Raising Healthy Kids in a Toxic World - with Dr. Michelle Perro

Rates of childhood cancer, asthma, obesity and other diseases are rising at an alarming rate. What can we do?

This week, Patti and Doug talk about testing drinking water for microplastics, a big court victory for residents of Cancer Alley, and how schools are unprepared to meet new HHS food pyramid guidelines. Then pediatrician and author Dr. Michelle Perro talks about what worries her most about children's health, the importance of good nutrition, and steps we can take together to improve outcomes for our kids.

Raising Healthy Kids in a Toxic World - with Dr. Michelle PerroGreen Street with Patti & Doug Wood

29:00

Links from the Interview

• Dr. Perro's website: https://gmoscience.org/

• "What's Making Our Children Sick?" by Michelle Perro and Vincanne Adams

https://bookstore.acresusa.com/products/whats-making-our-children-sick?

Links from the News

• States are requesting the EPA to test water for microplastics: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2025/12/8/win-on-microplastics-seven-states-call-for-federal-tracking-plastic-particles-in-drinking-water

• Victory in court for residents of Cancer Alley: https://capitalbnews.org/cancer-alley-residents-pollution-lawsuit/

• Schools are struggling with new food guidelines: https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5689296-rfk-jr-food-pyramid-school-lunch/

• Patti's recipe for red lentil soup: https://www.helping2heal.org/post/red-lentil-soup

Dr. Michelle Perro

Sperm Trouble - with Dr. Shanna Swan

What's responsible for the worldwide decline in sperm that is making things difficult for those trying to have a baby?

A worldwide decline in sperm is making things difficult for those trying to have a baby. This week in the news, Patti and Doug talk about the link between RF radiation and autism,  A Pew Foundation report on plastic pollution, and how chemicals in food are making us sick. The Dr. Shanna Swan, author of "Countdown – How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race" – talks about her work and how endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be interfering with our ability to reproduce. 

Links from the Interview

Dr. Swan's page about her book "Countdown" https://www.shannaswan.com/countdown

Dr. Swan's page at Mount Sinai: https://profiles.icahn.mssm.edu/shanna-h-swan

Links from the News

Doctors and scientists wan about plastic in our food system: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/10/synthetic-chemicals-food-system-health-burden-report

How plastic is harming your health (Breaking the Plasti Wave) https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2025/12/breaking-the-plastic-wave-2025

Study looking at links between RF (wireless) radiation and autism: https://www.ehn.org/wireless-radiation-autism-related-genes

Our website for high school kids to get involved with the plastic crisis: www.KidsCanFixTheWorld.org

Dr. Shanna Swan

Farm Trouble - with Jennifer Fahy

Small family farms are critical to our food supply and our health.

In the news this week, Patti and Doug talk about PFAS chemicals in firefighting turnout gear, health problems for kids who get cell phones before age 12, and how tattoo ink travels through the body causing trouble. Then Jennifer Fahy, communications director for Farm Aid, talks about the work of the organization and why protecting small family farms is more important than ever! 

Farm Trouble - with Jennifer FahyGreen Street with Patti & Doug Wood

29:00

Links from the Interview

The website of Farm Aid: https://www.farmaid.org/

Important issues for small farmers: https://www.farmaid.org/category/issues/

Links from the News

NYC firefighters may get PFAS-free turnout gear: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/02/nyc-firefighters-pfas-forever-chemicals-bill

Kids who get cell phones early may be a nigher risk for health problems: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/children-smartphones-increased-risk-of-health-problems-study/

Study shows tattoo ink travels through your body: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2510392122

Jennifer Fahy of Farm Aid