How did Kate's experience making the documentary affect her?

The year of intense filming made Kate constantly feel like she was being recorded. Although she's private, the process also required her to be vulnerable and let her guard down, which was challenging.

What inspired Kate to transition from fashion to working with Brian?

Kate was interested in the merging of AI and humans and was looking for someone practical in that space. She found an email from Singularity University with a quote from Brian about this topic, which sparked her interest.

How has Brian's fame impacted Kate's life and routine?

When meeting new people, they often assume Kate is Brian's assistant or girlfriend, rather than his co-founder. This has led her to become more public to break stereotypes, though she still prefers not to be the center of attention.

What is the core motivation behind Brian's work and the Blueprint project?

Brian's primary motivation for decades has been to help the human species survive and evolve. The Blueprint project, in part, is an attempt to create systems and structures for a healthier future for humanity.

How does Kate define success on a societal level?

Kate defines success as human society banding together to create systems at the species level, moving beyond tribes and nations. She envisions a future where collective well-being is prioritized, using health as an example of societal systems that need improvement.

What have been the biggest benefits Kate has experienced from following the Blueprint protocol?

Beyond the mental and physical benefits, the biggest impact has been the process of committing to Blueprint daily, learning to prioritize herself, and confronting her own tendencies to avoid difficult health decisions. This has increased her self-awareness and discipline.

What advice does Kate have for young females struggling with confidence?

Kate advises young women to tap into their capable internal voice and trust themselves. She emphasizes developing a kind and prioritizing relationship with oneself, which will naturally exude confidence and attract reciprocation from others.

What It's Really Like Working With Me | Kate Q&A

Bryan Johnson

Education5 min read40 min video

Jan 23, 2025|160,972 views|4,513|783

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TL;DR

Kate Tolo discusses her role as Blueprint co-founder, her journey, and working with Bryan Johnson.

Key Insights

Kate Tolo, co-founder of Blueprint, initially had a career in fashion before pivoting to health and technology.

She initially struggled with self-confidence and being in the spotlight, often stepping out of frame during filming.

The "Don't Die" documentary was an intense year-long filming process that led to vulnerability from both Kate and Bryan Johnson.

Kate's journey with Bryan Johnson began with persistent outreach, culminating in her taking a pay and title cut for an assistant role.

She views Blueprint as a way to create societal systems for health, addressing issues like obesity and medication reliance.

Kate advocates for perseverance and developing a strong relationship with oneself as key to personal growth and confidence.

FROM FASHION TO FOUNDER: KATE'S UNEXPECTED PATH

Kate Tolo, the co-founder of Blueprint, shares her unconventional career trajectory. Initially working in the fashion industry, she felt a disconnect and sought a more meaningful path, becoming deeply interested in the intersection of AI and humans. Her search for individuals addressing this led her to Bryan Johnson, initiating a long-term professional relationship that would eventually lead to the creation of Blueprint.

THE INTENSITY OF DOCUMENTING A LIFE EXPERIMENT

The filming process for the "Don't Die" documentary spanned about a year, with a film crew present multiple days a week. Kate describes this as an intense period, with little input on the final edit. The constant presence of cameras created a lingering feeling of being on record, which was a significant adjustment for someone not comfortable in the public eye, highlighting the vulnerability required for such a project.

OVERCOMING INSECURITY: EMBRACING THE PUBLIC EYE

Kate admits to a significant struggle with being seen and often found herself stepping out of the camera's view. She describes an innate aversion to being the center of attention, finding it hard to believe she projects confidence. The documentary filming process was a catalyst for growth, pushing her to confront these insecurities and begin developing the confidence to share her own story.

THE DYNAMIC OF WORKING WITH BRYAN JOHNSON

Kate emphasizes her collaborative relationship with Bryan Johnson, describing them as a strong team. She highlights how Bryan has consistently pushed her to break through self-imposed limitations and build confidence. From initially being shy to now embracing a public role, she credits Bryan's encouragement as instrumental in her personal and professional development over their years working together.

ADDRESSING SOCIETAL SYSTEMS AND HEALTH CHALLENGES

Kate views Blueprint as more than just individual health protocols; it's an attempt to create systemic change. She draws parallels to her childhood observations of societal structures and historical influences. Her aspiration is to help build systems at a species level, addressing issues like widespread unhealthy eating habits and medication dependency, aiming for a more collective and conscious approach to health.

THE BLUEPRINT LIFESTYLE AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Adhering to the Blueprint diet, though with slight personal variations like including coffee, has significantly impacted Kate's routine. She notes that the greatest benefit has been the self-discipline required to consistently prioritize her health. This commitment has led to improvements in mental clarity, physical well-being, and has positively influenced her friends and family to adopt healthier habits.

PERSPECTIVE ON AGING AND LONG-TERM WELL-BEING

Kate challenges the notion of simply 'aging gracefully,' particularly for women bombarded with anti-aging messages. She stresses the importance of maintaining physical health and vitality, not just outward appearance. The goal is to feel capable and rejuvenated, avoiding the pain and discomfort that often accompany aging, and actively working towards a sustained sense of well-being through proactive health management.

NAVIGATING PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND STEREOTYPES

Kate addresses assumptions made about her relationship with Bryan, often being mistaken for his assistant or girlfriend, rather than his co-founder and equal partner. This experience fuels her drive to be more public, aiming to break down stereotypes about young women in leadership roles and to inspire others by showcasing what someone in her position can look like.

THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE AND INTERNAL DIALOGUE

The best advice Kate offers is to persevere. She views challenges and discomfort not as failures but as feedback loops, emphasizing that consistent effort through difficult times leads to desired outcomes. For young women struggling with confidence, she advises cultivating a kind and prioritized relationship with oneself, drawing on an internal voice of capability and trust.

EMBRACING SYSTEMS THINKING FOR BROADER IMPACT

Kate's focus on systems stems from early childhood observations about societal structures and inequalities. She sees the present as a result of historical patterns and believes that conscious intervention is necessary to shape a better future. Blueprint is presented as a foundational attempt to create new structures for health that could yield better societal outcomes, especially in contrast to current trends.

INSIGHTS FROM BRYAN'S UNWAVERING FOCUS

Being around Bryan has provided Kate with a strong anchor for reality, as he possesses a stable internal compass. She notes his ability to remain focused on the future of humanity and species survival, even in the smallest moments. This steadfastness allows her to harvest insights and learn to think more independently, drawing strength from his grounded and unique perspective.

HEALTH AS A PRIORITY AND HABIT FORMATION

Kate emphasizes that making health a top priority fundamentally shifts one's life, influencing interactions and environment. The process of adopting new habits, like flossing daily, initially feels like a chore but becomes second nature with consistent effort. She encourages embracing this perseverance through the uncomfortable initial phase for long-term, effortless integration into one's routine.

CHALLENGING THE 'YOLO' MINDSET ON HEALTH

While understanding the 'You Only Live Once' mentality, Kate encourages introspection for those who adopt it. She suggests it might be a coping mechanism for the difficulty of making healthy choices. She advocates for enjoying life fully without compromising health, proposing societal shifts towards healthier rituals and influencing friends through positive example rather than strict adherence.

THE WEIRDEST EXPERIMENT AND SOCIETAL NORMS

The most unusual health experiment Kate has witnessed is Bryan having large amounts of blood drawn, which causes her anxiety. She acknowledges the societal normalization of unhealthy behaviors, like excessive sugar intake, as baffling. She questions why society allows detrimental choices to be readily available and contrasts this with her vision of creating structured systems for collective well-being.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Supplements

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

Kate is the co-founder of Blueprint and technically holds the CMO title. Her day-to-day involves plugging any holes in the company, sorting out problems, and jumping in wherever needed, as there's no typical day.