Live. Well. Green.

In this episode of Live. Well. Green, we talk about endocrine disruptors. We will explore what they are, how these chemicals affect our bodies, and how we can avoid them. As you will hear, endocrine disruptors are found in our everyday products, from cosmetics and detergents to pesticides and plastic containers, and are linked to all kinds of health problems, including hormone-related cancers such as breast, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancers. In a study done on mice by Frederick vom Saal, it was discovered that even the most minor of hormonal shifts can have important repercussions on fetal development and affect the life of offspring well into adulthood. Research shows us that hormone function is essential and that when disruption occurs, the side-effects are unpredictable, diverse, and often permanent.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn what endocrine disrupters are and how they impact our hormonal responses. 
• The important functions of the naturally occurring hormones in the endocrine system.
• Hear about the book that first uncovered the serious consequences of endocrine disruption.
• Understanding that changes in one part of the body can have unexpected effects elsewhere.
• A fascinating study about the significant impact of hormonal shifts on fetal development.
• Learn about the endocrine-disrupting compound DDT and how it impacts wildlife.
• How DDT can remain in the human body for a prolonged period, causing delayed problems.
• The widespread use of diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage from the 40s to 70s. 

Key Messages:

1. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can affect the endocrine system and thus the hormones. 

2. These chemicals mimic our hormones or activate other hormone receptors. 

3. They are found in everyday products like pesticides, cleaning products, cosmetics, and more.  

4. Be especially wary of receipts, plastic products, the lining of metal cans, meat and fish products, old paint, and older non-stick pans. 

5. Buy certified products, choose organic produce, stay informed, and be an activist.      

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

Our Stolen Future 

Dirty Dozen List of Endocrine Disruptors (EWG)

Hormone Health Network – Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 

EWG Video: What are Endocrine Disruptors? 

Endocrine Disruptors Fact Sheet by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Mayo Clinic (What is BPA?)

Organizations Using ECOCERT Certification 

EU Ecolabel 

COSMOS

Nordic Swan Ecolabel 

Australian Certified Organic Certification

The Unexpected Gift Box  

Building green does not have to involve expensive or time-consuming technologies; you can implement many effective mechanisms through clever design and doing a bit of research before building a structure. In this way, we can all become producers, not just consumers, of energy. Today, we are going to look at my top 10 picks for the best green building technologies for your home We will consider low and high-tech products, and even look at ancient technology. I will also unpack the reasons why each of them deserves a place on the list. Since I have taught courses on green building and planning in the faculties of architecture and environmental science, have been involved in numerous green building renovations and construction projects over the last 20 years, and have done my own green home renovation, I have gained some valuable knowledge and experience that I trust you will find helpful in your sustainability journey.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn about the diverse uses of geothermal energy and how it can be applied in your home. 
• The primary benefits of a geothermal system: Reducing carbon emissions and effective indoor temperature regulation. 
• I talk about the surprisingly high coefficient of performance of a geothermal heating system. 
• Several additional advantages of these heating systems, including free hot water! 
• How passive solar systems can be designed to optimize the energy obtained from the sun.
• Hear about the Trombe wall and other strategies for aiding the absorption of solar radiation.
• Suggestions for cooling your home by leveraging shade and the thermal stack effect. 
• The drain water heat recovery system involves reusing the heat from discarded warm water. 
• How the heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system works to save the energy required to warm cold air.

Key Messages:

1. Geothermal energy (Using the earth’s underground temperature to heat and cool your home)

2. Passive solar design (Leveraging the sun’s free energy)

3. Drain water heat recovery systems (Using the outgoing heat of warm wastewater)

4. Heat recovery ventilation (Recovering the heat of the air that is expelled)

5. Programmable thermostat (Allows control of the energy used for indoor heating and cooling)

6. Rammed earth buildings (Use local materials, good insulation, provide thermal mass) 

7. Solar energy for heating water (High or low-tech options available)

8. Solar electricity (Helps us to be producers – not only consumers – of energy)

9. Greywater recovery systems (Leveraging lightly-used domestic water for the garden)

10. Green roofs (Energy-efficient, absorbs rainwater, cooling effect, and aesthetic value)

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

Manitoba Hydro (Geothermal energy) 

Manitoba Hydro (Solar water heating)

US Department of Energy (Passive solar energy)

US Department of Energy (Programmable thermostats p.15)

Drain Water Heat Recovery Resource

Canadian Home Inspection (Heat recovery ventilators)

Today I talk to listeners about the best course of action to take care of ourselves and steward our planet, including the choices we make with our money, the food we eat, and the way we impact our communities. This can seem like an overwhelming task, especially because information can be confusing or conflicting, but today I want to give you some guidance on making choices that you can be confident about. Based on my experience in sustainability and working with governments and corporations, I have formulated a solution in the form of four key questions to ask yourself whenever you need to make a decision that affects your wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of the planet. Making good choices does not have to be hard, and while we should aim to do our best, our efforts need not be perfect. These four questions will show you a new way of thinking about your everyday actions and will encourage you to move more thoughtfully in the world. Be sure to tune in! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• The importance of taking good action in our everyday lives – despite our circumstances.
• Hear about the four questions I have formulated to help you make good decisions.
• Being aware that popular health and fitness information is often not based on science.
• A list of key food types that can dramatically reduce your risk for heart disease.
• The short and long-term health benefits of exercise and recommendations for all ages.
• Getting enough sleep to boost your immunity, metabolism, memory, and other vital functions.
• Considering whether an activity is good for your mind and spirit and its relation to the body.
• I talk about how I managed to cope with a cancer diagnosis at a very busy time of my life.
• Finding a sense of purpose and how the Japanese concept of Ikigai can help you get there.  

Key Messages:

1. Is it good for my body? Consider food, exercise, and sleep.
2. Is it good for my mind and spirit? Seek balance and purpose, and reduce stress.
3. Is it good for my community? Think about impacts on humanity beyond our own circles.
4. Is it good for the planet? Consider the life cycle of products, activities, and services. 

Quotables: 

“Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations.”   — Jean-Paul Richter [0:02:28] 

“Doing what is good for your body is actually not that hard. If we eat mostly plant-based, whole foods, avoid processed foods, eat in moderation, and drink water, we are doing the right thing.” — Kristina Hunter [0:03:59]

“A healthy diet helps pave the way to a healthy heart and blood vessels, strong bones and muscles, a sharp mind, and so much more.” — Harvard Health Publishing [0:04:22] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

Harvard Health Publishing (Healthy eating) 

Mayo Clinic (Sleep recommendations)

Ikigai Blog Post 

The Ecology of Commerce

Physical Activity Resource

The Unexpected Gift Box 

In this episode, we look at the science of happiness. While most of us are interested in happiness and pursue it at least to some degree, we lack the scientific understanding of how it works. Today I discuss the issues of happiness and why it matters to us so much and explore the discipline of positive psychology and its contributions to the science of happiness. I also highlight some examples of building happiness in our lives from an evidence-based perspective.  Joining in, listeners will learn about the factors that are strongly tied to happiness, how a deep sense of contentment impacts us on a physical level, and why the importance of happiness and wellbeing ought to be a global mission that is reflected in public policy. You will be encouraged to know that, despite the influence of genetics and circumstances on happiness, there are several ways in which we can build more contentment into our lives—particularly by cultivating the right mindset and taking appropriate action.   

Key Points From This Episode:

• What we mean by ‘happiness’ and its association with relationships and experiences.
• Happiness is unrelated to material possessions, final destinations, or one-time events. 
• The factors that contribute to contentment or a state of peaceful happiness.
• What a meta-analysis of happiness revealed about the physiological benefits of happiness. 
• The study proving the positive relationship between happiness, health, and longevity. 
• The correlation between reported happiness and life satisfaction scores in the Cantril Ladder.
• Hear about the sustainability aims involved in the UN’s International Day of Happiness.   
• Why happiness and wellbeing need to be a universal goal and factored into public policy. 
• An overview of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how positive psychology contributes to our understanding of happiness. 

Key Messages:

1. Happiness has many definitions and it can be different for everyone. 
2. It is a state of wellbeing and contentment. 
3. Happiness is not a destination but a daily practice.  
4. Studies show it improves physical health, increases longevity, and increases life satisfaction. 
5. The science of happiness is studied in the discipline of positivity psychology.  
6. External factors account for 10% of our happiness and we can control 40% (thoughts and actions).
7. Build your personal happiness through close relationships, kindness, exercising and eating well, finding flow, spiritual engagement, discovering your strengths, and a positive mindset. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

Happify Daily  

Action for Happiness 

World Happiness Report 

Our World in Data (Happiness vs Life Satisfaction)

World Health Organization (Bulletin)

The Pursuit of Happiness 

Authentic Happiness

Project Happiness Global

TED Talk: What Makes A Good Life?

The Unexpected Gift Box 

Today we discuss living well by being slower and bolder, and joining us to share his experience and expertise on the subject is Mr. Carl Honoré. Carl is a two-time TED speaker, a bestselling author with books in 35 languages, and an authoritative voice in the slow movement. In this conversation, we get into how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us an opportunity to slow down and perhaps even pivot into what matters most to us both personally and as societies. Living slower and approaching life with boldness means living life on your terms and having the courage to create, learn, and have a positive impact. It comes from knowing yourself, being present, putting aside the arrogance of speed, and embracing the life you have at any age. Do not miss out on this uplifting conversation with special guest Carl Honoré!

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Find out how and when Carl made the purposeful decision to slow down and reconnect. 
• The one-minute bedtime story and other signs that his life was running at an undesired pace. 
• How things in the modern world often appear perfect while rotting away on the inside.
• The relationship between increasing superficiality and being stuck in fast forward mode.
• How having extra time has made us more reflective and thus aware of social injustices. 
• Why Carl believes that we might emerge from this crisis with a more humane way of being. 
• The selfishness and arrogance of speed versus the sense of community fostered by slowing down. 
• Focusing on who you are and what you value rather than on what others think you ought to be. 
• The link between creativity and boldness and how slowness creates fertile ground for both. 
• Insights on the U-shaped happiness curve and why older people tend to be more content.
• Ageism and the role that mindset and expectation around aging plays in how you age. 
• Viewing each new year of life as going up a level and moving forward instead of declining. 
• Recognizing that every age has pros and cons and embracing the stage of life that you are in. 

 Key Messages:

1. Slow down and go boldly. 

2. Leave behind superficial labels. 

3. Live life on your own terms.

4. Make the most of life at every level. 

Quotables:

“Slow is about diving deep; it is about getting below the surface to the core, to the heart of the matter.” — @carlhonore [0:07:44]  

“Having it all is a false god. Having it all is just a recipe for hurrying it all and it is also a very bad deal for the environment.” — @carlhonore [0:10:42] 

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb [0:12:53]

“Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.” — Mae West [0:39:00]  

“Life really begins at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research.” — Carl Jung [0:39:05] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

Carl Honoré

Carl Honoré Info

Carl Honoré on Twitter

In Praise of Slow 

Under Pressure

The Slow Fix

Bolder

Is there a way for us to know whether we are living in an ecologically considerate way and are satisfied and living well? In this episode, we are going to talk about measuring success. We know there are no numbers to tell us whether we are living sustainably and happily, but there are certain things we can assess to help us establish a benchmark and a starting point. The aspects of our lives that are measurable can be used to direct our decision-making, and in that way, guide us toward greater environmental awareness and overall higher quality of life. Joining in today, listeners will hear me talk about the different ways for us to measure sustainability and our happiness, using calculators and tools that evaluate our carbon emissions, water consumption, waste production, and even our anxiety and happiness levels.

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Why is it important to measure our performance in terms of environmental sustainability? 

•    The concept of an ecological footprint and how we can measure the impact we make.

•    Our contemporary culture promotes the overconsumption and exploitation of resources.  

•    The value of thinking about resources in terms of how much of the planet one person can consume. 

•    Resource use calculations help us to make better choices individually and collectively. 

Key Messages:

1.      Measurements can help us improve and give direction for positive actions. 

2.      The ecological footprint is a robust method of calculating overall ecological impacts. 

3.      We can get more specific with a carbon and water footprint calculator. 

4.      We can calculate waste by doing a household waste audit. 

5.      Life satisfaction or happiness surveys can be fun and provide helpful insights. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

Ecological Footprint Calculator

United Nations Carbon Offset Calculator

Ecological Footprints Around the Globe

Water Footprint Video – A Film by UNESCO WWAP

Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on Earth

Water Footprint Calculator (Detailed)

Water Footprint Calculator (Simple)

United Nations: Water and Climate Change 

USGS – Where Is Earth’s Water?

How To Do A Household Waste Audit—and Why 

University of Pennsylvania – Authentic Happiness Test

Berkeley Stress and Anxiety Quiz

World Happiness Report

Today’s episode is all about the lessons I have learned from my dogs and the dogs that I’ve loved. Many people have beautiful, close relationships with their animals, and if you are one of these people and have spent time observing and interacting with them, you will know that they are wonderful creatures with a lot of wisdom that we are not necessarily privy to. I am sure that the lessons I share today are not unique to me and many of you will be able to relate to my experiences. Among other things, my dogs have taught me to play more, to be curious about the world around me, and to make time for napping! When you pay attention, your dogs will show you a different side to life and connect you at a deeper level to the natural world. This episode is a must-listen for all dog lovers as I will be sharing some profound (and at times quirky) things that we can all learn from them. 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Hear about the dogs that I have loved and cared for over the years. 

•    Kuna teaches me to play exuberantly and be joyful.   

•    Dogs show us that it is better to listen more and “speak” less. 

•    Our canine friends are great at being quiet and exploring the world around them. 

•    The importance of listening to people’s hearts and responding with empathy and love. 

•    Maddy taught me to be curious about everything and approach the world with wonder. 

•    We still have a great deal to discover in and about the world—make learning a priority. 

•    The medical evidence suggesting that naps have several health benefits. 

•    Guidelines for getting the most from your afternoon snooze. 

•    From dogs, we can learn to revel in the good stuff and extend joy to other people. 

•    We need to know when it is time to metaphorically run and do what needs to be done to make a change in the world. 

•    Dogs have surprising wisdom and insight—a lot of which people know little about. 

Key Messages: 

1. Play exuberantly and enjoy life. 

2. Listen more than you speak. 

3. Be curious. 

4. Nap every day. 

5. Revel in the good stuff. 

6. Run when it is time to run. 

7. Meander when it is time to meander. 

8. There is wisdom in nature. 

Quotables:

“Can we play more exuberantly? Can we just go for a run or play our sports or even a board game just for the joy of it? Without expectation, without hoping for an outcome or tracking our steps?” — Kristina Hunter [0:04:10]

“Bliss is the result of a silent conversation between me and my dog.” — Anonymous [0:04:55] 

“Life is a succession of moments, to live each one is to succeed.” — Corita Kent [0:12:40] 

“There is real wisdom in nature, in the natural world, and in our dogs and I feel that we are so lucky to glimpse at it and to learn from them.” — Kristina Hunter [0:19:51]  

“All his life, he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. After all, he was only human. He wasn’t a dog.” — Charles M Schulz [0:23:39] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

Mayo Clinic (Napping Guidelines)

Harvard Health (Benefits of Napping)

The Unexpected Gift Box

Hello, my flourishing friends! In today’s episode, I discuss several clever, inexpensive ways that you can make your home greener, including being mindful of your energy and water use as well as being selective when it comes to your cleaning and purchasing habits. It’s all about creating a lifestyle that makes sense for both you and the environment, and one that ultimately helps to preserve our planet. In this episode, I give you actionable tips for creating a green lifestyle at home for no or little cost, including being smart about your heating and cooling, leveraging your existing appliances, saving water with each load of laundry, and watering your garden at strategic times of the day. I also make suggestions for purchasing according to your environmental values, cleaning and disinfecting without harmful chemicals, re-using rather than buying new and thinking differently about the source of true happiness. Be sure to tune in for much more! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    Learn how homeowners and tenants alike are affected by energy and water costs. 

•    Save energy by adjusting the temperature on your thermostat and switching it off at times. 

•    Program your thermostat to warm or cool your home before waking up or returning home. 

•    Consider leveraging natural ventilation or using a ceiling or whole-house fan. 

•    Run your ceiling fan clockwise for heating and counter-clockwise for cooling.   

•    Combating the stack effect and reverse stack effect in multi-story buildings in each season. 

•    How your blinds and curtains can save you money.  

•    Using cold water, full loads, maximum spin, and other energy-saving laundry tips. 

•    Advice for maintaining clothes dryers and other appliances. 

•    Seal your doors, windows, and cracks with weather stripping and caulking.  

•    The benefits of using Energy Star certified LED or compact fluorescent lightbulbs despite their higher price points to save in the long run. 

•    Save water by fixing dripping faucets and running toilets and not letting the water run. 

Key Messages: 

1.      Be smart with your energy use by heating and cooling efficiently. 

2.      Save water by stopping leaks and monitoring water use indoors and outdoors.

3.      Simple household products are great for cleaning and disinfecting.

4.      Let your purchasing decisions reflect your environmental values. 

5.      Repair, repurpose and reclaim before buying new. 

6.      Understand that lasting happiness does not come from material goods. 

Quotables: 

“Energy tends to be one of the greatest costs associated with homeownership and it’s one that we can affect.” — Kristina Hunter [0:02:41] 

“We need to close those blinds and curtains on our windows in the hotter months and open them in the colder months. There can be really significant savings from doing this simple action.” — Kristina Hunter [0:09:32]  

“Toilets can be huge water wasters. They can use anywhere from 3 to 6 liters up to 26 liters per flush for those really old toilets.” — Kristina Hunter [0:16:50] 

“Somehow we have come to the erroneous belief that we are all but flesh, blood, and bones, and that’s all. So we direct our values to material things.” — Maya Angelou [0:26:02] 

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” — Albert Einstein [0:28:18] 

Links Mentio

Getting the right information and making the best choices for your wellness can be incredibly overwhelming due to the sea of information. In addition, we each have our own beliefs, values, and live with social norms, and these also impact our perspective on wellness and our decision-making around it. In this episode, I’m going to give you practical guidelines for navigating sources of information and show you the difference between scientific and anecdotal evidence. By virtue of the scientific method, we can make observations, formulate a hypothesis, and test our hypothesis to gain much more accurate information, thereby helping to solve problems and even save lives! I will give you several examples of how the scientific method has served humanity, explain the problem with some of the current sources of information on the coronavirus, and make a case for why we must be careful with how and where we obtain our information from. 

Key Points From This Episode:

•    A shoutout and special thank you to the listener who wrote an excellent review of the podcast.

•    There are complicated wellness-related questions that most of us seek answers to. 

•    The factors that impact our decision-making: beliefs, values, social norms, and more. 

•    The importance of the scientific method, its roots, and how it can be applied. 

•    An example of how the scientific method helps us to acquire knowledge and solve problems. 

•    How technology has changed the way that information is shared, critiqued, and tested. 

•    An explanation of the peer-review process and how it ensures the quality of knowledge. 

•    Hear why the pandemic has resulted in information being released without rigorous review.

•    How Ignaz Semmelweis used the scientific method to introduce hand washing and save lives. 

Key Messages:

1.      The scientific method has led to modern advances. 

2.      Scientific evidence is very different from anecdotal evidence. 

3.      Knowledge is a continuum that we continue to build upon. 

Quotables:

“Building knowledge is a process and our knowledge can and will change over time.” — Kristina Hunter [0:17:23]

“Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make because they lead little by little to the truth.” — Jules Verne [0:17:47] 

“Handwashing with soap and water has been considered a measure of personal hygiene for centuries and has been generally embedded in religious and cultural habits. Nevertheless, the link between handwashing and the spread of disease was established only two centuries ago.” — World Health Organization [0:24:52] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

The Scientific Method

NASA (Why the sky is blue)

The Doctor Who Championed Handwashing: Ignaz Semmelweis

World Health Organization

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Harvard Health

The Mayo Clinic

Today on the podcast, I’m tackling a big question: does everything cause cancer? In exploring this issue, I am going to break it down into three sub-questions: What is cancer? What causes cancer? And what can we do to prevent cancer? We hear about cancer-causing phenomena almost every day and it can leave us feeling powerless and overwhelmed. We know that the prevalence of cancer is extremely high, which makes it seem even scarier. Joining in the conversation, listeners will learn what cancer is, how it manifests in our bodies and the processes that ultimately lead to the disease. While there are factors, such as random genetic mutation and age, that we cannot prevent, there is plenty we can do to reduce our risk of developing cancer, including making healthy lifestyle choices and avoiding things that we know can increase our risk. Let’s dive in! 

Key Points From This Episode 

•    We are bombarded with information about the things that can prevent or cause cancer. 

•    The prevalence of cancer, the most common types, and the countries that are at higher risk. 

•    Learn what happens at the cellular level when cancer develops. 

•    The relationship between the gene mutations you are born with and those you acquire. 

•    The two-step process of how cancer-causing gene mutations occur: initiation and promotion. 

•    Three major categories of carcinogens: chemical, physical, and viruses. 

•    Find out where the most common sources of chemical carcinogens are found. 

•    The viruses that are responsible for causing cancer and a vaccine that can prevent HPV. 

•    How genetics and age can contribute to the development of cancer.  

•    Why it is important for us to protect children from exposure to carcinogens. 

Key Messages: 

1.     Cancer includes a large number of diseases that negatively impact cells. 

2.     Cancer develops in two steps: initiation and promotion. 

3.     The four main causes of cancer are carcinogens, genetics, random mutations, and age. 

4.     Reduce the risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices. 

5.     Support cancer research and people who are experiencing cancer. 

6.     Head to theunexpectedgiftbox.com to send a tailored gift in support of a friend. 

Quotables:

“It seems that every other day we hear about one thing or another that causes cancer. Eat this; don’t eat that—it can be very confusing and overwhelming, right?” — Kristina Hunter [0:01:21]

“This all happens because of mutations to our genes, mutations that we are either born with or happen over our lifetime, or both.” — Kristina Hunter [0:07:20] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing 

World Health Organization

Mayo Clinic

Canadian Cancer Society

The Unexpected Gift Box

Woman Redefined: Dignity, Beauty, and Breast Cancer