Balding blues? Magic pills? Mouse juice? Michael Regilio untangles the hairy history of vanity products on this week's Skeptical Sunday! Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio! On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss: Hair loss treatments have evolved from ancient Egyptian mouse-grinding adventures to modern pharmaceutical solutions like minoxidil and finasteride — though these modern miracles come with some rather unsettling side effects, from growing unwanted breasts to potentially losing interest in, well, everything. Vanity-boosting discoveries often happen through delightfully accidental means — minoxidil started as an ulcer medication, while finasteride's development stems from studying a fascinating genetic condition in a Dominican Republic village where some children experience dramatic physical changes at puberty. Collagen supplements, while sounding like a smoothie made from the entire barnyard, actually show promising results for skin elasticity and cardiovascular health — though their benefits for hair and nails remain unproven despite widespread marketing claims. Teeth whitening has a rather colorful history, from ancient Romans' creative use of public urine collections (yes, really) to modern peroxide-based treatments, which thankfully carry far fewer risks than their historical counterparts. The most empowering approach to appearance-related concerns might be the one suggested by an 18th-century British newspaper: the best cure for something like baldness is simply not being bothered by it. This mindset doesn't just save money and avoid side effects — it offers a path to genuine self-acceptance that no bottle, cream, or ground-up mouse could ever provide. Sometimes the most revolutionary thing we can do is simply rock what we've got. Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at [email protected] and let him know! Connect with Michael Regilio at Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and make sure to check out the Michael Regilio Plagues Well With Others podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! Full show notes and resources can be found here: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Full Episode
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday. I'm your host, Jordan Harbinger. Today I'm here with Skeptical Sunday co-host Michael Regilio. On the Jordan Harbinger Show, we decode the stories, secrets, and skills of the world's most fascinating people and turn their wisdom into practical advice that you can use to impact your own life and those around you.
Our mission is to help you become a better informed, more critical thinker. During the week, we have long-form conversations with a variety of amazing folks, from spies to CEOs, athletes, authors, thinkers, performers.
On Sundays, though, we do Skeptical Sunday, where a rotating guest co-host and I break down a topic you may never have thought about and debunk common misconceptions about that topic. Topics such as why tipping makes no sense, circumcision, ear candling, crystal healing, diet pills, internet porn, and more.
And if you're new to the show or you're looking for a handy way to tell your friends about the show, Anyway, I suggest our episode starter packs. These are collections of our favorite episodes on persuasion, negotiation, psychology, disinformation, cyber warfare, crime and cults, and more.
It'll help new listeners get a taste of everything we do here on the show, or at least be intimidating enough to scare them away from the show. Just visit jordanharbinger.com slash start or search for us in your Spotify app to get started. Vanity. As kids, we're taught it's both bad to be vain and that we should look good.
Vanity products like hair loss treatments, collagen drinks, teeth whitening products, they fill the shelves, they make billions of dollars. The fact is, it's good to look good. Today, skeptic, comedian, and guy feebly attempting to age with grace, Michael Regilio, is here to reflect on vanity products.
Hi, Jordan. You're a recognizable figure. I'm sure there's some pressure to be presentable.
I don't know how recognizable I am, and yet, yes, I feel a little bit of pressure to look good. I was actually unable to upload a photo for my ski pass because the selfie I took was, quote, a photo of a celebrity, end quote, according to the website. So that felt pretty good. That's amazing.
Who did they think you looked like?
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