Disruptors Diane Cotter and Peter Arlein are determined to protect their communities, stretching from Massachusetts to Colorado, against toxic 'forever chemicals'
Explicit content warning
04/30/24 • 57 min
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 families, friends, and communities from toxic ‘forever chemicals.’
Worcester, MA native Diane, wife of firefighter Paul Cotter, plunged into the PFAS rabbit hole when she questioned whether Paul’s exposure to the chemicals contributed to his prostate cancer. Her relentless pursuit for the truth revealed numerous sick firefighters and afflicted firefighter communities nationwide.
Former ski-shop wax tech Peter took matters into his own hands by creating the Colorado-based company MountainFlo dedicated to making ski wax and bicycle lubricants without PFAS and petroleum, to protect the Rocky Mountains he cherishes and the outdoor sports community he belongs to.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:
Peter’s Company: Mountain Flow & Mountain Flow Take Back Program
Diane’s Documentary Burned: Protecting the Protectors
Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.
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 families, friends, and communities from toxic ‘forever chemicals.’
Worcester, MA native Diane, wife of firefighter Paul Cotter, plunged into the PFAS rabbit hole when she questioned whether Paul’s exposure to the chemicals contributed to his prostate cancer. Her relentless pursuit for the truth revealed numerous sick firefighters and afflicted firefighter communities nationwide.
Former ski-shop wax tech Peter took matters into his own hands by creating the Colorado-based company MountainFlo dedicated to making ski wax and bicycle lubricants without PFAS and petroleum, to protect the Rocky Mountains he cherishes and the outdoor sports community he belongs to.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:
Peter’s Company: Mountain Flow & Mountain Flow Take Back Program
Diane’s Documentary Burned: Protecting the Protectors
Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.
Previous Episode
Carey Gillam on how corporations conceal the dangers of toxic weed killers from consumers
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 Carey Gillam, Managing Editor of The New Lede, EWG’s journalism initiative, and the widely used commercial toxic pesticides found in weed killers. Ken and Carey discuss their link to Parkinson's, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and childhood leukemia, and her ground-breaking investigations that have exposed corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta that have concealed health risks from the public for decades.
Earlier this month, EWG partnered with California assembly member Laura Friedman to introduce Assembly Bill 1963 which would end the use of Paraquat on fields and orchards in California by January 2026. The passing of this bill could enormously impact the lives and the health of California’s farmworkers, their families, and agricultural communities across the state.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:
Toxic Weed Killer Found in Breast Milk, Infant Formula
The New Lede’s ‘Paraquat Papers’ scoop recognized by agriculture journalists
Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.
Next Episode
Dr. Mark Hyman on treating toxic chemicals in our bodies
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 joined by functional medicine pioneer and EWG board member, Dr. Mark Hyman. Functional medicine is a complete approach to your whole interconnected biological system. Dr. Hyman came to functional medicine after being diagnosed with mercury poisoning and after using functional medicine to detoxify his body, he became determined to help as many people as possible.
Ken and Dr. Hyman discuss why we are exposed to so many toxic substances, where we are exposed to them, and what you can do to help yourself reduce exposure and increase detoxification.
Want a deeper dive on today’s episode? Check out the links below:
EWG's Dirty Dozen: Cancer Prevention Edition
EWG's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in ProduceTM
Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode every other week.
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