Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode

Does “the dose make the poison?” The chemical industry claims that a toxic exposure dose is “safe” until it’s not. But regulations can take years to catch up to scientific data about the dangers of low-level chemical exposures.In today’s episode, EWG President and co-Founder Ken Cook is joined by Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. In that role, he’s the  principal investigator for a study examining fetal and early childhood exposures.Lanphear is a leading proponent of using a science-based approach to assess the potential health harms children face through exposure to toxic chemicals.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:Little Things MatterWater fluoridation less effective now than in past (Cochrane Review)Science and Decisions, Advancing Risk Assessment (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)MurderlandHormones And Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: What You Need To Know (The Endocrine Society)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Will Westmoreland became an influencer overnight when he directly addressed a farmer's concerns over not receiving a rotational grazing reimbursement. The first/second Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture promised the money but then rescinded it. Will’s story made an impression on millions of people with the straightforward way he shared how the farmer voted against his best interest by supporting Donald Trump.Westmoreland, Ken’s guest on today’s episode, is a farmer and political activist. He’s also the founder of The Back Forty, a bipartisan media company focused on fortifying and growing rural America, family farmers, ranchers, and nearby communities. It does this work through public education, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development. EWG and  The Back Forty are committed to helping rural Americans. EWG’s Farm Subsidy Database (visited by thousands of people daily) helps ensure public accountability for how taxpayer dollars are distributed in agricultural support programs.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:The Back Forty@WestmorelandPopsFarm.EWG.orgNot All Corn Is the Same — Learn About the 3 Main Types with Our Handy Cheat Sheet (The Kitchn)RHIhub Maps on Rural Healthcare FacilitiesKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Under the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other key federal departments are shedding thousands of experienced scientists. This assault on federal scientists will have a lasting effect for generations, eliminating much-needed expertise that has historically played a central role in developing rules that protect human health and the environment.Two leaders in the science community – Dr. Linda Birnbaum and Dr. Micah Niemeier-Walsh – talk with Ken about the widespread damage this brain drain is causing. Birnbaum worked at the EPA and as the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Niemeier-Walsh is an industrial hygienist in the Firefighter Health Program and the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer at the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health.Federal rules that safeguard the environment and public health need scientific research – without it, backsliding to weaker rules and more pollution is the only likely outcome.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S.National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthThe American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

Food production is responsible for a third of the climate crisis, yet it’s the part of the problem we talk about the least. With agricultural land making up forty percent of our planet, we are literally eating the Earth. The first step is acknowledging the mess and the second is addressing it. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by investigative reporter Mike Grunwald. They discuss Mike’s exploration of our broken food system in his new book, “We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate”.Both Ken and Mike acknowledge that industrial agriculture has many problems: it mistreats workers and animals, pollutes air and water, and relies too heavily on toxic chemicals and antibiotics. But they also share a conviction that reform is possible — and essential — if we want to feed a growing population without destroying the planet.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:We Are Eating the Earth The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our ClimateMonsanto Hid Decades Of Pollution (The Washington Post, 2002)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

The Republican-led Congress is considering a “Big Beautiful” reconciliation bill that might include new hurdles for crucial assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP, such as adding work requirements and increasing paperwork. GOP lawmakers claim the changes aim to tackle fraud, waste and abuse in the programs.In today’s episode, Ken talks with Bob Greenstein, founder and president emeritus of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank that for more than 40 years has been the gold standard for analyzing the impact of federal and state government budget policies.Ken and Bob highlight the millions of Americans who will lose access to health care and food assistance if the bill becomes law. A core EWG belief is that you can’t help people make healthier choices if they don’t have access to food. Creating barriers to, and reducing, benefits, doesn’t mean healthier kids – it only leads to hungrier kids.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:The Center on Budget and Policy PrioritiesThe Brookings InstitutionPaul Krugman's SubstackWork Requirements and Work Supports for Recipients of Means-Tested Benefits (CBO)The Recession of 2007–2009 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)Medicaid Work Requirements In Arkansas: Two-Year Impacts On Coverage, Employment, And Affordability Of Care (NIH)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup 

Marion Nestle, a prominent voice in nutrition and food politics, discusses the complex relationship between public health and the food industry. She critiques government officials focusing on profit-driven policies, emphasizing the need for genuine reform. Topics include the drawbacks of MyPlate compared to the Food Pyramid, skepticism towards industry promises, and the challenges of managing ultra-processed foods. Marion advocates for practical solutions like stronger guidelines and improved school meals to enhance food equity and health.

Eric Garcia is a journalist and author who challenges the misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder through his own experience living with autism. In Eric’s book, “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation,” he explores how society can improve support for people on the spectrum through policy, education and healthcare. In today’s episode Ken is joined by Eric to refute Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's harmful and scientifically discredited claims linking autism to vaccines. But more importantly, this episode is about changing the conversation around autism to focus on the importance of self-advocacy, inclusion, progress and respect.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:We’re Not Broken Changing the Autism ConversationSen. Maggie Hassan questions RFK Jr. in confirmation hearingIn a Different Key: The Story of AutismNeurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of NeurodiversityThe Closing of Willowbrook (DisabilityJustice.org)Robert Kennedy Visiting Institutions in NYKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

There are times when society needs to act, the government needs to act, and today we’re going to focus on how you can act for your health. It’s rare for physicians to help you live a healthier life by integrating the whole notion of environment health. But in today’s episode Ken is joined by one of the country’s leading medical and legal experts in environmental health, Dr. Aly Cohen – a triple board-certified physician in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine. Dr. Aly Cohen has a new book out today, “Detoxify, The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them.”We’re excited to share this episode May 6 – the day her book comes out – because there are many great tips that you can follow to make a positive impact on your life.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:DETOXIFY: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against ThemDr. Aly Cohen InstagramDr. Aly Cohen WebsiteKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup

The U.S. faces a growing measles outbreak. At the time of this recording, there are more than 800 confirmed cases and at least three deaths, including two young children who were unvaccinated. These tragic losses were almost certainly preventable with the MMR vaccine, which is safe, highly effective and widely available.  Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on earth, and it spreads quickly in communities with low vaccination rates. Once nearly eliminated in the U.S., a rise in vaccine hesitancy has opened the door for its return, fueled by misinformation, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.  The danger isn’t just measles. Falling vaccination rates threaten to bring back other serious, preventable diseases once under control.  In today’s episode, Ken talks with two leading experts on why it’s critical that parents and caregivers stay informed and make sure children are fully vaccinated — not just for their own safety, but for the health of our communities. The first segment is with Dr. Mike Koster, Pediatric Infectious Disease Professor at Brown University. The second segment features Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, an infectious disease epidemiologist and award-winning science communicator.  For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:Jessica Malaty Rivera, MSMichael P Koster, Professor of Pediatrics, Clinician EducatorKennedy, in His Own Words: Flu, Diabetes, Autism and More (NYTimes, January 2025) Thimerosal and Vaccines (FDA.gov) The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education CenterKen Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week. @kencookspodcast www.ewg.org @environmentalworkinggroup 

Unraveling decades of environmental progress, the Trump administration is systematically dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s dismantling critical statutes that have protected public health and the environment for years. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by his old boss and mentor, former EPA Administrator Bill Reilly, who served in various roles under four U.S. presidents — Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. As EPA chief from 1989 to 1993, Reilly championed landmark policies like the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments.  He also played a key role in responding to major environmental disasters, including the Exxon Valdez and BP Deepwater Horizon oil spills.The Trump administration claims to be defunding the EPA for “economic reasons.” Bill and Ken, however, highlight how environmental regulations have historically driven economic growth rather than hindered it as the agency’s critics claim.For a deeper dive into today’s discussion:Three Former E.P.A. Leaders: You’ll Miss It When It’s GoneAdministrator William K. Reilly, 1989-1993 (EPA Archives)The Cuyahoga River Caught Fire at Least a Dozen Times, but No One Cared Until 1969 (Smithsonian Magazine)Lee Zeldin "Power the Great American Comeback"Clean Air Act Revisions (C-SPAN)Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling (C-SPAN)Alaskan Oil Spill Update (C-SPAN)Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.@kencookspodcastwww.ewg.org@environmentalworkinggroup