Nina’s Notes Podcast

I asked Drew if we were heading toward a future where my younger cells become a currency I could trade. He didn’t say “no”.
There’s a version of you from ten years ago. Skin that bounced back, hair that grew in thick, cells that healed fast and inflamed less.
That version is gone.
Unless you saved it.
This week on the Nina’s Notes Podcast, I sit down with Drew Taylor, CEO of Acorn Biolabs, whose team figured out that the stem cell goldmine we’ve been drilling into hip bones to reach has been sitting at the root of your hair this whole time.
With their protocol, you pluck about hairs from the back of your head at your doctor’s office, the follicles get shipped to a lab, checked for viability, and dropped into liquid nitrogen at -196°C.
At that temperature there’s no metabolism. No aging. Nothing.
A version of you, frozen mid-sentence in storage for when you need it.
And, banking those cells costs less than Netflix. $190 a year for frozen storage.
Acorn has already taken plucked hair follicles, turned them into iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells which can become anything) and turned them into cartilage, bone, fat, and neurons. They even pushed those neurons into the exact dopamine-producing cells that Parkinson’s destroys. Acron is also exploring using their protocol to create pancreatic cells for type 1 diabetes, and natural killer cells that hunt down senescent and cancerous cells, the same population that falls off a cliff as we age.
Oh, and three patients have reported their gray hairs coming back. Nobody was tracking for that!
I also asked - Who actually owns your cells if the company gets acquired? Does banking at 12 versus 45 create a two-tier longevity system? He answered both without flinching.
Watch & listen to the whole episode on 🔴YouTube 🟢 Spotify, 🟣 Apple Podcasts, 🟠 Substack Podcasts
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to the future of healthcare and cell currency
02:05 The significance of cells in regenerative medicine
06:19 Innovative methods for stem cell collection from hair follicles
08:26 From plucked hair to banked cells: the process explained
15:31 The secretome: what it is and how it benefits skin and hair
24:40 Protocols and treatments for skin and hair regeneration
28:30 Using AI to enhance regenerative medicine workflows
37:32 Future therapeutics: from 3D printed organs to cell therapies
44:28 Ownership, accessibility, and the future of cell banking
52:39 Sci-fi visions of medicine: bioprinting and organ regeneration
53:26 The importance of early cell banking and next steps
LINKS
Acorn Biolabs - https://acorn.me/
Cell Banking - https://acorn.me/cell-banking/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-taylor-65b6ab10/
ABOUT DREW TAYLOR:
Dr. Drew Taylor is Founder and CEO of Acorn Biolabs, a regenerative medicine company pioneering the use of a person’s own cells to power longevity, aesthetics, and personalized healthcare. With a PhD in stem cell bioengineering, he leads development of the world’s first non-invasive platform for banking hair follicle stem cells and YOU™, an autologous secretome for skin rejuvenation, hair restoration, and recovery. His work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and NewBeauty, and Acorn now partners with more than 200 medical practices across North America.
ABOUT NINA’S NOTES: Nina’s Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.
CONNECT WITH NINA’S NOTES
Newsletter: https://www.niasnotes.xyz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninapatrick/
Website: https://www.ninapatrick.xyz


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John Krakauer, neuroscientist & neurologist, builds therapeutic games for a living, and he is also one of the most honest skeptics you will hear on what actually helps the brain. In this conversation we get into the messy truth behind brain training, why he does not buy most of the hype, and the one long-term study on dementia that he genuinely cannot explain away.
From there we go somewhere bigger. We talk about why AI keeps looking smarter every year (and why part of that might be us getting a little dumber), why "uploading your brain" belongs in the same bucket as imagining a plane flying backwards, and why the whole idea of longevity might be a misnomer, since most people do not want more years, they want to be young again.In this episode you will learn:- How most brain training falls short of what it promises, and the surprising result that made Krakauer pause- Why language lets us describe impossible things fluently, and what that means for claims about consciousness and brain uploading- Why medicine reaches for the gadget and skips the hard behavioural work, and why it can be harder to rehabilitate doctors than patients- What immersive, almost psychedelic digital experiences might offer for healing without any drug involvedChapters00:00 Introduction to John and his work in neurotechnology02:06 Overview of the Champlimaud Institute for Brain Research and Repair03:59 Digital Neurotherapeutic Center and its impact06:51 Comparing Hopkins and Champlimaud's approaches to neurotherapy09:55 The concept of digital psychedelics and immersive experiences15:02 Decoupling psychedelic experiences from drugs19:52 Long-term effects of brain training and cognitive games24:50 The potential of digital psychedelics in stroke and neuroplasticity29:56 The importance of sleep, diet, and exercise for brain health34:58 The future of brain uploading and collective consciousness40:06 The role of exergaming and immersive therapy spaces44:48 Prevention and treatment of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases49:54 Barriers to behavioral change in medicine and wellness55:07 The cultural and societal aspects of longevity and aging01:00:09 The human desire for youth and the meaning of aging01:04:58 The limitations of AI and the imagination of future technology01:09:56 Book recommendations and reflections on culture and philosophy
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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Frederik Dierick, a family and sports medicine physician turned founder of Pioneer Wellness Group, to explore how hospitality could become one of the most effective (and most overlooked) tools for helping millions of people live longer, healthier lives.
Listen & watch on 🔴YouTube 🟢 Spotify, & 🟣 Apple Podcasts
Frederik makes the case that hotels and resorts are uniquely positioned to deliver science-backed longevity care at scale: guests arrive with time, attention, and motivation that almost never exists in a doctor’s office. We dig into what it actually takes to build a luxury wellness experience that’s grounded in real clinical science (not spa-day wellness theater), why nutrition is the most sensitive topic in medicine, where AI fits in as a health accountability partner, and what it will take to democratize longevity so it’s not just for the ultra-wealthy.
CHAPTERS
* 00:00 The Journey to Longevity Medicine
* 05:47 Creating Transformative Experiences in Hospitality
* 12:01 Practical Applications of Health in Hospitality
* 18:00 The Future of Longevity in Hospitality
* 23:57 The Challenges of Personalized Medicine
* 29:10 Challenges in Patient Care and Systemic Issues
* 38:35 Democratizing Longevity Medicine
* 45:07 Nutrition: The Most Sensitive Topic
* 51:16 The Future of Health Hospitality
ABOUT DR. FREDERIK DIERICK Dr. Frederik Dierick trained as a family and sports medicine doctor before founding Pioneer Wellness Group, a consultancy on a mission to turn hotels and resorts into the world’s most powerful health platforms. He works at the intersection of clinical medicine and hospitality, helping brands build wellness experiences rooted in real science rather than trend-driven spa treatments.
CONNECT WITH PIONEER WELLNESS GROUP:
* Website: https://www.pioneerwellnessgroup.com
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederikdierick/
ABOUT NINA’S NOTESNina’s Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.
CONNECT WITH NINA’S NOTESNewsletter: www.ninasnotes.xyzLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninapatrick/Website: https://www.ninapatrick.xyz
Keywords: longevity, health optimization, hospitality, wellness, science, experience, behavior change, AI health coaching, preventive medicine, luxury wellness
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Can a 5-minute brain scan detect dementia years before symptoms?
Jurij Dreo, co-founder and CTO of BrainTrip, draws on 20+ years of EEG research to reveal how brain activity can be measured, interpreted, and used to catch the earliest signs of cognitive decline and dementia — often before they’re visible or irreversible.
In this episode of Nina’s Notes, host Nina Patrick (PhD) and Jurij explore the real potential of EEG technology, why it’s been underused in clinics, and where brain-health diagnostics are headed next. If you care about protecting your memory and measuring your cognitive capital, this one’s for you.
🎙️ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The fascination with the brain
03:49 – Neuroscience vs. genetics in clinical practice
06:17 – Understanding EEG: the hidden talent
11:50 – EEG waves and brain health
18:31 – EEG in cognitive decline & dementia
25:32 – Cogniscore: a new approach to brain health
29:26 – Understanding Cogniscore & cognitive assessment
32:24 – The accessibility of EEG testing
35:34 – Advancements in EEG technology
38:24 – Interpreting cognitive assessment results
44:17 – Next steps after cognitive assessment
45:59 – When to get a Cogniscore assessment
47:43 – Daily practices for brain health
52:01 – The brain of Marie Curie
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
* Why EEG beats other brain-imaging tools for early detection
* How brain waves reveal your mental and cognitive state
* The challenges of turning EEG research into clinical tools
* How EEG can flag early dementia and cognitive decline
* How AI and machine learning decode EEG data
* Network-level brain activity and why it matters
* How accessible EEG assessments are right now
* The future of EEG for diagnosing brain disorders
ABOUT JURIJ DREO Jurij Dreo is a Slovenian leader in neuroscience and brainwave analysis with over 20 years of experience. His work targets one of the defining health challenges of our time: cognitive decline. Through validated brain-monitoring methods, he’s built a system that detects the earliest signs of memory loss — making it possible to intervene before decline becomes irreversible. From clinical research to directing EEG labs, he bridges science and real-world application, setting new standards for how high performers protect and strengthen brain function over time.
BrainTrip: https://braintrip.net/BrainTrip LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/braintrip/Jurij Dreo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jurij-dreo-38360b198/
ABOUT NINA’S NOTES Nina’s Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.
CONNECT WITH NINA’S NOTESNewsletter: www.ninasnotes.xyz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninapatrick/Website: https://www.ninapatrick.xyz

#EEG #BrainHealth #Dementia #CognitiveDecline #Neuroscience #Longevity #BrainTrip #Neurotech #MemoryLoss #NinasNotes #AIinHealthcare #Biohacking #HealthyAging #Neurotechnology #DigitalHealth


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Loneliness can cost you up to 20 years of healthy life. More than poor sleep. More than any supplement. And until now, there was no way to measure it.
Dr. Axel Schumacher spent 25 years at the forefront of genomics and epigenetic clock research and says your social life is a more powerful longevity biomarker than anything in your bloodwork.
In this episode, he walks through the Social Connectivity Value (SCV): a framework he developed to map your social network, identify the relationships that drain your energy, and turn your social health into a number you can actually track.
What you’ll learn:
* Why loneliness can cost 12–20 years of healthy life (men are hit harder than women) and why the “smoking 15 cigarettes a day” statistic doesn’t change behavior without a way to measure it
* How to build a sociogram using Dunbar’s three layers, assign energy values to every person in your life (including the ones dragging you down), and calculate your SCV score
* Why looking for a romantic partner through your close friends almost never works, and the “super connector” strategy that statistically gives you access to 150 new people from a single introduction
What’s the link between loneliness, AI companions, and living to 150? We get into all of it.Timestamps
* 00:05 – Intro
* 01:35 – Meet Dr. Axel Schumacher
* 02:21 – From Genomics to Social Science (The Pivot)
* 04:28 – How Loneliness Affects Your Health Span
* 06:36 – The Loneliness Epidemic & Declining Birth Rates
* 07:47 – Why Is Social Health So Hard to Measure?
* 09:56 – The Holt-Lunstad Meta-Analysis Explained
* 10:47 – Introducing the Social Connectivity Value (SCV)
* 12:44 – The Sociogram: Mapping Your Social World
* 13:13 –Building Your Sociogram: Mapping Social Connections
* 14:54 – The Dunbar Layers: Your 3 Social Circles
* 15:22 – The Invisible Load: Identifying Energy-Draining Relationships
* 17:03 – The Invisible Load of Toxic Relationships
* 20:09 – The Role of Family and Close Connections
* 22:38 – What Is Your SCV Score?
* 24:51 – How Your Nervous System Responds to Others
* 28:08 – Tracking Your Social Life Like a Biohacker
* 30:44 – Introverts vs Extroverts & Social Energy
* 31:49 – AI Companions & The Future of Connection
* 35:31 – Should Your Partner Be Everything?
* 37:34 – Weak Ties & Super Connectors
* 41:37 – The Mathematical Magic of Super Connectors
* 42:57 – Rapid Fire: Social Media — Net Positive or Negative?
* 43:51 – SCV vs Epigenetic Clocks: Which Matters More?
* 44:59 – The Best City for Human Connection
* 47:12 – One Weekly Habit to Protect Your Social Health

ABOUT DR. AXEL SCHUMACHER: Longevity scientist and epigenetics researcher with over 25 years of experience, believes the most powerful biomarker for how long you live isn’t in your blood it’s in your relationships. After decades at the forefront of genomics and biomarker discovery, he now focuses on quantifying human connection, developing the Social Connectivity Value (SCV), a first-of-its-kind framework to measure your social network as a health metric and longevity tool.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
* Website: https://www.grailmaster.com
* YouTube ‘Inside the Dating Mind’: https://bit.ly/4s2U2i4
* Axel’s Longevity Protocol: https://bit.ly/4qIL0pZ
* Sociogram Preprint with DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/m6h58_v1
* X: https://x.com/TheGrailmaster
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_grailmaster/
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draxelschumacher/
ABOUT NINA’S NOTES: Nina’s Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.
CONNECT WITH NINA’S NOTES
Newsletter:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninapatrick/
Website: https://www.ninapatrick.xyz
Thanks for reading Nina’s Notes! This post is public so feel free to share it.


Get full access to Nina’s Notes at www.ninasnotes.xyz/subscribe