What underpins the tallow supply chain?

In this solo episode, Darin takes on the "beef tallow" craze that's been sweeping the wellness world — exposing the industry manipulation, environmental costs, and scientific inaccuracies behind the trend.

From skincare to supplements, companies are selling animal byproducts as miracle cures — but what's really happening behind the scenes? Darin dives into the industrial rendering process, the hidden pollution of factory farming, and the false "ancestral" marketing that's convincing people to buy into a billion-dollar rebrand of waste.

This episode isn't about guilt — it's about truth, awareness, and sovereignty. Because when you know how the system really works, you can choose differently.

What You'll Learn

00:00:00 – Why Darin decided to peel back the layers on the beef tallow trend

00:01:00 – What tallow actually is: industrially rendered animal fat from slaughterhouse byproducts

00:03:00 – The dirty details: high-heat rendering, bleaching, deodorizing, and chemical refining

00:06:00 – The hidden foundation of factory farming and the myth of "ancestral" sourcing

00:08:00 – The human and environmental toll of the tallow supply chain — pollution, stress, and labor exploitation

00:10:00 – Marketing manipulation: how "natural" language disguises industrial exploitation

00:12:00 – Science check: why tallow isn't nutritionally superior to seed oils

00:14:00 – The clinical data: saturated vs. polyunsaturated fats and heart health

00:16:00 – The real safety issues — prion disease, contaminants, oxidation, and hidden toxins

00:18:00 – Why skincare claims are unproven — no data shows tallow outperforms plant oils

00:20:00 – The illusion of "zero-waste": how byproduct economics fuel more slaughter

00:22:00 – What "natural" actually costs — to the planet, animals, and human health

00:24:00 – The path forward: transparency, awareness, and choosing regenerative alternatives

00:26:00 – The SuperLife perspective: stop calling destruction natural — awareness is the first step toward change

Thank You to Our Sponsors

• Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout.

• EnergyBits: 100% spirulina and chlorella tablets delivering pure food nutrition. Use code SUPERLIFE for 20% off at energybits.com.

Find More from Darin Olien:

• Instagram: @darinolien

• Podcast: SuperLife Podcast

• Website: superlife.com

• Book: Fatal Conveniences

Key Takeaway

"Let's stop calling destruction natural. When we stop buying into exploitation, we stop funding it — and that's when change begins for the animals, for the planet, and for us."

Bibliography / Key References

1. Meatscience.org, "Rendering 101" (industry rendering overview)
2. FAO / Codex Alimentarius, edible fats and oils specifications (MIU, peroxide, etc.)
3. Sölens / rendering-industry chemical supplier blogs (on refining aids, odor control)
4. FDA/EPA dioxin/PCB in fats monitoring programs
5. AHA/ACC (American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology) review on saturated vs unsaturated fats and cardiovascular disease
6. PubMed articles on prion resistance to rendering
7. Derm & cosmetic reviews on tallow/animal fats in skincare
8. Industry & environmental NGO reports on factory farming's greenhouse gas, water, land use, manure pollution, worker conditions