Death, Legacy & the Philosophy of Longevity — with Stephen Cave

Dave Asprey

Jul 1, 2025

Episode description

What if death isn’t inevitable but a solvable problem? This episode explores how biohacking is reshaping our understanding of mortality, legacy, and the limits of human performance. You’ll learn why some of today’s top thinkers are treating longevity as both a science and a spiritual movement, and how this shift affects your brain, your mitochondria, and your entire approach to life. 



Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

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



Host Dave Asprey sits down with philosopher and best-selling author Dr. Stephen Cave, Director of the Institute for Technology and Humanity at the University of Cambridge. With decades of expertise studying death, immortality, and ethics, Dr. Cave brings a rare depth of insight into how our desire to live longer intersects with neuroplasticity, supplements, and even nootropics. 



Together, they unpack the four universal immortality narratives, the dangers of mind uploading, and why AI might become humanity’s next god or destroyer. You’ll discover how legacy, ego, functional medicine, and even fasting and ketosis play into our fear of death. The conversation also dives into the deeper psychological and societal consequences of radical life extension, and what happens when biohacking crosses into belief. 



This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about hacking longevity, brain optimization, metabolism, and building a future where living to 180 isn’t science fiction. You’ll also hear surprising thoughts on Danger Coffee, RFK, sleep optimization, and how to approach mortality using the Smarter Not Harder mindset. 



You’ll Learn: 

• Why all technology is a form of life extension 

• How ego and boredom threaten longevity more than disease 

• The real dangers of digital immortality and uploading consciousness 

• Why procrastination could be the enemy of eternal life 

• How to balance transhumanist tech with human values 

• The surprising connection between cold therapy, supplements, and meaning 



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. 



Episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday, where Dave asks the questions no one else dares and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. 




Episode description

What if death isn’t inevitable but a solvable problem? This episode explores how biohacking is reshaping our understanding of mortality, legacy, and the limits of human performance. You’ll learn why some of today’s top thinkers are treating longevity as both a science and a spiritual movement, and how this shift affects your brain, your mitochondria, and your entire approach to life. 



Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

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



Host Dave Asprey sits down with philosopher and best-selling author Dr. Stephen Cave, Director of the Institute for Technology and Humanity at the University of Cambridge. With decades of expertise studying death, immortality, and ethics, Dr. Cave brings a rare depth of insight into how our desire to live longer intersects with neuroplasticity, supplements, and even nootropics. 



Together, they unpack the four universal immortality narratives, the dangers of mind uploading, and why AI might become humanity’s next god or destroyer. You’ll discover how legacy, ego, functional medicine, and even fasting and ketosis play into our fear of death. The conversation also dives into the deeper psychological and societal consequences of radical life extension, and what happens when biohacking crosses into belief. 



This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about hacking longevity, brain optimization, metabolism, and building a future where living to 180 isn’t science fiction. You’ll also hear surprising thoughts on Danger Coffee, RFK, sleep optimization, and how to approach mortality using the Smarter Not Harder mindset. 



You’ll Learn: 

• Why all technology is a form of life extension 

• How ego and boredom threaten longevity more than disease 

• The real dangers of digital immortality and uploading consciousness 

• Why procrastination could be the enemy of eternal life 

• How to balance transhumanist tech with human values 

• The surprising connection between cold therapy, supplements, and meaning 



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. 



Episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday, where Dave asks the questions no one else dares and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. 




Mindsip insights from this episode:

Utilize four narratives to cope with death

Humans have historically used four main narratives to cope with death: physically staying alive, resurrection, having an immortal soul, and living on through legacy.

View major inventions as life-extension technologies

Most major inventions of civilization, including hunting, agriculture, and medicine, can be viewed as life-extension technologies designed to postpone death.

Combine creatine and taurine for brain energy and clarity

A supplement combining 5 grams of creatine with 400 milligrams of taurine can support mitochondrial function, cognitive clarity, and brain energy without stimulant side effects.

Reject mind uploading as true personal survival

The idea of achieving immortality by uploading your mind is flawed because your data could be duplicated, meaning it wouldn't be true personal survival.

Balance wetware and hardware approaches in transhumanism

Transhumanism can be divided into two approaches: a 'wetware' focus on maximizing our existing biology versus a 'hardware' focus on replacing it with technology.

Recognize potential procrastination from extended life

Extending life dramatically could paradoxically increase procrastination, as having more time makes each moment seem less scarce and valuable.

Design AI to embrace mortality for safety

To ensure safety, AI should be designed to be ambivalent about its own survival, mirroring how humans must accept mortality to prevent dangerous self-preservation goals.

Embrace mortality to enhance life meaning

Accepting that life is finite is important for living well because it motivates you to make the most of your time and find meaning.

Address fatal accident risks to extend lifespan beyond aging cures

Even if we cured all aging and disease, researchers predict the average human lifespan would be limited to around 5,000 years due to the risk of fatal accidents.

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© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius

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© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius