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My First MillionThe Secret Drug That The Stars Are Using To Get In Shape (#406)
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Cold open banter: progress memes, Facebook ad sabotage, and the “gentleman’s agreement”
Shaan and Sam riff on overused LinkedIn “progress” graphics and how ad platforms react to people flagging content as spam. They pivot into their recurring “gentleman’s agreement”: listeners should subscribe on YouTube in exchange for free content.
- •Shaan complains about the repetitive “progress is a squiggly line” graphic and jokes it should be flagged as spam
- •Sam says he used to flag competitors’ Facebook ads as spam because it affected performance metrics
- •They tease that Sam often drops “bombshells” after recordings
- •They lay out the “gentleman’s agreement” to subscribe on YouTube for continued free episodes
Semaglutide explained (with caveats): why it curbs cravings and drives weight loss
Sam introduces semaglutide as a diabetes-origin drug that, in trials, produced significant weight loss when injected weekly. Both emphasize they’re not experts and frame the discussion as “bro science,” focusing on how it changes appetite and cravings.
- •Sam describes how blood sugar swings can fuel cravings and how the drug reduces desire for sugar and excess food
- •He recounts a study where participants lost roughly 15% of body weight over about a year
- •Sam says it makes people feel full sooner, effectively lowering daily calorie intake
- •They repeatedly warn they’re not medical authorities and urge skepticism/avoid taking their discussion as guidance
Celebrities, shortages, and unknown long-term risks
They discuss how the drug became culturally prominent after famous people were rumored or confirmed to be using it. They also talk about side effects they’ve heard about, Sam’s personal experience, and uncertainty about long-term outcomes—plus the problem of supply shortages for diabetics.
- •Shaan lists brand names they’ve heard associated with the drug (like Ozempic and Wegovy)
- •They mention public chatter about celebrities and high-profile figures using it, including Elon Musk (as stated in the episode)
- •Sam describes common side effects people report (stomach issues) and his own experience feeling unusually cold
- •They note claims about risks like thyroid cancer but emphasize uncertainty and limited confidence in the data
- •They discuss that increased demand has contributed to shortages for people who need it for diabetes
Second-order implications: weight regain, potential behavior effects, and forum-based trend spotting
Sam argues the drug could be “big,” suggesting it may meaningfully change obesity outcomes—while noting many people regain weight after stopping. He also shares anecdotes from online communities where users claim reduced alcohol cravings, and he explains how he uses forums and subreddits to spot patterns early.
- •Sam says some people regain about two-thirds of lost weight after quitting, emphasizing habit formation matters
- •He shares forum anecdotes that some users report reduced alcohol cravings while taking it
- •They name specific places Sam watches: bodybuilding forums and subreddits dedicated to the drug/brands
- •Shaan checks subreddit membership counts and notes they’re smaller than expected
- •They frame online communities as early signals for emerging trends
How to make money around the trend: telemedicine brands, Google Trends, and affiliate content
Shaan shifts to the business angle: how interest in these drugs can create opportunities in search, content, and lead generation. They discuss telemedicine-style companies, rapid growth claims, and why SEO/YouTube explainers could monetize via referrals if users stay subscribed for long periods.
- •Shaan describes telemedicine-style funnels where users get screened and prescribed GLP-1 medications
- •He cites Calibrate as an example and shares claims about valuation and revenue run-rate growth
- •They talk about pricing dynamics and why people may be willing to pay a lot to stay on the medication
- •Shaan describes Google Trends appearing to surge and predicts mainstream coverage will expand
- •He proposes content strategies: reviews, science summaries, FAQs, and community groups that could generate high-value leads
Risk tolerance and the “natural vs drugs” line: why Sam experiments and Shaan waits
They debate whether taking a drug like this is worth it, with Shaan describing a more cautious approach. Sam challenges the idea that “natural” automatically means safer and frames experimentation as testing where personal boundaries lie.
- •Shaan says he’s not completely against it but prefers to wait due to unknowns
- •Sam argues “natural” isn’t inherently safe and compares the logic to other common interventions
- •They discuss how people choose which technologies/drugs feel acceptable versus too new
- •Sam frames his approach as curiosity-driven testing rather than strict avoidance
- •They close the segment by moving from semaglutide to other “weird” experiments Sam has tried
Vaping weed (early), vaping alcohol (not real), and Sam’s ‘before photo’ roast
Sam recounts being unusually early to vaping weed and his attempts to avoid smoke while still using cannabis. They also joke about Sam’s past look after he posted a “before” photo, and Sam shares a chaotic memory from that period.
- •Sam says he was experimenting with weed vaping as early as 2004 and describes early devices (including the Volcano)
- •He talks about seeking portable vaping and tracking the category before it became mainstream
- •Sam mentions curiosity about “vaping alcohol,” concluding it wasn’t really a thing
- •Shaan and Sam joke about Sam’s ‘before picture’ looking exaggerated and comedic
- •Sam shares an anecdote about witnessing a drive-by shooting during that era
Peptides and pattern-finding: BPC-157 and how Sam reads the internet for signals
Shaan asks about another compound Sam tried for pain, which leads into a broader philosophy: use non-traditional sources to detect repeating patterns. Sam explains that while most comments are noise, recurring claims across communities can be worth investigating.
- •Sam names BPC-157, describes it as a peptide, and says he’s hesitant to explain medically
- •He says he tried it after reading a Reddit post and reports his calf pain improved dramatically
- •Sam describes scanning forums, Facebook groups, and comment sections for repeated themes
- •He gives examples of tracking controversial claims and then researching why they might be circulating
- •He uses keto’s rise-and-decline as an example of watching internet subcultures and trend arcs
Deep Voodoo and deepfakes in Hollywood: from Indiana Jones de-aging to Kendrick Lamar
Shaan brings up de-aging in the new Indiana Jones trailer and connects it to Deep Voodoo, a company associated with the creators of South Park. They discuss how deepfake tech can reduce the cost of visual effects, and they cite Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Heart Part 5’ as a standout example.
- •Shaan introduces Deep Voodoo as a deepfake/AI visual effects company connected to the South Park creators
- •They mention Deep Voodoo raised $20 million (as stated in the episode)
- •Sam praises Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Heart Part 5’ video and they describe the face transformations shown
- •They frame deepfakes as having misinformation risks but strong entertainment/production value
- •Shaan describes how a suspended movie project led to spinning out the tech into a standalone company
Why Shaan admires the South Park creators: prolific output, big deals, and creative range
They expand on why Trey Parker and Matt Stone stand out as rare, consistent creators across mediums. Shaan runs through their production intensity and business success, and they nominate them as “Billy of the Week.”
- •They praise the South Park creators’ consistency and lack of public “blemishes,” in Sam’s framing
- •Shaan describes ‘Seven Days to Air’ and the show’s one-week production cycle to stay topical
- •They reference the creators’ success beyond TV, including ‘Book of Mormon’ (as said in the episode)
- •Shaan cites a reported $900 million deal with ViacomCBS (as stated in the episode)
- •They briefly mention a shelved project involving a deepfaked Donald Trump comedy segment
South Park’s storytelling rule: replace “and then” with “but/therefore”
Shaan shares a storytelling heuristic he says he learned from the South Park creators: “and then” chains are boring, while “but” and “therefore” create compelling causality and tension. Sam reacts positively, and they connect it to why audiences like Shaan’s storytelling.
- •Shaan explains why “and then” produces flat narratives without meaningful turns
- •He outlines the “but/therefore” swap as a simple script-editing method
- •They give a quick illustrative example of how “but” and “therefore” make events consequential
- •Sam affirms the technique and the idea resonates with their style of content
- •They segue from storytelling praise into a longer discussion about goals and life direction
Project selection vs execution: Shaan’s ‘reality bender’ framework and why he credits Sam
Shaan says picking the right goals is harder than executing them, and he argues Sam is unusually good at both. He recounts examples from Sam’s life—work, travel, and fitness—as evidence of choosing distinctive goals and making them real.
- •Shaan frames success as two skills: choosing the right thing to want, then bending reality to achieve it
- •He contrasts people who execute well on the wrong goals with people who choose well but don’t execute
- •He credits Sam’s past choices (like building a newsletter business with “be less boring” as the core pitch)
- •Shaan says Sam’s fitness and lifestyle changes reflect deliberate focus beyond just money
- •Sam receives the compliments but prepares to explain what drives his approach
Sam’s goal-setting system: ‘direct your movie,’ scheduled worry time, and holistic planning
Sam explains how a mindset shift—seeing himself as the director of his own life—changed his behavior. He also describes a structured goal-setting framework he used with Sophia Amoruso, emphasizing deliberate planning across life categories and limiting worry to scheduled sessions.
- •Sam cites the idea that you’re the director of your own movie and can change the rules of your game
- •He describes helping Sophia Amoruso with a structured annual goal-setting process
- •He lists his recurring categories: family, fitness, fun, and finance
- •Sam describes ‘worry time’ as a bounded planning session, followed by execution without constant rumination
- •He argues many people don’t systematically define what they want and write down the rules they’ll follow
Leverage, intensity, and the next decade: money goals, compounds, masculinity, and a Tate aside
Sam recounts early moments that pushed him to seek leverage and a more intentional life, then answers what he wants next: specific financial targets and owning multiple “compounds.” The conversation broadens into living more intensely, defining bravery as doing what you fear, and a sharp condemnation of Andrew Tate’s alleged behavior.
- •Sam describes an early realization about leverage after watching a concert video and wanting to stop ‘wasting’ himself
- •He says his financial goal is to reach at least $150 million by age 40 (as stated in the episode)
- •He talks about wanting to own multiple ‘compounds’ that friends can use even when he’s not there
- •Sam frames courage as doing the hard conversation or action because it’s scary, tying it to his idea of being ‘a man’
- •They discuss emotional overreaction in leadership and staying steady; Sam then criticizes Andrew Tate and compares ‘breakout fame’ to being morally good
Wrap-up: calling it the ‘bro/bromance episode’ and thanking women listeners
Shaan recaps the episode’s themes—drugs, South Park, goal-setting, and “be a man”—and jokes about the show’s tone. They close by addressing women listeners directly and insisting the takeaways apply to anyone, then end the episode quickly before “getting canceled.”
- •Shaan lists the major segments as a humorous ‘bro episode’ recap
- •They joke about their small number of women fans and reading DMs from women listeners
- •Sam says the themes are universal and reframes “be a man” as “be a woman” if needed
- •They end with a quick sign-off to avoid going further into controversy
- •Final goodbye as they close the episode
