113: Health Trends Everywhere Right Now: Hype vs Reality

Cortisol is getting blamed for basically everything online, and we get why it’s tempting: it gives a neat explanation for feeling tired, stressed, bloated, or “off.” But as a family medicine doctor and a nurse, we want to bring the conversation back to what cortisol actually does, what real testing looks like, and why most people don’t need to treat normal life stress like a hormonal crisis.

From there, we zoom out to other trendy health topics we keep seeing everywhere: gut health and the microbiome, pricey supplement stacks, and the promise that one test will finally explain your symptoms. We talk about the evidence and the limits, plus the unglamorous basics that move the needle for most people: fiber, plants, sleep, exercise, and cutting back on ultra-processed foods.

We also dig into CGMs and “glucose spikes,” including what’s normal (yes, exercise can raise glucose) and what actually signals risk, like blood sugar staying elevated after meals. Then we hit high-protein culture, why protein helps, why more isn’t always better, and how longevity trends can distract from what matters most. Our bottom line: wellness marketing moves faster than science, so we aim for practical, evidence-based choices you can stick with.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s stuck in health-trend overwhelm, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Transcript

Welcome And Why Trends Spread

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Hi, welcome to your checkup. We are the Patient Education Podcast, where we bring conversations from the doctor's office to your ears. On this podcast, we try to bring medicine closer to its patients. I'm Matt Delesky, a family medicine doctor in the Philadelphia area.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

And I'm Nicole Rufo, I'm a nurse.

SPEAKER_00 0:19

And we are so excited you were able to join us here again today. So what are we going to talk about today, Nick?

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Today we're talking about trendy health tanks.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

Yeah, mainly because I don't think either of us can be bothered to like dedicate a whole episode to each of these things to fight them individually or contextualize them. And to be completely honest, as you'll hear in the banter section afterwards, we're a little sleepy.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Yeah, we had a day.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

We had a day. So we wanted to do something for you, so not leave you hanging, but so we want it to be a little bit more conversational. So some of the trends are based off of real science, but somewhere along the way, they tend to become exaggerated, oversimplified, or marketed in ways that confuse people.

SPEAKER_01 1:11

So today we're going to break down what these trends actually mean, um where there may or may not be truth behind them, and where people should maybe take a deep breath before panicking about their cortisol levels at 9 p.m.

Cortisol Fear Versus Real Science

SPEAKER_00 1:26

Which apparently everyone on the internet has decided they have. So section number one cortisol.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

I feel like cortisol is the villain of the internet lately. And every problem in everyone's life is blamed on a high cortisol level when nobody actually knows what their cortisol is.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Yeah, every video is Yeah, like just because you're bloated doesn't mean that you have an issue with your cortisol. Correct.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

Yep. And so like every video ends up being that like signs your cortisol is destroying your life.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Yeah. Or like, this is what I did to fix my cortisol. Like, girl. You just like started eating vegetables and exercising.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

Yeah. Right.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

So and like your life got better.

SPEAKER_00 2:21

Yeah. And like people will feel like tired, stressed, hungry, and emotional. And sometimes that's just what feeling a human or being a human feels like in today's world. So cortisol is a real hormone. It matters. It helps regulate stress responses, metabolism, some inflammation. It even helps you wake up in the morning.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

So the idea of cortisol is not fake.

SPEAKER_00 2:46

Not at all. Um, but chronic stress absolutely impacts health. We have good evidence for that, but I think social media sometimes takes normal life stress and reframes it as a dangerous hormonal emergency. So the bigger idea is we also think that people are searching for explanations for why they feel exhausted. And modern life can be exhausting for a lot of people. Like you were saying, it can be easier to believe that your body is broken than it is to accept that maybe sleeping five hours a night, you being stressed constantly, never resting, and expecting to function perfectly is a normal thing. I mean, something there are hormone problems. Like there is a there are, yeah. There are like actual things like elevated abnormal cortisol, like cushing syndrome. Or I'll even give it to this way. I'll say this new one that I think now both of us have learned about minimal or mild autonomous cortisol secretion. I've even recently learned about this. There is room for things like where there's a little bit of extra cortisol being leaked out there. Real thing. But I agree with you. This it's a tricky thing. It is not, it's not going to be helpful to be measured.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

And like, I feel like people don't, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 4:21

Randomly.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Like they talk about cortisol like as if it's the Easter bunny, you know?

SPEAKER_00 4:26

Yes. They do. And there are like very specific tests to be done.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

There are people on the internet who and you can tell me if I'm wrong about this.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

No, whatever.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

And maybe if I'm just being judgy, but like they don't use an alarm clock in the morning because they don't want to quote unquote spike their cortisol. Like there's I saw this TikTok of this girl that's like, my husband comes in gently, like rubs my back to wake me up so I don't have to use an alarm clock and spike my cortisol first thing in the morning.

SPEAKER_00 5:06

I wonder if she knows that because it's the morning, her cortisol will be.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

That's why like if you're getting a cortisol, you like do it first thing in the morning. Like when you wake up.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

Like if you're like getting that lab.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

Right.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

At least in the hospital. I don't know what you do outpatient, but no, there's like lots of different ones.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Like you can take a 24-hour urine cortisol because it fluctuates so much throughout the day. You could do something called a dexamethasone suppression test. Or a midnight cortisol where you spit into a tube midnight. And you, much like our Alex's favorite bar and favorite place. Um, you you spit into it because it's supposed to be lower at night. But I think, you know, don't get caught up. The the main take-home point for this little section is don't get caught up in the social media craze, swirl, vortex, blaming all of your life's problems on cortisol.

SPEAKER_01 6:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

There definitely are situations here, and you if you have listened this long, you know us that like we know so many things happen to people, and that like you do have to be a part of the solution.

SPEAKER_01 6:18

We don't think laying claim to being a victim of cortisol is where you should spend your and like a supplement that you buy on TikTok is not going to fix your cortisol, like the Calm, I think it's called like Calm or something. Oh, I think it's like a magnesium supplement and like whatever. And like people are like, I take this to fix my cortisol. Yeah. Like that's oh, I know.

SPEAKER_00 6:48

No, it's a it it's a puckering event. Um, like you're gonna hear later. It's and it's so hard like professionally to sit there and be like to listen when gosh, there there's so much FaceTime between people and the internet and influencers and wellness freaks on the internet. Yeah, and it we get 20 minutes with you professionally. It's tough to fight it. Here we are doing it here. Shall we move on? Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

Yeah, I'm exhausted by this.

SPEAKER_00 7:21

Yeah, I'm already exhausted. My cortisol is spiking. I'm just kidding, it's not how it works.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

This is spiking my cortisol.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

It's not working. All right, Nick, can you take over the bulk of section two?

Gut Health Hype And Simple Fixes

SPEAKER_01 7:32

Uh yeah, it's probably the second biggest thing I see on the internet is gut health.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Apparently, your gut health controls every aspect of human existence secondary to cortisol.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

The microbiome actually is a fascinating science. There really is growing evidence that gut bacteria influence health in really important ways.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

Yeah, so then all of these companies and these supplement people are jumping at any opportunity to make you think that their expensive supplement or their expensive test is going to, you know, I don't know, give you all the answers to your life about your gut health.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

Right. But the truth is that most people probably improve their gut health in very unexciting ways. It's a very high number of people who do not have enough fiber in their diet. So more fiber is a crucial, great way that like if you're gonna go out and you're gonna spend money on an expensive supplement, why don't you go out and explore?

SPEAKER_01 8:45

Just like buy some vegetables. Yeah. Do that instead. Can also be equally as expensive.

SPEAKER_00 8:51

These days it could be. So that's something to think about. But more plants, exercise, sleep, less ultra-processed food. Shout out that former episode. But really, no one wants to hear that the answer might be beans, but they very well could be. Um, another I've actually have been taking selfish advantage of this in visits. It's definitely not on here. Um, is when people come in asking for antibiotics for a viral infection. I kind of use this to my advantage.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

Oh, that's good. It's gonna ruin your gut health.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

Yeah, I do. I say it's gonna which it will.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Yeah, no, yeah. That'll that'll do worse than like you actually thinking that there's something wrong with your gut health.

SPEAKER_00 9:39

Well, you're gonna nuke your gut your microbiome.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

You just wanna have you ever like I'm like, sorry, your yogurt while you're taking your amoxicillin's not gonna No, I'm sorry. Uh so I know that's what everyone says, but like, eat yogurt when you're taking this.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

No, they are really powerful. So it is uh it is out there. Um, that is something I am using to my advantage. Uh yeah. Little reverse psychology. Just a little. It helps. It goes a long way. I like this next one. Um, did you have any other thoughts about gut health?

SPEAKER_01 10:16

No.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Great. Unexciting ways to improve your gut health.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

But it's basically just us clowning on You also like don't have a gluten allergy if you don't have celiac. People talk about that too.

SPEAKER_00 10:31

They do. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 10:34

And like people will be like, oh my god, I like can't tolerate gluten. And like how they like eat bread, but then they like don't eat bread or they don't have dairy. And like someone says that they're lactose intolerant, which people actually are. But I feel like a lot of people like say that and then make it their whole personality, but then it's like not really. So then they don't eat dairy or they don't eat gluten, and they go like months and months or years without eating something, and then they eat it and they don't feel well. And it's like when a vegetarian eats meat and they don't feel well, like you're not eating something for a while, and like that's probably why.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

Yeah. You know, that's yep, that that'd be why.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Yeah. Anyway.

SPEAKER_00 11:18

You're having fun with this one.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

I am.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

I like this one. I think there's nuance to this next one.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

Oh yeah.

CGMs And What Glucose Spikes Mean

SPEAKER_00 11:24

CGMs and glucose spikes.

SPEAKER_01 11:30

I think the I do think this is a really interesting thing. I do too. We talked about just like for our own purposes, like having a CGM to play with and see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

Yeah, I think this one actually has a little bit more. We were clowned on the first two, but we give you one here that we would actually take a take a leap with. Um, usually these are for people with diabetes. The they're not covered by insurance basically, unless you have if you like use insulin, then they'll like take the leap and they'll be like, yeah, this person could benefit. And then for the person with diabetes, there are certain thresholds and ranges that they want you to stay in. It's actually a really cool way to like manage diabetes. But we here in these moments are exploring like what it means for someone who doesn't have diabetes to look into this. And you read a whole book about I did.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

It was actually you would might like it, actually. It's called The Glucose Revolution. And it was all about like glucose, obviously, but it was a lot of sorry. Like the science of food and even like the structure of fiber and different foods and what that does to your blood sugar. Um, like eating fiber before you like eat your regular meal can really have an effect on keeping your blood sugar steady, which is really cool. You actually might like it.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

I actually think I might.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

I you know, we don't have a lot of I think it was on Kindle Unlimited, so I can download it for you.

SPEAKER_00 13:08

Thank you. Uh formal like blood blood sugar spike.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

Yeah. Like I mean, there are like a whole community of like athletes and people who've really try to like keep they're like very serious about keeping their blood sugar steady throughout the day.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

There there is a uh a cost to this. So it may not necessarily be the spike itself, but there is a question of whether it's the the lingering of blood sugar. Like, so here's the thing. They uh I have nerdy podcasts that I listen to to learn things, and they talked about this a little bit and made us aware that there are now commercially available CGMs that are like depending on like where you're at in life, are not tremendously expensive. And you can buy one and get like a two-week sensor.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Yeah, even if you just did it for like two weeks just to kind of see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

And the op just to see, and like see what the food is doing to your body. Um, but I think then it like there are a couple points to make here, and I want to try to stay like mentally organized because I have a habit of not as I'm doing that right now. Um, when you exercise, you're going to like have a blood glucose spike because the blood, like the sugar is being released so that your muscles can use it. So that's a confusing point that sometimes people are like, oh my God, should I not exercise because my blood pressure is rising and my blood glucose is rising and cortisol physiologic thing that just happens in your body. But it's different when, like, if you someone with diabetes checks their blood sugar or even like doesn't have diabetes yet, and they check and they measure their blood sugar two hours after a meal and it's still elevated. That's actually like a test for diabetes. It's very uncommon because who has the time today to like do a two-hour glucose tolerance test unless you're pregnant. But that like lingering of the elevated blood sugar is the abnormality.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

I do I do think it would be cool to see like how fast your like how fast your body would bring it back down, as like two healthy people who did do not have diabetes or any sort of blood sugar issue. I need to well, you I know, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:37

Well, it was after Bali and I like flew close to the sun. Um, maybe I'll have to get those repeated. I'm a little concerned. Um, I'm not gonna hip myself to death here, but like not the greatest for what you would have thought from a otherwise healthy appearing 30-year-old man. Um I would. I've been meaning to, actually. I've been like meaning to think about it. I haven't mustered up the like I don't think a local pharmacy where we live is gonna have them. Maybe they would.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

I don't think so. I think you have to like order it online from one of the like non like medical ones, you know. Yeah, just from like a I don't know what you would call it, like a commercial seller.

SPEAKER_00 16:19

I think I was seeing$50 to$70 for them, which i I think it would be cool. Um, the other oh, the other point I wanted to make is that like I think blood sugar isn't everything. Like, we know that there are atherogenic protein like lipid particles that like if they are in higher toe in your body that will cause more problems. So, like this gives way to people being like, oh my god, the carnivore diet, which actually should have been something that we talked about here. I don't really understand it all that well or why people I think this one is like a new emerging influenced diet that people are on. I think it's problematic a little bit, just because we know that there are risks to a lot of red meat, and I think people who are trying to avoid a blood glucose spike would flip to that a lot or keto, yeah. Which gosh, they're all like pros and cons that we're not trying to do here, but I don't know, would you would you wear a CGM?

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Yeah, I think it'd be interesting. Just to like see what's going on. Yours would probably be a good time.

SPEAKER_00 17:35

Yeah, you would probably be pristine. Um what do you think? Any other thoughts about CGMs?

SPEAKER_01 17:48

It was like a while ago.

SPEAKER_00 17:50

I guess it was at this point.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

Yeah. It was good. We should read it.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

Maybe I will. It might actually be one that I find myself interested in. Yeah. Should we keep moving?

SPEAKER_01 18:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:07

Alright. What's the next section we got, Nick?

High Protein Benefits And Limits

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Cool. We're talking about protein. So high protein's like the the thing of this time. At one point it was low fat, at one point it was low carb. Now we're high protein.

SPEAKER_00 18:24

Now we are high protein. I think generally it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 18:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:29

But uh I learned at the obesity conference that you have to separate it out.

SPEAKER_01 18:35

Yeah, I was gonna mention that. We learned like your butt, was it 20 grams? You learned that like essentially your body can only handle so much protein at once. But it was it 20 grams? It was like 20 to 30. Yeah, like 20 to 30 grams. And then I don't know, what happens if you have too much? Your body like doesn't process it all.

SPEAKER_00 18:58

Yeah, like becomes urea. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

So like you eating your like 60 grams of protein breakfast. Maybe don't.

SPEAKER_00 19:08

Yeah, like maybe just like try to spread it out.

SPEAKER_01 19:10

It's probably more useful to yeah, have like 20 to 30 grams at a time.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Yeah, that was a big takeaway. Um it's good for satiety, muscle maintenance, maybe there is some good weight management stuff on there. Every like obesity doctor is like protein fiber, protein fiber. Uh, but I think like everything is getting it's having.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

I think we've gone a little overboard with it. Yeah, like it I don't need protein in my water. I don't need it in my popcorn, Chloe Kardashian. Oh, is that a thing now? Yeah, I think what did she call it? Cloud, I think, like with a K.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

For consistent branding. Just eat the popcorn, you know.

SPEAKER_00 19:57

Did you say what'd you say there?

SPEAKER_01 19:58

I said just eat the popcorn, you know.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Oh, I didn't know if you tossed in an explicative there. Oh no. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:03

You don't have to cut it out, don't worry.

SPEAKER_00 20:07

Um yeah, and some of them feel like they're like a dessert wearing gym clothes. Like, I actually I think I've changed like a protein bar, I'm not too sold on. Um, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

I mean, we like make little protein balls and like oh they're great. We go through a phase. We like get very fixated on eating the same thing, so we'll we'll get fixated on making a ninja creamy with like a protein shake. We should that's probably warmer out now. So now it's time.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

It's probably coming soon. I love you.

SPEAKER_01 20:44

But yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

There is uh, you know, it every there's an equal and opposite reaction that Newton thanks. Um there was a little slide at the the conference, and they were saying, we're a little worried. There's this like biological mechanism tucked away in your cells called an mTOR. That's like a protein in the cell. And there is like the slightest bit of concern that all of this excess protein is just like fueling that up to lead to some negative downstream aging problem. I think that is the deep in the weeds PubMed deep stuff that people might try to find to make the counter argument. I think by and large, for the average person listening to this, um, hopefully in Senegal, is that we see you, Senegal. We see you. Please reach out. That try to eat more protein. I think generally, like it's people are a little under, I would imagine. Some people are over. Like you only 200 grams. You probably need like a gram per kilogram of body weight.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Generally. Some a little more.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

I always see like these girls on TikTok who are like my like size and my height. And they're like, this is how I got 160 grams of protein today.

SPEAKER_00 22:23

Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

What?

SPEAKER_00 22:26

No. That's way too much. Poops are gonna probably smell really bad. Yeah. Rancid. Oh my god. Get the South Philly porta potty thing going on. So it's probably good, but it's probably a little overboard, I think, is our big takeaway.

unknown 22:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:46

What do you think? You agree? I wonder if there's anything that we'll disagree on ever. Alright. Although, you know, we watched that. Um the next one is longevity.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

Yeah, I can get on board with longevity. I'm telling you, I'm gonna buy NAD from the black market and start injecting it into myself. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 23:06

There actually, I there was a um The Curbsiders is the thing I listened to. I don't know why I'm not like giving them credit. Um, they had a like healthy aging episode recently, and they had this guy was actually really cool. Um he had they has like this like physician executive like side business where they like take a lot of time and talk about a lot of the like health and wellness stuff, but from like a like a evidence-based physician point of view, and he he dove in a little bit about peptides. We're not talking about them today. Um I think that based off of what I was hearing though is actually that there like is some leaning there, like some positivity. Maybe it's all animal research, by the way. So like there's no human-based stuff, and I think a lot of the like safety profiling from the FDA shout out Karthik. Um is that Karthic doesn't work for the FDA? I know, but he like works with the oh like regulatory stuff, yes, shout out. Um that he won't hear this. He might.

SPEAKER_01 24:17

He's not a true friend, he is a loyal listener. Like Mike in his basement. Wait, does Mike have a basement in his new house? I think we need to find out.

SPEAKER_00 24:27

He does. He does.

SPEAKER_01 24:29

That man I hope he's doing basement activities right now.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

I hope so too. Um did they move?

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Was that did they move?

SPEAKER_00 24:36

Very soon. Oh he's so sorry guys, we're we're all over the place today. It's fine. You we're mixing both. He's so low-key about like things. He's like, oh yeah, by the way, I bought a house. And we're like, wow. Oh, by the way, I sold the house. Like, what? Yeah, he just does it, he just makes it happen. Uh, longevity. Um, there are we watched that Brian Johnson documentary a long time ago, and that guy, like that guy's a weirdo. Well, that's like the one, the opposite end. Um, I think there's a couple things here. Like, we they have like a red light thing at our gym. I stand in front of it every once in a while. I don't really know what it does, but it feels like you're doing something good. Feels like doing something.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

Oh, yeah, everyone likes to stand in front of their red light on their vibration pleat.

SPEAKER_00 25:37

On the vibration plate. Interesting.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:40

You know, all these things might be okay. They may also might be doing nothing. But what I do have to say is um I learned on that curbsiders podcast that the core four are really like the mainstay of things that we should be doing. So, like improving your diet and nutrition, maximalizing maximizing, excuse me, the exercise.

SPEAKER_01 26:01

Exercise maxing.

SPEAKER_00 26:02

Exercise maxing. Sleep maxing. Sleep mogging.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

Um we're gonna sleep mog me every night.

SPEAKER_00 26:12

I sleep mog you every night.

SPEAKER_01 26:13

And um it just means that he sleeps more than me.

Wellness Marketing Versus Evidence

SPEAKER_00 26:18

That's what we learned that it means recently. Thank you, Alex. And emotional resilience. These you say our Gen Z correspondent. These are the four things that will keep you living longer. If there's anything else that is like so exciting to you that you want to give it a whirl, as long as it's safe, it's probably fine, I guess. But try not to go too far in one direction, not like the band. Gosh, this was a unique episode. We hope it was okay for you. Um, there's a wide world of things that are happening out there, and something that we know is the wellness industry and markets move way faster than evidence and science are able to keep up. And so we have to approach and talk about these things because they're out there, but gosh, it's hard when we like practice evidence-based medicine.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

Yeah, and it takes time for that evidence to be there.

SPEAKER_00 27:14

Yeah. So here we are having some balanced, funny conversation about it. Any last thoughts?

SPEAKER_01 27:22

No.

Banter Starts And A Big Weekend

SPEAKER_00 27:23

All right. Any things that we missed? Gosh, we probably missed it. Probably, but time for the banter. What a delightful little start to our weekend here. A false Sunday is what we're recording this on, because we both uh had a delightful Friday off to go watch hopefully uh what you hear very soon from our newest physician in the family. Um so we'll we'll leave that a little bit because I think we're gonna get a special guest, so we won't explore that too much um to kind of do a debrief about our whole experience. Um but what should we talk about? Um, we had a funny little thing, but we have had a great day today.

SPEAKER_01 28:08

What was the funny little thing?

SPEAKER_00 28:10

Well, you were like all happy about our like day date, and then we crossed the street, not at a parking, like a not at a a street, like a crosswalk, and you asked, who started jaywalking? Like why is this a thing? What is jaywalking? And then you asked our good friend chat, and we don't need to read off of chat, but like in essence, what did you learn?

SPEAKER_01 28:36

Um, it's uh my phone's over there charging. So I guess a Jay back in the day was a person who was like dumb and stupid. And so when cars were getting on the road for the first time, people didn't know, you know, who goes first, the car or the person walking, the pedestrian, if you will.

SPEAKER_02 29:02

If you will.

SPEAKER_01 29:02

And so people were just walking all over the place, not paying attention to the cars, which uh attracts because people, you know, still don't. Still don't uh, you know, the rules of the road. But anyway, those people were dumb and called Jays, so Jaywalking. Jaywalking.

SPEAKER_00 29:24

Done. That's where Jaywalking came from. A history. We really have been um, if you are any bit interested in us in this section of your checkup, which I do think we've been getting a you're a star, if you didn't know. And there was early feedback from people that I mean from Alex's family. From Alex's family, like they know us, and they're getting a lot of shout-outs today.

SPEAKER_01 29:51

I can't wait to be best friends with his mom. Queen Jackie.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

Queen Jackie DeVoss. Big week for them, big week for them. Two two boys graduating. That's great.

SPEAKER_01 30:04

Um, I think we need to talk about the band.

SPEAKER_00 30:09

Oh my god, sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:12

I love to talk about loud live music.

SPEAKER_00 30:15

Yes. In general.

SPEAKER_01 30:17

Okay. We went to Alex's med school graduation. Yes. It was a great ceremony. We got there early, you know, had to get a seat, we're waiting. And at first, you know, we're like chit-chatting, you're talking to someone who you like knew or whatever. And then out of nowhere, this loud like boom happens. And someone is screaming, crazy in love, by Beyoncé. Yeah. And it turns out there was a you know, live music performance happening while everyone was waiting, and it was really loud. The speaker was really loud. Yeah. It was the main event. And the same kind of thing happened when we went to Jill's art show. And there was, I think it was just like two guys. Two dudes. Two dudes playing some sort of instrument combination, and it was so loud. And we really need to like dial it back and learn the art of background music.

SPEAKER_00 31:20

What happened to the cellist or like the violinist in the background?

SPEAKER_01 31:24

Especially just like turn the volume down on the big speaker.

SPEAKER_00 31:29

This is to say nothing about the quality of the product that they put forward. They I will say the ceremony was great.

SPEAKER_01 31:36

It was not too long. Speeches were not too long, you weren't falling asleep. We had uh a one brief intermission where someone's grandma had some sort of sync-pull event. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 31:49

That was look, and the guy, the main speaker, he this was a I you know, um, oh, what did he say? What did Alex's dad say? He said a a a puckering moment. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 32:03

Uh oh.

unknown 32:07

Oh man.

SPEAKER_00 32:08

He said something. He's like, I hope he listens to this one because now he's a fan.

SPEAKER_01 32:11

Yeah, he's gonna have to tell us.

SPEAKER_00 32:12

And he's gonna have to reach out to us with a fan mail. But it was a puckering moment because the speaker, very distinguished man in like the universe of Cooper and Rowan. And this woman, there's an obvious medical event happening, and the he he ha ha ha of it is like there are several physicians in the room. And we're at a point in this event where like no one knows what's what's going on, no one's sure. So he's at the lectern, as they keep referring to it, very religious. Is I guess that's electern is also just like a like I would call it a podium, but a lectern sounds nicer, more class. And he lets out a does anyone need a doctor up there? Which I think is so funny, like it's something I would love to have done. But I thought to myself, self, what if this goes really sideways up there? And I wonder, and he said that out loud, like the most distinguished man, and like he said that, he let it fly. Like, what if this doesn't go well? What if she doesn't make it? Yeah, she did though, she did though, funny, funny joke, and it all worked out fine. And I did approach him afterwards, and I was like, Did you have to talk to him after any moment of doubt that after you said that, and I got a nice hearty laugh out of him. He didn't admit it because I think he's he's too too elevated to admit like anything like that. So, but he knew.

SPEAKER_01 33:54

But yeah, it was a good ceremony. It was like, you know, to the point, couple speeches, not too many. They weren't too long. Say the names, recite the hippocratic oath, get out of there.

SPEAKER_00 34:08

Hippoc hippo.

SPEAKER_01 34:09

Well, because I like told people at work, like when they like they're like, Oh, are you doing something fun? And I said we are going to our close personal friend's med school graduation, and they're all like, Oh, have fun. But it wasn't bad, it was quite enjoyable.

SPEAKER_00 34:26

No, it was great. I thought, and like the the speeches, the speeches were very poignant and touched the heart.

SPEAKER_01 34:33

And there were only like two or something. Yeah. Less than at your average wedding, so less painful than a wedding.

SPEAKER_00 34:39

Definitely, yeah. Love the and always great. Look, it was it meant so much that you also could go to Glassboro and you can see in all of its glory. You were exactly yourself though, as I would want nothing else. And I'm like, we're driving in, and I'm like, oh my god, look at that tree. Oh my god, look at this statue. Oh my god, look at this. And you are like equally being a good sport, but also serving me sass. And it was awesome. I loved every bit of it. And then we went to like Bunts. You couldn't agree that Bunce Green is nice, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:11

That was pretty.

SPEAKER_00 35:11

Yeah, you you have to, you have to agree. Um Bunce? Bunts.

SPEAKER_01 35:17

How do you spell that?

SPEAKER_00 35:18

B-U-N-C-E.

SPEAKER_01 35:20

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 35:21

Bunts Hall, which is the one that is in the photo of us.

SPEAKER_01 35:24

Oh. It didn't say that on there, on the building.

SPEAKER_00 35:28

And then Bunce Green. No, it just probably said Rowan University. Yeah. 1923. Formerly Glassboro State. Formerly, formerly Grass Glassboro Normal School, just for teachers.

SPEAKER_01 35:37

The normal school? Yeah, Glassboro Normal School. What were you doing there?

SPEAKER_00 35:41

Uh no, this was far, far earlier than my tenure in Rowan University.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

Because the people I've seen come out of Rowan University are definitely not normal.

SPEAKER_00 35:52

Abnormal. Abnormal school. Um, well, eventually it was called.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

Actually, it's okay. We don't need to. No, we don't need to. All right.

SPEAKER_00 36:03

That's fine. We don't have to. Um we believe you. We are. I'm really we talked about this last week, and like some of our like closest fans and friends have like reached out about the possibility of a brigantine banter thing. Whatever that thing is, we're finding it really funny.

SPEAKER_01 36:25

Yeah, we were really cooking it up over our lunch date today.

Lunch Date Finds And Corgi Stroller

SPEAKER_00 36:29

Yeah, I I'm excited. I we've got the internet, it's a fun thing with the tools that you have. So we have um a couple funny ideas. We'll see where it where it flows. Um, I'm excited. Of course, that will not take away from anything that we're doing here, of course. Only add. Um, I might have to put a separate hat on because we're gonna get really silly in this. Um, lunch date. You mentioned a lunch date. Can you tell the people a little bit about the lunch date, or do you want to keep that private?

SPEAKER_01 37:03

It's not really a private matter. Um we went to Prunella for a lunch date, which we've now decided that we would like to do more of.

SPEAKER_00 37:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 37:14

Because we were bopping around yesterday when we got home, like last night when we got home from Alex's graduation. And we live in an area with a lot of really good restaurants. However, it you can't really be that spontaneous all the time and just like pop in somewhere, even to like sit at a bar and like get something quick to eat. Because they're very crowded and always booked up. So we decided we were gonna bop around, try to go to Prinella because they have this really good mushroom pizza. It's called the Big Nick, it is, which I find offensive. I'm just kidding. And I really wanted that for dinner last night, but couldn't make it happen, couldn't make it happen.

SPEAKER_00 38:00

So we went for lunch today, yeah, and got it, and it was so good. That it comes out like I don't know, it it's that white cheese is so liquidy on top, and liquid in the best way, in the best way, and gosh, it's so good. We also got the whipped ricotta, regatta, and got that, that was delicious, and a spicy Caesar salad, and I don't know what got into me. I was so like assertive at the table. I was like, we're gonna get these three things, and I know it. And it was, I was like, what's into me today? I actually I know what's into me, but what? Um it's fine. Um and um, and then we came back, we did some sitting on the balcony, we haven't done that in a while. Rediscovered that, and then we glasses, they were nice. Did that turns out it's way more intricate than like the things you don't think about until you have to do them.

SPEAKER_01 39:12

Yeah. Then we went for like a four and a half mile walk with Ollie and a stroller with the stroller out.

SPEAKER_00 39:18

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:19

Everyone loves a corgi and a stroller.

SPEAKER_00 39:22

It is an attention grabber, a corgi and a stroller. He's healthy.

SPEAKER_01 39:26

He likes being with us.

SPEAKER_00 39:27

He's healthy, but he can't walk four and a half miles in this weather. So we take him out in spurts and we bring a little water with him. He loves it.

SPEAKER_01 39:36

He had so much fun.

SPEAKER_00 39:36

Yeah. And now we're all a little tired. Yeah. We're gonna get some ice cream later, I think. Which is gonna be great. And looking forward to a short week. Short week's gonna be nice.

SPEAKER_01 39:52

Yeah, I'm really excited for a short week.

SPEAKER_00 39:55

It's gonna be good.

SPEAKER_01 39:57

Going to the beach. Might have a beach day tomorrow. Might have a beach day tomorrow. Yesterday, if you're listening to this. On Monday.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

Yeah. Hopeful that this it looks like it's going to be a little chilly on Memorial Day weekend. It looks like the warm days are coming a couple days early between the day you're listening to this today and tomorrow. Perhaps you listened to a heat-related illness episode that we published earlier, so that you're safe.

SPEAKER_01 40:23

Perhaps you do.

Where To Find Us And Goodbye

SPEAKER_00 40:24

And sunscreen episode. Wonderful. Well, so thank you for coming back to another episode of Your Checkup. Hopefully, you were able to learn something for yourself, a loved one, or a neighbor. You can find us on Threads. You can also find us on Instagram, or you can send us an email, your checkuppod at gmail.com. We are real people, so we'd like to hear from you. But most importantly, stay healthy, my friends. Until next time, I'm Ed Delesky.

SPEAKER_01 40:52

I'm Nicole Enrico.

Medical Disclaimer And Final Notes

SPEAKER_00 40:53

Thank you and goodbye. This information may provide a brief overview of diagnosis, treatment, and medications. It's not exhaustive and is a tool to help you understand potential options about your health. It doesn't cover all details about conditions, treatments, or medications for a specific person. This is not medical advice or an attempt to substitute medical advice. You should contact a healthcare provider for personalized guidance based on your unique circumstances. We explicitly disclaim any liability relating to the information given or its use. This content doesn't endorse any treatments or medications for a specific patient. Always talk to your healthcare provider for a complete information tailored to you. In short, I'm not your doctor. I am not your nurse. And make sure you go get your own checkup with your own personal doctor.