logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
26m 6s

How wellness killed Jenny Craig

Vox
About this episode

The diet company is shutting down. Bloomberg’s Emma Court explains how Jenny Craig’s strategy — heavy on celebrity endorsements and meal plans — couldn’t compete with a shift toward body positivity and pharmaceuticals.

This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Siona Peterous, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd with additional music help from Chris Shurtleff, and hosted by Noel King.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
I was told there would be deals
After pressing pause on the steepest tariffs, the Trump Administration promised 90 tariff deals in 90 days. That deadline is nearly here but the deals are not. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kri ... Show More
27m 52s
Jul 8
Trump's Nobel Peace Prize
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Donald Trump he has nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his Middle East efforts. We hear what he's done to deserve it. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fac ... Show More
27m 51s
Jul 7
Texas blame game
Dozens of people were swept away by flash floods in Texas this weekend. The finger-pointing has already begun. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Peter Balanon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabrielle Berbey and Miles Bryan, engineered by Andrea Kristin ... Show More
27m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
Junk Food for Thought
Dr Xand van Tulleken and Dr Dolly van Tulleken join Adam to chat about confusing portion sizes, ultra-processed foods and how the government could act to improve Britain’s diet. And BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen unpicks events in Israel after a tumultuous week which saw m ... Show More
33m 46s
Sep 2022
Mini Maxi Budget
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng unveils the biggest package of tax cuts in 50 years, before being questioned by Chris on his thinking. We hear what the chancellor has to say, as well as Chris’s thoughts, and those of the Financial Times’ Clear Barrett and former Bank of England Chief E ... Show More
35m 56s
Sep 2020
Chicken Big
In 1992, Craig Watts got into growing chickens for Perdue Farms because he was told he could turn a good profit. Instead, he found himself hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and unable to bargain for better working conditions because Perdue was the only game in town. Thing ... Show More
28m 50s
Apr 2023
The Most Expensive Thing Since Sliced Bread
With inflation still high, when will food prices start to fall?Adam talks to business editor Simon Jack to make sense of today’s numbers and why things like bread and cereal cost so much. Also, the BBC’s Sarah Smith and Jeremy Barr from the Washington Post discuss Fox News’ settl ... Show More
32m 23s
Apr 2023
Those New Obesity Drugs Really Work–If You Can Afford Them
Pharmaceutical companies and insurance providers are at odds over a new class of drugs that have proven quite effective at helping people living with obesity lose weight. Bloomberg’s Robert Langreth and Emma Court join this episode to share their reporting on recent advancements ... Show More
25m 18s
Nov 2020
The post-election economy
Emily Stewart joins Dara and Matt to discuss the prospects for Covid relief and Janet Yellen.Resources:"Janet Yellen's mistake" by Matthew Yglesias, Slowboring.com"Electoral politics on an unfair playing field" by Aaron Strauss, Slowboring.comWhite paper Hosts:Matt Yglesias (@mat ... Show More
1h 1m
Jul 2021
The pros and cons of eating bugs | Tell Me More
In many parts of the world, insects are a regular part of people’s diets. That’s not the case in the United States, but perhaps it should be. Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews explains why eating bugs may be a more environmentally friendly alternative to eating meat, as wel ... Show More
14m 50s
May 2023
Newsbeatcast
It’s the BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat takeover with Pria Rai and Calum Leslie.Chris Mason drops in to impart his advice on presenting Newscast, and to give an update on what’s been happening in parliament today.Health correspondent James Gallagher talks through some of the big health sto ... Show More
33m 34s
Dec 2022
Leaping to Nuclear Fusion Conclusions
Is today’s scientific breakthrough the “holy grail” of clean energy?Adam is joined by the BBC’s science editor, Becky Morelle, who explains what nuclear fusion is, and why today’s news is a big deal.Chris Mason talks us through Rishi Sunak’s immigration plans. And business editor ... Show More
28m 23s
Dec 2020
#264: How to Handle Holiday Diet Talk and Body Comments, and Healing from Weight Stigma with Meg Boggs, Author of FITNESS FOR EVERY BODY
Plus-size fitness influencer and author Meg Boggs joins us to discuss how she made peace with food and her body after decades of disordered eating and weight stigma; how her relationship with social media has evolved from documenting her “weight-loss journey” to body positivity; ... Show More
1h 32m