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  1. The Tim Ferriss Show
  2. #826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More
#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show · Sep 9, 2025

Tim Ferriss Q&A: Deep dive into his supplement stack, elbow surgery recovery protocol, AI workflows, and thoughts on intermittent fasting.

Prioritize Decongestion Before Strength Training for Faster Post-Surgery Recovery

For injury recovery, the initial focus should be on clearing congestion and improving lymphatic drainage. This "clears the highway" for more productive healing and strength work like BFR (Blood Flow Restriction) training to follow, accelerating the overall process.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Master Glucose Metabolism Before Using Nootropics to Excel in Mental Sports like Chess

When training for a mental sport like chess, the foundational step is stabilizing energy by managing glucose metabolism, perhaps via intermittent fasting. Many athletes jump to "smart drugs" and stimulants, but this is ineffective if the underlying energy system is volatile and prone to crashes.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Intermittent Fasting Only Preserves Muscle When Paired With Resistance Training

A major pitfall of intermittent fasting is the loss of lean muscle tissue. To counteract this, it must be combined with dedicated resistance training. This combination allows for the metabolic benefits of fasting while signaling the body to retain and even build muscle, which can be tracked through strength gains.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Approach Philanthropy Like Angel Investing: Focus on Learning and Relationships, Not Just Outcomes

Frame philanthropic efforts not just by direct impact but as a "real-world MBA." Prioritize projects where, even if they fail, you acquire valuable skills and relationships. This heuristic, borrowed from for-profit investing, ensures a personal return on investment and sustained engagement regardless of the outcome.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Apply the Scientific Method to Retail Challenges by Gathering Photographic Evidence First

When troubleshooting variable retail sell-through, the first step isn't to speculate on solutions. Instead, gather raw data by having fans send photos of in-store product placements from various locations. This information-first approach prevents premature and potentially flawed strategy decisions.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

A Project's Public Underperformance Can Be the Catalyst for a Career-Defining Pivot

When his book *The Four Hour Chef* underperformed due to a retail boycott, the resulting burnout led Tim Ferriss to experiment with a new channel: podcasting. This pivot, born from perceived failure, ultimately became the cornerstone of his media empire, far surpassing the original project's potential.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Treat Silicon Valley as a Short-Term 'MBA' to Build Networks, Then Return Home

Instead of choosing between tech hubs like Austin and San Francisco, founders can adopt a hybrid model. Spend a concentrated period (1-3 months) in a high-density talent hub like SF to build domain expertise and relationships, then apply that capital back in a lower-cost home base.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Use AI to Pre-Research Medical Topics to Elicit Better Advice from Experts

To get higher-quality input from busy medical experts, use specialized AI tools like Consensus.app to review scientific literature first. Then, present your tentative conclusions to the professional, demonstrating you've done the preliminary work, which encourages a more thoughtful and detailed response.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago

Future Health Breakthroughs May Lie in 'Forgotten' Pre-Regulatory Scientific Research

Modern ethical boards make certain human studies, like extended fasting, nearly impossible to conduct. This creates an opportunity to revisit older, pre-regulatory research from places like the Soviet Union. While the proposed mechanisms may be outdated, the raw data could unlock valuable modern therapeutic approaches.

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More thumbnail

#826: Q&A with Tim — Supplements I’m Taking, Austin vs. SF, Training for Mental Performance, Current Go-To AI Tools, Recovering from Surgery, Intermittent Fasting, and More

The Tim Ferriss Show·7 months ago