Episodes
Misconceptions About Eating Disorders, Orthorexia, and More
In today’s episode, we talk all things eating disorders with Dr. Evelyna Kambanis from Massachusetts General Hospital. How common are each of the eating disorders? What are some of the most common misconceptions surrounding them? What is orthorexia? How does social media affect EDs? And what are the best treatments? We cover all this and more on today’s episode in honor of the upcoming National Eating Disorders Awareness week.
The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Live Longer
Ever considered that the key to a longer, happier life is not what you eat, how you move, or even how much sleep, but rather... your social circle? In this episode, we speak to Dr. Robert Waldinger, a Harvard professor and director of the longest study ever conducted on human happiness. As the author of The Good Life, Dr. Waldinger revealed the profound impact of relationships on health and longevity. We discuss the surprising connection between well-being and... well... connection. How does the quality of our relationships influence not only our mental health but also our physical health? It turns out that the most important health resolution you make this year is not your new diet or workout plan, but rather that weekly phone call you promised your parents.
The Complicated Reality of Plant-Based "Meat"
There are a few things nutrition researchers agree on: Plants are "good" for us. Processed meats are "bad." But plant-based meat alternatives...? They raise some important questions: Are plant-based meat alternatives ultra-processed foods? Are processed meats any worse than processed meat alternatives? With the rise of Impossible Meat, the Beyond Burger, and growing concerns about the climate emergency, we tackle a complicated topic: if or when meat alternatives should replace meat. With Professor Christopher Gardener from Stanford University, we get to the meat of the issue.
Should We Be Worried About Salt?
How many times have you heard that we need to cut down on salt? But... do we actually? What does the science say about salt, our health, and who needs to worry about it? Is pink salt healthier than white salt? Is there such a thing as too low-sodium? In this episode, we chat with Dr. Robert Hunter, a nephrologist and researcher at the University of Edinburgh, to demystify the world of dietary salt. This is everything you need to know about sodium and the real challenge of reducing intake when it's hidden away in the places you least expect it. Get ready to shake up everything you thought you knew about your favorite seasoning.
The Shocking Truth About Artificial Sweeteners
Sugar is often among the first things people ditch in the New Year, and the most common replacement? Artificial sweeteners. But what if replacing sugar with its calorie-free counterpart is actually doing more harm than good? For this episode, we speak to Dr. Jotham Suez, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University, all about artificial sweeteners. How do they work? What are the metabolic effects of artificial sweeteners vs. sugar on our bodies? How do these sugar alternatives potentially negatively affect our microbiome, blood sugar control, and even cause weight gain? Turns out artificial sweeteners might not be so sweet after all.
A “Healthy” Pregnancy
We now know that what you do when you’re pregnant has profound implications for the health of your baby, and yourself. But the information and advice surrounding pregnancy is seemingly never-ending and often contradictory. What does a healthy pregnancy actually look like? Should we be changing the way we eat? Exercising? How much weight should we gain during pregnancy? What about prenatal vitamins? Today, we will be speaking to Professor Beth Murray-Davis from McMaster University about what we need to know to increase our chances of having a happy and healthy pregnancy and baby.
What The Heck Is Mindful(ish) Eating ft. The Nutrition Diva
This episode is dedicated to the sexiest macronutrient of the time: PROTEIN. We talk to the king of protein research himself, Professor Stu Phillips from McMaster University about all the most common questions we get about protein. How much do you need? Should you spread it out throughout the day? Do you need a protein supplement? Is animal or vegan protein better? What's the deal with collagen, and more. Find out how a higher protein diet impacts your overall health, your weight, and your metabolism. (Plus, how to not waste your money on things that don't work.)
Is The Food You're Eating Making You Depressed?
This episode is dedicated to the sexiest macronutrient of the time: PROTEIN. We talk to the king of protein research himself, Professor Stu Phillips from McMaster University about all the most common questions we get about protein. How much do you need? Should you spread it out throughout the day? Do you need a protein supplement? Is animal or vegan protein better? What's the deal with collagen, and more. Find out how a higher protein diet impacts your overall health, your weight, and your metabolism. (Plus, how to not waste your money on things that don't work.)
Finally… The Protein Episode
This episode is dedicated to the sexiest macronutrient of the time: PROTEIN. We talk to the king of protein research himself, Professor Stu Phillips from McMaster University about all the most common questions we get about protein. How much do you need? Should you spread it out throughout the day? Do you need a protein supplement? Is animal or vegan protein better? What's the deal with collagen, and more. Find out how a higher protein diet impacts your overall health, your weight, and your metabolism. (Plus, how to not waste your money on things that don't work.)
“I’ll Be Happy When I’m X Pounds” and Other Happiness Myths ft. Laurie Santos
"I'll be happy when..." How many times have you found yourself saying that? It could be a goal income, a goal relationship, or a goal body, but the message is the same: I need to wait to get THIS thing before I can be happy. So what happens when you actually do get THAT thing—get that house, see that number on the scale, reach that income level? It turns out, not what you think. In this episode we talk to Professor Laurie Santos from Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast about what really makes us happy and what actually matters. Get ready because whatever we think is the answer is often the furthest thing from it.
The Uncontroversial Truth About Nutrition
When it comes to nutrition, it seems like we disagree about nearly everything: carbs, sugar, fat... even fruit. But, it turns out, there's actually a lot that the entire scientific community agrees on. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Christopher Gardner about nutrition science, what we've gotten wrong, and more importantly, what we've gotten right. It turns out, nutrition may not be as complicated as we make it seem.
Disordered Eating And Eating Disorders
In this episode, we explore the complicated and at times painful topic of eating disorders. How do you know if you should seek out help? What makes something an eating disorder? What separates an eating disorder from disordered eating? With science and personal experience, we explore what can go wrong when someone’s relationship with food takes over their mental health. Experts in this episode include Dr. Jennifer Thomas, co-director of the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Kristin Javaras, clinical psychologist at McLean Hospital.
This Is Your Brain On Cheesecake
What if there’s no forbidden fruit? What if you think about eating to take care of yourself? In episode two, Juna describes the judgments she and others impose on themselves and their food choices.
The Truth About Alcohol (An Update)
This is an update to our last episode on alcohol. New research has been accumulating suggesting that perhaps even a glass a day of alcohol is not beneficial. For instance, the new Canadian guidelines say that zero alcohol is the safest amount of alcohol. Today, we revisit the topic with Professor Mariann Piano, Senior Associate Dean for Research, Postdoctoral Fellowship Director at Vanderbilt University.
The Science of a Happy and Meaningful Life ft. Dacher Keltner
If you’ve ever wondered what science has to tell us about being more fulfilled, feeling more joy, and living a good life, this is the episode for you. Today, we talk to happiness researcher and professor Dacher Keltner, from the University of California Berkeley and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center. How much money makes us happy? Is it harder to be happier today than it used to be? And what can we do to live a more meaningful life?
OZEMPIC - The "Magical" Weight Loss Drug
You’ve seen it on the news, on Tiktok, and on magazine covers. Ozempic is being credited as a magical weight loss solution, allegedly responsible for countless celebrity transformations, and everyone is talking about it. But now, people with diabetes who need the medication are having trouble getting it. What is Ozempic? How does it work? Why does it cause weight loss and is it safe to use? Today, we talk to Dr. Shauna Levy, an assistant professor at Tulane University School of Medicine and a double board certified physician in General Surgery and Obesity Medicine.
Resolutions - Is Coffee *Actually* Healthy?
Is there anything better than a piping hot cup of coffee on a frigid winter day, or the first cold brew of a beautiful summer? For a lot of us… likely not. Coffee is the way we kick off a day, pick up an afternoon, and rehash the work week with a friend on the weekend. Besides saving us an untold amount of cash, is there any health benefit to giving up coffee? Or is it actually making us live longer? Today we talk Professor Rob Van Dam from George Washington University and answer the question of caf, decaf, or no-caf: what science tells us about coffee, caffeine, and health.
Resolutions - Is Alcohol *Actually* Healthy?
A cocktail with your friends, a glass of wine after work, a beer at a barbecue–alcohol is everywhere. Undoubtedly, it’s been an integral part of our society for thousands of years. But when it comes to its effects on our health, results can feel more mixed than your favorite margarita. Is alcohol a “poison,” or maybe, in moderation, is it actually ok, or even good for us?
Resolutions - Is Sugar the Problem?
Donuts, cupcakes, lattes, and cookies–sometimes it seems like the best things in life are full of it: the sweet, delicious thing we call sugar. It’s one of the first places we look to when we’re trying to make a “lifestyle change,” and also one of the first places we look to when we need a pick-me-up. Some scientists say that sugar is akin to a poison, giving rise to diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Others say, it’s not actually that bad. So what’s the truth? This week, we talk to Professor Jim Mann from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Is sugar bad for us? Are all sugars the same? Should we even be giving up sugar at all? Find out on our sweetest episode yet.
The Science of Making, *Not* Breaking, New Year’s Resolutions
We’ve all done it: you resolve to… go to the gym, eat healthier, save money. You’re excited and doing great, and then… It’s January 10th and you’re back to grabbing takeout, sitting on your sofa, and thinking, “Eh… I’ve got too much going on right now, next year!”
Well what if there was actual research conducted on New Year’s Resolutions and how we can maybe (gasp) actually keep them for once? It turns out–there is. This week, in the first episode of our Resolutions series, we talk to Professor Alexander Rozental and Martin Oscarsson from Stockholm University in Sweden. They published the largest study on the making, keeping, and breaking of New Year’s Resolutions. This week, we find out what kind of goals to set, how to set them, and what to do to ensure that “this year is (actually) different.