Comfort is killing us (and why doing hard things can improve our healthspan)

We've built a world designed for comfort — climate-controlled homes, sitting for long periods of time, ultra-processed food, instant gratification, endless scrolling. And it's quietly destroying our health. In this episode, Azra sits down with functional Functional Medical Pracitioner Richard Game to unpack why modern life is biologically mismatched to our evolution and how doing hard things might be the ultimate biohack for longevity, stress resilience and cognitive health. From gut dysfunction and burnout to VO₂ max, peptides and preventative full-body MRIs, this conversation goes deep into what it really means to live well longer. If you care about performance, brain health, mobility, hormones or simply not becoming another chronic disease statistic this one is essential listening. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Why Comfort Is Quietly Killing Us 02:15 – From Patient to Practitioner: Richard's Health Journey 06:40 – Functional Medicine vs Western Medicine 10:05 – Imposter Syndrome & Doing Hard Things 15:50 – The Evolutionary Mismatch Behind Modern Disease 20:35 – Ultra-Processed Foods & Gut Dysfunction 27:10 – Burnout, Chronic Fatigue & Dysautonomia 35:00 – The Quick-Fix Culture Problem 41:30 – Genetics vs Lifestyle: What Actually Drives Disease 47:20 – Biohacking Tools: Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Ice Baths & Stress Resilience 52:45 – Wearables, HRV & What Your Data Really Means 58:30 – The Longevity Markers That Matter Most 1:04:15 – Strength, Power & Bone Density (Especially for Women) 1:10:40 – Peptides & The Future of Optimisation 1:18:20 – Neurodegeneration Prevention Strategies 1:24:10 – Where To Start If You Feel Overwhelmed 1:28:45 – What It Really Means To Live Well Longer CONNECT WITH RICHARD GAME WEBSITE: https://www.richard-game.com/about  INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedhealth/ LINKEDIN  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamerichard/ JOIN OUR LIVE WELL LONGER WOMEN'S BIOHACKING RETREAT 1–6 May 2026 | Revīvō Wellness Resort, Bali Live Well Longer Retreat has been named Group Retreat of the Year 2025 by the prestigious Destination Deluxe Awards. Following this global recognition, we're thrilled to return to Revīvō Wellness Resort in Bali, 1–6 May 2026, for a deeply personalised, science-led retreat created exclusively for women ready to reclaim their vitality and redesign their future. Co-founded by renowned biohacking experts Azra Alagic and Camilla Thompson this award-winning women-only experience blends cutting-edge biohacking with soulful rituals and ancient practices to deliver lasting transformation. At this intimate retreat, limited to just 16 women, you'll experience: Daily biohacking workshops tailored to women's health Private coaching, DNA testing, and optional hormone/gut diagnostics with naturopath  Hot/cold therapy, hydrotherapy, meditation and MOVEŌ movement classes A curated, functional medicine-inspired gourmet menu Spa treatments, traditional Balinese blessings, full moon ceremony 1:1 consult with Cocoon medical Dr  Whether you're curious about biohacking or already on your longevity path, this retreat delivers the clarity, support, and practical tools to thrive at every stage of life. Spaces are extremely limited — and this retreat will sell out so get in quick :)  Find out more here www.livewelllongerretreats.com  Contact Revivo Retreat directly with any questions or to book directly (deposit required) [email protected]  HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you found this conversation valuable, interesting or inspiring I'd love you to share the pod and leave a review! Great reviews will help me to continue to bring you interviews with experts in longevity, and health and wellness. I would be so grateful if you could take a few minutes to submit a review on the podcast platform you listen from. WANT TO LEARN MORE? If you're keen to get started on your biohacking journey to optimise your health and live well longer please join me on my socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biohackher_official Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Biohackher  Website: www.biohack-her.com  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@biohackherpodcast