Making It Awkward

Jessica attended the People vs Poison rally that was held in Washington DC on April 27th and Trampus Harmon comes back to the show to hear all about it. She shares her conversation with a Bernie Sander door knocker turned Trump supporter and the two talk about Alex Clark's speech, Cory Booker's appearance, and whether things were truly bipartisan at the rally.  Trampus also shares his thoughts and experience with SNAP, from his farmer perspective.    Watch the rally Del Bigtree Liana Werner-Gray  Trampus's previous episode Steak and Shake MAHA officer Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member and my dad will welcome you to the community! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies   

Jessica's UPF experiment has been in the news again! She invited journalist Lindsay Lee Wallace back to the show to see if the two could answer some questions: How has the ultra-processed food hysteria impacted politics today? And what the heck is happening with the news media?  The two talk about gender, the recent UPF coverage, who has been interviewing Jessica recently, the feedback she's gotten, and a surprise email Jessica received.  Articles discussed in this episode:  Slate and Daily Mail NYT UPF week Washington post had this  The New Yorker had its own contribution Cuomo You can buy awkward merch! You can contact the show at [email protected] Follow Dietitian, Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod How to support this podcast? Follow/subscribe, rate and review! Jessica's dad will read reviews and comments on the air! Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

How much should we fear glyphosate? We get drastically different answers depending on who you ask. Trampus Harmon, Making it Awkward's farmer in residence, returns to the show to provide us the facts, context and nuance that was missing from podcaster and Wellfluencer Courtney Swan's Realfoodology podcast episode about glyphosate. Trampus loves facts over fearmongering, and prefers nuance and complexity with statements about the state of farming. Trampus points out the dichotomies of Swan discussing the distrust in corporations while doing ads for them throughout the podcast and on social media.  The two discuss the claim from the MAHA Moms "this is not what we voted for" and Swan's false assertion that "the dose makes the poison" no longer applies. Trampus gives Jessica some things to listen for when she attends the People vs Poison rally on April 27th at the Supreme Court. Additionally Trampus shares a bit about the grant proposal he wrote in college titled "A study of long-term effects of herbicides on the American Farm Family" and he couldn't leave without Jessica asking him about potential cuts to SNAP.  Supposedly glyphosate free foods RFK's glyphosate statements Executive order on pesticides Glyphosate article retraction Glyphosate in kids   Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies   

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is the original nutrition influencer. It has used the same alarmist language that gets traction currently used on social media for over 50 years. Sherene Chou returns to the show to talk about our shared experiences reading CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter, and how calories are the things that the org cares about. The two of them find multiple examples of CSPI's racism and sh*ting on cultural foods.  CSPI is a lobbying organization, and if they're setting the priorities what does that mean?   "1993: CSPI publishes the first in a series of landmark investigative reports (beginning with Chinese-restaurant food)." DON'T EAT SALT DON'T EAT BACON Counting calories in Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and other cuisines CSPI's list of food additives CSPI's vegan burgers and their list CSPI's MLK Day post.  CSPI's dietary guidelines Archived timeline of CSPI wins CSPI x Dr. Jessica Knurick   Zane and his weight release Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Today's ep is to wrap up the conversation about Jillian Michaels, phew! And will provide some brief initial feedback received on last week's episode with MAHA Mom Leslie Voorhees Means. Today you'll hear from two college students whose moms were influenced by Jillian Michaels and the continued impacts on their physical and mental health. You'll also hear a dietitian's path to her career via an almond mom and doing a workplace weight loss challenge before recognizing the harm of anti-fatness in our culture and our field.  Jessica shares an anonymous voicemail she received from a Jillian Michaels devotee and it's...a lot. Jillian Michaels on Surrounded Jillian part 1 episode Marcy x Jillian follow up episode Zane and his weight release Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies     

MAHA Mom Leslie Voorhees Means joins the show to talk about people, politics and making the effort to be curious and find humanity. Leslie is the wife of Calley Means, a  senior adviser for the Department of Health and Human Services.  Their conversation covers a lot of ground! The two chat about how they got connected, healthcare as a human right, food access, universal healthcare, MAHA wins and goals, moms and ICE.  Jessica and Leslie may not agree on everything, but they found an opportunity to build a relationship that will continue their education and understanding. This is a conversation that invites curiosity and also knowing that one hour isn't the end!  Regular listeners of the podcast will know that for thought provoking episodes Jessica does a follow up episode. And the follow-up episode about MAHA moms will come in May, after she attends the People vs. Poison Rally at Supreme Court on April 27th.  Leslie Voorhees Means video about her confinement nanny Episode on confinement nannies Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd

Tigress Osborn debated Jillian Michaels about the health and wellness field on Jubilee Media's Surrounded–and won! Tigress, the Executive Director of NAAFA, comes back to the show to talk about her experience being one of (supposedly) 20 body positivity activists to debate Jillian. The two talk about her experiences including the production and editing of the show, how she ended up in one of the 20 seats, what it's like to sit across from Jillian, how Jillian likely knew who Tigress was before she sat down, and what she would have liked to have discussed with Jillian if given the chance. Tigress also shares critiques she may get for being on the show, and the two discuss whether or not to fact check Jillian on social media.    Events at NAAFA NAAFA's campaign for size freedom NAAFA blog Fat bias in news media Jillian part 1 episode Marcy x Jillian follow up episode Zane and his weight release Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies   

Jillian Michaels is a one hit wonder who keeps trying to make a comeback. She also is also loud about her changing politics. About her becoming a Conservative in 2020, "I was forever gone. Took the red pill." Today is a prequel to next week's episode with NAAFA Executive Director Tigress Osborne who got to debate Jillian for the newest episode of Jubilee Media's Surrounded.  In today's episode editor Jen Jacobs joins Jessica to explain how the show works and take a brief look at what Jillian has been up to lately. The two have concerns. And, also, Jillian stays basic and boring.    Content note: no clips of Jillian yelling at people!   Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd    Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies  Welcome back to MIA, Jessica Wilson, dietitian and author of IABO.  

Would you ever add chia seeds to your latte? Levels Health, a health-tech startup co-founded by presumptive Surgeon General Casey Means, is a deeply unserious company and provides both hilarious and irresponsible guidance on its app.  Public health dietitians Selena Salfen and Meghan Cichy return to the show to discuss our 30 days of using a CGM paired with the Levels app.  Jessica didn't find what she was looking for in her CGM data and laughed at the app's inaccuracies.  Meghan thought she was working harder than Levels, and found both more helpful and nicer CGM feedback with ChatGPT.  Selena shared her history with health anxiety and her longer term use of a Stelo CGM. She shares how her experience was impacted when Levels provided her with incorrect data and biometric analyses.  The three get into whether we should be using CGMs and if so, under what conditions.  The three also discuss the most recent Levels podcast #280 and how it seems to answer a lot of concerns Selena and Jessica had in the CGM intro episode. The episode also discussed a lack of research to back up claims made by Levels and Casey Means herself. Host Ben Grynol and guest Dom D'Agostino, PhD took an unexpected turn and veered into the closed off "adult" section of Blockbuster; could there be a tie to food choices and curiosity?  Imprecision Nutrition? Intraindividual Variability of Glucose Responses to Duplicate Presented Meals in Adults Without Diabetes Casey's Instagram post with her food scores  Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Dr. Casey Means went to Congress last week. On February 28 2026 she went before the Senate's committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to make her case to be the next Surgeon General.  During the hearing Casey was asked about her statements on vaccines, her medical license, birth control, and her social media sponsors, but were those the questions that needed to be asked? Today public health dietitians Meghan Cichy and Selena Salfen return to the show to share their thoughts on the hearing, what Senators could have asked Casey, and a potentially controversial chat about whether she should be confirmed. They discuss Mean's media training and her focus on "shared clinical decision making."   Casey Means has been featured on her podcast in the past. We had one episode about her upbringing with brother Calley Means, and two on her health tech start up, Levels which provides constant glucose monitoring, a tracking app and lab tests for hundreds of dollars. Statement on the planned hepatitis B birth dose vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau Filing FTC complaint Operation Metro Surge results in 203 million dollar impact on Minneapolis Trump celebrates 2.4 million Americans 'lifted' off SNAP benefits   Want to support the show? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share,  comment and become a Patreon member! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies  Welcome back to MIA, Jessica Wilson, dietitian and author of IABO. you can find me on IG at.  

RFK told us that "We are ending the war on saturated fats" with the release of his food triangle and accompanying Dietary Guidelines. Dr. Selina Wang, Faculty Director at the UC Davis Olive Center, returns to the show to talk about the triangle which emphasizes "healthy fats" like olive oil, butter and tallow. RFK has told us over and over that saturated fats are actually healthy for us, but is that true? Consumers are confused. Selina also shares how olive oil is made, the difference between virgin olive oil, extra virgin olive oils and what goes into refining oils. She also has helpful advice for us when choosing oils to cook with.    Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Tigress Osborn, Executive Director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance returns to the show to discuss Mike Tyson's Super Bowl ad for MAHA and the inverted food triangle. The fat shaming ad is part of an ongoing appeal to the manly man, providing us with boxer Mike Tyson telling us about how he wanted to kill himself when he was fat, and telling us all that "something needs to be done about processed food in this country." It's an ad for realfood.gov and was directed by Brett Ratner who directed the Amazon financed film Melania. Tony Lyons created the ad and financed it through the nonprofit  MAHA Center. Tyson has since been at press conferences with RFK Jr and Brook Rollins, the head of the USDA.  There are official government AI generated images of MAHA leaders with Tyson's face tattoo.  Tyson joined Calley Means and RFK Jr for a Fox News interview.  Donut violence video Mashable article: We need to talk about that Mike Tyson Super Bowl ad Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies   

Lindsay Lee Wallace returns to talk about why she thinks women who have sex with men are drawn to Heated Rivalry. She wrote in, Yearning and Submission in 'Heated Rivalry', "Women who yearn and submit are often main characters—but they are simultaneously seen as frivolous and typical. Their yearning and submission aren't treated as meaningful, or as specific to them and their relationships… So it can feel easier and freer to step back from the equation entirely. Watch two men yearn for one another, which maintains their masculinity."    Lindsay and Jessica talk about that article and explore additional topics including parasocial relationships, what makes Heated Rivalry simply good television, and the pop culture pundit panic in late 2023 when a UCLA survey found that Gen Z wanted less sex in media.    Intimacy coordination Dance parties Heated Rivalry made in Canada  Good things that happened because of Heated Rivalry Rachel Reid receiving Parkinson's treatment Rachel Reid   Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Blake Flaugher, MPH returns to the show to chat about all things Heated Rivalry. He shares some topics that have been left out of the discourse, and teaches us about the importance of seeing romance in gay relationships, the role of hags in gay men's lives, and representation of bottoming. Blake and Jessica share their coming out stories, discuss if we're beyond conversations about coming out,  and their thoughts on body norms in the show. The topics they discuss today will add to the story if you've watched it, it will give you a unique lens should you choose to watch it and will teach you things about queer culture if you never plan to watch.   Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies  Welcome back to MIA, Jessica Wilson, dietitian and author of IABO. you can find me on IG at.  

F*** ICE. This bonus episode shares the stories of immigration and ICE occupation from Making it Awkward guests. Hear stories of immigrants in LA, what it's like to be on the ground in Minneapolis right now, and a story from a mom in Charlotte deliverying groceries to neighbors too afraid to leave their homes.  HCMC protest https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/breaking-the-news/hcmc-doctors-staff-protest-ice-impact-hospital-patients/89-3696c23f-6afb-44ea-8e02-7286543dabdd Smitten Kitten https://smittenkittenonline.com/ Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies 

Jessica Wilson, MS. RD. made a social media ad for Dr. Robert Lustig's Monch Monch; a fiber supplement that's supposed to act like a sponge in our digestive tract. Now listeners get to hear the ins and outs of the partnership and about the supplement from top to bottom. Our favorite podcast editor Jen Jacobs returns to this side of the show to hear about the whole commercial making process, behind the scenes conversations, science claims, typos and product reviews. The two have a great time!  This episode includes product reviews from former guests on the show, from buyers on reddit and amazon, and Selena's kiddo in her commercial acting debut.  Listeners should stay tuned after the interview for more reviews and the full commercial!   Howie Mandel is a partner of Monch Monch Lustig's paper for the World Economic Forum Lustig's article in Frontiers Lustig's part 1 episode: "No Food is Better Than Bad Food"  Lustig's part 2 episode Biolumen  Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member for as little as $3/month!! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies  Welcome back to MIA, Jessica Wilson, dietitian and author of IABO. you can find me on IG at.  

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out RFK Jr decided to give us an inverted food triangle and tell us it's a new and improved food pyramid. Dietitian and public health badass Meghan Cichy, MPH RDN returns to the show to discuss the new dietary guidelines and the focus on "real food". She walks Jessica through all of the public health language and limitations and also asks who all of this is for.  The two compare recommendations in old guidelines to the current ones, including protein serving sizes. The two chat about how RFK wanted to end corporate and industry influence and how there is still a tangled web of industry influence and private interest.  They get into how the guidelines discussed ultra-processed foods after promising us a definition.  The dietary guidelines speak directly to the MAHA movement; those who can pay for "real food," have the resources and time to cook dinner every night, and shop at farmers markets. MAHA does not care about the health of the public.  RFK tells us he is ending the war on protein and saturated fat. The guidelines also include a section on testosterone. He's given us a manly man's meat-focused inverted food triangle for the manosphere, dudefluencers and pod bros.  One of Meghan's concerns was how alcohol was addressed in the DGA.   Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Have you been thinking clean thoughts and manifesting for 2026? Lindsay Lee Wallace returns to the show to talk about the idea of thought hygiene, OCD, magical thinking and manifesting. Lindsay shares the highlights of the conversation she had with a manifestation coach and she brings her thoughts about wellness as a line item in your budget. Lindsay and Jessica start the episode with a discussion about Dr. Robert Lustig and his company's first product, Monch Monch, a supposed fiber sponge that soaks up sugar. A quick note that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is out and that will be next week's episode! Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Re-release! Chrissy King joins Jessica Wilson, MS RD for a conversation about being childfree by choice. Chrissy talks about how she made her decision and how Jessica didn't ever think it was a choice she needed to make. Chrissy got to share her thoughts on many things including the marketing of parenthood, the idea of it taking a village to raise a child and aging like the Golden Girls. The two talk about how they've been asked about their decision not to have kids 347 times but it's not the norm to randomly ask parents why they decided to have kids. They both talk about how much their moms poured into their upbringing and how that impacted how they viewed them and their decision not to have kids. They also talk about what it's like to live in a society in which parenthood, particularly motherhood, is the norm.  After wrapping this conversation Chrissy and I discussed the potential for backlash from this conversation and that parents might take our choices personally. Either way we'd love to hear your feedback! Motherhood Should Come with a Warning Label Childfree Reddit Chrissy King Chrissy's book  

Re-release! Jessica talks with Sherene Chou about the whiteness of the Mediterranean Diet and its origins. The two chat about their mixed reviews of speaking at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health's Healthy Kitchens Healthy Lives. Sherene discusses a variety of "healthy diets" out there and how they fall short of meeting the moment. She also spills the beans on the next superfood. Jessica is very excited that Sherene has worked at the restaurant at the center of Bad Vegan! Should the two watch and review for an episode!? Blue Zones, Planetary Diet/EAT-Lancet diet,  EAT-Lancet diet twitter war  Info on MedDiet research The Whiteness of the Mediterranean Diet https://www.sherenechou.com/ https://foodandplanet.org/ You can become a podcast patreon! You can rate and review this show! You can email the show at [email protected] Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson You can watch this episode on Spotify and at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod⁠ Jessica's book: ⁠It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies⁠  

Dietitian Sherene Chou returns to the pod, this time to talk about her experience having a confinement nanny for a month after giving birth. Confinement nannies families in the post-partum period, to help manage household tasks, and prepare nutritious meals according to Chinese postpartum rules, and also helps with feeding of the infant.  Leslie Voorhees Means, wife of White House food and nutrition advisor Calley Means, recently posted a video of everything that her confinement nanny had done for her during her confinement period, and it was dripping with appropriation. It was especially disturbing as Leslie actively supports and advocates for the current presidential administration which is dedicated to the deportation of immigrants. Asian immigrants are being targeted for deportation around the country, and today Sherene has a direct message to Leslie. People who drink the MAHA Kool-Aid have the luxury of taking from other cultures. Sherene also has some advice for people who are on the fence about having kids. Leslie Voorhees Means video about her confinement nanny RFK talking about breast milk Fei Zheng separated from son Jessica got to interview the initial spokesperson of MAHA before Calley Means took the torch and ran with it  Myasiannanny.com RFK and breast milk talk Sherene talking about the Mediterranean diet with Jessica     Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson

Calley Means has returned to the White House as a Senior Advisor supporting food and nutrition policy. Since his return the Dietary Guidelines have been delayed and should(may) now be delivered to us in January 2026. Additionally, TIME has reported that there may be a return to the Food Pyramid in the updated Guidelines.  Selena Salfen returns to the show to share the many reasons why Calley should be a White House intern and not a Senior Advisor, and definitely not in charge of nutrition policy. Jessica and Selena discuss Calley's "documentary" Breaking Big Food; an infomercial that went on for way too long. The "doc" was presented by Jigsaw Health, which is a wellness company that sells supplements to consumers, and, of course, partners with Calley Mean's Truemed. Jessica also shares details of Calley and Casey Means's childhood that have been left out of the narrative of their mother's illness and death. It seems like Gayle Means was quite a character!   Calley never registered as a lobbyist and was in a sweat lodge with RFK Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Cheryl Hines, wife of RFK Jr, wrote a memoir and "wrote" is used loosely in this context. Her publication team didn't do her any favors with this lightly edited, sprawling account of Cheryl's life and path to becoming the unwilling wife of the Secretary of HHS–or is he the secretary of HHR?  Cheryl doesn't understand that her choices have consequences, even as they continue to pile up, including the demise of her podcast and relationship with Tig Notaro.  Jessica talks to Natalie Ingraham and Alison Pill about the book and Cheryl's life.    Olivia Nuzzi's book Secretary of HHR Cheryl photoshoot This would have been a better cover photo RFK Poem Slate article  Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson   Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies 

Selena Selfan, MPH, RD is back for the next installment in the re-grifting series! She is the resident Means Siblings Scholar and talks to host Jessica Wilson, MS RD about her deep dive! Dr. Casey Means is currently the presumptive nominee for Surgeon General. Her brother Calley Means is a special advisor to RFK Jr and cofounder of Truemed. The two are fervent MAHA supporters and foot soldiers in RFK's fight.  Listeners will learn about the Means siblings's upbringing and the love and support for their parents. And then plot twist: their father, Grady Means wrote a gender expansive children's book.  Selena shares how Cassie has evolved in her career, and spits Calley's facts like a pro. The two talk about the grift of the Means siblings and Selena's prediction for Calley's future.  The Means siblings have direct connections to Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Andrew Huberman, our first and second grifters. Stay tuned for the next one about Dr. Paul Saladino. See Selena's bibliography below! Calley's Politico interview Tucker Carlson interview  Deadly Lightbulbs Surgeon shortage Oregon Medical Board Casey's Instagram posts about Jessica: August 28, 2024 - https://www.instagram.com/p/C_QjRljJ1mr/?hl=en August 29, 2024 - https://www.instagram.com/p/C_N6qSPPcT2/?hl=en Instagram - Never. Buy. Ultraprocessed. Food. Ever. Again. Casey's sponsors with conflicted research: Pendulum, newsletter, study funded by Pendulum Mitopure, Newsletter, study funded by Mitopure Life expectancy data health insurance stat FSA/HSAs: https://www.numerator.com/resources/blog/fsa-hsa-consumer-spending/ https://www.ebri.org/content/new-analysis-of-3.2-million-flexible-spending-accounts-finds-average-contributions-increasing-while-half-forfeiting-funds-to-their-employers  Forbes list of growing industries Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson

Jocelyn Green of @audhd_academic joins Jessica to discuss the concept of "losing an autism diagnosis" and what's often missing when discussing autism research. The two discuss the limitations of autism statistics and how their misuse can become unethical. They also talk about disability, what conditions may present to make someone seek an autism diagnosis later in adulthood, support needs for autistic people, and of course RFK. This conversation was inspired by last week's episode with Dr. Theresa Lyons and includes listener feedback. Dr. Lyons anchored her work in the idea that 37% of autistic kids will lose their autism diagnosis with behavioral changes. She based this on one study and didn't represent the research to the degree it deserved.  Theresa also claimed that people don't learn to mask their autism until they're teenagers, when in fact young children can learn to mask.    Some parents want to split the autism spectrum   Referenced in last week's episode: Life's Best Medicine Podcast  FDA approves leucovorin Frat test Suing tylenol    Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Today Dr. Theresa Lyons, founder and CEO of Navigating AWEtism joins Making it Awkward. She reached out to Jessica sharing that as an Ivy League scientist and mom to a non-speaking autistic daughter, she's used her expertise to guide other parents of autistic children. Dr. Lyons introduces a study that says 37% of kids can go on to lose their autism diagnosis and Jessica has follow-up questions. Their conversation includes discussions about folinic acid, sleep, dysbiosis, diet, Tylenol and camel milk. There will be follow-up episodes to come!  Teresa has offered to return to the show to answer any listener questions so if you have any feel free to email the pod! Life's Best Medicine Podcast  FDA approves leucovorin Frat test Suing tylenol  Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Dr. Bethany Johnson returns to the show to share the deep history of the plague, and how we should be thinking about it today. She talks about how anti-Chinese and anti-Mexican sentiment impacted the mitigation and spread of the plague in the early 1900s. Bethany also talks about how climate change may impact infectious disease, antibiotic resistance, lyme disease, pet safety, mitigation measures, and what the defunding of government organizations will mean for us.  She also has advice for all of those of us–and our dads out there–with wood piles in our backyard.  Plus a few updates about The Means Sibs. Bethany's first episode on measles! You can buy awkward merch! You can join the Patreon! You can contact the show at [email protected] Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod How to support this podcast? Follow/subscribe, rate and review! Jessica's dad will read reviews and comments on the air! Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies ABC News: Casey Means Senate statement Breaking Big Food Calley Means has left the White House 1630 plague WHO Manual for plague surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and control CDC page on plague Traces of life in the death registries of the 1630 plague in Milano

We've been a lot of places with RFK Jr, his conspiracy theories, magical thinking, lies, his meltdowns in front of Senate committees, and seen that he doesn't understand half of the things he talks about. Exhibit A: He thinks babies are grown in placentas Let's make sure we're clear on RFK's indisputable, irrefutable cause of autism going forward. Today I share his gold standard science-certified cause of autism.  Selena Salfen's quote Tylenol ad Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Leave a review or comment and my dad will read it on the show! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Kyle Davis, MSW, LICSW, joins the show to talk about his experience with Assertive Community Treatment for supporting people with severe and persistent mental illness. He shares details of that model today and what autonomy can actually look like when people are out of institutions and living in society. In Jessica's interview with psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman, Dr. Carole shared her belief that one of the biggest problems in psychiatry is that people with mental illness were released from institutions, and given the least restrictive environment for their care. This claim warranted a full follow-up episode and Kyle joined the show to share his thoughts about the claim that people can develop insight while living in institutions and he shares how a multi-disciplinary approach proves that people heal best in their communities and is more beneficial long-term than having more community clinics. Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

MAHA and Cuteservatives are okay with spending millions on measles outbreaks yet want to control people's food choices in the name of "health." People are able to buy raw milk with SNAP, yet shouldn't be allowed to buy a candybar? The math is not mathing. Today's episode is a follow up to the episode released 10/1/25, "Fauci Needs to Be Locked Up!" with Dr. Carole Lieberman. Jessica responds to some of Dr. Carole's claims, and has a good time with her own acronym for ways to avoid getting COVID.  THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS! Buy raw milk with SNAP ADHD medications and substance use RFK's CDC on vaccines Herd immunity Clip Jessica posted on Instagram of Dr. Carole Jessica's MAHA Mindy makeover RFK fires CDC workers and then brings them back Dr. Fauci work timeline Measles can cost $47K per case Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Jessica Wilson, MS. RD. is joined by Blake Flaugher, MPH, to give Jessica a full breakdown of poppers and RFK Jr.'s AIDS denialism. Jessica is very curious about butt stuff and Blake expertly answers her questions. He also answers a listener question about the spectrum of asexuality. The two have this conversation at a brewery and got the opportunity to make things awkward! Blake updates Jessica on the state of sex education in 2025 and shares what he's found grounding and motivating as he continues to do this work.  Blake's first Making it Awkward ep AIDS denialism  FDA crackdown on poppers  Legality of poppers  Go Ask Alice Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson How to support this podcast? Follow/subscribe, rate and review and share with a friend! Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H. joins Jessica Wilson, M.S. RD. for a robust conversation about COVID, Dr. Fauci, RFK Jr., the MAHA report and whether supplements can fix our mental health.  Dr. Carole specializes in the psychology of terrorism, criminal behavior, and political breakdown. She's a frequent guest on Fox News, Newsmax, OAN, and leading patriot platforms. Her bold insights expose how psychological tactics once used by foreign enemies are now being weaponized against the American people. Dr. Lieberman connects the dots between radical indoctrination, media-fueled hysteria, and how psychological warfare is now being deployed inside the U.S.—not just abroad. I was so compelled by this interview that I'll be having a follow up episode exploring her ideas! If you have thoughts, ideas or want to send a voice memo with your feedback about this episode you can email them to [email protected].  Dr. Carole on FOX news re: the VP debate RFK Jr. and wellness farms Elizabeth Blackwell First MAHA report Second MAHA report Recent Interviews with Carole Lieberman Real America's Voice with Eric Bolling NY Post on Bryan Kohberger OAN with Dan Ball Joe Pags Show

Kaila Yu, author of the newly released Fetishized; A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty, joins Jessica Wilson, MS RD the show to talk about the fetishization of Asian women.  Kaila reflects on the women in the media who influenced her, and her path into the pinup and import modeling industry. She devotes a chapter to the book and film Memoirs of a Geisha and Jessica and Kaila talk about the ways the book and movie continue to impact societal views of Asian women.  They also got into the origins of the model minority myth and the connections to trad wives today.  In Fetishized Kaila also explores the legacy of U.S. occupation in shaping Western perceptions of Asian women. Kaila in Teen Vogue re: Love Island  Fetishized; A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty Kaila on Instagram Fetishized in NYT! Atlanta spa shooting  "Oxford Study" on social media Debunking "Oxford Study" Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode on the Spotify app and  https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

MAHA's Making Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report is out, and "strategy" is a generous term for this document. Beef farmer Trampus Harmon and public health dietitians Selena Salfen and Meghan Cichy return to the show to share their thoughts.  Post production note: Dr. Casey Means has resumed the path to becoming Surgeon General and is declaring her conflicts of interest.  Dr. Jessica Knurick newsletter Marion Nestle Wellness Farms RFK Jr on autism Trampus on collagen and beef tallow Trampus on raw milk Meghan and Selena on the first MAHA report Meghan and Selena on Levels and CGMs Meghan and Selena on the first 100days of RFK Selena and the Levels intro Selena's Regrifting episode on Casey and Calley Means Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Your Apple Podcast reviews will be read by my dad! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Journalist Jamie Ducharme joins the show for the 100th episode!! She talks with Jessica about her  experiences after the TIME magazine article, "Still Processing; Not all  Ultra-Processed Foods are the same. Or, some argue, even unhealthy."* was published. RFK Jr entered the chat about the article and things got a bit out of hand.  The two talk about food as identity and nutrition journalism today and why there seems to be a lot of stories that don't add much to the conversation.  *This is the print edition title. The online title changed to Why One Dietitian is Speaking Up for Ultra Processed Foods, as discussed in this episode.  Jessica's ultra-processed food experiment results Jessica's ultra-processed food experiment parameters Jessica's Slate op-ed: Ultra-processed Foods Have a Terrible Reputation. They Don't Deserve It. Avoiding UPFs may DOUBLE weight loss Marty Makary on The Conversation Jessica reading feedback she got about TIME This episode is sponsored by BIG FOOD Initial TIME recap episode Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Bryan Johnson made a fortune and then decided to spend it on rivaling Jesus Christ and developing his Blueprint supplement line.  Johnson was born, raised and married Mormon before leaving that religion and family to pursue eternal life on his own. He is the health and tech crossover personified. His quest for longevity has led him to replace his plasma with that of his teenage son, and receive gene therapy in an unregulated area of Honduras. Johnson's life is pretty much an algorithm, which is fitting because he believes we should fire ourselves because our brains can't be trusted.  The Netflix doc about his quest to not die was released this year and Jessica Wilson, MS RD is joined by editor extraordinaire, Jen Jacobs, to discuss it. Jen is a cult enthusiast and breaks down what about Johnson's quest smells fishy.  Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies Conspirituality podcast about Johnson Louis Theroux Don't Die community Ro Crisis lifeline

Dr. Maisha Davis joins the pod for a hilarious chat about using constant glucose monitoring devices (CGMs), the Levels app and the Oura ring. The two talk about how and why collecting and reviewing health data can be comforting to some people, and also how using a CGM could be a slippery slope.  Jessica and Maisha are currently using the Dexcom 7 and they share what their experiences have been using that brand. Maisha took extra steps to calibrate the CGM while Jessica didn't go through the trouble and the two talk about how a CGM is only as good as its reliable responses.  The two discuss the case of Cassie Cattie, a Nurse Practitioner, whose Oura ring detected her cancer 8 months before she received a diagnosis, but was that information helpful?  Maisha also introduces us to their newest bff, the Ninja Creami and the secret to eating ice cream for breakfast.  You can find more information about CGMs in this episode. Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

What can listeners take from Jessica's conversation with Dr. Robert Lustig? She looks at the interview through a historical lens and addresses eugenics and war. She then shares some possible present day applications. Jessica also shares feedback she's gotten from listeners and from a few people working for UCSF. Lustig's article in Frontiers: ⁠https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1098453/full You can contact the show at [email protected] Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Dr. Lexi Brown returns to the show to talk to Jessica about her hospitalization last year and the options she was given to treat her epilepsy. Not interested in brain surgery, Jessica was willing to try the next option: a ketogenic diet. Since January Jessica has been trialing a ketogenic diet to mixed results, mostly due to her questionable choices. Today she's sharing what impact the diet has had on her for the past seven months and what she, reluctantly, should do going forward. Lexi talks to Jessica about taking her health seriously and how she should go about her CGM experiment.  Ketogenic diet history Keto diets for epilepsy in kiddos Jayson Carr recently died from a brain eating amoeba 🙁 Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

RFK Jr wants us all to be using wearable devices! Presumptive Surgeon General, Casey Means, co-founded Levels Health which pledges to unlock our metabolic health through the use of a constant glucose monitor(CGM). What is a CGM, what promises are made by Levels, and should we care? Jessica and Selena Salfen are going to find out! The two have teamed up in August to use a CGM, link it to Levels and let the app work its biometric magic. The two will be optimized in just two weeks, according to Dr. Robert Lustig, medical advisor to Levels. Today is just an introduction, there's so much more to say about wearables and personal data, we will be back with more of a conversation and our metabolic results! Lustig on Levels; understanding your lab results RFK Jr at Energy and Commerce hearing Take Back Your Health campaign Levels podcast archives What is a CGM Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Re-release! Originally published 9/14/23. After receiving an email from Dr. Robert Lustig about his concerns with Jessica's work she was fortunate enough to catch Dr. Lustig on the phone for this interview. In addition to giving her advice on what to tell a patient who needed to choose between a can of ravioli or nothing he shared his beliefs about calories, metabolic health, starvation, and how he distinguishes between what an eating disorder is and what it's not. Content Note: This episode discusses topics that may be distressing to those who are food insecure, live in areas of food apartheid, experience anti-fatness, and/or have disordered eating. Part 2 of this episode will air in two weeks. If you have comments, feedback and/or analysis you can email or send a voice memo to [email protected]. Dr. Lustig's website  His profiles at UCSF and here.  Lustig's article that he sent to Jessica. Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies Originally published 9/14/23

Jessica is joined by Lindsay Lee Wallace for the second of two episodes about the womanosphere. The two talk about the performance of the womanosphere, and more of the media side of things including skinnytok and Evie magazine. Evie magazine is the conservative magazine for cis women that encourages us to seek truth and find beauty. Jessica gets the honor of introducing the new body ideal to Lindsay and hears her response.  Lindsay and Jessica start by talking about the politics of food and the connections to UPF hysteria.  Slim Secrets of Slavic Women Nutrition Myth WaPo article Young conservative women build an alternative to the manosphere Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

The womanosphere is here! Are we ready? In the first of two episodes exploring the womanosphere and what it means for us, dietitian and author Jessica Wilson is joined by Cecily Nelson-Alford to talk about feminism and gender. The two discuss Evie Magazine, social media and why the messages of the womanosphere might be appealing. Cecily talks about how value is attached to womanhood in society and she connects it all with a discussion of the Overton window.  Fox and Hen bonnets Young conservative women build an alternative to the manosphere Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

50% off Ozempic for Pride!!! Jessica heads back to NYC this year, this time over Pride weekend rather than before. A year ago Kent Thosmas, MSW joined Jessica to talk about this ad and her visit to the clinic offering the deal, and what this means for gay men. Kent shared how his Christianity played into his eating disorder and the two talk about queer men, and how religion, queerness, and health are connected. They also talk about the normate body and hardness for gay men.  Kent's original reel Dr. Jeff Iovanonne Additional ad And salmon injections… Email the show: [email protected] Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson You can watch this episode on Spotify and at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod⁠ How to support this podcast? Follow, rate and review and subscribe to ⁠Patreon⁠ membership with access to bonus content and announcements! Jessica's book: ⁠It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies⁠

Jessica Wilson, MS RD is joined by Malak (whose last name and appearance we're not sharing to protect her safety) to discuss the intersections of ICE, Palestine and Black liberation. Malak was recently a part of a mental health delegation that traveled to Palestine and shares the stories of those she met. The two talk settler colonialism, surveillance and over policing. They also talk about a shared humanity, and how people and these fights are not about here vs there. She provides language and context for the wars and battles raging around us and the importance of being seen.  Black scholars, including Angela Davis, Ta-Nehesi Coats and James Baldwin have long made connections between Palestine and Black people in America, both living under Imperialism, and fighting for justice and freedom and never giving up. Malak shares multiple ways for people to stay engaged and keep learning. This episode was 1st published on Juneteenth 2025.  Innocent Until Proven Muslim Podcasts: Sumud Podcast This is Palestine Rethinking Palestine Websites:  thepalestineacademy.com decolonizepalestine.com boycottguide.org Books:  The Hundred Years' War on Palestine Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine The Question of Palestine The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

Paul Saladino is LOUD and literally banks on fear. He thinks we live in a zoo. He used to be a carnivore and sold the idea, and then started eating plants. He's said many deeply ridiculous and dangerous things. He is the reason Erewhon has a raw meat smoothie and the primary reason we overthink seed oils. He knows how much meat Jessica should eat in a day. He's a Lot. Clips of his claims are sprinkled throughout this podcast.  Trampus Harmon of Harmon and Son Beef returns to the show to talk about Paul and his customers' needs on a carnivore diet. The two of them talk about Paul's carnivore creep, his multiple iterations and influencer culture. Trampus isn't sure that Paul's tallow product is all that he claims it to be.  Paul reminds us that we're all going to die.  It was polyester slings not underwear Paul One example of Paul being incredibly annoying Raw milk to kids Paul and seed oils Physician nutrition specialists Heart and Soil Lineage beef tallow–or is it? Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies

The first MAHA report, the "Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment" came out on 5/22/25, and Selena Salfen, MPH RDN, and Meghan Cichy MPH RDN join Jessica to discuss it. The report came out at least two additional times, due to "formatting errors" which was a fancy label for AI errors. NOTUS was the first news outlet to report the citations that don't exist. The three discuss what RFK gets wrong in the report and spend time talking about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They bring up which industry funded research MAHA seems to endorse, and the opportunities MAHA has to demolish current policies and programs just to bring them back, claim them and make them weaker.  The episode has a bonus voice note from Selena's kiddo about why she created her own food list after learning about Dr. Casey Means's ultimate food list. Exciting addition! Selena's kiddo's food list.  Meghan's version of the report ⁠LA Times article⁠ with Dr. Robert Lustig about Dr. Casey Means The WIC program Vaping psychedelics EPA rollback of Biden's PFAS limit Selena and Meghan's first episode MAHA Commission and the fact sheet  Hurdles for SNAP use School Nutrition Association position paper Food Resource and Action Center Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson

This podcast's origin story! Originally airing 10/26/23 Jessica is joined by nurse practitioner Calvin Gilbert to recount their presentation about weight stigma in trans care at UCSF's 2023 Trans Health Summit and what led to a medical doctor being escorted out of the room. Jessica talks with Calvin about what happened the previous day and why it motivated her to start Making it Awkward and make a name tag for herself that says "Arts and Crafts Manager." Jessica is returning to the same conference this week! She will be wearing her name tag and looking for the same people she met the first time around and if anything has changed. She will be making it awkward and reporting back if anything else entertaining happens! There are two more episodes about BMI and trans care following this one:  The Research on BMI and Gender Affirming Care Is Non-binary Identity a 3rd Gender Category?; USPATH Conference Reflections You can find out more about Lyon Martin Community Health Services You can contact the show at [email protected] Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson You can watch this episode on Spotify and at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! How to support this podcast? Follow/subscribe, rate and review! Buy Jessica's book It's Always Been Ours.

The Trump administration has talked about using awards, scholarships and cash as incentives to have more children. People see Elon as a leader in pronatalism conversations. Dr. Eoin Flaherty is back on the show to connect the dots between population control, pronatalism, and the environment. Eoin talks with Jessica about the Better Baby fairs of the 1900s and the two talk about how race is the underpinning of pronatalism even if no one speaks about it directly. The two talk about fertility hysteria, and the difference between fertility rates and birth rates. Eoin shares what research is next for him, and Jessica thinks that he might get the attention of Make America Healthy Again evangelists.  Eoin on YouTube Some mentions from the episode: Alison Pill's episode Dr Paul Saladino AKA Captain Cotton Underpants Adriana Smith Timeline of Ireland abortion laws Maternal death rates in the US Dr. Harvey Kellogg RELATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO RACE DEGENERACY Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson

It's been 100 days of Hellth in America and boy do we need a vacation. This week Jessica is joined by dietitians Meghan Cichy and Selena Salfen to discuss what has happened in public health this year, and break down the MAHA Commission. They talk through what RFK Jr. and MAHA have been up to and how it will impact childhood nutrition. Jessica asks Selena and Meghan what happened to  "childhood obesity."  Jessica starts the episode with some brief nutrition policy updates. Dad is back to read a couple of reviews. Dr. Kevin Hall's resignation on X and in NYT The end of milk safety Food dyes  The  International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced Healthy Dairy in Schools Commitment  $660M lost for school lunches MAHA Commission and the fact sheet  Hurdles for SNAP use School Nutrition Association position paper Food Resource and Action Center Let's Eat; Be Real Like this episode? You can rate, review, subscribe, follow, share and comment! Questions about the show? Guest pitches? Email [email protected] You can buy awkward merch! You can become a Patreon member! You can watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@MakingItAwkwardPod Follow Jessica Wilson on Instagram @jessicawilson.msrd and TikTok @byjessicawilson How to support this podcast? Follow/subscribe, rate and review and share with a friend! Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies