logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
41m 27s

What's the Truth About Alcohol, Cancer, ...

The Ringer
About this episode

Today's episode has been a long time coming. For years, more scientists and health influencers have claimed that even moderate drinking does serious damage to one's health. As someone who likes being healthy and also loves a glass of wine (or scotch), Derek really wanted to understand this issue more deeply. This week, he published a long article in The Atlantic about his research on the health effects of moderate drinking—meaning one or two drinks a night. In today's episode, he breaks down his research process and conclusions, sharing audio from his interview with Canadian health researcher Tim Stockwell, who is one of the most prominent skeptics of the supposed benefits of moderate drinking.


If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com.

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Tim Stockwell

Producer: Devon Baroldi


Links

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

Up next
Aug 20
Plain History: How the Transcontinental Railroads Built the Modern World
Today’s pod is about the economic story of the moment. It’s about new technology that supporters claim will transform the U.S. economy, an infrastructure build-out unlike anything in living memory that demands enormous natural resources, fears that corporate giants are overbuildi ... Show More
55m 49s
Aug 13
The Modern World Is Changing America’s Personality For the Worse
According to analysis by Financial Times writer John Burn-Murdoch, something extraordinary has happened to Americans’ personalities in the last decade. Longitudinal tests indicate that we’ve collectively become less extroverted, less agreeable, and more neurotic. The most signifi ... Show More
47m 10s
Aug 6
Will AI Usher In the End of Deep Thinking?
Last week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis published the latest GDP report. It contained a startling detail. Spending on artificial intelligence added more to the U.S. economy than consumer spending last quarter. This is very quickly becoming an AI economy. I’m interested in how ... Show More
58m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Just how bad is alcohol for us?
For the regular drinker it is a source of great comfort: the fat pile of studies that say a daily tipple is better for a longer life than avoiding alcohol completely. But a new analysis challenges that thinking and says it was based on flawed research that compares drinkers with ... Show More
16m 32s
Jun 2024
The dangers of normalising "the wine mum"
Have you heard about wine mums, or seen videos on social media featuring women drinking at boozy brunches? Historically men have drunk more than women, but in recent years there has been an increase in women’s drinking. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down ... Show More
12m 58s
Mar 2025
146. Your Body is BEGGING You to Know This About Alcohol!
Many people reach for a glass of wine or beer to unwind, but rarely consider the silent damage happening inside their bodies. Alcohol isn’t just a social ritual, it’s one of the top five causes of chronic disease worldwide. In this episode, I’ll break down the risks of alcohol co ... Show More
9m 11s
Feb 2025
Could Your Life Be Better Without Alcohol?
Alcohol is deeply ingrained in many cultures, often seen as a way to celebrate, socialise, or unwind. But what happens when we take a step back and question our relationship with it? In this episode, Jake and Damian explore the challenges and benefits of going alcohol-free in the ... Show More
13m 55s
Apr 2024
137 - The Hard Truth About Alcohol With Danny Matranga
Alcohol. A polarizing word in itself. Everyone has an alcohol related story, even if you've never personally drank. This week we are talking with Danny Matranga, CSCS, BSc about the impact of alcohol on our health. Alcohol is so ingrained in our society that simply mentioning ... Show More
53m 29s
Jul 2024
#092 The Truth About Alcohol: Risks, Benefits, and Everything In-Between | Dr. Rhonda Patrick
My omega-3 guide on concerns like a-fib, dosage, supplement quality, oxidation, and more Discover my premium podcast, The Aliquot Join over 300,000 people and sign up for my newsletter Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A’s ... Show More
3h 24m
Jan 2025
Dry January: Why more people are taking a break from alcohol, with Richard de Visser, PhD
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called to add cancer warnings to alcohol labels. For many people, “Dry January” offers a chance try out a low- or no-alcohol life. Health psychologist Richard de Visser, PhD, talks about what’s driving public interest in Dry January and other “sob ... Show More
36m 44s
Jan 2025
What Happens to Your Body and Mind When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
Today, you’re getting a masterclass about what alcohol does to your body, brain, and health. One of the most renowned and respected experts on alcohol is here to give you the latest research and science of how alcohol impacts your life. She’s going to give you facts and help you ... Show More
58m 53s
Nov 2024
Midlife-Onset Alcohol Dependence: Causes and Consequences
What drives the onset of alcohol dependence in midlife? How does it present unique challenges, and what strategies can help when it disrupts the lives of individuals and their families? In this episode of Under the Cortex, host Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum speaks with Lara Khalifeh ... Show More
25m 21s
May 22
How Alcohol Rewires Your Brain and Increases Cancer Risk by 40%! The Alcohol Doctor, Dr. Sarah Wakeman
Are you unknowingly damaging your brain and raising your cancer risk with just one drink? Discover the alarming truth about alcohol from Dr. Sarah Wakeman, what every adult needs to know now. Dr. Sarah Wakeman is senior medical director for substance use disorder at Mass General ... Show More
1h 48m