The Curious Introvert

Meredith Hackwith Edwards

A weekly podcast covering societal taboos & cultural blind spots. Join host Meredith Hackwith Edwards as she deep dives with curiosity & nuance into philosophy, society & culture with expert guests. Episodes frequently feature philosophers, researchers, historians & journalists.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Ep. 353: Recycling: Have We been SCAMMED?!

    Who convinced us that the fate of the world rests on our personal recycling habits? Does it even make a difference?   Melissa Valliant serves as the communications director at Beyond Plastics, a nationwide environmental advocacy group.   In this episode, Melissa shares how recycling isn't just imperfect, but a decades-old PR strategy engineered by the same fossil fuel, petrochemical, and consumer goods giants that profit from plastic production. You’ll hear the war origins of the plastics boom, who quietly bankrolled the Keep America Beautiful campaign & the logistical reasons that only 5-6% of everything you carefully sort actually makes it to recycling. She also covers the real bottom line on what will move the needle as well as how to keep your family healthy from the chemicals leaching from plastic.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 140: CAN HAIR SAVE THE WORLD? OIL, OTTERS & HAIR MATS  Guest: https://www.beyondplastics.org/act  https://a.co/d/00KBkQjw  https://www.instagram.com/beyondplastics/ https://www.facebook.com/beyondplasticsaction    Sponsors:  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    2:17 – Plastic's Wartime Origins 6:56 – Keep America Beautiful's Secret Founders 8:35 – Only 6% Actually Gets Recycled 11:48 – The Chasing Arrows Con 12:48 – The Gar-Barge That Woke Us Up 14:29 – Deconstructing a Recycling Religion 17:39 – Are Bottle Caps Recyclable 19:01 – Wish-Cycling and Corporate Gaslighting 21:11 – California's Plastic Bag Loophole 23:02 – When Companies Fake Caring 26:55 – Busting Starbucks' Recycling Claims 29:07 – Advanced Recycling Isn't Advanced 31:06 – Proving Environmental Racism 33:06 – Exxon Sued Over Recycling Lies 34:38 – Would Banning Plastic Backfire 38:18 – Industry-Funded Studies Exposed 42:56 – The Human Health Turn 45:24 – Kicking Plastic Out of Schools 46:37 – The Secret Fourth R 47:55 – Rotisserie Chickens and Leaching Heat 50:34 – Real Swaps for Your Kitchen 53:57 – How to Deprogram Yourself Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  2. Jul 13 ·  Video

    Ep. 352: Is Ambition Anti-Happiness? Former Facebook Employee Shares [REMASTERED]

    Paul Ollinger was one of Facebook’s first 250 employees. At age 42, he walked out with a pocket full of cash in what most would consider an ideal situation, but what he found instead left him wondering what’s next while he explored the relationship between money, happiness, work, and meaning.     In this episode, we discuss how wealth changes us, leaves us the same and why it even matters for the average middle class American as we explore the question.     This episode originally aired January 20, 2025.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 330: IS YOUR HAPPINESS BEING POLITICIZED [REMASTERED]?  Guest: https://words.paulollinger.com/  https://www.paulollinger.com/ https://www.paulollinger.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ https://www.facebook.com/pmo https://x.com/Paul_ollinger   Sponsors:  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    2:12 Walking away from silly money 4:17 Was it burnout or something deeper 5:44 Does ambition kill happiness 9:34 Why the top 1% work the longest hours 10:36 The Meritocracy Trap explained 16:26 The one question you get to answer 19:06 Everyone has a Facebook story 21:17 The Saturn SL2 and narcotic gratitude 24:37 Why it's hard to remember life is good 27:38 Still a grumpy f**k half the time 28:22 Why we count steps instead of love 29:26 Flow state and podcasting addiction 32:38 Vast wealth as an unnatural state 34:09 The 80% who can't cover a $1,000 bill 36:22 Does pursuing wealth also isolate you 39:44 Finding work you're curious about early 40:05 Mind time traveling to define happy 41:27 Six years of podcasting, honestly assessed 43:39 Final question: are you reasonably happy Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  3. Jul 6 ·  Video

    Ep. 351: Corruption in Healthcare: Industry Insider Exposes Commercial Incentives [REMASTERED]

    Why are Americans paying MORE for healthcare with WORSE results?   Dr. John Abramson was a family physician for 20 years who left his practice in 2002 to devote himself to researching the commercial takeover of medical knowledge. He has since served as an expert in medical litigation, served as a consultant to the FBI & US Dept of Justice & authored two books – Overdosed America & Sickening.    In this episode, he shares how the power of public conversation could be the key to sustainable change in the American medical system. He also explores why your doctor is a captured agent, answers the question, are Americans too lazy for healthy lifestyle changes?, the drug that that killed more Americans than the Vietnam War & the specific wording you’ll need at your next doctor’s appointment to help your doctor help you.   This episode originally aired June 3, 2024.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 204: ARE LOW FAT DIETS HEALTHY? HEART HEALTH & HECKLERS [REMASTERED]    Guest:  https://a.co/d/9cgu9Ci   Sponsors:  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    2:56 A 9/11 every day: 1 million excess American deaths a year 6:42 The good news: 80-90% of your health is in your control 9:53 96% of medical research is about drugs, not health 11:53 The "Americans are just lazy" myth, debunked 13:42 A landmark study: lifestyle beat metformin at preventing diabetes 15:47 Why doctors default to the pill 16:09 Statins cut heart disease risk 20%. Lifestyle cuts it 80% 18:44 How to get real answers out of your doctor 21:14 Your doctor might know less about nutrition than you think 21:47 "A captured agent": why doctors trust bad information 23:42 The peer review system doesn't work like you think 25:45 Is medical research being ghostwritten? 27:01 The Vioxx case: 60,000 dead, nobody arrested 28:15 Inside Merck's cover-up email 36:07 Why the FDA won't stop the ad blitz 38:20 How to actually negotiate with your doctor 39:32 The real math behind whether you need a statin 41:24 What if being an informed patient gets you fired by your doctor? 45:31 Where to find Abramson's books, Overdosed America and Sickening Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  4. Jun 29 ·  Video

    Ep. 350: Are We Rehabilitating Criminals … or Just Recycling Them?

    Does “tough on crime” actually work? Could Ban the Box policies backfire?   Jen Doleac, PhD, is Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy maximizing evidence based policy & minimizing injustice. She is an economist & the author of The Science of Second Chances who prefers the reliable lens of data over personal values & has a particular interest in how measurable data can give rise to positive societal change. In this episode, she breaks down when prison actually works versus when it just creates more prisoners & walks through how the minefield of rules in probation may not prevent new crime in the way we think. You’ll also hear the re-entry policies that worked vs flopped & the real life results from policies developed through data.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 195: ROUNDING UP SUSPICIOUS WOMEN? THE AMERICAN PLAN Guest: Book: https://a.co/d/0aZzqCMt  https://x.com/jenniferdoleac  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdoleac/  https://jenniferdoleac.com https://www.probablecausation.com/  Newsletter https://probablecausation.substack.com/ arnoldventures.org   Sponsors:  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    2:44 Homicide is basically a coin flip 4:36 Probability vs. severity of punishment 5:56 The evidence against harsh sentencing 8:15 Are we confusing retribution with safety? 9:03 Digital crimes and the Undress Me app case 12:10 Policymakers blocking unfavorable research 14:47 "Tough on crime" politics vs. data 24:11 DNA profiles vs. 23andMe: what's actually stored 35:04 DUIs: breathalyzers and officer discretion 37:56 South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety program 40:43 Re-entry: Ban the Box backfires 42:51 Hiring bias and insurance as a fix 45:06 Rehabilitation certificates work 47:24 Housing barriers and halfway house surprises 49:16 Mental health gaps post-release 50:14 Medicaid's inmate exclusion 52:14 Reentry waivers and continuity of care 54:43 Head Start, prevention, and crime 58:15 Lead poisoning and the serial-killer hypothesis 1:04:08 The four reasons we punish people 1:06:10 Book, podcast, and what's next for Jen Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  5. Jun 22 ·  Video

    Ep. 349: Hot Car Infant Deaths: Just Bad Parents? [REMASTERED]

    She used to ask "how could anybody do that?" Then it happened to her family.   Laura & Aaron Beck were devoted parents who, like many, were in the habit of judging other parents who left their child in the back seat of a car until the day it happened to them. In this episode, Laura shares the circumstances leading up to the accident, her new perspective on parenting, how you can prevent hot car infant death & how her non-profit is working for helpful legislative & automobile industry change.   This episode originally aired May 20, 2024.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 303: WHEN GRIEF GETS COMPLICATED: A STORY OF ADDICTION, SHAME & TRUTH    Guest: https://www.andersonsalert.org/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091688697854   Sponsors:  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    2:07 "How Could Anybody Do That?" 4:10 The Day Before: A Warning She Missed 5:41 From Judgment to Curiosity 8:29 "These Aren't Bad Parents" 13:44 A New Work Schedule Changes Everything 21:00 A Storm of Small Events 24:33 The Last "I Love You" 31:12 The Call That Changed Everything 36:15 How She Sees Other Parents Now 38:20 Only Three States Require a Callback 39:51 Shifting Perception Before Problem-Solving 40:36 The Statistics: 50 Deaths a Year 41:36 Why Near Misses Go Uncounted 44:00 Starting Anderson's Alert 45:48 Waiting on NHTSA's Hot Car Rule 48:05 Practical Ways to Prevent Hot Car Deaths 51:58 Rear Seat Reminders Aren't Enough 52:43 Hot Car Awareness Belongs in Every Parenting Guide 53:53 Where to Find Laura and Her Podcast Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  6. Jun 15 ·  Video

    Ep. 348: Are Your Breast Implants Making You Sick? (What they don’t tell you)

    Is the skepticism around breast implant illness driven by science or the cosmetic surgery industry? What protocols (for keeping & removing) are working for patients?   Robert Whitfield, MD is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a board-certified breast explant specialist who has performed over 2,000 explant procedures, published 15 peer reviewed publications & testified at the 2019 FDA hearing. He is a leading Breast Implant Illness expert who takes a functional approach to patient recovery.    In this episode, he says what your surgeon won’t, you’ll hear real symptoms from a listener, why removing them isn’t enough & implant alternatives.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 290: ALLERGIES OR AEROSOLS? THE IGNORED REASON YOU’RE TIRED & SICK  Guest: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-robert-whitfield-show/id1678143554 https://www.drrobertwhitfield.com/ https://drrobscircle.com/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD-Jlr_K8yi5GPV938Ddn9g https://www.instagram.com/dr.robertwhitfield/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/DrRobertWhitfield/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-whitfield-md-50775b10/    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    0:00 - Introduction 1:09 - BII Symptoms Explained 3:14 - BII vs. Perimenopause 6:20 - Why "Toxic" Lost Its Meaning 7:51 - A Listener's Symptom Story 8:20 - Textured Implants and Lymphoma 14:16 - The Case for Your Own Tissue 18:18 - The Total Tox Burden Test 22:24 - Can You Heal Without Explanting? 28:37 - Botox and Filler as Alternatives 29:59 - Foreign Body Reaction Explained 32:12 - Medical Gaslighting or Industry Pressure? 33:42 - Dr. Whitfield Responds to Makary 37:09 - When Medicine Dismisses Women 38:14 - How to Vet an Explant Surgeon 40:03 - Pre and Post-Op Protocol 49:29 - What Surgeons Should Be Telling You 52:10 - Still Sick After Explant? 53:52 - Mammograms and Rupture Risk 55:09 - Saunas and Implant Leaching 58:49 - How Urgent Is BII? 1:00:36 - Censored by the Algorithm 1:02:18 - Why Women Must Spread This Message Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  7. Jun 8 ·  Video

    Ep. 347: Trigger Warnings: Making us Fragile or Helping us Heal? [REMASTERED]

    Could your mouthwash be causing high blood pressure? Can your spit predict cancer?   Nikki Eisenhauer is a licensed professional counselor, chemical dependency counselor, and professional psychotherapist. She is also an incest & abuse survivor.    In this episode, we discuss if trigger warnings are a tool for healing or a crutch for victimhood, we explore symptoms that your entire childhood may warrant a trigger warning, what actual trauma is, how not to manipulate ourselves & the best way to support those with trauma without absorbing their pain.   This episode originally aired October 9, 2023   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 312: DID THE #METOO MOVEMENT EVEN HELP US?  Guest: https://soulcare.emotionalbadass.com/boundaries  https://www.emotionalbadass.com/  https://www.instagram.com/nikkieisenhauer/ https://www.facebook.com/emotionalbadass https://www.youtube.com/emotionalbadass   Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/    0:00 — Are trigger warnings helping or hurting? 0:50 — Nikki's take: good intentions gone sideways 2:55 — What "trigger" actually means 8:25 — How the word trauma got watered down 10:03 — How trigger warnings entered college culture 14:03 — Getting unstuck from a victim mindset 14:33 — Insight: the one thing you can't teach 20:34 — The circle jerk of victimhood 22:31 — Is "seeded trauma" a real thing? 26:04 — When people are addicted to drama 29:17 — Being patient with your subconscious 30:05 — Inner child work and reparenting yourself 32:07 — How to actually support someone with trauma 38:48 — Wrapping up + the Boundaries Course Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

  8. Jun 1 ·  Video

    Ep. 346: Could your spit predict CANCER? Testing & Warning Signs with an Oral Microbiome Expert!

    Could your mouthwash be causing high blood pressure? Can your spit predict cancer?   Dr. Staci Whitman is a Functional Dentist board-certified in pediatrics with additional certifications in functional medicine, integrative and naturopathic dentistry.   In this episode, she unpacks why common dental complaints like cavities & bleeding gums shouldn’t be interpreted as normal, which at-home saliva tests can help you predict genetic diseases, the difference between functional, holistic and biological dentists & how your foamy toothpaste might be fooling your brain.   If you liked this episode, you’ll also like episode 290: ALLERGIES OR AEROSOLS? THE IGNORED REASON YOU’RE TIRED & SICK  Guest: https://doctorstaci.com/  https://www.ifm.org/  https://www.instagram.com/doctor_staci/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6P2OeEBQPI2HDW7qznL6eg  https://www.facebook.com/doctorstaci    Sponsors:  https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/  https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/      00:00 — Could your spit predict disease? 04:08 — Why “leaky gums” might matter more than you think 05:38 — The shocking fertility connection nobody talks about 12:28 — “If you lose your spit, your teeth fall apart” 14:04 — Cavities aren’t normal? 15:36 — The real meaning of bleeding gums 17:22 — The awkward truth about chronic bad breath 26:02 — The difference between holistic, biological & functional dentistry 28:11 — The undercover questions to ask your dentist 32:47 — The toothpaste aisle is a psychological experiment 34:22 — Fluoride vs hydroxyapatite 36:10 — The ingredient dentists want you to stop using 40:51 — The oral microbiome test that changed everything 42:34 — What do you actually DO with microbiome data? 46:58 — Why podcasters should scrape their tongues 50:02 — How mouthwash may affect blood pressure 54:41 — The postnasal drip question nobody asks dentists 56:13 — Mold, allergies & the hidden oral microbiome chaos 59:52 — Air quality, dust & the stuff you breathe all day 1:01:21 — Perimenopause… but for your teeth 1:07:38 — The top 3 things helping your oral microbiome 1:20:21 — Building the future of functional dentistry Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/ Follow me in all the places: https://www.meredithforreal.com/   https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/  meredith@meredithforreal.com https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal  https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

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4.8
out of 5
180 Ratings

About

A weekly podcast covering societal taboos & cultural blind spots. Join host Meredith Hackwith Edwards as she deep dives with curiosity & nuance into philosophy, society & culture with expert guests. Episodes frequently feature philosophers, researchers, historians & journalists.

Information

  • Creator
    Meredith Hackwith Edwards
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    354
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Curious Introvert
  • Show Website
    The Curious Introvert

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