Rethinking Wellness

Critical thinking and compassionate skepticism about wellness and diet culture, and reflections on how to find true well-being.

By Christy Harrison

Rethinking Wellness

Rethinking Wellness offers critical thinking and compassionate skepticism about wellness and diet culture, and reflections on how to find true well-being. We explore the science (or lack thereof) behind popular wellness diets, the role of influencers and social-media algorithms in spreading wellness misinformation, problematic practices in the alternative- and integrative-medicine space, how wellness culture often drives disordered eating, the truth about trending topics like gut health, how to avoid getting taken advantage of when you’re desperate for help and healing, and how to care for yourself in a deeply flawed healthcare system without falling into wellness traps.

This podcast feed shares generous previews and very occasional full-length episodes. To hear everything, become a paid subscriber at rethinkingwellness.substack.com.

LATEST

How to Avoid Conspiracy Theory Hype – Navigating the Post-Truth Era with Ellie Anderson, PhD

1:17:42
Philosopher, professor, and podcaster Ellie Anderson, PhD joins us to discuss the realities of living in a “post-truth” era – where conspiracy theories…
Jun 22•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD and Ellie Anderson

Think You Might Be in Perimenopause? Don't Fall for These Wellness Traps. (Best Of)

How to avoid getting duped, and what the science really says. Christy discusses how to tell whether your symptoms are related to perimenopause or…
Jun 15•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD

Why You Probably Don’t Have a Leaky Gut, and Other Wellness Misconceptions with Jonathan Jarry (Best of)

1:13:07
Science communicator Jonathan Jarry joins us to discuss his history of turning to alternative cures for chronic pain, how he came to be skeptical of the…
Jun 8•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD

Can You Fix Your Thyroid with a Diet Change?

Do you really need to cut out gluten, dairy, nightshades, coffee, and other supposedly “inflammatory” foods for thyroid health? Christy answers an…
Jun 1•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD

Why Beauty Imperatives Are Not Victimless Crimes ft. Elise Hu

Journalist, podcaster, and author Elise Hu joins us to discuss her background with modeling and disordered eating, why beauty culture is a cousin of…
May 25•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD

A Bogus Digestive Test, and a Doctor Who Claims a Diet Can Help Regrow Hair (Best Of)

In this bonus episode, Christy answers audience questions about the validity of a test that claims to assess gut health, and whether you really need a…
May 18•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD

Magical Overthinking, Misinformation, and the Cultishness of Wellness Culture with Amanda Montell (Best Of)

1:20:13
Writer and linguist Amanda Montell joins us to discuss “magical overthinking” and the cognitive biases that make us vulnerable to misinformation…
May 11•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD

Leaky Gut Syndrome: Real Condition or Dubious Diagnosis?

Christy shares the story of a woman who came to believe a “leaky gut” was behind all her health issues, and discusses the nuanced facts about this…
May 4•Christy Harrison, MPH, RD