Peptides are not a topic you hear about every day, especially not in the usual entrepreneurial or marketing circles. This episode of Hustle and Flowchart is changing that. I invited my good friend Joy Houston onto the show, because she’s an expert at staying ahead of health trends and she’s been knee-deep in the world of peptides for years, both personally and through her work as CEO of Heal at Scale. I brought Joy on not just to geek out about healing, but to show everyone how these tiny molecules are showing up everywhere, quietly helping high performers, athletes, and regular people feel better, heal faster, and even boost their energy.
During our chat, Joy broke down everything from what peptides are, to how entrepreneurs use them, to the real-world results she and her husband Travis have seen. She also shared a treasure trove of resources so other curious minds can start learning for themselves. Up until now, peptides have lived in a sort of gray area, partly because the big medical system doesn’t know how to handle them. We wanted to bring all this out in the open.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Our bodies naturally produce them. Insulin is a peptide, for example. But scientists have learned that different peptides can trigger different effects—some help heal muscles and tendons, some improve skin, some even help with hormone balance. Unlike regular supplements, peptides affect the body deeply, often working with your own biology for specific changes.
Joy explained that peptides come as powders in tiny vials, which you mix with bacteriostatic water (for injections) or special saline (for nasal sprays). Many are injected subcutaneously with tiny insulin needles, though some can be used topically or, in a few cases, taken orally.
People often get confused about peptides because the word pops up on face creams or jars of collagen at the grocery store. While “peptides” in beauty products or smoothies are a thing, the peptides that biohackers use go far beyond common cosmetics or food supplements.
Key Points:
- Peptides are natural and made by your own body.
- They work by sending “messages” that promote healing, growth, repair, or other functions.
- Not all peptides are the same: some are for skin, others for injury recovery, gut health, or performance.
Why Entrepreneurs and High Performers Care
People in fast-paced industries want mental clarity, fast recovery, better sleep, and more energy. In mastermind groups and entrepreneur communities, talk about business dominates, but there’s always an undercurrent—what are people using to stay sharp and healthy? About five years ago, peptides became the “insider” topic. Before that, it was stem cells.
Joy said, “A lot of us are just sort of these driven type of personalities…looking to really stay very progressive with our health.”
Entrepreneurs and marketers love staying ahead. They don’t just want generic advice; they want what really works, whether it’s for cognitive performance, speedier injury recovery, or just keeping up with hectic schedules.
Key Points:
- High performers share info about health hacks quietly, as their edge in business depends on top health.
- Peptides are part of this quiet movement, replacing buzz over stem cells in recent years.
- The overlap between biohacking and business isn’t talked about publicly enough, but we’re trying to change that.
Joy’s Personal Story and Real-World Results
Joy and her husband Travis didn’t learn about peptides from a book, they lived it. Travis suffered a torn Achilles while they were living in Thailand. Doctors in both Thailand and the U.S. told him recovery would take forever, and surgery wouldn’t even guarantee better results. After months of slow progress in a boot, Joy turned to their network of health pros. That’s when peptide BPC-157 was suggested.
Joy tells the tale: “He hit like a plateau where it wasn’t getting any better. We’re six months in the boot…and so we leaned into our community and they were like, ‘Yep, peptides, let’s go.’”
After giving Travis BPC-157, Joy watched as the thick “scar tissue” around his injury finally disappeared, describing the process as a turning point: “Within a few weeks, I was like, I can’t even find the injury anymore.”
I also jumped into peptides after dislocating my pinky from jiu jitsu. Joy handed me BPC-157 at a conference, and not only did I start feeling better, but I was back to moving my finger long before I expected. Her story mirrored mine—peptides worked when other things either didn’t or took too long.
Joy also dealt with her own gut health and turned to peptides when expensive diets, supplements, and powders weren’t fixing long-term problems with her digestion. Peptides helped her finish healing, especially because they bypassed her gut and went straight into the bloodstream.
Key Points:
- Peptides worked for hard-to-heal injuries and gut problems when traditional options failed.
- Recovery and repairs seemed to happen much faster than expected.
- Stories like these are what push more people to take peptides seriously.
The Two “Lanes” of Peptides: Education vs. Access
Joy discussed how peptide knowledge splits into two main “lanes”: learning (education) and getting (access).
First, there’s the education side: Peptide courses, books, and certifications exist for both health professionals and passionate individuals. Some of these courses certify practitioners, but you don’t have to be a doctor to learn the science.
Second, there’s the access side: Actually getting peptides is tricky. FDA rules mean vendors must jump through hoops, some can sell you peptides, but not the water or syringes; others only carry supplies or accessories. Joy compared it to “crossing the streams” in Ghostbusters, you can’t buy everything in one kit.
Key Points:
- It’s possible to learn about peptides from reputable online courses, not just doctors.
- Many health professionals and entrepreneurs are combining both education and experimentation.
- Buying peptides usually involves using separate vendors for supplies and peptides; the process is getting easier, but not mainstream.
How to Build a Peptide Stack
A “stack” is just the combo of peptides someone uses. Think of a stack like an outfit, you choose what works for your goals. Stacks vary: recovery from injury, muscle growth, skin health, gut healing, or even energy and anti-aging.
Picking a stack starts with knowing your goal. Travis and I both began with healing, but others want better skin or more energy.
Joy explained: “You want to get clear on what you want out of it…set metrics for how you’ll know if it’s working, track your use, and work with a trusted practitioner if possible.”
She and Travis created a tracker, which helps document which peptides you’re using, how much, and what results you see. Their free peptide guide, which you can get at getmypeptides.com covers how to track all this.
Key Points:
- Define your goals (healing, energy, skin, etc.).
- Choose peptides with evidence to support those goals.
- Track your results to see if they’re working.
- Always check for contraindications if you’re on other meds.
- Don’t add many new peptides at once—test and measure.
Sourcing, Pricing, and How to Avoid Overpaying
Peptide sourcing is like the Wild West. Some sellers charge crazy high prices (Joy saw offers for “$100,000 for bloodwork and a pep stack”). Other sellers don’t supply certification, or mix up vial and lot numbers—big red flag.
Joy and Travis used their marketing skills to hunt for reliable, reasonably-priced sources that provide certificates of authenticity, matching lot numbers, and show purity. They personally compared prices and tracked which suppliers stood up to scrutiny. Thanks to all this homework, the peptide guide includes a trusted vendor list and links to legit resources.
Joy emphasized that good peptides don’t have to cost hundreds or thousands a month. She broke it down: “I started digging in—how many labs actually make these, how much is marketing, how much is medical grade?”
Key Points:
- Don’t overpay—compare sources and make sure they have proper certification.
- The same substance may be priced several times higher at some clinics, just for branding.
- Lab test purity and transparency matter.
Safety, Grey Areas, and Why This Is Still “Underground”
Most peptide sites state “for research only” or “not for human use.” The FDA and Big Pharma can’t patent most peptides and don’t have easy regulations, so peptides sit in a weird spot. You’ll find mainstream drugs like insulin (also a peptide) but limited info about BPC-157 or TB-500.
Joy put it bluntly: “I don’t want to sound like a tinfoil-hat person…but it feels like our medical system is a bit of a mess. Stuff that actually works—and can’t be patented—tends to get pushed underground or ignored.”
Doctors, practitioners, and biohackers are quietly helping people with peptides, but most regular clinics won’t touch them unless forced by demand.
Key Points:
- Legality is gray: official use is often “for research,” even when people get real results.
- Peptides are likely to stay “underground” until stronger regulation or changes happen.
- Always do your own research and use at your own risk; consult health professionals when possible.
Handy Resources and Tools Shared
Joy and Travis have taken all their research and bundled it into a free peptide guide and tracker, no email required. Inside you get:
- Book and course recommendations
- Research sites that link to real studies (not just marketing claims)
- A peptide tracker to log your protocols, doses, and results
- “Pet-pedia,” a peptide encyclopedia with explanations for the effects, half-lives, best delivery methods, contraindications, and more
- A curated, trusted vendor/source list with certificates and authenticity checked
- Even gear suggestions like 3D-printed vial containers and travel tips
Links for Reference:
- GetMyPeptides.com – Joy & Travis Houston’s resources and document
- Petpedia.org – Deep-dive peptide encyclopedia
- Heal at Scale – Joy’s business for wellness practitioners
- @realjoyhouston on Instagram – Joy’s personal IG for questions
Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
Peptides offer something special for anyone looking to heal faster, think clearer, or age better. The world of peptides is confusing—full of hype, legal gray zones, and marketing. But with the right information, they can be life-changing. Stories like Joy and Travis’s, and my own jiu jitsu accident, prove how real the effects can be.
Joy’s message is simple: don’t let confusion or fear stop you from learning. Use the free tools she and Travis put together to find what works for you, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to pull back the curtain on these “inside” topics.
If you’re interested:
- Visit GetMyPeptides.com for all the resources
- Always do your homework, consult your doctor, and make safe, informed choices
- DM Joy on Instagram with questions—she’s an open book
Bring these conversations out into the open. As Joy likes to say, “If I’m getting wins, I want to share those wins.” Peptides could be the missing edge you’ve been looking for—and now you know where to start.
Connect with Joy Houston
- Learn more about what Joy does at Heal At Scale
- Visit GetMyPeptides.com for all the resources
- Deep dive on Peptides at Pep-Pedia.org
- If you have questions, feel free to DM Joy at @realjoyhouston on Instagram
Two Other Episodes You Should Check Out
- Dr. Paul Savage: Are You A Toxic Entrepreneur?
- The Hidden Traumas Sabotaging Entrepreneurs’ Success! with Dr. Don Wood
Connect with Joe Fier
- What if you could have a FREE personal mentor on-demand?! With Joe's Hustle & Flowchart AI clone, you can tap into the knowledge from over 600 episodes any time! Whether you need advice on scaling, marketing, or productivity, my AI clone is here to help.
- Want us to build your clone for you? We’ll handle setup, testing, and integration so you can launch fast. Head to HustleandFlowchart.com/interest to get started!
- We want to hear from you. Send us the One Thing you want to hear on the show.
- Connect with Joe on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Subscribe to the YouTube Channel
- Contact Joe: joe@hustleandflowchart.com
Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Hustle & Flowchart Podcast!
If the information in these conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please head over to iTunes (or wherever you listen), subscribe to the show, and leave me an honest review.
Your reviews and feedback will not only help me continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help me reach even more amazing entrepreneurs just like you!
