Science, Myth, and Madness: The 241st Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
Sep 4, 2024
01:23:23
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Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying, both PhDs in Biology, dive deep into intriguing topics that illuminate our world through evolution. They tackle the absurdities of the Food Compass, revealing how it ranks unhealthy processed foods as healthier than meat and eggs. The conversation also explores the balance between myth and history as they consider iconic figures like Jesus and Churchill. Additionally, they discuss the dangers of misinformation, transparency during the pandemic, and reflect on the legacy of Paul Harrell, advocating for responsible firearm use.
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Quick takeaways
The hosts critique the Food Compass and its misleading dietary assessments, revealing inaccuracies that negatively impact public health awareness.
They explore the intertwining of history and myth, arguing for the necessity of transparent discourse on historical figures to promote learning.
The discussion tackles the challenges of censorship and the importance of honest historical narratives in fostering informed societal decision-making.
Deep dives
Episode Introduction and Context
The hosts engage in light-hearted banter while introducing the episode, setting a casual tone. They humorously discuss the significance of their episode number, hinting at their long-standing presence in podcasting. The conversation briefly touches on their previous discussions about mundane topics and the importance of community engagement through platforms like locals. They express their plans for upcoming episodes, building anticipation for future content while assuring listeners that this episode, although brief, will still cover important topics.
Innovative Dog Food: Sundays
The hosts promote a unique brand of dog food, named Sundays, which is described as being human-grade and air-dried for nutritional excellence. They share anecdotes about their dog, Maddie, who clearly enjoys this food more than standard kibble, highlighting its appeal from a pet's perspective. The comparison emphasizes how Sundays lacks artificial additives and promotes health without the grossness often associated with traditional dog foods. This leads to a compelling endorsement for the product, encouraging listeners to consider better dietary options for their pets.
Understanding Colostrum with Armora
Colostrum, the first food for mammals, is introduced through the sponsor Armora, which specializes in concentrated colostrum products. The hosts explain the numerous health benefits of colostrum, asserting its role in enhancing immune and mucosal barriers while detailing its potential medicinal uses. They emphasize how modern lifestyles compromise these barriers, and how Armora’s colostrum can effectively combat these issues. The discussion highlights the purity and bioavailability of Armora's products, making a strong case for listeners to consider the benefits of colostrum for their health.
Exploring the Food Compass
The hosts delve into the Food Compass, a nutrient profiling system developed to assess the healthfulness of foods, critiquing its effectiveness. They outline the method used to score various foods and beverages, pointing out how some seemingly unhealthy items received positive evaluations. They express concern over the system's potential to mislead consumers regarding dietary choices, emphasizing a disconnect between the scores and traditional understandings of healthy eating. This segment raises important questions about food literacy and the impact of such profiling systems on public health and awareness.
Censorship and Historical Narratives
The conversation shifts to broader societal issues, particularly the challenges posed by censorship and the distortion of historical narratives. The hosts argue that the manipulation of historical facts can lead to a failure to learn from past mistakes, emphasizing the importance of an honest historical discourse. They discuss the consequences of suppressing discussions on controversial figures and moments in history, likening it to the denial of key truths about COVID-19. This segment underscores the need for transparency in historical debates to foster informed decision-making within society.
In this 241st in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this week’s episode, we discuss food, science, and myth. Research out of Tufts University three years ago created the Food Compass—a new guide to what is healthy that rivals the Food Pyramid for sheer lunacy. Advising us that Froot Loops and Pringles are healthier choices than meat and eggs, the authors of that research are now promoting ESG + Nutrition, in which their Food Compass informs governments and private enterprise on how to get the population of the world to follow along. Then: What is history, what is myth, and when is it appropriate to stop talking and be quiet already? Real figures from history—Jesus, King David, Churchill—are also mythic; to what degree do the myths verge from the reality, and what are the conditions under which we are obliged to care? Also mentioned: the Censorship Industrial Complex, Pathological Noble Liars, and Dumbledore’s Army. Finally: a few words on the death of Paul Harrell, who advocated for the responsible use of firearms.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Mozaffarian et al 2021. Food Compass is a nutrient profiling system using expanded characteristics for assessing healthfulness of foods. Nature Food. 2(10):809–818: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00381-y
It’s An Upside-Down World, and You’re Living In It: Big Food, Hollywood, and the Democrats:https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/its-an-upside-down-world-and-youre
O’Hearn et al 2022. The time is ripe for ESG+ nutrition: evidence-based nutrition metrics for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. European journal of clinical nutrition, 76(8):1047-1052: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-022-01075-9.pdf
Rescue the Republic – September 29 on the National Mall: https://jointheresistance.org
Paul Harrell’s final video: https://youtu.be/M-gZuFcEu0E