Join me as I stroll down memory lane with a good friend of mine, Mukti, the founder of Mukti Organic Skincare. Mukti has been a part of the Nourished Life journey from day dot as one of the first brands I ever stocked! It is an absolute pleasure to have Mukti come and chat to me today about how she has pioneered the clean and organic beauty space in Australia. Mukti is a beautiful, strong Australian and I'm so excited for you guys to hear her story. I loved this chat so much, that I actually added a Mukti product to my cart DURING the interview - but you'll have to listen to find out which product it was! Key Takeaways: Mukti wrote a book called ‘Truth in Beauty’ to help demystify cosmetic labels, the certification process and which ingredients to avoid. A beautiful coffee table book if you ever did need one! Ever thought about getting Botox? Well, listen in to hear about Mukti's natural alternative to Botox. The Mukti Age Defiance Collection consists of three amazing products that can help reduce the appearance of sunspots, wrinkles and even out skin texture. With Mukti's latest research, she has found more and more people are suffering from allergies and sensitivities due to environmental factors. Because of this, Mukti has in the pipeline a range of products that are entirely free from nut oils and fragrances. Ideal for those who are or close to someone that is anaphylactic. One of the latest Mukti products stocked on Nourished Life is the Bioactive Collagen powder. Mukti's thorough research found that marine collagen best resembles human collagen and has the most scientific research behind it with proven results.   Links and resources: Mukti on Nourished Life https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/ Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

Talking Clean with Irene

The Truth in Beauty with Mukti

Today on the podcast, I talk to the beautiful Keira Rumble, the founder and CEO of Krumbled Foods. Keira established Krumbled Foods because she wanted to enjoy a healthy snack that was legitimately low in sugar, natural and bloody delicious, and that’s how Beauty Bites were born! Beyond being a successful entrepreneur, Keira is super passionate about nutrition and women’s health. She opens up about her journey with endometriosis and pregnancy loss (trigger warning), and we talk about the importance of listening to your body.   Key Takeaways:  What are Beauty Bites? Besides being the most delicious bite-size snacks, Beauty Bites are filled with amazing ingredients to nourish your body. Each Beauty Bite includes prebiotics & probiotics (good bacteria!) for gut health plus collagen to help with skin hydration, hair, skin and nail health. Keira discusses her experience with heterotopic pregnancy and the taboo around reproductive issues and women’s health. Keira encourages listeners to really trust your body, listen to your gut, visit the doctor and push to be seen. I love following Keira on social media because she is open about her experiences and is committed to showing her audience her life as it is. She tells me there’s a fine line between showing too much and too little and believes that if someone you follow doesn’t light you up, unfollow! Links and resources: Shop the Krumbled Foods range online now at Nourished Life. Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Krumbled Foods with founder Keira Rumble

Grab a cup of a coffee and join me as I chat to Abigail Forsyth, the CEO of KeepCup. I own so many KeepCups, so I was very excited to hear about Abigail’s incredible business journey. KeepCup was founded in Australia back in 2009 as a way to minimise waste that is produced by disposable takeaway coffee cups. Now KeepCup is sold in 68 countries and has really made a difference in consumers behaviour towards single cup use.   Key Takeaways:  We discuss the impact of the changes to cafe culture due to Covid-19 and how Abigaile is navigating these changes. A lot of cafes refuse to use KeepCups to avoid contamination, meaning that consumers were forced to use disposable cups. KeepCup has just launched a stainless steel range, and the material is of such high quality that there’s no metallic taste! You can shop the new range and the glass cup range at Nourished Life. KeepCup is part of the 1% for the Planet initiative, with Abigail telling me that they donate 1% of their revenue (not their profit!) to environmental causes. Links and resources: Shop the KeepCup range online now at Nourished Life. Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coffee Break with KeepCup

Today I'm joined with Corbin Halliday, the founder of Three Warriors - a range of Australian made, certified organic tanning products. Corbin shares his heartfelt story on why he decided to launch a line of tanning products and what's behind the brand name. I'm so excited to speak to Corbin about how tanning makes you feel great and learn more about the Three Warriors range.   Key Takeaways:  Corbin had been working in the beauty industry for nine years when he was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. After his diagnosis, Corbin changed his lifestyle to limit the number of toxins in his diet and beauty products. He discovered many mainstream tanning products contain harmful ingredients, so he set out to develop a toxin-free, certified organic false tan. Tips for the perfect tan! Have a cold shower or wait until your skin is cool to ensure your pores are closed. Ensure your body is dried thoroughly before applying the tan. Wait at least 24 hours after shaving. Put your tan on in the bathroom where you have good lighting, not over the carpet like I did! Then throw on a robe or clothes while the tan develops (it won't stain your clothes!). Face Tanning 101 - Use the Three Warriors Tasmanian Sand Scrub 24-48 hours before applying. Avoid using cleansers, toners and moisturisers before tanning as these can interact with the tanning agents. Links and resources: Shop the Three Warriors range online now at Nourished Life. Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Perfect Glowing Tan with Three Warriors

This week on the podcast, I chat with Tammy Aronson, the general manager of Grants of Australia. Grants is a family business, founded by Tammy’s parents in 1984, producing natural alternatives to traditional dental care and health supplements.   Key Takeaways:  In the late 1970s, Melbourne’s water supply was fluoridated for the first time. Tammy’s parents owned a natural food store and were not too fond of the idea of their family drinking fluoride and brushing their teeth with fluoride. They opted for “herbal toothpaste” that the kids refused to use! This sparked the idea to create their own fluoride-free, natural toothpaste that the whole family would love. The burning question – do we, or do we not, need fluoride for healthy teeth? Grants are neither pro nor anti-fluoride. Tammy believes that consumers can decide what works best for them. Grants have recently launched their first toothpaste with fluoride to provide an option for everyone’s needs. Having young children and teaching them the importance of brushing teeth is always a challenge! Tammy suggests showing your children what happens to unbrushed teeth and make them aware it is their responsibility. Get involved with the cleaning routine and make it as fun as possible! Links and resources: Shop the Grants of Australia online now at Nourished Life. Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natural Toothpaste with Grants of Australia

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I spoke to the incredible Brenda Tootell, the founder of JuJu. JuJu is a range of healthy, ecologically friendly and cost-effective menstrual products, providing women with a reusable, sustainable, safe and effective alternative to disposable tampons and pads. We discuss why some people are still so reluctant to embrace menstrual cups and how we can all work together to break the period taboo.   Key Takeaways:  Brenda gives me some tips on how to use a menstrual cup to make the transition easier. We discuss how they work, the convenience and ease of reusing the cup and the positive environmental impact a cup has compared to disposable menstrual products. Finding the right cup can be the biggest challenge! Juju offers four models that differ in size and shape to suit women who have or haven’t given birth and sizes for those with higher or lower cervixes. Finding the right size is a bit of a trial and error process, but once you find the right one, you’ll never look back! Links and resources: Shop the JuJu range online now at Nourished Life. Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The Ins and Outs of Menstrual Cups

Today on the podcast, I'm chatting with Chantelle Otten, a Melbourne based psycho-sexologist who is passionate about empowering people to feel great about their sexual health, self-esteem, communication and education. Chantelle feels strongly about normalising sexuality and has helped everybody through her practice, no matter their persuasion.   Key Takeaways:  Chantelle describes a sexologist as a therapist or psychologist who works specifically to change and normalise the conversation around sex. The practice of sexology isn’t well regulated in Australia and she advises looking at a person's qualifications and certifications before choosing a sexologist.  Make sure they don't just call themselves a sexologist because they have a keen interest in sex. We discuss common concerns that Chantelle assists patients with like sexual pain (technically called vaginismus, something that affects 1 in 5 women), low libido and sexual self-esteem. I ask Chantelle about the "honeymoon period" and how to bring back more sexual imagination and creativity into your life when kids, work and stress get in the way. Chantelle advises letting go of expectations, being present and most importantly look after our own needs first. Links and resources: Visit Chantelle’s website for details on her Sexual Self Esteem course and private consultations. Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Sexual Self-esteem with Sexologist, Chantelle Otten

Today on the podcast, I'm talking with Claire Mitchell, the founder and CEO of ECO. Modern Essentials. This brand delivers 100% pure essential oils and blends at an affordable price, aiming to enhance health and wellbeing beyond the appearance of the skin.   Key Takeaways:  Learn more about the benefits of essential oils and how to choose the right oil for your needs from Sleep, Immunity, to Women's health; there's an oil for everything! It's no secret I'm a devoted user and lover of Magnesium. Magnesium has a proven ability to relax muscles and is fantastic for aches and pains. ECO. Modern Essentials developed a Recovery Magnesium Spray that is blended with essential oils like Black Pepper Oil to help soothe muscle cramps and even help ease children's growing pains. We bust some common myths about essential oils such as are they okay to use around pets? Is the Instagram fad of adding essential oils to your drinking water safe? Should you use essential oils topically on your skin? Listen in to find out which myths are busted! Links and resources: Shop the ECO. Modern Essentials range online now. Products Mentioned: Recovery Magnesium Spray Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

Essential Oils Demystified with ECO. Modern Essentials

Today on the podcast, I’m talking with Sarah Wilson - author, activist and champion of the I Quit Sugar movement. Sarah is a passionate environmentalist and is currently in the final editing phase of her new book, This One Wild and Precious Life, due for release at the end of this month. Sarah and I go way back and I’m so happy we could reconnect and discuss all the amazing things she’s working on at the moment.   Key Takeaways:  Sarah is about to release her new book The One Wild and Precious Life, which she wrote to help us make sense of complexities and bring us all together. We discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on the environment and how it has forced us to change our behaviours. Changes she recommends we implement or continue doing include, driving less, waste less food, don’t go to the shops as much and listen to and read independently funded news sources to feel empowered to make positive change. During the Black Lives Matter movement, Sarah interviewed a number of black activists and was given the same advice repeatedly to “catch up”, to rethink what we’ve been taught, make no assumptions and get to know what we’re fighting for. Sarah recommends checking out the #passthemic hashtag on Instagram to find the profiles of people of colour who we can all learn from. Links and resources: Shop Sarah’s I Quit Sugar books on Nourished Life Beauty Pack on Nourished Life Travel Pack on Nourished Life Sleep Pack on Nourished Life I Quit Sugar: Smoothies, Bowls & Drinks by Sarah Wilson Sarah Wilson’s reading and listening list to beat climate crisis overwhelm Ibram X. Kendi’s, “How to Be an Antiracist” “Stamped From the Beginning”and “Stamped” Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor “From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation” Ava Duvernay’s film 13th Andrea Ritchie Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color” Paul Butler Chokehold Documentary Whose Streets Visit Nourished Life   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

The One Wild and Precious Life

Listen to my chat with Elizabeth Barbalich, the founder of Antipodes. Antipodes brings the best of New Zealand to the rest of the world through clean, certified organic facial and body skincare. So many of you asked me why I wasn't stocking Antipodes given how popular it is, and after I did some research, I asked myself "Why wasn't I stocking this brand sooner?!" The consumer demand wasn't in vain either - the range sold out straight away!   Key Takeaways:  Elizabeth has an MBA in Natural Therapies and uses her education and passion for science to ensure every formula is "Scientifically Validated". Antipodes tests every product with In Vitro investigation and human clinical trials to ensure efficacy. Antipodes has been sustainable from day one and has taken into consideration that beyond being sustainable, packaging needs to be both "functional and beautiful". They use lined aluminium tubes and recyclable glass jars, with vegetable ink cardboard packaging that is biodegradable. Antipodes collection is divided into four key categories to simplify the way we shop - Daily Cleanse, Daily Ultra Care, Daily Moisturise and Daily Body Care. Elizabeth tells me that she has treated every single product like a baby through the development stages - a lot of love and care has gone into every product. Links and resources: Antipodes on Nourished Life Visit Nourished Life   Products mentioned: Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream Halo Skin Brightening Mask   Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

The Beauty in Science with Antipodes

Today I chat with Katey from Dry July to find out more about this amazing charity and how you can raise money to support people living with cancer. Back in October 2019, I went plant-based and gave up alcohol. Since then, I have noticed a huge change in how I feel inside and out. My skin is feeling smoother, I have a healthy glow and I have more energy than ever! Katey fills me in on the wonderful health benefits of giving up alcohol and how going dry for just one month can completely change your mindset on alcohol consumption. July is just around the corner, be quick and sign up for Dry July today! Key Takeaways: Dry July came to life when three mates challenged themselves to give up alcohol for a month to raise money for a local charity. Their initial goal was to raise $3,000 but word soon got around and they managed to raise an astonishing $250,000! 13 years later, Dry July has raised $49 million and has over 40,000 people registering every year.   One month of no drinking can benefit your health in many ways such as, improved sleep, increased productivity, weight loss and best of all, no hangovers on a Sunday!   78% of participants say they will drink less after participating and 74% change their outlook on alcohol consumption.  Participating is easier now more than ever. With so many amazing and delicious alcohol-free drink options on the market, you don't have to worry about feeling awkward without a drink in your hand at social gatherings.   Links and resources: https://www.dryjuly.com/ Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

Why go dry in July?

Listen in on my open conversation with Bec Park, the Co-founder of the female-owned condom brand, Jonny. Jonny is a vegan-friendly condom that comes with a 100% biodegradable, disposable bag to make practising safe sex fun, easy and good for the environment. Bec and I discuss why there is still so much stigma around discussing safe sex openly and why too many women fear rejection when asking for a condom from their sexual partners.   Key Takeaways: Jonny was founded by three friends, Bec Park, Bec Villanti and Samantha Eades after discussing the stigma around sex and the rise in STIs. 60% of women prefer to go to the doctor and undergo an STI test rather asking for a condom during sex out of fear of rejection.  Because of this, Jonny is on a mission to promote the importance of safe, consensual and respectful sex to help minimise STIs.  Did you know that traditional condoms often have milk derivative "casing" that is used to lubricate the condom? Jonny uses a silicone oil, making it 100% vegan - better for the planet and our body! Don't throw condoms down the toilet! Too often, condoms end up in our waterways rather than being disposed of safely. Jonny has developed a disposable, biodegradable bag that you can place your used condom in before throwing it in the bin.   Links and resources: Jonny on Nourished Life https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/ Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

The Wrap Up on Safe Sex

Today I speak with Scott Morton, the Director at BioBag to discuss the nitty-gritty about garbage bags, doggy bags and compost bins! BioBags create sustainable, 100% compostable alternatives to plastic bags that break down without any toxic residue. BioBag products are a friendly alternative to the standard mainstream polyethylene plastic shopping bags, bin liners, food storage and even dog waste bags! Learn more about what is required for a product to be compostable and the common greenwashing tactics used to sell eco-friendly options to consumers.   Key Takeaways: For compostable and recyclable materials to erode in landfill, it requires microorganisms and oxygen to break down and eat the materials. Biobag is designed to break down quickly within six months in a home compost system.  Using a breathable compost caddy for your "wet waste" will save you from throwing food scraps and other compostable materials into your regular rubbish bin, resulting in a dry bin and limiting your plastic bag usage.  Be mindful of greenwashing when choosing bin liners from supermarkets. Often alternative liners are made from sugar cane, which sounds great, but they can still take thousands of years to breakdown because they contain polyethylene.  To avoid greenwashing, check the packaging for certifications such as Australasian Bioplastics Association and the Home Compostable symbol. Avoid jargon such as Biodegradable as there is no real definition in Australia or guarantee for how long it takes for a product to break down.    Links and resources:   https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/search.html?qs=biobag Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

How recycling, biodegradable and compostable are not the same

Tom Szaky is the founder and CEO of Terracycle, an innovative waste management company on a mission to make a difference in the world by improving our global waste problem. With Tom's entrepreneurial mindset, he developed innovative programs to help consumers and businesses recycle (and upcycle) difficult to recycle products such as coffee capsules and toothbrushes.   Key Takeaways: Tom provides insight on how most items are recyclable, but it often comes down to economics. Big businesses could potentially lose money from recycling and it is cheaper for them to forgo recycling altogether. TerraCycle works to secure funding from brands, manufacturers and retailers in order to develop free recycling programs for the public. TerraCycle work to integrate waste back into new products, for example creating new packaging for products out of plastic found in our oceans and waterways. TerraCycle is working with local brands in Australia to get them to recycle their own packaging through a model called Loop. Woolworths will be one of the first companies to participate in the program. Not all glass and plastic are made equal. When choosing a product, try to choose glass that isn’t coloured (easier to recycle) and rigid plastics over soft plastics. When recycling a coloured product (like a coloured plastic shampoo bottle or a dark amber glass beer bottle), these materials can ONLY be recycled into a new item of the same or a darker colour. Nourished Life has partnered with TerraCycle to provide the option for customers to return their used product packaging to be recycled. Send your empty products to Nourished Life such as toothpaste tubes and we will send to TerraCycle to be recycled.   Links and resources: https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/terracycle.html https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

You wouldn't believe what you could recycle

Today on the podcast, I’m talking with Niki Ford, the CEO of Australian Organic. This is a not-for-profit member-owned organization. It has become more and more relevant today as so many consumers are demanding information about the differences between organic and Certified Organic. Australia Organic works to make sure organic standards remain strong and in line with global export markets. Consumer awareness about organic food has increased these past few years and more than ever consumers need to be able to trust labels and logos while they are shopping. There is such a lot of information and disinformation around the topic with a bunch of non-certified products in the market purporting to be organic when they’re not. Let's try with Niki to put some light over that topic and to establish the truth behind this word: organic. What does this really mean? What are the Australians standards and what makes this label different from others? Key Takeaways: Australian Organic previously owned ACO but demerged from this 2 years ago and is now the industry peak body. The Bud Logo is still owned and operated by Australian Organic, allowing more brands and products to utilise the logo, as long as they adhere to all standards associated with this logo. To be Certified Organic, you need to comply to the organic standard and be certified by an approved certification body. There is a strict set of rules and guidelines around what you can and can’t do. Some examples of the guidelines are no GMO allowed, no synthetic pesticides or herbicides, and needs to have a high level of animal welfare. Cosmetics and personal care is far more complicated to certify than food goods. COSMOS which is the world’s largest organic standards has a very complicated process by which every ingredient is reviewed including the way it is extracted or derived. When something is Certified Organic, you know it has been proven to be safe. If something isn’t Certified Organic, it’s not that it’s harmful, it’s just that it’s not proven – therefore it takes the risk away for people and is the safest insurance policy that you are doing the best thing for your body. You can have a level of trust and comfort associated with the certification. Under the Australian Federal Law, anyone that is claiming Organic on their packaging that is getting exported to another country is required to be Certified Organic by law. Therefore, a consumer in an international market that is buying an Australia Certified product, that has been exported to their country, has more safety and certainty in knowing that the product is definitely organic than an Australian walking into a local store.  In Australia there is currently the ability to label something Organic without it being Certified. When transitioning to Organic, choose the things that are most important to you. Make sure you shop food by season as it is much cheaper that way. Transition slowly for your skincare and makeup, and be mindful of the process of detoxing your skin and body.   Links and resources: https://austorganic.com/ https://www.cosmos-standard.org/ https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/products/certified-organic.html https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/products/australian-certified-organic.html Connect: Listen to other episodes of Talking Clean with Irene Join my private podcast Facebook Group Follow Nourished Life on Facebook Follow Nourished Life on Instagram

Is Certified Organic really all that different?

Talking Clean with Irene is a show about how to kick the toxins out of your life and live a more natural and sustainable lifestyle. On the show, we talk to scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs and the creators behind the beautiful organic brands we love. Hosted by Irene Falcone, clean-living expert and Founder of Nourished Life.