- Tuesday, February 04, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, “WTF is,” is known for its engaging discussions with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. In a recent episode focused on longevity and wellness, Kamath hosted American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson alongside other prominent guests. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn when Johnson decided to leave the interview midway, citing severe air quality issues in India as the reason.
Johnson, a well-known advocate for anti-aging and health optimization, later took to social media to clarify his decision.
Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, “WTF is,” is known for its engaging discussions with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. In a recent episode focused on longevity and wellness, Kamath hosted American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson alongside other prominent guests. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn when Johnson decided to leave the interview midway, citing severe air quality issues in India as the reason.
Johnson, a well-known advocate for anti-aging and health optimization, later took to social media to clarify his decision.
During his visit to India, Johnson reportedly suffered from throat irritation and a skin rash caused by pollution. He pointed out that air pollution in India has become so normalized that people fail to recognize its harmful effects, despite the well-documented scientific evidence.
During his visit to India, Johnson reportedly suffered from throat irritation and a skin rash caused by pollution. He pointed out that air pollution in India has become so normalized that people fail to recognize its harmful effects, despite the well-documented scientific evidence.
“People would be outside running. Babies and small children exposed from birth. No one wore a mask, which can significantly decrease exposure. It was so confusing,” Johnson further wrote. He emphasized that improving India’s air quality would have a greater impact on public health than curing all cancers.
The post sparked debates online, with some agreeing with Johnson’s concerns, while others criticized his remarks as an overreaction. India has long struggled with air pollution, particularly in metropolitan areas where smog and poor air circulation impact millions. The issue has been widely discussed in global environmental and health forums, but Johnson’s abrupt departure brought fresh attention to the topic.
When in India, I did end this podcast early due to the bad air quality. @nikhilkamathcio was a gracious host and we were having a great time. The problem was that the room we were in circulated outside air which made the air purifier I’d brought with me ineffective.
Inside,… https://t.co/xTkpW567Xv
— Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) February 3, 2025
After returning to the US, Johnson claimed his health issues disappeared but pointed out that America faces its own crisis—obesity. He highlighted that “42.4% of Americans are obese,” implying that while India battles pollution, the US struggles with lifestyle-related health risks.
The “WTF is” podcast episode also featured Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner of Accel Partners, and Jitendra Chouksey, founder of FITTR. Additionally, Kamath’s brother, Nithin Kamath, CEO of Zerodha, and his wife, Seema Kamath, Director at Zerodha, participated in the discussion.
While Johnson’s early exit from the interview created a stir, it also reignited conversations about India’s air pollution crisis. His remarks, though controversial, underscored the pressing need for improved environmental policies and stronger public awareness regarding air quality and its long-term health implications.
eas like India, and the need for urgent solutions to protect public health.
