"You're bombarded with all these messages. Try to think of the one that means the most to you. Is it your kid's health? Is it your health? Is it the environment? Is it nutrition? What resonates with you, and helps you make a shift you feel good about?"

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans shape how a nation eats, but the science, politics, and industry forces behind them are rarely discussed.

In this can't-miss episode, renowned nutrition scientist Dr. Christopher Gardner, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and lead researcher of the Netflix Twin Experiment, pulls back the curtain on the latest update: how it was crafted, what's shifted, and where it diverges from the evidence. Dr. Gardner helps us separate fact from manipulation and noise, and offers practical, realistic takeaways for building a balanced, sustainable way of eating.

What we discuss in this episode:

• Dr. Gardner's experience working on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

• What the dietary guidelines would look like if they strictly reflected current scientific evidence.

• The influence of the dairy and meat industries on the DGA.

• Ingredients and additives in processed foods that are designed to drive consumption.

• Tips for improving your diet.

• Research comparing Beyond Meat to pasture-raised organic red meat.

• How much vitamin B12 you actually need.

• Saturated fats in plant foods compared with saturated fats in animal products.

• The potential of diet to reverse harmful health patterns.

Resources:

• Nutrition Studies Research Group | Stanford Medicine

• Instagram: Christopher Gardner (@cgardnerphd) • Instagram photos and videos - https://www.instagram.com/cgardnerphd/

• YouTube: Watch You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment | Netflix Official Site

• The Uncompromised Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030

• The center for science and public interest: Fuel the fight for safer food!

• Plant-based meat lowers some cardiovascular risk factors compared with red meat, study finds

Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act

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Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips

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Microplastics are everywhere. They're in our oceans, our soil, and even inside the human body. For years, the narrative has been bleak. This is unavoidable. But what if that isn't the whole story?

In this episode, we sit down with Max Pennington, a chemical engineer, entrepreneur, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree who decided to take on one of the most overlooked sources of microplastic pollution: our laundry. What started as an experiment in a fraternity basement grew into a patented filtration technology that captures more than 90% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater.

Max shares how curiosity turned into conviction and what it really takes to transform an environmental problem into a scalable solution. We also talk about the hidden ways microplastics enter our lives, what can actually be done to reduce exposure, and why there's real reason to be optimistic about stopping pollution at the source.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by environmental issues but still hopeful that smart solutions exist, this conversation is for you.

What we discuss:

• The most dangerous form of microplastics.

• What microplastics can do to the human body.

• Practical, actionable steps people can take right now to reduce their exposure.

• The role of fast fashion in accelerating microplastic pollution.

• Why simply switching to 100% cotton clothing is not enough.

• Max's long-term goals and vision for this technology.

Resources:

• https://www.cleanr.life/

• https://www.instagram.com/cleanr.life/

• https://www.facebook.com/CLEANR.life/

Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act

https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/

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https://kidsandmilk.org/

Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips

https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide

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" The sun is not our enemy. It never has been. Most popular sunscreens, they will compromise your skin and actually lead to skin cancer. If we're lathering on or ingesting toxic chemicals, we're going to be compromised."

Today, we're joined by Cheryl Mothes, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist with nearly 30 years dedicated to studying healing with whole foods, helping people of all ages improve well-being and reduce disease risk through diet and lifestyle changes.

She's a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, holds a certification from Penn Foster, and was the co-founder and former chef of the first organic, plant-based café in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Cheryl brings a rare, big-picture lens to health, connecting the dots between food, stress, environmental exposures, and the everyday habits that quietly influence how we feel. Her approach is practical and grounded. You'll come away with eye-opening realizations and actionable takeaways that stay with you long after the conversation.

What we discuss in this episode:

• How sunlight can support overall health and the best times for beneficial exposure.

• What to know about sunscreen safety and which ingredients raise concern.

• The importance of getting enough vitamin D.

• How mindset influences physical well-being.

• The long-term health impacts of chronic stress.

• Unexpected factors that may be quietly harming your health.

• The health benefits of mushrooms and effective ways to use them.

• Why indoor air quality matters.

• What's really in fragranced products and why many pose health risks.

• Practical strategies to limit chemical exposure while cooking.

Resources:

• http://eatwholeandthrive.com/

• https://www.instagram.com/smokeysdaughter

Click the link below to support the FISCAL Act

https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/

Share the website and get your resources here

https://kidsandmilk.org/

Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips

https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide

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