Science Vs - “Should You Eat Like a Caveman? Plus — 10 Years of Science Vs!”

Release Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Wendy Zuckerman
Production: Spotify Studios

Episode Overview

This special episode celebrates the 10th anniversary of "Science Vs" with a trip down memory lane, featuring touching listener stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and highlights from past episodes. The main focus revisits the pilot episode about the Paleo diet, critically examining its origins, popularity, and whether current science supports "eating like a caveman". The episode also revisits major show milestones: the Orgasm Gap research, vaccine misinformation, and the Ivermectin controversy.

Key Segments and Insights

1. 10 Years of Science Vs: Reflections & Listener Impact

Timestamps: 00:00–05:09

Highlights

• Wendy celebrates a decade of the show, thanking listeners and sharing their voicemails about the show's impact.
• Listeners recall being influenced by episodes on topics such as toothbrushing, microplastics, and COVID-19 predictions.
• Examples of practical impact, e.g. a teacher using episodes in class, listeners making lifestyle changes, and increased awareness of rare conditions.
• Emotional appreciation for how science debunks myths and empowers personal decisions (e.g., cannabis choices and family health).

Notable Quotes

• "I absolutely love it. I have enjoyed every single puntastic episode. I got instantly hooked, much like my favorite pint of ice cream..." – Molly (Listener) [00:49]
• "To the dad who found out his daughter had Alice in Wonderland syndrome with the help of our episode, I'm just really happy we could help." – Wendy Zuckerman [03:06]
• "Science witches. Thank you to the teacher who uses our episodes for her classroom." – Wendy Zuckerman [02:37]

2. Major Science Vs Milestones: Orgasm Gap, Vaccines, Ivermectin

Timestamps: 05:09–21:50

A. The Orgasm Gap Episode and Publishing Original Research

• Explains the "orgasm gap"—cis men are more likely to orgasm than cis women during sex—and Science Vs’ first foray into its own research.
• Over 5,000 listeners surveyed with analysis published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Humorous and awkward stories about running orgasm studies in MRI machines.

Notable Quote

• "I had more orgasms in that scanner to the point that I should have frequent flyer miles." – Nan Wise [08:35]
• "Talk about a climax." – Wendy Zuckerman, on their study getting published [07:03]

B. Vaccine Misinformation – The MMR-Autism Myth

• Revisits the damaging legacy of Andrew Wakefield’s discredited research linking MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to autism.
• Emphasizes robust evidence showing no link, with millions of children studied internationally.
• Reflects on the enduring power of misinformation even as new solid data emerges.

Notable Quote

• "It’s kind of ludicrous really… you take away the grains and 80% of the world’s population will be gone within a few weeks." – Catherine Milton [30:14]

C. The Ivermectin for COVID-19 Controversy

• Recaps how excitement for Ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment outpaced solid evidence.
• Plays excerpts from a tense, revealing interview with Dr. Pierre Corey, a vocal Ivermectin proponent who dismisses contradicting high-quality studies.
• Illustrates entrenched belief and confirmation bias, even among experts.

Notable Quote

• "So nothing. So nothing. Nothing. Like, I guess I don’t understand..." – Wendy Zuckerman (to Dr. Corey) [17:39]
• "I’m fine with that. You can just write me off as a completely biased clinician so committed to Ivermectin he can’t see anymore." – Dr. Pierre Corey [18:27]

3. Paleo Diet: The Pilot Episode Redux

Timestamps: 23:19–36:35

What is the Paleo Diet?

• Aim: Imitate presumed Paleolithic eating patterns—lean meats, fish, nuts, berries, avoidance of dairy, grains, legumes, processed foods.
• Advocates claim weight loss, prevention of illness, and optimal health.

Expert Opinions

• Catherine Milton (UC Berkeley):
  • There wasn’t a single “paleo diet”, but hundreds, depending on local ecology.
  • "If someone is a hunter gatherer...they are eating only wild plant foods and wild animal foods. ... It would be, I would think, extremely difficult for anyone…in the United States to fancy that they were eating anything remotely similar to a, quote, any of the, quote, Paleolithic diets." [28:30]
• Today’s foods (apples from the Middle East, avocados from Mexico, etc.) are nothing like Paleolithic options.

Is Eating “Paleo” Even Possible?

• Modern foods and lifestyles fundamentally differ—the diet is more of a marketing label than a historical reality.

Paleo Advocate Perspective

• Darrell Edwards: Admits that Paleo is now just a label for eating less processed food. He finds health improvements following its principles but acknowledges the diet is not truly Paleolithic.
  • "Paleolithic or the Paleo is just a label that best describes what we’re aiming for. But we don’t have to go that far back. We can go back just a few generations..." [30:38]

Is the Paleo Diet Healthy?

• Dairy: Not essential if leafy greens/bones supply calcium, but most people should track intake if eliminating dairy.
• Meat: Paleo advocates recommend animal protein daily, but national guidelines warn against high red meat consumption, citing risks of colorectal and other cancers.
  • "The strongest evidence is the relationship between red meat and increased risk of colorectal cancer." – Jonathan Hallett [33:07]
• Cutting grains/legumes: Reduces fiber and nutrients that protect against disease.

The Antinutrient Debate

• Paleo proponents warn about “antinutrients” (plant defenses), but science does not support serious health risks; some are even beneficial.
  • "The term is misleading." – Dora Marinova (Curtin University), via email [34:29]

Paleo’s True Value

• Cutting processed foods and excess sugar is sensible, but there’s no need to mimic a caveman’s menu for health.
  • "When it comes to science versus Paleo, it’s science one, Paleo diet nil." – Wendy Zuckerman [36:40]

4. Celebratory Send-Off: Listener Thanks, Musical Moments, and Shark Redemption

Timestamps: 36:36–41:56

Listener Gratitude & Team Shoutouts

• Emotional thank-yous from listeners and production team for ten years of clear, fun, evidence-based science.
• A memorable, humorous musical about sharks—aiming to give the much-maligned animal a better public image.

Notable Quotes

• "Thanks for giving me a toothbrushing existential crisis every morning." – Listener [41:39]
• "Thanks for making this place we call world a little bit more informed and...thus a better place." – Listener [41:54]

Episode Timeline

| Time | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | 10th anniversary intro & listener stories | | 05:09 | Show highlights: Orgasm Gap, first research publication | | 09:30 | MMR vaccine/autism myth revisited | | 17:28 | Ivermectin & COVID: Evidence vs. entrenched belief | | 23:19 | Return to Paleo diet: Pilot episode presented | | 36:36 | Anniversary thanks; Science Vs “Sharks” musical moment | | 41:56 | Episode close (final thoughts, team credits) |

Engaging, Memorable Moments

• “Frequent Flyer Miles for Orgasms” (08:35): Neuroscientist Nan Wise describes her dedication to sex research.
• “Houston, we have a problem. The dildo went into orbit.” (09:10): Science, comedy, and reality combined.
• Paleo Diet Deconstructed (27:09–36:40): Debunking the myth that Paleolithic eating is either possible or uniquely healthy.
• Shark Musical Number (38:13): The comical “Defying Gravity” send-up, humanizing misunderstood sharks.

Summary Takeaways

• After ten years, "Science Vs" maintains its commitment to separating facts from fads, with a playful yet rigorous approach.
• Major scientific questions—about diets, disease, and debunked cures—show how enduring misinformation shapes public opinion, and the importance of questioning narratives (even popular or viral ones).
• The Paleo diet, though rooted in a seductive “natural” ideal, doesn’t hold up to biology or evidence—modern health is best pursued with balanced, diverse, and minimally processed foods, not by pretending to be cavepeople.
• “Science Vs” remains as much about fighting misinformation as it is about informing listeners with relatable, memorable, and sometimes hilarious science stories.

Further Listening

• Orgasm Gap (2020)
• Vaccines: Are They Safe? (2017)
• Ivermectin: The Story of a Wonder Drug
• Paleo Diet Pilot (2015)
• Science Vs: Sharks (For the musical!)

For references, credits, and more, check Science Vs on Spotify, Instagram (@science_vs), or email the team (details in show notes).