Send us your questions!
Added 2023-07-19 23:46:25 +0000 UTCHey, team--
For August's bonus episode, we're taking your questions! If you've got questions for us, send them our way. Send your listener questions to maintenancephase@gmail.com. Please include your pronouns, your first name, and whether/how you'd like to be identified on the show.
And stay tuned for an absolutely unhinged diet book deep dive bonus later this month.
Thanks, as ever, for your support!
M&A
Comments
I heart the chiropractor, but yeah I had to bail on my last one cause she kept recommending the medical medium to me. I was kinda like no it’s ok I can deal with it, but then she legit recommended i start drinking celery juice and I was like no. I can’t do this anymore. I have a new one now, and while I do think there may be more to it in SOME ways than just relieving back pain—I do notice I’m calmer and maybe a tad more focused after an adjustment but it def didn’t cure my ADHD—it is also a field that’s just…. So controversial it makes it vulnerable to any nut job’s opinion. It’s like people believe it’s all quackery or they’re all in on celery juice and it’s hard to sift through the misinformation in that kind of environment.
Guinevere Sims
2024-09-06 07:53:43 +0000 UTCI know this post was from a year ago so, whoopsies, shooting my shot anyways! I am so curious about the origins of chiropractic work and the culture surrounding the practice today. seems often linked to the wellness-to-qanon pipeline and associated beliefs. that being said i have seen chiropractors all my life and have experienced great personal benefit from it, so i’m not totally knocking the practice itself, i just have this funny feeling there’s likely some problematic stuff in its origins given the culture it sits in today. Thanks!!!
Ellery Carpenter
2024-07-04 08:40:22 +0000 UTCHey - a late question. Probably you’ve seen everything blowing up around Russell Brand. It certainly is in the UK. I knew he’d gone all conspiracy theory wing nut but until the recent coverage I wasn’t aware of how wellness grifter & other wellness grifter adjacent he is. There’s a clique of them. I wondered what you thought about this particularly nasty example of someone manipulating suckers online for ill.
HEBP
2023-09-26 06:08:46 +0000 UTCOmg so my wife just told me about this bonkers diet she did in her 20's called the Dukan diet and I am reeling. It is kind of atkinsy on its face, but when you get into the weeds it is so fantastical. Maybe you guys mentioned that before but if not I would love to hear that discussion, the rules and claims and meal plans are all prime Maintenance Phase fodder!
Candice Davantzis
2023-09-15 03:51:56 +0000 UTCHi Brendan! I'm Kylee (she/her) and as a fat person who has has several CT scans I've never had to drink gross stuff. I've gotten an IV fluid that makes me feel really hot for about 45 seconds and then it's done. I've had scans of my brain and my abdomen. Multiple times each at 2 different hospitals ordered by lots of different doctors and I've always had the IV contrast. My bmi is upper 30s and I've never even had a drink mentioned. My mom had to drink the gross stuff for one several years ago though. Maybe it depends on what they're looking for?
Kylee
2023-08-30 19:03:32 +0000 UTCThat show was crazy!! There was that contestant that purposely baked cookies and muffins and then left them in the house for others. So many other girls gained weight that Tyra told her to stop baking. There is just so much to unpack there! I also have deep memories of seeing someone thinner then me being labeled "plus sized" and no one even questioning it. And then she had a totally different wardrobe in like half the shoots. The idea that fat people can't be fashionable is crazy.
Kylee
2023-08-30 18:53:55 +0000 UTChi aubrey and mike! i love the show!!! i’m rainie (they/them) and i would LOVE to hear y’all talk about the crossover between autism and eating disorders especially within the afab autistic community. i think the topic goes a lot further than the autistic community too, and i think our experiences just exacerbate the entire plot of how the diet industry targets insecure youngsters. i could go on for hours and hours and then it can twist into a gender talk… in my mind everything leads back to capitalism and how we’re all fucked because of it.
rainie dustin
2023-08-23 16:03:27 +0000 UTCBryony (she/her) here. Have you ever considered a bonus episode about ANTM? The scary body talk on this show and the 'you are being unprofessional if you don't get naked' stuff has always worried me.
Bryony
2023-08-23 05:00:19 +0000 UTCPlease please pretty please do an episode on “Love is Blind” 🫣
Danielle Graczyk
2023-08-19 16:42:25 +0000 UTCKathryn, she/her. Can I be your official librarian? 😆
Kathryn m
2023-08-16 18:32:32 +0000 UTCHowdy, does the combustibility of fats alter the accuracy of a bomb calorimeter?
Peter Kahn
2023-08-13 20:10:27 +0000 UTCI was also told by an OB that I would have to take aspirin, even though I actually have low blood pressure (low end of normal) and pregnancy tends to lower blood pressure. Did not stick to that practitioner but yeah it is a whole mess!
Jessamy Klapper
2023-08-13 17:10:19 +0000 UTCHannah, she/her, Scotland. Happy for my name to be used. This might be niche but pregnancy and BMI stuff. I am pregnant and am coming across a lot of weight stigma around being "overweight" or "obese" during pregnancy (not because you've gained the weight of the baby) and how much more risky it apparently is to be preg and fat. Is there really a heightened risk of pre eclampsia etc or is it just that fatter women/preg folk aren't taken seriously? Friend of mine was told they would need to take aspirin as they are BMI overweight.....
Hannah Uttley
2023-08-12 12:45:06 +0000 UTCHi Mike and Aubrey! My name is Brendan and I use he/him pronouns (you’re welcome to use my name). Unfortunately, I have a lot of medical scans done due to personal health circumstances, and I kinda just always accepted that I had to drink this gross contrast that messed up my intestines for days whenever I needed a CT scan (every 6-8 weeks or so). However, I just recently learned that if your BMI is 24 or less, you don’t have to drink the contrast?? Is this something that Maintenance Phase has covered before/that Mike and Aubrey are familiar with? Because I feel like there’s probably a ton of these little unpleasant things in the healthcare system that you can get away without doing if you’re thin. It’s bananas!
Brendan Jackson
2023-08-09 00:06:54 +0000 UTCUpdate: read the Better Business Bureau complaints.
Anna Gustafson
2023-08-08 14:06:22 +0000 UTCAnna (she/her), you can use my name. Can Aubrey & Mike cover the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) please?? I always just thought it was an unaccredited program that taught its students misleading information (still true), but I just discovered it’s also an MLM. The hits just keep on coming!
Anna Gustafson
2023-08-08 13:57:14 +0000 UTC+1 (Liz M., she/her, Toronto)
Liz Martin
2023-08-07 20:38:10 +0000 UTCCatching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human by Richard Wrangham has a chapter on the raw food diet as it impacts hormone levels and behavior.
Elizabeth Leavy
2023-08-07 15:45:07 +0000 UTCWould love to talk more about Whole30. It’s the only diet I’ve been on since high school and I went on it because it wasn’t a “diet” (but as Aubrey would tell you in her film, uhhh it restricts calories and you eat less??? It’s a diet) I’m still dealing with the fallout years later. (TBH I was in the same range for years and this month long crash diet kicked me up the scale). Ofc not as upset about that as I am it parading around as “not a diet” when um…it is. Thank you both, I adore you both beyond measure!
Jules McCarthy
2023-08-07 14:24:06 +0000 UTCCan I please make a request for you to cover raw food at some point? I don't necessarily think it's a terrible diet and I went through a phase of experimenting with it about ten years ago (still have the requisite massive blender and dehydrator) but there are some wild claims and strange culty behaviours associated with it such as people who insist they need ten bananas for breakfast. One of the first books I read was Raw Energy by the Kentons back in the 80s which asserted that you could stop your periods by eating orange pith (that's how I remember it). I don't think that's factually true. Much love.
Cate Kneale
2023-08-07 12:31:17 +0000 UTCYes please I would love them to cover unicity and their whiteboards!
Corrie Graham
2023-08-06 01:23:29 +0000 UTCI'd love love love an episode on weight loss MLMs!! There are so many, it'd prob have to be a 3-parter! Shakeology (I wanna know what's in it foreal!), this new Bravenly weirdness, and Optavia with its "fuelings." Thanks for EVERYTHING you do!
AJ
2023-08-04 13:22:35 +0000 UTCCarina (she/ they)- you can use my name. I would love an episode or two about WIC/ EBT/ SNAP approved foods, the backstory, legislation, and gov't subsidies that tie into it. VT has changed some WIC foods recently and restricted the kind of milk that's allowed- back to skim and 1% as well as reducing the size of the bread allowed. If you've already covered this and I somehow missed it, I'm sorry! If there's another podcast that HAS covered this as thoroughly as you would, I'd love to know about it.
Carina
2023-08-03 23:02:25 +0000 UTCAlso, how did you meet? What is the MP origin story?
Marie Pinard
2023-08-03 23:00:20 +0000 UTCI know this isn't the focus of MP, but I would love an episode deconstructing NGOs and the features that often (not always) leads to their downfall and/or descent into toxicity - evolving into the very thing they were founded to combat.
Marie Pinard
2023-08-03 22:58:57 +0000 UTCHi I'm Chris (he/him, use my name) from Manchester, England. I'm 39, BMI hovers around 29-31, straight size wearing, and I have high cholesterol and blood pressure. I keep getting recommended lifestyle interventions by health care providers which I'm keen to take to get those conditions under control, but I'm unable to find specific and actionable lifestyle advice that isn't focussed on weight, size and measurement. I'm a gay man in his 30s who was bullied at school for his weight so I've dieted before numerous times and I know it isn't sustainable for me, and isn't addressing my actual problems anyway. Can you recommend any resources that give tips for medical related dietary lifestyle changes that aren't just diet culture repackaged in public health branding? Love the show and if for any reason you ever need a pronunciation guide to British names or access to the heterodox knowledge that only an academically oriented ADHD mind can provide, I am at your disposal.
Christopher Marsland
2023-08-03 18:42:11 +0000 UTCPlease please please talk about Lizzo!!!
Xeniya Dorozhkinq
2023-08-03 13:16:54 +0000 UTCI think Aubrey covers this somewhere...there's a directory that some folks put together. Can anyone help me out to remember? I'm sorry that I don't remember the episode--but I know Aubrey talked about this. Maybe in the recent bonus episode about her and Mike's trials and tribulations in navigating the medical system?
Bridget
2023-08-02 18:00:19 +0000 UTCOh dang, I was supposed to email that. eeek
Hollie S
2023-08-02 14:31:48 +0000 UTCCome for the cutesy acronyms, stay for the "well there's nothing you can make to eat that fits within with your remaining colors for the day, so just don't eat anything!" -- It's been several years, but Noom was eating disorder city for me!
Hollie S
2023-08-02 14:18:54 +0000 UTCHave you guys considered covering the GoLo diet? The commercials for it say it's for people with insulin resistance, a thing I have! So I bought it! ...aaand it's just another super restrictive diet. It says in the FAQ, which I did read beforehand, that it works with a vegan diet, but after I got it, I did the math and the vegan meal plan only added up to like, ~700 calories per day (IF that), and there were only 5 or so different vegan meals "allowed" so you'd have to just eat those same 5 things (which were super prep-heavy!) over and over. Another example of "make the diet so hard to follow that any failures can be blamed on you for not doing it right." And the "support" you are promised is actually just a Facebook group where the regulars are mean to new people. Womp womp (Hollie she/her)
Hollie S
2023-08-02 14:15:55 +0000 UTCIn the film you talked about “atypical anorexia”. I want to know more. As someone who can count the calories of any food from 100 yards I feel a sting affinity to the discussion of eating disorders in fat people including myself. I never thought that way before.
Melinda Munro
2023-08-02 14:13:43 +0000 UTCSonja (she/her) from Vancouver, Canada. What is your favourite/go-to comment for when someone says something insensitive about your body or other bodies? Body shaming is all too common and it would be nice to have some zingers in the back pocket to shut down that behaviour! I’m 6 years into my ED recovery, the pod and Aubrey’s books have brought me so much knowledge and acceptance. Feel free to use my name! 🙏
Sonja Frolek
2023-08-01 20:16:47 +0000 UTCWould love to hear your deep dive into Ozempic (am sure many, many people have mentioned it and you must be sick of it!)
S. Razzaque
2023-08-01 18:58:37 +0000 UTCWhat have you heard about fat dissolving injections? I'm in Scotland and they seem to be being advertised everywhere at the moment - thanks
Helen
2023-08-01 10:44:45 +0000 UTCMight be too late on this— but before I found your podcast, my favorite debunking wellness podcast was the Dream with host Jane Marie. Do you know each other? I know you probably don’t, but I feel like you should (and should do an episode together)
Annie
2023-08-01 00:20:17 +0000 UTCWhat wellness/pseudoscience scam have you tried and loved?
Amialya
2023-07-31 15:42:08 +0000 UTCHow do you find a new general physician when you're stressed out by the medical system? I'm both fat and transgender, so I'm perpetually a little stressed about dealing with the medical system (even though I actually haven't had particularly bad experiences yet...I'm just kind of worried its a matter of time).
L Collins
2023-07-31 10:24:19 +0000 UTCGreeting, new listener, new patreon subscriber here. Thank you for such a wonderful podcast!! I don't know if I have ever binged a podcast so quickly. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the care and dedication to the research, delivery, formatting, and editing of this podcast. Then to have no ads, and AMAZING chemistry and humor within the hosts, while learning SO much...it's downright perfect. Anyway - this has likely been asked but when is the Noom episode coming out? I recently signed up for Noom because it was included in my new health insurance (so no extra cost to me), and I was honestly curious. I can see why it would be attractive to people, but I am seeing the zombie stats and mediocre science. It's a glorified myfitness pal paired with a motivational fb group from what I can gather. Would love to hear your take.
Brittany Andrew
2023-07-31 02:23:26 +0000 UTCMike once said he could fill an episode with how many scams he’s fallen for. I’m all ears! It would make me feel better about the diet scams I’ve fallen for. Why after all the lies do I still listen to diet ads?
Noel
2023-07-30 22:03:35 +0000 UTCHullo, I’m Andi (he/him), please use my name. Do you see any chance that government regulation will radically change food production and consumption in the next years or decades and make it more sustainable? Or do you see other ways that these changes might come about?
green ocelot
2023-07-30 13:52:53 +0000 UTCMaybe this is bonus episode content but, I would love to hear more from both of you, based on your organizing, NGO & research backgrounds, about direct to consumer philanthropic products (Tom’s, Bombas, Warby Parker, etc) and your thoughts on microcredit as a way to alleviate poverty. (Full disclosure, I work at a micoloans nonprofit, this is my first job in this field & I am extremely curious about it). For fun, I’d love a full bachelor like episode about GBBO 😊. Thank you both, love the show! You’ve helped me unpack so much damage growing up as a woman in the 90s & 00s 🥰 (please don’t use my name if you do pick the microcredit topic. Pronouns are she/her) TYSM!
Kathryn Elizabeth Colohan
2023-07-29 19:54:50 +0000 UTCHi Michael and Aubrey! I dearly love you both, and your podcast has changed the way I see society, health, and most of all, turned a compassionate spotlight on my own empathy and self worth. For that and so much else, I thank you. For a fun and lighthearted episode, there is a history of female “strongmen” (strongwomen, I believe? Damn well should be!) in circus and performance and I think the research on a lady Katie Sandwina would delight you and listeners both. Love you both!!!
Jules McCarthy
2023-07-29 15:43:53 +0000 UTCHi I'm Nicole (she/her). You may use my name on the show. Love all the info I am learning from your podcast! It's completely changed the way I think about health and society. Thank you for your work. Have you or do you two disagree on anything health related? If so, what specifically? How have those conversations gone when you realized you have a difference of conclusion?
Nicole Burbank
2023-07-29 02:23:56 +0000 UTCi sent an email too but i want to understand the whole seed cycling/hormone balancing/cycle syncing thing. someone in my life has decided to partake, and i also keep seeing all the seed cycling tiktok girlies on my fyp, and i don't know if it's bogus or not! (edited bc i forgot to include any kind of info about myself! i'm dakota, i use she/they pronouns, and would prefer to remain anonymous if you do end up picking my question!)
Dakota Blackman
2023-07-28 19:28:46 +0000 UTCWould love to hear y’all talk about GMOs! And labels like “natural.”
Colette Blackmon
2023-07-28 15:19:41 +0000 UTCWhat if you both read Pooh's Workout Book? Like, Winnie the Pooh. It looks fun!
Fahema Rahman
2023-07-28 04:32:37 +0000 UTCalternatively, I'd love a discussion around BMI "requirements" for gender affirming care, as it's extremely (insert angry swear words here) garbage and is denying Trans+ folks life saving care because of the medical fields weight bias. Thankful for my care team who took the time to listen to and acknowledge these concerns when consulting for my own gender affirming care. (also good to be identified in the show re this comment)
birb
2023-07-28 02:34:38 +0000 UTCHeya my names Wren (they/them) from the west coast of Canada:) I have a variety of mental health diagnoses (neuro-spicy I like to call myself) and at multiple times have been pointed to studies about serotonin being produced in the gut and changing the way you eat as a method to combat depression. Wondering if you've been seeing this trend as well/ would be interested in diving into the relation between mental health struggles/diagnosis's and particular ways of eating? Big love from a queer fat autistic human, and thank you for helping radicalize me into loving myself and being okay with calling myself fat, its been a huge mindshift and so helpful <3 (also cool to be identified in the show)
birb
2023-07-28 02:30:17 +0000 UTCWhat about a Golden Bachelor watch party episode?
Fahema Rahman
2023-07-27 18:33:39 +0000 UTCI think what you are describing is more ARFID (also an eating disorder, but one based on sensory issues and fears not related to body size or weight). To my knowledge most people with anorexia are trying to lose weight and/or stay small, especially those who self-identify with pro-Ana. Restriction not based on body size would likely not be classed as anorexia.
Loyal
2023-07-27 17:53:15 +0000 UTCHello, I'm Tori (she/her). Thank you for everything you've done, this is the first time in my life I've felt okay in my body. My doctor brought up ozempic to me. I'm not prediabetic, but do have high cholesterol. I've said no, but I'm having a hard time finding good science on it I can understand and not people just doing before/after photos. I would love to know the actual science on it. My understanding is that you don't feel hungry, so you eat less, but how is this different than a low calorie diet? Thank you again!
Tori Evans
2023-07-27 15:27:13 +0000 UTCI would also like an Aubrey/Mike origin story.
Carmel Montgomery
2023-07-27 14:53:48 +0000 UTCI’m Sage (they/them). I’d love to hear about antidepressants (and the research on them), serotonin, and how they affect eating and metabolism. Sadly, many of those in ED recovery are scared to try psych meds for support due to fears of gaining weight. Same with cannabis and cannabinoids/endocannabinoids. You can ID me, thanks!
Christina Hampton
2023-07-27 08:30:20 +0000 UTCI'm Alison (she/her), and I'd love to know if you've listened to/have opinions about the "Science Vs" podcast's episodes about fatness, especially the Sept 16, 2021 episode, "Weight: Is Fat Unhealthy?" They don't seem to do deep dives into research (they seem to prefer listing a high number of citations at the end of each episode), and I can't tell if they're getting the science wrong, or if they're just focusing on different things than MP. Much love and thanks to you both for all the great work you're doing!
Alison Johnson
2023-07-27 07:17:52 +0000 UTCHey guys! I'm Beth (she/her) but I would prefer my name not being used on the show. There's a situation going on at my job where the store manager and another employee are on very restrictive diets (like only eating a very small bowl of vegetable soup for lunch every day), mostly due to pressure from the *district manager*. The two dieters are "overweight" but the situation is ridiculous. Some of us have heard the DM directly tell the store manager that she is "disgusting" and needs to lose weight to be a better representative of the store somehow? (I'm hearing Aubrey's voice saying that last part, lol.) I think the issue is complicated by the fact that the DM and store manager started together as cashiers, became friends, and rose through the ranks together, but this kind of treatment is abusive coming from a "friend" (who happens to be a "normal" weight), and straight-up unprofessional from a superior! Do you have any advice for this situation? My store manager is normally a very sweet, cheerful person but seems to be run down and pulling into herself since this has started. The DM is (probably unsurprisingly at this point) a very mean, vindictive person, so I don't know if going to HR would even be advisable, maybe even leading to retaliation, however I feel awful not doing anything to stand up for my manager after she's gone to bat for me so many times (lots of physical and mental ailments going on here, long story). Anywho, thank you for your time, I *love* your show and anything else either of you have ever done -- you've helped this mildly chonky cat come to feel a million times better in her body.
Beth Ray
2023-07-27 06:34:09 +0000 UTCHello my name is Laura (she/her) you can use my name if you would like. My question is about advocacy. How do you both navigate advocating for change while also caring for and protecting yourself from damaging situations/people? Is it important or necessary to get outside of your echo chamber in order to spread a message? And how do you navigate advocacy when you know speaking up in public forums could potentially be triggering for the people you are trying to support? Do you have advice or experiences around this you feel comfortable sharing?
Laura
2023-07-26 16:34:54 +0000 UTCSUPER AGREE!!! This is one of the best-edited shows I listen to, and there’s a reason for that! I think I remember hearing Michael make a comment (perhaps over on YWA) along the lines of “three hours of conversation turned into an hour of podcast” and that dedication to cutting out the superfluous stuff really shows in all of the podcasts he’s involved with! It makes them a complete delight to listen to!
Molly Colleen
2023-07-26 16:22:37 +0000 UTCHi Aubrey and Mike! My name is Madie (she/her) and don’t mind being referred to in the show. I have a close friend who is fat and makes a lot of self deprecating comments about his weight, and I’m never sure how I should react. I don’t think it’s bad to be fat, and have never judged him for it, but he is clearly bothered by his own weight. I don’t want to be dismissive of his feelings, but I also don’t like the way that he talks negatively about himself and his weight. I’ve referred him to your show and told him how much it’s changed my outlook on weight. I was wondering if you could give some perspective on this situation and if you have any tips on how I should react and what I should or should not say. Thank you in advance for your help!
Madison Muncer
2023-07-26 14:31:15 +0000 UTCWHAT?? Googling...
Manic Pixie Dream Crone
2023-07-26 14:14:15 +0000 UTCHi, I'm Jo (she/her). I'm wondering if you could comment on research showing that a high proportion of those with eating disorders have undiagnosed autism such as https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/anorexias-link-to-autism-explained/. Theres also an interesting paragraph in this article about a recent programme about a British model, Christine McGuiness, who received a late autism diagnosis and also received an anorexia diagnosis in her teens. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z4y4jfr Autism is traditionally underdiagnosed in women as the medical model of autism was based on how it appears in young boys. I was diagnosed with autism in my 40s and, although I was never diagnosed with an eating disorder, I always had issues around food. Like many autistic people I have issues with sensory overload around food texture and taste; and also sensory overload if I have to eat in a busy environment (e.g. school dining halls). I still have trouble eating if things arent just right. I never got dangerously underweight from it but have been diagnosed with vitamin deficiencies from having a very rigid range of things I could eat. However, I can see how my behaviour around food could have been misdiagnosed as a stand alone eating disorder. So, is it possible that the way anorexia is approached and treated is completely missing the point for a lot of people, as it is rarely about trying to lose weight?
Jo Hewitt
2023-07-25 22:25:35 +0000 UTCStrong agree! I’m also pregnant. I live in the UK and my weekly pregnancy emails from the NHS mostly start with messages like “REMEMBER YOU’RE NOT EATING FOR TWO, gaining too much weight is bad for you and the baby”. I agree with you that this message isn’t supported by the evidence and it’s driven by anti-fat bias (there’s probably some good old misogyny thrown in there too). I also think it has no regard for the high number of pregnant people who have / are recovering from eating disorders, for whom these kinds of messages could have serious negative health impacts.
mickpea
2023-07-25 21:30:49 +0000 UTCI wasn't going to bring this up because I'm scared of how dark it could get, but I'm so sick of seeing what I'll call "Cancer Grifters" particularly in the childhood cancer space. I follow a few kids online, and 1) it's gross that they have to raise money for treatment, and 2) the comment sections are filled with people telling these desperate parents to give their kid caster oil or CDS (I think this is an opioid) They tell them to call St. Jude because they saw a happy bald kid on a commercial... Mostly the parents seem to ignore the comments, but sometimes they do respond, and you can tell how exhausting these people are. Their comments are so full of judgment. Like if a mom goes and gets her nails done, people will call her selfish. We lost our 20-month-old son to brain cancer in 2019. The time from diagnosis to death was only four months, so I never really felt like I earned the title "cancer mom," but even in that short time, I did deal with some of this. Once, someone used pictures of my son and our family to create a fake IG account and attached a CashApp account to it... GROSS... When our son was first diagnosed, a co-worker of my husband's sent him an article on how sugar causes cancer... and the number of times people told me to "just be positive" ... BARF! My husband works at a hospital, so our out-of-pocket expenses were very low. We didn't have the pressure to raise money or build a following... some of the accounts I follow have 50,000+ followers. I can't imagine having that many eyes on me during treatment. There is this weird para-social relationship with some of the followers where they feel like they have some kind of ownership over the child and sometimes seem to get mad if the parent doesn't seem grateful. Anyway, sorry for the rant. I don't even know if this is a topic that you could even research. Thank you again for being amazing!
Emily Henderson
2023-07-25 18:17:02 +0000 UTCI’m pregnant and I was wondering if you had any thoughts or ideas about fat stigma in pregnancy? From everything I have read it seems to be healthier to be “overweight” or to gain more than the recommended amount than to be underweight. It seems the risk to your baby is higher if you gain too little. But all the weigh ins and recommendations emphasize not eating too much and you do get chastised for gaining too fast.
Gwendolyn Griffiths
2023-07-25 15:19:43 +0000 UTCYes!!! I second this. I want a deep dive on him. His wife is weird on TikTok, too.
Eliza Jermyn
2023-07-25 14:13:33 +0000 UTCAudra, she/they. Not so much a question as a deep desire for Aubrey to share all of her feelings about the literary disaster known as "Furiously Happy". I really need that in my life.
Audra O'Toots
2023-07-25 02:26:42 +0000 UTCHi guys! My name is Alex, she/her. First: I just had an actually good interaction with a doctor. Is there a list I can put her on so other fat folks know she’s safe? Second: What’s going on with cottage cheese right now???
Alexandra Grigsby
2023-07-25 00:53:01 +0000 UTCI wish I could think of a question, but I only want to know if Aubrey and Mike are friends in real life like on the podcast but I also don't want the answer if they are not.
because_reading_is
2023-07-24 21:03:22 +0000 UTCHi! I’m Grace (they/them). I’m wondering— what is the craziest Facebook group or Reddit community you’ve come across in your research?
Grace Gilbert
2023-07-24 20:32:49 +0000 UTCYes would love to know how you two met and created MP too!
Alice Linkletter
2023-07-24 19:29:46 +0000 UTCHi guys! I'm Leigh (sounds like "Lee"), she/her, from Phoenix. Not sure if it's already in the comments somewhere, but I would LOVE to hear a breakdown of intermittent fasting. I know that's not exactly a question though, so let's go with this: how did you two meet/decide to do this podcast together?
Leigh VeeDub
2023-07-24 17:02:50 +0000 UTCYoung Living (+ doTerra) Episode please!! The founders sounds WILD.
AJ
2023-07-24 06:44:30 +0000 UTCooooh yes
Taylah
2023-07-24 05:41:20 +0000 UTCPLEASE at least for the 2023 grifties talk about the Erewhon raw meat smoothie
Nina Bee
2023-07-24 00:59:38 +0000 UTCForgot this part: Sondra, she/her
Sondra Hudson
2023-07-23 20:35:49 +0000 UTCI’d love a whole poop episode. 🤣 There’s so much woo-woo shit (see what I did there?) on social media and in diet books about what your poop should look like and how that is an indicator of health and how “good” your diet is. Should it float or sink? How many times a day should you be going? What color is it? What’s poop science and what’s poop grift? There’s also a big TikTok trend right now about parasites and cleanses; people think they’re pooping out parasites but its actually their irritated intestinal lining. Sorry Michael! 🤣🤣
Sondra Hudson
2023-07-23 20:32:35 +0000 UTCHi! Emily (she/her) from Melbourne, Australia. A very light q here - I would love some content recs about your non-MP related interests! What are some of your all-time favourite books, podcasts and tv shows?
Emily Bleeker
2023-07-23 05:35:09 +0000 UTCIt’s never too early to start talking about the 2023 Grifty Awards? Who is in the running for this prestigious honor?
Stephanie Gooding
2023-07-23 02:06:20 +0000 UTCFellow Aussie seconding this request 💖
TessaJ
2023-07-23 00:47:17 +0000 UTCMack, Columbus, OH (they/them) Curious to know what you guys think of this high-protein diet craze that’s been happening as of late. I heard somewhere that Americans already consume more protein on average than any other country, so this whole thing seems weird idk.
mack stryker
2023-07-22 22:05:05 +0000 UTCOh man, I am also a scientist, and I have no idea how anyone not in my field would be able to evaluate a paper... 'specially since WE cannot all agree on which ones are the good ones.
Claire Moore-Cantwell
2023-07-22 17:46:15 +0000 UTCDo you remember the Stop The Insanity lady, Susan Powder? As a fat kid in the 90's she has lived rent free in my head for decades. Can you do a deep dive into her?
Pace Gillette
2023-07-22 15:56:35 +0000 UTCWhat about Suzanne Somers? She's grifty!!!! Amanda Powell (she/her) Please don't id me
Amanda Webster
2023-07-22 15:21:50 +0000 UTCcould you talk about Andrew Huberman? he seems super educated but I also get a weird vibe from him (especially the episode on EDs..as someone with an ED a lot didn’t seem accurate) (karlyn, she/her)
Karlyn
2023-07-22 13:20:14 +0000 UTCHave you tried The Fitness Marshall? It’s just dancing and they don’t mention weight at all. And they’re funny!
Jennifer P
2023-07-22 12:41:47 +0000 UTCI’d love to hear about cholesterol and different kinds of fats in the diet. My family has a history of heart disease and along with it a lot of judgement about how and how much people eat. Did they cover this in a episode already? I’d love to either know that eating a steak is not good for cardiac health or have some facts to share when I’m told off for eating one
Ellen James
2023-07-22 11:25:46 +0000 UTCHello! Katie (she/her) from Australia! I would love to hear about Ozempic and other weight loss drugs, but the other person I would love to hear an episode on is Dr Michael Mosely. He’s gained a huge following here through tv shows and books around things like intermittent fasting, and I’m not convinced of the scientific basis of his claims. I was sucked in years ago, as his docos are pretty well put together, but I think there’s more to the story. Cannot wait to see Aubrey’s film, and I cannot tell you how much this show has changed how I view my self, health, body and self worth - love your work ❤️❤️❤️
Katie Magriplis
2023-07-22 07:41:05 +0000 UTCWhat do you think about Marianne Williamson running for president again? I’d also love to hear an episode about Michelle Obama some day. Thank you for all the hard work you do!
Bishini
2023-07-22 06:20:17 +0000 UTCDitto this question! It’s not just influencers either. I saw a trainer for 6 months to learn how to lift weights. My goal was to learn to use a barbell. I never did. Turns out she had me on a high intensity fat loss program even though I never asked for that and specifically told her my goal was strength.
Bishini
2023-07-22 06:09:18 +0000 UTCWhen my husband heard me talk negatively about myself, he told me, “Hey don’t say that about my wife. That’s not nice.” It really helped change my perspective. Maybe you could say something similar to your family members. “Hey, don’t say that about my mom. I love her and think she’s beautiful.” Hope this helps!
Bishini
2023-07-22 06:02:57 +0000 UTCSequoia - she/her - Thanks for all your work, you are helping me feel so happy with my body! I try to talk to people about your work, and one of the biggest messages I hear is "well being fat is associated with increased risk of heart disease and other negative factors so you should still try to lose weight if you can" and I guess I have missed if you have talked about this. Healthism aside, I do want to maintain a low risk of those factors. I just don't recall what you have said on this topic, can you say a bit about that? Thank you!
Sequoia Alexander
2023-07-22 01:27:22 +0000 UTCnot a question but I just saw a daily harvest box on someone’s stoop and it listed “lentils” as an ingredient in large print. sending healing energy toward that household 😭😭😭
Fiona Walsh
2023-07-21 20:08:41 +0000 UTCHey y'all! Renee, she/her, don't mind if I'm mentioned or not. Something I've been thinking about is how has this podcast and your resulting fame/attention affected your life? There are a good number of people i regularly listen to/watch and I always wonder at what point does it become too much, or too hard, or too confining for you all's personal life balance. I don't want any reveals that are uncomfortable or too personal, but I'm interested to know how all of this has impacted you, if it's something you both are willing to talk about. I love this podcast so much, and I have such affection for you both - I just want you both to be happy & well, cause ya deserve it. 😁
Renee MeowMeow Beans
2023-07-21 18:09:16 +0000 UTCI personally can't read which is why I listen to podcast, LOLOLOLOLO! Haha can't believe I didn't see this, thanks for pointing it out :))
Kasia
2023-07-21 08:03:35 +0000 UTCAubrey wrote about this when it came out! https://gen.medium.com/brittany-runs-a-marathon-and-thin-fantasies-of-fat-lives-f0496408a2aa
maintenancephase
2023-07-21 07:04:55 +0000 UTCVirginia, look up Jessica DelFino she does amazing work around this topic … oooh Aubrey and Mike could have her on the pod! 🤣😜
Cat P
2023-07-21 04:14:22 +0000 UTCZardoz, he/him. I'd just love your take on Brittany Runs A Marathon because I know you have an opinion.
Zardogs! Zardogs!
2023-07-21 03:43:41 +0000 UTCI agree that orthorexia and body dysmorphia are common among men who go to the gym. But I don’t think it’s because gay men are fat phobic per se. I think it’s because the male gaze (in general, not saying literally every man) is fat phobic. Men who have sex with men and women who have sex with men are, in my view, both under the same pressure to be not-fat to appeal to the male gaze. There’s really not much difference between an orthorexic gym bro and a dieting woman in terms of what they are trying to achieve: a low body fat percentage. Orthorexic straight men, I would argue, are also doing it for the male gaze: They want a certain body to get homosocial approval from other men. There’s also the fact that men can turn their own male gaze on themselves. So another man is not necessarily required for the male gaze to have an effect. Just my two cents. Feel free to disagree
Zqxx
2023-07-21 03:04:01 +0000 UTCGin (she/her) from Melbourne, Australia. Your show has revolutionised how I think about health and approach my own body, plus it's armed me with some facts to confront fatphobic comments. You two are amazing! Not sure if this is quite in the pod's remit but I'm really interested in skin care products, and what is actually useful. I'm now in my 40s, and just want to take care of my skin (all of it, hands, face, body) but I feel like at my age there's a lot of crappy messaging relating to aging that makes me feel a certain way. I remember Aubrey once making an aside comment about manufacturers selling us cream just for our eye areas that we don't need, and would love to hear more about the BS and truths of skin care.
Virginia Streit
2023-07-21 02:52:53 +0000 UTCGuys they said to send your Q’s to the email! Lol
Jessica V
2023-07-21 02:39:16 +0000 UTCI would love an episode on this! They always go off birth control but never say what they replace it with 😵💫
Zoe
2023-07-21 02:10:45 +0000 UTCThey mentioned net carbs in their Keto episode and their Halo Top episode I believe.
Loyal
2023-07-20 23:53:12 +0000 UTCAll those types of magnesium—do the different kinds really do the different things? I’d love a vitamins: any supporting proof? episode.
Wendy Wallace
2023-07-20 23:32:39 +0000 UTCYour podcast has been incredibly helpful in unlearning decades of self-hatred. Thanks to your work, my wife and I made a New Years Resolution in 2022 to not diet or try to lose weight in any way and it’s been life altering in such a positive way for our mental health. My question is, do you have any advice on protecting those quality of life gains while having to live within systems that continue to insist on thinness? More specifically, my wife is trans and has been denied gender affirming care (bottom surgery) unless she loses weight. She is stuck in a place of having to weigh the mental health gains she would have from reducing her dysphoria against the mental health loses she would incur by restricting food to fit a bs standard. This sucks. Love the show.
Caitlin Blair
2023-07-20 23:29:07 +0000 UTCThis!
Savanna LaMaison
2023-07-20 22:23:51 +0000 UTCGood one, I've been suspcious of that (A-E) scale ever since I noticed that the Albert Heijn lemon-ish water (with no nutritional value or even sweeteners) was rated B, while my delicious sugary Cruesli was only a C. Definitely thought of this podcast when I saw the NutriScore for the first time!
T Wickens
2023-07-20 20:14:00 +0000 UTCI remember about 10 years ago my friends getting into “net carbs” where you could eat an equal amount of fiber as carbs in a meal and it would count as zero carbs. Did I hallucinate this? What snake oil madman came up with this idea? Also, did it definitely harm farmers in S. America as I assume it did since every food-bar under this diet had chicory root from “Brazil and Uruguay”?
Historia
2023-07-20 18:41:36 +0000 UTCYes! I need to know!
Mary Ellen ODaniel
2023-07-20 18:15:37 +0000 UTCMIKE!!! IT'S PRIUS DRIVERS!!! Then I took a drink right when Aubrey said "What the FUCK are you talking about" and I almost died for real oh fuck....you guys. ...
Rachelle Stallard
2023-07-20 17:50:31 +0000 UTCJennie, she/her, refer to me however. Ignore if you covered this, but I'm curious to hear your take on intermittent fasting. A coworker just told me he fasted for 36 hours (!!) and felt weird, unprecedented guilt about eating food when he broke it.
Manic Pixie Dream Crone
2023-07-20 17:25:39 +0000 UTCHolly she/her. What's with the rise of people on my social medias undergoing rapid weight loss and then trying to see me diet milkshakes? They're everywhere!
Holly Duke
2023-07-20 16:57:02 +0000 UTCOh my gosh I am emailing right now to ask Aubrey to share that coconut shrimp recipe!
Ellen James
2023-07-20 16:40:08 +0000 UTCAvery (she,hers) DC, happy to be named - I’m curious what your thoughts are on the backlash against hormonal birth control among some wellness influencers. if you’re familiar, why do you think it’s sprung up now and is so popular? (my insta recommended always ends up at with these people!) also wondering if you have a go-to line for changing / shutting down the subject when people begin talking about diets, being fatphobic, etc. much love to you both and the podcast!
Avery Coombe
2023-07-20 16:16:14 +0000 UTCA, how do you write and finish a book?! What is your process?
Wendy Wallace
2023-07-20 16:11:36 +0000 UTCJulia, she/her. I would like to hear about ways of navigating around respecting other people's journeys with their bodies while also preserving personal sanity?? I have been more transparent to members of my family about my various detrimental paths of self-control, where that's left me mentally/physically/emotionally, I constantly reshare in my IG stories posts about antifat bias and food talk, etc. No one makes comments about me anymore at least, which is certainly a great start. But I am also the only fat person in my family and it is really difficult to hear them discussing their own issues and/or regurgitating stereotypical bullshit. I want to respect that they are allowed to do whatever they want with themselves and that not everyone is doing a critical deep dive into antifat work - but it sucks interacting around their rigid intermittent fasting habits, social media posts about earning/burning off food via exercise, considering switching needed anxiety meds because they gained undiscernible weight, discussions about clean/better/healthy eating, watching triggering interactions around feeding their children, etc. etc. etc. I want to just cry out sometimes asking why they cannot get it through their heads how damaging all of that stuff is to me, themselves, and anyone else in earshot? Mostly by now I just try to disassociate from reality whenever these things unexpectedly pop up, but it doesn't always work. I'm also not great in the moment on threading the needle of calling them out on stuff in ways that lead to productive conversations. What are some tips or resources to help out with this either on my own or with my therapist?
jlb5105
2023-07-20 16:07:46 +0000 UTCI sent an email, but sharing here a well. (she/her) As a lifelong rabble rouser, it is easy for me to confront anti-fat bias in healthcare, in my workplace and other settings, and I have enthusiastically done so - even when my spouse rolls his eyes. The really hard part is hearing the negative comments my mother, sister, family members and friends make about themselves. I don't want to be the annoying body positivity person screaming "Just love your body the way it is!" Or "of course you can wear a crop top!" When someone is telling me they feel otherwise. As a person who has never tried to lose weight or been encouraged to, is my role to just be quiet and allow the anti fat commentary because it is self-inflicted? Or is there anything I can possibly say to challenge those thoughts?
Crystal Marie McDaniels
2023-07-20 16:03:00 +0000 UTCThis - yes, what a great question! Please yes!
Irene
2023-07-20 15:41:41 +0000 UTCYes! Is there any basis to it at all, or is it just the new snake oil?
Megan
2023-07-20 15:38:35 +0000 UTCMegan, she/her, TX - What are your thoughts on "intuitive eating"? Is it the cure to diet culture, or just another "It's not actually a diet!" diet?
Megan
2023-07-20 15:32:37 +0000 UTCI'd also love to know more about this! I have multiple friends who have paid for the food sensitivity blood tests and now refuse to eat certain items because of the results...without actually testing to see if they really do feel sick after eating the foods.
Megan
2023-07-20 15:25:14 +0000 UTCAlicia, she/her, American Midwest. I started to gain weight after treating my anxiety and not punishing my body with brutal exercise and restrictive eating for its natural size but not before taking a side road through wellness world and naturopathy. There is this thing in this world all about avoiding entire food groups and foods based on perceived sensitivity. I started on this path after an MD told me I should avoid gluten even though I did not have celiac as shown on my blood tests. I started avoiding dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, all that nonsense. What actually helped my gi problems was treating my fucking anxiety and stop punishing my body! Where did this come from? Why is food avoidance so popular in wellness world? All it did for me was crank my anxiety up and make my food issues worse. It seems like dieting in the guise of health. Is that just the trend right now as we start to get more critical of dieting or is there a reason naturopathy pushes this (I now know naturopathy is total bullshit, but I went to one in the first place as part of a complimentary medicine office offered through my hmo and when you feel sick you start to try things even when you're skeptical!)
Alicia
2023-07-20 15:18:35 +0000 UTCMichael periodically talks about 'structuring' narrative & story telling in pod-form. Also has been a primary editor in the past (not sure if he still is?). One of the exceptional things about the MH-produced podcasts is how well edited they are. The pace is always exceptional. Would love to hear more thoughts about this - and if MH is self-taught: how he came to this skill set. Also if there is time, how the audio v. video v. written media formats compare & contrast.
Irene
2023-07-20 15:17:42 +0000 UTCHow do I become less self conscious? My daughter is not the physique I was in high school but she’s totally comfortable in her body.
Lindsay Harford
2023-07-20 15:12:37 +0000 UTCHello! I’m loving Micheal’s guide to identifying a conspiracy theorist in the RFK Jr. Episodes. I would love to know more about how to identify badly written scientific papers and the importance of consensus within a field of study. I am a scientist and I find myself unable to really delve into the literature of a field that is very different than mine so I can only imagine how difficult it is for many people without scientific training.
Lindsay Baxter
2023-07-20 14:22:36 +0000 UTCHi y'all! Anne (they/them). Your show has really helped me as a fat femme to sharpen and intensify my fat liberation politics. I'm sure my friends appreciate it 😂 I was wondering if you were working on any episodes about disability, accessibility, and it's intersection with fat people? Either the perceived disability of fat folks or about access for bigger or disabled bodies?
Anne
2023-07-20 14:11:59 +0000 UTCHI! Em, he/him, living in Montréal. Have you guys ever heard of a device called the Zona Plus? My dad gave it to me as a birthday gift and said it's supposed to help your wrist strength and blood pressure (you hold it and squeeze really hard on it for like 30 seconds, then swap hands) but it seems like a weird grifty pseudoscience thing for all I can tell. It kind of surprised me because my parents are *not* anti-medicine people (they're pro vaccines, have been very cautious about wearing masks for covid, etc.).
E-Cat
2023-07-20 13:30:18 +0000 UTCOoh, I want that recipe too
Manic Pixie Dream Crone
2023-07-20 13:29:44 +0000 UTCYES, Yes, yes!!! This!
Annemarie Taylor
2023-07-20 12:49:03 +0000 UTCYes!! TikTok and YouTube have figured out I’m looking for fun yet approachable physical activity beyond walking. but it feels like nearly everything getting pushed to me is smothered in “weight loss” and “burn that fat!” and other such things. Even when I seek out stuff featuring fat ppl like me or talking about physical activity without talking about weight loss, the algorithm still seems to default to the toxic weight loss messaging I’m trying to avoid. Can’t a bitch just want to move her body in a fun way because it’s fun?!
Jackie Winfree
2023-07-20 12:42:39 +0000 UTCHave you all come across exercise specialists and/or influencers that successfully decouple losing weight from exercise? I am starting to exercise more (have been doing beginner strength training which I really enjoy) but sometimes its hard to not feel the pressure of weight loss being blared at me from family/friends and media. Thanks for all the work that you do and making this amazing podcast! <3 Arin, she/her, Central NY (the Fingerlakes)
Arin Caveney
2023-07-20 12:32:16 +0000 UTCHi! I was wondering whether you have looked into the Nutri-Score. It is an EU-backed system to label overall nutritional value of food products. I have been wondering for a while what it is based on and who gets to decide which foods are "good". Have you come across it in deep-dives, do you have any thoughts/opinions about it? Thank you so much for the podcast! Marijne, she/her, The Netherlands
Marijne Schijns
2023-07-20 11:58:42 +0000 UTCNot a question but just a comment that the word "jankyballs" used by Mike in the RFKjr ep will not leave me. And I am sure as hell going to work this into a conversation soon. Love this pod!!!
Bridget
2023-07-20 11:40:08 +0000 UTCBut what is the question?
Maciej Gieradka
2023-07-20 11:28:10 +0000 UTCTiffany, she/her. What is the single most shocking/mind-blowing bit of research you've come across while prepping for a show? Could be a statistical fact or like a life fact about a person you've covered.
Tiffany
2023-07-20 11:22:36 +0000 UTCIs CBD the quackery it sounds like? Love the podcast and keep recommending it, especially lately as the likely next UK Govt apparently wants to highlight "prevention" as the cure-all for the NHS, which we all know means offering people "healthy eating" advice and then blaming us if we become ill. They're big fans of calories counts on menus, for example.....
AliceMerray
2023-07-20 11:10:16 +0000 UTCNot that you asked my advice lol but I would wait till you guys are together longer and more connected, who knows he might actually be so smitten with you his nerves make him not hungry. I think if you just let him know youre smitten with him and ensure it doesn't come across as a weird fetishism thing lol then he'll relax a bit more.
Kiri
2023-07-20 10:56:53 +0000 UTCThey do this caveat all the time. You are you they aren't telling you as an individual what to do. You don't need their approval to not feel guilty. Like just don't ask them
Kiri
2023-07-20 10:52:42 +0000 UTCWhat is mood boosting soda?!? Is that some type of kombucha good bacteria thing?
Kiri
2023-07-20 10:46:11 +0000 UTCRi, Netherlands, They/Them I don't exercise and I can't because of illness and disability. On a good day I can sit on the couch for a few hours (instead of lying in bed) and my average stepcount is 1000 according to fitbit. I'm obviously not going to exercise however you answer my question but I guess since everybody everywhere (and that includes my doctor) is always warning me I am putting a curse on my future self for not exercising, I'm curious if you could make this Vague Future Health Threat less vague and come up with some stats like: hey you have x% change of a stroke at age 40 and x% chance of a heartattack or whatever.
Ri Goat
2023-07-20 10:05:33 +0000 UTCHey there, it's Jo (he/him) from Luxembourg. I would like to hear your take about fatphobia in gay culture. You once had an episode about Karl Lagerfeld and his diet book that gave a few hints what are the issues in the gay community. How many of the gym-goers are orthorexic? Why do gays have to fetishise obesity and label it as "dad/bear body"? Or maybe it's a good thing that different kinds of bodies are praised? But do we have to sexualize it? The second theme is trauma and obesity. From the moment as my mum got cancer to her passing two years later, I gained 40 kilograms. Afterwards, I met plenty of people who gained a lot because of the death of someone close to them. Could you have an episode linking obesity with uncoped stress/trauma? Or debunking the case if it's counterfactual?
Jo
2023-07-20 09:00:29 +0000 UTCI think they said some of it is too close to home to be comfortable speaking about on the show
Julia
2023-07-20 07:54:22 +0000 UTCHi, Nicole (they them) from Oxfordshire in the UK (I want to hear how you pronounce Oxfordshire...) As a naturally slim person I'm often 'complimented' on my size or get comments like 'I bet you can eat anything you like'.. And the best way I have to reply is 'I'm not going to engage you in a fatphobic conversation' But like, what can I do - how can I reply better and how can I show up more for fat friends without taking away the focus.
Nicole Melzack
2023-07-20 07:52:25 +0000 UTCHiya! I’m Liesbeth from Belgium, she/her :) Any fun hate mail stories about the podcast?
liesbeth
2023-07-20 07:01:17 +0000 UTCHi, Or, she/her, from Israel. Has any of the people that you've covered in the podcast ever approached you in any way after listening to the episode about them? If so, how? did any of them acknowledge the problems you raised at all?
Or Gross
2023-07-20 06:41:21 +0000 UTCHiya! MJ (she/her) from Scotland 😊 What new thing have you learned (in the research for this podcast) that surprised you the most?
MJ Wallace
2023-07-20 06:07:58 +0000 UTCRobin, they/them, in Portland, OR. Would love to hear Aubrey's tips for introverts on canvassing and phone banking. I volunteer writing GOTV letters through Vote Forward, but am looking to make a deeper impact in future elections. Pro tips?
Robin Anderson
2023-07-20 06:06:05 +0000 UTCHello!! I’m Amanda (she/her) and I’m wondering what you favorite depictions of fatness in media that just make you feel fuckin GOOD. Love you both <3
Amanda Fallon
2023-07-20 05:28:34 +0000 UTCBelle (she/her) in Scotland, happy to be named. I have 2 questions - first, as diet culture mutates from rebrand to rebrand - with our current iteration being "wellness" - do you think that branding will shift again soon, and do you have predictions for what comes next? Second, Aubrey, a while ago you mentioned a dish you make involving prawns cooked in coconut milk, can you please share that recipe?! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
belle
2023-07-20 05:22:11 +0000 UTCYes -- would love to hear about this too!
Liz W
2023-07-20 05:00:37 +0000 UTCCarbs. For the love of god, tell me about bread. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it still the base of the food pyramid? Why does the answer to this depend on the decade in which we ask it? How bad is it that Oprah “loves bread”?!
Meg Marie
2023-07-20 04:57:57 +0000 UTCGut health and microbiome stuff. What’s the deal with that please, Methodology Queens? x
JennyWS
2023-07-20 04:57:14 +0000 UTCRicardo Sierra, he/his. Upstate New York. I'd love to hear you all talk about 'diet bars' like Atkins, etc, and whether they are effective or just a complete rip-off!
Ricardo Sierra
2023-07-20 04:53:25 +0000 UTCI obviously want you to talk about MLMs. 🙃
Emily Lynn Paulson
2023-07-20 04:34:30 +0000 UTCKasia, she/her. Is there a reason you didn't broach the subject of pregnancy and weight gain? There is a lot of maintenance phase stuff in there, I would love to hear your take! Fyi i am in new Zealand and my weight wasn't brought up once, but there are BMI driven tests and recommendations which don't make sense even here. Us seems more strict on it and I keep reading US based pregnant people's complaints on reddit about shaming and getting them to loose weight in pregnancy which I find to be unhinged. Thanks! Edit* should have said "pregnant people" not "women"
Kasia
2023-07-20 04:16:48 +0000 UTCSooo many questions! I’ll try not to be to spammy… I’d love an episode on supplements, either the MLM variety or the ones sold on far right shows like Alex Jones and YouTube. One, I spent a few years brainwashed as a coach for Beachbody and I’d love to know the dirt behind that company and two I have a family friend in his early 80’s who has fallen down a YouTube rabbit hole and started intermittent fasting and taking so many supplements he ended up in the ER with an overdose on vitamin B! Also, when you’re not saving the world what do you read for fun? I think Michael once said he took a break from work and read a book on dinosaurs! I feel like if I were to try find a NF book like that I would end up picking the most boring book. Thank you for all you do!!
Emily Henderson
2023-07-20 03:17:07 +0000 UTCBut is it okay if I want to lose weight?!?! (Sorry)
🌈🌧️
2023-07-20 03:14:26 +0000 UTCI’m fine being identified on the show. Hey there! Kate (she/her) from Pittsburgh here! I’m a straight sized woman and I just started dating a man who’s considerably larger than I am. I’m not here to guess his weight but he’s probably a little more than twice my size. We met at work and after almost a year of crushing on each other we went on our first date and it was awesome. He’s smart, funny, hard-working, out-going, and kind. We slept together and it was incredible. I really love his body. I’m smitten, ya know what I mean? But I definitely noticed that when he made us lunch earlier in the day he barely touched what he made for himself. Then when we went out to dinner he didn’t eat very much and offered some of his food to me. I realize I just started seeing this guy so who knows if it’ll matter but if continue to date him I want him to know that I see him. Or at the very least I’m trying. Should I try to have a conversation with him about it? Should I wait to see if it’s just what everyone does on dates when they pretend they don’t eat and see if he naturally gets more comfortable with me? There’s a part of me that wants to tell him that im supportive of him and that he can talk to me about struggles he may have or even that he should feel comfortable calling me out if I say something that makes him feel shitty. But maybe I should just let him bring it up if he wants to and let him be a person. I don’t know. Any advice? Smitten in Pittsburgh.
Catherine Knoblauch
2023-07-20 03:12:26 +0000 UTC+1 on this!
Destinee E.
2023-07-20 03:11:00 +0000 UTCChris (she /her) - How does you each do research for the show and do you have any important tips for conducting the best research possible (you may have talked about this on the show before)? Thank you - your work has helped me make my life better. 🙂
Chris Bowman
2023-07-20 03:01:14 +0000 UTCI know Aubrey loves The Bachelor... how does she feel about The Golden Bachelor?
Fahema Rahman
2023-07-20 02:58:10 +0000 UTCOmg my mom! I like my water to *sparkle* and she's always bagging on it. "The carbonation is bad for you!!!" It's....CO2?...To fizzy up my....WATER....?????
Rachelle Stallard
2023-07-20 02:52:26 +0000 UTCIM DYING 😂😂🤣💀💀
Rachelle Stallard
2023-07-20 02:49:33 +0000 UTCroxanne smith, seattle (she/her) this is not a very academic question but how did you two meet and start maintenance phase?
R Smith
2023-07-20 02:36:28 +0000 UTCAshley (she/her) - I am a dietitian who has worked in the field of eating disorders for the past 15 years. I would love an episode about how dietitians are coping in this era of weight loss medications , new AAP guidelines and the push for bariatric surgery. Please check on us dietitians... we are NOT ok!!!
Ashley Barnes
2023-07-20 02:33:19 +0000 UTCCould you look at (sorry, my question is a combo of "If Books Could Kill" and "Maintenance Phase") this book: "Conquering Fat Logic" by Nadja Hermann, which is promoted on the "Obesity" pages of the Guardian(.com)?
Nikola
2023-07-20 02:28:59 +0000 UTCTina (she/her)—I’m a psychotherapist in California. I specialize in eating disorders. I LOVE the podcast and always recommend it to clients. The fad diet du jour that gives me nightmares is intermittent fasting. Not sure how robust the data is on this but I would love to hear an episode about this.
Valentina Mornard
2023-07-20 02:27:46 +0000 UTCKevin from Arizona, he/him, ok with being identified. This is a very silly question, but I have to ask. Aubrey--whenever you mention the diet book collection, I can't help but imagine a fantastical security system like one would have for a cursed object. Is it like the room of demonic artifacts in the Conjuring, blessed by a priest biweekly? A mystery-science theater series of absurd vault doors? The books all wired to a dead-man's switch that will immolate them if they get loose? How would YOU secure the diet book collection to keep the world safe from their influence? Absolutely love the show, huge thanks to both of you.
Kevin Thomas
2023-07-20 02:26:11 +0000 UTCRebecca she/her. Love the non profit/ngo vent sessions! Would love to know the most useless employee "benefit" you've ever been offered (because we know they don't really want you to take it.) Worst awareness campaign would be great too!
Rebecca Lesley-Paulk
2023-07-20 02:23:21 +0000 UTCWow I'm honestly surprised how many people on here are asking for diet advice sheesh... but anyway, I heard Aubrey that you don't like the term fatphobia.. I truly understand anti-fat bias exists but also people are so fkn scared and hateful that I find fatphobia a useful term... would be interested to unpack that. Joey (they pronouns)
Joey Pickle
2023-07-20 02:22:37 +0000 UTCRae, she/her, Las Vegas, NV We all saw the decry of sugary soda, but now I’m seeing more and more vitriol aimed specifically at diet sodas and even soda water. “The aspartame will give you cancer.” “The carbonation stretches out your stomach and makes you eat more.” In general, it’s really annoying to constantly hear these negative digs swinging from one food to the next. what are your thoughts?
Rae Leo
2023-07-20 02:19:53 +0000 UTCYes please!!!
Skye
2023-07-20 01:51:01 +0000 UTCintuitive eating does all of this!
Karlyn
2023-07-20 01:44:56 +0000 UTCSarah she/her Charlottesville VA. I’m a nurse who is very aware of all types of discrimination in the health care field, and wanting to know are there specific health care personnel resources for actively working against fat bias when treating patients? As a nursing professor last year, I made it a point to stress that someone’s weight does not mean they have diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol etc., but I would love for there to be more resources (or awareness/access to resources) to help us health care workers be better. Cause lawd knows there is room for improvement!!! Love you both and your show, keep up the marvelous work!
Sarah DeRiggi
2023-07-20 01:43:42 +0000 UTCI think you mean Lisa Marie Presley. Very sad
Skye
2023-07-20 01:43:02 +0000 UTCCan never do too much Mindfulness/nature/relaxation stuff.
Kaleb Byers
2023-07-20 01:36:38 +0000 UTCPhoebe, she/her, DC - any thoughts or intel on the new phenomenon of probiotic and "mood boosting" soda?
Phoebe L
2023-07-20 01:36:32 +0000 UTCI don't recall that you covered weight loss surgery, which seems timely since Priscilla Presley died from complications. . .
Neysa Jensen
2023-07-20 01:32:52 +0000 UTCLeslie (she/her) from Washington - don't care about being named - Like so many people, my sister and I are both in the process of unlearning a lifetime of harmful diet messaging (our first diet as a whole family was Suzanne Somer's Eat Great To Lose Weight, which, in case you haven't read it, is fully ridiculous and, spoiler alert, you do not eat great). However, it's so hard to know what TO eat when your head is full of rules learned from dozens of places over a lifetime, and it can be debilitating. Are there any books or resources you would recommend for people who want to be healthy, but don't want to start a "diet"? Are there places that you trust to tell you what's actually healthy and makes you feel good, without pseudoscience or an undercurrent of "healthy = thin"?
Leslie Lizotte
2023-07-20 01:27:30 +0000 UTC(uh-leg-ra | she/her) I work in HR and our benefits provider gives me $$$ to throw "Wellness Events" every year (money must be used towards this specific purpose). What would you actually want to see/do at a work (nonprofit cough cough) wellness event?
Allegra Baker
2023-07-20 01:14:41 +0000 UTCSent an email. Love what you do!
Sarah Akers
2023-07-20 01:12:00 +0000 UTCI’d love to hear an episode on facts and myths around perimenopause, menopause, and older-age-related hormone changes in men (AKA male menopause or andropause). Any episode(s) on ageism and aging intersecting with wellness grifts would be great.
Elaine Heinzman
2023-07-20 01:11:08 +0000 UTCWhat are YOUR favourite podcasts to listen to?
Kath Langmead
2023-07-20 01:07:02 +0000 UTCI mean, by definition, any intentional weight loss is simulating famine conditions and I'm not aware of any situation in which famine conditions are health promoting, and correctly functioning bodies *should* be trying to mitigate and undo any effects of famine.
Kath Langmead
2023-07-20 01:06:23 +0000 UTCBeth (she/her) from Scotland. What is the best way to support a fatter friend/relative who is going through it with trying to get medical help? My older sister routinely has severe pain and other symptoms dismissed by her GP. In a country with universal health care she has been forced to seek private care which she struggles to afford because her Dr assumes before the appointment starts that she just wants signed off from work. She's an incredible advocate for her family in medical settings but it's much harder to push back for herself. She's not much of a reader or podcast listener, and I don't know that an information drop is useful anyway. She's living these things, she doesn't need me telling her they happen all the time... I'm so angry on her behalf, but it's not my life. What do you wish the well meaning clueless people around you would say or do when you have these experiences? What would actually be useful or supportive in a practical sense?
Beth Bruce
2023-07-20 01:03:11 +0000 UTCKaetrin (she/her) from Australia - fine to be named on the show if you get to my question - Aubrey, what are some of the best things friends/strangers/coworkers have said/done to include you/demonstrate care/un-fatphobia.
Kaetrin Allen
2023-07-20 00:59:32 +0000 UTCSecond that - I'm getting the advice to do intermittent fasting not just for weightloss but as a cureall for other illnesses - even ADHD and autism symptoms . It all screams YIKEs
Sarah Ippen
2023-07-20 00:58:35 +0000 UTCSeriously... When are we getting an episode on "The Whale"?
Amanda
2023-07-20 00:42:43 +0000 UTCEmily (She/her) from Pennsylvania. How about a “What I Eat in a Day” episode? I’m mostly kidding, but I do want to know what your favorite foods are, aside from activated almonds, obviously. Like ideal day, money or convenience is no object- what are you choosing to eat for each meal?
Emily Cicora
2023-07-20 00:37:31 +0000 UTCI second this 😂 what a ridiculous time! Do you remember the YouTuber girl that claimed her eyes went from brown to blue from eating raw vegan?!
Cary Terzieff
2023-07-20 00:33:32 +0000 UTCI've been enjoying all the content from this podcast and I'm working through the back catalogue, this has been very educational, thank you! I've been wondering, this podcast have been covering all the ways that fad diet doesn't work, have you come across any diet that actually do work? Or is it the conclusion of the pod that all diets just don't work? 😂
conancat
2023-07-20 00:14:23 +0000 UTCAnnabel (she/her) from New Zealand and my question is … what’s your go-to dish or recipe if you’re invited to a pot luck dinner?
Annabel Aitch Emm
2023-07-20 00:10:56 +0000 UTCFor real tho, Nooooooooom!!
Kimberly Mcclain
2023-07-20 00:09:08 +0000 UTCAubrey I've always wondered, do you use shape wear? Sorry kind of a totally basic b**** question. I'm cooking, and hosting a bday party , and half assing stuffing this piñata. I love your show. Congrats on the movie. And I'm trying to listen to everything Michael hobbes has ever hosted!!! Cheers 🥂
Mackenzie Myers
2023-07-20 00:05:29 +0000 UTCI’m dying to hear the long-promised episodes on Noom, intermittent fasting and Joseph Mercola. Are those coming soon? Thanks for everything y’all do! This podcast gave me the courage to leave a horrible doctor and find an amazing one. Now when I see clickbait wellness headlines I ask myself “What would Aubrey and Mike do?” before I buy into the hype. -Kimberly, she/her, don’t care if I’m named, just want more podcasts 😂
Kimberly TT
2023-07-20 00:04:45 +0000 UTCWhen will we be able to see Aubrey’s movie? I’ve been relistening to the whole catalogue of episodes and it’s just making me more excited to see it.
Pagrocrag
2023-07-20 00:01:14 +0000 UTCMy only question is when can we get a raw vegan YouTube era, 80-10-10, 20 bananas a day freelee the banana girl episode cause that was a period of my life that I feel like MP could really help me process 😂😂
reyna cohan
2023-07-19 23:58:26 +0000 UTC
