Back in the 1970s, no one was taking any bets on the potential success of an industry built on inspiration, good intentions, and the concept of bringing health to the individual. Nevertheless, a small and undaunted group of innovative thinkers found themselves forming a natural products network that started with friendship, strengthened with determination, and ultimately sparked a global movement. Dr. Jeff Bland and Doug Greene, founder of New Hope Natural Media, look back on the humble origins of the high-impact industry they helped to seed, nurture, and grow.

Plants have difficult lives: they are stuck in one location, they can’t fight off insect invaders, and they are exposed to all sorts of weather, be it harsh sunlight or stem-chilling frost. How do plants survive it all? Natural chemical warfare. Plants produce anti-stress compounds called phytochemicals, and these metabolites correspond to functions that allow it to grow and thrive. When humans eat plants, how do those phytochemicals affect our bodies? Let’s talk about phytonutrition!

In this episode, James Maskell nails it when he says that the 20th century was about creating rules for everyone to live by. One example: dietary guidelines. Jeff Bland watched the rule-making unfold. As a nutrition expert, he saw flawed logic from the start in the one-size-fits all philosophy. Ready to break free from outdated thinking? Self-ownership of your metabolism—what a concept! This discussion is packed with facts, insights, and tips for how to get started.

Every year, millions of people plan to have a baby. Conception, pregnancy, birth—these are natural processes that can often be taken for granted. But fertility challenges have become commonplace in modern society. More and more, would-be parents are finding themselves unable to conceive or sustain a full-term pregnancy. Do we know why this is happening? Can people take steps to optimize their health prior to starting a family? This episode features our special guest, Dr. Michelle Leary-Chang.

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It sounds very 21st century, doesn’t it? BIOHACKING. While the word itself may be modern, the practice of self-experimentation is not. History is actually replete with examples of individuals who decided to cross boundaries and explore the outer limits of innovation. The relatively recent convergence of certain powerful concepts and factors—personal data, affordable technology, a flowing tap of information resources—has propelled us into a new era of citizen science. Is it here to stay? Listen now!

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We introduced the concept of “diagnosis” in the previous episode and now it’s time to fully unpack it. In the simplest of terms, a diagnostic test tells you if you are diseased. But chronic disease and acute disease are two VERY different things. We’ll explain why, plus we’ll talk about an even more powerful fact: for the first time in human history, we have access to tools that can help us understand our bodies in ways never before possible. Spoiler alert: this episode includes a technology show-and-tell segment!

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Rolling up your sleeve for a blood draw. It’s become a familiar ritual for anyone who gets an annual physical, visits an ER, or endures a hospital stay. What questions are clinicians trying to answer using our bodily fluids, and is the system perfect as it is or can we hope for something better—perhaps less invasive AND more accurate—in the future? If we want to measure and track our daily function at home, what types of tools will provide us with meaningful information and why? You’ll find some surprises in this episode—including insights into low tech with high value, plus a big and bold breakdown of the Theranos story.

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We all live in a world of disease. Think about all of the resources that disease—as an industry—consumes every day, every week, every month, every year. Billions upon billions of dollars. An impossibly large real estate footprint. Affiliated networks that many people have come to view with fear, suspicion, and even anger—Big Pharma, “health” insurance, government oversight agencies. In the middle of all this noise and acrimony, each of us stands alone as an individual. Each of us has a unique way of defining our personal health aspirations and goals. How do you navigate the system, yet still chart your own course?

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What is the Big Bold Health Podcast? BIG topics, BOLD opinions, and fearless conversations about all things HEALTH. Join Jeffrey Bland, PhD (scientist, thought leader, natural products pioneer) and James Maskell (economist, entrepreneur, innovator) as they help you become informed, empowered, and confident in the health choices you make for yourself and your family.