RFK Jr.'s Wellness Advisor Expresses Passion to Enhance America's Health, Inspired by a Mushroom-Induced Experience, Aims to 'Revitalize America'
RFK Jr.'s Wellness Advisor Expresses Passion to Enhance America's Health, Inspired by a Mushroom-Induced Experience, Aims to 'Revitalize America'
Amidst his presidential bid, a secret liaison with a media personality, and dealing with animal cruelty allegations, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to "Revitalize America Health-Wise". His motivations stem from a wellness advocate who supposedly felt the urge to spread wellness teachings after experimenting with magical mushrooms.
The Wall Street Journal states that Calley Means and his sister, Dr. Casey Means, a surgeon, are the wellness pioneers who Kennedy has attended to for his New Age health beliefs. The newspaper categorizes the duo as Kennedy's "key advisors" and mentions that their book, "Vibrant Energy", has surfaced among Trump's confidants.
Before delving into health advocacy, Means worked in Politics, advocating for food corporations. His LinkedIn profile reveals stints at Booz Allen Hamilton (the influential shadowy “deep state”-contractor) and the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank behind Project 2025.
Means attested to regaining consciousness after his shroom-induced trip. The Journal reveals that the former lobbyist had a vision to reform healthcare after an overdose of the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin.
During a recent interview with the Journal, Means conceded, "Michelle Obama wasn't completely wrong," indicating appreciation for Obama's initiative to improve the nutritional content of school meals. This agenda, you'll remember, was criticized heavily by conservatives. Indeed, during his first term, Trump repealed regulations that Michelle Obama had established to elevate nutritional standards for national school meals, reasoning that healthy kids were too much of a regulatory headache.
The Means siblings have appeared on various fringe media shows, including podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson. As self-proclaimed conservative advocates of healthy living and corporate reform, they represent a peculiar ideological mix, blending thoughtful ideas with questionable ones.
Similarly, Kennedy has attracted scorn for promoting various health-focused conspiracy theories (notably, his support for the anti-vaccination movement), even though not all his ideas are wholly unreasonable. People should indeed eat a healthier diet—it's valid—and another Kennedy idea—to establish government-funded wellness farms—has been promoted by progressives for years.
However, Kennedy's main challenge is that Trump is unlikely to allow policies that threaten the interests of pharmaceutical firms or private healthcare providers. It's worth noting that Trump's first administration had links with junk food and high-fructose corn syrup lobbyists, and Trump, a known fast food fanatic, even hosted a McD's banquet within the White House. During a recent podcast chat involving Means, Kennedy acknowledged that he found Trump's dietary habits—which he encountered during the campaign—to be "really, disturbingly unhealthy."
It remains to be seen if Kennedy will secure an administrative post in Trump's administration. But so far, Trump has largely ignored his campaign promises and filled his cabinet with DC insiders. Perhaps, if nothing else, Kennedy could serve as Trump's fitness coach.
The Wall Street Journal also mentions that Kennedy's interest in health and wellness stems from his association with tech entrepreneurs who are advocating for the integration of tech and health in the future. Kennedy's proposed policies include the use of advanced technology to revolutionize healthcare and make it more accessible to the general public.
Given Kennedy's allegiance to natural remedies and tech-driven health solutions, he has been criticized for promoting unproven technologies, such as using cell phones to diagnose illnesses. Despite these controversies, Kennedy remains steadfast in his belief that technology can be harnessed to improve health outcomes and curb the rising costs of healthcare.