49. Sustainable Building Materials For Healthy Homes
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Release Date: 01/31/2023
E99. How Endocrine Disruptors Harm Fertility & Fecundity | Dr. Paul Magarelli, Reproductive Endocrinologist (Part 2)
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
This episode features an excerpt from Ruan Living’s 40-Day Home Detox masterclass with renowned reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli. He explains how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—found in plastics, personal care products, pesticides, and air pollution—are contributing to declining sperm counts, hormone imbalances, miscarriages, and lower embryo viability. With over 1,000 known EDCs in our daily environments, Dr. Magarelli shares clinical insights into how these invisible toxicants are silently impacting fertility, IVF outcomes, and long-term child development....
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E98. What Endocrine Disruptors Are Doing to Our Fertility: Reflections on Dr. Paul Magarelli’s Insights (Part 1)
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, Sophia Ruan Gushée is joined by her colleague and niece to reflect on Sophia’s masterclass interview with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli (featured in Part 2). Together, they unpack the most compelling insights from Dr. Magarelli about how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—found in everyday products like shampoos, perfumes, deodorants, and even conventionally grown produce—are silently impacting fertility. Topics include: What exactly are EDCs, and why should we care? The shocking decline in global fertility—over...
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E97. I Hated Sleep—Until I Heard This Hidden Brain Episode
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
For most of my life, sleep felt like a waste of time—something to minimize, not prioritize. And while recent science on the invaluable benefits of sleep—like how it detoxes your brain and is critical in learning and memory—I still didn't want to sleep more. Until one Hidden Brain episode changed everything. In this short and personal Practical Nontoxic Living™ “Raindrop” episode, I share the surprising creations that originated during sleep. Whether you struggle with sleep or just want to optimize your healing, this episode offers fresh motivation to rethink rest. 👉...
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E96. Radiant Skin & Holistic Beauty Rituals with Shiva Rose | Practical Nontoxic Living™ Podcast
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
In this illuminating episode of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ Podcast, host Sophia Ruan Gushée and her niece dive deep into what they learned from holistic beauty pioneer Shiva Rose in the Ruan Living 40-Day Home Detox masterclass. Elizabeth shares her personal journey of transforming persistent skin issues with simple yet powerful natural changes. Together, Sophia and Elizabeth explore how skin conditions often reflect deeper health concerns, offering practical insights into healing from within. The episode then treats listeners to an inspiring excerpt from Shiva Rose’s masterclass for...
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E95. How High-Heat Cooking Creates Toxins—and Simple Ways to Avoid Them
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Part of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked Thursday series—light, inspiring insights from Sophia’s personal journey in Practical Nontoxic Living™. Did you know that the way you cook can create cancer-causing compounds in your food? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, Sophia Ruan Gushée highlights the hidden dangers of high-heat cooking methods like frying, grilling, and roasting—and how they can lead to the formation of toxic compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Whether you're detoxing your home for fertility, cancer...
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E94. Healing Spaces: How Nontoxic Interior Design Can Transform Your Health (with Deborah DiMare)
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Your home can be a powerful catalyst for healing and wellness—when designed thoughtfully and consciously. This engaging episode of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ podcast begins with Sophia Ruan Gushée and her Ruan Living colleague (and niece!), , sharing what they learned and loved most from Deborah DiMare’s illuminating masterclass from Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox program. Then, hear firsthand how Deborah creates healing spaces. Named Top 200 Influencers in the Interior Design Industry 2025, Deborah DiMare, founder of DiMare Design and a leader in nontoxic and cruelty-free interior...
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E93. Are Wireless Earbuds Harming Your Health? | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Think your wireless earbuds are harmless? Think again. In this short Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked episode of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ podcast, Sophia Ruan Gushée reminds us that Bluetooth or wireless earphones blast radiation directly through your brain No fluff, no deep dive—just a powerful wake-up call about an everyday habit that could be undermining your brain health. Listen in. Then decide: Is convenience worth the risk? Part of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked Thursday series—light, inspiring insights from Sophia’s personal journey in Practical...
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E92. Clean Eating Hacks for Busy Lives: Detox Foods & Immune Boosting with Nutritionist & Cancer Survivor Elissa Goodman
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Wondering how to realistically eat clean and optimize your health amid a busy life? In this special episode, we're joined by nutritionist, speaker, author, and cancer survivor Elissa Goodman. You'll hear a powerful clip from Elissa’s masterclass featured in the 40-Day Home Detox, where she shares practical tips for cooking nutrient-dense, clean meals even on your busiest days. Discover Elissa's preferred cooking methods for immune support, her practical thoughts on using frozen veggies, and why avoiding toxins is crucial for health and vitality. Also included is a flashback to Episode 35,...
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E91. Raw vs. Steamed Veggies: What’s Healthiest? | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Curious whether raw or steamed vegetables are better for your health? In this short Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked episode of the Practical Nontoxic Living™ podcast, Sophia Ruan Gushée reminds us what research reveals about how cooking methods impact the nutrient content of your vegetables. This “raindrop” of Practical Nontoxic Living wisdom is part of a new Thursday series designed to help you make small, meaningful changes that support your Ultimate Home Detox™—starting with your plate. Part of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked Thursday series—light, inspiring insights...
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E90. Introducing Raindrops of Practical Nontoxic Living™ | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Welcome to Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked—a new Thursday series on the Practical Nontoxic Living podcast by Ruan Living. In these short, weekly episodes, Sophia Ruan Gushée shares gentle, behind-the-scenes insights—like raindrops of Practical Nontoxic Living wisdom—meant to spark your curiosity and support small, meaningful changes in your home and lifestyle. Whether you're starting fresh or deep into your detox journey, these episodes are here to make nontoxic living feel more approachable, inspiring, and personal. Ruan Living offers many paths to help you create your Ultimate Home...
info_outlineAndrew Pace is a Healthy Home Concierge, host of the Non Toxic Environments Podcast, and founder of The Green Design Center, the oldest healthy building supply company in the United States and a leading resource for homeowners and contractors looking to source products that are healthy. A worldwide expert on green and healthy building products and services, Andrew has become one of the single most helpful and educational experts dealing with the day-to-day concerns of those individuals who suffer from allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities.
EXAMPLES OF TOPICS DISCUSSED
Sophia and Andrew have a great conversation about what will help you identify healthier building materials for your next space redesign, renovation, or if you're building a home.
- Healthier indoor environments
- Multiple chemical sensitivity, sick building syndrome
- Trends in "green," "sustainable," and healthier building materials
- How to identify practical, nontoxic building materials
- Household Repeat Offenders: wood, paints, vinyl
- How helpful is prop 65 when selecting healthier building supplies?
- Materials for floors and windows
- How to prioritize your budget
For podcast show notes, click here: Ruan Living blog.
RELATED PODCASTS
- Can Your Home Contribute To Your Chronic Symptoms with guest Angela Cummings, who was mentioned in this podcast episode and is author of Organic Lifestyle Made Easy: How To Create A Chemical-Free Household One Step At A Time
- Make Home A Pillar Of Health with Domonique Silva, who has worked at NASA FOR Environmental & Occupational Health
- Home Detox Parts 1-3 in episodes 46-48
RUAN LIVING RESOURCES
- D-Tox Academy
- 40-Day Home Detox
- Amazon curated by Ruan Living
- Free Ruan Living's Nontoxic Cleaning Guide
FOLLOW GREEN DESIGN CENTER
- Green Design Center website
- Non Toxic Environments podcast with Sophia Ruan Gushée, hosted by Andrew Pace
FOLLOW RUAN LIVING