A Deliberate Life: Family, Biotech, and Superintelligence with Bret Bostwick

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad welcomes back physician, scientist, biotech leader, and investor Bret Bostwick for a wide-ranging conversation about family, curiosity, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and making thoughtful choices about how we spend our time.

Bret shares why he treats information much like a diet. Rather than constantly consuming news, research, and social media, he prefers high-quality information in smaller amounts, followed by time to think. That same philosophy carries into his approach to parenting. Bret discusses the value of intentional boredom, giving children room to explore their curiosity, and being thoughtful about smartphones and screen time.

The conversation also explores Bret and his wife's decision to move their family onto a catamaran for two years. They homeschooled—or "boat schooled"—their children while traveling through the Bahamas, Caribbean, and East Coast of the United States. Bret explains why the family eventually returned to life on land and why he thinks of life in chapters rather than trying to fit every experience into every season.

From there, Tim and Bret dive into science.

Bret explains what first fascinated him about the Human Genome Project and how that interest led him into medical genetics, biotechnology, and drug development. He offers an accessible explanation of RNA interference and discusses his experience helping bring this technology into the human brain.

They also explore some of the biggest opportunities ahead for medicine. Bret describes how artificial intelligence may uncover information already hiding inside EKGs, mammograms, electronic health records, genomic data, and other medical information collected every day.

Finally, Bret and Tim look toward a future in which AI may exceed human intelligence. Bret describes this moment as having a front-row seat to an extraordinary period in human history—one filled with enormous opportunity, unanswered questions, and real risks.

----------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!