The Secret Peptides and Underground Compounds Doctors Won’t Talk About

Dave Asprey

Feb 10, 2026

Episode description

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,

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Utilize nicotine's neuroprotective properties to combat Alzheimer's disease

Nicotine, when separated from tobacco and used in low doses, is a neuroprotective compound that may prevent or reverse Alzheimer's disease.

#Alzheimer's

#nicotine

Implement bubble sort approach in biohacking for effective results

Instead of testing one supplement at a time, it can be more effective to try everything that supports a goal at once and then remove things after achieving results.

#biohacking

Consider MK-677 as a safer alternative to HGH injections

The research chemical MK-677 is a secretagogue that can be a safer and effective alternative to HGH injections for restoring growth hormone levels.

#growth-hormone

#supplement

Prioritize muscle strength over mass for longevity

For longevity, muscle strength, which is based on neural drive, is a more important correlate of health than simply having large muscle mass.

#longevity

#strength

Utilize Melanotan-2 for tanning and libido enhancement

The peptide Melanotan-2 stimulates melanin for a deep tan that acts as a natural sunscreen and also has a significant libido-boosting side effect.

#libido

#peptides

Double fat intake to enhance leanness and well-being

A personal experiment of increasing daily calories to 3,000 and fat from 20g to 130g resulted in becoming leaner, feeling better, and having higher HDL cholesterol.

#fat

#weight-loss

Utilize S4 for muscle hardening and lean gains

The SARM S4 is recommended for both men and women to achieve a muscle hardening effect and lean muscle gain, with a known side effect of seeing a yellow flash of light.

#muscle

#side-effects

Utilize oral testosterone to prevent testicular shrinkage

The oral testosterone Kyzatrex can raise testosterone levels without suppressing the hormones LH and FSH, thereby avoiding the testicular shrinkage associated with injections.

#testosterone

Avoid chronic cardio to strengthen heart function

Training the heart with chronic, long-duration cardio can actually weaken it by causing a smaller ejection fraction, which is the amount of blood pumped per beat.