About this episode
<p><strong>This Skeptical Sunday, Jessica Wynn explains how dialysis became a $50B industry where under 40% of patients survive five painful years of dependence.</strong></p><p>Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of <em>The Jordan Harbinger Show</em> where <strong>Jordan</strong> and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher <a href="https://jessicawynn.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Jessica Wynn</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><p><strong>Full show notes and resources can be found here: </strong><a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/1336" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>jordanharbinger.com/1336</strong></a></p><p><strong>On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Dialysis is a life-sustaining external filtration system for the roughly 800,000 Americans in kidney failure — but it's grueling.</strong> Most patients endure three to five hours per session, three times a week, indefinitely, and fewer than 40% survive beyond five years.</li><li><strong>The financial structure is staggering.</strong> Dialysis is a $50 billion-a-year US industry, with Medicare spending about $36 billion annually — roughly 7% of its entire budget for under 1% of the population. Two companies, DaVita and Fresenius, control about 70% of all clinics.</li><li><strong>The system rewards permanence over cure.</strong> Since 1972, Medicare has covered kidney failure for everyone regardless of age, creating guaranteed, indefinite revenue. Transplants and home dialysis are cheaper and better for patients, yet under-incentivized because they cost providers customers.</li><li><strong>The human and safety toll is severe.</strong> Infections cause 36% of dialysis deaths, sepsis mortality runs 100 to 300 times higher than average, and understaffing worsens outcomes. Many patients lose their jobs, mobility, and social lives — some choose to stop treatment entirely.</li><li><strong>The hopeful part: much kidney disease is preventable or delayable, and you have real power here. Manage diabetes and hypertension aggressively, get your kidneys checked with a simple blood and urine test, and see a nephrologist early — catching it sooner can dramatically slow progression.</strong></li><li><strong>Connect with Jordan</strong> on <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanHarbinger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jordanharbinger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/THEJORDANHARBINGERSHOW" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at <a href="mailto:jordan@jordanharbinger.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jordan@jordanharbinger.com</a> and let him know!</li><li><strong>Connect with Jessica Wynn</strong> at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iamjessicawynn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/NeverMetJessicas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>!), and subscribe to her newsletters:<strong><em> </em></strong><a href="https://jessicawynn.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Between the Lines</em></strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="https://storiesbywynn.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Where the Shadows Linger</em></strong></a><strong>!</strong></li></ul><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1344999619?mt=2&ls=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here</strong></a><strong> — even one sentence helps! </strong></p><ul><li><strong>Sign up for </strong><a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Six-Minute Networking</strong></a><strong> — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at </strong><a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>jordanharbinger.com/course</strong></a><strong>!</strong></li><li><strong>Subscribe to our once-a-week </strong><a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Wee Bit Wiser</em></strong></a><strong> newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!</strong></li><li><strong>Do you even Reddit, bro? </strong><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/JordanHarbinger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Join us at r/JordanHarbinger</strong></a><strong>!</strong></li></ul><p><strong>This Episode Is Brought To You By </strong><a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/deals/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Our Fine Sponsors</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><ul><li><strong>Lufthansa Allegris: </strong><a href="https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/discover-lufthansa/allegris" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn more</strong></a></li><li><strong>CookUnity: </strong><a href="https://www.cookunity.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>50% off first week: cookunity.com/jordan or code JORDAN</strong></a></li><li><strong>Revolve Man: </strong><a href="https://www.revolve.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>15% off: revolve.com/jordan, code Jordan</strong></a></li><li><strong>Marathon Rewards: </strong><a href="https://www.marathonarcorewards.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sign up today: marathonrewards.com</strong></a></li></ul><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>