Whether you are an exclusively formula, combo feeding, pumping, or exclusively breastfeeding family, this episode is for you! Mallory Whitmore, founder of The Formula Mom and Education Lead at Bobbie, joined me to discuss all things baby formula. I am a proud 2x exclusively formula feeding mom, and Mallory is truly the most invaluable resource for families seeking more information on formula and debunking myths about formula and breastfeeding that are unfortunately often propagated in parenting spaces. A few things we chatted about:

* What does “breast is best” even mean?

* How policies like paid leave and other female-focused policies impact formula and breast feeding statistics

* Why nobody should fear corn syrup or seed oils in formula

* Why you should NEVER give your baby homemade formula

Preorder Mallory’s book Bottle Service, out February 24th!

After a brief intro with my thoughts on the recent murder of Renee Nicole Good and the escalation of ICE aggression in Minnesota, Dr. Anita Patel joins me to discuss her thoughts on American public health from a pediatric critical care physician’s perspective. We discuss Dr. Patel’s role as a health educator on social media and her experience combatting the COVID pandemic as a new mom, the repercussions to the ACA subsidies expiring, the societal impact of continued infectious disease outbreaks, Hepatitis B vaccine recommendation changes, and why it is important to remember the doctors attached to this administration spreading misinformation ALL rose to relative fame during the COVID pandemic.

One of the most harmful impacts of the ‘nontoxic’ trend in health and personal care products is the misinformation surrounding sunscreen and the understated risks of skin cancer. Dr. Aegean Chan is a dual board-certified dermatologist and is here to set the record straight on all things sun protection, low-maintenance skincare, the efficacy of at-home devices, and recommendations for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Spoiler alert- no, your sunscreen is not poison.

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Use code DETOXED for 15% off your first purchase at Bright Body and Bright Body Baby!

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Massachusetts Representative and the highest ranking woman in congress, joins me to discuss the government shutdown and how Republicans are attempting to pass a budget that hikes health care premiums and everyday costs strictly to fund tax cuts for billionaires. We also discuss misinformation surrounding the government shutdown, SNAP funding, and how the continuing health care crisis Republicans have created through Medicaid cuts earlier this year will uniquely impact women.

Just after we spoke on Wednesday, 11/12, Whip Clark joined Leader Hakeem Jeffries in offering an amendment to the Republican budget bill. The amendment would prevent massive premium hikes by extending ACA tax credits for three years.

Use code DETOXED for 15% off your first purchase at Bright Body and Bright Body Baby!

Gabi Day is the Founder, Formulator and CEO of Bright Body and Bright Body, a skin and haircare line crafted using Ayurvedic principles with gentle whole plant ingredients. Gabi vulnerably shares her journey as a progressive entrepreneur in the wellness space and her intentional choice to market against MAHA as the industry continues to overwhelmingly align with MAHA and/or MAGA. Gabi is the blueprint for values-driven businesses in today’s political climate as she donates 1% of all sales to the Center for Reproductive Rights. This episode has a bit of everything- current events surrounding SNAP freezes and the government shutdown, Gabi’s deep familial roots in political activism, her fertility journey, the evolving landscape of wellness culture, her complicated relationship with words like ‘non toxic’ and ‘clean beauty,’ the systemic issues surrounding chronic illness, food insecurity, the complexities of health disparities, and WAY more.

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Dr. Taylor Arnold is a pediatric dietitian and nutrition PhD who created a community for parents in their journeys to prevent and reverse picky eating, support intuitive eating practices in their kids and teens, and instill body positivity. In this episode, we explore the importance of creating a positive relationship with food, morally neutralizing food (including food dyes!!!), the role of play in feeding, and how to navigate situations like diet talk around kids and how to approach Halloween candy. Visit growingintuitiveeaters.com or follow @Growing.Intuitive.Eaters on Instagram and YouTube. All of her courses are completely free of charge and are a phenomenal resource for families of all kinds.

Sabina Vohra-Miller is a science communicator with a MSc. in Clinical Pharmacology and is a Doctor of Public Health candidate. She runs the instagram account @UnambiguousScience and in this episode, we discuss the global impact impact of American public health policy, current COVID mandates, misinformation surrounding medication during pregnancy, toxin overload myths, and more.

*Note- we recorded this episode before RFK Jr., Donald Trump, & Dr. Oz announced their reckless recommendation for pregnant women to avoid taking acetaminophen (the only pain killer or fever reducer approved to take during pregnancy) due to a widely-debunked claim that taking acetaminophen products during pregnancy will cause autism in the children they carried. Much more on this topic to come…

United States medication risk in pregnancy resource: Mother to Baby

Canada medication risk in pregnancy resource: First Exposure

COVID Vaccine recommendations in other countries

Swedish study of 2.5 million children debunking Tylenol/autism claim

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Allyn Rose is an American woman living in Franfurt, Germany and a fierce activist for breast cancer prevention. Allyn is the founder of The Previvor, a non-profit organization assisting those with a genetic predisposition to cancer wanting to take action to reduce their risk of future diagnosis. We discuss the options women have for BRCA+ gene testing, prophylactic mastectomy, reconstruction, IVF, and how to find access to these preventative actions. I also picked Allyn’s brain on her thoughts about watching what is happening in the United States from afar, life as an expat, and what it is like to raise children in a different culture.

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Misinformation in all spaces surrounding women’s health is rampant, but the most dangerous might be the misinformation surrounding breast cancer prevention and treatment. Breast cancer cases are rising disproportionately among young women, and many wellness influencers and evidence-averse practitioners are taking advantage of this truth to peddle dangerous recommendations like avoiding mammograms and other evidence-based treatments. Allison Mertzman joined me to set the record straight on cancer treatment, spotting grifters, and how we can improve the quality of life of those living with cancer. We also discuss her experience growing her family as a same sex couple and the devastating potential of Obergefell soon being overturned.

Allison is a content creator, mom of two, wife to Leanne, and breast cancer survivor. She has touched countless lives by sharing her story of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and now survivorship, and I am grateful to call her a friend.

Listen to Allison and her dad, Dr. Mark Pearlman, on ACOG’s Women’s Cancer Conversations for more insight into the rise in early onset breast cancer diagnoses.

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Liz Marnik, known as Science Whiz Liz, is a PhD scientist trained in Immunology and Genetics. Dr. Liz was generous with her time to answer my many questions about vaccine hesitancy, research, continued anti-vaccine propaganda, and several frequently heard MAHA talking points. In this episode, we discuss mRNA technology, MTHFR gene claims, what the science of epigenetics really is, how the US pediatric vaccine schedule compares to those in the EU, and other hot-button topics. My evolution in vaccine hesitancy has been challenging and these stories, shared with honesty and empathy, are the only way we are going to move the needle in restoring comfort in public health guidelines.

Episode References

CDC Leader Resignation Letters

CDC Measles Outbreak Data

Comparison chart for USA and EU vaccines schedule, by Mandy Ruggeri and Unbiased Science Pod

US Gun Death Statistics

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Science & Public Health experts mentioned:

* Unbiased Science Pod

* David Higgins, MD

* Mandy Ruggeri

* Nini Munoz, PhD