Solo Episode - Nicotine Masterclass (pt. 1) : 1345
The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance
Dave Asprey
4.6 • 7.3K Ratings
🗓️ 14 October 2025
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Nicotine isn’t just addictive—it might be one of the most misunderstood nootropics in modern medicine. In this masterclass, you’ll learn how controlled, low-dose nicotine may enhance brain performance, boost neuroplasticity, improve mitochondrial function, and potentially extend lifespan. Host Dave Asprey breaks down the surprising science behind this controversial compound, separating fact from fear—and exposing the real risks that nobody talks about.
Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:
https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR
You’ll discover how nicotine affects neurotransmitters, why it may help with ADHD and focus, and how it compares to other cognitive enhancers like caffeine, nootropics, and even smart drugs. Dave explores how nicotine can be used to hack metabolism, enhance sleep optimization, and support fasting or ketosis protocols—if used properly.
He also reveals the forms of nicotine that are safest (spoiler: it’s not vapes or cigarettes), how nicotine works at the receptor level, and what the science says about long-term health effects. This episode blends functional medicine, brain optimization, and biohacking into one powerful, myth-busting breakdown.
You’ll Learn:
• How nicotine affects mitochondria, neurotransmitters, and dopamine signaling
• Why nicotine may boost neuroplasticity, memory, and attention span
• How low-dose nicotine compares to caffeine, modafinil, and other nootropics
• The safest delivery forms (and the ones to avoid)
• Whether nicotine supports or hinders longevity and cognitive resilience
• How it can be stacked with supplements, fasting, or ketosis
• What functional medicine says about chronic use, addiction, and withdrawal
This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, human performance, and longevity, and for those who want to understand how functional biology and mitochondrial science are redefining recovery, energy, and aging.
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 microdosing, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, Dopamine and motivation, Cognitive enhancement, Alzheimer’s prevention, Neuroinflammation, Mitochondrial function, TNF-alpha reduction, Vagus nerve activation, Longevity biohacking, Nicotine vs smoking, Nootropics, Attention and vigilance, Ketosis and metabolism, Functional medicine, Nicotine patches and gum, Addiction and tolerance, Receptor desensitization, Withdrawal protocols, Deep work performance
Thank you to our sponsors!
-TRU KAVA | Go to https://trukava.com/ and use code DAVE10 for 10% off.
-HeartMath | Go to https://www.heartmath.com/dave to save 15% off.
-Leela Quantum Tech | Check out all HEAL360 products and research and get 10% off at https://leelaq.com/DAVE.
-Calroy | Head to https://calroy.com/dave for an exclusive discount.
Resources:
• Business of Biohacking | Register to attend October 20-23 in Austin, TX https://businessofbiohacking.com/
• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15
• 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
• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com
Timestamps:
0:00 — Introduction
1:27 — History & Background of Nicotine
4:34 — How Nicotine Works
15:12 — Benefits & Research
16:43 — Risks & Who Should Avoid It
21:39 — Delivery Methods & Dosing
26:30 — Conclusion & Next Steps
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | What are the four things most likely to kill you? |
| 0:01.7 | One of them is Alzheimer's. |
| 0:03.5 | Well, if you don't want Alzheimer's, microdosing nicotine might be a great way to feel better now, have more energy, more focus, to lose weight, and to not get Alzheimer's. Misusing nicotine can be bad for you. And not using nicotine can be bad for you. I consider nicotine to be as important as caffeine and ketosis. |
| 0:22.0 | If you really want to have a brain that's going to last for more than 100 years and you want to feel like you love your life, it's that big of a difference. |
| 0:29.5 | If you want to stay sharp with creativity, nicotine improves reaction time and vigilance. |
| 0:34.4 | It makes it easier to pay attention. |
| 0:36.7 | Now, what's the difference between smoking |
| 0:39.4 | and taking a pharmaceutical nicotine product? You're listening to the Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey. |
| 0:51.2 | Poor recovery speeds up aging. When you don't recover from stress properly, your cells get weaker and accumulate damage. Heart math changes that. The inner balance coherence plus trains your body to recover at the source, your nervous system. The setup is pretty simple. You connect a sensor to your ear that pairs to the Heart Math app, which guides you through |
| 1:12.6 | an HRV exercise. |
| 1:14.9 | In five minutes a day, your body shifts out of stress mode and into coherence, the state |
| 1:20.1 | where recovery, focus, and peak performance happen. |
| 1:23.9 | Most devices only track recovery. |
| 1:26.1 | HeartMath trains it. |
| 1:27.4 | It works by targeting heart rate variability or |
| 1:30.0 | HRV, your body's most reliable marker of resilience. Higher HRV means faster recovery, deeper sleep, |
| 1:37.8 | and stronger performance. Decades of science prove that heart math works. Over 400 studies show |
| 1:43.9 | measurable results in as little as |
| 1:46.0 | six weeks. That means less anxiety, better sleep, more energy, and sharper focus. That's why elite |
| 1:52.2 | athletes, hospitals, and the U.S. military all use the Interbalance Coherence Plus. This is one of the |
| 1:58.3 | things I think everyone should be doing. Don't just track recovery. Train it. |
| 2:02.7 | To get 15% off, go to heartmath.com slash Dave. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dave Asprey, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Dave Asprey and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.