Make It Make Sense: Big Pharma
In this eye-opening mini-episode of the Let’s Get Naked Podcast, Anne Karber and Cameron expose the uncomfortable truth behind one of the most influential—and dangerous—industries in modern society: Big Pharma.
While the pharmaceutical industry claims to be in the business of health, Anne and Cameron break down how it actually profits from sickness, dependency, and the management of symptoms, not true healing. From the opioid crisis to the over-prescription of medications, the episode dives into how the system we’ve normalized fuels the very conditions it claims to cure.
It’s time to confront the hard questions: What if the pills we’ve been conditioned to trust aren’t the solution? What if they’re part of the problem?
The Opioid Epidemic: Profits Over People
Anne and Cameron begin by unpacking one of the most devastating examples of Big Pharma’s influence—the opioid epidemic.
The crisis started when pharmaceutical companies marketed opioids as a “solution” for pain management, making billions in profits. But as the addiction epidemic grew, it became clear that the same companies that were profiting from these drugs were also responsible for fueling the crisis.
Anne shares how the crisis was “sold” to the public through advertising, with deceptive marketing tactics that downplayed the risks of addiction. She explains how this profit-driven model turned pain relief into a long-term dependency, leading to countless lives lost and communities torn apart.
The Healthcare System We’ve Normalized
As the episode delves deeper into the structure of healthcare, Anne and Cameron examine the disconnect between symptom-based treatment and true healing. They reveal how insurance companies and liability laws keep doctors locked into prescribing medications for symptoms, rather than addressing the root causes of illness.
“Doctors are incentivized to treat the symptoms, not the source,” Anne explains. “If we actually healed, the system wouldn’t make money.”
Anne shares her own experience of stepping off multiple prescriptions, including antidepressants and painkillers, and discovering that her body felt better without the pharmaceutical cocktail she had been conditioned to trust. It’s a personal story that highlights the power of the body’s own healing mechanisms, and how modern medicine often overlooks this natural capacity.
Why Root-Cause Health is Dismissed
The episode takes a critical look at how root-cause health—the practice of addressing the underlying causes of illness—often gets sidelined in favor of quick fixes like medications. Anne and Cameron explain that this happens because pharmaceutical companies thrive on ongoing treatments, not cures.
They explore how doctors are often discouraged or even prevented from offering patients lifestyle alternatives—things like diet changes, stress reduction, exercise, and sunlight exposure—which can often be more effective than a prescription pill.
“We’re sold the idea that we need pills to feel better,” Anne says. “But what if the answer was right in front of us? What if it’s in our choices?”
Emotional Numbing and Disconnecting from the Body
One of the most poignant parts of the episode focuses on how emotional numbing from medications keeps people disconnected from their bodies. Anne and Cameron discuss how drugs dull the natural signals our bodies send us, like pain, fatigue, and stress, making it harder to listen to what our body needs to heal.
This disconnection, they argue, is a major factor in why so many people continue to suffer. The body’s wisdom is ignored in favor of “managing” symptoms, which only prolongs the cycle of illness.
“The truth is,” Anne says, “our bodies are designed to heal. But when we block the signals, we prevent ourselves from feeling what needs to be felt—and that keeps us stuck.”
Lifestyle Changes: The True Medicine
In the final section of the conversation, Anne and Cameron offer a refreshing, empowering message: lifestyle changes are often the most powerful medicine we have.
They discuss how simple, natural choices—like getting more sunlight, reducing stress, exercising regularly, and losing weight—can have profound effects on overall health and wellbeing.
“Lifestyle changes don’t require a prescription,” Anne says. “They require awareness, intention, and action. And the best part? They don’t come with side effects.”
By focusing on holistic health—nutrition, movement, and emotional wellbeing—they argue that we can regain control over our own health without relying on the pharmaceutical industry.
A Call to Wake Up and Question the System
Anne and Cameron close by posing an uncomfortable but essential question: Who profits from keeping us sick?
This isn’t just a critique of Big Pharma—it’s a call to wake up to the realities of a system that profits from our dependence. It’s a reminder that true healing starts with awareness—and the courage to seek alternatives when the system fails us.
“We’ve been taught to trust pills and prescriptions,” Anne concludes. “But the truth is, the best medicine is often what we already have inside us: awareness, choice, and the will to heal.”
