What's the deal with hormone replacement therapy?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.