Conspirituality Podcast Summary: Episode – "DJ Khaled of Pseudoscience"

Release Date: August 2, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Conspirituality, hosts Derek Barris and Julian Walker delve into the resurgence of Theranos branding spearheaded by Ryan El Hosseini. Titled "DJ Khaled of Pseudoscience," the episode dissects the intricate web of pseudoscientific claims, marketing strategies, and the alarming intersection of wellness grifts with conspiracy theories. This summary captures the essence of their discussion, highlighting key points, notable quotes, and insightful analyses.

Unveiling Ryan El Hosseini's Revival of Theranos

The episode opens with Derek Barris setting the stage by referencing a documentary video associated with theranoslabs.com, which redirects from investors.com—a nod to the infamous Theranos saga.

Derek Barris (02:14): "These are the opening moments of a video that appears on the homepage of a website called the investors.com which, if you're paying attention when you type it into your browser, redirects you to theranoslabs.com. Yeah, that Theranos."

Julian Walker introduces an Instagram reel from KCRW's reporter Tohar Zamir, which connects billboards across major cities to RFK Jr. and Ryan El Hosseini's attempt to rehabilitate Elizabeth Holmes's tarnished legacy.

Julian Walker (02:49): "In just 90 seconds, looking right at the camera and like pointing at what was over his shoulder behind him, he managed to connect the dots on these confusing billboards that are popping up all over LA."

Theranos: From Revolutionary Promise to Fraudulent Collapse

Derek Barris provides a concise overview of Elizabeth Holmes's rise and fall with Theranos, emphasizing the company's fraudulent claims and eventual downfall.

Derek Barris (04:12): "Elizabeth Holmes founded the original company in 2003. She promised a revolutionary technology that could perform hundreds of blood tests using just a few drops from a finger prick... But the Edison never worked. Holmes was convicted in January 2022 on four counts specifically for defrauding investors."

Julian Walker adds depth by discussing the internal culture at Theranos, highlighting the façade of progress despite the technology's failure.

Julian Walker (05:13): "There was this culture of like, we're building the plane as we're flying it. We believe in our mission and we're going to get the investors on board... Even though internally we all know that this thing is a shambles and it doesn't work at all."

Ryan El Hosseini: The "DJ Khaled of Pseudoscience"

The hosts critically analyze Ryan El Hosseini's efforts to revive Theranos through his venture, Theranos Labs, branding it with flashy marketing and pseudoscientific claims.

Julian Walker (03:45): "This guy is like the DJ Khaled of pseudoscience self-promotion. He's stitched footage himself being interviewed onto repurposed documentary footage that was actually exposing her."

El Hosseini's branding strategy includes high-profile visuals involving luxury cars and models, juxtaposed with unfounded claims about a new technology named "Blue Magic."

Derek Barris (05:44): "Blue Magic by Theranos... He claims it identifies substances and blood samples and generates a blue beam of light which is then read by specialized computers to interpret the test results."

The hosts highlight the lack of scientific clarity and credibility behind El Hosseini's claims, pointing out the rebranding of a failed technology without substantiated evidence.

Derek Barris (12:21): "The precise scientific mechanism behind Blue Magic is unclear. El Hosseini lives in Palm Beach Gardens... in an interview with a local news crew, you can hear the angle he's taking with his product. It might sound familiar."

Marketing Tactics and Conspirituality Dynamics

Derek and Julian draw parallels between El Hosseini's tactics and those commonly seen in wellness grifts, emphasizing the manipulation of scientific uncertainty to push pseudoscientific agendas.

Julian Walker (14:29): "This is standard in medical science... The conspiracist position is always to demand a kind of perfection from medical science which is just never there."

They critique the "make America healthy again" rhetoric, noting its vagueness and how it diverts attention from the lack of substantive evidence supporting El Hosseini's claims.

Derek Barris (17:14): "Big picture rhetoric, same thing. Make America healthy again so you don't focus in on the specifics."

The discussion underscores the opportunistic revival of a disgraced brand, illustrating how conspiracy and pseudoscience thrive in the absence of critical discourse.

Julian Walker (18:00): "He's trying to be an MLM guy, he's trying to be a rapper with, like, all of the conspicuous consumption of the wealth. And then he's also trying to be some kind of CEO, lab technician expert."

Exposing the Facade: Grifting and Manipulation

The hosts meticulously dissect El Hosseini's background and the superficial credentials he presents, casting doubt on his legitimacy and intentions.

Derek Barris (20:05): "He worked for Access Medical Laboratories in Jupiter, Florida for nearly 13 years. Before that, he founded his own energy drink called O Prim... And then right before that, he worked as an assistant manager at Dunkin Donuts for two and a half years."

They argue that El Hosseini's efforts appear more as a parody or trolling rather than a genuine attempt to advance medical science, labeling it as another layer of grifting within the conspirituality movement.

Julian Walker (21:31): "So he just so far up his own narcissistic ass that he doesn't have people around him, right, who are giving him any sort of input or advice."

Conclusion: The Perils of Conspirituality and Pseudoscience

Derek Barris and Julian Walker conclude by emphasizing the dangers of conflating genuine wellness practices with conspiracy-driven pseudoscience. They warn listeners to remain vigilant against such grifts that exploit scientific disinformation for personal gain.

Derek Barris (22:39): "He could replace Prasad in his position. [...] These are grifters ripping off grifters and he's another one of these guys."

The episode serves as a critical examination of how pseudoscience and conspiracy theories infiltrate the wellness industry, undermining public trust in legitimate health initiatives.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Derek Barris (04:12): "Elizabeth Holmes founded the original company in 2003. She promised a revolutionary technology that could perform hundreds of blood tests using just a few drops from a finger prick... But the Edison never worked."

• Julian Walker (05:13): "There was this culture of like, we're building the plane as we're flying it. We believe in our mission and we're going to get the investors on board... Even though internally we all know that this thing is a shambles and it doesn't work at all."

• Julian Walker (14:29): "This is standard in medical science... The conspiracist position is always to demand a kind of perfection from medical science which is just never there."

• Derek Barris (17:14): "Big picture rhetoric, same thing. Make America healthy again so you don't focus in on the specifics."

• Julian Walker (21:31): "So he just so far up his own narcissistic ass that he doesn't have people around him, right, who are giving him any sort of input or advice."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Conspirituality adeptly highlights the intricate dance between pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, and wellness grifts. Through incisive analysis and critical discourse, Derek Barris and Julian Walker shed light on the manipulative strategies employed by figures like Ryan El Hosseini to exploit public trust and revive discredited brands. The conversation serves as a vital reminder to approach wellness claims with skepticism and prioritize evidence-based practices.