Cathy Meehan: Have you ever had just the biggest goal, the wildest dream? Well, today’s guest on The Meehan Mission Podcast is Tori Stanley from Survivor Season 42 of Survivor. Yep, the reality TV show Survivor where they put a bunch of people on an island and vote them off. Sounds crazy, but it actually happens. Survivor 50 is about to kick off. Well, I wanted to introduce everyone to Tori where she’s going to share some of the things that she had to go through. I mean, the girl ate a lizard, people. She ate a lizard while she was on this island. I cannot believe she did that, but it takes grit. It takes strength. It takes this mental capacity that most of us don’t have. She’s also going to provide us some of the really great information that she’s learned from, you know, what do you do after you’ve accomplished the biggest goal of your life? How does that reflect into what you do day to day? I hope you enjoy the show. I think you’ll like her. I know I love her. So let’s get started. Cathy Meehan: Hey everyone, today’s episode of the Meehan Mission podcast, I’m bringing on a special guest that you might be thinking, what? A reality TV star? Well, we’ve got her. It is Tori Stanley from Survivor Season 42. Hey Tori, how are you? Tori Stanley: Hello, I’m good. Excited to talk all things Survivor. Cathy Meehan: I think that’s great. Well, because I heard that season 50 is actually coming out this February. So I thought, hey, I can use some of my connections, find somebody that’s been on a Survivor episode before, and just introduce you to the audience. Because, you know, there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff that happens on Survivor. And, you know, we watch, we think it’s all glamorous and fun and exciting, but so much happens behind the scenes, but I want to start with why in the world did you apply for Survivor in the first place? Tori Stanley: That’s a good question, because it is crazy. Like it is real what you see too. Like we really are living on a deserted island. Like it’s not a fake reality show. Like we’re doing all those hard things. And there was something about that that was so alluring to me. I think it’s that like ultimate sense of adventure. And I was kind of primed to be a Survivor fan because I come from a whole family of Survivor lovers. So like, I think the first season came out and I actually was able to watch it with my family. It’s now about to be 50 seasons. So I was like, okay, as long as it’s on long enough for me to have a chance to apply. And I ended up applying like over six years multiple times just because I wanted to be on it so bad. And it’s just such a good family show. And I remember every single week, like that is the show that my family was sat in front of the TV. My brothers and sisters, we weren’t fighting with each other as much as usual. And we were actually able to enjoy it. I even remember we would eat meals of like white rice and mandarin oranges because those would symbolize grubs. Cause sometimes you would eat gross things on survivor like grubs. And so really it wasn’t just like my dream, but it really was my family’s dream. In fact, a really fun fact is I’m actually not the first person in my family to audition for survivor. My mom actually auditioned for survivor. It would have now been like 20 years ago. So tell them about it, mom. Cathy Meehan: Hmm. Well, so everybody, if you haven’t guessed yet, Tori is my daughter. She is the middle of five kiddos and she will talk about being competitive in a minute. But okay, it’s a fact. I did audition for Survivor 20+ years ago. If you’re lucky, you can find the clip somewhere. I don’t know. I hope it’s been like buried deep like a treasure. No! Tori Stanley: On my YouTube channel. Cathy Meehan: Okay, this show’s about you, Tori. But yeah, Survivor was a huge part of our family. I mean, and not only that, but let’s talk, Tori, about growing up in the Meehan household and, you know, really what shaped your competitiveness? Because you are, well, all of the kids are competitive, but, you know, you are very competitive and you are very goal-oriented. How’d that happen? Tori Stanley: Right, right. So it is fun. Like I’m a therapist now, so I love psychoanalyzing myself. And like the stigma for a middle child is often that of like an overachiever. You know, you could also get like the black sheep of the family. There’s also some overachieving. And for me, it is definitely the overachieving. Now I really do not think that that came from me feeling like neglected or overlooked in childhood. Like that’s really not my story as a middle child. But I also do think I have to give credit to my parents who I just always saw like my mom genuinely was super woman. Like she was raising five kids. She is the most patient person I’ve ever met. Like seriously such an, like genuinely the best mom that I’ve ever seen. And I’m not just saying that even though I might be biased. And then like my dad, an amazing doctor, so creative, so intelligent. Like anything that I saw my parents wanting to do. They were able to make it happen. And so I think if you look at me and all my siblings, I mean, I’m really proud of all of us, honestly. There’s no deadbeat in the family. And so I think we just all had this idea growing up, they’re
Vaccine Mandates, Medical Freedom & the AAP Lawsuit with Pediatrician Dr. Paul Thomas
Cathy Meehan: Well, there’s been a lot happening in the world of medical freedom. And in particular, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been hit by a lawsuit. And it’s not a normal regular lawsuit. This is a RICO lawsuit. Now this is a very serious and it involves racketeering. and they are no longer going to be able to make these false claims that they’ve been making to parents and pediatricians alike. Today’s show has the beloved Dr. Paul Thomas, the author of The Vaccine Friendly Plan to help open up your eyes, and then the author of Vax Facts, where you can dig into the truth. So sit back, take some notes, and let’s get started. Cathy Meehan: Hello everyone and welcome to the Me Hand Mission podcast. And if you can see, I have the world’s favorite pediatrician, Dr. Paul Thomas. Thank you for joining us today. Dr. Paul Thomas: Thanks, Kathy. It’s my privilege and honor to join you today. Cathy Meehan: You bet. You know, we do go back a few years. We met up at medical freedom groups and you have just, you and Dee Dee have just become dear to my heart and for the clinic. And we love and appreciate all that you do and that you risk for the sake of our children. And you have been busy lately, very busy. Yeah. Can you? Dr. Paul Thomas: It looks that way. have to give some of that credit to Rick Jaffe. He’s the attorney from California who I always knew he was supportive, but he had never really grabbed hold of the reins and just run with it. And he’s done this twice now, right? I’m part of a lawsuit that he’s put together against the CDC that’s still moving through the system and basically that lawsuit was that all vaccines should be shared decision-making. So it’s a sort of a workaround to get to what we’ve really always said we all agree on is that there should be no vaccine mandates, right? mean, parents should be allowed to decide what goes into their child’s body, period. There should not be, well, these are recommended, but… Cathy Meehan: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Dr. Paul Thomas: You can’t go to school if you don’t get them. And then the schools don’t tell parents the truth that they actually have an exemption in all but five states. So the hope is that lawsuit will prompt RFK Jr. and the CDC HHS to do the right thing, which is just get rid of mandates. And hopefully that will still happen. So that was the purpose of that. Right. Cathy Meehan: Right, right. So, you know, recently the CDC did reduce the number of vaccinations from like over 80 to down to around 30. So do you think that that lawsuit had anything to do with the CDC turning around and, you know, reducing the number of vaccines recommended? Dr. Paul Thomas: Who knows? I mean, that was actually the hope. You know, we weren’t anticipating it’s a lawsuit we’re necessarily gonna win, but it’s a lawsuit that sort of puts it out there that, look, this is the right way to go. And so they can electively pivot, which they’ve done, whether they were gonna do it anyway, I don’t know. But I’m really happy to see we’ve nudged in that direction. So that’s a very good thing. Cathy Meehan: Yeah, I think that’s great. Well, what’s interesting is that, you know, we always say, show me the science when it comes to the vaccinations and the safe and effective and everything. And it seems like in retaliation to the lawsuit against the CDC, the AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics, just turned around and decided to sue the government. mean, it’s so everybody’s lawyering up is what it seems to be doing. It’s just, you Dr. Paul Thomas: Right. Right. Cathy Meehan: trying to fight this in the legal system, which we’ll see where that goes. But I also wanted to touch on briefly for those of the audience that don’t know you, you know, you are a doctor that has never been afraid to challenge the system. And I really want to credit you for, you know, I mean, you started with one of your books was the Vaccine Friendly Plan. And that really was, I imagine, designed to just kind of like introduce the idea of, maybe we don’t need all these vaccines. Where did you come up with that idea in the first place? Dr. Paul Thomas: Right? Well, in 2002 or three, I sort of had my eyes opened. had read the Andy Wakefield paper that wrongfully was ultimately retracted and he was demonized wrongfully. But anyway, that paper simply said there might be an issue with the MMR vaccine and autism. We need to look into this. I mean, it was just a case report. No big deal. Actually, very big deal because it planted the seed. Huh. I mean, I was… raised, if you will, my medical education was mainstream and taught and would, you know, it’s interesting. We teach what we have been taught, right? So in medicine, have to see one, see one, do one, teach one. And I mean, you would do that over and over again with even complicated surgical procedures. You see one, you do one, and then you’re teaching it. But very rarely did we have time to go back and really do a deep dive into the science and see if what we were being taught. Cathy Meehan: Mmm, true. Dr. Paul Thomas: actually was backed up by good science. in the vaccine, right, right. You accept it. You’re in training. Yeah. So I woke up in the early two thousands, like, my gosh, things aren’t as we’re being told. Vaccines are not quote safe and effective. That’s a marketing slogan. Every pharmaceutical product has risks. Vaccines. It became clear to me
Medical Freedom, Informed Consent & Vaccine Mandates with Attorney Aaron Siri
Cathy Meehan: Okay, wow. You guys are in for a treat with my special guest today on the Meehan Mission podcast. This guy is so special that I am reading from a list of his accomplishments. Okay, so see if you can guess who this is. Well, first, he’s the managing partner of Siri and Glimstad, which is a national law firm with over 100 legal professionals. that are handling civil rights, class actions, and complex litigation. He has led litigation to compel federal agencies, FDA, to release vaccine licensure documents related to the COVID-19 vaccines. He’s challenged federal and state medical mandates. He’s restored vaccine exemptions, including for the US military members. He’s deposed leading immunologist, pediatricians, and vaccinologists, and he’s the author of Vaccines, Amen. Not only that, he is regularly interviewed on national television and quoted quite often in print media. And today, he is my special guest. Please welcome Aaron Siri. Cathy Meehan: Well, hello everyone and welcome to this very special edition of the Meehan Mission podcast. And if you can’t tell, I’m a little emotional. I knew this was going to be hard. My guest, if you can see, is Aaron Siri. And you know, I’ll tell you why it’s emotional because one of my most vivid memories of Jim was when he got his first phone call from you to talk about some projects and what you guys could do to save our babies and help our children. And I just remember that call because he was so excited. And just to think of how far we’ve come and what we’re doing now. okay. Thank you for being my special guest, Aaron Siri. Thank you so, so much. You know, I just, you guys that are the movers and shakers in this fight for medical freedom, you know, you guys are built differently. And what is it, when did you realize, Aaron, that… You were built differently. I mean, from your peers. I mean, you have to have a faith or a courage or a boldness. I mean, or the fight for justice. When did you know you had that in you? Aaron Siri: I don’t know. I think I take it day by day. But I’ll tell you somebody who I never saw waver and was was an incredible fighter. That was Jim. I will tell you one of the first I’ll say the first time I met Jim. And Jim would be proud of what you’ve continued to do in his memory and legacy was I was invited to a a meeting in Manhattan, I think with a number of folks regarding this issue, regarding medical freedom. And Mary Holland, I think, arranged the meeting, and it was at NYU. And there was a bunch of important folks to influence, let’s put it that way. And I show up. And Jim’s sitting at a table. Never met him before. No idea who he is. Didn’t know he’s a doctor. And this is many years ago. This was like a long time ago. And there were some other doctors there and they started saying some stuff. And Jim just like leaned across the table and gave them a thrashing that I will never forget. I mean, he just unloaded. I remember thinking like, whoa, where did this guy come from? This is incredible. So, I’ll never forget that meeting. In fact, I would say that it’s definitely been part of the inspiration about living your convictions. And Jim talked about that, as you know, and he talked to me about that. You know, my my interaction with him often just the two of us, I don’t know what he said to others often, but, you know, he would say, like, like, you got to do what you believe, you got to live your convictions, only have one life, you know, if you’re gonna not live your convictions, and what kind of life you’re living. I mean, that’s, that’s to sum it up, essentially. So anyway, you know, it Cathy Meehan: Absolutely. Aaron Siri: I will also say that it also takes having somebody at your side who also makes sure you’re always doing the right thing too and guided in that way. And I would say that, you know, it’s, and for some, you know, certainly faith is an important part of it. Everybody’s got to be thankful to somebody. Everything didn’t come from nowhere. And then, Cathy Meehan: Yeah, it really does. Cathy Meehan: Absolutely. Aaron Siri: And then also, think, you your spouse, it’s really important. And I will tell you, my wife often is uncompromised in terms of what’s right. And she will, you know, nudge me along. So all of those things help. Cathy Meehan: Yeah, that’s all great. Yeah. Well, you know, mean, Jim and I were a team. I used to always say that he’d go in and, well, I don’t know if I can say this, but I’ll say he’d go in and throw crap everywhere. And then I’d come in with the toilet paper and clean up everything. He was the big voice out there. you know, when I’m just thankful that God has given me resources and a team and people just to carry on what we had started because, we still, we’ve come so far, but we still have so much further to go. And so for some of the people that are listening in my audience and they might not know, I mean, how in the world did you get associated into medical freedom? And I know we don’t have forever. So just give us the brief bio on how you chose this path and why you’re here. Aaron Siri: Well, not something I ever thought about when I went to Berkeley for law school. Not something I imagined when I clerked for the chief judge of the Supreme Court of Israel for a year after law school. Not