Episode Details

What if the line between “medicine” and “forbidden” has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with permission? This episode gives you a clear framework for understanding peptides, research chemicals, and performance enhancement so you can think for yourself instead of outsourcing your biology 

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR 

Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dylan Gemelli for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the underground world of biohacking, research chemicals, and human performance. Dylan is a long-time biohacker, educator, and researcher who came out of the bodybuilding world and spent more than a decade studying peptides, SARMs, nootropics, and gray-area compounds. He brings first-hand experience, deep research literacy, and a rare ability to explain what these compounds actually do, where the risks are, and why most doctors will never talk about them. 

Together, they unpack what “research chemicals” really means, why peptides technically fall into that category, and how legality often has little to do with biological reality. They explore compounds like MK-677, S4, and other SARMs, how they interact with growth hormone, muscle, strength, and recovery, and why some of these tools can be more powerful than peptides when used with intention and restraint. Dave also shares his own experiences rebuilding his health using underground tools, why he refuses to ask for permission to take care of his body, and how performance enhancement fits into longevity, metabolism, and real-world function. 

You’ll Learn: 

• What research chemicals actually are and why peptides fall into that category 

• How compounds like MK-677 stimulate growth hormone and affect muscle and recovery 

• Why SARMs differ from steroids and where the real risks come from 

• The difference between tobacco and nicotine and why low-dose nicotine can support brain optimization 

• How performance enhancement fits into longevity, metabolism, and functional medicine thinking 

• Why strength and neurological drive matter more than size alone 

• How to think clearly about supplements, nootropics, and biohacking tools without fear or hype 

• Why taking responsibility for your biology is not cheating 

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. 

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Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, f