Martin Riese: Why Your “Healthy” Water Might Be Lying to You

About this episode

Bunnie DeFord interviews Martin Riese about the myths and science of water quality and consumption.

(Originally aired: 8/18/25) Season 10 is officially here, and we’re kicking things off with a splash!  Bunnie Xo sits down with Martin Riese, America’s first certified water sommelier, to unpack the myths, science, and politics behind what we drink. Bunnie shares her own viral “water debacle” and what she learned from testing different sources, while Martin breaks down the subtleties of water taste profiles, the role of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), and the environmental toll of bottled water. Together, they clear the air on false claims about Mountain Valley’s arsenic levels and stress the need for transparency and fact-checking in the industry. Martin also calls out the dangers of multi-level marketing schemes, debunks the rumor that sparkling water causes cancer, and highlights how basic chemistry and proper filtration can make all the difference. He taste-tests Saratoga, Mountain Valley, and even a rare 2,000-year-old Australian water with 1,300 TDS, while critiquing Perrier’s lack of transparency. Along the way, he explains why RO systems and shower filters are worth the investment, and why America needs to improve its water infrastructure instead of relying solely on…

People in this episode

Host: Bunnie DeFord

Guest: Martin Riese

Topics covered

• water quality
• water sommelier
• myths about water
• environmental impact of bottled water
• water taste profiles
• water filtration

Keywords

• water sommelier
• TDS
• bottled water
• water infrastructure
• sparkling water
• water education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mountain Valley, Perrier, Sourced

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