Conspirituality 288: Conspirituality Live with Dr Jessica Knurick
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Dec 18, 2025 
Dr. Jessica Knurick, a registered dietitian with a PhD in nutrition science, joins Derek at the Eudemonia Summit to tackle pressing health misinformation. They delve into the difference between dietitians and nutritionists, focusing on the potential harm from anti-expert sentiments in wellness circles. Jessica critiques the MAHA movement for eroding trust in science while highlighting necessary public health improvements. With a nod to her political aspirations, she shares strategies for combating misinformation and making public health relatable to everyday people.
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Nutritionist Is Not A Guaranteed Credential
- The term "nutritionist" is ambiguous and can hide wildly different qualifications.
- Registered Dietitian (RDN) signals standardized schooling, internship, and credentialing that "nutritionist" often does not.
Periscope Began Her Social Media Journey
- Jessica tried social media in 2016 via Periscope while a new tenure-track professor and grew 20,000 followers quickly.
- Colleagues mocked her and academia discouraged social presence, so she left and returned years later.
Academic Absence Opened Misinformation Vacuum
- Academics initially avoided social media, leaving wellness influencers to dominate health narratives.
- That absence created a vacuum enabling misinformation and commercialized health advice to flourish.