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Alex Clark
You said you would eat a sandwich if Trump made you regret your vote.
Jillian Michaels
I believe in what he's doing. He didn't kick the can down the road like everybody else has. He wasn't pressured by globalists. I think that's brave. I think it's courageous.
Alex Clark
Are you happy with the progress we've made so far in year one? Do you think we're not moving fast enough?
Jillian Michaels
I can't believe we've moved at all.
Alex Clark
What happens when a lifelong Democrat challenges the left's health narrative? Jillian Michaels shares her secrets today to staying motivated on a fitness journey, explains how she trusts President Trump despite skepticism, debates the benefits of micro dosing GLP1s like Ozempic for those 100 pounds or more overweight people despite her staunch opposition, and also talks about whether a show like the Biggest Loser could thrive today. Jillian Michaels is a world renowned fitness trainer, nutritionist and bestselling Author known for NBC's the Biggest Loser. She also hosts the podcast Keeping It Real Conversations with Jillian Michaels and co hosts her take on valuetainment. Gillian and I met when we testified together before the US Senate alongside HHS Secretary Bobby Kennedy Jr Kennedy confronting America's chronic disease crisis fueled by ultra processed foods and systemic health failures. Watch this episode on the real Alex Clark YouTube channel or Culture Apothecary on Spotify. Pause Leave a five star review to support the show. Tell everybody why Culture Apothecary should be their number one podcast. Join the Kervatives Facebook group for conversations after the show. Please welcome Jillian Michaels to Culture Apothecary. You ever feel like you're drinking gallons of water and you stink? Still feel off like you're doing the hydration thing but your body is not catching on? Yeah, same well, not all water is created equal. And if your body isn't getting the minerals that it needs, like magnesium, potassium, sodium, you're basically just flushing water through your system with zero impact. A lot of people don't think that they're like, well, I'm drinking all this water, but I still feel dehydrated. That is why, because we actually need minerals in our water. That is why I've become obsessed with the electrolytes from Taylor Dukes Wellness. They're clean, effective and made with ingredients that I actually trust. No sugar, no dyes, no fake sweeteners. Sweetener is just a perfect balance of minerals that your body actually knows what to do with. And the new lemon tea flavor tastes like citrusy iced tea that you get poolside. But it's functional. This is what we need by the pool. It is the only electrolyte that I'm going to drink and I genuinely feel a difference when I'm using it consistently. Try it yourself with my code Alex Clark for 10 off taylordukeswellness.com code Alex Clark for 10 off Ever sat around a campfire breathing in the great outdoors and then woke up with bug bites from the night before? I. I've been there. And so have thousands of others who've turned to active skin repair. Parents love it. One mom said she spritzed it on her toddler scrapes and even the family dogs. And she said it seems to really heal them. Well, it's this magical hypochlorous acid that your body is using as its own healing molecule. She said, look, this is packed into a non toxic, non stinging spray. It cleanses, it soothes, it speeds up skin repair. Whether you are dealing with insect bites, minor scrapes, rashes or irritations, any active skin repair works like a charm. You can do the gel, you can do the spray. Over half a million users cannot be wrong when they say this is the greatest product that they've introduced into their family's life. It is safe for sensitive skin, eczema, rosacea, you name it. Trust me, you're going to want this in your backpack, in your medicine cabinet, in your purse, in your diaper bag. Head over to ActiveShipRepair.com and if you use code ALEX, you can get 20% off your first purchase. That's ActiveShipRepair.com code ALEX for 20% off. Even my audience, I mean, ask the cute servitors Facebook group, Active skin repair. Is it worth it? Everybody's going to give you a resounding yes. Okay, what is your life right now? You are a staunch former Democrat and now you have a son who's bringing you to Charlie Kirk conferences.
Jillian Michaels
Well, in fairness, I brought him, but I think he may have discovered Charlie first.
Alex Clark
Actually your son got red pilled by.
Jillian Michaels
Charlie kirk on Instagram 100%.
Alex Clark
And so when you're going through this crisis of oh my gosh, I've been a lifelong Democrat now I'm starting to have, you know, issues with the left and the way that things are going.
Jillian Michaels
Yeah.
Alex Clark
What was that like for you?
Jillian Michaels
I fought for it for a real long time and it, I hate to say this, but it, it reminds me of a kid who has an alcoholic parent. Not that I did, but I have friends who did and they fight for their parents soul. It's like, I can change you. I could get you to see you could be the mommy I want. And you keep thinking, if you. If you gently push, if you explain, if you seek to understand, if you try to negotiate that there will be change. And the reality is the left gets more radical. But the thing is, you need to do that, because people like myself and Tulsi and RFK and Elon, for whether or not he's popular on the right anymore or not, end up also disenfranchised and being open to new ideas.
Alex Clark
Your interview with Anna Kasparian from the Young Turks, I think, is one of the best podcast interviews maybe of the last five years. It was incredible. And I sent that to everybody. I said, this is amazing. Just podcasting, but listening to her story about how she was fed up with the left, and, I mean, that was the last person I thought I'd hear that from.
Jillian Michaels
Well, you know what happened to her? She was attacked by a homeless guy. Sexually. Not luckily, it didn't go too far, but sexually assaulted. Like, they came up behind her, grabbed her, dry humped her. I'm sorry, this is gross, but this is what happened. And she was horrified and talked about her experience. And then the left demonized her and crucified her for demonizing homeless people. And then they called her racist. And the homeless guy wasn't even of color. She's like, okay, you guys have lost it. And I think that's part of what happens to people on the left is that you speak your truth. Very common sense stuff. And they purge. They purge you. They call moderates heretics. They brand centrists as bigots, all the while claiming to want to expand their tent. But I guess it's like, straight into socialism seems to be the area they're going these days. But that's actually what happened to Anna. That's what turned her around. That was her light bulb moment.
Alex Clark
Do you feel politically homeless? Do you feel like, I mean, there's a chance I might vote for, you know, someone on the left again? Or do you feel like. No, I'm like, I'm a conservative now, to be honest.
Jillian Michaels
I want to hold fast to the identification of independent. And here's why. Because if you look at who's swaying elections, it's the purple people in the middle. And I know that neither side appreciates it. And they're like, well, we don't really want you here if you're not like us. But the. The reality is, if you hold onto your independence, you're authentic and you hold each side to account. Because if I'm Uniformly red. And let's say Trump does something I don't like, I'm not going to get behind it. I'm not going to compromise my integrity. I'll lose my ability to communicate with people I'm trying to win over because I've compromised my integrity. And maybe I don't want the next president to give people pardons that I don't think deserve it. So I think by casting off labels, if you will, and having core values that are true to you, you can really make the most impact at building inroads and building a coalition of people that just want what's best for all of us. We all want health, we all want affluence, we all want love, we all want to see a peaceful world. And we were just talking about the fact that bridging ideologies does not mean you're giving up principles. So I'm kind of in the middle.
Alex Clark
You said you would eat a sandwich if Trump made you regret your vote. So far, have you had to take any bites?
Jillian Michaels
No, I have not. I mean, of course, he's done things I don't like and of. But by the way, my wife does things I don't like and vice versa, I don't expect, you know, people are, this is not what I voted for. The reality is I got a lot of what I voted for. I got some of what I didn't want. But I can tell you this much, and I say this with confidence, and it's not a blue or red thing. I know I would have got a hell of a lot more that I did not vote for if I got the Harris Walls administration. I'm laughing, but it's actually truly terrifying.
Alex Clark
Oh, yeah.
Jillian Michaels
I mean, when you think about the guy that came before Kennedy, Xavier Bechera, how come we're not talking about the fact that this guy wanted to remove age limits on sex changes for kids? Like, where was the alarm when that was happening? So that's the true terror that I saw in that administration. And, of course, so much more. Do I think he's perfect? No. Does he do stuff? I'm like, oh, no, no. Sure. All the time.
Alex Clark
Sure, yeah.
Jillian Michaels
But there are also things that he does that I. I am truly impressed with. I'll be honest. I am. I wonder if it might not be some of the boldest, bravest leadership that I've seen. And it's. It's things like what he's doing with Iran and Israel. I actually think this is not gonna become a forever war. I have a Pollyanna opinion about this that I think it will end up expanding the Abraham Accords. I think he will take the risk of nuclear weapons away from Iran. I think that's actually going to happen. I don't think this is gonna be Iraq or Afghanistan. I also agree with the tariffs. I can't tell you that I think his strategy is best. But the reality is there are asymmetries. We are having a hollowing out of the middle class and the working class. We need reshoring. He's succeeding at that. There's a 454% increase in reshoring from 24 to 25. That's. That's him. And we have national security problems without question that he's trying to address. Is all of it all at once the best idea? Maybe not.
Alex Clark
But he also probably feels the pressure of, oh, my gosh, I only have four years. There's so much to do.
Jillian Michaels
I believe in what he's doing. He didn't kick the can down the road like everybody else has. Has. He wasn't pressured by globalists. I think that's brave. I think it's courageous. I'm hoping for the best.
Alex Clark
You're one of the most anti oic people in the fitness industry. But everybody right now is talking about micro doing and the benefits for people that are 100 plus pounds overweight. Let's get them started. Has your thoughts on that changed at all?
Jillian Michaels
Micro doing? Yes, micro doing it has. Now, I haven't done a deep dive into it in all transparency, but there are people who have. JJ Virgin has, our good friend Brigham Bueller has, and I trust them. What my biggest concern with regard to Ozempic is, of course, it has a suite of nefarious side effects.
Alex Clark
Tell us some of them.
Jillian Michaels
Gosh. I mean, intestinal blockage, stomach paralysis. There are cases of thyroid cancer despite them being rare pancreatitis. We're starting to see people lose their eyesight. You're hearing about sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideation. And these things are real. They're. They're very real. This is not a naturally occurring hormone. It's a replica. GLP1 lasts in the body 15 minutes. This lasts in the body seven days. And when you get off of it, you gain all the weight back and then some. They're suggesting that it might be dampening stem cell production in the lower epidermis layer. And this is. This is why people are having accelerated facial aging, not just fat loss. I've taken a ton of weight off of people. They don't look older, they look young. There's definitely something else going on there. It's extremely expensive. So all those side effects worry me. I think they're greatly mitigated by a microdosing. And in addition, I am concerned that this is a front line of defense. If it is one tool that, quite honestly is a last resort in a toolbox, I'm far more comfortable.
Alex Clark
What do you think about people saying, oh, Jillian Michaels, she's like the Gordon Ramsay of exercise.
Jillian Michaels
I could guess.
Alex Clark
I think it's funny.
Jillian Michaels
You know, honestly, I. It's interesting because that. That Persona at this point, does it.
Alex Clark
Feel like a lifetime away, or are you like, no, that's me.
Jillian Michaels
Like, it does. I wonder, though, because there are talks of reprising that role in some capacity.
Alex Clark
They're talking about reprising the Biggest Loser.
Jillian Michaels
Not the Biggest Loser, no, but it's. It's like, would you ever consider a special where you. You take on this issue again in that role? Not. Not a game show of sorts, but, um. And, you know, who knows? I. I don't know if anybody would tackle it, and I don't know if I've got the time to do it, but I wonder what I would be like in that environment. What I can tell you is this Biggest Loser was unique in that it was a life or death intervention on a ticking clock. And that ticking clock requires a dramatically accelerated pace in demanding change. So you utilize anything and everything you have available to you. And for some people, utilizing fear to short circuit the narrative of what they think is possible versus what they think is not is something that I would absolutely use and quite frankly, be very successful with. Now, a lot went on there that you didn't see. You saw 45 minutes of something that went on for 10 days. And that part made really good TV. And I would say it's probably 3% of the stuff that I used to do with the people that I worked with. But is it a tool I'd be willing to throw out? Probably not.
Alex Clark
Do you think that show could even be on TV today? Like, or would it be too politically incorrect?
Jillian Michaels
I think now that people are so sick of wokeism, I actually think it would, at this moment, do really well. Do really well, actually.
Alex Clark
That's interesting because I thought, oh, no, they couldn't make this anymore. But you're right, maybe. Actually it would.
Jillian Michaels
I said that five years ago. Yeah, I said that in 2019. And then I was swiftly canceled for saying that I didn't celebrate the fact that Lizzo was 300,000,000 pounds. And the reason I Don't celebrate it is because I do think she's a brilliant artist, and I would never want to see her suffer from chronic disease. And the fact that that was a controversial statement was truly shocking to me. And at that moment in time, I thought, biggest Loser will never work. And in fact, it didn't. I think there was a reprisal. It had been revi. A revival. I'm sorry, revival of it. And it did, in fact, fail. But I think now it's possible it could work.
Alex Clark
How are you really feeling about the Maha movement behind the scenes?
Jillian Michaels
Here's what I don't like about it. I'm gonna be honest. I don't like all the infighting. It disappoints me.
Alex Clark
Explain to people that are clueless what is the infighting going on in Maha?
Jillian Michaels
I have distanced myself from it so much at this point that I can simply tell you there's like, the ones that focus on vaccines, and there's the ones that focus on food. And the reality is, like, there's room for all of these conversations in one movement. And when we get caught up fighting with each other, it like, what are you doing? It's the same thing we're seeing across all of culture. It's like red against blue, neighbor against neighbor, when these huge global corporations are robbing everyone blind. Pay attention to the true bad guy in the room. You still fighting about diets and supplements and who gives a shit? You're fighting about if we're going to prioritize whether a kid gets hep B or we're going to ban red number 40. Can't you have both of these fights simultaneously? Yep. It's extremely disappointing to me, and I've kind of taken just a small step back while it all plays out while continuing to advocate for the bigger, broader message.
Alex Clark
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Jillian Michaels
I can't believe we've moved at all. I mean, let's. Let's be honest.
Alex Clark
Yeah.
Jillian Michaels
Kennedy and Maha as a movement are up against the four biggest, most powerful lobbies. Ag, food, pharma, insurance. And just one of those Goliaths would be virtually impossible to take on, let alone all four. It's like a horror film. It's like a Japanese horror film with like Godzilla and Kong and like some other, you know, nuclear creatures. It's just. It's virtually impossible. And the fact that there's been any change is truly a miracle. I mean, look, we. We know he's handcuffed. Let's. Let's be fair. Cassidy. We got his vote.
Alex Clark
That's great. Yeah. Senator Cassidy, my least favorite.
Jillian Michaels
But I mean, we both know that he held his vote hostage and concessions had to be made. You. Kennedy would not be there if those concessions weren't made. This is called grown up talk. Like you don't get a perfect world. You don't get all or Nothing. You have to fight for every little victory. And so listen, what are the 10,000 chemicals in our food that probably shouldn't be there? We got one out. Hey, one is better than, you know, adding 20 more.
Alex Clark
Right.
Jillian Michaels
So for me, I'm excited about that. I know that he is trying. I know that he is a good person. I know the people around him, like Marty and Jay and Casey and Cali are great people. My expectation is negative zero. So every step they make, that is a good one. I am mind boggled. I'll be honest.
Alex Clark
What have your interactions behind the scenes been like with rfk? Can you share any, like, fun conversations?
Jillian Michaels
This is what's so ironic is, you know, people think I'm some sort of loyalist. I don't even know him. I don't work for the administration. I've met him three times in passing. Literally three times. Once on a hike where I got to talk to him for about 20 minutes. Once in passing at the Senate hearing with Ron Johnson. Yeah. And another one in passing at the Maha Reports unveiling.
Alex Clark
Yeah. My interactions have been like, hello, how are you doing? Good to see you again. Goodbye. Like, it's.
Jillian Michaels
That's all my interviewed the guy guy.
Alex Clark
I haven't.
Jillian Michaels
Which I'm truthfully kind of pissed about.
Alex Clark
No, I wanted to, but I couldn't interview him last year when he was doing like, everybody shows because Turning point is a 501c3 nonprofit, so I'm not allowed to interview candidates. And then now, you know, he's in the admin. He's no time, so I missed out.
Jillian Michaels
That's interesting.
Alex Clark
So one day, maybe I'll get to interview him, but. Or maybe, you know, maybe I'll get lucky in these next four years and he'll have a second and he can do an interview. But, yeah, it's. It was hard for me, too.
Jillian Michaels
The reality is I appreciate what he stands for. And the other truth of this is that I understand what he's fighting for. And he's right. The problem is people don't know how to disseminate the misinformation. Like, I don't know if you saw this. Did you see this crowdsourced PDF spreadsheet that CNN did to gather placebo controlled studies on vaccines to try to disprove. Okay. It's all true. And I know this because I got into a bit of a tete a tete with a journalist at the New York Times, which I'm sure will be a hit piece that I plan on framing on the wall of my office. Hopefully not, but I'm optimistic. But I embrace it. I know I'll be in good company should that happen. So I sat down with Dr. Joel Warsh. Have you sat down with this guy? Pediatrician. And he has his Ms. In, I believe, Epidemiology. I'd have forgotten this.
Alex Clark
This whole thing is vaccine.
Jillian Michaels
Yes, yes. And I was like, break this down for me. He's like, well, first of all, half the stuff on this, this spreadsheet aren't even on the kid's schedule, so let's wipe out half right there. He's like, second of all, the vast majority of them aren't actually inert placebo, meaning saline. They're using active comparable placebos, which is previous versions of a vaccine. He's like, third, how many of them are looking at long term safety? Virtually none. They're looking at efficacy. Does it work 10 years from now? Immunogenicity. How did the body mount a response to the vaccine, but long term safety? Very few. And he's like, and last but not least, of the three that you may or may not have left, none of it was done pre licensure of the vaccine. And I know that. So I know when Kennedy is talking about this stuff, I know what he's saying and I know he's right and I know how to get the information should I become confused. But the vast majority of people don't. So for me, I know it's my job, your job, to go out and explain this to people, disseminate the information, because I know what he's fighting for is right.
Alex Clark
You've been in Hollywood circles for decades. Do you think it's really weird how the mainstream media is all of a sudden saying it's right wing extremism to talk about vaccines and raw milk? I mean, am I crazy that it was Hollywood liberals who were the ones who were not vaccinating their kids and drinking raw milk?
Jillian Michaels
But this, by the way, is why I refuse to put a label on myself and I refuse to become tribal. Because the only reason they've moved in that direction is because they feel like they'll be cast out of their if they don't. Everybody knows this is bananas. Except for the crazy super fringe. Woke few that are like, this tail, it's wagging the dog. And then some of us just get purged, like Anna, like myself. And for the first time we can see the sun, you know. But with that said, I'm seeing stuff that's so crazy, it's hard to wrap my head around outside of Health. Like, I was just on CNN last night because I think now, to be honest, I think that's really where we need to be.
Alex Clark
Oh yeah.
Jillian Michaels
So easy to go on fogs. We, we need to be places where we're, we're fighting for minds.
Alex Clark
Well, and the Maha movement. This is what people need to understand when it comes to the midterms coming up. And I think you can echo this beautifully. Maha, I think, is one of the most powerful political arms we have of the Trump admin.
Jillian Michaels
Right.
Alex Clark
If we, we need to keep pressing and promoting Maha, if we want to win midterms, we need people, we gain millions of voters based on this issue. We need to keep them, keep talking about it. So I hope the President, you know, people will hear this on in his camp and RFK and just be motivated to keep pushing Maha as we go into the midterms.
Jillian Michaels
I, I couldn't agree with you more, but, but I think what you're seeing is crazy. Let me, let me lay this one at your feet. Okay? So I'm not sure when this airs, but recently two marijuana fields in California were raided by ice. I'm on CNN and they're talking about how ICE injured the farm workers. Do you mind if we pause? Would you like me to shine some light on why you lost the last election? Because the vast majority, majority of us are horrified about the fact that there are unaccompanied, underage, undocumented children who were likely trafficked working on a weed farm.
Alex Clark
Hello.
Jillian Michaels
Like, if you think them demonizing raw milk is bad. Like, and then one of them made a case and said, no, no, it's. It's legal for 12 year olds to work in agriculture in California, where it actually is. However, Glass House would need a license that permits minors under the age of 18, which they did not have. It is, in fact, illegal. But my point is, how are we having these arguments?
Alex Clark
Yeah.
Jillian Michaels
Nevertheless, we need to keep having them. It's not just Maha. Maha is an extension of what Gadsad truly calls the woke mind virus. It is a problem when it comes.
Alex Clark
To the American chronic disease crisis. Did you always know that food was the problem? Or for a while, did you think they're not exercising enough? They're too sedentary. And do you feel like I made a mistake then or. No. Always knew it was the food.
Jillian Michaels
You know what? Here's where I really appreciate the Maha report. For whatever flaws and errors it had, it did identify the four key problems, and they are all problems. Food. Okay. Sedentary lifestyle.
Alex Clark
Yeah.
Jillian Michaels
Crap in the environment, big one. And over medicalization. Now, would I weight them all equally? No, but kind of close. I might put over medicalization at like 10%, but food, sedentary lifestyle and chemicals, I would almost weigh equally. I think they are all equally dangerous.
Alex Clark
And you always felt that way or.
Jillian Michaels
This is the reason I always felt that way. There was an evolution with food and that came when I was in my very early 30s because I couldn't understand why despite the fact that I was a healthy weight and I was exercising, I still had a host of health issues. Nodules on my thyroid, pcos, melasma on my face. I'm like, this just doesn't add up. What am I missing here? And that's when I ended up writing master your metabolism with a board certified endocrinologist and really expanding my understanding about the quality of food. And I had to do a big mea culpa about the previous books as like throw out all of those recipes with splendor and soybean oil.
Alex Clark
Yes.
Jillian Michaels
Yep. So bad.
Alex Clark
What is your elevator pitch to keep somebody motivated on their fitness journey? If they just are like, I can't do this anymore.
Jillian Michaels
Gosh, my elevator pitch. My elevator pitch, I guess would be, what choice do you have? Because if you don't do it anymore, then it is a foregone conclusion. You will die sooner of something horrible. If that doesn't matter to you, then my pitch doesn't matter either way. But the more people try to avoid the thing they're afraid of, I don't want to deal with it. I don't want to face it. You manifest the thing you don't want to deal with. And I keep trying to explain that when you play all of these scenarios out of like, what if I try and it works amazing. What if you try and you fail? Well, you learn from the lesson. You re approach more intelligently and success is a matter of attrition. What if I do nothing? Everybody thinks nothing happens. It's not nothing that happens. It is an absolute 100 guarantee that you will manifest the very thing you are trying to avoid. That is what happens. So that's my elevator pitch. You kind of have no choice if you care even an iota.
Alex Clark
If you could offer one remedy to heal a sick culture, physically, emotionally or spiritually, what would it be?
Jillian Michaels
Be true to yourself. I think once you're true to yourself, you start prioritizing yourself. And when you prioritize yourself, you act on all of these different fronts. No matter how big or how small, each and every one of those actions adds up. Small steps, small successes equal big wins over time. Be true to yourself. Be authentically you. You'll value yourself more. You'll build your self worth and your self esteem. And from that place, what is it you work out? Cause you love your body, not cause you hate it. From that place, you make these steps because you know your inherent value.
Alex Clark
Tell everyone about your podcast and where to listen.
Jillian Michaels
Gosh, I, I have two projects right now. So one is called Her Take and it's with Patrick Bet David's company and it's a more centered version of View.
Alex Clark
Oh, really?
Jillian Michaels
Yeah.
Alex Clark
You were doing that?
Jillian Michaels
No way. I recruited Anna to join me. We don't always agree, as I'm sure you can imagine, and Lindy Lee and Amy Dangerfield and, and we have guests all the time. It's pretty new show but very political as I'm sure you can imagine, tackling some of the, some of these cultural issues as well as geopolitical and economical. And we bring on the appropriate experts to disseminate all of it. And then there's my show. And it's really just a deep dive with differing experts across the spectrum. It's mostly political these days because I, I don't, I've got, you know, all the mob people to, to do the health stuff right now and they do it well. I'm trying to really lean into conversations with people that are not inherent. Yeah. Whether it's talking to Matt Walsh about gay marriage or talking to Kara Swisher about what I think is a problem having transgender athletes in sports, those are the conversations that I'm really interested in having.
Alex Clark
Well, it's funny. So my audience is, you know, tried and true conservative Christian. We didn't grow up hearing anything about the health. So me talking about health and wellness, they're hearing it for the first time. Your audience who knows you, they already know the health stuff for the most part. And so they're getting red pilled on politics for the first time. So you and I have basically switched.
Jillian Michaels
That's so true.
Alex Clark
Yeah. And like that's how we're, you know.
Jillian Michaels
Yes. Because you're speaking to an audience that hasn't heard it. You're, you're completely my. Doesn't even want it from me. Doesn't work. They're like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What else can you tell me?
Alex Clark
Yeah, no, there. Mine is eating this up. So I can't thank you enough. Thank you for coming on Culture Apothecary.
Jillian Michaels
My God, thank you for having me.
Alex Clark
If you have not listened to Jillian's interview of Anna Kasparian. It is mandatory homework. Trust me, you're gonna love that episode. Especially if you have friends and family still on the left that you are desperate to see the light. Do not forget to leave that five star review. It is free on Spotify or Apple. It takes two seconds. It is crucial to our success. Follow the show on Instagram at Culture Apothecary or me at Real Alex Clark. We're on a mission to heal a sick culture. Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm Pacific, 9pM Eastern, where new guests bring their own unique remedy to do just that. Subscribe to Real Alex Clark on YouTube to not only watch every episode, but I also post vlogs and all sorts of additional content there. I'm Alex Clark and this is Culture Apothecary.
Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Episode: Jillian Michaels On Ozempic For A Head Start & Staying Motivated In Your Fitness Journey
Release Date: July 22, 2025
In this compelling episode of Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, host Alex Clark welcomes renowned fitness trainer, nutritionist, and bestselling author Jillian Michaels. Best known for her role on NBC's The Biggest Loser, Jillian delves deep into her personal political transformation, insights on modern fitness challenges, the controversial use of Ozempic, and offers motivational strategies for maintaining a fitness journey amidst a tumultuous cultural landscape.
Jillian Michaels opens up about her shift from a lifelong Democrat to identifying as an independent, influenced significantly by her son's engagement with Charlie Kirk's conferences.
On Changing Political Views:
“I fought for it for a real long time and it, I hate to say this, but it reminds me of a kid who has an alcoholic parent... The reality is the left gets more radical.”
— Jillian Michaels [04:35]
On Maintaining Independence:
“If you hold onto your independence, you're authentic and you hold each side to account... You make these steps because you know your inherent value.”
— Jillian Michaels [06:54]
Jillian emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself over adhering strictly to political labels, advocating for a balanced approach that holds both sides accountable while prioritizing personal integrity.
The discussion shifts to President Trump's leadership, with Jillian expressing cautious optimism despite acknowledging imperfections.
She praises specific policies and actions, such as reshoring and national security efforts, while also highlighting areas of concern like the potential for overreach in certain administrations.
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the use of Ozempic, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in weight management.
Despite her initial opposition, Jillian acknowledges the role of microdosing Ozempic as a potential tool for individuals significantly overweight, provided the benefits outweigh the risks. She stresses the importance of viewing it as one of many tools rather than a frontline solution.
Alex and Jillian explore the feasibility of reviving formats similar to The Biggest Loser in the current socio-political climate.
Jillian reflects on the original show's intensity and question whether a modern version could maintain its impact amid today's heightened sensitivity towards social issues. She remains open to the possibility but emphasizes the complexities involved.
Jillian shares her perspectives on the internal conflicts within the Maha Movement, highlighting the fragmentation between different focus areas such as vaccines and food.
She expresses disappointment over the lack of unity, advocating for a more cohesive approach to tackling overarching cultural and health issues rather than getting sidetracked by specific debates.
The conversation touches upon the broader American chronic disease crisis, with Jillian emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the problem.
Jillian concurs with the Maha Report's identification of key problems: food quality, sedentary lifestyles, environmental toxins, and over-medicalization. She advocates for a balanced emphasis on these areas, underscoring the equal importance of addressing each to combat chronic diseases effectively.
Jillian provides her elevator pitch for maintaining motivation on a fitness journey, emphasizing personal responsibility and the inevitability of facing health consequences if one chooses to give up.
She encourages individuals to confront their fears and continue striving for health, framing persistence as the only viable option for those who care about their well-being.
In response to Alex's invitation to provide a remedy for healing a sick culture, Jillian underscores the importance of authenticity and self-worth.
She advocates for individuals to prioritize their well-being, which in turn fosters a collective movement towards a healthier, more authentic society.
The episode concludes with Jillian Michaels reflecting on her ongoing projects, including her political podcast Her Take, and reiterating the necessity of open dialogues across the political spectrum to foster understanding and progress. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of health, political integrity, and cultural healing, leaving listeners with a powerful message of authenticity and resilience.
Notable Quotes:
“If you hold onto your independence, you're authentic and you hold each side to account...”
— Jillian Michaels [06:54]
“What choice do you have? Because if you don't do it anymore, then it is a foregone conclusion.”
— Jillian Michaels [29:29]
“Be true to yourself... Small steps, small successes equal big wins over time.”
— Jillian Michaels [30:35]
This episode offers a profound exploration of the intersections between personal health, political beliefs, and cultural well-being, providing listeners with both practical advice and thoughtful perspectives on navigating a complex societal landscape.