December 4, 2021

My friend and today's podcast guest Jason Koon is a professional poker player. As of August 2021, he is the 10th highest earner in history, with nearly $32,000,000 in winnings. 

Originally from West Virginia, Jason Koon was raised outdoors, spending much of his childhood fishing, hunting, and playing sports. Jason Koon attended West Virginia Wesleyan College on a track scholarship where he competed as a sprinter. He would go on to graduate with a finance undergraduate degree, as well as an M.B.A.

Jason Koon found poker in college after suffering a severe hip injury. Within months, he was winning money by simply playing on the internet. By the time Jason finished university, he was winning at high-stakes poker games online. After taking a finance job in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jason almost immediately quit and decided to give playing poker for a living a chance.

Jason lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife Bianca and his newborn son Calum.

After you listen in to the discussion with me and Jason, you'll then get a bonus goodie: a guest lecture by my friend Lucas Aoun, designer of the Nootropics Masterclass, 30 Days To Higher Testosterone, and Optimizing Sleep Masterclass, and previous guest on this podcast. (Save 10% on Lucas's nootropics courses with code BENG10.)

Lucas is also the author of the popular article Hair, Hormones, Icing Your Balls & 6 Other Little-Known Strategies To Boost Testosterone, Balance Your Hormones & Reclaim Your Rightful Man & Womanhood. In the second half of this special two-part podcast, Lucas discusses how nootropics work, nootropics for optimal brain functioning, how professional poker players can benefit from specific nootropic compounds, and more.

During our discussion, you'll discover:

-How Jason Koon is preparing for a second wind as a sprinter…08:15

• He seriously injured his hip in college as a sprinter; started playing poker in 2005
• Was challenged by people within the poker community to run 100m under 11 sec.
• Recovery-based training; much better nutrition than while in college
• Deep tissue massage 2~3 times a week
• Sauna and cold plunge every day
• 40-minute warmup, 2 minutes of 90% exertion
• The Quick And The Dead by Pavel Tsatsouline

-The mental and physical grind of becoming and remaining an elite poker player…14:45

• Earned the freedom to be more selective with how energy is expended
• Best players are Chinese entrepreneurs who play at very high stakes ($4 million hands)
• Not uncommon to play over 24 consecutive hours with a high roller who's good at losing
• Sleep deprivation; smoke in your face; whatever the rich guy wants to do
• Jason plays his best poker while fasted, sipping bone broth and MCT oil, in ketosis
• AI is used to study and practice the craft

-How to excel at poker without getting into the trap of gambling…21:45

• Two types of games: cash and tournaments
• Ben will play, win a few bucks, and walk away
• Jason hates gambling, even though he's a professional poker player

-Foods and/or supplements Jason Koon uses to perform at a very high level…25:40

• Adequate sleep is the biggest factor
• Nitro cold brews, black coffee while playing
• Models diet after the Perfect Health Diet
• BGF podcasts with Paul Jaminet:
  • Is There One Single Diet That Is Best? (And Why Something Called The “Perfect Health Diet” Heavily Influences Most of Ben Greenfield’s Dietary Decisions).
  • Episode #152: If You Could Eat Fat All Day, Would You?
• Weston A. Price diet
• First Light grass-fed beef
• HVMN
• Ketone Aid
• Perfect Keto
• Consume clean water and minerals while taking ketone esters
• Water and Wellness Quinton

-Nootropics and smart drugs that assist with focus…35:30

• Ashwagandha
• L-Theanine
• CBD
• Phosphatidyl Choline (use code GREENFIELD10 to save 10%)
• Modafinil
• BGF podcast on modafinil with Jonathan Wisor:
  • Modafinil: Is This Wildly Popular Smart Drug Safe And Effective? (& What It Can Do For Your Sleep Cycles & Brain Health).
• Qualia Mind
• Nootopia
• BGF articles on Nootopia:
  • The Ultimate Guide To Nootropics: How To Safely Use Better Living Through Science To Get The Most Firepower Out Of Your Brain – Part 2
  • The Ultimate Guide To Nootropics: How To Safely Use Better Living Through Science To Get The Most Firepower Out Of Your Brain – Part 1
• Magnesium Breakthrough
• Mag SRT by Jigsaw Health
• Quicksilver Scientific Choline (use code GREENFIELD10 to save 10%)

-Managing bright lights at night and the circadian rhythm with a career that requires odd hours…41:08

• Jason has suffered mild PTSD due to lack of sleep during huge events
• Ra Optics blue light blocking glasses designed for daytime use
  • Yellow lenses for daytime and red lenses for nighttime (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• LED blocking stickers
• Magnesium bath salts soaks before going to sleep
• Deep breaths in sauna
• Podcast with John Lieurance on melatonin:
  • The Shocking Truth About High-Dose Melatonin, Does Melatonin Supplementation Shut Down Your Own Production, How To Use Melatonin To Enhance Fasting & Much More With Dr. John Lieurance.
• Melatonin (use code BEN to save 5%)
• Delta 8 THC
  • Cannabolix (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
  • Noel Creek Hemp (use code BEN20 to save 20%)
• Nighttime Jello (YouTube video)
• Jello recipe:
  • 30 ounces of coconut water or Halo sports drinks
  • About 10 tablespoons of good gelatin-like Great Lakes Gelatin (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
  • About 10 scoops of Kion Lime or Kion Berry Aminos
  • Stevia or monk fruit sweetener
  • Sea salt
• Boundless Cookbook

-How to deal with toxins in a casino environment…49:40

• Be in steam for a really long time
• Intense sweat or steam shower

-How to stay in shape while traveling…51:15

• Crossover Symmetry shoulder bands
• Foam roller
• Accupressure pad Nayoya
• Never train hard; stretching, jump rope, maintain fitness
• BFR bands (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• BGF podcast with Kusha Karvandi:
  • 1 Cheap & Easy Underground Training Method For Growth Hormone Release, 5 Biohacks to Increase Strength in 60 Seconds, 7 Exercises for the Eyes to Radically Enhance Stamina & Speed
• Kaatsu bands (use code BEN to save 10%)
• BGF podcast on Kaatsu:
  • The Official KAATSU Episode: Everything You Need To Know About How To Use Blood Flow Restriction For Muscle Gain, Injury Recovery, Testosterone, Growth Hormone & Much More!

-Meditation and keeping the mental game optimized…54:50

• A reactive mind doesn't work well in the world of poker
• Must let go of things you can't control
• Mini-meditations at the table
• Don't make plays out of fear of losing

-The growing awareness of health and biohacking within the poker world…56:30

• A massive fitness movement is just starting in the poker community

-Specific nootropics for optimal brain function with special guest Lucas Aoun…1:02:47

• Lucas Aoun's Nootropics Masterclass (use code BENG10 to save 10%)
• BGF podcast with Lucas Aoun:
  • Advanced Smart Drugs & Nootropics You’ve Never Heard Of, Rare Japanese Seaweed For Sleep Enhancement, The Most Powerful Form Of Vitamin B1 That Exists & Much More!
• BGF article by Lucas Aoun:
  • Boost Your Brain Power With These 4 Underground, Highly Effective Nootropic Compounds Most People Don’t Know About.

-Nootropics defined and how they work…1:03:15

• Works through a variety of mechanisms in the brain
  • Increases and modulates neurotransmitter release
  • Modulating neurotransmitter receptor sites
  • Modulating neurotransmitter enzymes
  • Reduce oxidative stress
  • Act as a precursor to various neurotransmitters

-Executive functions and cognitive domains required by pro poker players…1:06:55

• Greater emotional control is beneficial under extreme stress
• Rational vs. emotional decisions
• Good tolerance for financial risk
• Emotional intelligence and body language
• Improving working memory
• Have a good degree of forward-thinking

-Nootropics that may be useful for professional poker players…1:14:40

• PRL-8-53 – synthetic chemical designed to treat amnesia
• PRL-8-53
  • PRL-8-53: Enhanced learning and subsequent retention in humans as a result of low oral doses of new psychotropic agent
  • A novel spasmolytic and CNS active agent 3-(2-benzylmethylamino ethyl) benzoic acid methyl ester hydrochloride
• Methylene Blue at a microdose (250 mcg – 1 mg)
• BGF podcast with Dr. Ted Achacoso:
  • An Interview With “The Smartest Physician On The Planet”: Crazy Biohacking Stacks For Cognitive Function, Microdosing CBD, The Rolls Royce Of Jet Lag Hacking & Much More.
• Avena Sativa
• Taurine (2000-5000 mg)

-And much more!

Upcoming Events:

• Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar

Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources from this episode:

– Jason Koon:

– Lucas Aoun:

• Nootropics and Cosmetic Neurology Masterclass (use code BENG10 to save 10%)
• 30 Days To Higher Testosterone (use code BENG10 to save 10%)
• Optimizing Sleep Masterclass (use code BENG10 to save 10%)
• Boost Your Biology
• Ergogenic Health
• Advanced Smart Drugs & Nootropics You’ve Never Heard Of, Rare Japanese Seaweed For Sleep Enhancement, The Most Powerful Form Of Vitamin B1 That Exists & Much More!
• Boost Your Brain Power With These 4 Underground, Highly Effective Nootropic Compounds Most People Don’t Know About.
• Hair, Hormones, Icing Your Balls & 6 Other Little-Known Strategies To Boost Testosterone, Balance Your Hormones & Reclaim Your Rightful Man & Womanhood.

– Podcasts And Articles:

• Is There One Single Diet That Is Best? (And Why Something Called The “Perfect Health Diet” Heavily Influences Most of Ben Greenfield’s Dietary Decisions).
• Episode #152: If You Could Eat Fat All Day, Would You?
• Modafinil: Is This Wildly Popular Smart Drug Safe And Effective? (& What It Can Do For Your Sleep Cycles & Brain Health).
• The Ultimate Guide To Nootropics: How To Safely Use Better Living Through Science To Get The Most Firepower Out Of Your Brain – Part 2
• The Ultimate Guide To Nootropics: How To Safely Use Better Living Through Science To Get The Most Firepower Out Of Your Brain – Part 1
• The Shocking Truth About High-Dose Melatonin, Does Melatonin Supplementation Shut Down Your Own Production, How To Use Melatonin To Enhance Fasting & Much More With Dr. John Lieurance.
• 1 Cheap & Easy Underground Training Method For Growth Hormone Release, 5 Biohacks to Increase Strength in 60 Seconds, 7 Exercises for the Eyes to Radically Enhance Stamina & Speed
• The Official KAATSU Episode: Everything You Need To Know About How To Use Blood Flow Restriction For Muscle Gain, Injury Recovery, Testosterone, Growth Hormone & Much More!
• An Interview With “The Smartest Physician On The Planet”: Crazy Biohacking Stacks For Cognitive Function, Microdosing CBD, The Rolls Royce Of Jet Lag Hacking & Much More.

– Books:

• Boundless Cookbook by Ben Greenfield
• The Quick And The Dead by Pavel Tsatsouline

– Gear:

• Clearlight Sauna
• Morozko Forge
• Ra Optics
• Light Dims LED Blocking Stickers
• Crossover Symmetry Shoulder Bands
• Rumble Roller Foam Roller
• Nanoya Accupressure Pad
• Jump Rope
• BFR Bands (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• Kaatsu Bands (use code BEN to save 10%)

– Food, Supplements, And Nootropics:

• Kettle And Fire Bone Broth
• MCT Oil
• Nitro Cold Brews
• Kion Coffee
• First Light Grass-Fed Beef
• Coconut Water
• Halo Sports Drink
• Great Lakes Gelatin (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• Stevia
• Monk Fruit Sweetener
• Sea Salt
• PRL-8-53
• HVMN
• Ketone Aid
• Perfect Keto
• Water and Wellness
• Quinton
• Ashwagandha
• L-Theanine
• CBD
• Quicksilver Pure PC Phosphatidyl Choline (use code GREENFIELD10 to save 10%)
• Qualia Mind
• Nootopia
• biOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough
• Mag SRT by Jigsaw Health
• Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes
• Melatonin (use code BEN to save 5%)
• Taurine
• Kion Aminos
• Cannabolix (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• Noel Creek Hemp (use code BEN20 to save 20%)
• Methylene Blue
• Avena Sativa

– Other Resources:

• Perfect Health Diet
• Weston A. Price Diet
• Nighttime Jello (Youtube video)
• What Is Delta 8?
• PRL-8-53: Enhanced Learning And Subsequent Retention In Humans As A Result Of Low Oral Doses Of New Psychotropic Agent
• A Novel Spasmolytic And CNS Active Agent 3-(2-benzylmethylamino ethyl) Benzoic Acid Methyl Ester Hydrochloride

Episode sponsors:

–Kion Clean Protein: Organic natural flavors, Himalayan sea salt, and stevia deliver rich chocolate and velvety smooth vanilla flavors that are out of this world—seriously, even in plain ole’ water.

–Organifi Red Juice: Enjoy all the benefits of the 11 superfoods and their micronutrients that help increase resting metabolism, support cardiovascular health, and remove toxins to turn back the hands of time! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code BENG20.

–Clearlight Saunas: You can be sure that I researched all the saunas before I bought mine and Clearlight was the one that stood out from all the rest because of their EMF and ELF Shielding and their Lifetime Warranty. Mention BEN GREENFIELD and you’ll receive an extra discount on your purchase.

–Vuori: Activewear and athletic clothing for ultimate performance. Vuori is built to move and sweat in, yet designed with a West Coast aesthetic that transitions effortlessly into everyday life. Receive 25% off your first order when you use discount code BEN2020.

Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for Jason or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!