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Andrew Huberman's full backstory from childhood to podcast | Andrew Huberman & Peter Attia

Peter Attia MD・90 minutes read

Growing up in Palo Alto with academic parents, the speaker navigated divorce, skateboarding, drug use, and therapy, leading to a career in neuroscience, podcasting, and science philanthropy while reflecting on the impact of mentors and personal growth. Through struggles and losses, the speaker emphasizes the importance of balancing ambition with passion, love for craft, and connections in navigating life's challenges.

Insights

  • The speaker's tumultuous youth, marked by neglect and conflict, led to a turning point with therapy, skateboarding, and transitioning to a new high school, shaping their personal growth.
  • Mentoring and therapy sessions over 30 years were pivotal in the speaker's life, guiding them from skateboarding to fitness, emphasizing mental development and work ethic.
  • The speaker's academic journey from UC Santa Barbara to UC Davis, focusing on neuroscience and physiology, led to impactful research in retinal biology and developmental neurobiology.
  • The speaker's podcasting endeavors, like the uberman Lab podcast, have been a significant source of inspiration, fostering collaboration and support while balancing ambition with a love for science and mentorship.

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Recent questions

  • What was the speaker's childhood like?

    The speaker grew up in Palo Alto with a father from South America who was an experimental physicist and a mother who was a teacher. His childhood was filled with soccer, swim team, and a close-knit community of kids on his street, with summers spent in Aspen due to his father's work in theoretical physics.

  • How did the speaker transition from skateboarding to fitness?

    The speaker transitioned from skateboarding to fitness activities like Thai boxing and weightlifting. Despite some experimentation with drugs, he focused on physical activities and eventually worked towards firefighting, finding solace in these pursuits.

  • What influenced the speaker's decision to focus on education?

    Feeling like a screw-up at 19, the speaker contemplated a career change and eventually decided to focus on education. He took a leave of absence from UC Santa Barbara, moved home, and enrolled at Foothill College, becoming a straight-A student, leading to a successful academic trajectory.

  • How did the speaker's mentors impact his career?

    Mentoring and therapy sessions continued for over 30 years, aiding in the speaker's personal growth. Mentors like Mike Mentzer, a bodybuilder, influenced a shift to high-intensity training and emphasized mental development, while a mentor named Harry Carlisle inspired admiration and ethical research practices.

  • What led to the speaker's involvement in podcasting?

    The speaker started an Instagram series on scientific topics, transitioned to podcasts, and eventually launched the uberman Lab podcast in 2021. Podcasting became a significant source of inspiration and motivation, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for sharing success and navigating life's challenges.

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Summary

00:00

"Skateboarding, Therapy, and a New Beginning"

  • The speaker was born at Stanford Hospital and grew up in Palo Alto, with a father from South America who was an experimental physicist and a mother who was a teacher.
  • His childhood was filled with soccer, swim team, and a close-knit community of kids on his street, with his father transitioning to theoretical physics and being involved in Chaos Theory.
  • The family spent summers in Aspen due to his father's work in theoretical physics, exposing him to academic figures like Peter Kaus and Feynman.
  • He had a sabbatical in Europe, growing close to his sister, who later became a therapist, and developed a deep curiosity about biology and animals.
  • Despite a healthy upbringing with no issues around alcohol or drugs, his parents' divorce at age 12 led to a high-conflict situation, with his father moving out and his sister going to college.
  • He delved into skateboarding, becoming part of the underground skateboarding community in the early days, experiencing exposure to drugs, alcohol, and fights.
  • Despite not excelling in skateboarding due to late puberty and lack of athleticism, he was taken to a residential treatment program in Belmont during ninth grade due to truancy issues.
  • The program involved strict rules, including bed checks, cavity searches, and group therapy, with a focus on playing the game to work through personal issues.
  • After a month or more in the program, he was released under the agreement to switch high schools and start therapy, leading him to switch to Palo Alto High School.
  • The transition to a new high school, living with his father, and starting therapy marked a turning point in his life, away from the tumultuous environment of neglect and conflict he had experienced.

12:59

From Skateboarding to Firefighting: A Journey of Growth

  • The speaker had a strong passion for animals and worked various summer jobs.
  • Initially living with his dad in Palo Alto, circumstances led to him not living with either parent.
  • Struggling with school and personal issues, he stopped attending classes and engaged in skateboarding.
  • Therapy became a pivotal support system for him, offering guidance and attention he needed.
  • Mentoring and therapy sessions continued for over 30 years, aiding in his personal growth.
  • Transitioning from skateboarding to fitness, he found solace in activities like Thai boxing and weightlifting.
  • Despite some experimentation with drugs, he focused on physical activities and work towards firefighting.
  • A supportive girlfriend and her hardworking family influenced his work ethic and drive for improvement.
  • An encounter with Tony Hawk's father provided a unique and impactful experience during his skateboarding days.
  • Reflecting on his tumultuous youth, he acknowledges the impact of his experiences on his growth and maturity.

25:59

From Squatter to Scholar: A Journey in Academia

  • The narrator was living in Isla Vista, squatting in a house, and working at The Bagel Cafe while skateboarding and delivering bagels.
  • A fight broke out at a friend's house involving weapons like knives and skateboards, leading to police involvement.
  • Feeling like a screw-up at 19, the narrator contemplated a career change, eventually deciding to focus on education.
  • The narrator took a leave of absence from UC Santa Barbara, moved home, and enrolled at Foothill College, becoming a straight-A student.
  • With financial support from family, the narrator returned to UC Santa Barbara, excelling academically and rekindling a relationship.
  • The narrator delved into neuroscience and physiology, working in a lab studying brown adipose tissue and temperature regulation.
  • Despite an interest in fitness, the narrator struggled to meet the running requirements for the cross-country team.
  • The narrator connected with Mike Mentzer, a bodybuilder, who influenced a shift to high-intensity training and emphasized mental development.
  • The narrator's academic focus intensified, leading to publications and acceptance into graduate programs at Berkeley and Princeton.
  • Choosing UC Berkeley, the narrator worked with neurobiologist Carla Schatz before transitioning to UC Davis to work with Barbara Chapman for a PhD, dedicating themselves entirely to research and publishing papers.

38:44

Passion for Science Leads to Successful Career

  • The speaker's passion for science, particularly retinal biology and developmental neurobiology, led to a friendship with a transgender scientist named Ben who shared a love for glial cells.
  • Ben offered the speaker a postdoc position in his lab in Palo Alto, where the speaker had previously taught techniques.
  • The speaker's determination to run a lab ethically and honestly was influenced by a mentor named Harry Carlisle, who inspired admiration.
  • After a negative experience at Harvard, the speaker declined a postdoc there and chose to work with Ben in Palo Alto due to their shared passion for biology.
  • Ben allowed the speaker to work on any research topic of interest, despite his lab's focus on glial cells, emphasizing the importance of paying knowledge forward.
  • The speaker, along with two other postdocs, worked on genetic markers for retinal cells, with Ben and another scientist making significant advancements in visual repair for blind individuals.
  • The speaker's successful career trajectory led to a position at UC San Diego, known for its strong Neuroscience program.
  • A PhD involves becoming an expert in a specific area through coursework, experimentation, and publication, while a postdoc focuses on independent research and preparing for a career in academia or industry.
  • The speaker's dissertation focused on neural activity and axon guidance in brain wiring, conducted on ferrets and cats before transitioning away from large animal research.
  • Postdocs typically transition to independent research programs after publishing one or two papers and presenting their work in a seminar, aiming to secure a position in academia or industry.

51:18

Ben's Lab: Science, Ambition, and Relationships

  • Ben's lab had 32 people and was run by a person with a face recognition issue.
  • Lab meetings were legendary, lasting four hours or more, with arguments and politically incorrect discussions.
  • Ben emphasized staying in touch with the love of biology and not getting pulled into ambition.
  • Ben transitioned in 2000, and the transition was discussed in recordings with the author.
  • Ben experimented with various diets, including keto, fasting, and vegan diets, and was interested in nutrition and supplementation.
  • Ben encouraged the author to stay connected to the feeling around doing things and not let ambition pull them away.
  • The author struggled financially as a postdoc in the Bay Area, making $45k a year, leading to a job writing for Thrasher magazine.
  • The author eventually got a job at UC San Diego, where their lab flourished, and they met a woman with whom they had a five-year relationship.
  • The author's relationship with their father improved after attending therapy sessions together.
  • The author reflected on the challenges of youth and the emotional damage that persisted, as well as the wins and struggles in the world of science.

01:04:05

"Legacy of Curiosity: Navigating Life's Challenges"

  • The speaker reflects on inheriting curiosity and a love of craft from their father, who remains enthusiastic about various interests even at almost 80 years old.
  • They discuss the importance of forgiveness and emotional connections, particularly with their father, leading to a close relationship.
  • The speaker recalls a mentor, Harry Carlisle, who tragically took his own life shortly after congratulating the speaker on a scientific paper's publication.
  • They delve into the impact of mental health issues and depression, highlighting the complexities of knowledge not always being a safeguard.
  • The speaker recounts the loss of another mentor, Barbara Chapman, to early-onset breast cancer, emphasizing the devastation and personal connection to her family.
  • They narrate the experience of witnessing their third advisor, Ben, succumb to pancreatic cancer, leading to a realization about mortality and personal introspection.
  • The speaker describes a period of feeling disconnected and joyless in their work, leading to engaging in risky behaviors and seeking self-actualization through various experiences.
  • They detail their involvement in trauma-based work and the Hoffman process, highlighting the importance of addressing past traumas and personal growth.
  • The speaker shares their journey of starting an Instagram series on scientific topics, transitioning to podcasts, and eventually launching the uberman Lab podcast in 2021.
  • They reflect on the significance of maintaining a balance between ambition and passion, prioritizing love for one's craft, friendship, and mentorship in navigating life's challenges.

01:17:31

Podcasting Inspires Research Funding and Collaboration

  • Podcasting allows for a collaborative and supportive environment where success is shared, contrasting the competitive nature of scientific research.
  • The speaker's podcasting work has been a significant source of inspiration and motivation, acting as "Rocket Fuel" for their endeavors.
  • The speaker is actively involved in scientific research, with ongoing projects such as a paper on breathing patterns and anxiety, and collaborations with experts in Mind Body Research.
  • A premium channel has been launched to raise funds for research, with a focus on supporting human studies and accelerating the translation of animal models to human treatments.
  • The speaker aims to continue podcasting, teaching at Stanford, and engaging in science philanthropy to address the need for more funding in research and support for graduate students and postdocs.
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