Rethinking Wellness

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Social media researcher, professor, and author Renée DiResta joins us to discuss how anti-vaccine messaging spreads online – including ways we can combat the rise of wellness misinformation in 2026 and beyond. We also discuss how viral rumors spread on social media, why wellness influencers have become in...

Christy discusses her upcoming maternity leave and shares a preview of what we’ll be covering here in 2026. Support the show and get 30% off an annual subscription to Rethinking Wellness if you sign up before January 1! Get full show notes and references here . Christy's second book, The Wellness Trap , is available wherever books are sold! Order it online or ask for it in your favorite local book...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Journalist and professor Mallary Tenore Tarpley joins us to discuss her new book Slip and the realities of life in the middle of eating disorder recovery. She shares how losing her mother as a young girl led to disordered eating, why residential treatment was beneficial (and not), and how the pressures of...

Christy reads letters to the editor about “food addiction” and menopause hormone therapy. Get full show notes and references here . Subscribe to Rethinking Wellness to get all our content, including subscriber-only Q&As and essays, extended interviews with our guests, commenting privileges, and more. Christy’s second book, The Wellness Trap , is available wherever books are sold! Order it online o...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy answers an audience question about the food rules she stopped following—and shares four food-related principles she tries to practice. The full version of this episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to the first question here, and sign up for a paid subscription to hear the rest! Get full show no...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Katja Rowell, M.D. joins us to discuss responsive feeding, picky eating, and how to parent without passing diet culture norms on to your kids.  We also explore the science behind a few common misperceptions from parents and doctors including: why playful or gamified tactics to change eating habits can be...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Philosopher, podcaster, and our producer Amelia Hruby, PhD returns to the show to discuss the many perils of the attention economy. We explore the nuanced relationships between attention and productivity, social media and mental health, and algorithms and agency. Amelia also shares her critiques of digita...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Registered dietitian Jackie Silver joins us to discuss nutritional approaches that are helpful for neurodivergence, why people with autism and ADHD are often the targets of wellness and diet culture, the kinds of wellness-culture messages she’s gotten as a person with a disability, and why the advice to c...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com In this solo episode, Christy discusses the evidence on sugar and health—specifically what the science really says about the links between sugar and the risk of various chronic diseases, as well as the inherent limitations of the data. Plus, in honor of Halloween this week, she shares some thoughts (and s...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy answers a listener question about dealing with pregnancy weight gain when you’re working to make peace with food and your body. This episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to a free preview here, and sign up for a paid subscription to hear the full episode! Get full show notes and references here...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Cultural critic and author Amanda Hess joins us to discuss her new book, Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age . We talk about the intersection of pregnancy, early parenthood, and technology, her experience using a popular period app to track her pregnancy, how she navigated self-blame and cultur...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy discusses her experience with IVF and the intersection of infertility and complementary/alternative medicine, including a deep dive into the science on laser acupuncture for fertility. She also shares some personal news. This episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to a free preview here, and sign...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Physician and writer Mara Gordon joins us to discuss diet and wellness culture among medical doctors, why she took Ozempic for weight loss (and what made her quit), how she came to practice weight-inclusive care, and lots more. Behind the paywall, we get into why she was initially reluctant to write about...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy answers an audience question about organic foods, addressing whether organics are better for human health than conventional ones, potential environmental impacts, and important questions to consider if you’re recovering from disordered eating.  The full version of this episode is for paid subscrib...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Clinical psychologist and author Jennifer Caspari ( You Are More Than Your Body ) joins us to discuss how to accept your body when you have a chronic illness, chronic pain, or disability. We talk about her experience living with cerebral palsy, how to practice body neutrality, the importance of emotion-re...

Christy reads a guest post from a former anti-vaxxer who shares one thing that helped change her mind.  This episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to a free preview here, and sign up for a paid subscription to hear the full episode! Get full show notes and references here . Christy's second book, The Wellness Trap , is available wherever books are sold! Order it online or ask for it in your favo...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Eating-disorders dietitian Marci Evans joins us to discuss the current science on “food addiction” (sometimes called “ultraprocessed food addiction”)—and what’s changed since I first interviewed her about this topic for Food Psych back in 2016. We get into how food addiction is defined and measured (and w...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy answers an audience question about wellness podcaster Andrew Huberman and his promotion of intermittent fasting, cold showers, and other dubious wellness practices. This episode was originally published in March 2024. The full version of this episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to the first qu...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy discusses why some wellness influencers advocate avoiding sunscreen, and what the science really says about common UV-protective ingredients, vitamin D production, and more. This episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to a free preview here, and sign up for a paid subscription to hear the full ep...

Christy reads a letter from a listener that offers a unique point of view on the intersection of GLP-1s and diet culture. We’re also debuting a new feature and a way to get involved with the podcast! Get full show notes and references here . Subscribe to Rethinking Wellness to get all our content, including subscriber-only Q&As and essays, extended interviews with our guests, commenting privileges...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Endocrinologist Gregory Dodell joins us to discuss myths and facts about hormones, including the problems with doing diets and supplement protocols for “hormone balancing,” why weight-loss recommendations aren’t helpful for hormone health, how to manage thyroid conditions without falling prey to wellness...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy discusses what the science says about “hydration multipliers,” sports drinks, and other electrolyte beverages—and whether you’re really as dehydrated as you think. This episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to a free preview here, and sign up for a paid subscription to hear the full episode! Get...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy answers an audience question about whether light drinking is really as risky as some wellness influencers make it out to be, and shares some ways to explore your relationship with alcohol. The full version of this episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to the first question here, and sign up for...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Q&A: A critical look at diet advice for period pain and endometriosis. This episode was originally published in 2023. Check out the transcript for links to all referenced studies.  The full version of this episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to the first question here, and sign up for a paid subscript...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit rethinkingwellness.substack.com Christy answers an audience question about how much protein you really need—and explores why a certain piece of incorrect advice is so popular among influencers and “protein girlies.” The full version of this episode is for paid subscribers. Listen to the first question here, and sign up for a paid subscr...