Peptide basics: chains, digestion, and routes

Peptides can change how you heal, lean out, build muscle, and age, but only if you stop taking influencer advice and start thinking like a scientist. 

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Host Dave Asprey sits down with Josh Felber and Jay Campbell for a deep, practical conversation on what peptides actually are, how they work in the body, and how to use them without doing something dumb. Josh Felber and Jay Campbell are both cofounders of BioLongevity Labs and longtime leaders in the peptide and performance space. Josh is also the host of the Making Bank podcast and a serial entrepreneur in health. Jay has spent more than a decade researching and teaching advanced peptide protocols and performance strategies. 

They break peptides down in plain English as chains of amino acids that act like signaling molecules, then get into what matters in the real world: delivery methods, dosing, and why pharmacokinetics and timing decide whether something works. You’ll hear why peptide pens feel like a huge upgrade over vials and syringes, why Dave wants patches and microneedle tech next, and how convenience can make the difference between consistency and quitting. 

Dave and the guys also go deep on mitochondria and longevity. They talk about SS31, now called elamipretide, and why it focuses on mitochondrial membranes and cardiolipin. They cover MOTS-c as a “turbocharger” peptide that people often feel fast, especially if they feel metabolically sluggish. They get into growth hormone peptides like Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin, and CJC, plus why MK-677 sounds convenient but can come with tradeoffs like appetite and other downstream effects. 

Then the conversation turns into what’s new. Jay shares what he claims is a new long-acting folistatin-style compound called FLGR 242, designed to stay active for weeks. He frames it as a potential solution for GLP users who worry about losing muscle. They also talk about Klotho, what it does in aging, why it is hard to stabilize, and why Jay believes small dosing matters because of kidney risk at higher levels. Dave ties Klotho back to endothelial function and kidney protection, and they swap stories about what people report noticing. 

You’ll Learn: 

• What peptides are, explained without jargon 

• Why delivery matters and why pens beat mixing vials all day 

• How PK curves change real results and dosing schedules 

• What elamipretide means for mitochondria and longevity 

• Why MOTS-c can feel like a fast energy shift for some people 

• How Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin, and CJC fit into growth hormone support 

• Why MK-677 sounds easy but can bring unwanted effects 

• What Jay claims FLGR 242 does for myostatin, muscle, and fat loss 

• Why Klotho shows up in longevity research and why dose matters 

Thank you to our sponsors!   

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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: peptides, biohacking, Dave Asprey, Jay Campbell, Josh Felber, BioLongevity Labs, mitochondrial peptides, elamipretide SS31, MOTS-c, growth hormone peptides, Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, MK-677, folistatin, myostatin inhibitor, FLGR 242, Clotho peptide, longevity science, anti-aging, human performance, muscle growth, fat loss, GLP-1 muscle preservation, pharmacokinetics, peptide dosing, nootropics, functional medicine, metabolism, endothelial function, kidney protection 

Resources:   

• Get a discount from BIOLONGEVITY LABS by using code ‘Dave’ at: https://biolongevitylabs.com/ 

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Timestamps: 

0:00 – Trailer 

1:22 – Introduction to Peptides 

7:52 – Peptide Delivery Systems & Pens 

14:22 – Safety & Regulation of Peptides 

19:22 – SS-31 & Mitochondrial Health 

26:22 – Blending Peptides & Cross-Linking 

38:22 – Growth Hormone Peptides 

44:22 – FLGR-242: The New Myostatin Inhibitor 

54:22 – Melanin & Consciousness 

57:22 – Klotho: The Longevity Peptide 

59:25 – Regulatory Landscape & Future of Peptides 

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