“I just tried to do fewer things that don't serve me.”
Jonathan Jaffe welcomed Fedor Holz as the first guest on his GTO Lab Podcast. In a conversation lasting over two hours, Holz speaks candidly about his journey: “People think I have every day perfectly planned. But I learned most things through failure first. Then I started doing less of the things that harm me.”
Instead of focusing on productivity, he's shifted to simplicity. Less TV, less alcohol, more nature. “It sounds simple, but it's hard to admit that even basic things like going for a walk or cooking at home can be challenging. And it's okay to take years to work towards them.”
From Biohacking Back to the Body
In the past, Fedor had a team of specialists — blood tests every three months, traveling with a sports scientist, special nutrition. “I found that all these measurements lead to the same thing: sleep well, move, eat healthy. Nothing more, nothing less.” It might sound like a resignation from optimization, but it isn't. It's more about returning to intuition. “We all have a sensor inside that tells us what feels good. You just need to listen to it amid all the noise — sugar, alcohol, stress.”
When the conversation turned to ambition, Fedor surprised everyone: “I used to set ambitious goals — wins, rankings, millions. Now I ask myself: How do I want to feel? What fulfills me?” Alongside this, he talks about visualization, not as a tool for measuring success, but as a means of understanding. “I’m interested in why I thought something would be important three years ago. And what it says about me today.”
Discipline and Personal Challenges
Those around him often describe him as extremely disciplined. “But I don't feel that way,” he laughs. “For me, discipline is forcing yourself to do something. And I don't want to force myself. I want things to flow naturally.” His key is natural energy. “When I do something I love, I'm capable of sitting for ten hours straight without a break. Without even planning it.”
Today, Fedor is also involved in the security team at GG, helping tackle fraud, collusion, and the use of RTA tools. “I want to support the ecosystem in which I grew up. If players lose trust in online poker, the whole game falls apart.” However, he admits that communication with the public is challenging: “Everyone wants answers on Twitter, but some questions simply can’t be answered. Not because anyone is hiding something — but because reality is more complex.”
“Peace is the Greatest Victory.”
The conclusion of the interview is imbued with quiet realization. “My whole life, I’ve sought the most effective path — how to be better, how to go further. But now I feel the most important thing is knowing how to feel good right where you are.” This statement is not just empty words. It is the testament of someone who has traversed the spectrum of success — from trophies to tranquility. And today, he chooses the latter. If this interview intrigued you, we highly recommend watching the full conversation, which you can find here:
