Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode

In today’s episode, Ken is deep-diving into the intersection of environmentalism and animal welfare. First, Ken speaks with veterinarian Crystal Heath who has been bravely raising the alarm of how her profession enables and endorses animal abuse from veterinarian school to factory farms. In the second part of today’s episode, Ken is joined by longtime friend and founder of Animal Wellness Action, president of the Center for a Humane Economy, and former CEO of the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle. Wayne,  like Crystal, is advocating for animal welfare across many industries. Crystal and Wayne are great examples of individual integrity and commitment to a cause. They are also great reminders that, as consumers, what we choose to invest in with our dollars makes a difference.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:Our Honor (Crystal's organization)Animal Wellness ActionCenter for a Humane EconomyCrystal Heath wants veterinary medicine to live up to its values (Vox)New Documents Reveal How the Animal Agriculture Industry Surveils and Punishes Critics (The Intercept)What are gestation crates and are they legal in the U.S.? (Farm Forward)Supreme Court Upholds California’s Prop 12, Protects Rights of States to Set Humane Treatment, Food Safety Rules (Animal Wellness Action)The Bond Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them The Humane Economy How Innovators and Enlightened Consumers Are Transforming the Lives of AnimalsKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

 Hi, it's Ken Cook from EWG. I'm here in Washington and we're here to get ready to fight.  It already feels like Trump's Washington. That feeling reminds us of what we went through during his first term where we saw a massive assault on environmental protection. We haven't always been happy with everything that happened over the last four years with the Biden administration.And we have called that out. We will always do that. We don't favor Democrats or Republicans. We favor environmental protection. We favor human health. We favor your health. But I have to tell you, this is a very, very different situation that we're facing now. Different than we've ever faced before.We have every reason to think that appointees are, for the most part, here to tear down the ability of the government to do its job, starting with EPA. One of the first announcements was an EPA administrator, and he was instructed to deregulate Environmental protections. So we know that's coming. And for whatever reason, you may have voted for President Trump. That's your right. We're not here to suggest who you should vote for. But we will say that when you vote for someone, you get the whole package. There is no such thing as a single-issue politician. And so what we're seeing now is the consequences of someone coming to power, using that power in ways that we predicted would happen, to deregulate the economy, weaken environmental law, and weaken food safety.Now, there's plenty that we can do as individuals. EWG has tens of millions of people who come to us every year, seeking information so you can protect your family yourself. You can protect your health yourself, and that's vitally important to do. But there are some things we can't do for ourselves.There are some things we can't shop or behave our way out of. Those belong in the realm of policy and politics. So we're here for the fight. We wake up every morning ready to fight. We have for 31 years. We're fighting against companies that don't do the right thing when they make their products. We're fighting against polluters. We're fighting against them and won't ever stop. But now we're facing a really serious challenge that's structural across the entire government at the federal level. We'll be pushing for advances at the state level to make up for what doesn't happen here in Washington.We'll be giving you advice so you can protect yourself without having to depend on the government, as ever. That's who we are.But I'll tell you, I'm very concerned about what we're seeing already with this Trump administration. We're not counting on any help with our agenda from the inside.If we're proven wrong, that would be great. But in the short term, we're preparing for the worst. I'm asking you for your feedback, for your help, as we do that. Because my feeling is, we're in for a long battle. On this show, we're going to be your eyes and ears on Trump's Washington. And we're going to be reporting from the front lines of the fight.So, please keep tuning in.Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup

We are interrupting our regular programming for Election Day to encourage you to vote. Make your voice heard at the ballot box and if you have any last-minute questions on how or where to vote head on over to VOTE.ORG.Who knows what episode I’ll be having after the results are in but tune in to find out. Happy Election Day.

If you’ve followed the world of pesticides for as long as Ken has, it can be hard to be shocked. But journalist Carey Gillam (The New Lede) has dug up a story that has rattled even Ken. In her newest piece “Defend or be damned’ - How a US company uses government funds to suppress pesticide opposition around the world” (The New Lede, The Guardian, Le Monde) Carey exposes a government-funded (pssst, that means funded by your taxes) covert social network that has worldwide tentacles. Carey and Ken discuss secret dossiers on pesticide critics, including sensitive personal information of journalists and public health advocates, agendas to attack pesticide and GMO opponents, and private social networks used by pesticide industry lobbyists and government officials worldwide to conceal their collusion from public scrutiny. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:“Defend or be damned” – How a US company uses government funds to suppress pesticide opposition around the world (The New Lede)Carey Gillam’s website (CareyGillamNewsNow@gmail.com)Revealed: the US government-funded ‘private social network’ attacking pesticide critics (The Guardian)Poison PR Media Library (The New Lede)The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice (Carey Gillam)Lighthouse ReportsVFluenceAcademicsReviewAcademics Review Form 990 2014Bonus EventusThe Monsanto Papers: Poisoning the Scientific Well (National Library of Medicine)Farm to Fork strategy (EU Commission) Secret files suggest chemical giant feared weedkiller’s link to Parkinson’s disease (The Guardian)OIG Reports (Sept 2024)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Endocrine disruptors are chemical compounds that interfere with our hormones. For years, it was seen as a fringe theory. Today, it’s embraced by The Endocrine Society and Endocrinologists worldwide. A new study by our guest today shows that chemical exposure to young brains impacts their hormones, which can result in early-onset puberty.  In his latest episode, Ken is joined by Dr. Natalie Shaw, a pediatric endocrinologist and clinical investigator, to discuss her team’s findings and the dangers of early-onset puberty. EWG has been following this topic for quite some time. Join us as we jump back to 2010 when Ken interviews Dr. Louise Greenspan and Dr. Juliana Deardorf about their book, The New Puberty. We’ll explore the unfolding of this story over the past decade, which leaves us to wonder - what are we doing to our girls, and why?Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Identification of Environmental Compounds That May Trigger Early Female Puberty by Activating Human GnRHR and KISS1R (Endocrinology, Volume 165, Issue 10, October 2024, bqae103) The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Hormones And Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals What You Need To Know (The Endocrine Society) Exposure and potential risks of thirteen endocrine- disrupting chemicals in pharmaceuticals and personal care products for breastfed infants in China (Environment International) Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Threats To Human Health Pesticides, Plastics, Forever Chemicals, And Beyond (The Endocrine Society) The New Puberty, How to Navigate Early Development in Today's Girls (Louise Greenspan, M.D., Julianna Deardorff, Ph.D.)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup

People come to environmental work in many different ways. Our first guest today, Kari Rhinehart, came to environmentalism after experiencing a parent’s worst nightmare, the loss of a child, due to a rare brain tumor. When other children in her community of Franklin, IN started getting sick, parents in the community began asking questions and putting data on a map. What they found shocked them. Contaminated drinking water.Our second guest, Kari’s attorney, Chris Nidel, is a former chemical engineer turned environmental lawyer. People like Kari and her daughter, Emma Grace, are why Chris does the work that he does (and we wish there were more people like him!) Both Kari and Chris are incredible examples of how one person can have an enormous impact and affect change.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: If It Was Your ChildNidel & Nace, P.L.L.C.Emma Grace Creative Arts ScholarshipTCE Interactive Map (EWG) EWG Tap Water DatabaseTap water of more than 19 million Americans polluted by ‘Civil Action’ carcinogen that EPA is poised to ban (EWG) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Health Consultation (EPA) What is Vapor Intrusion? (EPA) Search for Superfund Sites Where You Live (EPA) Health Consultation and Analysis, Franklin, IN (ATSDR, HHS, CDC)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup 

First things first, the onus shouldn’t be on us to find food options without chemicals and additives. If it’s in a store, it should be safe to eat. Right? Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by noted nutritionist Courtney Swan. Courtney is on a mission to empower people to understand what healthy eating is and how to go about it within our broken food system. She is also on a mission to empower people to make their own food and dispel the myth that healthy doesn’t taste good. Ken and Courtney encourage people to trust their gut (in multiple ways) when making food choices and they believe everyone deserves access to healthy and affordable food. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: RealfoodologyCourtney’s InstagramEWG's Food ScoresEWG, “Monsanto Emails: ‘Let’s Beat the S*** Out of’ Moms Worried About Cancer-Linked Weedkiller”Seed Oil ScoutUnited States District Court, Northern District of California, Case 3:16-md-02741-VC Document 246-2New York Times, "A Florida Professor Works with the Biotech Industry"New York Times, "Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show"Oxfam, "These 10 companies make a lot of the food we buy. Here’s how we made them better."Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup 

Astounding advancements have been made in clean energy technology, and rooftop and community solar initiatives have been shown to drive consumer costs down and help us reach carbon emission reduction goals. So why are solar projects hitting a regulatory brick wall? (hint: it’s about corporate greed and value for monopoly utility shareholders). In today’s episode, we’re joined by the co-director of the Institute for Local Self Reliance, John Farrell, to unravel the ins and outs of why rooftop and community solar and other clean energy advancements are being stoned-walled, and what we can do about it. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:Institute for Local Self-RelianceLocal Energy Rules PodcastEWG's guide to solar energyFight to save rooftop solar in California heads to state Supreme Court (EWG)Upcharge: Hidden Costs of Electric Utility Monopoly Power (ILSR)What the Monopoly Utility Model Really Costs Us (ILSR)The Free Delivery Farce in SolarKIUC 2023 Annual ReportPG&E to pay $55 million for two massive California wildfires (PBS News)Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise" (The Heritage Foundation, made public by NPR)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

A cleaner, greener, and brighter future is within our reach. But often the path we have to walk is littered with discriminatory hurdles put up by the male-dominated financial sector. From subsidies that suppress organic farming to everyday biases preventing the funding of new startups and innovative ideas from women and people of color, Wall Street often stands in the way of progress. No one can speak to this better than our guest today, Robyn O’Brien. Robyn is a bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur and investor. After earning her MBA from Rice University, Robyn went on to work as an equity analyst on Wall Street where she covered the food and tech industry. After falling down the convoluted rabbit hole of contaminated food and personal care products, she now sits at the intersection of environmentalism, equality and finance.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Robyn's websiteTed X - "Real Food Evangelism"Ted X - “Patriotism on a Plate”Seeding Innovation: The Path to Profit and Purpose in the 21st CenturyThe Unhealthy Truth: One Mother's Shocking Investigation into the Dangers of America's Food Supply-- and What Every Family Can Do to Protect ItselfDetox Development -The World BankLifting financial performance by investing in women, Long-term capitalism at BlackRock (Nov. 2023)Reforming federal cosmetics law: What is the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act? (EWG)EWG welcomes cosmetics law reforms in end-of-year spending billMontCalmHR5050Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Many people find EWG while seeking information  about pesticides. In today’s episode Ken is joined by our in-house Senior Toxicologist, Dr. Alexis Temkin whose research establishes safety guidelines to help people (including children) minimize their exposure to toxic crop chemicals. In the second half of today’s episode, Ken is joined by renowned pediatrician Dr. Phillip Landrigan whose decades of research and advocacy  is integral for understanding the effects of pesticides on children. We see this episode as Pesticides 101, to help give our audience agency over how they (and their families) are exposed to pesticides. Our government isn’t doing enough to protect us from harmful chemical  residues often found in healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Until that changes, we’re grateful for the work of Dr. Temkin and Dr. Landrigan which has helped  people, including parents and caregivers, better understand how they can take steps to reduce their exposure to pesticides while eating plenty of healthy fruits and veggies. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:EWG’s 2024 Dirty Dozen EWG’s 2024 Clean 15EWG’s Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals: The top 12 to avoidEWG’s YouTubeAlexis Temkin, Ph.D. EPA warns farmworkers about risks of Dacthal60 Minutes (CBS; 2/26/1989)National Research Council (US) Committee on Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and ChildrenFood Quality Protection Act SigningSafe Drinking Water Act SigningChildren and Environmental Toxins: What Everyone Needs to Know®Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise (contributed by NPR)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Oil companies have known about their enormous and “catastrophic” contribution to climate change since the 1950s. They lied about it for as long as they could and are now lying about their newfound commitment to solving the problem they created. Who will hold them accountable?  Melissa “Missy” Sims, a lawyer from Illinois, is currently representing 52 Puerto Rican municipalities against Big Oil for hurricane-related damages caused by the climate crisis. Richard Wiles is the president of the Center for Climate Integrity, which helps state and local elected leaders, including state attorneys generals hold Big Oil companies accountable for climate damages through litigation. In today’s episode, Ken, Missy and Richard talk about how they got to the front lines of protecting our planet by working together on a mission to sue Big Oil and what their hope for the future looks like.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:She’s on a Mission From: God Suing Big Oil Companies for DamagesCenter for Climate Integrity The Global Climate Science Communications Action Plan “The Victory Memo”T.I.N.A. Group Sceanarios 1998Exxon’s 1978 report “The Greenhouse Effect”Exxon’s 1979 report “Controlling Atmospheric CO2”Exxon's 2019 Corporate Strategic Planning memorandumShell’s 2020 “Let’s Talk Energy Transition” emails and deckHouse Oversight documents reveal Big Oil’s “greenwashing” climate claims to hide investments in fossil fuelsKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Local businesses and local farms are being lost in this era of monopolizing America’s food system, but the food industry didn’t become corrupt overnight. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Austin Frerick, expert on agricultural and antitrust policy. His debut book, “Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry” profiles a series of powerful magnates to illustrate the concentration of power in the food system. Policy language used effectively by the food industry is designed to wall people off, Austin’s book let’s people in.During the 2020 presidential campaign, Austin advised candidates Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg on agricultural policy before ultimately serving as Co-Chair of the Biden campaign’s Agriculture Antitrust Policy Committee. He now works at Yale University, collaborating on research related to competition policy and antitrust enforcement.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:“Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry”EWG's Meat And Dairy Product Labels DecoderEWG’s quick tips for reducing your diet's climate footprintEWG’s Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate & HealthKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

In a recent New Yorker article, investigative reporter Sharon Lerner writes about former 3M scientist Kris Hansen who conducted a study in the 90s where she found PFAs forever chemicals in the general public's blood. 3M executives told her PFAS chemicals weren't harmful, she believed them. Decades later she would learn the truth about the serious risks of  PFAS exposure, and why she decided to speak out against the company she worked at for decades.  We are aware of the harmful effects of PFAs because of Professor Philippe Grandjean, a Danish Toxicologist. In the first part of today’s episode, Ken is joined by Sharon Lerner and talks about the human experience 3m scientist Kris Hansen has gone through since finding out her employer lied to her and the general public for decades. Sharon Lerner refers to Professor Philippe Grandjean’s groundbreaking work in her article and in the second part of today’s episode, Ken is joined by Professor Grandjean to speak about one of his own articles that explores the vested interest in keeping facts about chemical exposure a secret from the public.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:How 3M Discovered, Then Concealed, the Dangers of Forever Chemicals (The New Yorker)Sharon Lerner's work at ProPublicaIs Pollution Value-Maximizing? The Dupont Case (National Bureau Of Economic Research)Paracelsus Revisited: The Dose Concept in a Complex WorldEWG’s PFAS resourcesLead: Celebrate its ban, but don't cross it off your list (EWG)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Climate change, air pollution, jobs! These are buzzwords that have helped the nuclear energy industry stay in power. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by author and environmental engineering professor, Mark Jacobson and former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and author, Greg Jaczko to discuss why we continue to waste so much money in nuclear power, what the new clean energy alternatives are and why we are still using both.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:Mark Jacobson’s Book, No Miracles NeededGreg Jaczko’s Book, Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear RegulatorEWG’s Green Energy GuideThe Economic Viability of Nuclear Power Is Only Going DownWhy Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Help Counter the Climate CrisisKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Almost 100% of Americans have toxic substances in our bodies and it negatively affects our health in numerous ways. In today’s episode,  Ken is joined by functional medicine pioneer and EWG board member, Dr. Mark Hyman. Functional medicine is a complete approach to your whole interconnected biological system. Dr. Hyman came to functional medicine after being diagnosed with mercury poisoning and after using functional medicine to detoxify his body, he became determined to help as many people as possible.  Ken and Dr. Hyman discuss why we are exposed to so many toxic substances, where we are exposed to them, and what you can do to help yourself reduce exposure and increase detoxification. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:functionhealth.com/markMark's Instagram Dr. Mark Hyman’s Website EWG's Dirty Dozen: Cancer Prevention Edition EWG's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup 

In today’s episode, Ken is joined by two guests, Diane Cotter and Peter Arlein who both came into environmentalism as a way to protect their families, friends, and communities from toxic ‘forever chemicals.’ Worcester, MA native Diane, wife of firefighter Paul Cotter, plunged into the PFAS rabbit hole when she questioned whether Paul’s exposure to the chemicals contributed to his prostate cancer. Her relentless pursuit for the truth revealed numerous sick firefighters and afflicted firefighter communities nationwide. Former ski-shop wax tech Peter took matters into his own hands by creating the Colorado-based company MountainFlo dedicated to making ski wax and bicycle lubricants without PFAS and petroleum, to protect the Rocky Mountains he cherishes and the outdoor sports community he belongs to. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:Peter’s Company: Mountain Flow & Mountain Flow Take Back ProgramDiane’s Documentary Burned: Protecting the ProtectorsWhat are PFAS chemicals?Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

When buying or eating food, we don’t often think about the chemicals used in weed killers…but we should. In today’s episode, we go in-depth with Carey Gillam, Managing Editor of The New Lede, EWG’s journalism initiative, and the widely used commercial toxic pesticides found in weed killers. Ken and Carey discuss their link to Parkinson's, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and childhood leukemia, and her ground-breaking investigations that have exposed corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta that have concealed health risks from the public for decades. Earlier this month, EWG partnered with California assembly member Laura Friedman to introduce Assembly Bill 1963 which would end the use of Paraquat on fields and orchards in California by January 2026. The passing of this bill could enormously impact the lives and the health of California’s farmworkers, their families, and agricultural communities across the state.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:Secret “Paraquat Papers” reveal corporate tactics to protect weed killer linked to parkinson’s diseaseToxic Weed Killer Found in Breast Milk, Infant FormulaThe New Lede’s ‘Paraquat Papers’ scoop recognized by agriculture journalistsCary Gillam’s WebsiteKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup 

For decades the American people have been exposed to toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS with no protection from our government. Until now… In today’s monumental episode, Ken travels to Fayetteville, North Carolina to join the EPA as they announce the first-ever legal limit on PFAS in the drinking water of tens of millions of Americans. In anticipation of this announcement, Ken spoke with environmental attorney, Rob Bilott, who has worked tirelessly for 25 years to make this legal limit on PFAS possible. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare Dark Waters featuring Mark Ruffalo The Devil We KnowEPA Says ‘Forever Chemicals’ Must Be Removed From Tap WaterRuffalo: PFAS drinking water standard delivers justice to poisoned communitiesKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup 

Each individual’s journey with food is unique. At 19, Moby confronted the contradiction of loving animals but consuming a bacon double cheeseburger, leading him to embrace veganism. Andrew Zimmern believes that our food systems are entirely broken, questioning the industrial food production practices in the U.S. and the dying art of small-business fishmongering. How can we change the public’s moral framework in regards to meat and food consumption without finger-wagging…? Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Andrew Zimmern's Website Andrew Zimmern's Spilled Milk (Substack) Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture Moby’s Website Moby Pod EWG’s quick tips for reducing your diet's climate footprint EWG: Animal feeding operations harm the environment, climate, and public health EWG: The health benefits of a whole foods, plant-forward diet EWG: Climate Change & Agriculture EWG: Meat & Dairy Alternatives Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup

Erin Brockovich is synonymous with environmentalism, which is why she is our inaugural guest. She is an environmental activist, author, and subject of the self-entitled Oscar-winning Steven Soderberg film, Erin Brockovich.Erin joins Ken on today’s episode to discuss the state of U.S. drinking water and why many toxic contaminants are allowed to flow from taps at levels that are legal, but nowhere near safe.Despite the promise of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act, woefully inadequate regulation persists 50 years later. Join Erin and Ken as they have an episode.Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:What are PFAs ChemicalsSafe Drinking Water ActErin Brockovich’s websiteEWG’s national tap water databaseKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup