Episodes

  • E109. How ‘A to Z of D-Toxing’ Sparked the Home Detox Movement | Most Downloaded #10

    E109. How ‘A to Z of D-Toxing’ Sparked the Home Detox Movement | Most Downloaded #10
    Jul 8 2025

    🎉 Most Downloaded Episode #10 — Start Your Home Detox Journey Here

    In this foundational episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, author and environmental health expert Sophia Ruan Gushée shares the powerful story behind her critically acclaimed book, A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures.

    If you’re new to nontoxic living—or want to better understand how household products, chemicals, and EMFs can impact your health—this episode is the perfect place to start. Learn why thousands have called A to Z of D-Toxing their detox encyclopedia for creating a healthier home.

    💡 In This Episode:

    • What inspired Sophia to write A to Z of D-Toxing

    • How toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and EMFs became part of her family's health journey

    • Why your home environment is just as important as diet and exercise

    • How to begin a home detox—even on a budget

    • Encouragement to take simple, science-backed steps to reduce toxic exposures

    🧼 This episode is your gateway to understanding how to detox your home naturally, reduce toxic chemicals, and reclaim your well-being—one product at a time.

    RESOURCES:

    • Buy Amazon: A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures (Amazon affiliate link)
    • Learn more about Sophia Ruan Gushée
    • Stay connected: Register for the Ruan Living newsletter
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    19 mins
  • E108. How Filtered Tap Water Can Cut 90% of Your Microplastic Exposure

    E108. How Filtered Tap Water Can Cut 90% of Your Microplastic Exposure
    Jul 3 2025

    A recent study revealed that switching from bottled water to filtered tap water can reduce your microplastic intake by up to 90%—from 90,000 particles per year to just 4,000.

    In this short Raindrop episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, Sophia Ruan Gushée shares a powerful reminder of how one small change can have a big impact on your health.

    🎧 Want to go deeper?

    • Learn more about water filtration in Practical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 48 "Detox Your Home's Water and Sleep Areas

    • Learn more about plastics in human brains in Episode 79 "50% More Microplastics in Human Brains: How to Protect Yourself"

    • Explore Sophia’s personal filter journey inside the D-Tox Academy

    • Read the full blog with 6 more tips: https://www.ruanliving.com/reduce-microplastics-in-water

    ✨ Small swaps lead to big wins for your well-being.

    Part of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked series, designed to help you detox your home one Raindrop at a time. Click here to learn more: Practical Nontoxic Living™ Raindrop

    RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    • Ruan Living newsletter
    • D-Tox Academy
    • Practical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 48 "Detox Your Home's Water and Sleep Areas
    • Practical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 79 "50% More Microplastics in Human Brains: How to Protect Yourself"

    ABOUT RUAN LIVING

    Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™.

    Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com.

    ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE

    Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.
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    5 mins
  • E107. From 88% to 0%: DailyMail Editor’s Proven Detox Results After Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox

    E107. From 88% to 0%: DailyMail Editor’s Proven Detox Results After Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox
    Jul 1 2025
    After discovering her toxic chemical levels were 88% higher than the average American, DailyMail Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri took a bold step: she joined Ruan Living’s pioneering and transformative 40-Day Home Detox program to reduce her everyday exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates, and benzene. In this follow-up to episodes 86–89, Alexa returns to share her before-and-after Million Marker urine test results—and the data is powerful. Her bisphenol levels dropped from 88% to zero, and other chemicals linked to hormone disruption and cancer also fell significantly. You’ll learn: The invisible yet measurable impact of toxic exposures in daily lifeHow Alexa’s small product swaps led to big biological shiftsWhat Alexa swapped to dramatically lower her bisphenol and benzene levelsThe role of urine testing for toxins in tracking real detox progressWhat factors might have temporarily elevated her phthalate levels againHow travel, beauty products, and furniture can reintroduce exposuresSmart strategies for choosing non-toxic furniture and textiles Whether you're seeking hormone balance, fertility support, or cancer recovery, this episode reveals how detoxing your home can radically lower your toxic burden—in just 40 days. 🔗 Learn more about the 40-Day Home Detox Program: Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox 📘 Read A to Z of D-Toxing for everyday solutions: A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide To Reducing Our Toxic Exposures 📲 Follow @ruanliving for more practical nontoxic living tips 📰 Follow Alexa at DailyMail.com and @AlexaLardieri RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Episode 86. "What a Health Editor Discovered During Her 40-Day Home Detox (Part 1)" Episode 87. "How a Health Editor Turned 40-Day Home Detox Into a Team Effort With Her Husband (Part 2)" Episode 88. "Beyond the Detox: Expert Guidance for What Comes Next (Part 3)" Episode 89. "What 18 Years of Simplifying Nontoxic Living Has Taught Me: Interview with DailyMail’s Health Editor (Part 4)" Episode 67. Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox Episode 66. "Which toxins are in my body" with Million Marker founder, Jenna Hua Episode 105. "Toxic Textiles: Simple Steps to Detox the Fabrics in Your Home" ABOUT DAILYMAIL DailyMail.com is one of the world’s most visited English-language news websites, delivering accessible and engaging coverage of health, science, lifestyle, and current events. With over 240 million monthly global readers and more than 75 million in the U.S., DailyMail’s stories are widely shared across social platforms—making it a powerful source for shaping public awareness. ABOUT RUAN LIVING Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™. Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com. ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.
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    10 mins
  • E106. Best Nontoxic Fabrics and Fibers: Safe Choices for Bedding, Clothing, Rugs & More

    E106. Best Nontoxic Fabrics and Fibers: Safe Choices for Bedding, Clothing, Rugs & More
    Jun 27 2025
    Practical Nontoxic Living™ Raindrop | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked What are the safest fabrics for your clothes, bedding, and home furnishings? In this follow-up to Episode 105, “Toxic Textiles,” Sophia prioritizes the certifications and most nontoxic fibers and materials to look for when shopping for clothing, linens (like bath towels, bed sheets, and kitchen cloths), and home decor — including rugs, carpets, curtains, and upholstered furniture. Episode 105 shares an enriching detox deep dive. But if you want high-impact takeaways from the detox deep dive within 6 minutes, episode 106 is for you! This short Raindrop episode shares three helpful tips to identify safer, low-tox fabrics to reduce your toxic exposure from what sits on your skin (like clothes and bedding) and to cultivate a healthier, more healing home environment. Learn which natural fibers to prioritize, and how labels like GOTS-certified organic cotton, hemp, linen, and OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN fit into smarter shopping decisions. Whether you’re updating your wardrobe, redecorating your living space, or simply replacing your towels, this episode will empower you to choose fabrics that reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, VOCs, and other hidden toxins. 🎧 Part of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked series, designed to help you detox your home one Raindrop at a time. Click here to learn more: Practical Nontoxic Living™ Raindrop RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Ruan Living newsletterD-Tox AcademyPractical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 105 Toxic Textiles: How to Choose Safer Fabrics for a Healthier Home (listen by clicking on the link or via your favorite podcast platform) ABOUT PATTY GROSSMAN Patty Grossman is a textile industry changemaker on a mission to detox the fabrics we live with every day. A graduate of Smith College and MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Patty brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, business savvy, and environmental passion to her work. After learning how conventional textiles are saturated with toxic chemicals from her sister, Leigh Anne, both Patty and her sister co-founded Two Sisters Ecotextiles, a pioneering company that creates safe, sustainable, and stylish fabrics for homes and businesses. Her story—from elite business training to fabric detox warrior—is as surprising as it is inspiring, and her expertise is essential for anyone seeking a truly healthier home. Learn more here: Two Sisters Ecotextiles ABOUT RUAN LIVING Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™. Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com. ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.
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    6 mins
  • E105. Toxic Textiles: How to Choose Safer Fabrics for a Healthier Home

    E105. Toxic Textiles: How to Choose Safer Fabrics for a Healthier Home
    Jun 24 2025
    Your clothing, curtains, and couch might be exposing you to toxic chemicals—and you probably have no idea. In this eye-opening episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, Sophia Ruan Gushée speaks with Patty Grossman, co-founder of Two Sisters Ecotextiles, to reveal what’s hiding in the fabrics you use every day—and how to choose safer alternatives for a healthier home. 💥 Here’s a shocking fact: Experts say that fabrics are, by weight, up to 25% chemicals—many of which can leach into your air and onto your skin. From natural vs. synthetic fibers to the importance of certifications like GOTS and Oeko-Tex, this episode gives you the tools to shop smarter, reduce toxic exposures, and detox your home from the inside out. 🎧 You’ll learn: What toxins hide in conventional textiles How to prioritize safer fabrics for furniture, bedding, and clothing Why linen and hemp outperform cotton in sustainability and safety How dyes, finishes, and fabric treatments impact your health Budget-friendly swaps—including used furniture and natural fibers Whether you’re buying a new sofa or simply want to breathe easier, this conversation will change how you think about textiles—and empower you to take control of your environment. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Household Repeat Offenders: Practical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 84 "Household Repeat Offenders: The Simplest Way to Reduce Toxic Chemicals, Heavy Metals, EMFs & Stress"Listen to Deborah DiMaire, who recommended that Sophia speak to Patty Grossman, on Practical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 94 "Healing Spaces: How Nontoxic Interior Design Can Transform Your Health with Deborah DiMareRuan Living's D-Tox Academy ABOUT PATTY GROSSMAN Patty Grossman is a textile industry changemaker on a mission to detox the fabrics we live with every day. A graduate of Smith College and MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Patty brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, business savvy, and environmental passion to her work. After learning how conventional textiles are saturated with toxic chemicals from her sister, Leigh Anne, both Patty and her sister co-founded Two Sisters Ecotextiles, a pioneering company that creates safe, sustainable, and stylish fabrics for homes and businesses. Her story—from elite business training to fabric detox warrior—is as surprising as it is inspiring, and her expertise is essential for anyone seeking a truly healthier home. Learn more here: Two Sisters Ecotextiles ABOUT RUAN LIVING Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™. Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com. ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.
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    47 mins
  • E104. Collagen Marshmallows: Clean Beauty from the Inside Out

    E104. Collagen Marshmallows: Clean Beauty from the Inside Out
    Jun 19 2025

    Could your favorite treat support healthier skin, hair, joints, and mood? In this mini-episode, Sophia shares how homemade collagen marshmallows—made with grass-fed gelatin, rose powder, and butterfly pea flower—can nourish your body from the inside out. Learn about the cleanest collagen powder brands, key ingredients to avoid, and the surprising science-backed benefits of rose and butterfly pea flower.

    Plus, get the full collagen marshmallow recipe and tips at RuanLiving.com.

    ABOUT PRACTICAL NONTOXIC LIVING™ RAINDROPS

    These simple—brief and raw—are drops of practical wisdom from Sophia's life. They are part of the occasional Thursday Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked series. Learn more at the Ruan Living blog and the Practical Nontoxic Living podcast episode 90: Introducing Raindrops of Practical Nontoxic Living™

    ABOUT RUAN LIVING

    Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™.

    Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com.

    ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE

    Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.
    Show more Show less
    5 mins
  • E103. Feel at Home Anywhere: Detoxing Stress, Disconnection & Daily Choices

    E103. Feel at Home Anywhere: Detoxing Stress, Disconnection & Daily Choices
    Jun 17 2025

    Struggling with stress, overwhelm, or feeling out of sync in your space? You might be overdue for a different kind of detox—one that starts with your home, habits, and the unconscious choices shaping your well-being.

    In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, host Sophia Ruan Gushée is joined by her colleague and niece, Elizabeth McCormick, to unpack insights from the 40-Day Home Detox masterclass with Heather Lilleston, a clinical psychologist and seasoned yoga teacher. Together, they explore how small shifts in your daily routine, environment, and mindset can help you feel more grounded, supported, and at home—anywhere.

    💬 Highlights from this episode:

    • Stress is a toxin
    • Unconscious product choices affect your body and mind
    • “All disease is homesickness”
    • Disconnection from nature can erode emotional and physical health
    • Reframe “home” as an emotional and energetic experience, not just real estate

    This episode builds on Episode 102, which features a powerful audio excerpt from Heather’s 40-Day Home Detox masterclass.

    From the news...
    DailyMail's U.S. Health Deputy Editor, Alexa Lardieri, completed the Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox and shared:

    I felt like you were holding my hand… My husband and I became a dynamic duo detoxing our household products.

    She shares her full journey in Episodes 86–88—don’t miss them.

    —

    ABOUT RUAN LIVING

    Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™.

    Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com.

    ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE

    Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.

    ABOUT HEATHER LILLESTON

    Heather Lilleston is a rare blend of grounded wisdom and soulful insight. With over 20 years of experience teaching yoga and a freshly completed Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Heather bridges the worlds of ancient healing and modern science. Her approach to well-being weaves together mindfulness, movement, and emotional awareness, empowering others to feel more at home in their bodies, minds, and environments. Whether guiding a yoga retreat or offering therapeutic support, Heather invites us to explore deeper layers of self-care, presence, and connection—reminding us that home isn’t just a place, but a feeling we can cultivate from within. Learn more about Heather here: Heather Lilleston.
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    19 mins
  • E102. Redefining Home—Inner Peace, Yoga & Psychology with Heather Lilleston

    E102. Redefining Home—Inner Peace, Yoga & Psychology with Heather Lilleston
    Jun 12 2025

    What does “home” really mean—and how can we feel at home wherever we are?

    In this excerpt from Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox program, Sophia Ruan Gushée is joined by Heather Lilleston, yoga teacher since 2003 and doctorate in clinical psychology, to explore how our sense of home goes far beyond our real estate. Together, they unravel hidden toxins in our lives—not just in products, but in assumptions, habits, and mindset.

    Explore how unconscious choices shape our wellness, the power of connection to nature, and why cultivating a healthy sense of home—physically and emotionally—is essential to healing and thriving.

    Whether you’re detoxing your lifestyle or navigating a life transition, this episode offers insights to help you feel more at home in your body, mind, and space—wherever you are.

    ABOUT RUAN LIVING

    Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™.

    Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com.

    ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE

    Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.

    ABOUT HEATHER LILLESTON

    Heather Lilleston is a rare blend of grounded wisdom and soulful insight. With over 20 years of experience teaching yoga and a freshly completed Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Heather bridges the worlds of ancient healing and modern science. Her approach to well-being weaves together mindfulness, movement, and emotional awareness, empowering others to feel more at home in their bodies, minds, and environments. Whether guiding a yoga retreat or offering therapeutic support, Heather invites us to explore deeper layers of self-care, presence, and connection—reminding us that home isn’t just a place, but a feeling we can cultivate from within. Learn more about Heather here: Heather Lilleston.

    OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    • Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox
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    13 mins