What Is Peer Review and How It Fails

In this episode, Emily Kaplan—co-founder of the Broken Science Initiative (BSI)—pulls back the curtain on systemic flaws undermining modern research. From manipulated data in high-impact journals to misuse of peer review and statistical tools like p-values, Emily reveals how corruption and misconduct shape medicine, including the infamous Alzheimer’s study that misled treatment development for years. She explains how BSI is working to restore trust in science through education, transparency, and a renewed focus on metabolic health. One key effort is MetFix, a grassroots initiative empowering communities to prevent and reverse chronic disease with nutrition and lifestyle interventions.

Emily brings deep expertise in strategy and communication. As BSI’s CEO, she has built educational platforms, training programs, and professional networks that unite healthcare workers, patients, and scientists to confront irreproducibility, misconduct, and the true drivers of chronic illness. Through in-person and online events, BSI fosters communities committed to what’s working—and exposing what’s broken—in modern medicine.

Her career spans journalism, entrepreneurship, and high-level advising. She co-founded The Kleio Group, guiding companies, celebrities, and politicians through strategic communication and crisis. She previously scaled Prep Cosmetics into a national chain, co-developed one of the first geolocation-based dating apps, and founded Prime Fitness and Nutrition, a women’s health concept with three locations. Emily has also hosted the Empowered Health Podcast, authored two books with HarperCollins Leadership, and contributed to ABC News, Boston Magazine, and major outlets.

With degrees from Smith College and Northwestern, plus advanced studies at Harvard Law, Emily blends business acumen, investigative rigor, and a passion for performance. Her mission: challenge broken science and empower individuals to reclaim health.

Full show notes: bengreenfieldlife.com/brokenscience

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