The Feldman Protocol

Dave Feldman

Dave Feldman hosts the Feldman Protocol, a long form, in-person podcast largely covering science, nutrition, and technology – with a lot of personal stories, interests and pop culture mixed in.

  1. DEC 22

    Exposing Broken Science: How Pharma & Food Industry Keep Us Sick – TFP #017 | Emily Kaplan

    In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, Dave asks a blunt question: is modern medicine structurally aligned against prevention? Guest **Emily Kaplan**, investigative science journalist and co-founder of the Broken Science Initiative, makes the case that incentives, not evidence, increasingly shape medical practice. They discuss conflicts of interest in research, the reproducibility crisis, metabolic health and lifestyle medicine, GLP-1 drugs, nutrition education gaps, and why outcomes often matter less than headlines.🔥 This episode is sponsored by us -- Own Your Labs `http://ownyourlabs.com` -- private blood testing services.🩸Over 300 blood tests💰Extremely affordable❤️ We love our customers(Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏)🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN:Main Channel: `https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldman`X/Twitter: `https://x.com/realDaveFeldman`Instagram: `https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldman`Website: `https://thefeldmanprotocol.com`⏱ Chapters3:01 – Broken Science explained6:02 – Lifestyle vs polypharmacy9:03 – Medical school nutrition gaps12:13 – Incentives in healthcare15:57 – Sugar and cancer framing18:36 – Trial endpoints questioned21:11 – GLP-1s and tradeoffs24:01 – Weight loss vs health26:21 – Personal choice in diet29:02 – Early insulin signals32:25 – Publishing and paywalls35:10 – Journalism vs academia38:42 – Conflicts of interest42:08 – Peer review problems45:44 – Delays in publication49:12 – Who funds research52:48 – Education as prevention56:19 – Reproducibility crisis59:01 – Replication failures1:02:28 – Meta-analysis limits1:05:30 – Industry influence1:08:54 – What gets taught1:12:40 – Transparency gaps1:16:33 – Accountability in science1:38:20 – Where reform starts1:40:14 – Transparency vs incentives1:52:38 – Publishing power dynamics2:05:11 – Peer review bottlenecks2:17:44 – Conflicts without disclosure2:30:06 – Career risk in dissent2:42:31 – Nutrition sidelined again2:54:57 – Prevention vs treatment3:00:14 – N-of-1 data debate3:12:48 – Prospective study limits3:25:22 – Community-driven research3:37:49 – IRB and self-selection3:50:17 – Data ownership questions4:02:41 – Tech platforms for science4:10:06 – Scaling transparency4:15:32 – Reforming research norms4:18:54 – Public accountability4:20:41 – Communicating uncertainty4:22:53 – Where to find Emily4:23:05 – Final reflections#FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #EmilyKaplan #BrokenScience #MedicalResearch #ScienceJournalism #MetabolicHealth #NutritionEducation #HealthcareIncentives #ReproducibilityCrisis #PreventiveMedicine #PublicHealth

    4h 25m
  2. DEC 17

    Textbook Health, Yet Real World Event – What Went Wrong? – TFP #016 | Stephen Hussey

    In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, a central question hangs over the conversation: what actually causes a heart attack when standard risk markers look “normal”? Guest Dr. Stephen Hussey, DC (functional medicine practitioner focused on cardiovascular disease), makes the case for re-examining core assumptions about heart disease. Topics include plaque vs. risk, LDL cholesterol, CAC scoring, stress physiology, hydration, type 1 diabetes, endurance exercise, and alternative mechanisms behind myocardial infarction. 🔥 This episode is sponsored by us -- Own Your Labs [http://ownyourlabs.com](http://ownyourlabs.com) -- private blood testing services. 🩸Over 300 blood tests 💰Extremely affordable ❤️ We love our customers (Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏) 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN: Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldman X/Twitter: https://x.com/realDaveFeldman Instagram: https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldman Website: https://thefeldmanprotocol.com ⏱ Chapters 3:06 – Why heart cells don’t regenerate 8:12 – Marathon runners & plaque paradox 13:48 – Introducing Dr. Stephen Hussey 18:37 – Type 1 diabetes & heart risk 23:54 – Diet changes and inflammation 29:35 – Low-carb, keto, and carnivore paths 35:10 – Insulin, carbs, and standard care 40:52 – Fear of ketosis vs ketoacidosis 46:18 – Discovering lipid anomalies 51:40 – Rejecting statins early on 57:12 – Elevated LDL in context 1:02:44 – Writing a heart disease book 1:08:30 – Widowmaker heart attack story 1:14:06 – CAC score of zero explained 1:19:42 – Stress, dehydration, and triggers 1:25:18 – The moment symptoms began 1:30:54 – Cath lab and LAD blockage 1:36:20 – Stent placement and relief 1:41:58 – Was it plaque or clot? 1:47:30 – Alternative MI mechanisms 1:53:12 – Parasympathetic nervous system 1:58:54 – Vasa vasorum hypothesis 2:04:36 – Transcytosis and ApoB 2:10:18 – Endothelial injury models 2:15:44 – Exercise-linked occlusions 2:21:06 – Post-MI medical advice 2:26:30 – Five lifelong medications? 2:31:48 – Blood pressure overshoot 2:37:22 – Blood thinners and stents 2:42:54 – Re-evaluating cholesterol blame 2:48:10 – What medicine gets wrong 2:53:36 – Prevention beyond LDL 2:58:52 – How Stephen works with clients #FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #StephenHussey #HeartHealth #Cardiology #MetabolicHealth #Cholesterol #LDL #Atherosclerosis #CACScore #Type1Diabetes #ExerciseScience

    3h 2m
  3. DEC 12

    Why This Cardiologist Left Low-Fat for Keto — Even With Rising LDL – TFP #015 | Bret Scher

    In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, we ask: What happens when clinical guidelines collides with messy real-world outcomes? Guest Bret Scher, MD, makes the case for rethinking metabolic health, evidence hierarchies, clinical incentives, LDL interpretation, ketogenic therapies, guideline rigidity, psychiatric applications of metabolic interventions, and his own evolution from cardiologist to medical director in the metabolic-health space.🔥 This episode is sponsored by us -- Own Your Labs http://ownyourlabs.com -- private blood testing services.🩸Over 300 blood tests💰Extremely affordable❤️ We love our customers(Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏)🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN:Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldmanX/Twitter: https://x.com/realDaveFeldmanInstagram: https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldmanWebsite: https://thefeldmanprotocol.com⏱ Chapters3:00 – How clinicians lose objectivity13:57 – When lifestyle advice keeps failing24:55 – The social cost of challenging LDL norms35:52 – Epidemiology’s limits in nutrition46:50 – Why “healthy user bias” distorts data57:47 – The Diet Doctor era and its impact1:08:45 – Red meat, risk, and uncertain evidence1:19:42 – Predicting outcomes vs. assuming causality1:30:40 – The guidelines problem inside medicine1:41:37 – Why patients succeed outside the system1:52:35 – Multiple dietary paths, not one dogma2:03:32 – How personality shapes dietary fit2:14:30 – From keto diet to medical therapy2:25:27 – The mindset shift toward low carb2:36:25 – How podcasting changed Bret’s trajectory2:47:22 – The origin story of Metabolic Mind2:58:20 – Metabolic psychiatry’s scientific emergence3:09:17 – Coalition for Metabolic Health vision#FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #BretScher #MetabolicHealth #Keto #LowCarb #Cardiology #EvidenceBased #NutritionScience #LDL #Epidemiology #CriticalThinking #MetabolicPsychiatry #HealthPolicy #MedicalGuidelines #Wellness #MetabolicMind #Podcast #ScienceDiscussion

    3h 10m
  4. DEC 5

    Lactic Acidosis, Black Mold & B1: What If It's All Connected? – TFP #014 | Darren Schmidt

    In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, what if a single overlooked nutrient could meaningfully alter how we think about chronic illness? Guest Dr. Darren Schmidt (DC, nutrition-focused clinician) makes the case for the role of B1 deficiency, discusses environmental toxic exposures, explores mitochondrial dysfunction, and examines lactic acidosis as a framework for understanding complex disease patterns. We also discuss metabolic pathways, autonomic issues, and how clinical observations can challenge conventional assumptions. 🔥 This episode is sponsored by us -- Own Your Labs http://ownyourlabs.com -- private blood testing services.🩸Over 300 blood tests💰Extremely affordable❤️ We love our customers(Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏) 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN:Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldmanX/Twitter: https://x.com/realDaveFeldmanInstagram: https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldmanWebsite: https://thefeldmanprotocol.com ⏱ Chapters3:00 – Early health shifts4:58 – First exposure incident6:56 – Discovering toxicity impacts8:54 – Mold and respiratory effects10:52 – Gas leak symptoms escalate12:50 – ER visit and missed signals14:48 – Autonomic dysfunction clues16:46 – Testing high-dose B118:44 – Rapid symptom relief20:42 – Mechanisms Dave examines22:40 – High-calorie malnutrition idea24:38 – Clinical responses to B126:36 – RCT possibilities28:34 – Origins of lactic acidosis theory30:32 – How toxins affect oxygen use32:30 – Capillary dilation mechanics34:28 – Mitochondrial parallels36:26 – Detox strategies overview38:24 – Dave’s metabolic framework40:22 – Pyruvate and lactate shifts42:20 – Rate limiters in metabolism44:18 – Nervous system involvement46:16 – Expanding symptom categories48:14 – Environmental drivers of illness50:12 – Mold detection and evidence52:10 – Radon and other exposures54:08 – Chronic illness complexity56:06 – Personal learning through crises58:04 – Rediscovering past medical history1:00:02 – Nutrient fortification lessons #FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #DarrenSchmidt #metabolism #mitochondria #chronicillness #environmentalhealth #nutritionscience #lactate #thiamine #functionalhealth #biochemistry #healthpodcast #keto #lowcarb #detox #mitochondrialfunction

    3h 59m
  5. NOV 18

    Yes, 15 Minute Workouts Can Change Your Life – TFP #013 | Ben Bocchicchio PhD

    In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, can you truly build muscle and maintain health with just 15 minutes of exercise twice a week? Dave chats with Ben Bocchicchio, PhD in Exercise Physiology and Health, who makes the case for slow-motion resistance training as the ultimate efficiency hack. Guest explores mitochondrial optimization through high-intensity exercise, addresses middle-age workout mistakes, discusses low-carb nutrition strategies spanning five decades, and challenges conventional fitness wisdom with his revolutionary "safe emergency" training philosophy.🔵 This episode is sponsored by US -- Own Your Labs http://ownyourlabs.com -- private blood testing services.- 🩸Over 300 blood tests- 💰Extremely affordable- ❤️ We love our customers(Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support and keep advertisements limited, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏)🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN:Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldmanX/Twitter: https://x.com/realDaveFeldmanInstagram: https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldmanWebsite: https://thefeldmanprotocol.com⏱ Chapters3:14 – Introduction and athletic background12:37 – Uncle Tony and Charles Atlas connection25:42 – Nautilus machines and slow training origins40:18 – Muscle fiber recruitment and intensity58:23 – Common middle-age exercise mistakes1:15:47 – Metabolic benefits of resistance training1:32:19 – Nutrition philosophy and 50-year approach1:50:33 – Food addiction and behavioral change2:08:56 – AI and personalized health predictions2:22:41 – Energy metabolism and final thoughts#FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #BenBocchicchio #SlowTraining #ResistanceTraining #ExercisePhysiology #Mitochondria #LowCarb #Nutrition #MetabolicHealth #HighIntensityTraining #Fitness #Aging #Sarcopenia #HealthSpan #Longevity #BloodTesting #Science

    2h 48m
  6. NOV 6

    Immunity, GLP-1, Cholesterol & Gut Microbiome – TFP #012 | Mike Mutzel

    In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, special guest Mike Mutzel explores groundbreaking research on the immune system, GLP-1, the gut microbiome and lean mass hyper-responders. They deep dive on the Lipid Energy Model, atherosclerosis mechanisms, immune system interactions, coronary artery imaging data, and conventional cardiovascular risk paradigms in metabolic health. 🔥 This episode is sponsored by us -- Own Your Labs http://ownyourlabs.com -- private blood testing services. 🩸Over 300 blood tests 💰 Extremely affordable ❤️ We love our customers (Yes, we are literally funding the entire podcast from our own company -- so if you want to show your support, keep getting your private blood testing through our service. Thank you! 🙏) 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN: Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldman X/Twitter: https://x.com/realDaveFeldman Instagram: https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldman Website: https://thefeldmanprotocol.com ⏱ Chapters 3:01 – Introduction and Mike's background 9:14 – Medicine and nutrition evolution 17:44 – Mindful eating and GLP-1 connections 25:00 – Dave's cholesterol discovery story 31:42 – Understanding lipid trafficking physics 40:18 – Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation 49:00 – LDL oxidation and modification theories 58:23 – Atherosclerosis as immune response 1:05:47 – Blood viscosity and cardiovascular risk 1:15:19 – Self-censorship in scientific discourse 1:25:33 – Continual exposure hypothesis debate 1:32:19 – Own Your Labs citizen science project 1:40:58 – Cholesterol paradox in aging populations 1:50:33 – Metabolic health vs inflammation 2:00:12 – Radiation concerns with CT angiograms 2:08:56 – Triglycerides and ketogenic metabolism 2:18:47 – Study results and mainstream response 2:22:41 – Final thoughts and future research #FeldmanProtocol #DaveFeldman #DaveFeldmanGuest #LipidEnergyModel #LeanMassHyperResponder #LMHR #CholesterolResearch #MetabolicHealth #LDLCholesterol #CoronaryArteryImaging #ApoB #CardiovascularHealth #KetoResearch #CitizenScience #OwnYourLabs #LipidParticles #Atherosclerosis #EndothelialFunction #BloodViscosity #TriglyceridesTolerance #LPA

    2h 27m
  7. OCT 27

    Deep Dive on LDL, ApoB, and Cardiovascular Disease – TFP #011 | Austin Dudzinski

    In this episode, Dave sits down with Austin, a metabolic data enthusiast and early adopter of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) who brings a fascinating blend of self-experimentation, performance optimization, and deep curiosity about human physiology. From endurance training to dietary tracking, Austin shares his journey through the data-driven side of health — how he uses CGM, heart rate, and nutrient timing to reveal the body’s hidden patterns. Together, Dave and Austin explore how metrics can empower individuals to take ownership of their health, the tension between conventional guidelines and personal experimentation, and what the future of open-source health data could look like. 🙏We only have one sponsor -- and it's us: https://OwnYourLabs.com 🩸So keep getting your private blood testing through our platform and it will support the podcast. 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN PROTOCOL Main Channel: https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldman X/Twitter: https://x.com/realDaveFeldman Instagram: https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldman Website: https://thefeldmanprotocol.com ⏱ Chapters 0:00 – Introduction & Setting the Stage 5:45 – Opening Reflections on Austin’s Energy and Setting 10:30 – Early Experiences That Sparked Curiosity 15:15 – First Encounters with Data, Health, and Experimentation 20:00 – The Origins of a Systems Approach to Nutrition 25:00 – Breaking Down the Lipid Energy Model Concept 30:15 – What Early Self-Experiments Revealed 35:20 – Exploring LDL and APOB from a New Perspective 40:10 – Why Traditional Cholesterol Framing Falls Short 45:00 – Digging Into Lipoprotein Transport Mechanisms 50:05 – Triglycerides, Remnants, and Particle Flow 55:15 – When Energy Demand Shapes Lipid Behavior 1:00:10 – The Lean Mass Hyper-Responder Pattern 1:05:00 – Genetics, Metabolism, and Individual Variation 1:10:30 – LPL and LDL Receptor Pathways in Context 1:15:20 – Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Diverse Risk Profiles 1:20:15 – How Population Data Can Mislead Individual Cases 1:25:10 – Mendelian Randomization and Its Hidden Assumptions 1:30:00 – Study Design: What We Miss When We Aggregate 1:35:00 – The Duration vs. Magnitude of LDL Exposure 1:40:10 – Interpreting Meta-Analyses with Caution 1:45:15 – Revisiting the PESA Trial and Imaging Insights 1:50:05 – Understanding the “Three-Line Graph” Debate 1:55:00 – Statistical Power, Noise, and Over-Interpretation 2:00:10 – Regression Models and Data-Slicing Pitfalls 2:05:20 – Plaque Progression and Clinical Translation 2:10:00 – PCSK9 Insights and Unexpected Outcomes 2:15:00 – Beyond LDL: Inflammation and Contextual Risk 2:20:05 – Revisiting the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causality 2:25:10 – Consistency, Dose Response, and Biological Plausibility 2:30:00 – The Changing Landscape of Trial Reporting 2:35:05 – How 2004 Altered Medical Transparency Rules 2:40:00 – Scientific Discourse, Debate, and Misinterpretation 2:45:15 – The Role of Skepticism in Evidence Review 2:50:10 – The Value of Epistemic Humility in Science 2:55:00 – Open Data, Collaboration, and Collective Learning 3:00:10 – Case Studies and Self-Experimentation Insights 3:05:00 – Reflections on N=1 Studies and Public Data Sharing 3:15:00 – Designing Smarter Studies for the Future 3:20:05 – Lessons Learned from Real-World Observation 3:25:00 – Future of Lipid Research and Citizen Science 3:30:00 – Revisiting Key Misconceptions About Cholesterol 3:35:10 – Bridging Gaps Between Clinicians and Researchers 3:40:00 – Empowering Individuals Through Accessible Data 3:50:00 – Community, Collaboration, and Scientific Openness 3:55:10 – Final Thoughts on Evidence, Curiosity, and Persistence 4:00:00 – Closing Reflections & Gratitude #FeldmanProtocol #LDL #HDL #Cholesterol #ASCVD #ContinuousGlucoseMonitoring #CGM #MetabolicHealth #DataDrivenHealth #CitizenScience #OwnYourLabs #QuantifiedSelf #HealthData #PerformanceOptimization #DaveFeldman #HumanPerformance #MetabolicFlexibility #OpenSourceScience

    4h 36m
  8. OCT 22

    Could Cows Actually Cool the Planet? – TFP #010 | Peter Ballerstedt PhD

    In this episode, Dave sits down with Peter Ballerstedt, a retired forage agronomist and ruminant nutritionist known as "Don Pedro the Sod Father of the Ruminati," who brings a unique agricultural perspective to metabolic health discussions. Ballerstedt shares his 2007 transformation after reading Gary Taubes' book and how it led him to bridge agricultural science with the low-carb community. The conversation examines environmental arguments around animal agriculture, presents data on greenhouse gas emissions (12% animal vs 10% plant agriculture), explores the limitations of converting grassland to cropland, discusses the evolution of dietary guidelines since the 1970s, and examines Ballerstedt's concept of a "ruminant revolution" to address both human malnutrition and environmental concerns. 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN PROTOCOL: Main Channel: @realDaveFeldman X/Twitter: x.com/realDaveFeldman Instagram: instagram.com/realDaveFeldman Website: thefeldmanprotocol.com ⏱ Chapters 0:00 – Introduction 1:05 – Who is Peter Ballerstedt: The Sod Father of the Ruminati 5:11 – Personal Journey: Pre-Diabetic to Low-Carb in 2007 6:16 – Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories" 7:00 – First Low-Carb Conference 10:34 – Lipophobia and the Anti-Red Meat Message 11:23 – The 1977 Dietary Goals and McGovern Committee 14:01 – Personal Transformation and Reversing Pre-Diabetes 21:09 – Malnutrition vs. "Overnutrition" 23:22 – Climate Change and Animal Agriculture 24:14 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 22% Agriculture, 12% Animal 29:06 – Land Use: Why We Can't Convert Grassland to Cropland 30:31 – The Football Field Analogy: Class 1 Soils 37:00 – Ruminants Converting Inedible Biomass to Human Food 52:00 – Obesity Associated with Poverty 1:07:00 – Animal Source Food and Economic Prosperity 1:15:05 – The Grassroots Low-Carb Movement and 10% Tipping Point 1:30:00 – Personal Stories: Reversing Diabetes Through Diet 1:43:05 – Using AI and Large Language Models for Research 1:52:11 – Obesity and Poverty: Gary Taubes' Key Insight 1:55:42 – Ecosystem Services: Fire Management and Wildlife 2:00:01 – Agricultural Biomass is Not Human Edible 2:05:51 – Animal Source Food Demand by 2050 2:30:00 – Historical Medical Views on Meat 3:01:14 – Malnutrition: 30-35 Million Deaths, $6.5 Trillion Cost 3:02:03 – Red Meat and Cancer: Epidemiological Evidence 3:04:40 – Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance 3:07:53 – The Ruminant Revolution: Energy Transition Fund Redirection 3:12:55 – Personal Story: A1C Over 11 to Diabetes Removed 3:15:35 – The 10% Rule and Paradigm Shifts 3:41:00 – Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef 3:42:20 – Avoiding Unnecessary Barriers to Adoption 3:45:05 – The Greenland Paradox 3:51:23 – Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare 3:53:23 – Separating Suffering from Mortality 4:00:00 – Where to Find Peter #FeldmanProtocol #PeterBallerstedt #AnimalAgriculture #RegenerativeAgriculture #RuminantNutrition #LowCarb #KetoMedicine #Agronomy #ClimateChange #SustainableAgriculture #GrasslandEcosystems #MetabolicHealth #AnimalWelfare #GaryTaubes #DietaryGuidelines #FoodSystems #Malnutrition #SoilHealth #GrassFed #DaveFeldman

    4h 1m

About

Dave Feldman hosts the Feldman Protocol, a long form, in-person podcast largely covering science, nutrition, and technology – with a lot of personal stories, interests and pop culture mixed in.

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