Christopher Brandlin, a returning guest on the podcast, is a lawyer with a background in the health and fitness industry. Before becoming an attorney, Brandlin was a personal trainer during college and law school, having previously been a competitive wrestler. He also recounted his time as a fraternity president, acknowledging a period of heavy drinking and partying. However, facing a challenging job market after graduating with a communications degree, and with a family history of attorneys, he decided to pursue law school. To prove his father wrong, who had jokingly doubted his seriousness, Brandlin significantly reduced and eventually stopped drinking. He also worked with a registered dietitian, Chuck Rudolph, to manage his diet and maintain his training business, which successfully funded his law school education. During this time, he also competed in all-natural bodybuilding, undergoing a significant transformation in his physique through a strict ketogenic diet with carb cycling.
After practicing law for a few years, Brandlin experienced a significant decline in his health starting in 2016, suffering from joint pain, muscle pain, and fatigue. His experience with conventional doctors involved being prescribed numerous pharmaceuticals, including laxatives, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, which he believes severely damaged his gut. This culminated in the surgical removal of a portion of his intestine, an experience he described as traumatic, including waking up during the procedure and developing a severe post-operative infection. Frustrated with the lack of improvement from conventional medicine, Brandlin became desperate for solutions. Through an elimination diet, he noticed that reducing plant intake improved his inflammation, leading him to explore the potential benefits of a meat-only diet.
Brandlin’s investigation into the carnivore diet involved consulting with prominent figures in the community, such as Michaela Peterson and Sean Baker, who provided guidance on eliminating even cooking oils and focusing solely on animal products. He also sought treatment at the Paleomedicina clinic in Budapest, Hungary, where he experienced immediate improvements in his inflammation by adhering to a diet of quality meats, salt, and water, without any supplements. Upon returning to the United States, he became more vocal about the benefits of the carnivore diet, even facing resistance when expressing his views to the head of a dietetics program. Inspired by his health transformation and concerns about government overreach during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Brandlin decided to pursue a PhD and eventually run for political office.
Motivated by his personal experiences and observations, Brandlin is running for Congress in Nevada’s third district with a platform focused on reforming public health, limiting pharmaceutical influence, and supporting American meat farmers. He believes there is an over-reliance on pharmaceuticals and a need to re-evaluate dietary guidelines and medical education. Brandlin advocates for a shift towards addressing metabolic health through diet and lifestyle changes, drawing on his own success with the carnivore diet. He also expressed concerns about the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on media and politics. Furthermore, he aims to promote transparency in government spending and address issues he perceives as detrimental to children’s well-being and traditional values in education.
Brandlin is using his own financial resources to fund his campaign, indicating a genuine commitment to his goals rather than personal gain. He is also organising a community meetup in Las Vegas focused on carnivore, ketogenic, and functional health, aiming to make it affordable and accessible to a wide audience. He hopes to bring a more outspoken and health-conscious perspective to Congress, advocating for policies that prioritise public health through diet and reduce the reliance on pharmaceuticals. Brandlin acknowledges the potential backlash for his views but believes it is crucial for individuals with conviction to speak out and work towards positive change for the country.