Podcast Summary: Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

Episode: MAHA Tips, Tricks, & Wins | Alex Clark and Courtney Swan LIVE at AMFEST
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Alex Clark (Turning Point USA)
Guest: Courtney Swan (Real Foodology)

Episode Overview

In this live AMFEST episode, Alex Clark is joined by nutritionist Courtney Swan to analyze the first year of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Together, they discuss how poor food quality, corporate influence, and chemical exposures are making Americans sick and what recent policy wins and continued activism can do to change that. The conversation is honest, motivational, and filled with real-life tips, as well as calls to personal responsibility and political activism for a healthier American culture.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Restore health and wellness to American culture
• Celebrate MAHA's first-year progress and set goals for the future
• Expose the realities of food production, regulation, and wellness
• Empower listeners with actionable tips and political participation

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backgrounds & Why MAHA?

[00:21–05:38]

• Courtney: Grew up with a health-conscious mother, later experienced ill health eating the Standard American Diet in college, which led her to study nutrition. She’s passionate about exposing corruption in the food system and founded the “Real Foodology” podcast.
• Alex: Self-described “ultra processed food queen” who drank “12 Dr. Peppers a day”; her wellness journey catalyzed by distrust of Big Pharma during the pandemic, learning that “food is medicine” and “chronic fatigue isn’t normal.”

“Once you start going down the Big Pharma rabbit hole, you inevitably end up in the Big Food basement." – Alex Clark [04:18]

2. MAHA Year One: Major Wins

[05:39–10:25]

• First time a president openly acknowledged America’s health crisis (Trump’s 2nd term)
• Appointed Bobby Kennedy to lead systemic health reforms
• Policy and regulatory moves:
  • Food dyes: Banned or restricted, recognizing their effects on hyperactivity in children
  • Baby formula: New efforts to reformulate away from outdated, unhealthy ingredients
  • Childhood vaccine schedule: Under review
  • Nutrition guidelines: Rewriting guidelines to be “4 pages, not 200” and free from Big Food interference
  • Presidential Fitness Test: Revived for schools to reset cultural attitudes about health
  • Support for detransitioners and taking Medicaid away from hospitals that perform pediatric gender surgeries
  • Firing corrupt/industry-tied officials from critical panels deciding vaccine policy

"We have to admit we have a problem. Trump actually stood up and said, 'Wow, we have a problem. Americans are really sick.'" – Courtney [05:47]

3. Setting Priorities for MAHA Year Two

[10:25–15:16]

• Progress is impressive given decades of neglect, but comprehensive reform will take time.
• EPA and chemical regulation is a key concern for 2026:
  • Rollbacks at the EPA regarding pesticides/herbicides (especially paraquat, diquat, glyphosate)
  • Agrochemical industry lobbying for liability protection similar to past vaccine manufacturers, which would allow more chemicals with less accountability.
  • Ongoing lawsuits against Bayer/Monsanto over glyphosate and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

"If the liability shield passes, we'll allow more chemicals to flood our food system." – Courtney [12:33]

4. Why “All Things in Moderation” Doesn’t Work

[15:16–18:11]

• Ultra-processed foods dominate the American diet (over 60–70%).
• Glyphosate and other chemicals are ubiquitous in grains and processed foods. Finding “moderation” is nearly impossible.
• Bread in America enriched with folic acid and preservatives: Stays squishy for months, “not real food.”

5. Food System Realities and Survival Risks

[17:26–20:12]

• American food supply is dangerously centralized (e.g. Walmart supplies).
• Real food is on the perimeter of the grocery store; central aisles are filled with edible “food-like substances.”
• Americans have lost the knowledge and community connections required for resilience in food sourcing.

“If your food is not molding or going bad in a couple days max, you’re not eating food.” – Alex Clark [17:46]

6. Food as Foundation for Health & National Security

[20:12–22:38]

• “A sick person has one goal: to be well”—wellness is foundational for family, productivity, and even military readiness.
• Only 7% of Americans are metabolically healthy; 74% are overweight or obese.
• Rising chronic disease and pharmaceutical dependence is a threat to both personal liberties and national strength.

“67% of military age young men in this country are not eligible for military because of chronic disease.” – Alex Clark [29:34]

7. Defining “Real Food” & Tips for Choosing

[22:38–24:40]

• Real food is “whole, unprocessed, as little processing as possible.”
• Ingredient rule-of-thumb: If you wouldn’t find every ingredient in your kitchen, skip it; ultra-processed “food-like” items are rampant.

8. Organic: Worth It or Not?

[28:29–29:34]

• USDA organic standards restrict glyphosate and other harmful agrochemicals.
• Organic meat and dairy must be hormone and antibiotic free, and mostly non-GMO fed.
• Organic is a worthwhile investment, especially for produce, meat, and dairy.

9. Regenerative Farming & Soil Health

[34:07–36:26]

• Soil depletion and chemical spraying are reducing the nutritional density of crops.
• Regenerative agriculture restores soil biology, helps climate, and increases food quality.
• Recent policy: $700 million directed to support regenerative farming practices.

10. Practical, Affordable Steps for Listeners

[40:09–41:31]

• Don’t obsess over expensive supplements or wellness gadgets.
• Prioritize home-cooked, nutrient-dense, whole foods.
• Even standard ground beef or regular eggs are better than processed food if organic isn’t affordable.

“If you can’t afford grass fed, grass finished, organic, that’s OK… Still get ground beef over a Hot Pocket.” – Alex Clark [41:31]

11. Reading Labels: “Natural Flavors” Warning

[42:15–43:55]

• “Natural flavors” is often a loophole for hiding undesirable additives.
• Companies are exploiting consumer desire for short ingredient lists.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news. I’m not a fan of natural flavors… They’re hiding so many ingredients under 'natural flavors.'” – Courtney [42:46]

• Same applies to “fragrance” or “perfume” in body care—avoid these as invisible chemical catch-alls.

12. Detox, Sweat, and Excreting Chemicals

[44:33–45:34]

• Movement, sweating, and adequate gut health support detoxification.
• Activated charcoal can be used occasionally, but real detoxification is a medical process.
• Work with a practitioner if pursuing deeper detox regimens.

13. State Advocacy and Legislative Action

[45:39–46:48]

• State-level activism is powerful and necessary; multiple states are moving on bans for ultra-processed foods in schools and limits on SNAP purchases.
• Citizens are encouraged to testify at local and state government sessions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We are so brainwashed. We want our food to last as long as possible… In Europe, they’re going to the market every day. That’s real food.” – Alex Clark [17:26]
• “A sick person has one goal… and that’s to be well. Because when you don’t feel good, you’re not showing up for your family, your job, your community.” – Courtney [20:21]
• “When we have another pandemic... Americans will start to starve within as little as three days because the average American primarily relies on Walmart for their food.” – Alex Clark [18:11]
• “Only about 7% of Americans are metabolically healthy. So that means 93% are unhealthy.” – Courtney [21:07]
• “I call them food-like products, because they don’t really actually resemble food anymore. If our great grandparents were to time travel to today...” – Courtney [22:52]
• “Don't snitch on me. ... I'm about to give the most controversial speech. I really need your support. Please come and be my clap people.” – Alex Clark [46:48]

Important Timestamps

• [00:21] – Introductions & backgrounds
• [05:39] – Major MAHA wins listed
• [10:25] – Problems left to solve for 2026: pesticides, chemical liability
• [16:19] – Hidden dangers in American bread and grains
• [21:00] – Current state of America’s health
• [28:29] – Organic: why it matters
• [34:07] – Soil health and regenerative agriculture
• [40:09] – Affordable approaches to wellness
• [42:21] – Label reading: “natural flavors” discussed
• [44:33] – Detoxing chemicals from the body
• [45:39] – State-level activism encouraged
• [46:48] – Episode wrap-up and call for support

Tone and Final Takeaways

Alex and Courtney’s tone is passionate, direct, and encouraging. They blend humor and urgency, challenging American complacency while providing realistic, actionable advice. Their discussion underscores not only the need for personal responsibility and nutrition literacy, but the potential for genuine, large-scale change through both individual and political action.

Podcast Links:

• Real Foodology with Courtney Swan
• Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

Call to Action:
Take responsibility for your health, get politically involved, and spread the word to heal American culture—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.