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.”

Non-Toxic is a reader-supported publication. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today.

Thinking of having children? Wondering whether your sperm has been compromised by years of eating lunchables and drinking from a battered Nalgene?

A growing body of evidence suggests sperm counts may have dropped by nearly half since the 1970s. Commentators have blamed obesity, nutrition, even feminism. But the more I dug into the research, the more one culprit kept coming up: the endocrine disrupting chemicals hiding in plain sight in our food packaging, furniture, products with fragrances, and even children’s toys. This isn’t some MAHA conspiracy, it’s well documented, and there’s even a Netflix doc about it, though they kind of muddy the waters by talking too much about microplastics (more on those in a future episode).

In this episode of Just Keep Swimming, I sat down with Dr Julia Brody and Ruthann Rudel of Silent Spring Institute — two of the leading environmental health researchers — to understand what EDCs actually do to the male reproductive system, why the damage done in the womb and in childhood can be permanent, and what any of us can actually do about it.

One thing that stopped me cold. Most people assume that if a product is on the shelf, it’s been tested for safety. It hasn’t. That assumption may be costing you your shot at having a kid. This one closes with practical steps you can take today — no off-grid homesteading required. And for more practical tips, don’t forget to check out Silent Spring’s Detox Me app.Non-Toxic is supported by people like you. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Western Europe has been experiencing its hottest temperatures in the history of humanity this week, so it felt like a good time to resurface this episode I recorded way back with my old co-host Andrew Lewis, and our guest Eric Dean Wilson, author of After Cooling: On Freon, Global Warming, and the Terrible Cost of Comfort.

We take a look back at the history of air conditioning (it’s weird and wild), and try to understand how we almost managed to destroy all life on earth in our quest for personal comfort. And don’t miss Eric’s journey into the shady underworld of used refrigerant sales to understand just why dudes are so attached to their Freon.

This episode is part of the Non-Toxic Performative Male Book Club. It’s a series of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, featuring some of the smartest writers, journalists, and academics I know. If you’re into Non-Toxic book coverage, click on any episode with the tag “Performative Male Book Club” to find more good books for guys who read, or pretend to.

To listen to the second part of this conversation, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid subscription to Non-Toxic.

Lastly, if your A/C is busted and you need to get rid of it, read the EPA’s advice on how to safely dispose of it first. Because letting that stuff escape into the atmosphere is not good!