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#1 Future vs. traditional personal training
I’m now 6 weeks into my experience with Future, a virtual personal training app with 1:1 coaching, and it has exceeded my expectations. My personal trainer (hey, Josh 👋) basically lives in my pocket and is always one workout or one nudge away. I’ve recently been focusing on strengthening my lower body to support my rock-climbing hobby, and Josh has adapted my workouts to support this (while taking my bad back 😬 into account).
The whole thing has felt hyper-personalized and wayyy more flexible than typical live sessions. From the quality of instructors to the seamless UX, I’m sold on Future’s model being the future of fitness.
Here’s why Future gets my two thumbs up:
💪 No commute required. Running a healthcare content agency and now building a CPG company (!) means my calendar rarely has breathing room 😅. I’ve found it’s sooo much easier to sneak workouts in when my trainer literally lives in my pocket. My trainer also knows what’s in my home gym and adapts my workouts to what I’ve got available.
💪 Neat integrations. Future integrates with all your devices to show your trainer what you accomplished (or didn’t). I use my WHOOP for this and find it really cool. (It syncs with Apple Watch and Oura, too.)
💪 Clear instructions on demand. Each workout includes in-app video demos and audio cues from a real trainer you could replay if needed. For me, this removed a lot of concern around making sure I’m doing moves right—and Josh modifies the moves to suit my style, too.
💪 Built-in accountability. I’ve been loving my weekly formal check-ins from Josh. Plus, he’s always available to answer questions on messaging. That, paired with nudges from my WHOOP, has been more motivating to me than in-gym sessions.
💪 Adapts to your schedule. Unlike with a personal trainer who needs advance notice, you can swap workouts mid-week without the guilt of messing up your trainer’s schedule. And since all my workouts live on my phone, I can also exercise while on the go. I’ve been traveling a bunch for work lately. Recently, I went to the hotel gym, took a photo of what they had, sent it to Josh, and he modified my workout for the next morning.
💪 Includes a range of levels. Finding the right trainer for your fitness level can feel like dating, where you need to try a few before you find one you like. With Future, you have a wide range of elite trainers to select from and try out—whether you’re just starting out, training like an athlete, or somewhere in between, like me 🙋.
💪 Holistic approach. Some personal trainers are only there to help you get your reps in. What I’ve loved about Future is that my trainer isn’t just focused on workouts but also checks in on my eating habits and mental health. We’ve really gotten to know each other, and it’s made working out way better.
I can’t recommend Future enough if you’re looking to bump up your fitness routine, especially if you want that flexibility and accountability. Lucky for you, they’ve sweetened the deal for 5HT readers 😏 and are giving you the first month free (!) of your membership. Claim your offer here, annnd come back to tell me what you think.
#2 A new FDA-approved treatment for depression
There’s been a major breakthrough in mental health treatment… annnd you've probably never heard of it.
Last week, the FDA quietly approved a new protocol for an accelerated version of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)—a non-invasive treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) that helps when meds don’t.
Here’s the idea: Your brain runs on electrical waves. Sometimes those connections fall out of whack, and TMS works by re-synchronizing those pathways so they fire the way they should. Sounds sci-fi, but it’s not. It’s real, it works, and the results are pretty remarkable. (Likeee 60-80% complete remission from depression following TMS, remarkable.) 🤯 And yet, almost no one’s heard about it. That sucks!
TMS has actually been around and FDA-approved since 2008. This newly approved accelerated version reduces a protocol that used to take weeks to six sessions across three afternoons. 🤯🤯 Like I said, remarkable.
Radial (disclaimer: I’m an advisor and they’re a client of Healthyish Content) is one of the growing number of clinics offering the treatment. Their visionary Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Owen Muir, boldly summarized the potential of TMS in a blog post, writing: “Depression can be over in 6 half-days.” Think of that. And then think about what it could look like if everyone had access. 🤯🤯🤯
There have been some amazing breakthroughs in health—from antibiotics to anesthesia—and I genuinely think TMS could be one of those for mental health. With the FDA approving a faster version of the protocol, it's only further evidence of the solution's transformative potential.
#3 Tylenol and pregnancy
I asked my friend and writer of the must-read (and fun!) newsletter GIRLHOOD to weigh in on the topical Tylenol debate. Here’s what Kristyn Hodgdon has to say, memes and all: 👇
Kristyn: If you’ve ever been pregnant (or know someone who has), you know how quickly headlines can make you question every little thing you did. Case in point: President Trump’s comments linking Tylenol to autism caused a lot of panic. But here's the good news—you’re not to blame if you took acetaminophen while pregnant.
What the research says: Large studies, including a Swedish study tracking 2.48 million kids, show that taking Tylenol during pregnancy does not cause autism. Autism is complex: Genetics are the main driver, and lots of environmental and maternal factors play smaller roles. Tylenol isn’t one of them. Acetaminophen is one of the few safe ways to manage pain or fever in pregnancy. Skipping it can actually be riskier: Stress, sleep disruption, and untreated fever all carry real risks for both parent and baby.
ACOG agrees: Steven J. Fleischman, MD, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emphasized that in over two decades of research, no reputable study has concluded that acetaminophen in pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders. “The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat—fever, pain, headaches—are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks,” he said.
And seriously, are we really blaming moms here? The tiny risk disappears entirely when you account for family factors. Moms don’t need extra guilt piled on by headlines or social media panic. Bottom line: Tylenol is still safe (and important) when used as directed. Studies show that taking it during pregnancy isn’t linked to autism, so there’s no need to panic.
🎤 Big thanks to Kristyn for this guest take! If you liked this, subscribe to GIRLHOOD for more women’s health tips and check out Clara—the dope AI chat bot their parent company Rescripted recently launched—that pulls in relevant content from best-in-class, trusted resources. Ask it: “What are some pregnancy-safe medications?”, for example!
#4 Eating fish in the office
Fish is undeniably good for you. It’s packed with protein and healthy fats, it supports brain function, you know the drill. Buuut I think this is good advice 😂. IMO even salmon is a no-no to me.
Okay, maybe poke bowls or sushi are exceptions. Thankfully, I work from home—which means I can eat all the stinky fish I want 😝.
Fish at work: Acceptable or unforgivable?
#5 Non-alcoholic beer
I love beer 🍺. I wish I didn’t on some level, buuut I do.
The thing is, I don’t actually like being drunk, and my favorite beers (hazy IPAs, I know basic) are typically pretty boozy. That’s led me on a mighty quest 🫡 to find non-alcoholic (NA) beers that actually taste good.
This was basically impossible for a long time. I still remember drinking an O’Doul’s with my buddy Tommi and, just, gross. But a couple of things have shifted since then:
1️⃣ Gen Z is drinking less. A lot less. They’re increasingly treating alcohol like the new cigarettes. As my other favorite Derek put it: “Young people hate alcohol now … and it shows.” That cultural shift has forced giants like AB InBev to rethink their sales strategies and has José Andrés Group shaking in their boots.
2️⃣ NA beers have started to get good. Maybe related to above (and definitely appreciated). To call them “amazing” would be a stretch, buuut they have gotten meaningfully better (and have come a long way from O’Douls). And even improved from just a couple years ago. Athletic Brewing led the charge here, and is still what I consider best in class.
There are a few of other NA beers I’ve discovered on my quest that I've been impressed by: Guinness 0.0 (which tastes so much like the real thing it feels like a magic trick), Untitled Art (a craft brewery that makes a bunch of different NA beer, all of which are pretty good—but my go-to is their Italian-style Pilsner), and Deschutes makes a bunch of NA beer including a killer Black Butte Porter. (I’m also told by a Healthyish writer that Żywiec 0,0% (a Polish beer) is delicious, so now I have to try it.)
The more I cut back on alcohol, the more I reach for NA. (That’s healthyish, right?) Calories go waaay down, sleep quality goes up, and that Guinness in particular makes for a surprisingly great nightcap. I am still missing a true (NA) hazy IPA. I know people have tried, and I'm sure they'll get there, but we’re not there yet. (If you know one, hit reply.)
Until then, I’m just happy we’re living in the middle of an NA renaissance.
⚡ Neural signals
Okay, you now know what I’m curious about—but here’s what everyone else is Googling, according to a few trusty platforms.
1️⃣ Non-alcoholic wine. Not making this up! The search term is up 40% over the last three months 🍷.
2️⃣ Neuropathic pain. This is nerve pain that flares up when your nervous system misfires or is damaged.
3️⃣ Sauna blankets. Makes sense that with the weather getting cooler, people are searching for ways to stay warm. (Yes, my at-home sauna campaign continues 🤞.)
4️⃣ Vertical mouse. This is why I love looking up what’s trending on search. Never heard of this ergonomic mouse—that apparently is a dream for wrist pain—but I’m into it? Might try it!
5️⃣ Minimalist shoes. I have heard of these barefoot-style shoes, buuut I’m a sucker for support.
🍿 Brain snacks
Looks like Dr. ChatGPT is wrong 1 in 5 times.
Cult-favorite fitness app Strava is eyeing an IPO 👀.
Starbucks is joining the protein craze with “proffee”. I’m secretly a big Starbucks stan and very excited about this.
Eight Sleep dropped a supplement for jet lag. Haven’t tried, but would.
A 5HT+ member shared this innovative company that created the first saliva-based contraception method. Whhhat. 😲
Oura Ring maker to become $11B company with latest raise. Epic.
Friend and badass 🕺 Chrissy Farr, just released her book on the secrets of great storytelling. Must-read for fellow builders.
Doctronic, an AI-enabled doctor consultation platform, secured $20M to scale its AI doctor platform.
NAD+ keeps making the rounds, and I keep getting more tempted.
Turns out, moderate eating windows (~11-12 h/day) are linked to the lowest mortality risk.
New research shows creatine could help women in menopause. 👍
Men’s standards are shifting: Higher beauty standards but less weight loss treatment.
Derek Thompson (again, my other favorite Derek) talks about GLP-1s and whether we should all be on them in this podcast episode. Super informative, IMO.
After an 8-year follow-up, research found consumption of low and no-calorie artificial sweeteners was associated with an accelerated rate of cognitive decline. Ruh roh! 😬
Annnd in surprising news: McDonald’s plans to invest $200M to promote regenerative agriculture practices.
Most clicked last week: The healthiest hoodie. We really have entered cozy season, haven’t we? 🍂
The mission: Make getting healthyish more accessible and fun. Wanna join me 😏? Share 5HT → {{ rp_refer_url }}
👋 Who are you again? I’m Derek Flanzraich—founder of two venture-backed startups in Greatist (👍) and Ness (👎). I’ve worked with brands like GoodRx, Parsley, Midi, Ro, NOCD, and Peloton. I now run Healthyish Content, a premium health content & SEO agency (among other things).
Every Thursday, I share 5 health things I feel strongly about so you can live healthyish. (Disclaimer: I’m more your friend with health benefits. None of this is medical advice.)
And oh, you also feel strongly about some health things? Hit reply—I’d love to hear it.