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Ep. 387: Medical Freedom Advocacy Into Law Passing medical-freedom legislation takes more than having the right message—it requires showing up, legislative champions, dispassionate persistence, and an understanding of the political environment. Jackie Schlegel, founder and executive director of Texans for Medical Freedom, joins us to share how her organization built a grassroots network of 100,000 Texans and helped turn several medical-freedom priorities into law. We look at Texas’s recent informed-consent requirements for Covid vaccination, protections against organ-transplant discrimination based on vaccination status, and expanded parental-rights protections in public schools.  Washington advocates operate in a very different political environment, so we can’t just try to copy Texas. We ask instead which strategies can translate across state lines, which must be adapted, and how voters can identify candidates who genuinely understand informed consent and medical autonomy. Voters can also consult Stand for Health Freedom’s voter guide for documented candidate information: https://standforhealthfreedom.com/vote/   Resources: https://texansformedicalfreedom.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasmedicalfreedom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texansformedicalfreedom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/texans-for-medical-freedom/?viewAsMember=true Twitter/X: https://x.com/TxforMedFreedom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TexansForMedicalFreedom Washington Voter Guide from Stand for Health Freedom: https://standforhealthfreedom.com/guides/wavotes/   You can support the show by always starting your Amazon shopping at the link on our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. This gives us a small commission--at Amazon’s expense--at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 386: Cash Pay, Cost Sharing & Independent Medicine What if health insurance isn’t the only—or even the best—way to pay for healthcare? Charles Frohman joins us to explain medical cost sharing, cash-pay medicine, Health Savings Accounts, Direct Primary Care, and the role of healthcare concierges in helping patients shop for doctors, tests, prescriptions, and procedures. We start with the basics: what medical cost sharing actually is, how it differs from insurance, what happens when a large medical bill arrives, what expenses may not be shareable, and how families can determine whether this model is right for them. We also look at what it means to become a price-sensitive healthcare shopper—asking what care actually costs, comparing cash prices, and directing healthcare dollars toward independent doctors, labs, imaging centers, and other practitioners. Charles explains why he believes restoring a more direct financial relationship between patients and practitioners can lower costs, expand provider choice, and help independent medical practices survive.  We’ll also discuss how HSAs can fit into this approach, the 2026 changes affecting HSAs and certain direct-care arrangements, and practical first steps for families and small-business owners who want to explore alternatives without making a leap they don’t yet understand. Learn more about Charles and the resources discussed in this episode:   Charles Frohman — Health Empowerment / MPB https://joinmpb.com/health-empowerment/ Charles Frohman Substack https://charlesdfrohman.substack.com/ National Health Federation campaigns https://thenhf.com/current-campaigns/ NHF newsletter https://thenhf.com/join-us/ Freedom Hub — Health & Liberty Zooms https://yourfreedomhub.com/your-media-hub/   You can support the show by always starting your Amazon shopping at the link on our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. This gives us a small commission--at Amazon’s expense--at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 385 | Never Miss Another Sunrise: Circadian Fitness with Zaid K. Dahhaj What if sleep, metabolism, energy, hormone signaling, and even how our bodies respond to food all have something fundamental in common: light and timing? Circadian biology educator Zaid K. Dahhaj joins us to explain why circadian fitness is foundational to human health—and why one of his most important recommendations is simple: never miss another sunrise. We look at what happens when unfiltered sunrise light reaches the eyes and how our light environment helps synchronize clocks throughout the body. We also tackle real life. What if you have to be at work before sunrise? What if your job keeps you awake at night? And what happens in places such as Alaska, where winter may bring only a few hours of daylight while summer brings almost none of the darkness our circadian system expects? Zaid also shares practical ways to strengthen the signals our bodies use to distinguish day from night, including daytime light exposure, darkness at night, sleep and wake timing, and meal timing. The 80/20 Circadian Course: https://stan.store/zaidkdahhaj/p/get-the-8020-circadian-course--$197 through November 1 with $52 discount code FALLRESET. Website: https://www.zaidkdahhaj.com/ The Circadian Classroom: https://zaidkdahhaj.substack.com/ Course, Substack & Coaching: https://stan.store/zaidkdahhaj X: https://x.com/zaidkdahhaj Instagram: https://instagram.com/zaidkdahhaj hooga Red Book Light: https://link.amazon/B0dLywV6j Beeswax candles: https://link.amazon/B03xb4zPg Ra Optics glasses: https://link.amazon/B0dsFSy3t Ra Optics Lumio LEDs: https://raoptics.com/collections/light-bulbs Midwest Red Light Therapy: https://midwestredlighttherapy.com/ Author John Ott: https://link.amazon/B05Nl6F0n Chroma Lighting: https://getchroma.co./ In Defense of Sunlight, by Rowan Jacobsen: https://link.amazon/B0hQ8oO0V Mitolux light devices: https://mitolux.com/ Chromalux bulbs: https://link.amazon/B0biKzJqf My Circadian app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mycircadianapp/id6538168795 Strainless Lighting: use code ZAID: https://strainlesslighting.com/# 1,000 Bulbs: https://www.1000bulbs.com/fil/categories/incandescent-light-bulbs You can support the show by using the forgoing Amazon links and by always starting your Amazon shopping at the link on our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. This gives us a small commission—at Amazon’s expense—at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 384 | The 5 Biological Laws: Is Your Body Working Against You? What if symptoms we commonly view as ‘evidence’ that the body is malfunctioning are actually part of purposeful biological adaptations? Melissa Sell, DC, joins us to discuss Germanic New Medicine and the five biological laws—a radically different framework for understanding the relationship between an unexpected event, the psyche, brain, organs, microbes, symptoms, and healing. We look at the difference between the conflict-active and healing phases, why the same experience may affect two people differently, what recurring “tracks” can tell us, and how conflicts may be resolved through practical or perceptual solutions. We also ask where toxins, mold, injury, nutrition, and other external factors fit into this model—and what someone skeptical of Germanic New Medicine can examine for himself. Learn more: https://www.drmelissasell.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrMelissaSell Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmelissasell/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/drmelissasell You can support the show by always starting your Amazon shopping at the link on our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. This gives us a small commission at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 383 | Smart Meters, Informed Consent, and the Right to Opt Out Cecelia “Cece” Doucette, director of Massachusetts for Safe Technology, joins us to make the case for a meaningful right to opt out of wireless “smart” utility meters. Cece explains how smart meters differ from older analog and digital meters, why their constant two-way radiofrequency transmissions raise health and informed-consent concerns, and what advocates are doing to secure an opt-out without punitive fees. A regular guest on CHD.TV, Cece is also a public educator and legislative advocate who has taken the stage at the last two Children’s Health Defense national conferences. Through Massachusetts for Safe Technology, she offers no-cost monthly webinars, practical safer-tech guidance, legislative education, and resources citizens can use in their own communities. I met Cece this spring at the National Health Federation Conference in Dallas. We look at the case for consumer choice, what an opt-out should actually look like, the political obstacles advocates face, and what Washington residents can learn from efforts underway in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Massachusetts for Safe Technology: https://www.ma4safetech.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MA4SafeTech/ LinkedIn: Cecelia Doucette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecelia-doucette-09655155/ Events and free webinars: https://www.ma4safetech.org/events Safer Screentime: https://www.saferscreentime.org/ Understanding EMFs: https://sites.google.com/site/understandingemfs/ Health in Buildings Roundtable Conference at NIH: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMAz9ZRXjYmp8vCf4HKxmLhdqEgbqYS65 Generation Zapped, award-winning film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p4vRB5uU0A You can support Informed Life Radio by always starting your Amazon shopping at the link on our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. This gives us a small commission at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 382 | A Family Farm’s Regenerative Turn Utah farmer Stan Jensen joins us to tell the story of transforming his multigenerational family farm after taking the reins in 2019. Inspired by regenerative agriculture, Stan began moving away from pesticides and GMOs and toward practices designed to rebuild soil, keep living roots in the ground, increase diversity, and integrate livestock. Today, Sunnyside Up Pastures raises grass-fed and finished beef, pork, chicken and eggs while working toward becoming a fully regenerative and organic farm. We look at what convinced Stan to change course, what he learned along the way, how livestock and rotational grazing fit into rebuilding soil, and what the results have looked like on the ground—including during drought. We also discuss his work educating and advocating for farmers through Red Acre Center, the regulatory hurdles facing small producers and processors, and his efforts to challenge policies that favor large operations at the expense of local food and farm freedom. Sunnyside Up Pastures: https://supastures.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supfarms/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUPastures Red Acre Center: https://www.redacrecenter.org/ You can support the show by always starting your Amazon shopping from the link on our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. This gives us a small commission at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 381 | Data Centers - Advocating for Strong Local Rules Sam Romain, chairman of Americans for Energy Dominance, joins us to discuss how residents can respond when attempts to ban a proposed data center are unlikely to succeed. We look at how communities can advocate for temporary moratoria and stringent rulemaking to protect water and power supplies, limit noise, light and pollution, prevent secret deals and blank-check tax breaks, and ensure developers bear the full cost of infrastructure and decommissioning. We also examine Washington’s growing data-center footprint and practical steps citizens can take before a project is approved. The day after we recorded this interview, Stand for Health Freedom launched its new “Grow Food not Surveillance” Data Center Toolkit: https://standforhealthfreedom.com/datacenter/. It includes maps, research, issue briefs, a community action guide, sample emails and public-testimony templates to help citizens understand proposed data centers and advocate effectively before local decisions are finalized. This is a resource worth using early—before major decisions have already been made. samromain.com x.com/SamRomain linkedin.com/in/samromain samromain.substack.com You can support the show by always starting your Amazon shopping at the link on our homepage: https://www.informedchoicewa.org/. This gives us a small commission at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 380 | Children’s Health Solutions— Practical Help for Parents Holistic pediatric RNs Maureen “Maura” McDonnell joins us to talk about the growing burden of chronic illness in children—and, more importantly, what parents can do about it. Maura created the Children’s Health Solutions Series, a no-cost resource bringing experienced holistic pediatricians directly to parents with practical, affordable approaches to childhood anxiety, ADHD, autism, vaccine injury, Lyme disease, common childhood illnesses, immune health and other chronic conditions. The current series features Elizabeth Mumper, MD, on childhood anxiety and autism; Mary Ann Block, DO, on ADHD; Larry Palevsky, MD, on vaccine injury and caring for children through illnesses such as measles and whooping cough; and Michelle Perro, MD, on Lyme disease in children. We look at the common threads these practitioners see beneath children’s symptoms, ways parents can reduce toxic exposures and strengthen resilience, and the practical health knowledge once passed naturally from grandmothers to mothers to daughters. We also discuss building parents’ confidence in caring for common childhood illnesses, recognizing when professional medical care is needed, and knowing where to begin without becoming overwhelmed. Children’s Health Solutions: https://www.childrenshealthsolutions.org/ Millions Against Mandates: https://millionsagainstmandates.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrenshealthsolutions/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/MAMM?e9s=src_v1_cbl Free e-book: Vax Facts & Rebuttals — co-authored by Maura McDonnell. It answers 70 common vaccine questions and includes more than 150 linked resources. Free through Millions Against Mandates. https://www.childrenshealthsolutions.org/resources#:~:text=Free%20eBook To help support our work, bookmark our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org, and always starting your Amazon shopping from the link there. ICWA will receive a small commission on your purchases at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 379 | Skin on Fire—Healing Psoriasis from the Inside Out We welcome back chiropractor and author Anik St. Martin to discuss her new book, Skin on Fire: Healing Psoriasis Naturally. Drawing from her own decades-long experience with psoriasis, Dr. Anik makes the case that psoriasis is not simply a skin condition but rather an autoimmune problem that requires looking beneath the symptoms. We cover genetics and epigenetics, physical, chemical and emotional stress, immune disruption, inflammation, gut dysbiosis and toxicity, along with her experiences with steroids, methotrexate, biologics and vaccine products. She also walks us through the natural healing approach and 90-day drug-free program she developed using diet, supplementation, detoxification, mindset and nervous-system restoration. Dr. Anik practices chiropractic in Longview and Battle Ground, and she delivered the keynote speech at ICWA’s Health Freedom Day in Olympia earlier this year. Book: Skin on Fire: Healing Psoriasis Naturally - https://amzn.to/4wRsfnF Practice: Advantage Chiropractic - https://myadvantagechiro.com/ When you get Dr. Anik’s book at the foregoing Amazon link, ICWA will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For your other Amazon purchases, you can support our work by always starting your shopping from the link on our homepage - https://www.informedchoicewa.org/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 378 | VaxCalc: Research, Decide, Document Chris Downey, creator of VaxCalc, joins us to examine the top mistakes parents make when evaluating vaccines—from treating an entire “well-visit” as one decision to overlooking product differences, cumulative ingredient exposure, risk of the targeted illnesses, and what to monitor after vaccination. Chris walks us through the expanded VaxCalc platform and demonstrates how parents can prepare for the appointment, evaluate each proposed intervention separately, compare vaccine brands and ingredients, document their decisions, and develop a plan before they are asked to consent. We also look at the major new tools added to the platform since we last welcomed Chris in October 2024. VaxCalc.org Twitter @VaxCalc To help support the show, always start your Amazon shopping at the link from our homepage, InformedChoiceWA.org. ICWA will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 377 | The Sunlight Solution with William F. Supple Jr., PhD We welcome back Dr. Bill Supple, who makes the case that our modern fear of sunlight has contributed to widespread vitamin D deficiency and chronic disease. His new book, The Sunlight Solution: Reclaiming Vitamin D, Reversing the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and Making America Healthy Again, challenges the modern caution against sun exposure and invites readers to reconsider the role of sunlight as natural, life-giving medicine. We discuss vitamin D as more than a bone-health nutrient--including its role in immune regulation, inflammation, cardiovascular health, brain health, aging, and resilience. We also look at benefits of sunlight beyond vitamin D, including circadian rhythm support, sleep, mood, and other light-driven biological effects. Dr. Supple also walks us through the history of heliotherapy, whether sunscreen is “the new margarine,” the debate regarding sunlight and melanoma, and practical questions about testing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, supplementation, and seasonal strategies for places like Washington State. Resources The Sunlight Solution: Reclaiming Vitamin D, Reversing the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and Making America Healthy Again William F. Supple Jr., PhD Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing Amazon affiliate link to book: https://amzn.to/4fXRz5u [starpower.substack.com]Author Substack: Starpower: All Things Vitamin D & Sunlight As an Amazon Associate, Informed Choice Washington will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you use the above affiliate link. To help support the show, start all your Amazon shopping from the link on our homepage. ICWA will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 376 | Has Virology Proven its Case? Jamie Andrews of The Virology Controls Studies Project joins us to make the case that the foundational proof for viruses has not been demonstrated. We’ll walk through the basics of his research into cell-culture isolation methods, cytopathic effect, transmission electron microscopy, PCR testing, negative controls, and the role properly controlled experiments should play in validating virology’s assertions. Jamie also shares the personal path that led him into this work, including his son’s early vaccine injury and the questions that followed. We look at how his study of infectious disease, laboratory methods, and published protocols developed into a deeper investigation of what virology has not yet proven. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 375 | Health Freedom on the Ballot Erica Comerford, Director of Political Affairs for Stand for Health Freedom, joins us to discuss SHF’s state-specific voter guides, including for Washington’s 2026 primary election on August 4. The guide sets forth SHF’s endorsements and recommendations of candidates whose survey responses and public records have been carefully vetted for their positions on health freedom, informed consent, parental rights, privacy, school-based health centers, agency power, and related issues. Erica explains how SHF’s candidate survey and vetting process have evolved over multiple election cycles, what voters can learn when candidates answer direct questions, and how citizens can use the guide alongside their own research. She also shares her own path into health freedom advocacy, including her experience leaving the healthcare field after her medical sovereignty was not honored. We also discuss SHF’s broader work, including calls to action, model legislation such as the Medical Freedom Act, the Guarding Liberty legislator email series, Health Freedom Institute courses and articles, book club resources, and practical ways advocates can encourage candidates to take clear positions. Informed Choice Washington does not endorse candidates, make candidate recommendations, or otherwise participate in electioneering. This episode is shared for educational purposes so listeners can review the issues, candidate responses, and available resources for themselves. Resources: -Stand for Health Freedom: standforhealthfreedom.com Washington voter guide: https://standforhealthfreedom.com/guides/wavotes/ -ICWA’s Legislator Scorecard: https://www.billtrack50.com/public/scorecard/summary/ukV57UuD_0-oHS6PBuTrxw -Health Freedom Institute: healthfreedominstitute.com: online course and articles, including animal vaccines and specific shots and targeted illnesses. $25/year. -The Vaccine Decision: Every Shot has a Story: https://amzn.to/4glj4Xn -A Mother's Guide to the Vaccine Decision: https://amzn.to/4wpXo0Y -SHF Substack / book club: standforhealthfreedom.substack.com -Guarding Liberty, twice-monthly emails to legislators, currently a nine-part series that explores why protecting medical freedom is essential to the promise that government exists to secure the rights of the people--and why every state should enact the Medical Freedom Act to preserve those liberties for future generations. https://standforhealthfreedom.com/on-guard/ As an Amazon Associate, ICWA earns commissions from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 374 | Seed Oils, Real Fats, and the Heart-Health Myth The Juice Lady Cherie Calbom, MS, joins us to discuss The Truth About Seed Oils, coauthored with Liana Werner-Gray. She describes the influences behind the widespread adoption of the “heart-healthy” seed oil message and how it reshaped American eating habits, causing “vegetable oils” to became a staple in our kitchens, institutions, and food industry. We also talk about the low-fat era, oxidative stress, marketing, label reading—and simple first steps families can take to begin replacing these commodities with real-food fats. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 373 | Saving Bees from Colony Collapse—With Shungite Derek Condit joins us to discuss bees, colony collapse disorder, shungite, and his experimental shungite beehives initiative. Derek is a Washington-based entrepreneur, educator, and founder of The Natural Beekeeper’s Path, a nonprofit focused on supporting beekeepers, pollinator awareness, and emergency response efforts involving bees. We talk about why these unique insects are essential, what stressors may be contributing to colony losses, how bees navigate and communicate, what shungite is, and Derek's efforts exploring hive materials and environments in support of bee health and beekeeper education. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.