Skeptoid #993: How to Decide What to Eat
June 17, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Fear-based marketing is a common tactic used to sell food products, and consumers can often ignore terms like “organic,” “natural,” and “processed” as they are not inherently meaningful for nutrition or safety.
- A healthy diet is based on variety, focusing on a balanced intake of macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), rather than specific “superfoods” or avoiding certain ingredients.
- Consumers should rely on scientific consensus and qualified medical practitioners for nutrition advice, rather than single studies, fad diets, or sources with a vested interest in selling products like supplements.
Segments
Defining Food and Nutrients (00:02:56)
- Key Takeaway: Food fundamentally provides seven basic components: carbohydrates, protein, fats, hydration, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, with the first three being macronutrients and the next two micronutrients.
- Summary: This section delves into the basic definition of food, breaking it down into its essential components. It distinguishes between macronutrients (carbs, protein, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), and also touches upon hydration and fiber.
Principles of Healthy Eating (00:04:02)
- Key Takeaway: A healthy diet is achieved through variety, focusing on a broad range of foods, primarily plants, rather than adhering to specific fad diets or demonizing individual foods.
- Summary: The discussion shifts to practical advice on what to eat, emphasizing that the question is simple for those with dietary choices. It stresses the importance of variety over specific foods and cautions against overly specific advice, which often indicates a sales pitch.
Debunking Food Myths (00:05:40)
- Key Takeaway: There are no inherently unhealthy foods, only unhealthy diets, and terms like ‘superfoods,’ ‘fattening foods,’ and ‘junk food’ are marketing constructs that lack scientific basis.
- Summary: This segment directly addresses common misconceptions about food, asserting that no food is inherently bad. It debunks the concepts of ‘superfoods’ and ‘junk food,’ explaining that all food is processed and that the focus should be on the overall dietary pattern.
Evaluating Nutrition Advice (00:06:33)
- Key Takeaway: Reliable nutrition advice comes from science-based practitioners and consensus, not from sources that use fear-based marketing or have a commercial interest in selling products.
- Summary: The conversation turns to where to seek nutrition advice, warning against fear-based marketing and websites with shopping carts for supplements. It also highlights the importance of scientific consensus over single studies and advises against dietary supplements unless medically recommended.
Organic and GMO Foods (00:12:26)
- Key Takeaway: The ‘organic’ label is primarily a marketing term with no inherent nutritional or safety advantage over conventional food, and GMOs are overwhelmingly considered safe by the scientific community.
- Summary: This segment tackles the often-misunderstood topics of organic and GMO foods. It explains that organic regulations are driven by industry lobbyists and do not guarantee better nutrition or safety, and that GMOs have been extensively tested and found to be safe by scientists.
Weight Loss and Dieting (00:15:20)
- Key Takeaway: Weight loss diets are generally ineffective for long-term results, and sustainable weight management requires lifelong changes in eating habits, not temporary restrictions.
- Summary: The discussion addresses weight loss, stating that diets do not work and that sustainable weight management involves permanent lifestyle changes. It advises consulting a medical practitioner before attempting weight loss and discourages the purchase of weight loss products.
Debug Information
Processing Details
- VTT File: Skeptoid_WhatToEat_Ep993.vtt
- Processing Time: September 11, 2025 at 02:40 PM
- Total Chunks: 1
- Transcript Length: 22,361 characters
- Caption Count: 202 captions
Prompts Used
Prompt 1: Context Setup
You are an expert data extractor tasked with analyzing a podcast transcript.
I will provide you with part 1 of 1 from a podcast transcript.
I will then ask you to extract different types of information from this content in subsequent messages. Please confirm you have received and understood the transcript content.
Transcript section:
[00:00:03.360 --> 00:00:07.680] Does going to the grocery store feel like you're entering a minefield?
[00:00:07.680 --> 00:00:15.040] It's almost impossible to exist these days without being barraged by messages about what you should and should not eat.
[00:00:15.360 --> 00:00:21.600] If you don't eat the right superfoods, you'll die a horrible death, unless the processed foods get you first.
[00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:27.520] How is one to sort out which nutrition advice is valid and which is bogus?
[00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:38.400] Join us for an exclusive three-day exploration of historic Death Valley.
[00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:45.680] From October 21st to 24th, we'll take you from Las Vegas deep into the heart of this rugged, otherworldly landscape.
[00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:49.600] All transportation, lodging, and meals are included.
[00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:52.240] Your guides will be Skeptoid's Brian Dunning.
[00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:57.360] Hey, I know that guy, he's me, and Death Valley expert, geologist Andrew Dunning.
[00:00:57.360 --> 00:01:06.160] Together, they'll lead you to world-famous sites like Badwater Basin and the Artist's Palette, plus hidden gems that you won't find in any guidebook.
[00:01:06.160 --> 00:01:10.720] This year's trip features all new destinations with minimal overlap from last year.
[00:01:10.720 --> 00:01:15.920] And here's a bonus: Skepticamp Las Vegas begins the same evening we return to Las Vegas.
[00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:21.120] Make it a two-for-one trip and stick around to hear me talk about my visit to Area 51.
[00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:24.640] Details at skeptoid.com/slash events.
[00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.400] Spots are very limited.
[00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:27.920] Secure yours today.
[00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:35.920] Email help at skeptoid.com with questions and join the conversation with fellow adventurers at skeptoid.com slash discord.
[00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.920] Death Valley is calling.
[00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.720] Are you ready to answer?
[00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:46.240] You're listening to Skeptoid.
[00:01:46.240 --> 00:01:51.440] I'm Craig Goode, guest hosting for Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.
[00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.720] How to decide what to eat.
[00:01:55.360 --> 00:02:07.000] Welcome to the show that separates fact from fiction, science from pseudoscience, real history from fake history, and helps us all make better life decisions by knowing what's real and what's not.
[00:02:08.600 --> 00:02:10.040] Organic.
[00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:11.800] Natural.
[00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:13.080] Processed.
[00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:15.160] Ultra-processed.
[00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:16.840] Synthetic.
[00:02:17.160 --> 00:02:19.480] GMO or gluten-free.
[00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:21.000] Whole.
[00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:22.600] Clean.
[00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:28.280] These words seem to latch onto our food and can cause a lot of stress.
[00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:33.080] My first advice to you is to just relax.
[00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:43.960] Except sometimes for gluten-free, which genuinely does matter to people with celiac, what those words have in common is that they're used in fear-based marketing.
[00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:46.680] You may simply ignore them.
[00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:52.600] Marketing campaigns that use these terms are just trying to frighten you into buying their product.
[00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:56.040] These terms don't really mean anything useful.
[00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:59.800] Let's back up a minute and get down to basics.
[00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.040] What is food anyway?
[00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:21.480] It's something you ingest which gives you some combination of these seven basic things: carbohydrates, protein, fats, hydration, a fancy word for what water gives you, vitamins, minerals, fiber.
[00:03:22.760 --> 00:03:24.680] That's pretty much it.
[00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:26.600] Nothing exotic.
[00:03:26.600 --> 00:03:32.120] The first three, carbs, proteins, and fats, are what you need most of and where you get your calories.
[00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:35.000] So they're called macronutrients.
[00:03:35.320 --> 00:03:41.880] Vitamins and minerals are chemicals your body needs in small quantities and which it can't synthesize on its own.
[00:03:41.880 --> 00:03:44.960] They're called micronutrients.
[00:03:44.440 --> 00:03:46.640] Fiber is an interesting one.
[00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:55.600] It doesn't feed you directly, but your gut microbiome feeds on it, and it performs a few other functions outside the scope of this episode.
[00:03:55.920 --> 00:04:02.000] So, now that you know what food is, you still want to know what you should eat.
[00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:08.960] While nutrition science is enormously complicated, the question of what to eat is astonishingly simple.
[00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:13.680] That's assuming that you live a life where you actually have a choice of what to eat.
[00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.880] If that's you, count your blessings.
[00:04:17.200 --> 00:04:26.480] Before we continue with any advice, please understand that this is intended for typically healthy people who do have the privilege of choosing their diets.
[00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:34.880] There are allergies, intolerances, and conditions such as celiac, which I mentioned before, which may need to influence your choices.
[00:04:34.880 --> 00:04:42.880] Follow the instructions of your qualified medical practitioners rather than anything you hear in a podcast, even this one.
[00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:55.920] Here is about the most specific advice anybody can give you: enjoy a variety of foods, mostly plants, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, not too much or too little.
[00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:02.320] If you hear advice much more specific than that, it's likely that someone is trying to sell you something.
[00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:05.600] The key word here is variety.
[00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.960] We evolved to thrive on a variety of foods.
[00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:14.720] So, what you really want to do is think in terms of diet, not individual foods.
[00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:22.480] Here's a good way to think of it: what you eat today doesn't matter, but what you eat this month does.
[00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:28.000] In fact, if you're reasonably healthy, it doesn't even matter if you eat today.
[00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:35.560] So, don't waste time trying to decide which food is healthy and which isn't, because any food can be part of a healthy diet.
[00:05:36.840 --> 00:05:40.600] Yes, that means that there are no unhealthy foods.
[00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:44.680] There are unhealthy diets, but no unhealthy foods.
[00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:50.600] There are no superfoods, no fattening foods, and no such thing as junk food.
[00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:59.080] All food is processed, so there's no reason to demonize food for being processed, or as in the latest fad, ultra-processed.
[00:05:59.080 --> 00:06:02.840] Nobody can even define what ultra-processed means.
[00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.840] For example, there's nothing wrong with sugar.
[00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:12.520] But you can have serious problems if added sugar forms too big a portion of your diet.
[00:06:12.520 --> 00:06:18.440] Ditto for salt, fat, or any other ingredient you can name, even water.
[00:06:18.760 --> 00:06:22.520] Lately, the fat ingredients to demonize are seed oils.
[00:06:22.520 --> 00:06:24.680] Know what's wrong with seed oils?
[00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:26.200] Not a thing.
[00:06:26.200 --> 00:06:32.920] In fact, there's research associating many of them, including plain old canola oil, with good health outcomes.
[00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:38.840] Speaking of demonizing food, let's talk about where not to get nutrition advice.
[00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:45.560] You can safely ignore advice from anybody who is trying to frighten you away from a food or ingredient.
[00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:49.080] Fear-based marketing is so common because it works.
[00:06:49.400 --> 00:06:56.360] Except, after this episode, it won't work so well on you, meaning you'll save money as well as be healthier.
[00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:01.720] Also, don't take advice from someone whose website has a shopping cart.
[00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:09.400] I'm not talking about merch like on Skeptoid's site, but supplements or so-called wellness products.
[00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:14.040] While we're talking about fear, heed this important warning.
[00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:22.720] If you have anything to do with the fear foods or experience any anxiety around food, please see a doctor immediately.
[00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:28.080] Eating disorders are the deadliest of all mental illnesses and by a wide margin.
[00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:35.120] If you have any concerns at all, start with a visit to your doctor who can recommend appropriate resources.
[00:07:36.080 --> 00:07:39.680] Surely we can use science to guide our food choices, right?
[00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.880] Right, but with an important caveat.
[00:07:42.880 --> 00:07:47.200] Don't use the latest study to make health decisions.
[00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:58.400] A single study can be a fascinating and important part of advancing science, and we often celebrate those here in the weekly Skeptoid companion email in a feature called Wonder of the Week.
[00:07:58.400 --> 00:08:05.280] But, and this is important, you shouldn't modify your diet based on a single study.
[00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:08.640] Instead, seek out the scientific consensus.
[00:08:08.960 --> 00:08:14.480] That's what you get when there's a lot of solid evidence all pointing in the same direction.
[00:08:15.440 --> 00:08:26.080] For example, there's a consensus that you should minimize the trans fats in your diet, and that added sugars shouldn't exceed about 5% of your average daily caloric intake.
[00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:31.600] By the way, for most people, that translates to roughly 25 grams of added sugar.
[00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:37.680] That might motivate you to switch to zero-calorie soft drinks, which are, you guessed it, safe.
[00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:42.800] There's also a strong consensus that the less alcohol you consume, the better off you are.
[00:08:42.800 --> 00:08:49.280] Earlier studies showing benefits for small amounts of alcohol turned out not to be very high quality.
[00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:57.120] Unless your qualified medical practitioner has specifically recommended one, you don't need any kind of dietary supplements.
[00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.760] Yes, that includes vitamin supplements.
[00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:10.840] If you live in an industrialized society and eat a good variety of fruits, veggies, and other foods, you're probably getting all the macronutrients and micronutrients that you need.
[00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:19.240] By qualified medical practitioner, I mean science-based medical doctors and registered dietitians.
[00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:32.840] This specifically excludes so-called functional medicine, naturopaths, chiropractors, homeopaths, and pretty much anybody who uses holistic or wellness in their title.
[00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:39.800] It's worth noting that, at least in the U.S., the supplement industry is essentially unregulated.
[00:09:39.800 --> 00:09:47.960] What you're buying is frequently an unknown dose of an untested ingredient, along with an unknown amount of contaminants.
[00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:52.920] That's if the ingredient on the label is even in the bottle, which it often is not.
[00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:00.120] Fall is here and Skeptoid has you covered.
[00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:08.760] Literally, our back-to-school sale is happening all September long, with 20% off everything in the Skeptoid store.
[00:10:08.760 --> 00:10:19.000] Grab a cozy hoodie for those chilly mornings, sip your favorite roast from a Skeptoid coffee mug, or sport one of our shirts that proudly promotes critical thinking.
[00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:25.560] Just use the code Skeptoid20 at checkout and save 20% on your entire order.
[00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:28.680] Don't wait, this sale ends September 30th.
[00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:34.360] Head to skeptoid.com/slash store and get your gear today.
[00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:42.680] Don't chase the one ideal diet because it doesn't exist.
[00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:47.600] We evolved to thrive on a variety of foods and a variety of diets.
[00:10:44.760 --> 00:10:50.880] That's a big part of why humans have spread all over the planet.
[00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:57.680] You can ignore fad diets, and a quick way to spot a fad diet is that it has a name.
[00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.640] The one sort of exception is the so-called Mediterranean diet.
[00:11:02.640 --> 00:11:10.640] It doesn't have any precise definition, but most descriptions of it boil down to a variety of food, mostly plants.
[00:11:10.640 --> 00:11:15.360] Do you need to go Atkins, Whole30, Paleo, or Keto?
[00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:16.640] No.
[00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:20.160] So, let's go shopping.
[00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:35.680] You can safely ignore fashionable advice to shop around the edges of the store, because the middle has all kinds of wonderful foods, such as canned beans and veggies, that are perfectly appropriate to form a large part of a very healthy diet.
[00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:38.560] But do spend some time in the produce section.
[00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:43.360] This is your big chance to get some yummy variety in the form of fruits and veggies.
[00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:48.880] Try bringing home something new every time you go, then look up ways to prepare and serve it.
[00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:57.440] Do keep in mind that most Americans get the bulk of their calories from just a few species, mostly wheat, potatoes, and corn.
[00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:01.920] Learn to read the ingredients on foods to see what they're mostly made of.
[00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:08.160] The first items listed form the bulk of it, and you can pretty much ignore everything at the end of the list.
[00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:15.760] Speaking of which, don't fall for the fear-based tactic of frightening you away from ingredients you can't pronounce.
[00:12:15.760 --> 00:12:21.200] How well you recognize a chemical name has nothing to do with its safety or nutrition.
[00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:25.600] As you add things to your cart, just think variety.
[00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.760] Ooh, look, there's a big organic food section.
[00:12:29.880 --> 00:12:36.040] It's kind of expensive, but must be worth it because it's healthier and doesn't have any pesticides, right?
[00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.680] Wrong.
[00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:45.160] In the U.S., the organic regulations were literally written by lobbyists for the organic food industry.
[00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:51.320] These are regulated agricultural practices which have nothing to do with nutrition or safety.
[00:12:51.640 --> 00:12:56.040] There is no nutritional advantage to organic food over conventional.
[00:12:56.040 --> 00:13:04.600] And not only do they use pesticides, but very often pesticides that are more toxic than conventional, so-called synthetic ones.
[00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:13.880] Organic is, in the context of food, merely a marketing term used in one of the most successful fear-based campaigns ever.
[00:13:13.880 --> 00:13:18.840] The industry has spent millions trying to make you afraid of anything that isn't organic.
[00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:21.480] It's fundamentally dishonest.
[00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:26.120] Note that this doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with organic food.
[00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:30.600] If you find some you like and don't mind the price, it certainly won't hurt you.
[00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:37.480] But it does take up a lot more arable land because organic yields are lower than conventional agriculture.
[00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:43.480] Most of the anti-GMO propaganda you hear is funded by big organic.
[00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:47.720] Much of the rest, believe it or not, is Russian disinformation.
[00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:56.440] GMO foods have been so effectively demonized that this is one of the biggest opinion gaps between scientists and the public at large.
[00:13:56.440 --> 00:14:05.160] Scientists overwhelmingly understand that GMOs are completely safe, while a disappointing percentage of the public fears otherwise.
[00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:12.440] The executive summary on GMOs is that they have been well tested for decades and found to be safe.
[00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:27.360] Some crops, such as Hawaiian papaya, were rescued from extinction by genetic modification, and others, such as golden rice, can prevent blindness and other diseases in parts of the world where vitamin A deficiency is common.
[00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.960] But what about pesticides in your food?
[00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:36.880] This is a common fear-mongering topic because who isn't afraid of toxins in their food?
[00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:48.320] Here are two things to remember: first, if you simply wash your produce, the amount of residual pesticides from agriculture is so vanishingly small that it can't hurt you.
[00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:55.600] Farmers can't afford to waste money, so they don't soak their crops in pesticides when a small amount does the trick.
[00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:04.000] Note also that most are of extremely low toxicity to humans anyway, because we aren't weeds and we aren't insects.
[00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:11.040] Second, the vast majority of the pesticides you eat are produced naturally by the plant you are eating.
[00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:14.960] Cabbage produces around 46 toxins on its own.
[00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:19.120] Again, you don't have to worry about it because you aren't a bug.
[00:15:20.640 --> 00:15:24.320] One more tip: never go on a weight loss diet.
[00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.840] They don't work.
[00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:34.320] Why they don't is more than enough for a separate episode, but check the references in the show notes for an excellent book on the subject.
[00:15:34.640 --> 00:15:39.920] Before attempting to lose weight, see your qualified medical practitioner.
[00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:46.000] The fact is that there is no one ideal weight for you, but a range of healthy weights.
[00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:49.760] Generally, you want to be toward the lean end of that range.
[00:15:49.760 --> 00:15:55.360] And the only way to get there and stay there is to change the way you eat for the rest of your life.
[00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:59.440] A temporary diet will never have permanent benefits.
[00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:08.360] Note that cutting down on some sugar and getting more vegetables, which are not calorie dense, is about the only change most people need to make.
[00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:12.360] Don't buy any weight loss products or services.
[00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:19.400] If one of the new drugs that can help, such as semaglutide, is right for you, your doctor will know.
[00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:23.160] So, take the long view.
[00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:27.720] Don't pick specific foods because of supposed health benefits.
[00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:32.120] Ignore anybody telling you that a food or ingredient is bad.
[00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:38.040] Pack your shopping cart with an eye toward getting a variety of species and a variety of foods.
[00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:43.400] Maybe don't keep treat foods in the house, but enjoy a nice dessert now and then when you go out.
[00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:49.080] Don't let anybody ever make you feel bad or guilty about what you eat.
[00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:54.360] Food should be a source of not just nourishment, but of joy and community.
[00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:58.280] And when you learn to cook, it can also be art.
[00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:06.760] So, enjoy a variety of foods, mostly plants with plenty of fruits and veggies, not too much or too little.
[00:17:07.080 --> 00:17:11.160] In sum, relax and enjoy your food.
[00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:18.840] We continue with more on how you can get your toddler to like Brussels sprouts in the Ad-Free and Extended Premium feed.
[00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:24.840] To access it, become a supporter at skeptoid.com/slash go premium.
[00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:31.080] This has been Craig Good.
[00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:39.480] If you like variety in your feed as well as your food, find me on BlueSky at clgood.bsky.social.
[00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:51.280] A great big skeptoid shout-out out to our premium supporters, including Paintmaster, Jay from Orlando, Marty Banana, Grand Imperator of All Adelaide, and Jodi McCook.
[00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:55.760] Becoming a premium member is the best way to enjoy Skeptoid.
[00:17:55.760 --> 00:18:08.080] Not only do you get a special sponsor-free and extended podcast feed, you can also get the nifty Skeptoid USB 3.0 flash drive preloaded with all the podcasts and movies we've ever produced.
[00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:09.360] It's easy to get.
[00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:13.840] Just come to skeptoid.com and click Go Premium.
[00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:19.600] As long as you've got your podcast app open right now, please take a second and give Skeptoid a rating.
[00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:24.640] It really does help with the discovery algorithms that suggest Skeptoid to new listeners.
[00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.440] And we all know how much they need it.
[00:18:27.760 --> 00:18:30.720] Skeptoid is a production of Skeptoid Media.
[00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:33.520] Executive producer is Brian Dunning.
[00:18:33.520 --> 00:18:37.920] Director of Operations and Tinfoil Hat Counter is Kathy Reitmeyer.
[00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:41.840] Marketing guru and Illuminati liaison is Jake Young.
[00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:47.360] Production Management and All Things Audio by fellow Pro Tools nerd Will McCandless.
[00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:49.840] Music is by Lee Sanders.
[00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:53.120] Researched and written by me, Craig Good.
[00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:59.840] Listen to Skeptoid for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or iHeart.
[00:19:01.760 --> 00:19:05.040] You're listening to Skeptoid, a listener-supported program.
[00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:08.480] I'm Craig Good from Skeptoid.com.
[00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:13.280] From PRX.
[00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.400] Mm-hmm.
Prompt 2: Key Takeaways
Now please extract the key takeaways from the transcript content I provided.
Extract the most important key takeaways from this part of the conversation. Use a single sentence statement (the key takeaway) rather than milquetoast descriptions like "the hosts discuss...".
Limit the key takeaways to a maximum of 3. The key takeaways should be insightful and knowledge-additive.
IMPORTANT: Return ONLY valid JSON, no explanations or markdown. Ensure:
- All strings are properly quoted and escaped
- No trailing commas
- All braces and brackets are balanced
Format: {"key_takeaways": ["takeaway 1", "takeaway 2"]}
Prompt 3: Segments
Now identify 2-4 distinct topical segments from this part of the conversation.
For each segment, identify:
- Descriptive title (3-6 words)
- START timestamp when this topic begins (HH:MM:SS format)
- Double check that the timestamp is accurate - a timestamp will NEVER be greater than the total length of the audio
- Most important Key takeaway from that segment. Key takeaway must be specific and knowledge-additive.
- Brief summary of the discussion
IMPORTANT: The timestamp should mark when the topic/segment STARTS, not a range. Look for topic transitions and conversation shifts.
Return ONLY valid JSON. Ensure all strings are properly quoted, no trailing commas:
{
"segments": [
{
"segment_title": "Topic Discussion",
"timestamp": "01:15:30",
"key_takeaway": "main point from this segment",
"segment_summary": "brief description of what was discussed"
}
]
}
Timestamp format: HH:MM:SS (e.g., 00:05:30, 01:22:45) marking the START of each segment.
Prompt 4: Media Mentions
Now scan the transcript content I provided for ACTUAL mentions of specific media titles:
Find explicit mentions of:
- Books (with specific titles)
- Movies (with specific titles)
- TV Shows (with specific titles)
- Music/Songs (with specific titles)
DO NOT include:
- Websites, URLs, or web services
- Other podcasts or podcast names
IMPORTANT:
- Only include items explicitly mentioned by name. Do not invent titles.
- Valid categories are: "Book", "Movie", "TV Show", "Music"
- Include the exact phrase where each item was mentioned
- Find the nearest proximate timestamp where it appears in the conversation
- THE TIMESTAMP OF THE MEDIA MENTION IS IMPORTANT - DO NOT INVENT TIMESTAMPS AND DO NOT MISATTRIBUTE TIMESTAMPS
- Double check that the timestamp is accurate - a timestamp will NEVER be greater than the total length of the audio
- Timestamps are given as ranges, e.g. 01:13:42.520 --> 01:13:46.720. Use the EARLIER of the 2 timestamps in the range.
Return ONLY valid JSON. Ensure all strings are properly quoted and escaped, no trailing commas:
{
"media_mentions": [
{
"title": "Exact Title as Mentioned",
"category": "Book",
"author_artist": "N/A",
"context": "Brief context of why it was mentioned",
"context_phrase": "The exact sentence or phrase where it was mentioned",
"timestamp": "estimated time like 01:15:30"
}
]
}
If no media is mentioned, return: {"media_mentions": []}
Full Transcript
[00:00:03.360 --> 00:00:07.680] Does going to the grocery store feel like you're entering a minefield?
[00:00:07.680 --> 00:00:15.040] It's almost impossible to exist these days without being barraged by messages about what you should and should not eat.
[00:00:15.360 --> 00:00:21.600] If you don't eat the right superfoods, you'll die a horrible death, unless the processed foods get you first.
[00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:27.520] How is one to sort out which nutrition advice is valid and which is bogus?
[00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:38.400] Join us for an exclusive three-day exploration of historic Death Valley.
[00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:45.680] From October 21st to 24th, we'll take you from Las Vegas deep into the heart of this rugged, otherworldly landscape.
[00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:49.600] All transportation, lodging, and meals are included.
[00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:52.240] Your guides will be Skeptoid's Brian Dunning.
[00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:57.360] Hey, I know that guy, he's me, and Death Valley expert, geologist Andrew Dunning.
[00:00:57.360 --> 00:01:06.160] Together, they'll lead you to world-famous sites like Badwater Basin and the Artist's Palette, plus hidden gems that you won't find in any guidebook.
[00:01:06.160 --> 00:01:10.720] This year's trip features all new destinations with minimal overlap from last year.
[00:01:10.720 --> 00:01:15.920] And here's a bonus: Skepticamp Las Vegas begins the same evening we return to Las Vegas.
[00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:21.120] Make it a two-for-one trip and stick around to hear me talk about my visit to Area 51.
[00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:24.640] Details at skeptoid.com/slash events.
[00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.400] Spots are very limited.
[00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:27.920] Secure yours today.
[00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:35.920] Email help at skeptoid.com with questions and join the conversation with fellow adventurers at skeptoid.com slash discord.
[00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:37.920] Death Valley is calling.
[00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.720] Are you ready to answer?
[00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:46.240] You're listening to Skeptoid.
[00:01:46.240 --> 00:01:51.440] I'm Craig Goode, guest hosting for Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.
[00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.720] How to decide what to eat.
[00:01:55.360 --> 00:02:07.000] Welcome to the show that separates fact from fiction, science from pseudoscience, real history from fake history, and helps us all make better life decisions by knowing what's real and what's not.
[00:02:08.600 --> 00:02:10.040] Organic.
[00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:11.800] Natural.
[00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:13.080] Processed.
[00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:15.160] Ultra-processed.
[00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:16.840] Synthetic.
[00:02:17.160 --> 00:02:19.480] GMO or gluten-free.
[00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:21.000] Whole.
[00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:22.600] Clean.
[00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:28.280] These words seem to latch onto our food and can cause a lot of stress.
[00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:33.080] My first advice to you is to just relax.
[00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:43.960] Except sometimes for gluten-free, which genuinely does matter to people with celiac, what those words have in common is that they're used in fear-based marketing.
[00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:46.680] You may simply ignore them.
[00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:52.600] Marketing campaigns that use these terms are just trying to frighten you into buying their product.
[00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:56.040] These terms don't really mean anything useful.
[00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:59.800] Let's back up a minute and get down to basics.
[00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.040] What is food anyway?
[00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:21.480] It's something you ingest which gives you some combination of these seven basic things: carbohydrates, protein, fats, hydration, a fancy word for what water gives you, vitamins, minerals, fiber.
[00:03:22.760 --> 00:03:24.680] That's pretty much it.
[00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:26.600] Nothing exotic.
[00:03:26.600 --> 00:03:32.120] The first three, carbs, proteins, and fats, are what you need most of and where you get your calories.
[00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:35.000] So they're called macronutrients.
[00:03:35.320 --> 00:03:41.880] Vitamins and minerals are chemicals your body needs in small quantities and which it can't synthesize on its own.
[00:03:41.880 --> 00:03:44.960] They're called micronutrients.
[00:03:44.440 --> 00:03:46.640] Fiber is an interesting one.
[00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:55.600] It doesn't feed you directly, but your gut microbiome feeds on it, and it performs a few other functions outside the scope of this episode.
[00:03:55.920 --> 00:04:02.000] So, now that you know what food is, you still want to know what you should eat.
[00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:08.960] While nutrition science is enormously complicated, the question of what to eat is astonishingly simple.
[00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:13.680] That's assuming that you live a life where you actually have a choice of what to eat.
[00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.880] If that's you, count your blessings.
[00:04:17.200 --> 00:04:26.480] Before we continue with any advice, please understand that this is intended for typically healthy people who do have the privilege of choosing their diets.
[00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:34.880] There are allergies, intolerances, and conditions such as celiac, which I mentioned before, which may need to influence your choices.
[00:04:34.880 --> 00:04:42.880] Follow the instructions of your qualified medical practitioners rather than anything you hear in a podcast, even this one.
[00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:55.920] Here is about the most specific advice anybody can give you: enjoy a variety of foods, mostly plants, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, not too much or too little.
[00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:02.320] If you hear advice much more specific than that, it's likely that someone is trying to sell you something.
[00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:05.600] The key word here is variety.
[00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.960] We evolved to thrive on a variety of foods.
[00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:14.720] So, what you really want to do is think in terms of diet, not individual foods.
[00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:22.480] Here's a good way to think of it: what you eat today doesn't matter, but what you eat this month does.
[00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:28.000] In fact, if you're reasonably healthy, it doesn't even matter if you eat today.
[00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:35.560] So, don't waste time trying to decide which food is healthy and which isn't, because any food can be part of a healthy diet.
[00:05:36.840 --> 00:05:40.600] Yes, that means that there are no unhealthy foods.
[00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:44.680] There are unhealthy diets, but no unhealthy foods.
[00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:50.600] There are no superfoods, no fattening foods, and no such thing as junk food.
[00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:59.080] All food is processed, so there's no reason to demonize food for being processed, or as in the latest fad, ultra-processed.
[00:05:59.080 --> 00:06:02.840] Nobody can even define what ultra-processed means.
[00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.840] For example, there's nothing wrong with sugar.
[00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:12.520] But you can have serious problems if added sugar forms too big a portion of your diet.
[00:06:12.520 --> 00:06:18.440] Ditto for salt, fat, or any other ingredient you can name, even water.
[00:06:18.760 --> 00:06:22.520] Lately, the fat ingredients to demonize are seed oils.
[00:06:22.520 --> 00:06:24.680] Know what's wrong with seed oils?
[00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:26.200] Not a thing.
[00:06:26.200 --> 00:06:32.920] In fact, there's research associating many of them, including plain old canola oil, with good health outcomes.
[00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:38.840] Speaking of demonizing food, let's talk about where not to get nutrition advice.
[00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:45.560] You can safely ignore advice from anybody who is trying to frighten you away from a food or ingredient.
[00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:49.080] Fear-based marketing is so common because it works.
[00:06:49.400 --> 00:06:56.360] Except, after this episode, it won't work so well on you, meaning you'll save money as well as be healthier.
[00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:01.720] Also, don't take advice from someone whose website has a shopping cart.
[00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:09.400] I'm not talking about merch like on Skeptoid's site, but supplements or so-called wellness products.
[00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:14.040] While we're talking about fear, heed this important warning.
[00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:22.720] If you have anything to do with the fear foods or experience any anxiety around food, please see a doctor immediately.
[00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:28.080] Eating disorders are the deadliest of all mental illnesses and by a wide margin.
[00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:35.120] If you have any concerns at all, start with a visit to your doctor who can recommend appropriate resources.
[00:07:36.080 --> 00:07:39.680] Surely we can use science to guide our food choices, right?
[00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.880] Right, but with an important caveat.
[00:07:42.880 --> 00:07:47.200] Don't use the latest study to make health decisions.
[00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:58.400] A single study can be a fascinating and important part of advancing science, and we often celebrate those here in the weekly Skeptoid companion email in a feature called Wonder of the Week.
[00:07:58.400 --> 00:08:05.280] But, and this is important, you shouldn't modify your diet based on a single study.
[00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:08.640] Instead, seek out the scientific consensus.
[00:08:08.960 --> 00:08:14.480] That's what you get when there's a lot of solid evidence all pointing in the same direction.
[00:08:15.440 --> 00:08:26.080] For example, there's a consensus that you should minimize the trans fats in your diet, and that added sugars shouldn't exceed about 5% of your average daily caloric intake.
[00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:31.600] By the way, for most people, that translates to roughly 25 grams of added sugar.
[00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:37.680] That might motivate you to switch to zero-calorie soft drinks, which are, you guessed it, safe.
[00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:42.800] There's also a strong consensus that the less alcohol you consume, the better off you are.
[00:08:42.800 --> 00:08:49.280] Earlier studies showing benefits for small amounts of alcohol turned out not to be very high quality.
[00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:57.120] Unless your qualified medical practitioner has specifically recommended one, you don't need any kind of dietary supplements.
[00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.760] Yes, that includes vitamin supplements.
[00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:10.840] If you live in an industrialized society and eat a good variety of fruits, veggies, and other foods, you're probably getting all the macronutrients and micronutrients that you need.
[00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:19.240] By qualified medical practitioner, I mean science-based medical doctors and registered dietitians.
[00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:32.840] This specifically excludes so-called functional medicine, naturopaths, chiropractors, homeopaths, and pretty much anybody who uses holistic or wellness in their title.
[00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:39.800] It's worth noting that, at least in the U.S., the supplement industry is essentially unregulated.
[00:09:39.800 --> 00:09:47.960] What you're buying is frequently an unknown dose of an untested ingredient, along with an unknown amount of contaminants.
[00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:52.920] That's if the ingredient on the label is even in the bottle, which it often is not.
[00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:00.120] Fall is here and Skeptoid has you covered.
[00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:08.760] Literally, our back-to-school sale is happening all September long, with 20% off everything in the Skeptoid store.
[00:10:08.760 --> 00:10:19.000] Grab a cozy hoodie for those chilly mornings, sip your favorite roast from a Skeptoid coffee mug, or sport one of our shirts that proudly promotes critical thinking.
[00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:25.560] Just use the code Skeptoid20 at checkout and save 20% on your entire order.
[00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:28.680] Don't wait, this sale ends September 30th.
[00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:34.360] Head to skeptoid.com/slash store and get your gear today.
[00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:42.680] Don't chase the one ideal diet because it doesn't exist.
[00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:47.600] We evolved to thrive on a variety of foods and a variety of diets.
[00:10:44.760 --> 00:10:50.880] That's a big part of why humans have spread all over the planet.
[00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:57.680] You can ignore fad diets, and a quick way to spot a fad diet is that it has a name.
[00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.640] The one sort of exception is the so-called Mediterranean diet.
[00:11:02.640 --> 00:11:10.640] It doesn't have any precise definition, but most descriptions of it boil down to a variety of food, mostly plants.
[00:11:10.640 --> 00:11:15.360] Do you need to go Atkins, Whole30, Paleo, or Keto?
[00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:16.640] No.
[00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:20.160] So, let's go shopping.
[00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:35.680] You can safely ignore fashionable advice to shop around the edges of the store, because the middle has all kinds of wonderful foods, such as canned beans and veggies, that are perfectly appropriate to form a large part of a very healthy diet.
[00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:38.560] But do spend some time in the produce section.
[00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:43.360] This is your big chance to get some yummy variety in the form of fruits and veggies.
[00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:48.880] Try bringing home something new every time you go, then look up ways to prepare and serve it.
[00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:57.440] Do keep in mind that most Americans get the bulk of their calories from just a few species, mostly wheat, potatoes, and corn.
[00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:01.920] Learn to read the ingredients on foods to see what they're mostly made of.
[00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:08.160] The first items listed form the bulk of it, and you can pretty much ignore everything at the end of the list.
[00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:15.760] Speaking of which, don't fall for the fear-based tactic of frightening you away from ingredients you can't pronounce.
[00:12:15.760 --> 00:12:21.200] How well you recognize a chemical name has nothing to do with its safety or nutrition.
[00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:25.600] As you add things to your cart, just think variety.
[00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.760] Ooh, look, there's a big organic food section.
[00:12:29.880 --> 00:12:36.040] It's kind of expensive, but must be worth it because it's healthier and doesn't have any pesticides, right?
[00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.680] Wrong.
[00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:45.160] In the U.S., the organic regulations were literally written by lobbyists for the organic food industry.
[00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:51.320] These are regulated agricultural practices which have nothing to do with nutrition or safety.
[00:12:51.640 --> 00:12:56.040] There is no nutritional advantage to organic food over conventional.
[00:12:56.040 --> 00:13:04.600] And not only do they use pesticides, but very often pesticides that are more toxic than conventional, so-called synthetic ones.
[00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:13.880] Organic is, in the context of food, merely a marketing term used in one of the most successful fear-based campaigns ever.
[00:13:13.880 --> 00:13:18.840] The industry has spent millions trying to make you afraid of anything that isn't organic.
[00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:21.480] It's fundamentally dishonest.
[00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:26.120] Note that this doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with organic food.
[00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:30.600] If you find some you like and don't mind the price, it certainly won't hurt you.
[00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:37.480] But it does take up a lot more arable land because organic yields are lower than conventional agriculture.
[00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:43.480] Most of the anti-GMO propaganda you hear is funded by big organic.
[00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:47.720] Much of the rest, believe it or not, is Russian disinformation.
[00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:56.440] GMO foods have been so effectively demonized that this is one of the biggest opinion gaps between scientists and the public at large.
[00:13:56.440 --> 00:14:05.160] Scientists overwhelmingly understand that GMOs are completely safe, while a disappointing percentage of the public fears otherwise.
[00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:12.440] The executive summary on GMOs is that they have been well tested for decades and found to be safe.
[00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:27.360] Some crops, such as Hawaiian papaya, were rescued from extinction by genetic modification, and others, such as golden rice, can prevent blindness and other diseases in parts of the world where vitamin A deficiency is common.
[00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.960] But what about pesticides in your food?
[00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:36.880] This is a common fear-mongering topic because who isn't afraid of toxins in their food?
[00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:48.320] Here are two things to remember: first, if you simply wash your produce, the amount of residual pesticides from agriculture is so vanishingly small that it can't hurt you.
[00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:55.600] Farmers can't afford to waste money, so they don't soak their crops in pesticides when a small amount does the trick.
[00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:04.000] Note also that most are of extremely low toxicity to humans anyway, because we aren't weeds and we aren't insects.
[00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:11.040] Second, the vast majority of the pesticides you eat are produced naturally by the plant you are eating.
[00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:14.960] Cabbage produces around 46 toxins on its own.
[00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:19.120] Again, you don't have to worry about it because you aren't a bug.
[00:15:20.640 --> 00:15:24.320] One more tip: never go on a weight loss diet.
[00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:25.840] They don't work.
[00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:34.320] Why they don't is more than enough for a separate episode, but check the references in the show notes for an excellent book on the subject.
[00:15:34.640 --> 00:15:39.920] Before attempting to lose weight, see your qualified medical practitioner.
[00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:46.000] The fact is that there is no one ideal weight for you, but a range of healthy weights.
[00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:49.760] Generally, you want to be toward the lean end of that range.
[00:15:49.760 --> 00:15:55.360] And the only way to get there and stay there is to change the way you eat for the rest of your life.
[00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:59.440] A temporary diet will never have permanent benefits.
[00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:08.360] Note that cutting down on some sugar and getting more vegetables, which are not calorie dense, is about the only change most people need to make.
[00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:12.360] Don't buy any weight loss products or services.
[00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:19.400] If one of the new drugs that can help, such as semaglutide, is right for you, your doctor will know.
[00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:23.160] So, take the long view.
[00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:27.720] Don't pick specific foods because of supposed health benefits.
[00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:32.120] Ignore anybody telling you that a food or ingredient is bad.
[00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:38.040] Pack your shopping cart with an eye toward getting a variety of species and a variety of foods.
[00:16:38.040 --> 00:16:43.400] Maybe don't keep treat foods in the house, but enjoy a nice dessert now and then when you go out.
[00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:49.080] Don't let anybody ever make you feel bad or guilty about what you eat.
[00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:54.360] Food should be a source of not just nourishment, but of joy and community.
[00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:58.280] And when you learn to cook, it can also be art.
[00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:06.760] So, enjoy a variety of foods, mostly plants with plenty of fruits and veggies, not too much or too little.
[00:17:07.080 --> 00:17:11.160] In sum, relax and enjoy your food.
[00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:18.840] We continue with more on how you can get your toddler to like Brussels sprouts in the Ad-Free and Extended Premium feed.
[00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:24.840] To access it, become a supporter at skeptoid.com/slash go premium.
[00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:31.080] This has been Craig Good.
[00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:39.480] If you like variety in your feed as well as your food, find me on BlueSky at clgood.bsky.social.
[00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:51.280] A great big skeptoid shout-out out to our premium supporters, including Paintmaster, Jay from Orlando, Marty Banana, Grand Imperator of All Adelaide, and Jodi McCook.
[00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:55.760] Becoming a premium member is the best way to enjoy Skeptoid.
[00:17:55.760 --> 00:18:08.080] Not only do you get a special sponsor-free and extended podcast feed, you can also get the nifty Skeptoid USB 3.0 flash drive preloaded with all the podcasts and movies we've ever produced.
[00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:09.360] It's easy to get.
[00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:13.840] Just come to skeptoid.com and click Go Premium.
[00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:19.600] As long as you've got your podcast app open right now, please take a second and give Skeptoid a rating.
[00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:24.640] It really does help with the discovery algorithms that suggest Skeptoid to new listeners.
[00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.440] And we all know how much they need it.
[00:18:27.760 --> 00:18:30.720] Skeptoid is a production of Skeptoid Media.
[00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:33.520] Executive producer is Brian Dunning.
[00:18:33.520 --> 00:18:37.920] Director of Operations and Tinfoil Hat Counter is Kathy Reitmeyer.
[00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:41.840] Marketing guru and Illuminati liaison is Jake Young.
[00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:47.360] Production Management and All Things Audio by fellow Pro Tools nerd Will McCandless.
[00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:49.840] Music is by Lee Sanders.
[00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:53.120] Researched and written by me, Craig Good.
[00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:59.840] Listen to Skeptoid for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or iHeart.
[00:19:01.760 --> 00:19:05.040] You're listening to Skeptoid, a listener-supported program.
[00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:08.480] I'm Craig Good from Skeptoid.com.
[00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:13.280] From PRX.
[00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.400] Mm-hmm.