The Peter Attia Drive

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Dr. Saum Sutaria is the Chairman and CEO of Tenet Healthcare and a former leader in McKinsey & Company’s Healthcare and Private Equity Practices, where he spent almost two decades shaping the field. In this episode, Saum unpacks the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, providing a detailed overview of its structure, financial flows, and historical evolution. They delve into topics such as private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, employer-sponsored coverage, drug pricing, PBMs and the administrative burdens impacting the system. Saum’s insights help connect healthcare spending to broader economic issues while exploring potential reforms and the role of technology in improving efficiency. Saum highlights how choice and innovation distinguish the U.S. healthcare system, explores the reasons behind exorbitant drug prices, and examines the potential solutions, challenges, and trade-offs involved in lowering costs while striving to improve access, quality, and affordability. The opinions expressed by Saum in this episode are his own and do not represent the views of his employer. We discuss: The US healthcare system: financial scale, integration with economy, and unique challenges [5:00]; Overview of how the US healthcare system currently works and how we got here [9:45]; The huge growth and price impact due to the transition from out-of-pocket payments in the 1950s to the modern, third-party payer model [18:30]; The unique structure and challenges of the US healthcare system compared to other developed nations [22:00]; Overview of Medicare and Medicaid: who they cover, purpose, and impact on healthcare spending [27:45]; Why the US kept a employer-sponsored insurance system rather than pursue universal healthcare [32:00]; The evolution of healthcare insurance: from catastrophic coverage to chronic disease management [36:00]; The challenge of managing healthcare costs while expanding access and meeting increased demand for chronic illness care [44:15]; Balancing cost, choice, and access: how the US healthcare system compares to Canada [48:45]; The role of the US in pharmaceutical innovation, it’s impact on drug pricing, and the potential effects of price controls on innovation and healthcare costs [56:15]; How misaligned incentives have driven up drug prices in the US [1:05:00]; The cost of innovation and choice, and the sustainability of the current healthcare cost expenditures in the US in the face of a shrinking workforce and aging population [1:11:30]; Health outcomes: why life expectancy is lower in the US despite excelling at extending lifespan beyond 70 [1:18:45]; Potential solutions and challenges to controlling drugs costs in the US while balancing choice and access and preserving innovation [1:26:15]; Balancing GLP-1 drug innovation with affordability and healthcare spending sustainability [1:40:00]; Reducing healthcare spending: complexities, trade offs, and implications of making needed cuts to healthcare expenditures [1:46:45]; The role of government regulation, opportunities for cost savings, and more [1:56:15]; Hospital billing: costs, charges, complexities, and paths to simplification [2:01:15]; How prioritizing access and choice increased expenditures: reviewing the impact of healthcare exchanges and the Affordable Care Act [2:08:00]; Feasibility of a universal Medicare program, and what a real path to sustainable healthcare looks like [2:15:45]; The challenge of long-term care and the potential of innovation, like device-based therapies and AI, to improve health [2:23:15]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Bill Perkins is one of the world’s most successful hedge fund managers and entrepreneurs, and the author of the bestseller, Die With Zero. In this episode, Bill unpacks the Die With Zero philosophy which challenges conventional thinking related to the balance between health, wealth, and time—the three variables important for fulfillment. Bill makes the case that we should strive for maximum net fulfillment rather than net worth (or even health). He argues that we need to optimize our life to have memorable experiences before it’s too late and that most people are over-saving and under-living. Bill also explains how one can apply the principles in Die With Zero to break out of “autopilot” and optimize their life to achieve maximum net fulfillment. We discuss: Bill’s upbringing, background, and first job on Wall Street [2:45]; A missed experience and feeling of regret that shaped Bill’s thinking [13:45]; Thinking in terms of time, and the relationship between money, time, and health [16:30]; Solving for net fulfillment and allocating your time based on the seasons of life [26:45]; How Bill thinks about risk, opportunity costs, and the difference between fear and risk tolerance [35:00]; Optimizing for fulfillment, finding purpose outside of work, and more [41:15]; Thinking about the order of experiences you want to have based on seasons of life [49:30]; Bill’s unique perspective on philanthropy and a more impactful way to give money away [54:15]; Applying the principles in ‘Die With Zero’ to maximize fulfillment [1:03:30]; How to break out of living life on autopilot [1:13:45]; When should your net worth peak? [1:17:30]; Taking calculated risks [1:21:00]; Bill shares a lesson from his incredible birthday [1:24:45]; How Bill’s philosophy has evolved since writing Die With Zero [1:33:30]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter dives into the world of red light therapy in response to frequent questions from listeners. Peter provides a comprehensive exploration, starting with the basics of red light therapy and why it’s getting so much attention. The conversation examines the latest data on various applications, including aging, skin health, acne, wound healing, hair loss, eye health, exercise performance, metabolic health, weight loss, inflammation, injury recovery, and menstrual cramps. Peter analyzes the scientific literature on each use case and concludes with a summary table that provides an easy-to-follow breakdown of the potential benefits of red light therapy across these areas. If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #65 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here. We discuss: Overview of topics and the motivation behind exploring red light therapy [1:45]; The basic science of red light therapy [3:15]; The unique penetration properties of red light [6:00]; What happens when tissue is exposed to red light [9:30]; Exploring red light therapy’s potential to combat aging [11:00]; Red light therapy for treating acne [13:00]; Red light therapy for aiding in wound healing [18:45]; Red light therapy for hair loss: promising benefits and practical advice [24:15]; Analyzing the evidence of a positive or negative effect of red light therapy on the eyes [28:00]; Red light therapy’s impact on performance and recovery [30:30]; Red light therapy’s impact on metabolic health: analyzing the limited evidence for improved glucose metabolism [32:45]; Red light therapy for weight loss and targeted fat reduction [36:45]; Red light therapy for inflammation, chronic pain, and injury rehabilitation [41:00]; Red light therapy as a treatment for menstrual cramps [43:45]; Summary: promising applications of red light therapy, unsupported claims, and costs to consider [46:45]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this quarterly podcast summary (QPS) episode, Peter summarizes his biggest takeaways from the last three months of guest interviews on the podcast. Peter shares key insights from his discussions on diverse topics such as dopamine and addiction with Anna Lembke, the current state and exciting future of CRISPR-mediated gene editing with Feng Zhang, how to build and maintain strong bones from youth to old age with Belinda Beck, how calorie restriction may influence longevity and metabolic health with Eric Ravussin, and the role of testosterone and TRT in prostate cancer with Ted Schaeffer. Additionally, Peter shares any personal behavioral adjustments or modifications to his patient care practices that have arisen from these engaging discussions. If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the episode #325 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here. We discuss: Overview of topics to be covered [1:45]; Anna Lembke episode: addiction, dopamine's role in pleasure and pain, and managing addictive behaviors [4:15]; Follow-up questions about addiction: heritability, cold therapy, exercise, and strategies for breaking addictive behaviors [14:45]; Feng Zhang episode: the potential of gene editing with CRISPR technology for treating diseases, and the challenges ahead [21:00]; Feng Zhang’s impactful education experience, and how early exposure and curiosity-driven learning can develop scientific interest for kids [28:30]; The future of CRISPR: weighing the scientific potential to combat complex diseases against ethical considerations around genetic modification [33:45]; Belinda Beck episode: how to build and maintain strong bones from youth to old age [37:30]; How both nutrition and exercise are crucial for bone health at all ages, and why it’s never too late to start [54:45]; Eric Ravussin episode: calorie restriction, energy expenditure, exercise for weight maintenance, and more [59:00]; Measuring energy intake and energy expenditure: techniques and challenges [1:09:45]; ed Schaeffer episode: the nuance role of testosterone in prostate cancer, TRT, and the need for better cancer biomarkers [1:14:30]; Peter’s favorite bands [1:25:45]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube