Defining Modern Transhumanism

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. 

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

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

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 approaches to biohacking could protect liberty and innovation 

• How Smarter Not Harder strategies support longevity in a rapidly evolving world 

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, 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: transhumanism podcast, human cyborg future, biohacking transhumanism, longevity technology podcast, anti-aging technology, human enhancement podcast, cyborg implants future, AI human evolution, aging as a disease, radical longevity science, human performance future, brain optimization technology, mitochondria longevity science, neuroplasticity enhancement, biohacking longevity politics, California longevity policy, morphological freedom body, human augmentation debate, AI risk humanity, surveillance technology health, open source biohacking, stem cell longevity future, organ printing technology, functional medicine future, metabolism longevity science, ketosis fasting longevity, nootropics brain optimization, supplements longevity science, carnivore diet longevity, sleep optimization performance, Dave Asprey transhumanism, Zoltan Istvan podcast, futurist longevity interview, governor cyborg policy, technology immortality debate 

Resources:   

• Learn More About Zoltan’s Work At: https://zoltanistvan.com/ 

• 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 – Introduction 

3:51 – What Is Transhumanism 

8:15 – Biology vs Technology 

12:53 – Government & Regulation 

20:43 – Running for Governor 

26:13 – Social Media & Kids 

30:18 – Life Extension & Upgrades 

38:59 – Defining Humanity 

46:12 – Consciousness & Uploading 

49:27 – Religion & Society 

58:02 – AI Existential Risk 

1:02:57 – Space & Future Enhancement 

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