What Nobody Tells You About Steroids with Dr. Mike Israetel

Billionaires, PEDs, and a $1M World Record with Michael Easter

Jul 7, 20261h 2mSummary

In this episode of SuperHuman, host Michael Easter sits down with journalists Chris Imoi and Sam Egan to pull back the curtain on the Enhanced Games, a controversial sporting event that recently made headlines in Las Vegas. Often dubbed the "steroid Olympics," the Games were designed to showcase athletes performing under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs. Imoi and Egan, who were embedded with the organizers, athletes, and scientists leading up to the event, discuss the origins of the project, which was founded by an associate of tech billionaire Peter Thiel. They analyze the underlying business model, which they argue serves as a marketing engine for a telehealth platform selling testosterone, peptides, and other supplements directly to consumers. The conversation explores the tension between the event's "transhumanist" vision of optimizing human performance and the logistical realities of the competition, which felt more like a social media production than a traditional sporting spectacle. Beyond the spectacle, the guests offer insights into the financial struggles of niche athletes, explaining why some are willing to gamble on their health for the life-changing prize money promised by the Games.

How We Got Here

Jun 30, 202643 minSummary

In this episode of SuperHuman, the host explores the complex history of doping in sports and the origins of the modern anti-doping movement. Joined by Dr. April Henning, a professor specializing in the history of performance-enhancing substances, the discussion traces the practice from ancient times to the controversial East German state-sponsored programs and the pivotal 1988 Ben Johnson scandal. A central theme of the episode is how societal views on amateurism and class-based values influenced the early development of sports regulations. The host and Dr. Henning examine how the distinction between acceptable nutrition and banned substances was often arbitrary, frequently rooted in outdated Victorian-era ideals of the gentleman athlete. The conversation highlights key historical moments, such as the 1960 Rome Olympics, where a tragic death led to the establishment of the IOC Medical Commission, despite the original narrative regarding the cause being medically inaccurate. By analyzing these events, the episode challenges the listener to reconsider the definition of fairness in professional competition and reveals how the current World Anti-Doping Agency framework was built on decades of shifting rules, reactive policies, and geopolitical tension.

A Vegas Buffet

Jun 16, 202631 minSummary

In this episode of SuperHuman, the hosts investigate the inaugural Enhanced Games, a controversial sporting event held in Las Vegas that permits performance-enhancing substances. The narrative centers on Hunter Armstrong, an Olympic swimmer who, after being dropped by his sponsor, faces a difficult career choice. Despite his commitment to clean sport, he navigates the complex legal and ethical landscape of participating in the Enhanced Games while attempting to remain eligible for the Olympics. The episode provides an on-the-ground perspective of the event, describing a surreal, high-stakes atmosphere filled with influencers, premium catering, and corporate branding, rather than traditional sports fans. The hosts observe the stark contrast between the ambitious goals of the organizers—who promised a multitude of world records—and the reality of the competition, which saw few records actually broken. Through interviews with participants and event figures, the program explores the motivations behind the athletes’ involvement and the influence of social media in modern sports reporting. Ultimately, the episode serves as a deep dive into the intersection of financial desperation, the desire for peak human performance, and the changing definition of professional athletics in a digital age.

New Normal

Jun 9, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of SuperHuman titled New Normal, host Sam Egan explores the rising trend of individuals using unregulated performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and peptides, to alter their physiques and mental states. The episode highlights the growing culture surrounding these substance stacks, driven by internet communities and social media marketing that targets insecurities regarding fatigue, focus, and body image. Egan engages with individuals like Aaron and AJ, who share their personal experiences with the gray market of unregulated supplements. Through these stories, the podcast examines the psychological drivers behind the use of these substances—ranging from childhood pressures and the pursuit of perceived perfection to the desire for dominance and aesthetic validation. The discussion also touches upon the physical risks of self-administering substances sourced from unverified labs, as well as the societal shift that increasingly normalizes these extreme body-hacking methods. By balancing personal anecdotes with broader cultural observations, the episode offers a critical look at how modern pressures are pushing people toward dangerous medical experiments in hopes of achieving an enhanced version of themselves.

The Protocol

Jun 2, 202628 minSummary

In this episode of SuperHuman, host Chris Garlock explores the high-stakes world of the Enhanced Games, focusing on a group of elite athletes living and training in Abu Dhabi. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the athletes find themselves caught in the crossfire of international military tensions, forced to shelter in place as regional missile strikes occur nearby. Amidst the danger, the episode examines the controversial mission of the Enhanced project: to study and optimize the use of performance-enhancing drugs in a controlled, scientific environment. The program highlights the logistical and ethical complexities of the project, including the use of steroids, metabolic modulators, stimulants, and peptides. Through interviews with athletes like Ben Proud and Megan Romano, the episode captures the internal struggle of professional competitors transitioning from clean sport to medically monitored enhancement. While project organizers claim they are filling a scientific void regarding drug efficacy and safety, critics and experts express concern over the lack of transparency, the honor-based disclosure system, and the unpredictable physical and psychological side effects—such as rapid muscle gain and increased irritability—that the athletes are beginning to experience.

Vegas

May 26, 20267 minSummary

In this episode of SuperHuman, the hosts travel to Las Vegas to provide an on-the-ground look at the inaugural Enhanced Games. The event, which aims to operate at the intersection of world-class athleticism and unconventional sporting standards, is marked by a raw, improvised atmosphere. Listeners are taken through the highs and lows of a grueling day held under the relentless desert sun, where top-tier athletes compete for significant prize money and the chance to shatter existing records. The hosts share their firsthand observations of the competition, including the technical challenges surrounding specialized performance gear and the intense pressure placed on the swimmers. While the atmosphere is high-energy, the episode offers a candid reflection on the outcome of the games, noting that the results were largely anticlimactic regarding the number of world records actually broken. Beyond the sporting events, the hosts touch upon the eclectic mix of attendees—ranging from longevity experts to fitness influencers—and provide an honest critique of the event’s overall organization, access to athletes, and the chaotic, experimental nature of this new competitive venture.