In this episode of the Beautifully Broken Podcast, Freddie Kimmel talks with Jon Hacker, co-founder of Zenbud, about the broken incentive structures inside MedTech and academia — from the unnecessary gatekeeping around credentials and funding, to an insurance system that rewards defensibility over efficacy. Jon shares his personal path from an eleven-year-old fascinated by the nervous system to building a company focused on non-invasive, science-backed nervous system technology, and the two explore what it really means to "meet people where they are" instead of demanding a total lifestyle overhaul.

The conversation then turns to Zenbud itself: how the device uses ultrasound (not electrical stimulation) to support the vagus nerve, the history and research behind vagus nerve stimulation, early tolerability and reaction-time data, and why Jon is skeptical of HRV as a standalone metric. They close out with a candid look at frictionless, daily-life-compatible wellness tech, Zenbud's 90-day guarantee, and where the product is headed next — including future plans for real-time brain activity feedback.

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Episode highlights

00:01 Welcome to the Beautifully Broken Podcast and introduction of Jon Hacker 01:55 What drew Jon into health, wellness, and integrative technology 03:29 Why Jon believes MedTech is broken 06:14 Barriers to innovation in MedTech and academia 09:20 Insurance, reimbursement, and misaligned incentives 12:04 Freddie's perspective on the longevity and health optimization space 14:18 Meeting people where they are and building for real life 20:12 Introduction to Zenbud 23:36 How Zenbud works and why it uses ultrasound 27:00 The history of vagus nerve stimulation 32:58 Early results, tolerability, and reaction time data 36:07 Why HRV is a limited metric 39:50 Passive, frictionless use in daily life 42:43 The 90-day guarantee 49:52 Future vision for Zenbud 52:45 Where to find Zenbud and closing thoughts

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ZenBud

ZenBud is a wearable, ear-mounted ultrasound device that gently stimulates the vagus nerve to help shift the body out of "fight-or-flight" and into a calmer, more regulated state, with no electrical current, no drugs, just a few minutes a session. It's designed to support stress relief, better sleep, and nervous system resilience, with early research pointing to improvements in heart rate variability and anxiety symptoms.