The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance

Episode 1406: Meet the Governor Who Wants Humans to Become Cyborgs

Air date: January 29, 2026
Host: Dave Asprey
Guest: Zoltan Istvan (Leading transhumanist, author, and California gubernatorial candidate)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Asprey welcomes Zoltan Istvan, noted transhumanist thinker and now a candidate for governor of California, for a spirited, and sometimes philosophical, exploration of transhumanism, biohacking, longevity, technology, and the future of humanity. The conversation delves deep into the ethics and pragmatics of human enhancement, regulatory roadblocks, the role of government, and the impending societal impacts of artificial intelligence and other rapidly evolving technologies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transhumanism Defined & The Quest for Immortality

• [00:00-03:51] Zoltan sets the stage:
  • Transhumanism’s core goal is overcoming aging and biological death:

    “The number one goal of transhumanism is to overcome aging and biological death. My singular goal was, I love life. I don't want to die.” — Zoltan Istvan [00:00]

• The movement advocates using radical technologies, from exoskeletons to brain implants, to enhance human capacities and extend life.

2. Techno-Optimism vs. Techno-Skepticism

• Dave shares his cyberpunk roots and hacking background, emphasizing the good intentions behind early tech and his concerns about corporate and governmental abuse:

  • “At some point, bad people took the stuff we created and turned it into a surveillance platform. So I'm very cautious about misuse of technology.” — Dave Asprey [01:59]

• Zoltan expresses libertarian roots, shares privacy anxieties, but argues pushing radical tech is essential or we risk losing ground in longevity.

3. Human Enhancement: Biology vs. Technology

• Exploration of biological (shapers) vs. mechanical (makers) enhancements:
  • Zoltan believes ultimate evolution may mean leaving biology behind:

    “In the end, it seems to me like the human body is a... time bomb. ...I would rather have a brain that is dramatically larger ... tied into systems all over.” — Zoltan Istvan [06:19]

• Dave playfully suggests “why not just make bigger shoulders?” Both agree non-biological upgrades are imminent but question what is lost or gained.

4. Nature, Human Connection, & Emotion in a Transhuman Future

• Zoltan admits his connection to nature is diminishing as he immerses in transhumanism, but insists mammalian niceties and feelings could be retained—even enhanced—by cyborgs and AIs:

  • "I don't think we're going to get rid of [emotions]. Why would we, if we enjoy them? But I do think they're going to be lessened." — Zoltan Istvan [09:24]

• He rejects perpetual pleasure via brain implants, preferring real meaning from the mix of impermanence and emotion.

5. Tech Failures, Regulation, and Government Responsibilities

• Dave and Zoltan discuss cases where device failure left augmented humans stranded (e.g., electronic eyes) and the lack of support when companies fold.
  • Both agree there’s a government responsibility:

    “Absolutely, there's a role for government.” — Zoltan Istvan [12:53]

  • Zoltan backs open-source requirements and ongoing device support, suggesting capitalism and transhumanism may soon clash.

6. Why Zoltan Istvan is Running for Governor

• Zoltan expresses dissatisfaction with California’s direction and governance.
• Emphasizes making California a leader in technological innovation, cutting red tape, and especially, investing massively in the longevity industry:

  • “We have promised to try to bring in billions of dollars specifically for the longevity industry. I'd like to make California ground zero for where we tackle overcoming biological aging.” — Zoltan Istvan [21:32]

7. Medical Freedom & Regulatory Reform

• Dave presses for “medical freedom” so Californians can access experimental longevity therapies without permission slips.
• Zoltan wants to slash restrictive bills, introduce “try new” laws, and turn the state into a hub for radical biotech advancement.

8. Longevity as a State Initiative (and Beyond)

• Zoltan proposes treating aging as a disease to unlock federal funds and transform California into a global longevity leader, inspired by its historic role in stem cell research.

9. Transhumanism, Identity, and Consciousness

• The “Ship of Theseus” dilemma: When do tech upgrades mean you’re no longer human?

  • “When you lose more than 50% of your body to technology ... you are something probably we should be calling different.” — Zoltan Istvan [39:03]

• Both muse on uploading consciousness to the cloud—Zoltan takes the pragmatic view that an upload is “close enough”, Dave insists it would not truly be him.

10. Religion & Societal Limitations

• Zoltan, a secularist, blames America’s religiosity—especially the Judeo-Christian tradition—for resistance to bodily modification and innovation.

  • “Part of the reason we have so many regulations... is because we live in a Judeo Christian country. ... The body according to the Bible is a temple of Christ. If you mess with it... you get in trouble.” — Zoltan Istvan [50:20]

• Transhumanism, he asserts, is not a religion but a movement built on the scientific method.

11. AI: The Existential Threat

• Zoltan has become more alarmed about superintelligent AI and now calls for stricter guardrails:

  • “I'm worried that we don't know what we're doing for the very first time as a species and that we might create something that 50-50 is nice to us or isn’t nice to us.” — Zoltan Istvan [58:06]

• Both discuss the need for decentralization, regulation, and prepping for rapid social/technological shifts.

12. Personalization, Health Freedom, and the Future of Enhancement

• Dave voices strong support for personalization in enhancement and warns against “one-size-fits-all” science.
• Both believe in maximizing morphological and cognitive freedom.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On freedom and death:

  “Being alive is a state you can choose. I have no problem with death whenever I choose it. I just would like to be the guy who decides.” — Dave Asprey [00:39],[21:44]

• On regulation and innovation:

  “I would wipe this stuff out from day one. I would walk into office and just be like, gone, gone, gone.” — Zoltan Istvan [36:47]

• On AI risk:

  “All of a sudden, a few years ago... I changed my mantra quite a bit. ... I would like to halt or at least put up much stronger guardrails to protect against superintelligent AI.” — Zoltan Istvan [58:06]

• On personal and societal evolution:

  “I want to move forward. I want to become something different. I want to evolve again and I don't want to die.” — Zoltan Istvan [51:05]

• On consciousness uploads:

  “Even if it's not me, it's still this idea that is close enough to me that I would love it. ... We've just decided that I would rather support it than not support it as being me. But philosophically, it's impossible to prove one way or the other.” — Zoltan Istvan [46:16], [49:10]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Istvan’s opening: Transhumanism’s goal to overcome death
• 03:51 – Defining modern transhumanism & radical technology
• 10:27 – Would Zoltan choose brain-implanted happiness? (He wouldn’t)
• 12:39 – Government’s responsibility for failed implants
• 14:47 – Zoltan declares candidacy and critiques California’s leaders
• 18:01 – Dave on lack of tech/health literacy in government
• 21:44 – Making California “Ground Zero” for longevity innovation
• 32:37 – Discussion of the first human upgrades (eyes, hearts, limbs)
• 36:47 – Zoltan on removing regulation for innovation
• 39:03 – Where is the human/tech boundary for identity?
• 46:16 – The cloud-upload dilemma
• 50:20 – The role of religion in resistance to enhancement
• 58:06 – Growing concerns over superhuman AI risks
• 63:02 – What makes a human “spaceworthy” for interplanetary travel?

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is passionate, open, and at times irreverent, with both host and guest challenging each other's assumptions but quickly finding shared ground. Both embrace radical technologies to enhance human life but remain cautious about loss of agency—whether to governments, corporations, or emergent AIs. Zoltan’s policy ambitions are unapologetically pro-science, pro-innovation, and anti-bureaucracy, while Dave is consistently in favor of maximizing individual freedom—biologically, cognitively, and socially.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

If you’re curious about where humanity is headed—technologically, politically, and existentially—this ambitious conversation lays out the key battlegrounds of the coming decades. From AI ethics to personal sovereignty and medical freedom, Zoltan Istvan’s transhuman gubernatorial platform reads like a roadmap for activists, innovators, and anyone invested in shaping the near-future of human thriving.