640. Circadian Light Masterclass: Debunking Sunglasses, Sunbathing & Blue-Light Hysteria w/ Matt Maruca
The Life Stylist
Luke Storey
4.7 • 2.1K Ratings
🗓️ 16 December 2025
⏱️ 134 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode is a deep dive into the fascinating, often misunderstood world of light, and how profoundly it shapes our biology, energy, and overall health. I reconnect with Matt Maruca, founder and CEO of Ra Optics, to trace the unlikely origin story of his work and explore how his thinking around light, sunglasses, and circadian biology has evolved over the years.
We unpack why not all blue light is created equal, how modern artificial lighting disrupts hormones and stress responses, and why context, timing, and spectrum matter far more than simplistic “good vs. bad” narratives. Matt breaks down the difference between damaging short-wavelength blue light and the beneficial blue light that helps regulate circadian rhythms, while explaining why even helpful light can become harmful when it’s out of balance or stripped of near-infrared wavelengths.
We also explore how artificial environments like offices, big-box stores, cities, and screens create chronic stress at a cellular level, and why near-infrared light is essential for mitochondrial function, structured water in the body, and resilience against oxidative damage. Matt shares how his own relationship with sunlight has shifted away from extremes toward a more nuanced, biologically intelligent approach.
From forest canopies and chlorophyll to sunglasses, sunrise exposure, and next-generation lens technology, this conversation reframes how we think about light exposure in the modern world. If you want a more grounded, practical understanding of how to protect your eyes, support your nervous system, and work with your biology instead of against it, this episode delivers.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended for diagnosing or treating illnesses. The hosts disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects from using the information presented. Consult your healthcare provider before using referenced products. This podcast may include paid endorsements.
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MORE ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
(00:00:00) How a Chance Meeting Sparked a Movement Around Light & Health
(00:18:51) Light Toxicity, Blue Light Myths, and the “Right Dose” of Sun
(00:45:24) Sunrise as a “Pre-Conditioner” and Why Cities Hit Different
(00:55:59) The “Circadian Cult,” Blue Sync Backlash, and the Skill of Changing Your Mind
(01:28:21) The Indoor Light Problem: Windows, Cars, and the “Sun You’re Not Getting”
(01:45:20) Why “Natural Light” Isn’t Always Natural
Resources:
• Website: raoptics.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thelightdiet
• Instagram: instagram.com/raoptics
• Facebook: facebook.com/raopticseyewear
• X: x.com/ra_optics
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@ra_optics
• YouTube: youtube.com/@ra_optics
• Shop all our merch designs at lukestoreymerch.com
• Check out Gilded By Luke Storey: gildedbylukestorey.com
• Join me on Telegram: t.me/lukestorey
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The blue enriched LED light is the nutritional equivalent of basically refined wheat flour or sugar. |
| 0:05.2 | If the government said, what's the cheapest way we could feed a bunch of slaves or servants or something? |
| 0:11.4 | It would just be like shovel a bunch of sugar and flour down their throats because it's just the cheapest, simplest calorie source that you can possibly get. |
| 0:18.8 | And that's essentially what they've done with all modern |
| 0:21.1 | indoor lighting. It's high blue, so it's the cheapest to produce. From modern artificial lights, |
| 0:26.0 | you have enough blue to cause physical damage to the retina and also skin as well, but the retina |
| 0:30.9 | is the most sensitive because it's totally exposed. We will develop systems over the time, |
| 0:36.2 | like these whole home lighting systems that exist |
| 0:38.4 | to allow people to have changes in intensity. |
| 0:41.1 | The bulbs we've created solve all of the problems |
| 0:43.9 | for modern indoor lighting. |
| 0:49.9 | So I was thinking last night about the, |
| 0:53.1 | I remember the night we met. |
| 0:54.9 | I don't remember too many times I've met people, right? |
| 0:58.3 | Like if you think about your 10 closest friends, you might remember. |
| 1:02.4 | But people that you see less often, I don't know where I met people. |
| 1:06.2 | And sometimes I met people and I don't even remember that I met them. |
| 1:10.5 | They're like, hey, remember we met before? And I'm like, I don't want to be that guy. I'm so sorry. But I remember you, dude, because, I mean, obviously a relationship blossomed out of it. But I was doing a talk. I used to do a lot of speaking, you know, I'm about to do again this coming year. I did a lot of talks |
| 1:29.3 | in New York and I'm speaking at Cap Beauty, which is like a little boutique kind of, you know, |
| 1:34.5 | natural skincare company and stuff, really beautiful boutique. I did my little talk and then you |
| 1:39.7 | were there and afterward you come up to me. You're like, hey, man, you started dropping all this |
| 1:43.0 | circadian biology shit on me and stuff about EMS and blue light. And how old were you, 18? Yeah, 18. I'd just turned 18. Was that 2018? 2017. 17. Okay, yeah. And I was just like, this kid's so fucking smart and cool. And then you were telling me earlier that I was asked, tell me about the glasses, |
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