PODCAST · health
Maintenance Phase
by Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes
Debunking the junk science behind health fads, wellness scams and nonsensical nutrition advice.
Episodes
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RFK Jr.'s Buckwild Belief That HIV Doesn't Cause AIDS
The rise, fall and rise of the most nonsensical conspiracy theory we've ever heard. Thanks to Gregg Gonsalves for helping us fact-check this episode! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase...
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Why Don't We Have a Surgeon General?
We’re nearly halfway through Trump's second term and we still don’t have a Surgeon General. What gives? Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! White House...
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Salt
In the 1980s, a low-sodium diet was seen as the gold standard for healthy behavior. In 2026, salt has been repackaged as “electrolytes” and is now cast as a core component of wellness. How did we get here? Also, an important correction: One pound of butter to one pound of potatoes is Joel...
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Tim Ferriss’s "The 4-Hour Body" (feat. Peter Shamshiri)
We're joined by Mike's If Books Could Kill co-host to revisit a biohacking diet book for the boys. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! The 4-Hour Body Does...
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Russell Brand Part 2
What do you do when you've flamed out as a Hollywood actor, a political commentator and a wellness guru? You make a YouTube channel. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and...
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Russell Brand Part 1
Tracing the left-to-right political trajectory of the unfunniest man in British comedy. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! Russell Brand accused of rape,...
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The Diet Crimes of Metabolife
The rags-to-riches tale of how an illegal methamphetamine manufacturer became a legal methamphetamine manufacturer. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! How…
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Raw Milk
Once widely banned, raw milk consumption is on the rise and states are repealing their bans. No one’s happier about that than the far right. How did we get here? NOTE: In the retelling of Pasteur’s early pasteurization, Aubrey misspoke! The culprit wasn’t lactic yeast, it was lactic acid…
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The Food Babe
One blogger bravely pushes back against Starbucks, Subway and basic scientific facts. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! Taking On the Food Industry, One…
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Seed Oils
Why are you, as a man, afraid of sunflowers. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! The O6-O3 ratio: A critical appraisal Seed Oils: Are They Actually Toxic? No...
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Herbalife
We’re talking about our first diet MLM and IT’S A REAL DOOZY! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! Herbalife: Weighty Profits and Government Probes Herbalife...
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Ultra-Processed Foods
Everyone agrees that processed foods are bad for you. When it comes to defining what they actually are, however, there is considerably less agreement. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase...
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BONUS: MAHA's First 90 Days
From our Patreon feed, we're catching up with RFK Jr. and his cadre of "Make America Healthy Again" influencers. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Thanks to…
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The Bulletproof Diet
Meet the tech bro on a noble quest to double his lifespan, improve his productivity and irritate his waitress. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! Mycotoxins...
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Blue Zones
The places where humans live the longest are explained by traditional lifestyles, widespread incest or systematic fraud, there is no fourth option. Thanks to Catherine MacDonald for helping us research and fact-check this episode! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey's...
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BONUS: What's New With RFK Jr.?
Because we live in hell, here is last month's bonus episode about RFK Jr.'s presidential campaign with a new intro about what he could do at HHS. See you next year! Support the show
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Richard Simmons Isn't Missing
The internet gets weird investigating the "disappearance" of America's gay best friend. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey’s documentary in AU & NZ, or watch it at home anywhere else! Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers…
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Growing Up Richard Simmons
Before building his fitness empire, America’s most bedazzled fitness guru was a guy named Milton from New Orleans. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Watch Aubrey’s documentary in AU & NZ, or watch it at home anywhere else! Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Get Maintenance...
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The Myers-Briggs Personality Test
How a mother, a daughter and a crackpot Swiss psychologist gave us the world's most popular Buzzfeed quiz. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Watch Aubrey's documentary Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast…
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BONUS: Breaking Down The Latest Anti-Trans Victory Lap
We went a little easy on the Cass Report in our last main feed episode, so we're back to [Mortal Kombat voice] FINISH HIM!!! This was supposed to be a Patreon bonus episode but we'd rather you support the lovely trans people who helped us with the research and fact-checking of this episode! Julia...
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"Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria" Part 2: Panic! At The Endocrinologist.
Thanks to Jules Gill-Peterson (jgillpeterson.com) and Julia Serano (patreon.com/juliaserano) for help researching this episode and Evan Urquhart, Parker Molloy and Katelyn Burns for fact-checking! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers...
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"Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria" Part 1: The Cooties Theory of Transgender Identity
Thanks to Jules Gill-Peterson (jgillpeterson.com) and Julia Serano (patreon.com/juliaserano) for help researching this episode and Evan Urquhart and Parker Molloy for fact-checking! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Watch...
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Jamie Oliver
In the 2000s, Jamie Oliver made a big splash with his work reforming kids’ meals in the UK and US. Was his work wicked slammin’, or just proper rustic? Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's...
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COVID Conspiracies
What was missing from America's pandemic response? According to the internet, a sunshine vitamin, a malaria treatment and a whole lot of horse paste. Thanks to Health Nerd (Substack) for helping us fact-check this episode! And thanks to Abby Mahler (Twitter, Tiktok) for help with the research on...
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Ozempic
Ozempic is being hailed as “the end of the Obesity Epidemic.” This week, Mike and Aubrey dig through the sensational claims. But will they make it past the caveats? Links: How a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic The Discovery and Development of Liraglutide…
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"Soy Boys"
How a plant-based pejorative went from an alt-right burn to a core concern of mainstream Republicans. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links! Joe Explains the Term "Soy…
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RFK Jr. and The Mainstreaming Of The Anti-Vaxx Movement
Join us for a 75 minute answer to a 5 word question: Is there mercury in vaccines? Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links! Paul Offit’s “Autism's False Prophets” Peter...
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RFK Jr. and The Rise of the Anti-Vaxx Movement
A political candidate has some questions and we have some extremely obvious answers. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links! Eric Garcia’s “We’re Not Broken” Mike and...
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Pilates
Somehow an episode about an old-timey fitness influencer ended up being one of our most wholesome ever. We're as surprised as you are. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast...
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Brittany Dawn
How a fitness influencer went from small-time scammer to one of the Internet’s leading villains. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links! THIS IS DISTURBING goodbye for…
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BONUS: The Conservative Diet Books of Yore
We're taking a much-needed break this week so to tide you over here is one of our bonus episodes! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our…
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Oprah v. Beef Part 2: Apocalypse Cow
The closing argument of our two-part Oprahsode starts in a Texas courtroom, wanders through some British slaughterhouses and ends with an emu. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other...
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Oprah v. Beef Part 1: The Rise of "Veggie Libel"
On April 16, 1996, Oprah Winfrey did a show about mad cow disease. Six weeks later, a couple of Texas cattlemen had a cow (sorry). Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links!...
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The 10,000 Steps Myth
This week we're digging into the weird history of an omnipresent fitness goal. Episode comes free with a happy meal. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links! 10,000 Steps…
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The Trouble with Sugar
This week we're tackling three big ideas about sugar: It causes hyperactivity in kids, it's as addictive as cocaine and it raises blood sugar in universal, predictably spiky ways. Thanks to David Johnston for helping us with sources for this week’s episode! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on...
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"Forks Over Knives": Is a Vegetarian Diet Better For You?
A viral documentary says a "whole foods plant-based diet" will prevent heart disease and cure cancer. But once we look into the MEAT of the matter will we find factual CREAM of the crop or will we cry FOWL? (we're so sorry) Thanks to Katherine Flegal for helping Mike with this episode! Support…
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The Instagram Fiber Feud
Aubrey tells Mike about the diet that took over New York City (and its bathrooms). Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's book Listen to Mike's other podcast Links! F-Factor drama timeline What Is the F-Factor…
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Doctors Have a New Plan for Fat Kids
Last month the American Academy of Pediatrics released a new set of guidelines for "childhood obesity." We have some comments. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's new book Listen to Mike's new podcast Links!…
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Elizabeth Taylor's "Elizabeth Takes Off"
History should make you feel weird and so, apparently, should diet books. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's new book Listen to Mike's new podcast Links! Elizabeth Takes Off Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth...
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“Glorifying Obesity” And Other Myths About Fat People
This week, we're talking about Aubrey's new book, "'You Just Need To Lose Weight' and 19 Other Myths About Fat People." And we're yelling about Piers Morgan as a little treat. Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy…
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Workplace Wellness
Charging disabled people more for health care is illegal. But what about ... charging non-disabled people less? Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Buy Aubrey's new book Listen to Mike's new podcast Links! A Review of the...
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The Food Pyramid
In the 1990s, the Food Pyramid was one of the most recognizable symbols in nutrition education. But where did it come from? Why was it created by the agriculture department? And why did it tell us to eat a whole loaf of bread every day? Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal...
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Bonus: Mike's New Podcast!
Mike and Aubrey introduce Mike's new show, If Books Could Kill! Find it on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google and wherever else you get your podcasts. Also, don't forget to pre-order Aubrey's new book! Support us: Subscribe on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase shirts, stickers and more...
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The Daily Harvest Food Poisoning Scandal
“Herpes is basically living the dream” — Aubrey Gordon. Support us: Subscribe on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase shirts, stickers and more Check out Mike's other podcast, If Books Could Kill Pre-order Aubrey's book! Links! Marion Nestle's "Safe Food" The vomiting, diarrhea, and...
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Mini-Sode: The Dr. Oz Campaign
Pennsylvania listeners check your registration here! Mike and Aubrey break down the policies and promises of Dr. Oz's Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. Plus! A re-run of our complete Dr. Oz episode from last year. Support us: Subscribe on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase shirts,...
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Paul Bragg & The Rise of Apple Cider Vinegar
Health claims about apple cider vinegar are everywhere. But are they true? This week, we hop into the wayback machine for the story of America's first health influencer. (That's not true, but neither is anything else in this episode.) Thanks to David Johnston for providing sources for this week’s...
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The French Paradox
How an early-'90s newsmagazine show convinced a generation of Americans to start drinking red wine. For the antioxidants! Special thanks to Susanne Stolpe and Alexander H. Sandtorv for helping us fact-check this episode! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance...
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Goop
Do we even need to write a description? It's the Goopisode! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 Million How Gwyneth Paltrow took Goop from a homebrewed...
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BONUS: Moon Juice Taste Test
This week's episode is running late so here's something to tide you over! Last year, we did an episode on Gwyneth-adjacent influencer Amanda Chantal Bacon and her wellness company, Moon Juice. This year we decided to TASTE THE DUST. This episode was originally for our Patreon supporters. Click…
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The Scarsdale Diet Murder feat. Sarah Marshall
In 1982 a murder captured America's imagination. Forty years later, two podcasts joined forces to talk about it. Hear more from Sarah at You're Wrong About and You Are Good! Support us: Hear bonus episodes on Patreon Donate on PayPal Get Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more Links! Diana...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Maintenance Phase have?
Maintenance Phase currently has 98 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Maintenance Phase about?
Debunking the junk science behind health fads, wellness scams and nonsensical nutrition advice.
How often does Maintenance Phase release new episodes?
Maintenance Phase has 98 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Maintenance Phase?
You can listen to Maintenance Phase on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Maintenance Phase?
Maintenance Phase is created and hosted by Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes.
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