For decades, HDL — the so-called “good cholesterol” — has been celebrated as the body’s knight in shining armor. Patients brag about their high HDL levels like it’s a shield against heart disease. But is HDL truly the hero we once thought?

In this episode of LipidCurious, we’ll separate myth from science and uncover the real story of HDL:

1. Why is HDL called the “good cholesterol” — and is that nickname really fair?
2. What exactly is reverse cholesterol transport, and why does it matter?
3. Why did drugs that raise HDL fail to improve cardiovascular outcomes?

We’ll also explore clinical twists: how HDL can become dysfunctional in high-triglyceride states, and why extremely high HDL might not always be protective.

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

Picture an atherosclerotic artery as a crime scene. Cholesterol piles up on the walls — thick deposits blocking what should be a free-flowing highway of blood. For decades, cholesterol was blamed as the culprit. But here’s the twist: cholesterol is just the passenger. The real suspects are the lipoproteins — the vehicles smuggling cholesterol into places it doesn’t belong.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we’re stepping into the role of detective. We’ll assemble a lipoprotein from scratch, meet the different lipoproteins, and follow their pathways through the body.

Here’s what we’ll cover together:

1. Structure and types of Lipoproteins

2. Exogenous and endogenous pathways of lipid metabolism

3. How cholesterol-lowering medications leverage lipid biology

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

Cholesterol is one of the most talked-about molecules in medicine — and one of the most misunderstood. It’s essential for life, but when carried in the wrong lipoproteins, it becomes the driving force behind atherosclerosis.

In this episode of LipidCurious, we step away from the headlines and hype to explore what cholesterol really means for clinical practice and board prep.

Here’s what we’ll unpack together:

1. The Cholesterol paradox — why it’s both essential and dangerous.

2. How cholesterol is carried and measured in blood.

3. LDL-C in clinical practice — Targets, Percent Reduction, and How Low is Too Low

Bonus: The Visual Guide for this episode is waiting for you — click here. For the full collection of visuals across episodes, visit the Podcast page.

Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit here

Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.