Explore every episode of the podcast Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Power clashes between utilities and clean energy innovation | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:51:06 | |
Astounding advancements have been made in clean energy technology, and rooftop and community solar initiatives have been shown to drive consumer costs down and help us reach carbon emission reduction goals. So why are solar projects hitting a regulatory brick wall? (hint: it’s about corporate greed and value for monopoly utility shareholders). In today’s episode, we’re joined by the co-director of the Institute for Local Self Reliance, John Farrell, to unravel the ins and outs of why rooftop and community solar and other clean energy advancements are being stoned-walled, and what we can do about it.
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Upcharge: Hidden Costs of Electric Utility Monopoly Power (ILSR) What the Monopoly Utility Model Really Costs Us (ILSR) The Free Delivery Farce in Solar PG&E to pay $55 million for two massive California wildfires (PBS News)
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| The environmental and economic benefits of empowering women | 13 Aug 2024 | 00:47:35 | |
A cleaner, greener, and brighter future is within our reach. But often the path we have to walk is littered with discriminatory hurdles put up by the male-dominated financial sector. From subsidies that suppress organic farming to everyday biases preventing the funding of new startups and innovative ideas from women and people of color, Wall Street often stands in the way of progress. No one can speak to this better than our guest today, Robyn O’Brien. Robyn is a bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur and investor. After earning her MBA from Rice University, Robyn went on to work as an equity analyst on Wall Street where she covered the food and tech industry. After falling down the convoluted rabbit hole of contaminated food and personal care products, she now sits at the intersection of environmentalism, equality and finance. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Ted X - "Real Food Evangelism" Ted X - “Patriotism on a Plate” Seeding Innovation: The Path to Profit and Purpose in the 21st Century The Unhealthy Truth: One Mother's Shocking Investigation into the Dangers of America's Food Supply-- and What Every Family Can Do to Protect Itself Detox Development -The World Bank Lifting financial performance by investing in women, Long-term capitalism at BlackRock (Nov. 2023) Reforming federal cosmetics law: What is the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act? (EWG) EWG welcomes cosmetics law reforms in end-of-year spending bill Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. | |||
| 25 Years in the Making: EPA Cracks Down on “Forever Chemicals” in Tap Water Thanks to Rob Bilott | 16 Apr 2024 | 00:54:23 | |
For decades the American people have been exposed to toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS with no protection from our government.
The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare Dark Waters featuring Mark Ruffalo EPA Says ‘Forever Chemicals’ Must Be Removed From Tap Water Ruffalo: PFAS drinking water standard delivers justice to poisoned communities
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| Moby and Chef Andrew Zimmern: Eating and Advocacy | 02 Apr 2024 | 00:34:10 | |
Each individual’s journey with food is unique. At 19, Moby confronted the contradiction of loving animals but consuming a bacon double cheeseburger, leading him to embrace veganism. Andrew Zimmern believes that our food systems are entirely broken, questioning the industrial food production practices in the U.S. and the dying art of small-business fishmongering. How can we change the public’s moral framework in regards to meat and food consumption without finger-wagging…? Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Andrew Zimmern's Spilled Milk (Substack) Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture EWG’s quick tips for reducing your diet's climate footprint EWG: Animal feeding operations harm the environment, climate, and public health EWG: The health benefits of a whole foods, plant-forward diet EWG: Climate Change & Agriculture EWG: Meat & Dairy Alternatives Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. | |||
| Erin Brockovich is still pissed about contaminated tap water | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:49:53 | |
Erin Brockovich is synonymous with environmentalism, which is why she is our inaugural guest. She is an environmental activist, author, and subject of the self-entitled Oscar-winning Steven Soderberg film, Erin Brockovich. Erin joins Ken on today’s episode to discuss the state of U.S. drinking water and why many toxic contaminants are allowed to flow from taps at levels that are legal, but nowhere near safe. Despite the promise of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act, woefully inadequate regulation persists 50 years later. Join Erin and Ken as they have an episode. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: EWG’s national tap water database Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. | |||
| Trailer | 11 Mar 2024 | 00:00:36 | |
Join Founder and President of Environmental Working Group Ken Cook as he helps folks connect with their inner environmentalist. Through conversations with diverse innovators and disruptors, Ken delves into the challenges we face and the solutions available to address them.
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| Protecting children from the risks of pesticides | 30 Jul 2024 | 01:02:18 | |
Many people find EWG while seeking information about pesticides. In today’s episode Ken is joined by our in-house Senior Toxicologist, Dr. Alexis Temkin whose research establishes safety guidelines to help people (including children) minimize their exposure to toxic crop chemicals. In the second half of today’s episode, Ken is joined by renowned pediatrician Dr. Phillip Landrigan whose decades of research and advocacy is integral for understanding the effects of pesticides on children. We see this episode as Pesticides 101, to help give our audience agency over how they (and their families) are exposed to pesticides. Our government isn’t doing enough to protect us from harmful chemical residues often found in healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Until that changes, we’re grateful for the work of Dr. Temkin and Dr. Landrigan which has helped people, including parents and caregivers, better understand how they can take steps to reduce their exposure to pesticides while eating plenty of healthy fruits and veggies. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: EWG’s 2024 Clean 15 Food Quality Protection Act Signing Safe Drinking Water Act Signing Children and Environmental Toxins: What Everyone Needs to Know® Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise (contributed by NPR) | |||
| Missy Sims and Richard Wiles take on Big Oil for causing the climate crisis | 16 Jul 2024 | 00:52:10 | |
Oil companies have known about their enormous and “catastrophic” contribution to climate change since the 1950s. They lied about it for as long as they could and are now lying about their newfound commitment to solving the problem they created. Who will hold them accountable? Melissa “Missy” Sims, a lawyer from Illinois, is currently representing 52 Puerto Rican municipalities against Big Oil for hurricane-related damages caused by the climate crisis. Richard Wiles is the president of the Center for Climate Integrity, which helps state and local elected leaders, including state attorneys generals hold Big Oil companies accountable for climate damages through litigation. In today’s episode, Ken, Missy and Richard talk about how they got to the front lines of protecting our planet by working together on a mission to sue Big Oil and what their hope for the future looks like. She’s on a Mission From: God Suing Big Oil Companies for Damages The Global Climate Science Communications Action Plan “The Victory Memo” T.I.N.A. Group Sceanarios 1998 Exxon’s 1978 report “The Greenhouse Effect” Exxon’s 1979 report “Controlling Atmospheric CO2” Exxon's 2019 Corporate Strategic Planning memorandum Shell’s 2020 “Let’s Talk Energy Transition” emails and deck House Oversight documents reveal Big Oil’s “greenwashing” climate claims to hide investments in fossil fuels | |||
| Austin Frerick on the corruption of America’s food industry | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:48:07 | |
Local businesses and local farms are being lost in this era of monopolizing America’s food system, but the food industry didn’t become corrupt overnight. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Austin Frerick, expert on agricultural and antitrust policy.
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Austin advised candidates Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg on agricultural policy before ultimately serving as Co-Chair of the Biden campaign’s Agriculture Antitrust Policy Committee. He now works at Yale University, collaborating on research related to competition policy and antitrust enforcement.
“Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry”
EWG’s Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate & Health
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| Chemical exposure in people and how companies conceal risks from the public, with investigative reporter Sharon Lerner and Professor Philippe Grandjean | 18 Jun 2024 | 00:51:50 | |
In a recent New Yorker article, investigative reporter Sharon Lerner writes about former 3M scientist Kris Hansen who conducted a study in the 90s where she found PFAs forever chemicals in the general public's blood. 3M executives told her PFAS chemicals weren't harmful, she believed them. Decades later she would learn the truth about the serious risks of PFAS exposure, and why she decided to speak out against the company she worked at for decades. We are aware of the harmful effects of PFAs because of Professor Philippe Grandjean, a Danish Toxicologist. In the first part of today’s episode, Ken is joined by Sharon Lerner and talks about the human experience 3m scientist Kris Hansen has gone through since finding out her employer lied to her and the general public for decades. Sharon Lerner refers to Professor Philippe Grandjean’s groundbreaking work in her article and in the second part of today’s episode, Ken is joined by Professor Grandjean to speak about one of his own articles that explores the vested interest in keeping facts about chemical exposure a secret from the public.
How 3M Discovered, Then Concealed, the Dangers of Forever Chemicals (The New Yorker) Is Pollution Value-Maximizing? The Dupont Case (National Bureau Of Economic Research) Paracelsus Revisited: The Dose Concept in a Complex World Lead: Celebrate its ban, but don't cross it off your list (EWG) | |||
| Mark Jacobson & Greg Jaczko on clean energy alternatives to nuclear power | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:44:35 | |
Climate change, air pollution, jobs! These are buzzwords that have helped the nuclear energy industry stay in power. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by author and environmental engineering professor, Mark Jacobson and former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and author, Greg Jaczko to discuss why we continue to waste so much money in nuclear power, what the new clean energy alternatives are and why we are still using both.
Mark Jacobson’s Book, No Miracles Needed Greg Jaczko’s Book, Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator The Economic Viability of Nuclear Power Is Only Going Down Why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Help Counter the Climate Crisis
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| Dr. Mark Hyman on treating toxic chemicals in our bodies | 21 May 2024 | 00:41:47 | |
Almost 100% of Americans have toxic substances in our bodies and it negatively affects our health in numerous ways. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by functional medicine pioneer and EWG board member, Dr. Mark Hyman. Functional medicine is a complete approach to your whole interconnected biological system. Dr. Hyman came to functional medicine after being diagnosed with mercury poisoning and after using functional medicine to detoxify his body, he became determined to help as many people as possible.
Ken and Dr. Hyman discuss why we are exposed to so many toxic substances, where we are exposed to them, and what you can do to help yourself reduce exposure and increase detoxification.
EWG's Dirty Dozen: Cancer Prevention Edition
EWG's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.
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| Disruptors Diane Cotter and Peter Arlein are determined to protect their communities, stretching from Massachusetts to Colorado, against toxic 'forever chemicals' | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:57:09 | |
In today’s episode, Ken is joined by two guests, Diane Cotter and Peter Arlein who both came into environmentalism as a way to protect their families, friends, and communities from toxic ‘forever chemicals.’
Worcester, MA native Diane, wife of firefighter Paul Cotter, plunged into the PFAS rabbit hole when she questioned whether Paul’s exposure to the chemicals contributed to his prostate cancer. Her relentless pursuit for the truth revealed numerous sick firefighters and afflicted firefighter communities nationwide.
Former ski-shop wax tech Peter took matters into his own hands by creating the Colorado-based company MountainFlo dedicated to making ski wax and bicycle lubricants without PFAS and petroleum, to protect the Rocky Mountains he cherishes and the outdoor sports community he belongs to.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Peter’s Company: Mountain Flow & Mountain Flow Take Back Program Diane’s Documentary Burned: Protecting the Protectors
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| Carey Gillam on how corporations conceal the dangers of toxic weed killers from consumers | 23 Apr 2024 | 00:43:59 | |
When buying or eating food, we don’t often think about the chemicals used in weed killers…but we should. In today’s episode, we go in-depth with Carey Gillam, Managing Editor of The New Lede, EWG’s journalism initiative, and the widely used commercial toxic pesticides found in weed killers. Ken and Carey discuss their link to Parkinson's, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and childhood leukemia, and her ground-breaking investigations that have exposed corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta that have concealed health risks from the public for decades.
Earlier this month, EWG partnered with California assembly member Laura Friedman to introduce Assembly Bill 1963 which would end the use of Paraquat on fields and orchards in California by January 2026. The passing of this bill could enormously impact the lives and the health of California’s farmworkers, their families, and agricultural communities across the state. Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below: Toxic Weed Killer Found in Breast Milk, Infant Formula The New Lede’s ‘Paraquat Papers’ scoop recognized by agriculture journalists
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| Legal but not safe: fixing our broken food system | 10 Sep 2024 | 00:42:49 | |
First things first, the onus shouldn’t be on us to find food options without chemicals and additives. If it’s in a store, it should be safe to eat. Right? Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by noted nutritionist Courtney Swan. Courtney is on a mission to empower people to understand what healthy eating is and how to go about it within our broken food system. She is also on a mission to empower people to make their own food and dispel the myth that healthy doesn’t taste good. Ken and Courtney encourage people to trust their gut (in multiple ways) when making food choices and they believe everyone deserves access to healthy and affordable food.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:
EWG, “Monsanto Emails: ‘Let’s Beat the S*** Out of’ Moms Worried About Cancer-Linked Weedkiller” United States District Court, Northern District of California, Case 3:16-md-02741-VC Document 246-2 New York Times, "A Florida Professor Works with the Biotech Industry" New York Times, "Food Industry Enlisted Academics in G.M.O. Lobbying War, Emails Show" Oxfam, "These 10 companies make a lot of the food we buy. Here’s how we made them better." Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.
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| Advocate Like a Mother; One Parent’s Fight for the Truth | 24 Sep 2024 | 00:54:36 | |
People come to environmental work in many different ways. Our first guest today, Kari Rhinehart, came to environmentalism after experiencing a parent’s worst nightmare, the loss of a child, due to a rare brain tumor. When other children in her community of Franklin, IN started getting sick, parents in the community began asking questions and putting data on a map. What they found shocked them. Contaminated drinking water. Our second guest, Kari’s attorney, Chris Nidel, is a former chemical engineer turned environmental lawyer. People like Kari and her daughter, Emma Grace, are why Chris does the work that he does (and we wish there were more people like him!) Both Kari and Chris are incredible examples of how one person can have an enormous impact and affect change.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Health Consultation (EPA)
What is Vapor Intrusion? (EPA)
Search for Superfund Sites Where You Live (EPA)
Health Consultation and Analysis, Franklin, IN (ATSDR, HHS, CDC)
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| Endocrine disruptors and early puberty for girls | 08 Oct 2024 | 00:36:53 | |
Endocrine disruptors are chemical compounds that interfere with our hormones. For years, it was seen as a fringe theory. Today, it’s embraced by The Endocrine Society and Endocrinologists worldwide. A new study by our guest today shows that chemical exposure to young brains impacts their hormones, which can result in early-onset puberty.
In his latest episode, Ken is joined by Dr. Natalie Shaw, a pediatric endocrinologist and clinical investigator, to discuss her team’s findings and the dangers of early-onset puberty. EWG has been following this topic for quite some time. Join us as we jump back to 2010 when Ken interviews Dr. Louise Greenspan and Dr. Juliana Deardorf about their book, The New Puberty. We’ll explore the unfolding of this story over the past decade, which leaves us to wonder - what are we doing to our girls, and why?
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Hormones And Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals What You Need To Know (The Endocrine Society)
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| A PR Firm Got Your Tax Dollars to Track and Dox Pesticide Critics | 22 Oct 2024 | 00:31:22 | |
If you’ve followed the world of pesticides for as long as Ken has, it can be hard to be shocked. But journalist Carey Gillam (The New Lede) has dug up a story that has rattled even Ken.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:
Poison PR Media Library (The New Lede) Academics Review Form 990 2014 The Monsanto Papers: Poisoning the Scientific Well (National Library of Medicine) Farm to Fork strategy (EU Commission) Secret files suggest chemical giant feared weedkiller’s link to Parkinson’s disease (The Guardian)
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| Get Out and Vote | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:00:56 | |
We are interrupting our regular programming for Election Day to encourage you to vote. Make your voice heard at the ballot box and if you have any last-minute questions on how or where to vote head on over to VOTE.ORG. Who knows what episode I’ll be having after the results are in but tune in to find out. Happy Election Day. | |||
| Elections Have Consequences | 18 Nov 2024 | 00:03:13 | |
Hi, it's Ken Cook from EWG. I'm here in Washington and we're here to get ready to fight. It already feels like Trump's Washington. That feeling reminds us of what we went through during his first term where we saw a massive assault on environmental protection. We haven't always been happy with everything that happened over the last four years with the Biden administration. And we have called that out. We will always do that.
We have every reason to think that appointees are, for the most part, here to tear down the ability of the government to do its job, starting with EPA. One of the first announcements was an EPA administrator, and he was instructed to deregulate Environmental protections. So we know that's coming.
And so what we're seeing now is the consequences of someone coming to power, using that power in ways that we predicted would happen, to deregulate the economy, weaken environmental law, and weaken food safety. Now, there's plenty that we can do as individuals. EWG has tens of millions of people who come to us every year, seeking information so you can protect your family yourself.
There are some things we can't shop or behave our way out of. Those belong in the realm of policy and politics. So we're here for the fight. We wake up every morning ready to fight. We have for 31 years. We're fighting against companies that don't do the right thing when they make their products. We're fighting against polluters. We're fighting against them and won't ever stop. But now we're facing a really serious challenge that's structural across the entire government at the federal level. We'll be pushing for advances at the state level to make up for what doesn't happen here in Washington. We'll be giving you advice so you can protect yourself without having to depend on the government, as ever. That's who we are.
If we're proven wrong, that would be great. But in the short term, we're preparing for the worst.
So, please keep tuning in.
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| Animal Welfare and the Cruelty of Factory Farms | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:57:33 | |
In today’s episode, Ken is deep-diving into the intersection of environmentalism and animal welfare. First, Ken speaks with veterinarian Crystal Heath who has been bravely raising the alarm of how her profession enables and endorses animal abuse from veterinarian school to factory farms. In the second part of today’s episode, Ken is joined by longtime friend and founder of Animal Wellness Action, president of the Center for a Humane Economy, and former CEO of the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle. Wayne, like Crystal, is advocating for animal welfare across many industries. Crystal and Wayne are great examples of individual integrity and commitment to a cause. They are also great reminders that, as consumers, what we choose to invest in with our dollars makes a difference.
Our Honor (Crystal's organization) Crystal Heath wants veterinary medicine to live up to its values (Vox) What are gestation crates and are they legal in the U.S.? (Farm Forward) The Bond Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them The Humane Economy How Innovators and Enlightened Consumers Are Transforming the Lives of Animals
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| Where the Sun Don’t Shine: The Attack on Rooftop Solar | 26 Nov 2024 | 00:57:48 | |
Everyone wants cleaner, cheaper energy. Well, almost everyone. Powerful utility companies like PG&E, Sempra, and Southern California Edison aren’t going down without a fight, and they fight dirty. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Bernadette Del Chiaro, the Executive Director of the California Solar & Storage Association, who was instrumental in passing the Million Solar Roofs Initiative into law with then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. Since then the solar industry in California has created over 70,000 jobs and has installed over 2 million solar rooftops. But thanks to the monopoly utility giants and the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom—along with his handpicked regulators—the once-vibrant rooftop solar market has been decimated. Misinformation and deceptive tactics from the utility monopolies, threatened by solar's growth, are systematically dismantling the industry in a bid to protect their profits.
California Public Utilities Commission 1 Million Solar Roofs InitiativeEnergy Cities & Regions (Climate Action Stories) Milestones: A million solar roofs (Public Interest Network)
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| Your Election Recovery Tool Kit with Jenna Arnold | 03 Dec 2024 | 00:44:50 | |
Do you need an election recovery tool kit? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by activist, educator, author, and podcast host, Jenna Arnold. Her book, Raising Our Hands, dives deep into conversations with white women about their identity, role in the country, and how to become more engaged citizens to make the changes we desperately need. As a Women’s March Organizer, Jenna is constantly asking questions about what went wrong, what can be done next and what we need to learn more about.
For a deeper dive into today’s discussion: Jenna’s Instagram @itsjenna Jenna’s Podcast Let’s Begin
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| Everything your Baby Touches Should be Safe | 10 Dec 2024 | 00:39:48 | |
Babies are our most vulnerable population when it comes to chemical exposure. And yet, many baby products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Shazi is the creator of the groundbreaking baby food company Happy Baby and has launched her newest venture - HealthyBaby. Her line of baby personal care products are all EWG Verified. In today’s episode Ken and Shazi sit down after an EWG board meeting to talk about her journey, what inspires her, and why being EWG-verified is so important to her. For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:
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| Why are there so many sketchy chemicals in our food? | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:49:11 | |
No matter your politics, you want the food you and your family eat every day to be safe. So why do so many of the products on the grocery store shelves have worrisome food chemical additives that have been banned in other countries, including many linked to cancer and behavioral problems in children.
Propyl Paraben: Are you eating an endocrine disruptor? Common food additives in Cap’n Crunch and Apple Jacks cereal may harm human health Thousands of children’s sweets STILL contain additive unsafe for human consumption
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| Mona Vand on rethinking healthy | 24 Dec 2024 | 00:35:49 | |
We know which healthy choices we need to make to improve our diet and health but it can seem so daunting in the moment. In today’s episode Ken is joined by pharmacist turned wellness content creator, Mona Vand to tackle exactly that. Sometimes it doesn’t feel convenient to eat healthy or find healthy options when you need something quick but Mona helps reframe how to approach food prep and what to look for. If you travel as frequently as Ken and Mona, eating healthy can be very tricky. Mona provides some great tips to improve your energy and how to eat healthy and move your body while on the road.
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| EWG 2024 Wrapped | 31 Dec 2024 | 00:48:47 | |
At EWG we believe everyone should have access to safe products, clean drinking water, healthy food, and clean air. We believe in that so much that we’ve spent decades fighting for you.
We’ll have our challenges in 2025 but we’re ready to face them head-on, but not before we celebrate this year’s successes with you, our listeners. Thank you for your support and we’re excited to do it again with you next year.
Alaska Community Action on Toxics Center for Environmental Health Clean Water Action Defend Our Health North Carolina Conservation Network
Break Free From Plastic | |||
| Parkinson’s is an avoidable man-made disease | 14 Jan 2025 | 00:40:08 | |
Chemicals in our food, water, and air are risk factors contributing to the rise of Parkinson’s disease. It’s the fastest-growing brain disease in the world, creating urgency to address not just treatment for Parkinson’s but also its causes. Today’s guest is Dr. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist who co-authored the book, “Ending Parkinson’s Disease: A Prescription for Action.” He explains why Parkinson’s is a man-made disease and how eliminating harmful chemicals in food, water, and air could help get rid of it. EWG is on a mission to ban harmful pesticides like paraquat that have links to Parkinson’s disease. We’re thrilled to have Ray as an ally and leader in the fight. Head on over to BanParaquat.org to join the effort.
For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:
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| True Botanicals founder on better beauty for all ages | 28 Jan 2025 | 00:34:18 | |
Our skin is our largest organ, and applying some personal care products may let harmful chemicals sink into the body. That’s why Ken feels so strongly about the importance of non-toxic beauty alternatives.
Every True Botanicals product is EWG Verified® and sourced with organic regenerative farm and wild harvest ingredients. Now entering their tenth year, True Botanicals is dedicated to reimagining what responsible, ethical beauty looks like. Ken and Hillary discuss her journey, influences, and what’s next in the world of better beauty.
Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns (EWG)
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| Goodbye Red Dye 3 | 11 Feb 2025 | 00:25:12 | |
Ken Cook is having another episode, and this one is all about two R’s: Red Dye 3 and RFK Jr. Ken is joined by his fellow public interest leader Dr. Peter Lurie, the president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI. He has a storied career in public health, including a stint as the Food and Drug Administration’s associate commissioner for public health strategy and analysis during the Obama administration. Thanks to a petition CSPI filed with the FDA in 2022 FDA petition, Red Dye 3 is now banned from use in food products in the U.S. In today’s episode, Ken and Dr. Lurie celebrate that victory and discuss how CSPI, EWG, and other public interest groups are rising to meet this challenging political moment for public health.
Thank you to our live-stream guests
Dr. Rob Davidson, Executive Director of The Committee to Protect Health Care
Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of American Public Health Association
Tom Philpott, Senior Research Analyst at Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
Executive Director Northe Saunders and Advocacy Director Jen Herricks at SAFE Communities Coalition Action Fund
Max Goldberg, founder of the newsletter Organic Insider
Darya Minovi, Senior Analyst at The Center for Science and Democracy at The Union of Concerned Scientists
Author and entrepreneur, Robyn O’Brien
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| Can deregulation make America healthy again? | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:46:12 | |
Ken’s having another episode, one that quite a lot of people are having lately, all about the federal job layoffs. This is a little bit tricky, as Ken and EWG have at times been critical of the very agencies that are in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.
Frequent Questions and Answers: Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for PFOA and PFOS (EPA)
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| The future of meat | 25 Feb 2025 | 00:33:16 | |
The meat industry has been consolidating rapidly for decades, concentrating its power in a way that creates problems not only for the environment but also for farming communities in the U.S. and around the world.
Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed, and the Fight for the Future of Meat. Decoding Meat And Dairy Product Labels
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| Trump’s environmental impact on the South | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:34:12 | |
Ken is continuing his cook's tour of the who’s-who at public interest organizations. He’s joined by DJ Gerken, the president and executive director of the Southern Environmental Law Center.
For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:
EPA shuts down 10 environmental justice offices, axes EJ division EPA eliminating environmental justice jobs
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| EPA was a success story - and that was a problem for polluters | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:42:28 | |
Unraveling decades of environmental progress, the Trump administration is systematically dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s dismantling critical statutes that have protected public health and the environment for years.
The Trump administration claims to be defunding the EPA for “economic reasons.” Bill and Ken, however, highlight how environmental regulations have historically driven economic growth rather than hindered it as the agency’s critics claim.
Administrator William K. Reilly, 1989-1993 (EPA Archives) Lee Zeldin "Power the Great American Comeback" Clean Air Act Revisions (C-SPAN) Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling (C-SPAN) Alaskan Oil Spill Update (C-SPAN)
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| Understanding measles and vaccine misinformation | 29 Apr 2025 | 01:26:49 | |
The U.S. faces a growing measles outbreak. At the time of this recording, there are more than 800 confirmed cases and at least three deaths, including two young children who were unvaccinated. These tragic losses were almost certainly preventable with the MMR vaccine, which is safe, highly effective and widely available.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on earth, and it spreads quickly in communities with low vaccination rates. Once nearly eliminated in the U.S., a rise in vaccine hesitancy has opened the door for its return, fueled by misinformation, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The danger isn’t just measles. Falling vaccination rates threaten to bring back other serious, preventable diseases once under control.
In today’s episode, Ken talks with two leading experts on why it’s critical that parents and caregivers stay informed and make sure children are fully vaccinated — not just for their own safety, but for the health of our communities. The first segment is with Dr. Mike Koster, Pediatric Infectious Disease Professor at Brown University. The second segment features Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, an infectious disease epidemiologist and award-winning science communicator.
For a deeper dive into today’s discussion: Michael P Koster, Professor of Pediatrics, Clinician Educator
Thimerosal and Vaccines (FDA.gov)
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center
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| Detoxify your life with Dr. Aly Cohen | 06 May 2025 | 00:47:44 | |
There are times when society needs to act, the government needs to act, and today we’re going to focus on how you can act for your health. It’s rare for physicians to help you live a healthier life by integrating the whole notion of environment health. But in today’s episode Ken is joined by one of the country’s leading medical and legal experts in environmental health, Dr. Aly Cohen – a triple board-certified physician in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine. Dr. Aly Cohen has a new book out today, “Detoxify, The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them.” We’re excited to share this episode May 6 – the day her book comes out – because there are many great tips that you can follow to make a positive impact on your life.
DETOXIFY: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them
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| Changing the autism conversation | 20 May 2025 | 00:49:41 | |
Eric Garcia is a journalist and author who challenges the misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder through his own experience living with autism. In Eric’s book, “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation,” he explores how society can improve support for people on the spectrum through policy, education and healthcare. In today’s episode Ken is joined by Eric to refute Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's harmful and scientifically discredited claims linking autism to vaccines. But more importantly, this episode is about changing the conversation around autism to focus on the importance of self-advocacy, inclusion, progress and respect.
We’re Not Broken Changing the Autism Conversation
Robert Kennedy Visiting Institutions in NY
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| The politics of food with Marion Nestle | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:39:16 | |
While there are positive aspects of having top government officials talking about chronic disease prevention and diet, the food industry's primary goal remains profit – not public health. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Marion Nestle, one of America's most respected voices on nutrition and food politics. Marion believes that truly addressing human health and equality in food requires getting politics out of the discussion. She has dedicated her career to advocating for public health and food policy, is a professor at NYU, author of several books and writes the daily newsletter Food Politics.
Marion Nestle’s Newsletter Food Politics
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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| Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”: Steal from the poor, give to the rich | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:53:23 | |
The Republican-led Congress is considering a “Big Beautiful” reconciliation bill that might include new hurdles for crucial assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP, such as adding work requirements and increasing paperwork. GOP lawmakers claim the changes aim to tackle fraud, waste and abuse in the programs. In today’s episode, Ken talks with Bob Greenstein, founder and president emeritus of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank that for more than 40 years has been the gold standard for analyzing the impact of federal and state government budget policies. Ken and Bob highlight the millions of Americans who will lose access to health care and food assistance if the bill becomes law. A core EWG belief is that you can’t help people make healthier choices if they don’t have access to food. Creating barriers to, and reducing, benefits, doesn’t mean healthier kids – it only leads to hungrier kids.
The Recession of 2007–2009 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
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| Mike Grunwald: We are eating the Earth | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:48:46 | |
Food production is responsible for a third of the climate crisis, yet it’s the part of the problem we talk about the least. With agricultural land making up forty percent of our planet, we are literally eating the Earth. The first step is acknowledging the mess and the second is addressing it. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by investigative reporter Mike Grunwald. They discuss Mike’s exploration of our broken food system in his new book, “We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate”. Both Ken and Mike acknowledge that industrial agriculture has many problems: it mistreats workers and animals, pollutes air and water, and relies too heavily on toxic chemicals and antibiotics. But they also share a conviction that reform is possible — and essential — if we want to feed a growing population without destroying the planet.
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| Brain drain: The Trump administration’s war on scientists | 15 Jul 2025 | 01:02:43 | |
Under the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other key federal departments are shedding thousands of experienced scientists. This assault on federal scientists will have a lasting effect for generations, eliminating much-needed expertise that has historically played a central role in developing rules that protect human health and the environment. Two leaders in the science community – Dr. Linda Birnbaum and Dr. Micah Niemeier-Walsh – talk with Ken about the widespread damage this brain drain is causing. Birnbaum worked at the EPA and as the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Niemeier-Walsh is an industrial hygienist in the Firefighter Health Program and the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer at the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. Federal rules that safeguard the environment and public health need scientific research – without it, backsliding to weaker rules and more pollution is the only likely outcome. For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:
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| Helping rural Americans hurt by Trump’s policies | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:42:01 | |
Will Westmoreland became an influencer overnight when he directly addressed a farmer's concerns over not receiving a rotational grazing reimbursement. The first/second Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture promised the money but then rescinded it. Will’s story made an impression on millions of people with the straightforward way he shared how the farmer voted against his best interest by supporting Donald Trump. Westmoreland, Ken’s guest on today’s episode, is a farmer and political activist. He’s also the founder of The Back Forty, a bipartisan media company focused on fortifying and growing rural America, family farmers, ranchers, and nearby communities. It does this work through public education, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development. EWG and The Back Forty are committed to helping rural Americans. EWG’s Farm Subsidy Database (visited by thousands of people daily) helps ensure public accountability for how taxpayer dollars are distributed in agricultural support programs.
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| Lisa Bronner on her family’s soap legacy and beyond | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:39:28 | |
If you’ve walked down a personal care products aisle in your local store, you probably recognize Dr. Bronner’s soaps. They come in big bottles with minimal graphics but plenty of words, are affordable, and many of their products are EWG Verified®. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Lisa Bronner, the granddaughter of Dr. Emanuel Bronner, who founded the company in 1948. Since its launch, Dr. Bronner’s has been committed to being ethical, thoughtful and forward-thinking, operating with stewardship. The company is also an industry leader on the front lines of the “regenerative” agriculture movement and reducing its carbon footprint through constant innovation. Ken and Lisa also discuss her book Soap & Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Body, Your Home, and Your Spirit with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and what inspired her to write it.
“Honor Thy Label: Dr. Bronner’s Unconventional Journey to a Clean, Green, and Ethical Supply Chain”
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| “The dose makes the poison” is outdated | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:41:48 | |
Does “the dose make the poison?” The chemical industry claims that a toxic exposure dose is “safe” until it’s not. But regulations can take years to catch up to scientific data about the dangers of low-level chemical exposures. In today’s episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook is joined by Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. In that role, he’s the principal investigator for a study examining fetal and early childhood exposures. Lanphear is a leading proponent of using a science-based approach to assess the potential health harms children face through exposure to toxic chemicals.
Hormones And Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: What You Need To Know (The Endocrine Society)
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| Lo Bosworth on women’s health advocacy | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:36:03 | |
Women’s healthcare and medical research have major funding shortfalls. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Lo Bosworth, TV star turned founder and CEO of Love Wellness. Lo knows all too well the journey many women need to take to self-advocate for their health and wellness. Love Wellness’ mission is supporting women on their health and wellness journeys, investing in much-needed research for women’s health conditions. Lo shares her own personal health struggles, which led to her launching Love Wellness. She also talks about her IVF success story. By advocating for her own healthcare, Lo has created a movement that other people can follow.
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| The privilege of MAHA and inflation in your kitchen | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:53:04 | |
Has your grocery bill gone up? Ken’s guest today, Errol Schweizer, knows why.
For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:
Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report
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| The lasting damage of vaccine misinformation and the disgraced doctor fueling it | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:44:01 | |
The Trump administration’s recent claim that acetaminophen [Tylenol] use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism is yet another chapter in its campaign of misinformation and assault on science. At the center of modern anti-vaccine mythology is Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced former physician who lost his medical license after his infamous 1998 Lancet study fraudulently linked the MMR – measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism. It was investigative journalist Brian Deer - author of, “The Doctor Who Fooled the World” - who exposed Wakefield’s deception and dismantled the fraudulent study. Ken and Brian discuss how the Trump administration led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spread Wakefield’s falsehoods, exploit people’s fears and undermine public health. For a deeper dive into today’s discussion: The BMJ "How the vaccine crisis was meant to make money"
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| Oil expert, Mr. Global: We are heading towards an energy crisis | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:40:08 | |
Matt Randolph, aka Mr. Global, has more than 33 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including his work as Shell expert and as co-founder of Sentinel Energy. As Mr. Global, he’s an internet educator using TikTok and YouTube to combat political lies about energy policy. While Matt is an oil industry veteran, he actively promotes renewable energy and believes in climate change, while warning about the consequences of moving too fast on clean energy without proper planning. Ken and Matt explore why Americans’ electric bills are skyrocketing, what environmentalists get right and wrong about energy transitions and why California's rollback of rooftop solar incentives was such a devastating mistake. This conversation proves that an environmentalist and an oilman can actually learn from each other through curiosity and facts. Whether you care about climate change, energy policy or just want to understand why your electric bill keeps climbing, this one is for you.
Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. | |||
| Environmental health across party lines | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:54:09 | |
In today’s episode Ken and Lindsay Dahl talk about how we regulate chemicals, protect public health and decide product safety.
Lindsay has more than two decades of environmental health work in the private and public sector. She’s the author of "Cleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals,” that discusses why environmental health has always been a bipartisan issue, despite today's polarized politics. She emphasizes the importance of holding all elected officials accountable, regardless of party, on their environmental health records.
Lindsay addresses the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, noting that Republican women joining the fight against toxic chemicals represent a continuation of decades-long grassroots organizing, not something new. She warns that voters who supported President Donald Trump based on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's promises need to hold the administration accountable as it rolls back air quality regulations, protections from the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS and other environmental safeguards.
Lindsay is an incredible science communicator and encourages people to cut through social media disinformation to engage meaningfully with environmental health issues through their votes and advocacy.
Cleaning House: The fight to rid our homes of toxic chemicals Lindsay Dahl’s Substack | |||
| Why I left the CDC: Dr. Demetre on vaccine policy changes and public health | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:44:09 | |
Something unprecedented just happened at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A newly reconstituted advisory committee voted to recommend delaying hepatitis B vaccination for most babies. The vote overturns a 30-year policy that led to a massive decline in infant infections. In today’s episode, Ken talks with former CDC Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. Daskalakis spent decades fighting on the front lines of America's toughest public health battles. He brought HIV testing to the communities that needed it most. He stopped a meningitis outbreak in its tracks and he led the national Mpox response. He left the CDC in August. Demetre breaks down the recent shake-up at the CDC and why the best sign that federal public health efforts are working are that they’re not in the news – unlike today.
Dr. Demetre’s Instagram | |||