A Germ of Truth: The 263rd Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying

In this week’s episode, we discuss the relationship between infectious and chronic disease, and between germ theory and terrain theory of disease. Pathogens are real, and exogenous treatments like antibiotics can kill them. The health of the body is affected by diet, exercise, stress, and the microbiome, all of which can affect how susceptible a person is to getting sick from pathogens. We discuss gastric ulcers, Covid-19, pneumococcal disease, and comorbidities. Also: how do traditional vs modern diets affect the health, dental and otherwise, of people? Why do pre-industrial people not get cavities, or need orthodontia? Why do squirrels fed by humans develop similarly malformed skulls as babies fed modern diets? Finally: do we have a responsibility to point out the carnage that will result as the Trump administration goes after decades of entrenched interests?

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, including from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AGANGg (commission earned)

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Mentioned in this episode:

RFK Jr on chronic and infectious disease: https://x.com/ChildrensHD/status/1885018213701800387

RFK Jr on The Real Anthony Fauci: https://amzn.to/40INnxF (commission earned)

Marshall et al 1985. Attempt to fulfil Koch's postulates for pyloric Campylobacter. Med J Aust. 142:436–9:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1985.tb113443.x

Evolutionary Lens Livestream #88 – w discussion of Covid x comorbidities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSWu6DUFFt4&t=337s

Hanada et al 2021. Multiple comorbidities increase the risk of death from invasive pneumococcal disease under the age of 65 years. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy, 27(9): 1311-1318: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1341321X21001252

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, by Weston Price (1939): https://amzn.to/4jXciXl (commission earned)

Chandler et al 2025. Morphological change in an isolated population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in Britain. Royal Society Open Science, 12(1): 240555.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240555

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Timestamps:
00:00:00 Holding Screen

00:05:34 Welcome
00:07:24 Sponsors: Caraway, Manukora, ARMRA
00:18:26 The RFK Jr. Funding Strategy: Chronic vs. Infectious Disease
00:21:08 Germ Theory and Terrain Theory of Disease
00:34:52 The Term “Disease” Sets us Up for Disaster
00:41:48 RFK Jr. Explains Miasma Theory vs. Germ Theory (Terrain Theory)
00:46:47 Gastric Ulcers
00:52:19 COVID: Chronic Disease Makes You More Susceptible
01:03:12 Traditional vs. Modern Diets
01:40:56 Trump Administration Carnage
02:00:06 Closing