In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve chats with Yash Varma, a seasoned tech founder, investor at Empress Capital, and high-performance coach.

While Yash has a massive background in tech (founding Spaarks, investing in Tesla and Moderna, and studying AI at Stanford), this conversation is not about code. It is about code for the human body. Steve and Yash dive deep into the concept of Longevity to debate why the "retire at 65" model is broken and why health is officially the new wealth.

Yash opens up about the health scare that forced him to stop the "founder grind," the specific habits he uses to optimize his energy (including a live demonstration of a Tony Robbins style state change), and why eating food that "goes off" is actually the secret to living longer.

If you are a founder, business leader, or just someone looking to add more life to your years, this is a must-watch.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro: Why we need a "grown-up" conversation about longevity

01:18 Defining Longevity: It is about quality of life rather than just years

03:55 Why retirement is an outdated concept

05:00 State Management: Jumping off bridges with Tony Robbins

07:06 LIVE DEMO: Yash teaches Steve the "Power Move" to change energy instantly

12:00 The 3 Pillars of Performance: Work, Purpose, and Health

16:30 "You can’t do anything if you’re dead": Prioritizing founder health

19:00 The Wake-Up Call: Yash’s hospitalization story

23:15 Parenting: Why kids do what you do, not what you say

25:00 The widening gap between the healthy and unhealthy

26:45 AI, Technology, and the "Glasshole" story

36:55 The pros and cons of wearable health tech (Whoop, etc.)

40:00 Yash’s Sleep Routine: Same time, dark room, and "sleepy tea"

46:50 Blue Zones & The "Centenarian Olympics" (Getting up without hands)

50:40 Yash’s advice: Move heavy things, eat fresh food, and connect with people

QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:

"It's not about living more years, it's about the life in your years."

"I prioritize my health over everyone else’s because if I want to give to my family and my business, I can’t do anything if I’m dead."

"Health is wealth. You can have as much money as anyone in the world, but without your health, you're on a hollow vision of performance."

"People do what you do, not what you say."

ABOUT YASH:

Yash Varma is a global citizen, tech founder, and high-performance coach. After founding and exiting the global software consultancy Spaarks (with offices in London, Glasgow, and Canberra), Yash shifted his focus to empowering other founders.

He is currently a Principal at Empress Capital and an active Angel investor with early stakes in companies like Tesla and Moderna. Beyond business, Yash is a certified high-performance coach, a mentor with Energy Labs, and a dedicated philanthropist leading the Canberra Chapter of Room to Read. He lives by three words: Love, Joy, and Contribute.

LINKS:

Connect with Yash → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashvarma/

Connect with Steve → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegrace/

The Nudge Group → https://thenudgegroup.com/

Give It A Nudge Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@giveitanudge/

The Trouble With People → https://thetroublewithpeople.substack.com/