This week I sat down with Zack Abbott, Founder & CEO of ZBiotics, maker of the world's first genetically engineered probiotic to go to market.
We get into why hangovers were never really about dehydration, the culprit is acetaldehyde, a toxin your gut produces while you drink, and how ZBiotics engineered a bacteria that breaks it down right where it forms. We talk about why every bottle proudly says "GMO," the two-hour rule for drinking and sleep, and their second product: a probiotic that builds fiber from the sugar you're already eating, in a country where 95% of us don't get enough. Plus the radiation-recovery pitch that started it all, surviving COVID after their manufacturer walked away, and the Silicon Valley investors who doubted hangovers exist.
Watch & listen to the whole episode on 🔴YouTube 🟢 Spotify, 🟣 Apple Podcasts, 🟠 Substack Podcasts
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:59 Champagne moments: the world's first GMO probiotic launch
05:16 Vinegar moments: COVID, canceled occasions, and losing the manufacturer
11:12 Why "proudly GMO" is printed on every bottle
18:47 Why you take it before you drink — not after
22:50 Alcohol and sleep: the two-hour rule
26:44 The radiation-recovery pitch that came before ZBiotics
33:06 Pitching VCs who asked if hangovers were real
40:07 The acetaldehyde mechanism: why it's not dehydration
45:11 Sugar-to-Fiber and the fiber deficiency problem
48:38 Sachets, flavors, and habit stacking
LINKS
ABOUT ZACK ABBOTT: Zack Abbott is the founder and CEO of ZBiotics, a company working to develop practical applications of synthetic biology. After completing his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan, he focused on using genetic engineering to build new probiotics that could help solve everyday problems in unique ways. At ZBiotics, he works with a talented team, ultimately aiming to make biotechnology more accessible and useful in people's daily lives. He believes in the potential of synthetic biology to create practical solutions and continues to explore new possibilities in this field.
ABOUT NINA'S NOTES: Nina's Notes explores the intersection of longevity science, neuroscience, and human optimization. Hosted by Nina Patrick, PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and longevity researcher, each episode translates cutting-edge research into actionable insights for living longer, better.
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