The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance

Most brain decline, mood instability, and impulsive behavior start with a breakdown in how the brain’s immune cells produce and use energy. This episode shows how mitochondrial health inside microglia influences cognition, emotion, and long-term brain resilience, and how everyday inputs quietly push those systems toward damage or repair.

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:
https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR

Host Dave Asprey is joined by Dr. David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author whose work focuses on the intersection of neurology, nutrition, metabolism, and brain health. A Fellow of the American College of Nutrition and member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Dr. Perlmutter brings decades of clinical and research experience to this conversation on how inflammation and mitochondrial function shape the brain across the lifespan.

Together, they explore how microglial cells shift their behavior based on metabolic conditions, and how those shifts influence neurodegeneration, emotional regulation, impulse control, and cognitive performance. The discussion covers real-world inputs that shape these systems, including sleep optimization, fasting, ketosis, glucose regulation, gut signaling, environmental toxins, and tools referenced in the episode such as red and infrared light, 40 Hz light and sound, hyperbaric oxygen, lithium, nicotine, supplements, nootropics, GLP-1 agonists, and dietary approaches like carnivore and ketosis. The conversation connects brain biology to lived experience, showing how metabolism influences behavior, decision making, and long-term human performance through a Smarter Not Harder lens.

You’ll Learn:
• How microglia shift between supportive and destructive states and why metabolism drives that change
• How mitochondrial function inside immune cells influences inflammation and brain resilience
• How inflammation affects the prefrontal cortex, impulse control, and reward-driven behavior
• What the episode says about GLP-1 agonists and behavior changes like reduced cravings and gambling
• How gut-derived signaling and short-chain fatty acid balance (butyrate vs propionate) relates to brain function
• How tools like red and infrared light, hyperbaric oxygen, and 40 Hz light and sound connect to microglia
• The lifestyle levers discussed in the episode: sleep optimization, fasting, ketosis, glucose control, and toxin reduction
• The compounds mentioned, including lithium, nicotine, urolithin A, CoQ10, rosmarinic acid, and dihydromyricetin

Dave Asprey is a four time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

Thank you to our sponsors!

KILLSwitch | If you’re ready for the best sleep of your life, order now at https://www.switchsupplements.com/ and use code DAVE for 20% off.
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Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.

Keywords: microglia brain health, brain immune system mitochondria, neuroinflammation podcast, mitochondrial dysfunction brain, david perlmutter podcast, dr david perlmutterneurologist, grain brain author podcast, alzheimers brain metabolism, parkinsons microglia, autism brain inflammation, gut brain immune signaling, short chain fatty acids brain, butyrate propionate brain, glp-1 brain behavior, glp-1 addiction research, red light therapy brain, infrared light mitochondria brain, 40 hz light sound brain, hyperbaric oxygen brain health, lithium microglia brain

Resources:
• Learn More About Dr. Perlmutter at: https://drperlmutter.com/
• Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/
• Join My Low-Oxalate 30-Day Challenge: https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/
• Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today.
• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15
• My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off)
• Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off)
• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com
• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated
• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com

Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
1:45 - Autism Spectrum
4:38 - Alzheimer’s & Beta Amyloid
7:02 - Brain Immune Cells
8:06 - GLP-1 & Parkinson’s
10:44 - M1 vs M2 Microglia
13:08 - Pharmaceutical Microdosing
15:51 - Gene Therapy
19:09 - Mold & Toxins
21:58 - Environmental Pollution
26:05 - MPTP Discovery
29:07 - Healing Interventions
31:39 - Light & Sound Therapy
36:35 - Mitochondrial Function
44:57 - Inflammation & Prefrontal Cortex
48:00 - GLP-1 Global Impact
52:11 - Mitochondrial Community
56:05 - Consciousness & The Field
1:00:00 - Psychedelics
1:01:59 - Love & Judgment
1:06:35 - Death & Knowing
1:09:06 - Heart-Brain Connection
1:11:06 - Closing Thoughts
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Your body does not fail all at once. Aging starts when cells quietly shift into survival mode and never come back out. In this episode, you go inside the thinking of a true medical outlier to understand how stress, travel, toxins, and metabolic overload reprogram cells, shut down energy, and accelerate aging, and how restoring mitochondrial function can reverse that trajectory from the inside out.

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:
https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR

Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. Theodore Achacoso and Boomer Anderson, leaders in Health Optimization Medicine and Practice. Dr. Achacoso is a physician-scientist and the founding pioneer of Health Optimization Medicine, known for his work on cellular networks, metabolomics, and mitochondrial function. Boomer Anderson is the CEO of Smarter Not Harder and Troscriptions, where he focuses on translating complex biology into practical tools for human performance and longevity.

Together, they unpack how cells respond to perceived threats through the Cell Danger Response, why mitochondria control energy, inflammation, and repair, and why chasing disease labels misses the real drivers of aging. The discussion covers methylene blue as an electron recycler, why LDL cholesterol plays a role in detoxification and immune signaling, how fasting and ketosis shift metabolism between repair and growth, and why sleep optimization, circadian rhythm, and light exposure matter even more when you travel. They also explore neuroplasticity, consciousness, nootropics, supplements, and why health optimization works best when you restore balance instead of forcing outcomes.

You’ll Learn:
• What the Cell Danger Response is and how it reshapes aging and performance
• How mitochondria sense stress before symptoms appear
• Why cellular energy controls resilience, sleep, and longevity
• How methylene blue supports mitochondrial electron flow
• Why fasting and ketosis shift metabolism between repair and growth
• How travel, light, and circadian disruption affect aging
• Why very low LDL can impair detoxification and immune signaling
• Why real anti-aging starts at the cellular level, not with disease labels

Thank you to our sponsors!
AquaTru | Go to https://aquatruwater.com/daveasprey and save $100 on all AquaTru water purifiers.
Screenfit | Get your at-home eye training program for 40% off using code DAVE at www.screenfit.com/dave.
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Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.

Keywords: cell danger response podcast, mitochondria aging, mitochondrial dysfunction aging, health optimization medicine, dr ted achacoso, boomer anderson, troscriptions, troscriptions methylene blue, methylene blue mitochondria, methylene blue biohacking, cellular aging podcast, anti aging mitochondria, metabolic stress aging, fasting ketosis metabolism, mitochondrial energy production, neuroplasticity mitochondria, sleep optimization aging, functional medicine mitochondria, smarter not harder biohacking, dave asprey mitochondria

Resources:
• Get A Discount On All Troscription Products with code ‘dave’ at: https://troscriptions.com/
• Learn More About Methylene Blue From My Full Masterclass Covering The Topic: https://daveasprey.com/mb/
• Discover More About The ‘Health Optimization Medicine and Practice’ From Our Guests: https://homehope.org/
• Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/
• Join My Low-Oxalate 30-Day Challenge: https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/
• Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today.
• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15
• My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off)
• Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off)
• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com
• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated
• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com

Timestamps:
0:00 – Trailer
1:25 – Introduction & Guest Background
3:11 – Health Optimization Medicine Origins
4:26 – Root Causes of Health vs Disease
6:15 – Biohacking & Self-Experimentation
8:19 – Medicinal Plants & Nootropics
11:25 – Travel & Jet Lag Solutions
13:42 – Cell Danger Response
17:38 – Metabolites & Cellular Health
18:57 – LDL & Lipopolysaccharides
20:42 – Cellular Model & First Principles
22:55 – Consciousness & Mitochondria
25:46 – Nanotechnology Research
28:55 – Giving Back & Service
31:17 – Blue Cannatine Development
34:48 – Methylene Blue Products
36:22 – Metformin Discussion
38:00 – Dosing & Cordycepin
41:25 – Closing & Discount Code
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One freezing sip on a Tibetan mountain rewired his hunger, silenced cravings, and unlocked a kind of fat-burning “switch” no doctor ever mentioned. What happened next—Silicon Valley obsession, a global butter shortage, and a new theory of weight loss—might change how you see food forever.

The only coffee I drink: Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15

Thank you to our sponsors!
- GOT MOLD? | Go to http://gotmold.com/shop and use DAVE10 to save 10% and see what’s in your air.
- EMR-Tek | https://www.emr-tek.com/DAVE and use code DAVE for 40% off.

Resources:
• Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/
• Join My Low-Oxalate 30-Day Challenge: https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/
• Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today.
• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15
• My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off)
• Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off)
• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com
• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated
• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com
• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com

Connect with Dave Asprey!
Website: https://daveasprey.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daveaspreyofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.asprey/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daveaspreyofficial/
X: https://x.com/daveasprey
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/daveaspreybpr

The Human Upgrade Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheHumanUpgradePodcast/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Thehumanupgrade/
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This drug has been misunderstood for decades, and that confusion is costing people focus, learning speed, and cognitive performance. In this episode, you’ll learn why nicotine itself is not the problem, why delivery method and dose change EVERYTHING, and how oral nicotine can be used strategically for biohacking brain optimization, neuroplasticity, and human performance in a healthy and safe way.

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:
https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR

Host Dave Asprey sits down with David Renteln, Co Founder and CEO of LUCY Nicotine, a company pioneering science led alternatives for adult nicotine users who want better options. Before launching LUCY, David was also a co founder of Soylent, where he helped pioneer new approaches to functional nutrition and metabolism.

Together, Dave and David break down how nicotine works in the brain through acetylcholine and dopamine, why speed of absorption determines addiction risk, and how nicotine affects learning, memory, motivation, and mood. The conversation also covers sleep optimization, mitochondrial signaling, tolerance, cycling strategies, and why modern regulation often slows innovation in functional medicine, anti aging science, and human performance.

You’ll Learn:
• Why nicotine itself is not the same as smoking or vaping
• How delivery speed changes addiction risk and brain response
• How nicotine supports learning, focus, and neuroplasticity
• Why acetylcholine matters for memory and brain optimization
• How to think about dosing, cycling, and tolerance safely
• How nicotine stacks with caffeine, nootropics, and Danger Coffee
• The relationship between nicotine, sleep architecture, and REM
• Why harm reduction matters for longevity and mitochondrial health
• How nicotine fits into a Smarter Not Harder biohacking strategy

Dave Asprey is a four time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

Thank you to our sponsors!
-Lucy! Get a 20% discount by using code ‘Dave’ at www.lucy.co/dave

Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.

Keywords: nicotine podcast, nicotine nootropic, oral nicotine benefits, nicotine brain optimization, nicotine acetylcholine dopamine, nicotine learning memory, nicotine addiction risk, nicotine pouches vs smoking, LUCY nicotine, david renteln lucy, david renteln nicotine, lucy nicotine pouches, harm reduction nicotine, nicotine biohacking, nicotine human performance, nicotine longevity, nicotine neuroplasticity, nicotine sleep optimization, nicotine tolerance cycling, caffeine nicotine stack, danger coffee nicotine, dave asprey nicotine, dave asprey lucy, nootropics nicotine, functional medicine nicotine

Resources:
• HeartMath | Go to https://www.heartmath.com/dave to save 15% off.
• LYMA | Go to https://lyma.sjv.io/gOQ545 and use code DAVE10 for 10% off the LYMA Laser.
• Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/
• Join My Low-Oxalate 30-Day Challenge: https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/
• Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today.
• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15
• My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off)
• Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off)
• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com
• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated
• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com

Timestamps:
0:00 – Trailer
1:10 – Origin Story
2:20 – Product Forms & Usage
3:52 – Effects & Mechanisms
9:21 – Dosing & Addiction
15:33 – Memory & Cognitive Benefits
18:57 – Personality & Stacking
21:41 – Quitting Smoking
24:39 – Government Regulation
32:00 – Addiction Philosophy
35:30 – Behavior Change & Routines
39:08 – Final Recommendations
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Most people are struggling in modern relationships, and it is not because they are broken. It is because the systems around them are. In this episode, you’ll learn why roughly 65 percent of people operate from insecure attachment, why that quietly destroys energy, trust, and intimacy, and how secure attachment becomes a critical biohacking upgrade for human performance, longevity, and emotional resilience.

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:
https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR

Host Dave Asprey sits down with Adam Lane Smith, MA Psych, a leading global expert on Attachment Theory and the neurobiology of human bonding. Adam has spent over 16 years studying and working in psychology, helping individuals, couples, and families repair broken relationships, rebuild trust, and develop secure attachment. His work focuses on skill-based nervous system training rather than talk therapy alone, often creating change in months instead of years. He now runs a global coaching practice and is on a mission to bring secure attachment to one billion people worldwide.

Together, Dave and Adam break down why modern dating, career pressure, and social isolation have produced a generation of adults who feel emotionally exhausted, disconnected, and stuck in survival mode. They explain how insecure attachment keeps people operating at low capacity, why bonding hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin regulate stress, sleep optimization, and emotional stability, and how broken attachment patterns sabotage metabolism, focus, and recovery. The conversation also covers AI companionship, dating apps, community collapse, and why no supplement, nootropic, fasting protocol, ketosis strategy, or carnivore diet can fully compensate for unsafe nervous systems.

You’ll Learn:
• Why 65 percent of people struggle with modern relationships
• How insecure attachment caps energy, focus, and emotional resilience
• Why secure attachment matters more as you age, not less
• How bonding hormones regulate stress, sleep, and recovery
• Why high performers still burn out without nervous system safety
• How men and women experience attachment and regulation differently
• Why AI and dating apps can worsen disconnection if used poorly
• How community and shared purpose rebuild secure attachment
• Why supplements and nootropics cannot replace real connection
• Where to start if you want stronger relationships and higher capacity

Dave Asprey is a four time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

Thank you to our sponsors!
-KillSwitch | If you’re ready for the best sleep of your life, order now at https://www.switchsupplements.com and use code DAVE for 20% off.
-Screenfit | Get your at-home eye training program for 40% off using code DAVE at https://www.screenfit.com/dave.
-MTE | Get 20% off MTE at https://www.getmte.com/dave using code DAVE.
-Timeline | Go to https://www.timeline.com/dave and get 35% off a subscription with their New Year offer.

Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.

Keywords: adam lane smith, adam lane smith attachment theory, adam lane smith secure attachment, adam lane smith relationships, attachment theory podcast, secure vs insecure attachment, nervous system regulation relationships, oxytocin vasopressin bonding, modern dating psychology, relationship burnout, loneliness epidemic, attachment styles explained, biohacking relationships, dave asprey adam lane smith, dave asprey relationships, human performance psychology, midlife purpose and relationships, aging mindset, adam land smith dave asprey relationships

Resources:
• Get a discount on any of Adam’s courses with code “daveasprey10” at checkout! https://adamlanesmith.com/
• Get My 2026 Biohacking Trends Report: https://daveasprey.com/2026-biohacking-trends-report/
• Join My Low-Oxalate 30-Day Challenge: https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/
• Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today.
• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15
• My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off)
• Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off)
• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com
• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated
• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com
• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com

Timestamps:
0:00 – Trailer
2:54 – The 30% Capacity Problem
4:19 – Historical Breakdown of Human Connection
9:31 – Building Pseudo-Families & Tribes
15:09 – The Modern Dating Problem
19:21 – Solutions for Women
26:49 – The Four Levels of Safety & Peace
33:04 – Solutions for Men
37:45 – Building Community & Finding Partners
45:26 – Marriage, Partnership & Legacy
52:23 – The Future & Social Culling
1:03:18 – Red Flags vs Green Flags in Dating
1:07:23 – Dating After 50
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.