Randi Donahue

WRITER & EDITOR

The Good Trade •

How To Know If Your Libido Is Spontaneous Or Responsive

One day, while catching up on podcasts as I was folding laundry, a spicy topic piqued my interest. The host was interviewing sex educators and researchers Lauren Fogel Mersy, PsyD, LP and Jennifer A. Vencill, PHD, ABPP about the effect of the mental load on libido. As I listened, my eyes widened. I started to realize just how little I knew about the topic. One after another, my received truths about sexuality started to break down.


Prior to this listening sesh, my personal, limited, and mista...
The Good Trade •

Why I'm Pursuing Financial Wellness Over "Financial Freedom"

Keeping up with the Joneses has never been my motivation. I tend to either ignore or rebel against fleeting consumer trends. And regarding household spending, we aim to make highly researched, conscious purchases and splurge only when we know the result will last a lifetime or provide meaningful experiences. Of course, there are some sporadic impromptu expenses, but for the most part, our spending is, ahem, controlled.

Still, in the age of social media that floods us with photos of billionaires
Good Gear •

Bon Charge’s PEMF Mat Calmed My Inner Chaos (2024 Review)

Summary: After three weeks of using the Bon Charge PEMF Mat Max, I can confidently say it’s become a permanent tool in our family’s wellness arsenal. Not only did it offer warm, grounding vibes that eased me into a state of calm on the most stressful of days, but it also offered respite from menstrual cramps and exercise-induced soreness and assisted in recovery from an intense viral illness.
• The Bon Charge PEMF Mat Max’s noninvasive technology helped me to address many physical and mental con
The Good Trade •

Why Gentle Exercise Is Appropriate At Every Age

It wasn’t until recently, while walking with my dogs in the quiet of a nature preserve, that I recognized how valuable a slower-paced, gentler exercise could be — both physically and mentally. As a teen heavily into sports, I learned to value high-impact strength training and exercised for tangible results. The higher the intensity, the better the workout. My goal was to be sweaty, red in the face, and unbelievably sore the next day. Fast and hard was the name of the game.

I carried this type o
The Good Trade •

Should You Be Taking Probiotics With Antibiotics?

Since 1929, when scientist Alex Fleming discovered penicillin, antibiotics have saved millions of people from severe illnesses and infections. While there is no denying the necessity of antibiotic use in modern medicine, if you’re like me, you can’t help but shudder slightly when your doctor prescribes an antibiotic to resolve your health issue.

Having endured chronic ear infections as a child, I was on a constant dose of the bubble gum-flavored pink goo — aka amoxicillin. Because of this, I am
The Good Trade •

What Is Mental Load? (And Why Is It Important?)

My daughters were three and five when I learned there was a term for the exhausting running list I’d been carrying in my head since their births.

Although anxiety and sometimes paralyzing perfectionism were states I’ve struggled with my entire life, this felt different. It was the administrative steps I had to go through to replan my workday and provide care when one of the girls woke up sick. It was constantly anticipating both daughters’ needs and cognitively scrolling through all the options
Good Gear •

I Tried Roka's Performance Sunglasses For Sports (2024 Review)

Summary: After a month of testing ROKA performance sunglasses during various outdoor activities, I recommend them to anyone looking for stylish, sturdy, and durable sunglasses that stay put during exercise and everyday activities. These are especially good for adventurous people who need prescription sunglasses.
• These sunglasses don’t slip off your face when you sweat and can be worn for long periods without discomfort.
• ROKA has lots of fashionable unisex frames that are suitable for various
The Good Trade •

Is Birch Luxe Mattress Worthy Of Your Dreams? We Review

The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.

Summary: After one month of sleeping on the Birch Luxe mattress, I highly recommend it as an incredibly comfortable, nontoxic solution to sleep troubles. The layers of cashmere, wool, and steel coils relieved my aches and pains and offered temperature regulation that significantly improved my sleep. In short, it’s divine!
• The Birch Luxe is
The Good Trade •

5 Functional Spices To Incorporate Into Your Weekly Meal Plan

Cultures worldwide have incorporated delicious, functional spices in tradition for over 6,000 years, so why wouldn’t we modern-day home cooks follow suit? Thanks to the chemical compounds within, many well-known spices not only up your flavor game but also aid in wellness efforts like fighting inflammation, settling your tummy, and even increasing libido. And you won’t have to do a scavenger hunt to find the spices we suggest — you might even be using them already!

One word of advice when imple
Good Gear •

The 5 Best Fitness Trackers for Seniors in 2024 - The Good Trade

As we all know, consistent physical activity is a huge part of maintaining good health. But keeping up with exercise and strength training in our senior years can also become more complex with the onset of common age-related health concerns such as heart conditions and increased risk of injury and falls. In addition, as we creep up in life experience, sleep quality and memory often decline. The truth is many seniors strive to keep up with regular daily activities while also maintaining independe
The Good Trade •

Good Chop Review: Responsibly Sourced Meat & Seafood For A Family Of Four

We’ve been an environmentally conscious household for quite some time, and our food is no exception. For philosophical and environmental reasons, we’ve considered a switch to an entirely plant-based diet several times. But both my husband and I have found a plant-based diet that incorporates meat and seafood a few times a week works best for our personal health and energy levels. And in all honesty, our daughters love a good flank steak. We do our best, however, to eat in a way that is kind to o
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