The UNLOCKED Podcast

Peptides are one of the biggest conversations in fitness, recovery, metabolism, anti-aging, and biohacking right now. But most people are hearing the hype before they understand the biology. In this episode of The Unlocked Podcast, Tony breaks down what peptides actually are, how they work as biological signals, and why they are not all the same. We move from the history of insulin and early pepti...

What started as a hidden structure inside the cell became one of the biggest turning points in modern science. In this episode of The Unlocked Podcast, we walk through Rosalind Franklin’s role in revealing the structure of DNA, how that opened the door to sequencing, genomics, and gene editing, and why wearables now bring biology into everyday life through sleep, recovery, stress, and performance...

In this episode, we pull the camera all the way back and connect the first ten episodes into one living framework. Instead of treating focus, appetite, stress, recovery, performance, and brain health like separate problems, we look at how the body actually works: as an interacting system. From gene expression and neuroplasticity to signaling chemistry, muscular architecture, methylation, appetite...

In this episode, we unpack what APOE actually does, why it matters for moving cholesterol and other lipids, and why that becomes especially important in the brain. We also cover the three common APOE versions, what amyloid is, why APOE4 gets so much attention in Alzheimer’s research, and why genetic risk should never be confused with destiny. We also explore the difference between APOE and the rar...

Episode Notes Most people have never heard of FTO, but once you understand what it is, a lot of the body weight conversation starts making more sense. This episode breaks down how researchers first found FTO, why it became such an important part of obesity genetics, what the early numbers actually showed, why the first diabetes signal changed once body mass index was factored in, how this gene reg...

Episode Notes This episode breaks down synergistic supplements and antagonistic supplements with a baseline first, food first approach. The goal is to stop guessing, stop stacking everything at once, and start using a simple framework that helps you understand what pairs well, what competes, and how to change one variable at a time so your body gives readable feedback. You’ll also hear a short med...

Episode 7 Part 2 continues directly from Part 1 and turns MTHFR from a confusing gene label into practical decisions you can use. We walk through homocysteine as a pathway signal, why observational associations are not the same thing as cause, and what randomized trials taught us about lowering homocysteine versus improving real world outcomes. You’ll also learn what common lab terms mean in plain...

MTHFR is a real gene in the folate pathway, but it often gets treated like it explains everything. This episode keeps the scale right. You’ll learn what the enzyme does, why homocysteine became a popular lab marker, and how to separate association evidence from intervention evidence so you don’t get misled by a number moving without outcomes changing. You’ll also get a simple decision model you ca...

A short guided practice to downshift, recover, and ground the nervous system. This episode is a guided nervous system reset designed to help you downshift from stress, stimulation, or mental overload. You don’t need a yoga studio, special equipment, or prior experience. This practice can be done seated or lying down, at home, after work, after training, or before sleep. The breathing and awareness...

Episode 5 is a short, high-energy activation episode focused on momentum rather than discipline. Instead of relying on motivation as a prerequisite, this episode explains how movement itself acts as a biological signal that organizes focus, clarity, and drive. The emphasis is on reducing friction, using small actions to shift nervous system state, and creating traction without pressure. This episo...

Episode 4 explores ACTN3, a gene tied to fast-twitch muscle fiber structure, and how muscle architecture influences strength, speed, fatigue, and recovery. We move beyond genetic labels and focus on how structure, energy systems, and training signals interact to shape performance over time. The episode traces the scientific history of ACTN3, beginning with the identification of the R577X variant a...

Episode 3 uses COMT as a practical lens for understanding signal duration and clearance in focus and stress physiology. We trace COMT through the mid 20th century discovery era of neurotransmitter inactivation, then connect it to prefrontal cortex function and later human genetics work on functional variation such as Val158Met. The episode stays focused on real world patterns like wired but tired...

In Episode 2, we use BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, as a real biological example of how training and environment shape adaptation. BDNF is part of the neurotrophin family, signals that support neurons and plasticity, which matters for learning, mood, and performance. We walk through the research history behind neurotrophins, including the NGF thread, and then bring it into modern exercis...

In Episode 1 of The Unlocked Podcast, we start with the foundation: what DNA is, what genes do, and why gene expression is the key to understanding human performance. Most people grow up thinking DNA is a fixed script. In reality, DNA is an instruction manual, and gene expression determines which instructions are used at any given time. In this episode, we explain DNA in plain language, break down...