The Optispan Podcast with Matt Kaeberlein

Peptides are everywhere in longevity and functional medicine, but what does the law actually say? In this episode, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein breaks down what a peptide is and the complex regulatory landscape governing peptides in the United States, from FDA approval frameworks to the legal gray zones surrounding compounding pharmacies and unapproved substances.Drawing on the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and real-world enforcement cases, this episode offers a clear-eyed, non-judgmental examination of what is legal, what is tolerated, and what carries genuine risk for physicians, pharmacies, and patients alike. An essential listen for anyone navigating the rapidly evolving world of peptide therapeutics.Timestamps:00:00 — The Tailor Made Compounding Case: Criminal Prosecution & FDA-Flagged Peptides00:54 — Welcome & Episode Overview: The Regulatory Environment of Peptides01:36 — What Is a Peptide? Definitions and Biological Context03:26 — Are Peptides Regulated by the FDA?04:16 — Two Regulatory Frameworks: Biologics vs. Chemically Synthesized Drugs05:17 — The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: Which Peptides Fall Under It?06:11 — Why Two Frameworks Exist: A Brief Legislative History07:06 — The Core Rule: FDA Approval vs. Unapproved Status07:54 — FDA-Approved Peptides: What Can Legally Be Prescribed09:11 — Compounding Pharmacies: When Is It Legal?10:01 — The Unapproved Peptide Bucket: A Long List10:55 — Legal Status of Unapproved Peptides Under U.S. Law12:34 — The Bulk Drug Substances List: What It Is and What It Isn't14:11 — FDA's "Significant Safety Risk" Flagged Peptides15:04 — Why Some Pharmacies Still Compound Unapproved Peptides16:44 — The Gray Area: Speeding Analogies and Cultural Norms17:38 — Degrees of Risk: Formulation, Approval Status, and Data Quality18:38 — Who Bears Legal Liability? Pharmacies, Physicians, and Patients19:39 — The Tailor Made Compounding Case: DOJ Action and Criminal Conviction20:34 — Risk to Physicians and Patients Summarized21:24 — Self-Sourcing Peptides Online: What Consumers Should Know22:14 — Prescription Drugs Without a Prescription: Legal Nuance23:06 — Final Thoughts: The State of Peptide Medicine Today23:58 — How Enforcement Norms Can Shift and Why It Matters Now24:48 — Questions to Ask Yourself: Risk Tolerance and Physician Choice25:21 — An Informed Consent Framework for Peptide Use26:03 — Coming Up: Individual Peptide Deep-Dives in Future Episodes

On this episode, Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is joined by Noah Neiman, co-founder of Rumble Boxing and founder of Knuckle Therapy. From panic attacks and rock bottom to building global fitness brands, Noah and Matt explore the profound connection between physical training and mental resilience. Noah shares how structured movement became the foundation for managing ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and why the discipline of fight training translates directly into how we navigate life's hardest moments. A candid conversation on the neuroscience of presence, the therapeutic power of service to others, and what it truly means to train for longevity, in the ring and beyond.Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction & Cold Weather in New York01:04 — Pittsburgh Roots, Sports, and Life Metaphors02:22 — How Training Saved Noah's Life03:05 — ADHD, Physical Control, and Emotional Regulation04:36 — Early Influences: Boxing Gyms, Body for Life, and Therapy06:28 — Football, Identity, and Taking Control of the Body07:02 — College, Jiu-Jitsu, and Finding Purpose08:08 — Anxiety, Depression, and the Power of Presence09:22 — What "Training" Really Means: Sleep, Nutrition, and Mindset10:36 — How You Train Is How You Fight Is How You Live13:30 — The Turning Point: Giving to Others as Therapy14:10 — Selling Drugs, Materialism, and Misery15:23 — Muhammad Ali, Service, and Spiritual Rent17:23 — Failing Upwards: The Road to Barry's Bootcamp19:46 — Warren Stout, Jiu-Jitsu, and Rebuilding After Near-Overdose21:19 — The Craigslist Apartment and Moving to New York22:27 — Walking Into Barry's Bootcamp for the First Time25:44 — Vampire Fitness Hour: Building a Brand from One Class27:47 — Teaching Through Panic Attacks and Overcoming Them28:57 — Medication, Anxiety, and Finding the Root Cause31:12 — The Tattoo, King Henry VI, and "Fearless Minds"32:30 — The Birth of Rumble Boxing36:54 — Co-founding Rumble with Eugene Ram38:09 — Pandemic, Selling Rumble, and What Comes Next40:07 — Launching The Pack: Three Dogs, Three Modalities47:07 — Knuckle Therapy: Honoring Oz and Building a Brand52:55 — A Typical Week: Exercise, Walking, and Movement55:17 — Training at Henzo Gracie's and Teaching Daily57:03 — Recovery, Injury Prevention, and Longevity at 4101:02:37 — Nutrition: Eating a Lot, Eating Clean01:06:46 — Sleep, Balance, and Living in the Extremes01:11:43 — The Most Unexpected Part of the Journey01:16:24 — Advice for Anyone Going Through It01:19:46 — Choose Love, Not Fear: Closing Thoughts

The longevity supplement industry is full of hype, marketing claims, and questionable science. In this episode, Matt breaks down 13 popular supplements through an evidence-based lens.Subscribe for more evidence-based longevity content.
Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction: 13 Supplements Ranked, 1:41 - How the Tier List Works (Strong, Good, Promising, Overhyped, Avoid), 2:27 - Fucoidin, 8:04 - Fisetin, 8:54 - Lithium Orotate, 12:34 - Resveratrol, 13:24 - Creatine, 14:58 - CoQ10, 15:53 - SS Peptides (SS-31/Elamipretide), 24:09 - Proprietary "Anti-Aging" Blends, 24:55 - NAD+ Precursors, 27:17 - Omega-328:47 - Vitamin D, 29:24 - Fatty 15 (Pentadecanoic Acid), 31:01 - Urolithin A, 32:31 - Final Rankings: All 13 Supplements Ranked 1-13, 34:41 - Closing Thoughts

In this episode, Matt sits down with Shannon Anderson, a 63-year-old executive recruiter who spent decades mistaking good looks for good health. Shannon's 46-year journey from eating disorders to true health is one of the most honest, inspiring conversations we've had on the podcast. Shannon grew up in the era of Jane Fonda and extreme dieting. She struggled with bulimia and anorexia for years, thinking she'd "invented" the perfect solution to looking good while eating whatever she wanted. It worked until it didn't. At 60, her body stopped performing. She couldn't lift a laundry detergent box without two hands. Her brain was slowing down. Despite going to the gym regularly, she wasn't making progress. That's when she discovered Optispan, and everything changed.

0:00 - Matt Introduces Shannon Anderson2:19 - Shannon's Early Struggles: Bulimia, Anorexia, and Body Image9:34 - The Breaking Point: When Her Body Stopped Performing at 6013:42 - Matt and Shannon Discuss Pop Culture's Influence on Health19:01 - The Dark Side of "Wellness": Extreme Diets and Eating Disorders22:44 - Shannon's Wake-Up Call: "I Looked Like a Clown"26:09 - Matt Asks: Should Women Fear "Bulking Up"?31:24 - Shannon's Exact Workout Routine (3 Hours/Week)40:18 - How Shannon Found Her Trainer (Job Description Method)45:10 - Hormone Therapy: The Game-Changer Shannon Didn't Expect48:34 - Testosterone for Women: Muscle, Strength, and Sexual Health52:19 - Shannon on Brain Fog: "Your Brain Craves Estrogen"53:41 - Shannon's Nutrition Principles: Protein, Fiber, Whole Foods1:05:03 - How Shannon Discovered the Concept of Longevity1:09:22 - Biomarkers That Surprised Shannon: Prediabetic Despite Healthy Habits1:11:00 - Sleep Apnea Discovery: From 5 to 9 Hours of Sleep1:13:26 - Shannon's VO2 Max in the 90th Percentile—Without Doing Cardio1:17:22 - The 6-Month Slump: When Shannon's Biomarkers Crashed1:21:11 - Matt's Question: What's the First Step for Someone Starting Out?1:29:50 - Shannon's Final Message: "Health from the Inside Out"

Subscribe to our channel:    / @optispan  Get Our Newsletter (It's Free): https://www.optispan.life/The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans just dropped—and we're breaking down what's actually good, what's questionable, and what the science really says. From the flipped food pyramid to the controversial alcohol recommendations, we cover it all. Plus, a full page-by-page reading of the entire 10-page document with expert commentary.This video was produced by One Billion Media, an agency that specializes in YouTube virality for health brands and experts. Learn more about their work here:https://onebillionmedia.com/Timestamps02:04 The pyramid is upside down now?!04:50 MyPlate vs. 1992 pyramid vs. today06:12 The real shift: Whole foods over nutrients09:06 The 5 takeaways everyone needs to know09:54 Where science and politics collide14:24 Why they removed alcohol limits17:37 Reading the full document (with commentary)22:56 How much should YOU actually eat?23:52 Protein is king now27:35 Veggies & fruit: They lowballed it29:42 Butter and beef tallow made the list31:24 Do you actually need whole grains?32:24 The war on processed foods37:32 Sodium & alcohol: The real numbers39:58 What to feed babies & toddlers46:31 Pregnancy & breastfeeding nutrition49:23 Why older adults need to eat cleaner50:52 Can diet reverse chronic disease?52:10 Vegan? Here's what you're missing54:30 Final verdict & what actually mattersDISCLAIMER: The information provided on the Optispan podcast is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not meant to be, nor should it be construed as, personalized medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is established by your use of this channel. The information and materials presented are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We strongly advise that you consult with a licensed healthcare professional for all matters concerning your health, especially before undertaking any changes based on content provided by this channel. The hosts and guests on this channel are not liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages or adverse effects that may arise from the application of the information discussed. Medical knowledge is constantly evolving; therefore, the information provided should be verified against current medical standards and practices.More places to find us:Twitter: https://x.com/Optispan_IncTwitter:   / mkaeberlein  Linkedin:   / optispan  Instagram:   / optispan_  TikTok:   / optispan  https://www.optispan.life/