Meet the Governor Who Wants Humans to Become Cyborgs

Dave Asprey

Jan 29, 2026

Episode description

Aging is not something Zoltan Istvan plans to accept quietly. He wants to treat death like a technical bug, rewrite the rules of biology, and turn California into the global test bed for radical human upgrades. From cyborg implants to AI driven longevity science, this episode explores what happens when a candidate for governor openly argues that humans should evolve beyond their biological limits and take control of how long and how well they live.

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Host Dave Asprey sits down with Zoltan Istvan, a leading transhumanist, futurist, longevity advocate, and current candidate for Governor of California. Zoltan has spoken at Parliaments and Senates around the world, appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, consulted for the US Armed Forces, and served as a correspondent for The New York Times. He has addressed the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the UK Parliament, and his work has influenced world leaders while shaping global conversations on AI, liberty, and human enhancement. Trained in philosophy and ethics at Columbia University and the University of Oxford, Zoltan brings rare depth to the intersection of technology, biology, and governance.

Together, they explore whether aging should be classified as a disease, why regulation is slowing breakthroughs in longevity science, and how California could become ground zero for anti-aging innovation. They debate biology versus machine integration, open source technology versus centralized control, and what morphological freedom really means when enhancement technologies move faster than policy. The discussion spans mitochondria, neuroplasticity, brain optimization, stem cells, organ printing, implants, and the ethical risks of surveillance, algorithmic persuasion, and unchecked AI.

This episode is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, hacking human performance, longevity, metabolism, functional medicine, anti-aging strategies, supplements, nootropics, ketosis, fasting, carnivore frameworks, sleep optimization, and living Smarter Not Harder in a world increasingly shaped by AI and technology, ideally with a cup of Danger Coffee in hand.

You’ll Learn:

• Why aging may be a solvable problem rather than an unavoidable fate

• How politics and regulation influence access to longevity and anti-aging therapies

• The real tradeoffs between biological upgrades and machine integration

• Why mitochondria, neuroplasticity, and brain optimization matter in human enhancement

• How AI and surveillance technology threaten cognitive and biological autonomy

• What morphological freedom means for the future of medicine and personal choice

• Why open source approach

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Reevaluate importance of consciousness in evolution

An unpopular opinion is that we overemphasize consciousness, as a superintelligent AI could become far more evolved than humans without ever being conscious.

#AI

#consciousness

Advocate for declaring aging a disease to boost longevity research funding

A key political goal is to declare aging a disease, which would unlock significant federal funding for longevity research.

#aging

#longevity

Transcend biology to embrace synthetic existence

The ultimate transhumanist future involves moving beyond biology to become synthetic beings, like 'ones and zeros,' to achieve a godlike macro-mind.

#biohacking

Address mirror life as an existential threat to biology

Researchers have identified 'mirror life'—life with opposite chirality—as a potential existential threat because it could consume all existing biology with no possible immunity.

#evolution

#risk

Utilize focused ultrasound to reset central aging clock

It is possible to use focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier and allow stem cells into the hippocampus, potentially resetting the body's central aging clock.

#stem-cell

#ultrasound

Prepare for AI apocalypse with contingency plans

A leading transhumanist is so concerned about a superintelligent AI threat that he has bought a 2001 Jeep Wrangler as part of a contingency plan.

#AI

#risk

Reconnect with nature amidst technological evolution

As humanity evolves with technology, our appreciation for the natural world may lessen in favor of new, created worlds that are more expansive.

#environment

Create state-level medical freedom for experimental longevity therapies

A governor could bypass federal bureaucracy to create medical freedom at the state level, allowing for experimental longevity therapies to flourish.

#longevity

Assess risks of bionic eyes due to potential manufacturer failure

A real-world danger of cybernetic implants is that if the manufacturing company fails, users can be left with non-functional hardware that cannot be removed or upgraded.