In the first half, author T. Martin Bennett delved into the life of Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor. He explained that his research uncovered a remarkable, largely untold story he believes would make an "unbelievable feature film." Fuchida's journey, Martin noted, is "a story of hope" marked by a dramatic transformation from an ultra-nationalist military leader to someone who ultimately regretted his wartime actions and developed a profound love for America.
He revealed that Fuchida was "handpicked by Admiral Yamamoto" and famously gave the signal to begin the attack by firing a flare gun and sending the message "Tora! Tora! Tora!" meaning "Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!" Bennett's account, a novelization of actual events, weaves together three narratives: Fuchida's, Jake Deshazer's, a U.S. pilot captured and imprisoned by the Japanese, and the Covell family, American missionaries in Japan who later moved to the Philippines. A pivotal figure was Peggy Covell, a Red Cross nurse who showed kindness to Japanese prisoners during WWII, inspiring a cultural and personal reckoning for Fuchida. He was "confounded" by her love for her enemies, challenging his lifelong beliefs about loyalty and honor.
He recounted Fuchida's near-miss with the Hiroshima atomic bomb, and how even though he walked around in radioactive rubble for three days, he never showed any ill effects. Bennett also discussed the complexities behind the Pearl Harbor attack and its broader context in World War II. He highlighted the perilous nature of the Japanese pilots' mission and explored how Japan's strategy was a preemptive strike to disable the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which could enable Japan to expand into Southeast Asia unchallenged.
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In the latter half, Dr. Tony Youn, known as America's holistic plastic surgeon, spoke about various facets of plastic surgery. He identified Botox as the most popular cosmetic procedure overall, with breast augmentation leading among women and liposuction among men. On innovations, he highlighted technological advances like laser treatments and fat removal, aiming to make surgery eventually obsolete. Addressing the trend of weight-loss injectables such as GLP-1 agonists, Youn noted their widespread use and the subsequent demand for plastic surgery to address "Ozempic face" and excess skin after weight loss.
He cautioned against operating on young patients with body dysmorphia, explaining that some seek surgery for perceived defects that do not exist, which can lead to poor outcomes. Critical of "surgical tourism" to countries like Mexico and Turkey, he warned about untrained surgeons and fake before-and-after photos that mislead patients. The so-called "ponytail lift," a combination of facial rejuvenation procedures favored by young Hollywood celebrities, can cost upwards of $200,000, with some paying exorbitant fees for techniques available at lower cost elsewhere.
For general maintenance, Youn recommended a simple skincare routine — cleansing, an antioxidant serum, sunscreen in the morning, and retinol at night — along with collagen supplements to counteract age-related collagen loss. He highlighted creatine's emerging benefits for muscle and brain health, particularly in menopausal women. He also introduced the concept of "autojuvenation," featured in his book, which refers to the body's innate regenerative ability that can be unlocked through diet, supplements, skincare, non-invasive treatments like red light therapy, and intermittent fasting.
News segment guests: Jeff Nelken, Dr. Chris Gilbert