The idea of health is a fairly weakened one by now, if not completely disgraced – thanks to sterling work from the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop – relatedto by lotsof of us with a healthy (not in the Goop significance of the word) scepticism. If we would like to be well, we would likewise like not to be taken for suckers, and brand-new entrants into the field should discover an technique that, allatonce, makesuseof what stays of audience credulity without triggering our kneejerk mistrust. Or, to put it in terms framed so competently by Mr Banks in Mary Poppins, health these days has to prevent transferring the ambiance that it is still rooted in “slipshod, sweet female believing”.
Welcome, then, to the world of rugged health podcasts and newsletters, fronted by bearded males with big shoulders and Orson Welles grimaces, or bearded guys with big shoulders and frank open dealswith, or simply bearded males. The occurrence of facial hair in this area is striking and likewise, I suspect, connected to a desire amongst companies to suggest maleness straight out the gate. No aromatherapy candlelights or vaginal eggs here! Just guys, offering muscular insights backed by science – science, not vibes! – and a variety of behavioural and healing tips that have definitely absolutelynothing in typical with weedy self-help however, did I reference it, are rooted in science?
Specifically: “neuroscience”, which has for a while now had a magic bullet result on those parts of the publishing spectrum formerly dismissed as poor and dippy. A chief professional in this world, and host of the extremely effective podcast the Huberman Lab, is Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and tenured teacher at Stanford, whose suggestions and methods are, according to his site, created to “optimize efficiency in high tension environments, boost neural plasticity, alleviate worry, and enhance sleep”. Huberman, who is bearded and has extremely big