Non-Toxic

 Today I’m bringing you a conversation I had with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is one of the two Democratic candidates facing off in a primary tomorrow to represent Michigan in the US Senate.I talked to Dr. El-Sayed about a year ago for Carbon Bros., the miniseries I did with Amy Westervelt and Drilled. In this conversation, we get into why Democrats lost young men in 2024, and whether it’s possible to win them back. El-Sayed's argument is basically that corporations are engineering addiction—through things like sports betting, porn, social media—and that Democrats have failed to offer a compelling alternative vision of masculinity.El-Sayed wants Democrats to be authentic, bold, and willing to actually throw out the interests that are sucking dry the party, and that means getting rid of the super PACs corrupting our politics. At the same time, I think he’s shown a way to be authentic and even vulnerable while running a campaign that has become one of the most contested this cycle. Long before Hasan Piker was stumping for El-Sayed or Fox News was freaking out about him, I was talking with him about getting everybody healthcare and getting dirty money out of politics.I’d like to think, we’re early to these things here at Non-Toxic, but we tend to be right. Give it a listen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Throughout “Just Keep Swimming,” we’ve been connecting the dots between the chemicals hiding in everyday life and what they're doing to male fertility, and it’s not looking good. To catch you up:* Phthalates are everywhere — your cologne, your aftershave, even milk — silently interfering with the hormonal signals your body uses to produce healthy sperm.* Flame retardants migrate out of your furniture and into household dust — which sounds whatever until you realize how much dust you’re actually ingesting and inhaling on the daily, and how persistent these compounds are once they’re in your body.* And don’t forget the classics, like pesticides. The fertility impacts of these chemicals on farmworkers are well-documented. The question of what lower-level, long-term exposure does to the general population is still being studied, but the early data isn’t reassuring.All this is to say that your sperm is taking hits from every angle (chemically speaking). Plus as a population, we’re all more stressed and less active than ever. Not a good environment for your boys!This week, I wanted to zoom out to understand why endocrine-disrupting chemicals are in our products in the first place and why the regulatory system has failed to keep us safe from them. Especially as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are actively rolling back the few laws and regulations we do have to keep us safe from toxic chemicals.So I called Lindsay Dahl. She’s spent twenty years as an environmental health advocate and lobbyist, and she’s helped pass over thirty state and federal laws restricting toxic chemicals. Now she’s the chief impact officer at Ritual. Lindsay also wrote Cleaning House, and she runs a newsletter I absolutely recommend for anyone interested in this topic called The Environmental Health Brief. Lindsay is the person who knows why the system is broken, who broke it, and why men should be a hell of a lot angrier about it than they are.If you’re just finding “Just Keep Swimming”, in episode one, we heard from Felix Van Der Heijden, the steroid-injecting Dutch looksmaxxser who decided to let his fertility drop for the sake of his gains. Then we went deep with the researchers at Silent Spring Institute on what endocrine-disrupting chemicals actually are and what they do to sperm, and why a lot of that damage happens before you’re even born. If you haven’t listened yet, go back and start there. And last time, we went into your closet with Ben Mead of OEKOTEX, and we broke down the azo dyes and the heavy metals hiding in your clothes, and how they make their way into your body through your skin.Non-Toxic is a reader-supported publication. This podcast might just save your life. Consider throwing me a few dollars. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

You’ve likely heard the horror stories about lead-contaminated fast fashion, airline uniforms triggering severe allergic reactions or sweaters bursting into flames. Maybe you’re worried about the chemicals lurking in your own closet or have stared at a tag while shopping, wondering what’s actually safe and reliable versus what’s just marketing BS.In this special episode of Non-Toxic’s summer miniseries, “Just Keep Swimming,” we’re diving into the world of textiles—specifically, the hidden chemicals in our clothes and how they make their way into our bodies. We’ll be talking azo dyes, PFAS coatings, heavy metals, and all of the other things that may be good for manufacturers but are definitely bad for us.I’m joined by Ben Mead of Hohenstein Americas and OEKO-TEX, who breaks down how this stuff can absorb through the skin and potentially impact health and fertility. Ben demystifies what “non-toxic” actually means when it comes to fabrics, challenges the myth that natural fibers are always safe, and explains exactly how OEKO-TEX tests and certifies the complicated supply chain behind a simple T-shirt. If you’ve ever spotted a “STANDARD 100” tag in the wild and wondered what it actually guarantees, this episode is for you.This is the first sponsored interview I’ve ever done for Non-Toxic, and I’m only sharing it because I truly believe in the work OEKO-TEX does—it really is the gold standard for textile testing.Also! If you’re freaked out and wondering what is actually safe to buy, I’m putting together an extensive, vetted list of products I vouch for—exclusive to paid subscribers. Later this summer, I’ll be dropping that guide alongside new episodes of “Just Keep Swimming.”Non-Toxic is a reader-supported publication. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Thinking of having children? Wondering whether your sperm has been compromised by years of eating lunchables and drinking from a battered Nalgene?A growing body of evidence suggests sperm counts may have dropped by nearly half since the 1970s. Commentators have blamed obesity, nutrition, even feminism. But the more I dug into the research, the more one culprit kept coming up: the endocrine disrupting chemicals hiding in plain sight in our food packaging, furniture, products with fragrances, and even children’s toys. This isn’t some MAHA conspiracy, it’s well documented, and there’s even a Netflix doc about it, though they kind of muddy the waters by talking too much about microplastics (more on those in a future episode).In this episode of Just Keep Swimming, I sat down with Dr Julia Brody and Ruthann Rudel of Silent Spring Institute — two of the leading environmental health researchers — to understand what EDCs actually do to the male reproductive system, why the damage done in the womb and in childhood can be permanent, and what any of us can actually do about it.One thing that stopped me cold. Most people assume that if a product is on the shelf, it’s been tested for safety. It hasn’t. That assumption may be costing you your shot at having a kid. This one closes with practical steps you can take today — no off-grid homesteading required. And for more practical tips, don’t forget to check out Silent Spring’s Detox Me app.Non-Toxic is supported by people like you. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Western Europe has been experiencing its hottest temperatures in the history of humanity this week, so it felt like a good time to resurface this episode I recorded way back with my old co-host Andrew Lewis, and our guest Eric Dean Wilson, author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort.We take a look back at the history of air conditioning (it’s weird and wild), and try to understand how we almost managed to destroy all life on earth in our quest for personal comfort. And don’t miss Eric’s journey into the shady underworld of used refrigerant sales to understand just why dudes are so attached to their Freon.This episode is part of the Non-Toxic Performative Male Book Club. It’s a series of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, featuring some of the smartest writers, journalists, and academics I know. If you’re into Non-Toxic book coverage, click on any episode with the tag “Performative Male Book Club” to find more good books for guys who read, or pretend to.To listen to the second part of this conversation, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid subscription to Non-Toxic.Lastly, if your A/C is busted and you need to get rid of it, read the EPA’s advice on how to safely dispose of it first. Because letting that stuff escape into the atmosphere is not good! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

 I’m bringing you the first episode of a series I’m doing called “Just Keep Swimming.” It’s a Non-Toxic miniseries about male infertility and chemical exposure, exploring how chemicals in our environment (or chemicals we choose to inject into our bodies) can have an enormous impact on our individual health and even the future of humanity.This episode is a conversation that I had with the Dutch looksmaxxer, Felix van der Heiden, when I was visiting the offices of the biotech startup, Sperm Racing. For the full story there, you can read my article in The New York Times Magazine about the week I spent with those boys. Felix, I thought, was a super interesting character, and he shows up in the piece, but I didn't really get to go as deep in the article as I wanted to. I had some amazing tape that just was sitting around, and I thought, “People need to really hear his full story.”What follows is a selection from the scene when Felix first looked at his sperm under a microscope with his friend Manu, and then a conversation that Felix and I had afterwards, where he talks to me a bit about the different enhancements that he’s using and his thoughts about the effects on his fertility and why he’s decided to pursue chemical enhancement at such a young age. I think you’ll enjoy it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

A fifth of the world’s oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a sliver of ocean between Iran and the Gulf States. Since the beginning of the US Israeli war in Iran, that traffic has slowed to a trickle, which has sent the price of oil skyward. Countries around the world are doing everything they can to accelerate the transition because whether they care about the climate crisis or not, they recognize that there is no choke point on the sun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.comIn this episode of Non-Toxic, I’m joined by fitness influencer Colin Davis to explore the intersection of muscle hypertrophy, masculinity, and climate activism. You might remember Colin from the Carbon Bros finale, but a brief cameo didn’t do him justice—so we’re diving into the full, extended conversation here.Colin is breaking the mold by proving bodybuilding isn’t just for the right wing. He argues that to reach men today, the left needs to meet them in their own digital spaces and speak their language. We get into the surprising links between empathy and physical strength, while Colin deconstructs some of my own biases about gym culture. It’s a wide-ranging, candid conversation that feels like a long-overdue hang.Non-Toxic Newsletter is supported by listeners like you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today.

Is our “green” future actually being built on a global sacrifice zone?In this episode, I’m sitting down with my former New Yorker colleague Nicolas Niarchos to break down his wild new book, The Elements of Power. It’s a massive, globe-spanning investigation into the battery supply chain—tracking the line from the Congo and Indonesia to Israel, China, and the US—to show how clean energy’s big promises often rely on violence, child labor, and deep corruption.With conflict in the Middle East driving up gas prices, plenty of EV drivers are feeling pretty good about themselves right now. But as Nicolas points out, the supply chain behind those batteries is just as messy as the oil industry—it just happens to be working a bit better at the moment.We get into Nicolas’s firsthand stories from Congolese cobalt mines, where hand-dug pits collapse on workers with terrifying frequency. We talk about how mineral wealth completely runs Congolese politics, and why cobalt has turned into the “new oil” in a high-stakes geopolitical wrestling match between the US and China.Make sure you stick around for the end: Nicolas tells the insane story of getting detained by the Congolese secret police while looking into the murky overlaps between mining money, the president’s family, and local militias. It’s a total wild ride.P.S. Nicolas just launched a fantastic new magazine with another New Yorker alum called Now Voyager. Issue one is out right now, both online and on newsstands. If you’re into the kind of boots-on-the-ground reporting we talk about today, you’re going to love it. Check it out!This episode is sponsored by Bluecorn Candles. Use the code NONTOXIC20 for 20% off your first order.Non-Toxic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

If you’ve been reading the latest batch of the Epstein files, you may have noticed an unlikely name from the world of longevity and “Medicine 2.0”: Dr Peter Attia. To understand the connection between Jeffrey Epstein and Attia, I sat down with Sami Reiss, author of the Super Health. An expert in “dark wellness,” Sami interviewed Attia way back for GQ and has been following his rise (and fall) for a long time now.In our chat, he breaks down the history of longevity medicine and Attia’s kind of basic approach to the science of aging. Hint: eat protein and do strength training. We get into the emails showing Attia’s years-long post-conviction relationship with Epstein, and we also touch on Epstein’s broader interest in genetics and eugenics (including a proposed sperm bank of Nobel laureates). And of course we gotta talk about masculinity’s role in all this—especially the obsession with testosterone replacement therapy in the longevity space. Because it’s really all about erections at the end of the day.Non-Toxic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Are you a genetic loser with a recessed maxilla? Have you been brutally framemogged? Will you ever ascend? Welcome to the world of looksmaxxing, where all your problems can be solved with specially crafted fitness protocols that will change your life, or at least mutilate your face.In this episode of Non-Toxic, we’ll be talking about one squarejawed looksmaxxer in particular, Clavicular, whose advice on fitness, skincare, and more extreme methods of changing your appearance have been ricocheting around the internet the past few months. At only 20 years old, Clav has recently risen to fame in part because of his buddy, neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes.I decided to go deeper on looksmaxxing, so I invited a new pal onto the show, Madeline Peltz, who’s got a great Substack called Number Two Pencil, where she writes about the far-right, Gen Z, and popular culture. Previously, she covered rightwing internet and pop culture for Media Matters. Her forthcoming book, Good Girls and Alpha Males, is about the conservative movement’s campaign to recruit Gen Z and is slated for publication in Spring 2027.Come ascend with us.The discourse won’t detoxify itself. To keep the show going, ⁠become a paid Non-Toxic subscriber today⁠. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.comIn this subscriber-only episode, I talk to writer and broadcaster Richard Seymour about his recent book Disaster Nationalism. Richard breaks down how his concept of disaster nationalism is different from the Coke Classic version of nationalism, and how real and imaginary disasters play into the hands of the far-right. We get into how to exploit social crises and conspiracies and what role masculinity plays in this pyschic morass. And in case you’re sick of hearing about Trump, we zoom out to discuss how all this is playing out beyond the US, touching on disaster nationalist movements in India, Brazil, Hungary, and more. It’s a real corker!Want to learn more? You can buy a copy of Richard’s book through Verso. He’s also the author of numerous other books about politics, including Corbyn: The Strange Rebirth of Radical Politics and The Twittering Machine. His writing appears in the The New York Times, the London Review of Books, the Guardian, Prospect, Jacobin, and lots of other places.Want to listen to the whole episode? The discourse won’t detoxify itself. To keep the show going, ⁠become a Non-Toxic patron today⁠.

Every year on January 7th, the artist Jay Critchley holds a ceremony inviting attendees to “re-root” themselves to the earth. He also pushes a flaming Christmas tree into the harbor. In this episode from the vault, I visit Jay’s Provincetown studio to discuss everything from his conceptual patriotic condom company to the problem with “carbon captured broligarchs.” And you’re on the Cape and happen to catch it, this year’s theme is “Crypto Himflation”. Enjoy!The discourse won’t detoxify itself. To keep the show going, ⁠become a Non-Toxic patron today⁠. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

 Amy and I are back after a little hiatus to bring you our long awaited Carbon Bros mailbag episode.  We received so many interesting responses from people around the world. Thanks for sharing your stories, sparking ideas, and raising pivotal questions.Carbon Bros is a collaboration between Drilled Media and Non-Toxic, written and co-hosted by Amy Westervelt and me, Daniel Penny.If you want to listen to more amazing climate reporting by Amy, head to Drilled’s vast archive. The investigations they’ve done—on everything from the history of greenwashing to dirty oil deals in Guyana—are superb. And if you’d like to support what I’m doing or check out previous seasons of Non-Toxic, become a paid subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Democrats did surprisingly well in the recent spate of elections. One of the key pieces of that story was that young men came back to the party after supposedly abandoning them in 2024 for Trump and the far right. So what happened in that intervening year to change their minds?With insights from Charlie Sabgir of Young Men Research Project, this episode unpacks the surprising political trends among young male voters, the impact of affordability issues, the long tail of COVID, and the gender divide when it comes to anxiety about AI. Are we witnessing a true change in the political allegiance of young men or just another swing in the pendulum? Tune in to find out!Non-Toxic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. Like what you’re hearing? Support the show and get full access to Non-Toxic Newsletter today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Democratic pundits have been wringing their hands about how they lost young men in 2024 and how to win them back. With Election Day comming up, I thought I’d share this bonus episode of Carbon Bros, in which I talk to Michigan US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed about what the Democratic establishment is getting wrong and how to redirect young men’s anger towards the people actually making their lives worse. From stagnant wages to sports gambling addictions to poison in our air and water, El-Sayed thinks there’s only one group we should actually be blaming: billionaires. Some folks are calling him the jacked Zohran.El-Sayed has got another year to campaigning to do, but already he’s beating Republicans at their own game. He recently worked out in a viral video with Dr. Mike and benched an impressive 315, but conservatives on X tried to dock him on his back arch. (Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth and RFK Jr. can’t complete one clean pullup rep.)Carbon Bros is a collaboration between Drilled Media and Non-Toxic, written and co-hosted by Amy Westervelt and me, Daniel Penny.If you want to listen to more amazing climate reporting by Amy, head to Drilled’s vast archive. The investigations they’ve done—on everything from the history of greenwashing to dirty oil deals in Guyana—are superb.Non-Toxic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

The kings of the manosphere love to talk about “integrating” a man’s warrior and civilized self, but how about integrating men, and new ideas of masculinity, into the climate movement instead? What does that look like, who’s doing it, and where are there opportunities for repair and progress?Want to help detoxify the discourse? Smash that like and subscribe!Carbon Bros is a collaboration between Drilled Media and Non-Toxic, written and co-hosted by Amy Westervelt and me, Daniel Penny.If you want to listen to more amazing climate reporting by Amy, head to Drilled’s vast archive. The investigations they’ve done—on everything from the history of greenwashing to dirty oil deals in Guyana—are superb. And if you’d like to support what I’m doing or check out previous seasons of Non-Toxic, become a paid subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this eye-opening episode of Carbon Bros, my co-host Amy Westervelt talks with special guest Vivian Taylor. A veteran of both trans rights activism and climate policy (and a literal veteran), Vivian reveals the shocking connections between fossil billionaires and anti-trans campaigns. Turns out, it’s easy to distract people with genital inspectors so you don’t have to deal with methane leakage inspectors.In this episode, Amy and Vivian break down the disturbing overlap between anti-trans, anti-climate, and other right-wing movements, as well as the critical need for unity in tackling these pressing issues. It’s a powerful conversation that uncovers the hidden networks funding social division and environmental degradation. And don’t forget to join us next week for the final episode of Carbon Bros. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Stop listening to hysterical Swedish teenagers and start listening to reasonable men! Some dudes do have solutions to the climate crisis; they just don’t involve messy interpersonal stuff, changing their lifestyles, or reorganizing the global economy. From techno quick fixes and visions of abundance to carbon capture and geoengineering to doomerism and colonies on Mars, we’ll take a look at how gendered notions of the climate crisis have led to individualized, “masculine” approaches to solving it.Loving what we’re doing with Non-Toxic? Smash that like and subscribe!Carbon Bros is a collaboration between Drilled Media and Non-Toxic, written and co-hosted by Amy Westervelt and me, Daniel Penny.If you want to listen to more amazing climate reporting by Amy, head to Drilled’s vast archive. The investigations they’ve done—on everything from the history of greenwashing to dirty oil deals in Guyana—are superb. And if you’d like to support what I’m doing or check out previous seasons of Non-Toxic, become a paid subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this bonus episode of Carbon Bros, we present an extended conversation with Cara Daggett, who coined the term "petro-masculinity." Daggett delves into the implications of this idea that far-right ideologies, misogyny, and climate denial are all tied together in the macho obsession with big old trucks. We also zoom out and discuss global perspectives on fossil fuels and masculinity, examining the intersection between petro-cultures and nationalism—because this isn’t just an American thing.Next week, we'll be back with episode 3 of Carbon Bros, and in the meantime, we're soliciting some thoughts from our listeners to include in the final episode. If you've got ideas about potential solutions for the crises of masculinity and climate change, send a voice note to [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

When it comes to powering the US, “energy dominance” has become a favorite phrase of the Trump administration. But who or what are they trying to dominate with all that oil and gas? In this episode, we zoom out from climate change to trace how gender became so embedded in our collective understanding of nature. How did we go from worshipping Gaia and indigenous earth-mother figures to extracting “natural resources” from private property? And how did oversized gas-guzzlers become a symbol of proud American … manhood? It all goes back to dominance.Non-Toxic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To help detoxify the discourse, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Manosphere figures like Andrew Tate, Joe Rogan, and Jordan Peterson aren’t just telling men how to treat their girlfriends or train for MMA fights; they’re also blasting their listeners with climate denial talking points. Which isn’t a coincidence. The fossil fuel industry has known since at least the 1990s that certain types of men are more susceptible to climate disinformation than other segments of the public. We take a look at how climate denial has seeped into the manosphere, how those messages are shaping men’s views of the climate crisis, and how the results are playing out at the ballot box.Carbon Bros is a collaboration between Drilled Media and Non-Toxic, written and co-hosted by Amy Westervelt and me, Daniel Penny.If you want to listen to more amazing climate reporting by Amy, head to Drilled’s vast archive. The investigations they’ve done—on everything from the history of greenwashing to dirty oil deals in Guyana—are superb. And if you’d like to support what I’m doing or check out previous seasons of Non-Toxic, become a paid subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In just over two weeks, Carbon Bros, a collaboration between Non-Toxic and Drilled, will be making its long-awaited debut on July 25. Here’s the gist:You’ve heard it from cable news pundits, Democratic strategists, and your favorite YouTuber: young men swung the last U.S. election for Trump. Understanding what’s driving “the manosphere” and how to reach the young men in its grips is on everyone’s mind right now, but we’re zooming in on a different corner of it: the intersection between male grievance culture and climate denial. Why are American men less likely than women to believe in climate change, or take personal or political actions against it? What does their reluctance to deal with the climate crisis have to do with men’s shift to the right in general? And what can be done to reverse it? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Join me in the studio of artist and activist Jay Critchley, a Provincetown legend known for his provocative work at the intersection of masculinity, environmental degradation, and consumption. Each year in his annual RE-ROOTER Ceremony, the artist includes the public in an attempt to discard the objects and experiences that prohibit us making from a deeper connection with the earth and human life, and to “re-root” ourselves to the earth. He also pushes a flaming Christmas tree into the Cape Cod Bay.Down in Jay's former septic system we literally get deep, discussing everything from Jay's long history of combining political activism and creative projects to his celebration of limp penises to the problem with carbon captured broligarchs.To keep the show going, ⁠become a Non-Toxic patron today⁠. And if you’re motivated by material possessions, we’ve got ⁠some great thank you gifts for our supporters.⁠ And ⁠sign up for our free Substack⁠, where you can stay up to date on all things Non-Toxic. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I’m joined by Malcolm Harris, author of Kids These Days, Palo Alto, and What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis, out April 15, 2025 and available for pre-order.His new book is a survey of left political-economic thought, broken down into what Malcolm sees as the three viable strategies for addressing the climate crisis. To end our economic addiction to fossil fuels, we can use the dark magic of marketcraft, build muscular public power, or we can go full communism. Or perhaps we will need all three, he says. “A strategy of strategies.”Malcolm and I also get into the pitfalls of market solutions and the so-called “abundance agenda,” the masculine allure of eco-modernism, and why the left needs to find common ground instead of fighting each other.Follow Malcolm on Twitter, and join him on tour for What's Left in  Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and Baltimore. And read Malcolm's full review of Abundance, The Baffler.This episode is part of the Non-Toxic Performative Male Book Club. It’s a series of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, featuring some of the smartest writers, journalists, and academics I know. If you’re into Non-Toxic book coverage, click on any epsiode with the tag “Performative Male Book Club” to find more good books for guys who read, or pretend to.To keep the show going, become a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Like a rhizomatic network, Non-Toxic is linking and building with investigative climate journalist Amy Westervelt. She and the Drilled podcast team will be helping out with a special mini-season of Non-Toxic x Drilled, launching summer 2025.For those of you who aren’t already devoted Drilled listeners, it’s one of the best climate podcasts out there. They’ve covered everything from the birth of climate denial to the criminalization of climate protest to Exxon’s corrupt efforts to secure deep sea drilling rights off the coast of Guyana. While working on Non-Toxic, I’ve always looked to Drilled as an example of the kinds of stories I want to tell and the impact I hope to have. So it’s really a dream to be working with them.In the meantime, while I work on that, I'll be releasing bonus episodes on everything from male infertility to the failures of "abundance bros."To keep the show going, become a Non-Toxic patron today. And if you’re motivated by material possessions, we’ve got some great thank you gifts for our supporters. And sign up for our free Substack, where you can stay up to date on all things Non-Toxic. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

On this bonus episode, we're joined by environmental reporter and former Non-Toxic co-host, Andrew Lewis, to discuss the first weeks of the Trump administration's climate policy. We've also got some personal life updates like moving to Cape Cod, and trying to build a house without wrapping it in plastic. Listen in for insights on FEMA investigations, woke weather, future climate predictions, and our wobbily food system.⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠ via Patreon andfollow us ⁠⁠on Substack⁠. And for more detailed doomscrolling, check outDrilled's tally of Trump's enviromental executive orders. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode of Non-Toxic, we're going Hollywood, breaking down the PR wars and legal wrangling between the stars of the domestic violence drama, It Ends With Us. Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the film, is facing serious allegations  of sexual harassment, inappropriate on-set behavior–and a coordinated PR campaign to destroy the reputation of the film's leading actress, Blake Lively. (Notably, he's also the host of the podcast Man Enough.) Now, he's filed countersuits of his own. With insights from journalist Emily Kirkpatrick and gender justice researcher Dr. Will McInerney, this episode unpacks how PRs take advantage of misogyny on behalf of their clients, why branding yourself a male feminist might be problematic, and whether this case is the final nail in the coffin of #MeToo.⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠on Substack⁠. If you liked this episode , ⁠⁠⁠check out my conversation with ⁠⁠beauty reporter Jessica de Fino⁠ about the oppressive beauty standards coming for men.Guest Bios:Emily Kirkpatrick is a writer covering celebrity and pop culture for outlets such as New York magazine, Glamour, W, Vogue, and the New York Times. Her popular weekly newsletter, I <3 Mess, rounds up the best of the worst celebrity fashion.Dr. Will McInerny is a researcher and educator who studies gender-based violence; violence prevention; men and masculinities; peace and conflict studies; and arts-based research.The NYT articles in question:‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine‘It Ends With Us’ Actor and Director and His Publicists Sue The Times for LibelThe Levers of Change Gender Equality Attitudes Study 2022Masculinity and women's equality: study finds emerging gender divide in young people's attitudes This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

For this end of year episode of Non-Toxic, we dive back into the vault to revisit a fascinating conversation with Alec Leach, a sustainability strategist and author of The World is on Fire but We're Still Buying Shoes. (He's also ⁠got a great substack.)Alec shares his eye-opening journey from a high-flying fashion editor to an advocate for mindful consumption. We discuss the myths around sustainability, the psychological grip of fashion marketing, and practical steps to deprogram from excessive buying habits. Alec also talks about the pervasive influence of "hype culture" on contemporary fashion, his own wardrobe mistakes, and ways to make more sustainable choices.For more Non-Toxic fashion advice, ⁠check out my conversation with Nicolaj Reffstrup⁠, former CEO of Ganni. And to hear more about consumer culture and the climate crisis,⁠ listen to this episode with sustainability advertising expert Lucy von Sturmer⁠.Support the show and follow us on Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Things are heating up in this episode of Non-Toxic. I'm talking to Clare Boerigter, a fire research fellow, science writer, and former wildland firefighter who has been on the front lines of America's increasingly out of control wildfires. Clare shares stories from her three seasons fighting fires, the impact of climate change on wildfires, and the challenges faced by women in the firefighting community. We also explore the science of fire behavior, human encroachment on places likely to burn, and the problem with trying to prevent all wildfires. And Clare generously shares an except from her forthcoming memoir from Beacon Press, Wild Light: Notes from the Safest, Most Dangerous Places.Further Reading:The age of the “megafire”Women fighting forest fires say abuse is rife – but men often go unpunishedHow to Save a Forest by Burning ItWildfires Will Put $11 Billion Worth of U.S. Property at Risk Every Year by 2050Damage from sprawling Prospect Park brush fire may take years to repair, officials say This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Non-Toxic, I dive into the world of extreme muscularity with Dr Roberto Olivardia, a researcher and clinician who helped coin the term “muscle dysmorphia.” Dr Olivardia charts the rise of muscle dysmorphia among men and his own journey into studying eating disorders and OCD through the lens of masculinity. His book, The Adonis Complex, came out in 2000, and we look back at how body image issues among men have evolved from the 1970s to the present day. While social media and steroid use have accelerated the problem, Dr. Olivardia isn’t so sure they’re the only reasons why so many are struggling with this condition. And finally, we look at the challenges faced by those affected, and what options are available for treatment.This episode is part of the Non-Toxic Performative Male Book Club. It’s a series of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, featuring some of the smartest writers, journalists, and academics I know. If you’re into Non-Toxic book coverage, click on any epsiode with the tag “Performative Male Book Club” to find more good books for guys who read, or pretend to.⁠Bluecorn Candles⁠ is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order.And if you want to keep the show going, consider becoming a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this election special, we're diving deep into the not so surprising rightward shift among young men. Our guest, Shauna Daly, co-founder of the Young Men Research Initiative and a seasoned Democratic campaign operative, provides insights into why many young men turned to Trump in 2024.We explore the widening gender gap, the unique media consumption habits of young men, and the broader implications for the Democratic Party. From the rise of podcasts like Joe Rogan's to the underlying issues men face in America, this conversation is packed with critical analysis and future strategies. Tune in for an in-depth look at the shifting political landscape and what it means for upcoming elections (assuming there are any).If you liked this episode, you can ⁠support Non-Toxic via our Patreon.⁠ ⁠And don't forget to sign up for the ⁠Non-Toxic Newsletter on Substack⁠.⁠Bluecorn Candles⁠ is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order.How Barron Trump Connected His Father to the ManosphereWhy Democrats won't build their own Joe Rogan This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Non-Toxic, we’re talking with beauty critic Jessica DeFino about the evolving culture of male beauty standards. Jessica DeFino is an award-winning beauty reporter whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and more. A former editor for the Kardashian-Jenner apps, she now writes the newsletter Fleshworld and has been called “the woman the beauty industry fears the most” by the Sunday Herald. From the rise of the metrosexual to the booming trend for unisex products to the intricacies of hair plugs, we explore how the beauty industry is making money by shifting beauty norms to include men.Non-Toxic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Non-Toxic, we're traumatizing our egos in nature's vastness and exploring the roots of the term "toxic masculinity" in the mythopoetic men's movement. Through a conversation with Ian MacKenzie, host of The Mythic Masculine Podcast, we delve into the history, core concepts, and key figures of that largely forgotten (yet hugely influential) moment. We also examine how the mythopoets reacted to second-wave feminism, and how the current incarnation of Men's Work has been influenced by the #MeToo movement.Whether you’ve been to a Sacred Sons convergence or prefer your psychodramas to take place on a therapist’s couch, (or you avoid reflection all together by doing cold plunges with your bros) this episode offers some intriguing connections between a “self help” community and the future of our planet.If you liked this episode, you can ⁠support Non-Toxic via our Patreon.⁠ ⁠And don't forget to sign up for the ⁠Non-Toxic Newsletter on Substack⁠.⁠Bluecorn Candles⁠ is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order.Further reading:⁠My article ⁠on the history of the term toxic masculinityIan's free webinar on Men's Work.A 1990 interview with poet and author of Iron John, Robert Bly.The ManKind ProjectSacred Sons This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 1 of Season 3, I talk to one of the main figures responsible for the spread of the term “toxic masculinity,” Dr Terry Kupers, an academic, psychiatrist, expert witness, and former doctor for the LA chapter of the Black Panthers. (He’s led quite the life.)Terry’s research on the violent conditions he saw in US prisons helped spread the term “toxic masculinity” beyond its hippie origins (more on those origins later this season). While I was only able to include a few quotes from him in a recent article I wrote for GQ, I knew I wanted to share his story at greater length.If you liked this episode, you can support Non-toxic via our Patreon.⁠ And don't forget to sign up for the Non-toxic Newsletter on Substack.⁠⁠Bluecorn Candles⁠⁠ is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order.Further reading:My article on the history of the term toxic masculinity“Toxic Masculinity as a Barrier to Mental Health Treatment in Prisons,” by Dr Terry Kupers that helped popularize the term.A recent New York Times article on solitary confinement in Rikers that quotes Dr. Kupers.Climate change and extreme heat are making prisons even more miserable and dangerous. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week we have a special Earth Day bonus episode. The intrepid producer of our show, Andrew Lewis, is reporting from the Society for Environmental Journalists. Andrew gives us an update on Money Island, the community at the center of his first book, who refused to sell their land to a New Jersey flood program.He also shares so very interesting polling data for the 2024 election that came out during SEJ. Apparently there are hundreds of thousands of self-declared evironmentalists who have never voted, and perhaps as many young conservatives who say climate change is one of their main priorities. Will climate voters decide the future of democracy in 2024? Probably not, but when the margin is a only a few thousand votes, every one counts.As always, Non-Toxic is supported with the help of our listeners. And we need your support now more than ever. Sign up to become a supporter today. We're already planning season three, so keep you ear to the ground for more news from Non-Toxic! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

For this bonus episode of Non-toxic, we're catching up with our producer, Andrew, and taking calls from our loyal listeners while dispensing poorly thought out advice. From how to get your brother-in-law to stop watching Formula 1 to the climate impact of AI, we are covering a lot of ground this week, and hopefully, helping you live a little less toxically.To thank these callers, we're asking listeners to head over to our Patreon to vote on your favorite question. Whoever wins this poll will receive a free Non-toxic T-shirt. Vote for your favorite here.And if you'd like to support Non-toxic, you can go to our Patreon and smash that subscribe button.Links:F1's path to sustainability is ⁠"a journey"10 ways to reduce plastic in laboratories, according to University College LondonDespite Google exec claims, ⁠AI likely to increase energy use⁠ and accelerate climate misinformationA Tory journalist went on a $4000 mushroom retreat in the Netherlands, and all she got was an awareness of life's beauty and fragility This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In the Season 2 finale of Non-toxic we're talking with barrister Paul Powlesland about the universal right to enjoy natural places, despite what landowners may tell you. He's the legal counsel for the activist group Right to Roam, who are pushing for greater access to England and Wale's wild places and the end of restrictions on hikers and walkers (within reason). The more time people spend in nature, Paul argues, the more they care about it. Which is critical when it comes to building the political will to fight climate change.And because fixing the damage we've already done to the planet is the job of a lifetime, Paul has got some interesting ideas about how to tap into a more positive vision of masculinity that also repairs the planet. Why brag to your date about a fancy car when you can tell them how lush you've made the bird habitat in your garden. (Something to listen to in the morning?) And when you're with your buddies, you could be challenging them with a friendly "Do you even plant, bro?"⁠⁠Support Non-toxic today.Sign up to join Right to RoamAnd pick up a copy of Wild ServiceBio:Paul Powlesland is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers. He specialises in upholding the rights of environmental activists to protest and protect the natural world, and uses environmental law and regulations to defend trees, rivers and wildlife. Paul is the legal counsel for Right to Roam and co-founder of Lawyers for Nature, and regularly gives talks and workshops on the rights of nature, the relationship between the law and the natural world and what barristers and other lawyers should do in a time of climate and ecological emergency. As a boat-dweller for many years, he is also determined to protect the rights of boaters and other Traveller groups. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Where does your crazy climate-denying uncle come up with those outlandish talking points that he trots out at Thanksgiving or Christmas? Things like: “Wind turbines cause autism!”Whatever he's saying probably isn't something he made up on his own. In all likelihood, he's been watching too much YouTube, the source of an alarming amount of climate disinformation. But it’s not just the volume of climate disinformation that’s changing on Youtube, it’s also the specific talking points that people use to undermine public understanding.As Callum Hood from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate explorers in a new paper, there are really two eras of climate denial: Old denial, which is the head in the sand, "climate change isn't happening” or “climate change isn't caused by humans” versus something a lot more pernicious and harder to combat. New denial. In this conversation, we get into how it is that climate deniers changed their tactics, what external conditions they are are responding to, why manosphere influencers are becoming climate deniers, as well as the financial incentives for spreading this stuff. And of course, there’s the role that tech platforms have in profiting from or combating climate disinformation.⁠⁠Support Non-toxic today.For our earlier conversation with Callum on incels and alphas, listen to Season 1: Episode 1.Links:Listen to our previous episode with Callum on the myth of the "alpha" and incelsRead the CCDH’s report on online climate denial.The Heartland Institute’s own leaked internal memos admit they’re climate deniers.How Jordan Peterson generates millions of Youtube hits for climate deniers This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we'll be talking with Mato Wayuhi, a musician, rapper, and composer from South Dakota, whose forthcoming major label debut is called Stankface Standing Soldier. You may have also heard his music in the film War Pony, and the hit television series on Hulu, Reservation Dogs.In this conversation, we talk about the tension between being a traditional versus contemporary Native artist, stereotypes about masculinity in Native culture, and rap as reporting. Though Mato’s been around the world, lately, he has been thinking a lot about his relationship to place and his connection to his family's ancestral land back in Pine Ridge. From vegan fry bread to “Land Back,” it’s all here, on Non-toxic.⁠Support Non-toxic today.Listen to Mato's music on his bandcamp, or however you stream music. The songs in this episode are "Part-time Indian" and "STANKFACE," as well as "Switch Lanes," which is off of the Reservation Dogs season three soundtrack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week we talk to photographer, filmmaker and artist Richard Mosse, who spent two years documenting the desctruction of one of the most ecologically sensitive areas of the world, the Amazon Rainforest. Using infrared film, GIS mapping technologies, and ultraviolet cameras, Mosse explores every scale of the rainforest, from miscroscopic organisms to hectares of cleared land. On the human level, the film follows both the indigenous people who are trying to hold on to their way of life and the loggers, ranchers, and miners who are trying to carve out a living at the edge of the world. The result is an immersive, unflinching multichannel film called Broken Spectre.Joining Non-toxic from his studio in New York, Richard discusses the best ways to get powerful men to let you film their crimes, why women bare the brunt of the Amazon's destruction, and whether there's anything an artist can do to try to avert catastrophe.Support Non-toxic today.For more on the climate impacts of beef, listen to our conversation with journalist Joe Fassler from Season 1.Guest Bio: Richard Mosse is an Irish artist currently based in New York. Documenting some of the most significant humanitarian and environmental crises of our time, his work has been the subject of solo shows at museums including The San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art, The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and The Barbican Art Gallery in London, among others. For his groundbreaking work, Mosse has received the Prix Pictet 2017 Prize, the 2014 Deutcshe Börse Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. He holds an MFA from Yale.Links:How American's love of beef is helping destroy the AmazonWhat Jair Bolsonaro did to the AmazonBrazilian president Lula pledges ‘new Amazon dream’ at rainforest summitBrazilian police identify gang leader mastermind who orchestrated murders of environmentalists in the Amazon This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we're joined from Berlin by sustainability expert and author of The World Is On Fire But We’re Still Buying Shoes, Alec Leach. As a former fashion editor, Alec has spent a large part of his career understanding how men in particular are convinced, persuaded and tricked into buying things they don't really need. While in the past, we might’ve thought of the young woman at the mall as the stereotypical overconsumer, Alec argues that there's a new paradigm at play, that the so-called hypebeast—the nerdy, internet-obsessed, sneaker-collecting guy—has become the new model that fashion and luxury brands have cultivated. With disastrous consequences for the planet.This episode is part of the Non-Toxic Performative Male Book Club. It’s a series of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, featuring some of the smartest writers, journalists, and academics I know. If you’re into Non-Toxic book coverage, click on any epsiode with the tag “Performative Male Book Club” to find more good books for guys who read, or pretend to.To keep the show going, become a subscriber today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Non-Toxic, we talk to Nathaniel Rich, author of Losing Earth: A Recent History. It’s a bracing conversation about the little known story of the 1980s, when scientists, politicians, and policy-makers were all in agreement that something had to be done to lower carbon emissions—and how at the crucial moment—they failed to act. There are some surprising insights about what went wrong, how to talk about climate change, as well as what we’ve learned about moral urgency since those early days when many people thought all it would take to change the world was laying out the facts.⁠Support Non-Toxic today.⁠Guest Bio:Nathaniel Rich is the author of Losing Earth: A Recent History , a finalist for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Award, and a winner of awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists and the American Institute of Physics. He is also the author of the novels King Zeno (MCD/FSG, 2018); Odds Against Tomorrow (FSG, 2013); and The Mayor’s Tongue (Riverhead, 2008). Most recently, he released a new collection of nonfiction stories about the uncanniness of life in the climate crisis called Second Nature. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

What do abortion restrictions have to do with climate change? According to believers of the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, it's all connected.Journalist and author Sian Norris joins Non-toxic to talk about her new book, Bodies Under Siege: How the Far-Right Attack on Reproductive Rights Went Global. We talk about everything from the fascistic obsession with the laws of nature to Vladimir Putin's pro-natalist vision for Russia to why far-right tradwives love to post photos of their homesteads on Instagram. If you've ever wondered why the far-right is so fixated on making more white babies in the era of the climate crisis, this episode is for you. And stay tuned for next week, when we talk to a pair of antinatalists who are advocating for all of humanity do the complete opposite: cease to exist.⁠Support Non-toxic today.⁠LinksA superclip of Tucker Carlson "just asking questions" about the Great Replacement.A timeline of Repblican congressman Steve King's fliration with the Great Replacement theoryConservative darling Victor Orban's remarks at CPAC Dallas 2022Far-right provacteur Lauren Southern's anti-feminist highlight reelThe Center for Reproductive Rights' map of the the world’s abortion laws A recent Gallup poll on what Americans think about abortionGuest bioSean Norris is a journalist and author of Bodies Under Siege: How the Far-Right Attack on Reproductive Rights Went Global, published in 2023 by Verso. Her reporting can be found in The Observer, The Guardian, The Times, The Eye, and The New Statesman, among others.Help detoxify the discourse by becoming a Non-toxic supporter today. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Non-toxic we're talking about the state of advertising in the age of the climate crisis with Lucy von Sturmer, greenwashing guru and founder of Creatives for Climate. Lucy charts her journey from fossil fuel hack to climate activist and breaks down how ads continue to tap into the sexual insecurities and desires of men and women to sell them on the idea of sustainability—or undermine it. From electric pickup trucks that won't quit until their payload is delivered to Kim Kardashian's pointy nipple bras that are somehow connected to melted glaciers.⁠Support Non-toxic today.⁠LinksThe forgotten oil ads that told us climate change was nothingFrance outlawed fossil fuel ads. Why can't we?Premature Electrification Ram Truck Superbowl adMobil 1 explains their bizarre anti-EV adThe Skims Ultimate Nipple Bra (now with extra plastic!)The Creatives for Climate free greenwashing watch courseGuest bio:Lucy von Sturmer is the founder of award-winning impact consultancy The Humblebrag and the initiator of Creatives for Climate, a global network of creatives, activists, and policy-makers working collaboratively to drive action and awareness on the climate emergency.Help detoxify the discourse by ⁠becoming a Non-toxic supporter today.⁠ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Researchers are starting to discover surprising links between loneliness and biophobia. Why are people avoiding social interactions and staying inside so much? Why does an indoor life make the natural world seem so scary and gross? And how do these two trends affect men in particular, who are already more lonely than women? We talk to journalist Hannah Seo to find out.⁠Support Non-toxic today.⁠Links:Recent findings on "the vicious cycle of biophobia"How spending time in ⁠green spaces is linked to social cohesion and improved mental health⁠How American's are spending more time alone than ever beforeMen are ⁠four times more likely than women to die by suicide⁠ but ten percentage points less likely than women to access mental health care.A YouGov poll in 2019 concluded that one in five British men have no close friends, twice as many as women.Guest Bio:Hannah Seo is a Korean-Canadian freelance journalist, writer, editor, fact-checker and poet based in Brooklyn. She recently completed a reporting fellowship with The New York Times, and her other journalism can be found in The Atlantic, Vox, and The Guardian, among others. Her beats include the oceans, climate change, and mental health. The article we discuss in this episode, called "⁠America Is Getting Lonelier and More Indoorsy. That’s Not a Coincidence,"⁠ was published in the Atlantic. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

When it comes to sustainability, something is popping in the state of Denmark. In this bonus episode, recorded in the offices of Ganni during Copenhagen Fashion Week, we talk with former Ganni CEO Nicolaj Reffstrup and (di)vision Creative Director Simon Wick about how Denmark has positioned itself as a global sustainability leader, what it takes to run a sustainable fashion company, and whether sustainability in the fashion industry is even possible.Further reading:My article for The New York Times on Copenhagen Fashion Week’s revolutionary sustainability commitments.A full account of just how much pollution the fashion industry emits, and the solutions we need to implement to clean it upRead the Ganni 2022 Responsibility ReportVogue goes inside the studio with Simon Wick This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

It’s the season finale of Non-toxic, and we’re thinking about endings. In this case, what happens to our bodies when we die. We’re asking why do we cremate people or pump them full of formaldehyde and then trap them in a casket six feet under? Bob Hendrikx, inventor and founder of Loop, thinks there’s a better way to return to the place from whence we came: Mycelium coffins that can compost a human body in a matter of weeks. As Bob likes to say, we’re all going to die one day. Do you want your body to become waste or compost?LinksThe surprising environmental toll of cremationHow the death industry could soon go green.Mycelium’s newly discovered carbon sink capacities.Guest bio:Bob Hendrikx is a bio-designer, architect, and founder of Loop, a green burial company that produces living coffins made of molded mycelium. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

There’s a better way to landscape your garden. That's the message Jordan "JP Charisma" Parker is preaching on YouTube and TikTok, where he's teaching his tens of thousands of followers the lost art of native plant gardening. In our conversation with JP, we learn why native species are better than imports for your local environment (and your water bill) and how they can help fragile species, like butterflies and bees, to keep doing their thing.JP also reflects on his interesting — and sometimes difficult — social media journey, from sports car critic to #BlackButterflyMan, and what it means to be a young BIPOC gardener in a space that is often lily white.Show notes:Here's a great guide to native planting Explore the Florida Native Plant Society What is OE? Guest bio:Jordan "JP Charisma" Parker, aka BlackButterflyManJP is a social media influencer whose mission is to rehabilitate natural areas for butterflies nationwide. He also has a native plant online store at jpcharisma.comFind him on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram @jpcharisma This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Did you know that illegal wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest criminal enterprise in the world? Though it touches every corner of the globe–there is no international agency devoted to stopping it–so ex-intelligence operative Andrea Crosta stepped in. As head of Earth League International, Andrea has spent the past ten years investigating and exposing the people who get rich wiping out rare species and despoiling our planet.And he’s got a lot of stories to tell. In this episode, Non-toxic goes undercover with Andrea to see how greedy traffickers take advantage of desperate poachers, how Latin American jaguar teeth are passed off as Asian tiger fangs, and how South African rhino horns are ground up for increasingly expensive virility cures.Become a PatronTo keep detoxifying the discourse, Non-toxic needs your help. If you want to see a second season of this groundbreaking podcast, show your support by and become a patron today. And don’t forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts to new listeners find us.LinksRead Earth League International’s recent report on the Jaguar fang trade. Read this recent profile of Andrea in the New Yorker.Check out this overview on the economics of the illegal wildlife trade.Check out this graphic novel about ELI’s efforts to save the vaquita.Watch this Netflix documentary about the illegal ivory trade and this Nat Geo doc ‘Sea of Shadows’, about illegal fishing and the potential extinction of the Vaquita porpoise.Guest bioAndrea Crosta, Executive Director and Board MemberAndrea is the founder of Earth League International (ELI), among the founding members of the Wildlife Justice Commission, in The Netherlands, a Member of the Board of  The Africa Conservancy Foundation, and the creator and project manager of WildLeaks, the world’s first wildlife crime whistleblower initiative.He has been working for almost two decades as an international consultant to companies and governmental agencies on high-end security technologies & services, homeland security, anti-piracy, investigations and risk management. He now applies this unique knowledge to conservation, environmental crime, and wildlife protection. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nontoxicpodcast.substack.com/subscribe