Today I’m bringing you a conversation I had with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is one of the two Democratic candidates facing off in a primary tomorrow to represent Michigan in the US Senate.

I talked to Dr. El-Sayed about a year ago for Carbon Bros., the miniseries I did with Amy Westervelt and Drilled. In this conversation, we get into why Democrats lost young men in 2024, and whether it’s possible to win them back. El-Sayed's argument is basically that corporations are engineering addiction—through things like sports betting, porn, social media—and that Democrats have failed to offer a compelling alternative vision of masculinity.

El-Sayed wants Democrats to be authentic, bold, and willing to actually throw out the interests that are sucking dry the party, and that means getting rid of the super PACs corrupting our politics. At the same time, I think he’s shown a way to be authentic and even vulnerable while running a campaign that has become one of the most contested this cycle. Long before Hasan Piker was stumping for El-Sayed or Fox News was freaking out about him, I was talking with him about getting everybody healthcare and getting dirty money out of politics.

I’d like to think, we’re early to these things here at Non-Toxic, but we tend to be right. Give it a listen.

You’ve likely heard the horror stories about lead-contaminated fast fashion, airline uniforms triggering severe allergic reactions or sweaters bursting into flames. Maybe you’re worried about the chemicals lurking in your own closet or have stared at a tag while shopping, wondering what’s actually safe and reliable versus what’s just marketing BS.

In this special episode of Non-Toxic’s summer miniseries, “Just Keep Swimming,” we’re diving into the world of textiles—specifically, the hidden chemicals in our clothes and how they make their way into our bodies. We’ll be talking azo dyes, PFAS coatings, heavy metals, and all of the other things that may be good for manufacturers but are definitely bad for us.

I’m joined by Ben Mead of Hohenstein Americas and OEKO-TEX, who breaks down how this stuff can absorb through the skin and potentially impact health and fertility. Ben demystifies what “non-toxic” actually means when it comes to fabrics, challenges the myth that natural fibers are always safe, and explains exactly how OEKO-TEX tests and certifies the complicated supply chain behind a simple T-shirt. If you’ve ever spotted a “STANDARD 100” tag in the wild and wondered what it actually guarantees, this episode is for you.

This is the first sponsored interview I’ve ever done for Non-Toxic, and I’m only sharing it because I truly believe in the work OEKO-TEX does—it really is the gold standard for textile testing.

Also! If you’re freaked out and wondering what is actually safe to buy, I’m putting together an extensive, vetted list of products I vouch for—exclusive to paid subscribers. Later this summer, I’ll be dropping that guide alongside new episodes of “Just Keep Swimming.”

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