42: Tech Toxins Wreaking Havoc on Your Life

Narrator

How would you like to improve your health and keep your family safe? You're listening to the healthy home hacks podcast where we firmly believe enjoying optimal health shouldn't be a luxury healthy home authorities and husband and wife team Ron and Lisa will help you create a home environment that will level up your health. It's time to hear from the experts. listen in on honest conversations and gain the best tips and advice. If you're ready to dive in and improve your wellbeing and increase your energy, you're in the right place. All right, here are your hosts, Val biologists, authors, media darlings, vicarious vegans and avocado aficionados, Ron and Lisa Beres.

Lisa Beres

Friends we've discussed wireless radiation on this show numerous times if you head back to past episodes, including the many health implications that link cell phone use to headaches, tinnitus, tumors, sperm damage, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, heart irregularities and damage to the developing brain. But today, we're diving in deeper to something called tech toxins from screen time and tech addiction to the dangers of blue light exposure and online privacy with our special guest August brace.

Ron Beres

August Bryce is the founder of tech wellness, an information and solution focused site launched in 2018 that empowers visitors to be healthier, safer, more secure and balanced with their relationship in regards to digital technology. August is an award-winning investigative journalist who attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, winning an Emmy golden mic and Gabriel award. During her broadcast career, Bryce brings the skill set and passion for searching out the truth. Her own health journey a sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation discovered 25 years ago, led her to research the subject extensively, and to partner with many of the top EMF experts in the world. She focuses on the honesty and transparency of all those solutions found on her site, exploring technology's effect on the mind, body, and spirit.

Lisa Beres

Yes, and August is a frequent guest on numerous mental well-being podcast, and has been featured on Mashable, medium, Voyager, spirituality and health and so much more. August resides like us here in Southern California and lives a clean and healthy lifestyle with her low or no electromagnetic radiation around her. Welcome to the show, August.

August Brice

Oh, my goodness, what a fabulous introduction. Thank you so much, Ron, and Lisa, and you know, this is particularly a thrill for me, because I respect you guys so much. Oh, you're both building biologists, everything that you've done to educate people on toxins and living safe. And well, I really, really am thrilled. Thank you so much.

Lisa Beres

Oh, thank you. We're so lucky to have you. And we've known about and of each other for so many years. So, it's so nice to meet face to face, at least on the computer, at least via zoom. And yeah, what you're doing is so amazing. And listeners, you're going to absolutely love everything we go over today, because August has resources for you. I mean, she owns a store. And we're going to get into that where you actually can get the solution. So, we're not just talking about them today. There are actual real tactical solutions for everything that we're going to go through. And I have to divert August, Walter Cronkite school. That's ASU, right? That's right.

August Brice

I didn't know that. Yeah, I saw you cheering and I'm like, oh.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, I was a cheerleader in the background. I graduated there in interior design, in the School of Architecture, which is right next to the Walter Cronkite school. And I always told Ron that like, I had a different career I, I would have chosen that actually.

August Brice

Fabulous. It was a fabulous education because it well, we were able to immediately go right into news. I mean, because yeah, the campus has a station on it. Oh, just extraordinary. Yes. your PBS station. Oh, that and that's where I actually got my first nomination for an Emmy.

Lisa Beres

You hit the ground running and then Ron chose, I know, I'm diverting guys. We're going to get to the show in a second. Ron chose the school that Matt Lauer went to right Ron?

Ron Beres

Which was a period of time I did at Ohio University. Yes, yeah. Matt Lauer went there.

Lisa Beres

What's the name of the soul there? Oh, the Matt Lauer is it called the Matt Lauer school?

Ron Beres

Matt Lauer broadcast journalism, something to that effect. Yeah, I did not graduate there. So, I chose a different path as well. But we all met full circle. Yeah, I'm so impressed. We were talking before this started, August. You have More than one Emmy? How many?

August Brice

I just have two. Yes, it's a thrill and it was really honor and I still have them. It's something that you never give away.

Lisa Beres

I bet that's a fun fact, guys. It is a fun fact.

August Brice

But like you said, we all ended up here meeting together and all talking about EMF.

Lisa Beres

Isn't that funny? Yes, me interior design, Ron was an economics major, you were in journalism. And here we are all talking about health and wellness for humanity. And it's important. Now more than ever, everyone listening, pay attention to today's show, whether you are a parent or not, we're going to get into the screen addiction, and all of that. So, this is a really, really important show. And we're so happy to have you. So, I know everyone's chomping at the bit. So, let's just dive right in. And we've said it many times on this show, but it is worth repeating. Wireless radiation from cell phones and other devices is not only unhealthy, but it can also be downright dangerous. We receive high doses of harmful radiation every single day from numerous sources of exposure. So August, tell us about yourself and why you started your company tech wellness.

August Brice

Well, it happened because when I received my very first cell phone, this was over 30 years ago, and I pulled it out of the box, and my husband programmed it and he said hey, call your mom call your mom. And the second that I press power, I jolted and I was like, oh my gosh, what is this? And I put it down. And the interesting thing is that just last year, my daughter found this videotape of Christmas, and me opening up the cell phone and she said Mom, you know how you always say that it was the first time you held a cell phone? Oh my gosh, it really was? And I said yes, I know. But I didn't know it was on video.

Lisa Beres

Oh, that's really. Oh, wow,

August Brice

I have it on video. And so, I didn't know what it was at the time. But of course, it was electromagnetic hypersensitivity, but I didn't know that. I don't think anybody knew it, what that even meant, but it allowed me to have a more distance relationship with my technology than most people. Because

Lisa Beres

Were you consciously uncoupling from your cell phone?

August Brice

I was. I think we all need that with our tech devices. Really, that's exactly what it was. I left that I think I'll use that in the future. But it gave me this bird's eye view of what was happening with technology. And I saw people become obsessed with their phones, treating them like another person and not letting them go. And I saw other people having health issues that they probably didn't realize were from the phone. Yeah. And so, because I had that ability to see it from that perspective. It allowed me to start thinking of solutions of things we could do. And it also allowed me to do research to find out what the heck was going on. First of all, I found these air tube headsets, right? Yeah. And that was about 15 years ago. And I thought they were amazing. And then I was speaking to the guy who had the patent on the air tube headphones. And I was telling him about what I had. And he said, you know what, you want to talk to this guy. And now Dr. George Carlo.

Lisa Beres

We love Dr. George Carlo.

August Brice

So, George was just kind enough and gracious enough to speak with me on the phone. And I told him about my amazing powers of knowing when the Wi Fi was odd. And knowing that the cell phone was on in the other room. And he said, Yeah, that sounds so amazing. That's actually called electromagnetic hypersensitivity. And it's an issue. He said, you are a canary in the coal mine, but it's not a good thing. Right? Or body, your immune system is reacting to it, like other people would react to other toxins. And it's not something that's you're not telepathic. It's something that you I'm glad you're aware of, but you actually need to build up your body to resist it.

Lisa Beres

No. Okay. So, explain to us what that looks like. Say you enter a hotel with a lot of Wi Fi exposure. What does that feel like for you?

August Brice

Well, even in my own home, when the Wi Fi is on, I know it. And it's something that my husband and my kids used to laugh about. But they don't laugh anymore, because now there is no Wi Fi. Yeah, has they known that and I'd always switched the Wi Fi off at night. But if they come home late, and switch the Wi-Fi on, I pop up.

Lisa Beres

You really did have eyes in the back of your head. Yeah, that wasn't an empty threat.

August Brice

It's so interesting. And the Wi Fi affects me like a heaviness. It's this real incredible, dense headache is bogus. And it's just like it pops me out of bed. It makes me nervous. Well, actually, the Bluetooth causes me anxiety, your Bluetooth, I get rain, then the cell phone just honestly doesn't affect me as much as the Wi Fi and Bluetooth but we're all different. We all react differently, but I can feel the phone and when I feel it; I feel tingling in my hands notice and little shocks. And that's my sensitivity.

Lisa Beres

That lead you to what you do today, which has been a good thing. Someone said, let your pain be your path. I know for me it was getting sick from toxins in my home is what led me to do what I do. And so, you've taken your pain and made it your path and your passion. And for people listening, this electromagnetic hypersensitivity is very common. I mean, as building biologists, we hear about it all the time. And you know, I wonder how many people have it but aren't connecting the dots, right?

August Brice

I think so many and more and more are connecting, because more and more people are feeling the anxiety that I feel and not knowing that that was actually from their device. Right back when I spoke with George all those years ago, he said, up to 3% of the population probably has it. And now if you research, it's anywhere between seven and 9% of the population, yeah, estimated to have it. And I did go to an EHS global conference a couple of years ago, and they interviewed, there were probably 50 people there. And I interviewed about 10 people. And it was so interesting to hear that most of them got it from a high dose. So, there was a guy. He was only 24 years old. He did everything on his phone. He ran his business on his phone, and he slept with his phone and he listens in his bomb was just with him all the time. Yeah. And then all of a sudden, two years earlier, he noticed that his joints hurt, and he could walk. Yeah, he was nervous all the time. And then he went on a trip and was away from everything and realized, Oh, it's not there. Yeah. And then another guy worked on cell phone towers and installed Wi-Fi. I know, right. And another woman who was in her 60s, early 60s, had a completely normal, fabulous life. And then someone installed a brand-new powerful Wi Fi. And they put it right under her desk. And she said it took about two weeks. And all of a sudden, she had nauseous headaches. Something was really wrong. Yeah, a ton of diagnostic tests. And nothing was wrong. They couldn't figure it out. And then she realized, yeah, the Wi Fi. But it was a journey.

Lisa Beres

It's a journey. Yeah, cuz people, they'll pop their aspirin or Tylenol. Oh, it's just a headache, or not associated with the tech devices. I know, when they were putting smart meters in our neighborhood. And I am not electromagnetic hypersensitive, although maybe I am. And I never ever, ever get headaches. I had this Yes, pounding headache. And I found out they had installed the gas smart meters in our neighborhood. And then I proceeded to opt out. And here in California, they'll charge you every month, I have to pay the fee just to not have it. And we have that with our electric meter as well. So, you have to pay just to opt out in dollars to get out. Yeah, no, I think a lot of $75 or something right. And then a $10 a month or something $10 a month. Yeah. And if you miss the window, you can't get back in. If you miss the window to opt out with the electric meter, you can't opt out again. So, it's a problem. And then we've got 5g, and we've got more and more and more technology. So, this problem is only going to get worse. So, we're going to get into solutions. I�m not going to leave you guys hanging.

August Brice

Exactly, at least have because everything I saw as I was not embracing the technology like everyone else was, but I was actually. So, I do want you to know that I was always on a computer. I was always wired up. It didn't keep me away from my computer. And it still doesn't have a word keyboard, a wired mouse yet, I haven't really nothing coming from my computer. But everything I saw was spirit driven. And it was really confusing. And there were so many unproven and not tested big protection.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, that's why we talked about that with the Safesleeve founder, Carey, about the snake oil, you know, a lot of the snake oil, the stickers, a lot of the things that have absolutely zero science behind them. And so this is another whisper for you, listeners, you know, you're going to go invest in devices, go with a reputable company like tech wellness, who we're talking to today, or someone that you know, has the science behind the stuff they're selling, because it's easy to say, oh, let's protect you. But if they don't have lab tests, certifying that it's greenwashing extend a different form.

August Brice

And I feel so bad because people of course, they hear about it and they want a fix of course right. And so, I just wanted it to be approachable. Of course, everything science back because of my journalism background, honest and it's all solutions. And that's what people wanted. They kept saying, Yeah, okay, okay. I believe you. What's the solution?

Ron Beres

Yeah, right. And you offer the solutions. Yeah, this because as many of us becoming allergic to the 21st century. Yeah. Can you explain to us what exactly are what you call tech toxins? And what is important that people need to be aware of, in regards to them?

August Brice

Well, tech toxins just like you were saying, run environmental toxins like pesticides, chemicals, GMOs, all the endocrine disrupters. It's important that our technology that we know that our technology comes from hidden sources. There's invisible radiation coming from your cell phone, as we've talked about here. There's the blue light, there's that pulse, digital light, those pulses that are affecting our brains, but we can't even interpret them in our eyes. There's also the possibility of addiction, which I can say toxic, and other things that can affect your peace of mind like privacy invaders.

Lisa Beres

Yeah. Blue Light blocking glasses.

Ron Beres

The blue light. I put on mine.

August Brice

I was not aware on popped on the end; we are at the top. Oh, my goodness.

Lisa Beres

We've all got our blue light blocking glasses. I love it. Wait yours are cuter, August

August Brice

Because I went curated the cutest ones.

Lisa Beres

She�s got style and smarts. Oh, my God, I love it. Yeah, that's a good point. I like what you said, Ron, were becoming allergic to the 21st century. And you mentioned addiction. So, let's get into that. I think we can all agree August that screen time across the globe is at an all-time high due to the pandemic. So, let's talk about tech addiction. Is it real? Are we all addicted? And is there any research behind this?

August Brice

Oh, there�s so much research now. And addictions are real. However, they're not as common as we might believe. How many of you probably even said to each other, oh, you're addicted, that button, put it down. Right? to somebody is a mom that's probably said to her, her kids or teenager. But honestly, it is addiction by design, for sure. Because so many things on our devices are designed to addict us. And the way they do that is we see a bright light, we get a like, we see that we got a text or five tags. And all of that releases dopamine in our brains. And that dopamine leaves us wanting more. That's how an addiction is built. And then there comes the impact of cortisol, which a lot of people experiences, from their stress and anxiety from being away from the phone, or from seeing that they're not getting the kind of response that they wanted on social media that can cause the anxiety. So, you put those two things together. And even if you're not addicted, you're not comfortable. We're not as healthy. And we're not as peaceful as we could be. Because of these things that our devices are, of course designed to be fun. But also, they're not really designed for our well-being. They're just not. And so, we really have to take responsibility. And I love this recent research were three out of 10 adults. And half of the people on their 29 said, I'm on my phone constantly.

Ron Beres

Oh my gosh. Wow. Just talking about a day, we were like Oh, aren't you glad that part of her life we grew up and really not so much of a tech bubble. We got to kind of experience both this transition of the cell phone mobile devices, all these devices later in life versus being a child being subjected to this and never having the experience of not having the technology.

August Brice

Yeah, point seven point, Ron, it's normal. But it's not normal. Yeah. But all the things that we grew up with is normal. And so yes, I'm working right now on a book for parents. Because my very first expert was Dr. Kimberly young, who actually coined the term Internet addiction over 35 years ago, and she really prescribed a digital diet, which was just balanced with technology was really what we talked about on tech wellness. And she directed all of our blogs, and actually, I have her test and it is the original Internet addiction test. And it's for any kind of device addiction if you're really addicted.

Lisa Beres

So, you can take the test. Is there a link on your website? Okay, I'm going to put that in the show notes. Perfect.

Ron Beres

And that was ahead of time. 35 years ago, I was going backwards. When was that? Was that 2019?

August Brice

It was the late 80s 90s. Wow. Okay. Yes. Anyway, and so she went to the American Psychological Association, and she introduced the term Internet addiction, but it's still not even a diagnostic code yet. But it is for the World Health Organization has a diagnosis for gaming, addiction gaming. Okay, which comes from being online, right? Oh, yes, there are addictions, true addictions here and I work with a man called Dr. Ofor Terrell. And he is a social media scientist. And he has researched he looks at scans, brain scans of people who display addictive like qualities. You'd look at them and addictive like qualities are. I can't be away from it for any amount of time. Yeah, I go to bed thinking about it. I'm not socializing, like I should, oh, I'm not eating or taking care of myself like I should. Because I'd rather be online. So those are addictive. Like, yeah, right. But he studied the brains of people who were displaying those symptoms with social media. And it turned out that although just Like most addictions, there was less gray matter in the brain. The part of the brain that is the control center was incomplete working order completely intact. And that was different than other addictions. Oh, really? Okay. Yeah, so most addictions, as Dr. Terrell explains it, as in most addictions, not only is there less gray matter, sometimes less white matter. But also, the control center of the brain just isn't working like it should. And that's why you have to have more. And that's why it is quote, unquote, an addiction that needs to be treated. And so really, the point of that research was so wonderful to hear that basically, you just need to control it.

Lisa Beres

Oh, okay. So, it�s not doom and gloom, you can overcome that. Okay, so that's great news. I mean, I don't know very many people who aren't addicted. I mean, we all feel those things that you described, we feel anxious when we don't have our phone on for too long. We haven't checked something or we haven't connected. And I had read that the person that created the original cell phone, created an after a slot machine, that ding that you talked about that constant reinforcement for it to be addictive on purpose that that was not an accident. And now you see the phones. They don't just light, they make noise, right. So, if you're not getting it one way, you're getting in another way that ding ding, ding, ding. And I need your attention. It wants your attention. And I'm seeing it in every age. Obviously, the little kids, it's really sad, because they're growing up with these devices. So that's just so normal for them. Even elderly people, I mean, even older people are constantly on their phones to I see it. So, it's four slot machines, either one or slot. Yeah. Take your pick. Yeah. So, it's really crazy. So important, because this is going to be an epidemic with kids. It's scary to think about the future. And I do a lot of research on this to August with how much it's damaging kids� creativity, the screen time and their social abilities and their brain development. And a lot of these different things are being affected. So, this isn't just, oh, hey, you're being annoying, because you're on the phone all the time. We're talking about long term effects and development. And we're going to see later that we haven't even seen yet.

August Brice

And there's research that correlates the more time online to less gray matter in your brain. Incredible, isn't it? Yeah, that's right, a ball. So, like you were saying that we've all experienced the stress of being away from our phones. Well, it turns out that the more attached you are to your device, the more stress you have been away from it. Yeah. So just make sense that we all take a step back whenever Yeah, can I just be mindful.

Lisa Beres

And see how much better you feel. I find nature to be a great antidote to that kind of because it's like the opposite right of the technology. And taking those digital detoxes or diets, like you said, and seeing how much better you feel right. I remember one time we were in Hawaii for two weeks, we came back, I was in kind of I guess like in a little bit of an altered relaxed state because you don't have your phone on in Hawaii, you're too busy snorkeling and hiking and doing all these beautiful things. And when we came back, we flew into lax. And I remember just looking around and people thinking, What's wrong with people? Why are they so busy? on Hawaii definitely put you in a slower Hawaiian time. And you just get into that relaxed state. And I felt like what's wrong with everybody? Why are they looking at their phone on the way to their Uber or baggage claim? Can't they just put it down for a second, I could see the contrast. We're so immersed in it; we don't see it. But when you take a digital project, and then you come back and it becomes very obvious how much it's ruling our lives.

August Brice

Right? And don't you wish that for everyone? But yeah, and have that trip that you just talked about? and experience what you experienced? Yes, I'm sure you can think back to that time. Put yourself right back in it and say, Okay, I need to take a break.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, for sure. I can feel it all the time. And I have to make myself right knows I'll go and turning my phone off. And like you we use all the protective measures. And we are completely hardwired at home as well. But you're still getting radiation, even for those little moments. little bits of it. So yeah, it's like a conscious, or Ron's talking. And I'm not listening because I'm looking at some Instagram or something. It's like I being disciplined with that, too.

Ron Beres

I have my own teenage daughter.

Lisa Beres

Giving people, giving your loved ones your full attention is a gift. And yeah, we've lost some loved ones over the past few years. And you're like I would give anything to have those moments back. And so, it's not just about the physical hazards. It's also like give those people your time and love and attention when you're with them because you're robbing everybody of that.

August Brice

And they actually call it phubbing but I prefer the term screen snubbing. Do what you're talking about? It feels like such a snob when you're talking to each other. Like you said, you're talking to Ron, and he's looking at his phone. And you were just having a conversation. He has not yet oh my gosh, there's so much emotional pain that has been studied from that. We all know that we've done it to each other. Yes. And we think of it as Oh, yeah, they understand they understand/

Lisa Beres

Right.

August Brice

That, do you know that there's a study that 12% of people admitted to looking at their phone during sex?

Lisa Beres

What? These people need new partners. I know that's horrible. Looking at. Oh, see, right, because it's also very accepted in society. I mean, I remember for the first time I heard the word selfie, I was like, Oh my god, how self-indulgent. What a horrible word. This is a big joke. This is going to fly by Oh, no. Now, it's not only a commonplace word, it's encouraged. It's encouraged to take selfies. And that is a societal norm that has become like, Oh, it's totally fine to talk and look at your phone when you're talking to someone or at a restaurant or wherever. And so, we've kind of lost our politeness, right?

August Brice

That's why I like to call it screen snubbing. Oh, yeah, that rude behavior that yeah. Yeah, everyone knows what that that doesn't feel good. But if you think of phubbing, you're not really sure what that means. So yeah, I think screen snubbing is really the term and it's just not a nice thing to do to people.

Lisa Beres

It's just not nice. Stop snubbing everybody listening! Stop screen subbing, don't snub your mom or your spouse or�

August Brice

Spend a day noticing how many people are doing it to you. Yeah. And then you'll probably be more aware and have more mindfulness about not doing it to others?

Ron Beres

Yeah, that's great. We're going to switch gears here, we're going to go into physical illness, and the International Journal of environmental research and public health, they published a systematic review, and meta-analysis of a case control research on cellphone use, and tumor risk. So in summary, the updated comprehensive meta-analysis of the case control studies found significant evidence linking cellular phone use to increased tumor risk, especially among cellphone users, with a usage of more than 1000 or more hours in their lifetime, which basically, that corresponds to about 17 minutes per day, over 10 years, especially among studies that employed high quality methods. So August, yes, what are a few tips to help us go from addiction to awareness?

August Brice

Okay, we just talked about this for a moment. Lisa was saying how much she enjoyed being away from her phone on her trip. And if we could do that every single day, and I loved what I hear from a lot of people who talked to me trying this new mindfulness approach, that they wake up in the morning. And before they touch their phone, they make sure 30 minutes goes by. Now to me, that's my normal day. That's easy. That's what I love to do. I like to go for a walk, I like to ground before I look at my phone. But a lot of people realize the first thing they do is look at their phone, they're using it as an alarm clock. They're using it as the reason to get up. So, if they can just take 30 minutes, to really just get into their body, be present, be aware of what's going on and just like enjoy the morning, enjoy the day. I think that's a great way to start that little bit of distance, that once you do it, you might enjoy it so much that maybe in the afternoon, you'll do the same thing. Maybe right before bed, you'll find that hey, you know what, I sleep better, I feel better when I'm not looking at my phone or an A device or the computer right before bed. Because not only is there that blue light, and then the pulse light that I talked about earlier. But also, for a lot of people, the electromagnetic fields that can just mess with their biology, like you were saying on. So, if you have that right before bed, obviously, it's affecting your melatonin and it's affecting your brain. It's wiring you up, and you don't need to be wired up right before bed.

Lisa Beres

And then people have insomnia, and then they take their sleep medication, and then it's just an infinite loop. It's just an infinite loop of feeling miserable. I love that August we interviewed a guest who talked about meditation and the power of meditation and she had her think it was her seven-year anniversary of meditating every day. And that was such a Western wake up call for me. I'm still a little scattered. It's like I do a day and then I miss a day and then I do a day so I kind of am trying to create that new habit of every day. And you're right, the morning time, the first moment you wake up I think is the best time because You aren't rushing to your phone, because if you rest your phone, forget it, the meditation isn't going to happen, right, you'll just get pulled into all the true tasks. So, waking up giving yourself that silence, that meditation, that space to have your thoughts to put out your intentions to create and to really calm your mind. And I noticed my days are very different. And I know they're better. And yet, it's a hard habit to like any habit, right? You've got to just keep doing it and get back on the wagon, if you fall off, no big deal, just getting up and trying it again. So, I love that I think that's great.

August Brice

I love talking about meditation. I've been meditating for 35 years, too. And I have periods where I go in and out. But now, since for at least two years, I have been meditating daily, and sometimes only for a minute and a half. Yeah, I used to think I had to meditate for 20 minutes. Oh, wow. I just realized, you know what, I can get there. Maybe because I've meditated for so many years. That meditative state, I can get into the piece, I can get into my breath in just a minute and a half.

Lisa Beres

I love that. See you guys. She said that too. It wasn't the time didn't our prior guest say for like 30 seconds? It was just the point that you did it and that you gave yourself that's a gift that you give yourself that self-love.

Ron Beres

And you know, very peaceful August, you seem very calm.

Lisa Beres

You do seem calm. And you got these beautiful trees behind you.

August Brice

Yes, we're very lucky to be here in California.

Lisa Beres

Yes, we are. Yeah. Beautiful. We have good weather. So, you mentioned blue light. And we all had our blue light glasses on a second ago. August still does.

Ron Beres

I put mine back on.

August Brice

Let's do it. Why is blue light considering a tech toxin, because blue light affects your melatonin production and release? So, whenever your body is without blue light, for at least a half an hour, I usually recommend two hours, your body does what it's supposed to do and it releases melatonin. And Melatonin is amazing. The best thing that melatonin does, it's a hormone and it helps you sleep. In fact, it signals your brain that it's time to sleep. And so, then your body reacts to your brain and you start getting that nice, lovely tired feeling. But if you don't have melatonin in your body, it can also be related to inflammation, immune function, even cancer. In fact, I have this one study in a video about it that it even affects your metabolism. and lack of melatonin can actually cause weight gain. Oh, so give me some melatonin.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, we�ve talked about obesogens on a recent podcast. obesogens are chemicals, manmade chemicals that actually cause you to gain weight, store fat, make your fat cells larger, all these like horrible things. And PFA s chemicals from nonstick cookware, and all those are in obesogen, and you'd be shocked how many obesogens there are. So that's interesting. A lot of people struggle with weight. And now you're saying even the melatonin, so it's not always the food. It's not always the food you're eating.

August Brice

I�m going to go back and listen to that episode. I thought yeah, all the time. Yes. That's got my name on it. Yeah.

Lisa Beres

Well, you don't need it.

August Brice

That's fascinating. It is fascinating. Yeah. But in addition to the lack of melatonin release, I think also we just have to think about our circadian rhythms. And I just equate his you know, there are light outside and blue lights in the sky, the same frequency of light is in the sky. And so, imagine, though, think about this, if for 14 hours, you stood outside and looked at the bright blue sky. Even if you looked at it for four hours. What's that doing to your body that's releasing so much cortisol, which is awesome. We need a little burst of cortisol to get going. And that's what the blue light does. on a grander scale. Okay, constantly.

Lisa Beres

Yeah.

August Brice

That's not a good thing. That's not a go if we can just think of that and think about the rhythms. Think about the rhythm of natural daylight and darkness and try to pattern our device usage to that exact same rhythm.

Lisa Beres

Oh, that's a great, great tip. Follow the sun follow the when it gets dark, you should be turning off your devices, what an hour before you go to bed at night.

August Brice

What I like to do is starting at sunset, I put on my deep orange glasses, and they block about 90% of the blue light. The ones that we all have on now are blocking 35%. And to me, that's like wearing a nice sunglass outside. Okay, now it's just a fashion statement and it will help us help right? We can hear the blue light. I mean, I believe that every little bit helps because there's probably more that research hasn't told us about the blue light, but we know for sure about the melatonin. So, I wear my dark glasses at night when I'm watching TV.

Ron Beres

Can you see the TV August? Actually, is there closed captioning?

August Brice

I do enjoy technology. I really do. But you see, I am married to the original tech adopter. Okay, everything. The major screens in this home, these bursts of digital light. Yeah. It's like being in a movie theater.

Ron Beres

Really? Wow. Whoa, funny. Yeah, great, because we can avoid screens in your home at all. So, you have different levels of glasses. And I think you probably have all these glasses on your website. I take it right. We do regular blue light. Yes. During the day when you're working right? I'm looking at your laptop or Yes, whatever you're doing on your phone. And then at night you put on what do they call it on the orange?

August Brice

Orange glasses chart like at about six o'clock or seven? Whenever the sunset? On the orange glasses, and they block about 90. And then I have dark glasses? That block 98% Oh, wow. And that's hardcore. That's when our enlarging the big TV at 930 at night. Too much input. Yeah. And also, in our home. We use very low light level at night. And we try to do candles.

Lisa Beres

No, yeah. I'm a big candle fire person. Yeah, exactly. And the more the merrier.

August Brice

I do the salt lamp stuff because of the salt because that really doesn't work. That's sort of a myth. You have to sit in a room full of salt for the benefit, but I love the salt lamps for the color. Nice amber glow.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, there's a beautiful amber glow.

August Brice

It's, um, it's not completely devoid of light, but so much of the blue light is gone.,

Ron Beres

So, is your husband on board? Does he wear these glasses too?

August Brice

Okay.

Lisa Beres

Hal�s not here so we can�t�

August Brice

And I will tell you the truth. Everyone loves the orange glasses. And there was a study done saying that the orange glasses actually do not help with eyestrain. And I've got, you know, 40 people that used to work in our office when we first discovered these orange glasses that we're all wearing them. That will tell you oh my gosh, so much less eye strain. I put them on in my eyes just feel so relaxed. Wow. Steady said no. But it feels so much more relaxing to have less of the blue light in your eyes just on a daily basis while working on your computer. When we're all on? Yeah. Don't you feel a sense of relief?

Ron Beres

Oh, I do.

Lisa Beres

And these are the ones that we have that might have a little tiny prescription in them to like a little bit of reading. But they're like a little bit of a yellowy, I see that. Yeah, they're a little Amber. Right little Amber. And they're not bright orange, like obvious is talking about if you've never seen them, and they're super stylish. Now you can get a blue light blocking glasses, every color, shape style. So, this isn't like compromising your sense of fashion. And to be honest, this entire show isn't about compromising your tech either, or conveniences. Because there's three of us here, including our producer, four of us who have made concerted efforts to reduce our exposures. I talked about opting out of smart meters. And there's so many other things that we're going to get into a little bit more, there are just so many things you can do to lessen your body burden and to lessen the stress that this electromagnetic radiation is putting on your body. So, you're not going to go live in a bubble, you're not going to go live in a cave. Well, you can but you don't have to. This is really about being smart, being proactive and just taking baby steps, especially for your children, because they are the most susceptible, their developing brains, their blood brain barrier, and all of that. So just take that away today to If nothing else, that this isn't about the so extreme. This is just about turning that cell phone off when you talked about people using their phone as an alarm. Yes. I can't tell you how many people I asked. And I say, well, you have it on airplane mode, right? Oh, no, I leave it on. Why? Why would you leave your phone on when you're sleeping? Nobody needs to get ahold of you while you're sleeping. And you can still use the clock. When your phone is on airplane mode. You can still use the alarm clock, so there's no need to have it on.

August Brice

There's a little bit of blue light coming from the phone. That's the only drawback, right? Yeah, and I'm for you, I guess because you have your glasses. To really, really, really mind the blue light. And especially when you talk about children, the children and I do these are the ones that I wear. They're wrapped around orange glasses. I mean, there's hot They're so cute.

Lisa Beres

She's the cutest little geeky person ever.

August Brice

And eight pairs around the house and people love to put them on when they come over and visit That's awesome. People love it and they just say oh, this feels so good. And the reason why is because the blue light comes in from the top the bottom the sides that's why you do the wraparounds Oh gosh, I really want the true effect of wanting the blue light that's how it's really done when no one's watching.

Lisa Beres

Right exactly. Don't be like us and get caught anyway last sorry we talked about at the top of the show don't get locked out of your house with those on got to shed light ground and I did. So, August. How would you describe EMF radiation just Someone who is not familiar, they're like, what are you talking about? And what are the biggest secret culprits of emf radiation in our homes? Where is this lurking?

August Brice

You know, I really like to describe it, it's actually how someone first described it to me, because I was taking my meters and measuring and trying to figure it out. So, on your phone, and on most of your devices, there used to be just one antenna. So, wherever the antennas are, think of it like a cigarette. And that's the tip of the cigarette. And from it, all of this invisible radiation, but think of the smoke, like the invisible radiation, and it's flowing, and it dissipates. As you get further and further away from it, the smoke is still there, but it's less and less and less. So emf is what powers all of our wireless devices. If there's wireless, there's an electromagnetic field along with that wireless energy. And it's how the antenna talks to the receiver. That's what the emf is. And so, the way that I like to think of it is that that cigarette and so the closer I get to that antenna, the worse off I'm going to be as far as being exposed to it. And whether you can't see it smell or touch it. I know you guys say this all the time, too. But the best thing that I believe about getting away from the emf is distance, this it has someone smoking a cigarette, and say you don't like that say that. Oh my gosh, that I'm allergic to that I just don't like the smell. So, you know that the further you get away from that person, the less smoke you're going to be exposed to, inhaling.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, right, exactly. And so, for listeners who aren't familiar, wireless radiation, which is coming from all of our wireless devices, does drop off with distance significantly more so than you think. But it does penetrate walls, and it does penetrate pretty much anything in your home. So if you're sleeping, like you had mentioned August earlier, someone who had the router under them at their desk, I know that is going to obviously affect you more, but even if that writers on the other side of the wall, and it's only an inch away, so distance, distance, distance. And even with carry from safely who we talked to, it's not that much distance that you really need. Sometimes, we used to hear six feet, but even putting your phone 10 inches away is better than is better than it right there.

August Brice

I absolutely do not carry my phone on me when it's on. You're sure because yeah, even all of our manuals that come with our iPhones and our androids tell us to in order to meet the safety standards, which you guys both know are not that great buyer can meet those safety standards. We're supposed to have it anywhere between 10 millimeters 10 centimeters down. But basically, it's about half an inch, half an inch is about a half an inch away from our bodies to even meet those safety standards. Right. So obviously we shouldn't be putting in our pockets. Yeah, yeah.

Lisa Beres

And we talked about those safety standards to wear based on I think a 200-pound male. So right, not a baby, not a five-year-old and not a dainty person. So that's another factor.

Ron Beres

You're right about that.

Lisa Beres

We've gotten in the habit of doing airplane mode, in addition to protective cases, but just getting in a habit. It's like just flicking that off. Whenever you're not using it. There's a lot of little things we can do. Exactly.

August Brice

Nd also, when you do put it on airplane mode. Now you have to go to your settings and just ensure that your Bluetooth stuff and the weather is off. Because a lot of times the default is Airplane Mode just means you're stopping cellphone radiation. Yeah. So, we have to realize we've got a Wi Fi antenna. We've got a Bluetooth antenna. We've got a couple of cell phone antennas in every phone.

Lisa Beres

Yes. Excellent point, August, that is a great point, turn that Bluetooth off. If you're in the car and you're driving, you've got your Bluetooth, it's the same thing. That's your wireless radiation, guys. How do you think this stuff's getting to you? If there's no wire, just anything that would normally require a wire that doesn't have it is wireless radiation, electromagnetic radiation.

Ron Beres

Those are great tips to reduce exposure to EMF moving on to privacy, though, when it comes to online privacy. What should we be worried about August?

August Brice

Wow. I love that question. You should be worried about everything you do and say and look at that you wouldn't want shared right now or anytime in the future online. Because once it's online, it's somewhere honestly, you guys almost forever. Yeah. And sometimes even the things that you're just thinking about doing. And you think better of those stay online as well. And what I mean by that is a few years ago, I discovered that my company was using the Google vault. Our entire system was on Google. It's no longer I use Protonmail now, but our entire system was on Google and our IT person, we were looking for a contract and he said, Oh, we'll just go into the vault. And I said, What's the vault? And then he showed me that for each person that had an account with us. Everybody who had a Google account that worked with us. We could see Every single email that not just that they had written, but every draft, so every second and a half, there was a save. So, they'd be writing something they were thinking about.

Ron Beres

Wow. Yes, or so how did they get into the Google vault? I mean, this is a universal Google vault that anyone can get into.

August Brice

So, when you have a paid account with Google, when it's your enterprise system, and most companies actually do work with Google, so it might say, dot whatever the name of your company is, but it's probably got a Google interface. And Google has something in its enterprise system called the vault, and the vault saves every chat, every email, and worse than which I think a lot of people would expect, right? You've probably got Oh, yeah, my company can see that. But I don't believe that most people understand that not only are the emails and the drafts saved, but even words that they type, and then Backspace, wow. Oh, that's crazy. Those are saved. And we found out the funniest thing. I mean, it was just so I started showing everybody their vault. I said, you guys, look at this. Oh, my gosh, don't compose an email while you're emailing. Like you think about it first. And last because or don't use Google vault. Yes. And the thing is, you don't know for sure. And it's usually not under your control if you're employed by someone. Okay. So, I think it's great if companies can move towards not spying. Yeah, that would be that Hello. But it was I have a video of showing everyone their bald and the faces and the things they say and the discovery of oh my gosh, and one guy says, Oh, my gosh, wait, I haven't even sent that email yet. Oh, why? And he was because he's looking and you guys should watch the video because you see 45 drafts of one email, all in mines. And I can go back or whoever the administrator is right, or the owner of the company can look back. It's not like such an invasion of privacy for me to even look.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, right. Yeah, you feel like you're spying on your employees? Because you are. I mean, you, not you but people. This is a big, hot topic. And I have to say, August, I think when I first discovered you and your website, you were selling the creeper blockers. I still do and you still do. In fact, in fact, when we hang up, I need to order some because look, I have this isn�t a cute creep blocker.

August Brice

And you know, because it's still the one of the biggest hacks that really yeah, people are still hacking cameras.

Lisa Beres

If you haven't watched the movie, Snowden, run, walk to Netflix and rent that movie. Oh, my God. Snowden is so great. And it really shows you about how this all started in what's actually really going on with our privacy with our tech privacy, I should say. So, I don't know when I found out about that they could actually hijack your camera on your phone and watch you guys have you ever picked up your phone and had the camera face to you? It's not pretty so people can see that.

August Brice

That would be my number one deter it just worked down when you're not ready.

Lisa Beres

Yeah. Okay, so you sell these stickers. You make them thick enough so that you can still see through them. They're renewable, renewable, reusable, some people like and I do you have the little sliders? And also, sliders. That's what I like. See, I've used the slider sometimes they break off right when your phone around. Exactly. In fact, I have one on my computer right now the slider? If you guys don't know what we're talking about, head over to tech, wellness, calm.

August Brice

I love the stickers because we have these little affirmation sayings and cute things that Yeah, dance like no one's watching.

Lisa Beres

Oh, I love it. And you can when you have the creeper blocker?

August Brice

You absolutely can. And really quickly, I want to tell you one thing about the creep blockers. They're also made, if you have a Mac Book Pro or any Mac Book, we have them to cover the microphone. Yeah, cuz they found that even when the microphone was, quote, unquote, off and turned down, there still the chance of it coming being recorded. And so, you can hear nothing when these stickers are awesome.

Lisa Beres

I love that you shared that. So, guys, I mean, I know some people have never heard this before. What someone can actually hack into my phone and look at me through my camera. Yes. And they can listen through your microphone. And we know apps do that, right? Actually, apps do that apps do that. And apps tell you they're going to do that. And you have to agree to those terms. Right?

August Brice

I know Instagram, right? They just came out with some really severe kind of write, they let us know I have a big post on this. And I did a video trying to explain to people I broke down and I compared the old policy to the new policy. And actually, the big difference was when you ask us to delete your account, we might not that's really what they said, Oh, okay, so many words right? There used to be Hey, ask us to leave and we will delete your account. And now it's we might not if someone's needing it if it threatens someone in our community is wow. Basically, if you read the fine print, it's kind of if they feel like it. So, they kind of own that when you join.

Lisa Beres

Yes, they own your information, they own your photos, they own your messages, they own Facebook, because that Facebook owns Instagram. I don't think any of the big tech companies are immune to this. And then going back to your laptop, your desktop, you also want this creeper blockers on that camera. And like you said, the microphone part. I know, people will say to me, What's that on your phone? And I say it's a creeper blocker. And they pretty much understand but some people are like was that give you a little luck? Like, why did you need that? Well, it's real. It's crazy that it's the ultra-invasion of privacy. And we know Alexa, as the smart house can listen to your conversations.

August Brice

Oh, my goodness. And then worse than that they both this happened with Facebook and Amazon and Google, all three of them. There were news stories, and they all admitted to it, that they hired people to listen to the conversations that had been recorded.

Lisa Beres

I read that article.

August Brice

And you know, a few years ago, they introduced talking Barbie, and there are a lot of tech toys now and talking Barbie back then. And I think she's off the market now because so many parents protested. But you could push her microphone and she would talk to you and you would talk to her. And they had men analyzing the conversations. Why and creepy? Yeah, it's so creepy. But we have to understand that anything that we say that goes to the cloud, we can't control who's going to listen to it. What's going to happen to it? Yeah, we just have to be so mindful.

Lisa Beres

So mindful.

August Brice

Yeah. Now, also, I believe, Carnegie Mellon and an intern at Carnegie Mellon, when someone who worked at Facebook went through 1000s of Facebook posts to find out who thought better of so what they meant was, who wrote something and then deleted it. And so, I thought immediately, well, if they're doing that research, and they can tell if somebody deleted something, oh, and just like that. Yeah, they can see what someone wrote and then deleted before they posted it. That's crazy. And so, I talked to the intern, and the intern on the study, said, who's now a research scientist said, we want you to know, Facebook did not actually give us the words, they substituted characters for words. But we could see that some of the characters were backspace and deleted. And if you wanted to know what the actual point of the study was, women did not think better as younger men, were more apt to write something and then just backspace it off and not post it. Women, older women especially didn't really care.

Lisa Beres

Didn't think that they just wrote it and put it out there and posted it. That's interesting. Okay, so women, you probably don't have that much hidden. Someone's going to uncover. But going back to the smart hubs, this could be a whole show, because not only are they an invasion of privacy, and a lot of people don't realize that either that Do you remember the story that I mean, there's so many stories that have come out in the news, but the one where the couple was having the conversation about their wood floors? And like literally chimes connected to their friends who weren't nearby? Yes. And their friends are in their living room with their Alexa, hearing the entire conversation, these two?

August Brice

Yes. And I've heard so many stories, by the way, because people write me, they want to talk about these things. And this is a very common story. Yeah. And Lexa will say something when they're not even talking to Alexa. And they'll be like, Oh, my gosh, she's listening. Well, yeah.

Lisa Beres

I think she's listening.

August Brice

Alexa is listening.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, it's true. And not only is she listening, she's emitting electromagnetic radiation. So, people don't realize this is a Wi Fi device. This is a Wi Fi device. So, I encourage everyone to not use those. But some people are stubborn. And for the stubborn people, I say, at least unplug, don't just turn it off. Because it could still like we just talked about our microphones can be hijacked. And our cameras.

August Brice

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, 100%.

Lisa Beres

Yes, unplug. And that goes for your router, your wireless router. If you use one, you need to be unplugging that. So, this is all leading us to your incredible store, which is tech wellness Comm. And guys, they have incredible solutions on this website. Why don't you just give us a few of the products I mean, we are detected with the creeper blockers tell us some of the things that you offer for home use and personal use.

August Brice

Well, one of my favorites that you're sort of talking about is unplugging things and turning them off. So, if you do have a Wi Fi, please use my wife I kill switch. It's really inexpensive. It's just a remote that you plug the Wi Fi into, so that you don't have to get so close to that electromagnetic radiation that's much stronger at the source. So, once you plug it in and you turn it on and off with the remote, at least you're away from it and I recommend people Don't get closer than 20 feet to their Wi Fi router. Okay, I prefer 40 feet.

Lisa Beres

Yeah. And people are sleeping next to them. Oh, so unplug them so Turner in a lot of bedroom closets. Yeah.

August Brice

Yes. So that's one of my favorites. Blue Light blocking glasses their mainstay? Absolutely. I love my styluses. I do because you guys know that even if your phone is on airplane, and you've got it connected with an adapter, also my favorite. So, we use our phones with adapters. We do not use our phones wirelessly. Oh, wow. And do everything except make a phone call. We use signal for privacy. Yeah, so we can text on signal so we can chat. We chat. Yeah, we can do video chats that look just like FaceTime. So signal is an app, right? Now signal is like a Twitter slash telegram. It's a communication app. That's Yeah, guaranteed to be private. In fact, I love this and proton mail or the link app. Now. Yeah. So, we use proton mail and we use signal and we can use our devices while they're wired to the internet. And so still, there's a little bit of magnetic energy. You guys are amazing building biologists. So, you know this, and I don't like to touch it because I'm so sensitive. So, I use my stylus and I'm not subjected to any of the magnetic energy. Wow, keeps the screen clean. I'm going to send you some because they are so fun to use. Yeah,

Lisa Beres

That's amazing. Oh, gosh, August, we have a landline that we use. So that's our backup. And for those of you listening, you can get a landline and an emergency landline for $10 a month through your phone company. So, you can have that landline, if there is an emergency.

Ron Beres

We're all showing off with our landlines.

Lisa Beres

We�re the nerd group where the nerd I love it. I love it. Hey, offices use them. I mean, everyone's like, Oh, that's so old school. Well, they're in every office in America, pretty much. So, get a landline, get the emergency line if you're on a budget for $10 a month. And that's all you need. If there is an emergency, that way you can comfortably turn your phone off more often without feeling insecure.

August Brice

They�re more secure. They're safer. Yeah. And they function, unlike your Wi Fi all the time.

Lisa Beres

Yeah, you don't have to charge them. Yes, I should preface not a cordless phone. cordless phones are also Wi Fi emitters. So, they're wireless when they're off the charger, right? That you definitely want a landline. And then I know you guys have the cases.

August Brice

We have anti-radiation cases that are mags because I am so sensitive. I can't even use any of those cases that we were talking about earlier that cover and divert the energy. Yeah, because a lot of times that diversion, it gets stronger. So, I have to have my phone in a Faraday plus I love that it's completely private. In fact, it even blocks the GPS signal. And your GPS, you know.

Lisa Beres

It�s not working on your phone? You know, it's working well.

August Brice

Yeah. Always be on unless it's in a Faraday, by the way.

Lisa Beres

So, the Faraday cage, please. Can you use it when it's in the case?

August Brice

You cannot? Okay, so that's just like you're carrying, right? Just if I'm carrying it. Yeah. And most especially for privacy. Yeah. Okay. Or so ultimately tracked? And, you know, Apple's new update where you're asked if you want to be tracked?

Lisa Beres

Yeah, yeah,

August Brice

There's that new thing. Okay. Yeah,

Lisa Beres

I saw your Instagram story actually on it. That's where I got privy to it. So, it's kind of a good thing you said, because you get the option now to say no, whereas before�

August Brice

And I hope most people will be great. Why should they try if your phone has a gamified number, and advertisers get that identifying number, they don't get your name. But if you go to an advertiser, and you give them your name, then they have your identifier and your name. And they share it. Yeah. So, this is a You're like a product.

Lisa Beres

You�re a barcode to these manufacturers, which is really sad. Because people and I know you've heard this by August, oh, but I don't care if they see my stuff. I have nothing to hide. I think that's one of the worst responses because you might not have anything to hide, but your privacy is yours. And unless you gave your consent to the whole world to have it. That's yours. That's your privacy. And it's you remain that until you willingly give that out.

August Brice

So, it's a value.

Lisa Beres

It's a value. It's a human right to have your privacy. Yeah. Oh my gosh, I guess this was so fantastic. I feel like we could have talked for another couple hours. But we got to go and you have to go and our listeners probably need to go. But thank you so much for being with us today.

August Brice

Thank you so much. And I really appreciated all your wisdom today.

Lisa Beres

Oh, likewise, youre a wealth of knowledge. Friends, you can learn more by heading right now over to tech wellness.com where you can search the hundreds of articles and over 70 videos that are freely available to learn. And then you can shop for safe products. And that's test wellness.com stay tuned next week to find out what the heck is going on in your home. Bye friends.

August Brice

Bye, everyone. Thank you.

Narrator

This episode of the healthy home hacks podcast has ended. But be sure to subscribe for more healthy living strategies and tactics to help you create the healthy home you always dreamed of. And don't forget to rate and review so we can continue to bring you the best content. See you on the next episode.