These Forgotten Plants Rewire Your Mind, Mood, and Mission

What if the products you use every day—your toothpaste, your shampoo, your food containers—were silently hijacking your hormones, damaging your immune system, and passing that disruption on to future generations? In this explosive conversation, Darin sits down with Dr. Aly Cohen, triple board-certified physician and founder of The Smart Human, to unpack the shocking reality of unregulated chemicals in our homes, food, and water. Together, they explore the science behind endocrine disruption, the failures of U.S. chemical policy, and how simple daily swaps can radically reduce your toxic burden. This episode is not about fear—it’s about power. It’s about reclaiming your right to live clean.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Welcome to the show + why this episode matters 01:00 – How a red dog toy changed Dr. Aly’s career forever 04:30 – The hidden health hazards in your home right now 06:50 – Endocrine disruptors: the silent chemicals causing massive damage 09:10 – From rheumatology to environmental health warrior 11:15 – Why FDA and EPA aren’t protecting your health 13:40 – How "safe exposure levels" are based on outdated science 16:00 – GRAS loopholes: how chemicals are self-approved in the food system 18:20 – “Fragrance” is a legal disguise for 100+ toxic ingredients 20:00 – Immune dysfunction, infertility, cancer—how hormone mimics wreak havoc\ 23:10 – Her 4 A’s Framework: Assess, Avoid, Add, Allow 26:40 – The autoimmune epidemic + the environmental root cause 29:00 – Frozen organic vs. dirty dozen: the smarter grocery strategy 32:00 – Consistency > perfection: why small swaps matter most 34:30 – Dr. Aly’s top swaps for cleaning, skincare, and cookware 37:00 – PFAS, microplastics, canned food liners, and takeout wrappers 40:10 – The Progresso Soup study that proved behavior change works 43:00 – How to detox without supplements 46:00 – Teaching detox habits to kids through gamification 49:00 – Your genes aren’t your destiny—epigenetics and detox 52:00 – Why we can’t wait for regulations to save us 55:00 – What to travel with: filters, skincare, food prep 59:00 – What shocked Dr. Aly the most in her research 1:02:00 – Final thoughts on resilience, power, and your right to clean living     Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Shakeology – Shakeology-All in One Nutrition: Get 15% off with code SUPERLIFE at Shakeology.com. Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com.     Find More From Dr. Aly Cohen: Website: thesmarthuman.com Instagram: @thesmarthuman Book: Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences SuperLife Products & Protocols: superlife.com     Key Takeaway: "It’s not about being perfect. It’s about becoming aware—and starting to swap out what’s hurting you every single day." – Dr. Aly Cohen

What if the invisible forces all around you—Wi-Fi, clothing, sunlight, even your supplements—were shaping your health in ways you never imagined? In this electrifying episode, Darin sits down with Therasage founder and frequency pioneer Robby Besner to unpack the incredible healing power of infrared, natural light, grounding, and vibrational energy—and how manmade EMFs are quietly hijacking our biology. From new tech that embeds supplement frequencies into wearable cards to cold plunges and Faraday canopies, this conversation is a mind-expanding blueprint for how to live in harmony with the energy around you. You’ll never look at your Wi-Fi router—or your T-shirt—the same way again.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Welcome + what this episode is really about 02:00 – The hidden history of frequency medicine and ancient energy healing 04:00 – Tesla, Royal Rife, and the suppressed science of vibrational health 06:00 – What red light and infrared therapy really do to your cells 08:00 – Why EMFs are biologically incompatible (and how we got here) 10:00 – Can your body tell the difference between artificial and natural frequencies? 13:00 – What the FCC and FTC don’t want you to know 15:00 – Firefighters vs. cell towers: the lawsuit that revealed too much 17:00 – The shocking rise of electro-sensitivity and immune dysfunction 20:00 – How synthetic clothing is draining your body’s natural energy 23:00 – New tools: frequency cards, holograms, and heart rate variability testing 26:00 – Can a sticker carry the frequency of a supplement? 28:00 – Is your Wi-Fi router slowly destroying your sleep? 31:00 – What you can do right now to reduce EMF stress at home 34:00 – Children, screens, and RF baby monitors: what no one’s warning parents about 36:00 – The problem with “smartifying” our homes and devices 39:00 – Why Western medicine isn’t built to solve this problem 41:00 – The importance of turning off your tech, and tuning into the body 43:00 – Frequency-encoded nutrition: is it the future of supplements? 46:00 – The infrared sauna: ancient therapy meets modern science 49:00 – Cultures that grew up with sauna: longer life, better health 51:00 – The exponential effect of avoiding toxins and applying healing tools 54:00 – Why “just turning off your Wi-Fi” can change your life 56:00 – The illusion of “normal”—how stress is slowly normalized 58:00 – Cold plunges, courage, and breaking limiting beliefs 01:01:00 – Good stress vs. toxic stress: the key to transformation 01:03:00 – Community, coherence, and attracting high-frequency people 01:04:00 – Final thoughts on how to take back your health, one frequency at a time     Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.     Find More From Robby Besner: Website: therasage.com Instagram: @therasage360     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Longevity Tools + Detox Kits: superlife.com   Key Takeaway: "You’re either sprinting toward disease—or stacking subtle habits that make healing inevitable. Frequency is the missing piece." – Robby Besner  

What if aging isn’t inevitable—and you could clear out the cellular garbage that’s holding you back? In this science-packed solo episode, Darin dives deep into the world of senescent cells (aka zombie cells), the silent drivers of chronic inflammation, disease, and aging. You’ll learn about senolytic compounds, powerful botanicals, adaptogens, and common-sense practices that can help your body detox, repair, and rejuvenate at the cellular level.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Welcome + sponsor: Thera Sage + intro to PEMF and red light healing 02:15 – What are senescent cells and why should you care? 03:00 – Zombie cells: what they are and how they destroy your health 04:00 – Why some cells refuse to die + how they drive aging 05:00 – Synergetic compounds that help eliminate senescent cells 06:00 – What triggers zombie cell buildup (stress, sleep, food, toxins) 08:00 – The link between processed foods and zombie cell survival 09:00 – Chronic inflammation blocks your body’s cleanup system 10:00 – The real role of mitochondria in clearing zombie cells 11:00 – How antibiotics + pharmaceuticals impair this process 12:00 – Pharma’s interest in senolytic drugs (and why lifestyle wins) 13:00 – Nature’s medicine: adaptogens, botanicals, and medicinal mushrooms 14:00 – Top natural senolytics: quercetin, fisetin, reishi, rhodiola, ashwagandha 16:00 – Consistency > instant fixes when it comes to natural medicine 17:00 – Fasting, autophagy, and the science behind programmed cell death 18:00 – Diet hacks: polyphenols, cruciferous veggies, omega-3s, spirulina 20:00 – Lifestyle reset: exercise, sleep, morning sunlight, and breath 22:00 – Detoxing fatal conveniences: plastics, pesticides, and dirty water 24:00 – How simple choices power up your cell-clearing systems 25:00 – Final message: common sense + science = your Super Life     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout.     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com     Key Takeaway: "The zombie cells aren’t the problem—our daily choices are. And the solution is already in nature." – Darin Olien

What if everything you’ve been taught about happiness… is wrong? Yale psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos, joins Darin to dismantle the biggest myths we believe about fulfillment—and reveal what actually works. From social comparison and toxic positivity to hedonic adaptation and brain rewiring, this episode offers science-backed, soul-refreshing insights that just might change your life.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Welcome to the show + sponsor message (Thera Sage) 02:00 – What sparked Laurie’s lifelong study of happiness 04:00 – The crisis of mental health in students—and why it matters for everyone 06:00 – Why getting into Yale didn’t make students happier 08:00 – The "arrival fallacy" and the myth of circumstantial happiness 10:00 – Why our culture is confused—and our brains are wired backwards 12:00 – Hedonic adaptation: why nothing stays good for long 14:00 – How dopamine, comparison, and fear cycles keep us stuck 16:00 – Natural selection didn’t design you to be happy 18:00 – Why living in the present moment is harder than ever 20:00 – The devastating impact of tech on joy, connection, and presence 22:00 – Why even small social gestures create massive emotional shifts 24:00 – The toxic trap of “Good Vibes Only” 26:00 – What negative emotions are really trying to tell you 28:00 – Gratitude for the signal: rethinking anger, frustration, and overwhelm 30:00 – Curiosity over judgment: why your emotion isn’t the problem 32:00 – How to begin shifting when you feel stuck and disconnected 34:00 – The misunderstood power of self-compassion 36:00 – “Go gentle”: the science of slow, sustainable success 38:00 – Reclaiming your values in a noisy, comparison-driven world 40:00 – The science of time affluence and behavioral change 42:00 – Mindset, mindfulness, and the daily rituals that shift perspective 44:00 – How awe rewires the brain and inspires action 46:00 – Finding wonder in nature, stillness, and even YouTube 48:00 – What dogs can teach us about presence 50:00 – How to train happiness in kids (and ourselves) 52:00 – The #1 truth about happiness most people ignore 54:00 – Why knowing the science isn’t enough—you have to live it 56:00 – From Aristotle to modern science: the path to the “good life” 58:00 – Final insights + how to pursue lasting fulfillment   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Thera Sage – Premium red light, PEMF & infrared tools for total-body wellness 🌿 Get 15% off at therasage.com with code DARIEN Shakeology – Darin’s daily superfood shake with botanicals, fiber, prebiotics & more 🧠 Visit shakeology.com and use code SUPERLIFE for 15% off, free shipping, and a free shaker cup!   Follow Dr. Laurie Santos: Podcast: The Happiness Lab Yale Course: Psychology and the Good Life Instagram: @lauriesantosofficial     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences SuperLife Platform: superlife.com     Key Takeaway: "Your brain wasn’t built to make you happy—it was built to keep you alive. But you get to decide how to live." – Dr. Laurie Santos

What if you’re not lost—you’re just living by someone else’s script? In this raw and empowering solo episode, Darin takes you on a journey of truth, reconnection, and resilience. This isn’t just motivation—it’s a blueprint for anyone ready to detach from toxic programming, reconnect to purpose, and finally remember who they are. Blending science, soul, and storytelling, this is your reminder that you are not broken—you’re buried. And it’s time to rise.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction to Super Life + the episode’s intention 00:33 – Shoutout to Thera Sage + the healing tech Darin swears by 02:28 – What if everything you were taught about life is backwards? 03:42 – Distraction, numbness, and the illusion of fulfillment 05:06 – Why simply saying “hello” is radical healing 06:30 – What science says about purpose, presence, and longevity 07:43 – Mindfulness + nature: the real biohack 08:40 – Emotional fulfillment over empty success 09:45 – Viktor Frankl, meaning through suffering, and choosing growth 10:24 – Why society keeps us anxious, and how to escape it 10:51 – The SuperMind program: Darin’s neuroscience-backed mental reset 12:05 – Stress, sleep, energy, workouts—how SuperMind adapts to your day 13:53 – “Those who have a why can bear almost any how” 14:34 – What it really means to live a super life 15:43 – You don’t need to quit your job or run away—just realign 16:56 – The “No Mask Day” + radical honesty with yourself 18:44 – Move. Breathe. Be in nature. Craft your own success 20:04 – Happiness only exists here and now—not after “the goal” 21:16 – Super Life isn’t a brand—it’s a remembering 22:23 – Darin’s early trauma and how disconnection nearly ended him 23:35 – Meet resistance with your values, not with fear 24:10 – Divorce, relocation, millions—none of it will save you 25:02 – The weed through concrete: nature’s lesson in resilience 26:17 – Darin’s final call: join the movement and live your super life     Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Thera Sage – Premium infrared, PEMF & red light tools for total cellular healing. 🧠 Get 15% off at therasage.com with code DARIEN     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "You don’t need more hacks. You need to remember who you are." – Darin Olien

What if stress could make you stronger, not sicker? In this expansive episode, Darin sits down with Jeff Krasno, founder of Commune, to explore how we’ve misunderstood stress, disconnection, and the root causes of modern disease. Jeff shares how he reversed his diabetes, lost 60 pounds, and found a deeper life purpose through ritual, food, breath, movement, and community. Together, they unpack what it means to live a conscious life in a profit-driven world—and why connection, storytelling, and stillness might be the most powerful forms of medicine we have left.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction: Why Jeff’s journey matters 03:20 – Jeff’s wake-up call: Reversing diabetes and losing 60 pounds 08:14 – What “Commune” really means and why it’s more than a platform 13:45 – The biology of stress and how “good stress” heals you 18:21 – Why the body needs challenge—but not chaos 24:02 – How capitalism trains us to forget ritual, nature, and presence 29:17 – Food, breath, movement, and storytelling as modern medicine 35:41 – Loneliness is the new inflammation: the social health crisis 42:03 – Raising kids in a distracted world and building community offline 47:29 – How writing “Commusings” changed Jeff’s biology 53:22 – The science of storytelling: what it does to your nervous system 58:17 – How the body listens when you live your truth 1:03:44 – The intersection of health, spirit, economy, and purpose 1:08:12 – Can capitalism and wellness co-exist? A deep dive 1:13:29 – Why Jeff believes “aging in reverse” is possible 1:17:08 – The future of community: from digital back to sacred 1:23:56 – What Jeff wants everyone to know about being human 1:27:45 – Final thoughts and closing reflections from Darin and Jeff     Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com.     Find More From Jeff Krasno: Website: onecommune.com Podcast: Commune with Jeff Krasno Newsletter: Commusings Instagram: @jeffkrasno Book: Good Stress     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "We don’t need to eliminate stress—we need to learn how to dance with it." – Jeff Krasno  

What if the air freshener in your car was more dangerous than the pollution outside? In this explosive episode, Darin reveals what’s really inside those “harmless” little trees hanging from car mirrors—and why they could be silently damaging your health. Backed by real science and peer-reviewed studies, Darin uncovers the shocking truth about volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the health effects on the brain and lungs, and the corporations that won’t label them. You’ll also learn how to detox your air, reclaim your health, and even start a grassroots movement to get a fragrance-free option in ride shares like Uber and Lyft. Studies: There’s this study called “Volatile Chemical Emissions from Car Air Fresheners”—and wow. Researchers analyzed 12 popular car fresheners—those trees, clips, sprays, gels—you name it. Here’s what they found: 546 volatile organic compounds. That’s VOCs. Out of those, 30 were considered potentially hazardous—things like formaldehyde, benzene, and other stuff you definitely don’t want marinating your brain. And you know what’s wild?
Not a single one of those hazardous chemicals was listed on the label.
(Steinemann et al., 2020) There’s a study called “Fragranced Consumer Products: Effects on Asthmatics”—and it found that over 64% of people with asthma reported real symptoms from these scented products: wheezing, headaches, even full-on asthma attacks. And 41% said air fresheners were the trigger (Steinemann, 2017). Another one? “Migraine Headaches and Fragranced Consumer Products.” Nearly half of the people who get migraines said air fresheners specifically set them off (Steinemann & Nematollahi, 2020). And if you’re neurodivergent—like folks with autism? This next one breaks my heart.
In the study “Fragranced Consumer Products: Effects on Autistic Adults,” 83.7% of autistic individuals said fragranced products triggered serious neurological and respiratory problems—and 63% said air fresheners were one of the worst offenders (Steinemann, 2018). In a study out of Nigeria, researchers exposed mice to a solid commercial air freshener. After a few weeks, the mice showed increased anxiety, depression-like behavior, memory loss, and signs of oxidative stress in the brain. Their brains were literally under chemical assault.
The study's called “Neurobehavioral Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Solid Air Freshener in Mice.” Check it out—it’s eye-opening (Umukoro et al., 2019). Sorry to tell you… greenwashed products aren’t any better. In the same 2020 study I mentioned earlier, researchers tested “natural” versions too—and found no meaningful difference in the chemicals they released (Steinemann et al., 2020).     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction: The truth about air fresheners 00:44 – Why Darin refuses to use ride shares with scent trees 01:50 – The hidden study on VOCs in popular car air fresheners 02:30 – 546 chemicals discovered—30 considered hazardous 03:00 – Where is the regulation? Why there are no labels 03:55 – Formaldehyde, benzene, and what they do to your body 05:00 – The link between asthma, headaches, and fragrances 05:45 – 64% of asthmatics report fragrance-triggered symptoms 06:25 – What these chemicals do to neurodivergent individuals 07:10 – Mice studies: anxiety, memory loss, oxidative stress 08:40 – Ubers, Lyfts, and chronic chemical exposure 09:15 – “Greenwashed” products are just as toxic 10:00 – No regulation, no labeling: the wild west of scent marketing 10:50 – A call to action: the Uber/Lyft fragrance-free movement 12:02 – How to tag and campaign for safer ride shares 13:00 – What you can use instead: baking soda, charcoal, and nature 14:40 – Exactly how to ask a driver to remove chemical air fresheners 15:41 – Final message: take your air—and your health—back     Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences   Key Takeaway: "Your car shouldn’t smell like a fake ocean breeze—it should smell like clean, chemical-free life." – Darin Olien     Bibliography: 1. Steinemann, A., et al. (2020). Volatile chemical emissions from car air fresheners. Link 2. Steinemann, A. (2017). Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatics. Link 3. Steinemann, A. (2018). Fragranced consumer products: effects on autistic adults. Link 4. Steinemann, A., & Nematollahi, N. (2020). Migraine headaches and fragranced consumer products. Link 5. Umukoro, S., et al. (2019). Neurobehavioral Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Solid Air Freshener in Mice. Link

What if carbon isn’t the villain—but the key to saving the world? In this mind-expanding conversation, Darin sits down with renowned environmentalist and visionary Paul Hawken to uncover the misunderstood story of carbon, the intelligence of nature, and how we’ve systematically disconnected from the wisdom that sustains life. This episode dives deep into climate, ancient knowledge, modern science, and what it means to truly regenerate the Earth—and ourselves.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Why this conversation about carbon is different 04:40 – The real reason carbon got villainized—and why it’s wrong 08:25 – Why we must "re-carbonize" the Earth, not decarbonize it 11:00 – The incredible intelligence of carbon and why it is life 13:40 – Indigenous wisdom and Western science—why we need both 17:30 – Why naming and separating things leads us away from truth 20:05 – Climate isn’t a crisis—it’s a mirror of the biosphere 23:00 – The human disconnection that’s destroying the planet 26:00 – We are the only species deregulating the climate 29:00 – Turning nature into an "asset class": the new danger 31:00 – Google, Meta, and the new extractive industry 33:30 – How our data addiction is connected to climate destruction 35:00 – The fungal internet: mycelia, intelligence, and nutrient trade 38:40 – How 14 million roots on a single rye plant feed the Earth 42:00 – Sound of soil: how healthy ecosystems literally speak 45:00 – Dead soil and the silence that follows chemical farming 47:00 – Fire as a regenerative force—not a destroyer 50:10 – Wildflowers, seed banks, and the secrets beneath the ash 53:10 – Purpose and meaning: the missing nutrients in modern life 56:00 – Awe, intelligence, and what soil can teach us about healing 59:10 – Why we’re not just disconnected—we’re spiritually lost 1:02:00 – Fossil fuels, energy addiction, and burning life 1:04:40 – How less can actually give us more 1:06:00 – Why the healthcare system is a symptom of sick soil 1:08:00 – From crisis to community: choosing regeneration 1:10:10 – Why abundance comes from creating life 1:13:00 – Fire ecology and Indigenous land management wisdom 1:16:00 – Final thoughts: we’re not screwed—we’re screwing ourselves   Don’t Forget... I just launched my brand new program Superlife Supermind. Visit my website https://superlife.com/ to learn more about how you can get rid of stress, improve sleep and overall health today.   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order. Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout.     Find More From Paul Hawken: Website: paulhawken.com Instagram: @paul.hawken Book: Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation Organization: regeneration.org     Connect with Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "We don’t need to decarbonize the world—we need to re-carbonize the Earth through life." – Paul Hawken

What if the sun—the very thing we’ve been told to fear—is actually your body’s most essential nutrient? In this myth-busting solo episode, Darin dives into the science, history, and healing power of sunlight. From ancient heliotherapy to modern vitamin D research, Darin breaks down how we've been sold fear about the sun while living under flickering blue lights that are quietly damaging our bodies. You'll discover the surprising truth about sun exposure, the dangers of sunscreen and sunglasses, and how to safely reconnect with the light your biology depends on.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:00 – Why this isn’t just about sunlight—it’s about truth, biology, and reclaiming rhythm 00:03:14 – The history of heliotherapy and how sunlight used to be medicine 00:04:22 – The Nobel Prize-winning light therapy that healed disease in the 1900s 00:05:46 – How we became afraid of sunlight—and what really caused the rise in skin cancer 00:07:11 – Modern lifestyle vs. natural light: the real root of our chronic disease 00:08:37 – Vitamin D, cancer, and sunlight’s forgotten power 00:09:46 – What your circadian rhythm, mitochondria, and hormones need from the sun 00:14:11 – How sunglasses and sunscreen may be hurting more than helping 00:16:03 – The difference between sunburn and safe exposure (and the real melanoma science) 00:17:52 – Studies show moderate sun exposure reduces mortality—here’s how 00:21:22 – How to gradually build tolerance and reconnect with natural light safely 00:22:47 – Fear of the sun vs. biology’s need for it—why you’re not fragile 00:23:28 – What you eat affects how your skin responds to sunlight 00:24:02 – Superfoods for skin protection: chaga, cacao, spirulina, berries & more 00:25:52 – The real sun protocol: light, food, melanin, hydration, and common sense 00:26:54 – Ditch junk light: how to filter screens and restore healthy signals 00:28:05 – Fueling the skin: water, polyphenols, mushrooms, and mineral-rich foods 00:29:04 – Final truth: you were built for the sun, not for screens     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com. Shakeology-All in One Nutrition: Get 15% off with code SUPERLIFE at Shakeology.com     Follow Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "We weren’t designed to live in the dark. The sun is not our enemy—it’s the original medicine our biology was built for." – Darin Olien

What if your immune system, not your genetics, is the key to unlocking longevity and vitality? In this powerful episode, Darin sits down with the legendary Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the father of functional medicine, to explore how environmental toxins, ultra-processed foods, and chronic inflammation are silently robbing us of our health—and what we can actually do about it. From angry fat to immuno-rejuvenation, this episode reveals the science and solutions behind healing from the inside out.     What You’ll Learn in This Episode: (00:00:00) Opening – Why functional medicine matters more than ever (00:04:44) A legal war against toxic corporations & the real cost of chemical exposure (00:06:09) What functional medicine actually means—explained by its founder (00:08:00) The 4 core pillars of health: physical, metabolic, cognitive, and spiritual (00:09:17) 300,000+ chemicals: how environmental signals hijack your genes (00:10:34) Why chronic exposure to everyday toxins is worse than we think (00:12:00) Neurotoxicology & immunotoxicology: the hidden fields shaping your future (00:13:00) How low-level chemical exposure impacts mood, energy, and brain clarity (00:14:56) Scaling solutions: where we start, and why Himalayan buckwheat matters (00:17:23) New study: reversing immune aging by 47% in 90 days with food (00:20:37) Why nature’s orchestration is more powerful than any isolated nutrient (00:22:20) Bitter foods, GLP-1, and the natural way to stimulate weight loss (00:27:23) Adaptogens explained: how plants adapt to stress—and help you do the same (00:31:19) The danger of long-term GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic: what we don’t know yet (00:34:07) Angry fat vs. friendly fat—how inflammation starts in your gut and spreads (00:40:01) Santa Claus vs. Mars: the science of fat as a signaling organ (00:41:18) The Pima vs. Tarahumara paradox: genetics, food, and diabetes (00:44:32) The 70% processed food problem: how we’re feeding chronic disease (00:46:14) Are we floating off the planet? A metaphor for today’s health crisis (00:48:13) Changing the economic system through farming, soil health & food quality (00:52:04) What ancient crops like Himalayan buckwheat can teach us about immunity (00:56:00) Why paying farmers fairly can actually reverse public health decline (01:00:01) Agrochemicals, glyphosate, and the broken agricultural model (01:02:27) How do we scale food as medicine? Practical steps to reboot the system (01:05:24) Why we must shift from quantity to quality in food and farming (01:07:28) Are we growing potatoes from oil? Redefining sustainability (01:10:01) What gives Dr. Bland hope—and how the next generation is already leading     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.   Find More From Dr. Jeffrey Bland: Website: jeffreybland.com Instagram: @drjeffreybland Book: The Disease Delusion Organization: Big Bold Health     Follow Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "Our genes are not our destiny—our environment, our food, and our choices are the true architects of health." – Dr. Jeffrey Bland