Randi Donahue

WRITER & EDITOR

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
Good Gear •

7 Best Compression Socks For Women

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

Doctors have long prescribed compression socks to those plagued with poor circulation conditions. Lately, though, non-medical compression socks have gained steam as must-have gear among the health-focused – no prescription needed. Modern-day compression socks offer versatile benefits no matter your age or activity level. 🧦

Long travel ahead or on
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
Good Gear •

7 Heated Blankets For Noninvasive Pain Relief

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

Dealing with chronic aches and pains or muscle soreness as you work to meet your health and fitness goals? We feel ya! Relief from those pesky pains can dramatically increase the quality of life and provide faster recovery after high-intensity exercise (or while adjusting to a new workout routine). Since relying on pain relievers and anti-inflamma
Good Gear •

The Top 7 Concierge Medicine Services You Can Get Online

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

During its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about major advances in virtual medicine, allowing for an increase in the insurances accepted and government protection so folks could get the care they desired without leaving the safety of their homes. The pandemic may be over, but virtual healthcare is here to stay. Even more exciting is that post-
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
The Good Trade •

What Is A Chronotype And How Do I Find Mine?

Confession: I do not like to sleep. And I’ve never followed a consistent sleep schedule. As a teenager, I hated going to bed but was excited to get up and start my day before the rest of the household. As an adult, I must drag myself to bed, even when I am drained, and know I could really use some rest. I fall asleep quickly, but I am roused by a pin drop. Thankfully, the littlest bit of shut-eye allows me to wake up before my alarm starts screaming. Most days, I feel rested enough to thrive unt
The Good Trade •

How Important Is An Air Purifier To Your Health?

As much as I love to be outside, I’ve always found my air-conditioned home quite comfortable after an outdoor adventure—especially during the hot, buggy, and rainy months. Unless I caught wind of a yucky smell wafting from a full trash can or was trying to air out the new furniture or fresh paint smell, I’d never really given much thought to the quality of the air we breathe inside our house.

The other night, however, as my family sat down to eat under the hanging light fixture above the table,
The Good Trade •

How Harmful Are Microplastics To Our Environment And Health?

If you’re in this space, the thought of large quantities of plastic strewn about the natural world makes you cringe. You feel distressed about floating plastic islands, birds feeding plastic to their babies, and turtles getting stuck in plastic can rings. In coastal Florida, it’s now commonplace to see plasticware, straws, cigarette butts, and single-use wrappers washed ashore, dotting our white-sand beaches.

Single-use plastic like water bottles, tampon applicators, plastic bags, food containe
The Good Trade •

What Are PFAS And Do We Need To Worry About Them?

Our family maintains a high level of awareness regarding a non-toxic home, food, and personal care environment. Safe cleaning and personal care products? Check. Stainless steel lunch boxes? Check. We own mostly glass storage containers and never microwave food plastic. Ever. We even recently retired our 13-year-old high-end, chipping non-stick pots and pans, replacing them with stainless steel. But if someone asked me the “why” behind that latest decision when it happened, my answer would have b
Edible Sarasota •

High Hopes. A feature on Dr. Margaret Lowman, arbornaut

Dr. Margaret Lowman is among the most impressive women I’ve ever met.

Her determination has earned her the titles of biologist, educator, mother, ecologist, author, fundraiser, conservationist, public speaker, and National Geographic explorer. She holds an undergrad in biology, a master’s in ecology, and a PhD in botany.

Lowman has decades of experience as a published field scientist who's worked in 46 countries across all seven continents. She’s launched nature research centers and run nonpro
Costco Connection •

Costco Connection Flavor and function / Supplier Spotlight

Costco sauerkraut supplier Wildbrine hits the mark with taste and nutrition

Mother Nature is a key element behind the sauerkraut from Costco supplier Wildbrine. The Santa Rosa, California-based company sources organic cabbage via partnerships with local California farmers, chasing the sun to ensure they can use the freshest produce year-round.

“Once it arrives, we inspect each head of cabbage before hand-processing it to remove the outer leaves and core,” says Hannah Lewis, Costco member and c
The Good Trade •

The Sustainable Compression Sock That Gives Back (Bombas Review)

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

Few people would consider socks an exciting topic in mainstream fashion. But if you are one of many fortunate enough to have drawers full of socks, you may be blissfully—and understandably—unaware of the portion of the population with no access to even one pair of socks, let alone a good pair.

Bombas believes wearing clean, comfortable cloth
Morning Shift Breakfast & Lunch •

Web Copy & Brand Story for new restaurant

In Charles Rohling’s family, growing up here in Kennesaw, if you cooked you didn’t have to clean.

One of five siblings, that motivated him to start cheffing it up as a preteen. Rohling gleaned the basics via food mags but by his senior year at Marietta High, his culinary creativity took hold as he started developing his own recipes. After college – and time a spent as a Georgia Tech track athlete – he picked up restaurant marketing and management experience in the big leagues, holding several c
The Good Trade •

How Alcohol Affects Our Bodies As We Age

Consistent alcohol consumption in large quantities can adversely affect physical and mental health, especially for those with addiction or heavy drinking tendencies. But for much of the population, enjoying the occasional cocktail, beer, or glass of wine with friends is a common and harmless socialization practice.

As a freshly minted legal drinker during college, I admit to having my fair share of such hangovers. Attending the number one party school in the nation meant I while excelled in my
Edible Sarasota •

Minding the Source

When you consider the food on your plate at a restaurant, ingredient sourcing is generally not top of mind. But consider this: At Grove Lakewood Ranch, that meal took immense planning, time, and physical energy. Each whole ingredient that makes up the carefully crafted cuisine was researched, sourced, procured, and prepped by Executive Chef Greg Campbell and his team.

This process didn’t come lightly. After 30 years of experience in food procurement, Campbell says it seems to get more challengi
The Good Trade •

How A Year Of Lifestyle Medicine Empowered Me To Manage My Own Health

I’ve been invested in personal health since my early teens. Whenever I veered toward poor health (ahem, college), I always seemed to recenter, finding my way back to what I considered a health-conscious lifestyle. Then, somewhere north of my 40th birthday, I started feeling subtle physical changes and a heightened sense of anxiety about aging. I wasn’t sick by conventional medical standards; I just felt a bit off. With active, young daughters and a family love of the outdoors, It became my prior
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