Hi, guys.

It's Tony Robbins. You're listening to habits and hustle. Crush it.

Okay, everybody, I have Max Lugaver back on the podcast.

What up?

I was just, like, going on and on to Max because, Max, you look so good.

Thank you.

Like, you are practicing what you preach. I want to know exactly every day what you're doing habitually, because whatever it is, it's working because Max is literally aging backwards.

Aw, so sweet. So are you, by the way.

No, I. Not, like, not as good as you. I want to know everything you're doing.

Well, man, what is my routine? I just, you know, I practice what I preach, I exercise regularly, I eat what's regularly.

I want, like, detail. What's regularly?

Well, I'm a bit of a closet meathead, so, you know, I'm doing resistance training, like, five to six times a week.

Okay, good.

Yeah, I'm not like a big cardio guy, but I do walk as much as I can, which in LA can be challenging. But I like, you know, put on a podcast and walk on the treadmill for, like, 2030 minutes every day. Not every day, but, like, most days. And then when I'm traveling, you know, walking through airports and stuff, like, I find it a lot easier to get my steps in in other cities. And so when I'm traveling, yeah, so when I'm traveling, it's like, it's easier to do that. And I've been traveling quite a bit lately, but, yeah, you know, I try to, like, stay as active as possible, and I resistance train really regularly, and I think diet plays a huge role in skin and everything, too. So I'm big on, I take collagen fairly regularly. I'm a huge fan of a supplement called astaxanthin, which is a carotenoid is really good for skin.

What's it called?

Astaxanthin. You've never heard of astaxanthin?

No.

Oh, my God, it's amazing.

Tell me everything about it.

Well, astaxanthin is a carotenoid, so carotenoids, like beta carotene, is the most well known carotenoid. Lutein, zeaxanthin, I've talked a lot about. Lutein and zeaxanthin are just great for eye health and brain health. But astaxanthin is good for all of the above as well. But it in particular is really beneficial to skin health and appearance. And so it's, what brand is it?

And this is not at paid. I just want to know what it is.

Yeah, it's not, um, well, I take, I've been, I became familiar with a company called ax three, which makes a very bioavailable form of it.

Okay.

And so they're, yeah, they're doing great. You know, they have a great astaxanthin supplement. There's like a few others on the market, but in general, very few people know about this, but it's, it's naturally found in, it's what gives salmon its natural red hue. So it's naturally found in marine, marine species, but it's produced by algae which sit at the surface of the water like all day long, absorbing the harmful, DNA damaging rays of the sun. And so what they do is they can't get away, so they synthesize this incredibly powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin. And it's that red hue that gives salmon its color. After salmon ethiology, flamingo are actually born white, but they turn pink because they eat this algae that has this red hue in it.

So you're not pink, though, you're, you look very.

No, well, if you could.

Bread white.

Actually, if you, if you, if you consume enough of it, you might really? Yeah, well there's, you know, if you consume enough beta carotene, you might turn orange. Right. So acids, these carotenoids, they're pigments, and so if you consume enough, hypothetically, you'll turn whatever color it happens to be.

But why isn't it very. Well, like, you know, you think you know everything. That's actually a great way to start this podcast because I thought I've heard it all right? Like, people come here all the time where people send me stuff all the time. Like you, I've never heard of that or seen that. So where did you, like, kind of. How did you figure it out? And have you seen a difference in your skin since you've been using it?

Well, yeah, I first heard about astaxanthin like 15 years ago or so, and I was like, really just compelled by the literature that I was reading. So I've been taking it for like 15 years, and it's, um, it's a really interesting carotenoid. It's one of the most powerful antioxidants known.

Then why does anybody else never, like, why does nobody talk about it?

It might be one of the compounds responsible for the health benefits that we see as a result of fish consumption.

Yeah, I guess so.

Yeah. You know. Cause we, we attribute the benefits of eating fatty fish like salmon to its omega three content. But there's also this really powerful antioxidant that wild salmon and salmon in general contains.

I mean, I'm not even joking. Cause you don't have, like, you're 42, and you look like. I'm not to say this to be nice because you're a guest on the podcast. You really do look like you're, like, 20.

Thank you.

Do you think it could be because of that, or is it just genetics, like, you're genetically. How about your brothers? Your brothers also look pretty.

It's not genetic. No, my brothers look their age, I would say, but in a good way. No, I mean, I think I look my age, too.

No, you don't. No, no, you don't. Honestly, if you were, if I didn't know you and you said, yeah, I'm 33, I'd believe you. Or 30, I'd believe you, I think.

Well, I mean, I did like a. I don't know.

No, tell me you did a what test?

A telomere test a couple years ago.

Okay.

Yeah. And I don't know how, you know, clinically validated, those are. I don't think they are clinically validated, actually. But, like, you know, it said that my telomeres were, you know, had. They looked more like somebody who was like, I think it was like, seven to ten years younger. And telomeres are like the shoelace caps at the end of your chromosomes that tend to shorten with age. They're thought to protect your chromosomal integrity, so to speak. And so mine seemed like a lot younger than my biological age would convey. And, yeah, I attribute it to, like, positive diet, lifestyle, you know, consuming. I've been supplementing with magnesium. That's another one that I take regularly. And magnesium is important for DNA repair.

Which one are you taking? I think it's very confusing. There's, like, citrate. There's, like, a bunch of them.

Yeah. I take glycinate, magnesium glycinate, for a few reasons, one being that it doesn't cause any GI upset when you take a high dose. Two, it's really bioavailable. You don't have to take it with other foods or anything like that. It doesn't rely on stomach acid to be absorbed, unlike other minerals. And then also magnesium glycinate, it's magnesium bound to glycine. And glycine is another really important amino acid that we tend to under consume today. So I think it's like a one two punch. Magnesium glycinate.

And then what do people use magnesium citrate for then?

I mean, you still get the benefits of consuming magnesium when you consume citrate, but citrate in particular is, it's used for laxation. So it's a laxative when you take a high dose.

Oh, it is, yeah.

Yeah.

Cause when you go to the store, there's like so many different magnesiums and people get, people, being a friend of mine, not me, of course, get confused because there's so many ones to pick from.

Yeah.

I actually just got the bio optimizer one. I think it's my magnesium glycinate that you just said.

Yeah. It's like they use like seven different forms. I think that's like their main form.

Have you tried that one?

Yeah. I mean, magnesium is magnesium for the most part. As long as you're getting it, 50% of people don't consume adequate magnesium. And magnesium is involved in hundreds of enzymatic processes in the body that range from ATP synthesis all the way up to like, you know, DNA repair.

Right.

Which is important for anti aging.

Are you taking it before you go to bed?

No, I don't think there's, there's any need to take it before you go to bed. I think, I think it's, you know, I'll take it like in the morning, you know, and I'll take it maybe. Yeah. The, I think as long as you're replete, it helps with sleep, you know, and it helps with mood and all these other things. I don't think there's an acute effect of, like, I think a lot of people believe that magnesium has this like acute, you know, relaxing, sedative, sedating effect. I don't think it, you know, I haven't seen any evidence of that. The evidence on magnesium in sleep is actually fairly weak. But, you know, a lot of people do anecdotally say that it helps with sleep. Yeah, glycine is actually really great for sleep. There's actually clinical data about 3 grams of glycine before bed. Seems to reduce sleep latency, helps your body better thermoregulate.

Really?

Yeah, before bed, there's like a, you know, an important temperature drop that has to occur in the body pre sleep. And glycinate is thought to help with that. So I take 3 grams of glycine before I go to bed many nights.

In what form?

In just glycine. It's a free form amino acid.

So what, okay, so now we're into that. What's that first one called that you.

Said, astaxanthina, great supplement.

Okay, astaxanthin magnesium. This one that you just said.

Glycine.

Glycine. What other things are you taking?

Well, glycine, one third of collagen is glycine. But I take collagen because now there's really good evidence on its ability to improve skin appearance. Skin health. I think that collagen is actually a longevity supplement. I think that glycine is important from a longevity standpoint. And so I think collagen is. Is beneficial in many ways, not just skin. I give it to my cat, actually. I give her, like, 4 grams of collagen.

Are you serious?

Yeah.

Are you doing it like so? Because I think a lot of. There's been, like, a little bit of controversy over that. They say it's like a waste of money. It doesn't really get into the system.

It's not a waste of money. I mean, look, if you're limited on money, there are probably more important things to spend your money on. You know, like if you can't afford health, if you can't afford, you know, a high quality whole food source of protein, and you're spending your money on a collagen supplement, that's, I think, misguided. You know what I'm saying?

Right, right.

But as a supplement, I think it's. There's definitely good evidence there. And, and I think it's. I think it's great. I think one of the biggest myths is that collagen doesn't, you know, you ingest collagen, it breaks down, deaminates into its. Into its constituent amino acids. And there's no guarantee that it's gonna, you know, actually influence collagen production in the body. But we now know that to be, that that's, in fact, the myth. The myth is that, you know, there are collagenous peptides that remain intact through digestion, and we absorb them.

So you just mix it with water as opposed to, like, putting your.

I actually, I mean, here's a cool hack I mix it into. Whenever I. If I do takeout, for example, and I get, like, any kind of soup or any kind of hot beverage, I literally will add ten to 20 grams of collagen to whatever. Like, if I get takeout tomka soup from my favorite thai restaurant.

Yeah, yeah.

And I get it at home and I put it. I'll put collagen into that soup.

Doesn't it ruin the texture and the.

Taste doesn't change it at all? Yeah, it's great. And you're. You're literally adding protein to your meal.

Oh, I love that. Okay. You can also, I guess, add it to, like, oatmeal. If you have oatmeal, you could do that.

Yeah, you can add it to most things. I mean, I'll add collagen. It's so covertly, it just, like, blends.

Into whatever it is, whatever it is that you're doing. Yeah, that's a good one, too. Okay, give me another one. Give me all the ones. We all want to look like you, Max.

Yeah. I mean, I take creatine. I've taken creatine fairly regularly for the past five years, I would say, well, on and off for the past five years, but I've taken it consistently for the past two years.

For your brain health, also. It's really good for your brain.

It is, yeah, there is. There was a recent meta analysis that found that supplemental creatine led to a small but significant improvement in cognitive function.

Yeah.

You know, when looking at all these different studies, because a meta analysis is a study of studies. And so I do supplement with creatine. I also, you know, enjoy it for its physical performance boosting. You know, it's a really well studied sports supplement.

They say. It's like, you know, now I feel.

Like everybody's talking about it.

Right. It's having a moment right now. It's huge in, like, the nineties. And for, like, bodybuilders, it's always been big. In the.

My high school senior thesis, I wrote on creatine.

Really?

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I've been in this world for a long time. It feels like. But, yeah. In the year 2000, I was writing about creatine.

And is it funny how now things are kind of like, it's like, 25 years later, it's, like, coming up now.

No, it's crazy. I mean, I love it. Cause I've always been a nerd for this kind of stuff, which is why I'm so grateful that I got to do what I do.

I know. Well, also, you're very good at explaining sometimes very. Not complicated, but kind of. You can make it very digestible for people to understand.

Thank you.

That's what your superpower is. Yeah.

I mean, everybody has to kind of find their. Their niche. I mean, I'm. I'm. I love to provide actionable, empowering information to my audience, you know? I mean, some people. Some people, their whole schtick is seemingly, like, talking shit about others on social media. Yeah, that's nothing. That's not my thing at all.

Cause, you know, it kind of gets a lot of engagement, and then the algorithm and your followers, and it's like, that is what a lot of people do in the fitness space. They talk shit and they, like. And they, like, shit on somebody else, and then, like, it goes back and forth, and it does very well with the algorithm.

I have no, zero interest in many ways, and I try not to engage. Like, I'm trying to actually limit my use of social media in general, particularly these days. But it from, you know, it definitely is starting to feel a lot more. More and more like high school.

Yeah.

Like a high school cafeteria environment.

Totally true.

And I just think it's like, it's actually kind of repulsive.

I mean, like, how do you stop engaging with. This is your. This is your business, right? Like, you have a ton of, what, like a million followers already?

Something like that.

That's crazy. And, like, it's a big area of your, like, business, I presume. Like, how do you just. Nothing, like, stop engaging in it. Like, do you have, like, a set time? Like, I'll go on it from, like, seven to nine in the morning and then again, like, for another hour. Like, you. Do you have timers on your phone or you just have to, like, have the discipline not to, like, open the app?

That's a really good question. I actually. So at this point, I have, you know, there are a few ways in which the people that follow me can engage with me, ask me questions. I try to make myself really available to my. To my followers. But one area where I've reduced my availability, I guess, is in the comments section, like, on Instagram. So my method now is I. And, you know, this isn't. I do dip in time to time to see what people are talking about, but I try as best I can to post and ghost, you know, so I basically post and then I stay out of my notification tab.

That's great.

Yeah. On Instagram. And if people have questions, you know, like, the people who really care about me and my work.

Yeah.

And in good. And want to have good faith, like, conversations with me and discussions, like, they can text me, they can email me, they can engage with me in a myriad of different places. But I find that the comments section, like, on the cause, people can, like, drop in, that don't. That don't. You know, like, people will come in and, like, ask you to, like, the best is when people seemingly, like, have a question, they'll pose a question, but you can tell based on their, you know, wording. It's not a good faith. Like, they don't really. They don't really care you know, to have their biases challenged or anything like that. They're just, like, trying to, like, catch you or something.

Yeah. Or stir the pot and they don't.

Even follow you at the end of the day. So it's like, why am I giving my time to some random account on social media?

Exactly.

You know, like, well, my time is so much is so much more valuable than that.

Oh, my God.

All of our time is, you know.

But people get stuck in the weeds like that, and it's like a time suck. Like, hours can go by, and it also, like, it can also affect your mood for the rest of the day because you see this one lousy comment, it's really hard to, like, remove yourself. But I find, like, people like you, you take a stand on, like, you know, meat protein, it's, like, the most ridiculous. Like, can you imagine 20 years ago being, like, hated because you eat chicken?

Yeah.

Like, that's what's happening.

Like, absurd.

The vegans versus the meat protein people, they go at it. It's so insane. The vitriol and hate that happens.

Not only that, but it's like the fact that I get hate for it, which I do all the time. I'm not even a carnivore advocate. Like, I advocate for vegetables just as much as I advocate for, you know, the consumption of red meat. I know, but because there's so much misinformation now about, like, red meat and animal source foods, I feel like they're worth advocating for, you know?

But the fact that this is even a topic that is, like, a hashtag, like, this is a trend now. You know, like, who are you on the vegan side? Are you on the meat protein? Like, what kind of crazy world are we living in? That, that's literally, like, the topic of conversation.

It's become high school. It's become high school.

That's the high school. That is a high school cafeteria. That is.

Yeah, it's gross.

Like, it's so ridiculous to me. And then, like, people, like, are calling out, everybody, like, the best is that guy, what's his name? The Paul Saladino guy. Like, he gets so much hate thrown at this guy, although he is kind of cuckoo. But, like, I shouldn't. I mean, you know, but, like, he doesn't eat anything. But, like, the point is, like, people hate him. Like, he's, like, murdered their family because of his belief system.

It's absurd.

It's so crazy.

Yeah. And most of these people, by the way, if you were to meet them in person, like, they'd be docile and.

Cool, probably, and, like, normal, nice people.

But it's just that social media gives, you know, this distance that allows, that makes people feel as though they can just say, what, sling whatever hate they want.

Oh, I know.

And it's not good. I mean, I think one of the most important questions of our time, it's like, you know, put nutrition aside for a moment. It's like, how do we navigate this world where there's so much polarity and so much hate? And it does take a toll, you know, it does take a toll on people's mental health. You do have to cultivate a, you know, like, a relationship with, with these technologies that I think, you know, we're not taught. We're not taught how to do because.

It happened kind of fast. Right? Like the. And if you've seen all the. I'm sure because you read a lot. Have you seen all the research on, like, the mental health and the suicides and the depression? Based on when Instagram, TikTok, and since 2013 or 14, whenever it started, I think the numbers are, like, 70% of kids who are, since then, their mental health, the suicide rates have, like, quadrupled, like, by. More than quadrupled, actually, because it's also the whole, like, what they have versus what I have, the whole, like, comparison game. It's so terrible, so toxic. I wish we go back to the time when we had, like, a flip phone. You remember that? Like, had, like, real relationships, like, in real, in real time.

I know, I know. That would be great. I mean, I get, you know, on social media, there are a lot of people that do post fairly, you know, like, in our world, like, the wellness world, there are people that post, like, I think, information that could potentially, you know, be harmful. And I think that, that. But you should always, like, I think, look for somebody who's attacking the. The information and the data as opposed to the person. Yeah, I think that's a good litmus test for, you know, at least for me, somebody who I might choose to follow, somebody who is, you know, not attacking the person and making, like, ad hominem attacks.

Right.

You know, but rather the information that's presented.

Well, I think it's really difficult, right. Because there's, now there's become so many people, like, before you had, like, you had, like, the, the wellness world or health world was not that it was small, but like, you had the certain players. But I feel now it's become so expanded and every, well, wellness and fitness and health has become very cool and sexy. Like, you know, there's been, like, being an entrepreneur is sexy now, and wellness and fitness and working out is sexy. It wasn't like that, like, 15 years ago, right? Like, things ebb and flow, right? Like, reality tv was really big ten years ago. Right? Now, it's like being a wellness influencer.

It's the biggest thing. Yeah.

It's the biggest industry. Like, it's. And it's growing exponentially. So people who don't know what they don't know, they. They're getting a myriad of information, a myriad of people, they don't know what they're believing, like, who to believe, right. So they end up doing everything, and it's actually more detrimental. Like, they're not, you know, like people, like, we were talking, like, before, like, just in terms of your supplements, right? Like, if you're deficient in it or if it's actually doing something that you're really knowledgeable in, then take it. But people now are just like, oh, this fitness person who's 20 years old is taking this. Okay, I'll take it. And you end up taking a plethora of stuff that you're not even supposed to be taking, and it's like, it actually could be more detrimental to your health than ever. So I guess my question is, like, who do you look at as, like, your, kind of your north star, where you get information, who you think is good to follow, or, like, in general, like, how do you tell people, like, what they should do to kind of guide their path?

Yeah. Well, this, I mean, might be surprising, but I don't listen. There's. I don't listen to any other health podcast. I mean, occasionally I listen to mind pump because I just love those guys so much.

Me, too. I just love them.

But I don't. I don't pay attention to anybody else, like, in the, you know, I mean, well known figures in the health and, well, I don't pay attention to any of them because I feel like they're all chasing clout at this point. They're all like, you know, I've got the secret magic formula. I've got the secret magic morning routine. You know, I've got the protocol. And to me, I have the program.

Buy my program.

Yeah. And to me, it's just. It's just clout chasing. It's. It's not science. It's like, yeah, there's good. There's good information to be gleaned from any, you know, from everybody. There's a lot of, you know, but this idea that, like, gatekeepers of scientific truth today on social media, that you're gonna find the magic formula on a certain podcast. I've said. I've said this all the time, even about my own podcast. Like, you shouldn't take what you hear on any show or from any single individual as gospel. You know, let it be a jumping off point, a diving off point to do your own research and to, you know, to get out there and learn how to read scientific studies and interpret scientific literature. I think that's, you know, that's. That, to me, is a great way to approach and contextualize all of the information glut that we're now, you know, living in.

And also, like, if you really think about it, like, even the stuff that you're just telling me, like, no one wants to hear the truth, which is, it's like old fashioned hard work. It's working out, right. Watching what you eat and making smart choices. Right. And, like, supplementing where, like, things may be necessary.

Yeah.

It's not rocket science. And people are trying to complicate things that are, like, really not that complicated to sell something. That's really what's happening.

Well, I think what gives me a unique perspective in this space is that, well, two things. One is that I've seen in my own life real, real sickness, like real illness, that destroyed my family for many, many years. And I shouldn't say destroyed, but it took a massive toll, and it was incredibly stressful and tragic. And, you know, and so I come at this as a point of, like, you know, my goal is never to mislead anybody or instill false hope or anything like that. And if I am doing that, then I want people to tell me, you know, in a respectful way, like, you know, but, yeah, like, for me, you know, these, like, highfalutin protocols and things like that. Like, most people would be really well served focusing on the low hanging fruit, you know, not these, like, really intricate, you know, details and minutiae. And the second thing that I would say that's really influenced my point of view is that, you know, unlike a lot of people who are simply, like, influencers, you know, who have come about in the social media era, I've been doing television for the entirety of my career, like, national tv, and I've gotten to do major tv shows many times, like the Doctor Oz show, the Rachael Ray show.

I've done the Today show many times. And even prior to that, I had a tv show on current tv, this Al Gore platform. So, you know, unlike on social media, where it's really easy to cultivate an echo chamber, you know, I. That's tv is not an echo. Tv is never an echo chamber. With tv, you don't know who you're reaching. And so when I go on today on shows like the Today Show, I know I'm exquisitely aware that I'm reaching people who still today, currently in the United States, live in food deserts, you know, and who don't have access to grass fed, grass finished beef. So my experience, my perspective that I bring to everything that it is that I try to communicate has been honed by those things, you know, real profound sickness. And, like, the clinical experience that I had with my mom going to doctor's offices and experiencing in every time, in every instance, diagnosing adios and then reaching people who, you know, who have no idea, like, that sugar sweetened beverages aren't good for your health, you know?

It's so true, right? Like, I. It's so true. And, like. Like, you're very unique in that way. Like, your journey really, with health or with the brain and is because of your mom, right? Like, that's how everything really, that was, like, the starting point for all of this stuff, right? And then you. Now you did a move, a documentary, what's it's called? It was so beautiful.

Little empty boxes. You saw it?

Oh, my God, I saw it. Little empty boxes. I was crying in the back because it was so hard. It was so well done. And you were just, like a son that just loved his mom so much. And, like, the fact that you put out a documentary in honor of her to show the world, I don't know, as a mom, that was, like, super touching and moving for me to see. And, like, what? Like, what your mother, like, had to go through, what you guys did as a family, I mean, it's, like, heartbreaking to see that, you know?

Yeah, it was the hardest thing I've ever had to endure. And it was, you know, I mean, I'd give anything to have my mom back and in good health, but seeing what it was that you went through, I mean, I've never experienced a more profound call to action than to try as best as I can, given my skillset and my voice, to, you know, ensure that. That, you know, that doesn't happen to others that I care about. And I don't know everything, and, you know, nobody does. But my mom was not privy to, you know, I think, accurate and sound reasonable nutrition science. She wasn't. Because we live in a world now where we outsource all that stuff. We outsource culinary literacy to Grubhub. We outsource our financial literacy to our accountants or whatever, you know? And I have no idea, you know, come tax season, what my accounts, it's like, you know, we just were completely in the dark, and our ancestors were generalists. Like, we now live in the era of specialization. But this has just been a blip on the radar in terms of the evolutionary timescale. And I think we've suffered as a culture and individually as a result.

And so when my mom became sick, I realized that a lot of the maxims that we as a family thought to be true about what it meant to eat healthily, we're bullshit. You know, this idea that, you know, we've got to be careful with foods that contain cholesterol, like, that's something that many people still believe today, you know, that eggs are dangerous to the cardiovascular system. They're one of the most nutritious foods that you can eat, you know?

Yeah. That's bioavailable protein, isn't it? Like, that you can get your hands on.

Yeah. This idea that, like, saturated fat, when saturated fat is over consumed, it might do negative things in the body, but any nutrient, when overconsumed, will do negative things in the body. And so that the fact that we've demonized natural saturated fat containing foods like red meat, to me, is just, like, it's a crime against humanity, really.

It is. Is there in all your research and with the movie and with. With your mom, even when you were there, can people, like, turn back if someone's on that path of dementia, Alzheimer's, is there a way by. Can you. Can you eat your way, so to speak, or have it your way, like, off that, I guess, that trajectory and kind of backward pedal it to somewhere else?

Yeah, so I believe you can, but not if you've already been diagnosed. And the reason for that is that Alzheimer's disease in particular, and this probably applies to other forms of dementia, it certainly applies to Parkinson's disease. These are essentially diseases of midlife with symptoms that appear in late life. And so the earlier you can start, the better. But once you've received that diagnosis, you're already essentially in the late stage of the disease. And I think that there are things that you can do to slow progression, but, you know, nobody's ever recovered or survived Alzheimer's disease.

Is there any research that says that, like, because I'm sure you're on top of this. Are they working on not, I guess, a cure to kind of stop it in its tracks? Are they close to finding it? Cure?

You know, I. With all my heart, I hope that one day we. We arrive at that. But no, I mean, Alzheimer's drug trials have a 99.6% fail rate. And, you know, there's controversy in the Alzheimer's drug industry, if you will, because, again, this is a condition that begins well before the presentation of symptoms. And the predominant theory as to what causes Alzheimer's disease has been dubbed the amyloid hypothesis. And that's been the focus of pharmaceutical drug discovery for the past couple of decades, and it's been a dismal failure. And nonetheless, we see drugs, you know, that are accelerated and put on the market all the time now with, I mean, a handful in particular, like these monoclonal antibodies, like adjucadimab and lacanumab, they're successful at removing plaque from the brain, but they don't fix any of the meaningful memory symptoms. And, in fact, they tend to increase risk for a number of really scary side effects, like brain swelling, brain bleeding, accelerated brain atrophy, and even death. So they're certainly not cures. And if I myself, God forbid, one day, were to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or any other form of dementia, I personally wouldn't take these drugs.

Is Alzheimer's genetics, like, what does cause it? What is the cause?

We have? So, I mean, you know, scientists don't know the cause of Alzheimer's disease, and I'm certainly not going to pretend to, but we have risk factors, we have genetic risk factors, but the heritability is low. It's ultimately, I think, and this is, I think, fairly well accepted at this point, that it's the interaction between our genes, genetic risk factors, and our age and our gender. You know, gender.

Your mom was really young.

She was super young. Yeah.

How old was she when she got diagnosed?

She was 58 when she first started showing symptoms. And then it was a couple years later when she received the Lewy body dementia diagnosis.

Wow.

Yeah. But, yeah, it's different. I think it's exposure to the standard american diethyde, it's hypertension, it's type two diabetes, it's obesity. All of those things wreak havoc on the brain. But then there's also non dietary factors like air pollution. We're now starting to see that exposure to excessive air pollution over an extended period can wreak havoc on the brain as well.

What else does that's new that we don't know?

Maybe hearing loss is a newly identified modifiable risk factor. We don't really know why, but we know that if you have hearing loss, wearing a hearing aid could be potentially helpful and may reduce risk.

Really? Well.

Cause social isolation is a risk factor as well. So my theory is that hearing loss, you become increasingly closed off from the outside world. And so that's just not good from a brain health standpoint.

So you're saying that loneliness, isolation can cause dementia or Alzheimer's.

It's a risk factor, yeah.

Interesting.

Yeah. I mean, there was that Harvard study on longevity. I think it was like the Harvard. The 80 year long Harvard study on human. On adult development, that found that social isolation and loneliness was, like, the worst thing for health. I mean, it's, like, on par with cigarette smoking and alcoholism, essentially.

You're right, and I know the study you're talking about, and that's actually a big epidemic in the world right now, is loneliness. Because of social media, people don't feel the need to leave their house crazy and have relationships. But I didn't realize that there was a connection between. I knew that. I heard that loneliness and isolation is, like, one of the biggest. That's a big reason why people die. I didn't realize it was because of Alzheimer's.

Yeah. I mean, it's a risk factor. It's a modifiable.

That's crazy.

Yeah. I mean, there's probably bi directionality there. The more demented a person becomes, the more prone they are, probably to self isolation. But, yeah, cutting yourself off for the world is not good.

We thrive, I think, with human contact and relationships.

Yeah. Depression is a risk factor.

Did your mom have any of those things in her? Like, when your mom was diagnosed? What was her life like prior to that? Was she active? Was she healthy? Was she.

She was like a. She was a health conscious woman, but she. Her generation didn't exercise very much, but she also. And this is, like, really new science that I've become increasingly interested in. She worked in the garment center in New York City, where she was likely exposed to various industrial toxicants. So her condition was actually. It was Lewy body dementia, which actually has more in common with Parkinsonism than it does Alzheimer's disease. And there's now a growing suspicion that Parkinson's disease, which is, you know, there's a lot less research with regard to Parkinson's disease and lifestyle risk factors than there is Alzheimer's disease. But we're now starting to see that there's an environmental toxic exposure that likely plays a role in the etiology of Parkinson's disease. And so certain herbicides, pesticides, industrial solvents that are still today used in, for example, the dry cleaning industry, when exposed to. Yeah. Might actually act as mitochondrial toxins and cause conditions like Parkinson's disease. There's a researcher whose work is incredible, and I got to speak with him recently. I was invited to moderate a panel at the brain and environment symposium in DC that he put on, along with the University of Rochester.

His name is doctor Ray Dorsey, and he's a neurologist, and he's done a lot of advocacy work, and he's published on this topic, looking at the link between certain chemicals like trichloroethylene or TCE, and its related compound PCE, perchloroethylene, and Parkinson's disease. And he essentially believes I, as all evidence based, you know, and the evidence there needs to be more research done, but he believes that Parkinson's disease is essentially a man made condition. And, you know, my mom was in the garment center. She. My family dry cleaned clothing regularly, but she was also in this manufacturing environment where, you know, who knows, she may have been exposed. You know, people in certain industrial. In certain industries have higher risk of being exposed. But these compounds are volatile organic compounds. They readily evaporate. They can infiltrate groundwater super easily. If you live anywhere near a dry cleaner, for example. Yeah, the.

I've heard this.

Yeah. The evidence suggests that these compounds can, you know, either in the groundwater, in the air, they're fat soluble, so they can be essentially sequestered by fatty foods. They found. They've. They found trichloroethylene in butter and margarine in, uh, in homes close to dry cleaners and.

Wow.

Yeah, no, it's crazy. Lots of. I think something like anywhere between four and 20% of drinking water in the United States has been found to contain very, very low levels of trichloroethylene. But, I mean, it's just terrifying that that compound is in any drinking water in the United States.

You know, like, have you heard of hydrogenated water, by the way?

Heard of it, but not super familiar.

With, like, oh, I was gonna ask you, is that, what, in your opinion, do you think that's something that's people should be drinking?

No, no, I haven't. I mean, I've seen. There's a little bit of evidence on it, but that's one of those areas where, you know, for reggae, for regular people, like, am I recommending hydrogen water? I think. I think filter your water, you know, ideally with, like, a reverse osmosis purifier. But I drink spring water. I am very lucky. I get to buy spring water for my house.

Yeah, that's me too. I drink spring water, too.

Yeah, it's just you, I don't think. You can't drive yourself nuts. I just try to do the best that I can. I try. You know, I have an air filter in my purifier in my room. In my bedroom. I try to, like, wet dust as much as I can and vacuum to get rid of some of the dust and stuff. I keep my house fairly well ventilated, and I try to drink as much as I can. Purified water.

Would you get your clothes dry cleaned or would you stay away from that? Would you recommend people to stop dry cleaning, like at the now?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, I'm very lucky in that I don't really have to dry clean most of my clothing.

Look at me. I don't really. Yeah, my jeans and my sweaty tank top don't need to be dry cleaned.

No, but the, but, but, no, I would not. I would. Ever since I learned about this connection from Doctor Dorsey, I would, I would not dry clean my clothing. Or if I did, I would find a dry cleaner that used green, you know, solvents and the, like. One of the reasons why they, why they still, they use trichloroethylene to spot clean primarily. And that's, you know, they, they used to use it, I think, in a more ubiquitous way. But now I think it's used primarily to spot clean. But nonetheless, you know, if this compound is, is in the dry cleaner, you know, it's, it's, I want to avoid it. It gets in the air, you know?

Well, now I have people. I have, and again, this is not for, like, again, the regular people. This is probably, like, too much. But I have friends now who are, like, now only wearing clothes that are not, that don't have particular chemicals like you were talking about, because of all these things that can seep into your skin, that can cause these things. Is that taking it a step too far? Like, are your jeans and your t shirt, are they a regular brand or is it some.

No regular brand, but I try to buy, you know, I mean, I buy laundry detergent that doesn't have synthetic fragrances in it, you know?

Yeah.

I'm not driving myself nuts, but I try to buy, you know, it's like, I don't think this is, I don't think it's too big of a lift to say, look, if you're bringing something into your house, like, make sure there's no synthetic fragrances.

Yeah.

Because we know that those are there due to the presence of phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors.

Right.

And if I do, by the way, like, my laundry machine has an extra rinse cycle. I try to, like, I hit that every time I wash my clothes.

Really?

Yeah.

Okay. What about the science on saunas and. And your brain and Alzheimer's? Do you think that's, that's. That science is. It's a good science.

Yeah.

Something that you think is, like, can you. Is if someone, like, incorporates the sauna, they say, like, three times, four times a week, it's going to, like, it will improve their brain health. They're less prone to Alzheimer's.

Yeah, it seems to. Well, it's not. It's not settled science, but what is. Whatever is, particularly in the field of, like, nutrition and lifestyle, you know? But it's like, habits.

Like, think about habits that people can. Crazy. Just like, things that you can easily potentially incorporate or are not so far off the path.

Well, sweating is a really important route of detoxification.

Right, exactly. Like, is that really the only benefit because you can sweat, like, it doesn't have to be in a red infrared sauna. It could be in a, you know, put the heat up or, like. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. In your bathroom, as long as you're.

Sweating, I think that's. That's good. Yeah. And, like, even sitting in a hot bath has benefits in terms of it gets your heart, you know, your heart pumping boost nitric oxide, which is really good for cardiovascular health, which is important for brain health.

Right.

And, yeah, a lot of the sauna research comes out of Finland, and I think that's a good thing because it's though it's observational, and correlation doesn't equal causation. You know, in Finland, it's a lot less. Sauna use is a lot. It's not as prone to healthy user bias as it would be here, you know, doing that same, those same kinds of studies here in the United States, because sauna. Sauna use in the US is a privilege and it's associated with spas and, you know, self care and all that stuff. Whereas in Finland, which is where a lot of this observational data comes from, using the sun is like taking a shower, you know, so it's just generally a part of basic hygiene practices, essentially, in Finland, I mean, you have one sauna on average per household. In Finland, we don't have that here.

I know.

You know, so it's very commonly used there. And they see that people who use saunas, three to, I think it's, like, two to three times a week associated with, like, a 35% risk reduction for Alzheimer's disease. And then, you know, higher than that, you see a dose response, like, even higher risk reduction.

But aren't there, like, also studies, like, so, like, my. I have a sauna, right? It's like the red infrared sauna. It goes only to 170. Right? 170 degrees. It's, like, hot, but it's not crazy hot. Yeah, but it's hot. I have friends who are in a sauna that are 220 now. Can that actually, like, hurt your brain? Can't that actually be, like, detrimental and dangerous at that point?

Yeah, you don't want to. Yeah, there's risks for sure, and I.

Think that's now the new thing, right? Like, oh, who wants to have, like, 160. To have 200 and 2240, like, burn your brain? That's like, the. No, you know, that's what people want to do now.

Yeah, there are risks at the higher end of the heat spectrum. So you do want to be. You do want to be careful. You don't want to overdo it. You definitely don't want to overdo it. I mean, the benefits of sauna are thought to be due to a principle called hormesis, where a low dose of a stressor actually elicits a protective, like, reparative response from the body. But we can't forget that, you know, these are stressors, and so a high dose of. Of said stressor might actually kill you.

Yeah.

So we just have to be really careful, you know?

But that, like, it's also that the con. That the idea is. Or the whole philosophy with people is more is more.

Yeah.

Right. Not less is more.

Right.

Like, if the sauna's good, let's go to 300 now. Like, it's like, stupid behavior.

Well, you have to. You do have to elicit, you know, an adaptive response. You do have to kind of push your body to, if not past, you know, to some degree, a point. The point of, you know, the point of discomfort.

Yeah.

And this is certainly. I mean, this is true with. With exercise, is it not, with resistance training? Like, I think a lot of people don't push themselves hard enough in the gyms, right?

Are you pushing yourself hard enough? Like.

Yeah.

Yeah. Because I remember I. Would you like to go to the gym and you'd be on your phone. I would run into you, I think, a couple times now. Apparently, you're pushing yourself. You look like you are.

Well, because I've learned that, you know, you do generally have to go. You have to be, you have to be, for example, with weightlifting, which is my, which I love to do. Yeah, it's my go to. You have to, like, lift. You know, each set has to come, you know, close to failure. And then, you know, some sets, you want to hit failure, and some sets you might even choose to go past failure, you know, and so, like, that's the way to send that signal to your body to adapt and grow stronger.

How long are you, by the way, getting back to the workout for, say, how long are you working out for the four or five times a week that you're doing your strength training? How long is each session? Are you doing splits? Are you doing split? You do split?

Yeah. Yeah, I do split. I think that there's no, I think that, like, a lot of people love to talk about the benefits of full body. Our mind pump friends love full body.

Yeah.

Stuff. I like a split. I like to focus on a certain body part, you know, with every workout. And my workouts are like, 45 minutes. They're not crazy. 45 minutes to an hour.

Is it the first thing you do in the mor, like, tell me what time you wake up, by the way. What? When you go to the gym, all the things we, for, we kind of, like, went into the supplements and I never got these things going back. Cause I want to make basics down.

I generally will wake up around eight, eight am, if not a little earlier. But it depends. Like, I don't, you know, I don't set an alarm. So if I stay up late the night before I let myself sleep, I woke up at like 10:00 a.m. the other day and I thought I felt great. Yeah.

Good.

There was a, over the past couple months, there was like one day where I got like 11 hours of sleep.

Are you serious?

It was insane.

You can tell you don't have kids. Yeah.

That's basically I'm very lucky.

Yeah.

I don't always sleep great. Like, I've had a few nights over the past month where I've, like, my sleeping hasn't been great, but for the most part, it's really good. So I wake up at like 08:00 a.m. i drink coffee and usually black.

Okay.

And I do a little bit of work. And then I, like, 45 minutes after I wake up, generally that's when I eat breakfast. I don't wait too long.

Oh, okay. And what do you have for breakfast? Eggs.

Protein. Eggs these days? Yeah. Huge bolus of protein. I try to get between 40 and 60 grams of protein for my first meal.

Okay.

Because there's good data on that. Now we start. You know, I used to, you know, write off breakfast as being, like, an optional meal. And, you know, certainly it is optional, but I think, you know, having a big bolus of protein first thing in the morning, there's data, you know, that has now come out showing us that that's a really good way to, like, set your appetite.

You know, I believe that 1000%. Yeah, I. But you can. You can anything you want. You can confirm that bias. Like, you can say that. Confirmation bias. Like, now, if I had someone here who is a big faster and intermittent faster, they'd be like, I'm going to show you piles of data that says that that's what you should do for autophagy and blah, blah, blah. But it doesn't. Like, I don't like that type of thing because I believe, like, everyone's different, but I believe that, for me, anyway, I think, like, if I don't eat in the morning, I'll just eat ten times more when I have lunch. You know what I mean?

This is an area where I've changed my mind. I think to be science based, like, you have to be willing to change your mind publicly as well when you're a public figure.

I think it's really a public figure, Max.

Well, in certain circles, man.

Yeah, he is. He's so cute. I love him. Okay, go on.

Um, I, you know, I don't. I know. I don't think that there's any good reason to delay breakfast. I think there's more good to be gained by, you know, pumping the brakes on that overnight muscle protein breakdown effect and to, you know, stimulate muscle protein synthesis.

So what is it? Tell me what the reason? Were you someone who believed in it? Like, did you. You, an intermittent faster for a minute?

Yeah, I used to think, you know, and granted, this was probably due to, you know, not appreciating, you know, the nuances of, like, longevity research as much as I think do now and have come to over the past few years. But, you know, there was, I think, like, the more you could kick the can, you know, down further, you know, towards noon or even later to have your first meal, you know, you're getting, like, more autophagy or more fat burning. And, you know, we just know now from, like, you know, the growing body of data that that's not really the case. Like, autophagy occurs, you know, when we're. When we're sleeping. Like, you know, autophagy occurs. It's also not binary. Like, you know, you. You experience autophagy in certain tissues, and a calorie deficit can stimulate autophagy. Exercise stimulates autophagy. Coffee stimulates autophagy. It's not something that, like, we have to chase. You know, it's just like, our biology is much smarter than that.

So, like, when you. When you were doing intermittent, how long did you do it for?

I mean, I would do, like, um. And I still try not to eat too late at night. You know, that's more like time restricted. It's more like circadian, you know, eating on par with, like, our circadian right inclinations. But, you know, I used to, like, there were days when I wouldn't have my first meal until two in the afternoon. And I would think that that was, like, extra fat burning. Yeah, like, extra autophagy.

When was it? How many years ago?

I no longer believe that to be true. That's, you know, I think that that was. That's misguided because you're essentially in prolonged muscle protein breakdown. Like, when you're. When you're, you know, from the meal the night prior till two in the afternoon. I mean, that's a lot of time that you're basically, first of all, it's gonna make it a lot harder hit you to hit your daily protein target. We know that. You know, you want to hit it. There's a certain daily protein target that you want to hit if you're. If you want to optimize your body composition.

Yeah.

And your metabolic health. Right. So why are you, you know, gonna just make it more difficult for yourself to do that later in the day? It's. It's gonna be harder. Cause protein is the most satiating macronutrient. You're certainly not gonna be able to hit, you know, your daily protein goal in one meal.

Nope.

Right.

And also, at the end of the day, isn't it, like, a calorie deficit? Right. Because the idea is, like, if I'm only eating in this window, I'll only have the ability to eat this amount of calories. Like, maybe that's how you're gonna limit your calories.

Yeah.

Is that. Was. Is that kind of, like, why. I think that's why most people do it. They think it's a. It's a. It's a way for weight loss.

Yes. And it can be. So, you know, I. It's like, if that's a tool that people find helpful, then by all means, keep. Keep doing it. But from a. From purely, like, a muscle protein synthetic standpoint.

Yeah.

Like, there's no point in. And there could be detriment to, you know, to not eating. And also from an appetite regulation standpoint, the data seems to suggest that, you know, eating protein first thing in the morning is a really great way to set your, you know, your hunger pattern for the day. Now, if you are able somehow to hit your protein target in that super compressed feeding window, then fine, you know, then, then by all means, do it. It's just gonna be more difficult. That's it.

But also, maybe you can answer this question, because I've noticed men do better on intermittent fasting than women. I find that the women have maybe because of hormones. Like, like, for me, example, it was terrible. For me, it would never work. Hasn't worked. It can't work. Have you seen any research on that? Like, for men, it works better. For women, it's not so great. Or vice versa. Or people as you age and in, like, perimenopause, forties, whatever, like, is it better for your hormones, worse for your hormones?

Well, it's a stressor. And so, you know, we don't know for sure, but I think one of the proposed reasons why it's been. Why it's. It can be more challenging for women is that women's bodies are more sensitive to, you know, to signals of energy scarcity, for example. You know, because when, when child rearing, it's a lot. You know, it's. That's a lot more risky to do when there's famine. Right? And so I think, you know, women, it's just, it's just a stressor, just like everything else. And then you throw chronic stress, psychological stress, coffee, you know, and all the trappings of modern society into that milieu. And it's like, I think it's a. It can be a recipe for disaster. But, you know, some women really enjoy fasting. Some women hate it. I think you just have to. There's nothing magical about it. If it works for you, by all means do it. It's just that, you know, I think the problem is when people, when social media, like, influencers, you know, promote it as being this, like, magical thing that you have to do in order to lose fat, that's where I think it's.

Like, well, all these there in the last couple, I would say three or four years, there's become a lot of fasting gurus.

Yeah.

Who are like, spec. Like, their whole thing is like, you have to fast. And here's why. You know, your body's gonna do this. Your body's gonna.

And, like, you're fasting when you're sleeping.

I, you know, I know you get.

The benefits of fasting when you're sleeping 100%.

And it's like, they're like, especially when you are in your. In, in middle age and blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, you know, you look at some of these people, they look so unhealthy. It's like, it's actually kind of. It's crazy to me. Right. What's your, what's your take on the GLP one, the ozempics of the world, the weight loss drugs.

I think I'm super grateful that we. I mean, I think they're revolutionary drugs for people who have tried, who have exhausted all other options. I think what's really tragic and dangerous about them is now people who. They're using them as a first line of defense, and they're using it for, you know, for vanity purposes here in Hollywood. You know, it's. It's like you can't even get it.

You can't, by the way, you can't get it anywhere in the country because of Hollywood. Yeah, they're taking all the, like, like the whole.

Yeah, they're now putting kids on it.

It's like putting kids on it now.

Yeah, it's. I think it's. It's horrible. But I am glad that we have it for people who've exhausted all other options. And it's. And as a means of, you know, I mean, people have been getting, like, surgery. Right. For a long time, so now we have a drug where you don't have to go under the knife, and for, you know, and I've now have a family member that's been using it because they just, they're there. They don't seem to be able to regulate their satiety the way that you know, that.

Well, how long have they been on it? And has it, like, have they lost weight on it?

They've lost some weight, yeah, a couple months.

And how much have they lost?

But there are serious side effects. He's got, you know, extreme fatigue from it. It's obviously not ideal, but, you know, being very overweight is.

How much has he lost?

I think he's lost, like, 15 pounds in two months. A couple months? Like three, four months, something like that, yeah.

Is that the ozempic or the tri. There's another one that works on two different transmit. It's like the tripeptide. I don't know.

He's on semaglutide.

Which semiglutide is the ozempic one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and, yeah. So what are the side effects? He's tired all the time.

Yeah. Like crazy fatigue, no nausea. That's a commonly reported side effect. But he hasn't had that. But, yeah, the goal is not to be on it forever. You've got to still institute healthy habits and learn about nutrition and whatever. But some people do have more difficulty deriving a sense of satiety for food. That, I think, is where the genetic aspect of things comes into play. Obesity is certainly not primarily genetic, but I think there are genetic aspects to it. And they're now actually starting to study semaglutide in the context of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. They've already shown that it reduces risk for cardiovascular events. I'm not saying there are no potential downsides to it. There may very well be, but, you know, being obese is very unhealthy, and so, in so far. And also being type two diabetic is very unhealthy.

Right.

And so insofar as it reduces blood sugar and can help you be not obese, I think that, you know, there is likely some, you know, some long term health benefit to be gleaned from it again, if it's your last resort option.

Well, I think what you said is also very important. Right. Which is the fact that it's one thing if you need it, if you're a diabetic or obese, but I think that it's the rampant overuse if you don't even need it for vanity reasons. Yeah, right. That's. Because then, like, do you just gain all the weight back anyway once you're off of it? And is it something you can stay on forever on? I mean, I don't know the answers.

To those things, but, you know, you don't, you might, you don't have to gain the weight back if you, if you learn about nutrition and you prioritize protein and your resistance train, the, the odds are good that, like, you can come off of it and not gain the weight back.

But for the people who are doing it for vanity and they're not learning, or in general, I think actually this is more for everybody. Right. Like, if you're not learning behavioral change and you're just taking a drug and not implementing all these other.

That's obviously not good. Yeah. That's when you risk the loss of lean mass and. Yeah, that's, that's not good.

Now they're doing another big thing. Another trend is micro dosing it for people.

Interesting.

Yeah. So, like, they're not taking the entire full dose, but you take half, you micro dose it. So it just kind of takes the edge off. So it stops, like, the obsessive thoughts and, like, you'll still eat, but you'll eat, let's say, 15% less. So it's like a big trick hack that I feel. I know a ton of people take it.

Interesting.

Yeah.

Yeah. I don't know anybody who's taking it other than my family member, but yeah.

And so, and that. And, like, that one, I've heard a lot of bad, bad things about that one in terms of the exhaustion that they're getting, but no one ever talks about it because they're skinny, so they don't care.

I mean, insulin is a peptide, you know, I've been. I've been experimenting with certain peptides. Yeah.

What are you taking?

But, you know, not for vanity reasons. I take them because I have, like, back. You know, I've got, like, chronic back issues, and I work out really hard. So I've been trying to see if they help with, like, recovery and stuff like that. Are you taking BC BPC 157? Yeah, I was. To be honest, I didn't. I don't know if I've felt, like anything, like, major from them. I think the effect, if there is an effect at all, is very subtle. But, yeah, I mean, my recovery has been, I think, great, and my sleep has been really good. And.

Are you taking hormones, like testosterone or anything like that? Good for you.

And I would. I would cop to it if I was, but, yeah, I'm completely natty.

Really? That's amazing. That doesn't happen.

But I look natty. Come on. I mean, I'm not like.

No, no, no. You look. Listen, I already gave you a million compliments. You look great.

Thanks.

And. But no, but, like, most guys I know who were, like, in really great shape after a certain age, they're usually taking, like, not a little bit.

Not me. I mean, I've thought about it. Like, if I can get, like, an edge with a little bit of extra.

Yeah, like a little edge.

But no, I.

You're all natural.

Well, because I. I haven't done too deep a dive into this topic, because, you know, I just, like, I feel like there are. I've got other, you know, priorities, but there are concerns about, like, fertility and stuff like that. I don't want to screw. I don't want to screw with my fertility.

Do not. Speaking of which, this is a great segue to the fact that Max is no longer my number one eligible bachelor. Oh, man, I can't believe it. I cannot believe it. I got to change all the. All the. I guess. I don't know. All the rhetoric. I want to talk about people, because I'm always like, Max. So can you please tell me who your girl? You have to tell me her name. But, like, how long have you had a girlfriend? Give me the, like, basics.

Oh, God. Wow. Hmm. It's about. Been about seven months.

Okay. Where'd you meet?

We met on Raya, actually. It's kind of a funny story. We met on Raya, which is dating app. It's fairly well known in LA.

Yeah, it's very, like, entertainment person.

Yeah, app.

But she's on an entertainment. You said, right?

She's in the entertainment world. Yeah, but we actually connected. We matched on Raya eight years ago, which is very funny.

Wow.

She was, like, in college. Yeah, but we matched. And I had sent a message back when we matched eight years ago, and she never responded. And then about seven months ago, I'm.

Like, because now you're rich and famous, now she's responding to you.

Maybe that's what it is. I don't know. Well, actually, interestingly. So here's the thing. So the message that I got, I was sitting on my couch watching Netflix one night, and I got a message on Raya. I saw the notification, but I wasn't talking to anybody on Raya at the. At that point.

Yeah.

And it wasn't a match. It was a message. So I was like, what the hell is this? You know? So I go into the app, and the message is like, hey, it looks like, you know, sorry for not responding, you know, to your. To your last message, which was apparently eight years ago. I didn't see. I honestly didn't see it. But I just wanted you to know your work has really helped me navigate some chronic health issues and would love to grab a coffee if you're ever in LA or something like that. And I was like, wow, that's flattering and interesting, because eight years ago, my riot is a graveyard of women that I've messaged. It's not like I remembered her. Although when I went to her profile, I was like, she kind of looks. I can vaguely remember. And she was actually really cute. So I followed up, and we had a back and forth, and we ended up going on a first date. I took her to a steakhouse. I want to make sure to weed out the. Yes, the vegans.

100%. Which steakhouse did you go to?

Matu in Beverly Hills.

Oh, okay. Was it good?

So good. Yeah. All grass fed, amazing quality. They get their beef from first light farms in New Zealand.

Oh, wow. I'm gonna go there. Okay.

Yeah, it's so good. It's like. It's like a cathedral to meat, and, like, it's just so. It's the best quality, and it's so tasty.

Okay.

Anyway, so I took her there, and, yeah, it was a great first date. She was, like, super cute. We were into each other. And she's super health conscious. She's very funny and smart and comes from a good family. And.

Where's she from?

She's from San Francisco.

Okay.

Yeah. Which, you know, I was a little bit. At first. I was like, uh. Oh, yeah. But, no, she's cool. She's, like, based and, you know, passion. She's got passions. And.

What are her passions?

Well, she's super health conscious, so she's like. I mean, not, like, over the top health, but she's concerned about exposure to environmental pollutants. She's like, you know, she's like. She's drank the Kool Aid and.

She drank the Kool Aid.

Yeah.

So she's a good match for you.

Yeah.

Okay. So how often do you guys see each other? How serious is it? Do I have to really, like, cross you off my list now? I mean, well, it's.

I get anxiety when I think about, like, when I try to project too far into the future, but we're just. We're having a good time. We like each other, and.

Do you want kids? I'm not saying with her. I'm just saying in general.

In general, I think I. I'm like, yes, I do. But, yes, it's sort of like, I was gonna say I'm on the. You know, I could go either way, but I definitely more do want kids than. I don't want kids.

They don't want kids. Because you have two brothers. Do they have. Are they married with kids or.

No one has it. One has two kids. Now, neither of them are married, but I have a very small family, and we're very close.

Yeah.

So I think that's part of the reason why I feel, in a way, like I can go both ways, because I do, you know, I have a really solid family life, but it's my.

Brother'S, you know, you feel, like, satiated by.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, no, I'd like. Yeah, I would like to have. I would like to have kids.

So when am I going to meet this lovely lady of yours?

And, you know, it's funny, I actually. I've always wanted to have a daughter, but because my little brother has two daughters, there's no boys. I kind of feel like shit. I need to have, like, a boy. We gotta keep the last name going, you know?

You gotta get cracking. Maybe then.

Yeah.

I think you'd make a good dad.

You think?

Yeah. Like, you're super caring and. And, like, compassionate. Like, just how you were such a great son to your mom. I mean, I think that and the fact you just said that, you're very close to the rest of your family, your brothers and everything else. Like, you seem like a family man. Like, if you're a family man, don't you think that you should, like, continue to keep on growing the family because your family's gone. They're gone.

No. 100%. Yeah, I know. I do. I think I'd be a great dad. I mean, I have a cat, and I'm a really good cat dad.

It's not the same. Max.

It's not the same.

Cat's not the same. You know, I'll tell you a really funny story. When I had my second kid, her name is Sydney, I, like, was, like, some woman said to me, some work friend was like, oh, my God. It's like. And I was giving a story about when she was, like, she had, like, the flu, and she's like, I totally know how you feel. When my cat got sick and, like, my kid was, like, really sick, and she was, like, a year and had, like, super high temperature, and she was comparing her cat illness to my kids illness, and I was like, oh, my God, this woman is crazy. Please don't become that person. Like, being a cat. Having a cat is not the same as having a child.

I love my cat so much, though.

You love that cat.

Yeah.

But you understand it's not the same, right?

I get. Yeah, I get. Well.

Oh, my God. You don't. You don't understand. It's not the same. It's.

I want.

Oh, my God.

I don't know. I.

You know, you think having a cat's the same as having a kid?

She's. She doesn't speak, but she's still very communicative and, like, no, I don't think it's the same.

You do. I can see in your head.

I think it's similar, though. I do think it's similar.

Oh, my God.

You ask any pet owner, their pets are like their children.

I understand.

The loss of a pet is.

It's horrible.

It's horrible.

But you're really. I will promise you, having a child is different than having a cat.

Well, yeah, it's a much more three dimensional experience of communion with another.

I did see, when I was telling you about this crazy cat woman, you actually kind of related to her. You're like, oh, my God. Actually, I would feel the same way. You did mention the cat a few times on this pod.

Well, look, I don't have kids, so, like, I can't. You know, it's not something that I know about, but I'm just saying, like, I really love my cat. You know, there's no, like, I. On a scale of one to ten, I love my cat. Ten.

How many? Okay, how long. How old is your cat?

She's like, eight.

Because I remember when I came to your house. Yes. The cat was very prevalent in that experience. I remember that. And then you brought up the cat twice on this podcast. Oh, my God, you really do love that cat so much.

Very much. Yeah. Her name is Delilah. She's, like, very. She's very sweet. Like, she's excited to see me when I. She's like a dog, though, you know, in that way. And, like, all. When I lay down on my cat on my couch to watch, you know, to watch something, she, like, very excitedly jumps up on the couch, gets on my chest, and starts like, yeah, you know, she's. She loves me.

You love. Yeah.

Most cats are not like that, which is why it's a different relationship.

You know, they're very. A lot of cats are not very that friendly. They kind of go to their own life and their own business, and they don't bother with people.

Mine is not like that. My cat is, like, not like that at all. She's like a puppy. You know? She, like, very clearly loves me. It's like, very. Yeah.

Where'd you get the cat?

Adopted her. Rescued her from New York City. There was, like, a woman in Union square one summer, I guess, like, eight years ago, who was, like, adopting cats.

Oh, okay. If you had to choose between the girlfriend and the cat, who would you pick? What? If your girlfriend was allergic to cats, what would you do?

I'd be single.

I love the honesty.

Yeah.

Okay, so, guys, Max has that. Where is that documentary being played, by the way?

Littleemptyboxes.com. so, you know, comedians have shown this model to be true, where they release a special, you know, for their haven't. That hasn't been proven in the documentary world, but we're trying to do a fully independent lease.

Okay, how does that work?

We're putting it online, and we're gonna you know, people can, can buy it, can rent it, can buy it. You know, if people choose to buy it, we've got all kinds of goodies, like a commentary track. We've got a special featurette only for people that purchase it. So there's all kinds of bonuses.

Wow.

But, yeah, but@littleemptyboxes.com. people can support buy it. Watch it. It's the most important project I've ever done, 100%.

Like, your heart and soul went into that project. And if you're a mom or someone who has a family member who has Alzheimer's, you, you will really get a lot of, like, you'll get a lot of emotion and feeling from this movie because I sure did. So anyway, it's called, it's called little boxes.

Little empty boxes.

Little empty boxes.com. and, Max, thank you for coming on this podcast.

Thanks, Jen. You're such a light. Always good to see you.

It's always great to see you. Now that you're not single, I don't know what I'm gonna, like, do for my new favorite bachelor, but that's. It's a whole other story. Not your problem and not anybody else's problem, but. All right, guys, thank you so much, and bye.