In episode 400 of The Proof, I’m joined by Drew Harrisberg for a wide-ranging, honest conversation that moves well beyond nutrition and fitness. We reflect on music, creativity, ageing, regret, and what actually matters when you zoom out far enough, alongside some sharp takes on health optimisation, technology, and the direction wellness culture is heading.
We talk about gratitude, presence, legacy, and the quiet cost of distraction, from constant optimisation to endless scrolling. Along the way, we touch on padel, retreats, diabetes technology, dietary guidelines, and why doing less, but doing it more intentionally, might be the real upgrade many of us need.
What We Cover
- Why we often miss the joy of the present while chasing optimisation and productivity
- A powerful reflection on ageing, regret, and what people value most at the end of life
- How distraction, technology, and data tracking can pull us away from meaningful connection
- Living with type 1 diabetes, CGMs, and the mental load of constant monitoring
- Where health data helps, where it harms, and how to build a healthier relationship with it
- Why social sport, play, and community matter more than perfectly structured exercise
- Predictions for 2026, from padel and retreats to a pushback against over-optimisation
- The tension between dietary guidelines, politics, and evidence-based nutrition
This episode is less about answers and more about better questions. A reminder that health is not just biomarkers and routines, but connection, creativity, play, and showing up for the people who matter most.
To connect with Drew, you can reach him via his Instagram or website, Drew’s Daily Dose, where you can also find his training program. To hear more from Drew, check out his previous episodes on The Proof.
- Intro (00:00)
- Dietary Changes and Reflections (03:18)
- Insulin Sensitivity, Dietary Fat, and Metabolic Health (10:25)
- Bone Health and Exercise in Older Adults (14:56)
- Protein Intake, Leucine, and Muscle Protein Synthesis (32:15)
- Controlled Studies vs. Real-World Results (38:24)
- How Older Adults Should Optimize Protein Intake (45:13)
- Ethical and Environmental Trade-Offs of Plant-Based Diets (57:10)
- Reflecting on Life, Priorities, & Regrets (01:10:15)
- The Ideal Self vs the “Ought” Self (01:17:27)
- Struggles with Distraction and Presence (01:24:50)
- The Future of Longevity Retreats (01:37:44)
- The Over-Optimization Trap in Health and Life (01:45:08)
- Why Upcoming Dietary Guidelines May Spark Controversy (01:48:46)
- Will America’s Obesity Rates Finally Decline? (01:58:30)
- Music, Creativity, and Personal Challenges (02:04:31)
Resources and links:
- Science-based exercise tips for women with Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple
- MAHA vs The Scientists: What’s Really Happening Behind the Scenes with Jessica Knurick
- A Well-Balanced Vegan Diet Does not Compromise Daily Mixed Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates when Compared with an Omnivorous Diet in Active Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial
- High-Intensity Resistance and Impact Training Improves Bone Mineral Density and Physical Function in Postmenopausal Women With Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: The LIFTMOR Randomized Controlled Trial
- Post Malone & Angus Stone – “Big Jet Plane” (Live Cover)
Subscribe and stay connected:
Subscribe to The Proof on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify to ensure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and X for more insights and updates.
This episode is brought to you by:
38TERA
Consider 38TERA’s DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout.
LMNT
Stay hydrated with LMNT. Get a free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavours with any purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/SIMON Find your favourite LMNT flavour, or share with a friend. And if you don’t like it? Full refund, no questions asked.
Function Health
Take charge of your health with advanced blood testing and personalised insights. Function Health offers a practical way to track key health markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. Learn more and join at functionhealth.com/simonhill for a $25 credit toward your membership. Only available to those living in the United States.
IM8
With 92 nutrients, including Vitamin B12, Iodine, Selenium and Vitamin D, in highly absorbable forms, IM8 Daily Essentials is the perfect all-in-one daily multi-vitamin to ensure you meet your daily micronutrient needs. IM8 is offering an exclusive 10% off your first order with a free welcome kit when you enter the promo code SIMON at checkout on im8health.com
Momentous
My go-to supplement brand for protein and creatine is Momentous. Use code THEPROOF for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com.
WHOOP
Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on join.whoop.com/simon.
More about Drew Harrisberg
Drew Harrisberg is an exercise physiologist with a post-graduate certificate in diabetes education and management, but most importantly – he is a happy and healthy guy thriving with type 1 diabetes. After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22, Drew made it his mission to regain control of his health by making positive changes to the way that he lives, eats, moves, and the mindset in which he approaches life. Drew has not only accepted living with diabetes but has also learned to manage it so that it doesn’t manage him.
Drew’s background as a qualified health professional and his personal experience living with type 1 diabetes for over 13 years is what fuels his passion to share everything he learns along the way. which is why he created Drew’s Daily Dose – a home that inspires, empowers, and enables people to thrive rather than simply survive.
Drew is a voice for the diabetes community and is an ambassador for Diabetes Australia, the DANII Foundation and BreakthroughT1D (formerly JDRF). He has also presented a motivational TEDx talk which you can find on Youtube.
Drew’s training program BIGGER STRONGER FITTER is available for The Proof community at 50% off. Use code PROOF50 for 50% off.
Drew’s free e-book titled My Day On a Plate includes four high-protein plant-based recipes and pages of scientific evidence comparing plant-based vs omnivorous diets for building muscle, the impact on the environment, and overall human health.
Please note:
This conversation was recorded a week before the Bondi terrorist attack – an event that deeply shook the community I lived in for the better part of a decade, and a place I was visiting in the days leading up to it. I’d been walking that bridge and through that park every day the week before the event unfolded. It’s an area where Drew trains often, and the whole tragedy has rocked so many people we love.
I’m not here to make political statements, but I do want to say this:
I love my Jewish friends, and I love my Muslim friends. And I believe kind-hearted, good-spirited humans deserve to feel safe. For that to happen, we need less tolerance for hatred and violence, no matter the source and no matter the religious background.
In the shadow of something so heartbreaking, talking about protein and performance can feel almost trivial… but this conversation with Drew also touches on something far deeper: what really matters in life, and how fragile and precious it all is.
