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The David McWilliams Podcast

Who Wants to Live Forever? The Economics of Immortality, Tech Bros & Tír na nÓg

The David McWilliams Podcast

David McWilliams

News & Politics

4.6643 Ratings

🗓️ 10 July 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, we start with Oasis and end in Silicon Valley, via Tír na nÓg. We’re talking about the economics of not dying, and how tech billionaires are pouring billions into that dream. From Oasis belting Live Forever to Irish mythology’s take on eternal youth, we ask: why are we so obsessed with dodging death? We explore the surreal story of Brian Johnson, the tech bro spending $2 million a year trying to reverse ageing. Vegan diet, 100 supplements a day, teenage blood transfusions… all in an effort to achieve his goal of slowing his biological clock by 7.5 months every year. Meanwhile, he's founded a Don't Die movement with Discord channels, Blueprint protocols, and longevity summits. We dig into the money behind it all: the anti-ageing industry is already worth $70 billion and is projected to hit $140 billion by 2034. Google’s Calico Labs, Bezos’s $3 billion bet on Altos Labs, and a biotech unicorn called Cambrian Bio (valued at $1.8 billion) are all racing to crack the longevity code. What kind of world are we building? Is this the new Tír na nÓg, a fantasy only for the rich? We imagine a world where ageing is optional… but only if you can afford it.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

How are you doing there just before we start money?

0:03.0

A Story of Humanity is out in paperback now.

0:07.0

It is Waterstone's book of the month for July.

0:11.4

It is a fascinating...

0:13.0

Well, I would say that, John, wouldn't I?

0:15.0

Well, that's fair enough, you know.

0:17.4

Fascinating read, your summer read, your beach read,

0:20.7

Money, a Story of Humanity humanity out in paperback now.

0:23.9

It's a blockbuster.

0:25.2

It is.

0:30.3

Hey, it's Adam Grant from Worklife, a podcast from TED.

0:34.1

This episode is brought to you by FreshWorks.

0:36.7

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0:38.5

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0:43.7

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0:49.9

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0:56.7

And with FreshWorks AI-assisted service software,

0:59.6

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1:01.8

FreshWorks uncomplicates.

1:04.0

Learn more at freshworks.com.

1:07.3

At my hospital, we're not doing everything we can.

1:11.6

In my lab, we're leaving stones unturned.

...

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