When it comes to gut health, the importance of the microbiome can’t be understated. Modern medicine tends to push antibiotics for every infection. But the truth is, antibiotics can actually make you more susceptible to viral illnesses. Antibiotics wipe out the bacteria in your microbiome– which are essential to keeping your immune system functioning properly.

Dr. Robynne Chutkan, author of the book 'The Antiviral Gut', breaks down the role of the microbiome in our immune health. She explains why gut health is synonymous with immune health– and how you can keep your microbiome happy.

|| LINKS || https://robynnechutkan.com/books/the-anti-viral-gut/ | www.trybite.com/darin | Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/the-relationship-between-gut-health-viral-illnesses-dr-robynne-chutkan/ 

Leadership comes with responsibility. When you become a leader for the wrong reasons, it affects everyone you’re supposed to lead. Maybe we’ve been looking at leadership the wrong way. Simon Sinek, founder of The Optimism Company, host of the podcast A Bit of Optimism, and viral YouTube speaker, breaks down what good leadership actually looks like– and what it truly means to lead.

|| LINKS ||  https://simonsinek.com/classes | Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/the-key-to-impactful-leadership-simon-sinek/ 

The sparkling water market has boomed in the last decade, making carbonated water all the rage.

While fizzy water seems like a healthy alternative to sugary sodas, it may not be as healthy as you think it is. Sure, sparkling water is fun to drink. Those fizzing bubbles mimic the carbonation of soda, making seltzer a great way to kick the pop habit. However, carbonated bubbles are made using carbon dioxide, the same gas your kidneys and lungs work so hard to expel from your body. So is sparkling water bad for you? When it comes to hydration, it’s best to kick that fizzy habit and stick to the real stuff. 

|| Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/sparkling-water-fatal-conveniences/ 

As we enter the cryptocurrency era, how do we remain focused on environmental solutions?

Learning more about green blockchains– what they are and how to create them– is the first step. Uma Hagenguth, the founder and COO of APPICS, and Douglas Horn, CEO of GoodBlock and creator of the Telos blockchain, are the perfect guests to explain green blockchains and the future of cryptocurrency. The more we learn about the environmental impact of the cryptocurrency space, the more we can put our trust and support behind creators and companies that have the future of our planet in mind.

|| LINKS || https://appics.com/ | www.telos.net | https://trybite.com/darin20 | Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/green-blockchains-what-are-they-and-how-can-they-change-the-future-of-cryptocurrency-uma-hagenguth-douglas-horn/ 

Between the massive amount of plastic in our ocean, and the looming climate crisis, it can be hard to be hopeful about the future. Can we save the planet? Yes, but we have to start now– with small changes that make a big impact.

Craig Leeson, the award-winning filmmaker behind A Plastic Ocean, knows how important knowledge can be. We have to fully understand the climate crisis in order to change it. With his new film The Last Glaciers, he set out to do just that– break down the science behind the problems our planet faces, so we all know how to start solving them.

|| LINKS || www.thelastglaciers.com  | www.barukas.com | Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/can-we-save-the-planet-craig-leeson/ 

Who doesn’t love a nice dip in the pool? I know I do! When I was a kid, you couldn’t get me out of the swimming pool in the summer. But the majority of backyard and public pools are chlorine pools. If chlorine is strong enough to kill algae, bacteria and germs, what is it doing to your body as you swim through it? Let’s dive into the effects of chlorine, how to minimize its damage and non-chlorine swimming pool options. Just keep swimming- but be wary of chlorine. || Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/chlorine-pools-fatal-conveniences/

For 200 episodes of The Darin Olien Show, I've had inspiring conversations with fascinating guests and explored how to live a better life. So for our 200th episode celebration, I’ve decided to turn the show around to you, the listener. I’ll answer your burning questions regarding food, water, daily routines and how to save the planet by making small changes. We get into some good stuff! I look back on some of my favorite episodes and guests, give you tips on how to make my signature big ass salads, and just have a lot of fun. Thank you so much for supporting the podcast these last couple of years. I’m so excited to show you what’s coming next. 

|| LINKS || https://www.safesleevecases.com | https://barukas.com/ | Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/answering-your-burning-questions-what-i-eat-in-a-day-small-changes-to-make-a-big-impact-more-episode-200-qa/ 

What is happiness?

So many of us go through life searching for happiness, but avoiding our unhappiness. What if happiness comes from leaning into our suffering and trauma? After all, when you avoid your unhappiness, you’re essentially avoiding your ability to be happy. Professor and author of the book 'From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life', explains why we need to use our post-traumatic growth to find happiness in life.

|| LINKS || https://arthurbrooks.com/ | www.beekeepersnaturals.com/darin | Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/your-guide-to-achieving-happiness-arthur-brooks/ 

Sweaters, blankets, hats, scarves, stuffed animals– what do these popular items have in common?

They’re most likely made from acrylic fibers. Acrylic is a man-made, synthetic fiber that, although soft and comfy, is terrible for your body and the environment. Like polyester, acrylic fabrics are cheap, soft, and can be dyed any color of the rainbow. We’ve been so used to using acrylic, that we barely think twice when seeing it on a label. Learn why you should avoid acrylic and polyester, and what to look for instead.

|| Full Show Notes - https://darinolien.com/acrylic-polyester-fatal-conveniences/ 

Setting goals is an important part of life.

We set goals to achieve things in both our professional and personal lives. But does achieving those goals really fulfill you if they’re not part of your bigger purpose? Jeff Patterson, author of The Big Thing Effect: How to Transform Your Life Forever, explains that finding your true purpose is so much more than just setting goals. You need to ask yourself the right questions in order to find the thing that makes you come alive– then you need to do it.

|| LINKS || TheBigThingEffect.com | https://www.trybite.com/darin20 | Full Show Notes -  https://darinolien.com/beyond-setting-goals-whats-your-big-thing-jeff-patterson/