There's no denying veganism is better for the environment, and it can be better for your wallet. But there are some caveats, and health considerations. Get some facts this week in our episode on why you might consider going vegan and how to do it.

Sources

• NIH - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9024616/
• The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/20/vegan-diet-cuts-environmental-damage-climate-heating-emissions-study
• BBC - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200211-why-the-vegan-diet-is-not-always-green
• American Institute for Cancer Research - https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/does-red-meat-cause-cancer/
• Weston A. Price - https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/the-china-study-myth/#gsc.tab=0
• NIH - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9321292/
• NIH - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10027313/

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Have you ever heard of “wood milk”? Well, it’s a joke, but a pretty controversial one. Dairy isn’t the only option for your milk these days, much to the chagrin of the USDA and the dairy industry. But there are so many options to choose from, it can make your head spin. What’s the environmentally-friendly choice? And are they more expensive than cow’s milk? Take a bath in some plant-based milk (mylk? melk? milkk?) this week.

Sources

• Wood Milk (fictitious): https://www.drinkwoodmilk.com/ 
• World Resources Institute: https://www.wri.org/insights/milks-environmental-impact 
• It’s Nice That: https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/milkpep-wood-milk-complaint-pcrm-advertising-food-drink-300523 
• New Roots Institute: https://www.newrootsinstitute.org/articles/dairy-checkoff-programs 
• YouTuber @DaraDenney: https://youtube.com/shorts/zJVPwvrl9Sg?si=rMJz-VRZOogYKdcG 
• Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/40556502/got-milk-how-the-iconic-campaign-came-to-be-25-years-ago 
• Journal of Dairy Science: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7094284/
• The Humane League: https://thehumaneleague.org.uk/article/what-happens-to-male-calves
• University of Wisconsin Madison: https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/disbudding-calves/ 
• National Dairy Farm (FARM) Program: https://nationaldairyfarm.com/dairy-farm-standards/animal-care/ 
• Yahoo!: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/heres-why-oat-milk-expensive-191508011.html 
• Love and Lemons: https://www.loveandlemons.com/oat-milk/#wprm-recipe-container-42113
• Epicurious recipe: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/homemade-soy-milk-andrea-nguyen 

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Should you buy produce "in season"? Why? And what does that even mean? How do you find out what's in season? Find out if seasonal produce is better for you or cheaper in this week's episode.

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Sources

• Seasonal Food Guide - https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/why-eat-seasonally
• American Heart Association - https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/07/12/why-seasonal-eating-can-be-a-healthy-delight
• Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center - https://hgic.clemson.edu/the-benefits-of-seasonal-eating-fresh-nutrient-dense-and-budget-friendly/
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Falling Fruit - https://fallingfruit.org/
• iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org/

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Eggs have been expensive for a long time! So are backyard chickens the way to reduce your egg costs at the grocery store? And are backyard chicken eggs any good? Find out if raising chickens is worth it, from chicken coop plans to how they get along with kids. Plus, get the scoop on how to decipher between pasture-raised, cage-free, or certified humane eggs when you're at the grocery store.

Sources

• Reddit
• backyardchickens.com
• Database of ordinances: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/chicken-laws-ordinances.13/ 
• Certified Humane: https://certifiedhumane.org/cage-free-vs-free-range/ 
• Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard by Jessi Bloom
• Keeping Chickens: All You Need to Know to Care for a Happy, Healthy Flock by Ashley English
• The Giant Chicken - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX4Jh-44-Nk

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Is organic food a scam? Americans (especially parents!) are pressured to buy organic groceries for supposed health benefits, fear of pesticides, or because they think organic farming practices are better for the environment. But are these claims true? Dig deeper into organic fruits and vegetables, including whether there's any proof to the supposed benefits of organic food.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic - Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? - https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880
• Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means - https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means
• Ag Daily - The meaning of the organic label in the U.S. vs the EU - https://www.agdaily.com/insights/meaning-of-organic-label-in-us-vs-eu/
• WSU Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center Organic Agriculture - https://tfrec.cahnrs.wsu.edu/organicag/tree-fruit/background/
• NIH - What motivates consumers to buy organic foods? - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8432837/
• Forbes - Why I Don’t Buy Organic - https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2016/03/19/why-i-dont-buy-organic-and-why-you-might-want-to-either/
• Cal Poly Magazine - What Does Organic Really Mean - https://magazine.calpoly.edu/spring-2022/what-does-organic-really-mean/
• Eating Well - 2025 Dirty Dozen List Is Out—Here's a Dietitian's Take - https://www.eatingwell.com/dirty-dozen-2025-11753547
• Consumer Reports - The Cost of organic food - https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/03/cost-of-organic-food/index.htm
• Chris Kresser - Grass-fed vs Conventional meat - https://chriskresser.com/grass-fed-vs-conventional-meat-its-not-black-or-white/
• National Library of Medicine - Systematic Review of Organic vs. Conventional Food Consumption - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7019963/

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Say "artificial food dyes" and someone will inevitably start screaming about Red 40 (or FD&C Red 40 if they're really obsessive). Are these dyes really poisoning our children? Is natural food coloring better, or might there be unintended environmental consequences? Join us as we look at everything from MAHA to McGill University to get to the bottom of artificial colors. 

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Sources

• The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/08/white-food-dye-titanium-dioxide-maha/683806/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
• International Dairy Foods Assoc: https://www.idfa.org/idfa-ice-cream-commitment
• Make America Healthy Again report: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MAHA-Report-The-White-House.pdf 
• FDA: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply 
• Yahoo News: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-calls-rfk-jr-three-211918075.html 
• UPMC HealthBeat: https://share.upmc.com/2024/07/is-red-food-dye-bad-for-kids/ 
• UC Berkeley Public Health: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/new-report-shows-artificial-food-coloring-causes-hyperactivity-in-some-kids 
• Michigan State University Today: https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2025/07/ask-the-expert-whats-the-problem-with-artificial-food-dyes 
• McGill University Office for Science and Society: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/food-health-news/food-dyes-science 
• NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/no-artificial-dyes-atkinson-candy-company-replace-natural-colors-rfk-rcna220485 
• Foods (Journal): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10093929/ 

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The average American is spending 25% more on groceries than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, so folks are looking for ways to save money. Growing your own vegetables is rewarding, but is it worth the cost? What's the cheapest vegetable to grow? Get tips on deciding what to plant and whether growing your own veg will save you some dough in your favorite sustainability podcast. 

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Sources:

• LA Food Bank - https://www.lafoodbank.org/stories/usa-food-prices-rose-by-25-percent-from-2019-to-2023/
• Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/comments/19a7tbm/best_food_to_grow_to_save_money/
• USDA Prices - https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices
• Harvard Health Letter - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/backyard-gardening-grow-your-own-food-improve-your-health-201206294984
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
• The Farmers Almanac Planting Calendar – https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
• Ecology Center - Organic Fertilizers - https://www.ecocenter.org/avoid-greenwashing-gardening-ecolive-event
• Grow Safe - https://amzn.to/47sxWPb (affiliate link)

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Feeling isolated? You're not alone (ironically). Community is probably the solution, but how do you find it or build it today? Let's talk about what community means, how to build it, and why it's not your fault if you feel like it's harder today than it should be. Plus: can community be dangerous? Find out this week on your favorite sustainability and joy podcast!

Sources

• Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/202307/the-importance-of-community
• Ikeda Center: https://www.ikedacenter.org/resources/what-community-and-why-it-important 
• Motherly: https://www.mother.ly/relationships/community-friendship/making-mom-friends-viral-reel/ 
• The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/feb/05/how-to-build-community 
• The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging 

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Traveling is great, but in this economy?! As anti-tourist sentiments heat up abroad, finding ways to enjoy your local area as a tourist destination is a better idea than ever. Get ideas and tips from Tiff and Kat on how to play tourist in your town to increase your local pride and hey, be a more conscientious tourist wherever you go!

Sources:

• NY Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/arts/design/louvre-staff-strikes-tourism.html
• ABC News - https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/us-travelers-amid-anti-tourism-protests-europe/story?id=122771547
• Global Rescue - https://www.globalrescue.com/common/blog/detail/us-policy-shifts-impact-american-travelers-negative-perception/
• The Points Guy - https://thepointsguy.com/news/new-travel-survey-2025/
• Vox - https://www.vox.com/even-better/23801678/explore-your-city-tourist
• https://www.stateparks.org/

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Trying to buy less shite from Amazon but feel a little... intimidated by mom-and-pops (like, do you have to talk to people)? Tiff and Kat are here to teach you the basics, like what does shop local mean. Buying local is one way to get the stuff you need — and build community along the way. Learn how they managed to cut through the awkwardness, so you can get started in your hometown. 

Sources

• LatinoFreeze: https://www.latinofreeze.com/
• Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dougmelville/2025/03/17/do-boycotts-work-as-targets-traffic-declines-tesla--others-see-shifts-with-consumers/ 
• Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/target-facing-permanent-boycott-june-2079736
• Forbes again: https://www.forbes.com/sites/allysonkapin/2025/03/11/economic-boycotts-how-small-businesses-can-benefit/ 
• Mountain West Chamber of Commerce: https://www.mountainwestchamber.org/blog/2022/10/31/how-small-business-season-keeps-money-in-our-community 

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