Join me in the studio of artist and activist Jay Critchley, a Provincetown legend known for his provocative work at the intersection of masculinity, environmental degradation, and consumption. Each year in his annual RE-ROOTER Ceremony, the artist includes the public in an attempt to discard the objects and experiences that prohibit us making from a deeper connection with the earth and human life, and to “re-root” ourselves to the earth. He also pushes a flaming Christmas tree into the Cape Cod Bay.

Down in Jay's former septic system we literally get deep, discussing everything from Jay's long history of combining political activism and creative projects to his celebration of limp penises to the problem with carbon captured broligarchs.

To keep the show going, ⁠become a Non-Toxic patron today⁠. And if you’re motivated by material possessions, we’ve got ⁠some great thank you gifts for our supporters.⁠ And ⁠sign up for our free Substack⁠, where you can stay up to date on all things Non-Toxic.

In this episode, I'm joined by Malcolm Harris, author of Kids These Days, Palo Alto, and What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis, out April 15, 2025 and available for pre-order.

His new book is a survey of left political-economic thought, broken down into what Malcolm sees as the three viable strategies for addressing the climate crisis. To end our economic addiction to fossil fuels, we can use the dark magic of marketcraft, build muscular public power, or we can go full communism. Or perhaps we will need all three, he says. "A strategy of strategies."

Malcolm and I also get into the pitfalls of market solutions and the so-called "abundance agenda," the masculine allure of eco-modernism, and why the left needs to find common ground instead of fighting each other.

Follow Malcolm on Twitter, and join him on tour for What's Left in  Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and Baltimore.

And read Malcolm's full review of Abundance, in The Baffler.

To keep the show going, ⁠become a Non-Toxic patron today⁠. And if you’re motivated by material possessions, we’ve got ⁠some great thank you gifts for our supporters.⁠ And ⁠sign up for our free Substack⁠, where you can stay up to date on all things Non-Toxic.

Like a rhizomatic network, Non-Toxic is linking and building with investigative climate journalist Amy Westervelt. She and the Drilled podcast team will be helping out with a special mini-season of Non-Toxic x Drilled, launching summer 2025.

For those of you who aren’t already devoted Drilled listeners, it’s one of the best climate podcasts out there. They’ve covered everything from the birth of climate denial to the criminalization of climate protest to Exxon’s corrupt efforts to secure deep sea drilling rights off the coast of Guyana. While working on Non-Toxic, I’ve always looked to Drilled as an example of the kinds of stories I want to tell and the impact I hope to have. So it’s really a dream to be working with them.

In the meantime, while I work on that, I'll be releasing bonus episodes on everything from male infertility to the failures of "abundance bros."

To keep the show going, become a Non-Toxic patron today. And if you’re motivated by material possessions, we’ve got some great thank you gifts for our supporters. And sign up for our free Substack, where you can stay up to date on all things Non-Toxic.

On this bonus episode, we're joined by environmental reporter and former Non-Toxic co-host, Andrew Lewis, to discuss the first weeks of the Trump administration's climate policy. We've also got some personal life updates like moving to Cape Cod, and trying to build a house without wrapping it in plastic. Listen in for insights on FEMA investigations, woke weather, future climate predictions, and our wobbily food system.

⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠ via Patreon andfollow us ⁠⁠on Substack⁠. And for more detailed doomscrolling, check outDrilled's tally of Trump's enviromental executive orders.

On this episode of Non-Toxic, we're going Hollywood, breaking down the PR wars and legal wrangling between the stars of the domestic violence drama, It Ends With Us. Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the film, is facing serious allegations  of sexual harassment, inappropriate on-set behavior–and a coordinated PR campaign to destroy the reputation of the film's leading actress, Blake Lively. (Notably, he's also the host of the podcast Man Enough.) Now, he's filed countersuits of his own. With insights from journalist Emily Kirkpatrick and gender justice researcher Dr. Will McInerney, this episode unpacks how PRs take advantage of misogyny on behalf of their clients, why branding yourself a male feminist might be problematic, and whether this case is the final nail in the coffin of #MeToo.

⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠on Substack⁠. If you liked this episode , ⁠⁠⁠check out my conversation with ⁠⁠beauty reporter Jessica de Fino⁠ about the oppressive beauty standards coming for men.

Guest Bios:

Emily Kirkpatrick is a writer covering celebrity and pop culture for outlets such as New York magazine, Glamour, W, Vogue, and the New York Times. Her popular weekly newsletter, I <3 Mess, rounds up the best of the worst celebrity fashion.

Dr. Will McInerny is a researcher and educator who studies gender-based violence; violence prevention; men and masculinities; peace and conflict studies; and arts-based research.

The NYT articles in question:

‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine

‘It Ends With Us’ Actor and Director and His Publicists Sue The Times for Libel

The Levers of Change Gender Equality Attitudes Study 2022

Masculinity and women's equality: study finds emerging gender divide in young people's attitudes

For this end of year episode of Non-Toxic, we dive back into the vault to revisit a fascinating conversation with Alec Leach, a sustainability strategist and author of The World is on Fire but We're Still Buying Shoes. (He's also ⁠got a great substack.)

Alec shares his eye-opening journey from a high-flying fashion editor to an advocate for mindful consumption. We discuss the myths around sustainability, the psychological grip of fashion marketing, and practical steps to deprogram from excessive buying habits. Alec also talks about the pervasive influence of "hype culture" on contemporary fashion, his own wardrobe mistakes, and ways to make more sustainable choices.

For more Non-Toxic fashion advice, ⁠check out my conversation with Nicolaj Reffstrup⁠, former CEO of Ganni. And to hear more about consumer culture and the climate crisis,⁠ listen to this episode with sustainability advertising expert Lucy von Sturmer⁠.

Support the show and follow us on Substack

Things are heating up in this episode of Non-Toxic. I'm talking to Clare Boerigter, a fire research fellow, science writer, and former wildland firefighter who has been on the front lines of America's increasingly out of control wildfires. Clare shares stories from her three seasons fighting fires, the impact of climate change on wildfires, and the challenges faced by women in the firefighting community. We also explore the science of fire behavior, human encroachment on places likely to burn, and the problem with trying to prevent all wildfires. And Clare generously shares an except from her forthcoming memoir from Beacon Press, Wild Light: Notes from the Safest, Most Dangerous Places.

Further Reading:

The age of the “megafire”

Women fighting forest fires say abuse is rife – but men often go unpunished

How to Save a Forest by Burning It

Wildfires Will Put $11 Billion Worth of U.S. Property at Risk Every Year by 2050

Damage from sprawling Prospect Park brush fire may take years to repair, officials say

In this episode of Non-Toxic, I dive into the world of extreme muscularity with Dr Roberto Olivardia, a researcher and clinician who helped coin the term “muscle dysmorphia.” Dr Olivardia charts the rise of muscle dysmorphia among men and his own journey into studying eating disorders and OCD through the lens of masculinity. His book, The Adonis Complex, came out in 2000, and we look back at how body image issues among men have evolved from the 1970s to the present day. While social media and steroid use have accelerated the problem, Dr. Olivardia isn’t so sure they’re the only reasons why so many are struggling with this condition. And finally, we look at the challenges faced by those affected, and what options are available for treatment.

Guest bio:

Roberto Olivardia, PhD, conducts diagnostic evaluations at The Pavilion at McLean Hospital. He maintains a private practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he specializes in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). He is a nationally recognized expert in eating disorders and body image problems in boys and men. He is co-author of The Adonis Complex⁠.

If you liked this episode, you can ⁠support Non-Toxic via our Patreon.⁠ ⁠And don't forget to sign up for the ⁠Non-Toxic Newsletter on Substack⁠.

⁠Bluecorn Candles⁠ is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order.

Further reading:

⁠The Adonis Complex⁠⁠

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the largest of them all? The features and phenomenology of muscle dysmorphia"

"Premature Death in Bodybuilders: What Do We Know?"

"Predictors of muscularity-oriented disordered eating behaviors in U.S. young adults: A prospective cohort study"