Wellness, Actually with Emily Oster & Perry Wilson, MD

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• What's the deal with cupping and dry needling? 04.06.2026 1時間 1分

  This week, Emily and Perry dig into dry needling and cupping, the wellness equivalent to pain equals gain (maybe?). What are the therapeutic properties, and the risks, of yanking at or poking holes in your skin? Warning: this episode is not for the faint of heart. Plus: extraordinary developments in pancreatic cancer treatment, Google wants to fill the air with millions of sterile mosquitoes, and also farts. Past episodes referenced: What's the deal with creatine? Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with red meat? 28.05.2026 56分

  This week, Emily and Perry pull out their steak knives to cut through both the hypers, and the detractors, of red meat. Is it as bad for you as people say? Is there value to a (fiberless) carnivore diet? What makes it red, anyway? And why is nutritional science such a heap of hot, correlation-is-not-causation garbage? Plus: a peptide scandal in the running world, myths around mitochondria, and more Ebola, unfortunately. Past episodes discussed: What's the deal with peptides? What's the deal with protein? Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with methylene blue? 21.05.2026 57分

  This week, Emily and Perry bravely platform methylene blue, a synthetic dye with almost godlike properties according to the influencers, and some fascinating uses (and risks) in reality. Fatigued (?) mitochondria, the electron transport chain, and blue poop? AP Bio was never this fun. Plus: strawberries won't kill you, Ebola might, and keeping teens out of tanning beds. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with psychedelics? 14.05.2026 58分

  This week, Emily and Perry take a trip into the groovy world of psychedelics: what they are, what they do to our brains, and the myriad mental health problems that they seem to have a pretty interesting effect on. Join us for the most uniquely incredible experience of your life, we promise. Plus: hantavirus redux, the (now former) FDA commissioner pressured to approve flavored vapes, and a bad breast cancer study regarding perennial topic GLP-1s. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with colostrum? 07.05.2026 52分

  This week, Emily and Perry explore bovine colostrum, the alleged secret weapon for muscle growth and immunity, and cure for the much-maligned leaky gut. Does it actually work, who does it work for, and how do you know when it's safe? What's so wrong with having a gut that leaks anyway? And should someone be thinking about the poor deprived baby cows? Plus: Ozempic for Alcohol Use Disorder, the hantavirus outbreak on that cruise ship, and, finally, an end to the saga of perennial-no-longer Surgeon General candidate Casey Means. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with testosterone? 30.04.2026 57分

  This week, Emily and Perry take on testosterone, the raging yang to last week's sober estrogen yin. Do men actually experience "manopause" in ways similar to women? How much testosterone is not enough, what are the risks of too much, and how do you know if you need an extra boost? And what does testosterone do for men anyway? (Note: this episode on both endogenous and exogenous male sex hormones contains the existence of sex.) Plus: the U.S. military no longer mandating the flu jab, the fishy effects of fish oil on your brain, and promising news about pancreatic cancer treatment. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with hormone replacement therapy? 23.04.2026 53分

  This week, Emily, a woman, and Perry, a man, wade into the complicated world of hormone replacement therapy, the first of a two-part series on exogenous hormones and the sexes who love them. What do hormones do for women, and what happens when they recede? And why was HRT so closely -- and erroneously -- linked to breast cancer? Plus: a new type of diabetes, a normie CDC director nominee, and the groovy (?) reclassification of psychedelics. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with continuous glucose monitors? 16.04.2026 49分

  This week, Emily and Perry discuss continuous glucose monitors -- a gamechanger for diabetics and just kind of an overabundance of information for everyone else. What does glucose do to the body and what's the value of tracking it, along with everything we eat? Should we be using this data to regulate our intake? And what are the risks of knowing so much? Plus: rising and falling birthrates, Jay Bhattacharya's politicized Covid vaccine report, and welcoming folate into our corn tortillas. Registration link for Emily's interview with Jay Bhattacharya. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with protein? 09.04.2026 50分

  This week, Emily and Perry explore the vast array of protein vehicles that's taken over our influencer culture and supermarket aisles. How much protein are we told we need, and what's the over/under on how much we really need? What does protein do for our bodies anyway? And given the protein bars and protein water and protein Pop Tarts available (protein is having a moment, you guys), is it possible to have too much? Plus: GLP-1s all over the news cycle, the rising use of gas station kratom, and, ladies and gentlemen, the American Contact Dermatitis Society presents our 2026 Allergen of the Year. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with creatine? 02.04.2026 53分

  This week, Emily and Perry tackle creatine, a beloved amino acid derivative with surprisingly robust health properties. What is it actually doing to our muscles, and our brain? Pop a gummy, or stir in some powder, and find out. Plus: Casey Means might be out for Surgeon General, stem cells don't help heart attacks, and just how much sugar intake affects your kids. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with stem cell therapy? 26.03.2026 50分

  This week, Emily and Perry go toe-to-toe with the scammier side of the wellness industry: regenerative medicine clinics that claim to inject you with stem cells. Are they the fountain of youth? (No.) Are they even injecting you with stem cells? (Not really.) Are they preying on sick people? (Most definitely yes.) From knee cartilage to sickle cell disease, we've got the miraculous, the bad, and the truly ugly of stem cell therapy. Plus: the generational woes of lead poisoning, debunking stress as a cause of cancer, and doulas for all! Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with microplastics? 19.03.2026 51分

  This week, Emily and Perry dive into the here, there, and everywhere of microplastics. We know they're in the air we breathe and the water we drink, but how bad are they for us, really? How do our bodies respond to them, and how long do they even stay inside us? And can they be avoided? Plus: Leucovorin approved to treat autism, whether ChatGPT is a trustworthy triage nurse, and curious reports of painful sex in college students.  Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with red light therapy? 12.03.2026 50分

  This week, Emily and Perry shine a light on red light therapy: its origins, its heroic use of the mighty mitochondria, and the supposed countless benefits (better mood, wound healing, facial rejuvenation, hair regrowth?) of sitting in front of a hot red light that may or may not even be able to penetrate your skin. Plus: the disturbing return of polio, whether multivitamins have an effect on epigenetic aging, and if the pitch clock, while modestly good for Emily's enjoyment of baseball, is ruining pitchers' elbows. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with GLP-1s? 05.03.2026 58分

  This week, Emily and Perry discuss GLP-1s, those blockbuster weight-loss drugs that have taken the world by storm -- and not just what you already know about them. From the origins in Gila monster venom to the surprisingly long history of their use, they explore their effectiveness, side effects, lingering questions about long-term usage, and the weird knock-on effects in both the brain (libido?) and our society (protein water?). These drugs are here to stay, so let's understand them from every angle. Plus: RFK vs. Dr. Mike, a concerning Surgeon General pick, and unsurprising data around football head injuries. Concussion & CTE Foundation Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with cold plunges and saunas? 26.02.2026 50分

  This week, Emily and Perry plunge, as it were, into the temperature extremes: cold plunges and saunas. Is there any actual value to shocking your body with ice water or sweating out an ocean? Or are we just gluttons for punishment?  Plus: soaring measles rates, Jay Bhattacharya's double federal appointment, and pandemics lurking under the ice. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with peptides? 19.02.2026 52分

  This week, Emily and Perry tackle peptides, the purported panacea for all health ailments. Can an injection of these tiny bits of protein actually boost your metabolism, plump up your skin, heal your injuries, and overall prolong your life? And what could possibly go wrong when you inject a peptide stack of dubious origin anyway? Plus: mRNA flu vaccines, hormone replacement therapy, and the optimal time to hoard condoms at the Olympic Village (wink wink). Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What's the deal with declining sperm counts? 12.02.2026 58分

  In our inaugural episode, Emily and Perry talk all things sperm: if it's on the decline, how to juice its quality, the perils of tight underwear, and what a high sperm count says about your manliness (spoiler: absolutely nothing). Plus, vitamin K shots at birth, the keto diet to treat schizophrenia, and, in honor of the Olympics, whether penis pumping helps your air time. Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Official Trailer: Wellness, Actually with Emily Oster & Perry Wilson, MD 05.02.2026 2分

  GLP-1s. Colostrum. Microplastics. Red light therapy. Vaccines. There’s a staggering amount of health and wellness news and information, and it’s bombarding us everywhere we look. Who’s got time to parse it out, to verify it, and then to actually do the work of improving our health? And what if those wellness influencers actually knew how to read a medical study? That’s why we’re here. We are Emily Oster, best-selling author and data expert, and Perry Wilson, a medical doctor. And our goal is to separate fact from fiction, causality from correlation, so that you can stay informed without being overwhelmed. Every episode, we cover the health news of the week, take listener questions, and do a deep dive into a buzzy and misunderstood wellness topic so that you can actually make the best decisions for your own health. So join us for a weekly dose of sanity. It might actually be just what the doctor, and the economist, ordered: health advice for real life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Goodbye, for now 06.03.2025 4分

  An announcement from Emily about the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• An Expert Roundtable on Trying to Conceive 27.02.2025 57分

  For many people, when we start thinking about a family, we assume it'll just happen nine months from the moment we start trying. But that isn't the way it happens for all of us. And fertility can often be a journey that's more winding and more complicated and more confusing than we expected it to be. That's why ParentData has launched a new content vertical, Trying to Conceive (TTC), covering everything from ovulation windows to donor eggs to infertility treatments, along with a newsletter all about infertility treatment in particular, which aims to answer all of your questions with data. It's our mission to provide real evidence-based information so you can make the best decisions for your family.Today on ParentData, we're airing the audio from an event Emily did with three of the people who have contributed most to our new initiative: Dr. Breonna Slocum, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist, Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife and author, and Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, a perinatal psychiatrist. This roundtable of experts discuss about where to start with fertility, answer audience questions in real time, and consider what they all wish that they knew before starting the journey of trying to conceive.Explore to Trying to Conceive on ParentData.org, where you can also access new articles every week on data-driven pregnancy and parenting.This episode is generously supported by: Hatch LMNT StrollerCoaster Podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.