Pill Popping Trip to Pluto
2025
Principal Storyteller and Analyst:
Paul Grant Truesdell, J.D., AIF, CLU, ChFC, RFC
Founder & CEO of The Truesdell Companies
The Truesdell Professional Building
200 NW 52nd Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34482
352-612-1000 - Local
212-433-2525 - New York
Truesdell Wealth, Inc.
https://truesdellwealth.com
The Truesdell Companies
https://truesdell.net
The Truesdell Companies was a proud sponsor of the Eirinn Abu benefit concert for Tunnel to Towers, on February 28th at the Circle Square arena in Ocala, Florida. For more information, visit: https://eirinnabu.com or https://eirinnabu.com/event/5760795/695871447/eirinn-abu-and-tunnel-to-towers-foundation-concert
Events
Essential Florida Estate Documents
Casual Conversations
Stonewater – Stone Creek - Ocala
April 25 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
Retirement Income: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
Casual Conversations
Stonewater – Stone Creek - Ocala
March 9 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
Single or With Dependent Spouse
Casual Conversations
May 16 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
The Truesdell Military Procurement Portfolio
Casual Conversations
May 23 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
June & July – A Financial Series in Oak Run – Ocala, Florida
Disclaimer
You are listening to the Paul Truesdell Podcast, sponsored by Truesdell Wealth and the other Truesdell Companies. Note. Due to our extensive holdings and our clients, always assume that we have a position in all companies discussed and that a conflict of interest exists. The information presented is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Truesdell Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor.
Rough Show Notes
Alright, I’m going to begin calmly. You’ve got nothing to worry about—for now. I’m going to use my indoor voice. I’m going to speak clearly, rationally, and maybe even gently. We’re going to ease into this together like a warm bath. Because what I’m about to talk about deserves your full attention. It deserves respect. It deserves clarity.
But I want you to hear me now—and hear me real good: by the time we’re done, things are gonna get a little… heated.
Because this isn’t just another polite conversation. This isn’t fluff. This is real life, real truth, and real damage being done—quietly, daily, and systematically.
So stay with me. Hold on tight. Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle.
Because I promise—this ride may start slow…
…but it’s going to end with a boom.
And when that boom hits, you’ll either wake up, stand up, or step aside.
Are you ready? Let’s rock and roll.
What Is a Statin?
A statin is a class of medication used primarily to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. More specifically:
1. It inhibits an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a key role in the body’s production of cholesterol.
2. Statins reduce LDL (low-density lipoprotein)—often called “bad cholesterol.”
3. They also modestly raise HDL (high-density lipoprotein)—the “good cholesterol.”
4. They reduce triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
Popular statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pravastatin (Pravachol).
Statins have been heralded as wonder drugs by many in the medical community—particularly for patients with a history of heart attack, stroke, or diagnosed cardiovascular disease. That’s called “secondary prevention,” and in those cases, the evidence of benefit is strong.
But Here’s the Rub: Overprescription and Risk in Retirees
Now we shift gears. This is where I get fired up with you.
1. Primary prevention is the slippery slope. Many retirees are being placed on statins not because they had a heart attack or stroke, but because their cholesterol is a bit high or they have a family history. The problem? The evidence supporting statin use for primary prevention—especially in people over 75—is weak to mixed at best.
2. Side effects are real. These aren’t sugar pills. Common issues include:
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Fatigue
- Brain fog or memory issues
- Liver enzyme elevations
- Blood sugar spikes (they can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes)
Some patients don’t even realize the statin is causing their sluggishness or aches until they stop taking it.
3. Polypharmacy in retirement is out of control. Many older adults are already taking five or more medications. Throwing in a statin “just in case” often reflects protocol-based medicine, not individualized care. It’s CYA medicine—cover your anatomy—not because it’s necessarily the best course.
4. Cholesterol isn’t the only metric that matters. In fact, recent studies have shown that high LDL cholesterol in older adults is not clearly associated with increased mortality. What is strongly associated? Inflammation, insulin resistance, poor diet, stress, and lack of mobility.
What’s Driving This?
Let’s be blunt.
- Medical Guidelines Are Conservative by Nature. They’re built for averages, not individuals. The American College of Cardiology recommends statins for people with certain risk scores, but those scores don’t consider real-world nuance—like whether someone is 78 and walks five miles a day, eats a Mediterranean diet, and has perfect blood sugar.
- Pharmaceutical Marketing Is Powerful. Drug reps love statins. They’re a long-term revenue stream. Doctors are incentivized—whether consciously or not—to keep prescribing them. It’s the default setting.
- Liability Medicine. It’s “safe” to prescribe a statin. If something happens and a patient wasn’t on one, there could be litigation. That’s part of the dark reality behind overprescription.
What Should Retirees Ask Their Doctors?
Here’s how I advise people to take back control:
1. Ask: “Am I taking this for primary or secondary prevention?” If it’s primary, challenge the necessity.
2. Request a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test gives a more accurate picture of actual heart disease risk than cholesterol numbers alone.
3. Ask about lifestyle-based alternatives. Sometimes a change in diet and movement patterns can lower cholesterol naturally.
4. Don’t accept fear-based pressure. You’re not a statistic. You’re an individual with unique variables.
My Bottom Line
Statins have their place. But too many retirees are being treated based on outdated, generalized metrics rather than personal, data-driven analysis. The decision to take a statin should never be automatic. It should be strategic, based on real benefit—not fear.
And I’ll add this: If you’re going to treat something as nuanced as cardiovascular health with a pill, you better be just as serious about testing your inflammation markers (CRP), glucose control (A1C), and nutrient levels (like magnesium and CoQ10, which statins deplete).
The real risk isn’t always in your bloodstream. It’s in how you’re being treated like a billing code rather than a person.
You ever notice how doctors don’t practice medicine anymore? Nope. Now they practice protocol. Because heaven forbid a doctor actually thinks—oh no, can't have that! Gotta follow the flowchart. If it’s on page 37 of the insurance company’s pre-authorization manual, well then by God, that’s your treatment. Doesn’t matter if you’re a 95-year-old nun or a 42-year-old linebacker—everyone gets the same script.
Insurance companies love protocols. Why? Because they sound scientific, authoritative, and most importantly—cheap. It’s medicine by spreadsheet. Got high cholesterol? Statin. Cough? Z-Pak. A hangnail and a headache? MRI and maybe a colonoscopy—just in case. The system is built for billing, not healing.
And doctors? Poor bastards. They didn’t sign up for this. They went to school for 12 years to be told what to do by some underpaid bean counter in a cubicle in Des Moines who couldn’t pass high school biology. “Sorry, Dr. Stevens, the insurance doesn’t cover that procedure until the patient tries two cheaper ones that don’t work.” Translation? “We’re gonna waste your time, your patient’s health, and maybe a few body parts, but hey—we followed the protocol!”
It’s form over substance, baby. Just check the boxes, click the codes, and cover your ass. Modern medicine has become a sad parody of itself. And the punchline? We call it “evidence-based.” The evidence says it’s insane. But the insurance says it’s profitable.
Welcome to Idiocracy, MD. Now bend over and say “co-pay.”
Let me say this loud enough for the folks in the back who can’t hear over the crinkling of their prescription bags and the rustling of their snack wrappers: High LDL cholesterol in older adults is not clearly associated with increased mortality. You know what is? Inflammation, insulin resistance, poor diet, stress, and lack of mobility.
Well golly gee, Gomer, how many times do I have to say it? ON A DAILY BASIS. Let me repeat that… on a daily basis. No, one more time—on a daily flippin’ basis! Engage in strength training. Walk around the block. Bend over and stretch something that hasn’t moved since Clinton was in office. Lift a can of beans if you have to. Just MOVE.
Oh, and here’s a shocker—natural nutrition actually matters. Yeah. Who knew? Stop shoving chemically-altered food-like substances into your pie hole like you’re prepping for a NASA freeze-dried mission to Pluto. Maybe—just maybe—if what goes in is clean, what comes out won’t light a hazmat warning.
Balance, people! It’s not rocket science. Drink water. Chew food. Breathe deep. Sleep. Laugh. And stop treating your body like a chemistry experiment run by Pfizer and Little Debbie.
Because if everything hurts, you can’t think straight, and your farts smell like jet fuel, maybe it’s not aging—it’s the crap you’ve been consuming and the pills you’ve been sold.
I’m not mocking you if you’re overweight, underweight, or just plain unfit. Life gets weird. Hormones go sideways. Stress mounts. But that’s exactly why you have to question what’s going into your body—pharmaceuticals, processed food, and all. When your system is overloaded with toxins, preservatives, and prescriptions, it’s tough to know what’s really broken. So stop, reset, and give your body a fighting chance to speak in its own voice. Start with movement, clean food, and a little less screen time. You might be surprised how smart your body still is when you shut up and listen to it.
DIVINE DESIGN MEETS INSURANCE INSANITY
Let me close with this—because I’m tired of watching good people get chewed up and spit out by a system that runs on denial forms and dead batteries.
We’ve forgotten the miracle of divine design. That’s right. Divine. Design. Say it with me. DIVINE DESIGN.
God didn’t screw this thing up. He didn’t forget to put a statin in your bloodstream or a pharmacy in your pancreas. No, He built something strong. Beautiful. Resilient. He gave us a body that fights, heals, adapts, and speaks—if we’d just stop drowning it in sugar, stress, and side effects.
Yes, sometimes that design goes sideways. And thank God—literally—for the real doctors. The Sherlock Holmes types. The ones who listen, dig deep, and say, “Dammit to hell, we’re gonna figure this out.” Bless the real cardiologists, the real dietitians, the real healers—not the checkbox-chasing, protocol-pushing drones trapped in the Matrix of medicine.
Because form over substance is killing Americans. Slowly. Quietly. With smiling faces and laminated charts. And here’s the kicker—it ain’t always the doctors committing malpractice. Most of the time, it’s the system. The insurance zombies. The profit priests. The ones who value billing codes over beating hearts.
And the saddest part? Nobody does a damn thing about it. Because fixing it costs money. And money is the god of the modern medical church.
A RAP
They said, "Here’s your chart and here’s your pill,"
I said, “How ‘bout you listen and sit real still?”
You treat me like data in a fax machine,
But this temple I live in was built supreme.
So don’t code me, don't bill me, don’t fake or deny—
Just shut up and fix me before I die.
'Cause I’m not your product, your chart, or your claim—
I’m a human damn being with a God-given name.
BOOM. Mic dropped. System exposed. God’s design still undefeated.
Principal Storyteller and Analyst:
Paul Grant Truesdell, J.D., AIF, CLU, ChFC, RFC
Founder & CEO of The Truesdell Companies
The Truesdell Professional Building
200 NW 52nd Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34482
352-612-1000 - Local
212-433-2525 - New York
Truesdell Wealth, Inc.
https://truesdellwealth.com
The Truesdell Companies
https://truesdell.net
The Truesdell Companies was a proud sponsor of the Eirinn Abu benefit concert for Tunnel to Towers, on February 28th at the Circle Square arena in Ocala, Florida. For more information, visit: https://eirinnabu.com or https://eirinnabu.com/event/5760795/695871447/eirinn-abu-and-tunnel-to-towers-foundation-concert
Events
Essential Florida Estate Documents
Casual Conversations
Stonewater – Stone Creek - Ocala
April 25 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
Retirement Income: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
Casual Conversations
Stonewater – Stone Creek - Ocala
March 9 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
Single or With Dependent Spouse
Casual Conversations
May 16 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
The Truesdell Military Procurement Portfolio
Casual Conversations
May 23 – 6:30 pm
Reservations Required - Call or Text: 352-612-1000
June & July – A Financial Series in Oak Run – Ocala, Florida
Disclaimer
You are listening to the Paul Truesdell Podcast, sponsored by Truesdell Wealth and the other Truesdell Companies. Note. Due to our extensive holdings and our clients, always assume that we have a position in all companies discussed and that a conflict of interest exists. The information presented is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Truesdell Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor.
Rough Show Notes
Alright, I’m going to begin calmly. You’ve got nothing to worry about—for now. I’m going to use my indoor voice. I’m going to speak clearly, rationally, and maybe even gently. We’re going to ease into this together like a warm bath. Because what I’m about to talk about deserves your full attention. It deserves respect. It deserves clarity.
But I want you to hear me now—and hear me real good: by the time we’re done, things are gonna get a little… heated.
Because this isn’t just another polite conversation. This isn’t fluff. This is real life, real truth, and real damage being done—quietly, daily, and systematically.
So stay with me. Hold on tight. Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle.
Because I promise—this ride may start slow…
…but it’s going to end with a boom.
And when that boom hits, you’ll either wake up, stand up, or step aside.
Are you ready? Let’s rock and roll.
What Is a Statin?
A statin is a class of medication used primarily to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. More specifically:
1. It inhibits an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a key role in the body’s production of cholesterol.
2. Statins reduce LDL (low-density lipoprotein)—often called “bad cholesterol.”
3. They also modestly raise HDL (high-density lipoprotein)—the “good cholesterol.”
4. They reduce triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
Popular statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pravastatin (Pravachol).
Statins have been heralded as wonder drugs by many in the medical community—particularly for patients with a history of heart attack, stroke, or diagnosed cardiovascular disease. That’s called “secondary prevention,” and in those cases, the evidence of benefit is strong.
But Here’s the Rub: Overprescription and Risk in Retirees
Now we shift gears. This is where I get fired up with you.
1. Primary prevention is the slippery slope. Many retirees are being placed on statins not because they had a heart attack or stroke, but because their cholesterol is a bit high or they have a family history. The problem? The evidence supporting statin use for primary prevention—especially in people over 75—is weak to mixed at best.
2. Side effects are real. These aren’t sugar pills. Common issues include:
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Fatigue
- Brain fog or memory issues
- Liver enzyme elevations
- Blood sugar spikes (they can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes)
Some patients don’t even realize the statin is causing their sluggishness or aches until they stop taking it.
3. Polypharmacy in retirement is out of control. Many older adults are already taking five or more medications. Throwing in a statin “just in case” often reflects protocol-based medicine, not individualized care. It’s CYA medicine—cover your anatomy—not because it’s necessarily the best course.
4. Cholesterol isn’t the only metric that matters. In fact, recent studies have shown that high LDL cholesterol in older adults is not clearly associated with increased mortality. What is strongly associated? Inflammation, insulin resistance, poor diet, stress, and lack of mobility.
What’s Driving This?
Let’s be blunt.
- Medical Guidelines Are Conservative by Nature. They’re built for averages, not individuals. The American College of Cardiology recommends statins for people with certain risk scores, but those scores don’t consider real-world nuance—like whether someone is 78 and walks five miles a day, eats a Mediterranean diet, and has perfect blood sugar.
- Pharmaceutical Marketing Is Powerful. Drug reps love statins. They’re a long-term revenue stream. Doctors are incentivized—whether consciously or not—to keep prescribing them. It’s the default setting.
- Liability Medicine. It’s “safe” to prescribe a statin. If something happens and a patient wasn’t on one, there could be litigation. That’s part of the dark reality behind overprescription.
What Should Retirees Ask Their Doctors?
Here’s how I advise people to take back control:
1. Ask: “Am I taking this for primary or secondary prevention?” If it’s primary, challenge the necessity.
2. Request a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. This test gives a more accurate picture of actual heart disease risk than cholesterol numbers alone.
3. Ask about lifestyle-based alternatives. Sometimes a change in diet and movement patterns can lower cholesterol naturally.
4. Don’t accept fear-based pressure. You’re not a statistic. You’re an individual with unique variables.
My Bottom Line
Statins have their place. But too many retirees are being treated based on outdated, generalized metrics rather than personal, data-driven analysis. The decision to take a statin should never be automatic. It should be strategic, based on real benefit—not fear.
And I’ll add this: If you’re going to treat something as nuanced as cardiovascular health with a pill, you better be just as serious about testing your inflammation markers (CRP), glucose control (A1C), and nutrient levels (like magnesium and CoQ10, which statins deplete).
The real risk isn’t always in your bloodstream. It’s in how you’re being treated like a billing code rather than a person.
You ever notice how doctors don’t practice medicine anymore? Nope. Now they practice protocol. Because heaven forbid a doctor actually thinks—oh no, can't have that! Gotta follow the flowchart. If it’s on page 37 of the insurance company’s pre-authorization manual, well then by God, that’s your treatment. Doesn’t matter if you’re a 95-year-old nun or a 42-year-old linebacker—everyone gets the same script.
Insurance companies love protocols. Why? Because they sound scientific, authoritative, and most importantly—cheap. It’s medicine by spreadsheet. Got high cholesterol? Statin. Cough? Z-Pak. A hangnail and a headache? MRI and maybe a colonoscopy—just in case. The system is built for billing, not healing.
And doctors? Poor bastards. They didn’t sign up for this. They went to school for 12 years to be told what to do by some underpaid bean counter in a cubicle in Des Moines who couldn’t pass high school biology. “Sorry, Dr. Stevens, the insurance doesn’t cover that procedure until the patient tries two cheaper ones that don’t work.” Translation? “We’re gonna waste your time, your patient’s health, and maybe a few body parts, but hey—we followed the protocol!”
It’s form over substance, baby. Just check the boxes, click the codes, and cover your ass. Modern medicine has become a sad parody of itself. And the punchline? We call it “evidence-based.” The evidence says it’s insane. But the insurance says it’s profitable.
Welcome to Idiocracy, MD. Now bend over and say “co-pay.”
Let me say this loud enough for the folks in the back who can’t hear over the crinkling of their prescription bags and the rustling of their snack wrappers: High LDL cholesterol in older adults is not clearly associated with increased mortality. You know what is? Inflammation, insulin resistance, poor diet, stress, and lack of mobility.
Well golly gee, Gomer, how many times do I have to say it? ON A DAILY BASIS. Let me repeat that… on a daily basis. No, one more time—on a daily flippin’ basis! Engage in strength training. Walk around the block. Bend over and stretch something that hasn’t moved since Clinton was in office. Lift a can of beans if you have to. Just MOVE.
Oh, and here’s a shocker—natural nutrition actually matters. Yeah. Who knew? Stop shoving chemically-altered food-like substances into your pie hole like you’re prepping for a NASA freeze-dried mission to Pluto. Maybe—just maybe—if what goes in is clean, what comes out won’t light a hazmat warning.
Balance, people! It’s not rocket science. Drink water. Chew food. Breathe deep. Sleep. Laugh. And stop treating your body like a chemistry experiment run by Pfizer and Little Debbie.
Because if everything hurts, you can’t think straight, and your farts smell like jet fuel, maybe it’s not aging—it’s the crap you’ve been consuming and the pills you’ve been sold.
I’m not mocking you if you’re overweight, underweight, or just plain unfit. Life gets weird. Hormones go sideways. Stress mounts. But that’s exactly why you have to question what’s going into your body—pharmaceuticals, processed food, and all. When your system is overloaded with toxins, preservatives, and prescriptions, it’s tough to know what’s really broken. So stop, reset, and give your body a fighting chance to speak in its own voice. Start with movement, clean food, and a little less screen time. You might be surprised how smart your body still is when you shut up and listen to it.
DIVINE DESIGN MEETS INSURANCE INSANITY
Let me close with this—because I’m tired of watching good people get chewed up and spit out by a system that runs on denial forms and dead batteries.
We’ve forgotten the miracle of divine design. That’s right. Divine. Design. Say it with me. DIVINE DESIGN.
God didn’t screw this thing up. He didn’t forget to put a statin in your bloodstream or a pharmacy in your pancreas. No, He built something strong. Beautiful. Resilient. He gave us a body that fights, heals, adapts, and speaks—if we’d just stop drowning it in sugar, stress, and side effects.
Yes, sometimes that design goes sideways. And thank God—literally—for the real doctors. The Sherlock Holmes types. The ones who listen, dig deep, and say, “Dammit to hell, we’re gonna figure this out.” Bless the real cardiologists, the real dietitians, the real healers—not the checkbox-chasing, protocol-pushing drones trapped in the Matrix of medicine.
Because form over substance is killing Americans. Slowly. Quietly. With smiling faces and laminated charts. And here’s the kicker—it ain’t always the doctors committing malpractice. Most of the time, it’s the system. The insurance zombies. The profit priests. The ones who value billing codes over beating hearts.
And the saddest part? Nobody does a damn thing about it. Because fixing it costs money. And money is the god of the modern medical church.
A RAP
They said, "Here’s your chart and here’s your pill,"
I said, “How ‘bout you listen and sit real still?”
You treat me like data in a fax machine,
But this temple I live in was built supreme.
So don’t code me, don't bill me, don’t fake or deny—
Just shut up and fix me before I die.
'Cause I’m not your product, your chart, or your claim—
I’m a human damn being with a God-given name.
BOOM. Mic dropped. System exposed. God’s design still undefeated.