Non-Toxic

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.

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 Libel

The Levers of Change Gender Equality Attitudes Study 2022

Masculinity and women's equality: study finds emerging gender divide in young people's attitudes

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

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 unpunished

How to Save a Forest by Burning It

Wildfires Will Put $11 Billion Worth of U.S. Property at Risk Every Year by 2050

Damage from sprawling Prospect Park brush fire may take years to repair, officials say

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.

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 Manosphere

Why Democrats won't build their own Joe Rogan

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.

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 masculinity

Ian's free webinar on Men's Work.

A 1990 interview with poet and author of Iron John, Robert Bly.

The ManKind Project

Sacred Sons

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 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!