Peptides: Hype vs Science with Leigh Baxt, PhD
Capable & Worthy: Fitness, Nutrition, & Mindset for People Who Don't Want Life to SuckShow Notes
Peptides are everywhere right now. From social media influencers and wellness clinics to fitness circles and longevity enthusiasts, they're being marketed as the next big thing for recovery, muscle growth, anti-aging, and optimization. But what does the science actually say?
In this episode, we sit down with Leigh Baxt, PhD, with nearly two decades of experience in translational science and drug development, to unpack the growing peptide trend. We discuss how drugs are actually developed, why most therapeutic ideas fail, the difference between FDA-approved peptide medications and unregulated compounds, and how marketing often outpaces evidence. If you've ever wondered whether peptides like BPC-157 or TB-500 are worth the hype, this conversation will help you separate science from salesmanship.
"If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is." - Leigh Baxt, PhD
“When you do science, the experiments you design are the ones to try to poke a hole in your hypothesis." - Leigh Baxt, PhD
This week on Capable & Worthy: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck: Why more than 99% of potential drug therapies never make it to market What translational science is and how new therapies are developed The difference between FDA-approved peptide drugs and unregulated peptides Why peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500 raise concerns among scientists The role of human clinical trials in determining safety and effectiveness How marketing language can make products appear more evidence-based than they are Why women in midlife may be especially vulnerable to peptide marketing claims How to evaluate health claims critically and find trustworthy scientific information
Connect with Leigh Baxt, PhD: Leigh Baxt, PhD on Instagram - sciencemomscicomm
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Capable & Worthy: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us! Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
More from Capable & Worthy: Fitness, Nutrition, & Mindset for People Who Don't Want Life to Suck
In today’s very special 200th episode, we’re celebrating with the people who have helped make this podcast what it is: our community! We invited listeners to pull up a virtual chair, hang out with us, ask questions, and talk through real-life fitness, nutrition, fat loss, and mindset.
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Elise, coach, mom, and creator of The Skinny on Fitness. Elise shares how her background in culinary school, nutrition, running, and strength training eventually led her into coaching, and we dig into moving beyond the “if it fits your macros” (IIFYM) era, why food quality still matters even when calories and macros are accounted for, and how repeat meals, simple structure, and fewer decisions can make healthy eating much easier to sustain.
In today’s episode, we’re answering listener questions around protein intake, calorie tracking, daily movement, and managing cravings. How much protein do you need per day? Is it true that we can’t digest more than 35 grams at a time? What do you do about crazy PMS cravings and hunger? Can I do spin classes instead of daily walking?
In today’s SELECTS episode, we’re joined by Barbie Boules,RDN. Best known as The Cognition Dietitian, Barbie is a registered dietitian, cognitive wellness specialist, and optimal aging enthusiast, dedicated to helping women prioritize themselves, experience confidence, excellent health, and genuine joy.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about what to do when you’re sick, how to decide whether you should work out when you’re under the weather, and why a few days away from your normal routine isn’t going to undo your progress. We break down the “above the neck, below the neck” rule for exercise when sick, talk about when it makes sense to rest instead of train, and discuss what to prioritize with nutrition, hydration, and recovery when you’re not feeling your best.