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Ultra-Processed Food Hysteria, Reader Meltdowns, and Nutrition Reporting with Jamie Ducharme!

Making It Awkward

Release Date: 09/04/2025

Journalist Jamie Ducharme joins the show for the 100th episode!! She talks with Jessica about her  experiences after the TIME magazine article, “Still Processing; Not all  Ultra-Processed Foods are the same. Or, some argue, even unhealthy.”* was published. RFK Jr entered the chat about the article and things got a bit out of hand. 

The two talk about food as identity and nutrition journalism today and why there seems to be a lot of stories that don’t add much to the conversation. 

*This is the print edition title. The online title changed to Why One Dietitian is Speaking Up for Ultra Processed Foods, as discussed in this episode. 

Jessica’s ultra-processed food experiment results

Jessica’s ultra-processed food experiment parameters

Jessica’s Slate op-ed: Ultra-processed Foods Have a Terrible Reputation. They Don’t Deserve It.

Avoiding UPFs may DOUBLE weight loss

Marty Makary on The Conversation

Jessica reading feedback she got about TIME

This episode is sponsored by BIG FOOD

Initial TIME recap episode

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Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies