We’ve created a generation that’s overstimulated, overprotected, and underprepared for real life.
In this raw and revealing conversation, Dave Asprey — the father of biohacking, four-time New York Times bestselling author, and host of The Human Upgrade Podcast — joins Vivian Glyck to talk about the biology of anxiety and why calm, consistent boundaries are the key to raising resilient kids.
Dave explains how fear, ego, and overstimulation are rewiring our children’s nervous systems, and why the solution starts with us. From his “Five F-Words” framework (Fear, Food, F***ing, Friend, and Forgiveness) to the “BICEP” method for resetting dopamine, Dave gives parents a scientific roadmap for leading from peace instead of panic.
He doesn’t hold back:
“Until you get a job, it’s my rule.”If you’ve ever felt like your child’s anxiety was your fault, this episode will help you reframe the conversation — and retrain your own biology — so you can parent from calm authority, not fear.
Key Takeaways:
TIME STAMPS
00:00 — Intro: Why Dave Asprey Matters
Vivian welcomes Dave Asprey, founder of the biohacking movement, author of Heavily Meditated, and father navigating the anxious generation.
02:10 — The Epidemic of Anxiety in Kids and Parents
Why our kids aren’t “broken” — they’re overloaded. Dave explains how overstimulation and isolation are reprogramming young brains.
05:45 — Dave’s Childhood: Anxiety, Asperger’s, and Rebuilding His Brain
How Dave reversed chronic anxiety, OCD, and oppositional defiance through experimentation, biology, and environment.
10:20 — The Science of Fear: How Mitochondria Drive Behavior
Dave reveals his “Five F-Words” that explain every human reaction: Fear, Food, F*ing, Friend, and Forgiveness.**
14:35 — The Real Source of Anxiety: Your Hardware, Not Just Your Head
Why anxiety starts in the body — and how biology, not willpower, drives our emotions.
17:40 — Parenting from Biology, Not Blame
Vivian and Dave explore how parents unconsciously pass anxiety through their nervous systems to their kids.
20:05 — The “Until You Get a Job” Rule: Calm Authority in Action
Dave’s viral line — “Until you get a job, it’s my rule.” What it really means about leadership, love, and healthy boundaries.
22:45 — Boundaries Are Love, Not Control
Why calm consistency builds safety and why over-negotiating erodes trust and resilience.
25:50 — Forgiveness as a Nervous System Reset
Dave’s eighth-step “Reset Process” — how forgiveness isn’t a thought but a state change that turns off chronic stress.
29:20 — The BICEP Method: Rewiring Dopamine and Motivation
Brief, Intentional, Conscious Exposure to Pain — the neuroscience behind cold plunges, discomfort, and resilience training for kids and adults.
33:40 — From Panic to Peace: Parenting as Nervous System Leadership
Dave’s blueprint for helping parents manage themselves first, so kids can model calm instead of chaos.
37:25 — Raising Resilient Kids in a Digital World
Why screen time, dopamine addiction, and helicopter parenting make kids weaker — and how to reverse it.
40:30 — Lessons from the Wise Elders
Dave’s call for multi-generational mentorship — why kids need guidance from adults who’ve actually suffered and learned.
44:05 — The Hard Truth About Comfort and Growth
“If it’s scary, do it anyway.”47:10 — How to Reprogram Your Own Biology
Dave’s closing advice: biohack your nervous system, set better boundaries, and raise kids who can face real life without fear.
50:15 — Final Thoughts: Calm Is the New Discipline
Vivian and Dave close with hope for parents raising kids in the anxious generation — connection over control, calm over chaos.
Connect with Dave Asprey on The Human Upgrade Podcast
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📌 Connect with Vivian Glyck & The Bad Mom Podcast: Parenting The Anxious Generation
The Bad Mom Podcast: Parenting The Anxious Generation is a Project Grit initiative: fortifying mental wellness for the next generation.
Just Like My Child Foundation is a proud nonprofit partner of Project, committed to equipping today's youth with the tools they need to thrive and build a better future.