Who uses red light, and why.
The scientists, athletes and public figures shaping modern red light therapy — with the specific protocols they follow and what each tells us about how PBM actually gets applied in the wild.
01
Science communicatorAndrew Huberman
Stanford neurobiology professor; Huberman Lab podcast
Why red light: Most influential modern science communicator on red light therapy. His detailed podcast coverage has shaped popular understanding of dose, wavelengths, and applications.
Reported protocol: Personal use includes morning red-light panel exposure for energy and circadian alignment, plus targeted use for skin and recovery. Has discussed specific dose targets on multiple podcast episodes.
Huberman's podcast episodes on light exposure (notably episode #66 on red light therapy and several follow-ups) have done more than any other media to bring rigorous PBM science to popular audiences. He covers the cytochrome c oxidase mechanism, the wavelength specifics, the Wunsch and Lanzafame trials, and practical home protocols.
His framing is unusually careful: dose-aware, mechanism-first, honest about what's established versus emerging. Members who arrive at R1SE having heard Huberman discuss red light typically come with realistic expectations and decent baseline understanding.
Source
Huberman Lab Podcast episodes on light exposure (multiple, 2021-2024); Stanford Medicine faculty profile.
02
Science communicatorRhonda Patrick
Biomedical researcher; FoundMyFitness podcast
Why red light: Detailed analyses of red-light research on FoundMyFitness, particularly the Wunsch skin and Hamblin mechanism work. Strong advocate for protocol-based use.
Reported protocol: Personal red light practice documented selectively. Pairs with broader hormetic-stress and longevity protocols (cold, sauna, time-restricted eating).
Patrick covers red light therapy extensively, including detailed analyses of the Wunsch and Lanzafame foundational papers and the broader Hamblin mechanism work. Her platform tends to be the most academically rigorous in the wellness podcast space.
She's also discussed the limitations of consumer device claims, the importance of irradiance specifications, and the practical implications of the biphasic dose-response curve. Worth following for members who want substantive evaluation of products and protocols rather than hype.
Source
FoundMyFitness podcast episodes on red light therapy and photobiomodulation; published reviews and newsletter analyses.
03
Recovery / wellnessJoe Rogan
Podcast host; UFC commentator
Why red light: Home red light use as part of broader recovery and longevity stack. The biggest podcast in the world repeatedly discussing red light therapy.
Reported protocol: Home red light panels (multiple, large-format) used regularly. Has interviewed Huberman, Rhonda Patrick, Bryan Johnson, and other red-light advocates on his podcast.
Rogan's personal use is fairly conservative — quality home panels, several times weekly, no extreme dosing. His real influence is reach: The Joe Rogan Experience is the largest podcast in the world, and his repeated discussion of red light therapy has driven significant cultural awareness of the category.
His interview style brings out detailed protocols from guests. When Huberman, Rhonda Patrick, or Bryan Johnson discusses red light on JRE, the conversation goes deeper than typical media coverage. Members frequently arrive at R1SE having heard a specific JRE episode that prompted them to try the practice.
Source
The Joe Rogan Experience: multiple episodes featuring Huberman, Rhonda Patrick, Bryan Johnson, and red-light-therapy-focused discussions.
04
Recovery / wellnessHugh Jackman
Actor (Wolverine, The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables)
Why red light: Recovery from physically demanding film roles. Sustained physical performance into his mid-50s.
Reported protocol: Daily red light therapy reported during peak training cycles. Combined with structured nutrition, sauna, cold therapy, and sleep optimisation.
Jackman's Wolverine training cycles were famous for their physical intensity. His recovery routine has consistently included red light therapy alongside other modalities — sauna, cold, structured nutrition, sleep optimisation. He's discussed the practice in multiple Men's Health profiles.
At his age (mid-50s) and sustained physical performance, his recovery practice is a credible informal case study. He's also openly discussed red light therapy for skin maintenance — the combination of recovery and aesthetic applications matches the modern PBM evidence base.
Source
Men's Health profiles 2019, 2024; production-related interviews around Wolverine film cycles.
05
Elite athleteCristiano Ronaldo
Football; 5-time Ballon d'Or; Real Madrid / Manchester United / Al-Nassr
Why red light: Career longevity into his 40s. Recovery integration across his training and competition cycles.
Reported protocol: Red light therapy as part of standard recovery routine during fixture-congested periods. Real Madrid installed clinical-grade recovery facilities at Valdebebas including red light beds; Ronaldo was a frequent user.
Ronaldo's recovery investment is one of the strongest informal cases for elite-athlete adoption. His ability to maintain peak performance into his 40s — well past typical football career length — is consistently attributed to obsessive recovery management.
Real Madrid's installation of red light beds at Valdebebas in the early 2010s was widely reported and Ronaldo was among the most frequent users. Multiple Premier League and La Liga clubs have followed similar adoption patterns since.
Source
Marca and ESPN documentation of Real Madrid recovery facilities; multiple press accounts of Ronaldo's recovery routine.
06
Founder / biohackerBryan Johnson
Tech founder; Blueprint longevity project
Why red light: Quantified longevity stack. Red light therapy is part of his daily Blueprint routine alongside HBOT, structured nutrition, sleep optimisation.
Reported protocol: Daily red light exposure using clinical-grade panels. Specific dosing tracked publicly. Pairs with broader longevity stack including HBOT (replicating the Hachmo telomere protocol), structured fasting, and tracker-monitored sleep.
Johnson's Blueprint project documents one of the most rigorously self-tracked applications of evidence-led longevity interventions. Red light therapy is a daily component, with specific dose parameters and skin-vs-systemic positioning rotated through different sessions.
His data is observational (one person, no control) but useful as a real-world implementation case study. The Blueprint protocols influence the longevity-curious community significantly — members occasionally arrive at R1SE specifically interested in replicating elements of his red-light approach.
Source
Bryan Johnson's Blueprint public protocol documentation; JRE podcast appearance.
07
Recovery / wellnessKourtney Kardashian
Founder of Poosh wellness brand; reality TV
Why red light: Public proponent of red light therapy for skin and wellness. Her Poosh wellness platform has covered red light protocols extensively.
Reported protocol: Regular at-home and studio use. Has discussed face-mask and full-body protocols on Poosh and in interviews.
Kourtney Kardashian has been a vocal public advocate for red light therapy across her wellness platform Poosh and in interviews. While the celebrity-influencer framing of the wellness market deserves scepticism in general, her advocacy for red light has been broadly consistent with the science — she focuses on the skin/cosmetic application that is best-evidenced.
Her reach — particularly among women interested in skin protocols — has been significant in mainstreaming the modality. Many newer R1SE members coming for skin-focused goals have first encountered red light through Poosh or similar platforms.
Source
Poosh wellness platform articles on red light therapy; various interviews 2020-2024.
08
Elite athletePremier League and NFL teams
Professional sport recovery installations
Why red light: Multiple top-flight clubs have installed clinical-grade red light therapy facilities for player recovery.
Reported protocol: Team-level installations used across squads during training and competition cycles. Tightly integrated with broader sports medicine programmes.
Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and several Premier League clubs have installed red light therapy facilities at their training grounds. NBA franchises including the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors operate similar setups. The NFL has seen widespread adoption across teams.
Worth noting: team-level adoption is typically driven by sports medicine staff evaluating the recovery evidence, not by celebrity endorsement. The fact that elite sports medicine departments invest in red light therapy at clinical-grade installations is a useful proxy for the evidence base's seriousness.
R1SE's bed delivers comparable dose profiles to team-level installations. Sheffield-based athletes (and there are many) increasingly use R1SE rather than building home setups.
Source
Multiple sports-business publications and team facility tours; Daily Mail, Athletic, Sports Illustrated coverage 2018-2024.
Common questions
Same wavelengths the pros use. Just down the road.
R1SE's clinical-grade bed delivers what high-profile users get at home or at training facilities. Book a session at Kelham.
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