friend who’s experimenting with new ways to optimize his health. Then, he heads to the heart of San Francisco to meet the investors, startup founders, tinkerers, and biopunks who are taking longevity science into their own hands. Plus: Skyline Drive’s first-ever musical number, about the bizarre Honduran charter city of Próspera. Read more about Próspera from Wired and Bloomberg Visit the Frontier Tower website Check out Elliot Roth’s work Learn more about Illumicell Learn more about Muse Bio Listen to more of David Nagler’s music Check out Allie Oops on Tiktok Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score. Episode collage art by Vahini Shori.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 30
57 min

According to “mortality curmudgeon” Dr. Stephen Cave, humans have been inventing stories about immortality since the beginning of time. On a quest to unravel some of these myths, Mangesh finds himself wrestling with a literal fountain of youth in Chicago, playing left-handed tennis with an ambidexterity expert in San Diego, and discovering the Greek way of life with an old friend from last season. Plus: Meet Mr. Wonderful. Watch Stephen Cave’s TED Talk and get his book, Immortality: The Quest to Live Forever and How It Drives Civilization Check out Jim Houliston’s website, AmbiLife, and learn more about Ambidex Fitness Check out George Aivaliotis’s comedy on Instagram Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score. Episode collage art by Vahini Shori.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 23
56 min

Mangesh hops a train to Boston, where he tries on a special suit that turns him into an 80-year-old, discovers the connection between elderly worms and high-end longevity supplements, and meets a scientist who’s growing brains in petri dishes (when she’s not throwing dance parties for mice). Plus: What really happened to Ted Williams’ frozen head? Learn more about AGNES and Joe Coughlin’s work at the MIT AgeLab Learn more about William Mair’s work with the Harvard Healthy Aging Initiative Read Lenny Guarante’s research on SIR2 and the mechanisms of aging Watch Li-Huei Tsai’s TED Talk about treating Alzheimer’s with light and sound, and learn more about the MIT Aging Brain Initiative Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score. Episode collage art by Vahini Shori. CORRECTION FOR THIS WEEK: Lenny was contacted by Sequoia, and a then-Sequoia partner is the co-founder and CEO of Elysium, but Sequoia is not an Elysium investor. The company is backed by other venture capital firms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 16
55 min

When an astrologer tells Mangesh that he’ll (probably) die early, he takes it in stride. But his family and friends (not to mention all the Don’t Die longevity influencers on his FYP) feel differently… and besides, if science can keep his brain sharp and his tennis game strong for longer, why not take advantage? So he visits Dr. Nir Barzelai, the world’s leading aging researcher, and Dr. Ron Primas, an elite longevity doctor, to figure out what he should do. Plus: A chat with Ken Reid from TV Guidance Counselor about age in pop culture, from the Golden Girls to “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” Disclosure: The experts we spoke with want to be clear that although they have some minor quibbles with Bryan Johnson, they’re grateful for the fact that he’s started the conversation on longevity. Any insinuation that he’s got weird vibes is ours. Listen to Ken Reid’s podcast, TV Guidance Counselor Learn more about Nir Barzelai’s Longevity Genes Project and his book, Age Later Learn more about Ron Primas’s longevity and concierge medicine practice Read Cynthia Kenyon’s groundbreaking 1993 study of worm longevity Check out the Ray Kurzweil Library Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score. Episode collage art by Vahini Shori.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 9
51 min

Mangesh Hattikudur (Part-Time Genius, Mental_Floss) dives into the booming business of living forever—meeting the scientists, biopunks, and entrepreneurs trying to turn immortality into reality, and framing death as a choice. But the more he learns about an immortal future, the more he finds himself drawn to the people he loves…and wondering if an endless life can be a meaningful one. Skyline Drive: How to Live Forever is the follow up to the beloved Skyline Drive (season 1), named a “Series Essential” — an Apple Podcasts honor for top-tier narrative podcasts — and highlighted on several Best of Year lists including NYMag, Guardian, and others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 2
4 min

Skyline Drive has been selected as an Apple Podcasts Series Essential! In this final episode, Mangesh makes some trips to an old family home, a seaside town in South Goa, and visits with a Tantric astrologer (it's not what you think!), as he tries to get closure. We made you a mixtape. Listen to Sounds from Skyline Drive Vol 1 and Vol 2. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Instagram and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 28, 2023
35 min

Skyline Drive has been selected as an Apple Podcasts Series Essential! Mangesh travels to India to find a horoscope written about him centuries ago and waiting for him in a shop in rural Tamil Nadu... but it isn't long before everything starts going wrong! Listen to the Skyline Drive mixtape Vol 1 and Vol 2. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Instagram and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 21, 2023
1 hr 1 min
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