A Sustainable Mind - environment & sustainability podcast

Latest Episodes:

090: Trash Academy - Communicating Consumption and Waste through Activism & Advocacy with Ron Whyte Jan 15, 2022

Show notes

Trash Academy, a project of Mural Arts Philadelphia's Environmental Justice department, is an intergenerational collaboration of young people, seasoned activists, artists, non-profits, local government, and concerned citizens of diverse backgrounds. These interventions are geared to complicate and deepen people's understanding of litter, consumption, and waste and shift attitudes from passive acceptance to proactive responses to the waste stream. Collectively, they design projects that add surprising and interesting elements to the urban landscape using fun group activities and games, teach-ins, workshops, and three Trash Mobiles providing on-site art and creativity studios at neighborhood events and locales.

Today's Sponsors:

Climate Talks is a new podcast exploring sustainability and the ways that we communicate about the climate. Catch season 1 now as host Sophia Li interviews climate optimists, investigating the steps we can take to work towards a more sustainable future. https://pod.link/1592523204

In this episode Marjorie and Ron discuss:

Some of the challenges with waste in Philadelphia and how Trash Academy is educating people of all ages about the true impact of waste in our communities
How the Trash Mobile and other activities use concepts like gamification to have a lasting impact that traditional PSAs and non-interactive signage have not been able to accomplish
How parents can help their children better understand the concept of trash
Good first steps for how to get involved in issues you care about in your own community

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Vanessa Nakate - read her UN profile here: https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/vanessa-nakate/
- Vanessa's organization: Youth for Future Africa: https://www.facebook.com/YOUTH-for-Future-Africa-112041190182345/
Archive.org, is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson: http://www.rachelcarson.org/SilentSpring.aspx

Connect with Trash Academy:

Website: https://www.trashacademy.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trash.academy/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

089: Vegan Entrepreneurship with Noah Hyams of VEGPRENEUR Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Noah Hyams is a serial entrepreneur who started VEGPRENEUR to create a global community of entrepreneurs and investors building sustainable, plant-based businesses. Through VEGPRENEUR, Noah has interviewed and brought together founders, investors, and thought-leaders in the plant-based space. Most recently Noah was featured on Bloomberg Radio where he talked about the state of the plant-based economy. Noah is also an active startup advisor and has been invited to speak/mentor in entrepreneurship programs at New York University, the City University of New York, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Today's Sponsors:

Tentree is an earth-first sustainable clothing company. Check out their selection of eco-friendly clothing and accessories at https://www.tentree.com and use promo code 'ASM' for 15% off your first purchase.

In this episode Marjorie and Noah discuss:

Some of the major challenges for plant-based businesses and how to overcome them
The status of the plant-based economy and opportunities for growth in the coming years
Invaluable advice for entrepreneurs in any space, especially during covid-19

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Vegpreneur.org and their newsletter with monthly investment opportunities
Bolt Threads mushroom leather partnership with Adidas
Impact Snacks, snacks with edible wrappers
NutritionFacts.org
VeganCheatSheet.org
Disclosure, by Earthling Ed

Connect with Noah Hyams:

Website: https://www.vegpreneur.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vegpreneur
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vegpreneur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegpreneur/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahhyams/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

088: Sustainable Compostable Palm Leaf Tableware with Pallavi Pande of Dtocs Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Pallavi Pande started Dtocs three years ago with three things in mind, sustainability, community, and usability. Dtocs offers a line of compostable tableware from naturally fallen palm leaves from farms where she has personal relationships with the owners and farmers. Pallavi is also a woman of color and a mother of two young Dtocs brand ambassadors. She is hoping that Dtocs can be an elegant, sturdy, and affordable solution for a plastic-free world.

Use the promo code DTOCS10 for 10% off any order at www.Dtocs.com!

Today's Sponsors:

In this episode Marjorie and Pallavi discuss:

Raising eco-conscious children
The wide range of uses and the durability of palm leaf products
How palm leaves are grown and retrieved and the process they undergo to be made into reusable flatware and tableware
The impact that Dtocs is having in the community where the leaves are harvested

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Connect with Pallavi Pande:

Website: https://Dtocs.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DtocsL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/57414687/admin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dtocsplates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dtocsplates/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

087: The Democratization of Energy - Understanding your power bill, energy regulation, and the shift to decentralized clean energy with Seth Mansur Jan 08, 2022

Show notes

Seth Mansur is a longtime sustainability advocate and Marine Corps veteran, and over the last decade, he has developed a deep understanding of a multitude of energy management solutions. Seth's work serves the energy needs of Commercial, Industrial, and Non-Profit Organizations and his primary objective is to help organizations take a proactive approach to evaluating and taking action on their energy needs.

Today's Sponsor:

Climate Talks is a new podcast exploring sustainability and the ways that we communicate about the climate. Catch season one now as host Sophia Li interviews climate optimists, investigating the steps we can take to work towards a more sustainable future. Listen here: https://pod.link/1592523204

In this episode Marjorie and Seth discuss:

What exactly is energy management, why does it matter, and how does it differ between residential to commercial buildings
Why are energy bills so difficult to read!
The role of energy audits and energy monitors and determining if your situation would benefit from these tools
What peak energy means and why it's so expensive
Community choice aggregation or deregulated energy options
What the energy grid of the future could look like and what happens to energy monopolies when a majority of users switch to renewables

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Ecovillage Findhorn in Scotland
Station A - the first AI-powered clean energy marketplace
Seth's mentor Dr. John Gerber, Professor of Sustainable Food and Farming at the University of Massachusetts
William McDonough, founder of Cradle to Cradle design
Book: Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things
Solar Ready Vets program

Connect with Seth Mansur:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethmansur/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

086: Compostable Packaging & Circular Food Systems with Kate Flynn of Sun and Swell Foods Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

Kate Flynn, CEO & Co-Founder of Sun & Swell, has an MBA from Harvard, is a Certified Culinary Nutrition Expert, and has a background in strategy consulting in the retail food industry.

Several years ago, she set out to build a new kind of packaged food company - one that is better for both people and the planet. Sun & Swell uses only healthy, organic, whole foods that are free from harmful ingredients and chemical additives, and is a pioneer in the packaged food industry when it comes to using compostable packaging - one of the very first company's in the US to sell their foods in compostable packaging.

Kate has met her fair share of challenges along the road to transition her company to fully compostable packaging but remains focused on her goal of disrupting the food industry and pioneering a circular food system.

Special discount for ASM listeners! Use promo code "SustainableFoods25" at https://sunandswellfoods.com.

Today's Sponsors:

Novak Hair Studios is Fort Worth's first zero-waste salon and one of the largest in the nation. With luxury amenities, Green Circle Certified sustainability initiatives, and unparalleled customer experiences, Novak is a leader in the beauty industry. Learn more at https://novakhairstudios.com/eco-friendly.

Tentree is an earth-first sustainable clothing company. Check out their selection of eco-friendly clothing and accessories at https://www.tentree.com/ and use promo code 'ASM' for 15% off your first purchase.

In this episode Marjorie and Kate discuss:

The many considerations and challenges of compostable packaging in the food industry.
Prioritizing non-negotiables in business and how that enabled Sun & Swell to thrive in the niche of organic food sold in compostable packaging.
Local waste, recycling, and composting infrastructure and why some composting facilities are tossing your bio-degradable items into the landfill.
New opportunities in the food space for eco-conscious entrepreneurs, brands, and consumers.

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Connect with Kate Flynn and Sun & Swell Foods:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunandswellfoods/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunandswellfoods
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-flynn-15187726/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sunandswellfoods/_created/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

085: Sustainable Healthcare with Dr. Rosie Spooner Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

Dr. Rosie Spooner is a British Pediatrician who is currently an Education Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, an NGO working on mainstreaming sustainability practices into planning and delivery of health services. Rosie is a practicing clinician who works alongside medical schools and postgraduate education programs to support the integration of sustainable healthcare into mainstream healthcare teaching. She became more concerned about the connection between the climate emergency and health after a year sailing with her husband on a 12-meter boat for 12,000 miles, crossing the Atlantic twice. On this journey she saw how climate change is already destabilizing the world's natural systems and witnessed the catastrophic effects this can have on human health. She is a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and has campaigned for them to divest from fossil fuel investments and declare a climate emergency.

Today's Sponsors:

Brightmark is on a mission to reimagine waste, transforming organic waste into renewable natural gas and creating innovative approaches to plastics renewal. Learn more at Brightmark.com.

Tentree is an earth-first sustainable clothing company. Check out their selection of eco-friendly clothing and accessories at Tentree.com and use promo code 'ASM' for 15% off your first purchase.

In this episode Marjorie and Dr. Rosie discuss:

How delivering healthcare impacts the environment and what some health professionals are doing to reduce the impacts
What role patients and clients play in the sustainability of the healthcare
How hygiene and infection control practices impact both sustainability and patient comfortability
The complexities of transitioning to more earth-conscious healthcare strategies when product availability and contracts dictate much of the reusable and disposable supplies

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Connect with Dr. Rosie Spooner and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare:

Website: http://sustainablehealthcare.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentreforSustainableHealthcare/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusHealthcare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spooner_rosie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosie-spooner-37581218a/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

084: Sustainable Filmmaking & Production with Emellie O'Brien of Earth Angel Sets Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Since Emellie O'Brien's first days in production, she knew there was a way for the role of sustainability on-set to go beyond basic waste management and recycling. She got her start at the NYU Tisch Film program and not long after graduation she landed her first job as a "Green Steward" with Big Beach Films in 2011. Her early years of dedication to green practices and passion for the environment on-set is what earned her the nickname "Earth Angel" from fellow crew members over the walkie, and to this day is still what production colleagues call her whenever she is on set. By 2013 EOB founded Earth Angel and turned it into a scalable model that has since inspired the entertainment industry and significantly reduced its environmental impact.

Earth Angel has helped films and series avoid 8,500 metric tons of greenhouse gases, divert over 4,800 tons of waste, and donate over 125,000 meals to the local communities. Their client roster includes The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spielberg's The Post, Emmy-winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Lin Manuel Miranda's In the Heights. Earth Angel is headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!

In this episode Marjorie and Emellie discuss:

What it's like to work on and run a film production with and without sustainability in mind
The type of research, stats, and projections that are considered when EA works with a production and what numbers are presented to the client at the end of a project
What happens to the materials that are not used up at the end of the production
What you should keep in mind when working with a company like Earth Angel and how you can make your production more sustainable on your own
How Covid has impacted the film industry and the way EA works with productions

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Hot Take Podcast and Newsletter: https://www.hottakepod.com/
Green Production Guide: https://www.greenproductionguide.com/
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us
Earther: https://earther.gizmodo.com/
The Book on Awakening:

Connect with Emellie and the Earth Angel Team:

Website: https://www.earthangel.nyc/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/earthangelsets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthAngelsets/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/earthangelsets
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earth-angel-sustainable-production-services-llc

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops on your favorite topics in the world of environmental sustainability! Grab your free ticket and learn how to get involved at MASSEcoLive.com.

083: Zero Waste Hair Salons and Sustainability in the Beauty Industry with Ben Hudgins of Novak Hair Studios Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Benjamin Novak Hudgins is the Co-Founder and CEO of Novak Hair Studios. As a nationally-recognized hairstylist with over 18 years of industry experience, Hudgins uses his expertise to inspire Novak's 90+ Luxury Solo Artists in two unique locations throughout North Texas. His work has been displayed at New York fashion week, the Mercedes-Benz tent at Swim Week Miami, and on stages and classrooms across the US. He has been the preferred stylist of many contestants in a variety of pageant systems and the go-to beauty pro for high-profile/celebrity clients across the nation.

From Hudgins' early career in the competitive pageant world, Novak Hair Studios has carried that tradition by proudly serving as an official sponsor of Mrs. Texas America and Mrs. Oklahoma America. Hudgins' foundation in life and work is to build a better life while actively creating a better and more beautiful planet.

Benjamin's passion for hair began at a young age when he would steal his sister's Collection Edition Barbies to style their hair. No longer styling barbies, he can be found at his small Texas ranch aptly named the "Hudgins Honey Bee Ranch" with husband Justin Hudgins and their chickens, ducks, bees, and Scottish Highland cows - Edna, Walter, and baby Otis.

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at MASSEcoLive.com.

In this episode Marjorie and Ben discuss:

Why choosing beauty products with sustainable and healthy ingredients is so important
How certain ingredients make it into our favorite and previously more healthy and sustainable hair care product lines
Sustainable innovation within the haircare industry both in products and in salons
His surprising experiences in opening two sustainable salons in North Texas

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Green Circle Salons: https://greencirclesalons.com/

Connect with Ben and the Novak Studios Team:

Website: http://novakstudios.com/
Dallas/Fort Worth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Novakfortworth/
Dallas/Fort Worth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novakfortworth
Burleson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novakburleson/
Burleson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovakBurleson/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

082: Climate Change Along the Chesapeake and the Come Together Handbook with Dana Simson Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

Author/illustrator/Designer Dana Simson is a life-long environmentalist and climate change activist. She and her husband live on the frontline of climate change in a 200-year-old house on an island in the Chesapeake Bay. She keeps a tide clock on the dash of her car and gives the blue crabs and fish the right of way on her commute home. She has been a sought-after speaker and visiting professor on imagination development for the last 20 years. Currently, she is using her skillset to engage and empower people to look at climate change as an opportunity for positive change. Dana has written and illustrated 14 books and worked with many companies internationally to design home decor and many products. She is also the illustrator for the upcoming Green Writers Press children's picture book; Janey Monarch Seed.

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at MASSEcoLive.com.

This episode is brought to you by Brightmark, a leader in plastics renewal technology. Learn more about how Brightmark is reimagining waste and how you can partner with them at Brightmark.com.

In this episode Marjorie and Dana discuss:

How illustrated books can have a greater impact on readers openness to the material versus all-text books
The changes that she's seen in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem over the last several decades as a result of climate change
Does living along the Chesapeake increase residents receptiveness to the concept of climate change and what changes has she seen in the community's mindset over the years
Her new book the Come Together Handbook

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Beasts of a Southern Wild film trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvqZzSMIZa0
Paul Hawken https://paulhawken.com/
Project Drawdown https://drawdown.org/
Climate Action Network https://climatenetwork.org/
Chesapeake Bay Foundation https://www.cbf.org/
Surfrider https://www.surfrider.org/
350.org https://350.org/
Earth Justice https://earthjustice.org/
Sierra Club https://www.sierraclub.org/
Oceana https://oceana.org/
Repair.org https://www.repair.org/
Slow Food https://www.slowfood.com/
Eat Wild http://www.eatwild.com/
Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/
Habitat for Humanity https://www.habitat.org/

Connect with Dana and get a copy of the Come Together Handbook:

Website: danasimson.com
Personal FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/dana.simsonorth
Artist FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/danasimson
Dana's Art Gallery, Chesapeake East Company: https://www.facebook.com/Danasimsonart
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanaSimsonArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danasimsonart/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/danasimson/

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/
Website: http://www.asustainablemind.com

081: Plastics Renewal and Waste to Fuel with Brightmark's Bob Powell Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

Bob Powell's dreams and vision about how we can leave the world a better place are being realized at Brightmark, the company he founded to change the way the world sees and manages its waste. As founder & CEO, Bob looks beyond what we are doing now to create the path for what we will realize many years in the future. Bob is passionate about solving the world's most complex environmental problems with innovation and optimism. Prior to founding Brightmark in 2016, Bob spent the majority of his career working in the energy industry.

Join us for our first live event, M.A.S.S. Eco Summit! It will be 3 days of keynotes, panels, and workshops! Receive event notifications or contact us to get involved at http://MASSEcoLive.com.

In this episode Marjorie and Bob discuss:

How Brightmark uses all forms of plastic from every type of waste stream and creates circular renewed products
How Brightmark turns organic waste into fuel and what responses people have had over the years to this practice
What is the difference between methane and CO2 and their impact on the environment
Why banning ALL plastics isn't yet part of Bob's overall vision and why

Resources mentioned in today's episode: