Food Safety and Health Advocacy | 25min snip from The Fort

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#384 - Jason Karp - Founder of HumanCo - Hedge Fund Mogul Trades Wall Street for Wellness

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CHAPTER

Food Safety and Health Advocacy

This chapter discusses the critical state of health in America, emphasizing the disparities in food safety regulations when compared to other countries. The hosts share their advocacy experiences, including testifying before the U.S. Senate about the shocking differences in food quality and corporate influence on health policies. The conversation covers various topics such as corporate funding's impact on health organizations, the need for reform in the food industry, and practical steps individuals can take to improve their health.

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In this episode, Jason and I discuss one of the biggest challenges facing America today: the health crisis fueled by our food system.

Jason, a former hedge fund manager turned health entrepreneur, shares how his personal journey through professional burnout, depression, and physical illness opened his eyes to the systemic problems in the way America produces, regulates, and consumes food.

We explore how decades of misaligned incentives, corporate lobbying, and regulatory failure have created a food environment that prioritizes profit over public health. Jason explains why rates of chronic disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders are worse than ever despite record healthcare spending and how other countries have taken a much stricter, more effective approach to food safety and nutrition.

We also cover:

- How Big Food and Big Pharma have benefited from keeping Americans sick

- The differences between food standards in the U.S. and Europe

- Why eating closer to nature is essential for reversing chronic disease

- Practical steps individuals can take today to avoid the worst parts of the American food system

- The urgent need for policy reform and better consumer education

We also discuss the growing role of psychedelics in mental health treatment, healing trauma, and helping individuals reconnect with themselves in an increasingly disconnected world.

This conversation is a candid look at why health outcomes in the U.S. continue to decline—and what it will take to fix it. Whether you're a consumer, an entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to live a longer, healthier life, Jason’s insights are a wake-up call and a call to action.

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Links:

Jason on X - @HumanKarp
HumanCo brands - Cosmic Bliss & Against The Grain Gourmet: www.instacart.com/store/brands/humanco-brands/humanco-lp
Amara: HUMANCO (20% off discount) - Amara
True Food Kitchen: Mention to your server “JUSTTRUE10” for $10 off of $50 at True Food Kitchen through June 30th - TFK
Grove Collaborative: "HUMANCO" will give new customers 25% off orders $75+. Grove

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Mentioned in this episode:

How to Change Your Mind by Miachael Pollan - https://a.co/d/dm4RwMY
The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku - https://a.co/d/4u4dJw5
Fruit Loops in the U.S. vs. Candada - https://youtu.be/4uH6Yooxr0Y?si=D7nIZU_-0SaScpSB
The American Heart Association opposes bill to ban soda from being purchased with SNAP benefits - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTN2SdMMiig

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:58) - Jason’s career

(00:17:51) - Psychedelic therapy

(00:42:47) - Making the decision to leave a 20-year hedge fund career

(00:50:46) - How did America become such an unhealthy country?

(01:01:01) - Big food vs. big pharma

(01:03:25) - Lab grown food

(01:05:54) - What’s being done to make us healthy again?

(01:10:35) - How can the average person start to be healthier

(01:15:50) - The truth about alcohol

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