health fraud

The world of dieting and wellness is full of so-called snake oil salesmen—but what IS snake oil? This week, we take a wild ride through the history of health scams and discover a startling twist about an everyday idiom. Along the way, Aubrey delivers fun facts about sanitation from memory and Mike roasts the state where most of his family lives. 

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Links:

• Snake Oil, Hustlers & Hambones by Mary Anderson
• A History Of 'Snake Oil Salesmen' : Code Switch (NPR)
• How Snake Oil Got a Bad Rap (Hint: It Wasn’t The Snakes’ Fault) (Collectors Weekly)

Thanks to Ashley Smith for editing assistance and Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!