Why Smart Women Podcast
Welcome to the Why Smart Women Podcast, hosted by Annie McCubbin. We explore why women sometimes make the wrong choices and offer insightful guidance for better, informed decisions. Through engaging discussions, interviews, and real-life stories, we empower women to harness their intelligence, question their instincts, and navigate life's complexities with confidence. Join us each week to uncover the secrets of smarter decision-making and celebrate the brilliance of women everywhere.
Why Smart Women Podcast
Uh oh, down the alternative med rabbit hole
Unlock the truth about alternative medicine and its impact on traditional medical practices with Annie McCubbin as your guide. Promising an engaging exploration through dramatized exchanges and real-life stories, this episode of the Why Smart Women podcast takes you on a journey to unravel the misconceptions surrounding alternative health treatments. Discover why critical thinking is your best ally in making informed health decisions and how persuasive influencers may lead you astray.
Well, hi, mel. Where's Ian? Ian's in hospital. He had a massive heart attack, right?
Speaker 1:Oh, sorry to hear that you are listening to the why Smart Women podcast, the podcast that helps smart women work out why we repeatedly make the wrong decisions and how to make better ones. From relationships, career choices, finances, to faux fur, jackets and kale smoothies. Every moment of every day, we're making decisions. Let's make them good ones. I'm your host, annie McCubbin, and as a woman of a certain age, I've made my own share of really bad decisions. Not my husband, I don't mean him, though I did go through some shockers to find him, and I wish this podcast had been around to save me from myself. This podcast will give you insights into the working of your own brain, which will blow your mind. I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which I'm recording and you are listening on this day. Always was, always will be, aboriginal land. So hello, smart women, and welcome back to the why Smart Women podcast.
Speaker 1:So last weekend I spoke at the Australian Skeptics Conference, skepticon XL, at the University of Technology in Sydney. I was in very illustrious company. Among the presenters were Dr Carl Krzynicki, robin Williams, the science journalist who has hosted the science show on ABC Rodeo National since 1975, and other fabulous science-y people. Now, both of these aforementioned men are considered national treasures. I'm not considered a national treasure, but I figure there's still time. So two whole days of rational thinking. Two days of hearing how the proliferation of nonsense on the internet has interfered with the government attempts to. So two whole days of rational thinking. Two days of hearing how the proliferation of nonsense on the internet has interfered with the government's attempts to communicate perfectly reasonable public health messages and has allowed the purveyors of lies to threaten the lives of hard-working scientists. So my presentation is about how alternate medicine undermines the authority of science-based medicine. It's not a popular message, but for me it's a very important one. So sit back and listen while I first play the role of a doctor and then play the role of an internet influencer who undermines the authority of the doctor and sends the patient, played by my lovely husband, down a very dangerous road. If you want to see it with visuals as well, it will be up on my YouTube channel later in the week. The entire conference should be available. When it's uploaded, we'll put the link in the show notes. So settle in, hope you enjoy it. Okay, so hello. So where's the harm?
Speaker 1:A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a couple of friends and I mentioned that I was speaking at a sceptics conference about how alt-med can subvert the authority of science-based medicine, and they gave me the classic, socially accepted responses, which are a if people want to supplement treatment with alternate med, then they should be able to be. It should be a matter of personal choice. See, both naturopaths and doctors have their place. And D. We need to have a balanced approach to these things, and what I wanted to say to them, but didn't due to my desire to have friends, is that this thinking is wrong-headed.
Speaker 1:We intuitively feel that both science-based medicine and alt-med have value, but our intuition is not infallible. The promise of wellness can cut through our critical thinking defences. A confident voice and an authoritative demeanour is often enough to convince us that the person we're talking to has the key to good health. The ill, the tired, the overweight, the dispirited are attracted to the definitive, warm, reassuring voice of these practitioners, who operate unencumbered by the need for evidence, unwatched over by any regulatory bodies. They can promise the world and they do. They can promise the world and they do.
Speaker 1:The use of alt-med undermines the authority of science-based medicine, which is careful not to over-promise. As Dr Carl said, the internet has allowed the proliferation of influencers with a faint grasp of scientific terms bless you to dole out dangerous medical advice to a vulnerable public. Everything you're about to hear is lifted from online material. Only the names have been changed to protect the not so innocent. So let's look at the psychological slights of hand used by the purveyors of false hope. Let's see where's the harm come to life.
Speaker 1:Hey Doc, hey Ian, it's been a while. How's Mel? Oh, good days, bad days. She's got a plan she's sticking to. Oh, good days, bad days. She's got a plan, she's sticking to it. And what can I do for you? I'm really fatigued. How long have you been feeling fatigued? Oh, months. Anything changed? I don't know Stress levels?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're pretty high. And what do you think's caused that? I don't know Life, wife, the job, you know? Yeah, sure, do you have any way of managing stress, like what I don't know? Like exercise, relaxation techniques, have a few beers at the end of the day? Okay.
Speaker 1:When you say a few beers, how many? Two or three, okay. When you say a few beers, how many? Two or three, okay, I'll take that as a three. Okay, okay, let's get your bloods done as a starting point, Is that okay? And then we can see where we're at. Can't you give me anything? Anything for what specifically, I don't know Something to make me feel better? You know A tonic or something? Look, I don't want to prescribe anything to have had a look at your bloods. Honestly, I mean, there must be something. I'm just so tired. Yeah, yeah, I hear you, but let's wait for your bloods. They could tell us something useful. Then, once they're done, I'm happy to look at options. Is that okay? Okay, okay, great, an influencer online. Hi, ian, nice to meet you. Um, hey, uh, okay, okay in. So what's the issue? Uh, so it's just fatigue and some muscle aches. Have you been vaccinated?
Speaker 1:Blaming vaccines is an absolute alt-med influencer favourite. Every malady can, with total ease, be linked back to a vaccine. In relation to COVID, the effects of the vaccine are wildly over-reported, while the effects of COVID itself are wildly minimised. The proposition cited by the over-excited anti-vax mob is either that Bill Gates wants it in your arm to turn us into robots, or it will give you cancer, or something about spike proteins and RNA or DNA. Or it was developed too quickly or it's experimental, and this last point is, of course, also wrong. It had been in development for 10 years. Also, if none of the previous wacky ideas tickle your fancy, the idea that vaccines cause autism simply refuses to die, even though it's been refuted again and again and again, and Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who lazily suggested the spurious link, is now disbarred. I also note the terrifying prospect of RFK Jr, who's still banging on about vaccines and autism, is taking over the position of Chief Medical Officer in the US.
Speaker 1:Yep, well, there's your first issue what vaccines? Of course they're very toxic. On top of the toxins in the environment, our systems are overloaded. The last thing we need is more toxicity. You'll now be hyper-allergic to everything. Yeah, I mean, I feel allergic. My nose is stuffy and this and this tiredness. It's just awful. Yeah, I see this all the time.
Speaker 1:Okay, um, I don't know if this is relevant, but I've also had covered twice. Not relevant, it's just a cold. But please don't tell me you've had the covert vaccine. Oh, well, with the pandemic, I mean, we all had to have the vaccine. Oh, did you? You have an immune system, I assume. Uh, yeah, well, ian, don't believe what your government tells you your immune system is quite capable of fighting a cold. A cold, no, no, ian, covid was a hoax. It's just another cold. It's just a great opportunity for a big pharma to sell the world their toxic shots, anyway.
Speaker 1:So we need to do some testing and an urgent detox. Yeah, so my doctor is already running some tests, ian. There's tests and there's tests. I'm going to run some tests that will actually tell you where the toxicity is, where the vaccines have done their damage. So you think that the reason I'm like this is because of vaccines?
Speaker 1:Ian, I take a holistic approach. The way you feel is a combination of mind, body and spirit. The vaccine was the cherry on the cake, so Alternative Med has been rebranded holistic medicine. The implication is that integrative or complementary medicine considers the whole person, in contrast to the implied reductionist approach of a traditional doctor who just treats symptoms and pushes pharmaceuticals on the patient. We know we exist in internet bubbles. The algorithm will keep sending you info that supports what you already think. Confirmation bias kicks in. We simply stop hearing opposing ideas. So if you're in the alt-med internet bubble, the message is that alternative healthcare is safe and has low risk. However, the truth is that alt-med practitioner will often prescribe supplements which benefit from the halo effect and the appeal to nature bias. These supplements are, in fact, unregulated, untested and potentially dangerous. None of these influence have the slightest clue about the potential interaction with pharmaceuticals or the origins of the supplements they're pushing.
Speaker 1:Okay, so let's get you back to your bright, bubbly self. I don't know if I was ever that bright and bubbly. Oh, so you had vaccinations as a child? Yeah, yeah, of course. Well, that's what robbed you of your bright and bubbly self. Well, I've always been quiet. I mean, you know, my wife calls me introverted Ian. Okay, introverted Ian, I'm going to fix you, okay. Okay, yeah, sounds great, okay, so, first things first, send me a clipping of your hair so we can test for allergies and heavy metals.
Speaker 1:And you know food allergies, intolerances, blood toxicity, commercial hair analysis, science or scam. Well, let's imagine it was useful. How much easier would the life of doctors be. They could just cut a hank of your hair off and send it off to a clinic instead of going to all the trouble of having to order blood tests. They don't do this because it is, of course, a scam. The National Institutes of Health in Britain has stated that commercial use of hair analysis in this manner is unscientific, economically wasteful and probably illegal. It cannot detect heavy metals or vitamin deficiencies or toxicity, whatever that is. The main reason alt-med woo merchants use it is so they can find pretend deficiencies in the clipping which they can then remedy with their expensive, untested, unregulated supplements.
Speaker 1:Quackwatch has recommended that if a practitioner and I use the term loosely offers hair analysis, keep your hair on and run for the exit. Offers hair analysis, keep your hair on and run for the exit. You can tell all of that from a hair clip. Oh, sure can. So what are the doctors suggesting? Because, ian, their doctors don't like it when we challenge the status quo. They want to keep you sick, so they comply you with pills. Okay, so send me the clipping and as soon as we have the results, we'll start the detox.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, look, look, I mean that sounds great. So look, just because my wife will ask are you medically trained? Oh, yeah, yeah, I have a PhD in science, nutrition, toxicology, longevity, internal pollution, oxidative stress and cancer. Yeah, so my wife is a toxicologist. Yeah, which university did you go to? She might know. Oh, it's a Californian uni. Yeah, yeah, yeah, she studied in the States for a bit. You know you could be the same age, so she's quite young too. All right, let's see. I've seen Integrative Nutrition in San Diego. You know you could be the same age, so she's quite young too. Alright, I'll let her sit here first in the Integrative Nutrition in San Diego. Okay, I'll tell her.
Speaker 1:Alright, well, you might find I have a different take on science and disease to your wife. Okay, you see, ian, I am my own guinea pig. I had cancer. I believe if your body can create a tumor, it can dissolve it. Ian, I am now in utter wellness and you can be too. Okay, cancer A terrifying word to hear mentioned in relation to your health or the health of a loved one. We are at our most vulnerable, so no wonder we are at the mercy of unscrupulous purveyors of dodgy cancer cures. We know that the human brain is more susceptible to stories than hard data, and ultimately there's a wash with narratives of how particular remedies can cure cancer. They seem unaware that cancer is a myriad of different diseases and it's impossible that one approach, supplement or laser machine can cure them all.
Speaker 1:In 2023, $6.7 billion worldwide was spent on vitamins, minerals and complementary medicine by cancer patients. This is regardless of the fact that there is no evidence of its efficacy and that a recent Yale study found that cancer patients using alt-med healthcare contributed substantially to higher death rates. Cancer, yeah, cancer, why? Why Nothing? Nothing, okay, so is there something that you can give me while I wait for the results? Oh sure, ian, I'm going to send you some detox chewing tabs and start each day with lemon juice and water and stay off dairy and gluten. Okay, I got you, ian. Stay positive. The alt-med market in Australia increased 6.9% in 2023 and is now worth $3.7 billion. That is a lot of turmeric. 70% of Australians use complementary medicines, vitamins, mineral supplements or herbal medicine. Women are more likely to use alternate med than men. However, it doesn't mean that men are not susceptible.
Speaker 1:Ok, how are you feeling, ian? Ok, it's still a bit unwell. Yeah, well, that's not surprising. Your BP is too high. I'm sorry. Also, I have your results here. I'm OK. I mean, I wasn't going to come into that, but now I insisted that I did so. Well, it's good she did.
Speaker 1:Ian, you had high cholesterol, your blood sugar is on the cusp of pre-diabetic and, as we just saw, your blood pressure is elevated. Oh Look, I know this seems like a lot, but at least we know who we are and you're not alone. This can very much be. The profile of middle aged men Creeps up and all. So let's see, all we can do is start chipping away. Honestly, no wonder you're tired. This explains it to some degree, really, right? Well, I'm off gluten, gluten, so you know, we'll add up. Oh, you didn't tell me you're a ceo celiac? Well, I'm not, as far as I know. Oh, why are you off gluten? Well, I was told it was toxic. Oh well, no, it's not much, okay, um, you need to go on statins and, sorry about this, you'll need to lose weight.
Speaker 1:Here's a list of foods to eat and to avoid, and maybe start with a beer. So, do you like to eat a crisp or two when you have a beer? Well, you know, a few salt and vinegar chips might pass my lips. You know, when we're having a barbecue or something, you can't beat a good sausage or a steak. Yeah, pretty passionate about myself. Okay, let's just give the red meat and the crystal rest for a bit, okay, okay. You exercising when I walk the dog? Okay, good start. Let's try and do 150 minutes a week, okay, okay.
Speaker 1:How are you feeling? Not bad, yeah, not surprising. I have your results Okay. Okay, so you have adrenal fatigue, a buildup of liver enzymes, your microbiome is in microbial deficiency and you're very low in vitamin B. So a systematic review proved there is no substantiation that adrenal fatigue is is an actual medical condition. So, surprise, surprise, it's a myth. However, in my own circles, the number of people that say to me with great confidence I have adrenal fatigue is truly staggering.
Speaker 1:I spend a lot of time arranging my face. Very low in vitamin E. Show me your nails. Uh, yeah, as I thought you're not absorbing any nutrients. Oh, I guess that makes sense. See, I'm starving all the time.
Speaker 1:The doctors put me on a diet and guess what? No steak, no steak. It's killing me. I'll tell you what will kill you listening to doctors. As soon as this call is over, I want you to have yourself an organic, grass-fed steak, preferably raw. Okay, build up to raw, very, very rare, three times a day if you can, and add in some raw milk. Let's try and get some nutrients into you. Raw milk, yeah, as nature intended. Okay, we're going to have to up the detox.
Speaker 1:Clearly, this stupid diet you're on and the vaccinations have really done a number on you, I'm going to, uh, send you some colloidal silver which is guaranteed to strip toxins from your system. Okay, and how much are those stamps going to be? They're $180. So here we go, pushing the untested, unregulated supplements. Honestly, colloidal silver, I just do not know what the deal is. It must be the word silver, I don't know. Maybe it's equated with silver bullet, but whatever it is, it's widely promoted and used. It's equated with silver bullet, but whatever it is, it's widely promoted and used.
Speaker 1:Its health claims include curing cancer, hiv, aids, shingles, herpes, acne, eye disease and covert 19, which is strange, as most of the purveyors of colloidal silver don't believe covert exists. There's zip evidence that cures any of these diseases. However, the side effects from taking it include seizures and kidney failure. It can also interact with some medicines and leave your skin with an attractive blue-gray tint which doesn't go away when you stop taking it. So if you're going for a vampire feel, then go for it. They're $180.
Speaker 1:Ian, do you want to get wild? For it, they're $180. Oh, ian, do you want to get well? Is it okay to take the colloidal things with the statins? You're on statins, yeah, oh, ian, ian, ian, you know doctors are in the pocket of big pharma. Right, okay, you need to go off the statins. They don't do anything for high blood pressure, no, for that. They don't do anything for the cholesterol. Well, same thing. Also. You know cholesterol is actually good for you. No, I didn't know. Yeah, it's just big pharma making up illnesses to sell you pills.
Speaker 1:Cholesterol has anti-inflammatory properties, oh, okay, so I need to add in some spirulina greens and coconut MTC oil and I want you to start adding in raw eggs, including the shells. Cut out any grains or carby veggies. Eggs are us. Yeah, raw egg shells. Cooking removes the active proteins. I don't think my wife is going to come with that.
Speaker 1:Okay, is your wife on board with your wellness journey? Yes, sort of. So she's not right? Well, she's Not. Everyone is on the same consciousness journey. Not everyone is plugged into the divine forces of the universe. Okay, so do you want epic wellness? Yes, so, look, it's just not working out. Well, probably too many carby veggies.
Speaker 1:No, she has cancer. Oh, okay, why, why, what, why does she have it? I'm sorry, ask her. Ask, why does she have it? I'm sorry, ask her. Ask her why she has it. Yeah, she knows she does.
Speaker 1:Oh, sure, the reason we have cancer is emotional, spiritual and dietary. Okay, so AltMed loves victim blaming. Patients putting their trust in these wacky practitioners are exposed to variations on the twin ideologies of blame and individual responsibility for their health. According to the healer naturopath in fact, anyone who's pushing their supplements in an alt-med online space not only did you create your own illness because you were negative or invited stress into your life or didn't eat enough kale or something, but also, if you don't recover when you've taken their supplement or eaten their special diet or been lasered with their healing laser light, well, that's on you too, because you didn't believe hard enough. They operate under the perfect business model. Whatever happens, it's your fault. Ask her why she has it. Yeah, she knows she does.
Speaker 1:Oh, sure, the reason we have cancer is emotional, spiritual and dietary. Okay, so ask her. See, I don't think she'd like that. Yeah, she's stressed. Well, she is. Now she has cancer. Well, the stress has caused it, so she should get that under control. It's a bit tricky. Well, it's her choice.
Speaker 1:Ian, I just don't think she'd like this line of questioning. Well, I didn't like giving her parsnips, but there you have it. You gave her a parsnip. Yep, why Took carbine? Oh, and beside the cancer.
Speaker 1:I cured myself of fine motor disease. That's a disease, yep, fine motor isn't that your capacity to do fine work like whole pencil through the needle? Yep, I do that. But call me, I was a world champion. You should have seen my beautiful pieces of work. I'm sure they were lovely. So I must do my next appointment. So I'm sending you some mega c, ultra high, low acidic, alkaline boosted powder stirring to your raw milk.
Speaker 1:The Australian New Zealand food standards code for dairy products states that raw cow's milk is associated with food-borne illnesses in Australia and internationally. However, the woo crowd are highly suspicious of the pasteurising process. They prefer to imbibe some really fun pathogens, including salmonella and listeria. Other illnesses associated with raw cow's milk are Gillian-Barr syndrome and I hope I get this right hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can potentially lead to paralysis, kidney failure, stroke or death. So you know great, more raw milk, yeah, and another supplement.
Speaker 1:You want to get well or stay sick, your choice. Well, okay, you can go and get a colonic. A colonic, yeah, we need to supercharge your detox and start dating the nice fats. Look, I don't know whether I could actually manage. Ian, stop being a pussy and start getting well and avoid carby veggies and negative people. Carby veggies yeah, potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach is carby. Yeah, very much. Australians. Can't be veggies yeah, potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach is can't be. Yep, very much Australians. We Australians, what have to dash in? Get onto that colonic. We Australians, what? Okay, colonics? They're stupid and can perforate your bowel. That's all I wish to say about that. That's all I wish to say about that.
Speaker 1:Laughter, your cholesterol is still high and your blood pressure is elevated. Right, you're taking the statins, right, yep, yep, you are. Yeah, yep, you are. Yeah, yeah, okay, well, we have to increase them. Have you made the changes to your diet, avoiding beer and red meat? Yeah, absolutely. I would have thought there would be a little change in a couple of months. You lost any weight? Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:Ok, I want you to hop on the scales and check. Oh, look, I've just had a big breakfast, you know. So next time for sure. Ok, look, I'm going to put you on a blood pressure med, just until we can get your blood pressure down. Ok, How's Mel? No, she's not all right. That's really tough. Ian, look, dr Cole is a. Are you okay? I think I might be a bit depressed. Yeah, that wouldn't be surprising. No, is there depression in your family? No, okay, I'm going to give you the number of a psychologist she's great and I'm going to give you a script for antidepressants. If you need them, come back in a four-month and we'll see how you're going. If you do start the antidepressants, don't stop them without telling me.
Speaker 1:So let's see what Orca thinks of antidepressants. You're on antidepressants before. No, you're on wine. Well, I mean, you know my wife, ian. That's her journey. Well, she's on chemotherapy. Yeah, of course she's on chemotherapy. That's the problem. It's poison, it will kill her. Well, the doctors, the problem, it's poison, it will kill her. Well, the doctor's saying that she, in the end, the doctor, is just simply doing what the farmer wants them to do Get her off the chemo.
Speaker 1:I'm going to give you some detoxed black flower drops. You'll need to drop them under her tongue. Avoid carby veggies and start joining you in eating the raw beef. She'll be right in a month, I promise you. Also, there isn't no such thing as depression, really. Yeah, just an excess of yang, excess of yang Yang, topping yang. You need more yin, which you'll have once the adrenal fatigue is under control. Also, you'll need a Kalu waterfiller, a Kalu water filter, a Kalu water filter.
Speaker 1:It says here that you're on $6,000. That's okay. I'm a supplier, I can get you a discount. How much? Well, I can get it for you for $5,990. If you want something, enough you can manifest it.
Speaker 1:Come on. It's your wife's health we're talking about. It's just poverty mentality. Create the money and have you done any past life work? I'm wondering where this poverty mentality comes from. No, I haven't done any past life. This life alone seems enough to cope with.
Speaker 1:Hang on, hang on, ian. Oh, wayne, you have a lot of unresolved issues from a past life. Oh, I'm just getting a reading. Wow, amazing, you know you were Louis XIV. Well, no, you have neck pain. Yes, well, there you go. I mean, he's not the first historical figure that comes to mind when I think of poverty. Yeah, the poverty mentality comes from. When he was thrown out of his castle Must have been a shock, you know. Foie gras to crusts. Anyway, after my past life work, my neck pain has completely resolved.
Speaker 1:So let's get you off these antidepressants and statins. In the world of influences, mental illness doesn't exist, or if it does, it can be fixed quick sticks with a breath work session. Also, statins and the like are unnecessary because you've created your illness by not manifesting enough money or good health, even though your illness, which you created also simultaneously doesn't exist. So if you're confused listening to this, imagine the cognitive dissonance. Um, hi, ian, I'm calling because you missed our appointment. Yeah, sorry, sorry, I'm sick. Oh, I'm sorry, ian, I'm sick of it. Yeah, I'm just sick with the flu. I've got the flu. Oh, how long have you been down with the flu? I've got the flu. Oh, how long have you been down with the flu? Um, today, just today, I woke up. Oh, have you had the flu vaccine? Yeah, yeah, every year. Okay, well, good man, okay, well, keep me posted. The flu can be nasty, especially for the little bit older. Yeah, I'm also sure, mm-hmm, ian, you okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm just talking a bit with Ian. I'm sorry. Yeah, I have too much. Oh, I've never heard of that as a condition. Anyway, apart from the Ian, I'm good. I mean, I mean, yeah, apart from the end, uh-huh, and just as someone, you can get side effects and statins. Yeah, statins, no, I'm good. Okay, well, keep up the fluids and rest and I'll call you in a couple of days and see how you're going. Okay, yeah, yeah, okay. Hey, doc, yeah, couple days and see how you going, okay. Yeah. So, ian, how was the water filter? No, it's good, okay. So set it to 9.5.
Speaker 1:Alkalizing while you're getting over you cold. Honestly, it cures everything. It's the hydrogen-rich alkaline enhanced nutrient absorption, right? Lemon juice in it in the morning is the best way to start the day. Doesn't the lemon juice make it acidic? No, no, the hydrogen cancels the lemon acidity. So why put it in there in the first place? Because of the vitamin C, ian. But am I taking Megacity?
Speaker 1:Ian, this negativity is not going to make you. Well, there's the yang again. See, my doctor hadn't heard of the yang. Doctors have no yin, they're all yang. I'm sorry, but that doesn't make a lot of sense. There, it is right. There, the yang, okay. So how's the raw meat, milk and eggs going? Are your energy levels through the roof? Yep, yep, they're great.
Speaker 1:I told you, ian, getting to it with nature and wellness is yours for the taking, right? And did your wife stop the chemo? Her name is Mel, oh, right, well, someone got gonna bed in the wrong side this morning. I'm sorry, just I'm just talking, so you know. Stop the king. Oh well, that's sad, but that's your choice. Listen, look, I think no leads me. I'm gonna go Okay, I've seen you another deduction for the filter and say you having to remember. Thank you very much. Hello, ian, no, not his wife, mel. Oh, hi, mel.
Speaker 1:Where's Ian? Ian's in hospital. He had a massive heart attack, right? Oh, sorry to hear that. I knew Well. Sorry to hear that. I knew Well, of course.
Speaker 1:So he told his doctor he was advised to stop taking the statins and blood pressure meds. Look, mel, our bodies are trying to heal. If they're fed properly and not loaded up with toxins and big form of poison, they will do that. By the time I got to him, he'd had five doses of COVID vax. That's enough to destroy anyone's system. He was shoving raw meat and raw milk into himself three times a day.
Speaker 1:Not for someone with elevated cholesterol. Cholesterol is misunderstood. No, cholesterol is understood and we don't know if he's. Goingesterol is misunderstood. No, cholesterol is understood and we don't know if he's going to make it.
Speaker 1:Oh, so if you're thinking of hunting down any other clients on the internet, I think twice. Are you threatening me? Maybe it depends, right? Well, you can see why he was sick. She is just top heavy with yang. I have gone over time time, so thank you very much.
Speaker 1:Um, we have to keep our skeptical hats on and keep up the good work, everybody, and thank you. So I hope that clarified to some degree the dangers of listening to alt-med influencers doling out medical advice. I note that the bent spoon, so I hope that clarified to some degree the dangers of listening to alt-med influencers doling out medical advice. I note that the Bent Spoon Award handed out this year by the Australian Skeptics went to the WA Cancer Council for promoting Reiki and energy healing. Now, where's the harm? I hear you shriek. It might make people feel better Yep, sure, lots of things are available to make people feel better.
Speaker 1:Yep, sure, lots of things are available to make people feel better. But once you open the door to practices that might make you feel better but actually do nothing to help you heal, you're in very dangerous waters. You just need one unscrupulous Reiki master saying look, you don't need chemo or drugs, I can heal you, and we lose another vulnerable patient to a demonstrable lie. So there you go.
Speaker 1:Thanks for tuning in to why a Smart Woman with me, annie McCubbin, I hope today's episode has ignited your curiosity and left you feeling inspired by my anti-motivational style. Join me next time as we continue to unravel the fascinating layers of our brains and develop ways to sort out the fact from the fiction and the over 6,000 thoughts we have in the course of every day. Remember, intelligence isn't enough. You can be as smart as paint, but it's not just about what you know, it's about how you think. And in all this talk of whether or not you can trust your gut if you ever feel unsafe, whether it's in the street, at work, in a car park, in a bar or in your own home, please, please, respect that gut feeling. Staying safe needs to be our primary objective. We can build better lives, but we have to stay safe to do that.
Speaker 1:And don't forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and share it with your fellow smart women and allies. Together, we're hopefully reshaping the narrative around women and making better decisions. So until next time, stay sharp, stay savvy and keep your critical thinking hat shiny. This is Annie McCubbin signing off from why Smart Women. See you later. Stay sharp, stay savvy and keep your critical thinking hat shiny. This is Annie McCubbin signing off from why Smart Women. See you later. This episode was produced by Harrison Hess. No-transcript.
