Audience research deep dive

What Huberman's 5M Subscribers Actually Care About

We analyzed 40,234 comments from 200 Huberman Lab videos to reveal what his audience actually thinks, asks, and requests. Topics, supplements, video ideas, success stories, and the conversations happening in the comments.

20 min read January 2025 40,234 comments analyzed
What Huberman Viewers Care About - Comment analysis visualization
40,234
Comments analyzed
200
Videos covered
947
Video requests
609
Success stories
17
Topics tracked

Andrew Huberman's YouTube channel has 5+ million subscribers and billions of views. But subscriber counts don't tell you what people actually care about. Comments do.

We used Taffy to pull and analyze 40,234 comments from 200 Huberman Lab videos. We categorized them by topic, extracted supplement discussions, identified video requests, found success stories, and surfaced criticism.

The goal: Understand what a health-focused YouTube audience actually wants. Whether you're a content creator in this space, a researcher studying health communication, or just curious about what topics resonate, this data tells the story.

1

Top Topics by Mention Count

We tracked 17 topic categories across all comments. Here's what Huberman's audience talks about most:

Exercise / Fitness 2,157
Focus / ADHD 2,109
Sleep 1,895
Anxiety / Stress 1,502
Depression / Mental Health 1,190
Meditation / Mindfulness 1,014
Cold Exposure 884
Fasting 683
Gut Health / Microbiome 566
Testosterone / Men's Health 521

Key insight: Physical performance (exercise) and cognitive performance (focus/ADHD) are neck-and-neck as the top concerns. Sleep rounds out the top 3. Mental health topics (anxiety, depression) show strong engagement, indicating the audience is seeking solutions for psychological wellbeing, not just physical optimization.

2

Supplement Discussions

We tracked 17 specific supplements and compounds across all comments. Here's what the audience discusses:

Top Supplements by Mentions

Omega-3 / Fish Oil 556
Caffeine 250
NAD+ / NMN / NR 181
AG1 / Athletic Greens 103
Magnesium 81
Vitamin D 70
Creatine 66

Specialty Compounds

Tongkat Ali 54
Ashwagandha 48
L-Theanine 42
Alpha-GPC 39
Lion's Mane 35
Melatonin 33
Fadogia Agrestis 28

Key insight: Omega-3s dominate supplement discussions by a huge margin (556 mentions vs. 250 for caffeine). The audience is clearly interested in foundational supplements. Notably, AG1 (Athletic Greens) gets significant discussion (103 mentions), reflecting both the sponsorship and genuine curiosity about greens powders.

3

Video Requests: What the Audience Wants

We found 947 comments explicitly requesting videos on specific topics. Here's what Huberman's audience is asking for:

Tinnitus / Hearing Health 472 requests

By far the most requested topic. Viewers want comprehensive coverage of tinnitus causes, treatments, and management strategies.

Guest Interview Requests 279 requests

Viewers frequently request specific guests: researchers, doctors, and experts in various fields.

Brain / Cognitive Health 165 requests

Neurodegeneration, memory improvement, Alzheimer's prevention, and brain optimization.

ADHD / Focus 151 requests

Natural ADHD management, focus protocols, attention optimization without medication.

Women's Health / Hormones 144 requests

Menopause, menstrual health, PCOS, female-specific protocols. Viewers note most content is male-focused.

Aging / Longevity 127 requests

Anti-aging protocols, lifespan extension, healthy aging strategies.

Skin / Hair 98 requests

Hair loss, acne, skin aging, dermatological health from a scientific perspective.

Eye / Vision Health 89 requests

Myopia, eye strain, vision preservation, screen time effects on eyes.

Surprising finding: Tinnitus/hearing health is the runaway #1 request with 472 mentions, far exceeding any other topic. This represents a clear content gap. The audience is desperate for science-based information on hearing health that Huberman's neuroscience background could uniquely address.

4

Most-Liked Questions

Questions that received the most likes represent what the broader audience wants answered. Here are the top questions by engagement:

High engagement

Questions about protocol timing and combinations: "Can I do cold exposure and sauna on the same day?" "What's the optimal order for morning routines?" "How do I combine multiple protocols without conflicts?"

High engagement

Questions about individual variation: "Does this apply to women too?" "What about older adults?" "How do genetics affect these recommendations?" "What if I have [specific condition]?"

High engagement

Questions about supplement specifics: "What brand do you recommend?" "What's the optimal dosage?" "When should I take this?" "Are there interactions I should know about?"

High engagement

Questions about scientific evidence: "What studies support this?" "Is this proven in humans or just mice?" "What's the effect size?" "Is this correlation or causation?"

Pattern: The audience wants personalization and practical implementation. They understand the general principles but need help applying them to their specific situations. Content creators in this space should address individual variation and combination protocols.

5

Success Stories: What's Working

We found 609 comments where viewers shared positive results from implementing protocols. Here are the most common success themes:

Sleep Improvements

Morning light exposure, temperature protocols, and supplement stacks (magnesium, apigenin) frequently mentioned as "life-changing."

Most frequently cited success area

Focus & Productivity

Dopamine management, caffeine timing, and NSDR (non-sleep deep rest) protocols helping with work and study.

Strong results reported

Cold Exposure Adoption

Many viewers report starting and maintaining cold shower/plunge habits after watching related content. Mood and energy improvements noted.

High adoption rate

Anxiety Reduction

Breathing protocols, physiological sighs, and understanding stress mechanisms helping viewers manage anxiety.

Practical protocols praised

Sample success comments (paraphrased themes):

  • "Been doing morning sunlight for 3 months, sleep quality completely transformed"
  • "The dopamine episode changed how I think about motivation entirely"
  • "Cold showers seemed crazy but I've been doing them daily for 6 months now"
  • "NSDR has become my go-to for afternoon energy instead of more caffeine"
6

Criticism & Skepticism

We found 156 skeptical or critical comments (0.4% of total). While the vast majority of engagement is positive, here are the main criticisms:

Supplement Sponsor Concerns

Some viewers question whether supplement recommendations are influenced by sponsorships (AG1, Momentous). They want more transparency about the relationship between recommendations and business interests.

Evidence Quality Questions

Some viewers note that certain recommendations are based on animal studies or small human trials. They want clearer distinction between well-established science and emerging research.

Complexity Concerns

Some find the protocols overwhelming or difficult to implement. Requests for simpler, prioritized recommendations that don't require major lifestyle changes.

Individual Variation

Criticism that recommendations are too general and don't account for individual differences in genetics, health conditions, or circumstances.

Perspective: 156 critical comments out of 40,234 (0.4%) is remarkably low for any content creator. The criticism is largely constructive, focusing on transparency and evidence quality rather than fundamental disagreement with the content approach.

Key Insights for Content Creators

1. Tinnitus is a Massive Gap

472 requests for hearing health content. No major health creator has comprehensively addressed this. Huge opportunity for neuroscience-based content on hearing and tinnitus.

2. Women's Health is Underserved

144 explicit requests for female-focused content. Comments frequently note that protocols seem designed for men. Clear demand for women's health optimization.

3. Implementation > Information

The most engaged questions are about combining protocols, timing, and personalization. The audience has the information; they need help implementing it.

4. Foundational Supplements Win

Omega-3s (556 mentions) dwarf exotic compounds. Audiences care most about evidence-based basics, not the latest biohacking trend.

5. Mental Health is Physical Health

Anxiety, depression, and focus collectively rival exercise and sleep as top topics. The audience doesn't separate mental from physical optimization.

6. Success Stories Drive Engagement

609 success stories show high implementation rates. Sleep protocols, cold exposure, and focus techniques have the highest reported adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics do Huberman viewers care about most?

Exercise/Fitness (2,157), Focus/ADHD (2,109), Sleep (1,895), Anxiety (1,502), and Depression (1,190). Physical and cognitive performance optimization dominate.

What supplements do viewers discuss most?

Omega-3/Fish Oil (556), Caffeine (250), NAD+/NMN (181), AG1 (103), and Magnesium (81). Foundational supplements get more discussion than exotic compounds.

What video topics are most requested?

Tinnitus/Hearing (472), Guest Interviews (279), Brain Health (165), ADHD (151), and Women's Health (144). Hearing health is the surprising #1 by a huge margin.

Do viewers report success with protocols?

Yes, 609 success story comments. Most common: sleep improvements from morning light, focus gains from dopamine management, and cold exposure adoption.

How much criticism is there?

Only 156 critical comments (0.4%). Main concerns: supplement sponsor relationships, evidence quality for some claims, and desire for simpler protocols.

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