In the United States, many citizens place personal freedom above all other societal values. Combine that with a wave of new gene hacking technologies that are cheap and easy to use, and the biohacking movement is born. It’s fun, you can inject yourself in your own basement, and it can generate a lot of interest on social media. In this episode we start with visionary biochemist, genetic designer, and biohacker Jo Zayner. An ex-NASA biochemist, turned underground biohacker, Jo first gained notoriety by publicly injecting themself with CRISPR at a live event. Although their claims that it would enhance their muscles did not pan out, it did inspire a wave of copycat hackers who started dubious enterprises that publicly injected themselves and sold untested cures to Herpes and other ailments. Samira and Cody traveled with Jo to the Dominican Republic, which has no medical regulations, to meet with patients suffering from muscular dystrophy, and who are desperate to meet Zayner and try any DIY cure.Episode GuestsJo Zayner (formerly Josiah Zayner) is a biohacker, artist, and scientist best known for their self-experimentation and work making hands-on genetic engineering accessible to a lay audience, including CRISPR.Ynti Eusebio is the medical director of Prometheus Regenerative Lab located in the Dominican Republic. Ynti provides plastic surgery and Stem Cell Therapies to his patients.Henry Thompson, a resident of the Dominican Republic suffering from muscular dystrophy.Resourceshttps://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/02/biohacking-stunts-crispr/553511/https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/5/19/18629771/biohacking-josiah-zayner-genetic-engineering-crisprhttp://www.josiahzayner.com/p/about.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/style/biohacker-death-aaron-traywick.htmlhtSupport the showThis podcast is brought to you by the RandomGood Foundation and was produced by Rhumbline Media, LLC. Add a video of your thoughts on our Filmstacker Project. Learn more about the podcast at our website. Leave us a comment on social media:InstagramFacebookYoutubeTwitterLinkedInCreditsWritten and Edited by Cody SheehyProduced by Samira KianiMusic By Tyler StricklandImpact production by Megan FriendRecorded by Cody Sheehy and Samira KianiAdditional Recording By Galen McCawSound design and mixing by Kim ChristensenSupporting materials by Cody SheehySocial media and marketing by Megan Friend, Amna Vegha, and Marci FiamengoWebsite by Craig BoesewetterLegal by W. Wilder Knight IIExecutive production by Randall Gebhardt and Christopher Gebhardt

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