Podcast Summary: The Dylan Gemelli Podcast

Episode #87 – Are Anabolic Steroids REALLY That Dangerous?

Host: Dylan Gemelli
Date: February 2, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Dylan Gemelli offers a candid, experience-based breakdown of the true risks and realities of anabolic steroid use. Drawing on over 20 years of industry experience as a coach, educator, and former user, Dylan dispels common myths, addresses the harsh truths about side effects and long-term health, and provides practical advice for anyone considering or currently using steroids. The episode is centered around truth-telling, demystifying community beliefs, and ultimately offering a strong caution against use.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Ubiquitous Danger of Anabolic Steroids

• Hard Truth: Steroids are "absolutely 1 million trillion percent dangerous" (03:32).
• Most severe side effects result from ignorance or abuse, especially among younger users who often feel invincible and disregard the ramifications.
• “A lot of signs and symptoms will hide themselves internally" (06:00).

2. Understanding Steroid Side Effects

• Oral Steroids:
  • Must be C17 Alpha alkylated to pass through the liver, which makes them highly hepatotoxic.
  • “It’s going to thrash your liver, your kidneys, your blood pressure’s gonna probably skyrocket... you’re probably gonna see a lot of changes in cholesterol” (06:20).
  • Even with protectants, damage is inevitable.
• Long-Term Damage:
  • The liver may repair, but multiple cycles of abuse cause lasting injury.
  • Elevated liver markers (ALT, AST) are common and dangerous.

3. Testosterone Suppression and TRT

• Shutdown Explanation:
  • “When you flood your body with exogenous amounts of testosterone, it then forgets how to produce it... it stops when you use anabolic steroids” (10:10).
  • Users eventually require post-cycle therapy, and eventually lifelong TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy).
• Consequences of TRT:
  • Lifelong medication (injection, oral, etc.), ongoing bloodwork, fertility issues.
  • “If you physically need [TRT], then do it. But if you don’t and you’re causing yourself these problems... you are going to be likely injecting for life” (12:05).

4. Categories and Specific Risks of Different Steroids

• DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) Steroids:
  • Used for “cutting” but well-known for causing hair loss and increased aggression (20:00).
  • “If you’re prone to male pattern baldness, these are going to just destroy your hairline. They’re just going to wreck it” (20:28).
• Compounds That Convert to Estrogen:
  • Risks include water retention, gynecomastia, mental health issues (23:00).
  • Estrogen management with aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex, Aromasin) crucial but brings its own risks (low libido, depression, etc.).
• ‘Hardcore’ Steroids (e.g., Trenbolone):
  • “Tren is essentially termed the king of steroids. However, it is the most dangerous. There is no good reason on the planet earth to ever go near [it]” (26:10).
  • Severe mental health issues, night sweats, anger, insomnia, “I remember sitting on my couch, being depressed and crying for really no reason” (27:55).

5. Physical and Metabolic Dangers

• “Gaining too much weight, too fast, puts all kinds of pressures on your joints, your ligaments, your tendons and everything in between” (35:22).
• Many users eat recklessly on “dirty bulk” cycles, exacerbating heart and metabolic risks.

6. Blood Work & Health Monitoring

• Inadequate Testing:
  • Most steroid users don’t know which tests to run.
  • Recommends detailed panels: cardiac IQ, ApoB, particle sizes, LP(a), not just LDL, HDL, and triglycerides (33:10).

7. Quality of Life and Psychological Motives

• Temporary Results, Lasting Costs:
  • “Is it worth it to look great for a few years?... Is it worth the changes that you’re gonna have hormonally that throw you off mentally?... ruin your quality of life long term as well?” (42:00)
• Bodybuilders’ Paradox:
  • “Ask any bodybuilder... when they looked their best, they felt their worst because it was dealing with so many different things” (43:04).

8. Steroids in Women

• Firmly against steroid use for women due to irreversible masculinizing effects (deep voice, hair growth) (51:10).
• “Some of the stuff you can't reverse, some of it you can. But I've seen a lot of women get stuck with pretty deep voices, strange hair growth, a lot of male attributes that you don't want” (51:21).

9. Youth and Early Use

• Strong warning for people under 30; premature use “destroys” hormonal potential and causes issues that often cannot be fully reversed (48:03).
• "If you're under 30, you are going to make a mess and destroy yourself." (48:11).

10. Societal Pressure, Motivation, and Regret

• Dylan reflects on motivation for use: “Was it really for me, or was it to build a Persona or an image of myself?” (53:50).
• Urges listeners to honestly question motives and not to seek external validation at the cost of long-term health.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Universal Danger:
  • “Are anabolic steroids dangerous? Yes, they are absolutely 1 million trillion percent dangerous.” (03:32)
• On Long-Term Regret:
  • “If I could go back and change it, I would have never touched one... I’m glad that I understand and can educate, but I certainly wouldn’t be teaching people, you know, how to coach them on it, how to even run it more effectively.” (16:40)
• On the False Sense of Invincibility:
  • “Especially younger guys will think they’re invincible. They have no true gauge or understanding of how these really work and the ramifications that it’s having on themselves.” (05:12)
• On Motivation:
  • “What are you doing it for? Who are you doing it for? Why?” (53:50)
• On Appearance vs. Feelings:
  • “Ask any bodybuilder, anybody – they’ll say when they looked their best, they felt their worst.” (43:04)
• On Outcome:
  • “I hope that guidance provides you a little bit of insight from somebody who’s actually been through it and been there.” (57:02)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | Key Topics | |-------------------------------------- |--------------|-------------------------------------------------| | Opening / Subject Introduction | 02:50 | Addressing myths, preview of topics | | Steroids: Danger, Abuse, Ignorance | 04:15 | Origins of side effects and community toxicity | | Effects of Oral Steroids | 06:10 | Liver/kidney toxicity, blood pressure, cholesterol| | Testosterone Suppression and TRT | 10:10 | Shutdown, recovery, risks of lifelong therapy | | Types of Steroids and Risks | 20:00 | DHT compounds, estrogen effects, mental health | | “Hardcore” Compounds (Trenbolone) | 26:10 | Extreme psychological/physical risks | | Metabolic and Cardiovascular Impact | 35:22 | Weight gain, “dirty bulking”, blood work | | Quality of Life, Regret Reflection | 42:00 | Temporary vs. lasting impact, mental health | | Steroid Use in Women | 51:10 | Irreversible side effects, gender differences | | Youth Use and Hormonal Impact | 48:00 | Under-30, lifelong consequences | | Motivation, Societal Pressure | 53:50 | Self-reflection on reasons for use |

Tone and Final Thought

The episode is frank, compassionate, and direct—Dylan emphasizes honesty and authenticity, sharing personal regrets and professional insight. His hope is to educate and protect, not to judge.

“I’m not here to lecture, scold, or throw stones. I am here to educate and help and provide a voice of reason…” (55:37)

Listeners are strongly encouraged to reconsider use, do their research, question their motives, and above all, prioritize long-term health over fleeting appearance or performance gains.

For more candid, science-based guidance on health and fitness, follow Dylan Gemelli and stay tuned for future episodes.