Think you need 8 glasses of water a day? That microwaving kills nutrients? Or that juice cleanses help your liver? Bullshit. In this rapid-fire, no-nonsense episode, Dr. Kristina Braly shreds 30 of the most common health myths we’ve been force-fed by corporations, influencers, and even grandma. From hydration lies to cold myths and bogus wellness trends, this episode is your antidote to everyday misinformation.

• Why you can stop counting glasses of water
• The truth about carbs, fats, and frozen foods
• Detox myths and why your liver doesn’t need help
• Debunking myths about microwaves, MSG, and body temperature
• Why “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe”

• Hydrate based on your needs, not rules
• Eat balanced meals, not “fat-free” sugar bombs
• Trust science, not marketing hype
• Question every label—even if it says “natural”
• Know when you’re being sold wellness woo

• Mayo Clinic – “Water: How much should you drink every day?” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – “Detox Diets: Do They Work?” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/detox-diets/
• NIH – “Microwave Cooking and Nutrition” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3849900/
• Cleveland Clinic – “Debunking the Egg Cholesterol Myth” https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-eggs-bad-for-your-cholesterol/
• FDA – “Questions and Answers on Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)” https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg
• Harvard Health Publishing – “Why alkaline diets are bogus” https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/alkaline-diet-a-scientific-deception-201511168427
• CDC – “Antibiotic Use Questions & Answers” https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/q-a.html
• Cleveland Clinic – “Shaving Myths Debunked” https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-shaving-make-your-hair-grow-back-thicker/
• Johns Hopkins Medicine – “The Truth About the Common Cold” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/common-cold
• American Council on Exercise – “Stretching and Soreness” https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/lifestyle/blog/6650/does-stretching-prevent-soreness/
• U.S. National Library of Medicine – “Is Gum Really Stuck in Your Stomach for 7 Years?” https://medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg12.html

Email: contact@kristinabraly.com Instagram: @icallbswithkb

Is it just us, or does maintaining adult friendships—especially the female ones—feel harder than ever? In this candid episode of I Call Bullshit, Kristina Braly peels back the layers of why sisterhood often gets sidelined, why it's not your fault, and how to bring those vital relationships back from the brink. From emotional labor to social media envy, we're breaking down the unspoken struggles of modern friendship with real talk, relatable moments, and a big ol' permission slip to reach out and reconnect.

Key Talking Points:

• Why the “low-maintenance friend” trope is total bullshit

• How emotional burnout affects your ability to show up for your friends

• The illusion of connection on social media vs. the reality of loneliness

• The quiet jealousy nobody wants to admit—and why it’s normal

• The invisible labor of friendship (and how to share the load)

• Scripts and ideas for rekindling old friendships without the cringe

• Why female friendships deserve as much care as romantic ones

Modern feminism is everywhere—on T-shirts, in ad campaigns, and on your favorite influencer’s feed. But has the movement lost its way? In this episode of I Call Bullshit, Kristina Braly, MD takes a scalpel to the shiny surface of modern feminism and reveals a movement that’s been co-opted, commodified, and in some ways, masculinized. From power suits and “boss babe” energy to a dangerous lack of inclusivity, we explore how modern feminism often bypasses the collective fight for systemic change in favor of individual empowerment—and why that’s a damn problem.

• The history and evolution of feminism across four major waves

• How brands have hijacked feminist messaging for profit

• Why modern feminism is failing women of color, trans women, and the working class

• The irony of embracing masculine ideals in the name of female empowerment

• How a return to grassroots organizing and feminine leadership traits could revitalize the movement

• Equal Pay Act of 1963 – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/14/laura-bates-everyday-sexism-feminism

• Harvard Business Review: Why We Need to Rethink “Power Suits” – https://hbr.org/2019/10/why-we-need-to-rethink-power-suits

• NPR: Feminism is Not a Brand – https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/01/24/511047775/feminism-is-not-a-brand

• Don’t fall for feminist branding without investigating corporate practices.

• Feminine traits like empathy and collaboration are not just valuable—they’re necessary.

• True feminism is collective, not just individualistic.

• Start or support local, intersectional grassroots efforts in your community.

Email: contact@kristinabraly.com Instagram: @icallbswithkb

In this episode of I Call Bullshit, Dr. Kristina Braly delves into the unsettling parallels between the medical profession and cult dynamics. From the grueling demands of residency programs to the crushing weight of student debt and declining reimbursement rates, the healthcare system appears to exploit the altruism of aspiring physicians. By examining the characteristics of cults, Dr. Braly sheds light on how the medical field may be entrapping its members in a cycle of exploitation under the guise of nobility.

Key Talking Points:

• Definition and characteristics of cults

• Comparison of medical training and practice to cult behaviors

• Exploitation through excessive work hours and low pay during residency

• Impact of substantial student debt on medical graduates

• Declining reimbursement rates and their effect on primary care physicians

• Systemic issues perpetuating the cycle of exploitation in healthcare

Citations:

• Verywell Mind. "What Is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs." https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cult-5078234

• Wikipedia. "Medical resident work hours." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_resident_work_hours

• Education Data Initiative. "Average Medical School Debt [2024]: Student Loan Statistics." https://educationdata.org/average-medical-school-debt

• KFF. "What to Know About How Medicare Pays Physicians." https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/what-to-know-about-how-medicare-pays-physicians/Verywell MindWikipediaEducation Data Initiative+1AP News+1KFF

Listener Takeaways:

• Awareness of the systemic issues within the medical profession that mirror cult-like exploitation

• Understanding the financial and emotional toll of medical training and practice

• Encouragement to advocate for systemic reforms in healthcare education and compensation

Contact Info:

• Email: @icallbswithkb

In this conversation, Kristina Braly delves into the troubling world of fake online reviews, exploring how they manipulate consumer trust and the integrity of the marketplace. She discusses the rise of review farms, the impact of fake reviews on honest businesses, and offers strategies for consumers to navigate this deceptive landscape. The conversation emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and consumer empowerment in combating the prevalence of fake reviews.

Producer & Host: Kristina Braly, MD

contact[at]kristinabraly.com

instagram: @icallbswithkb

website: icallbullshit.co

keywords

online reviews, fake reviews, consumer trust, review farms, business integrity, digital deception, consumer empowerment, review manipulation, marketplace integrity, honest feedback

Key Takeaways

• Online reviews can be manipulated and are often not genuine.
• Fake reviews create a false sense of trust in the marketplace.
• Small businesses struggle against larger companies that use fake reviews.
• Review farms employ organized operations to generate fake feedback.
• Consumers need to be critical and discerning when reading reviews.
• Incentivized reviews can lead to biased feedback.
• Platforms must invest in better detection of fake reviews.
• The integrity of the online marketplace is at stake.
• Consumers have the power to demand transparency from businesses.
• Honest feedback is essential for improving products and services.

• Unmasking the Illusion of Online Reviews
• The Dark Side of Digital Testimonials

• "This really chaps my ass."
• "It's a pay to play system."
• "Stay vigilant, stay critical."
• "We can refuse to be manipulated."

Chapters

00:00 The Illusion of Online Reviews

06:15 The Dark Side of Review Farms

12:05 The Impact of Fake Reviews on Consumers

17:51 Navigating the Review Landscape

20:38 Empowering Consumers Against Deception

Citations:

1. Luca, M., & Zervas, G. (2016). Fake It Till You Make It: Reputation, Competition, and Yelp Review Fraud.Management Science, 62(12), 3412-3431. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2307⁠
2. Mayzlin, D., Dover, Y., & Chevalier, J. A. (2014). Promotional Reviews: An Empirical Investigation.American Economic Review, 104(8), 2421-2455. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.104.8.2421⁠
3. Hu, N., Pavlou, P. A., & Zhang, J. (2012). Overcoming the J-Shaped Distribution of Product Reviews: The Role of Review Informativeness and Variance. Information Systems Research, 23(4), 1243-1261. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.1120.0420⁠
4. Chevalier, J. A., & Mayzlin, D. (2006). The Effect of Word of Mouth Versus Traditional Marketing: Evidence from Online Book Reviews. Journal of Marketing Research, 43(3), 345-354. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.43.3.345⁠
5. Forman, C., Ghose, A., & Wiesenfeld, B. (2008). Examining the Relationship Between Online Reviews and Product Sales: The Contingent Role of Product and Consumer Characteristics. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 22(1), 23-39. ⁠https://doi.org/10.1002/dir.20113⁠

Host: Kristina Braly, M.D.

“I Call Bullshit with Kristina Braly”

In this explosive episode, Kristina dives deep into the controversial world of tariffs, the taxes on imports that quietly raise prices on everyday products. From Alexander Hamilton’s original tariffs that funded early America to the disastrous Smoot-Hawley Act, and the modern tariff wars of Trump and Biden, we uncover the truth behind this contentious economic weapon. You’ll learn why countries use tariffs, how America has both suffered and retaliated, and why these trade battles ultimately hit your wallet the hardest. Are tariffs genuinely protecting American jobs, or are they just another political game costing consumers billions? Listen now and decide for yourself!

• What tariffs are and how they've historically been used to fund governments and protect industries.
• The devastating economic backlash from the 1930 Smoot-Hawley tariff.
• Why other countries’ tariffs often place U.S. products at a severe disadvantage.
• The rationale behind Trump’s aggressive tariffs aimed at reducing trade deficits and boosting manufacturing jobs.
• President Biden’s targeted approach to tariffs on clean energy, steel, aluminum, and critical technology imports.
• Real-world impacts of tariffs—higher consumer costs, lost jobs, and economic trade-offs.
• Recent April 2025 developments: escalating tariff tensions between the U.S., China, and Europe.

• Commerce Department: Biden Administration Tariff Actions (May 2024)
• International Trade Insights: Biden’s 2024 Aluminum & Steel Tariff Hikes
• USTR: September 2024 China Tariff Updates
• Utility Dive: Biden's Solar Energy Tariffs (December 2024)
• Congressional Research Service: U.S.-China Tariff Actions Overview
• Richmond Fed: Economic Impact of Tariffs (March 2025)
• Cato Institute: History of Tariffs in American Economic Policy
• US International Trade Commission: Tariff Act of 1789
• White House (Trump Administration): Reciprocal Tariff Announcement (April 2025)
• White House (Trump Administration): Section 232 Tariff Restoration (Feb 2025)
• White House: America First Trade Policy Report (April 2025)
• Reuters: China's Response to Trump's 2025 Tariff Proposals

• Understand that tariffs are not just economic policy but powerful political tools.
• Recognize that tariffs primarily impact consumers and everyday products.