Podcast
Non-Toxic
Hosted by Daniel Penny · EN
From the manosphere to the atmosphere, Non-Toxic is devoted to understanding the intersections between the crisis of masculinity and the climate crisis. Join us for conversations with experts, journalists, and regular guys on topics ranging from how to blow up a pipeline to why incels are obsessed with the idea of alphas to why meatfluencers may not have your best interests at heart.
Hosted by critic and journalist Daniel Waite Penny.
nontoxicpodcast.substack.com
nontoxicpodcast.substack.com
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Telling the climate story like it's true crime, with journalist Amy Westervelt
Mar 26, 202500:32:07Tap to summarizeLike a rhizomatic network, Non-Toxic is linking and building with investigative climate journalist Amy Westervelt. She and the Drilled podcast team will be helping out with a special mini-season of Non-Toxic x Drilled, launching summer 2025.For those of you who aren’t already devoted Drilled listeners, it’s one of the best climate podcasts out there. They’ve covered everything from the birth of climate denial to the criminalization of climate protest to Exxon’s corrupt efforts to secure deep sea drilling rights off the coast of Guyana. While working on Non-Toxic, I’ve always looked to Drilled as an example of the kinds of stories I want to tell and the impact I hope to have. So it’s really a dream to be working with them.In the meantime, while I work on that, I'll be releasing bonus episodes on everything from male infertility to the failures of "abundance bros."To keep the show going, become a Non-Toxic patron today. And if you’re motivated by material possessions, we’ve got some great thank you gifts for our supporters. And sign up for our free Substack, where you can stay up to date on all things Non-Toxic.
Transcribe →The first weeks of Trump's climate agenda, with Andrew Lewis
Feb 9, 202500:26:28Tap to summarizeOn this bonus episode, we're joined by environmental reporter and former Non-Toxic co-host, Andrew Lewis, to discuss the first weeks of the Trump administration's climate policy. We've also got some personal life updates like moving to Cape Cod, and trying to build a house without wrapping it in plastic. Listen in for insights on FEMA investigations, woke weather, future climate predictions, and our wobbily food system.Support the show via Patreon andfollow us on Substack. And for more detailed doomscrolling, check outDrilled's tally of Trump's enviromental executive orders.
Transcribe →The problem of Justin Baldoni and fake male feminists, with Emily Kirkpatrick and Dr. Will McInerney
Jan 6, 202500:40:08Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Non-Toxic, we're going Hollywood, breaking down the PR wars and legal wrangling between the stars of the domestic violence drama, It Ends With Us. Justin Baldoni, the director and co-star of the film, is facing serious allegations of sexual harassment, inappropriate on-set behavior–and a coordinated PR campaign to destroy the reputation of the film's leading actress, Blake Lively. (Notably, he's also the host of the podcast Man Enough.) Now, he's filed countersuits of his own. With insights from journalist Emily Kirkpatrick and gender justice researcher Dr. Will McInerney, this episode unpacks how PRs take advantage of misogyny on behalf of their clients, why branding yourself a male feminist might be problematic, and whether this case is the final nail in the coffin of #MeToo. Support the show and follow us on Substack. If you liked this episode , check out my conversation with beauty reporter Jessica de Fino about the oppressive beauty standards coming for men. Guest Bios: Emily Kirkpatrick is a writer covering celebrity and pop culture for outlets such as New York magazine, Glamour, W, Vogue, and the New York Times. Her popular weekly newsletter, I <3 Mess, rounds up the best of the worst celebrity fashion. Dr. Will McInerny is a researcher and educator who studies gender-based violence; violence prevention; men and masculinities; peace and conflict studies; and arts-based research. The NYT articles in question: ‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine ‘It Ends With Us’ Actor and Director and His Publicists Sue The Times for Libel The Levers of Change Gender Equality Attitudes Study 2022 Masculinity and women's equality: study finds emerging gender divide in young people's attitudes
Transcribe →From the vault: We're all hypebeasts now, with Alec Leach
Dec 29, 202400:29:37Tap to summarizeFor this end of year episode of Non-Toxic, we dive back into the vault to revisit a fascinating conversation with Alec Leach, a sustainability strategist and author of The World is on Fire but We're Still Buying Shoes. (He's also got a great substack.) Alec shares his eye-opening journey from a high-flying fashion editor to an advocate for mindful consumption. We discuss the myths around sustainability, the psychological grip of fashion marketing, and practical steps to deprogram from excessive buying habits. Alec also talks about the pervasive influence of "hype culture" on contemporary fashion, his own wardrobe mistakes, and ways to make more sustainable choices. For more Non-Toxic fashion advice, check out my conversation with Nicolaj Reffstrup, former CEO of Ganni. And to hear more about consumer culture and the climate crisis, listen to this episode with sustainability advertising expert Lucy von Sturmer. Support the show and follow us on Substack
Transcribe →Surviving Fire Season, with Clare Boerigter
Dec 12, 202400:33:32Tap to summarizeThings are heating up in this episode of Non-Toxic. I'm talking to Clare Boerigter, a fire research fellow, science writer, and former wildland firefighter who has been on the front lines of America's increasingly out of control wildfires. Clare shares stories from her three seasons fighting fires, the impact of climate change on wildfires, and the challenges faced by women in the firefighting community. We also explore the science of fire behavior, human encroachment on places likely to burn, and the problem with trying to prevent all wildfires. And Clare generously shares an except from her forthcoming memoir from Beacon Press, Wild Light: Notes from the Safest, Most Dangerous Places. Further Reading: The age of the “megafire” Women fighting forest fires say abuse is rife – but men often go unpunished How to Save a Forest by Burning It Wildfires Will Put $11 Billion Worth of U.S. Property at Risk Every Year by 2050 Damage from sprawling Prospect Park brush fire may take years to repair, officials say
Transcribe →Why muscle dysmorphia got so big, with Dr Roberto Olivardia
Nov 28, 202400:41:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Non-Toxic, I dive into the world of extreme muscularity with Dr Roberto Olivardia, a researcher and clinician who helped coin the term “muscle dysmorphia.” Dr Olivardia charts the rise of muscle dysmorphia among men and his own journey into studying eating disorders and OCD through the lens of masculinity. His book, The Adonis Complex, came out in 2000, and we look back at how body image issues among men have evolved from the 1970s to the present day. While social media and steroid use have accelerated the problem, Dr. Olivardia isn’t so sure they’re the only reasons why so many are struggling with this condition. And finally, we look at the challenges faced by those affected, and what options are available for treatment. Guest bio: Roberto Olivardia, PhD, conducts diagnostic evaluations at The Pavilion at McLean Hospital. He maintains a private practice in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he specializes in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). He is a nationally recognized expert in eating disorders and body image problems in boys and men. He is co-author of The Adonis Complex. If you liked this episode, you can support Non-Toxic via our Patreon. And don't forget to sign up for the Non-Toxic Newsletter on Substack. Bluecorn Candles is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order. Further reading: The Adonis Complex "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the largest of them all? The features and phenomenology of muscle dysmorphia" "Premature Death in Bodybuilders: What Do We Know?" "Predictors of muscularity-oriented disordered eating behaviors in U.S. young adults: A prospective cohort study"
Transcribe →How Trump won the bro vote, with Shauna Daly from the Young Men Research Initiative
Nov 14, 202400:30:19Tap to summarizeIn this election special, we're diving deep into the not so surprising rightward shift among young men. Our guest, Shauna Daly, co-founder of the Young Men Research Initiative and a seasoned Democratic campaign operative, provides insights into why many young men turned to Trump in 2024. We explore the widening gender gap, the unique media consumption habits of young men, and the broader implications for the Democratic Party. From the rise of podcasts like Joe Rogan's to the underlying issues men face in America, this conversation is packed with critical analysis and future strategies. Tune in for an in-depth look at the shifting political landscape and what it means for upcoming elections (assuming there are any). If you liked this episode, you can support Non-Toxic via our Patreon. And don't forget to sign up for the Non-Toxic Newsletter on Substack. Bluecorn Candles is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order. How Barron Trump Connected His Father to the Manosphere Why Democrats won't build their own Joe Rogan
Transcribe →Peeling back skincare for men, with Jessica DeFino
Oct 31, 202400:35:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Non-Toxic, we're talking with beauty critic Jessica DeFino about the evolving culture of male beauty standards. From the rise of the metrosexual to the booming trend for unisex products to the intricacies of hair plugs, we explore how the beauty industry is making money by shifting beauty norms to include men. Plus, get the inside scoop on Ryan Gosling's controversial fillers at the Oscars and why incels want make their jaws look more square. If you liked this episode, you can support Non-toxic via our Patreon. And don't forget to sign up for the Non-toxic Newsletter on Substack. Bluecorn Candles is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order. Jessica DeFino is an award-winning beauty reporter whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and more. A former editor for the Kardashian-Jenner apps, she now writes the newsletter The Review of Beauty and has been called "the woman the beauty industry fears the most" by the Sunday Herald. More than half of US men now use facial skincare The latest reports from the Aesthetic Society How we judge looks on moral grounds
Transcribe →Wild Man Weekend, with Ian MacKenzie
Oct 17, 202400:38:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Non-Toxic, we're traumatizing our egos in nature's vastness and exploring the roots of the term "toxic masculinity" in the mythopoetic men's movement. Through a conversation with Ian MacKenzie, host of The Mythic Masculine Podcast, we delve into the history, core concepts, and key figures of that largely forgotten (yet hugely influential) moment. We also examine how the mythopoets reacted to second-wave feminism, and how the current incarnation of Men's Work has been influenced by the #MeToo movement. Whether you’ve been to a Sacred Sons convergence or prefer your psychodramas to take place on a therapist’s couch, (or you avoid reflection all together by doing cold plunges with your bros) this episode offers some intriguing connections between a “self help” community and the future of our planet. If you liked this episode, you can support Non-Toxic via our Patreon. And don't forget to sign up for the Non-Toxic Newsletter on Substack. Bluecorn Candles is sponsoring our third season. Use the code: NonToxic20 for 20% off your first order. Further reading: My article on the history of the term toxic masculinity Ian's free webinar on Men's Work. A 1990 interview with poet and author of Iron John, Robert Bly. The ManKind Project Sacred Sons
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