The MAHA Insider: Calley Means on Chronic Disease, Big Food, and Healthcare Costs | 13th & Park

Calley Means, advisor to HHS and co-author of Good Energy, joins 13th and Park for a wide-ranging conversation on why America is the most chronically diseased society in human history and what it will take to change that. Means, a former consultant to the food and pharmaceutical industries turned outspoken reformer, argues that the core problem is not a failure of effort but of design. He walks through the economic incentives that reward sickness over health, from insurance companies profiting off rising premiums to a pharmaceutical treadmill that manages chronic conditions rather than reversing them. He also explains why 48 cents of every federal tax dollar now goes to healthcare and why that trajectory points toward fiscal collapse. The conversation covers the formation of the MAHA movement, the policy wins already delivered at HHS and CMS, and the case for shifting healthcare dollars toward prevention, nutrition, and patient empowerment. Means also shares the story behind the phone call he helped broker between RFK Jr. and Donald Trump in the hours after the Butler assassination attempt, and why he believes their partnership will be remembered as one of the most consequential in modern public health. Listen to us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2yqqjgPtA7NR2cJewPqbNQ?si=e9df5028fc0e4dd9 Listen to us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/13th-park/id1645880081 Follow Calley Means X: https://x.com/calleymeans IG: https://instagram.com/calleymeans LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/calleymeans Website: https://www.truemed.com Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park www.ballardpartners.com About 13th and Park: 13th and Park is a dynamic media platform produced by Ballard Partners. We bring you insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analysis on key issues shaping industries, policy, and business trends. Our content features thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers exploring topics ranging from policy influence, business innovation, trade regulations, and more. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos, exclusive interviews, and expert insights shaping the future of business, policy, and public affairs. #calleymeans #mahamovement #healthcarereform #chronicdisease #rfkjr #makamericahealthyagain #foodpolicy #metabolichealth #goodeenergy #preventivehealth #hhs #trumphealthcare #13thandpark #politicalpodcast