Ultrasound Vagus Nerve Stimulation Explained: Jon Hacker on Zenbud & Nervous System Tech

In this episode of the Beautifully Broken Podcast, Freddie Kimmel talks with Jon Hacker, co-founder of Zenbud, about the broken incentive structures inside MedTech and academia — from the unnecessary gatekeeping around credentials and funding, to an insurance system that rewards defensibility over efficacy. Jon shares his personal path from an eleven-year-old fascinated by the nervous system to building a company focused on non-invasive, science-backed nervous system technology, and the two explore what it really means to "meet people where they are" instead of demanding a total lifestyle overhaul. The conversation then turns to Zenbud itself: how the device uses ultrasound (not electrical stimulation) to support the vagus nerve, the history and research behind vagus nerve stimulation, early tolerability and reaction-time data, and why Jon is skeptical of HRV as a standalone metric. They close out with a candid look at frictionless, daily-life-compatible wellness tech, Zenbud's 90-day guarantee, and where the product is headed next — including future plans for real-time brain activity feedback. Episode Highlights 00:01 Welcome to the Beautifully Broken Podcast and introduction of Jon Hacker 01:55 What drew Jon into health, wellness, and integrative technology 03:29 Why Jon believes MedTech is broken 06:14 Barriers to innovation in MedTech and academia 09:20 Insurance, reimbursement, and misaligned incentives 12:04 Freddie's perspective on the longevity and health optimization space 14:18 Meeting people where they are and building for real life 20:12 Introduction to Zenbud 23:36 How Zenbud works and why it uses ultrasound 27:00 The history of vagus nerve stimulation 32:58 Early results, tolerability, and reaction time data 36:07 Why HRV is a limited metric 39:50 Passive, frictionless use in daily life 42:43 The 90-day guarantee 49:52 Future vision for Zenbud 52:45 Where to find Zenbud and closing thoughts Get Zenbud: https://zenbud.health/beautifullybroken Use code BEAUTIFULLYBROKEN  Upgrade Your Health LightPathLED: https://lightpathled.pxf.io/c/3438432/2059835/25794 Code: beautifullybroken Silver Biotics Wound Healing Gel: https://bit.ly/3JnxyDD 30% off with Code: BEAUTIFULLYBROKEN MaxGen Labs: https://maxgenlabs.com/BEAUTIFULLYBROKEN CONNECT WITH FREDDIEWork with Me: https://www.beautifullybroken.world/biological-blueprintWebsite and Store: (http://www.beautifullybroken.world) Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/freddie.kimmelYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beautifullybrokenworld Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.