The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance
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PodcastThe Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance
Publisher/creatorDave Asprey
Shortcast updated
About this episode
Testosterone levels in 40-year-old men are 30 percent lower than their fathers, and most doctors still have no idea what to do about it. -Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. Justin Houman, a nationally recognized urologist and Assistant Professor of Urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Fellowship-trained and specializing in men's health, male fertility, and sexual medicine, Dr. Houman combines cutting-edge medical advancements with holistic lifestyle strategies to help men optimize testosterone, sexual health, and reproductive performance at every age. Together, Dave and Dr. Houman tear through the myths, the bad science, and the outdated medical dogma around testosterone, erectile function, fertility, and male sexual health. They cover everything from why testosterone levels have collapsed in a single generation, to the real story behind the FDA black box warning, to practical protocols for men who want to optimize without sacrificing fertility. This is the masterclass on men's health that no one else is having on record. This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, longevity, human performance, hormone optimization, brain optimization, anti-aging, functional medicine, mitochondria, and Smarter Not Harder approaches to male health. You'll Learn: Why testosterone levels in 40-year-old men are 30 percent lower than their fathers and what is driving the collapse How low testosterone connects to anxiety, depression, high cholesterol, blood sugar dysregulation, and all-cause mortality risk The truth about the original testosterone and heart attack study and why it still has not been retracted How to preserve fertility while on TRT using Clomid, enclomiphene, and HCG Why daily low-dose Cialis is one of the cheapest and most effective longevity drugs available What shockwave therapy, PRP, exosomes, and Botox injections actually do for erectile function How red light therapy at 660 and 850 nanometers supports testosterone production and nocturnal erections The supplement stack including ashwagandha, tongkat ali, fadogia agrestis, and creatine that supports healthy hormone levels Why porn-induced ED is epidemic in young men and how to reverse it How PT-141 and peptides fit into a complete male optimization protocol Thank you to our sponsors! Pre-order Arthur Brook's new book today at themeaningofyourlife.com . You can also see Arthur speak live at the 2026 Beyond Biohacking Conference fatty15 | Go to https://fatty15.com/dave and save an extra $15 when you subscribe with code DAVE. Establish a powerful foundation for sustained wellness with Pique. Unlock 20% off: piquelife.com/DAVE BrainTap | Go to http://braintap.com/dave to get $100 off the BrainTap Power Bundle. 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: testosterone, low testosterone, TRT, testosterone replacement therapy, male fertility, erectile dysfunction, ED, men's health, sexual health, hormone optimization, Dave Asprey, biohacking, longevity, anti-aging, human performance, Dr. Justin Houman, Cedars-Sinai, urologist, shockwave therapy, PRP, exosomes, Botox penis, red light therapy, nitric oxide, Cialis, tadalafil, Viagra, sildenafil, PT-141, Melanotan, peptides, ashwagandha, tongkat ali, fadogia agrestis, creatine, Danger Coffee, Smarter Not Harder, Kyzatrex, clomid, enclomiphene, HCG, prolactin, cabergoline, porn-induced ED, refractory period, fertility, sperm health, spermatogenesis, FSH, LH, estrogen, aromatization, functional medicine, supplements, mitochondria, circadian rhythm, sleep optimization, cortisol, microplastics, inflammation, cardiovascular health, dementia, all-cause mortality, nocturnal erections, penile health, male optimization Resources: • Learn More About Dr. Houman’s Work At: https://houmanmd.com/ • Get My 2026 Clean Nicotine Roadmap | Enroll for free at https://daveasprey.com/2026-clean-nicotine-roadmap/ • 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 • Join My Substack (Live Access To Podcast Recordings): https://substack.daveasprey.com/ • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Low Testosterone Epidemic 04:23 – Ejaculation & Testosterone 07:30 – Refractory Period & Aging 09:58 – Porn-Induced ED 11:09 – Cabergoline & Prolactin Management 12:42 – Oral Testosterone 13:24 – Testosterone Target Levels 16:46 – Supplements for Testosterone 18:46 – Anxiety-Based ED 26:23 – Penis Enhancement Options 27:37 – Shockwave Therapy 28:57 – Cialis for Longevity 29:56 – Fat & Filler Injections 34:50 – Pre-Sex Optimization 40:13 – Red Light Therapy 42:18 – Heat & Cold for Testosterone 43:35 – Underwear & Microplastics 44:58 – Testosterone & Fertility 49:15 – HCG & Preserving Fertility 52:00 – Testosterone Dosing Timing 53:22 – Creatine & Mitochondrial Health 55:20 – Overtraining Effects 56:24 – Peptides (PT-141) 59:08 – Optimal Diet for Fertility See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
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Episode summary
You’re listening to The Human Upgrade. Today we’re getting real about men’s health—testosterone, what happens in the bedroom, and how to stay vital—with Dr. Justin Houman, a urologist at Cedars‑Sinai.
Low testosterone is exploding because of modern living—processed food, extra weight, stress, late‑night light, and plastics—so a man in his forties today often runs about thirty percent lower than his dad did at the same age.
When testosterone is low you see mood issues, sluggish metabolism, worse cholesterol and blood sugar, fading energy and muscle, and problems with libido, erections, and performance.
What changes in relationships and with ejaculation timing? I’ve seen a clear post‑ejaculation slump from prolactin and got big gains by spacing it out, even using a tiny dose of a prolactin blocker once in a while.
Stable, happy relationships tend to steady testosterone by lowering stress, and regular ejaculation is good for fertility, though some men are very sensitive to prolactin and a few even experience a real post‑orgasm illness.
Why does the refractory period stretch with age, and how much is porn involved in ED for younger guys?
Nerves and receptors are less reactive as you age and hormones dip, so recovery takes longer; reducing masturbation and keeping testosterone healthy helps, and cutting porn often reverses performance anxiety–driven ED.
What testosterone targets do you aim for, and how do you dose?
I treat symptoms, not just the lab, but as a guide I like a trough above roughly 500 and dose by body size; with injections I prefer twice‑weekly microdoses for smoother levels.
Best supplement support without jumping straight to TRT?
Ashwagandha helps stress and sleep, tongkat ali or fadogia can nudge LH and FSH, while tribulus is niche; cycle ashwagandha because overuse can flatten emotions and make climax harder.
How much ED in younger men is psychological?
In men under about thirty‑five it’s overwhelmingly anxiety‑driven, often amplified by porn and unrealistic expectations; reassurance, skills training, and therapy help, and we avoid SSRIs when possible because they can dampen libido and erections.
Let’s talk enhancement and performance tools.
For function, shockwave builds new blood vessels and strengthens erections, PRP plus exosomes can help, and a small amount of Botox in the penis can relax smooth muscle and lower the dose of Cialis some men need.
For size, traction or a vacuum device may add a centimeter or two, while fat grafts can look uneven, hyaluronic acid is smoother and reversible, and implant surgery is the most aggressive route.
Daily low‑dose tadalafil is a longevity staple for me; microdose if you get heartburn or back pain, and remember Viagra needs an empty stomach and a head start to work well.
Tadalafil has body‑wide vascular benefits and doesn’t create tolerance; for desire, an apomorphine lozenge thirty to sixty minutes before can help, but try new combos at home first and watch for nasal stuffiness at high doses.
What lifestyle moves keep performance strong?
Do at least one true cardio day and a few heavy lifts each week; get morning sun, use red and near‑infrared light at about 660 and 850 to support nocturnal erections and testicular health, keep the testes cool, skip hot tubs if you want to be fertile, and wear breathable natural fabrics.
TRT and fertility still scare people—what’s the truth?
Exogenous testosterone pauses sperm production, but you can preserve fertility with clomiphene or enclomiphene and sometimes HCG; if testicles shrink on TRT, HCG can maintain size, though you must watch estrogen and dosing.
I had kids while on TRT by pulsing Clomid, and now I manage aromatization with herbs; I also follow testosterone’s circadian pattern by dosing in the morning and again midday when needed.
That old scare about heart attacks came from a flawed study; larger, better data show men in a healthy testosterone range live longer with fewer heart, brain, and metabolic problems—just stay within physiologic levels.
Creatine reliably boosts cellular energy and indirectly supports libido, while chronic cardio trashes testosterone and sperm—so train hard, not endlessly.
Use peptides only after your hormones are dialed in; PT‑141 can lift libido, melanotan darkens skin, and growth‑hormone secretagogues like CJC with ipamorelin require cycling and caution.
What’s your food playbook for libido and fertility?
A Mediterranean‑leaning plan works well: egg whites with Greek yogurt, berries, and walnuts in the morning; lunch with a complex carb, lean protein, and vegetables; red meat two to three evenings a week, fewer carbs at night, and around 0.6 grams of protein per pound—then adjust to your biology.
I see strong results closer to one gram of protein per pound with grass‑fed meats and real fats; get baseline labs so you can tune intake to your genetics and skip seed oils.
That was a masterclass—thanks for letting me ask the hard questions. See you next time on The Human Upgrade.
This show is informational only—talk with your healthcare provider before trying anything, read labels, and remember guests speak for themselves.
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