SuperLife with Darin Olien

Microwave popcorn is a worldwide popular comfy food we have all enjoyed while at parties, movie  nights, family or friends gatherings, and much more. Many brands offer a wide variety of flavors and  presentations, and while we all know it can be a nice addition to happy memories we will explain how  it is simply much better to wipe them out of your diet. Not only do they have a high concentration of  chemicals, preservatives and unnatural ingredients that can be harmful to human health they are also  a relevant contributor of waste and unwanted chemicals in the environment. Regardless of their  practicality and easy-to-prepare methods, the potential negative impacts that you might experience later on are not worth some popcorn.     Reliable Sources where you can learn more:  • Bioavailability and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in popcorn kernel from sandy loam Ferric Luvisol amended with municipal solid waste compost  • Spirometric Abnormalities and Lung Function Decline in Current and Former Microwave Popcorn  and Current Flavoring Manufacturing Workers  • Risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food: Symposium proceedings      Thank you to our sponsors: Bite is offering my listeners 20% off your first order. Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 at checkout to claim this deal.  Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/       Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

What do you do when life keeps throwing curveballs at you?   In this episode of The Darin Olien Show, I chat with Oksana Masters about her childhood and how those first few difficult years of her life helped her become who she is today.    While it could have been understandable for Oksana to feel a bit bad for herself given the experiences she lived through, she did not allow herself to dwell for too long. And as life threw more challenges at her, she continued to push through. As she looks back at all of the obstacles she surpassed, she shares with us her wisdom about the hard parts of life.   Oksana also shares what motivates her to keep pushing in sports and reach excellence, despite all the challenges she faces.   Oksana Masters is the most decorated Winter Paralympian in U.S. history. She’s won 17 Paralympic medals — 14 at the Winter Games in cross-country skiing and biathlon, and three at the Summer Games in rowing and cycling. She’s recently added the title of “author” to her extensive resume and her book, “The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph,” details her adoption story as well as the chilling traumas she endured during her time in the orphanage system in Ukraine.    What we discuss:   002:47: About Oksana 06:52: Where does Oksana’s drive come from? 13:41: Does Oksana view herself as a victim? 18:36: How did Oksana learn from her second leg amputation? 24:45: What’s the hard part of Oksana’s experience? 28:55: What is Oksana’s experience in the orphanage? 33:02: How does being uncomfortable help you grow? 42:47: What’s Oksana’s experience with being “in the zone”? 46:36: Did Oksana feel like she was escaping from herself through sports? 49:27: Who is Oksana now? 52:05: When is Oksana’s book coming out? 54:32: What is Oksana doing next?   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Oksana:   Website: https://www.oksanamastersusa.com/about-me/ Book: https://www.instagram.com/oksanamasters/     More links:   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase here: https://therasage.com/pages/shop   Pre-order Fatal Conveniences: The Toxic Products and Harmful Habits That Are Making You Sick - And The Simple Changes That Will Save Your Health here: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/

People have been removing natural body hair for centuries using various methods, the most common way today being razors. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, the majority are made of plastic. While this is an obvious flaw in this fatal convenience, there’s a vastly overlooked part to the razor that is causing just as much damage: the smooth strip on the razor. It promises a gentle glide over the skin in order to avoid cuts from the razor blades, but what is that smooth strip composed of, how could it be harmful, and what should we be using instead to achieve a nice smooth shave? Today we are exploring the fatal convenience: Razor Smooth Strips.   Reliable Sources where you can learn more: https://aquajetrazor.com/blogs/news/lubricating-strip-razors https://littlesouthernlife.com/whats-in-the-lubricating-strip-in-razors/ https://womensmuseum.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/the-history-of-female-hair-removal/ https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/843280-Gillette_Venus_Venus_Spa_Razor_2019_formulation/ https://ecoroots.us/products/safety-razor-rose-gold?variant=39381453799504&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic https://getrockwell.com/blogs/journal/a-guide-to-eco-friendly-shaving-plastic-free-razors https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/eco-friendly-razors#products Non-Toxic Ways to Remove Face and Body Hair - LeafScore   Thank you to our sponsors:   Therasage is offering your listeners 15% off your order. Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off. Code is valid on the Thera360 PLUS personal. Bite is offering our listeners 20% off your first order. Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 at checkout to claim this deal.      Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/       Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

Do you feel like there aren’t enough solutions for mental health?   In this episode of The Darin Olien show, I chat with Dr. Ellen Vora about the anatomy of anxiety. While most of us believe that we have a predisposition to certain mental health illnesses due to our genetics, this isn’t necessarily true. The truth is that anxiety and other similar types of disorders are activated by environmental stressors, which then pull the trigger on genetics. Thus, understanding how to create an environment that is beneficial to your mental health and not detrimental to it is the first step to ensuring the production of serotonin.    We also chat about the two different types of anxiety and why one is considered to be false anxiety and the other to be true-form anxiety. Dr. Ellen Vora dives into the different pillars of health you should address before you turn to big pharma to feel better.    Ellen Vora, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher, and she is the author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. She takes a functional medicine approach to mental health—considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root. Dr. Vora received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from Columbia University.     What we discuss:   04:12: About Anxiety  06:22: When did Dr. Ellen’s interest in anxiety start? 11:22: Why did Dr. Ellen write her book about mental health? 16:18: Are doctors equipped to take care of mental health? 20:44: How are the pillars of health related to mental health? 25:02: What are the two different types of anxiety? 35:00: What do you need to know about the anxiety process? 37:49: Are you destroying your health for pleasure? 39:30: What do we need to do to protect our health? 42:40: How is the attention economy affecting our mental health? 44:29: How does a day in life look like for Dr. Ellen? 48:51: What was Dr. Ellen not thought at medical school about spirituality? 53:41: Why does society think that crying isn’t accepted? 56:23: Where can you learn more about Dr. Ellen?   Key Takeaways:   You aren’t born with mental health issues. What you are born with, however, are the genetics that may play a part in the development of mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. The common misconception when it comes to the link between anxiety and genetics is that one’s genetics are what triggers anxiety. In reality, genetics do not do such a thing; they only pull the trigger when your physiology is already out of whack and under stress. Genetics only runs with what it is given. Thus, there is hope for those who may feel like they can’t escape what may feel like a never-ending cycle of anxiety. It’s only a question of pinpointing what environmental factors need to be adjusted.   When we take a close look at what anxiety is, we can see that there are two different types. First, there is false anxiety. This is when the anxiety you are experiencing is due to a biological response to your physiology being affected by certain physical stressors that have been building up in your day-to-day. This could be an unstable sleep routine, overconsumption of caffeine, or overconsumption of sugar. Overall, you shouldn’t be experiencing this type of anxiety. The second type of anxiety is called true anxiety. This is the type of stress that you shouldn’t be pathologizing, suppressing, or can diet your way out of. It’s your true north, asking you to slow down and pay attention to what’s happening within you. There’s usually a call to action you need to act upon to go back into alignment with yourself.   The modern approach to anxiety is not completely irrelevant. There are some advantages to taking prescription medication in some cases. However, modern-day medicine isn’t the best-suited place to turn to when you’re truly looking to get rid of exaggerated levels of anxiety as they often look to diagnose and treat rather than cure. What’s important to do is to look at your health from a holistic point of view, and work from the outside towards the inside, not the other way around.   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Dr. Vora:   Website: https://ellenvora.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenvoramd/ Book: https://ellenvora.com/book/   More links:   Shop Barukas and use code DARIN10 to save 10% on your order: https://barukas.com/discount/DARIN10   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase: https://therasage.com/pages/shop

Wet wipes have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their convenience and versatility. They are a typical example of a fast-paced and single-use product to which the negative consequences that generate are much more dangerous and significant when compared to its benefits. With the ever growing popularity of wet wipes has come a  significant environmental problem due to the impact on ecosystems, waterways, wildlife, and human health. In fact, 1 billion wipes are flushed away each year, and each one of those wipes can take over 100 years to biodegrade (according to Business Waste, a British company providing waste services). This leaves us with a gigantic waste problem that creates several environmental and health repercussions. When we flush a wet wipe down the toilet, we fail to think about the microplastics it contains, the blackages in sewage systems it causes, the harm it does to fish, birds, and other marine life that mistake them for food, the impact it has on our own health, and so much more. That’s why in this episode, we are going to explore wet wipes as a fatal convenience…     Reliable Sources where you can learn more: Baby wipes and nappy rash – what is the relationship? A review Pressurized liquid extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fragrance allergens, musks, phthalates and preservatives in baby wipes Wet wipes contribution to microfiber contamination under COVID-19 era: An important but overlooked problem Who gives a crap Cloud Paper • Repurpose   Thank you to our sponsors:   Bite is offering our listeners 20% off your first order. Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 at checkout to claim this deal. That’s T-R-Y-B-I-T-E dot com slash DARIN20.   Therasage is offering your listeners 15% off your order. Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off. Code is valid on the Thera360 PLUS personal infrared sauna and sitewide!   Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/       Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

Do you feel like you have no control over the time you spend on your cell phone?   In this episode of The Darin Olien Show, I chat with Gaia Bernstein about why that’s the case for so many of us. While it may feel like it, it’s not your fault if you’re addicted to social media. This is because there are experts in human psychology and behavior working for these social media giants who are doing everything in their power to keep you coming back for more.    But what most of us don’t realize is they’re also great at giving us the illusion that it’s our fault that we can’t stop picking up our phones to scroll through social media. They give us screen time monitoring tools, the ability to turn off notifications, and more tools of this sort to make us feel like we have some type of control over how we use our phones. And when we fail at staying off the platforms, we blame ourselves.   We also chat about the impact our screen time has on our relationships, our mental health, and our sense of connection with our community.    Gaia Bernstein is the Technology, Privacy, and Policy Professor of Law, Co-Director of the Institute for Privacy Protection, and Co-Director of the Gibbons Institute of Law Science and Technology. Professor Bernstein specializes in law and technology, information privacy, health privacy, intellectual property, law and genetics, and reproductive technologies. She is also the founding director of the Institute for Privacy Protection. She created and spearheaded the Institute’s nationally recognized Outreach Program, which educated parents and students about technology overuse and privacy.   What we discuss:   01:43: How technology, law, and health came together for Gaia 06:41: How is personal connection impacted by technology? 08:10: Where is the line between the good and bad of technology? 10:53: How can we gain our power back again? 15:16: Data and privacy; what are we giving up? 18:28: Where did we go wrong with technology? 19:42: What’s the harm of these technologies? 24:22: How can we get control back over technology? 28:03: What can we do to empower ourselves and the community? 34:08: How can we balance the dangers of technology? 42:07: Is technology making us less smart? 43:22: How would Gaia implement measures around technology? 51:09: Is Gaia optimistic about the future legal implications around technology? 55:58: Where to learn more about Gaia and unwiring yourself from addictive technologies   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Gaia:   Website: https://gaiabernstein.com/ Book: Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies     More links:   Shop Bite and use code DARIN20 to save 20% on your Bite subscription. Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase.

With roughly 75% of the entire population being lactose intolerant and with the plant-based diet gaining major momentum throughout the entire world, many alternatives for animal-based products are beginning to be created. Although, there is one in particular that has been around for decades: Margarine…or what many of you know as I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.  Butter is one of the oldest discoveries in food, still present in today's society. It consists of fats, proteins, and vitamins from the milk of animals, predominantly the cow. In the late decades of the 20th century  we were seeing  fat speicifically saturated fat as the culprit to combat heart disease and high cholesterol and thus moved toward alternatives such as margarine with the infamous brand “I can’t believe it’s not butter” which claimed to have 70% less saturated fats (Source). But are highly processed alternatives like margarine really better for our health? In this episode, we are going to explore how this butter alternative can be causing just as many, if not more, health issues than standard butter. We’re going to dive into the ingredients, the product process, the truth about margarine, and other plant-based alternatives that have shown to be healthier, more sustainable options for both you and the planet.   Reliable Sources where you can learn more: https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/2017/03/how-butter-was-born-and-why-it-spread http://www.butterjournal.com/butter-history https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/well/eat/how-the-sugar-industry-shifted-blame-to-fat.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3335257/ https://blog.providence.org/regional-blog-news/ask-an-expert-butter-vs-margarine-which-is-better-for-you Superlife by Darin Olien   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Baruka Nuts: Head over to barukas.com/discount/DARIN10 to get 10% off when you use code DARIN10.   Pre-Order the Fatal Conveniences book releasing May 16th: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/     Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/

While many of us may realize the importance of forests for both our health and the environment, there’s more to the story we need to know understand…Given that a forest usually takes a few decades to grow, most people tend to think of forest restoration as something that the next generation should take care and people fail to realize we need to plant the seed today, to reap the benefits tomorrow.    If you witnessed a forest grow in your lifetime, consider yourself lucky because this is a once-in-a-lifetime sighting as most forests take anywhere between 30 to 40 years to grow. The good news is it doesn’t have to take that long…anymore. There’s now a thing called Natural Urban Forests that has entered the market and it allows us to restore forests and have trees high in the sky in as little as two years…that’s right TWO YEARS. Imagine what this can do for the health of the planet.    This is what we are going to dive into in this episode of the Darin Olien Show with guests Tatiana Grossman, Alexander Marcoulides, and Ethan Bryson.   Tatiana Grossman is the Founder & Co-CEO of Corridor, the company that has created the fastest reforestation method known, creating vibrant ecosystems in as little as two years. Alexander Marcoulides is also the Founder & Co-CEO and Ethan Bryson is the Chief Reforestation Officer.      Key Takeaways   While many of us may realize the importance of forests for both our health and the environment. However, given that a forest usually takes a few decades to grow, most people tend to think of forest restoration as something that the next generation should take care of as they won’t directly benefit from it as they may not be around by the time it’s a forest. People fail to realize we need to plant the seed today, to reap the benefits tomorrow.    For most of us who live in a city, we haven’t talked to our neighbors in months - even years! While it may feel like a normal phenomenon, it isn’t as we haven’t always been this way. There was a point in time in the past when community and your neighbors were essential to your communal and societal wellbeing. That being said, maybe it’s time we connect back to the soil, get our hands dirty, and plant some trees. Not only are trees great for the environment, but they can also heal us. From mental health to increasing bonding, the healing properties of forests are never-ending.   If you witnessed a forest grow in your lifetime, consider yourself lucky because this is a once-in-a-lifetime sighting as most forests take anywhere between 30 to 40 years to grow. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. Since Natural Urban Forests entered the market, we can restore forests and have trees high in the sky in as little as two years.     What we discuss:   03:26: About Ethan 07:26: About Tatiana 11:26: What is Natural Urban Forest focusing on? 14:02: How can you restore a forest area?  16:37: What should we be aware of in terms of forestation? 24:23: How is the business growing?  29:37: What measures are Natural Urban Forest turning to? 37:27: How can you get involved with Natural Urban Forest? 39:10: What would make the needle move for Natural Urban Forest? 45:21: How does it work for potential food production and water waste? 52:27: How can we proliferate Natural Urban Forest’s message? 59:08: Where to learn more about Natural Urban Forest   Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Natural Urban Forests:   Website: https://www.naturalurbanforests.com/ Instagram: @naturalurbanforests   More links:   Shop Barukas and use code DARIN10 to save 10% on your order: https://barukas.com/discount/DARIN10   Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase: https://therasage.com/pages/shop

Have you ever considered the potential harm of flea and tick collars?  Having a pet, specifically a dog or a cat is a dream and desire of many people all around the world…until we realize the  different fleas and pests that enjoy living on the skin of our furry companions. To avoid this, most pet owners turn to flea and tick collars… While these collars are a popular method for preventing fleas and ticks from infesting our pets, recent studies have raised concerns about their safety. Many pet owners may not be aware of the risks associated with these collars, and my aim today is to shed light on this important issue. We'll explore the potential dangers of flea and tick collars, including the harmful chemicals they contain, their impact on pet health, the potential impact on human health, and how to choose safer alternatives.  My goal today is to provide you with a better understanding of the issue and what we can do to protect our pets. Whether you're a seasoned pet owner or considering getting a new companion, this episode will provide valuable information to keep your pets safe and healthy. Thank you to our sponsor: Therasage is offering the listeners of the show 15% off your order. Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off. Code is valid on the Thera360 PLUS personal infrared sauna and sitewide! Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/  

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that about 65% of dieters return to their pre-dieting weight within three years, and up to 95% of people who lose weight through dieting regain it within five years. The reason why most people fail at diets is because we tend to take an all-or-nothing approach when it comes to taking on a new diet. While it may feel easy at first, it does become harder overtime as the initial motivation starts to die off. That’s why in this episode of the Darin Olien show, we explore adopting a plant-based diet as we would look at starting a new habit.   I’m joined by Toni Okamoto to discuss this topic of plant-based diets. We also discuss the double-edged sword of modern-day food — it’s ultra cheap, ultra-convenient, and ultra quick. But it’s also ultra-processed. While it may seem cheap to order fast food off the dollar menu, it comes out to a lot more money for a family to eat out than it would eat a homemade meal, especially over time.    Plus, we dive into the simple, small healthy swaps we can start to make that will eventually build up over time into a new pantry and ultimately the best practices for making the switch to a plant-based diet easier.    Toni Okamoto is a prominent author, speaker, and vegan lifestyle expert. She is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, a website that offers practical and affordable vegan recipes and resources. Toni's work has been featured in various media outlets, including Forbes, Reader's Digest, and NBC News. She is the author of several books, including "Plant-Based on a Budget," "The Friendly Vegan Cookbook," and "The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook.”   Toni's journey towards a vegan lifestyle began in 2010 when she started eliminating animal products from her diet for ethical reasons. However, she found that many vegan options were expensive and time-consuming to prepare. To help others who were facing similar challenges, she started Plant-Based on a Budget in 2012 as a resource for affordable vegan meal planning.     What we discuss:   06:11: How dependent are we on our systems? 12:16: How did Toni’s dad impact her life? 17:09: Why did Toni start eating a plant-based diet? 21:12: What did Toni’s budget look like at first? 23:57: What differences did Toni feel from adopting this new diet? 26:18: How does Toni experience food sharing? 27:40: What’s the biggest obstacle to eating healthy? 35:11: How can you get started if you feel overwhelmed? 40:22: What is Tori’s philosophy for food prep? 45:50: What does Tori enjoy cooking right now? 50:50: How can you eat well and live well? 56:53: How to deal with people who question your choices?     Find more from Darin:   Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/ Book: https://darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/     Find more from Toni:   Website: https://www.toniokamoto.com/ Instagram: @plantbasedonabudget Book: Plant-Based on a Budget   More links:   Shop SafeSleeve and use code DARIN10 to save 10% on your purchase. Shop Therasage and use code DARIN to save 15% on your purchase.