EP 1367
1367. The Superbrain Drug Politicians Use To Outsmart Everyone
In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Host Dave Asprey sits down with David Renteln, Co-Founder and CEO of LUCY Nicotine and a former Soylent co-founder, for a deep, systems-level conversation on nicotine as a misunderstood biohacking tool for brain optimization, learning, and human performance. They break down why nicotine itself is not the same as smoking or vaping, how delivery speed and dose shape addiction risk, and what nicotine actually does in the brain through acetylcholine and dopamine. The conversation covers practical use cases for oral nicotine, including pouches and gum, protocols for avoiding dependence, memory and cognitive research including Alzheimer’s and NAD signaling, sleep and REM effects, stacking with caffeine and other nootropics, and a harm-reduction view of regulation and behavior change, reframing nicotine as a Smarter Not Harder lever for focus, longevity, and high-performance living when used intentionally.
Subscribe To The Human Upgrade
In this Episode of The Human Upgrade™...
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.
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 https://lucy.co/#
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/daveto save 15% off.
- LYMA | Go to https://lyma.sjv.io/gOQ545and 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/tojoin 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
“How you consume nicotine is almost as important as whether you consume nicotine at all.”
David Renteln
0:00 – Trailer
A fast cut preview highlighting nicotine’s misunderstood role in brain performance, addiction risk, and harm reduction.
1:10 – Origin Story
David explains how quitting smoking for his fiancée led him to research nicotinic receptors, uncover nicotine’s cognitive benefits, and ultimately launch Lucy.
2:20 – Product Forms & Usage
A breakdown of nicotine pouches, gum, and discontinued lozenges, including proper usage, dosing control, and clarification around microplastic concerns.
3:52 – Effects & Mechanisms
How nicotine acts as a short acting stimulant, drives acetylcholine and dopamine signaling, enhances learning, and why people often crave it after sex.
9:21 – Dosing & Addiction
Clear protocols for non smokers, daily dose thresholds to avoid addiction, and David’s candid discussion of extreme high dose personal use.
15:33 – Memory & Cognitive Benefits
Emerging research on Alzheimer’s disease, NAD upregulation in the brain, improved learning speed, and surprising effects on REM sleep.
18:57 – Personality & Stacking
Who benefits most from nicotine, how it stacks with caffeine, modafinil, and other nootropics, and its role in plant medicine and psychedelic contexts.
21:41 – Quitting Smoking
Why Lucy was designed as a recreational alternative rather than a cessation product, and how psychology and enjoyment influence behavior change.
24:39 – Government Regulation
What regulators get right and wrong, lessons from Swedish snus, innovation bottlenecks in the US, and RFK’s influence on nicotine reform.
32:00 – Addiction Philosophy
A nuanced look at harm reduction versus total sobriety, why nicotine and caffeine are tolerated in recovery programs, and addiction reframed.
35:30 – Behavior Change & Routines
Using nicotine to reinforce positive habits, associative learning strategies, and David’s morning routine for maximum effect.
39:08 – Final Recommendations
Age specific guidance, practical dosing advice across life stages, cycling strategies, and how to think about nicotine on a continuum of risk.
Enjoy the show!
LISTEN:
“Follow” or “subscribe” to The Human Upgrade™ with Dave Asprey on your favorite podcast platform.
REVIEW:
Go to Apple Podcasts at daveasprey.com/apple and leave a (hopefully) 5-star rating and a creative review.
FEEDBACK:
Got a comment, idea or question for the podcast? Submit via this form!
SOCIAL:
Follow @thehumanupgradepodcast on Instagram and Facebook.
JOIN:
Learn directly from Dave Asprey alongside others in a membership group: ourupgradecollective.com.
Subscribe To The Human Upgrade
Similar Episodes
Subscribe To The Human Upgrade
BOOKS
4X NEW YORK TIMES
BEST-SELLING SCIENCE AUTHOR
Smarter
Not Harder
Smarter Not Harder: The Biohacker’s Guide to Getting the Body and Mind You Want is about helping you to become the best version of yourself by embracing laziness while increasing your energy and optimizing your biology.
Also Available
