The Eco Well podcast

Why is the media so rife with inaccurate reporting on epidemiological studies? To help guide us through this topic, I was joined with Gideon M-K PhD, epidemiologist, fact checker and content creator. We go through what epidemiology research looks like and some of the inherent challenges, research bias, the sensationalism pipeline that benefits everyone… except the public, a few examples of recent headlines and the studies connected to them, and more. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

With the press around "forever chemicals" and the moving regulations related to biodegradation, the topics of biodegradation and persistence are increasingly important to understand. This episode is a deep dive into the topic, featuring Chris Hughes from Embark Chemical Consulting. Disclaimer, this one is a little more into the weeds, but a good 101 if you want to get a handle on the topic! Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

In this engaging discussion, Kirstin Neumann, a microbiologist and co-founder of MyMicrobiome, sheds light on the skin microbiome's role in beauty and health. She unpacks common misconceptions about how cosmetics affect our skin's microbial colonies. Kirstin emphasizes the importance of individualized microbiome approaches and the need for minimalistic skincare. The conversation also navigates the complexities of microbiome-friendly products and the effects of preservatives, ultimately advocating for safe formulations that support skin health.

Dr. Lyle Burgoon, a toxicology expert, dives into the hot topic of endocrine disruption in cosmetics. He debunks misconceptions about common ingredients like parabens and phthalates, emphasizing the need for accurate research. The discussion tackles the complexities of hormonal interactions and critiques oversimplified narratives in the beauty industry. Burgoon also highlights the importance of dosage and regulatory challenges, urging listeners to think critically about safety claims and the influence of marketing on consumer perceptions.

What do we mean when we say science integrity? What is good evidence, and how is evidence incorporated at a policy level? This was the topic of this podcast, which featured toxicologist Lyle Burgoon PhD. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

This episode focused on the issue of misinformation and bad behaviour in the science and medical influencer space. Disclaimer, special attention was given to the rise of dermfluencers. This episode featured a roundtable discussion between dermatologist Anjali Mahto MD, cardiologist Rohin Francis MD, immunologist Andrea Love PhD and cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong PhD. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

This episode features the pre-recorded conversation of the scicommer panel I moderated at NYSCC Suppliers Day earlier this month, brought to you by the Independent Beauty Association, and in conversation with Kenton Hipsher, who is on the ingredient supply side of things, Erica Douglas, aka sisterscientist, from the contract manufacturer POV, and Dr Andrea Love from the consumer misinformation impact side of things. This conversation looked at misinformation along the supply chain and production of cosmetic products.

This episode features a deep dive conversation into the world of research fraud, featuring research fraud researcher Reese Richardson. What is the issue, why is it happening, and how should we think about all of this when we’re thinking about the quality of scientific research and science itself. We also explored turmeric research as a case example of research fraud in action and the impacts that’s had both on society.

This weeks’ episode features the pre-recorded pre-show run of the Sustainability in Cosmetics panel I moderated at NYSCC Suppliers Day in new york a few weeks ago! In conversation with Amol Kirtikar, Senior Manager of Sustainability & Innovation Americas at Clariant, Kurt Reynertson PhD, Global Lead for Ingredient Policy at Kenvue and Akemi Ooka PhD, Head of Global Supply Chain and Sustainability Resources at Independent Beauty Association - the main topic of the panel was around how sustainability misinformation is impacting  the cosmetics sector’s ability to pursue sustainable development, and steps moving forward. This conversation was made possible by Clariant, who are the sponsors for this podcast episode.

This podcast featured a 101 about the timeline of product development; from brief to formulation to testing to scale up. To help us cover the topic, this episode featured Lorna Radford from ENKOS. Hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!