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Feb 2025
1h 17m

Big Food and Pharma Are Keeping Us Sick:...

Courtney Swan
About this episode

231: In this episode, I sit down with Calley Means, co-founder of TruMed, to talk about how our food and healthcare systems are stacked against us. Calley shares his insider perspective from years of consulting for major food companies, revealing how food subsidies, misleading studies, and the tactics of Big Food and Big Pharma have led to a system that keeps us unhealthy. We dive into the shocking truth about food stamp-funded junk food, how processed foods are driving chronic disease, and why it’s time to shift towards viewing food as medicine. This conversation will leave you fired up and ready to take action!


Topics Discussed:


  • Calley’s background and the founding of TruMed  
  • The impact of food subsidies on our food system  
  • The manipulation behind corrupt health studies  
  • Big Food’s role in misleading the public  
  • Why pizza is considered a vegetable in schools  
  • The rise of chronic diseases and our broken healthcare system  
  • Ozempic and Big Pharma’s focus on managing, not curing, illness  
  • The power of regenerative farming  
  • Practical tips for making healthier food choices and supporting sustainable agriculture


Sponsored By: 




Timestamps: 


  • 00:00:00 - Introduction 
  • 00:07:49 - Calley’s background
  • 00:10:39 - Consulting for big food 
  • 00:13:41 - Corrupt studies
  • 00:18:13 - PB & J study and TUFTS food compass
  • 00:25:18 - Why food companies fund studies
  • 00:27:04 - How did we get here? 
  • 00:33:04 - Misplacing trust in our health care system 
  • 00:36:24 - Food Is Medicine 
  • 00:43:15 - The Ozempic debate 
  • 00:49:21 - Rise in chronic diseases 
  • 00:53:02 - Surgery and prescription drugs
  • 01:00:14 - Food subsidies 
  • 01:05:01 - Advice for a healthier life 
  • 01:08:12 - Regenerative farming 
  • 01:09:25 - Calley’s health nonnegotiables 



Check Out Calley:



Check Out Courtney: 




Produced By: Drake Peterson

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