Did Chris Williamson and James Smith SCAM You?

In this video, real doctor, Dr. Pak breaks down the actual science behind Chris Williamson’s and James Smith’s drink, Neutonic. Is it really that good or just another get-rich-quick scam?
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Edited, colored by Orestis Ioannidis
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Filmed in the Wolf's lair
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About the channel:
I am Pak, a scientist, a coach but most importantly, a lifter.
I did my PhD on "the minimum effective dose for strength" and currently, as part of the Applied Muscle Development Lab (NYC), my research focuses on strength and muscle growth. As a coach I work with individuals of all professional and sporting backgrounds, from elite strength athletes to busy professionals looking to get stronger and improve their body composition.
As a lifter, there's not much more to say than "I lift and enjoy training hard". Citations for the "I lift" part can be provided upon request.
This channel is essentially me rambling on about all things lifting, including the odd "hot take" here and there with the aim of helping other fellow lifters as well as inspiring non-lifters to lift.

[@JamesSmithPT]

I’m only 2 minutes in and I’m not sure if you’re going to rip us apart or what yet but I will say before bias kicks in. This is a very well put together video. Ok, back to the video.

[@cheddargriffingriffin9452]

James breathes out a huge sigh of relief 😂 I’d be pleased with that summary 🥊

[@jaycalla798]

I remember when you shit on Huel and effectively are making and promoting a very similar kind of product. What's the difference between the Huel energy drink (caffeinated or decaf) and your product? And not being abrasive, I'm a follower of yours and enjoy your content, this is a genuine question

[@ACKWV]

@@jaycalla798fuck all difference mate.

[@tooxtalivai0690]

Who cares most folks I know don't touch that shit however Samoans Tongans and Fijians. Drink Kava supplement of the gods

[@usandmexico]

Putting aside the issue of whether this is a scam, something doesn't need to be a scam to be a waste of money.

[@themilkemissary7898]

This looks like a ticking time bomb for a high view vid. 1. Popular influencers 2. Drama/scandal 3. Authority in a field 4. High production quality Im afraid i must aay the video requires an attention span and a level of critical thinking so we must hold fire before making such a claim or promise 😅

[@MatthewDobson94]

@ch-yq5yn He's a good lad, but I feel he's the type to just jump onto any trend of any person he has on his show, #hubermandoesit

[@pierrea3094]

@ch-yq5ynit’s probably not super healthy to watch a person online and claim to “watch them grow up” you don’t know this person and you shouldn’t want to or claim to. Having some kind of relationship with such a person is at best parasocial

[@carlosbornes]

Not to mention that a mixture of 2 (or more things) does not imply that one should get the same effect from the isolated compound. Drug-drug interaction is a real thing, bioavailability might also be affected. A bit like rhinos and horses being animals but unicorns don't exist

[@IsaacMorgan98]

Of course they scammed people. If you want more focus, have coffee. If you want more focus have amphetamines 😂 some weird infulencer drink ain't giving you anything above coffee.

[@Shvabicu]

Free cocaine for everyone

[@bigcncguy]

What, you think after the last 200 years of scientific progress we can’t make anything that improves your ability to focus better than coffee?

[@IsaacMorgan98]

@bigcncguy yeah we have, it's called cocaine and amphetamines. Have we made anything better than amphetamines? No otherwise it would be prescribed for focus instead of amphetamines haha.

[@arnefines2356]

@@IsaacMorgan98 Combine amphetamine, onnit and modafinil, remember to take 5htp

[@jonardon8581]

​​@@IsaacMorgan98amphetamines = ADHD meds right? Dextroamphetamine and other amphetamine salts

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

On the amazon comparison picture they put coffee as 150 calories with zero sugar and not research backed, which is wildly inaccurate.

[@Grumpyoldman666]

You confusing calories and caffeine content

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

@@Grumpyoldman666 I'm not. It says 100mg for caffeine.

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

@@Grumpyoldman666 Also for the energy drink it says 15g of sugar and 150 calories which is also mathematically incredibly wrong unless there's fat in that energy drink as well.

[@Grumpyoldman666]

@@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans it literally says 120mg caffeine and 0 sugar

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

@@Grumpyoldman666 I don't know what you're looking at but that's not what it says for coffee or energy drinks.

[@IosefDzhugashvili]

Great video! Mr. Ioannidis is a fantastic editor, too!

[@Salaryman_]

James lives in Australia, where the drink is not even legal. Haha

[@thinking-ape6483]

Het probleem met koffie is dat het niet universeel goed is. Sommige mensen, waaronder ikzelf, hebben polymorfismen die de tijd die nodig is om de cafeïne uit je systeem te spoelen drastisch verlengen. Dit genotype reageert op cafeïne met hypertensie en het kan andere bijwerkingen hebben, nog afgezien van het feit dat het de slaapkwaliteit vermindert.

[@BonytoBeastly]

Great video. Kind of nice how the answer to the question wasn't the typical "no."

[@JoshuaH94]

Mate, what a stellar video. Earned a sub.

[@aureliandumitru8382]

Coach Greg, a scammer harder than others!

[@B2Kv2]

Scam harder than last time!

[@thespyrogamergt3163]

How

[@0hopscotch0]

@thespyrogamergt3163 there’s a bunch of videos on that topic

[@thespyrogamergt3163]

@@0hopscotch0 Oh ok thanks 👍. You really provided some really good 😊 insight. Its not like that's the first 🥇 thing everyone and the mother would think to do. I guess I'll just go🏃🏿‍♂️ watch a random video🍑 and assume🤔 that exact video reflects 💯% the beliefs☯️ of the original commenter🌚

[@pretty_flaco]

literally, an ad for alphabrain from onnit played within the first three minutes… algorithm gonna algorithm

[@menhajahmed8262]

Would appreciate a video on giant sets as a lot has been mentioned about supersets mainly as a time saving tool

[@hermie5556]

I always think of the Dunning-Kruger effect whenever anyone mentions neutropics or whatever buzzword is used. Wouldn't a true neutropics decrease your confidence in your own abilities?

[@Godzillaaaaa11]

hahaha you take the drink and realize how much you don't know

[@Marklesfield]

@@Godzillaaaaa11 Have a existential crisis mid gym session lol

[@nicholasfevelo3041]

If you want more focus get more sleep and exercise.

[@JHanrahan]

The shot is absolutely insane who framed this lol? Need headroom bro. Otherwise cool video.

[@juliannorton100]

Good review, fair and balanced. Thumbs up.

[@Dr__Pak]

Much appreciated!

[@jeremynowak2800]

Dope shirt.

[@emotionalignition]

I definitely feel more focused and clear of mind when drinking this, but "limitless" isn't how I would describe it. It won't replace good sleep, diet and a balanced lifestyle, but on grind days in my mentally/cognitively challenging work, it certainly helps

[@Godzillaaaaa11]

Does an energy drink or cup of coffee give you a similar/better/worse focus for those cognitively drained days?

[@emotionalignition]

@@Godzillaaaaa11 I find a coffee or 2 during the day is fine, but too much caffeine and it then has a negative affect at work or in the gym. I find with so w of these nootropics, they do really I crease staying power with cognitive tasks. Currently I'm using MindLab Pro which imo is much better

[@emotionalignition]

@@Godzillaaaaa11 I find that too much caffeine has a negative effect on me, so some nootropics are a good blend and do have a better impact on focus and "staying power" for heavy cognitive days. I actually take MindLabs at the moment and that has had a bigger impact than any drinks. However, I do enjoy Neutonic for the same reason

[@georgesarreas5509]

I have no clue what the product is. I have no intention of finding out ( i really sont care) but i will comment for the algorithm cause i love the channel.

[@ethanmccormick3271]

Chris Williamson claiming to be evidence based then running ads for scams through his whole podcast was too jarring for me to get through a single episode

[@Shvabicu]

AG1 😂😂😂

[@punkandlifting]

Not to mention having on a ton of right wing adjacent/hustle culture/incel bullshit guests on there

[@ethanmccormick3271]

@@punkandlifting they're the easiest people to grift so they go hand in hand with scammy ads

[@jonardon8581]

Extractly ​@@ethanmccormick3271 tbh if those types are dumb enough to fall for it, let 'em right? 😂😂

[@punkandlifting]

@@ethanmccormick3271 yup

[@jeffreydaniels7519]

The packaging alone would keep me from using it. One big eyeball staring at you is creepy.

[@ophirmayer1]

Aaaaaalso... (the German version, not English) there is somewhat of a logical fallacy here: If I have to increase volume to make up for NOT going to failure... Then going to failure IS optimal. Provided you rest enough to not let fatigue ruin everything else. Hence, by this logic, if you can go to the to failure every time without fatigueing yourself, it IS optimal.

[@high-captain-BaLrog]

hey Dr. Pak does a physician with a super speciality i.e. D.M. get the doctor title rightfully in your opinion?

[@Dr__Pak]

Nice try "doctor"

[@chrisschutze2315]

So when is the app coming out?

[@BuJammy]

The whole world is overstimulated now. Young people think they need "energy drinks" to sit and play video games, and their parents need energy drinks, or a bucket of coffee and sugar, to walk around a supermarket. Living in that world, it's no wonder they need pre-workouts, etc.

[@IsaacMorgan98]

This may come as a surprise but that's actually just how humans use drugs. We like them, our bodies are good at handling them and so we use a lot of them when we have the option. Humans have been drinking boat loads of coffee and tea for millenia, this isn't a new thing, it's just that people like caffeine.

[@Shvabicu]

I find these gamer energy drinks a wild concept. Bruh, you're sitting on your couch/in your chair...

[@AbuZak14]

Damm the parents part hit me hard!! Thank God, my kids know they can't take energy drinks until they are 18.. they do have caffeine free Prime for some training sessions..

[@Shvabicu]

@@AbuZak14 Prime is a scam. At least energy drinks work

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

@@Shvabicu I always had better reaction time in FPS after having some black tea, so there's some validity there.

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

I use rhodiola for training and for me there are definite acute effects on endurance. This drink seems alright, i would swap theanine for taurine though.

[@N1120A]

Theanine and taurine both have significant benefits

[@VegetaPrinceOfSaiyans]

@@N1120A For sure, i just personally haven't liked theanine in energy drinks in the past since it makes my mood weird, but the rhodiola might balance it out in this.

[@GarageTroll22]

Love the FromSoftware shirt!!!

[@BonytoBeastly]

I think it's a Raskol shirt (though referencing Elden Ring). Not sure if Pak is a fan of FromSoft or just Omar Isuf.

[@user-ii7xc1ry3x]

Took me 17:30min to notice he was sitting on a chair :')

[@Mark-ks9jj]

Great review & well balanced, re coffee I prefer matcha green tea for similar effects without the acid bitterness of coffee.

[@DogginsFroggins]

Coffee is still the reigning champ, comparing this to a "limitless" pill is kind of a joke. Honestly if its tasty then I don't see the harm but in general unless you have a IV bag full of the stuff its gonna give you a negligiable effect, just sleep earlier and you will probs get more benefits. Great vid!

[@steveliveshere]

From one cameraman to another - you need headroom in your shot - it won't look good even in portrait.

[@pierrea3094]

I’d advise everyone to stop this podcaster/influencer being considered a voice for how to live your life or what to eat or drink trend from the past 8-12 years. I never bought into and I sincerely cannot fathom why anyone else would. If I saw the drink at a supermarket and decided to try it and liked it I’d probably buy it again but never because it’s being pushed by the algorithm. The added benefit would be you completely screw with the analytics and they don’t know how to advertise anymore 😂

[@SKINNY_BRUH]

I wish coach greg goes bankrupt for scamming his audience

[@grademployment]

he's getting richer than last time

[@AbuZak14]

2:32 - looks good, not sure why there is L theanine there... Probably tastes rank though..

[@Thisisausername556]

I mean, I think they taste pretty good. Better than energy drinks and other similar stuff. But I also prefer a bit of a sour/butter sweetness which is not for everybody.

[@kevinthomas5902]

Do these supplements break down in water?

[@MrSpicabooo]

By what do you mean breakdown? You mean dissolve? Degrade?

[@Decocoa]

Do people really need drugs to do some four hours of work?

[@justin8865]

Ever drink a cup of coffee?

[@scottymackay1801]

They've been lead to believe they do. Every single influencer will eventually funnel you towards a product. If you take care of the key aspects of your life - exercise, sleep, nutrition, family & friends - you don't need any sports drinks, hydration drinks or focus drink.

[@gur262]

​@@scottymackay1801i mean. The fitness scene is kinda unique innit? The video essayist are all like : here's my patreon wanna support me?( Kurzgesagt , big Joel, v sauce, that kinda. Though sauce has products)Also let me shill that VPN ,I Partnered with that s...toy company or something else often content unrelated. Maybe some merch. Meanwhile apps, supplements and all else seem inevitable for fitness influencers. Much more business like approach.

[@BuJammy]

@@justin8865 derp

[@BuJammy]

The whole world is overstimulated now. Young people think they need "energy drinks" to sit and play video games, and their parents need energy drinks, or a bucket of coffee and sugar, to walk around a supermarket. Living in that world, it's no wonder they need pre-workouts.

[@GhostGuitars]

whats wrong with coffee?

[@strongermedicine]

19 minute video to say it's not a scam

[@gerardoriveroll7346]

Thank you very much.

[@rishabhjain7690]

I didn't know these 2 were different person.

[@eidanchris]

Yupp unfollowed them both when they became sham shilling scammers..... shame cus they both had some good content

[@Thisisausername556]

So because you jumped to the conclusion that it was a scam without looking into it, you unsubscribed from them? Even though you enjoy their content? Interesting set of choices there.

[@EmilioMiguel]

@@Thisisausername556😂

[@Leo-e2n]

This is basically a paid ad for the drink. He has been paid by james . Absolutely rubbish.

[@Dr__Pak]

You got me man ffs

[@TheHybrid350]

great

[@Godzillaaaaa11]

The biggest red flag is when neither of them have any background or experience to actually be knowledgeable enough to actually develop this product.

[@Mr.PotatoAWESOMEFitnessTips]

The only complicated portion of launching an energy drink is manufacturing, quality control, and distribution, designing the product is otherworldly simple.

[@Thisisausername556]

They do, however, happen to be friends with and have contacts that ARE very experienced with neuroscience, biology, diet, etc. and I’m assuming they talked with those people during the development process. So it’s only a red flag if you either don’t think about it too hard, or if you assume they didn’t talk to their literal friends that have experience with how their product would interact with the human body.

[@Godzillaaaaa11]

@@Thisisausername556 This is an unwarranted amount of chartiability afforded to Neutonic. I would hope it was clear to most people that obviously I don't think they just sat in a random room and mixed solutions together till they had something tasty to sell. Of course they reached out to others to help with compounding and manufacturing. Doesn't change that two people with no background in this domain attached to their personal brands does not inspire confidence.

[@EmilioMiguel]

Yeah that’s not how all products on the market are brought to life mate. That’s just simply not how business & product development works at all… 😂 🙄

[@Thisisausername556]

@@EmilioMiguel What about my reply said that "all" products brought to market are like that? Or even hinted that most are done that way? I was talking about Chris and James and how they have experts that they talk to regularly as friends that would very likely have been consulted in some fashion about their product where appropriate. These individual people seem like the type of people to do that, which is why I made my statement. It was not a general statement on the state of product-based entrepreneurial endeavors.

[@kapitankapow]

Big Up to Big Coffee

[@geeunit831]

Chris and James are just 2 influencers leveraging their followings to make money. Neutonic is ass. I don't see this drink being a success at all.

[@bradendoherty8071]

So many commenters that would benefit from the drink by the sounds, to focus the full duration of the vid. Either that or some cialis/sildanefil to stop them coming to conclusions so quickly 😂

[@tigermax2697]

Who could've possibly predicted James Smith would be a scammer except anyone who has ever heard him talk on a ny subject in any capacity whatsoever

[@Dr__Pak]

Not a scammer tho

[@IsaacMorgan98]

I mean he does claim his drink is basically a limitless pill when in reality, it's scarcely better than a $1 cup of Joe from the servo. Which could be seen as false advertising which, at least in my country, is illegal.

[@scootaymildo1070]

James has been an outspoken critic of scammy diet and fitness fads for some time now. Athletic Greens and that blood-sugar monitoring device only diabetics need, for example. He's even exposed some of the absurd monetary incentives the influencers get for pushing that crap (because he's got offered many of the same kind of deals). He seems a solid guy who gives good advice so genuinely have no idea what you're saying here.

[@skellt]

Who could've predicted people would comment on this title without watching the video

[@esembee7717]

His internet persona as the David Brent of fitness is probably jarring, but he seems to be popular with those who don't want to do slimming world with their mum, and impressionable young wannabe PTs.

[@1xavi2]

Turk works

[@Dr__Pak]

Nice try, Erdogan

[@coachartifitness4621]

I had to drink 5 cans of Neutonic just to survive your intro. Dude you talked for 4 minutes without saying nothing.

[@kapoioBCS]

Maybe you should check your attention span