In this episode of The Augmented Life, Michael Tiffany sits down with Adam Greenfeld, Co-Founder at Thesis Nootropics.
They unpack the science and strategy behind brain enhancement, from the early Reddit-fueled experiments that shaped Thesis, to the surprising audiences using nootropics today.
Adam opens up about dopamine burnout, self-experimentation, how he evaluates if a stack is working, and why optimizing for "life experience" now beats waiting for a big exit.
Whether you're deep into biohacking or just curious how to improve task switching and mental clarity, this conversation blends rigorous science, personal reflection, and practical strategies you can use today.
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to The Augmented Life
01:09 – How do you pronounce "nootropics"?
02:57 – Science vs. woo: intuition as real data
04:38 – Adam’s seasonal approach to objectivity vs. energy
05:45 – Stress, inflammation, and felt results
08:05 – The limits of pharmaceutical science vs. biohacking
10:02 – The original Thesis testing protocol: 2,500 participants
13:26 – 130+ ingredients tested, 85% match accuracy
16:26 – Why being non-precious with formulations worked
18:23 – Innovation vs validation in supplement design
19:39 – From biohackers to SoulCycle execs: Who uses Thesis
22:48 – The “busy mother” demographic and shifting audiences
24:11 – Adam’s nuanced POV on Adderall overprescription
26:36 – Why Stasis is for people staying on Adderall
27:50 – The dopamine receptor burnout theory
29:05 – The real addiction: stress and complexity
31:17 – Daily stack: creatine, clomiphene, magnesium, clean eating
36:34 – Hydrogen tablets, walking, ocean therapy, and woo
38:40 – Still taking Thesis: 7 years, 5 days a week
40:10 – Optimize for life experience, not just exit strategy
43:28 – How to measure if nootropics work
45:51 – Sub-perceptual vs. felt effects: a product design insight
47:27 – Task switching speed: a killer metric for high performers
48:22 – Where to find Adam + links to Thesis & Stasis
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