Biohack-it Podcast: "Stop Taking Peptides Until You Watch This"

Host: Iman Hasan
Guest: Dr. Ivan Rusilko
Date: February 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the world of peptides, biohacking, and the broader philosophy of wellness with Dr. Ivan Rusilko—a pioneering physician in the peptide field and a close personal friend of host Iman Hasan. Together, they challenge the prevailing narratives about health optimization, discuss the dangers of misinformation in wellness, and weave in powerful patient stories about overcoming illness through integrative approaches. The tone is energetic, candid, and filled with both tough-love advice and science-backed wisdom.

Main Themes

• Redefining Wellness: Moving beyond looking for “magic bullet” solutions and focusing on holistic, root-cause health.
• Peptide Therapy: Exploring the differences between pharmaceutical and research-grade peptides, safety pitfalls, and why individualization matters.
• True Healing vs. Quick Fixes: Peptides and other modalities as tools—not panaceas—for healing, with powerful real-life case studies.
• Experiential Living: Approaching life and health as an ever-learning, ever-evolving experience.
• Self-value and Relationships: How self-respect, energy, and neuroscience impact our quest for love and fulfillment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Limits and Power of Peptides

• Peptides are NOT Magic Bullets (04:19–04:26, 15:07–16:49)
  • Dr. Ivan explains that while peptides can be transformative, they are no substitute for foundation habits (hydration, nutrition, stress, sleep).
  • “Everybody thinks, I'm gonna go to Peptide. It's a magic bullet. It's not.” — Dr. Ivan (04:19)
• Pharma vs. Research Grade—Why Quality Matters (14:53–16:49)
  • Difference is often subtle in chemistry but huge in safety and predictability. Research-grade products can be dangerous due to inconsistent quality.
  • “If you’re going to skim, like you aren’t going to go and skim on a cheap bottle of champagne, why are you going to skim on your peptides?” — Dr. Ivan (16:16)
• Dangers of Misinformation (16:18–17:46)
  • Disinformation online has led to both exaggerated claims and improper uses.
  • Growing number of unqualified “peptide experts”: “The amount of influencers online right now with peptide specialists who have never seen a patient in their entire life…” — Dr. Ivan (16:49)

2. Root-Cause Medicine: Going Beyond the Symptoms

• Holistic Diagnostics (02:09–02:45, 04:48–06:19)
  • The best practitioners don’t treat just the lab numbers but the full person.
  • Dr. Ivan prescribes thorough, in-depth testing (e.g., hidden pathogens, heavy metals, nutritional deficiencies) for stress or health issues.
  • “There’s the emotional stress, the biological stress, and then there’s the mental stress…package the mental, the physical and the emotional aspects of what stress is, identify it. And then make that step forward.” — Dr. Ivan (04:54)

3. Transformative Patient Stories

• Veronica’s “Ageless” Transformation (03:02–04:26)

  • Patient came in focused on aesthetic goals, left with a whole-life overhaul centered on nutrition, lifestyle, hydration, and mindset.
  • Eating more, sleeping better, but “she just turned 60 yesterday. She’s timeless.” — Dr. Ivan (04:25)

• Parkinson’s Case Study – Lee’s Comeback

  • Initial Condition: 84 years old, advanced Parkinson’s, severe anemia, testosterone deficiency, heavy metals, chronic viral infections.
  • Tools Used: Blend of peptides (CJC, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin, Thymosins, Dihexa), hormone therapy, methylene blue, lifestyle change, testosterone for neuro-regeneration, individualized IV protocols.
  • Outcomes: Restored sleep and mood, regained intimacy, lost the Parkinsonian shuffle, and “climbed his own Everest” by regaining sexual intimacy and going paragliding at 85 (23:55–35:17).
  • Notable Quote:
    • “If I had the option right now and say, Ivan, you could have HIV or EBV. Give me HIV.” — Dr. Ivan (27:14)
    • On Lee’s sex life return: “He’s like, I had sex last night. I’m like, get out. He goes, penetration and orgasm. I nearly cried.” (32:39)

• Breast Cancer Case – Stage Four Reversed (36:29–41:30)

  • After chemo failed, patient undertook a functional protocol: rigorous bloodwork, ketogenic diet, polyphenol IVs (quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin), and lifestyle overhaul.
  • Results: Tumor markers dropped 96% in 30 days; PET scan found “no evidence of disease.”
  • Notable lesson: “The only thing that changed was the actual IV aspect and the ketogenic diet…and her lifestyle.” — Dr. Ivan (41:22)

4. Ketamine Therapy: "Closest Thing to a Magic Bullet" (20:45–23:39)

• Ketamine’s Unique Role
  • Effective when used intentionally and briefly, especially for neurological and treatment-resistant cases.
  • Must be combined with other wellness protocols—not used long-term or haphazardly.
  • Misuse: Online and high-volume clinics selling it for profit rather than patient progress.
  • “Ketamine is phenomenal. You should be on it in stints. If you're on it in perpetuity, it makes no sense…” — Dr. Ivan (21:15)
• Personal Story: Iman shares her post-separation crisis, avoiding SSRIs, and using Dr. Ivan’s protocols (including ketamine), peptides, and IVs to get her health and emotional equilibrium back in just over a month (19:14–20:19, 51:56–52:39).

5. Philosophy of Experiential Living (06:33–12:35)

• Dr. Ivan recounts core lessons from his father: “Never be the smartest person at the table… always be the most interesting person…But the biggest thing…always leaving it better than when you found it.” (06:39).
• Sees medicine, love, and business as an ongoing education: “There’s no such thing as failure as long as there’s education involved.” (11:41)

6. Energy, Relationships, and Self-Worth (46:37–51:08)

• Neuroresonance & Energy Exchange: We imprint on those around us—especially via sex and love—at multiple levels (physical, energetic, neurochemical).
• On Relationships:
  • Quality of our partnerships is shaped by our own self-respect and standards.
  • “If you can’t find love, do you respect and value yourself?” — Iman (50:11)
  • “How do you establish your worth?” — Dr. Ivan (50:28)
• On Living Fully:
  • “Unapologetic. Complete audacity to ask the universe for whatever the hell you want…live your life in a full spectrum of colors.” — Iman (50:44)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 04:19 | Dr. Ivan | “Everybody thinks, I'm gonna go to Peptide. It's a magic bullet. It's not.” | | 11:41 | Dr. Ivan | “There’s no such thing as failure as long as there’s education involved.” | | 16:16 | Dr. Ivan | “If you aren’t going to skimp on cheap champagne, why are you going to skimp on your peptides?” | | 21:15 | Dr. Ivan | “Ketamine is phenomenal. You should be on it in stints. If you're on it in perpetuity, it makes no sense…” | | 27:14 | Dr. Ivan | “If I had the option right now and say, Ivan, you could have HIV or EBV. Give me HIV.” | | 32:39 | Dr. Ivan | “I had sex last night. ... penetration and orgasm. I almost cried.” (On his Parkinson’s patient) | | 41:19 | Dr. Ivan | “The actual drop from 40 [cancer marker] to 1…I mean, just the only thing that changed was the actual IV aspect and the ketogenic diet.” | | 50:44 | Iman | “Unapologetic. Complete audacity to ask the universe for whatever the hell you want…live your life in a full spectrum of colors.” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–02:45: Patient introduction, philosophy of treatment, why Dr. Ivan stood out.
• 03:02–04:26: Veronica’s case, foundational lifestyle medicine.
• 04:48–06:19: Stress—emotional, mental, biological. Real diagnostics.
• 06:39–09:45: Lessons from Dr. Ivan’s father; leaving the world better; energy & neuroresonance.
• 14:53–16:49: What consumers get wrong about peptides; safety and the supplement gray market.
• 19:14–20:19: Iman’s crisis, why she refused SSRIs, turning health around holistically.
• 23:55–35:17: Parkinson's patient Lee's full restoration; how a goals-based approach and root-cause medicine can transform “hopeless” cases.
• 36:29–41:30: Stage 4 breast cancer story; the cancer-fighting “hat trick” and integrative healing.
• 46:37–51:08: Neuroresonance, the science and energetics of sex, self-worth, and “living in color.”
• 51:56–52:39: Full-circle: Iman’s testimony to Dr. Ivan’s healing magic.

Tone and Language

The conversation is relaxed but passionate, direct, and occasionally irreverent ("If you're just getting healthy to get healthy, that's masturbation," (34:32))—typical of seasoned professionals who enjoy upending taboos. Dr. Ivan, especially, mixes technical know-how with streetwise metaphors, while Iman grounds things in personal empowerment and practical advice.

Summary for New Listeners

Whether you’re questioning the efficacy of the wellness industry, looking for hope after “no cure” diagnoses, or want real talk about peptides, hormones, and neuroplasticity, this episode of Biohack-it delivers. It’s a no-BS masterclass in root-cause, personalized medicine, guided by a fearless practitioner who’s not afraid to challenge both mainstream and alternative dogma. Key takeaways: Don’t chase magic bullets, invest in quality, define your own goals for healing, and, above all, live your life unapologetically and vibrantly.