Podcast Summary: The Dream – Episode “Your Call Is Important To Us”

Introduction

In the episode titled “Your Call Is Important To Us,” hosted by Little Everywhere and produced by Dan Gallucci, the focus pivots back to the wellness theme from Season Two. Despite being on vacation, the team brings a compelling rerun featuring listener calls that delve into personal experiences with wellness practices. This episode unpacks both the allure and the pitfalls of the wellness industry, shedding light on real-life stories that highlight the complex interplay between genuine well-being and exploitative practices.

Segment 1: The Dark History of Gary Young and Young Living Essential Oils

The episode opens with Dan Gallucci recounting the controversial history of Gary Young, the founder of Young Living Essential Oils. Gary's journey from a naturopathic practitioner to a figure embroiled in legal troubles showcases the fine line between alternative wellness and malpractice.

• Early Practices and Legal Issues: Gary Young, despite lacking formal medical training, founded Golden 6 Health World in Spokane, Washington, in 1980. His unlicensed medical practices led to a tragic incident where a water birth at his clinic resulted in the death of a baby due to oxygen deprivation. This led to Young’s arrest and conviction for gross misdemeanor.

  “The owner of the clinic eventually got arrested and convicted of gross misdemeanor for practicing medicine without a license.” [03:00]

• Expansion and Deception in Tijuana: Post-conviction, Young relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, where he continued his dubious practices by promoting unverified treatments like blood crystallization tests and ortho molecular cell therapy, falsely promising cures for cancer.

  “He promised cancer patients that after a three-week stay in his clinic that cost them $6,000, their cancer would be in remission.” [04:10]

• Legacy and Death: Young's legacy persisted through Young Living Essential Oils, a multi-level marketing company that continues to operate despite its problematic origins. Gary Young passed away in 2018 from a stroke, leaving behind a controversial empire.

  “After his daughter drowned and he moved to Tijuana to fleece desperate cancer patients... he died suddenly in 2018 of a stroke.” [04:50]

Segment 2: Listener Stories on Wellness Experiences

The core of the episode features heartfelt and critical listener call-ins, each sharing unique encounters with the wellness industry.

1. Crystal’s Battle with Epilepsy and Wellness Pitches

   Crystal shares her struggle with epilepsy and how she was bombarded with offers from wellness companies promising natural cures.

   “They still hit me up occasionally to ask me if I'd like to get off of my anti-seizure medicine and start taking their quote unquote, all natural medicine.” [06:46]

2. Sasha’s Observations on Evidence-Based Practices

   Sasha, a massage therapist and birth doula, critiques the lack of scientific grounding in many wellness practices, highlighting terms like “quantum mechanics” and “frequencies” used without substantive evidence.

   “Everyone thinks that they have an evidence-based practice. You hear quantum mechanics a lot... I think it's important to know that we aren't all being objective.” [07:01]

3. Tatiana’s Realization of Groupthink in Herbal Workshops

   Tatiana recounts her experience at an herbal workshop where the facade of authenticity was shattered by a violation of protocol, leading her to question the integrity of the process.

   “Something in me at that moment clicked like, oh, we're just pretending. We're all just here pretending together.” [14:33]

4. Jacob’s Encounter with Essential Oils During a Family Crisis

   Jacob describes the intrusive nature of essential oil sales within his evangelical Christian community during his mother's battle with liver failure, criticizing the prioritization of sales over genuine support.

   “People that should care and people family and friends... but at the end of the day I feel like they're trying to sell us oils when we just need food and help.” [18:35]

5. Kelly’s Experience with Quantum Neural Reset Therapy

   Kelly details her skepticism turning into disillusionment after undergoing QNRT, an expensive and scientifically unsupported therapy involving colored eyeglasses and ionic foot baths.

   “I think it's pretty safe to say that I won't likely return for those treatments... because I'm pretty sure that foot bath was also in the neighborhood of 75 bucks a pop.” [36:10]

6. Abby’s Journey from Misdiagnosis to Effective Treatment

   Abby shares her harrowing experience of being misdiagnosed with migraines while suffering from idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Her reliance on alternative treatments delayed effective medical intervention, ultimately necessitating brain surgery.

   “I spent three years undiagnosed... then they found out I didn't have migraines. I was bedridden for three years and then... the surgery worked.” [42:00]

7. Sasha’s Disillusionment with Churches Endorsing Wellness Centers

   In a second caller segment, Sasha expresses discomfort with her church’s endorsement of wellness centers, where spiritual messages were intertwined with promoting chiropractic and hormonal balance services.

   “I just... I don't even know why you would do that.” [40:00]

Segment 3: Understanding the Placebo Effect with Dr. Katherine Hall

Transitioning from personal stories, the episode features an insightful discussion with Dr. Katherine Hall, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, who delves into the placebo effect's scientific underpinnings.

• Historical Context and Brain Activity:

  Dr. Hall explains that the placebo effect has roots in the 1800s but gained scientific traction with neuroimaging studies in the early 2000s, revealing specific brain regions activated during placebo treatments.

  “There were very specific regions of the brain that were activated in response to placebo treatment.” [24:49]

• Predictive Processing and Physiological Responses:

  The conversation explores how our brains anticipate outcomes, translating expectations into tangible physiological changes, thereby making placebos a subset of broader cognitive processes.

  “Whether it's through conditioning or expectation, we can translate the context of the therapeutic encounter into a physiological response.” [27:12]

• Case Study: Perkins Tractors:

  Dr. Hall recounts the Perkins tractors case from the 1790s, illustrating how belief and expectation can foster real healing stories, even when the treatments themselves are inert.

  “They painted some wooden sticks silver and ran a study... and guess what? They worked just as well.” [30:00]

• Ethical Implications and the Future of Placebo Research:

  The discussion highlights the need to balance the benefits of the placebo effect with ethical medical practices, advocating for a deeper understanding of what makes people feel better beyond deceptive treatments.

  “We need to really figure out what's important here and how to deliver it so that people can feel better.” [32:15]

Conclusion

“Your Call Is Important To Us” masterfully intertwines listener narratives with expert insights, painting a nuanced picture of the wellness industry's impact on individuals. Through these stories and the exploration of the placebo effect, the episode invites listeners to critically evaluate wellness practices and understand the psychological mechanisms that underpin their effectiveness. By addressing both the allure and the potential harm of unregulated wellness trends, the podcast encourages a more informed and discerning approach to personal health and well-being.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “They still hit me up occasionally to ask me if I'd like to get off of my anti-seizure medicine and start taking their quote unquote, all natural medicine.” — Crystal [06:46]

• “Everyone thinks that they have an evidence-based practice... I think it's important to know that we aren't all being objective.” — Sasha [07:01]

• “Something in me at that moment clicked like, oh, we're just pretending... there's no integrity to this process.” — Tatiana [14:33]

• “People... but at the end of the day I feel like they're trying to sell us oils when we just need food and help.” — Jacob [18:35]

• “I spent three years undiagnosed... the surgery worked.” — Abby [42:00]

• “We need to really figure out what's important here and how to deliver it so that people can feel better.” — Dr. Katherine Hall [32:15]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the episode’s critical examination of the wellness industry through personal testimonies and scientific discourse, providing a clear and engaging overview for both existing listeners and newcomers.