Can We Health You? artwork

Can We Health You?

53 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratings

A nutritionist and a yoga instructor get together to talk about nutrition and wellness trends throughout history--from the unique to the disturbing to the effective. Join us as we journey through time and discover the unusual and, at times, crazy side of wellness and nutrition through the lens of history.

Health & Fitness History health heath and fitness history wellness exercise historical facts storytelling nutrition food weird history
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Episodes

Ukraine | Chernobyl & Slavic Mythology

March 15, 2022 15:00 - 58 minutes - 39.9 MB

In this season two finale, Alice and Leslie talk about Ukraine. Alice explains why Ukraine is Europe's breadbasket and discusses the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown on the food systems. Leslie delves into Slavic Mythology and the alternate stories behind how Christianity came to Ukraine.  

World's Fair Part II | Oddities, Yoga & Plural Marriage

February 28, 2022 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MB

In part two of our two part episode on the World's Fair, Leslie unearths some strange but true facts about various World's Fairs--one being human exhibitions. She also talks about yoga's introduction to America and how the Latter Day Saints used the fair to their advantage.

The World's Fair Part I | Pabst Blue Ribbon & Fairy Floss

February 21, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MB

In this part one of our two part look at the World's Fair, Alice talks about the foods that claim to have been invented at the World's Fair and discusses why necessity is the mother of invention. She also let's us know how the St. Louis community of Dogtown got its name--it's not great.

Glam Hollywood | Drugs & Diets

February 07, 2022 19:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MB

Alice and Leslie chat about the Golden Age of Hollywood. Leslie discusses the studios' not-so-secret practice of drugging  their talent. She also reveals which leading man was a big proponent of LSD. Alice tells of actresses dieting habits and grosses Leslie out by talking of the health benefits of organ meat. Alice's dog, Charlie makes her podcast debut in this episode, too!

FDR | Bland Food & Polio Treatments

January 24, 2022 20:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about Franklin Delano Roosevelt in this episode. Alice tells us how Eleanor wanted to eat like a typical American family and Leslie discusses a possible alternate diagnosis for his condition as well as giving some tantalizing details about the White House swimming pool. 

Sanatoriums | An Ancient Disease, Unusual Treatments

January 10, 2022 18:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MB

Is it sanatoriums or sanatariums? Alice and Leslie answer this question while discussing the scourge of tuberculosis. Hear about the disease's ancient origins, the disgusting ways it was diagnosed, and about a few peculiar 20th century treatments. They discuss antibiotics and, of course,  COVID makes an appearance.

Frida Kahlo | Traditionalist, Nationalist, Communist

December 20, 2021 05:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MB

This time Alice and Leslie chat about the amazing Frida Kahlo. From the accident that changed her life to her love life to her political leanings, this episode is full of fun facts and speculation.

The Ottoman Empire | A Prophecy, Military Prowess, & Delicious Food

December 06, 2021 22:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MB

Alice and Leslie chat about the Ottoman Empire. They talk about its founding, its religious tolerance, brutal succession rules, and its vast contributions to the culinary world. This episode is full of juicy details and tasty food.

Shackleton | Eating Penguins & Sinking Ships

November 22, 2021 20:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MB

In this episode Alice and Leslie delve into the world of Antarctic discovery through the eyes of the great explorer, Ernest Shackleton. Did he eat his dogs? Did he eat penguins and seals? What happened on his ill-fated last adventure? Listen to find out! 

Henry VIII | Gluttony & Brain Damage

November 08, 2021 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MB

In this episode Alice and Leslie chat about Henry VIII. Alice sings a song and tells of the unusual fare found on the Tudor dining table.  Leslie discusses theories as to what might have lead to Henry's obsession with procuring new wives and siring male heirs as well as his exercise habits--yes he did exercise! 

Joan of Arc | A Cult, Disembodied Saints, & Tuberculosis

October 25, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MB

Alice and Leslie chat about the famous Joan of Arc. From her heroic charge to crown the King of France to the reasons behind the voices she heard to a mysterious cult she may have been a member of, this episode dives deep into the life of the iconic teen.

Space Travel | Challenger Disaster, Budweiser, & Aliens

October 11, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 43 MB

Alice and Leslie tackle space travel in this episode. From the Challenger disaster to space travel's origins to aliens to food and exercise, this topic is full of interesting tidbits.

Genghis Khan | Y Chromosomes & Steak Tartare

September 27, 2021 14:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MB

This episode focuses on the mighty and brilliant Genghis Khan. Alice and Leslie discuss his early life, god-like status, and what made him--and his army--so successful. 

Genghis Khan | Y Chromosomes & Steak Tartar

September 27, 2021 14:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MB

This episode focuses on the mighty and brilliant Genghis Khan. Alice and Leslie discuss his early life, god-like status, and what made him--and his army--so successful. 

Salt | Superstitions & Blood Pressure

September 13, 2021 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.6 MB

Alice and Leslie tackle salt in this episode.  From its origins to how its harvested to all the weird superstitions and health myths surrounding it, this topic has it all!

Special Guest! Shannon Vaughn of Pursoma

August 30, 2021 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MB

Alice and Leslie chat with Shannon Vaughn, founder of Pursoma about her company's therapeutic natural bath and body treatments. From bath salt to body oils to herbal teas, Pursoma offers lots of goodies to help you relax, detox,  de-stress and (finally!) get a good night's sleep.

Woodstock | Food Shortages & Unintentional Acid Trips

August 16, 2021 04:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MB

 Alice and Leslie talk about the iconic--and poorly organized--music festival, Woodstock. From the invention of granola (what!?) to newbies tripping on acid and (presumably) freaking out to mind control experiemts, there's lots to dive into in this episode.

Amelia Earhart | Tomato Juice & Coconut Crabs

August 02, 2021 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MB

Alice and Leslie cover Amelia Earhart. They talk bout her her history--she was evidently unpopular in school, what she ate in flight--she kept it simple, and her mysterious disappearance. 

Sumo | Huge Meals & Body Alterations

July 19, 2021 04:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

Alice and Leslie take a look at sumo wrestlers and their habits. From copious amounts of food to maintain their girth to their training to stories of gambling and plastic surgery, there's lots to cover in the episode. 

Ben Franklin | Swimming & Raisins

July 05, 2021 04:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about the overachiever that was Benjamin Franklin. From inventing to vegetarianism to an illegitimate child, there's a lot that is not widely known about one of America's most famous Founding Fathers.

Heaven's Gate | Castration & Marie Calendar's

June 21, 2021 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MB

In this season two premiere episode Alice and Leslie talk about the Heaven's Gate cult. They discuss the leader's decent into madness and discover the cult members' unusual habits, including how they ate. Sources & Further Reading: Wikipedia: Heaven's Gate, Museum of Death History: Heaven’s Gate cult members found dead, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavens-gate-cult-members-found-dead Space.com: Hale-Bopp: The Bright and Tragic Comet, https://www.space.com/19931-hale-bopp....

Goodbye Season 1!

May 24, 2021 04:00 - 1 minute - 1.11 MB

Alice and Leslie are taking a short break. We'll be back--better than ever--on June 21st. We have lots of great subjects we're planning on covering. Follow us on our social media @canwehealthyou_ on Insta and @canwehealthyou on Facebook.  Thanks for listening!

Michelangelo | Richest Artist & A Little Drama

May 10, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MB

Alice and Leslie cover the original Renaissance Man, Michelangelo. He was rich but lived poorly, learned about the human form in an interesting way, and had drama problems with his boss. Sources & Further Reading: Medium.com: Michelangelo and Divinity, https://medium.com/reflections-in-the-portrait/michelangelo-and-divinity-d90db004accb sciencedirect.com: Michelangelo: Art, anatomy, and the Kidney, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0085253815468516 Hektoen International...

Pirates | Rum, Religion, & Lady Swashbucklers

April 26, 2021 04:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MB

Alice and Leslie talk pirates this week. From cannibalism to butchering whole cows to crusades and female pirates, this episode is a fun look at the swashbuckling days of yore. Sources and Further Reading: Privates and Privateers: Pirates and Religion, http://www.cindyvallar.com/Religion.html Mensa: Western Religions’ Influence on Piratical Endeavors During the Golden Age of Piracy, https://www.us.mensa.org/read/bulletin/features/western-religion-influence-on-piracy/ Wikipedia: Golden A...

Bonus Episode: Coffee, From the Fields to Your Cup

April 23, 2021 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MB

Alice and Leslie are joined by Rise Up Coffee's Head Roaster, Noah Kegley to talk about one of our favorite beverages, coffee. Learn about the process by which coffee is made starting with the beans, ending in your morning mug. 

Coffee | Mystics & Caffeine

April 12, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about one of their favorite drinks, coffee. Learn about the Sufi Mystics who used coffee in their rituals, notable figures with clear coffee addictions, and what coffee does to your body. Spoiler: drink more water! Sources & Further Reading: BBC: Coffee and qahwa: How a drink for Arab mystics went global; https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22190802 NCA: The History of Coffee; https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/history-of-coffee Redlands Daily Facts: History of coffe...

Easter | Origins & Traditions

April 02, 2021 04:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MB

In this week's episode, Alice and Leslie talk about Easter. From the origins of our traditions to customs worldwide (some are really unusual) to all the candy we consume, this episode is a fun look at one of our most important Christian holidays. Sources & Further Reading: The Conversation: Why Easter is Called Easter and Other Little Known Facts About the Holiday, https://theconversation.com/why-easter-is-called-easter-and-other-little-known-facts-about-the-holiday-75025 Britannica: Eas...

I Love Lucy | Vitameatavegamin & Grape Stomping

March 29, 2021 04:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about the great Lucille Ball and her show, I Love Lucy. From Lucy's crazy antics to nearly getting drowned on stage, this episode is a fun stroll down memory lane. Sources and Further Reading: Ridiculously Retro: The Secret to Women’s Exercise Routine in the 1950s, https://ridiculouslyretro.com/2018/10/05/the-secret-to-womens-exercise-routine-in-the-1950s/ Dusty Old Thing: How Many Calories Did a 1950s Housewife Burn in a Day, https://dustyoldthing.com/calories-burn...

Everest | Endurance & Fuel

March 15, 2021 04:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MB

In this week's episode, Alice and Leslie tackle Mount Everest. From its indigenous names to the food people eat to fuel their quest; this episode looks at those who revere Everest's majesty, those who exploit it, and the copious amounts of trash (and poop!) on the mountain. Sources and further information: Alpine Ascents: https://www.alpineascents.com/climbs/mount-everest/training/ National Geographic:  Everest 1953: First Footsteps - Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, https://www.na...

The Russian Revolution | Rasputin & Food Shortages

March 01, 2021 05:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MB

Alice and Leslie look at the circumstances that led to the fall of the Romanov Imperial Dynasty. This episode is full of fascinating facts, from a population constantly on the verge of starvation to a madman's hold over the royal family. biography.com: Rasputin, https://www.biography.com/political-figure/rasputin history.com: Romanov Family, https://www.history.com/topics/russia/romanov-family Wikipedia: House of Romanov, Nicholas II of Russia alphahistory.com: Rasputin and the Tsarina,...

The Simpsons | D'ohNuts & Religion

February 22, 2021 05:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MB

Alice & Leslie chat about The Simpsons in this week's episode. From Duff beer to Butterfingers to satirical spirituality The Simpsons never fail to entertain--most people. Listen to find out which of the ladies isn't a fan.    Sources/Further Reading: Wikipedia, The Simpsons Simpsons Wiki, simpsons.fandon.com  10 Classic “Simpsons” Episodes About Food, Adam Campbell-Scmitt foodandwine.com/news/10-classic-simpsons-episodes-about-food Taillie, L. S. (2019). Governmental policies to reduce...

Mardi Gras | Confections & Coconuts

February 15, 2021 05:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MB

Alice & Leslie tackle Mardi Gras in this week's episode. From a day of cheese to cream-filled buns to Roman celebrations, Fat Tuesday celebrations are as varied as they are fun. carnaval.com: Myth & History, https://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/neworleans/history.htm townandcountrymag.com: 10 Things You Didn't Know About the History of Mardi Gras, https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g16129475/mardi-gras-traditions-history/ tripsavvy.com: A Brief History of Carnival C...

The Beatles | Vegetarianism & Meditation

February 08, 2021 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MB

Alice and Leslie answer the question: Beatles or Rolling Stones in this episode. They also dive into the Beatles' move towards vegetarianism and spirituality as their fame grew and their relationships cracked. Sources and further reading: How Stuff Works: Did the Beatles Introduce Yoga to the Western World? https://people.howstuffworks.com/beatles-yoga.htm The Yogi Press:  The Beatles, Yoga and how their Trip to India changed Everything  https://www.yogi.press/home/the-beatles-yoga-and-ho...

Pompeii | Street Food & Bath Houses

February 01, 2021 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MB

Alice and Leslie travel to Pompeii in this week's episode. From eating parrots to preserved beans to gladiator contests, Pompeii is a time capsule worth diving into again and again. Sources: Jashemski, Wilhelmina Feemster. Pompeii. Britannica www.britannica.com/place/Pompeii Laden, Jonathan (December, 2020) Pompeii Fast Food Restaurant Uncovered. BiblicalArchaeologyStudy.org www.italyguides.it/en/campania/pompeii  David, Ariel (May, 2005). Researchers compile recipes that give flavor of P...

Question & Answer | Learn More About Alice & Leslie

January 25, 2021 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MB

Join Alice and Leslie as they answer questions about nutrition and yoga. Alice tells us her opinion on the keto and paleo diets and Leslie talks about her fear of handstands. It's an informative and funny discussion that occasionally goes off the rails.

Samurai | Rituals & Rice

January 18, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about the age of the samurai. From combat swimming to beheading to rice and whale meat, this episode takes you back to a time when warriors were the ruling class in Japan.  PBS.org – Japan, Memories of a Secret Empire Ranker.com - Bizarre Samurai Traditions No One Knows About historyhit.com - Six Weapons of the Japanese Samurai History.com - What is Seppuku Sportsrec.com - Ancient Japanese Training Methods Japanguide.com - Buddhism; Samurai Factsanddetails.com - ...

Westward Expansion | Innovation & Indigenous People

January 11, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 47.4 MB

Alice and Leslie discuss the, at times difficult, subject of America's Westward Expansion. From canning to kitchen gardens to civilized tribes, this episode explores the idea of Manifest Destiny and its effects on the land and the people who lived on it. 

Bonus Episode: A Journey to Crete

January 08, 2021 16:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MB

Alice and Leslie welcome their guest, Trish Brady who tells the story of her life in Crete; how she got there, why she stayed, and what to do when you can travel there yourself.

Ancient Greece | Olympics & Olive Branches

January 04, 2021 14:00 - 1 hour - 49.3 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about Ancient Greece. From nudity at the ancient Games to the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, there's lots of ground to cover--and lots of laughs--in this episode.

The 1980s | Microwaves & Richard Simmons

December 28, 2020 05:00 - 57 minutes - 39.2 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about the 1980s. From Jenny Craig to Jane Fonda to Richard Simmons, the 80s offered a lot of big ideas and even bigger shoulder pads. 

China | Acupuncture & Imperial Cuisine

December 21, 2020 05:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MB

Alice and Leslie journey to China and explore the origins of acupuncture and cuisine across multiple dynasties. 

The Belle Époque | Haute Cuisine & the Tour de France

December 14, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MB

Alice and Leslie dive into the Beautiful Age in France and discover the origins of haute cuisine and the scandalous Tour de France. 

The Vikings | Boiled Meat & Magic

December 07, 2020 05:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MB

Alice and Leslie tackle the Viking era in this episode. From boiled meat to parasites to Norse gods, the Vikings were full of interesting surprises.

Ancient Egypt: Chunky Beer & Enemas

November 30, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MB

Alice and Leslie look back thousands of years to discover ancient Egyptian nutritional and healing practices.

Ancient Egypt: Grains & Reiki

November 30, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MB

Alice and Leslie look back thousands of years to discover ancient Egyptian nutritional and healing practices.

The Jazz Age | Drinks, Dancing & Talking to the Dead

November 23, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 50.6 MB

Alice and Leslie cover the 1920s. From copious amounts of drinking to plastic girdles to séances, the Jazz Age was full of fun and frivolity the likes of which had never been seen before.

Salem Witch Trials | Voodoo & Urine Cakes

November 16, 2020 05:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

Leslie and Alice cover the Salem Witch Trials. From Voodoo to fortune-telling, to contaminated rye, this episode is a wild, witchy ride.

Bonus Episode: All About Yoga | How to Choose a Yoga Class

November 12, 2020 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MB

Leslie and Alice talk about what types of classes there are and what to expect when you go to them. 

The 1970s | Hot Yoga and Fad Diets

November 09, 2020 05:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MB

Alice and Leslie talk about the decade they were born in: the swinging 70s! From Bikram yoga to slim fast, to the wine diet, the 1970s was a decade of interesting and crazy health trends. Warning: this episode briefly discusses sexual assault.

Corona Be Gone! What to Eat to Stay Healthy Now (And Forever)

November 05, 2020 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MB

Alice talks about nutrition in this bonus episode, giving her advice on what to eat to stay healthy during the pandemic.