Episodes

  • Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits an All-Time Low | Episode 130

    Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits an All-Time Low | Episode 130
    Sep 2 2025
    In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are diving into the 2025 IFIC Food and Health Survey, a robust study that reveals confidence in U.S. food safety has hit an all-time low.Tune in for their analysis on the big shifts that have happened in consumer opinions and concerns over the past few years, and their opinion on what this means for food suppliers going forward.Keep in mind that there is a lot of their trademark humor throughout the episode. Don't always take things at face value, unless they're actual stats. Beware!In this episode:💩 [01:18] Matt's going from 11 to 12 forever kiddos💩 [07:32] Francine's health scare (don't worry, she's alright now)💩 [09:55] Confidence in U.S. food safety has hit an all-time low💩 [12:00] How different generations relate to the safety of their food💩 [15:43] Why overall confidence dropped so much so fast💩 [17:46] The pressure is on for food suppliers to catch up 💩 [19:55] The shift in consumers' major concerns around the U.S. food supply💩 [24:17] Consumers are becoming more worried about foodborne illnesses💩 [28:50] Growing concern over heavy metals, chemicals, and food dyes💩 [33:52] Americans' views on the safety of imported food💩 [37:21] Key results from the 2025 IFIC Food and Health SurveyDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCheck out the Food Safety News article our hosts are talking about, Confidence in U.S. food safety hits an all-time low.Learn more about the Clean Label Project Certification at cleanlabelproject.org.Catch up on our previous episode for more on the Shakes Outbreak, Episode 129 | A Recap of 2025’s Major Outbreaks (So Far) with Bill Marler.Catch up on the episode where we talked about what MAHA is trying to push, Episode 125 | FDA Spikes the Ball and Claims Success.Watch Emmy award-winning documentary, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.Learn all about the WanaBana Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak with Episode 51.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“The food industry is going to have to shift. It just is. It's not a, if it's going to, it's a when it's going to because it won't be able to compete with other companies that address these issues. It just won't.” – Matt Regusci“ I don't think even three years ago that [...] people were aware of foodborne illnesses so much. Yeah, they existed. But [...] I don't think it was something that was really even thought about. Which makes me believe that things like Poisoned and the podcasts that are out there talking about these things are helping.” – Francine L ShawWe hope you enjoy this episode!Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.We'd love to hear from you!📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon! 🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected._______Produced by Ideablossoms
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    42 mins
  • A Recap of 2025’s Major Outbreaks (So Far) with Bill Marler | Episode 129

    A Recap of 2025’s Major Outbreaks (So Far) with Bill Marler | Episode 129
    Aug 26 2025
    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!👉 Shop here📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Bill Marler, the nation's leading foodborne illness attorney, to discuss some of the major outbreaks of 2025 (so far), those who aren't doing what they're supposed to, and how we can push for changes towards food safety.Buckle up because not only are there many, but they're very frustrating ones.We'll revisit the Boar's Head Outbreak as new violations have been found in other plants, and the company is reopening the plant from the outbreak. We'll tackle the Darwin Dog Food case, which has been linked to a four-year-old child who became infected with E. coli O157:H7 and developed HUS, as well as the Listeria Shake Outbreak in long-term care facilities, with 14 dead.In this episode:💩 [01:11] Sexy tractors and feeling politically out of place💩 [04:07] Do the Boar's Head executives even care?💩 [08:06] What Boar's Head is doing and what they should've done instead💩 [16:15] The frustrating E. coli-contaminated Darwin Dog Food case💩 [18:53] FDA's failure to enforce a product recall from Darwin💩 [24:14] How Bill is finally getting justice for the Shake Outbreak victims💩 [29:42] How companies can save lives by testing their products💩 [33:29] When authorities redact documents and withhold critical information 💩 [37:58] The Romaine Lettuce outbreak that remains a "mystery"💩 [42:49] How Bill Marler is unfortunately having to do the FDA and CDC's jobs💩 [50:04] The incredible success of the fight against E. coli in hamburgers💩 [55:04] Addressing the Poisoned documentary skepticsDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead the Marler Blog post with the 35 pages of non-conformances on Boar's Head's plants.Read about the frustrating E. coli-contaminated Darwin Dog Food case.Read about the Listeria Shake Outbreak in long-term care facilities.Here's the video with the keynote speaker saying we should "Put Bill Marler out of business".Watch Bill Marler and Darin Detwiler’s Emmy award-winning documentary, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.Read about the multi-state E. coli outbreak where the FDA and CDC chose to Romaine Silent.Catch up with past Bill Marler episodes:Episode 17Episode 18Bonus EpisodeEpisode 92Episode 100Noteworthy quotes from this episode“ I don't know why FDA won't name the romaine lettuce guys, even though they did when the same guys were growing onions. I don't have a good answer to that question other than I just think it sadly, undercuts the authority of public health, that they seem to be an honest broker in the process. It breaks my heart.” – Bill MarlerWe hope you enjoy this episode!Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.We'd love to hear from you!📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon! 🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected._______Produced by Ideablossoms
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 5 Food Safety Truths Everyone Should Know (Starting with Decaf) | Episode 128

    5 Food Safety Truths Everyone Should Know (Starting with Decaf) | Episode 128
    Aug 19 2025
    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!👉 Shop here📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.Think you know food safety? Think again. In this special highlight episode of Don’t Eat Poop, we’re rewinding to some of the most surprising facts we’ve ever shared on the show — the kind that can change the way you shop, cook, and eat.From chemical-laced decaf to disgusting yet FDA-approved gloves, these are real, documented truths that every food lover (and every food safety professional) should know… but most don’t.In this episode:💩 [01:43] Why some decaf coffee may contain industrial solvents — and what you should choose instead (yes, there is a safe option)💩 [04:40] The surprising truth about mayonnaise storage 💩 [06:52] Why washing this food does more harm than good 💩 [12:41] The big myth about “killing all bacteria” in fresh produce facilities and why washing produce at home won’t save you💩 [20:08] The dirty truth about disposable gloves (including the pathogens and contaminants found right out of the box)Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources & ReferencesClean Label Project: Decaf Coffee Contaminants White PaperEpisode 111 | What They Don’t Tell You About Decaf Coffee That You Should Absolutely KnowEpisode 99 | 20 Food Items You Don’t Actually Need to RefrigerateEpisode 73 | Don’t Wash Your Chicken, SeriouslyEpisode 69 | A Look at the FDA’s Reorganization Plan and Some Food Safety MythbustingEpisode 115 | Gloves: Risks and Solutions for the Most Overlooked Zone 1 Food Safety Item with Steve Ardagh, CEO & Founder of Eagle ProtectNoteworthy quotes from this episode“Methylene Chloride is an active ingredient in paint thinner that was recently banned by the EPA. So you could not use this product to scrape paint off your walls. It's too dangerous for that, but to throw into some coffee beans to get rid of caffeine? No problem?!” – Matt Regusci“We know from independent research that in tests done on 2,800 new and unused gloves from 26 different brands, over 260 different viable pathogens were found. Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella. Name it, it was there. ” – Francine L ShawWe hope you enjoy this episode!Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.We'd love to hear from you!📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon! 🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected._______Produced by Ideablossoms
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    27 mins
  • Zapping Pathogens Could Be a Breakthrough For Making Raw Milk Safe | Episode 127

    Zapping Pathogens Could Be a Breakthrough For Making Raw Milk Safe | Episode 127
    Aug 12 2025
    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!👉 Shop here📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are revisiting a much-discussed topic within the food safety world: raw milk.Despite its undeniable health benefits, the long list of dangerous pathogens that may be present makes consuming raw milk far too risky. Until now, the only way to make sure milk is safe for consumption has been through pasteurization; however, an emerging advanced UV light technology may change the game.Tune in to discover what we know so far about the breakthrough that promises to zap pathogens out of raw milk while preserving its beneficial components, which will save lots of lives.In this episode:💩 [01:02] No sympathy for a man cold💩 [06:49] Why you can potentially die if you drink raw milk💩 [08:58] A possible way to make raw milk safe without pasteurization💩 [10:58] PSA about contacting Matt and Francine on LinkedIn💩 [12:14] The new technology and what is FDA-approved so far💩 [16:41] A macro view of how the process possibly works💩 [19:53] What will make or break this new technology💩 [21:31] The importance of agreeing to disagree💩 [23:08] The potential uses and impact of this treatment process💩 [25:22] The benefits for raw milk producers and consumers💩 [27:25] How about some Don't Eat Poop! merch?Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCheck out the Food Safety News article our hosts are talking about, Zapping pathogens could be breakthrough for raw milk.Catch up with one of the podcast's best episodes on raw milk: Episode 22 | Is It Safe to Drink Raw Milk? Food Safety Specialists Break It Down.Listen to our previous episode with Roger Hancock: Episode 126 | How the FDA Wants YOU to Fix Food Safety Recalls.Noteworthy quotes from this episode"Who doesn't know there's poop in raw milk? There's poop in pasteurized milk. The difference is it's pasteurized, so it's got rid of the pathogens." – Matt Regusci“They've been advertising [these UV light treatments] in kitchens for equipment and things like that for years. I've always been a bit skeptical [...] because it's only going to sanitize where the light can reach. [...] That wouldn't be the case with this. I mean, it's kind of exciting.” – Francine L ShawWe hope you enjoy this episode!Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.We'd love to hear from you!📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon! 🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected._______Produced by Ideablossoms
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    30 mins
  • How the FDA Wants YOU to Fix Food Safety Recalls with Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink | Episode 126

    How the FDA Wants YOU to Fix Food Safety Recalls with Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink | Episode 126
    Aug 5 2025
    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!👉 Shop here📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.What happens when the FDA says, “Help us help you!” in the middle of recall chaos? You get an impromptu - and enlightening - episode featuring food recall expert Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink. In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine, together with Roger, dive into a recently released (and very quietly announced) FDA letter calling on the food industry to step up and collaborate on modernizing food recall systems - especially for products impacting babies and kids.Spoiler alert: this episode is part policy analysis, part industry gossip, and part Roger being roped into a podcast live via a surprise call. You’re welcome.In this episode:💩 [01:07] Introducing Roger Hancock, CEO of Recall InfoLink💩 [03:38] Roger breaks down the FDA’s 2025 recall modernization priority💩 [05:55] FDA’s letter to industry leaders💩 [08:00] When are you required to notify the FDA about a recall?💩 [11:12] Is reporting to the FDA really that tedious? Roger spills the data💩 [13:28] Recall communication protocols💩 [16:12] Infant formula, foods intended for children, and allergens💩 [17:32] The three pillars of every recall and why message delivery isn’t enough💩 [21:14] Increasing the speed of recall classification💩 [27:12] Recall processes, standardizing data, and AI💩 [35:37] Modernizing data submissions💩 [43:16] Why consumers never hear about recallsDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeTake a look at the food safety news article we’re talking about today: FDA wants industry to suggest how to better use recalls for food safetyBehind the Scenes at the Food Safety Consortium with Rick Biros: Conference Culture, Compliance & Community | Episode 123Alliance for Recall Ready CommunitiesNoteworthy quotes from this episode“ The important part of recall, quite frankly, isn't the message. The important part about a recall is the action.” – Roger Hancock“ There's a variety of potential outcomes for a defective product, but those three things are critical. Defective product, consumers that have purchased it, and instructions about what to do.” – Roger HancockWe hope you enjoy this episode!Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.We'd love to hear from you!📲 Connect with Roger, Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon! 🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected._______Produced by Ideablossoms
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    47 mins
  • FDA Spikes the Ball and Claims Success | Episode 125

    FDA Spikes the Ball and Claims Success | Episode 125
    Jul 29 2025

    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical
    🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!

    👉 Shop here

    📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.


    The FDA just dropped a list of food safety "wins," and in this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are here to break it down.


    Spoiler: If you're hoping for action on salmonella-in-your-eggs or listeria-in-your-lunchmeat, you might want to lower your expectations. Matt and Francine dissect what the FDA is really prioritizing (hint: it’s not pathogen prevention), why “generally recognized as safe” might be due for a rebrand, and what Frank Yiannas had to say with his subtle-but-spicy LinkedIn post.


    In this episode:

    💩 [01:08] Introducing Don’t Eat Poop’s new sponsor

    💩 [04:36] The FDA’s 100 Days of Embracing Gold-Standard Science, Transparency and Common Sense

    💩 [06:00] Infant formula improvements

    💩 [09:00] Titanium dioxide and other banned substances

    💩 [10:03] GRAS reform: What “generally recognized as safe” really means

    💩 [11:14] Nature food dyes

    💩 [12:12] Defining “ultra-processed foods” is harder than you think

    💩 [14:56] Frank Yiannas’s take on the FDA’s 100 Days

    💩 [20:37] Using AI to help utilize big data

    💩 [22:58] The drug side of the FDA gets 3x more attention than the food side

    💩 [26:36] Two types of safety: what kills you now vs. what kills you slowly



    Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.


    Resources from this episode

    Take a look at the FDA’s 100 Days of Embracing Gold-Standard Science, Transparency and Common Sense here.

    Listeria’s Lasting Damage: A Food Safety Wake-Up Call | Episode 122. Listen here.


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ The FDA should actually be renamed DAF. Drug administration and food. It's like food is an afterthought in the FDA.” – Matt Regusci

    “ We need to think about the American consumers and keeping their food safe because we don't want them to die when they eat their food.” – Francine L Shaw


    We hope you enjoy this episode!

    Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!


    Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.


    We'd love to hear from you!


    📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!


    📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!


    🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!


    Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected.

    _______

    Produced by Ideablossoms
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    31 mins
  • When Food Meets Fetish: The Disturbing Truth Behind a Kansas Steakhouse Scandal | Episode 124

    When Food Meets Fetish: The Disturbing Truth Behind a Kansas Steakhouse Scandal | Episode 124
    Jul 22 2025

    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical
    🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!

    👉 Shop here

    📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.


    In this jaw-dropping episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine unpack a food safety scandal so grotesque it could make you ill just thinking about it. From a Kansas City steakhouse scandal involving literal food contamination for fetish content, to cringe-worthy confessions from food safety trainees, this episode hits every horrifying note in the foodservice handbook of “what not to do.”


    Hold onto your lunch: this is the food safety podcast episode you wish was fiction.


    In this episode:

    💩 [02:28] The cult classic restaurant movie - Waiting

    💩 [05:11] The case of Jace Hanson

    💩 [10:36] Food contamination for Grindr clout

    💩 [12:26] Confessions from a food safety trainee

    💩 [17:17] How improper storage and poor practices shut down a high-end restaurant

    💩 [22:18] The fallout: 380 complaints, 130 illnesses, and one closed restaurant

    💩 [28:37] Why culture fit matters in food safety


    Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.


    Resources from this episode

    Take a look at the article we’re talking about in this episode: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/07/man-in-kansas-pleads-guilty-to-contaminating-food-at-upscale-restaurant/


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ The Leawood police said that they eventually received 380 tips about food contamination from diners who ate at the restaurant. 380 in one month. So if you guys are ever curious about hiring practices and how important that is, it's very important.” – Matt Regusci

    “Never did I think I’d read Food Safety News and Grindr in the same sentence.” – Francine L Shaw


    We hope you enjoy this episode!

    Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!


    Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.


    We'd love to hear from you!


    📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!


    📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!


    🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!


    Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected.

    _______

    Produced by Ideablossoms
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Behind the Scenes at the Food Safety Consortium with Rick Biros: Conference Culture, Compliance & Community | Episode 123

    Behind the Scenes at the Food Safety Consortium with Rick Biros: Conference Culture, Compliance & Community | Episode 123
    Jul 15 2025

    This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical
    🧼 Ready to say WOW? Get 15% off DeVere’s best-selling WOW™ All Purpose Cleaner—tough on grime, gentle on surfaces. Use code POOP at checkout!

    👉 Shop here

    📩 Contact DeVere to claim your discount.


    In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop! recorded on-site at the 2024 Food Safety Consortium, our hosts Matt and Francine sit down with Rick Biros, the mastermind behind the conference and publisher of Food Safety Tech.


    From escalator woes to high-level discussions on FSMA 204 and food safety culture metrics, this episode captures the pulse of a post-pandemic industry ready to level up. Whether you're an industry vet or a newcomer, get ready for insights and a healthy dose of laughter.


    In this episode:


    💩 [01:41] Kicking things off with Rick Biros

    💩 [04:30] The escalator strikes again! Why venue logistics matter

    💩 [06:55] The value of a conference: education & networking

    💩 [08:59] FSMA 204, listeria outbreaks, and why the food safety industry is “waking up”

    💩 [11:06] Chemical testing rising

    💩 [13:16] The AFFI partnership: how collaboration upgraded the agenda

    💩 [17:17] Women in Food Safety Breakfast: growing stronger every year

    💩 [19:37] What’s next for Food Safety Tech: more projects & purpose

    💩 [22:12] Measuring food safety culture



    Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.


    Resources from this episode

    Visit: https://foodsafetytech.com/


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ We've not really been paying a lot of attention from a regulatory standpoint on chemical testing. That's been all Europe's big issues. Now with forever chemicals and a lot of the other issues, we're going to see an increase in the aspect of analytical testing that we've not seen in a long time in the food industry.” – Rick Biros


    We hope you enjoy this episode!

    Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!


    Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.


    We'd love to hear from you!


    📲 Connect with Rick, Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!


    📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!


    🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!


    Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected.

    _______

    Produced by Ideablossoms
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins