Podcast Summary

Podcast: Conspirituality

Hosts: Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker
Episode: Bonus Sample: The Wellness Civil War
Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This bonus episode tackles the eruption of a "Wellness Civil War" online following controversial claims that Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be linked to autism. Host Derek Beres analyzes how wellness influencers and alternative medicine figures disseminate and amplify conspiracy theories related to public health, using the most recent Tylenol-autism allegation as a case study. The episode critiques both the influencers perpetuating misinformation and the lack of accountability among them, while also noting encouraging signs that some audiences and personalities are pushing back.

Key Discussion Points

1. Wellness Grifters and Misinformation (00:03 – 01:25)

• Distortion of Medical Information:
  • Derek Beres criticizes wellness figures for "distorting information about a safe medicine to promote fear mongering" and making unsubstantiated claims connecting Tylenol to autism.
• Lack of Professional Accountability:
  • Beres points out that figures like Will Cole, who "has a bunch of certificates in functional medicine" but "no ethics boards or state medical board accreditations," operate without oversight:
    • "What, is Mark Hyman gonna finger wag at him? Doubtful. Especially since the man is close friends with RFK Jr. And I've never seen any real criticism coming from Hyman about anything that Kennedy claims." (00:36)
• Community Pushback:
  • Some online followers are "absolutely hammering" wellness influencers for sharing the debunked Tylenol-autism link:
    • "A few people like Will Cole and Dave Asprey and Austin Lake, they got absolutely hammered by their followers on social media for sharing this supposed link between acetaminophen and autism." (01:12)

2. Misuse of Correlational Research (01:25 – 01:44)

• Correlation vs. Causation:
  • Beres clarifies that the research cited by conspiracists shows "a possible association, a correlation," not causal proof—emphasizing the importance of scientific literacy in public discourse.

3. Political Amplification and Influencer Dynamics (01:44 – 02:30)

• Trump's Public Health Recklessness:
  • Quoting Donald Trump:
    • "Don't take Tylenol, there's no downside. Don't take it. You'll be uncomfortable. It won't be as easy, maybe, but don't take it if you're pregnant. Don't take Tylenol and don't give it to the baby after the baby is born." (01:44)
  • Critiques the impact of such statements and compares it to other infamous moments of public health misinformation (e.g., "inject a light or use bleach to treat Covid").
• Allegiance Among Influencers:
  • Highlights how figures around Kennedy and Trump (including Bhattacharya, Macquarie, Oz) rarely dissent:
    • "Kennedy has demanded the same sort of blind allegiance from those around him. Bhattacharya, Macquarie, Oz. And they've all delivered. Just as Kennedy has to Trump this Thursday" (02:16)

4. Social Media Trends and Wellness Grifts (02:30 – 03:29)

• Immediate Grifting After Misinformation:
  • Plans to analyze how "wellness grifts...launched immediately after the announcement that acetaminophen is implicated in autism."
• TikTok Trends:
  • Teases a segment with Mallory DeMille to break down a TikTok trend connected to the controversy.

5. Episode Intent and Final Thoughts (03:29 – 03:50)

• Episode Structure:
  • The episode promises a review of Kennedy’s press conference and a deep dive into responses from the wellness community—some echoing and others rejecting conspiracy claims.
• Defending Science:
  • Beres expresses cautious optimism at seeing some critical response within influencer communities, contrasted against the prevailing tide of conspiratorial thinking.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On influencer ethics and accountability:

  • "What, is Mark Hyman gonna finger wag at him? Doubtful. Especially since the man is close friends with RFK Jr. And I've never seen any real criticism coming from Hyman about anything that Kennedy claims." — Derek Beres (00:36)

• On community backlash:

  • "A few people like Will Cole and Dave Asprey and Austin Lake, they got absolutely hammered by their followers on social media for sharing this supposed link between acetaminophen and autism." — Derek Beres (01:12)

• On scientific standards:

  • "All the supposed gold standard research...shows a possible association, a correlation which is important to note, but not definitive proof of a causal relationship." — Derek Beres (01:25)

• On political misinformation:

  • "Don't take Tylenol, there's no downside. Don't take it. You'll be uncomfortable. It won't be as easy, maybe, but don't take it if you're pregnant..." — Donald Trump (01:44)

• Commenting on influencer loyalty:

  • "Kennedy has demanded the same sort of blind allegiance from those around him. Bhattacharya, Macquarie, Oz. And they've all delivered." — Derek Beres (02:16)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:03: Introduction; critique of Tylenol-autism fearmongering and lack of influencer accountability
• 01:12: Social media backlash against wellness influencers
• 01:25: Explaining the difference between correlation and causation
• 01:44: Trump’s comments and comparisons to past public health gaffes
• 02:16: Loyalty among wellness leaders; groupthink in conspiratorial communities
• 02:30: Preview of TikTok trends and wellness influencer responses
• 03:29: Episode structure overview and final thoughts

Conclusion

This episode of Conspirituality provides a timely critique of how conspiracy theories about public health proliferate through the wellness sector. By spotlighting the Tylenol-autism controversy, the hosts demonstrate the harm caused by unregulated and ethically unmoored influencers, juxtaposed with rare encouraging moments of community backlash and critical thinking.