Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode
Episodes
How big oil hooked the world on plastic
02 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel a sense of personal responsibility for plastic pollution? That reaction is no accident - it’s the result of a decades-long public r...
The vaccine lawyer suing RFK Jr.
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There is an ongoing lawsuit between the American Academy of Pediatrics v. Robert F Kennedy Jr., head of HHS. The lead attorney of the lawsuit challeng...
Pesticide protections in the crosshairs
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two major battles over pesticide policy are unfolding at the federal level, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The dispute: Can states protect the...
Doctor, doctor: How the Trump administration is making America sicker
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This Earth Day, we're not celebrating progress; we're sounding the alarm. In today’s episode, Ken sits down with Dr. Phil Landrigan and Dr. Adam Gaf...
Rina Shah: Principles over power
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it look like to stand on principle when everyone around you is playing it safe? In today’s episode, Ken sits down with Rina Shah, a politi...
Democrats were MAHA before MAHA — Rep. Chellie Pingree unpacks the contradictions
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Long before “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, existed, there was Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine): A self-described hippie, back-to-the-lande...
David A. Graham on Project 2025's assault on American government
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most people heard about Project 2025 during the 2024 presidential campaign. Far fewer understood what it actually was. The Atlantic’s David Graham w...
REVISIT: Protecting children from pesticides
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Many people find EWG while seeking information about pesticides. In today’s episode Ken is joined by our in-house Senior Toxicologist, Dr. Alexis ...
The plastics problem
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all seen the headlines about micro and nanoplastics. It’s clear that the public is uneasy with the ubiquity of plastic particles in our food...
Rep. Jim McGovern on ending hunger in the richest country in the world
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
48 million Americans are food insecure, congress just cut $200 billion from SNAP, and the upcoming farm bill could make things even worse. But Rep. Ji...
Hilary Swank fights for transparency in baby products
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Motherhood was a wake-up call for Hilary Swank, as she learned about the toxic chemicals lurking in everyday products we trust to keep our babies safe...
What happens when the EPA stops protecting the environment?
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Just one year into the Trump administration, the onslaught of attacks on the environment and public health is staggering. The Environmental Protection...
Understanding the toxic food environment with Julia Belluz
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Belluz, co-author of "Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us," joins Ken to dismantle everything you think you k...
Why I left the CDC: Dr. Demetre on vaccine policy changes and public health
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Something unprecedented just happened at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A newly reconstituted advisory committee voted to recommend d...
Cult-like thinking in America
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you susceptible to cult-like thinking? According to author Jane Borden, everyone might be, especially Americans.In today’s episode, Jane talks w...
Who supports MAHA? New polling reveals surprising divides
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The longest U.S. government shutdown in history just ended and millions of Americans are about to pay for it. Health insurance premiums are set to dou...
Environmental health across party lines
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode Ken and Lindsay Dahl talk about how we regulate chemicals, protect public health and decide product safety. Lindsay has more tha...
Oil expert, Mr. Global: We are heading towards an energy crisis
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Randolph, aka Mr. Global, has more than 33 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including his work as Shell expert and as co-founder of...
The lasting damage of vaccine misinformation and the disgraced doctor fueling it
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Trump administration’s recent claim that acetaminophen [Tylenol] use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism is yet another chapter in ...
The privilege of MAHA and inflation in your kitchen
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Has your grocery bill gone up? Ken’s guest today, Errol Schweizer, knows why. Errol has 25 years of experience in the food and grocery industry. He ...
Lo Bosworth on women’s health advocacy
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Women’s healthcare and medical research have major funding shortfalls. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by Lo Bosworth, TV star turned founder an...
Lisa Bronner on her family’s soap legacy and beyond
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve walked down a personal care products aisle in your local store, you probably recognize Dr. Bronner’s soaps. They come in big bottles wit...
“The dose makes the poison” is outdated
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Helping rural Americans hurt by Trump’s policies
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will Westmoreland became an influencer overnight when he directly addressed a farmer's concerns over not receiving a rotational grazing reimbursement....
Brain drain: The Trump administration’s war on scientists
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Under the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other key federal departments ar...
Mike Grunwald: We are eating the Earth
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 m...
Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”: Steal from the poor, give to the rich
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Republican-led Congress is considering a “Big Beautiful” reconciliation bill that might include new hurdles for crucial assistance programs li...
The politics of food with Marion Nestle
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While there are positive aspects of having top government officials talking about chronic disease prevention and diet, the food industry's primary goa...
Changing the autism conversation
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Garcia is a journalist and author who challenges the misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder through his own experience living with autism....
Detoxify your life with Dr. Aly Cohen
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ra...
Understanding measles and vaccine misinformation
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
EPA was a success story - and that was a problem for polluters
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unraveling decades of environmental progress, the Trump administration is systematically dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s disma...
Trump’s environmental impact on the South
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ken is continuing his cook's tour of the who’s-who at public interest organizations. He’s joined by DJ Gerken, the president and executive directo...
Can deregulation make America healthy again?
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ken’s having another episode, one that quite a lot of people are having lately, all about the federal job layoffs. This is a little bit tricky, as K...
The future of meat
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The meat industry has been consolidating rapidly for decades, concentrating its power in a way that creates problems not only for the environment but ...
Goodbye Red Dye 3
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ken Cook is having another episode, and this one is all about two R’s: Red Dye 3 and RFK Jr. Ken is joined by his fellow public interest leader Dr. ...
True Botanicals founder on better beauty for all ages
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our skin is our largest organ, and applying some personal care products may let harmful chemicals sink into the body. That’s why Ken feels so strong...
Parkinson’s is an avoidable man-made disease
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chemicals in our food, water, and air are risk factors contributing to the rise of Parkinson’s disease. It’s the fastest-growing brain disease i...
EWG 2024 Wrapped
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At EWG we believe everyone should have access to safe products, clean drinking water, healthy food, and clean air. We believe in that so much that we’...
Mona Vand on rethinking healthy
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We know which healthy choices we need to make to improve our diet and health but it can seem so daunting in the moment. In today’s episode Ken is jo...
Why are there so many sketchy chemicals in our food?
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No matter your politics, you want the food you and your family eat every day to be safe. So why do so many of the products on the grocery store shelve...
Everything your Baby Touches Should be Safe
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Babies are our most vulnerable population when it comes to chemical exposure. And yet, many baby products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals.Entre...
Your Election Recovery Tool Kit with Jenna Arnold
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you need an election recovery tool kit? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s episode, Ken is joined by activist, educator, author, ...
Where the Sun Don’t Shine: The Attack on Rooftop Solar
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone wants cleaner, cheaper energy. Well, almost everyone. Powerful utility companies like PG&E, Sempra, and Southern California Edison aren’t g...
Animal Welfare and the Cruelty of Factory Farms
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Ken is deep-diving into the intersection of environmentalism and animal welfare. First, Ken speaks with veterinarian Crystal Hea...
Elections Have Consequences
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hi, it's Ken Cook from EWG. I'm here in Washington and we're here to get ready to fight. It already feels like Trump's Washington. That feeling r...
Get Out and Vote
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are interrupting our regular programming for Election Day to encourage you to vote. Make your voice heard at the ballot box and if you have any las...
A PR Firm Got Your Tax Dollars to Track and Dox Pesticide Critics
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve followed the world of pesticides for as long as Ken has, it can be hard to be shocked. But journalist Carey Gillam (The New Lede) has dug ...
Endocrine disruptors and early puberty for girls
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Endocrine disruptors are chemical compounds that interfere with our hormones. For years, it was seen as a fringe theory. Today, it’s embraced by The...
Advocate Like a Mother; One Parent’s Fight for the Truth
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
People come to environmental work in many different ways. Our first guest today, Kari Rhinehart, came to environmentalism after experiencing a parent’...
Legal but not safe: fixing our broken food system
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
First things first, the onus shouldn’t be on us to find food options without chemicals and additives. If it’s in a store, it should be safe to eat...
Power clashes between utilities and clean energy innovation
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Astounding advancements have been made in clean energy technology, and rooftop and community solar initiatives have been shown to drive consumer costs...
The environmental and economic benefits of empowering women
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A cleaner, greener, and brighter future is within our reach. But often the path we have to walk is littered with discriminatory hurdles put up by the ...
Protecting children from the risks of pesticides
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people find EWG while seeking information about pesticides. In today’s episode Ken is joined by our in-house Senior Toxicologist, Dr. Alexis ...
Missy Sims and Richard Wiles take on Big Oil for causing the climate crisis
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Oil companies have known about their enormous and “catastrophic” contribution to climate change since the 1950s. They lied about it for as long as...
Austin Frerick on the corruption of America’s food industry
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Local businesses and local farms are being lost in this era of monopolizing America’s food system, but the food industry didn’t become corrupt ove...
Chemical exposure in people and how companies conceal risks from the public, with investigative reporter Sharon Lerner and Professor Philippe Grandjean
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a recent New Yorker article, investigative reporter Sharon Lerner writes about former 3M scientist Kris Hansen who conducted a study in the 90s whe...
Mark Jacobson & Greg Jaczko on clean energy alternatives to nuclear power
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change, air pollution, jobs! These are buzzwords that have helped the nuclear energy industry stay in power. In today’s episode, Ken is join...
Dr. Mark Hyman on treating toxic chemicals in our bodies
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Almost 100% of Americans have toxic substances in our bodies and it negatively affects our health in numerous ways. In today’s episode, Ken is joi...
Disruptors Diane Cotter and Peter Arlein are determined to protect their communities, stretching from Massachusetts to Colorado, against toxic 'forever chemicals'
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, Ken is joined by two guests, Diane Cotter and Peter Arlein who both came into environmentalism as a way to protect their familie...
Carey Gillam on how corporations conceal the dangers of toxic weed killers from consumers
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When buying or eating food, we don’t often think about the chemicals used in weed killers…but we should. In today’s episode, we go in-depth with...
25 Years in the Making: EPA Cracks Down on “Forever Chemicals” in Tap Water Thanks to Rob Bilott
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For decades the American people have been exposed to toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS with no protection from our government. Until now… In tod...
Moby and Chef Andrew Zimmern: Eating and Advocacy
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Each individual’s journey with food is unique. At 19, Moby confronted the contradiction of loving animals but consuming a bacon double cheeseburger,...
Erin Brockovich is still pissed about contaminated tap water
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Erin Brockovich is synonymous with environmentalism, which is why she is our inaugural guest. She is an environmental activist, author, and subject of...
Trailer
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Founder and President of Environmental Working Group Ken Cook as he helps folks connect with their inner environmentalist. Through conversations ...