Today, Explained · Vox

Packing in protein

February 16, 2026·26 min·2 clips
Chris Gaiomali blended boiled chicken into a smoothie, forcing himself to drink a venti-sized concoction his wife could taste.
This episode explores the cultural obsession with protein, tracing its origins from whey as cheese byproduct waste to modern fortified foods. Guest Chris Gaiomali shares his personal journey into protein mania, while experts discuss the science, industry trends, and ethical questions around ultra-processed high-protein snacks.

As heard by us

A funny, grounded explainer for why protein turned into a cultural obsession.

Today Explained turns protein obsession into a brisk, funny look at a real cultural shift. It moves cleanly from the chicken smoothie gag to the wider way protein has entered everyday wellness talk, including the rise of women’s health influencers and the pull of GLP-1s on what…

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Why you'd press play

For when you want the chicken-smoothie era explained without the fluff.

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