Practical Nontoxic Living
Sophia Ruan Gushée, a nontoxic lifestyle expert and author of "A to Z of D-Toxing," hosts conversations with experts and wellness advocates about reducing toxic exposures. The podcast offers practical tips for optimizing well-being, healing, and everyday life. It draws on her work as founder of Ruan Living and her experience as a wife and mother of three. Episodes explore simple, actionable ways to create a healthier home and lifestyle.
Episodes
E135. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 7): 6 Free and Budget-Friendly Ways to Reduce Forever Chemicals (PFAS) Exposure at Home
Part 7 of the Forever Chemicals Detox series Reducing PFAS exposure doesn't always require buying something new. In this episode, I share six practical, no-cost changes that can reduce everyday exposure to PFAS—"forever chemicals" that persist in the environment and have been found in the blood of people around the world. We look at some of the less obvious ways our daily habits can influence expo
E134. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 6): When Forever Chemicals Hit Home: Senator Judy Seeberger's Personal Fight for Clean Water
Part 6 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series What happens when PFAS contamination becomes personal—and then political? Minnesota State Senator Judy Seeberger joined the legislature in 2023 and helped pass one of the country's most sweeping restrictions on PFAS, the persistent chemicals found in products ranging from cookware to dental floss. In this conversation, we talk about what happened wh
E133. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 5): "Household Repeat Offenders™: Everyday Products That Hide Forever Chemicals (PFAS)"
Part 5 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series Modern life surrounds us with synthetic chemicals—in the things we cook with, clean with, wear, furnish our homes with, and use every day. Rather than target harmful chemicals one by one, we can avoid up to categories of them by recognizing certain patterns. This can help us make wiser choices without becoming overwhelmed. In this episode, I explain
E132. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 4): When Less Isn't Safe: How Low Doses of Toxins Affect Your Health
Part 4 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series We've all heard the principle that "the dose makes the poison." But when it comes to some environmental exposures, the relationship between dose and biological effect can be more complicated than that phrase suggests. In this episode, I explore what researchers have learned about low-dose exposures to chemicals such as PFAS and endocrine-disrupting
E131. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 3): Your Genes Aren't Your Destiny: How Your Home Shapes Your Health
Part 3 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series Your DNA is not your destiny. Genes can influence our susceptibility to disease, but they're only part of the story. Our biology is also shaped over time by age, behaviors, environments, and the exposures we encounter throughout life. In this episode, I explore that relationship through the lens of PFAS, or "forever chemicals"—including what researc
E130. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 2): From Red Flags to Resilience: How to Protect Your Health
Part 2 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series Rates of many chronic health conditions have changed dramatically over recent decades. Genetics alone can't explain changes that happen that quickly—which is one reason researchers continue to study the role of our environments, behaviors, and everyday exposures. In this episode, I introduce environmental exposures—including certain chemicals, heavy
E129: An Update on Raindrops: A Pause, Not a Goodbye
A brief update on the Practical Nontoxic Living™ podcast. In this episode, I share why I decided to pause the Thursday Raindrops episodes and create more space for deeper, more useful conversations and series—including Forever Chemicals Detox 101. Sometimes making something better means doing less of it. This was one of those moments. For now, Raindrops is paused while the podcast continues to evo
E128. Forever Chemicals Detox (Part 1): Your Body Is Brilliant—Why Detoxing Forever Chemicals (PFAS) Matters for Your Health
Part 1 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are now so widespread that avoiding them entirely isn't realistic. But that doesn't mean our choices don't matter. In this first episode of Forever Chemicals Detox 101, I introduce why PFAS deserve our attention, how we encounter them in everyday life, and why I believe the most useful response is not fear or
E127. Detoxing for Fertility & Pregnancy: What You Can Do Today
Trying to conceive—or simply thinking ahead to a future pregnancy? In this Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at why the preconception and pregnancy periods can be especially important times to think about environmental exposures, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs. We explore what researchers have learned about chemicals that can interfere with hormone signaling
E126. Why Detoxing Your Home Is as Important as Diet & Exercise—Simple Tips to Start | Most Downloaded #1
Most Downloaded Countdown — #1 We think a lot about diet, exercise, sleep, and stress when we think about health. But what about the environment we return to every day? In this most-downloaded episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share why I believe our homes deserve a place in the conversation about health—and how everyday products, materials, and technologies can contribute to the exposures
E125. Design a Nontoxic Home—Clean Materials & Wellness Tips with Alison Davin | Most Downloaded #2
Most Downloaded Countdown — #2 What does it mean to design a home with both beauty and environmental health in mind? In this conversation, interior designer Alison Davin shares how her experience with multiple chemical sensitivities changed the way she thinks about the materials, finishes, furnishings, and products we bring into our homes. We talk about how she approaches paints, flooring, furnitu
E124. Your Kitchen Detox Checklist: Where Healing Starts Every Day
Your kitchen is one of the easiest places to start reducing everyday chemical exposures. In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I focus on one simple place to begin: food storage. We look at why certain plastics and food-packaging materials can contribute to chemical exposures, especially when they're heated or come into prolonged contact with food—and why glass is often my
E123. 5G & EMFs: Practical Ways to Reduce Everyday Exposure with Telecom Insider Daniel DeBaun | Most Downloaded #3
Most Downloaded Countdown — #3 How should we think about 5G, wireless devices, and everyday EMF exposure when the science is still evolving? In this conversation, I speak with Daniel DeBaun, telecommunications engineer and founder of DefenderShield, about how wireless technologies have changed, what 5G adds to the picture, and practical ways to reduce unnecessary radiofrequency exposure at home. W
E122. What's in Your Cookware? Safer Alternatives to Conventional Nonstick
Cookware is one of those kitchen choices we use again and again—which makes it worth thinking about what our food comes into contact with. In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at conventional nonstick cookware, including concerns around fluorinated coatings, and share two alternatives I often prefer for everyday cooking. In this episode: Why I pay attention to coo
E121. Drinking Water, EMFs & Your Bedroom: Practical Ways to Reduce Everyday Exposures | Most Downloaded #4
Most Downloaded Countdown — #4 We spend hours every night in the same room—and drink water every day. That makes both worth a closer look when thinking about our everyday environment. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share how I think about drinking water and the bedroom: what may be worth testing or filtering, how bottled and tap water compare, and practical ways to reduce unneces
E120. A 5-Day Digital Detox: Simple Ways to Reduce EMFs & Rethink Your Tech Habits
What happens when you become more intentional about how—and when—you use your devices? In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I introduce a 5-Day Digital Detox Challenge designed to help you reduce unnecessary wireless exposure and rethink some of the technology habits that follow us from morning until bedtime. The goal isn't to give up your phone, Wi-Fi, or modern life. It'
E119. Infertility, Endocrine Disruptors & Everyday Products with Sara Jensen | Most Downloaded #5
Most Downloaded Countdown — #5 What happens when a personal fertility journey changes the way you look at the products you use every day? In this conversation, I speak with Sara Jensen, cofounder of Hugh & Grace, about her experience with unexplained infertility, the questions it led her to ask about endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and how those questions eventually shaped the company she built. W
118. Forever Chemicals at Home: One Simple Way to Reduce PFAS Exposure
PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are used in a wide range of products—but that doesn't mean you need to overhaul your entire home to start reducing exposure. In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I explain what PFAS are, why their persistence matters, and one practical place to begin reducing everyday exposure. In this episode: What PFAS are and why they're called "forever c
E117. Clean Indoor Air on a Budget—Dust, Fragrance, Ventilation & Filtration | Most Downloaded #6
Most Downloaded Countdown — #6 We spend most of our time indoors, so the quality of the air in our homes deserves more attention than it usually gets. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share practical, budget-conscious ways to improve indoor air quality by reducing common sources of pollutants and particles—from dust and fragranced products to inadequate ventilation. You don't need
E116. Nontoxic Cleaning Made Simple: The First Swap I Recommend
If you want to reduce everyday chemical exposures at home but don't know where to start, cleaning products are one of the simplest places to begin. In this short episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share the first cleaning swap I often recommend: a simple DIY multipurpose spray that can replace several conventional products without making your routine more complicated. We also look at why cle
E115. 5G, Wi-Fi & Cell Phones: What Does the Research Say About EMF Exposure? with Dr. Devra Davis | Most Downloaded #7
Most Downloaded Countdown — #7 How should we think about everyday exposure to radiofrequency radiation from cell phones, Wi-Fi, 5G, and other wireless technologies? In this conversation, I speak with Dr. Devra Davis, epidemiologist and founder of Environmental Health Trust, about her interpretation of the research on wireless radiation, where she believes current safety standards fall short, and p
E114. Your Ultimate Home Detox Starter Pack: 5 Simple Guides to Reduce Toxins from Cleaning Products, Cookware, EMFs, Kitchen & Forever Chemicals
If you want to reduce everyday exposures at home but aren't sure where to begin, start with the places and products you interact with most often. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I walk through five practical areas that can make a useful starting point: Cleaning products Cookware EMFs and technology habits PFAS, or "forever chemicals" Everyday choices in the kitchen For e
E113. Microplastics at Home: 3 Simple Ways to Reduce Everyday Exposure | Most Downloaded #8
Most Downloaded Countdown — #8 Microplastics and nanoplastics have become part of our everyday environment—and researchers are increasingly finding them inside the human body as well. What we don't yet fully understand is what those exposures mean for our health over a lifetime. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at common ways plastics enter our daily routines and share three s
E112. How Should We Think About Sunscreen? A Harvard Scientist's Personal Approach
After recording my conversation with Dr. Carmen Messerlian, an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we kept talking—and our conversation turned to sunscreen. What surprised me was not a new rule about whether sunscreen is "good" or "bad," but how thoughtfully she approaches sun exposure in her own life. In this short episode of Practical N
E111. Eye Health Beyond Glasses: Vision Therapy, Nutrition & Integrative Care with Dr. Marc Grossman | Most Downloaded #9
Most Downloaded Countdown — #9 What can we influence about eye health beyond prescriptions, glasses, and procedures? In this conversation, I speak with optometrist and author Dr. Marc Grossman about his integrative approach to vision care—one that considers nutrition, visual habits, stress, the brain-body connection, and complementary practices alongside conventional eye care. Dr. Grossman draws f
E110. What's Inside a Bean Bag? How I Choose Safer Fabrics & Fillings
When my daughter asked for a bean bag chair, I did what I often do: paused before clicking "buy." Bean bags can contain synthetic fabrics, foam fillings, stain-resistant treatments, and other materials I prefer to look at more closely—especially in something that will live in a bedroom or family space and get used often. In this Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I walk through how I
E109. The Story Behind A to Z of D-Toxing—and the Origins of Practical Nontoxic Living™ | Most Downloaded #10
Most Downloaded Countdown — #10 Before Practical Nontoxic Living™ became a framework, it began as a question I couldn't stop asking: What in our everyday environment might be affecting our health—and what can we realistically do about it? In this foundational episode, I share the story behind A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures—the book I spent eight years resear
E108. Bottled vs. Tap Water: One Simple Way to Reduce Microplastic Exposure
Could something as ordinary as the water you choose make a meaningful difference in your microplastic exposure? One widely cited analysis estimated that people who get all of their recommended drinking water from bottled water could ingest substantially more microplastic particles from water each year than people who drink tap water. In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I
E107. From 88% to 0%: DailyMail Editor's Proven Detox Results After Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox
What happens to measurable chemical exposures when you change the products and habits you interact with every day? DailyMail Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri wanted to find out. Before beginning Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox, Alexa used Million Marker urine testing to measure several chemicals commonly encountered through consumer products and everyday environments. Her initial results found
E106. How to Choose Safer Fabrics: Fibers & Certifications for Bedding, Clothing, Rugs & More
What should you look for when choosing fabrics for clothing, bedding, towels, rugs, curtains, or upholstered furniture? In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I distill the deeper textile discussion from Episode 105 into three practical shopping principles for choosing lower-exposure fabrics and materials. We look at both fiber choice and certifications, because what a texti
E105. Toxic Textiles: How to Choose Safer Fabrics for a Healthier Home
What makes one textile a better choice than another? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Patty Grossman, cofounder of Two Sisters Ecotextiles, about something most of us rarely consider when buying clothing, bedding, curtains, rugs, or furniture: a fabric is more than the fiber named on its label. Dyes, finishes, stain- and water-resistant treatments, flame retardants, proc
E104. Collagen Marshmallows: Clean Beauty from the Inside Out
Sometimes Practical Nontoxic Living™ is about what I remove. Sometimes it's about what I add. I first heard about collagen marshmallows from Shiva Rose during a masterclass she taught for my 40-Day Home Detox, and the idea stayed with me. I eventually started making my own versions with gelatin, rose powder, butterfly pea flower, and other ingredients I enjoy. In this short Raindrop episode, I sha
E103. What Does It Mean to Feel at Home? Stress, Connection & the Environments Within Us
What does it actually mean to feel at home? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, my niece and colleague Elizabeth McCormick joins me to reflect on a masterclass Heather Lilleston taught during my 40-Day Home Detox. Heather's perspective pushed us beyond the physical home—what we buy, breathe, eat from, or bring inside—and toward something harder to measure: how our routines, relationship
E102. Redefining Home—Inner Peace, Yoga & Psychology with Heather Lilleston
What does "home" really mean—and can we learn to feel at home wherever we are? In this excerpt from a 40-Day Home Detox masterclass, I speak with Heather Lilleston, a longtime yoga teacher with a doctorate in clinical psychology, about the idea of home as something larger than the physical spaces we live in. Our conversation moves from the environment around us to the environment within us: our ha
E100. Can Diet Influence Fertility? Reflecting on Dr. Robert Kiltz's High-Fat, High-Protein Approach | Part 1
Can diet meaningfully influence fertility—and how should we think about dietary advice when experts disagree? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, my niece and colleague Elizabeth McCormick joins me to reflect on a masterclass Dr. Robert Kiltz taught during Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™. Dr. Kiltz, a reproductive endocrinologist and founder of CN
E101. What Roles Do Inflammation, Diet & Lifestyle Play in Fertility and IVF? with Dr. Robert Kiltz | Part 2
Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Robert Kiltz What role might inflammation, nutrition, stress, and environmental exposures play in fertility—and how much can we actually influence? In this excerpt from a 40-Day Home Detox masterclass, I continue my conversation with Dr. Robert Kiltz, reproductive endocrinologist and founder of CNY Fertility, about his integrative approach to fertility and IVF. D
E98. What Might Endocrine Disruptors Mean for Fertility? Reflections on Dr. Paul Magarelli | Part 1
How much might everyday chemical exposures matter for fertility—and how should we think about that question without oversimplifying it? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, my niece and colleague Elizabeth McCormick joins me to reflect on a masterclass conversation I had with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli, which you'll hear directly in Part 2. Our discussion centers on
E99. What Do Endocrine Disruptors Mean for Fertility & Fecundity? with Dr. Paul Magarelli | Part 2
Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Paul Magarelli How much might everyday chemical exposures matter for fertility—and where does the science feel strongest? In this excerpt from a 40-Day Home Detox™ masterclass, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™, I speak with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli about endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, and why reproductive-health researchers a
E97. I Hated Sleep—Until I Heard This Hidden Brain Episode
For most of my life, sleep felt like a waste of time—something to minimize rather than protect. Even after learning how important sleep is for memory, learning, emotional regulation, and the brain's overnight waste-clearance processes, part of me still resisted giving more of my life to it. Then I heard an episode of Hidden Brain that changed the way I thought about sleep. In this short and person
E96. Radiant Skin & Holistic Beauty Rituals with Shiva Rose | Practical Nontoxic Living™ Podcast
In this illuminating episode of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ Podcast, host Sophia Ruan Gushée and her niece Elizabeth McCormick dive deep into what they learned from holistic beauty pioneer Shiva Rose in the Ruan Living 40-Day Home Detox masterclass. Elizabeth shares her personal journey of transforming persistent skin issues with simple yet powerful natural changes. Together, Sophia and Elizabe
E95. High-Heat Cooking, HCAs & PAHs: Simple Ways to Reduce Exposure
How we cook food can change more than its flavor and texture. Under certain conditions, high temperatures can also create compounds we may want to limit. In this short episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at what happens when foods—especially meats—are cooked at very high temperatures, and some simple ways to reduce the formation of compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyc
E94. How Interior Design Shapes How We Feel at Home with Deborah DiMare
How much can the design of a room influence how we feel inside it? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, my niece and colleague Elizabeth McCormick joins me to reflect on a masterclass taught by interior designer Deborah DiMare during Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™. Then you'll hear directly from Deborah about her approach to creating spaces that c
E93. Wireless Earbuds & EMFs: Is Wired Worth It? | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked
Wireless earbuds sit inside our ears for hours at a time. Should that proximity make us think differently about using them? In this short Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I consider one of my own everyday technology choices: wireless versus wired earphones. Bluetooth earbuds use radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to communicate with our devices. That doesn't
E92. Clean Eating for Busy Lives: Practical Nutrition with Cancer Survivor Elissa Goodman
How do you eat well when life is busy—and which shortcuts are actually worth taking? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I revisit two conversations with Elissa Goodman, nutritionist, author, speaker, and cancer survivor, about making nourishing food choices more realistic in everyday life. The episode begins with an excerpt from Elissa's masterclass inside the 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase
E91. Raw or Steamed Vegetables? What Cooking Changes About Nutrients | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked
Are raw vegetables always healthier—or can cooking actually make some nutrients easier for our bodies to use? In this short Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I explore what happens to vegetables when we cook them—and why "raw versus cooked" isn't as simple as one being better than the other. Some nutrients are sensitive to heat or cooking water. Others can become
E90. Introducing Raindrops of Practical Nontoxic Living™ | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked
This episode introduced Raindrops of Practical Nontoxic Living™—a series of short, more personal episodes I began sharing between longer conversations. The idea was simple: not every useful observation needs an hour-long discussion. Sometimes it's a product I'm reconsidering, something I've changed in my own home, a study that made me pause, a conversation I can't stop thinking about, or a small d
E89. What 18 Years of Simplifying Nontoxic Living Taught Me — Interviewed by DailyMail's Health Editor (Part 4)
In this episode, the interviewer becomes the interviewee. After completing Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™, DailyMail U.S. Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri turned her journalist's questions on me. We talk about what nearly two decades of studying environmental exposures have changed in the way I think, shop, parent, and make decisions—and what I've learne
E88. Beyond Your Home Detox: Expert Guidance for What Comes Next (Part 3)
What comes after you've identified the exposures you want to reduce? In Part 3 of my series with DailyMail U.S. Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri, we talk about her favorite part of Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox™—Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™: the expert masterclasses. The 40-Day experience doesn't end with removing or replacing products. Its final Design phase asks a different set of
E87. How a Health Editor and Her Husband Tackled Ruan's 40-Day Home Detox (Part 2)
What happens when you decide to change your home—but the other person living in it hasn't made the same decision? In Part 2 of my series with DailyMail U.S. Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri, Alexa shares what it was actually like to move through Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™, alongside her husband. Alexa had already been avoiding fragrance because it ca
E86. What Surprised a Health Editor During Her 40-Day Home Detox | Part 1
What happens when a health journalist who already writes about environmental exposures takes a closer look at her own home? In Part 1 of this four-part series, I speak with DailyMail U.S. Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri about what surprised her while completing Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™. Alexa was already familiar with many of the health concerns a
E85. Greenwashing Alert: Why "Recycled" Doesn't Automatically Mean Safer Plastic
Recycled plastic is often presented as the more sustainable choice. But from a chemical-safety perspective, the picture can be more complicated. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at research showing that recycled plastics can contain a complex mixture of chemicals from their original products, additives, contamination during use, and the recycling process itself. That raises an
E84. Household Repeat Offenders™: The Simplest Way to Detox Your Home
Trying to reduce toxic exposures at home can become overwhelming very quickly. There are too many chemicals, products, materials, and conflicting recommendations to research them all individually. That's why I developed the Household Repeat Offenders™ framework. First introduced in my book A to Z of D-Toxing, Household Repeat Offenders™ are recurring categories, materials, treatments, and produc
E83. Plastic Straws, Microplastics & Safer Alternatives: What to Know
Plastic straws are a small part of our overall exposure picture—but they're also one of the easiest things to reconsider. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at what plastic straws are made from, what researchers know about chemicals and microplastics associated with plastics, and the environmental consequences of using something for a few minutes that can persist far longer. We
E82. What's Your Blender Made Of? Microplastics, Food Contact & Safer Materials
Your blender probably isn't the biggest source of plastic exposure in your kitchen—but it is something you may use frequently, sometimes with hot, acidic, or abrasive foods. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at blender materials and what may be worth considering when choosing or replacing one. Rather than assuming every plastic blender jar is unsafe, I focus on a more practical
E81. Safer Food Containers for Kids: Stainless Steel, Glass, Silicone & More
Choosing food containers for kids sounds simple—until you start comparing plastic, silicone, stainless steel, glass, coatings, lids, seals, durability, and whether your child will actually use any of it. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I walk through the materials and practical tradeoffs I consider when choosing lunchboxes, snack containers, and reusable food storage for children. R
E80. Can Cell Phone Radiation Affect the Blood-Brain Barrier? What the Research Suggests
Can radiofrequency radiation from cell phones affect the blood-brain barrier—and what might that mean for brain health? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I revisit a question raised by epidemiologist Dr. Devra Davis, founder of Environmental Health Trust: whether wireless radiation may influence the blood-brain barrier, the protective system that helps regulate what moves from the blo
E79. Microplastics in Human Brains Rose About 50% in 8 Years—What We Know & How to Reduce Exposure
A 2025 study found microplastics and nanoplastics in human brain tissue—and reported that concentrations in samples collected in 2024 were about 50% higher than in samples from 2016. That caught my attention. Researchers also found substantially higher concentrations in brain samples from people who had been diagnosed with dementia. But this is an important distinction: the study did not show that
E78. Salt as a Mindfulness Prompt: Finding Intention in Everyday Choices
What if something as ordinary as reaching for the salt could remind you to pay attention? In this short episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share how I began thinking about salt as more than an ingredient—as a small mindfulness cue embedded in something I already do every day. Salt also became a useful example of how seemingly simple products can raise larger questions about what we consume,
E77. Heavy Metals & Microplastics in Salt: What 120 Hours of Research Changed About What I Buy
I spent roughly 120 hours researching something most of us rarely think twice about: salt. What began as a simple question—Which salt should I buy?—turned into a much bigger investigation of independent laboratory testing for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and microplastics. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share what I found, which results actually changed what I buy for my own
E76. Salt Isn't Just Salt: What We Know About Microplastic Contamination
Microplastics have been detected in salt from around the world—including sea salt, rock salt, and other varieties. But how much does that matter, and can the salt we choose meaningfully reduce our exposure? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at what researchers have found about microplastics in salt, how they may get there, and why contamination levels can vary substantially amo
E75. How to Design a Healthier Home with Alison Davin of Jute Interior Design
What does it actually mean to design a healthier home? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with interior designer Alison Davin, founder of Jute Interior Design, about how her experience with multiple chemical sensitivities changed the way she thinks about the materials, finishes, furnishings, and products we bring into our homes. Alison's work explores the intersection of beauty
E74. How to Reduce Microplastic Exposure: 3 Easy Household Swaps
Microplastics and nanoplastics are now part of our everyday environment—but some sources are easier to reduce than others. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I focus on three common household products that can contribute to plastic exposure and the simple alternatives I prefer when they're practical. In this episode: Three everyday products I reconsidered because of plastic contact o
E73. Obesogens: Could Environmental Chemicals Influence Weight & Metabolism?
Why have obesity and metabolic disorders increased so dramatically—and could environmental chemicals be one piece of the puzzle? In this short excerpt from a Ruan Living Detox Workshop, I introduce the obesogen hypothesis: the idea that certain environmental chemicals may interfere with biological processes involved in metabolism, fat storage, appetite, and energy regulation. Obesity is complex. D
E72. Holistic Health, Nontoxic Living & Everyday Choices with Heidi Kuimjian
What does "holistic health" look like when you're trying to make everyday choices that are actually sustainable? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Elizabeth McCormick speaks with Heidi Kuimjian of Holistic with Heidi and the Lifelong podcast about their paths into holistic health, nontoxic living, and the habits they've found most useful along the way. Rather than chasing perfection,
E71. Our Top 3 Practical Nontoxic Living Tips with Samantha Radford, PhD | Evidence-Based Mommy
If you want to reduce everyday exposures but don't know where to start, which changes are actually worth prioritizing? In this conversation, I speak with Samantha Radford, PhD chemist, public health expert, mother of four, and founder of Evidence-Based Mommy. Samantha and I came to nontoxic living through different paths, but we share an interest in making environmental-health information practica
E70. Cell Phone Radiation, EMF Standards & What Regulation Can Tell Us with Daniel DeBaun
How should we think about wireless radiation when the technology evolves faster than many of the standards used to regulate it? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Daniel DeBaun, a former telecommunications engineer and founder of DefenderShield, about radiofrequency exposure from cell phones and other wireless devices, how safety limits are established, and why some scient
E69. What Do Forever Chemicals Mean for Breast Cancer Risk? with Nancy Buermeyer
What do we know about PFAS, other environmental chemicals, and breast cancer risk—and how does that science translate into public policy? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Nancy Buermeyer of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, an organization focused on reducing environmental exposures that may contribute to breast cancer. Nancy brings a policy perspective to a complicated
E68. Is Cellphone Radiation Harmful?
Is cellphone radiation harmful—and how should we think about the evidence when experts disagree? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Dr. David O. Carpenter, a public health physician and environmental-health researcher whose work has examined electromagnetic fields, PCBs, and other environmental exposures. We discuss what is known about radiofrequency radiation from cell ph
E67. The 40-Day Home Detox
What would it look like to systematically reduce everyday exposures throughout your home—without trying to change everything at once? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I introduce the 40-Day Home Detox™, Phase One of the Ultimate Home Detox™: the structured process I created to help people identify recurring sources of chemical, heavy-metal, EMF, and other environmental exposures and
E66. Which Chemicals Are Showing Up in My Body? Biomonitoring with Jenna Hua of Million Marker
What can a urine test actually tell you about the chemicals you're exposed to every day? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Jenna Hua, PhD, MPH, founder of Million Marker, about biomonitoring, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, fertility, and the limits—and possibilities—of measuring environmental exposures in the body. Jenna shares how her background in public health, her ex
E65. Neurotoxicants at Home: What Environmental Exposures May Mean for Brain Health
What role might everyday environmental exposures play in brain and mental health? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share an excerpt from a live workshop I hosted for Mental Health Awareness Month on neurotoxicants—substances that can interfere with the structure or function of the nervous system. Some neurotoxic exposures can come from sources we encounter in homes, schools, consum
E64. Living in Alignment: Human Design, Parenting & Self-Understanding with Erin Claire Jones
What if understanding yourself—and the people you love—began with becoming more curious about how differently each of us moves through the world? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Erin Claire Jones, a Human Design guide and educator, about the framework she uses to help people think about personality, energy, decision-making, parenting, and relationships. Human Design com
E63. Technology, Isolation & EMFs: How Are Our Habits Shaping Us?
How are our technology habits shaping the way we feel, connect, and move through everyday life? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share an excerpt from a Use the News conversation about mental health, technology, social isolation, and EMF exposure. The discussion moves between two different questions that are often collapsed together: what our devices may be doing to us behaviorally
E62. Circadian Rhythm, Light & Melatonin: What Helps Us Sleep?
What actually sets your body clock—and where does melatonin fit into the picture? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Elizabeth and I explore circadian rhythm, light exposure, melatonin, cortisol, and some of the everyday habits that can influence when we feel awake and when we feel ready to sleep. We also look at the growing popularity of melatonin supplements and why "natural" doesn't
E61. Foundations of a Healthier Home with Andrew Pace
What actually makes a home healthier—and how do you begin without replacing everything you own? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I'm sharing a conversation with Andrew Pace, founder of Green Design Center, healthy-home consultant, and host of the Nontoxic Environments Podcast. Andrew originally interviewed me for his podcast about the foundations of Practical Nontoxic Living™: how I
E60. BPA, BPS & Thermal Receipts: How to Reduce Everyday Exposure
Can handling a paper receipt meaningfully add to your exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at thermal receipt paper, which has historically used chemicals such as BPA—and, in many cases, substitutes such as BPS—as color developers in the paper coating. Because these chemicals can transfer from the paper to our skin, receipts offer a useful
E59. Mold at Home: Health Concerns, Moisture & Prevention with Architect Cheryl Ciecko
What makes a home vulnerable to mold—and when does mold become a health concern? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with architect Cheryl Ciecko, founder of Avoiding Mold, about how building design, moisture, ventilation, dust, and maintenance can influence mold growth inside our homes. Cheryl also shares the personal health experiences that led her to focus professionally on m
E58. Endocrine Disruptors & Male Reproductive Health: What Does the Research Suggest?
Could endocrine-disrupting chemicals influence male reproductive development and fertility? In this short episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Elizabeth and I look at research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and male reproductive health—including sperm quality, reproductive development, and the hormonal signals that help shape these processes. The topic can generate dramatic headlines,
E57. PFAS, Mercury & Fish: How to Choose Seafood More Wisely
Fish can be an excellent source of protein and important nutrients—but it can also be a source of environmental contaminants. So how do you decide which fish to eat? In this short Practical Nontoxic Living™ episode, Elizabeth and I look at research that made headlines about PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in freshwater fish and what those findings might mean for the way we choose seafood. Rather tha
E56. Cell Phones, Wi-Fi & 5G: Are Wireless Safety Standards Keeping Up? with Theodora Scarato
Are today's wireless safety standards keeping pace with the way we actually use cell phones, Wi-Fi, and newer technologies such as 5G? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I speak with Theodora Scarato, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Trust (EHT), an advocacy organization that argues for stronger protections around radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. We explore the scie
Recommended
SLOW ENGLISH PODCAST (A1-A2) With Subtitles | Daily Videos | English With Us Podcast
Learn English A2 with Daily News | Simple English Listening Practice
پلی لیست | PlayList
Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter
Bad Friends
Learn 50 English Phrases While You Sleep | Everyday English Phrases & Vocabulary
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Dateline NBC
Back to the 80s Radio
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Bible Tea
این نقطه
