Clean & Green Living

It’s likely that every person listening to this episode knows someone who has experienced challenges getting pregnant. Maybe you experienced them yourself. This is often the first time that people begin to consider the effects of toxic chemicals on their health, despite the fact that they can affect us at every age and stage of life, from puberty through perimenopause, and the issue is not just im...

In this episode, I explore Crunchi, a beauty brand dedicated to creating high-performance, toxin-free cosmetics and skincare products, with a focus on transparency, ethical sourcing, and sustainability. I am joined by Melanie Petschke, cofounder of Crunchi, to discuss their impressive safety standards, Certified Plastic Neutral status, and eco-friendly packaging.  You will also discover why safer...

Take a moment with me to close your eyes and visualize your neighbor’s yard, a local park, or a school field. Now, imagine someone walking through that beautiful green space with a backpack sprayer, misting chemicals across the grass. My guess is this image easily comes to mind because it is something you have seen before. The question is,  have you ever stopped to wonder what these chemicals are...

We spend approximately 30% of our life sleeping on a mattress, yet have you ever thought about what your mattress is made of and how that might also be impacting your health. When Tim Masters' infant daughter was suffering from severe allergies and eczema he started to think about how the chemicals in her mattress might be playing a role. This marked the beginning of My Green Mattress: a company c...

In today's episode, I am diving deep into a phenomenon sweeping the lives of our teens and tweens—especially girls—the growing obsession with high-end skincare, makeup, and fragrance. If you look at your social media feed or walk into a sephora or Ulta, it is very clear that skincare and makeup are no longer just for women. Our girls have been drawn into complex skincare and makeup routines by gla...

I talk a lot here on the podcast about the toxic chemicals we bring into our homes, like personal care items and cleaning supplies. But have you ever stopped to consider what your home itself is made of? Today, we're diving into that topic with Andy Pace from The Green Design Center. Andy's about to open your eyes to the shocking amount of chemicals lurking right under our roofs. We kick off with...

Have you ever glanced at your shampoo bottle or face cream and wondered what all those complex ingredient names actually mean for your health and the environment? Today, I am joined by Krupa Koestline, a dedicated green chemist who specializes in helping companies create safer, more sustainable personal care products. In this conversation, we're tackling some of the key questions you likely have a...

Our kitchens are the hub of nourishment in our homes, and yet they are also a source of harmful chemicals and practices that affect our health and the health of the planet. From the utensils we cook with to the containers we store our food in, every choice has an impact. In today’s episode, I am sharing five simple swaps you can make to transform your kitchen into a safer and more sustainable spac...

Are you on a journey to make your life cleaner and greener, but sometimes feel overwhelmed by where to start or how to keep going? Today’s guest, Alexx Stuart, is here to help. Alexx is the founder of Low Tox Life, a platform that offers a wealth of resources, including books, a blog, online courses, and a podcast. Alexx’s mission is to help us rethink our daily choices, from the food we consume t...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the endless cycle of buying and storing, only to realize that much of what you purchase is made from things that are harmful to your health and the health of the planet? If you're looking for a way to break free from the clutter and make your life safer and more sustainable through easy and everyday actions, then this episode is for you. Today, I’m  joined by Stephan...

Did you know that 85% of textiles today are made from plastic fibers like spandex, nylon, elastane, especially underwear, and a whopping 11M pounds of under apparel and underwear go into landfills and incinerators every day in the USA. Why is that? Because underwear is the only apparel category we can’t donate or resell. Today’s guest saw that problem and decided to do something about it. Stacy Gr...

When you see Fragrance on a label, it’s not just one thing, it’s up to potentially 300 ingredients made into a formulation that is protected as a trade secret, so companies don’t have to tell you what is in it. This is referred to as the Fragrance Loophole.  What I didn’t know until recently is that not only are these ingredients being hidden from consumers, but they are also being hidden from bra...

What if I told you your deodorant stinks? And I don’t mean the way it smells. I’m talking about the ingredients in it, and what those ingredients may be doing to your health. Pretty much everyone wears deodorant or antiperspirant, but have you ever paused to wonder what exactly you are putting on your body every time you apply these products?  In this episode I will break down the difference betwe...

Have you ever stopped to think about what's in your laundry detergent and how those ingredients could be impacting your health and that of the planet, or have you ever thought about how changing your wash from warm to cold might make your clothes last longer and be better for the environment? These are just a couple of the questions we'll explore in today’s episode as we uncover simple yet powerfu...

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, yet 90% of cases are not linked solely to genetics.  Let me say that again, 90% of cases are not linked solely to genetics, so if it’s not our genes, what is it? It’s our environment and lifestyle choice. Many of these environmental and lifestyle exposures are avoidable and for the past 30 years, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners has been working...

Today, I am republishing an episode from 2022 when the podcast was called This or Something Better. I am re-sharing this conversation with Branch Basics co-founder Allison Evans because it is one of my most listened-to episodes and because Allison’s story is truly transformational.  It is easy to question whether the changes we make to reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals actually make an impact...

If you're the parent of a tween or teen, you're likely familiar with the popularity of Stanley cups. Recently, these cups became a hot topic when it was revealed they include a lead seal, igniting widespread debates and worries about the possibility of lead leaching into beverages. Following this news, a wave of videos went viral, showing consumers using household lead tests on their Stanley Cups...

My goal is not to be a fearmonger, but today’s topic is not to be taken lightly. The use of glyphosate on our crops and in our environment is a public health emergency. Glyphosate, the active chemical in the weedkiller product Roundup, is the most widely used pesticide on the planet. Glyphosate is having a devastating impact on our health. It is linked to many serious health conditions, including...

It’s quite likely that your doctor has never mentioned Endocrine Disrupting chemicals, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t impacting your health. Each and every one of us, albeit often invisibly: is impacted by endocrine-disrupting chemicals every single day. They are in our food, our personal care and cleaning products, and in so many other aspects of our daily life.  For many years the research fo...

There is nothing more precious than our health, and when you think of something that is essential to health, it’s immunity, our bodies' resistance to and resilience in recovering from disease. While you may feel like you have immunity of steel now, over time, our immunity can be compromised by the little things we are exposed to on a daily basis. Environmental toxins can be those things and they c...

Have you ever found yourself standing amidst the sunscreen options, gazing at shelves brimming with choices, and pondering, "Which sunscreen is the right choice for me? What sets apart physical zinc sunscreen from chemical sunscreen, and are the chemicals truly detrimental to my health? Do they pose a threat to coral reefs?" While it's crucial to wear sunscreen for skin cancer prevention, the chal...

Living a Clean & Green life can seem expensive and out of reach, but I am here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be. There are ways you can reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals without spending a cent. In today's episode I am sharing not one, but eight cost-free ways you can reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals.    Resources Mentioned Meli Wraps use promo code cleanandgreen15 for 15% off y...

There are thousands of chemicals used in personal care products. These chemicals are in lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, skincare and makeup, and the majority have never been tested for human health and safety. No matter your gender or age, you are being exposed to these chemicals and they could be having a negative impact on your health.  In the US there is no requirement for pre-market testing of...

Have you ever opened a box or bag with a new piece of clothing and wondered, what the heck is that horrible smell, or have you seen the recent news headlines about BPA in sports bras and other athletic clothing, or PFAS found in period underwear? It’s hard to believe it’s possible, but there are toxic chemicals in our clothing, and it’s difficult to know what to do about it.  In this episode, I am...

After a reflective journey spanning over 100 episodes and three years of "This or Something Better," I am thrilled to unveil the podcast's exciting rebrand as "Clean and Green Living" The podcast that helps you reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals through easy and affordable lifestyle changes.  Set to launch next Tuesday, the show’s mission is to empower listeners with easy and affordable ways...