Astroturf, also known as Sports turf or artificial turf, has revolutionized the world of sports. It has become a popular alternative to natural grass fields due to its durability, low maintenance, and ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. However, as with most innovations, sports turf comes with a heavy price to human health and the environment. In fact, did you know Monsanto created Astroturf?   Monsanto is known for its production of genetically modified seeds and the development of controversial herbicides and pesticides linked to all sorts of cancers and has faced numerous lawsuits and criticisms over its products and practices, particularly for their impact on human health and the environment. The negative impact on the world cannot be ignored. That’s why today, we are exploring the Fatal Convenience: Astroturf.    What we discuss:   00:14: What is Astroturf? 11:17: Where does astroturf come from? 14:40: What are the effects of astroturf? 22:38: What can we do?     Reliable Sources where you can learn more:  

• https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/a42735112/history-of-turf/ 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6299344/ 
• https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/10/phillies-ball-players-cancer-artifical-turf 
• https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/new-studies-show-pfas%20artificial-grass-blades-and-backing
• https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19538500/artificial-turf-cancer-risk/
• https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/europe-raises-the-bar-for-carcinogens-in-artificial-turf-pitches/4014144.article
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6396308/

  Thank you to our sponsors:   Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/     Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

How often are you immersed in nature on a weekly basis? For some of you, that question actually might be, how often are you immersed in nature on a monthly basis? Ideally we can get into nature daily, but in today’s society, that often feels nearly impossible. This is what we are going to chat about today with guest Jeffrey Ryan, who recognizes the challenges of getting back to nature in today's society and provides solutions on how to do so.    In this episode, Jeffrey and I discuss the deep need to connect to nature for our overall well being, the difficulties we face connecting to nature in our urban society, and the imbalances in the world from an environmental perspective. But most importantly, we talk about why it’s important to preserve and manage land and the exciting prospect of “rewilding”.   Jeffrey Ryan is an author and speaker known for his travel and outdoor adventure writing. Ryan's books include "Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-Year Hike on America's Trail," "Blazing Ahead: Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, and the Rivalry that Built the Appalachian Trail," and "Hermit: The Mysterious Life of Jim Whyte." In his writing, Ryan combines his interests in nature, history, and storytelling to create engaging narratives that inspire readers to explore the outdoors and learn about the past.     What we discuss:   12:56: About Jeffrey 18:23: Why should you make being outdoors a priority? 22:21: What skills can you gain from hiking? 31:21: How is the preservation of nature enforced? 37:59: Where does the awareness of the preservation of nature come from? 49:35: What are the challenges that National Parks face? 53:05: Why don’t people grasp the importance of our lands? 56:45: What are we doing right and wrong when it comes to taking care of our land? 01:04:25: What can nature teach us about ourselves?     Key takeaways:  

• Our land belongs to all of us. It belonged to the people before us, to us, and the next generations. Thus, the importance of preserving it. Our lands were protected throughout generations and through plenty of civilizations for a reason; they were saved for us because our lands are what allowed past generations to survive. This brings the question: why are we trying to destroy land that was saved for us?

 

• These are life skills that most of us tend to develop through experience, as life goes by. But what if we could gain these useful life skills a lot faster and under better terms? Hiking in nature can help you gain this life skill. When you’re in nature without any help from the outside world, you have to learn how to deal with the spontaneous things the forest may throw at you. Whether it’s a trail being blocked by a fresh stream that wasn’t there before or a tree blocking your way, these situations help build that problem-solving muscle. As you experience more of these types of situations where you have to think on your feet, the easier it will be for you to deal with the next one coming your way, whether it’s in the forest or at work.

 

• Sometimes, spending time with nothing else but ourselves is the thing we are most scared to do. That’s why we listen to podcasts on our walks and blast music on our speakers when we shower. But when we do that, we’re missing out on the opportunity to reflect and look within, which is important for our personal growth. This is why it’s important to take time with yourself seriously and to completely disconnect and learn to spend time with your thoughts in nature.

    Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Jeffrey:   Website: https://www.jeffryanauthor.com/ Instagram: @jeff_ryan_author Book: https://www.jeffryanauthor.com/where-to-buy-this-land-was-saved-for-you-and-me/     More links:   Pre-order my newest book Fatal Conveniences: The Toxic Products and Harmful Habits That Are Making You Sick―and the Simple Changes That Will Save Your Health on Amazon.   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase: https://therasage.com/pages/shop

Microwave popcorn is a worldwide popular comfy food we have all enjoyed while at parties, movie  nights, family or friends gatherings, and much more. Many brands offer a wide variety of flavors and  presentations, and while we all know it can be a nice addition to happy memories we will explain how  it is simply much better to wipe them out of your diet. Not only do they have a high concentration of  chemicals, preservatives and unnatural ingredients that can be harmful to human health they are also  a relevant contributor of waste and unwanted chemicals in the environment. Regardless of their  practicality and easy-to-prepare methods, the potential negative impacts that you might experience later on are not worth some popcorn.  

 

Reliable Sources where you can learn more: 

• Bioavailability and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in popcorn kernel from sandy loam Ferric Luvisol amended with municipal solid waste compost 

• Spirometric Abnormalities and Lung Function Decline in Current and Former Microwave Popcorn  and Current Flavoring Manufacturing Workers 

• Risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food: Symposium proceedings 

 

 

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What do you do when life keeps throwing curveballs at you?   In this episode of The Darin Olien Show, I chat with Oksana Masters about her childhood and how those first few difficult years of her life helped her become who she is today.    While it could have been understandable for Oksana to feel a bit bad for herself given the experiences she lived through, she did not allow herself to dwell for too long. And as life threw more challenges at her, she continued to push through. As she looks back at all of the obstacles she surpassed, she shares with us her wisdom about the hard parts of life.   Oksana also shares what motivates her to keep pushing in sports and reach excellence, despite all the challenges she faces.   Oksana Masters is the most decorated Winter Paralympian in U.S. history. She’s won 17 Paralympic medals — 14 at the Winter Games in cross-country skiing and biathlon, and three at the Summer Games in rowing and cycling. She’s recently added the title of “author” to her extensive resume and her book, “The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph,” details her adoption story as well as the chilling traumas she endured during her time in the orphanage system in Ukraine.    What we discuss:   002:47: About Oksana 06:52: Where does Oksana’s drive come from? 13:41: Does Oksana view herself as a victim? 18:36: How did Oksana learn from her second leg amputation? 24:45: What’s the hard part of Oksana’s experience? 28:55: What is Oksana’s experience in the orphanage? 33:02: How does being uncomfortable help you grow? 42:47: What’s Oksana’s experience with being “in the zone”? 46:36: Did Oksana feel like she was escaping from herself through sports? 49:27: Who is Oksana now? 52:05: When is Oksana’s book coming out? 54:32: What is Oksana doing next?   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Oksana:   Website: https://www.oksanamastersusa.com/about-me/ Book: https://www.instagram.com/oksanamasters/     More links:   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase here: https://therasage.com/pages/shop   Pre-order Fatal Conveniences: The Toxic Products and Harmful Habits That Are Making You Sick - And The Simple Changes That Will Save Your Health here: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/

People have been removing natural body hair for centuries using various methods, the most common way today being razors. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, the majority are made of plastic. While this is an obvious flaw in this fatal convenience, there’s a vastly overlooked part to the razor that is causing just as much damage: the smooth strip on the razor. It promises a gentle glide over the skin in order to avoid cuts from the razor blades, but what is that smooth strip composed of, how could it be harmful, and what should we be using instead to achieve a nice smooth shave? Today we are exploring the fatal convenience: Razor Smooth Strips.

 

Reliable Sources where you can learn more:

• https://aquajetrazor.com/blogs/news/lubricating-strip-razors
• https://littlesouthernlife.com/whats-in-the-lubricating-strip-in-razors/
• https://womensmuseum.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/the-history-of-female-hair-removal/
• https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/843280-Gillette_Venus_Venus_Spa_Razor_2019_formulation/
• https://ecoroots.us/products/safety-razor-rose-gold?variant=39381453799504¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic
• https://getrockwell.com/blogs/journal/a-guide-to-eco-friendly-shaving-plastic-free-razors
• https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/eco-friendly-razors#products
• Non-Toxic Ways to Remove Face and Body Hair - LeafScore

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

 

Therasage is offering your listeners 15% off your order. Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off. Code is valid on the Thera360 PLUS personal.

Bite is offering our listeners 20% off your first order. Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 at checkout to claim this deal.      Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/       Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

Do you feel like there aren’t enough solutions for mental health?   In this episode of The Darin Olien show, I chat with Dr. Ellen Vora about the anatomy of anxiety. While most of us believe that we have a predisposition to certain mental health illnesses due to our genetics, this isn’t necessarily true. The truth is that anxiety and other similar types of disorders are activated by environmental stressors, which then pull the trigger on genetics. Thus, understanding how to create an environment that is beneficial to your mental health and not detrimental to it is the first step to ensuring the production of serotonin.    We also chat about the two different types of anxiety and why one is considered to be false anxiety and the other to be true-form anxiety. Dr. Ellen Vora dives into the different pillars of health you should address before you turn to big pharma to feel better.    Ellen Vora, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher, and she is the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. She takes a functional medicine approach to mental health—considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root. Dr. Vora received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from Columbia University.     What we discuss:   04:12: About Anxiety  06:22: When did Dr. Ellen’s interest in anxiety start? 11:22: Why did Dr. Ellen write her book about mental health? 16:18: Are doctors equipped to take care of mental health? 20:44: How are the pillars of health related to mental health? 25:02: What are the two different types of anxiety? 35:00: What do you need to know about the anxiety process? 37:49: Are you destroying your health for pleasure? 39:30: What do we need to do to protect our health? 42:40: How is the attention economy affecting our mental health? 44:29: How does a day in life look like for Dr. Ellen? 48:51: What was Dr. Ellen not thought at medical school about spirituality? 53:41: Why does society think that crying isn’t accepted? 56:23: Where can you learn more about Dr. Ellen?   Key Takeaways:  

• You aren’t born with mental health issues. What you are born with, however, are the genetics that may play a part in the development of mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. The common misconception when it comes to the link between anxiety and genetics is that one’s genetics are what triggers anxiety. In reality, genetics do not do such a thing; they only pull the trigger when your physiology is already out of whack and under stress. Genetics only runs with what it is given. Thus, there is hope for those who may feel like they can’t escape what may feel like a never-ending cycle of anxiety. It’s only a question of pinpointing what environmental factors need to be adjusted.

 

• When we take a close look at what anxiety is, we can see that there are two different types. First, there is false anxiety. This is when the anxiety you are experiencing is due to a biological response to your physiology being affected by certain physical stressors that have been building up in your day-to-day. This could be an unstable sleep routine, overconsumption of caffeine, or overconsumption of sugar. Overall, you shouldn’t be experiencing this type of anxiety. The second type of anxiety is called true anxiety. This is the type of stress that you shouldn’t be pathologizing, suppressing, or can diet your way out of. It’s your true north, asking you to slow down and pay attention to what’s happening within you. There’s usually a call to action you need to act upon to go back into alignment with yourself.

 

• The modern approach to anxiety is not completely irrelevant. There are some advantages to taking prescription medication in some cases. However, modern-day medicine isn’t the best-suited place to turn to when you’re truly looking to get rid of exaggerated levels of anxiety as they often look to diagnose and treat rather than cure. What’s important to do is to look at your health from a holistic point of view, and work from the outside towards the inside, not the other way around.

  Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Dr. Vora:   Website: https://ellenvora.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenvoramd/ Book: https://ellenvora.com/book/   More links:   Shop Barukas and use code DARIN10 to save 10% on your order: https://barukas.com/discount/DARIN10   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase: https://therasage.com/pages/shop

Wet wipes have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their convenience and versatility. They are a typical example of a fast-paced and single-use product to which the negative consequences that generate are much more dangerous and significant when compared to its benefits. With the ever growing popularity of wet wipes has come a  significant environmental problem due to the impact on ecosystems, waterways, wildlife, and human health.

In fact, 1 billion wipes are flushed away each year, and each one of those wipes can take over 100 years to biodegrade (according to Business Waste, a British company providing waste services). This leaves us with a gigantic waste problem that creates several environmental and health repercussions.

When we flush a wet wipe down the toilet, we fail to think about the microplastics it contains, the blackages in sewage systems it causes, the harm it does to fish, birds, and other marine life that mistake them for food, the impact it has on our own health, and so much more. That’s why in this episode, we are going to explore wet wipes as a fatal convenience…

 

 

Reliable Sources where you can learn more:

• Baby wipes and nappy rash – what is the relationship? A review

• Pressurized liquid extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fragrance allergens, musks, phthalates and preservatives in baby wipes

• Wet wipes contribution to microfiber contamination under COVID-19 era: An important but overlooked problem

• Who gives a crap

• Cloud Paper • Repurpose

 

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Bite is offering our listeners 20% off your first order. Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 at checkout to claim this deal. That’s T-R-Y-B-I-T-E dot com slash DARIN20.   Therasage is offering your listeners 15% off your order. Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off. Code is valid on the Thera360 PLUS personal infrared sauna and sitewide!   Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/       Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

Do you feel like you have no control over the time you spend on your cell phone?   In this episode of The Darin Olien Show, I chat with Gaia Bernstein about why that’s the case for so many of us. While it may feel like it, it’s not your fault if you’re addicted to social media. This is because there are experts in human psychology and behavior working for these social media giants who are doing everything in their power to keep you coming back for more.    But what most of us don’t realize is they’re also great at giving us the illusion that it’s our fault that we can’t stop picking up our phones to scroll through social media. They give us screen time monitoring tools, the ability to turn off notifications, and more tools of this sort to make us feel like we have some type of control over how we use our phones. And when we fail at staying off the platforms, we blame ourselves.   We also chat about the impact our screen time has on our relationships, our mental health, and our sense of connection with our community.    Gaia Bernstein is the Technology, Privacy, and Policy Professor of Law, Co-Director of the Institute for Privacy Protection, and Co-Director of the Gibbons Institute of Law Science and Technology. Professor Bernstein specializes in law and technology, information privacy, health privacy, intellectual property, law and genetics, and reproductive technologies. She is also the founding director of the Institute for Privacy Protection. She created and spearheaded the Institute’s nationally recognized Outreach Program, which educated parents and students about technology overuse and privacy.   What we discuss:   01:43: How technology, law, and health came together for Gaia 06:41: How is personal connection impacted by technology? 08:10: Where is the line between the good and bad of technology? 10:53: How can we gain our power back again? 15:16: Data and privacy; what are we giving up? 18:28: Where did we go wrong with technology? 19:42: What’s the harm of these technologies? 24:22: How can we get control back over technology? 28:03: What can we do to empower ourselves and the community? 34:08: How can we balance the dangers of technology? 42:07: Is technology making us less smart? 43:22: How would Gaia implement measures around technology? 51:09: Is Gaia optimistic about the future legal implications around technology? 55:58: Where to learn more about Gaia and unwiring yourself from addictive technologies   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Gaia:   Website: https://gaiabernstein.com/ Book: Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies     More links:   Shop Bite and use code DARIN20 to save 20% on your Bite subscription. Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase.

With roughly 75% of the entire population being lactose intolerant and with the plant-based diet gaining major momentum throughout the entire world, many alternatives for animal-based products are beginning to be created. Although, there is one in particular that has been around for decades: Margarine…or what many of you know as I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. 

Butter is one of the oldest discoveries in food, still present in today's society. It consists of fats, proteins, and vitamins from the milk of animals, predominantly the cow. In the late decades of the 20th century  we were seeing  fat speicifically saturated fat as the culprit to combat heart disease and high cholesterol and thus moved toward alternatives such as margarine with the infamous brand “I can’t believe it’s not butter” which claimed to have 70% less saturated fats (Source).

But are highly processed alternatives like margarine really better for our health?

In this episode, we are going to explore how this butter alternative can be causing just as many, if not more, health issues than standard butter. We’re going to dive into the ingredients, the product process, the truth about margarine, and other plant-based alternatives that have shown to be healthier, more sustainable options for both you and the planet.

 

Reliable Sources where you can learn more:

• https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/2017/03/how-butter-was-born-and-why-it-spread

• http://www.butterjournal.com/butter-history

• https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/well/eat/how-the-sugar-industry-shifted-blame-to-fat.html

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3335257/

• https://blog.providence.org/regional-blog-news/ask-an-expert-butter-vs-margarine-which-is-better-for-you

• Superlife by Darin Olien

 

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While many of us may realize the importance of forests for both our health and the environment, there’s more to the story we need to know understand…Given that a forest usually takes a few decades to grow, most people tend to think of forest restoration as something that the next generation should take care and people fail to realize we need to plant the seed today, to reap the benefits tomorrow.    If you witnessed a forest grow in your lifetime, consider yourself lucky because this is a once-in-a-lifetime sighting as most forests take anywhere between 30 to 40 years to grow. The good news is it doesn’t have to take that long…anymore. There’s now a thing called Natural Urban Forests that has entered the market and it allows us to restore forests and have trees high in the sky in as little as two years…that’s right TWO YEARS. Imagine what this can do for the health of the planet.    This is what we are going to dive into in this episode of the Darin Olien Show with guests Tatiana Grossman, Alexander Marcoulides, and Ethan Bryson.   Tatiana Grossman is the Founder & Co-CEO of Corridor, the company that has created the fastest reforestation method known, creating vibrant ecosystems in as little as two years. Alexander Marcoulides is also the Founder & Co-CEO and Ethan Bryson is the Chief Reforestation Officer.      Key Takeaways  

• While many of us may realize the importance of forests for both our health and the environment. However, given that a forest usually takes a few decades to grow, most people tend to think of forest restoration as something that the next generation should take care of as they won’t directly benefit from it as they may not be around by the time it’s a forest. People fail to realize we need to plant the seed today, to reap the benefits tomorrow. 

 

• For most of us who live in a city, we haven’t talked to our neighbors in months - even years! While it may feel like a normal phenomenon, it isn’t as we haven’t always been this way. There was a point in time in the past when community and your neighbors were essential to your communal and societal wellbeing. That being said, maybe it’s time we connect back to the soil, get our hands dirty, and plant some trees. Not only are trees great for the environment, but they can also heal us. From mental health to increasing bonding, the healing properties of forests are never-ending.

 

• If you witnessed a forest grow in your lifetime, consider yourself lucky because this is a once-in-a-lifetime sighting as most forests take anywhere between 30 to 40 years to grow. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. Since Natural Urban Forests entered the market, we can restore forests and have trees high in the sky in as little as two years.

    What we discuss:   03:26: About Ethan 07:26: About Tatiana 11:26: What is Natural Urban Forest focusing on? 14:02: How can you restore a forest area?  16:37: What should we be aware of in terms of forestation? 24:23: How is the business growing?  29:37: What measures are Natural Urban Forest turning to? 37:27: How can you get involved with Natural Urban Forest? 39:10: What would make the needle move for Natural Urban Forest? 45:21: How does it work for potential food production and water waste? 52:27: How can we proliferate Natural Urban Forest’s message? 59:08: Where to learn more about Natural Urban Forest   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Natural Urban Forests:   Website: https://www.naturalurbanforests.com/ Instagram: @naturalurbanforests   More links:   Shop Barukas and use code DARIN10 to save 10% on your order: https://barukas.com/discount/DARIN10   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase: https://therasage.com/pages/shop