Maintenance Phase

By Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store.


Category: Health & Fitness

Open in Apple Podcasts


Open RSS feed


Open Website


Rate for this podcast

Subscribers: 4261
Reviews: 52


 Mar 15, 2023

Lizz
 Mar 15, 2023
this is the best possible podcast, you'll never convince me otherwise. Mike and Aubrey are my imaginary friends that remind me diet culture is a scam, and who among us doesn't need that? perfection 🤌

Jane
 Feb 17, 2023
This podcast is hilarious, so much fun to listen to

Jules
 Feb 14, 2023


 Feb 14, 2023

Description

Debunking the junk science behind health fads, wellness scams and nonsensical nutrition advice.

Episode Date
"Forks Over Knives": Is a Vegetarian Diet Better For You?
3753
Mar 28, 2023
The Instagram Fiber Feud
2796
Mar 14, 2023
Doctors Have a New Plan for Fat Kids
4465
Feb 28, 2023
Elizabeth Taylor's "Elizabeth Takes Off"
3497
Feb 14, 2023
“Glorifying Obesity” And Other Myths About Fat People
2995

This week, we're talking about Aubrey's new book, "'You Just Need To Lose Weight' and 19 Other Myths About Fat People." And we're yelling about Piers Morgan as a little treat.


Support us:

Preorder Aubrey's book at your favorite bookstore or here:

Support the show
Jan 03, 2023
Workplace Wellness
4352
Dec 20, 2022
The Food Pyramid
3112
Nov 15, 2022
Bonus: Mike's New Podcast!
4686

Mike and Aubrey introduce Mike's new show, If Books Could Kill! Find it on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google and wherever else you get your podcasts.

Also, don't forget to pre-order Aubrey's new book!

Support us:

Support the show
Nov 08, 2022
The Daily Harvest Food Poisoning Scandal
3697
Nov 01, 2022
Mini-Sode: The Dr. Oz Campaign
4396
Oct 18, 2022
Paul Bragg & The Rise of Apple Cider Vinegar
3322
Oct 11, 2022
The French Paradox
3309

How an early-'90s newsmagazine show convinced a generation of Americans to start drinking red wine. For the antioxidants!

Special thanks to Susanne Stolpe and Alexander H. Sandtorv for helping us fact-check this episode!

Support us:


Links!

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Sep 27, 2022
Goop
3577
Sep 13, 2022
BONUS: Moon Juice Taste Test
3247

This week's episode is running late so here's something to tide you over!

Last year, we did an episode on Gwyneth-adjacent influencer Amanda Chantal Bacon and her wellness company, Moon Juice. This year we decided to TASTE THE DUST.

This episode was originally for our Patreon supporters. Click here if you'd like to sign up!   

Support us:


Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Sep 06, 2022
The Scarsdale Diet Murder feat. Sarah Marshall
5500

In 1982 a murder captured America's imagination. Forty years later, two podcasts joined forces to talk about it.

Hear more from Sarah at You're Wrong About and You Are Good!

Support us:


Links!


Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Aug 23, 2022
“French Women Don't Get Fat”
3445
Aug 09, 2022
Pete Evans Part 2: COVID & Consequences
3536
Jul 26, 2022
Pete Evans Part 1: The Paleo Way
3154
Jul 12, 2022
The Worm Wars
3425
Jun 28, 2022
Calorie Menu Labeling
3027
Jun 07, 2022
The Trouble With Calories
3153
May 24, 2022
Diet Book Deep Dive: “How To Take 20 Pounds Off Your Man”
3023

This week, Mike and Aubrey take on a manual for creep behavior masquerading as a diet book. Along the way, we cover shopping guides, journalism salaries and the proper preparation of Cornish game hens. We love our curvy husbands.

Support us:

Links!

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
May 10, 2022
Zombie Statistics Spectacular!
3476

Debunking some of the most widely repeated myths about fat and health.

Here's Mike's new video

Support us:

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Apr 19, 2022
Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma"
3944
Apr 05, 2022
Bonus: Fad Diets
4299

This week's show is still in the oven so we're releasing one of our first Patreon bonus episodes. We asked our listeners for the wildest and wackiest fad diets they've ever tried and ended up doing mini-deep dives into The Rotation Diet, The Shangri-La Diet, The Special K Diet, Bethenny Frankel's "Naturally Thin" plan and the Blood Type Diet. Enjoy, and see you next week!  

Support us:

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!






Support the show
Mar 29, 2022
Jordan Peterson Part 2: The Moscow Diaries
3291
Mar 15, 2022
Jordan Peterson Part 1: The Carnivore Diet
4132

Oops all meat: How a '50s bodybuilder, a Grateful Dead roadie and an unreadable professor accidentally launched one of America's wildest fad diets.

Here's Mike's "Cancel Culture" video!

Note: In our discussion of Jordan Peterson’s political correctness lecture, I made a sarcastic comment about looking “slim in this dress.” After the episode came out, we started hearing from listeners that my comment reminded them of fatphobic jokes they’d heard in the past and didn’t feel consistent with the message of the show. They were right! It was a bad joke and we've removed it from the episode. We'll be discussing this and our approach to handling feedback and editing past episodes in more detail soon. Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know! — Mike

Support us:

Links!


Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Mar 01, 2022
"Super Size Me"
3745
Feb 15, 2022
"Illness Influencer" Belle Gibson
3965
Feb 01, 2022
Diet Book Deep Dive: The Karl Lagerfeld Diet
3202
Jan 18, 2022
Fat Camps
3567
Jan 04, 2022
The "Sleep Loss Epidemic"
4318
Dec 14, 2021
Vibrators
2956

It's a sexual health episode! This week, Mike and Aubrey dive into the hotly debated medical history of vibrators and ask: who fact-checks the fact-checkers? 

Note: A previous version of this episode included language that referred to “the female downstairs,” implying both that gender is linked to genitals (it isn’t) and that vibrators were used primarily by cis women (they weren’t). We love our trans listeners and we don’t want to do anything that makes them feel excluded, so we’ve removed the sections where that language appeared. We'll be discussing this and our approach to handling feedback in more detail soon. Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know! — Mike


Support us:

Links!

Support the show
Nov 30, 2021
Is Being Fat Bad For You?
5106
Nov 16, 2021
Diet Book Deep Dive: Angela Lansbury's "Positive Moves"
3414

At the height of her "Murder She Wrote" fame, Angela Lansbury released a home workout video full of synth music, peach jumpsuits and ~sensuality~. This week, we’re exploring the anti-Goop-ness of Angela’s fitness book and video, "Positive Moves."!  It gets a little heavy toward the end, but we promise: No one was canceled in the making of this episode. 

Support us:

Links!

Support the show
Oct 26, 2021
Rachel Hollis Part 2: Girl, Start Apologizing
4020
Oct 12, 2021
Rachel Hollis Part 1: Hashtag Relatable
4317
Sep 28, 2021
Marianne Williamson
3473
Sep 14, 2021
The Great Protein Fiasco
4251

How Nestlé executives, global health institutions and a very racist white lady seeded a series of nutritional misconceptions we're still living with today. 

Special thanks to John Nott for helping us out with this episode! Here's his papers on the history of protein and the British Empire.

Support us:

Links!

Support the show
Aug 31, 2021
The Obesity Epidemic
3559
Aug 17, 2021
The Body Mass Index
4138

The BMI is EVERYWHERE. But is it scientific or scientif-ish? While many Americans think of the body mass index as an objective measure of health, its history reveals a more complicated story. This week, Mike and Aubrey tackle the first in a two-part series about the BMI and the “Obesity Epidemic.” Along the way they visit 18th century Belgium, learn a gross new acronym and dissect Dracula's facial features.

LINKS!:



Support the show
Aug 03, 2021
School Lunches, P-Hacking and the Original "Pizzagate"
4628
Jul 20, 2021
The Keto Diet
3340

So long, root vegetables! This week, we dive into the strange and surprising history of the 100-year-old ketogenic diet. Along the way, we encounter a Victorian bodybuilder, an infamous podcast bro and the possibility of a bad Meryl Streep performance (!). Get in, loser, we're counting macros!

Support us:

Links!



Support the show
Jul 06, 2021
Oprah Winfrey & "John of God"
3461

Special guest Kimberly Springer joins us to talk about an infamous, dangerous faith healer and his two — two! — appearances on Oprah's talk show. This episode contains, we're sorry to say, detailed descriptions of sexual assault. 

Buy Kimberly's books:

Support us:

Links!


Support the show
Jun 22, 2021
Oprah Winfrey & The “Wagon of Fat”
2995

Do you have weird feelings about Oprah? So do we, and so does our guest! Kimberly Springer, co-editor of "Stories of Oprah: The Oprahfication of American Culture," joins us to talk about the rise of Oprah Winfrey and her infamous "wagon of fat" weight loss episode.

Buy Kimberly's books:

Support us:

Clips!

Links!

Support the show
Jun 08, 2021
Celery Juice
3039

Do you have viruses? Cysts? Cancer? Are you tired sometimes? According to Instagram, the  problem might be a lack of liquefied vegetables! This week, Mike and Aubrey take on a troubling taste test, meet a ghost with bad intentions and encounter the longest list of problematic celebrities we've ever seen.

Plus, we start the show with an announcement: We're doing Patreon-only bonus episodes! Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/maintenancephase

Support us:

Links!

Support the show
May 25, 2021
The Wellness to QAnon Pipeline
2697

Special guest Mike Rothschild tells us how the road to wellness can be an on-ramp to a conspiracy theory. Along the way we debunk oil pulling, explore Instagram aesthetics and bemoan anti-vaxx argumentation tactics . Mike gets the date of the January 6th insurrection wrong and he is sorry.

Mike Rothschild is on Twitter and you can pre-order his book here!

Support us:

Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!




Support the show
May 11, 2021
Diet Book Deep Dive: Ed McMahon’s “Slimming Down”
2440

This week is our first  Diet Book Deep Dive, where we dig into some of the worst and wildest weight loss advice we can find.  First up: Tonight Show sidekick Ed McMahon's pun, alcohol and misogyny-fueled diet plan from the 1970s. Hope you like broiled steak and Sanka!

Clips!

Support us:


Thanks to Lynn Barbera for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Apr 27, 2021
Olestra
3945
Apr 13, 2021
Eating Disorders
3330

Fat people have them too! This week, special guest Erin Harrop tells us about one of America's most under-diagnosed and misunderstood problems. Along the way we talk about elbow bumps, Twitter etiquette and '90s sweatpants. Our content warnings are becoming increasingly threatening.

Here's Erin's faculty page and a bunch of her research!

Support us:


Thanks to Mitra Kaboli for production support and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Mar 30, 2021
Weight Watchers
3043
Mar 16, 2021
The Master Cleanse
2853

Are your moods too stable? Is your face free of cold sores? Get your lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper ready, because this week we're talking about celebrity favorite THE MASTER CLEANSE!

Along the way we roast New Atheism, praise Gwyneth Paltrow (!) and endorse garbanzo bean salads. Mike wishes to clarify that he adores Kate Bush and quips with the utmost affection.

Support us:

Links!:


Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Mar 02, 2021
Dr. Oz
3352
Feb 16, 2021
Snake Oil
2932

The world of dieting and wellness is full of so-called snake oil salesmen—but what IS snake oil? This week, we take a wild ride through the history of health scams and discover a startling twist about an everyday idiom. Along the way, Aubrey delivers fun facts about sanitation from memory and Mike roasts the state where most of his family lives. 

Support us:


Links:

Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Feb 02, 2021
The Biggest Loser
3275
Jan 19, 2021
Halo Top Ice Cream
2695

WE’RE BACK! A new diet ice cream is taking your grocery store by storm. But what even is it? This week, Mike and Aubrey talk biohacking, dieting for straight dudes and the extremely ill-advised "Halo Top diet."

Support us:

Links!

Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Jan 05, 2021
Anti-Fat Bias
3279

To celebrate the release of her new book, Aubrey takes Mike on a tour through the statistics and debates surrounding weight bias. Anyone interested in body positivity, airline seats, 'skinny shaming' or the sugar content of melons is legally obligated to join us.

Support us:

Get Aubrey's book in the U.S.:

Get Aubrey's book outside the U.S.


Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Nov 24, 2020
The Twinkie Defense
2960
Nov 17, 2020
Moon Juice
3479

What's that Gwyneth Paltrow's drinking? It's MOON JUICE! This week, we're talking adaptogens, brain dust, hot sex milk and the wellness company that's taken L.A. by storm. Be sure to take your quinton shots before you listen to this one.

Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support us:

Links!:

Support the show
Nov 10, 2020
Snackwell's Cookies
3396

They hit the market in 1992. Three years later, they were the best-selling cookie in America. This week, Mike and Aubrey dive into the low-fat craze of the 1990s and sample the snack that became the symbol of its rise and fall.  

Support us:

Links! 

 
 



Support the show
Nov 03, 2020
Fen Phen & Redux
3088

Fen-Phen & Redux were "the next miracle drugs" in the '90s, claiming to help people lose dramatic amounts of weight in just three months.  But within a few short years, they'd been pulled from the market.  They were just too effective! (Just kidding, they killed some people.)

Support us:

Links! 

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support the show
Oct 27, 2020
The President's Physical Fitness Test
3501
Oct 20, 2020
What's Our Deal?
3418

Welcome to Maintenance Phase! In our first episode, we tell our origin stories and talk about some of the basic ideas behind the show.

Here's where to find us:
Aubrey: https://www.yourfatfriend.com/
Mike: https://rottenindenmark.org/

Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

Support us:

Support the show
Oct 11, 2020