Addiction, trauma, and harm reduction debate

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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