Better Sex, Better Hair, Better Sleep: ‘Humanmaxxing’ Is Here

About this episode

The episode discusses the balance between self-optimization and maintaining our humanity, featuring insights from biotech entrepreneur Christian Angermayer.

We can enhance athletic performance, lose weight with a pill and even take psychedelics to alter consciousness. At what point does all this self-optimization become self-obsession? When does it get in the way of our humanity itself? My guest this week is the German biotech entrepreneur Christian Angermayer, who believes scientific breakthroughs to extend our lives — and even put us in touch with the divine — are close at hand.

People in this episode

Host: Ross Douthat

Guest: Christian Angermayer

Topics covered

• self-optimization
• biotechnology
• athletic performance
• psychedelics
• humanity

Keywords

• self-optimization
• biotechnology
• psychedelics
• athletic performance
• humanity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times Opinion

More episodes of Interesting Times

• A Vision of a ‘Society Without Capitalism’ · July 16, 2026 · 58 min
• ‘ I'm Worried About Weimar America’ · July 9, 2026 · 1h 2m
• The Unifying Speech We Won’t Get This Independence Day · July 2, 2026 · 7 min
• Is it Time for a New Sexual Revolution? · June 25, 2026 · 55 min
• JD Vance on the Morality of the Trump Administration · June 18, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Anna Paulina Luna Wants Everything Disclosed · June 5, 2026 · 1h 21m