Episodi

  • Brief: The Chiropractors Are Coming

    Brief: The Chiropractors Are Coming
    Jul 25 2026
    Support the podcast The MAHA Chiropractic Hub had a big launch in Washington DC this week, with RFK Jr extolling the benefits of the practice—and promising to redirect research funds their way as his movement attempts to spread chiropractic throughout the American healthcare system. But can back cracks really "reset the entire nervous system," as one MAHA-endorsed speaker claims? Or is the profession just dressing up subluxation theory, which has never been clinically validated, for the modern age? Derek and Julian discuss the four objectives of the Chiropractic Hub, what this could mean for American healthcare, and how Kennedy is likely helping funnel money earmarked for actual scientific research into this ghost religion. They begin with a brief history of chiropractic. Show Notes Subluxation Theory: A Belief System That Continues to Define the Practice of Chiropractic Chiropractic Vertebral Subluxations: Science vs. Pseudoscience Subluxation: dogma or science? Chiropractic subluxation is still "unsupported speculation" Chiropractic: A Skeptical View Effect of chiropractic treatment on primary or early secondary prevention: a systematic review This is how science dies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 min
  • 318: Wellness is the New Big Pharma [feat Mallory DeMille]

    318: Wellness is the New Big Pharma [feat Mallory DeMille]
    Jul 23 2026
    Support the pod on Patreon The pharmaceutical industry is filled with greedy businessmen getting innocent consumers hooked on their toxic products in order to barely keep them alive. But if you want to actually thrive, an entire array of natural supplements are just a click away. So goes most every wellness pitch on social media. Mallory DeMille returns to break down the marketing techniques as we dive into the sordid world of supplements and peptide creation, which, in reality, is not dissimilar from pharmaceuticals. In fact, many products use the same manufacturing processes and production plants, as Derek discusses. In the final segment, Julian revisits Bryan Johnson, the centimillionaire on a quest to live to 200, and what his recent chronic illness diagnosis says about pumping your body filled with experimental drugs. Show Notes Bryan Johnson Autoimmune Gastritis Explained What everyone got wrong about biohacker Bryan Johnson’s viral diagnosis: A medical expert weighs in What Bryan Johnson’s diagnosis says about the limits of health tracking, longevity medicine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 min
  • Bonus Sample: Today at Death’s Door

    Bonus Sample: Today at Death’s Door
    Jul 20 2026
    Listen to the full episode Matthew considers two registers of painful eulogy: spectacles thrown for elite terrible people, and the music offered for ordinary terrible people, when we can manage it. Lindsey Graham's death triggered a wave of bullshit from Trump, Harris, Booker, Netanyahu, and Canadian PM Mark Carney — while online ghouls predicted the same fate for Mitch McConnell and Trump. Where does the elite eulogy reflex come from? Ancient taboo, Thucydides on praise as a function of a rival's removal, and terror management theory on why elites protect their own at the moment of death. Then we have a music thanatologist's story about playing harp for a dying man nobody liked, and what it teaches about the difference between forgiveness that strengthens ordinary people and deference toward the powerful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    5 min
  • Brief: Graham Platner’s QAnon Moment

    Brief: Graham Platner’s QAnon Moment
    Jul 18 2026
    Access ad-free listening and support the podcast Graham Platner’s recent 11-minute video, where he announced he was dropping out of his bid for the US Senate, is filled with some of the hallmarks we heard during peak QAnon: there's a deep state conspiracy between powerful politicians and the media to destroy me. The truth, as Derek and Julian cover, is anything but. They look at Platner’s campaign and, by contrast, another recent incident: two instances of public harassment against Scott Wiener, the progressive state senator from California who recently won a primary to try to replace Nancy Pelosi, and how that intersects with the type of political rhetoric we’re enduring this political cycle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 min
  • 317: Jordan Peterson vs the Nuns

    317: Jordan Peterson vs the Nuns
    Jul 16 2026
    Jordan Peterson is back. After a hiatus due to a, well, a whole lot of problems, he’s up for regular posting on his social media channels. We’re going to take a look at what’s happened over the last year or so of his absence, followed by his influence in the so-called manosphere podcast world. Then Matthew will offer a different perspective on podcasting that’s making waves: the Dominican Sisters Open Mic. Show Notes Who is looksmaxxing really for? When Help Is Harm: Health, Lookism and Self-Improvement in the Manosphere Men Need Better Fitness Role Models Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 15 min
  • Bonus Sample: Taco Bell is Doing Better Public Health Than RFK Jr

    Bonus Sample: Taco Bell is Doing Better Public Health Than RFK Jr
    Jul 13 2026
    Listen to the full episode A cyclospora outbreak has caused thousands of Americans to experience explosive diarrhea across 18 states. The CDC still has no idea where it's coming from. This has caused doctors to issue public health guidance, while even Taco Bell has pulled items from its menu nationwide to prevent any issues. RFK Jr? Not a peep on it. Derek looks at the many cuts that have led to this embarrassing episode. First, though, he looks at MAHA's recent attack on Dave Wallace-Wells New York Times article on MAHA, which warned about the very problems the cyclospora outbreak represents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 min
  • Brief: Cult Within a Church Does a Schism

    Brief: Cult Within a Church Does a Schism
    Jul 11 2026
    On July 1, 2026, the Society of Saint Pius X consecrated four bishops at its Écône seminary, defying Pope Leo XIV's direct plea to "turn back." Within 24 hours, Rome declared the SSPX's bishops and roughly 750 priests excommunicated and schismatic — invalidating confessions and marriages going forward. Matthew traces SSPX's origins through Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's formation in the shadow of Action Française's antisemitic integralism, his fight against Vatican II, and the movement's namesake, Pope Pius X's anti-Modernist crusade. It’s a wild ride: from Juan Fernández y Krohn's 1982 assassination attempt on John Paul II, through Holocaust denial among SSPX clergy, domestic abuse testimony from ex-member Cassandra Hackstock, and Xavier Lopez's 2022 weapons arrest. Will the schism of a right-wing Catholic sect born out of antisemitism and anticommunism bolster American and global resistance to Leo XIV’s progressive agenda? Is this the form of Catholicism that JD Vance has been looking for? Or will it shift the Overton Window rightward, emboldening Vance and other TradCaths in their lowkey contempt for Leo—because at least the Church should be grateful that at least they’re not full schismatics? Show Notes Vatican declares SSPX in schism, excommunicates bishops — AP/NBC News SSPX ordains four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo and the Vatican — America Magazine Thunderstorm interrupts SSPX episcopal consecrations — Catholic Herald Vatican declares SSPX bishops, priests schismatic, says lay faithful risk excommunication — National Catholic Reporter Second Attempt on a Pontiff: The Little-Known 1982 Attack on John Paul II in Fatima — Gaudium Press Rise of 'new Catholics' hardens battle lines between US and the Vatican — Irish Times Inside the Schism Threatening the Catholic Church — Jacobin Seven Years in the SSPX — Where Peter Is Catholic Traditionalism After Francis — Commonweal Magazine Analysis: SSPX excommunications show what Pope Leo means by "unity" — America Magazine Pope news: SSPX | Magnificast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 min
  • 316: The War on Science

    316: The War on Science
    Jul 9 2026
    Support the pod on Patreon With so much emphasis on global politics and the World Cup in recent weeks, we’re going to focus on the somewhat quieter but intensely important bureaucratic dismantling of expertise occurring in health and science. First, Derek looks into a recent 412-page OMB proposal that hands political appointees veto power over federal science grants, effectively killing peer review, blocking research on health disparities, and walling off American scientists from the rest of the world. Matthew counters with Canada’s own corrosive behavior. Then we dig into the contradiction of MAHA: the pro-health movement running cover for the EPA quietly approving new forever chemical pesticides mere days after the Supreme Court gutted Americans’ ability to sue Monsanto (by way of their parent company, Bayer). Again, there’s a Canadian parallel: Bill C-30 hands cabinet the power to override Health Canada’s own scientists and approve pesticides they’ve already ruled unsafe. Finally, Julian removes gravity from the situation by covering congressional UAP hearings where unverified whistleblower claims about alien bodies and secret programs get treated with peer-reviewed science seriousness. Only, as with everything else in Trump’s America, the science is thin and the theater, thick. Show Notes The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it Carney's government is cutting hundreds of environment and science jobs Departmental plans fuel concern over federal job, program cuts Environment Canada disbands radar research team amid cuts to weather services Weather experts concerned about public safety as Environment Canada disbands radar research team Carney government passes law allowing authorization of banned pesticides Pesticide regulation changes raise questions in Northeastern Ontario Amendments buried in Bill C-30 weaken environmental protections Former Haiti prime minister Smarck Michel dies at 75 Omnibus I: the EU concludes CSDDD and CSRD reforms EU scales back corporate due diligence and reporting rules Australia: Labor-Greens deal to fast-track mining and military projects Task Force Tackles MK Ultra UFO Disclosure Movement Goes To Washington Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 13 min