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How much of who we become is shaped before we ever make a conscious choice? And once we notice what's shaping us, what can we change? Episode 136 begins a new chapter of Practical Nontoxic Living™. For nearly twenty years, Sophia Ruan Gushée has explored how what we buy, own, and do can shape our health. In this season, that inquiry widens: from environmental exposures, fertility, gene expression, cell phone radiation, indoor living, and the spaces around us to habits, expectations, instinct, risk appetite, and the paths we choose through life. This episode is a preview of the questions—and the people—Sophia will be learning from next. You'll hear clips from Dr. John La Puma, Carmen Messerlian, Dr. David Carpenter, Deborah DiMare, Dr. Haley Genovese, Andrew Yang, Cyrus Massoumi, Jill Kargman, and more. Some conversations ask how our homes and everyday exposures may shape our biology. Others ask how family expectations, cultural definitions of success, rejection, courage, and instinct shape the lives we build. They may sound like very different subjects. But they keep returning to the same questions: What has shaped who we are? And what can we do to shape who we want to become? For Sophia, Practical Nontoxic Living isn't about restriction or perfection. It's about learning more, embracing uncertainty, and asking one question again and again: What's the wisest decision? Follow Practical Nontoxic Living™ wherever you listen so the next conversation finds you. For Sophia's writing between episodes, subscribe to Ruan Living on Substack: https://ruanliving.substack.com Want a practical place to begin at home? Join the free Ultimate Home Detox™ Kickstart Series: https://www.ruanliving.com/ultimate-home-detox-kickstart-series

Introducing She Escaped the Unthinkable and Chose Her Own Beginning from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOKS! I Choose My Beginning: A Story of Courage and Activism https://amzn.to/4j14o11 The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State https://amzn.to/4dwNaVF Nadia Murad was just 21 when ISIS attacked her village in northern Iraq. She was taken captive and endured unimaginable abuse before she escaped and went on to become one of the world's most powerful voices for survivors of genocide and wartime violence. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist, Nadia first shared her experience in her bestselling memoir, The Last Girl. Now, in her new book, I Choose My Beginning, she explores what it means to move forward and build a life beyond her past. Oprah and Nadia talk about the difference between surviving and healing and why she continues to speak out for the victims of the Yazidi genocide who are still missing. Nadia also opens up about finding love, getting married and creating a life that includes both her activism and her own happiness. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney joins the conversation to talk about their work together seeking justice for ISIS crimes against the Yazidi people. 00:00:00 - Welcome Nadia Murad, author of “I Choose My Beginning” 00:05:40 - Why she chose to speak out 00:08:52 - Nadia wanted to rescue her niece 00:12:00 - Winning the Nobel Peace Prize 00:15:00 - Perceptions of survivors 00:18:00 - Online criticism 00:20:50 - Why Oprah admires Nadia 00:23:20 - Meeting Amal Clooney 00:27:00 - Cases for Yazidi women 00:31:30 - What Amal learned from Nadia 00:35:30 - Life in the refugee camp 00:37:35 - Falling in love 00:41:30 - Thousands of Yazidi people still missing 00:43:45 - The aftermath of war 00:51:00 - Nadia declined an operation 00:53:50 - Survival is not the end 00:56:00 - Building a new life Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Part 7 of the Forever Chemicals Detox series Reducing PFAS exposure doesn't always require buying something new. In this episode, I share six practical, no-cost changes that can reduce everyday exposure to PFAS—"forever chemicals" that persist in the environment and have been found in the blood of people around the world. We look at some of the less obvious ways our daily habits can influence exposure, and where simple changes may be worth making. In this episode: Six free ways to reduce everyday PFAS exposure Habits at home and on the go that may matter How I think about small exposure reductions that accumulate over time This is Part 7 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 podcast series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Part 6 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series What happens when PFAS contamination becomes personal—and then political? Minnesota State Senator Judy Seeberger joined the legislature in 2023 and helped pass one of the country's most sweeping restrictions on PFAS, the persistent chemicals found in products ranging from cookware to dental floss. In this conversation, we talk about what happened when an environmental health problem reached her own home—and how that experience helped inform her work in the Minnesota legislature. In this episode: How PFAS contamination became personal for Senator Seeberger How Minnesota became a national leader in restricting PFAS How she filters PFAS from her own well water What state-level action on forever chemicals can look like What Minnesota's experience may teach the rest of us about turning concern into change This is Part 6 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Read  When Forever Chemicals Hit Home: How Senator Judy Seeberger Turned PFAS Contamination into Hope Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Part 5 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series Modern life surrounds us with synthetic chemicals—in the things we cook with, clean with, wear, furnish our homes with, and use every day. Rather than target harmful chemicals one by one, we can avoid up to categories of them by recognizing certain patterns. This can help us make wiser choices without becoming overwhelmed. In this episode, I explain the thinking behind my Household Repeat Offenders™ framework: categories of materials, treatments, and product characteristics that repeatedly show up as potential sources of concerning chemical and heavy-metal exposures. In this episode, I explain the thinking behind my Household Repeat Offenders™ framework: categories of materials, treatments, and product characteristics that repeatedly show up as potential sources of concerning chemical and heavy-metal exposures. We focus especially on PFAS, or "forever chemicals"—why they persist, where scientists have detected them in the human body, and why I consider them an important Household Repeat Offender™. In this episode: How chemicals from everyday products can make their way into our homes and bodies Where PFAS have been detected in the body, including what we know about breast milk Why PFAS are unusually persistent in people and the environment How the Household Repeat Offenders™ framework can simplify decisions about what to buy, own, and do Why recognizing patterns may be more useful than trying to memorize hundreds—or thousands—of individual chemicals The goal isn't to eliminate every exposure. It's to understand enough to make informed, practical choices about the exposures that may matter most. This is Part 5 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Part 4 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series We've all heard the principle that "the dose makes the poison." But when it comes to some environmental exposures, the relationship between dose and biological effect can be more complicated than that phrase suggests. In this episode, I explore what researchers have learned about low-dose exposures to chemicals such as PFAS and endocrine-disrupting chemicals—and why timing, susceptibility, and mixtures can matter alongside dose. We look especially at endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with hormone signaling at very low concentrations, and at why scientists continue to debate how conventional assumptions about toxicology apply to chemicals that interact with our hormonal systems. In this episode: Why "the dose makes the poison" doesn't tell the whole story What scientists mean by low-dose effects Why periods such as pregnancy, infancy, puberty, and other sensitive windows of development can matter How exposure to multiple chemicals at once complicates risk assessment Why reducing everyday exposures can still be worthwhile even when science can't tell us exactly how much individual reductions will change our health The goal isn't to fear every small exposure. It's to understand why "a little" doesn't automatically mean "irrelevant"—and where practical reductions may make sense. This is Part 4 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Read  When Less Isn't Safe: How Low Doses of Toxins Affect Your Health for the studies and sources discussed in this episode Read Household Repeat Offenders™ to see the framework I introduce in the next episode Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Part 3 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series Your DNA is not your destiny. Genes can influence our susceptibility to disease, but they're only part of the story. Our biology is also shaped over time by age, behaviors, environments, and the exposures we encounter throughout life. In this episode, I explore that relationship through the lens of PFAS, or "forever chemicals"—including what researchers have learned about PFAS exposure and certain cancers, and why understanding environmental influences on health can give us more useful questions to ask about prevention. In this episode: Why having a genetic susceptibility doesn't mean a particular health outcome is inevitable How environmental and lifestyle factors interact with our underlying biology What research has found about PFAS exposure and cancer Why the home is one environment where we have some ability to influence our exposures Practical ways to reduce PFAS exposure without trying to eliminate every possible risk The point isn't that we can control every factor that shapes our health. We can't. It's that genetics aren't the only factor—and understanding what else may matter can help us make more informed choices about the things we can influence. This is Part 3 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Read  Safest Non-Toxic Cookware: Top PFAS-Free Pots and Pans for Healthy Cooking for help reducing one potential source of PFAS exposure in the kitchen Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Part 2 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series Rates of many chronic health conditions have changed dramatically over recent decades. Genetics alone can't explain changes that happen that quickly—which is one reason researchers continue to study the role of our environments, behaviors, and everyday exposures. In this episode, I introduce environmental exposures—including certain chemicals, heavy metals, and PFAS, or "forever chemicals"—as one part of that larger picture. I also share some of the health trends that first pushed me to start asking questions nearly twenty years ago, and how those questions eventually led to eight years of research and writing A to Z of D-Toxing. In this episode: Why changing population health trends led me to look more closely at our everyday environments Where chemicals, heavy metals, and PFAS may fit into the broader picture of health Why environmental exposures are worth understanding without assuming they explain everything Three practical ways to begin reducing exposures at home I don't think the useful question is whether our environments explain every troubling health trend. They don't. The more useful question is: What role might they play—and what can we reasonably do with what we know? This is Part 2 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

A brief update on the Practical Nontoxic Living™ podcast. In this episode, I share why I decided to pause the Thursday Raindrops episodes and create more space for deeper, more useful conversations and series—including Forever Chemicals Detox 101. Sometimes making something better means doing less of it. This was one of those moments. For now, Raindrops is paused while the podcast continues to evolve.

Part 1 of the Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are now so widespread that avoiding them entirely isn't realistic. But that doesn't mean our choices don't matter. In this first episode of Forever Chemicals Detox 101, I introduce why PFAS deserve our attention, how we encounter them in everyday life, and why I believe the most useful response is not fear or perfection—but informed, practical reduction. This series grew out of a live four-day Home Detox Challenge and is designed to help make a complicated subject easier to understand and act on. In this episode: What PFAS are and why they're called "forever chemicals" Why their persistence in our bodies and environment matters How everyday products and choices can contribute to exposure Why reducing exposure can still be worthwhile even when eliminating it isn't possible How I think about detoxing as reducing what comes in while supporting the body's natural systems Your body is remarkably adaptive. The goal isn't to create a perfectly "nontoxic" life. It's to better understand what's shaping us—and make wiser choices where we reasonably can. This is Part 1 of my Forever Chemicals Detox 101 series. Go deeper: Explore the complete PFAS & Forever Chemicals guide for the science, common exposure sources, practical ways to reduce exposure, and the full series Remember that there's a Forever Chemicals Detox Crash Course—including the detailed presentation, works cited, and digital workbook—waiting for you at the D-Tox Academy, phase two of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Trying to conceive—or simply thinking ahead to a future pregnancy? In this Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I look at why the preconception and pregnancy periods can be especially important times to think about environmental exposures, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs. We explore what researchers have learned about chemicals that can interfere with hormone signaling and reproductive development, along with practical ways to reduce some everyday sources of exposure at home. In this episode: Why preconception and pregnancy are important windows for environmental health What research suggests about endocrine-disrupting chemicals and reproductive health Common household sources of EDC exposure, from plastics to personal care products Practical changes you can make in the kitchen, bathroom, and throughout your home How to reduce exposures without trying to create a perfectly "nontoxic" environment You can't control every factor that influences fertility or pregnancy. But you can become more informed about the exposures you encounter every day—and make thoughtful changes where they make sense for you. Go deeper: Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Most Downloaded Countdown — #1 We think a lot about diet, exercise, sleep, and stress when we think about health. But what about the environment we return to every day? In this most-downloaded episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I share why I believe our homes deserve a place in the conversation about health—and how everyday products, materials, and technologies can contribute to the exposures we encounter over time. I also share the story of how I began investigating nontoxic living after becoming a mother, and some of the practical principles that have guided my work ever since. In this episode: Why I began looking more closely at the home as an influence on health Common sources of chemical, heavy-metal, and other environmental exposures Where I suggest beginners start rather than trying to change everything at once How small, repeated choices can reduce exposures over time Why Practical Nontoxic Living™ is about informed choices—not perfection You don't need to detox your entire life overnight. Start by noticing what surrounds you most often, understand what may matter, and make the changes that feel wisest for your life. Go deeper: Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Most Downloaded Countdown — #2 What does it mean to design a home with both beauty and environmental health in mind? In this conversation, interior designer Alison Davin shares how her experience with multiple chemical sensitivities changed the way she thinks about the materials, finishes, furnishings, and products we bring into our homes. We talk about how she approaches paints, flooring, furniture, fabrics, and other design decisions—and how to think more carefully about material choices when building, renovating, or simply refreshing a space. In this episode: How Alison's health experiences influenced her approach to interior design What "clean" or lower-toxicity materials can mean in practice Potential sources of chemical exposures in paints, furniture, flooring, and fabrics Questions to ask when choosing materials for a renovation or new home How to create spaces that feel beautiful, calming, and supportive without expecting perfection A healthier home doesn't have to look clinical or stripped of personality. The more interesting challenge is learning how to make thoughtful material choices while still creating a home you genuinely want to live in. Go deeper: Read Alison Davin's Live Natural Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Your kitchen is one of the easiest places to start reducing everyday chemical exposures. In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, I focus on one simple place to begin: food storage. We look at why certain plastics and food-packaging materials can contribute to chemical exposures, especially when they're heated or come into prolonged contact with food—and why glass is often my preferred alternative for storing leftovers and everyday meals. In this episode: Why food-storage materials are worth paying attention to How some plastics can contribute to chemical exposures Why heat can increase migration of certain chemicals into food The simple swap I make most often: choosing glass when practical The goal isn't to throw away everything plastic in your kitchen. It's to recognize the places where a simple change may meaningfully reduce repeated exposure over time. Go deeper: Explore the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of Practical Nontoxic Living™ with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.

Most Downloaded Countdown — #3 How should we think about 5G, wireless devices, and everyday EMF exposure when the science is still evolving? In this conversation, I speak with Daniel DeBaun, telecommunications engineer and founder of DefenderShield, about how wireless technologies have changed, what 5G adds to the picture, and practical ways to reduce unnecessary radiofrequency exposure at home. We also talk about the difference between what is known, what remains debated, and the precautionary habits families can adopt without giving up the technologies they rely on. In this episode: How 5G differs from earlier generations of wireless technology What Daniel learned from decades working in telecommunications Practical ways to reduce unnecessary exposure from phones and other wireless devices How to think about creating a lower-EMF sleep environment Where precaution can make sense when the evidence is incomplete The goal isn't to fear technology or eliminate wireless exposure. It's to understand how we use it—and where simple changes can reduce exposures without making everyday life unnecessarily difficult. Go deeper: Explore Ruan Living's EMF Detox resources Explore the Practical Nontoxic Living™ framework Read A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures Learn the foundations of Practical Nontoxic Living™ with the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart email series.