Weekly Pep Talk

What is the difference between human and mouse-sequence MOTS-c, and could the sequence you're using affect how you respond? In Episode 28 of Weekly Pep-Talk, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia dive deep into MOTS-c, mitochondrial function, peptide reactions, next-generation amylin compounds, PNC-27/PNC-28, and growth hormone peptide combinations. The conversation starts with MOTS-c and why the hos...

MK-677, Retatrutide, growth hormone, peptide sourcing, testing, PE-22-28 and PCOS — this episode of Weekly Pep-Talk covers a wide-ranging Q&A on some of the most talked-about compounds and developments in the peptide and performance space. Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia break down what they know about MK-677, including why it isn't technically a peptide, how it relates to ghrelin and growt...

What if you didn't have to wait until summer to get lean, shredded, and beach ready? In this episode of Weekly Pep-Talk, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia take the conversation to the beach in South Florida and break down their approach to staying lean year-round — from tanning and appetite control to fat loss, muscle preservation, growth hormone, recovery, and maintaining results long-term. The epis...

What happens when peptide recovery protocols meet the next generation of weight-loss compounds? In this episode, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia dive into some of the biggest conversations happening across the peptide, fitness, recovery, and longevity space. The discussion begins with Mike's recent experience dealing with neck and nerve pain following years of injuries and intense training. Mik...

The peptide landscape is changing fast and retatrutide is at the center of the conversation. In this episode, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia discuss the latest developments surrounding a new long-acting retatrutide-related product, including the reported challenges around naming, regulation, pharmaceutical competition, and where the product could potentially fit into the future peptide market. Mik...

What is the difference between peptides and bioregulators, and could bioregulators represent the next evolution of peptide therapy? In Episode 23, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer dive deep into bioregulators, peptide signaling, gene expression, recovery, cognitive health, muscle growth, mitochondrial function, and the future of health optimization. The conversation begins with the fundamental diffe...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk with Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia. In this episode, Mike and Max break down the rapidly changing peptide landscape, starting with the latest developments surrounding retatrutide and Eli Lilly, the future availability of peptide products, and what increasing pharmaceutical regulation could mean for the research peptide market. The conversation th...

What really happens behind the scenes in the peptide industry? In this episode, Trevor Kruder sits down with Michael Sheffer and Max Plasencia for a deep discussion about peptides, fitness, bodybuilding, manufacturing, quality control, third-party testing, regulation, and the future of peptide technology. Michael Sheffer brings more than 14 years of experience in health coaching and performance, a...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk This week, Mike sits down with Ariel Jarvis, a natural health practitioner, herbalist, nutritionist, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, blood scientist, entrepreneur, and CEO of Vitality Wellness World. This is one of the deepest conversations yet about the relationship between physical health, emotional health, the nervous system, nutriti...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk with Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia. This episode is all about blood work, metabolic health, peptides, inflammation, and understanding the bigger picture behind your health markers. Mike and Max answer questions from their community about high triglycerides, low HDL, elevated A1C, cholesterol markers, insulin resistance, and how lifestyle, nutriti...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk! In Episode 19, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia dive into one of the most requested topics in the peptide community: fertility optimization for both men and women. They discuss peptide protocols designed to support natural hormone production, improve sperm health, and address factors that may influence fertility, including insulin resistance, oxida...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk! In Episode 18, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia answer one of the most frequently asked questions in the peptide community: Can you travel with peptides? They explain the safest way to transport peptides, how to travel internationally, storage recommendations, and what to know before flying with research compounds. The conversation then shifts into...

In this episode of weekly pep talk, we sit down with Jeri Mermini. Jeri is a mom of two, hairstylist, and makeup artist with a passion for fitness, nutrition, beauty, and living a life that nourishes the mind, body, and soul. She believes confidence starts from within and that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. Through real conversations and honest experiences, Jeri is here to inspire y...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk! In Episode 16, Mike Sheffer and Max Plasencia answer some of the most frequently asked questions from the peptide community, covering everything from proper injection techniques to peptide protocols for Hashimoto's, menopause, cartilage repair, and longevity. The discussion includes practical advice on choosing the best injection sites, safel...

Welcome back to another episode of Weekly Pep-Talk! In Episode 15, Mike and Max answer some of the most common questions from the peptide community, covering everything from weight loss plateaus and GLP-1 medications to autoimmune protocols and injury recovery. They explain why the number on the scale doesn't always reflect fat loss, how water retention can affect progress, and why patience is...

This is a special episode of Weekly Pep-Talk. Max and Mike sit down with Dan Solomon , President of Mr. Olympia, the fitness industry’s premier bodybuilding competition, and one of the most recognized brands in physique sports. In this episode, Dan shares the story behind his new book, WINFUEL , and the principles behind leadership, momentum, opportunity, and long-term success. What began as a boo...

What happens when you combine peptides, fasting, brain optimization, and the future of medicine into one conversation? In Episode 13 of Weekly Pep-Talk , Max and Mike dive into one of their most wide-ranging discussions yet, covering peptide protocols, extended fasting, insulin resistance, mitochondrial health, growth hormone optimization, brain fog, and the evolving role peptides may play in mode...

What does “research use only” actually mean when it comes to peptides — and what are people getting wrong? In this episode of Weekly Pep-Talk, Max and Mike Sheffer break down one of the most misunderstood topics in the peptide world: research-use peptides, sourcing, expectations, and responsible education. They also dive into listener Q&A covering HGH, IGF-1, peptide safety, recovery, muscle g...

Are the peptides you’re buying actually real? In this bonus episode of Weekly Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer reveal the results of a real peptide testing experiment after purchasing peptides from 12 different overseas suppliers and sending them to an independent third-party lab for analysis. The results were shocking: 25% of the peptides tested failed. This episode breaks down what the l...

What’s the best peptide stack to get shredded for summer without losing muscle, energy, or your hair? In Episode 10 of Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer break down their ultimate summer shred peptide stacks, including Retatrutide, Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin, Tesofensine, 5-Amino-1MQ, SLPP-332, and more. They also reveal the results of their Tesamorelin gel experiment and discuss how to avoid c...

Can peptides improve longevity, optimize TRT, boost energy, and even support cancer recovery protocols? In Episode 9 of Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer answer listener questions covering advanced peptide protocols, anti-aging, TRT optimization, insulin resistance, cancer-related peptides, and ATP production at the cellular level. This episode explores compounds like PNC-27, FOXO4-DRI, BPC...

Does Retatrutide completely change how fasting works? And are most people using GLP-1 peptides the wrong way? In Episode 8 of Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer dive deep into the science behind GLP-1 peptides, fasting, longevity, and anti-aging optimization — including powerful compounds like Tesamorelin, Epitalon, FOXO4-DRI, SS31, and MOTS-C. We break down why so many people fail with GLP-...

In Episode 7 of Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer uncover the most common GLP-1 fat loss mistakes — from overdosing and rapid weight loss to metabolic damage and rebound weight gain. They also introduce Tessafensine, a powerful appetite-control compound that may support sustainable fat loss, better mood, and improved focus without relying on extreme GLP-1 dosing. 💡 In This Episode, You’ll...

In this episode of Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer break down the latest FDA update and what it means for GLP-1 peptides like semaglutide and tirzepatide. With new restrictions on compounding pharmacies, prices are expected to rise significantly - and access could become more limited.💡 What You’ll Learn: What the new FDA compounding restrictions actually mean Why GLP-1 prices are about t...

Could PNC-27 & PNC-28 become groundbreaking peptides in future cancer research? And are you reconstituting your peptides correctly? In Episode 6 of Pep-Talk, Max Plasencia and Mike Sheffer break down one of the most talked-about peptide discussions yet. PNC-27 / PNC-28 plus a full beginner guide to peptide reconstitution, dosing calculations, bacteriostatic water vs acetic acid, and listener Q...