Toxin Free (ish)

If you or someone you love is navigating chronic health issues, this episode is for you. Unfortunately, that probably means it's for all of you. Chronic health issues like autoimmune disorders, infertility, and more are normalized in this country. But that doesn't mean they're normal. Today, I'm joined by Kelly Ryerson, the Glyphosate Girl, to learn all about Glyphosate. From simple questions like "what IS Glyphosate?" to more complicated ones like "what is the solution when big corporate com...

The first thing I tell people to do when they embark of their holistic living journey is to ditch fragrances. It’s the first but also often the hardest step to embrace. Fragrances are deeply rooted in our memories of what grandma was cooking as a child and fresh sheets on a Sunday morning. That’s why going natural and fragrance-free can be such a difficult step to take. But today, i’m going to tell you WHY you should try to eliminate fragrances from your household. Companies have been ma...

Register for Shelley's FREE Wellness Kitchen Masterclass: A step-by-step guide to create a healthy kitchen, happening October 7-9. What happens when a life-altering event forces you to re-evaluate everything you thought you knew about nutrition and cooking? Shelley Loving faced this exact challenge when her husband suffered a heart attack at just 41 years old. Before this, Shelley's relationship with food mirrored that of your average American in many ways. They weren't just eating junk...

Early puberty is not just a psychological bump in the road. Yes, it can be a really isolating event for a child, but it also poses real health risks. We're seeing an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular issues amongst kids that go through puberty early. So what's causing this in the first place and what can we do to protect our children? Well, scientists think they've found one chemical constituent that actually triggers a girl's body into going into early puberty. The ingredient in qu...

Should you avoid titanium dioxide in your cosmetics? It's not a simple yes or no answer. I've actually been consulting directly with formulators of cosmetic brands lately and titanium dioxide is a hot topic. Today, I'll be explaining the science behind the risks of titanium dioxide, differentiates between nano and non-nano forms, and outline when and where the ingredient may be safe or unsafe. With this ingredient, it really depends on the product you're using. So don't jump to throw away you...

I want to create a culture where it's cool to read labels. Imagine if everybody read labels and really cared about the ingredients that were in our products. Companies would have to start making cleaner products. They would see people gravitating to and purchasing the cleaner products. And we all know our money is the ultimate needle mover. So I created this episode as a bit of an introduction to label reading. If you're new here, this is also a great episode to serve as a roadmap to the rest...

Have you noticed that 12 step skincare routines are being marketed to younger and younger age groups? Nine year olds are flocking to Sephora to get their fix. How necessary/unnecessary is this? Is there some merit to adopting a skincare routine so young? This is just one of the many questions we're answering today with holistic esthetician, Jamie Burkhalter. We're going beyond the consumerism of skincare and reframing it from a routine to a ritual. So whether you've got a teenager at home dea...

When you hear the words "Grapefruit Seed Extract," what do you picture? For me, images of a nice, juicy grapefruit being hand picked comes to mind. And that's exactly what companies that are labeling their products as "all-natural" want you to see. Unfortunately, grapefruit seed extract is not so innocent. Companies misleadingly market products as "all-natural" while sneaking in hormone-disrupting chemicals like benzalconium chloride, triclosan, and methylparabens. So today, we're digging int...

Last week, the EPA made a surprising announcement, a first in forty years, in which they issued an immediate emergency ban on a pesticide called DCPA. Now, I know what you're thinking - wow, I'm glad they're actually pulling a harmful product off the market! It is cause to celebrate, but let's dig a little bit deeper. The unfortunate truth is that this pesticide has been used in the US since the 1950s and we've known about it's harmful effects since the 90s. So why did it take so long to ban ...

I've been releasing episodes of Toxin Free-ish each week, for 81 weeks! And in that time, I've provided tons of information and tools for you to work your way towards a more toxin-free life. Today, we're doing something a little bit different. It's time to really get to know the host beyond the insights! My friend Suzy, who I met and immediately felt the chemistry of deep friendship with in Ecuador, is sitting to interview me. Her podcast, Unbranded with Suzy Dean, dives into a wide range of ...

I asked Kori Estrada and Dr. Derek, the Founders of Risewell toothpaste, to come on and talk about toothpaste ingredients, their rigorous and transparent testing and how they were handling the (now dismissed) PFAS lawsuit. This episode is packed with expert insights and real-life experiences to help you make more informed choices for your oral and overall health. Don't miss it!In this episode, we're chatting about: Risewell's origin storyHow Risewell created a toxin-free tooth...

Imagine transforming your household into a haven of health without causing friction among your loved ones. I just wrapped up another cohort of Toxin Free in 3 and the question "how can I get my family on board?" came up a lot. It's easy to implement changes if you have young ones and you're the only one calling the shots. That used to be my experience! But in the past few years, everything has changed now that I have a husband and teenagers. Teenagers tend to have a lot to say about the produ...

The fact that over 16 different heavy metals were found in tampons being sold in multiple countries, including the U. S. recently rocked news outlets. So today, we're breaking down a groundbreaking study from Environment International, revealing that both conventional and organic tampons sold in the US and Europe contain 16 different heavy metals. From lead-laden non-organic brands to arsenic hiding in organic ones, we trace these contaminants back to intentional additives and environmental p...

93 percent of Americans according to the CDC, have detectable levels of BPA in their blood. But what does a “BPA Free” label even mean? Everytime you go shopping for plastic products like Tupperware, water bottles, etc. you’re faced with this message. I think a lot of people see “BPA free” as the start and end to the toxin risk in these products. But are BPA free products actually safer? Or are we just swapping one problem for another? BPA belongs to a larger class of chemicals call...

What's the big deal with regenerative agriculture? I often say that it is regenerative agriculture that will save the world, and it's true. Regenerative farming can do absolute wonders for our planet, our food supply, the air we breath and so much more. Today I'm joined by Brett Packer, executive director of Young Living Essential Oils Farms. We're unpacking the potential of regenerative agriculture and how it differs from industrial and organic farming practices. He she...