Thank you for listening to The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast! Amplifying research, lived experience, and critical conversations about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Through thoughtful and engaging conversations, the podcast aims to deepen understanding of MCS and inform public responses to the illness. Hosted by journalist and communication studies researcher Aaron Goodman, Ph.D. Generously supported by The Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation. Subscribe for episode takeaways, research insights, and updates on MCS: https://bit.ly/42N3Geh DISCLAIMER: THIS PROJECT DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material from this project are for informational purposes only. None of the material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard or read from this project.
MCS and the Limits of Chemical Safety: Laura Vandenberg, PhD
How do regulators decide that a chemical exposure is safe—and what happens when those standards fail to protect people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)? In this episode, Professor Laura Vandenberg from the University of Massachusetts Amherst explains why testing chemicals one at a time, relying on the “average” person, and assuming low doses are harmless may overlook real-world exposures and vulnerable populations. We discuss: Fragrance Chemical mixtures Endocrine disruptors Industry influence And what a more precautionary approach to chemical safety could look like. Listen now & subscribe: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/19539201-mcs-and-the-limits-of-chemical-safety-laura-vandenberg-phd Watch & subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6r3pSMPqpo Laura Vandenberg and colleagues' 2023 paper: A science-based agenda for health-protective chemical assessments and decisions: overview and consensus statement Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
The Recognition Gap - MCS & Medical Classification: Geoffrey Bowker, PhD
Why do some health conditions gain recognition while others remain difficult to classify, diagnose, or accommodate? Aaron Goodman speaks with Geoffrey Bowker, Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, and author of Sorting Things Out: Classification and Its Consequences , about medical classification systems and what they can teach us about MCS. You'll hear: • Why MCS remains difficult for many healthcare systems to classify and recognize • How medical classifications influence diagnosis, accommodation, and support • Why some health conditions fit established categories while others remain contested • The role of patient knowledge and lived experience in healthcare • What lessons Long COVID may offer for the future recognition of MCS • What could help MCS gain broader recognition within medicine and society Listen now and subscribe: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/19445366-the-recognition-gap-mcs-medical-classification-geoffrey-bowker-phd Watch & subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yjGCEIMre0 Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
MCS & Medical Assistance in Dying: The Limits of Choice
This episode discusses Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), suicide, disability, chronic illness, and end-of-life decision-making. Please listen with care. If you need support, call or text 988 in the United States or 9-8-8 in Canada (24/7). Outside the United States and Canada, contact your local crisis line, healthcare provider, or emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. About the episode: What can Sophia's story teach us about disability, housing, healthcare, and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)? This episode features two conversations: one with disability ethicist Heidi Janz, PhD, and another with a Toronto woman living with severe MCS who was friends with Sophia, a woman whose 2022 MAiD death brought international attention to the challenges many people with disabilities and chronic illnesses face. Together, they explore disability rights, healthcare, housing, social support, and the broader questions Sophia's case continues to raise. Professor Janz participated in this interview with the assistance of a support person who repeats her words for listeners. Listen now and subscribe: Watch & subscribe on YouTube: Professor Heidi Janz: 2025 paper - "First they came for the Physical Crips: The Eugenic Logic Driving MAiD." https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/bioethics/2025-v8-n4-bioethics010388/1121337ar.pdf Faculty profile: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/john-dossetor-health-ethics-centre/about/people/adjunctmembers/heidijanz.html #MCS #MultipleChemicalSensitivity #DisabilityRights #MAiD Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
The Lessons of Lead - Risk, Regulation, & MCS: Bruce Lanphear, MD, PhD
This episode marks the 100th episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast! Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation for its support that makes this work possible. Gratitude to listeners and viewers around the world for being part of this journey. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube, and share it with others who may benefit from these conversations. http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Here's to 100 episodes and more to come! In this episode: What can the history of lead exposure teach us about risk, regulation, and MCS? Aaron Goodman speaks with Bruce Lanphear, MD, PhD, about lead as a model for understanding chemical harm. Topics include: What lead teaches us about body burden and cumulative exposure Risk, regulation, and the precautionary principle Why listening to affected people matters—and lessons for MCS Listen and subscribe: http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch & subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcastingMCS Link: Dr. Bruce Lanphear https://www.sfu.ca/fhs/about/people/profiles/bruce-lanphear.html Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Nail Salon Workers—Chemical Exposure, Body Mapping, & MCS: Reena Shadaan, PhD
What can the daily chemical exposures faced by nail salon workers teach us about MCS, chronic illness, and the environments many people live and work in every day? Aaron Goodman speaks with Reena Shadaan, PhD, from the University of Toronto, about chemical exposure, worker health, body mapping, and chronic illness in nail salon environments. Topics include: • The hidden chemical exposures faced by nail salon workers • What nail salon environments may reveal about MCS and chronic illness • Body mapping and citizen science as tools for advocacy and documenting lived experience • How marginalized workers are pushing back against unsafe environments Listen & subscribe: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/19262474-nail-salon-workers-chemical-exposure-body-mapping-mcs-reena-shadaan-phd Watch & subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhaCO-FAYgU Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Check out the new trailer!
The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast has a new trailer! Please share with anyone interested in learning more about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Listen to the podcast — new episodes twice a month! http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8HJadAGuLaE Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Can Public Spaces be Safe for MCS? Aimi Hamraie, PhD
Can public spaces ever truly be safe for people living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)? In this episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, Aaron Goodman speaks with Aimi Hamraie, Associate Professor at York University whose work focuses on disability justice, accessibility, and inclusive design. They explore: • Why MCS is often overlooked in accessibility conversations • Remote access as a vital form of inclusion • How chemicals and fragrances can make public spaces inaccessible • Why some people with MCS leave cities • What truly MCS-inclusive public spaces could look like 🎧 Listen now: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/19185636-can-public-spaces-be-safe-for-mcs-aimi-hamraie-phd ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/thzV3GgBsHw Subscribe for episode takeaways, research insights, and updates on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): https://bit.ly/42N3Geh Links: Aimi Hamraie Remote Access Archive – Critical Design Lab Fragrance-free resources compiled by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Sick Building Syndrome and the Problem of Uncertainty by Michelle Murphy Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
From Dismissal to Support — Rethinking Care for MCS: Téa Christopoulos, PhD Candidate
This episode is great to share with your doctor or healthcare provider. We explore how medical visits could become more supportive for people living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). We focus on listening, trust, and the responsibility clinicians have to support people with chronic illness. And how small changes can lead to more respectful, effective care. Aaron Goodman speaks with Téa Christopoulos, PhD candidate and sessional instructor at the University of Toronto, working across the Faculty of Kinesiology and the Joint Centre for Bioethics. Her research explores narrative medicine and Chronic Invisible Disabilities, examining how lived experience can reshape care to be more ethical, responsive, and truly patient-centered. 🎧 Listen: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/19104690-from-dismissal-to-support-rethinking-care-for-mcs-tea-christopoulos-phd-candidate ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m1txBxi03Bc Subscribe for episode takeaways, research insights, and updates on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): https://bit.ly/42N3Geh 2025 paper by Téa Christopoulos: An Ethics of Care, Relational Suffering, and Contested Invisible Disability DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
MCS—When Lived Experience Becomes Knowledge in Medicine: Megan Moodie, PhD
What happens when people's lived experience with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is dismissed in medicine? And how can it become a vital form of knowledge? In this episode, Aaron Goodman speaks with Megan Moodie, a medical anthropologist and disability studies scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work explores patient activism and how knowledge is produced in medicine. Megan also brings lived experience to this conversation, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and chemical sensitivities. You'll hear Aaron and Megan discuss: Why people with MCS are often dismissed or psychologized in clinical settings. How lived experience becomes meaningful knowledge in medicine. What more equitable collaboration between researchers and affected communities could look like. And more! 🎧 Listen now: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/19037045-mcs-when-lived-experience-becomes-knowledge-in-medicine-megan-moodie-phd Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k4aNnImGMd4 The podcast has a new webpage! http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Please share with anyone interested in learning more about MCS. DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Long COVID has pushed millions into a reality people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) have faced for decades: severe symptoms, disbelief, and no clear diagnosis. This episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast explores what these conditions share: Medical dismissal. Stigma and social isolation. And epistemic injustice— when patients’ knowledge of their own bodies is questioned or ignored. Aaron Goodman speaks with Professor Deborah Lupton, a leading sociologist of health and medicine at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and editor of the recent book, Long COVID and Society: International Perspectives. It's always great to hear from people who listen and watch the podcast! Please share your experiences with MCS, Long COVID, or about anything you hear on the podcast. Listen now: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/18945867-mcs-long-covid-shared-struggles-stigma-endurance-deborah-lupton-phd Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pN6UGkaddis The podcast has a new webpage! http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Please share with anyone interested in learning more about MCS. DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Brain Fog & MCS: Ronessa Dass and Tara Packham, PhD
Brain fog is something many people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) experience. In this episode, we explore what brain fog is, how it affects thinking, memory, and what research reveals about its links to distress and quality of life. Aaron Goodman's guests are researchers Tara Packham, PhD, and PhD candidate Ronessa Dass from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It's always great to hear from listeners! Please share your experiences with brain fog and MCS or about anything you hear on the podcast. Listen now: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/18821290-brain-fog-mcs-ronessa-dass-and-tara-packham-phd Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j4PulfsHX_U The podcast has a new webpage! http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Please share with anyone interested in learning more about MCS. Links: Ronessa Dass - email: dassr5@mcmaster.ca Pain and Movement Research in the IMPRinT Lab, McMaster University: https://painmovementresearch.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/people-2/ Understanding the Experience and Impacts of Brain Fog in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review - Ronessa Dass, Tara Packham, et al. (2023): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37441085/ DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Antibiotic Injury & MCS: Dr. Stefan Pieper
Listener advisory: This episode includes discussion of suicide. Many people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) trace the start of their illness to exposures like pesticides, fragrances, mold, smoke, or chemical fumes. Others say their symptoms began after taking prescription medications, especially antibiotics. In this episode, Dr. Stefan Pieper, a functional medicine physician in Germany who specializes in mitochondrial medicine, discusses Fluoroquinolone-Associated Disability (FQAD). People with the condition develop long-lasting neurological, cognitive, and physical symptoms after taking fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Some also develop chemical intolerance that closely resembles MCS. Could medications trigger long-term chemical sensitivity? And what might this reveal about MCS? Listen now: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/episodes/18803337-antibiotic-injury-mcs-dr-stefan-pieper Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Mjn-ggsZA&t=1s The podcast has a new webpage! http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Please share with anyone interested in learning more about MCS. Link: Stefan Pieper — Fluoroquinolone-Associated Disability (FQAD): Side-effects of Fluoroquinolones Springer Nature, 2026 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-72123-0 DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Is Japan Facing an MCS Crisis? Yasuko Kato & Sekyoung Jung
In Japan, many people report developing Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) following exposure to fragrance in personal care and household products—and increasingly, in laundry projects, especially fabric softeners. Some are forced to leave their jobs. Others can no longer attend school. Many struggle to access medical care or even safe housing. Yet despite the profound disruption to people’s lives, MCS remains poorly understood and often invisible. Is Japan facing a Multiple Chemical Sensitivity crisis? Today’s guests, journalist and MCS advocate Yasuko Kato and sociology scholar Seykyoung Jung, bring firsthand insight into this urgent question. Thank you for listening! New episodes twice a month. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Check out the podcast's new website to listen and learn more: http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Grqs9wS0mMs?si=xhaGuTCFpQDd_NNb Get in touch: aaron@chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Living Losses — Young Adults & MCS: Abby Steeves, PhD
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is often seen as a condition that mostly affects older people. However, recent studies indicate young adults may be especially affected by MCS. Research suggests young adults have the highest prevalence, may be more likely than other age groups to develop the condition, and seem particularly vulnerable to the mental-health impacts of living with chemical intolerance and the social isolation it can bring. This episode's guest, Abby Steeves, recently completed her PhD focused on MCS and its impacts on young adults. As a former gymnast, she struggled to train and compete while living with the condition. These experiences led her to explore how MCS is challenging—and shaping—the lives of many other young people. Listen and subscribe: http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9r95nuwOKfc Abby’s dissertation: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8845&context=doctoral #MCS #multiplechemicalsensitivitypodcast #multiplechemicalsensitivity #ChemicalIntolerance #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #Youth DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Chemical Crisis — Memoirs & MCS: Roxana Delbene, PhD
You’re listening to The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast . I’m Aaron Goodman. In this episode, we discuss illness memoirs as evidence, resistance, and survival. We explore the seminal 1994 memoir by Australian writer, Diana Crumpler, Chemical Crisis: One Woman's Story, Humanity's Future? I speak with Roxana Delbene, PhD, a linguist and medical humanities scholar who studies how people with so-called contested illnesses, including Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), use language and storytelling to tell their personal stories of lived experience. Exciting news! Check out the podcast's new webpage: http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mZwUxbYKTOg Get in touch: aaron@chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org Link to Roxana's recent essay on illness memoirs: https://medicalhealthhumanities.com/2024/10/23/the-patients-productive-imagination-the-reportability-paradox-in-narratives-of-contested-illnesses/ Apologies for some subtle clicking sounds in this interview. #MultipleChemicalSensitivity #MCS #MCSAdvocacy #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #SafeHealthcareSpaces #ChemicalIntolerance #EnvironmentalDisability DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
This episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast explores something many listeners live every day: toxic exposures hidden in everyday products. I’m speaking with researcher Adrianna Trifunovski and environmental health professor Dr. Caroline Barakat about their study on women’s awareness, beliefs, and avoidance of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care and household products. We discuss: Which chemicals many women recognize Which fly under the radar How symptoms drive behavior And what their findings mean for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity—and for public health more broadly. Exciting news!! Check out the podcast's new website to listen and learn more: http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mZwUxbYKTOg Get in touch: aaron@chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org Link - 2025 paper by Barakat and Trifunovski: "Analysis of Women’s Knowledge, Health Risk Perceptions, Beliefs and Avoidance Behaviour in Relation to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Personal Care and Household Products." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12116110/ #MultipleChemicalSensitivity #MCS #MCSAdvocacy #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #SafeHealthcareSpaces #ChemicalIntolerance #EnvironmentalDisability DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Ohio Train Derailment, Toxic Injury & MCS: Madison Scott and Lynn Singer, PhD
On February 3, 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in the U.S. Days later, a “controlled burn” released a massive plume into the air. Many residents who returned home soon became ill. In this episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast , Aaron Goodman speaks with sociologist Madison Scott and toxic exposure expert Professor Lynn Singer. They explore how: Toxic exposure triggered ongoing symptoms akin to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), including brain fog, rashes, and fatigue. Many residents continue to report symptoms long after officials declared the area safe. Emerging biological research may reveal critical information about the mechanisms behind MCS. And more! Thank you for listening! New episodes twice a month. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Exciting news!! Check out the podcast's new website to listen and learn more: http://listen.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ All episodes available at: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wu88wcN8Oa8 Get in touch: aaron@chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org #MultipleChemicalSensitivity #MCS #MCSAdvocacy #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #SafeHealthcareSpaces #ChemicalIntolerance #EnvironmentalDisability #OhioTrainDerailment #EastPalestine Link: Professor Lynn Singer's co-authored 2025 paper: "The East Palestine train derailment: A complex environmental disaster." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0892036225000996 DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Toxic Evidence: What Gulf War Illness Reveals about MCS: Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD
This episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast is a game-changer. It counters widespread misinformation and misunderstanding about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), an illness that affects millions around the globe. You'll hear Aaron Goodman in conversation with Beatrice Golomb, Professor in Residence in Medicine at the University of California in San Diego in the U.S. Professor Golomb explores: How MCS is clearly not a psychological condition, but an illness influenced by mitochondrial or cellular damage, genetics, and chemical exposure. The connections between MCS and Gulf War Illness. How recent diagnostic recognition of Gulf War Illness could potentially lead to better understanding and validation of MCS. This important information has the potential to critically inform researchers, policy makers, people living with MCS, and the wider public. New episodes twice a month! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Listen at https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHZINO1vQ2tRcy0GVU4Pmw Get in touch: aaron@chemicalsensitivitypodcast or comment on social media. #MultipleChemicalSensitivity #MCS #MCSAdvocacy #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #SafeHealthcareSpaces #ChemicalIntolerance #EnvironmentalDisability #mitochondrialillness #GulfWarIllness Link: Professor Golomb's 2025 paper: SOD2 genetics regulating mitochondrial management of oxidative stress is tied to chemical sensitivity in Gulf war veterans https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40628885/ Contact info for Professor Golomb's research group: https://www.golombresearchgroup.org/contactus DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
In this episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast , we’re exploring youth, chronic illness, and MCS. You'll hear Aaron Goodman speaking with Imogen Harper, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sydney in Australia. She explores how: · Diagnosis of illnesses like MCS in youth is often complex and requires adults noticing symptoms and advocating. · Parents and caregivers can play a crucial in navigating medical systems and ensuring that their child’s needs are taken seriously. · Illnesses like MCS affect young people’s identity, relationships, and sense of independence. · Youth and older people with chronic illnesses often deal with anxiety, isolation, stigma, and the challenge of staying connected with others. Listen at https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUHZINO1vQ2tRcy0GVU4Pmw Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. If you would like to share your experiences or feedback, email aaron@chemicalsensitivitypodcast or comment on social media. #MultipleChemicalSensitivity #MCS #MCSAdvocacy #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #SafeHealthcareSpaces #ChemicalIntolerance #EnvironmentalDisability Links: Imogen's 2024 paper: "Chronic Concealment and Awareness in the Affective Worlds of Young People Living with Chronic Illness." https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10497323241304571 DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
Rethinking Science to Support People with MCS: Kevin Elliott, Ph.D.
In recent weeks, as many listeners know, I've been exploring ways to challenge false arguments that MCS is a psychological disorder. I hope you find this episode of The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast helps. You'll hear me in conversation with Kevin Elliott, Ph.D. He is the Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of Philosophy of Science at Michigan State University in the U.S. I was delighted to speak with Kevin, learn about his important research — and I am excited to share this episode with you. Kevin explains how scientific research practices — from hidden assumptions to “undone science” — have shaped decades of misunderstanding around Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). You'll hear Kevin explore: How his mother's MCS inspired him to spend decades researching the illness Why certain kinds of evidence are ignored How harmful psychogenic theories persist And what needs to change in research frameworks to genuinely support people living with MCS. This conversation is forward-looking and grounded in the belief that better science is both possible and urgently needed to support people with MCS. Listen at https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podcastingMCS #MCSAdvocacy #MultipleChemicalSensitivithy #MCS #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #SafeHealthcareSpaces #ChemicalIntolerance Links: Kevin Elliott: https://kevincelliott.com/ Kevin's 2025 paper: "Alleviating Epistemic Injustice in Environmental Health Research: Strategies from Science and Values": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11245-025-10268-3 DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No material or information provided by The Chemical Sensitivity Podcast, or its associated website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Support the show Thank you very much to the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation generously supporting the podcast! If you find the podcast helpful, please consider becoming a monthly or one-time supporter: https://www.chemicalsensitivitypodcast.org/1970633/supporters/new https://buymeacoffee.com/mcspodcast Follow the podcast on YouTube ! Captions available in any language. Please follow the podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram X BlueSky TikTok
