55 - The Dopamine Economy: How Social Media Hooks Us All

55 - The Dopamine Economy: How Social Media Hooks Us All

From Wellness Reality Check by Jessica Aldredge / Ashley Ihemelu

January 20, 2026 · 1h 5m · Episode 55

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of social media and influencer culture on mental and physical health.

This week on Wellness Reality Check, we're getting real about something that touches every single one of us: social media, influencer culture, and the constant pressure to buy, compare, perform and consume. In a world where everyone is selling something: a product, a lifestyle, a version of themselves; it's becoming harder and harder to tell what's real, what's marketing, and what's actually good for our mental and physical health. The "wellness world" especially has become saturated with perfectly curated lives, overnight solutions, and influencers who are more invested in aesthetics than actual wellbeing. This week, it's just Ash and Jess taking a breath, stepping back and talking about how social media is reshaping our nervous system, the hidden stress of constant comparison, why we feel pressured to buy our way to "better", and how influencer culture impacts our sense of self, our worth, and even our health choices. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, overstimulated, or just over it...this episode is your reset. We are going to be pulling back the curtain and giving the social media the reality check it needs. Visit us on Instagram @wellnessrealitycheck Go to wildwholistic.com…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jessica Aldredge, Ashley Ihemelu

Topics covered

  • social media
  • influencer culture
  • mental health
  • consumerism
  • wellness

Keywords

  • dopamine economy
  • social media
  • influencers
  • wellness
  • comparison
  • mental health
  • consumer pressure

Sponsors

Wild Wholistic

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