#824: What Most Has My Attention Right Now — Credible (vs. Bogus) Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Kevin J. Tracey, MD is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, a pioneer of vagus nerve research and author of the recent book, The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes. This episode is brought to you by: Eight Sleep Pod Cover 5 sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: EightSleep.com/Tim (Use code TIM to get $350 off your very own Pod 5 Ultra.) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs with your first subscription purchase.) Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim  New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.65% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 1/30/2026 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB, which creates a conflict of interest. Experiences will vary. Outcomes not guaranteed. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, not bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. Timestamps: 00:00 Tim’s intro: why he dismissed vagus-nerve hype 06:34 What the vagus nerve actually is, plus common myths 11:31 Breaking news: FDA approval for SetPoint’s RA implant + Kelly Owens’s turnaround 21:11 Inflammation 101: when healing turns harmful 31:37 Bioelectronic medicine: from lab insight to real devices 55:26 TNF, IL-1, and IL-6: immune drivers and what VNS modulates 56:06 Exercise & recovery: vagal signals, IL-6, and a