The Urban Monk Podcast

When Stephen Ezell's newborn son broke out in a horrific rash from toxic laundry detergent, it set him on an 18-year mission that would transform him from a restaurant owner into one of America's leading non-toxic product manufacturers. In this eye-opening conversation with Dr. Pedram Shojai, Ezell reveals the shocking truth about household chemicals lurking in our homes - from the 200+ toxic compounds found in newborn umbilical cord blood to the disturbing reality that 82% of consumers equate "clean" with artificial scent rather than actual cleanliness. Ezell shares the wild journey of building Truly Free from three people mixing soap with a concrete mixer to serving over 500,000 families, while exposing the unregulated chemical industry that prioritizes profits over public health. He breaks down the most dangerous household products (hint: it's not what you think), debunks greenwashing tactics, and explains why the EU bans over 12,000 chemicals while the US only bans 14. This conversation is a wake-up call