When Millennials Become Moms

Interior designer Erin Fetherston joins us to break down how to reduce toxins in your home without feeling overwhelmed. From bedrooms and beds to couches, rugs, and flooring, Erin shares practical starting points, trusted materials, and the certifications that actually matter. They also unpack common greenwashing myths, discuss popular furniture brands, and offer reassurance for anyone feeling behind on their non-toxic home journey.

Links and Notes:

Bedding

Quince (use “organic” in search): https://www.quince.com/search?q=organic&filter=departments%3DHome

Coyuchi

https://www.coyuchi.com/

Boll and Branch

https://www.bollandbranch.com/

The Futon Shop

https://www.thefutonshop.com/

Natasha’s Mattress Blog:

https://www.drorganicmommy.com/blog/mattress-guide-natasha-beck

Natasha’s kitchen swaps:

https://www.drorganicmommy.com/kitchen

Upholstery

The Futon Shop

Cisco Home (inside green)

https://ciscohome.net/pages/inside-green

Medley Home 

https://medleyhome.com/

Kalon Studios

https://kalonstudios.com/

Avocado makes some furniture

https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com/collections/beds-furniture-1

Rugs

Organic Weave

Nordic knots

Jaipur Living (100% undyed wool options)

Enkay 

https://www.enkay.com/

https://www.urbannatural.com/

Etsy Finds

HedgeHouse: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HedgeHouse

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ottomanmarrakech

Amish furniture

Loewen Design Studios

https://www.loewendesignstudios.com/

https://www.thosmoser.com/

Timecodes:


1:00 – Where to start with reducing toxins in the home


3:45 – Where to start in the bedroom


5:30 – Concrete flooring vs. wood floors


6:00 – What matters most when choosing a bed frame and mattress, and Erin’s favorite brands


11:00 – How to off-gas furniture to help make a difference in your home


12:00 – Labels to look for when buying wood furniture


13:00 – Brands Erin recommends


15:00 – Erin’s take on IKEA


17:00 – Erin and Natasha’s take on the Nugget couch


17:40 – Erin and Natasha answer listener questions about couches


20:00 – Sheepskin throws on couches


21:00 – Where Erin sources organic couches


25:00 – What to do if you’re feeling overwhelmed or behind


29:00 – Erin’s take on rugs and what you need to know


30:00 – Why you shouldn’t be fooled by “sustainability” headlines


31:00 – What certifications actually matter

Mold exposure is more common and more complex than most families realize. In this episode, Brian Karr breaks down how mold impacts health, where it hides, why surface cleaning isn’t enough, and how to navigate testing, remediation, and realistic solutions even when moving isn’t an option.

Podcast Notes

2:00 – How big of an issue is mold?

6:00 – Symptoms of mold exposure

9:00 – Why surface mold cleanup isn’t enough

11:00 – Navigating the financial burden

13:00 – How whole-home mold testing works

15:00 – Biggest myths about mold

16:00 – Do air purifiers help if you have mold?

17:00 – What to look for in an air purifier

20:00 – Sneaky places mold loves to hide

26:00 – What to look for in bathrooms

29:00 – What if you have mold but can’t move?

34:00 – Black mold in grout: what now?

38:00 - Important thing you can do every day to mitigate mold in your home 

42:00 - What to look for in an inspector when they come to your house

Links:

INTELLIPURE COMPACT AIR PURIFIER: https://go.shopmy.us/p-37918236

Under the sink leak mat: https://amzn.to/4jwRR3j

We inspect: https://www.instagram.com/moldfinders/

Red light therapy is everywhere right now, but most people do not really understand how it works or how to use it correctly. In this episode, Natasha sits down with Vivian Chen, founder of Lumebox, to break down the science of red and near infrared light in a practical and approachable way.

They discuss why Natasha was initially skeptical, how artificial light disrupts circadian rhythms, and why timing, placement, and wavelength matter more than most people realize. Vivian explains how red light supports energy, sleep, hormone balance, and even thyroid health, while also addressing common questions about EMFs, face masks, and how Lumebox differs from other devices on the market.

If you have ever wondered whether red light therapy is worth it or how to actually use it safely and effectively, this episode is a must listen.

Notes:

1:01 – Why Natasha was skeptical about red light therapy at first

2:20 – Vivian’s personal journey into red light therapy and founding Lumebox

4:25 – The big-picture benefits of red and near-infrared light

6:30 – Why so many people are using the wrong type of light—and what kind you actually need

9:00 – The best way to start your day using light for circadian health

12:00 – How modern indoor lighting disrupts our biology

14:10 – The impact of time changes on sleep, mood, and energy

17:00 – Phone use at night and how artificial light affects melatonin

19:00 – Key differences between red light devices on the market

22:00 – How often to use the Lumebox, where to use it, and best timing

24:00 – Do red light face masks actually work?

25:00 – When to use red light vs. near-infrared light

28:00 – Using red light therapy for thyroid support

32:00 – Lumebox and EMFs: what you need to know

35:00 – Why light exposure—especially morning light—is foundational to health

38:00 – Why Natasha continues to use and trust the Lumebox

Links:

Red Light Bulbs -https://healthlighting.com/pages/chromalux-the-original-light-for-health-and-wellness 

Clip on Nightlight - https://amzn.to/3MJHzRj

In this episode, we sit down with Nicki Petrossi from Scrolling 2 Death to unpack the growing mental health concerns tied to kids’ technology use. We explore how social media, gaming platforms, and school-issued devices impact attention, emotional health, and development. Nicki breaks down what parents need to know about platforms like Roblox, Snapchat, and Discord and offers practical steps families can take to set healthy boundaries around tech without shame or fear. 

Rough Timecodes:

1:00 – Welcome

3:00 – The link between social media and depression

5:00 – Mental health impacts and the connection to fragmented attention

6:00 – Kids getting devices earlier and schools providing devices

7:00 – Everything is becoming social media (Spotify, Roblox, etc.)

8:00 – What parents need to know about the dangers of Roblox

11:00 – What if you allow these platforms so your child doesn’t feel excluded?

13:00 – The dangers of Snapchat for kids

15:00 – Two things parents can do to avoid common pitfalls

18:00 – Playing games with your child and what to do if something isn’t appropriate

20:00 – Discord: what it is and what parents need to know

21:00 – Age gating and GCO

22:00 – Facial scanning and how it relates to age gating

24:00 – Going backwards: how to help kids reduce tech use

27:00 – Creating a family tech contract

30:00 – Teaching kids phone etiquette

33:00 – The dangers of laptops in schools

Links:

10 rules for raising a kid in a high tech world - https://amzn.to/3KNemnV

how to make your smart phone a dumb phone - https://www.drorganicmommy.com/blog/how-we-turned-our-sons-smartphone-into-a-dumb-phone-and-how-you-can-too-natasha-beck

Tin Can https://tincan.kids

New York times - laptops in schools - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/opinion/laptop-classroom-test-scores.html

Tech Safe learning - https://www.techsafelearning.org

Good Pictures Bad pictures book -https://amzn.to/4pXMs7q

This week, Natasha breaks down why she’s never aligned with the Elf on the Shelf tradition and why so many parents feel exhausted, pressured, or conflicted by it. From the unrealistic nightly expectations to the “someone is watching you” messaging, she explains why it may be time to rethink the Elf entirely.

She also shares gentle scripts for shifting the Elf’s role, ways to retire it without breaking the magic, how to make the holidays meaningful without the focus on gifts, and even a goodbye letter families can use. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the Elf cycle but afraid to stop — this episode gives you permission and language to opt out with confidence and love.

Link Pill box:https://go.shopmy.us/p-34214036

Advent calendar https://www.drorganicmommy.com/blog/adventcalendar

XIV Karats https://www.xivkarats.com (https://www.xivkarats.com/)

Notes:

00:00–1:00 — Must-Haves of the Week

2:00 — Why You Shouldn’t Buy Plastic Jewelry This Holiday Season 

A quick conversation about toxic materials, why so many holiday trinkets are made from low-quality plastics, and safer alternatives for kids with Caryn from XIV Karats 

3:00 — The Truth About Elf on the Shelf

4:55 — Stuck Doing the Elf but Want Out?

6:45 — Making Holiday Memories Without the Gifts

7:30 — Scripts for Retiring Your Elf

Natasha shares parent-tested language for shifting the Elf’s role, softening the myth, or gracefully ending the tradition.

10:00 — A Goodbye Letter From the Elf

12:25 — The Guilt Parents Feel About Giving Up the Elf