EP 1371
1371. Meet the Governor Who Wants Humans to Become Cyborgs
In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Host Dave Asprey sits down with transhumanist futurist and California gubernatorial candidate Zoltan Istvan for a provocative, systems-level conversation on human enhancement, longevity, and the future of biology itself. They explore whether aging should be treated as a disease, how regulation and politics shape access to anti-aging technologies, and why transhumanism aims to push humans beyond their current biological limits rather than accept decline. The discussion spans AI and existential risk, brain optimization, consciousness and mind uploading, stem cells, organ printing, and the tension between upgrading biology versus replacing it with machines. Dave and Zoltan also examine social media’s impact on kids, the role of religion in shaping medical freedom, and what it would take to make humans resilient enough for space travel. Together, they map out a future where biohacking, mitochondria, neuroplasticity, functional medicine, and Smarter Not Harder strategies collide with technology, ethics, and the fundamental question of what it means to be human.
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In this Episode of The Human Upgrade™...
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.
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
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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:
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“Transhumanism is still a social movement now of many millions of people around the world that want to use technology to radically improve their body as well as improve their lives.”
Zoltan Istvan
0:00 – Introduction
Zoltan Istvan introduces transhumanism’s core goal of overcoming biological death and aging, while Dave sets the stage for a grounded discussion about using technology to enhance longevity and consciousness.
3:51 – What Is Transhumanism
A breakdown of transhumanism as a global movement using radical technologies like exoskeletons, cranial implants, and robotics to push beyond human limits, alongside concerns about privacy and corporate control.
8:15 – Biology vs Technology
A debate over upgrading biology versus replacing it with synthetic parts, including whether the human body is a limiting time bomb or a system with untapped potential.
12:53 – Government & Regulation
How failed implants, abandoned patients, and corporate incentives expose gaps in regulation, plus the case for open source solutions in transhumanist tech.
20:43 – Running for Governor
Zoltan explains why he is running as a Democrat for Governor of California and how longevity, deregulation, housing, and medical freedom shape his platform.
26:13 – Social Media & Kids
A look at social media addiction, rising anxiety and depression in children, and whether governments should regulate platforms or restrict phones in schools.
30:18 – Life Extension & Upgrades
Which upgrades may arrive first, from artificial eyes and hearts to brain enhancements, alongside stem cells, organ printing, and regulatory bottlenecks.38:59 – Defining Humanity
A philosophical discussion on when enhancement changes what it means to be human, and whether identity lives in biology, memory, or consciousness.
46:12 – Consciousness & Uploading
Exploring whether consciousness can exist without biology, if AI can ever be conscious, and whether uploading a mind would still be you.
49:27 – Religion & Society
How religious values influence regulation around body modification, and whether transhumanism functions as a belief system rooted in science.
58:02 – AI Existential Risk
Zoltan explains why superintelligent AI may be humanity’s greatest existential threat and why guardrails and kill switches may be necessary.
1:02:57 – Space & Future Enhancement
What humans would need to survive space travel, from radiation resistance to mitochondrial resilience, and whether biology or suits will carry us to other planets.
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